23 Things I've Learned in 23 Years

Guess who's 23 today? Yep, you guessed it - it's me, the in denial adult who still wishes she was a careless child coming home to watch Tracy Beaker and eat turkey dinosaurs but has to accept that with every passing year comes more burdened responsibilities and a sheer disappointment that growing up really isn't all that. Aaaaand breathe. There's no denying birthday's just aren't as fun anymore; okay so today's plans include eating until I pop and spending time with the ones who gave me life but reality caves in once it's over and unfortunately I can't spend the rest of the night playing with my Barbie gifts. Saying that; as you develop, you become more familiarised with who you are and the purpose of the world. It's a funny old place, a terrible, illiberal place at times, but it's also wonderful and enlightening and you're never, ever done learning and gaining wisdom. So, in summarised celebration of my birthday, here's my cliche '23 things I've learned in 23 years' post.

Life: my birthday gifts and buys

It feels like my birthday was so long ago now (in fact, with June being over in a flash, it was!) but to avoid blowing everything at once I've taken my time spending the gifted money and vouchers for some luxury treats I don't usually indulge in but ones I know I'll enjoy owning and using. Unfortunately, now my twenties are rapidly growing, birthday's aren't as exciting; surprise presents are rare and you end up providing your friends and family with a list of potential gifts you've had your eye on for a while. However, that doesn't mean you won't wake up to tons of prettiness, bow wrapped gifts, a beautiful bunch of flowers, a variety of rainbow-esque macarons and most importantly, a usual Sunday morning bacon sandwich. It's the little things you hang on to and appreciate on the day you're allowed to be spoiled. 

Unsurprisingly, most suggestions ended up being fashion and beauty based, and that's just what I received. Without talking too much about my love for high end and resounding hate for the realisation of becoming an adult as each year passes, I'll show you both the items I kindly received, and the ones which were screaming my name as I splashed the cash.

Along with some what you could call cliche presents such as body pampering sets, makeup and underwear from my lovely pals and close family, my Mum hit the mark with her choices. She bought me those Mango sandals (luckily before they sold out completely), some retro at eye River Island sunglasses, Nic's Picks Real Techniques brushes, and not forgetting some of Creams' specialty macarons and my afternoon tea experience over at their Leeds tearoom. 3/5 of those gifts are now safely packed away in my suitcase (the other two are tucked away nicely in my stomach). I've been on the hunt for a staple pair of sunglasses and ones which don't drown my face and these are perfect. I also can't wait to pair the sandals with some holiday outfits and accompany my brand new makeup with some well needed fresh brushes. As the saying goes, mother knows best and she knows I'm forever grateful (even if our constant harmless  bickering shows otherwise).

When I opened the packaging containing this highly appropriate card and a MAC gift bag with a lipstick and my beloved Ted Baker body spray mini from my lovely friend, Charlotte, I was not only having a little giggle to myself but was over the moon. It proves she also knows me well. The shade captive wouldn't have been a shade I usually reach for but I love how it looks on (never judge a book by its cover and what not). Aside from a gorgeous Mandara Spa body set (and a stick of rock as a souvenir from the seaside) from my friend Ross, these were the only gifts I had bought and as the rest of the day progressed, was instead handing vouchers and a generous amount of money.

It's safe to say my ASOS voucher didn't last long as I knew exactly what I desired, and that was this boho style, classic dress. I've decided it will be the dress I travel in as it's ideal for this muggy weather we're experiencing, it's lightweight and comfortable, not too short and can be paired with an oversized shirt if it gets a little chilly on the plane. I may even give my Mango sandals their first wear!

Now, on to the final yet favourite part of having a birthday; lavishing in the high end pieces and waltzing around town making sure the posh bags are on show and the Primark bags are hidden (surely I'm not the only one who does this?). Being a blogger, the what you could call much more expensive than the 'normal' makeup is always in sight and demonstrated, meaning I'm successfully influenced into trying it out for myself. Choosing some neutral colours for my quad MAC palette proved extremely difficult but I finally decided on All That Glitters, Naked Lunch, Shroom and Satin Taupe.They make the essential pinky/brown nudes that are ideal for the summer. I'm thrilled to finally own a MAC eyeshadow palette, even if it is only the starter pack! The Illamasqua Sculpting Duo is another prized possession that I'm happy to have. I'm trying to get more into contouring and the stunning, highly pigmented golden shades in this duo will set me off on the right track. Finally, there's a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick. I've been meaning to get my hands on a Matte Revolution lipstick for so long now and the pleasant experience I had in Harvey Nichols urged me to reach for Amazing Grace. It definitely made me feel less guilty about washing away £23 of my birthday money without second thought.

That's all (for now), my birthday money is spent but it doesn't mean I haven't built up another wishlist ready for next year, or for Christmas which is now less than 6 months away! Arghhh.

Bridie x

Life: my birthday afternoon tea at Creams

Whilst I sit figuring out just how fast the weeks go by, I'm also still swooning over my second afternoon tea experience last Saturday. You may have seen me mention on my previous Sky Lounge post that I was heading off for another belly full (literally) as a birthday treat and that I would follow up with my comparison. Well - as lovely as the bloggers' day out was, the beautiful Creams complex beat it by a mile.

Hidden away in The Core shopping centre (the one place that nobody really goes) stands a stunning tearoom that certainly brightens up the entire presence and makes a place with just a Burger King and a Subway less dull, more glamourised and certainly shows up the ordinary. Creams' ethos of sophistication offers a high class experience of 'British luxury' and the touch of elegance shone through instantly as soon as we walked into the stunning setting. Guided to our reserved table in front of big windows, I couldn't help admire the crystal chandeliers, piano playing soothing music, classy decor and my beloved marble tables. But the only thing on my mind was the appetising food I caught a glimpse of at the continuously filled tables as I strolled past. I was hungry - and ready to order!

Reading the menu at our own leisure, my mum, grandma and I opted for the traditional British afternoon tea, whilst my (complicated and photo hating) brother took a step into the different side of things and chose the Eastern Afternoon Tea to tuck into gracefully without making a mess in this exquisite (the clumsiness of myself in partciular would be quick to ruin the tidy layout). 

Our delightful British Afternoon Tea presented on a three tier platter consisted of a selection of sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream and a small jar of jam, and an incredibly generous and mouth watering choice of cakes (perfect for those with a sweet tooth). The sandwiches - salmon, tuna, chicken, egg mayo, and cheese were all dished out on cute little circles of malted bread. The scones - still warm and freshly baked, embedded with sultanas, were without a doubt the best I've ever tasted. They were the perfect consistency and melted in the mouth within one bite. The desserts - vanilla and chocolate cupcakes, a caramel/fudge cheescake tart, and several flavours of the ever so famous Instagram-worthy macarons were ah-mazing. Once again, I was full to the point I couldn't move but my expectations were highly matched and met indeed. As you can see, I enjoyed every bit!

The Eastern Afternoon Tea was made up of a 'naanwich' comprising of a choice of chicken, tandoori, kebabs or falafel & halloumi, a samosa with salad and garnish, and another whole load of cakes to finish off the meal. My brother ventured for a lamb kebab with help from the ever so wonderful staff and seemed to devour it all - even turning red (you could almost see the steam) as he took a bite into the spicy samosa. Allowing a range of afternoon tea options was something I particularly loved - offering a diverse and unique selection fit to meet the needs of everyone and to indulge in with ease.

As we polished off every last bit of our divine three course, the tune of the piano suddenly changed to the familiar happy birthday melody. Although my birthday wasn't until the next day, this was a strange coincidence and I slowly started to realise two smiling waiters were heading my way with a complimentary cupcake and candle with a drizzle of chocolate spelled greeting. Trying to avoid all awkwardness of all eyes on me (and failing badly) I went along and thanked the gift brought to me. Only this time, I was the person with the red face. 

The service we received in Creams came arm in arm with the entire lavishing vibe and immaculate surroundings; stylish, relaxed dining with superior staff whom pampered me as though I was royalty. Every individual member of staff was friendly, attentive and efficient. Everything we requested, they followed. They made us feel so welcomed, kindly gave us birthday discount, parceled up our left over cupcakes in beautiful pink boxes and even pleasantly and talkatively said goodbye with a formal handshake. It's obvious just how much hard work is put in to make it the best, specialised visit for every customer and you can see just how passionate they were to ensure this happens.

Eventually (and unfortunately) our time came to head off and complete our family day out with some shopping. Of course, I couldn't leave without being in awe of (and eventually purchasing courtesy of my darling mum and her birthday buying) a box of colourful macarons wrapped up in a personalised light green Creams bag with ribbon to secure. This meant on the way out I didn't only feel like a queen, but I was also in cake and patisserie heaven. The entrance and the enthralling pudding counter was a dream for someone who enjoys taking pretty pictures and I definitely got snap happy with the macaron towers.

I honestly can't fault Creams and their distinctive identity and branding. They have every inch of detail carefully planned down to a tee to provide nothing but a memorable and savouring service. It's a definite 5 stars and I highly recommend for those who love the home of luxury. I had such a lovely afternoon and I can't wait to head back there sometime soon. I think it'd be the ideal place for another blogger meet up! 

Thank you to everyone at Creams for making my birthday weekend a fabulous one!

Bridie x

The Sunday Natter: Happy birthday to me - remembering childhood memories

Without frequently breaking into a Taylor Swift mix, today's the day I turn the big 2-2. I can't quite fathom out why each passing birthday year seems to be haunting instead of good fun but I think it's because I can no longer class myself as a young one. I don't act as though I inherit any adult qualities but at the ripe age of the rising twenties, I'm expected to behave like a mature, in control individual who provides for herself and frankly, that's a scary thought. It's a common, clique statement that celebrating a birthday is nowhere near as exciting as it was back in the childhood days but it's oh so very true which is why today, instead of daunting over the fact I'm slowly becoming an old woman, I'm sharing my 55 most remembered and favourite childhood memories (as well as eating my body weight in cake and restaurant food because hey, what's a birthday without an excuse to be fat). 

1) Kids TV programmes. Barney, Tots TV, Brum, Pingu, I could go on. I swear I still remember the words and the melody of each theme tune.

2) Hating opening clothes at Christmas. Oh how times have changed.

3) The mid-kid crisis. That awkward age where your baby teeth fell out and wonky, overgrown adult teeth made your mouth appear too big for your face.

4) Priceless fun. Being lifted in the air on your dad's feet and feeling (literally) on top of the world.

5) Actually being sociable. Spending hours outside playing p-o-l-o, hide and seek, and ball games with that ancient football which had almost disintegrated. 

6) The PlayStation one. Crash Bandicoot and Aku Aku, Scooby Doo and that god damn phantom virus level I could never complete.

7) Children's TV Favourites. Having a variety of the VHS videos with different collections, some even double sided. From Junglies, to The Herbs, Huxley Pig, and Spot The Dog.

8) Days out to the park. Visiting the local play areas and relaxing in the red tube of the slide to hide away from the reality of friction burns on bare knees.

9) Those foldable, fastened art sets. Contents included paint palettes, crayons, pencils and felt tips. I must have owned at least 5. It was guaranteed I'd open one every birthday and still lick the tip of the pen when it ran out.

10) School entertainment. Putting a pencil through a ruler hole at school and spinning it around until it flew off.

11) More school entertainment. Using the maths equipment as fighting equipment; a protractor as knuckle dusters, a triangular ruler as a gun etc etc.

12) Even more school entertainment. That overhead projector with the song lyrics.

13) Reaching Year 6. There was no better feeling that being able to sit on the benches in assembly, not to mention that TV being wheeled into the classroom on a Friday.

14) Toy day at the end of each Primary School term. There was that one main girl who brought in the huge barbie house and you just provided the barbies and Shelly dolls to go with.

15) Building up your collection of teddy bears. And having to sleep with them all at night so none of them get offended.

16) Colouring the spacing inbetween letters with a hole. But making sure all was intact once you were gifted your handwriting pen.

17) Sipping from the cap of a bottle. Mainly done to imitate an adult drinking shots.

18) Polly Pockets. Those extra tiny ones, not the latest version; and the heart shaped homes and balloon rides.

19) The walk home from school. Every single time without fail, I'd run my hands against the metal railings to create an unusual sound.

20) Bouncing your pen off the table. As well as attempting to click down all 4 colours of your giant pen.

21) Drawing a bird as a curved line and thinking it's an acceptable version of a sky backdrop. Topped with a sun drawn in the corner of every single piece of paper handed to you.

22) Making fists to rub your eyeballs. Resulting in seeing stars.

23) Garden activities. The wendy house, square paddling pool that took hours to fill up, pea shooting, water fights...

24) Playing on your scooter. And smacking your ankle as you pick it up and swing it to a different angle.

25) Being a fortuneteller with this. No other words needed.

26) Babyface, one of Sid's Toys from Toy Story. That one eyed creepy robot with a dolls head used to scare me to death.

27) Winding the car window down manually. You needed all the strength in the world to get some cool air, never mind this current automatic button stuff.

28) Using a pencil to spin the loose ends of the tape. I feel like if you've never experienced the chore of this, you've never lived.

29) Betty Spaghetti and everything about it. Swapping those outfits, bendy legs and abnormal sized hands was just so joyous.

30) Being at your friends house and hiding when your mum picks you up. As though this is going to contribute to the fact you won't have to go home.

31) Faking being asleep so you could be carried to bed. Laziness at its best. If only we could get away with that now.

32) Choosing the right word art for your PowerPoint presentation. This being the hardest decision to make on a traditional computer.

33) Owning a cyber pet and neglecting it. I still feel guilty for letting the poor thing die.

34) Pokemon cards. Those shiny ones were worth holding on to and were only given away with a huge trade/swap!

35) Pogs in packets of Wotsits. Whatever happened to those?

36) Feeding your doll with those cherries. You know what I'm talking about. 

37) Stick on earrings and butterfly clips. To make you look as glamorous as a 90's kid could.

38) Shopping in Tammy Girl and MK One. Nothing said happiness like a pair of turn up jeans and a printed babe top.

39) Those smelly gel pens. There was no stopping me having a sniff of my freshly written work. 

40) The Nokia 3210 being my first phone. Playing Snake just never got boring.

41) Hair tools, and lots of them. Having the choice of crimping or straightening my hair with those removable sliders and getting my hair caught in the Babyliss twister bead hair brader.

42) Those headbands with names on. This is where the struggle of having an awkward, unusual name became real.

43) Those embedded letters on the lid of a Smarties tube. Finding a B once I opened my treat indicated it was just meant be.

44) The excitement of renting a video from Blockbuster. RIP Blockbuster, you'll never be forgotten.

45) Saturday morning TV. Anyone else religiously watch SM:TV Live?

46) Those aliens you put in the fridge. Which never ever made babies like they were supposed to.

47)  Receiving a microphone and blank tape recording set as a present. Cue the new found popstar popping up to say hello.

48) Fuzzy felt. I had a circus one AND a Tots TV one, if I ever came across them I'd still be ecstatic.

49) Groovy chick. Absolutely everything Groovy Chick. This was my bedroom in the mid 90's.

50) Funky Friends. I remember the pencil case I had. The best bit about a new term was pencil case shopping.

51) A walkman. Deciding whether you want to insert your new S Club 7 CD or your Busted album was a genuine problem.

52) More fancy pens. Those Crayola mini stamper pens with star, moon, heart, circle, musical note, swirls, question mark shapes. They actually still sell these, guys!!

53) Those songs you made your own version of. Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin flew away. Uncle Billy lost his willy on the motorway, hey. Please tell me I'm not the only one who sang this.

54) The ice-cream man greeting your street. Running in for a pound for a screwball was the most tense time-ridden 2 minutes you'll ever experience.

55) Sending recorded songs from the TV through infared. This was when the kid in me began to fade but my teen days seem so long ago now that I can still class this is a child moment.

What memories stand out for you?

Bridie x

My 21st birthday: the gifts and the buys

Following on from my previous blog post about my birthday, I promised a post dedicated to the gifts I was bought and the things I decided to spend my birthday cash on. As per, I was bombarded with lots of lovely presents that represent me to a T. Every year, I'm completely spoilt by my family and my closest friends (I don't have many but those I do have are worth much more than people who don't care whether they're in your life or not). There's never anything I dislike (but even if there was I wouldn't even dream of saying it as I've been brought up to appreciate every little thing) as there's so much kindness and thoughtfulness that everyone goes into when buying for me. I think most people now know I love everything vintage, beauty, fashion, and homely so when receiving gifts, these are what I almost always find under the prettily wrapped paper and that does me just fine!

WHAT I WAS BOUGHT:

This beautiful cup in a candle tea set was from my brother's girlfriend and even though I've not known her that long, she certainly must have known my tastes as I adore this. It's so delicately made and the candle smells gorgeous. It's that kind of fine china that looks too precious to even touch but it'll make the perfect ornament for my shelf... when I finally get my hand on some shelves that is.

These mixture of goodies were from my cousin and his partner (as a girl, his partner obviously did the buying as men are often clueless!). She said she thought the top gifts would come in handy for a nice relaxing bath; two bath fizzers, bubble bath and a strong scented candle, and they certainly will. The photo frame was a little extra and was open for me to choose which picture I'd like. I've not got round to choosing a proper one yet so I just printed out my favourite picture of me and my mum sat embracing the sunshine in Trafalgar Square. The frame is simple but adorable. I love how 3D like the small details look and the champagne glasses at the bottom just complete the design.

These lovely treasures are from my friend, Charlotte. Once again, she knows me well and has chosen appropriately. More candles, but I'm not complaining. Yankee Candles are always my preference and Vanilla Cupcake is delightful, it makes me want to find a vanilla cupcake with the exact same taste (but my will power to stick to my diet thankfully disagrees). This drinking flask with the cutest bird and floral design insulates both hot and cold drinks, so that will be handy to grab whenever I need it.

Surprisingly, the makeup items I received were from my 16 year old brother. Well, not actually from him as my mum got them, but still. The MUA highlighter and Topshop blush in Flush have been on my wishlist for a while now and as a bonus, they're not too expensive so are affordable as a small gift. I've heard nothing but positive things about the highlighter and since using it, I completely agree; it gives such a healthy, subtle glow to the face. I haven't used the blush yet (mainly because it looks too appealing to touch and I'm saving it for my holiday) but I'll be sure to let you know when I have.

Ahh, shoes and clothes; my ultimate love. I'm getting to that age now where I can't have any surprises in the fashion area as I need to check whether they suit me before I go ahead and give people the all clear to buy it. Luckily, I have a mum who has exactly the same taste as me, so she never hesitates when it comes to going shopping and browsing for ideal presents. Usually I do give her a push in the right direction, which I did for these when she asked me what I'd like for my birthday. I've been after a pair of silver holographic sandals for ages now. As I mentioned before, I have a new found love in chunky heels and have been grabbing as many as I can for my holiday to Spain on Saturday (eeek!). These are gorgeous, and comfortable, so I'll be fine styling these up on my jollys. This beautiful kimono from New Look was a lucky buy, I'd had my eye on it for a while and kept checking the stock but suddenly, the sizes seemed to have disappeared. I panicked thinking I'd lost out on this gem but then a size 8 appeared so we whipped it up as fast as possible. I can pull off an 8 with a kimono as it's soft and flowy and fortunately, it fits just right. I can't wait to wear this both at home in the summer and abroad, it's one of those items you can throw over a basic outfit to add that extra colour and pattern.

Known as the most common gift for a 21st birthday, my Auntie and Uncle gave me £21 which I thought was nice and traditional of them. However, there was an extra something from my little cousin. Wrapped up especially for me was this all glam wine glass with a handful of chocolates and a scented heart which will be a great addition to my collection of hanging accessories in my room.

P.S. The teddy in the first picture was also a gift from my wonderful friend, Ross. I'm always a sucker for a snuggly Me to You bear. 

WHAT I BOUGHT:

FINALLY, I got my hands on a Naked Palette. As I've recently traveled to the world of eyeshadows, I knew exactly what I wanted to get with the £50 my Grandma gives me every birthday. The only problem was, I wasn't sure which Naked Palette to go for. Debating over the 4 prized palettes in the Oxford Street Debenhams for around 20 minutes, I decided to go for the first one. My first thoughts were: Naked Basics would suit me perfectly for every day use but for when I want that extra glamour and choice, I won't have anything to go to. Naked 2 was a very near joint first choice but I thought I would get more use out of the colours in 1. Naked 3 is the most recent hyped up product but as lovely as it looked, it was mostly pinky shades and they don't do me any justice. So I went for the first and am loving it so far, I can't wait to experiment more with mixing the colours when I have a reason to (i.e. my holiday next week!). The Origins Super Spot Remover was purchased just a few days ago with my remaining birthday money. It has been on my 'I must purchase these supposed life changing skincare products once I have enough money' list for so long now but I was quite surprised at the size of the bottle when I walked over to the Origins counter in Boots. I very nearly turned away and moved on as I didn't fancy paying £14 for a tiny thing like that but I changed my mind last minute and honestly, I'm glad I did. I reckon a little will go a long way for this so it should (hopefully) last me a decent amount of time. My forehead is having a seriously angry breakout at the moment and I can't seem to shift these pesky spots that are all grouped into one place so I started using this straight away. I only apply a small quantity to the surrounded area but it brings them right down so they're barely noticeable. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that regular use of this will be helpful in erasing them completely!

As I celebrated my birthday in the UK's biggest city, the prediction I'd spend most of my money as soon as I stepped foot onto the streets was spot on. Bershka was the first shop we entered, a shop I've never had the pleasure of being in before. For basics, it is amazing. I'd been wanting a pair of white trousers/leggings for a while and didn't feel as though I wanted to splurge on a pair of Zara or Topshop trousers. Thankfully I discovered these (and a fair few others) in the entrance. After fumbling to the changing rooms with my hands full and standing there for a good ten minutes, taking my time to decide, I went with these beauties. I loved the cropped fit and the gold zips up the top gave that more elegant look. At £19.99, these were a bargain. I just wish I wasn't so blooming clumsy as I wore them once and dirtied them right away. They're now freshly clean ready for the next use!

The difference in lighting in my room is ridiculous, so I apologise for the appalling quality. However, these last three items were my final buys. The black laced halter neck top from H&M (purchased when I got back home and received another card with a generous £10 in!) and the white cami and flowered skirt from Forever 21 on Oxford Street. I don't even think I can express my love for that three floored shop, I was wandering around picking most items up but resisted against my urge (which was a great breakthrough for me). I ended up just going for these summer items; a basic but pretty cami and a floral patterned skirt trimmed with my only weakness... lace! I now think it's about time Yorkshire opened their very first Forever 21 store, it'd certainly be ideal.

So that's that; I'm so happy with both what I bought and received. Now it's just the trouble of finding a place for the stuff in my already overly cramped room!

Woke up in London yesterday, found myself in the city near Piccadilly

A week ago today (wow how time flies), I tootled off to London with my mum, brother and grandma ready for a hectic weekend celebrating my 21st birthday. It certainly was hectic; upon arriving at the ridiculously humid Victoria Coach Station (seriously, it was like stepping off a plane and as a Northerner, I aren't used to that heat!), we never stopped and it certainly took its toll on me as I've done nothing but feel shattered since I came home. Unfortunately I didn't get to see ALL the sights I mentioned in my pre London post such as Camden Town, Southbank, Tower Bridge, and the whole of Hyde Park (because lets face it, you'd need more like a week for that) but of what I did see, I can say I officially fell in love.

I learnt some valuable tourist lessons whilst braving the crowds through the city centre and realised just how different it is to the every day life I'm used to. 1) Nobody drives in a calm, reasonable manner. 2) You cannot risk crossing the road without the green man as the cars won't stop and you will get run over. 3) You need to be a millionaire to eat there, get taxis, and pay for macaroons in Ladurée (£70 for a large box, what?!). 4) No matter how big you think your camera lens is, someone else will come along and take your place (mainly the Chinese tourists, I idolise their photography passion!). 5) Oxford Street is lethal to your bank balance. 6) You can't talk in a friendly manner to strangers like you do back home, as they will just respond with a blunt facial expression. 7) London west end musicals are the best kind of musicals. 8) Walking the entire route of London: Oxford Street to Regent Street, to Carnaby, to Piccadilly Circus, to Trafalgar Square, to Covent Garden, to Westminster and then Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace the next day is never a good idea (think of aching, sore feet and back complete with exhaustion and times it by ten, that's how I felt). 9) Not everything always goes to plan, especially in some stingy, weird, desolate club (my birthday night out was a disaster). 10) The entertainers painted like statues scattered around the centre will float in mid air and the trick will baffle you for the rest of your stay.

Despite how busy it was, I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I'm glad I chose to go over for my 21st as it was a great way to spend time and was different from the usual surroundings I'm stuck with. Everything is so pretty and picture worthy over there, I love how quirky the buildings are and the smaller, individual parts that capture your attention. I love how as you look around, everyone and everything is different, which is why this post contains an extremely heavy picture load (I will apologise now before I crack on).

When we arrived at our hotel (the Corus Hotel Hyde Park, I would seriously recommend it, especially the quad rooms for families), we were greeted by gorgeous, classy decor, a huge fluffy dressing gown each, and a box of chocolates which was truly appreciated after a long and draining 4 hour journey on the coach. I'm so happy we discovered this hotel and managed to get a good deal after our ridiculously stressful ordeal of finding a decent hotel with reasonable prices in London. We all had an extremely pleasant, relaxing stay (the beds were beyond comfy!) and I think the comfort definitely added to the contentment of our weekend (trust me, I was so worried that we'd end up somewhere we hated!).

Once we'd unpacked, settled in, and indulged in a well needed cuppa, we headed off to the cutest Italian restaurant just around the corner from where we were staying. The food was insanely good, I had to scrap my diet for the weekend (we went back and ate there on Saturday evening too) because once I start on the Italian food, I can't stop. I'm a sucker for pizza, pasta, bread, and chicken dishes and although my jelly belly doesn't like them, I certainly do. Anyway, it was nice to treat myself after so long.

Now for the biggy and admittedly, my most favourite part. After our meal, we made a beeline for the dainty Victoria Palace Theatre for the almighty Billy Elliot The Musical. All I can say is, wow. That show made me feel every emotion possible from start to finish. I was pretty shocked by how talented such young people can be. Every single member of the cast did a fantastic job of telling the story in the form of music and dance and the humour twist they put on it worked superbly (I laughed pretty much the whole way through, as well as holding back a few tears). I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't know to what extent it'd reach. I can honestly say it ticked all the boxes, it was amazingly performed and I had a whale of a time!

Afterwards, we got back to the hotel around 11pm. Of course, we were ready for a long snooze, but everyone had to stay up till midnight to wish (or sing rather) a happy birthday to me. I took centre stage for 20 minutes or so and opened all my cards and gifts of which were all lovely and thoughtful (a birthday present and birthday haul post will be live soon!). It was a nice start to my birthday, I felt appreciated and loved (and old) and couldn't wait to get started on the day ahead. 

As you can most likely see, Saturday was when the craziness started. To begin with, we woke up bright and early and took a stroll back down Paddington to see if there was anywhere we could eat. With it being a Saturday, nearly every cafe was chock-a and it took us a good 5-10 minutes (and a near fall in the middle of the road by yours truly) to reach a small shop that not only sold International Deli Foods, but also served up cheap but cheerful full English breakfasts. Once again, I treated myself; this time to a big birthday breakfast (but I didn't feel as guilty with the amount of calories we must have burnt that day), and even the kind owner of the shop gave me a free piece of cake as it was my birthday (I think my breakfast moment was the only moment I didn't get on camera). 

When we'd been fed and watered, our fun packed day began. As soon as we stepped on to Oxford Street to start our few hours shopping before we headed for the famous sights, I knew what kind of day it would be. I think I blew most of my birthday money on the first few shops (seriously, it was bad idea bringing me shopping, especially to the shops we don't have here in Leeds!). As I proudly wore my 21 badge, I got a few quick glances, some stronger stares, and even a seductively spoken "happy birthday" from a rather attractive, tanned skinned foreign man in the Lacoste shop (I felt pretty privileged at that moment in time). Once the shopping was done, we stopped and soaked up the landmarks of London. This gave me the perfect opportunity to capture the atmosphere, and maybe too much of an opportunity to go overboard, especially when all shapes and sizes of a nudist nature club came cycling down Trafalgar Square stark naked (I didn't include pictures of that because saggy bums isn't a sight I'd like to see on my blog *insert laughing emoji here*). 

The background setting near the most recognisable sights was one of my most admired scenes. Although the wind picked up once we hit the River Thames, it was so therapeutic and soothing to just unwind and favour the simple pleasures of the small details you could pick out, even from a distance. Big Ben (or Elizabeth Tower it's now known by) was even more fetching in person. Hearing the dong once the clock struck every half hour felt like I was on ITV News (no joke). Our last and most pointless journey was the walk to try and find Buckingham Palace (seriously, why is nothing sign posted in such a huge city?!). We got sent/took the wrong way a dozen times and in the end, after vigorous sighs of tired breaths, we gave it up as a bad job and went back to the hotel (which was the correct decision to make as on our way back, we found out it was miles away!)

Me and my mum did not have the slightest bit of energy to get ready to go out but we did anyway, to just then be sat with around 10 other people in a dull club watching Tom (Parker, the person we'd gone to see) watch the England game with his friends and partner, when he was supposed to be performing and DJ'ing. It was a waste of time and money, and to be honest I wished we'd have stayed back at the hotel with my grandma and brother, cozying up in the luxurious beds with Custard Creams, nodding off whilst England lose. That kind of bliss would have been more suited to me! Not the greatest end to my birthday, but nice to see his face again, even if we didn't actually see it (if that makes sense).

Finally, the next morning we continued with our early routine. Went for breakfast, got asked by the same man whether I had a nice birthday (bless!) and then went back to the hotel to finish off packing our stuff up ready for checkout at 12. Before checkout time, we thought we'd wander off to Hyde Park (well what we thought was Hyde Park) as it was dead opposite our hotel. Only, that turned out to be Kensington Gardens and the main area of Hyde Park was nowhere near. We tried to walk a little to find  the location but our legs were borderline dead so we headed back. I was gutted I'd not seen the park but I was also very tired from the delightful weekend activities I was entirely grateful for. Plus, on the way back I came across a number of artists displaying their unique work which was lovely and uplifting. As we couldn't find Buckingham Palace on Saturday, we took a cab down as soon as we'd left the hotel and spent a good hour there before we had to leave for our coach. The weather was awful, completely different from what it was like 2 days before, but that didn't stop me from admiring the beauty that was her majesty's accommodation. The structure was stunning, as were the golden gates, the statues and the blossomed gardens aside from the building itself. The place being surrounded by British flags made me feel quite patriotic, but I did think the queen should have allowed us in for a classic cup of tea after all the hard work it took to get there! We finished off with another 4 1/2 hour coach home. I was right about the sleeping, I cat napped for most of the journey and felt pretty rough but it was worth it for sure!

Have you ever been to London? Or even better, do you lucky folk live there/visit regularly? Everything seems to happen in the capital and I guess that's a good thing and a bad thing, but what I do know is that it's a somewhat spectacular place. 

I hope I didn't bore you too much with my rambling! Keep an eye out for a follow up birthday post concentrating on my gifts and what I spent my money on. Have a lovely weekend!