Birthday thoughts....

 

It's been a year of learning for me.  As I enter the last year of my 20's I am grateful to have had the opportunity to grow up and become an adult.  The life of many I know was cut short, much, much too soon.  But this year has also forced me to slow down a lot.  I simply don't have the energy to live the life I was used to.  I sometimes miss the old pace, but I know that I need my 9-10 hours sleep now and I don't battle against it.  It's been a long 10 months and learning about auto immune disease took me longer than I expected and distressed me more than I would have liked, but the forced changes have got me on the mend.  Maybe I seem a bit selfish now, often saying no, but there is no alternative for me.  I eat a lot of apples, do some light exercise and sleep.  A lot.

And my consumption has truly minimised.  Instead of buying I now sell.  And besides, acid green crop tops hold no appeal to me.  Even my old faithful Scanlan & Theodore isn't what it used to me in my eyes and for my style. 

So the dilemma around what to do with my birthday money started to consume me over the past few weeks.  I wanted to reward myself with something nice, as was my goal at the beginning of the year (to only buy quality items) instead of spending my birthday money on a couple of small things that later down the track disappear.

I'd had my old Fendi wallet since 2008 when I spent an absurd amount of money while trapped at Bangkok airport for 14 hours.  If there's an airport designed to suck every cent out of your bank account (and put a huge dint into your credit card as well) it's certainly Bangkok.

So now I'm a proud owner of a new and much needed wallet.

A review post to follow...  

September

In the fashion world September is big.  Huge.  The change of seasons marks a new beginning and a change in weather has our thoughts turning to what we'll be wearing next summer as the fashion week circuit kicks off in New York.

9/11 is also on our minds as we relive that life changing day and see what those that were the most affected are up to.

The magazines are thick and the stores are turning to Christmas (already). 

I'm thinking about my plans for summer (some time in Byron Bay TICK, some days at the tennis TICK).  The usual.  I'm tiring of sweaters and boots but it doesn't look like they'll be packed away any time soon.

And this September I'm trying not to hate my birthday.  Despite waking up with a terrible, terrible cold.

I'll even buy myself a gift.  And eat cake.  Maybe.  Bon weekend.

via habitually chic

"Between the fear that something would happen and the hope that still it wouldn't, there is much more space than one thinks. On that narrow, hard, bare and dark space a lot of us spend their lives." Ivo Andric

As I mentioned in a previous post, for years and years I haven't marked my birthday whatsoever.  Something always happened in the lead up and this year was no different, but I'm so glad that I organised to see my dear friends and mark the occasion!  Life is too precious and too short.

I met with my first group of friends after work for some drinks.  I probably haven't been 'out' all year! Hmmm.  We had a lovely booth at a bar with lots of drinks and some nibblies to share.

On Saturday, my actual birthday I spent the day with B in South Melbourne, visiting an endless amount of shops, bookstores, antique furniture stores, drinking too many soy lattes and lunching on the most amazing fruit toast with home made jam at St Ali.  It was such a lovely, warm-ish early spring day, spent doing my favourite things with my favourite person!

Today I was joined by some other friends for a long lunch at St Kilda beach, including my newest friend, baby A!  I can't get enough of him and will be so sad when he moves away with his mummy (who is one of my closes friends) so they can finally be together with his daddy in Adelaide.  

And tonight B and I had a wonderful, romantic dinner at Donovan's. It's such a lovely, warm and intimate restaurant with an open fire place, serving hearty, wholesome and rustic food.

Thank you to each and everyone of my wonderful friends for making it such a wonderful, memorable birthday.

And of course the gifts, which have been trickling in all week!

My friend D, surprised me with a package at work.  The lip balms are brilliant, and there's enough for each hand bag no more dry lips when forgetting one in another bag.  Brilliant.  And anything Aesop I love!  Am yet to try and moisturising oils.  Thanks babe! 

Now, B knew how much I wanted a remote for my camera, and he was more than happy to oblige so that he'd also be relieved that he would no longer have to take photos of me!  Little did I expect something from Chanel too!  He went early in the morning to get a hair cut, came home, yet there was no hair cut! Only a gift from Chanel =D

It's a lovely, elegant, crystal pendant...

The Chanel birthday continued, thanks to my sister in law!

My friend D totally spoilt me with a gorgeous bow clutch, 4 mini Essie polishes and a bottle of the new Gucci Guilt fragrance!  

And my friend A and baby A got me some stunning jewellery.

Everyone knows my tastes far too well!  Thanks guys!  I'd be nothing with you all! xo

“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.”

Tomorrow morning, I'm going to leap out of bed...

Do my hair AND my make up...

Put on something fabulous...

And meet my friends after work for a drink to reflect and actually celebrate my birthday.  Something I haven't done for many years...