This past Saturday and Sunday was my official birthday weekend but we all know I will spend the whole month celebrating. My actual birthday fell on the Monday – the first weekday birthday I have had in two years – and I was looking forward to it.
The festivities began when work finished Friday night, I met up with Miss A, who was in town visiting from Canberra, and we headed back to Casa Sarah for some champers and a catch up! Lot’s of bubbles later we headed over to Bamboo and Lily Thai for dinner, then back to the city to partake in further drinking at Cookie Rooftop (or Curtin House for those of you who know Melbourne best!). It was a balmy night to be on a rooftop and we laughed and enjoyed the views with the after work crowds. From here it was on to Tony Starr’s Kitten Club for cocktails and further fun and frivolity.
Saturday dawned bright and beautiful; Miss A and I took a visit (via the scenic route when I took a wrong turn) to Brunswick for a spot of op shopping and some fabulous coffee. The Savers Superstore is the place to be – I picked up some vintage slips, elbow length gloves and a tote while Miss A (a fabulous fashionista and designer herself!) procured two tops that will be inspiration and possibly even could be reworked into some seriously sensational new threads. We frocked up for our trip to Madame Brussels for the afternoon (you can read that blog post in detail here) and by the time I got home a quiet night on the couch with Vogue Australia and Cool Runnings was the perfect way to spend a night in.
While Miss A had my couch on Friday night, Miss W had the honours on Saturday night and Sunday morning began with driving a slightly less perky Miss W home (a hens night will do it to you every time!). A few episodes of The OC to fill in the day and by 2pm I was in my birthday dress, pouring a birthday drink, with birthday hair and makeup all set to go. At 3pm, we hit Honey, a South Melbourne bar with plenty of spunk, to celebrate my entry to the next quarter century club (yep, that’s right, I’m totally over the (first) hill).
As friends arrived we drank, laughed and chatted away the afternoon. Champagne, cocktails (on the house for the birthday girl thanks to the wonderful team at Honey) and yummy finger food were all part of the celebrations and I could not have asked for a more special gathering for my birthday. In all, about 15 of my nearest and dearest made the trip into town and by the time we returned to my apartment close to 8pm I was feeling happy and content – and the big day hadn’t even arrived yet!
When it did, my first thoughts were to thank the birthday fairies for blessing me with a birthday miracle. No hangover. I put on (another) birthday frock and headed into work for a day filled with emails, text messages, phone calls, facebook mentions, hugs and good wishes. We had lunch at Poppy’s Thai, there was cake thanks to my boss (and gluten free!) and I left on the dot of 5pm. People wondered why I didn’t take the day off but why would you want to miss spending the day with wonderful people who treat you like a princess on your special day!?
Dinner was with family and worth only having half a piece of cake in the afrternoon for. My favourite home cooked meal, cheesecake and sponge cake, a pile of gifts and a visit from close family friends. When I was full to bursting and felt like I couldn’t smile anymore, I jumped in the car to head back the city (and smiled all the way).
This birthday was truly special and amazingly perfect – I would not have changed one thing. Thank you to everyone who made me feel so happy and loved!!
(Image 1: Miss A, myself and Miss R at Madame Brussels; Image 2: Miss W, Miss M, Miss T and me and Honey)
