We were caught up & lost in all of our vices

It was one of my favourite people's birthday on Sunday; Miss Charlotte Wall from The Tea Drinking English Rose & to celebrate, on Monday, myself, Charlotte & our friend Suz spent the day in Whitstable.

Thankfully the weather held out & it was lovely, sunny & warm for the most part.

We strolled along to the beach, popping into all of the cute little shops along the way.  There were several with the most amazing flowers for sale.  I wanted to buy them all!  I should buy flowers more often, the house seems so much nicer when it's filled with flowers.

When we got to the beach we stopped for a spot of lunch.  I went with scampi, Kent Beer battered sausage & chips!  I didn't manage to finish it all, but it was pretty yum.  I may have been pretty full, but I still managed to find room for a butterscotch ice cream afterwards.  Naturally!

After a cute day at the beach, the three of us went back to the car & had a slice of the lemon cake I'd made for Miss Wall's birthday.

I spotted this bit of artwork on a wall along the way & it pretty much summerised how I was feeling.

x

I'm officially twenty five & not pretending anymore!

I decided to spend my twenty fifth birthday sipping cocktails with Miss Wall in Barcelona.

I thought it was a good idea.  I hate birthdays.  They just never live up to my expectations!  When I was a kid, birthdays were exciting & I felt really special on the day.  We always did something fun & I got LOADS of presents.  But now I'm no longer pre-pubescent, I no longer get bags of gifts, feel giddy with excitement or even feel remotely special on the big day.  So I have taken to spending it abroad, then I can ignore the fact that it's my birthday.  It's worked for the past seven years so, y'know.

This was my first birthday in Barcelona, but my third time in the city.  I love Barcelona.  It's like the perfect getaway.  It's got the bussle of the city with the relaxation factor of the beach.  Parfait!

Charlotte & I spent the first few days sunning ourselves on the beach.  It was incredibly hot & humid, but thankfully for once I managed to avoid burning!  I may not be blacker than liquorice now, but I am a pretty shade of mocha.  [sigh]

Evenings were spent dining out at fanciful restaurants around town, with every meal accompanied by cocktails & floral ice creams.  Turns out Barcelona is big on Mojitos!  On my actual birthday on Thursday, we decided to dine at my favourite restaurant Attic, on La Rambla, which has an amazing rooftop restaurant & bar.  They managed to fail with an over salty boiger but they redeemed themselves when they served up my pudding with a big fat candle in it.

Overall, I had a faboosh time & am now morose to be back to rainy England.  [sad face]  I am however, still in the process of receiving gifts & cards from friends (the benefit of being away for your birthday, you get to drag it out a bit), which is keeping me happy.  In fact tomorrow I am off to see Sir Fleming for lunch & to finally get my septum pierced!  Wish me luck!

Let's get out of this town, baby we're on fire

Apparently I have a problem with the bottle...

Well, darn it, I've tried to kick the habit, but the love of pastel just keeps me coming back for more.

It shall be a lavender floral birthday in Barcelona after all...

Free like a bird & this bird you cannot change

After what has seemed like an eternity, I finally got paid today.  You would think this would be a joyous occasion, however, as with every payday, it is just another reminder that I have failed, rather spectacularly, to get my shit together.  Eighteen months on a part-time wage.  It's enough to make any girl worth her weight in Vogue run for the Prozac!  I even broke my, most sacred, Barcelona bikini diet & had a second bar of Green & Black's.  My thighs will not thank me, or my bank balance, tomorrow.

No, people, this was one pay check too many, I am finally ready to actually make an effort to seek full-time employment!  I mean I'm actually considered an adult in some countries!  Like, twenty five is considerably old these days!  Hell, peeps are getting married & procreating & shizzle!  Peeps I know!  Makes me literally sick to my Louboutins!  If I had any Louboutins.

I can't deny my materialistic intentions in life.  It's no good having a Michael Kors watch, if you don't have it in every finish (currently lusting over the acrylic version) & there's no point in having JC Litas if you don't have a pair to go with every outfit!  I mean, what am I, an amateur!

Enough is enough!

To help make me feel better (& prettier), I did a spot of late night online shopping.  Dangerous, I know, especially with my weak-ass wage, but I did manage to bag myself some bargains!  I got two pots of La Riche Directions Lavender hair dye (trying a new shade for July) & their shampoo & conditioner for fourteen pounds!  Holla!  I'm hoping the shampoo & condish will help keep the colour for longer, 'cause dang, that shit washes out quick!

But I'm excited in any case, as Miss Wall & I shall be taking TeamPastel (twitter ref, natch) on vacay to Barcelona for my anniversaire in just a few short weeks.  Where we shall bake ourselves Costa Rican, drink ourselves into Betty Ford & eat 'til we've gained a pound (no more, we still have to be seen half naked on the beach you know).

In the meantime, to further inspire you to join TeamPastel, as it lovingly takes over the summer...

Just give me everything I want & nobody gets hurt!

¿Cómo estás bitches?  I received my very first birthday card yesterday!  All the way from my homeland; France!  Albeit, exceptionally early, it was very exciting to receive & now that we are in the lead up to the big day (yes, I still get excited for birthdays), I believe it is now time to provide you with my official birthday wish list.  Y'know, so you know what to get me & you bitches better get me something!

número uno

 

 Religion Ford Sunglasses - £50.00

These acrylic bad bois are gonna be parfait for my 90's minimal chic wardrobe.

Obviously, due to my (most likely hereditary) blindness, I will require them to have prescription lenses.  Luckily for you, my favourite website; eyewearbrands.com do free lenses & free delivery & are cheaper than anywhere else.  You're welcome.

número dos

 

 

MAC Impeccable Brow Pencil - £11.50

 Don't ever feel that you're copping out by buying me the essentials, 'cause believe me, nothing makes me happier than the gift of MAC!  Especially when we are talking about brow pencils.  I wasn't naturally blessed with full shapely brows & so, this item is my lifeline.  I had always used it in Dirty Blonde, but then I thought I'd take a gamble & change to Blonde, after I bleached my hair.  This was unfortunately a gamble which failed to pay off, as I now have seemingly amber hued arches.  I checked MAC's website & for some horrifying & unknown reason, they no longer seem to list either of these colours, so I'd advise you visit a counter.

número tres

 

 

MAC Bronzing Powder - £18.50

 Along with my need for pencil, my need for bronzer is equally important & life assisting!  My naturally porcelain skin, requires this level of coverage to make me appear less Edward Cullen & more Eva Mendes.  I usually opt for the Matte Bronze.

número cuatro

 

 

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 - £19.50

In order for me to look as fabulous as I clearly am, I need this foundation in my life!  It's max coverage & hey, it's even SPF 15, so extra brownie points for me.  I used to use the palest shade they had, but then I realised that bronze is best, so now I'm all over NC25 like a heat rash.

número cinco

 

 

 Topman Denim Shirt - £30.00

I've posted on this before, that's how much I like it.  I have a thing for menswear, what can I say!

 

número seis

 

River Island Rucksack - £30.00

Again, posted this twinky before.  Even popped into River Island today & had a casual try-on.  Think this could totes work for me.

There's not particularly anything else I want...That isn't lovingly expensive, so y'know.  

I'm a list kinda girl, so don't waste your hard earned dollar on something you think I might like...'Cause I probably won't like it & then I'll have to incur bad karma lying to you that I do.  Failing everything, Topshop vouchers are always welcome.  But, I don't mind doubling up on the cosmetics side of things.  You can never have too much MAC.

la deuxième partie

In the midst of my abandonment, I have finally arranged my birthday vacay!  I haven't been able to spend a birthday in England since I was seventeen.  After I spent my eighteenth birthday in Paris, I realised that birthday vacays were the way forward.  Otherwise it's just twenty four hours of disappointment.  True story.

My original idea of spending a week chillaxing in Tuscany, got dropped for my usual Parisian jaunt, which then later got kicked to the curb for a week in Barcelona!  We're talking hours upon hours spent bronzing on the beach, sipping copious amounts of Sangria & indulging in floral ice creams.  I don't think I could have simplified it any more really.

In my traditional random nature, my traveling companion shall be none other than Miss Wall of The Tea Drinking English Rose.  Yes, we may have only met once, but hey, when you know you know, right?  It doesn't take me long to know if I like someone or not & trust me, I don't like a lot of people.  I may look nice, but I'm a mean bitch.

la première partie

I've been absent.  I apologise.  I'm back now.  Honest.  Things, so many things, have been keeping me away from you.  Firstly, organising a 50th birthday tea party, for one of the most unsociable people I know; mère.

A good few weeks were spent awkwardly making arrangements for it, without her knowing.  Surprises & I don't go down too well.  I'm a known snitch.  But I managed it.  Although the stress of it certainly got to me & me being me, the organisation of this task was left very much down to the last minute.  There was me, the night before, baking three different types of cake at gone one in the morning.  But, regardless of all the stress involved, the birthday girl seemed to have a good time.  Especially for someone so anti-social.

I would like to state that the Victoria Sponge, Buttermilk Scones & Banofee Cupcakes were my contribution, oh & the Pimm's punchbowl, which I think mère had the majority of.  Drunkard.

When the party was finally over, the famille et moi went for cocktails for my cousin Kate's birthday.  There were cocktails, cocktail umbrellas, bartender oggling & then some shots...some more shots & then it just went downhill from there.  I won't lie, there were ill conceived dance-offs.  My cousin inadvertently cock-blocking me, as everyone thought he was my boyfriend!  (Ick factor 3000!)  Then to top it all off, their sister popped out a sprog at two in the morning.  Gawd, what a day!

Recap

So, this weekend was redonkulous!  First off I had a MASSIVE breakdown over The Boy, who I'm thinking of renaming The Pleb.  (Thoughts?)  He basically kicked me to the kerb AGAIN, but in a more official heart breaking kinda way.  (Massive fucking douchebag alert!)

I had a massively hectic weekend planned, that I felt like abandoning with pathetic sadness, but thankfully refused to give up on in the end, 'cause hey bitches it was my friend's birthday & dumping on your friends in UNCOOL!  M'ckay!  Especially on their birthday!

So, I ploughed through work on Saturday & then hopped in my lil wagon & drove through the mean streets of Lewisham & some other unworldly places to get to Luceth's newly acquired abode in Kennington.  There was alcohol, there was pizza, there were some academic types & then there was South London Pacific.

Hawaiian themed bars that aren't uncool are hard to find, but we managed it.  Many pitchers of (loosely laced) alcoholic fruity cocktails were consumed.  A whole lotta dancing went down & the birthday girl made sure to have many a self-loathing aging complex tantrum.  Good times.

I have to admit, the night was made even better (if at all possible) by the fact that I met the hawtest guy, possibly in the world ever (okay, mild exaggeration).  Literally though, massive crush formed rather instantaneously.   I was like 'The Boy who!?'

Mr Neptune (as he shall formally be known), is still a tenderoni, but what appears to be a much more knowledgeable, put together kind of a tenderoni.  Give him some ink & I would be on it like a car bonnet!  No lie.  Dayumn fine kisser too!

After giving myself a whole four hours to recuperate,  I was back in the wagon, taking a lovely drive through Brixton, to get to work.  Balled my way through work, with thankfully, a not so horrific hangover & then headed out to Canterbury for teacup cocktails.

The only ish was the teacups were limited to ONE type of cocktail.  Who does that!  I felt I had a right to complain, but I relented & drank various other concoctions in martini glasses instead.  Dirty rotten bastards.

Joining me that evening was, my lover from another mother, SuzyQ & the delectable Charlotte Wall from The Tea Drinking English Rose.  Of whom I had not had the pleasure of meeting before!  I feel a somewhat instantaneous bond, to the degree that even if she didn't want to be friends...We're gonna be!

I believe we shall be frequenting The Ballroom more often from now on, though most definitely on a Saturday in future!  Last night was cute, live folk musik, soft lighting, but very quiet, whereas a Saturday night would clearly be more enlivening!  I also suspect it is the type of establishment that encourages the type of dapper bachelor I am looking for.  Mr Neptune is sumptuous, but one must always be equipped with options, especially after the last balls up!

To conclude, I had an amazing weekend, filled with friends, alcohol, French kissing... & have spent the entirety of today in bed, bar the short drive to the supermarché to get my mitts on some much needed chocolat!  If only every weekend  could be like this.  [sigh]

Bon Anniversaire

Today would have been my papa's sixty sixth birthday!  It's weird, he'd be nearly seventy!  Dayumn, that's old!  He always looked fresh to death though, handsome bastard.  Shortly after he died I went & got a tattoo for him...

It's an attachment to a large set of flowers I already had trailing down my arm.  I told him I was going to get it before he died, kinda weird he'll never see it.  I don't think it's death itself that's sad, it's more the missing of them.  Not being able to tell them anything or show them something or even hug them ever again.  What's worse is that all we have left are the memories & we'll never be able to make new ones with them.

But at least he is free from his ailing body...

...& that's probably for the best.

Love Affair

As my twenty fifth birthday is slowly but surely approaching, I wanted to provide you with more options, in regards to gifts...Y'know, in case you're feeling generous.

Yves Saint Laurent's Belle Du Jour wallet in bubblegum pink, is my utmost favourite!  I actually NEED this in my life.

You can purchase it for me here.

If I unwrap this on my birthday, I will LOVE you forever, m'ckay?

x

Joyeux Anniversaire!

Today is Mr Piggle's birthday!

He is all of three years old!

Such a pup.

x