hello i'm back, i'm older, wiser and hotter than ever
sorry about the hiatus but it was my birthday, and life was happening!
Just like retrogrades have their shadow periods, so does my birthday (aka the energy lingers on a little longer than the exact time). Most people close to me know I love to drag my birthday on longer than the actual day, but, I swear there is a reason!! My brother and I share the same birth month, and we were born four days and three years apart. So my parents would often clump our birthdays together to save money (I’m sure I’ll understand this logic when I have kids of my own, especially in this economy!!!!) Things would be ‘for the both of us’ rather than just for me. Is that selfish/extra that I wanted my own party? Maybe? It’s very diva of me (hello Aries rising), but when everyone else around me growing up had their 21st birthdays, and I had to share it with my brother’s 18th - I think it makes sense as to why I want to celebrate my birthday now for as long as possible.
I saw someone ask if we can retire the phrase “another year around the sun” but I’m a fan and refuse to accept it being cringe. I am embracing cringe. It’s 2024 and I turned 33, which is supposedly a gorgeous and stunning age to turn. It’s supposed to be lucky, the year where you close out a cycle and begin a new one, almost as if you figure out exactly who you are. I was always terrified of turning 30, but truthfully, every year that passes I’m enjoying it more and more because I’m finally the most ‘me’ I’ve ever been. So let me reintroduce myself.
I’ve also realised, I don’t have to please everyone, not everyone will like me, and I don’t have to like everyone. I listen to my body - if my body feels off, around people, places, or decisions, I will very strongly say yes or no. Being cringe? I embrace her. I am dramatic, I’m a theatre kid. I love pop music, and I will dance like a dork to it all day long. But I also like ambient electronic, techno, jazz and classical music. I am a hopeless romantic and live for a rom-com. My favourite colour is pink and I love sequins and sparkles. If something has puff sleeves I will buy it and wear it. I don’t read as much as I would like, and I’m ok with that, but I will occasionally deep dive on a subject and read a tonne of peer-reviewed academic journals instead. I love fashion, I always have, and I feel like I’m living my dream life, although sometimes I have pretty crippling imposter syndrome, and more recently I’ve felt disheartened about the state of my industry. That being said I’ve had to remind myself I’m not going anywhere, and so here’s me reintroducing myself to you now. I have a Pinterest board dedicated to my personal style rediscovery. It’s called ‘fairy tomgirl’. I sort of feel like Jojo Siwa (we actually share the same birthday) when she thought she was inventing a new genre of music (gay pop is just pop) because I’m pretty sure ‘fairy tomgirl’ is just coquette mixed with Scandi style meets rockstar girlfriend.. but let me have this ok it’s still my birthday *energetically*. I struggle to find references of this style in my size though on Pinterest, so I’m going to be that girl. I am also a sensitive soul, I cry at everything, and I’ve become the most ok with that - because if you don’t feel, are you even human?
But BACK to my birthday…
I allow myself a few occasions to buy new clothes each year, outside of when I am gifted clothing. One is fashion weeks, and the other is my birthday, because.. treat yourself. Everything I ordered though, didn’t fit! Things were either too short (tall girl problems) or too big - which is really annoying because I’ve stopped buying my “size” and going off the sizing charts (one of the perks of taking measurements for my job), which you’d think I’d have more accuracy with. I think this was the universe’s sign to wear something I already owned - I definitely have enough to choose from.
SO I wore the most stunning dress from a little vintage store I LOVE that I wish I could buy everything from. It’s in London, Lovers Lane in Notting Hill - they have so much incredible vintage designer pieces, though sadly not much for the bigger gals unless you’re ok with “squeezing” into the stretchy Gaultier (of which they have plenty!) I will always buy Gaultier if I can, but I think on that trip I’d bought one amazing piece already. I’m kind of obsessed with the bodycon silhouette at the moment.
When I hosted my Christmas bash last year I over-committed in the kitchen, not only did I make everything from scratch but I also catered for about 100 more people than I even invited. I get SO excited about Christmas but there was sadly, so much food wastage, that this year I decided to keep it really simple - after all, unless it’s a sit-down dinner, and even though we should, who eats that much at a party?
I love to cook to a theme, and I was inspired by a spread I saw on the internet, that was Marseille inspired. I bought demi-baguettes from Maison Matho (probably the best jambon beurre I’ve had outside of France) - think copious amounts of light but creamy slightly salted butter with thick ribbons of ham off the bone, and thinly sliced cornichons. I made a little crudités platter, with my own tzatziki, three different types of hors d’oeuvres, spring salad with lavender honey vinaigrette, as well as cucumber and goat cheese bites! I also made my own lavender butter for dipping with little radishes but I forgot to put it on the table. As I’m typing this all out, I’m realising this was still a large undertaking!
I want to shout out a few of the things that made the day one of my best birthdays yet. Floral Art by Mia in Los Feliz is hands down the best florist. Mia found the most beautiful peonies for my tablescape and threw in some extras for me. Thanks to Hampton Water for sending the rosé. If you’re on the east side of LA, Lou Wines in Los Feliz is also the place to go for some fun natty wines. Maison Matho for sandwiches. My cake was from Ya Queremos Pastel, and the macarons from Bottega Louie.
A birthday wouldn’t be a birthday without a wishlist of things I want (whether that’s something I buy myself, or, am maybe one day *gifted* <3 The Chopova Lowena SSENSE exclusive White Wedding Mini Pearl Bag, this Simone Rocha skirt, the Alaia rhinestone ballet flats (I’ve thought about it, and seen them irl and I LOVE), and this vintage Chanel Bucket Bag. Yes, I have expensive taste, I am a Taurus.
Here’s another wishlist of organisations that need gifts; Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, Women for Women International, The Humanitarian Guard, Darfur Women Action. If you’re even remotely thinking about buying any of the above, you’ll have a little to spare for the things that really matter.
Until next time (much sooner I promise),
With love xx