I celebrated my birthday last Tuesday with a lot less fuss that I normally do. Birthdays just aren't as exciting as you get older and I'm not really a fan of big nights out anymore. I followed Hollie's lead and baked my own cake this year (a bit less visually appealing than Hollie's though) so I got exactly what I wanted. I like simple cakes but I'm not a fan of shop bought ones so I made a basic sponge with a cream cheese frosting and a colourful surprise inside.

I was very lucky this year when it comes to gifts and I got a beautiful rose bush from Martyn's sister and Martyn bought me a bike so we can go for rides together and improve our fitness. I've been going to yoga and the gym and I'm hoping a bit of cycling will compliment that.


I hope that you've been having a lovely time too, what have you been up to? Please leave some links so I can have a good snoop at your days out.

I'm right in the middle of a major dress dilemma. I want some dresses for my birthday weekend but I'm not sure if I want something summery because my birthday is in August or something more practical which will take me through to Autumn. I think I'm being swayed by all the lovely dresses in the sales at the moment and can't focus  on one or two. I'm going for a day out in Bath and meal in Cardiff Bay in the evening and Sunday lunch and a beer garden the next day so lots of conflicting requirements.

I've narrowed it down to the following dresses:

The feminine Ted Baker dress is gorgeous, very floaty and ladylike. It's on sale at Box Clothing which I normally associate with menswear but they also stock some ladies clothing and this dress is £135 instead of the original price of £299! It's got a lovely bow and flower embellishment which you can't really see in the photos and an underskirt so it's nice and full. Very tempted by a few other dresses on that site from the Pretty Dress Company too.

A rather sad title but lots of lovely things to report on. I took a week off work last week for my birthday and tried to cram in as many days out as I could and sample plenty of cakes. Sadly the week I chose to have off work was filled with downpours and I couldn't go camping like a planned but I still managed to have lots of fun.



Last Sunday I went for a mammoth walk around Cardiff and picked up a tasty Indian breakfast at the Riverside market and headed towards Bute park for a relaxing afternoon. I've seen the NZ football team and Brazilian teams train in the park recently and saw the GB team leaving Cardiff after their defeat on the weekend :( Cardiff has been buzzing with Olympic fever this week, nice to feel part of it all even though I don't live in London. I had a mid week birthday meal with friends because a few of us have birthdays in the same week. My friends know me very well and got me a caterpillar cake and Brit pop album. You can't beat a night in with the girls.
I went for lunch and cocktails and spent a small fortune on new jumpers, make up and clutch bags. Once I get started I just can't stop... I got a GOSH eyebrow pen and have been playing with it this week but I've not quite got the hang of it yet (major scouse brow)



I had a joint birthday celebration with my friends Jack and Harri on the weekend and we went for food at Mezza Luna which was a great little place on City Road in Cardiff. We had some Moroccan food and there was even a belly dancer, we all got roped into belly dancing but I have no rhythm at all so wont be taking that up as my new vocation. Emma made a ruffle icing, pastel layer cake masterpiece which tasted great, I think she should make me one every weekend. YUM.



I went to see a band called Mowbird in my new favourite venue Gwdihw (Welsh for owl) and got some great shots on my instax camera. I ate even more cake, this time with some comedy 1D decoratoins which Rosie would appreciate. I tried out some IMpress nails which looked fab and were so easy too apply, great for a night out.
I went to Bristol yesterday for the Bristol Bloggers Meetup that Kim and Steph organised, they did a geat job and it was good to see them again along with the lovely Lily, Hannah and Sammy. It was also lovely to meet some new people like Amie , Chloe Lee and Sophie. I always enjoy meet ups but get a little nervous and babble so I'm sorry if I went a little off topic. It was a great way to round off my my birthday week off.

I wish all weeks could be like this!

I had a lovely birthday this year, much more relaxed than usual but I'm getting old now! My mam and brother know I'm a crazy Dr Who and Harry Potter fan girl so I got a hilarious selection of cakes cards and a Hogwarts letter which came with a Hogwarts Express ticket too. I always wished that I was a witch as a kid, I was obsessed with Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Worst Witch and Sabrina.

Just had my nails done with shellac polish, it really is fab. I had it on for the Birmingham meet up and a wedding I went to the week after, it lasted two weeks with no chips or scratches. It costs £10 for a shape and polish which I don't think is too bad because of how long it lasts.


I've been looking for things to dress my room with and a bedside table for ages so I went to Whitchurch in Cardiff yesterday to do some charity shopping and I was so happy with what I found. I got a bedside table for £1!!! I just bought some crystal handles on ebay to but on there and I'm going to sand and paint it the same colour cream as my wardrobe. I also got this cute hand coloured print for 50p, I will probably put it in one of my nicer frames. Where do you go to look for bargains?



 






















After all my long day of bargain hunting I went for lunch in Fino Lounge and had some tapas, it was soo good.

I'm off to get ready for a night out with my friends now, I'm going for a meal and some cocktails and I have no idea what to wear eeek!