Sunday, February 24, 2013

Birthday lingering


So, Legoman came through with the best present in the world for my birthday. Despite several of his work colleagues expressing horror that he was getting me a kitchen appliance, he knew that this pistachio beauty was what I had been hankering for. And this wasn't just any birthday. Nope, it was was one of those significant, mid life crisis associated type birthdays. You know the ones.


And goodness , I had no idea how seriously everyone else took these kind of special days. I myself still feel about twenty three, so adding a zero onto a birthday doesn't really make me feel any different but boy was I more than happy to be swept up by the momentum.

When my mum offered to take the kids for a sleepover and all the girls at work were appalled  that I planned to just stay home, the suggestions came thick and fast. So off to a hotel we went. The only other time I have stayed in a hotel in Brisbane was before my wedding twelve years ago, so it was a little bit exciting. And the views from the Sofitel elevator are pretty spectacular.


And it is within walking distance to some shops that I have not seen the inside of since before I became acquainted with maternity undies. Oh Alannah Hill, how I wish I could get a job working in your gorgeous store, to gaze on the glorious wallpaper and access the generous staff discount. Apparently, the store is due for a makeover as this usually happens every seven years but I love this one exactly as it is.



Heavily discounted sale items were purchased. So easy to do when you are shopping on your actual birthday. Without children. It was a milestone moment.


Nothing was purchased in here, but look at those lights. Crystal decanters I think? You really notice the lights everywhere when you are currently in the process of choosing some for your own renovation.


This was all followed up by dinner at a lovely french restaurant, a sleep in until eight am and a hotel buffet breakfast. With only hours to go, there was just one more child free moment to squeeze in. With birthday money to spend too.


Woolloongabba Antique Centre, how I love thee when I can wander your halls, lingering in a way that the mother of small children never, ever lingers anywhere. And when you linger longer, goodies just speak to you.


A beautiful little shelf and an old tin covered in budgies. Happy, happy, happy. And back to my children for marble cake, candles, birthday songs and homemade cards.

While my first two score hasn't turned out quite the way I had expected, it is a good feeling to take a moments pause and appreciate the experiences I have had being married, having two beautiful children and a job that I still find incredibly satisfying. And while I still feel twenty three in my heart, I know in my head that I am wiser, stronger, humbler, less judgemental and better at trusting my intuition than that young whipper snapper. Oh and I have a lot more grey hairs and need one hell of a lot less sleep. My twenty three year old self used to joke that I needed eight hours to function and ten to be a nice person. Now I just accept that being a really nice person may not be possible until the kids leave home.

34 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a wonderful, well deserved time to yourself. Love the look of that shop! (Not the prices, though!)
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  2. Oh Mel, Happy 40th!!! Was just about to head off to bed when your post popped up. Just had to say happy birthday. And what a fabulous way to celebrate - sounds like heaven :-) I totally agree, nothing is nicer than shopping without the smalls and being able to actually look at items as opposed to looking for lost children. I still feel about 23 too until... I look in the mirror and see the wrinkles and grey but wouldn't want to be back there really. Hope your celebrations last all week. Enjoy! Mel x

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  3. Sounds like you had a lovely time. From one who just turned 2 score and 4. Age isn't that important... Happiness is.....

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  4. Happy Birthday! And yes 40 is definitely a milestone (or a good excuse to celebrate anyway.) Wow, you scored yourself some awesome gifts AND a girls night out - fantastic; you deserve it! Can you believe I was heavily pregnant when I turned 40, so it kind of slipped away very quietly. I'm still wondering where the hell my thirties went! xx

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  5. Happy bday what a wonderful day. Love the pistachio color I have envy bigtime. On my wishlist and a perfect color too. that budgie tin is all sorts of special too

    Sounds like a lovely bday all round

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  6. Happy Happy Birthday beautiful Mel, I hope you had a really fabulous one, and it seems as though you did!

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  7. Happy big birthday, sounds like you've had a grand one x

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  8. A very happy birthday to you and your childrenfree time looks asif it was spent the very best way , always nice to get home to the little ones after a night away though :-). Turned fourty-one last birthday, but that's only in years and wisdom ;-) Pam

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  9. Happy birthday looks like you had a wonderful day- very jealous of beautiful kitchen aid sarah x

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  10. Like you I'm not one to notice one birthday to be any different from any other, and I've got quite a few 'significant birthdays' under my belt.
    The Alannah Hill store looks gorgeous just as it is (your new food mixer would look right at home in there).
    I've never seen crystal decanters used as light fittings before, I wonder how you change the bulb? A bit like a ship in a bottle!

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  11. Happy Birthday gorgeous Mel! Looks like you had a wonderful time. I love Brisbane! Your pressie from hubby is wonderful. I would be sneaking peeks at the piece of loveliness all day. The colour is perfect. Still drooling over the shelf! xoxoxo

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  12. happy fabulous birthday! So glad you got on board and had some fun. :)sarah

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  13. happy birthday sweet girl! (yep still a girl!). looks like a great weekend was had....got to love grans who babysit!....im glad you treated yourself. those wac purchases! good spotting. its Nics 40th next week and I am stumped, she has the habit of just buying whatever she wants...so a night away may be one the cards for us as well??...just have to sweet talk gran!.xx

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  14. Happy Birthday Mel!! What a great weekend you had - shopping looked like fun.

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  15. Happy Birthday!!! Welcome to the 40 club - a great start to the next decade by the sounds. xx

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  16. Love the new Kitchen Aid. I'm with you for beautiful kitchen stuff being appropriate gifts.
    I got my KitchenAid for my 21st. and the juicing attachment for last Christmas. and the ice-cream bowl is on my wishlist now.
    Can just picture this pistachio beauty in your new kitchen.
    At 23 now I hope I feel the same at 40.
    x

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  17. Happy birthday!
    It looks like you had a fabulous weekend!

    I love the idea of a "staycation" and spoiling yourself in your very own city, doing all those things that you never usually get to do!
    I totally agree about Allanah Hill...I would love to be a shop girl in there!

    And PS I love the pistachio!

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  18. What a terrific birthday weekend you've had. I wish I was turning 40 again sometime soon! I do remember my 40th well - I was given a shiny new bicycle for my planned "get fit at forty" resolve. I felt like I was only 20 at the time and rode that bike accordingly, but ended up battling sciatic pain for the following 6 months. I felt like I was 140 during those months. Best wishes for the next decade.

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  19. Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a well deserved and fabulous celebration.

    I still feel 23 too. Would love to say i still look it but that may be gilding the lily.....!

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  20. Oh Mel, what a fantastic birthday for such a momentous one too! I agree, if someone asked me to answer quickly how old I am I'd still say about 23!!

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  21. I spent my big one in Ceduna. In a seedy motel during a family trip across the Nullabor. (that was eight years ago! Crikey!)

    I'm glad you had such a lovely birthday Mel, wishing you many more as lovely and long may you continue to feel twenty three!

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  22. Happy Birthday! What a wonderful way to spend your special day. Such a pretty coloured KitchenAid too - you'll love every moment of owning one :)

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  23. Well your post is certainly worth the wait Mel. Love the color of your new mixer. I know that will have a place of pride and joy in your new kitchen and make the loving chore of cooking even better using something so pretty. What a sensational birthday treat complete with a bit of well deserved shopping! And what beautiful shops they are, I am absolutley drooling ;-) Everything is so beautiful, you have such a good eye.

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  24. A very big happy birthday to you Mel. So glad you were totally spoilt and that you had such a special time celebrating sounds like a great weekend. I love the colour of your mixer, have lots of fun creating with it. xx

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  25. It looks like you have had a great milestone birthday, lucky you with the kitchen Aid, I love the colour! It will look fabulous in your new kitchen, and I love that aqua and white dresser in the antique place, so cute! Glad you had such lovely day, Julie :)

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  26. Happy Birthday......oh gosh I love that Kitchenaid.
    I nearly bought the Pistachio. It's gorgeous!!!
    Tania xx

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  27. Ooh, it all looks and sounds amazing. Child free shopping - oh yes, it's the best. The time to linger and browse and spend one whole hour in the Levis shop if you want to.

    Love your kitchen aid. They are the best. Mine is cream and I often wish I'd ordered the yellow one. But pistachio green...nice! Happy belated birthday to you, bloggy friend.

    Gillian x

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  28. Happy Birthday Sweetheart! What a fantastic day and wonderful treats! :) x

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  29. A belated very "Happy Birthday" wish Mel, looks like you had a lovely time.Love the finds and that stripy dresser is gorgeous.

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  30. Belated birthday wishes to you. Sounds like you had the perfect away trip from family life. The best bit just being able to stop and stare. X

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  31. Happy Birthday Mel! Lovely to see how you celebrated, what fun.
    I think the 40s are the best decade yet. Hope it is for you!

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  32. Happy birthday to you! Its sounds like you had a wonderful day!

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  33. Oh Happy Birthday Miss 40! Sounds wonderful! Much love for your 41st year. May it be filled with love, laughter, opportunities and many favourite things. Leax

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