Birthday Bliss

Well, im officially a year older (well, actually year and one month because i havent been able to blog in so long) but i had a great birthday this year, and really enjoyed my four days of celebrations! To me birthdays are all about spending time with the people you love, eating copious amounts of cake and party food, and reflecting how much ive grown and learned over the past year. Alot has happened during my upgrade from 23 to 24, but ive certainly picked up alot of lessons, and and generally got to know myself a bit better.

I decided this year that i wanted to have a picnic, and with my cousin's big wedding so close, and the amount of family shindigs ive had to attend i wanted my birthday to be really low key and casual but also reflecting my need to get back to nature and back to the simple joys in life that ive been intensely craving over the past few months- and i wanted to make a time in which all of my friends that ive abandoned due to my crazy work/study schedule could come and we could just hang out. So i chose my most favourite place, quite hidden from the world, but green and full of life... although i had forgotten that there were no public toilets there so everyone had to forgo the Chai tea and hold on haha, but it was beautiful nonetheless, and i had friends come in and out all day, and we even had a surprise guest- a mum and baby koala join the party.

Being the good Italian girl that i am I was worried that we wouldn't have enough food so I spent the previous two days cooking- we ended up with more food than we knew what to do with, but at least no one went hungry. There was tree climbing, chatting, debating, eating, drinking and even weaving going on, and I had a ball.

I had asked no one bring presents, just themselves and a plate to share if they could as i wanted it to be more about connecting with the most treasured people in my life. I hate that in our society special event always mean forking out ridiculous amounts of money, often beyond what the giver can afford just to be appropriate, and often with no thought or real meaning behind it. I really despise gift registrys and hate that so many people expect money! I could never say to a friend, particularly one that doesnt have a lot of money that for my special occasion (and with all the family events lately, im not really just talking about birthdays) that ive already got everything i need so i dont want any present please, i want money!-How is that special? how about nothing? or a donation toward a cause? or just to say anything within your budget would be appreciated? something homemade perhaps? its the (societal) expectation that bugs me. 

My most favourite gift in life is a hand made card with a beautiful message, or a gift in which the giver has clearly put a lot of thought into it, and feels that its just right for the receiver- something that wouldn't have cost the earth, but was carefully chosen and put together with love. I try to do this with every gift i give- i love gift giving, particularly when its not expected, and i always think its so important to show someone how special they are by giving something with that has soul to it- that may not even be for any 'occasion' per say, but just because, not through any monetary or materialistic way. So i was very very lucky and not only did i get the pleasure of these great people's time, but they surprised me with cards with beautiful messages of my friends expressing the importance of our friendship, small ornaments in which my givers had felt there was a message just for me, some amazing things that had been hidden away since our trip to Byron, tickets to see my most favourite other Ginger (Clare) live, and homemade cakes, and even homemade jam which i have loved on my pancakes almost daily! So im so grateful that I was able to be reminded to how much im loved in such a special way.

It was a very fun weekend, with dinner out on the friday, the picnic on the saturday (my actual birthday), time just with ThePartner just to chill on the sunday, dinner out with my Daisy-Lady on the sun night and family over on the monday.

On the Sunday ThePartner and I were going to go for our annual buffet breakfast, but decided instead to save a bit of money and just have a really chilled out day, spending some much needed time just to two of us. It was one of the best days i think ive had all year. We went down south to the beach, and walked around on the rocks overlooking the water. If there were any place where i could totally switch off and enter a meditative state, this would be the place. I was really able to switch off, and reflect on all that is going on, and what it is im moving toward. Just the smells of the clean sea air are enough to make you feel quite delirious. It was excellent! Although, ThePartner was not at all enthused with my choice of shoes (birks of course) which were inhibiting a fast enough walk over the rocks, so he insisted i wear his Volleys, which actually worked out quite well for me as i raced him to the top. We ended up falling asleep in the car overlooking the ocean, and its probably the most peace ive felt in a long time- and we definitely really needed to have that together without any other external demands or expectations on us. With we could do that every weekend!