While my 27th birthday here in Prague was incredible in its own way (and gave me a rough time with that slowly aging number), last year I was lucky enough to celebrate my 26th birthday in London.
I know.
I generally have very specific birthday traditions. One that I am generally very stubborn about is my usual birthday dress (defined: that one dress that will always make you feel beautiful and confident and wonderful because that’s what you deserve on a birthday).
For some reason, the birthday dress seemed of monumental importance last year in London. I think after spending the summer sweating away in the Sichuan province, and being a giant, pasty girl next to those tiny, adorable Chinese roommates of mine (not to mention my tiny, fit American roommates), I hadn’t felt pretty in a really long time. My suitcase certainly did not hold this elusive birthday dress (mostly because I was carrying too many Chinese souvenirs around Europe…my packing skills leave much to be desired) so the hunt began.
After several stops in H&M, Zara, and the like, in a fit of desperation (it was my birthday the very next day!) I dragged E into Topshop near Hyde Park in London.
I think E has never forgiven me for making us go in Topshop, and, let’s be real, I might be a little scarred, too.
The music, the hip Londoners, the many brightly colored clothes with holes in weird places. I felt strangely old and out-of-place, a feeling I did not relish during this brief quarter-life crisis. (I don’t know about you, but I have millions of mini-crises daily, so this isn’t that unusual).
So, in a fit of I’m-26-and-I-do-what-I-want, I found a dress that fit (well, and that I could afford–there are many cute ones if you don’t have much of a budget).
I didn’t really work with any shoes or other shirts I brought, and weirdly, even in August, London weather doesn’t always support a spaghetti-strap dress. Still, I bought it, triumphant, and wore it on my birthday.
^^the infamous birthday dress!
While I do believe in the power of clothes to improve confidence, my London birthday would have been just as special with or without this dress. (Maybe this is wisdom you learn from age).
I did look a tiny bit cuter, I suppose, as we cruised around London on a red, double-decker bus, stopping for tea at Kensington Palace. I felt more and more beautiful as the day went on, but not really because of the dress. E and I had a great time, and I fell a little more in love with London that day.
^^you will probably get bored with Big Ben pictures but, I just couldn’t help myself! I love that thing!
Before my birthday, I’d been a little skeptical about the city. It seemed huge, and impersonal, and all of the sights I’d always dreamed of seeing were stuffed with millions of other people who had also always dreamed of seeing this things.
(Why does this phenomenon continue to surprise me?)
But on my birthday, we stopped at very few sites, mostly just soaking up the city, having too many macaroons (for the first time ever!) from a French bakery, and going up to the top of the London Eye, where champagne awaited us.
^^(This guy!)
We strolled along the South Bank while the sun was setting, hand-in-hand, and the much-awaited Big Ben reflected in the water and hid the sun. I couldn’t help but fall a little in love with London then, and I couldn’t help but feel a little less sad about turning a year older.
^^I guess I was trying to get artsy here. 
Welcome to Travel Tuesday!
Once again, I am thrilled to be hosting Travel Tuesday with Bonnie, Jessi, and Camila! I can’t wait to see what you all come up with this week.
Every week, Bonnie, Jessi, Camila and I each select one post from the previous week’s link-up that we particularly loved. Make sure to head over to their blogs to see who they chose!
This week, I am spotlighting Elena from Beautiful Hope and her post about the Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley. I had no idea such a place existed in Napa, and I will make certain to visit there one day. I already love that area of the world, and her beautiful, sun-drenched photos will make anyone want to go!
Ready to link up?
1. SHARE a post about travel! From road trips to trips abroad and from past travels to dream vacations. You can write about travel tips and tricks, favorite places to stay, or anything in between! Just make it about traveling somewhere!
2. GRAB the lovely button above. If you run into trouble, just make sure to mention Bonnie, Amy, Jessi and Camila in a link! 3. LINK-UP goes live every Tuesday at 0800 GMT. Make sure to comment here, on the co-hosts blogs, and visit around!
TIPS:
1. Please only one linked up post per blogger. Save other posts for future link-ups!
2. The last Tuesday of every month will be a themed prompt if you want to join in!
3. HOP around and meet new travel loving bloggers! Check back to visit some of the newer travel posts!