The 'using my birthday as an excuse to buy myself things' Haul

If there's one day in a year that deserves a completely-dedicated-to-you haul, it's your birthday. Am I right or am I right? So when this day finally rolls around for me in the middle of each August, I like to go full-on #TreatYoSelf, a la Tom Haverford from Parks & Rec (literally the best show).

I think it's important to have a good solid mentality about it. I mean, I've kept myself alive for this many years, therefore I deserve to shower myself with love and presents because I am the one. All the regrets, bad decisions and evening meals where I ate all my vegetables have led me to this moment. I'm going to buy that obscenely expensive item. And I'm not going to regret it even a tiny bit. At least until my next bank statement comes through...

1. I've wanted to try out this Re-balancing Black Soap from L'Occitane for so long

2. Already addicted to drinking my morning cups of coffee out of this Anthropologie 'Rise & Shine' mug 

3. These hot summer days mean this Shea Butter Lip Balm from L'Occitane is a definite must-have

4. This Vera Moda via Asos belt can be worn at any length, around the waist or hips, making it super handy

5. I cannot even begin to explain how dreamy this Olive Leaf & Lemon Candle from Anthropologie smells

6. I feel like I've been searching my whole life for this perfect pair of skin tight grey ankle jeans by Pilcro and The Letterpress via Anthropologie

7. I love this floaty cotton, boho-esque blouse from Mango

8. This Asos high-waisted rope tie mini skirt means I can still rock the denim and potentially get a little sun on my pasty legs

9. This airy Light Blue Cotton Shirt from Mango is amazing for the weather right now

10. And if you love something, you should totally buy it in every colour, so I also picked it up in Blue & White Stripes

11. This Grey Fitted Shirt I picked up at the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store at Gunwharf Quays is so flattering

12. Twenty-two is going to be the year of the plaid, and I could not put this Hollister shirt down

~ Eleanor xo

What I Got For My Birthday

As I get older, the question "so what do you want for your birthday?" just gets more and more difficult to answer. What would I like for my birthday? World peace? A one way ticket to the moon? A chance to tell Beyonce that I actually don't get what all the hype around her is about?

It's tough, you know? But I also feel like I cherish what I'm given way more nowadays because I'm no longer a child, all my 'big' birthdays are behind me (at least for the next eight years, anyway), so my friends and family aren't exactly obligated to give me anything at all. Honestly, I'm flying the gratitude flag if someone literally just sends me a birthday card. They don't even need to write anything inside it.

This year the only thing I had my eye on was the Wood Sage & Sea Salt cologne from Jo Malone which smells so insane, I would swim in it if I could. Everything else was a total surprise and I'm really super thankful for what I was given.

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne | Marwell Zoo Flamingo Adoption Pack | Tickets to see Titanic Live in March 2017 | Mango Peach Salsa Yankee Candle | Key Dish | Chocolicious Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers | Pull & Bear Striped Tshirt | Personalised Print & Frame (could it be any more accurate?) | Lindt Chocolate | Photo Frame & Picture | Motivational Postcard | Tickets to see The Lion King in London in September | H&M Gift Card

Twenty Two

This year, I kind of hit the jackpot. Not only do I work for a company that gives their employees their birthday off, free of charge (!!!!), but thanks to 2016 being a leap year, the anniversary of my birth fell on a Friday. And you know what that means? LONG WEEKEND. If I could moon walk, I'd be moon walking right now.

Having only been back in the office for two weeks, waking up without an alarm and with nowhere to be wasn't quite as cleansing to the soul as it would've been, had I not butchered myself nine weeks previously. As with every other year I can recall, my bedroom door was flung open at about half six in the morning by my overenthusiastic mother grinning and singing "Happy birthday to someoneeeeeeeee" like it was the most hilarious joke she's ever pulled. Every. single. year.

I don't know why I always choose to open cards and presents first thing in the morning, I'm so delirious and bleary-eyed that I can barely read what anyone's written. I just assume it says 'Happy Birthday' in there somewhere and follow through with an "aww, they're so sweet". Usually I do a second sweep a little later in the day to fully grasp what's been written.

My mum perched on the end of my bed, as she does, still grinning to herself and repeating "open this one, open this one!" at an excitement level I've not witnessed since that John Lewis Christmas advert. Obviously, when I did open it, I died and went to heaven. In my hands I held a Marwell Zoo adoption pack for none other than their ENTIRE FLAMBOYANCE OF FLAMINGOS SOMEONE HOLD ME. They could've also bought me Zac Efron and I wouldn't have even noticed, that was where my emotions were at.

I managed to compose myself enough to share my gratitude and then snuggle back down in bed to work out what I would do with the whole day ahead of me. Naturally, I decided on shopping and spa-ing. After a pleasantly long soak in a bubble bath, where I (thank god) remembered to shave my legs, I headed out into the blisteringly warm and sunny day to play a game of 'How many times can I use "it's my birthday" as an excuse to buy myself things before I bankrupt myself'. Stops included: Anthropologie (naturally), L'Occitane (double naturally) and Hollister (because I've decided 22 will be the year of the plaid shirt).

After wolfing down some lunch, it was onto the BSpa at Brooklands Hotel; I always find it hilarious that I love going to the spa so much considering the huge problem I have with nudity. But after a small internal panic and a silent thank you to the lord that I remembered not to put on a pair of comfy-not-at-all-sexy undies that morning, I semi-relaxed enough to enjoy a fifty minute long Caudalie Fleur De Vigne Candle Massage. It was without a doubt the best full body massage I have ever had. I could've stayed there for days. Brooklands Hotel, you da one.

Feeling more relaxed than I think I ever have in my life (and smelling absolutely amazing), I headed home just in time to enjoy an Earl Grey tea (really embracing this whole 'old age' thing) and an arguably overambitious slice of caterpillar birthday cake. I consoled myself with the excuse that it's not a proper birthday until you feel sick from eating too much cake. #RealTalk.

That wasn't exactly helped by the huge Chinese feast we tucked into that evening, but it was my birthday so what was I going to do? Say no? Not likely. But I think my favourite part was waiting in the restaurant for our take out order to arrive and witnessing the "SURPRISE!" part of a surprise birthday meal take place. The temptation to grab one of the balloons and exclaim "Is all this for me!?" to a group of total strangers was almost too much. Instead my dad and I ate crackers and mentally wished my fellow birthday girl would stop crying. Pull yourself together, you're giving us all a bad name.

And then the complimentary bottle of wine arrived and suddenly everything was great again.
~ Eleanor xo

What I Learnt From Twenty One

I feel like I've just blinked and suddenly it's August twelfth again and I'm telling everyone how important it is to celebrate me and the fact that I exist!

Twenty one was one hell of a learning curve for me. I know I'm going to say that pretty much every year until I die, or you know, stop caring (whichever comes first), but I really feel like I've emerged from the grips of the past year stronger, better, faster, stronger (hands down the best Kanye song ever, can I just say).

But you know what's great about aging? (Besides being able to complain about loud noises and tutting whenever a youth is within your vicinity) Wisdom. You get chucked in right at the deep end when adult life begins, but once you get over the initial shock of being in ice-cold shark infested waters, you gradually learn how to stay afloat and keep your head above the water. Am I queen of the metaphor? Potentially. So here's a little round up of what I think the last twelve months taught me:

1. Adults actually don't have it figured out. Every single person you know is without a doubt, winging it.


2. There's a difference between making a living and making a life. I just haven't quite mastered it yet.


3. How amazing it is to witness all my friends succeeding at what they love.


4. Not everyone is out to get you. But some occasionally some people are.


5. The importance of finishing a day and being done with it.


6. How truly lucky I am, despite (what feels like) constant setbacks.


7. It doesn't matter where you are, if you order sparkling water, you is fancy.


8. People won't understand why you're saving for a rainy day, until that rainy day happens.


9. I may no longer be in education, but learning new things is more important than ever.


10. Prosecco is the blood given unto us by the Greek Gods.


11. You're allowed to scream, you're allowed to cry, you're allowed to swear; but you are never allowed to give up.


12. You are far stronger than you will ever give yourself credit for.

Here's to the next jam-packed 363 days!
~ Eleanor xo

A 21st birthday gift guide: Under £20

1. Petite Coffee Shop Coffee and Cake Gift Box - Crumb. - £19.50

2. kate spade new york 'Written In The Stars' Mini Notebook - John Lewis - £12

3. 'Style Remains' brass sign - Room 356 - £7.95

4. Alphabet Scented Candle - The Country Candle Company - £5.99

5. Giraffe Trinket Dish - Anthropologie - £16.00

6. Q&A A Day - Amazon - £10.49

7. Twister Picnic Blanket - ASOS - £17.99

8. Monogrammed Notepad - Anthropologie - £8.00

9. Personalised Pink And Gold Gift Boxed Pencils - The Letteroom - £7.95

10. Chocolate Make up Set - Chocolate on Chocolate - £5.99

11. Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book (Paperback) - Waterstones - £7.99 12. 'Letters to My Future Self' book - Amazon - £10.99

13. Enamel Initial Charm Necklace - J&S Jewellery - £16

14. Spotty China Letter Mug - The Letteroom - £13.95

15. Delightful Summer Collection - L'Occitane - £16.00

There's something super exciting about turning twenty-one, it's widely seen as a 'milestone' year (and is, coincidentally, the age my sister has turned for the last four years). It could be down to the subconscious knowledge that you can now rent a car in Europe and legally drink alcohol in America, but who can be sure. It's an exciting time for everyone. So long as you don't dwell on the fact that there's absolutely no going back and a crippling mortgage and unachievable student loan repayments are right on the horizon!

When it comes to your friends, you want to give them something fun, memorable and that totally sums up your friendship. And that doesn't break the bank. Your beloved new twenty-one year old deserves the world and more, and obviously, a great night out and lots of unattractive selfies surfacing on Facebook the morning after. But to get the party started, why not try some of these fancy finds, all for under £20 - and not a gift card in sight!

Happy twenty-one-ing!

~ Eleanor xo

Champagne Afternoon Tea | The Aviator Hotel, Farnborough

First of all, do not eat for at least four days before you indulge in this afternoon tea. Sure, it may not look like much in the photos (my family and I all fell into that trap too) but oh my word will you waddle out of the building thanking all kinds of Gods that you wore a skirt with an elastic waist. But of course, even when you start to feel yourself getting a bit full (midway through scone number two) you simply can't stop.

We spent a little over two hours in the hotel's Sky Bar; chatting, eating, drinking, lounging, eating, eating and yes, eating some more. They make you feel totally at home in the hotel; when you arrive, you are invited to relax and get comfortable while they fetch the perfectly chilled (and totally legit) Champagne which they then pour into your glass like a total pro. Everything runs seamlessly; after the champagne, the host then returns to offer you hot beverages and gives detailed explanations of the vast variety of the Jing loose leaf tea on offer. Once you place your order (I went for Darjeeling) you are given your own cafetiere full of your chosen tea that you can drink at your own leisure. And then, and then, the cake stand arrives. Lord have mercy on my waistline.

For each person in the party, the 'starter pack' includes: four finger sandwiches, two scones, three cakes, one macaroon and one panna cotta. Absolutely everything, right down to the jam and clotted cream for your scones, is made by hand at the hotel just for you. I say 'starter pack' because as it turns out, you can order extra of anything you like and they'll (freshly make) and supply it for you. I have no shame in admitting we ordered extra sandwiches because they were so unbelievably tasty. Who knew cucumber, cream cheese and mint would be so good?!

An afternoon tea was the perfect way to round off a birthday (the chef's even surprised me with a plate of chocolate truffles!) and I would absolutely recommend choosing The Aviator for pretty much any occasion.

~ Eleanor xo

Address: The Aviator Hotel, 55 Farnborough Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6EL

What I got for my Birthday

Disclaimer: This post is in no way boastful (that aint me) but it's purely here because I love reading posts like this. Please don't hate me.

Marc by Marc Jacobs - Classic Q Fran bag | Nails Inc Gift Set | True Grace 'Seashore' Scented Candle [here] | iPhone Windshield Mount | Novelty 21 Champagne Glass | Bottle of Cava | 'Better Latte Than Never' Mug | Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers | Ray Ban Light Ray Wayfarers (Blue Mirror) [here] | Accessorize Elephant Friendship Bracelet | Personalised Photo Squares | Starbucks Vanilla Coffee Syrup | Selfie Stick (Pink) | Lindt Chocolate | 'Shea Butter' Yankee Candle | Sterling Silver T-Bone Necklace | Global Escape Tahiti Shower Cream | Stella & Dot wishing bracelet | Interflora Bouquet [picture]

Birthdays! What glorious things they are; a whole twenty-four hours dedicated to you and the fact that people are so thrilled that you exist that they buy you things and write you heartfelt messages. Kudos to whichever greetings card company came up with that idea.

I was well and truly spoilt this year; my parents gave me a laughable mix of gifts which all made me smile like a chesire cat. An in-car mount for my iPhone (necessary), a selfie stick (more for their enjoyment, I think), a scented candle I've been lusting over for far too long, and Wayfarer Light Ray's that I fell in love with the moment I saw them. My sister really threw the boat out and surprised me this absolutely beautiful Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran shoulder bag that I am uhhhhbsessed with (this colour is bae).

My university friends each made me super emotional by proving how well they know me (like, spookily well) and I am still so moved by how sweet they all are - that mug though: me summed up in four words. Hilare.

And a special shout-out to my neighbours for giving me a pound for all the years I've been alive. Pounds as in British money, not pounds as in weight. Can you imagine gaining twenty-one pounds on your birthday? Well... if you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that I practically almost did...

~ Eleanor xo

Twenty One

Hola amigos! I am officially twenty-one years of age and I one-hundred-and-twenty-one per cent refuse to believe it. I will forever be twenty. Or nineteen. Or just plain sixteen. This whole adult thing just isn't for me so I'm going to have to decline your offer. In the words of Deborah Meaden, "I'm out".

But let's rewind. My day began with me throwing open my laptop at 8am sharp, poised, ready and frankly pooing myself over what was to be the anti-climatic 'A' reveal. All my fellow PLLers know what I'm saying. Still, I knew the day could only get better. Which it did, with my mum appearing with a pink velvet cake (yes, really) which she decreed I could eat for breakfast as I drank my coffee and opened my presents. So exhilarating.

I was so overwhelmed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the gifts and cards I received (I'm a bit of a sap like that). And to top it all off, that afternoon, my possey my parents, my sister and I headed to the Aviator Hotel in Farnborough for what was to be the most beastly champagne afternoon tea ever created. It was insanely good; the food was gorgeous, the champagne extra bubbly and the tea expertly picked... but I probably won't need to eat again until at least November. Actual #FoodComa.

Even though old age is terrifying, I had the best day celebrating and I'm super excited for the future and what the next year has in store. Here's to twenty-one!
~ Eleanor xo

More birthday themed posts (and lots of afternoon tea pics) will be up soon. 
In the meantime, here's what I've learnt during my twenty-one years so far...

21 Things I've Learnt in Twenty-One Years

My twenty-first birthday is rapidly approaching (in seven days, to be precise) but I kind of don't feel old enough to be carrying around that burden. It was only a few months ago that a lady in Sainsbury's informed me that I couldn't purchase the cold and flu tablets I was trying to buy because "you have to be a certain age". She looked positively aghast when I informed her that actually, I'm twenty. She was mortified. I told her it happens all the time. It does happen all the time. But I think it'll be more ego-wounding if it happens when I'm twenty-one.

So apart from the important lesson of always carrying a piece of ID with me, here are twenty-one of the biggest life lessons I've acquired so far...

1. NEVER LOSE YOUR INTEGRITY

The word 'bitch' is tossed around waaay too much these days; you voice your opinion, you're a bitch, you make a suggestion, you're a bitch, you make out with your friend's boyfriend, you're a bitch. I'm kidding about that last one, if you have done that... well you aren't a very nice person. But, if you know who you are, trust in your abilities and what you can achieve, honesty and perseverance will get you there.

2. NEVER EVER HAVE A PLAN B
If there's one thing I want my children to learn from me, it's to never have a backup plan. If you have a plan B then you might as well not bother with plan A.

3. FALL DOWN SEVEN TIMES, STAND UP EIGHT
Potentially the most cliché proverb (is it a proverb?... I feel like it's not...) but it is something I absolutely and whole-heartedly believe in. So life's got you down? Get up. Move on. Keep going. The world will keep turning whether you sit in bed all day and cry or not.

4. SOCIAL MEDIA WILL FOREVER BE THE MOST ADDICTIVE BANE OF MY LIFE

Who doesn't suffer from FOMO these days? It's insane. Pretty much every morning I look down at my soggy cereal and pout because my breakfast does not look like this. My time in restaurants is doubled because I spend so long trying to photograph my dish perfectly. Why?! Why must I do this, and why can't I stop!?

5. LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE DOESN'T MAKE YOU SELFISH
It makes you smart. When we were cavemen, back in the day, all hairy and grunting at one another, if you saw a mammoth and you didn't have a spear in your hand ready to gut it to death, then my god did you up and leg it as fast as possible. It's survival of the fittest out there, that much I know for sure.

6. YOU WILL NEVER PLEASE EVERYONE
And telling yourself otherwise is kind of silly. Someone's always going to have something to say, and if everyone liked everyone, then the world would be a pretty boring place.

7. LOSING PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT SUCKS
Nobody stays with you forever, either you drift apart or something drastically bad happens, it is what it is. There isn't a cure for the hole a person leaves in your life, but you get used to the fact they're no longer around.

8. TRUST EXACTLY WHAT YOUR GUT IS TELLING YOU
'Gut' could also be substituted for 'heart', whatever makes you feel more comfortable. In my experience, it will not steer you wrong.

9. "NEVER TELL ALL YOU KNOW - NOT EVEN TO THE PERSON YOU KNOW BEST" ― AGATHA CHRISTIE
It's like if you're playing a game of poker, do you show everyone you're playing with the cards you have? No, because that'd be stupid.

10. FLOWERS DON'T FIX EVERYTHING, BUT THEY'RE A GOOD START
We all know that my life's dream is to run off to Holland and have my own tulip farm. However, right now I'll settle for simply filling my surroundings with beautiful, fresh scentful flowers.

11. ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY AREN'T EVEN A LITTLE BIT MOTIVATED BY MONEY IS LYING
And avoid anyone who says they're solely motivated by love or something equally strange. They could be dangerous.

12. EMBRACE THE FACT YOU SPENT YOUR TEENAGE YEARS TAKING AWFUL SELFIES AND DOING WEIRD POSEY PHOTOSHOOTS FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON
The days of Bebo are long past, but we will always remember them. God I wish we wouldn't always remember them.

13. DON'T RUSH
One day you're standing in Woolworths (yes, that's how old I am) looking at Barbie dolls and thinking to yourself "oh I can't wait until I'm a grown up and I can buy Barbies whenever I want!" and the next you're crippling under the pressure of having to figure out your own finances. Just ride the wave and enjoy the journey!

14. FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT
Or simply 'dress for the life you want to have'. It's impossible to believe in yourself all the time, but if you act like you do, someone else certainly will.

15. TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN
You will not be young and beautiful forever, your looks will fade and your skin will sag, that's just a fact of life. It's so important to treat your skin with genuine, nurturing care. Not concealer. I don't believe money can ever be wasted on good skincare.

16. BEING A BITCH DOESN'T MAKE YOU COOL, IT JUST MAKES YOU A BITCH
I feel like this would be the one liner I'd use in the titles of a Real Housewives show. Being a teenager is hard. Really hard. Anyone who says differently is kidding themselves. By all means don your armour, but don't be the person to raise their sword.

17. BE PREPARED TO FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Giving up is not an option; good things come to those who get up, kick ass and refuse to take crap from anyone else.

18. ALWAYS BE TOO LEGIT TO QUIT
Keep it real, girl. No one can deny you that.

19. LAUGH ABOUT YOUR QUIRKS
That should probably say 'love', not 'laugh', but it's not always possible to love them, even though they are part of who you are. So what, I say dumb things like "swaggy", "ghetto", "yolo" and a bunch of other ridiculous youth slang words, but I like that, it's funny, it's me. If Justin Bieber can do it, why can't I?

20. YOU DON'T NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO COMPLETE YOU
So often I see people totally unable to live their lives without another individual beside them. It's not sexy, it's not romantic, it's unhealthy and I find it a little creepy. You are not broken, you do not need to be saved, you're doing just fine.

21. BE GRATEFUL
Always, always, always. On good days and on bad days. Be grateful for what you learnt, what you gained and what you lost. No matter what happens, someone out there is fighting for the life you have. I hope I never lose sight of that.

~ Eleanor xo

What it's like being 7311 days old (or 20 years and 1 week)

As most of you are probably well aware, it is terrible. You see before you a girl with a chipped manicure, rocking a 'just-taken-out-plaits' hairstyle, who possesses a pink iPod nano with Ashley Tisdale's unfairly overlooked debut album, 'Guilty Pleasures', ready to blast through her car stereo on the drive home from work. It's possible we have an epidemic on our hands. Or a pandemic. Or just a general emic because I don't really know what any of those words mean... Let's just go with 'code red'. Or perhaps more fittingly, 'code grey', because that's what I've been fearing I will find stacked on my head when I look in the mirror every morning after I wake up.

Truthfully, on the day after my birthday I really believed I'd woken up with wrinkles. But as it turned out, I'd just fallen asleep with my make-up on and decided to smush my face into my pillow so as to make myself look as unattractive as possible. At least there's still part of me that's lazy enough to be classed as a teenager. I can't remember if this was also the night I had a dream where my neighbours ginger cat bit me on the face. Not that this is relevant, but as a certified old person, I'm now supposed to bore you by going off on strange tangents.

The day itself was obviously a lot of fun - as birthdays should be! I was awoken at six in the morning by an interesting rendition of 'happy birthday' sung by my mother; who also, being a total joker, decided to sing the line "happy birthday to someoneeeeeee" instead of inserting her own daughters name. Classic hilarity from Mrs Potter. We then preceded to play a game I would like to call "Mum can you stop telling me how much you think I'm going to like each present it's practically the middle of the night and my eyes aren't able to fully open". My parents gave me a silver star charm for my Thomas Sabo bracelet; receiving this gift is a moment I will probably always remember, obviously because it's beautiful but also because when I opened it, my mum looked me straight in the eye and went "because you are a star". Couldn't sing my name in the happy birthday song though, could she?

This all went out the window when four days later I picked out a truly gorgeous rose gold Marc Jacobs watch that would be, as we say in our family, my 'main present'. I'm still so in awe of it's beauty that I keep forgetting it is actually a time telling device. Brains AND beauty, what a catch. And just to blow this whole thing even more out of the water (I don't think I've used that saying right), the rose gold on the watch matches my rose gold iPhone 5S. I cannot tell you how much of a first world white girl I feel. It's an exhilarating experience to say the least.

Once I'd got past my midday "oh my god there's something wrong with my knee I can't move I've officially reached old age this is the end" anxiety attack, I was able to continue celebrating myself - with more presents (shout-out to my adorable best friends who proved once again just how well they know me *cough* chocolate fingers *cough*, and to my boyfriend for the really sweet gifts of my favourite things - including a new MASSIVE Yankee candle that the pyromaniac inside me can't wait to get back to uni and burn baby burn), and a Smarties birthday cake - courtesy of my boyfriends family because they're the sweetest people ever. Sadly the day ended with me in tucked up in bed early, ready for work the next day - and for those of you thinking to yourself that I would've done the same thing even if I didn't have work early in the morning, to you I say, shhhhhhh.

Now it's a whole week later and the world looks no different (which is good because it means I'm not losing my sight), and to be honest, I don't really feel any different. I still have trouble getting up in the morning, I seem to be getting worse at making toast, and I'm just as atrocious at driving as ever. I did voluntarily clean my room yesterday though so make of that what you will.

Thank you so much to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and/or sent me cards and gifts; you guys are the best.

~ Eleanor xo

PS. You'll be pleased to know I completed 9 of the 19 things I'd planned to do this year. Most disappointing of all was my failure to keep my cactus plant alive. Better luck next time. Maybe.