I should turn 18 every year.

Finally growing up in to an adult may be scary, but on the definite plus side along with being able to do a variety of new, fun and potentially brilliant new things, you get a very good haul of presents. Everyone wants to make it a birthday to remember, and often want to get you things you can keep forever, or just send pretty insane amounts of money. I have to admit, my presents this year were incredible, and I am just sorry it has taken me so long to get around to posting!

1. The New Students Veggie Cookbook

2. My Week With Marilyn - Colin Clark

3. Thorntons chocolate champagne bottle

4. Marilyn Monroe boxset

5. The Barbara Stanwyck Collection DVDs

6. Classic Screen Sirens boxset

7. River Cottage Veg Everyday - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

8. The Big Sleep DVD

9. Cleopatra DVD

10. Emma Bridgewater notebook

11. Passion - Lauren Kate

12. Floral hairclip

13. Voucher for a free luxury manicure at Luci Foreman

14. Topshop Petite lace dress

15. Body Shop Love Etc gift set

16. Swarovski ring

17. Vivienne Westwood earrings

18. Vivienne Westwood ring

19. River Island heart earrings

20. Topshop cross earrings

21. River Island leaf earrings

22. Yumi parrot print tee

23. Elephant necklace

24. Blue feather necklace

25. Roses necklace

26. Butterfly necklace

27. Long beaded necklace

28. Vintage style floral cameo rings

29. Peach schnapps

30. Alice in Wonderland 'Curioser and curiouser' mug

31. Topshop gift card

32. Selection of Topshop underwear

33. Jewellery box

34. Tiffany heart necklace

From this gorgeous selection of presents I think you will agree my friends and family know me pretty well! I absolutely love everything, and can't wait to make each piece a part of my life. I have already worn the gorgeous Topshop lace dress, Vivienne Westwood jewels, Tiffany necklace and River Island leaf earrings (outfit photos to come soon - promise). I also spent my morning off today watching black and white films, becoming steadily more obsessed with Lauren Bacall, Barbara Stanwyck and 1940s glamour. I know, I didn't think it was possible, but my nostalgia is growing.. I have read the books already too, and am bursting with ideas for meals from the two cookbooks. Thankyou once again to everyone for all the presents - I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Obviously, I got a fairly substantial sum of money for my birthday too, and as is tradition I put the majority away to save.. but that didn't stop me going and getting a few little belated birthday presents to myself!

Bag - Topshop 

I have wanted a gorgeous pastel, ladylike bag for ages and this one in Topshop had literally been calling my name.. so when I finally had a bit of money I went and treated myself to it. The colours are literally beautiful  - so impractical of course, but so sweet.

Chain bracelet, cross bracelet, rings - Topshop
Cross earrings - River Island

Jewellery is a bit of a weak spot for me. I can never resist a good sale and the cross bracelet and rings were just such bargains that I had to have them! I have also been eyeing up the chain bracelets for quite some time because they are slightly ethnic, unusual, individual and quite different, so I finally bought one for myself and can't wait to work it. I also picked up these cute cross earrings in River Island - I'm not religious, but for some reason I love crosses..

Purse - River Island

This lip-shaped purse was just so playful and cute that I couldn't quite resist. I love how fun it is, and that bright pink hue is very du jour for SS'12. Also, this has more than a little hint of Lulu Guinness to it!

So that is my amazing haul of presents, so grateful for all of them! Also thankyou to all of you who commented saying Happy Birthday, and just anyone who comments and reads at all to be honest - it always makes my day. 

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Happy birthday to me..

Apologies for not blogging yesterday, but I was rather distracted since I turned 18! Yes, I am now officially an adult & was consequently enjoying my new adulthood instead of keeping up with the posts.. It was a pretty perfect 18th, even though I had an exam and had to be in college. Then again, getting to spend the day with my friends was definitely worth the early morning start and exam nerves. 

I actually got up extra-early because there was no way I was waiting until the evening to rip my way into my presents - I'll post the haul soon I promise! Then when I got into college one of my friends had made me a cake (decorated with some yummy strawberries) and since I had an exam second I spent first lesson chilling and reminiscing with my friends.. Then the exam rolled around and I actually wasn't half as nervous as I thought, I was barely even hyperventilating! And when the examiner, my teacher and the other girl in my class sang 'Cumpleanos Feliz' to me I decided there was no way I could be nervous - the exam might even have gone okay. 

After that we tucked in to said cake for lunch (it was gorgeous), then I went in to town with a few friends. Finally I topped it all off by getting my first legal drink in a pub near my college - vodka and coke is fast becoming 'my drink'. Funny thing is, they didn't even ID me..

This is what I wore during the day for my 18th birthday - this outfit was purely fun, with cute pieces I just wanted to wear for no specific reason other than they are super-sweet.

Jumper - Topshop; Skirt - River Island; Tights & Shoes - Primark; Necklace - Tiffany; Earrings & Ring - Vivienne Westwood.

This kitsch cherry-print skirt was just screaming out to be worn - I adore fruit prints, especially when combined with such a gorgeous retro shape. I didn't want to kill said shape by layering a jacket over the top, so to combat the disappointing April weather I paired it with this loose-knit mint green jumper from Topshop, which also has a slightly retro feel due to the pastel hue. I just love how cute and playful this look is, which is the perfect mood for a birthday! 

I know I said I would do a present haul later on, but after unwrapping so much gorgeous jewellery I just couldn't resist wearing some of it! Honestly, since 18 is such a big year people were willing to spend loads of money on me for things I could keep forever - hello Tiffany's. And a bit of Vivienne Westwood never goes amiss. I adore these classic pieces because they are truly timeless, and because I am a Tiffany girl at heart - especially after seeing Breakfast At Tiffany's and falling in love with Audrey Hepburn. That necklace is probably my favourite present of all.

Oh, and this little beauty of a picture is me with my first legal drink in a pub - that moment had to be preserved forever. 

The second and third legal drinks followed that evening because I went out for a meal with my parents, since on such a big birthday there should be some family time. I loved the chance to dress up and show off another outfit!

Dress - Mary Katrantzou for Topshop; Blazer & Shoes - ASOS; Bracelet - Pandora; Earrings & Ring - Vivienne Westwood; Necklace - Tiffany.

I have been waiting to wear this stunning shift dress ever since I got it, but there was never an event that felt quite right.. But since it was my birthday I decided I could wear whatever I wanted. I absolutely adore the gorgeous print - there really is no designer who creates prints like Mary Katrantzou, and that is why she is possibly my favourite designer of the moment. I decided to keep the rest of the outfit simple, opting for my black blazer to frame the print and sticking with my classic silver jewellery. I then also took the opportunity to wear my killer platforms - they're so impractical but gorgeous!

The meal out was awesome - we went to my favourite Thai restaurant and ate so much I thought I would explode. I also had some more vodka and diet coke (definitely my drink), and some Jack Daniels on the rocks, which was actually pretty good. Maybe I'm a whisky girl!

All in all, a pretty beautiful birthday, and I am now ready to face the world as an adult with responsibilities.. except when it comes to going out, then I may go a little insane! But otherwise I am ready to take responsibility for myself, not need parental permission, and even be able to vote..

Love and kisses, Tara xox