I was able to successfully turn 22 without Taylor Swift playing once.
While I was up away at the beach up north, my excellent flatmates sent me a facebook event invite to my own mad hatter-esque birthday tea party to be held in Cornwall Park, just by our flat. They are actually the best.
On the drive back from the beach, I stopped via my parents house (they were still away up north) and stole a whole basket load of props for us to use.
I grabbed tablecloths, teapots and platters.
We sourced old milk bottles and used brightly coloured faux flowers from the $2 shop to decorate the table.
I was able to finally bring out my random collection of op-shop china plates for the occasion too.
We spent the evening prior and the morning of making cakes, scones, eclairs, sandwiches and of course iced tea! Ashley made the most delicious chocolate baci cakes. I was told I was only allowed to make the birthday cake, the girls were going to take care of everything else. Funnily enough Sunday morning rolled around and they were still unconscious from the night before. I ended up making a lot more than just the cake. I taught myself how to make chocolate eclairs for the first time ever at 9am Sunday morning. Pretty good effort I would say for such minimal hours sleep the night before. I also simultaneously made cheese scones and club sandwich egg filling all before lunch time. Tea partying like a boss.
Nick not only turned up with a bow tie but a pineapple upside down cake too!
We packed up the trestle table that Monnie had made (she is too clever for words) and we descended upon Cornwall Park carefully holding cake stands, flowers and eclairs, trying to stop them from flying everywhere in the short car ride.
Within minutes the table was set, the picnic blankets laid out and the first cups of tea poured. The sun came out and we all basked in the sun all afternoon long.
Mum and Dad bought me a Fujifilm Instax camera for my birthday. What better occasion to snap those Kodak moments than this? So I now have a nice stack of polaroids far to hipster for our own good.
The irony of it is that we are all the craziest nerds ever to exist (I hang out with way too many med students and engineers).
Dark chocolate mocha cake with white chocolate buttercream
Thank you to all that came and spent the afternoon with us. I can safely say it was one of the best birthday parties I have ever had :)
Also, big love to my excellent flatmates for organising this :)