As I mentioned yesterday, today is my birthday and my main present came from a real estate agent: my very own Smurf Kitchen. I’m glad the universe was sorting that out for me, as amidst the house-sit ending, the apartment-hunting, and the ongoing anxiety about my toe*, I kept forgetting that my birthday existed. As a result, I have nothing planned for today, and it has turned out to be the most non-birthday-ish birthday I’ve ever had. And that includes the time I spent my 21st birthday alone in a hotel in Chicago (even then, my parents had organised for flowers to be delivered to my room).
I’m not fussed about this by any means – I’ve always been more comfortable celebrating people other than myself. In addition, my parents and I are going to my favourite restaurant for dinner, and I’ve cooked up some treats (To Be Blogged) that we can snack on while watching Masterchef when we get home. So really, it could be worse.
But there’s this blog, see, and I feel a bit silly not having birthday shenanigans to post about. Solution? Tell you about last year’s birthday party, whereby I invited friends around for a Wine And Cheese Soiree, and much gustatory guzzling fun was had by all (I hope).
The noms table - partly devoured.
I can’t remember the details about all the cheeses I bought, but I do know that they came from the now-burnt-down Manuka Fine Foods cheese room and included a cheese with truffles, a fancy cheddar, goat’s cheese, edam/gouda, Brie/Camembert, and several others that I replenished stocks with throughout the night.
I made a Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip as an homage to my time in the States, my mum made a Danish Fireball (cream cheese mixed with glace ginger, rolled in toasted almonds and paprika) as an homage to the 70s-esque feel of a wine and cheese night, there were pickled carrots and marinated mushrooms, olives, multiple dips, breads, and these divine and addictive Nigella Lawson Union Square Cafe nuts.
Oh, and of course, lots of opportunities for wine:
This was me explaining that I don't know much about wine, despite hosting a Wine And Cheese Soiree.
Towards the end of the night, there appeared gluten-and-dairy-free mini friands and little pepperment meringues that I had super fun times quenelling. Alas! In those pre-blog times, I didn’t think to take photos of everything.
Describing this party does, though, give me the opportunity to showcase one of my favourite pairs of heels (for those of you who have expressed interest before). I found these shoes in a little boutique in, or adjacent to, the Harvard campus, and fell in love.
This is me expressing my love for the friend who's known me her entire life (I was taken to meet her the day she was born, when I was 4ish months old).
Okay, so I couldn’t resist posting that photo because I love my friend’s expression, but it doesn’t really show the shoes off all that well. This is a better photo:
I cropped my top bits out of this because I felt stupid posting so many pictures of myself, but now I feel it maybe looks even stupiderer headless. So, um, just lookee the shoes?
Much better than those Parisian foot-adorners, right? Right?
* Did I mention that I’m back to the doctor tomorrow? It seems two surgeries, nine months of keeping my foot elevated and limiting movement, and enough antibiotics to surely have turned my insides pearly-white are no match for my foot.
Update: I just returned from a lovely dinner out and can happily say that it now feels very spectacularly delightfully like my birthday. Upon arriving home I opened my gifts, and I have to say that I’m overwhelmed with how wonderful they are, because they showcase how well my family knows me. I feel blessed, and loved, and to add to the happyhappyhappy, the Treats To Be Blogged are going down, well, a treat.
happy birthday! Looks like you had a fun wine and cheese party last year! Great idea!
Happy birthday – and congrats on the smurf kitchen – hope there will be photos as I would love to see it!
I don’t think you need to feel that you have to show us that you are having a great time – isn’t blogging all about us sad types who sit at home at the computer instead of going out – ha ha – well I just speak for myself!
But glad to hear you have had a good birthday dinner and the masterchef tonight was a great one to come home to – look forward to hearing about the treats – I hope there is good chocolate on your birthday!
A very super mega happy birthday to you, Hannah!
It completely sucks that your toe is still not playing fair, so sorry to hear it
I’m glad you have some great birthday gifts to distract yourself with.
Hope the doctor can sort you out quickly xxx
Happy Birthday! It looks like you had a nice time last year. Have fun with your parents tonight
WOW! What a spread! If you have another one of those, you must invite me ;] I’d even partake in the cheese. Did I mention I ate Brie in France and liked it? Then I came back home and tried it again, but it was back to “ew.” I’m sure you picked up some amazing cheesy specimens, though.
What adorable and funky heels!
So sorry to hear you’re headed back to the doc, but I’m glad your birthday went down happily!
Happy Birthday to yoooooooo Hannah!
Your shoes are lovely. I’ll admit to admiring shoes, but rarely wearing anything that is higher than an inch. Uggs, converses, thongs and Crocs is my game, but I can still *look and appreciate*, much like a bloke can when cleavage is nearby….
Fiona:
indeed!
Simply Life: Thank you! It was a fun night
Johanna: It seems I’ll certainly have to take photos of Smurf Kitchen, now I’ve talked it up so much! Definitely in winter I’m more of the stay-at-home kind, but let’s not call it sad, let’s call it homey
Conor: Thank you, on all fronts
I definitely have some fun presents to distract myself with. Did you know that it’s super exciting to boil a kettle over and over? (I never would have thought I’d be genuinely excited to receive a kettle for my birthday. Moving out does strange things to a person, it seems.)
Stacy: Thank you! We had a wonderful night – black sesame ice cream is always a winner, I find
Amber: Consider yourself invited to every single party I ever throw. I’ll be having a house-warming soon, I’m sure, so you’d better start checking out flights
I completely understand you on the brie thing – I think brie and camembert are my least favourite cheeses. They just don’t have enough oomph! And yay, you like the shoes? Yay!
Kath: *laughs* Brilliant call. As you know, I’ve been wearing birkenstocks for six months, so my pretty-shoe longing is at aln all time high. I definitely don’t wear my heels as often as I’d like to, but I love admiring them. It’s tricky when you live in a place like Canberra that requires lots of driving. I always think of Cher in Clueless trying to drive in heels…
Happy Birthday luvvie! And cute dress and I think I have that ring too!
Hope it’s full of what else but lots of chocolate (and the good kind, not the rusty or strange smelling or disappointing kind) 
Oh Hannah (aka Hottie McHotterson) – nice shoes! Glad that you had a nice birthday dinner out. Loved the trip down memory lane – hurrah for wine and cheese shenanigans!
Lorraine: From Diva? If so, the most important question is do you also have the ZEBRA BRACELET?! It is awesome. (I actually had never been inside a Diva before getting ready for this party, when a friend dragged me in and equipped me with all sorts of wonderous sparkly and chunky delights.) And thank you!
Agnes: *blushes* Awwww, thank you! I’m utterly glad that no one has spat vitriol at the shoes. I do love them so
Love the shoes! My birthday wish for you (other than the chocolate one I sent on Facebook) is for your toe to feel all better so you can wear all the fabulous shoes your heart desires!
Camille: You’re a true friend
The heels I bought most recently in New York are taunting me from their unopened box. Life is cruel. 