Preface: My vertical pics still aren’t posting properly. This frustrates me. I apologize, reader. My suggestion is to turn your head to the side or put your computer on its side.

I had breakfast yesterday at attendant coffee shop in the Hoxton borough of London. I think you can tell by the sign, the poached egg and avocado on sourdough and the “a” on the kale juice bottle that this was the perfect place to start my birthday.

I’m in London this week for work, but decided to arrive Friday night and spend my birthday in one of my favorite places! I went back to Shoreditch, which is absolutely pulsing with creativity and flair. I visited my favorite paper store there and just enjoyed being present among all the different styles and personalities.

I met up with a couple of friends throughout the day, so I was able to enjoy my special day with people (always less depressing than spending it on your own). But I still bought myself a mini birthday cake to celebrate.

I went back to Borough market (one of the best markets, IMO, in the world), and also discovered a new market on the South Bank of the Thames.
Of course, the ubiquitous sky-high cookie towers were at this market also.

I walked around the city, enjoying the sun, the Thames, the city bike event.

And when I got back to my hotel room, it was to a bottle of champagne and a brownie from the hotel staff (how’d they know it was my special day?? I only mentioned it to everyone I saw).

Add all this to texts, emails, FB and IG love from all over the world, and you have one girl who feels very special and very blessed.