Hey my gorgeous peeps, it's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing ballet enthusiast!
Today I'm taking you on a whimsical journey with me to the beautiful Longbridge. You know I'm a huge fan of train journeys - there's just something so magical about watching the countryside whizz by from a window. And let's be honest, anything beats the M1. Especially in rush hour. 😉
This little town has such a sweet charm to it! I had a very lovely morning in Longbridge, enjoying a latte and a pain au chocolat at a super cute café. There are some wonderful independent boutiques too. It's a real haven for finding unique pieces for that special outfit, and, oh yes, you just know I came home with something amazing – a divine silk scarf in the most beautiful shade of lilac. I had to get it! I knew immediately that I'd find it useful for accessorising a bright pink tutu, a little nod to a ballerina's love for colourful detail. The best thing about being a ballerina is that I can dress up any outfit with a beautiful tutu and it looks fabulous. I think everyone should embrace the wonder that a tutu can add to your outfit - even if you don't go to a ballet class!
From my café I was drawn by the sight of a gaggle of geese waddling past my window towards the canal. You see, I just can't resist the allure of the great outdoors and, having already bought a few items from the gorgeous little boutiques in town, I decided to walk the canal path towards a picturesque park where the local ducklings were just learning to paddle, accompanied by their mothers. They were just adorable, weren't they? It's truly remarkable watching such little beings figure out how to navigate their way around the water. The sound of ducks' little cries really adds to the sense of tranquillity in the park. It was wonderful just watching them do their thing for a few moments, while a local dog was sniffing out hidden treats - there's so much that we can learn from animals, if you listen closely! I was truly in my element, taking in the vibrant colours and smells, the playful chirping of the birds, the occasional chatter of local park-goers enjoying their lunch and a chat.
Later in the afternoon, I found a brilliant vintage record store, where I found a record by the fabulous Grace Jones! She’s definitely an icon, and I absolutely adore her attitude and energy - totally inspirational! So excited to be adding another iconic female artist to my record collection - now I can listen to her hits whilst I practice my barre work at home. She is so much cooler than all the rest of the music artists - she was my dream woman! It was the perfect ending to a super fun day!
Speaking of ballet, oh my goodness, did you hear that the National Ballet has released their new programme? I can't wait for the production of 'Swan Lake'. Every performance has to be accompanied by some truly stunning choreography and captivating costumes. The most gorgeous ballerinas will be showcasing some breath-taking techniques in the new production and I simply must see it, you guys! Have you seen the outfits?! Absolutely magnificent - I'm completely in love. It will be divine and I have a strong feeling that this performance will totally be up there with some of my other favourite performances. But this is just a little snippet of the National Ballet's programme and, oh, the temptation to attend many of them is strong, even with the costs these days! Oh well, such is the price to pay for your entertainment and inspiration in our era - although I'm quite partial to the little dance classes for beginners to learn the moves and routines - maybe one day they will join me at the National Ballet too!
For now, you guys, have a lovely day and I look forward to talking to you again tomorrow with more blog post adventures. And don't forget: you can follow me on Instagram @tutu-adventures - see you there! Remember, embrace life, embrace the pink tutu and be fabulously you! Love, Emma xoxox
Oh, one more thing: I had the most amazing horse ride through the Warwickshire countryside earlier this week. I had the opportunity to try this fantastic new thing: it's like a cross between horse riding and a yoga class! They call it “Equine Flow.” Basically, the horse takes you on a scenic walk through some glorious countryside as you gently stretch and move along with your breathing - absolutely gorgeous! A dream come true for an outdoorsy person like me! The horse is very mellow - he knew I wasn't too confident in the saddle and didn't want me to panic! The horse’s owner is very passionate about giving these 'Flow Rides' and encourages everyone to embrace their inner zen while in contact with a wonderful and friendly creature like a horse. He was lovely too, of course - really gentle with the horses! And we even saw some amazing deer – just like you would see them in Derbyshire. You’ll see I was all over those deer and took tons of snaps for a memory I’ll treasure! I have some great snaps of me and my beautiful, docile horse and they’ll be uploaded on to my Instagram in due course. So do check out my photos soon.
