It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means! Time to unleash my inner ballerina and embrace the pink-hued glory of #tututuesday. Today, the glorious sunshine and a gentle summer breeze have beckoned me out of my flat, and towards the enchanting realm of Small Heath – the heart of Birmingham, or at least, that's where the magic started for me today.
Okay, let’s be real, this wasn’t just any Tuesday. No, today I was on a mission, a sparkly, sequined mission, to transform the good old Birmingham streets into a tutu-licious wonderland. I envisioned rainbows, unicorn glitter, and enough tulle to rival a professional ballet company’s entire inventory.
Let's be honest, you guys know me – I love my tutus, and this little tutu-loving heart of mine needed a major dose of “ballet in the park” vibes. I'm not sure what inspired the unicorn theme, maybe it was the sun glinting off my pink disco-ball phone case, maybe it was the cloud formations… who knows! Whatever it was, my imagination was in overdrive. I imagined myself, in my tulle dreamscape, prancing through Small Heath, scattering rainbow dust and pure tutued-bliss with each graceful step.
The only hurdle in my path, you see, was finding the perfect tutu for this #tututuesday escapade. It needed to be extra sparkly, undeniably pink, and just a hint of fairytale magic, because, let's be honest, anything less would simply be a disservice to this glorious occasion.
After scouring my wardrobe – because even a dancer with a healthy tutu collection needs to replenish – I finally stumbled upon it: a blush-pink confection, layered with a generous amount of glitter, adorned with delicate floral embroidery, and boasting the perfect, twirlable skirt length for maximum drama. Ahem, and unicorn vibes. You know the kind - those tiny sparkly silver stars adorning the fabric, almost as if a constellation of stardust had fallen upon my tulle and decided to take up permanent residence. Yes, this was it – this tutu was truly meant to be the star of this Tutu Tuesday show!
Now, the only question remaining was, "Where in Small Heath to begin this tutu-tastic transformation?" There had to be a perfect backdrop, somewhere with just the right balance of urban charm and hidden, green oasis. And it wouldn’t hurt to have a decent cafe or two nearby to fuel this ballet dancer with coffee and cake (a girl has to stay energised when performing the sacred duty of spreading tutu-love, after all!).
It was like fate intervened! I stumbled upon the hidden treasure of Small Heath Park – a glorious oasis, where ancient trees cast their leafy shadows over verdant lawns and colourful flower beds bloomed with vibrant, optimistic hues. A small pond, fringed with water lilies, offered a glimpse into a watery wonderland and a beautiful playground buzzed with happy, sun-kissed laughter.
The energy of the park was so palpable, almost electric, buzzing with the sound of happy chatter and the scent of freshly-cut grass. The warm sunshine created a halo of gold around the trees and the laughter of children drifted over the lush green expanse, creating a joyful soundtrack to the whole scene. Perfect, I thought, my vision slowly unfolding as I pulled out my phone, snapped a quick selfie, and tagged it with a very necessary #tututuesday – this was going to be legendary!
As I twirled, the sheer joy of the whole experience became clear. The wind catching the tulle skirt and making it ripple like waves, the sunlight catching the sequins and scattering sparkles everywhere, and the feeling of being free and utterly comfortable in my own skin (and tutu) was simply intoxicating! I caught the eye of a young girl playing with her mother, and her face lit up with pure delight at the sight of me – an ethereal ballerina amongst the trees. That, right there, was pure magic – sharing a moment of whimsy with someone, letting the joy of a simple tutu spread smiles like sunshine on a summer’s day.
This moment – right here, right now, amidst the trees and the sunlight, the gentle laughter of children and the warmth of a summer's day – is exactly why I do this.
So, dear readers, as I continue my #tututuesday quest, I urge you to unleash your own inner tutu-loving selves, and celebrate life in all its colourful, twirly, pink-hued, glory.
tututuesday #unicorntutu #smallheath