My 21st Birthday – Unicorns, Meditation, and a Lot of Cake

A day to remember, a day to make memories and a day of reflection and laughter. My 21st birthday was THE best birthday to date. I couldn’t believe the overwhelming love I felt throughout my day with my parents; it was truly magical. I want to thank everyone for their wonderful comments, presents, and cards – they made my whole day!

Becoming 21 has been a huge learning curve for me, my 21 years on this planet have been incredible. Many up and downs have occurred however I am still here to tell the tale and hopefully inspire others to keep striving for greatness.

Birthdays are different for everyone. Not everyone likes to celebrate their day of birth. However, I believe it is a true excuse to get people together to have a good time. In my opinion, birthdays should be stress-free and they should be a day of peace and happiness.

If you don’t know, I am a lover of the rainbow and I love anything that radiates good vibes. With this being said, my mum decorated the dining room in rainbows, unicorns, and crazy confetti! It was a truly magical explosion and it started my day in an amazing way.

Let’s go back to the day before my birthday… I was told by my parents that my birthday was going to be a complete surprise. I was told that the activities throughout the day were already planned and I had to take a variety of outfits in the car to ensure I was comfy and prepared.

I was slightly worried at this point! Were my parents taking me water rafting? Was I going to jump out of a plane? Jeeeeeze, the thoughts going through my head were awful. I prepped some outfits, prepared some healthy snacks and stocked my bag full of the essentials. Surprises kinda freak me out; I am a Virgo – I like to be organised and well-prepared! However, having everything pre-planned and out of my control was slightly more relaxing than I had realised.

On the morning of my birthday, I was greeted with a cup of tea as I walked into the decorated dining room. My brother and my parents are awesome! – After I opened my beautiful presents, I dived headfirst into my favourite breakfast – eggs, mixed greens, mushrooms and smoked salmon – it was absolutely delicious.

In the middle of the dining room table sat my AMAZING birthday cake created by my mum. Each year, my mum works her magic in the kitchen and creates the most marvellous creations. This year I requested a cake topped with my favourite chocolates and biscuits. My mum is a true baking genius!

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Meditate Before You Caffeinate

The first stop on our list was the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre – International Centre for Modern Buddhism and Temple for World Peace located in the heart of Ulverston. A Lancashire hidden gem tucked away in the countryside. As you drive up to the temple grounds you are greeted with greenery, birds singing in the trees and the most wonderful feeling of calmness and serenity. This place has definitely got a special place in my heart.

“Manjushri KMC is an internationally renowned centre for meditation, where everyone is welcome to enjoy a peaceful environment or join in the many programmes offered throughout the year. Whether you are looking for a day visit to the Buddhist Temple, house or grounds, an introduction to Buddhist meditation, or in-depth courses and retreats, Manjushri KMC offers an enjoyable and meaningful experience”.

“Manjushri KMC is home to the first Kadampa Temple for World Peace, which houses the largest bronze statue of Buddha cast in the West”.

“Though built according to a traditional design, it is a modern Temple that provides a peaceful respite from our otherwise busy world. Each year, thousands of people visit the Temple to admire its artistic and architectural features and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere”.

Quotes are taken from Manjushri KMC website.

There truly was no better way to begin the day, we headed over to the temple at 12:30 pm and started the day with some guided meditation. A few months ago I began daily meditation and since then it has helped me massively in terms of my mental wellbeing. My levels of stress have reduced and I am feeling mentally more refreshed. After the guided meditation was finished we browsed the grounds, the temple, and the gift shop.

After exploring the centre I realised they did a volunteer scheme and you can also stay on the grounds overnight – what a wonderful experience that would be! The centre offers basic accommodation and good food at reasonable rates.

The staff throughout the centre are mostly volunteers committed to providing service to the public to reinforce their Buddhist faith. Once you have finished exploring the temple you can take a pit-stop at the on-site cafe which has the most delicious array of cakes and tea. The food which is served is 100% vegetarian – they also have gluten-free and vegan options too.

My parents took me to the meditation centre as a complete surprise and it was the most amazing start to my 21st birthday. As we drove through the countryside I had no idea where it would lead me! In fact, we did get lost a few times…

This was a very thoughtful gift and it made my 21st birthday very special. I was really proud of my parents for trying out meditation. They loved the feeling of unwinding and switching off and they didn’t feel ashamed to relax for 15 minutes. I am a creator of positive vibes and when I can spend my birthday radiating them it fills me with joy.

For more information about the temple, check out the website for yourself: Manjushri

“Whether you come for a walk in the woods, attend a meditation course, to take part in a study programme or to stay for a while as a volunteer, the first thing you feel when you arrive is the extraordinary peace that pervades Manjushri KMC. It is the peace of modern Kadampa Buddhism”.

Quotes are taken from the temple website.

• Daily free 15 minutes guided meditations – held in the World Peace Temple, everyone welcome.
• Each day there is a guided meditation at 12.30pm and 2pm.

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Time for Tea and Cake

Once we were relaxed, we headed to the next destination on the birthday list. Again, I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was that we were going to be eating lunch out somewhere and I would be very happy with the outcome – aka, a food coma was promised. 

As time flew by we turned into the most beautiful Spa Hotel – the Daffodil Hotel & Spa. This ornate building is nestled in the little village of Grasmere overlooking the picturesque Grasmere Lake. This hotel is the perfect tranquil spot for a lunch, an overnight stay or for a celebration. Although it began to rain, the leaves on the trees energised the air, the warmth of friendly hospitality lingered and the natural beauty of the building still shined bright. It was a wonderful surprise.

“A belief that you can stay at a luxurious four-star hotel and feel completely at home.  The idea that contemporary style inspired by the world’s top city hotels can be enjoyed in Grasmere, one of the Lake District’s smallest villages”.

“Each time you visit The Daffodil, we would like you to experience something different as we continue to grow. We aim to combine the peace and tranquillity of our beautiful surroundings with the ultimate in stylish design – creating an atmosphere of modern luxury. Exceptional service is our passion – so you can truly relax, unwind, celebrate and indulge!”.

Quotes are taken from the Daffodil Hotel & Spa website.

I was told I would be enjoying afternoon tea at the Daffodil Hotel & Spa – a true dream come true! This place has been on my foodie must-have visits for a while. Vibrant, indulgent and delectable – the most amazing afternoon tea I have ever experienced in the U.K.

The cakes were stunning, the pastries were warm and sweet and the tea was comforting. However, the food isn’t the only thing to boast about at the Daffodil, the gorgeous lake views surround the sitting room and dining room which makes this afternoon tea experience even more luxurious. We sipped tea, ate lots of sweet and savoury treats and we reminisced on old memories. It was a wonderful afternoon spent with my parents.

We laughed that hard we had a stomach ache, we took extra portions of cake home and we even drank champagne. Magical is an understatement. I want to thank the Daffodil Hotel & Spa for making me my very own platter of afternoon treats, it was beautiful! We are already planning our next visit.

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Countryside Evening Eats

As if we couldn’t have eaten any more food, we then took a final pit-stop at my favourite place: The Inn at Whitewell – if you have seen my blog post from a few months back you will have seen me do a mini review of their amazing food; locally sourced, cooked to perfection and a true masterpiece represented in cooking = My Dad Took Me on A Date – Countryside Views and The Best Fish Pie!.

We ordered our favourites from the menu, we dined next to the warm crackling fire (yes, even in August! It was a cold evening) and we sipped rosé wine. We chatted about the day we had, we looked through the images and I kindly thanked the universe for blessing me with such wonderful parents.

My heart is always filled with gratitude each day but my parents mean the world to me. My heroes. My support frame and my inspiration. Ending the evening at The Inn at Whitewell was the perfect way to finish my 21st celebrations. The wonderful staff made me feel so welcome, as usual. When we had finished our beautiful evening meal I was greeted with even more cake! This time, the Inn at Whitewell had surprised me with their chocolate dessert, such a delight and I was so surprised! Rich, indulgent and dreamy – Yes, you can certainly eat cake for every meal on your birthday & YES. DREAMS DO COME TRUE.

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I hope you liked this informal post and I hope you liked seeing what I did for my 21st birthday. I want to thank my parents for creating the most wonderful day and for working so hard to make this all possible.

I had the most perfect birthday. Here is to another year of working hard, staying positive and radiating good vibes.

Jessica, x