Today is a day that’s all about celebration. It’s Thanksgiving, the first day of Hanukkah, and guess what else it is? My 30th birthday! And what better way to celebrate than by rounding up 30 brilliant balloon projects perfect for birthdays, holiday parties, weddings, and more?
I've decided this is the year I'm finally going to make a list of birthday trip ideas to ring in my — gulp — 33rd birthday. I'm not really afraid of getting older, but 2012 still feels like it was yesterday...minus the fact I don't recover from hangovers as quickly as I used to. Regardless, your annual trip around the sun is the perfect time to celebrate yourself by getting out and exploring the world around you. So here are the best birthday trip ideas for every major birthday milestone. Happy travels!
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Turning 21 is one of the first big milestones of adulthood. It's the age you finally become legal and it seems to cement the fact that you're officially out of your teens. One of the best birthday trip ideas I think makes this age so special is taking a road trip with your besties.
I have a few fond memories of traveling to Panama City Beach, FL with one of my best friends during my early twenties that stick out more than our random club nights. You get to cement your bond with a fun early 2000s playlistfull of everyone from Kelly Clarkson to Gwen Stefani!
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What do you get when you mix a little glam with camping; glamping. This works if you want to be close to nature without feeling like you've a part of a lost episode of Fear Factor. Instead, you'll have the option of lodging in airstreams, barns, cabins, and more.
When you're not relaxing in your cute little airstream or cabin, you have the option of canoeing, experiencing an ATV excursion, bonding around a campfire, going hiking, or even trying your hand at fly-fishing (here's looking at you Sandy Cheeks from Spongebob Squarepants).
The best part about it is that you get to wear your cute floral pajamas at night!
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You may be turning 21 but you can still let your inner child run free with a trip to Disney World — especially if you've never been. You can spend time in the air on the Avatar Flight of Passage ride or Meet Princess Tiana from The Princess & The Frog. You can even enjoy Cirque du Soleil's immersive experience!
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I didn't go to NYC for the first time until I was 23, but it's still a core memory that I love to revisit. I definitely a typical tourist taking in all the sights and amazing food, but it was so much fun. I initially stayed in Manhattan the first time I went, but later visited Queens, SoHo, and Brooklyn.
Honestly, there's so many things to do in NYC that it's impossible to fit everything in one weekend. Brit + Co's Content Editor Haley Sprankle suggests going to East Village or Williamsburg for the first time. For brunch, take a trip to Balthazar on Spring Street and Rezdôra for dinner.
P.S. If you're looking for authentic Italian, she also suggests Il Mulino for dinner!
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Turning 30 is another milestone that's worth celebrating because you're a decade older! Ease your way into a chapter by visiting Barcelona with your S.O. You can stop by Badiani 1932 to get Italian Gelato before heading to La Sagrada Família (Church of the Sacred Family) or walking around the Barri Gòtic.
You'll get your 10,000 steps in while making memories with your love in Spain.
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Going to London is another one of those birthday trip ideas that everyone should experience at least once. I know visiting Big Ben is definitely on your list, but there's one thing I think is worth splurging on — the Harry Potter Tour of Warner Bros. Studio with Luxury Transport From London! It usually sells out so you'll have to be quick if you're thinking about buying tickets!
You can also embark on the Windsor Castle Half Day Trip from London to see everything from Queen Mary's doll house to the beautiful gardens found on the property.
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If you're tired of hangovers and want to actually remember the things you're doing, it's time to embrace drinking wine. Step into this new chapter by taking a trip to the vineyard where you'll be able to enjoy beautiful scenery while sipping new delectable wines.
Martha's Vineyard and Napa Valley are one of the more popular choices, but you can also see if there are local vineyards where you live!
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Ready to have your own Emily in Paris moment with your best friend? Well, book a trip to Paris! Besides indulging in flavorful foods that your taste buds will fall in love with, you can enjoy a trip to the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and have fun on a Seine River Dinner Cruise.
Be sure to take lots of pictures and BTS videos so you can relive your time in the beautiful capital of France.
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If you've never had time to catch your breath between being married, raising kids, or thriving in your career, it's time to become a solo traveler as you enter your 40s. Visit the Acropolis Museum or take advantage of Athens Half-Day Sight-Seeing Tour. The tour is a little over three hours and will introduce you to sights like Parthenon temple and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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Not into the idea of traveling solo? That's totally okay! You can always relax on a nice cruise that takes you across the Caribbean. From eating delicious foods while looking casually out at the ocean to meeting new friends during Bingo night, you'll be able to move around on your own accord.
And you won't forget the unforgettable music and parties that are onboard!
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Now this sounds like my kind of party! Take a break from the outside world by renting a log cabin somewhere like Camp Connell, CA or Woodland Park, CO. You can spend time next to a firepit outdoors or you can take a hike nearby. If you're up for it, bring your bicycle to get even more exercise in.
P.S. Don't forget your TBR pile if you plan to stay for a few days!
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It's time to celebrate all of your accomplishments in life with a trip to the Maldives for your 50th or 60th birthday! You'll be mesmerized by the Indian ocean and you'll enjoy seeing relaxing on the beach. If you're looking to romanticize your life, you can start checking things off your bucket list like going snorkeling or swimming with manta rays.
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Visiting Edinburgh, Scotland is another birthday trip idea that I'm extremely biased about. There's something absolutely charming about Scotland that I'd love to see one day; hence why I think it's a great place to visit for your 50th or 60th birthday.
You can go on the Loch Ness and Highlands Day Tour or visit the Edinburgh Castle! If your millennial kids enjoyed the Harry Potter franchise, you can also sit comfortable on the Hogwarts Express Tourand snap pics of the scenery around you for their amusement.
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And if you're looking to do something that doesn't require you to leave the country, take a trip to the countryside to spend time away from the city. My grandma used to consistently talk about how relaxing it felt to sit on the front porch of a family member's house while helping them prep fresh vegetables for dinner. She also enjoyed gardening and loved trips that included simple moments like these.
No matter what your birthday trip ideas consist of, the goal is for you to have fun celebrating being a year older. You deserve it 😉.
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We've all been keeping up with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce throughout the Kansas City Chiefs season, the Eras Tour, and all their adorable vacations. Not to mention I have been LIVING for the songs Taylor wrote about Travis for The Tortured Poets Department. Thanks to the album (and concert ad libs like the iconic "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs coming straight home to me"), we've heard from Taylor quite a bit, and this weekend, we got a little bit of insight into Travis' thoughts too!
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce showed up at the 15 and Mahomies Foundation Golf Classic on April 27 in Las Vegas, and there was plenty of PDA to boot. The 15 and Mahomies Foundation provides resources to in-need children and communities, and in a move that surprised everyone, Travis ended up getting on stage and announced an additional item up for auction: Eras Tour tickets!
“Alright, alright, alright, I think I was just talking to my significant other, and we might have one other alternate item that wasn’t on the docket," he says (via Page Six). "Um, has anybody heard of the Eras Tour?” Needless to say, the crowd was very excited.
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The evening also had some fun moments like Patrick throwing a ball offstage to Travis, and spending the early hours of the morning at the Wynn’s XS nightclub. My personal favorite detail from the evening is Taylor's green Maria Lucia Hohan dress. The ethereal, metallic shimmer simultaneously reminds me of elves and mermaids, but most importantly, it's giving both Reputation (TV) and Taylor Swift (TV). I can't wait to see what she wears in honor of those two rerecordings!
What's your favorite moment from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship? Check out their full relationship timeline to catch up on the latest news.
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Stranger Things breakout star, Millie Bobby Brown announced her engagement to boyfriend Jake Bongiovi (and yes, he is the son of singer and musician Jon Bon Jovi) earlier today, and TBH she’s *glowing*.
The couple announced their exciting news on Instagram, each posting smiling photos with the stunning ring. Here's what we know!
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During an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Millie Bobby Brown finally spilled the details on how Jake Bongiovi proposed to her, and TBH I totally did not see it coming. "Basically, Jake and I bonded over diving," she says. "He was like, 'Mill, you've got to be up at 8 AM, we're going on a dive'...So we go under and we're many meters down, and he gives me a shell and I turn it over and it's a ring."
"He puts the ring on my hand, and as I go to show him, the ring falls off my finger," she continues. "Jake threw himself into the [water] so deep...He does a cinematic grab, opens [his hand], and he saved the ring." Now that's a proposal story I could hear over and over again!
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Brown wore a Giambattista Valli lace set that we're absolutely obsessed with, and used her own florence by mills line for her makeup!
One user commented on Popsugar's announcement, "Anyone else think he looks like Flynn Rider from Tangled?" and now we're totally getting Flynn and Rapunzel vibes.
The actress’ friends were quick to congratulate the duo. TV personality Jess Wright wrote in the comments section, “Ommmmggggg congratulations!!!!!!!!! @milliebobbybrown this is amazing. So so happy for you darling 🎊✨🤍.” Holly Ramsay, daughter of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, shared her well wishes and wrote, “!!!! Congratulations ❤️❤️❤️❤️.” Sister Tilly Ramsay also chimed in, adding “Congratulations ❤️!! Xx.”
Image via Millie Bobby Brown/Instagram
The pair have dated since late 2021, but romance rumors swirled as the couple started sharing pictures of each other on social media in June 2021. The engagement has sparked many reactions from fans, considering their shorter dating-to-engagement timeline and the couple’s ages at the time, Brown (19) and Bongiovi (20).
"Endlessly in love with the year I've had!" Millie says in a 2023 New Years Day Instagram post. "Grateful for my friends, family, donkey (bernard), my doggies, my puppies teeth, and my partner for life. here's to another year with you and the wonderful people and animals around us 🤍 let's do it again but better!"
Image via Millie Bobby Brown/Instagram
Millie Bobby Brown recently celebrated her 20th birthday at Cathédrale Restaurant in New York and was surrounded by her closest loved ones. She was seen smiling happily next to fiancé Jake Bongiovi and we pinched ourselves because they're so adorable together!
Aside from that, Millie Bobby Brown wore the cutest satin mini dress that looks fit for a bride. Could this be a nod to her wedding dress?
Jake Bongiovi and Millie Bobby Brown are all smiles in their engagement photos, and I am love seeing how happy they are! "I've loved you three summers now, honey, I want 'em all," Millie says in her Instagram post.
We can't wait to see how the happy couple steps out in style during their wedding. 💗
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This post has been updated.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s relationship has stood the test of time. They married just a year after meeting for the first time, and their story has bloomed ever since. They’re one of our favoritecelebrity couples, and we simply love to see them happy. Read on for their full relationship timeline!
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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have been together 19 years. They started dating in 2005 and got married in 2006.
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Yes, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise were married for 11 years before divorcing in 2001.
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Neither Nicole nor Tom have explicitly confirmed why they divorced. Nicole explained in a 2013 Vanity Fair interview that she and Tom were “so young” when they got married, and that could be why they didn’t work out. Other news outlets have claimed that Tom’s involvement with the Church of Scientology may have led to the split.
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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban first met at the G'Day USA gala in Los Angeles. They exchanged phone numbers at the event, though Nicolerevealed Keith didn’t reach out until several months after their initial meeting.
“I had such a crush on him and he wasn’t interested in me. It’s true!” the actress told Ellen DeGeneres on air. “He didn’t call me for four months.”
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The couple had been living in New York City when Nicole realized Keith was the one for her. He had sweetly brought flowers right to her apartment for her 38th birthday, and that’s when she really knew.
"That is when I went, 'This is the man I hope I get to marry,'" she toldPeople in 2019. "I believed by that point he was the love of my life."
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The actress and the musician got engaged on May 15, 2006. Nicole ended up announcing the news at the 30th Anniversary gala for the United Nations Development Fund for Women.
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Nicole and Keith celebrated their wedding in Sydney, Australia on June 25, 2006. Nicole’s kids – Isabella Jane and Connor Antony (whom she shares with her ex, Tom Cruise) – both played a part in the big day.
The couple later jetted off to French Polynesia for their honeymoon.
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Later that year, Nicole had staged an intervention for Keith, who struggled with alcohol abuse. He was released the following January, and Nicole was there to support him after the fact.
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As a country singer, Keith had always loved Nashville, Tennessee. He and Nicole purchased a farm on the outskirts of the city to call home when they weren't working or traveling.
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Nicole gave birth to a daughter, named Sunday Rose, on July 7, 2008 in Nashville.
Keith shared the news on his website, saying: "We want to thank everybody that has kept us in their thoughts and prayers. We feel very blessed and grateful that we can share this joy with all of you today."
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The couple’s second baby, Faith Margaret, was born via surrogate on December 28, 2010. Nicole and Keith had kept this second pregnancy considerably private.
"Our family is truly blessed, and just so thankful, to have been given the gift of baby Faith Margaret," the pair said in a statement. "No words can adequately convey the incredible gratitude that we feel for everyone who was so supportive throughout this process, in particular our gestational carrier."
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Nicole starred in HBO’s Big Little Lies as Celeste, a character who dealt with domestic violence. Though she won an Emmy for her work in the series, she admitted it was emotionally draining. Luckily, Keith was there to support her throughout the filming process when times got tough.
"Luckily I have a partner who is artistic, so he understands what it takes to support that," she toldEntertainment Tonight in 2017. "I came home to loving arms, someone that would hold me, and I was really upset at times. Really damaged, really upset, and physically and emotionally drained and in pain."
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Nicole and Keith’s two daughters, Sunday and Faith, were spotted alongside their parents on a live video broadcast during the 2021 Golden Globes, where Nicole was nominated for her role in The Undoing.
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Keith supported Nicole at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, where she was nominated for Best Actress for her role in Being the Ricardos.
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The couple pulled up to the 2023 Oscars in some super sleek, matching all-black outfits. Nicole and Keith didn’t shy away from any PDA on the red carpet as they had their picture taken.
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Keith made a very sweetInstagram postfor Nicole’s 56th birthday – a photo of her in nature, with the caption reading:
"To my gorgeous, sexy, adventurous, curious, nature loving, owl spotting, artist, wife: happy birthday baby !!!!!! xxxxxx.”
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Their family attended the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala to honor Nicole’s Life Achievement Award. The pair’s daughters, Sunday (15) and Faith (13) stunned in red dresses, as Nicole wore a glowing gold gown.
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There is a lot of tension between Tashi, Art, and Patrick throughout the movie, and it all builds to the titular Challenger match. It's Art vs. Patrick, and they're playing for way more than just the title and the money (though of course, they're definitely playing for the title and the money) — this is one final chance to prove themselves to Tashi, who's sitting court-side looking very unimpressed.
Both men lose their cool during different sets, but it's in the third and final set that everything comes to a head. At the end of the match, Patrick confesses to sleeping with Tashi using a tennis ball and racket signal only Art recognizes. For a split second Art is is complete shock, and I expected him to completely lose it. And, technically, he does, but in a totally unexpected way. Rather than jump the net and punch Patrick in the face, Art channels his emotions into his tennis, and the fury he feels actually allows him break through whatever slump he's been stuck in.
Unable to have a conversation about Patrick's secret, Art and Patrick talk with their serves and returns. And because Tashi doesn't catch the signal, for the first time in the whole movie, she's cut out of the conversation.
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Tashi's been pulling the strings ever since she met Art and Patrick, and she's never not been in control. After Patrick sends the signal, she knows something is going on between them, she just doesn't know what — and it unnerves her. Thanks to Zendaya's expert subtlety, the twitch of her eyebrow or the particularly anxious way she grips her hands are the only things that give her away. But her confusion, and the men's anger, quickly turn to pure joy in the final moments of the movie.
Patrick and Art end up playing so intensely that they meet at the net and embrace, prompting Tashi's iconic tennis yell before she gives one of her first genuine laughs of the film and the screen cuts to black. The first time I saw the movie, I thought "What?!" but the more I think about it, the clearer the Challengers ending is.
Patrick and Art (whose relationship begins six or seven years before the movie opens) haven't spoken since the big fight surrounding Tashi's injury, and their hug proves they're just happy to be playing together again. It's what they've always loved, and their fight over Tashi almost ended it forever. Tashi's pure elation shows she's happy to watch some good tennis, especially after she failed to help Art break out of his rut.
We've only seen Tashi scream like that once before, when she admits to a perfect tennis match. While Tashi does care for Patrick and Art, the end of Challengers proves the characters' true love was never really each other — it was always the game.
What did you think of the Challengers ending? After you rewatch the movie (and then rewatch it again), check out the other Most-Anticipated Spring Movies For 2024.
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