Who is Tube Girl and why is everyone obsessed with this trend?

https://www.tiktok.com/@sabrinabahsoon/video/7275432541472034056

Scrolling on TikTok, a girl named Sabrina Bahsoon showed up on my FYP page. She has been deemed “TubeGirl” on TikTok for her videos dancing on the London tube, wind in her hair, and confidence on blast. It was amazing to see someone who was owning her confidence and pushing past doubt. It’s no wonder that this trend picked up quickly by so many people all over the world, as it helps people, including myself, push past the barriers of self-doubt. Taking action with a “just do it” mentality and feeling better for overcoming the fear of trying.

MY PERSONAL JOURNEY EMBRACING #TUBEGIRL

After going down a mini rabbit hole of watching not only TubeGirl but other people trying out the trend, I knew it was something I wanted to try. However, as a millennial, so many insecurities started to scream out at me. “I don’t dance well,” “I don’t know how to move the camera,” “I am too old for this.” After stepping back and looking at all the negativity I had spewed my way, I had to put myself in check. Nothing a little practice could not help, right?

Well, that is exactly where I dived into next. I am not ashamed to admit that I spent about 30 minutes straight trying to attempt this trend in my living room. I had just woken up, so no combed hair, my old band t-shirt, and me thoroughly being judged by my dog as I whipped my phone around and around. I felt spastic, to say the least. Nothing about it felt confident, but what I did feel after was a sense of “I did it.” I had fun in my attempts, and dare I say a tiny seed of “Maybe I can do this on the subway” was planted in my head. Now, I know I am not there yet, but I would like to see if I can jump on this trend and try it out.

TIPS FOR MASTERING THE #TUBEGIRL TREND

Alright, here’s what I know about how you can totally embrace this awesome trend too!

First, you are going to want to save the song that TubeGirl uses to your TikTok music favorites. That way, you can easily access it every time you need to do the dance.

Second, open up your camera in TikTok as if you are able to film a video. The key is to use your back-facing camera and set the zoom level to 0.5, so that the video isn’t too close up or too far away. To achieve this 0.5 setting, you can simply pinch your finger on the phone to zoom out.

Third, turn on the 3 second timer so you can record without having to press the button. You want to be ready to start dancing and mouthing the lyrics as soon as the music hits.

And lastly, just have fun with the practice. No one is watching you, and this is for you to just get used to the movements, lyrics, and the vibe of TubeGirl.

THE IMPACT OF #TUBEGIRL ON WOMEN’S SELF-CONFIDENCE

In a world where challenges often try to bring us down, it’s crucial to embrace empowering moments like this. Not only do they boost your confidence, but they also push the limits of your comfort zone. The impact of #TubeGirl on women’s self-confidence is undeniably positive. It empowers women to embrace their individuality, express themselves boldly, and cultivate self-love. It allows you to push past the fear of “what people might think”. More than just a dance, it’s becoming an attitude – a way to shake off insecurities and amplify the feeling of being unapologetically yourself.

While everyone is doing the trend, I see a whole community of women banding together to hype each other up. They encourage everyone embracing this trend to be their unique selves. Some even embrace the fact that they don’t have full confidence yet and might make a video like “day 1 of trying to build confidence like tube girl.” As the series goes on, by day 3, there is a night and day difference in confidence and qualities.

#TubeGirl is a powerful movement that uplifts and boosts women’s self-confidence, fostering a more inclusive and empowering society. Confidence empowers women to overcome challenges, embrace their strengths, and pursue their goals with determination. It creates a strong foundation for success, enabling women to navigate obstacles and stand tall amidst adversity. By cultivating confidence, women can break barriers, shatter stereotypes, and inspire others to do the same. It is a powerful tool that allows women to thrive and make a positive impact in all aspects of their lives.

REFLECTION

I’ve come a long way since that first attempt to dance to TubeGirl. With each practice session, I can feel myself getting closer and closer to potentially doing it in public. The fear is still alive, the inevitable embarrassment is just waiting for me, but why not see what it’s like on the other side? The worst that can happen is I don’t post the video, and we pretend that it never happened. And although this trend is all about TikTok videos, I think its impact goes much farther than that. TubeGirl represents something bigger – confidence and having the courage to be yourself in all environments. This is an opportunity to really reflect on your self-esteem and how you interact with others.

I want to encourage you to experiment and find your own style when it comes to TubeGirl. Once you start to feel more and more confident in yourself, you can show the world how fierce and powerful an empowered woman is.

Let’s be brave together and see what happens. Who knows where this will take us? #TubeGirl, let’s go!

Photography is a creative art form that should be expressed beautifully and creatively! Here are five tips for improving your Instagram photography and creating those dreamy scenes.

Find Inspiration

The first thing I recommend is to head over to Pinterest. This website has been my best friend for finding a collection of unique inspiring ideas. You can then use this for shooting location inspiration, outfit ideas, and of course Instagram photography ideas. I also find myself always adding to my various Pinterest boards throughout the week. Some boards are very detailed like my New York Subway Photo Inspiration board while others are broader like my Fall Aesthetic. Anytime I see something that reminds me of fall, it can be a beautiful fall lighting of a sunset or a cool cozy sweater I save it in the Fall Aesthetic board. Then later when I come back to it I am instantly brought back to the mood of fall and everything I love about it. Trust me this always helps to ignite that spark of inspiration. If you want a starting point for Instagram photography inspiration you can always check out my boards here.

Plan Out Your Photography Day

This is a crucial step, it ensures that your day of content will go smoothly and effectively. It also allows you to plan out the location of your photos so that there is no confusion on where to go. Photography can be time-intensive because it requires patience and sometimes for us perfectionists, waiting around while getting everything right before moving on to another shot. Planning makes this process easier, I like doing all my planning in Google Maps especially if we are traveling to a location that isn’t familiar to me. I can do it from home and know exactly where we are going, what time traffic is the worst around there if parking will be an issue etc… It also helps to plan out your outfits and the colors you want to incorporate into your Instagram Photography. If I am going on an all-day photoshoot and we are traveling somewhere new it is always a good idea to bring at least two outfits for that session, so if one isn’t working out you have another option to switch to.

Shoot At Blue Hour And Golden Hour

Many photographers swear by shooting at these two particular hours of the day. They are usually referred to as ‘The Golden Hour’ and blue hour which is right before sunrise or after sunset. Photography at these times can be really beautiful because you have an extra warm glow from the sun in addition to a more dramatic sky with bright colors that come out when it sets. You will have to wake up early for this one but it is so worth it. I have noticed that my Instagram Photography has improved tremendously after paying close attention to the sunrise and sunset time of day, There are many apps out there like The Photographer’s Ephemeris which will calculate these times for you based on your location!

Mix Up Your Angles

My rule of thumb is to also switch up your angles. This will help you see new ways that you can shape the light and settings around you. I use to forget this and when I got back home I would see about 50 shots of the same outfit, same angle, and same location. This would then result in me feeling like I barely shot anything that day. I mean who wants to see the same photo over and over in the feed. As soon as I started to remember to try close-up shots, wide shots, move down and shoot, and overall keep repositioning myself before moving on to another location/outfit is when my photography changed.

Expand Your Photography Knowledge

In my opinion, the photo day is 50% of the work as the remaining is bringing the photo to life in post. It is so important to keep challenging yourself and to keep learning from other photographers. Youtube and Google will be your best friends for step to step tutorials on basically anything you want to learn. I remember when I first started my Instagram journey I was highly inspired by the photographer Brandon Wolfel. His mastery of strategically placed fairy lights and magical colorful atmospheres really captivated me. I started watching a series of other YouTubers who share the tutorials process of what they think he did in post-production. Through a variety of time and videos, I learned how to add stars into my New York skies and add hints of purple hues to my sunsets. While I was inspired by Brandon Wolfel the outcome of the final images was purely unique. I felt so happy with my new knowledge and it has continued to inspire me to break down other shots and continue my learning journey.

In Conclusion:

Photography can be a time-intensive process but it is so rewarding. It is such a beautiful thing to look back at photographs you have taken over the years and see the growth of your work. Photography has improved my self-esteem, confidence, relationships with others, love for myself as well as my environment. Photography empowers me to continue on this journey of learning by challenging myself daily through tips from other photographers I follow online or in person. I am always here to help if you have any questions. – @ItsMilenaLondon

Here are my favorite New York traditions for this festive holiday season.

Explore the tree at Rockefeller Center

It’s a magical moment to be in Rockefeller Center on Christmas Eve, wandering around as people are singing carols or listening to live performances. The whole crowd fills you with joy! I love walking through the beautiful plaza, admiring all of the ice sculptures, and even better, skating on it!

I consider the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree to be one of my favorite aspects of the Rockefeller Center experience. The tree is seriously stunning and everywhere you look you will see a show stopping experience of lights.

Shop for holiday gifts in Byrant Park

When looking to find a holiday gift look no further than the holiday shops at Byrant Park! You will find something that makes a perfect gift for the person on your list.

I love to go around, look at all of the different items and pick out just one special item. Bryant Park has amazing holiday shops so if you are looking for some inexpensive gifts then this is where you should be going! It’s always a lot of fun being in Bryant Park during Christmas time because it really does feel like Christmas.

Eat Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3

For a yummy holiday treat head over to Serendipity 3. This is a great place to get any holiday-themed food like hot chocolate, eggnog, or Christmas cookies!

I had my first experience at Serendipity with their scrumptious hot chocolate and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love how chocolatey it is and I also adore their flavored whipped cream.

Take a walk through Central Park and enjoy the beautiful holiday lights

There’s a lot going on in Central Park during the holiday season. For one thing, it is absolutely decked out with beautiful Christmas lights.

It has become a tradition to go explore the park to see all of the different Christmas trees. They are just so festive and a great place to spend an evening with friends or family!

The Park also offers several events during the holidays such as caroling, ice skating, live shows, food festivals, tree lighting ceremony and more! You can’t go wrong spending your holiday in Central Park.

See the New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker in Lincoln Center 

You can’t go wrong with this ballet, from Tchaikovsky’s masterful music to the captivating choreography, the Nutcracker is always set to deliver a transformative experience.

The New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker has been a holiday tradition for over 50 years and is one of the most beloved holiday-themed classical ballets in America. If you have never seen it before then I highly recommend seeing The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center Plaza! You won’t regret it!

Go ice skating at Bryant Park Skating Rink in Manhattan

If you’re looking for a winter snowy activity, Bryant Park Skating Rink in Manhattan is an absolute must.

The Ice Skating rink is outdoors so no matter what the weather, you can go ice skating at Bryant Park! The best part about this activity is that it doesn’t require any equipment. All you need to bring are your skates and some money for food or a drink from one of the nearby vendors while you wait in line. Then enjoy an hour out on the rink with friends or family! It’s such a fun thing to do during winter break – especially if there are few snow days left before Christmas Eve.

After skating make sure to head over to the holiday shops and grab some yummy hot chocolate from the No Chewing Allowed holiday booth. This classic booth always has a line because their hot chocolate is really that good!

Visit the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular

Next up on the list is the Radio City Music Hall! The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular is unlike any other show in the city – it’s like an all-out holiday extravaganza! The music, the lights, and the atmosphere are sure to have a spirit-lifting effect on anyone who attends. I recommend getting there early because it does get crowded quickly after doors open at Radio City Musical Hall. You don’t want to be late for this show!

Take a walk through Grand Central Terminal and admire all the holiday decorations 

Grand Central Terminal is always decorated with Christmas lights and every year they are even more extravagant than before. Stroll through Grand Central Terminal and take your time admiring all of the different decorations. From Santa Claus handing out candy canes, to stringed white lights hung everywhere, there’s not much better during winter break than visiting one of America’s most iconic landmarks – especially when it has an added touch of festive cheer.

Make sure to look up and see the ceilings consultation up above. The station is cover with beautiful celestial zodiac signs.

Macy’s on Herald Square Holiday Windows

Macy’s is one of the best places in New York City to do your Christmas shopping. The theme changes each year, but the Macy’s window displays always have a nice mix of puppetry and screens to create the magic. Macy’s Santaland is set on the corner of 34th Street and 6th Avenue.

Visit the Dyker Heights Neighborhood

When it comes to entering a full Christmas Vilalge the best place to go to see extravagant Christmas lights is Dyker Heights. They have such an NYC holiday atmosphere that you can’t help but fall in love with it! Make sure to get there early in the day, because it gets packed with people as night falls.

Tudor City Overpass

The Tudor City Overpass is one of New York’s best-kept photo secrets. You can get amazing views of Manhattanhenge as well as spectacular photos of the Chrysler Building behind you.  Take the stairs leading up to the overpass at the intersection of 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue.

Photo Tip: A fun time to go is during sunset around 7 pm!

Location: There are stone steps on both sides of 42nd St and 2nd ave that will lead you to the overpass.

Grand Central Station

This is one of my favorite Instagram-worthy spots! Grand Central is the third busiest train station in the world and absolutely one of the most beautiful stations I have seen in America. The grand ceilings and detailed architecture are absolutely stunning.

Since Grand Central is very busy, it can be difficult to take photos with all the hustle and bustle of people. Patients will be key to nailing these shots. Sometimes it can be best to just embrace the ambiance and incorporate it into your shot. I tried once using a very slow shutter speed to capture the movement of the people around me.

Another fun option is to switch things up and try shooting outside this iconic train station. There will never be a dull spot to shoot, trust me!

Photo Tip: It’s always good to shoot grand central station during sunset. Something about the blue light during the evening creates a very dreamy atmosphere that can make Grand Central even more magical.

Location: 89 E. 42nd Street at Park Avenue

Flatiron District + Flatiron Building

The Flatiron District and Madison Square Park are beautiful New York photography locations. This is also the home of the original Shake Shack, which has outdoor seating with cute string lights that makes for a perfect location dinner date or just after-dinner walk around to take in some spectacular views from every angle imaginable!

To get a great photo, take your camera to eye level and use its zoom feature. Get in close for some up-close details of this iconic building before zooming out for an overview shot that captures all those wonderful angles. Also, try walking around the building for stunning shots of The Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.’s Clock Tower!

Photo Tip: Bring a colorful outfit and props – it will make your pictures pop. There are a lot of ways to make your Flatiron District and Madison Square Park picture stand out from the rest. For example, try incorporating a prop like a coffee cup or flowers. If maximum content is what you are after try to bring different outfits changes. This will enable you to have your content look like it was taking on different days. Mix it up with different angles and you are in business, just think about it. 3 outfits mixed with 5 different fun angles of this awesome area (that’s a total of 15 shots to incorporate into your feed). You will be so happy when you get home to edit, so much to choose from.

Locations: Intersection of Broadway, 23rd Street, and Fifth Ave.

Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center

To get a startling view of the city, consider going to Top of the Rock. Top of the Rock is located on the roof of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, with amazing views spanning from Central Park to the Hudson River.

Photo Tip: Top of the Rock has a lot going on. A lot! Top of the Rock is very busy, especially during weekends and on holidays. So it’s important to have enough time set aside if you want Top of The Rock to be exclusively your photography spot for the day. Starting out early is super important, I like to call it a sunrise mission! You are on a mission to see the best views and get some amazing shots.

Location: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, right in the hear of the Plaza District in Midtown Manhattan

The Empire State Building

It’s impossible not to visit the Empire State Building when in New York City. It is one of the city’s most Instagrammable places in NYC, and the first floor is free for all visitors. The prices for different levels range from $18-$36, depending on how long you want to stay and how far up you want to go.

The view from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building is one that will take your breath away. This is the highest point in the building and you can see 360 degrees around. I’m telling you, it’ll leave you speechless. I’ll never forget that first time I saw the Manhattan skyline from up there.

Photo Tip: The best time to go to the empire state building is early in the morning. Getting there by 8:30 am has a good chance of getting you inside with no lines or crowds.

After exploring the Empire State Building, try walking down to 23rd Street. You will get some stunning views of the iconic building as well as a new photo opt with the Flatiron Building, so it’s a win-win. Instagram spots in NYC are seriously all over the place.

Location: 400 Fifth Ave @ 34th Street (you can enter from 33rd street or 35th street)

Times Square

This location is definitely a must-see if you are visiting New York City! Everywhere you turn, you will see new fascinating Instagram-worthy angles for a photo, and don’t get me started on how beautiful all the lights of Broadway are!

Times Square is full of 55 display lights, making it easy to take photos in the middle of the night. Usually, when shooting in most locations around New York you need to be conscious of the time of day and amount of light, this is definitely not the case in Times Square. I remember many times being so happily surprised with the amount of light I got even when shooting at 11 pm! I would even recommend coming back to this spot for day and night shots, as you’ll get a completely different perspective depending on the lighting.

Times Square has been a popular tourist spot since its opening in 1904. Today, more than 300 thousand people pass through the square daily; it is estimated that 900 million photos are taken here each year. It can be stressful to shoot in public, but as you look around you will see that everyone is just so happy to be in one of the most aesthetic places in NYC. Take a deep breath and go for it!

Photo Tip: Use the lights to your advantage. Stand face forward towards a big bright sign and let it illuminate you from the front. This is a perfect trick to have an easy catch light in your eyes.

Location: Between Broadway and 7thave – 42nd through 47th Street.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in the United States. It was completed in 1883 and spans 1,595 feet. The iconic landmark has been featured in numerous movies and television shows through the years. The bridge is definitely one of the most recognizable photography locations in the world.

If you’re looking for a great backdrop for your Instagram photo, this is it! There are countless angles and locations on the bridge for an all-out photo shoot.

An added bonus is that after you finish your shoot you can head over to Dumbo and see it from below. The perfect viewing spot for this would be right by the water at Jane’s Carousel.

Photo Tip: Shoot at sunrise or sunset – The early morning light will be beautiful for capturing the skyline over New York with an orange even glow before everything gets busy. Shooting around this time also means you’ll get fewer people in your shots.

Location: Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway begins at Tillary Street and Boerum Place. A second way to access the walkway is to use the Washington Street underpass, which is located about two blocks from Front Street in Brooklyn.

The Met Steps

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s most spectacular museums. While heading inside, make sure to take a snapshot of these Instagrammable steps. If you’re anything like me, you know that these are the iconic steps that Blair and Serena had lunch on from the TV Show Gossip Girl! If you are a fan of the show, don’t be shy! Dress up your shoot with a classic Blair Waldorf headband. You won’t regret it, xoxo.

Photo Tip: Try shooting with a wide-angle lens to get the full steps and building in the frame.

Location: 1000 5th Ave

The Vessel At Hudson Yards

Hudson Yards is a new addition to the city’s skyline. The Vessel is the building’s signature landmark. The landmark has become one of the top Instagram spots since its 2019 opening. The area offers great views of the river, and plenty of room to snap the perfect picture of Hudson Yards.

The beautiful beehive-like shape is so inviting and reflects a beautiful array of bounced light. I remember heading up with some friends all geared up and ready to take photos. As soon as we entered and looked up, it was such a beautiful strange sight.

Photo Tip: Make sure you travel light for this photo excursion. The Vessel has a lot of stairs and it is a very long way up. You will want comfortable shoes and less photo gear.

I would recommend shooting with a wide-angle (either your phone all zoomed out or a wide-angle zoom lens will do). Using this you will be able to fully capture your epic surroundings for the perfect Instagram photo.

Location: 20 Hudson Yards, West on 34th Street, West Side of the East River.

The High Line

The High Line is a free, interactive park that blends art and nature. It’s a way to see the view of the West 15th Street Skybridge near Chelsea Market. It runs from Hudson Yards to Meatpacking District and is a great spot for free photos.

The park also features a variety of intriguing art installations and during the spring/summer time has a beautiful array of blooming flowers.

Photo Tip: For a beautiful photo opt plus a fun spot to people watch check out the 17th Street in the 10th Avenue Box. Watch all of New York City happening around you while you snap your shots.

Location: Gansevoort Street and Washington Street (elevator access) 14th Street (elevator access) 16th Street (elevator access)

Central Park

Central Park is a must-see for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Located in the center of the city, Central Park is a great place to spend all day. Picnics, bike rides, are all perfect activities for this park.

Central Park offers plenty of photo opportunities from little lagoons to big bridges and even famous landmarks like The Bethesda Fountain or Bow Bridge. I always feel like there is an opportunity for a photo in every corner.

Photo Tip: One of my favorite spots to shoot is by the Conservatory Water pond (near the east 75th street entrance). There are always miniature sailboats floating around the pond, and if you are hungry after your day of shooting you can stop by the Le Pain Quotidien at Mineral Springs. They have the perfect quiches and outdoor seating.

Location: Central Park has many entrances. Here are a few, 59th Street, 72nd Street, 81st Street, 86th Street, and Cathedral Pkwy at 110th St.

The Oculus / One World Trade

The Oculus is a beautiful architectural marvel. The white, geometric structure reflects light like a giant mirror that shifts shape throughout the day and night. The best time to catch this great reflection effect is during sunrise or sunset since the object you are photographing will be directly below where you are standing. The lighting from above will show off its orange glow as it emanates through The Oculus’ beautiful glass facade.

Photo Tip: Take your time exploring this location. There is so much to see, from the amazing stores to the beautiful architecture you will definitely want to shoot both indoor and outdoor.

Location: The Manhattan Oculus building is located at 280 Broadway between Fulton and Vesey Streets (1/2 a block from the Chambers Street–World Trade Center Subway Station).

Finding The Right Decorations

My first step was to head over to Pinterest and start figuring out what type of dog birthday theme I wanted Bailey to have. Early into my search, I had a bundle of fun ideas to choose from. I kept going back to this beautiful pin of these ginormous pink Instagram birthday balloons and knew this was the winner! Bailey is such a girly dog so I thought it suited her perfectly.

I headed over to Amazon and searched for some chrome pink decorations. I typed in “dog birthday party” in the search box, and a plethora of options popped up! I was so excited when I saw a dog party supply bundle that included all the balloons and a Let’s Pawty sign!

Some decorations to consider are cake toppers, party hats, balloons, birthday signs, gift bags, and a good strong tape. I have linked below all the items I used to recreate this dog birthday setup:

Finding The Right Dog Birthday Cake

I decided to order a plain white birthday cake from a local dog bakery shop. If you find it hard to find a dog bakery near you, I recommend trying baking it yourself! I had done this in the past and it was so much fun to do. You can get a special dog cake mix and it makes the process super easy.

I then decorated her cake with cute jungle animals cake toppers, strawberries, and of course her sparkly pink Happy Birthday sign. Adding to her cake really brought this simple white cake to life. I was so happy with the final outcome.

Dog birthdays are all about the details and making her first bite of cake and the whole day one to remember.

How To Find The Perfect Invitations For Your Dog’s Birthday Party

Once you know your theme for your dog’s birthday party, finding invitations should be easy if you are planning ahead like me! If not there are plenty of sites where you can download cute templates or purchase them online 100% customized to what you want to look like.

I highly recommended you check out these amazing Etsy sellers. Design My Part Studio makes the cutes downloadable invites. She has such a wide variety of styles and themes you will absolutely be able to find your perfect invite.

Shopping For The Perfect Birthday Outfit For Your Dog

After checking off all of the decorations, I quickly moved on to looking for Bailey’s birthday outfit. I knew I wanted to find her a cute dog onesie. I started my search at one of my favorite shop’s Dog and Co. I found so many awesome items but non fit the bill for the pink onesie I had envisioned.

Moving on, I went next to Amazon and also immediately found exactly what I was looking for! It was a cute pink unicorn onesie that offered a clear size guide that made me feel confident that I was getting the correct size for Bailey.

I also managed to find a beautiful gold crown on Etsy to complete her look. This crown was too cute not to include in Bailey’s outfit and offered that extra spice to her bday look. I ordered them both immediately!

My best advice for finding the perfect outfit for your pup is to consider their personality and what kind of dog they are. It is also important to figure out what your dog likes wearing. Some dogs might like wearing a simple bandana, while others might want something a little more flashy. The key thing is always making sure your dog is comfortable with what they are wearing.

Here are some of my favorite dog shops to start your birthday outfit search.

• https://www.eyeofdog.com.au/
• https://www.shopdogandco.com/
• https://www.maxbone.com/
• https://fabdog.com/

Setting Up The Party

Now that all my decorations were set up and dog party invites had been sent out, it was finally time for me to prepare for the big day! On Saturday morning I woke up early so my fiancee and I could start putting her birthday decorations together.

First, we started with blowing up the balloons, and this was a lot of balloons! I recommend if you are doing a birthday balloon spread to think about investing in an electric air pump, manually air pumping balloons can be super tiring. Either way, we pushed on and got all the balloons ready to be strung together.

Next, I took a long decorative string and slowly started knotting the balloons together. I made sure to alternate in the color variations and spaced out all the balloons to create more of a balloon strip vs a cluster.

My best advice for successfully putting up a balloon wall would be to take it slow. Remember you can always add more balloons if needed. Make sure you first put up your balloon wall decorations before adding any birthday signs. With the big balloon spread already up you will have a better idea of how to space everything else on the wall.

Birthday Party Activities

When it came to the activities for Bailey’s dog party, I wanted to keep them simple! This meant two things, lots of puzzles with treats and a trip to Bailey’s favorite local dog park.

After all, Bailey’s doggie guests were waiting at the park for her arrival. It was a perfect after-cake activity. I could tell she was super excited and knew exactly where we were heading.

As all dog owners know it is super important to pay attention to the heat level during the summertime so I made sure to pack Bailey’s portable water dish, an extra water bowl, and of course her birthday hat!

If you are celebrating your dog’s birthday inside here are a few ideas for indoor party activities.

– Fill a pinata with treats and have your dog and any party-goers try to open it. Pack it all up with yummy smelling treats and let them try to open it up themselves.

-Another fun game is to take a small bunch of hand towels and wrap them inside small bits of treats. Let each of the party pups have one towel and together they will unwrap their yummy surprise.

– Try a doggie pool party! Put your pup’s favorite floating toy or ball into the pool for them to enjoy! It is super adorable to watch them splashing around. I little fun tip for getting some cute video memories is to try putting your phone camera on the slow-motion setting. Dogs are naturally so fast and seeing the footage of them in cute slow-mo is priceless.

Dog Birthday Gifts Ideas

When it comes to deciding on what to get for your dog’s birthday, it is important to get them something that they would enjoy as well as something that will have long-term use. Below are my favorite Dog Birthday Gift ideas:

Dog Treats

You can’t go wrong with a birthday gift filled with dog treats! I made sure to have a good selection of Bailey’s favorite treats all wrapped up. I opted to get her a Good Lovin Deer Antler Dog Chew and Good Lovin’ Rabbit Roll Sausage Dog Chew.

Unique Dog Toys

Dog toys make an excellent present for the occasion, and there are many different types out there that you can find online catering to any preference your dog might have. I knew I wanted to get Bailey a new snuggly yet interactive toy. After a little searching, I was able to find a cute well-crafted dinosaur that had made a fun crinkle noise every time I squeezed it. It is the perfect size for Bailey to carry around and she does not get tired of playing with it.

A New Dog Bed

A new bed for your pup is a great gift idea. Dog beds can be expensive and it’s important to make sure you buy one that will last longer because they tend to go through them pretty fast! I like this particular cozy dog bed from Crate & Barrel because of how well it holds up against excessive shedding and keeps its shape after lots of play energy.

The Big Reveal!

Bailey’s reaction to her cake was absolutely priceless! She looked right up at me as if to say “Is this really for me?” I mean it is definitely not every day Bailey gets a decked-out white strawberry cake or a full-blown balloon wall.

Shortly after she had her cake we moved on to giving out her gifts. One by one, my fiancee and I presented them to her all excited to see her reaction. She was quick to notice everything wrapped up was for her and started eagerly moving quickly to see what would pop up next.

After all her gifts had been unwrapped, we head over to the dog park to meet up with her friends. As we pulled up I could see that Bailey was beyond herself in excitement. She knew what was about to take place and she was ready for her moment to bolt out running. The park had ample room for shade and greenery, making it the perfect spot.

We must have stayed there for a couple of hours because by the time Bailey and I got home she went straight to bed. She looked absolutely exhausted yet happy all curled up next to her new dinosaur plush toy. All in all, it was one successful birthday!

In Conclusion

This was such an amazing day celebrating my dog Bailey turning 4! I loved taking the time this year to really plan out everything from her outfit, balloon wall set-up, invitations, etc…I couldn’t imagine spending this special day with my pup any other way!

I hope this post has given some useful tips on how to throw your dog an epic birthday bash! Thank you again for reading along

If you’re looking for some inspiration, then this list is for you! Whether it’s fashion bloggers or lifestyle influencers, here are the top 10 NYC-based influencers who will dominate your feed in 2021 & beyond.

@Chelseaasoflate

She is a talented fashion-forward content creator based out of New York City. She shares personal stories about her thrifting adventures with her followers. And invites us to join in on the thrill of shopping with her fun series called thrift or pass on her IG stories. I find her colorful and vibrant content to be the perfect summer girl inspiration. I can’t begin to tell you the amount of time I have saved her photos for future fashion inspiration.

@Irina_ls

Irina is next! Photographer and content creator from New York City, she shares her best content creator life with us. She uses a variety of creative poses and displays them in a way that can transform any common space in New York City. My favorite series she shot in the MTA subway station always inspires me to stay creative.

@JagLever

When I discovered Rachel’s Instagram account, @Jaglever, I was ecstatic! Around Halloween, I stumbled upon her amazing Halloween/Grunge pictures. She is constantly rocking some epic grunge/rock outfits around New York City and is constantly sharing her fun NYC adventures. Brooklyn-based, she often shares cool NYC spots to visit.

@tourdelust

Christine is a New York City-based travel blogger who has traveled all over the world. She’s always sharing her epic trips and tips on how to maximize your adventures, which makes this girl one of my favorite people ever! The best part is she is based out of New York City and when she is not traveling she is showcasing the stunning NYC views and culture.

@rachmartino

Rachel is a very unique kind of creator. She is not only a genius fashion lifestyle blogger, but she is also very open and raw with her audience. I love her tipsy try-ons where she showcases a raw unboxing of new clothes she has received. She doesn’t hold back from her love of all things Taylor Swift and her fun New York City adventures. Recently, she has taken her audience along to share her NYC loft transformation. Turning a basic loft into a photographer’s dream. I definitely recommend checking out her account as there is never a dull moment.

@khemric

Kristi is a Dallas native now residing in the big apple. I fell head over heels for her content because it had this feminine, dreamy vibe to it that was so interesting and different from anything else on social media! She always shares stunning iconic locations with beautiful flowing dresses – kinda like an NYC princess. Kristi is known not to share her face too much with the camera and instead style some really cool hats. She is really good at making me imagine what it must be like to be in those dreamy locations.

@elona

@byaimeekelly

@dana.mannarino

@danaberez

@katiedreamcatcher

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