July Favourites 2016!

Hi all! 

Welcome to my July Favourites & thank you to those who followed my 31 Day Blogging Challenge – I had a blast! That was a big part of my month but as always, I accumulated some favourites & memories along the way so let’s get into it! 

 THE BEST OF JULY: 

 1.) Beauty Product – 100% Pure Jojoba Oil by Desert Essence 

Order A Bottle Here!

I was initially only using this product in my hair as a treatment however, in the last month, I have been applying this natural, soft oil to my face. I had tried coconut oil in the past but it made me break out like crazy! This 100% vegan & cruelty free product is fantastic for sensitive skin and has been leaving my face smooth and unblemished. It has the most beautiful, nutty kind of scent as well. I am really happy that I finally found an essential oil that gives me a natural glow! 

2.) Game – Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter 

Order the Game Here!

July is a good time to stay in your warm bed and game to your heart’s content! I loved playing through the latest Sherlock Holmes game this month. Similar to Tomb Raider, I have played every PC game of SH & love how much better they get every time a new one is released. In the latest installment, you get to solve 5 big cases as Sherlock Holmes whilst he deals with his own family issues. The best thing about this game is its interactivity. You get to search for clues, navigate London, create character profiles, work on a deduction board, examine bodies, mix chemicals and even dress Sherlock up in disguises! In each case, you get to decide who you think is guilty and how to punish them. I would definitely recommend playing it! 

3.) Clothing Item – Happy Cow Tee from Cafè Press

I love this top from Happy Cow! I saw Griselda from @ellaeats wearing it in one of her videos and had to get my own! It feels good to promote veganism through cute clothing and spread a positive message. Happy Cow has served us so well in the past, it felt good to give back. Not only that, the top says Love & Veggies on it which is similar to my blog name. You can get this top in many colours but I liked navy the best. Click the link under my photo to get your own! 

4.) Book – The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho 

Order a Copy Here!

I’m really glad I found this book. It was so incredibly inspirational! The story is centered around a young shepherd boy named Santiago who has recurring dreams about finding treasure in the pyramids of Egypt. Along his journey, he meets an old king who introduces him to the concept of Personal Legends. A Personal Legend is what you’ve always wanted to accomplish and when you set out to achieve it, the universe will conspire with you to make it happen. The basic theme of this book is about going after your dreams and working towards your destiny. There are many moments when Santiago mentions freewill and how we can make things happen if we so choose it. I would recommend this book to anybody but in particular, the dreamers, lovers, philosophers and travelers. 

5.) App – Pokemon GO! 

I’m pretty sure everybody by now knows about the Pokemon GO craze? It was released earlier this month and in just a couple of days, the entire world became obsessed! Basically, you download the app to your device and it uses the GPS tracker to pinpoint your location. Wherever you walk, the map updates and gives you the opportunity to catch Pokemon and collect items from certain hot spots (churches, train stations, statues etc…). When you reach a certain level, you can battle other trainers at gyms all over your city and fight to take their place. The main aim of the game? Gotta catch em all! You are playing Pokemon in real life and that is pretty exciting! Francis in particular is loving it and will spend a lot more time outside walking around to participate. I like playing it too but not as often. I can see how it can get addictive and it has certainly improved the physical and mental health of people all over the globe! 

6.) Home Decor – Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp 

Order One Here!

I’ve wanted a Himalayan Salt Lamp for such a long time. I finally decided to buy one from Crystal Heart (a new-age store near my work) and I love it! It has the most beautiful pink dim glow which is perfect for us light sensitive HSP’s. It’s not bright enough to read by but I like writing in my journal next to it. The statue next to the photo was my very first gift from Francis. Isn’t she beautiful? 

7.) Audio Book – Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert 

Order a Copy Here!

Okay, I know I already included The Alchemist as my book for July but a.) one is on Kindle and the other is audio & b.) they were both so inspiring and worth mentioning! I had heard that this book was life-changing and transformational but I could never have predicted just how much of an impact it would have on me. It is indeed narrated by Elizabeth Gilbert herself and the way she expresses her love for a creative life just makes you want to go out there and start creating! From the minute she started speaking until her last word on Disc 4, I was mesmerised and honestly in tears by the conviction and passion in her voice.Big Magic is a memoir about Elizabeth’s ideas, fear, love-life, childhood and confidence. She teaches you to be your most authentic self and urges you to do what makes you happy whilst you still can. I could not recommend this more. Even if you’re not the most creative type of person, just give it a go and be swept away…

8.) Memory – Best Moment of July 2016 

On July 16th, Francis and I drove down to Barwon Heads for his grandparents joint 80th birthday party. They hired a private room overlooking the beach and the entire family came together to celebrate two beautiful people. There was a slideshow, speeches and a lot of tears. Francis’s grandparents met when they were 21, were married 6 months later and are still madly in love to this day. They had 5 daughters who all shared an anecdote about their parents which made everybody laugh and cry. Francis’s grandfather ended the speeches by thanking everybody and stating in a choked voice that we are all so fortunate. Later on, as Francis and I drove home, we talked about how one day we would be old and grey, still so in love and surrounded by our children and grandchildren. The thought made us emotional. As his grandfather said, we really are so fortunate… 

I hope you enjoyed my July Favourites! I certainly had a wonderful month blogging and sharing with you all. I will see you in August for the last month of winter! Hurrah! 

Peace & Love xoxo 

Disclaimer: This post contains links to my Amazon Affiliate which helps fund my blog, I am not being paid or sponsored for this post/products – all my thoughts/opinions are my own