Hi all!
Welcome to my August Favourites in 2016! It was a wonderful month but I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t happy to see the back of winter. With spring and the wedding approaching, we finalised a lot of loose ends and it really started to sink in that our marriage was only a couple of months away! In regards to today’s post, I had to refine my list as usual because I discovered so many new and exciting things. I hope you enjoy the best of the best!
THE BEST OF AUGUST:
1.) Beauty Product – Imogen Rose Perfume from LUSH
It had been a while since I had run out of my solid perfume from Pacifica and felt like a spritzer bottle again. I researched vegan perfumes online and realised I had actually never tried the LUSH range. One evening after work, I took the train to the city and used all of the tester bottles until I tried Imogen Rose. It is no secret that I love the scent of rose. This 30ml bottle is filled with sweet-smelling crushed petals, amber and vetivert. I love spraying it on my wrists and neck each morning. This product is 100% vegan, cruelty free and makes me think of upcoming spring. You can buy lots of other LUSH perfumes but this is my favourite and one I’m going to continue buying!
2.) T.V Show – Jane The Virgin
I had never given much thought to Jane the Virgin until my mum & sister began raving about it. The three of us have very similar tastes in shows so I knew if they liked it, I would too. That was an understatement. From the very first episode, I was hooked and binged watched the entire 2 seasons in August! The basic premise is that Jane, a 23 year old Latina virgin, is accidentally inseminated by a doctor one day. The sperm donor is wealthy and attractive Rafael Solano, the owner of the hotel she works at as a waitress. Just like a telenovela, this hilarious and heart-warming show is full of drama, plot-twists, romance, family, relationships and more. Watch the trailer above for a visual plot summary. I know you’ll be sucked in just like I was!
3.) Book – Prince Lestat by Anne Rice
Despite having this book on my shelf for a while, I finally got to read it this month and loved it! Anne Rice is my favourite author in the whole wide world and she just continues to outdo herself with her writing. Prince Lestat is the 11th novel in her famous ‘Vampire Chronicles’ and is set a decade after Blood Canticle. The ‘Brat Prince’ Lestat, is back and this time, he’s teaming up with all of the beloved vampires in the series to restore order to the chaotic ‘Children of the Night.’ The Vampire Chronicles is what started my love for Anne so I was overjoyed when she released a brand new sequel that remained true to the classics. I couldn’t resist showing her signature in the picture above. My copy was indeed signed by her however that was through a special mail order. When I met her in person, I didn’t have my copy yet. If you’re wondering…my bookmark is Sailor Mars (yes I’m a giant nerd!). Also, last month, Anne declared that in November, she would be releasing the 12th novel in the series Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis. Needless to say, I will be pre-ordering shortly!
I’m not going to go into detail but I also want to quickly recommend ‘The Happiness Project’ by Gretchen Rubin. It was a delight to read and I think everybody should!
4.) Song – ‘Bloom’ by The Paper Kites
I don’t really listen to the radio so it’s rare when I find a song that instantly captivates me and gets played on repeat. The Paper Kites are actually a band from Melbourne where I live and although this song was released in 2010, I only discovered it recently through someone else’s blog. I love this song so much that it will feature in our set list at the wedding. It’s romantic, dreamy and relaxing. I played it to Francis and he agreed it would be perfect for our special day. Have a listen!
5.) Vegan Snack – Lara Bars
Back when I had a YouTube Channel, Francis and I had made a video taste-testing the 3 flavours of Lara Bars above. Apple Pie was my favourite and Cherry Pie was Francis’s. We both agreed Cashew Cookie was delicious! I ordered another multi-pack box this month as they really are the perfect, vegan bite-sized healthy snack! The ingredients are so minimal. For example, the Apple Pie only contains walnuts, unsweetened apples, raisins and cinnamon. Cashew Cookie is just dates & cashews. Cherry Pie is made with unsweetened cherries, dates and almonds. These snacks are great before a workout or just in between meals. Also, Lara Bars come in so many flavours. If you are buying them from iHerb however, they only have this multi-pack. Enjoy!
6.) Hair Product – Hairbrush From EcoTools
I’m so glad nobody has ever seen my old hairbrush. Not only had I kept it for years but it was disgusting and broken. I finally threw it out and purchased a fabulous and environmentally friendly one from Eco Tools. This company prides themselves on being vegan, cruelty-free and eco-conscious. The ‘Smoothing Detangler’ hairbrush is made from 80% bamboo & 20% cotton fiber. This brush is so smooth, gentle and soft on my rather thick, unruly hair. I may be a minimalist now but I do believe in making smart purchases that will last for a long time. I know this brush will keep well and tame my locks for years to come. Make sure you check out Eco Tools for fair trade bath, cosmetic and hair products. It’s good to support brands that care 🙂
7.) Artist – Annya Karina
I discovered Annya Karina through someone else’s blog and fell instantly in love with her artwork. I went straight to her Etsy store and had to hold myself back from buying all of her prints. I love her style and creativity. All of her paintings feature girls with animals or books. The two above are my favourite and I’m hoping come Christmas (hint hint) that someone will buy them for me so I can frame them for our future home. I am a big believer in supporting people’s talent and promoting their work. I highly recommend checking out her store and what she has to offer!
8.) Memory – Best Moment of August 2016
The best moment of August was the 23rd when I had my final fitting for my wedding dress. Finally, it was to my size and everything I could’ve dreamed of. I paired it with my wedding shoes and bought a mock flower crown to complete the look. My Mum cried and then I started to cry. She told the seamstress that these were the moments you truly live for in life. I was so grateful to have shared this incredible experience with my best friend. There is something about trying on your wedding dress for the first time that cannot be explained. I cannot wait for our special day!!
Thank you for tuning into my August Favourites! I’m so excited for spring and a whole new host of unforgettable memories! See you then 🙂
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
August sounded like a month where you discovered how the small things in life make you happy, Bec. The Lara Bar snacks sound delicious and I wouldn’t be surprised if you and Francis go through the whole box pretty quickly. Which is good because you can then buy more… 😀
So nice to hear that your Eco Tools brush works well for you. I also have one of their products, the foundation brush and it does the job on my face very well. I too believe in buying quality products that last for a while, not just for saving money but at the end of the day there is less wastage and its better for the environment 🙂
Good luck for your upcoming wedding, Bec! Flower crown with your dress – I actually have never seen a bride wearing a flower crown before. I am sure it looks stunning on you because you and flower crowns go so well together x
Thank you Mabel! It was great 🙂 yes I love Eco Tools, I have their foundation brush too! I can’t wait to wear my flower crown!! Looking forward to dumplings! x