August 2024 Favourites

From books to coffee, podcasts and products, here is a round up of all of my favourite things from August 2024. 

And just like that we are into the final quarter of the year! The summer came and went and now we are into the all familiar season of reflection and last minute action before the end of the year. I've always felt that September is an excellent time to start something new and to think carefully about what we have or haven't achieved so far in the year. It's been a long time since I've done a monthly favourites post but I feel like I've had a lot of time on my hands recently to reflect upon all of the books I've been reading and the products I'm enjoying. 

I love this book! I've read the book and listened to the audiobook - both are highly recommended! I can't count the number of books I've read on self-development and manifestation over the years but I do remember the first I ever read - The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen. Promising to revolutionise the way we think and conduct our daily lives. Since then I've gone down a rabbit hole with them and read far too many, most repeating one another without much substance. However, The Source by Tara Swart is backed by neuroscience - evidence that this stuff works! While I've never been naive to think that creating a vision board and dreaming about what we want from our lives without putting in any action actually leads to achieving what we want in life, I do know that combining action with a strong vision of our goals, can manifest into whatever we desire in any area of our life. I'm now living many of the goals I had on previous goal boards dating back to my early teen years and now, backed by all I've learned from The Source, I'm excited to see my new vision board come to fruition! Read The Source and change your life!

What can I say? Throughout the brutal frost of winter, through to the intense heat of summer, our Minnirella Everyday Moisturiser is a lightweight, highly moisturising face cream that is easy to wear without feeling heavy or sticky. It can easily be worn under makeup without feeling like another layer of makeup or product on your face and it makes your skin feel nourished and smooth. It's a must-have for your beauty shelf! Plus, a little goes a long way, so it's well worth the investment. 

Carte Noire has been my favourite brand of coffee for over a decade now. I love it so much that I used to buy it in bulk and have it shipped over to me while living abroad. It's great value with a beautiful rich, chocolate note and the packaging is timeless and chic. What's not to love?! I still order this in bulk and enjoy it with a square of 85% dark chocolate each morning ...for brain health!

I've been living in our Minnirella leggings all summer. They're so practical for both workouts, as well as daily life - especially when you're a busy, on-the-go mum juggling running a business with caring for my baby. The side pockets were designed to be long and sturdy enough to comfortably hold a phone without weighing down the leggings, making these ideal when I want to be stylish, hands-free and comfortable. 

I've had so many questions about my smoke black matte sunglasses. They were a fabulous find from Quay Australia and have a gorgeous matte black finish. The frames are square and suit most face shapes. I'm obsessed with these sunglasses, which is why you may have noticed that I've been wearing them on repeat all summer! I rarely find a pair of shades that I'm as loyal to as I am to these. You will usually find me switching between several styles, depending on my outfit each day but these are a style staple that go with everything. 

I discovered the Conversations of Inspiration podcast by Holly Tucker about a month ago and since then I've devoured almost every episode. I also love Holly's book - Do What You Love, Love What You Do, which I feel is a must-read for anybody looking to change direction in their career or start a new business. 

Like all of the other Emily in Paris fans out there, I feel as though I have been waiting for the release of season 4 for so long! I binged watched the entire first half of the new series when it launched on Netflix back in August and cannot wait for the second part of Emily in Paris season 4 to drop this month! I still can't figure out where the story is going and how the series will end, so I'm excited to see what happens! 

During lockdown I became obsessed with doing mastering the art of doing my own nails with my LED lamp and gel nail polish. However, my lamp was quite bulky and certainly not a portable option, which suited the pandemic era fine. Earlier this year I purchased a mini portable LED lamp that literally folds down into my pocket and so I was eager to try it out to see whether it would be a good replacement for my usual lamp. At a bargain price and equipped with a set of my favourite gel nail colours, this lamp is ideal for DIY gel nail manicures when at home or on the go. It's replaced my other bulky lamp and is just as good! 

Ever since I first watched Breakfast at Tiffany's some 15 years ago, I've been obsessed with the lipstick shade that Audrey Hepburn wore in the 1961 film, based on the book by Truman Capote. So, when I launched my own makeup line, I knew I had to recreate this iconic shade as a luxury and cruelty-free masterpiece that every woman could wear and treasure in her makeup bag. This lipstick is one I wear almost daily and is the perfect lipstick shade from summer through to winter! It's elegant, sophisticated and timeless, not to mention it makes me feel as glamorous as Hepburn's character, Holly Golightly, every time I wear it!