Hello everyone!
Welcome to winter in the Southern Hemisphere and my June Favourites for 2016. It was a very cold but productive month! We went to an incredible vegan dinner party in the forest, bought our wedding rings and did our best to stay warm! Shall we get cracking?
THE BEST OF JUNE:
1.) Book – ‘The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up’ by Marie Kondo
In one of my previous post’s ‘Does It Bring You Joy?’, I outlined one of Marie Kondo’s methods for decluttering. For my birthday, Francis bought me her book and it wasn’t long before I finished it, full of new ideas and minimalist inspiration! I could write all day about this book, so I’ll keep it brief. Let me just say, it changed the way I view my living space and how I take care of my things. Please read this book if you wish to live more simply!
2.) Website – Etsy
Etsy isn’t really a monthly favourite – rather a lifelong favourite. It really helped me this month, in particular with our wedding planning, so I have to credit it. The store: LoveStoryInvitations provided us with the most beautiful invitations at such a good price! Our theme is navy and white, with a bohemian vibe. As you can see, they came out exactly how I envisioned. The store: HandMadeBloom sells fake fabric flower petals in the shape of hearts. We bought x2, 100 piece bags to scatter all over the tables and keep with the colour theme. I would highly recommend using Etsy if you are getting married. Not only will you save a lot of money, your wedding will feature special handmade items.
3.) Game – Rise of the Tomb Raider
Would you believe I’ve played every Tomb Raider game? Well, I have! When the 11th one was released earlier this year, I knew I had to get it! I began playing it late May/all of June and loved it, just like I loved the others. The story is incredibly interesting but the graphics and scenery is what drew me in. Lara navigates across Siberia, searching for the lost city of Kitezh, whilst trying to ensure her enemies don’t reach it first. There is so much to do and collect in this game, that it can easily exceed 50 hours of game play. I would recommend getting it and playing the others whilst you’re at it! On a side-note, I play all of my games on Steam, which stores my games online. This allows me to be a minimalist gamer, without the clutter!
4.) Accessory – Vegan Leather Backpack
Recently, I donated all of my old handbags and was given two vegan leather backpacks from my grandmother for my birthday. I received one in black (pictured) and one in cream, which is perfect, as they are both neutral colours that will go with everything. I love how comfortable and roomy they are, with plenty of space for my things. On the Groupon, they were actually advertised as vegan leather, so I feel good showing off beautiful accessories like these that are also cruelty-free! I am getting so much use out of both these backpacks. I think they are the perfect minimalist gifts!
5.) Home Decor – Aromatherapy Diffuser
My mum bought me this beautiful aromatherapy diffuser for my birthday. I use it several times a week! You simply fill the bowl with water, add a few drops of your favourite essential oils and watch the mist rise from the top. My diffuser comes with a function that changes the colours, turning itself off automatically. I love adding cinnamon or peppermint oil to it and breathing in the beautiful scents as it moves through our home. Definitely a gift I’ve been using frequently. I highly recommend investing in one!
6.) T.V Show – True Detective
As always, Francis and I are behind with shows that started a while ago. We have heard great things about True Detective, so we decided to check it out. Needless to say, we were hooked pretty quickly! We are now up to season 2. The interesting thing about this show is it’s an anthology. Being a HBO show, it’s pretty full on regarding sex, drugs and violence but the acting is incredible and the cases are gripping!
7.) ‘Start Where You Are – A Journal for Self-Exploration’ by Meera Lee-Patel
Recently, I’ve resumed keeping a daily journal, that has done wonders for my soul! There are so many benefits to journaling, including reduced stress, achieving clarity, strengthening self-love, cultivating gratitude, increasing focus and more. The ‘Start Where You Are’ Journal by the incredibly talented and artistic, Meera Lee-Patel, is filled with inspiring quotes, mantras and journal prompts. I would highly recommend getting one and keeping a regular log of your thoughts, feelings and emotions. There is much to gain from recording your life in this manner. You can track your life journey as you reflect on past entries.
8.) Memory – Best Moment of June 2016
Without a doubt, my favourite memory of June was attending my friend Jade’s vegan dinner party in the forest. Ever since the picnic we attended in May, I have spoken to the beautiful people pictured every single day in an Instagram group chat. We’ve all become so close and I consider them some of my dearest friends. Jade and her fiancè recently moved into a new loft in the Dandenong Ranges, so she threw a housewarming/vegan get-together and it was wonderful! We talked, laughed, hugged and ate the yummiest food.
I hope you all enjoyed my June Favourites! Next month, I will be doing the July 31 Day Blogging Challenge, so I’ll be posting about a new topic every single day – stay tuned!
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
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