January loves...

u*Side note before reading - grab yourself an iced latte and take a seat as this is a big one!

It’s a month that feels like a lifetime, however January is still one of my favourite months of the year. Not just because I celebrate my birthday on the 22nd, or because we have not 1 but 2 public holidays or that we have some of the hottest weather; it’s my favourite because I feel like it’s a chance to reset and start anew. They say most people start a diet on a Monday because it’s like a reset, so January is basically the Monday of the months which I know has positive and negative connotations and even a few memes attached to it!
Either way I’m all about love so here are a few things I have loved this month and am sure I’ll continue to love the year over…
 
Sunshine!!!
Having spent the first month of summer in icy Europe I was desperate to get back and soak up the summer sun! As the skies stay lighter for longer and the sun sets in an array of pinks, purples and deep ambers the days feel like they last forever and the fun events and things you can do during summer just keep on going. I love how happy people are when the sun is shining, how people are more willing to just go for a drink or lay in the park, just to soak it up. I also love the heat and the warmth you feel when you’re laying out with a good book and the day to yourself!
 
Swimming
After eating way too much over Christmas and pretty much resembling an “unsupervised child at a birthday party” since September, I knew I needed to get back on track! I’ve always loved to swim, my Grandad Baz taught me to swim on a holiday to Mallorca one year and I’ve loved it ever since. I swam competitively as a kid and always felt at home in the water, I am an Aquarius after all. In fact, on our Spanish summer holidays every year I was the last one out of the pool, I’d be all pruned and golden from the sun, it really was the best! So as I have such a love of swimming and a such an aversion to the gym, I’ve been heading to the pools since I got back from my trip. At the moment its extra lovely as the days are hot enough I can swim outside, but even as the summer sun subsides and the autumn leaves begin to fall, I’ll still be swimming for a long time to come I’m sure!
 
Rituals…
 
Now I know where your mind just went, human sacrifice and goats or something but no, nothing sinister like that. Rituals... is a Dutch bath and body company that I happened upon in Debenhams on Oxford St one icy cold day in December! I walked past their counter and was instantly taken by the smells and the look of the display. Their brand aims to, and I quote “turn everyday routines into more meaningful moments with luxury products that unwind body and soul” I mean, who wouldn’t love that right?! I love its ideology of actually taking the time to care for your body rather than just spraying on moisturizer as you run out the door. What I loved most is their mists. I have two and looking back now I wished I bought more! You can either spray them on your pillow before you go to bed or you can spray them on you as a daily hair and body fragrance, I tend to do this the most. Their earthy and clean scents are a dream and I intend to invest in a lot more products. I recommend: The Ritual of Ayurveda mist and The Ritual of Dao mist.
 
Jane the Virgin…
 
A little on the lighter side of life, this telenovela about a girl named Jane who gets artificially inseminated during her pap smear is one to watch if you haven’t already! Although not new nor new to me, I found myself binge watching 2 seasons this month. I had started watching it last year but just got side tracked. One of my best friends Sophia introduced it to me and we always have such a giggle over it so I knew I had to get up to date now the last season is about to come out! With lots of plot twists and turns this show makes you laugh, cry, cringe and swoon all at the same time! My favourite character is Jane’s long lost father Rogelio De La Vega, a telenovela star with a big heart and an even bigger twitter following! He makes me laugh till it hurts! If you are looking for a little life reprieve and some laughs, then get on it quick before the new season starts and enjoy!
 
Seven Wonders the Label…
 
I love clothes, this is a known fact by all. I love buying, collecting, wearing and hoarding clothes! I’m always on the hunt for new and different pieces and being such a beautiful hot summer I was on the lookout for some light, wearable pieces that would serve me well during this summer and the European summer I’m off to in a few months. I was on my usual Insty 10-minute break at work and stumbled across their page and I was instantly hooked. Earthy tones, light fabrics and cute clothes in my size! So I placed an order for a couple of things, just to gauge the brand and sizing and boy was I not disappointed. I ordered their “Alannah Cami” in mustard and their “Piper Skirt” in black and white spots (my favourite!). They arrived within days (Aussie company represent!), fit like gems and to top it off if you sign up, they give you redeemable points, winning! Head to their site and find your next piece, you won’t be disappointed!
 
Too Faced…
 
I’ve always been a fan of the brand with their constant turnover of new products and fun packaging but since December I have been obsessed with their limited edition liquid lipstick pack and Gingerbread eyeshadow palette! The autumnal warm shades are so versatile and smell amazing! I’ve been wearing the shades “Spiked Eggnog” on my lids, “Gingerbread” in my crease and “Spice of Life” on my lower lash line. Other amazing shades like “Spice is Nice”, “Ooo Burn!” and “Reindeer Paws” are also big favourites of mine.  With regard to their liquid lipsticks I am so impressed with the payoff, the longevity and the smell! I lived in “Cinnamon Bear” in Paris and wore it on my Birthday night out. While “Sugar Cookie” smells amazing, I need to wait until I’m a little less tanned for it suit me. The other two shades “Hot Buttered Rum” and “Pumpkin Spice” live in my handbag. Not sure if you can still get any of the products now as Christmas is well and truly over but hopefully they’ll pop up on eBay soon!
 
Books…
 
An eternal bookworm I’m always on Booktopia looking for my next read. I am currently reading a light, summery novel by the infamous Nicholas Sparks called “Every Breath”. The book hooked me within the first few pages as I learned that the story was from Nicholas’ own experience when he discovered it in a letterbox named “Kindred Spirt” on a secluded beach. He follows the story and eventually found the author of the note left in the box and the story goes on from there. I’m still reading so I can’t say more but as always I love reading his books this time of year. They have a summery vibe and are easy to read.
A book I currently have on my bedside table that I look at most nights is called ”Feminists Don’t Wear Pink and Other Lies”  by acclaimed writer Scarlett Curtis and a bunch of super cool, intelligent and insightful women on what feminism means to them. I was eager to buy this and actually got it way back in November but with the Europe trip I hadn’t had the chance to get stuck into the essays within. I was so excited I even bought a second copy for my best friend Ruth who has continuously encouraged me to be strong woman with a voice and so it felt only apt that I would get it for her birthday.
Another book I have by bedside is Sarah Knight’s “The Life Changing Magic of not Giving a F*** “which was described by Elle (Australia) as "A mix of Oprah Winfrey-style mantras and Amy Schumer-esque obscenities." And boy they got that right! Not something I read every day but pick up when I need a pick me up. This has featured heavily this month as I work my way through how I want this year to be for me and how I want to conduct myself.
 
Water…
 
Those who’ve had the pleasure of my company these last few weeks will know about my current obsession with water. After watching a pretty eye opening documentary on Netflix called “Explained” I feel as though I am on a mission to educate anyone and everyone on the importance of being informed about nature’s most precious resource. With global warming looming over us and ground water resources drying up by the second, the future of water being a right not a luxury is becoming a dim possibility. I nearly fell off my chair when they spoke about the fact that South Africa was about to hit ‘ground zero’ on ground water just last year (2018), that private trust accounts are investing in water stocks and that water could soon be seen as a commodity like oil or gold. I mean granted the latter makes sense as those too are natural resources that we have just plundered at will, but still the thought of us running out of water is just crazy to me in 2019. Now I am no expert nor am I 100% across the topic but this short film really got me thinking. Do yourselves a favour, watch it and educate yourselves!
 
HP Sprockett…
 
This wonderful device has been on my wish list for a while and I got it for my birthday from my lovely boyfriend Stathis. It’s an instant smartphone printer that prints pictures you can stick to anything you like! It also has this cool feature where you can hover over the printed picture and get more content but I haven’t quiet mastered it yet! The big reason I wanted it was because I wanted to make a travel scrapbook. I bought heaps of cool scrapbook stuff from Japan and have collected postcards and mementos from my years of travel and had hoped to show it to my children one day and help inspire them to travel as well! So now I’m well on my way to completing this task, I just need a few rainy days, hopefully not too soon though!
 
So there you have it folks, told you it was long! I’m keen to keep doing these favourites posts as I love finding new things and sharing my experiences or even being recommended things so comment down below and share the love!
 
Until next time,
E xxx