July, where did you go? This has been one of those months where I’ve blinked and suddenly it’s over… And not because nothing happened, but because so much happened. There has been a lot of change for me this July, But even amongst the full schedule and the new beginnings, I’ve managed to carve out time for the things that matter; trying new things, sneaking in a little weekend trip away, and supporting some causes that are close to my heart.

As always, I’ve also been watching, eating, and finding joy in the small everyday things, which is really what this little corner of the internet is all about. So without further ado, here’s what made it onto my July Love List.

southern highlands

I had a couple of days off at the beginning of July, so i thought I would take a short trip to make the most of the gap in my schedule. I chose to spend a couple of days in the Southern Highlands, a region about 1.5 hours southwest of Sydney, just off the Hume Highway, on the way to Canberra. Despite being so close to both Sydney and Canberra, it’s an area I’ve not spent a lot of time in. It’s known for its artisans, wineries, and being the birthplace of one of Australia’s greatest cricketers, Sir Donald Bradman.

cherry tree hill winery

The Cherry Tree Hill winery is a landmark that I’ve driven past countless times on my trips between Sydney and Canberra. So with my couple of days off, I thought I would finally pay a visit. The cellar door is open 7 days a week, so it’s an easy place to drop into if you’re in the area. But because I am a planner, I booked in some time to sample some of their best drops.

Cherry Tree Hill offer many tasting options, of both food and wine. If you drop in mid-week, like I did, you can choose from a salami and cheese wine pairing, or a cocktail pie and wine pairing, which is what I went with. The pies and sausage rolls come from a local bakery in Mittagong, and are paired with Cherry Tree Hill’s fine offerings. My favourite was the Chardonnay, which I took home with me. If you have some time on the weekend, they offer a full lunch experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed this stop. Harry was given plenty of attention from the great team at Cherry Tree Hill, and I am recommending this to everyone I know in the area.

tiny house in brayton

I’ve stayed in tiny houses in the past and have enjoyed it. But if I’m honest, it’s really just two steps above camping. But, for some reason, the experience is priced as a luxury product. There are some companies that will charge upwards of $900 for a weekend. However, with some searching on airbnb, I was able to find a reasonably priced tiny house that had everything I was looking for.

I stayed in this gorgeous tiny house in Brayton. It was perfect. It is placed on a property with plenty of privacy, with it’s own separate entrance away from the main house. You are within metres of Paddys River, plenty of space to wander and sniff (in Harry’s case), and provided with a fire pit to sit by of an evening. The hosts Annabelle and Bruce were incredibly welcoming but appropriately kept their distance. They left me with a bag of marshmallows, some veggies from their garden and some fresh eggs. And while the human hosts stayed out of our way, we were greeted by the highland cows in the neighbouring paddock.

I absolutely loved this property. It is serene and completely off grid. No wi-fi and limited electricity from the solar panels. It gave me the perfect setting to switch off from the world and just enjoy being alive. I am looking forward to booking in another weekend.

margo’s got money troubles

I had seen this advertised a little while ago. I came for Nick Offerman and Elle Fanning, and I stayed for absolutely everything else. Margo’s Got Money Troubles is an Apple TV+ series based on Rufi Thorpe’s 2024 novel of the same name, and it has been one of my favourite watches this year.

The show follows Margo, a twenty-year-old who finds herself pregnant after an affair with her college professor, who is, shockingly, not keen to be involved. Alone with a newborn and on the verge of eviction, she decides to launch an OnlyFans account to make ends meet, with a little help from her best friend and her ex-pro-wrestler dad. And somehow it works beautifully.

What I loved most about this show is how relevant it feels. It tackles single motherhood, financial precarity, and the reality of building an identity in the age of social media in a way that never feels preachy or heavy-handed. It’s funny, it’s warm, and it’s paced so well that I found myself burning through episodes without even noticing. The cast is absolutely stellar. Elle Fanning does a wonderful job as Margo, and is well supported by Michelle Pfeiffer, her self-centred, but charming mother, Nicole Kidman as pro-wrestler turned family attorney, and Nick Offerman, her addict father.

If you’re looking for something smart that won’t send you into an existential spiral, this is absolutely it. Go watch it immediately.

savourlife essentials range

Let’s be real, Harry is the most important member of this household. What goes into his mouth gets the same level of scrutiny I apply to anything that goes into mine… well, probably more. Since he was a puppy, brown rice has always been an important component to his dinners, mainly for the fibre. So when he was having some anal gland issues (if you know, you know), I switched him over to SavourLife Essentials wet food.

The Essentials Range is limited to chicken and lamb flavours, but Harry has not complained about either, which in dachshund terms is a glowing five-star review. There a pretty decent-sized chucks of meat, complemented with veggies and, as I said before, brown rice. This keeps his excrement a good consistency and form, and as mess-free as possible. Other things to mention about this range is that all ingredients are natural and of a very high quality, with added fish oil, vitamins, minerals, and natural prebiotics. Harry has also been having the chicken kibble as his everyday dry food.

SavourLife is an Australian-owned, Australian-made brand, started here on the Northern Beaches. What I love about SavourLife is that they donate 50% of their profits to dog rescue organisations across Australia. So every time I fill Harry’s slow feeder plate, I’m also helping dogs who are still waiting for their forever homes. Honestly, what’s not to love?

old bones chilli co hot sauces

I am a person who believes that hot sauce makes everything better. Eggs? Hot sauce. Chicken? Hot sauce. A salad that needed a bit of a wake-up call? You guessed it, hot sauce. So when I discovered Old Bones Chilli Co, a Sydney-made, small-batch hot sauce brand, I felt like I’d found my people.

I’ve been working my way through their Jawbreaker Xtra Xtra hot sauce, which is exactly what it sounds like, serious heat. But with so much flavour behind it that you keep going back for more despite yourself. I’ve been splashing it on chicken, eggs, salads, sandwiches, and tacos, and it has elevated every single one. The thing that sets Old Bones apart from other hot sauces I’ve tried is that the flavour genuinely comes first, it’s not just heat for heat’s sake. It enhances whatever you’re cooking rather than bulldozing it.

They’ve also racked up over 90 awards internationally, which, frankly, tracks. If you’re a fellow heat-seeker or just someone who wants to add a little excitement to their weeknight dinners, I cannot recommend these sauces enough. You can purchase their range from selected specialty grocers, as well as Amazon. But fair warning, Jawbreaker is not for the faint-hearted, sitting at over 1 million on the scoville scale. You have been warned.

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