We are days away from the middle of the year, and we find ourselves saying “where did the year go?” I don’t know about you, but I cannot account for where January through May disappeared to. While I figure that out, here’s my June Love List, the things that have been making life a little better this month.

at home gel nails

There’s something about getting your nails done that makes you feel like you have your life together. I don’t often get a professional manicure, but I always love it when I do. And while I don’t disagree that they’re worth the $55, my nails grow really quickly and I will be in the salon every two weeks. I don’t have the time nor the inclination for that. So I went down the at-home rabbit hole.

After trying a few at home nail kits and being disappointed, I wasn’t that hopeful. But thanks to Amazon I’ve found a couple of products that I was pleasantly surprised by.

The Modelones Gel Top and Base Coats are really great. They do exactly what you need them to, good coverage, solid hold. The GAOY Sheer Light Pink Gel Nail Polish in Milky Pink is also my pick. It’s quite subtle so if it grows out it’s not that noticeable, and it goes on easily without a lot of fuss.

The price of all of these products came to less than half that of a professional manicure, so it was a good investment. They do require curing, so you’ll need a UV lamp, which can be picked up fairly cheaply from Amazon.

Not quite the same as having someone else do it for you, but honestly? Pretty close.

comfrt airplane mode travel zip up hoodie

I had seen the brand Comfrt advertising all over social media and I thought ‘Here we go, just another drop shop brand flooding my feed’.  But when I saw the features that the Comfrt Airplane Mode Travel Zip Hoodie had, I had to see it for myself. It’s a zip up hoodie with six pockets that you can hold your passport, ear pods, lip balm, snacks, phone, and other miscellaneous in. So I fed by curiosity and purchased one, and I was not disappointed.

This hoodie has no business being as good as it is. Firstly, the construction of this sweater is solid. The zippers are sturdy, the fabric is soft but substantial. The hood is snuggly. There has been some serious design consideration that’s gone into this.

The pockets are really useful. With women’s clothing in particular, quite often you get a couple of token pockets as design elements, but these are very practical. The kangaroo pouch at the front is quite deep, and there’s some little pockets inside, so that smaller items like coins or ear pods are safe from falling out.

One of the elements that makes this hoodie so unique is the built in eye mask. This fit my face perfectly. It was well fitted, well constructed, not likely to slide around. I tried this hoodie on while I was standing and fitted the facemask to my eyes, and I felt immediately relaxed.

I have two critiques of this design. The hood is a little heavy. There is a lot of lining and stitching around the neck, which pulls it down at the back. The other thing that with it being a unisex design, it’s a bit of a weird fit for women. It’s quite an oversized design, so you’re best sizing down. It’s also quite long, so I just bring the waist band up and then fold it over.

I was so impressed with this jumper that I ordered another one immediately. These are shipped out of California, so in Australia, there’s about a two week wait. But I think they’re well worth the wait.

why not me? by mindy kaling

I had bought this as an ebook years and year ago. I think it was one of the 99cent specials on the Apple Book Store. And having read Mindy Kaling’s first book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, I thought it would be a safe bet.

You may know Mindy Kaling from her work as an actor/writer on the American version of The Office. She is also responsible for the TV shows the Mindy Project, and Running Point. You would also recognise her from her acting roles in Inside Out, Forty Year Old Virgin and Late Night.

Why Not Me is a collection of short essays Mindy has written about topics like what it’s like to be a show runner for a show about yourself, having a long distance relationship with an Obama aide, responding to the common descriptor of “not conventionally attractive”, and wanting to give genuinely helpful advice about teenage confidence, just to name a few. There is also a chapter containing an alternate reality where Mindy is a Latin teacher in a prep school on the Upper East Side in New York.

Or as Mindy describes it, herself “It’s about the struggles of a delusional Indian thirtysomething trying to scam on white dudes”.

This was a really easy read. If you’re familiar with Mindy’s work, you will really enjoy this. It’s very conversational and self-depreciating, with an upbeat tone. You can really hear Mindy’s voice as you read it. It’s fun, it’s not too serious, and it’s not terribly long. A good holiday read.

america’s sweethearts: dallas coyboys cheerleaders

I’ve been a casual fan of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders since stumbling across the reality show DCC: Making the Team back in 2014. Over the years I watched several classes of women fight their way through auditions and training camp, and it didn’t take long to realise there’s a lot more going on than just sequins on the sideline.

In 2024, that story found a whole new audience on Netflix. America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders introduced the world to Kelli and Judy, the formidable director and choreographer duo running the show, alongside the women who are fighting not just to make the team, but to stay on it. Season two raised the stakes further, following the very public battle the cheerleaders waged to be paid fairly for what is, by anyone’s measure, a professional-level commitment.

Season three dropped has just dropped. The success of the first two seasons has changed the landscape entirely. With thirty veterans returning to auditions and only six spots open for newcomers, the competition is fiercer than ever. Applications are now coming in from around the world, this season features a hopeful who travelled all the way from Perth to Dallas, which tells you everything about the reach this show has built. And with that global profile comes a new layer of pressure: social media followings, viral moments, and the expectation of maintaining that picture-perfect DCC image at all times.

Whether you buy into the DCC’s famously exacting standards or find them a little hard to swallow, the show is very compelling. It is impossible not to become invested in these women. They have dedicated years, sometimes their entire lives, to this pursuit. Some have wanted to be a DCC since they were little girls. Watching that dream slip away in real time is heartbreaking. And the show does a beautiful job of reminding you that these aren’t decorations on a football field. Among their ranks you’ll find engineers, doctors, lawyers, and legacies whose mothers wore the same uniform before them.

For the most part this is a feel-good watch, and when someone finally makes it, when the dream becomes real , it’s hard not to cheer along with them. If you want something with a bit of substance and a whole lot of heart, this one’s for you.

antica dining

There are some places that you walk past a million times and think, I really should go and check this place out. And you never do. This is how I was with Antica Dining. Quite often on my walk home I would pass this beautiful spot, located in the leafy streets of North Sydney, take a quick peek, and keep walking. I finally stepped inside for a meal and was not disappointed.

Antica is nestled inside the restored 1909 heritage-listed Montrose House at 196 Miller Street, a sandstone beauty that’s been given a sleek, considered fit-out to match its bones. The interior has an Art Deco-inspired design that manages to feel both sophisticated and genuinely welcoming, which isn’t always an easy balance to strike. The menu is modern Italian with a strong commitment to quality ingredients. It reads elegantly without being intimidating, you’ll find the classics done properly, pasta, burrata, tiramisu, alongside crowd-pleasing mains like barramundi, lamb, and high-quality cuts of steak. Something for everyone, executed with care.

I went with the lunch special, opting for the beef carpaccio and saltimbocca, and had no regrets. Around the table we had calamari, garlic prawns, strip loin, and barramundi, all met with enthusiasm. After seeing the tiramisu delivered to another table, we all couldn’t resist and ordered one for our table too. Again, no regrets.

The service was also excellent. Everyone we dealt was warm, attentive, and unhurried in the best possible way.

Nothing but great things to say about Antica. I would love to come back here in the evening for a steak next to the fire in winter. If you’re in or around North Sydney and are looking for a cosy, neighbourhood restaurant, make the reservation.

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