Hayley Lately // August 2018

Welcome back to Hayley Lately. Each month, this is where I chat about my life and what I’ve been up to in Melbourne. Keep reading to discover the book I couldn’t put down, my new favourite show and the best Melbourne eats.

---

Life lately

Well if you follow me on social media, you would know that I headed overseas in August. I visited both Bali and Singapore, and this trip had some definite highs and lows. Highs included spending a couple of days with one of my best friends from Canada in Bali, and getting to see more of Singapore. My big low was getting the worst stomach cramps ever from some kind of Bali belly bug. I was very upset I didn’t get to enjoy my last day on the island because all I could do was lie down and eat crackers, but that’s just how the cracker crumbles sometimes. There will definitely be more Singapore and Bali content coming your way soon.

Eating lately

I ate some great meals in Bali and Singapore, but back home in Melbourne I haven’t eaten out AT ALL. I’m going to have to remedy this in September.

Blogging lately

August was one of the first months this year that I didn’t publish a new post each week. To be honest, I had too much freelance work to complete before and after my holiday (which I’m very grateful for), so the blog had to take the backseat. But I did publish my solo travel guide to Paris and a reflection on six months back in Melbourne.

Reading lately

I didn’t quite match the seven books I read in July. But I did get through four books in August. Before I left, I finished All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin, which was different (good different) from her usual romance novels. It follows two different families and focuses on marriage, family dynamics and cyber bullying. I then read The Perfect Couple, my second Elin Hilderbrand book this year. It was the perfect beach read that included both mystery and romance.

Then it was Everything I Never Told You, which was another novel centred on a mystery. The storyline was very unique and followed an Asian-American family in central Ohio in the 70s. It’s as good as the author’s other novel, Little Fires Everywhere. Next I finished Educated, a memoir by Tara Westover. She grew up in a survivalist family, so the book follows her journey to academic success. It’s both fascinating and heartbreaking.

Remember to find me on Goodreads!

Watching lately

I am somehow still catching up on the last seasons of some great TV shows, like How to Get Away with Murder and Madam Secretary. But on Netflix, I began watching Good Girls this month, which is very funny and the cast is awesome. I have also already watched To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before twice. It’s such a cute teen movie.

Writing lately

I didn’t get a lot published in August, but I did write an interesting feature on how Aussies can get free portraits of the Queen.

The one thing I’m looking forward to in September is a long weekend in Adelaide!

Follow along: Facebook | Twitter | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Pinterest