Friday Favourite Champagne Cartel

This week I have the pleasure of introducing you to Carolyn from Champagne Cartel. Together with Gillian they have created a positive space for busy working mums where the focus is on putting yourself first. I love this and regularly check in with what they are up to and love sharing a regular #champagnemoment on Instagram with them. This is Carolyn’s Friday Favourites list.

Family

I so wanted to be original, and I know EVERYBODY says family, but how could I not? I have three gorgeous children: Spencer (10), Tom (4) and Harriet (2), who make my house noisy and messy and chaotic, but so much fun. And my husband Sean is also loud and messy, but he’s also very clever, and he makes me want to be the best version of myself I can be. I am lucky to have a house full of love and joy – and I appreciate that every day (okay, most days). I’m also very close to my mum Barbara – she is the strongest and most generous woman I know, and I adore her.

Champagne

Champagne makes any occasion special, doesn’t it? I could be watching Q&A in my jammies but if you gave me a champagne I would feel like a million bucks. I love the fun of the bubbles, I love the decadent feel, I love that a couple of glasses make me feel pleasantly squiffy, and I love that now I’m a grown up I can have it whenever I like. (For the record, I probably have it a couple of times a month – it’s not an everyday thing!) I also love antique champagne glasses and fancy that I might start collecting them.

Working

I am editor-in-chief for a media company, and am also in the process of starting a business with my co-blogger Gillian that will stem off Champagne Cartel. We’re really excited about that. It took me a long time to fall into the right career, but I’ve always worked hard and I feel like that is all finally paying off and I am where I should be. I like being busy, and I like keeping my mind and body active. I have very little down time in my life but I like it that way.

Running

I have a love/hate relationship with running, but we’re in an up cycle at the moment. Running helped me recover from postnatal depression in 2011, and it has helped me keep anxiety at bay ever since then. I ran my first (and second) half marathon last year, and am training for another one later this year. I will have to do a marathon at least once just to tick it off my list. That will be a big day. When I let myself take some time off running, I can feel anxiety tightening its grip on my brain and I know I have to get out there before it goes any further. Anxiety tries to convince me that running is too hard and I have to work hard to not let myself believe it. Honestly, it’s a circus in my head! But running, for me, is the key to a healthy, happy life.

Stradbroke Island

I have been holidaying at Stradbroke Island (in Moreton Bay just off Brisbane) since I was a wee tacker. First it was family camping holidays, then camping with friends – I kissed my first boy on one of those holidays – but now we stay in luxury at a hotel with a pool and a bar. I feel like I’ve earned that! Stradbroke Island is only accessible by barge, so it’s pretty quiet and not overly developed. The Gorge Walk is stunning Australian natural beauty at its finest, and my favourite place to be in the world. The gelati shop is fantastic too.

 

Thank you Carolyn for sharing your favourite things with us. I am very intrigued and excited to see what business you have coming up for Champagne Cartel.

Please share your #myfridayfavourites with us in the comments below or tag me on social media with something you are loving right now.

And did you know that I was a guest on Carolyn’s blog a few months ago?! I am listed as a guest in their Champagne Women feature and feel very honoured to be a part of it.