Just wanted to let you in on one of my interesting discoveries today, I popped into Overland Shoe Store to admire the new season boots they have coming in and ended up having a conversation with the shop assistant.  She was very helpful and alerted me to a problem we are all going to have this year with new season stock arriving into store.

We need to get in quick, I know most of us are trying to be more fiscally responsible this year but we don’t have to be silly about it do we?  Surely we can have new boots for winter, they are after all an essential part of our winter wardrobe.  But the reason why we need to get in quick is that most stores due to the economic downturn have drastically reduced what stock they have bought in for Winter.  Hence there being considerably less stock in the stores to choose from.

Now she did say they would still be carrying a large variety of styles, just not the volume they have had in past years. So once it’s gone, it’s gone.  Also that there was no guarantee that they would be re-ordering the popular sellers like they did last year.

Now this wee clever piece of advice will probably apply to most retail stores.

So the message today is, if you’re after something particular for Winter, start looking now and buy now.  Chances are that if you see something you like, by the time you have looked around and made your mind up, your size will be gone.  There has never been a better excuse than now to go shopping.

   While I was away on holiday, I tried in our hot weather to take much better care of my skin than I normally would. But sometimes I fall into the classic mother trap where I slip, slop slap, everybody else in the family and then either run out of time for me and think I’ll do when I get down to the beach or forget altogether.

I did however manage to put moisturiser on my face every morning before I ventured out into the sun. As luck would have it, this moisturiser also doubles as a sunscreen and it is fantastic.

It is the brainchild of two Aussie woman who when looking couldn’t find the ideal moisturiser and sunscreen, so decided to create their own.

So what makes this one so special, well it is the latest in coloured moisturises which also double as a sunscreen because it protects you from UVA and UVB rays.  It is water resistant and contains natural anti aging ingredients like Green Tea, Pomegranate and Australian Daisy. 

So why is this so great, well Australian Daisy has been used by the Aboriginal Tribes for it exceptional cell renewal and anti- inflammatory properties and I must say it does feel pretty amazing when you put on.  I didn’t get sun burnt once during my holiday and that’s really saying something as I was at the beach for all of January.  This without a doubt has become my new favourite moisturiser to wear in summer and it’s amazing how many people comment on how good my skin looks when I am wearing it.  Truly it’s hard to explain but you really do look tanned, youthful and relaxed with it on.

It comes in a range of seven shades to match your colour and although may seem a little on the pricey side, it you think about you are getting two products in one.

Now who doesn’t want that.  Check out their website as they other products and if they are where near as good as this one it will be worth giving them a go.  Their site is great and lists all stockist’s of their products in Australia and New Zealand.  www.hissyfit.com

Available:Kirks, selected life pharmacies (check out website as well for stockist’s)

Price:$69.95

  Well finally I am back from holiday and hope you are all settled back into work and life for 2009.   I found some really cool things over the holidays which I want to share with you and have some more updates on my New Year New You section as well.

This product really needs little explanation but was definitely one of my coolest discoveries in the holidays.  I do need to however clarify this great find though, it’s not so much mine but my very clever friend Alison who came to stay with us at the beach.  What is it?  Well it’s Glad Ice Cube Bags, which you can buy at the supermarket. 

Now I know you’re saying that clearly I’ve had too much sun over the holidays, but wait, this really is cool.  We never have enough ice at the beach and we don’t have an icemaker.  The freezer isn’t huge so the trays often get tipped over and there just never seems to be enough ice.  It’s hot and we are always looking for cold drinks to take to the beach or have when we get back, and so now we can.

These bags are just the greatest invention, seriously all you do is hold the top of them over the tap and they fill up into cubes below, when full you just pull the bag off the tap, tip upside down to make it seal itself bingo is’s done.  Now put them in the freezer and wait for them to freeze.

When you are ready to use them, you pull them out of the freezer and then you squeeze the squares and your cubes just pop out.  How great is that, they lie flat in the freezer, are no mess and easy to use.  You can also keep them as a flat pack and use them to keep things cool in your chilly bag. 

Available: all major supermarkets                   

Price:$3.14 per box  (box contains 8 bags 192 ice cubes)