It’s such a small price to pay for a different perspective on life.   I picked up a book a while ago when I was in Whitcoulls, it’s called ‘Change the World for fifteen bucks’.  It was one of those impulse purchases and was stacked up at the front counter for all those people who have no self control, or who just need to buy one more thing.  Me, so I bought it and took it back to my desk which is where it sat for months before I actually found the time to look at it.  You can tell I really needed it, can’t you.

But all my impulse purchasing aside, it has turned out to be a great find and I really like it.  It is filled with inspiring ideas on how to live a great life, how to give back and simply how to be better at everything we do.  Just the smallest of things we do in our everyday can make a difference.

We Are What We Do creates a new way to inspire people and to help them to feel a part of something bigger than themselves.  To make us aware that simple shift in attitudes and day-to-day behaviour can make a difference.  For example, what about learning CPR, or reading a story with your child, how about fitting at least one energy saving light bulb, or it may be as simple as giving someone a smile.  See these really are simple everyday things we don’t think about that can make a difference.

There is a list of related websites and organisations you can visit at the back of the book, titled Learn More Do More, you can also email them at changetheworld@wearewhatwedo.org.nz or go to their website www.wearewhatwedo.org.nz.

Think about this “Be the change you want to see in the world”

Be one of those who sets a good example, in other words We Are What We Do.

Change the World for Fifteen Bucks, 50 actions to change the world and make you feel great.

Available at: Whitcoulls                                         Price:$15.00

  Well I hope you have all had a Merry Christmas, mine has been very busy and not nearly enough time spent blogging lately.  So I aim to lift my game and dedicate more time to more posts, more often, so check in regularly for all on what’s new and cool for 2008.

So what were my big finds in the build-up for Christmas, what did I give away as presents and what are my must haves for summer.  Stay tuned and all will be revealed.

I am currently reviewing a huge range of products, the latest book, a new wrinkle cream, new kids toys, a PSP, a Zune only to name a few and will blog these as soon as the reviews are finished. 

The first one out of the starting blocks is Richard Hammond’s new book ON THE EDGE: MY STORY, which I have just finished reading and it’s the account of his life before and after the high speed crash which nearly killed him.  Being married to a motor sport nut and who’s favourite program is Top Gear and it’s mine as well, it was of course a must have for Christmas.   He tells the story of his life as an adrenalin junkie, his role as one of the Top gear presenters and his wife Mindy tells the story of his recovery.

I had very high hopes before starting and I was particularly interested in the part which Mindy told and this turned out to be the best bit of the whole book from my perspective.  I did find it was padded out and was boring in some parts, there was too much fluff on what he was thinking as he was recovering.  Mindy’s account is easier to read and much more interesting.

His account of the accident was good and my husband enjoyed that part as he is more interested in the racing side, of the book.  The earlier years were interesting but overall it’s a pretty average read.  The most I got out of the book was how hard it is to recover from a brain injury and that it changes you forever, which is very hard on all those around you. 

In my husbands words "It’s an interesting story but a bit fluffy".

Avaliable at:  all leading book stores

Price:$39.99

  Last Christmas my daughter begged, pleaded actually, you know that - pleeease Mummy I must have him. I really want him, I don’t want anything else just TJ Bear pleeease. My six year old had seen him on TV and was besotted with this funny, animated talking teddy bear.

So TJ Bear was bought for Christmas to the delight of a little girl who carried him around for the Christmas holidays, talked to him, played with him and listened to all of his stories. She was very happy with TJ and he was exactly how she had imagined him to be. His ears, eyes, mouth and nose move, and his arms even gesture as he tells his story. He is a story telling friend that sings songs and asks you questions while he is telling you about one of his latest adventures.

Of course in true child like style each story aims to help build life skills by teaching a lesson. It may be about your first day at school, being scared of the dark or how to deal with a little brother or sister.

Simply play the cartridges in TJ’s backpack and read along. Each cartridge comes with a fully illustrated and easy to follow book and some with accessories like a torch and a camera. Kids can take the cartridges in and out themselves without fear of damage as TJ is very robust and has a good rating for durability on Amazon.

You can add to TJ’s story telling time by buying additional 24 page storybooks which are sold separately. TJ would definitely be a great gift for a child over the age of three, so they can carry him around, as he is a little heavier than normal teddy bears.

T J Bear would be a welcome addition to anyone’s family.

Product: T J Bear

Available: Toy World Farmers

  Do you want to know what Santa Claus does? How exactly does he manage it?

I am often asked questions by my two daughters, how does Santa manage to get to all the girls and boys around the world? How can they make so many toys and who are the special people that help Santa? Why can’t we see him?

Well I have found the book, to answer all those important questions and then some. All you ever wanted to know about Santa and how he actually does it.

What is Christmas day like at the North Pole and what is it that Santa and Mrs Claus do when the Christmas party at the North Pole is finally in full swing? Where does the name Saint Nicholas come from?

Delve into the enchantment of Christmas to discover some of Santa’s best kept secrets, from his hidden house at the North Pole to his amazing sleigh and the power of magic that really can help reindeer learn to fly. Meet the most important person in Santa’s life - Mrs Claus - and the army of elves who work so hard to make Christmas such a special time of year.

Did you know that Santa’s sleigh is fully equipped with Stealth Shock Absorbers and Silencer Skids that allow Santa to make quiet and gentle roof top landings where necessary?

The pictures are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen and the writing is just a delight. Also included are useful pieces of information about the North Pole and the Arctic, why we have Christmas trees and how is real snow made.

This is truly a magical book which will remain on my bookshelf for the rest of my life and I am very certain it is one you will never tire of pulling out year after year.

Santa Claus includes:

holiday gift tags

an authentic naughty but nice list

Mrs Claus’s very own cookie recipe

a double gatefold look inside Santa’s workshop

Santa’s route map ………and much much more

Product: Santa Claus written by Rod Green

Available: all major bookstores

Price: $34.99

  You know what it’s like, when you wait a long time for something only to discover it isn’t anywhere near as good as what you had expected. Well this is how I feel about this book.

Sandra Kaminski has been inspiring me for years with her amazing displays in the back section of the New Zealand House and Garden Magazine. Her ability to turn a boring old Sunday lunch into a fabulous magical experience is a skill I have always envied. She can make Christmas in her home seem like something out of a Santa Claus movie, wrap a gift so that you would never need to know what’s inside and decorate a table you will never want to leave.

So, I waited for years until she finally announced she was doing her own book.

I feel certain I was the first person to buy it and I could hardly contain myself not to stand and riffle through it on the street. When I finally got home I made myself a cup of tea and sat down to be inspired.

My excitement soon turned to disappointment when I realized it wasn’t what I had expected. It was the same as I had seen in the house and garden magazine, not alot of it was new. Clearly I had expected that when she finally had an opportunity to put out her own book, she would do it in a way to make it easier for us to to replicate.

I had expected step by step instructions, maybe even a list of what you need to complete the look. A ‘how to’ when making the little bags filled with goodies and general useful information on how to appear as if I was after all, the domestic goddess.

Instead it is much of the same as the House and Garden Magazine. Mixed through it are arty pages of nothing. Rather than easy to read copy, it has paragraphs which don’t have any information on how to do what she has done. Disappointing. I’m time poor these days and really want to be able to pull off that ‘I’ve spent a lot of time doing this’ look. She needs to make it simple for us to replicate, with the least amount of time and effort. Not all of us do what she does for a job and have access to what she does.

It is definatley more a great coffee table read and if you don’t have the expectation that I did, then this still could be a book to add to your list.

Hot tip an alternative to spending $49.95 on this book, and you are lucky enough to still find a copy, try the NZ House and Garden (special edition) magazine called ‘fresh inspiration’. It went on sale earlier in the year for $14.90 and is very good value for money.

Rating:2 Price:$49.95

Avaliable:Whitcoulls