“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”  - Randy Pausch

If you were told you had months to live, what would you do?   What sort of legacy would you leave behind? 

I bet whatever it is, it wouldn’t be to stand up in front of all your peers and give a lecture on what lessons you have learnt in life so far.  Most of us would be too ticked off to even contemplate how to help those left behind.  But that’s just what Randy Pausch did.

Randy was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon and was asked to give what they call there “The Last Lecture”.  When leaving the University the Professors are asked to give their ‘Last Lecture”, to talk about what lessons they have learnt and in most cases this has usually been because the Professors are retiring, not dying.  But Randy had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, he has a young family, a great life and he doesn’t want to die.  But as he says “we cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” 
So instead of talking about dying, he decides this is his opportunity to leave behind for his young kids, a legacy on the importance of overcoming obstacles.  He talks about enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because time is all you have) and all he has come to believe about life and more importantly, how to live it.
 
This book is one of the best books I have ever read.  It is funny, inspirational, intelligent and at times has moved me to tears.  But the most important lesson I learnt was to work harder at making the most of everyday.  I know this can sound cliché but really if we were in his shoes, just think about it, would we really sweat the small stuff.  Probably not.

Now you can down load off the Internet, the actual lecture from the University, and I encourage you to do so.  It is very entertaining and easy to watch.  But the book has so much more and very worthwhile reading.  He encourages us all to live a better life, to try harder to achieve our dreams and to never give up.  I have gained so much more form the book.

I have to say I am inspired and I am going to write up my goals, as they say “you have to name them to claim them”.  This book is also being read by my Dad, as it was his Fathers Day gift and he’s really enjoying it.  This is a great gift for the special people in your life and keep it in mind for Christmas.

“Time is all you have.   And you may find one day you have less than you think.” -  Randy Pausch

Sadly Randy passed away in July this year after a brave and hard fought battle. To learn more visit www.TheLastLecture.com

Available: all leading bookstores                                                         Price:$29.95

  As I mentioned recently I have a list of my favourite things, you know its the things that you go back to time and time again because they really are good.  Well this wee gem certainly makes it onto the list and its the Luxe Travel Guides.

I was told about them by a friend who has used them around the world, so I went and bought some for myself and they really are great.  It’s like travelling with your very own hotel concierge.

In their words they describe them as ‘the consummately stylish, pocket travel guides, packed with astute opinionated information for the busy and sophisticated traveller.’

Translated,  it means a really cool pocket size travel guide, which is funny and really helpful.  So why are they so good?  Well it really comes down to a couple of reasons and the first being their size, they really are small and fit into your back pocket.  Second would have to be the content and style of writing.  It’s fun, to the point and very honest.

A great example of this is, in the Luxe Melbourne guide they give phrases that may help you out with the locals.  One of my favourites is:

‘Strewth, look at the Muffin-top on that!  :  That young lady has a large amount of excess flesh above the waistband of her low-cut jeans and is doing herself no favours.’   Very funny.

Luxe also comes with online city updates, you just simply log-in on their website to find out what’s new.  Now that’s very cool.

What I truly love about them is that they take all the guess work out of visiting somewhere new for you and have chosen only the very best places to go. 

You will find:

half-day shopping and activity itineraries for you to mix and match.

hidden places to relax in, the very latest places to dine, drink and dance

shops you simply never find as a visitor

the most beautiful spas and salons

and services you can’t find in any other guides

This is a fantastic gift for anyone travelling overseas, they will be reminded of you and what a cool gift giver you are, during their holiday.  Don’t leave home without it.

Stylish, brutally frank and sometimes, frankly, brutal.

Available:all major book stores and at www.luxecityguides.com   

Price:  per guide $17.99   or can be bought as a set from the website.

  I am often asked ‘what are your favourite  things?’ and believe it or not,  I do have a list.  They are the things that I can’t live without, my ‘I spy the best buy’ things, or in some cases the most useful thing I’ve found.

So I am going to share some of these over the next few months.  I am always trying out new products and services,  which is probably why I have been dubbed the Shopping Queen.  But over the years I definitely found some favourites and this is one that has made it onto my list.

So this is number one of my most favourite things.  It’s so great that I have it shipped out from the States every year because I just can’t be without it and it’s my WhoMi.

What is a WhoMi you ask, well it’s my diary, my everyday organiser which I just can’t be without.  Now for those of you that use an electronic daily organiser you may say, Andrea try stepping into the new millennium.    But I am a mum and I have to run and track the schedules of 3 others in my household,  as well as myself.     Whilst some of you don’t have the need to do all that, I do and it’s made so much easier by my WhoMi.

Why?  Well a Whomi is a colour-coded calendar to help woman manage their busy schedules.   WhoMi was invented by two mums who felt they needed something that could enable them in one glance,  to see business appointments, personal appointments and their childrens’ whereabouts.  Very handy for us busy Mums who often have to make decisions on the run and this gives me a small feeling of control that I know what everyone in the family is up to.

I order online from the States and it arrives here in under 10 days, which I think is very efficient.  This is my third year of ordering one off their website and I have had no problems at all.  So go to www.whomi.com or just click on the link here.

I just love my Whomi and can’t do without it, it really does make my life easier and every year I go and look at all the new diaries which come into store but nothing measures up to the Whomi.

Now it comes in two sizes and I have tried both.  I first bought the original but have now changed to the compact.  The compact fits easily into my handbag and isn’t heavy or bulky.  The original is quite a bit larger and I did find it harder to lug around.  There are various different covers you can buy for them so have a good look on the website before you buy.

"The calendar that lets mothers view their crazy schedules along side their crazy kids schedules."

Avaliable:  www.whomi.com                        Price:$25.00 US  (this price is dependant  on exchange rates when you convert to NZ dollars)

  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

  Do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell, closer let me whisper in your ear and say the words you love to hear… diamonds, beautiful diamonds.

I have found the most wonderful new jewelry and want to share my secret with you all. I am the worlds worst magpie, anything shinny and sparkly I am attracted too. So it stands to reason that beautiful jewelry is one of my most favorite things to buy.

It’s called Secrets and it’s one of the world’s finest diamond simulants. It’s so perfect it’s impossible to tell with the naked eye if it’s a manufactured diamond or a mined one. They are set in 14ct gold, come with a lifetime guarantee and basically look, feel and behave like the real thing.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to not buy a diamond engagement ring or wedding ring, but this jewelry is pretty fantastic! I’ve grown up with an uncle as a jeweler and already own some gorgeous jewelry, but I love this as an alternative at a fraction of the cost.

If your anything like me I love new things and this is no exception. The best part about it is the price! It’s all roughly $1000 per item and under. That’s not bad considering you can have a pendant or a ring, bracelet whatever you like for a fraction of the cost of anything else you can buy.

I am currently wearing an eclipse cut 4 carat ring set in yellow gold which I paid $650 for and the comments are endless. Not a day goes buy without someone noticing my ring. It’s positively stunning and I get an enormous amount of pleasure in wearing something so beautiful.

Buying a secrets ring now gives me the opportunity I’ve never had before to change my jewelry on a more regular basis than ever before. Trust me when I say if you pay a visit to the Secrets website or visit one of their three store’s in Auckland you will be amazed.

Jewelry that was once only reserved for the privileged few is now not only attainable, it’s glamorous and can now be yours.

So visit www.secrets-shhh.com but better still visit the store I promise you, you wont be disappointed.