Don't go looking for your giant supermarket, this Woolies is a quaint little store with narrow…read moreaisles. None of this butcher and baker and sushi chef on site, this is closer to a convenience store. And that's okay. Pop in for the essentials and to grab some tomato sauce when you run out, but not so much a place for your weekly grocery shop.

Ali was very courteous and provided excellent customer service. I will definitely return to this…read morelocation!

Every time I walk into this shop I feel inspired to become the greatest cook and the most…read moreextraordinary baker in my family. How could I not be inspired? They have the coolest gadgets when it comes to cooking equipment. I love the designs they stock, the colours and the variety. You can walk in with no intention of buying, but end up leaving with a whole bunch of fun kitchen appliances. For example recently, I wasn't looking for anything in particular but I ended up walking out with a pair of tongs with bright red ends that have a bend on them, so when you lay it on the bench, the tongs won't touch the surface. Genius! The customer service here is very good. They helped with all the queries I had, even showed me products on the top shelves which required a use of a ladder. They were informative and knowledgable in regards to the items they sell. This is my favourite kitchen/homewares store in Mt Ommaney Centre.

I walked into The Trading Circle with trepidation. It's immediately evident from the store signage…read morethat this shop, established by a non-profit company to support women in poverty, has the potential to be quite expensive. I can't think of a better reason than charity for supporting Paddington's higher prices when it comes to non-essential shopping, but I was surprised to note that merchandise here was far from overpriced. Not only were the prices reasonable, the merchandise spans a large range of trinkets, gifts, toys, clothing and jewellery - the perfect place to pick up a gift or a treat for yourself. I bought a beautiful blue beaded bracelet for $4.50 - the packaging contained a picture of the child who made this particular bracelet, her name and other personal information. Such jewellery is made by children suffering from AIDS or are exposed to conditions of poverty where AIDS flourishes. All of the hand-made goods here are ridiculously gorgeous and well-crafted. One section of the store reminded me of a hippy store, with colourful knapsack-style bags, purses and pillow cases lining the aisles. (However, the quality was clearly much, much better than your standard hippy store.) Another section, featuring hand-made soft toys such as clowns, clocks and other critters reminded me of a toy shop. Yet another part had me drawn in for a good ten minutes - the jewellery selection. Here are some absolutely gorgeous earrings, totally unique and respectable in price (around $25 a pair and sturdily made). The store also sells cards, home ware and coffee, tea and chocolates. The staff are friendly but not pushy - the perfect combination. There is also a free gift-wrapping service as an Xmas bonus. This is one of the best places to shop in Paddington. I have to admit I was very surprised by how much there was to see here, how unique the merchandise was and how perfectly the Good Shepherd Sisters have pulled together this store. I'll be coming back again soon for some last-minute Xmas shopping, for sure. And it certainly won't be the last time I'll be coming here.

The Trading Circle is a fantastic initiative set up by the Good Shepherd Sisters. Their mandate is…read morehelping women trade out of poverty and they do this by focussing on helping women in poverty stricken areas set up micro enterprises, usually with a community focus. So what does this mean for you? In this one spot you can find a wealth of unique, quirky items that not only feel good to own, but feel good to buy. This store is particularly good for anyone buying for kids (think beautifully crafted toys and clothes), however it's also a great shop for homewares and gifts. The items you buy at this store are not only beautifully crafted, they are also helping women across the world AND have the added benefit of novelty. Your gift will not be the same as anyone else's and you can feel a wee bit smug that your money went to a good cause instead of feeding big corporations. They also have a great range of Christmas decorations, and during December are open from 10am - 2pm on Sundays to help with the demand.

Good size nursery that carries a little bit of everything. Always seem to have what you need. The…read morestaff are always super duper helpful and prices are very comparable to the large warehouse types (rhymes with Funnings)...we always go here.

Marcia's on Montague is the sort of place that will make budding cooks absolutely salivate. The…read morefirst time I walked into the orange building on West End's Montague Road I was slightly overwhelmed by the huge amount of beautiful dinnerware and giftware on display. I wasn't after anything specific and the first showrooms mix of baby gifts, handbags, dinner sets and cutlery left me a bit adrift. My state of confusion was only heightened when I noticed there were two more showrooms to go. Without the price mark-ups that you find in most department stores, you are sure to leave with a lot of value for your money (and probably a few extra purchases that you just couldn't resist). So with a range and value that is to be admired Marcia's really is a great place to find a house warming, wedding present or that little something your own kitchen is missing.

Walk through the first room at Marcia's which tends to be more giftware than kitchenware and make…read morehaste to the "back room" where all your kitchen gadgetry desires may be fulfilled. If you're not a cook, you'll leave Marcia's with grand desires to be (possibly with various pieces of kitchen paraphernalia under your arm that will help you become a better baker / cook / tea brewer). At the very least, Marcia's offers competitive pricing that isn't as good as online but isn't as expensive as other retailers. I popped in here recently to get silver scoops for an upcoming event, other hospitality wholesalers had quoted $11.95 per scoop. I picked them up at Marcia's for $2.95. BAM!

For places that you go when you want to feel a little bit of serenity. This is the place to visit…read more Oddly enough, right next the the Westside BMW dealership (they share parking) and smack bang in the middle of Darra's industrial area, this place has been around since I've been in Brisbane. There is a crazy range of bromeliads (a whole tent full) and overhanging, underhanging and side hanging plants to choose from, there's a wider range of hedge plants, flowering plants and a pretty good range of fruit trees as well (these will set you back about $30). There is also a restaurant called Verdant which serve a pretty good salmon main and the service is pretty good. The coffee's aren't bad as well, but it would be an idea to book as it does get pretty busy. What I love about this place is the giftshop. It isn't just a gift shop that sells the weird stuff you put in your house and garden, it is an excellent place to shop for gifts or whatnot for your kids as well. It has a pretty decent kids section, where there are cute baby onesies with crazy logos on them, kiddie gardening gloves, kiddie cook books, book dividers, very cute bath toys, and stuffed toys. Even kiddie books! Such a good array, you will always find something here for your green thumbed little man or lady. Make them assist you in the garden with style! On the flipside, I also bought a $5 outside broom here from Italy, great broom, still have it! The plants here are a little dearer than your cornerstore garden centre, but they have a pretty wide range as well.

Why aren't there more places where you can buy everything you need for your garden, everything you…read moreneed to make your home pretty, clothes and luxury bath products, then top it all off with a delicious meal? Garden Way is a lovely, peaceful place that provides all those things, and I suppose it can thank it's out of the way location for the lack of crowds. The location does mean most Brisbanites would only go there when that's the sole purpose of their trip, but the good news is you can kill a lot of time here so it's worth the drive. The homewares part is really beautiful, with gorgeous decor, divine smelling moisturisers and various little bits and pieces. The nursery is not quite as big as some of the others in Brisbane, but it is decent enough with a good range of plants, pots of all shapes and sizes, and decorative features for the garden. The restaurant section is nestled in between the nursery and the homewares section, and they serve delicious and unique quality meals, drinks and desserts. This is a place I often visit with the numerous generations of females in my family, for a bit of a wistful shop and a tasty meal.

If you have a garden, a windowsill, or a home, go here. The shop is full of beautiful furniture,…read moretrinkets, and decorations, and the nursery is a green thumb's fantasy. My favourite finds were vintage birdcages, beautifully unique chairs, and some lovely lamps, while a friend coveted a silver set of candle holders. The nursery section was lush enough to inspire the least enthusiastic of gardeners to get their hands dirty. There is an excellent café inside the shop if you need a coffee break during your browsing.

Outstanding customer service from the lady working here. Unlike a lot of other discount stores,…read morethings were kept in a very orderly way, even though they were short on space. There were a tonne of options for travellers.

Another gem for craft enthusiasts, and anyone happy to poke around. A great number of good stock at…read morediscounted prices. The staff are helpful, and pleasant. I have been coming here for a long time. Their home decor and thoughtful gift lines are wonderful, if you are content to take your time. Storage, stationary and seasonal lines do change occasionally, basically their is good. Good place to explore, and discover more, of what you suddenly, think you must have? Enter at your own risk, and enjoy!