Christmas is less then seven weeks away folks!…read more The thought of heading to a shopping centre in December and aimlessly battling crowds in the hope that something, no anything will pop out at you and scream YOUR AUNT WILL LOVE ME is stressful at best. I may be able to help. If you have any or all of these dilemmas then Raging Earth is the place to head: -If your in the market for cheap gifts that look more expensive then the price tag then this shop in Plenty Valley Westfield is your new friend. -If you live in the outer North-East suburb of Mill Park or South Morang Raging Earth is a convenience store to grab a few things to make your house look even better. -If you don't know what to get your Mum, Grandma or really any female relative over 30, chances are something from here will delight them. Yes, Raging Earth is somewhat a glorified $2 shop, but in the best way possible. They have a great selection of Buddha statues, candles, photo frames, jewelry, home decor idea's and nick knacks type things. This really is your best bet for random gifts. Bonus points for the friendly staff who relieve you of anything you may be carrying while you look around their store!

I often think brand name manchester is way too expensive, and I reckon this Bed, Bath N' Table…read moreoutlet store agrees with me, and that's why their stock is often half the price of the very same items in a non-outlet retail store. And it isn't all the gaudy and tacky merchandise that ends up in this outlet store. You get recognisable, reputable brand names, in decent colours, and in quality fabrics like high thread count 100% Egyptian cotton sheets. They've also got a great range of pillows, duvets, blankets and towels, again at very reasonable prices. The staff are also pretty helpful and will even help you find matching pillowcases for that perfect sheet and duvet cover set that you found whilst rummaging through their bargain tables.

Ok, its name might be a little generic and ape Bed Bath & Beyond's awesomely alliterative moniker a…read morelot, but I am most definitely a fan of Bed Bath N' Table's Lygon Street outlet store. Selling a range of bedroom linen, towels and tablecloths alongside more niche items such as hammocks and wiry Eiffel Tower effigies, there are definitely some bargains to be found at Bed Bath N' Table's outlet store. I picked up a pair of Morgan & Finch's embroidered linen mix pillowcases - $20 down from more than $50 - and long to return to buy more bed linen, towels and maybe even one of Bed Bath N' Table's aforementioned - and really quite awesome - hammocks. Prices tend to be on par with Ikea or Kmart but for some pretty premium stuff making a trip down Lygon Street to Bed Bath N' Table nothing less than great - and rather gorgeous - home economics.

There are a few draw backs to this place: a bit of a surly TAB crowd, an all-too inclusive 'local'…read morevibe, and you're guaranteed a few lingerers around the periphery. Equally, there are pluses: hearty pub food, warm lounge bar in winter, friendly staff, and (most importantly) they show live music. I will never begrudge any place that supports the live local music scene, so the Clifton Hill Hotel gets my (albeit small) tick of approval. They don't show the kind of stuff I'm really into, but they do cater to a slightly older (forty-something) audience and in doing so, they do the youngsters the service of keeping these folk out of the trendier bars in the area. So, whippersnappers, before you roll your eyes and go 'what a shit hole, I wouldn't be caught dead in that joint', spare a thought for your future drunk-arsed self and imagine the kind of haunts you'll be patronising. If it is to be the Clifton Hill, you're future's not as bad as it could be.

The first time I came here years ago there wasn't all that much about this place that impressed me,…read morethough it was a pub, it served beer, and that pretty much satisfied me. However that was when I first came to Melbourne so I hadn't caught onto the bar scene yet. Over the few years my tastes have changed, and so has this pub. What used to be a standard pub has been transformed into a craft beer bar and micro-brewery. I have to say that it is a pretty cool place to grab a beer, especially with their various options available. They also have a pool table, a small beer garden, and seating out the front (and well as a fancy looking restaurant). What is also cool are the huge vats sitting in the middle of the pub. I have to admit that this is a pretty cool place.

Have you ever walked into a florist and thought... "Geez, where's my American Express?"…read more I never understood why so many CBD Florist's charge so much for flowers that cost them 1/10th of the sale price. Is it the labour involved of putting them in sequinned boxes? Anyways that enough rant. If you feel like a little tram out of the city you can find some fresh 'cheap' flowers here. The ladies who work here are really in-the-know about everything flowers orientated. I jog past here everyday and when the occasion arose for birthday flowers i stopped by and was surprised by the range and the prices. They have a lot of specials on the flowers, you can pick up two bunches of flowers starting from $10. They also deliver Australia-wide!!

Gents! You've just woken up next to your lovely lady and you've already managed to piss her off…read more What to do?! Thankfully, Growers is just around the corner, easy to get to and is open from all hours of the morning (and 365 days a year too!) They have a gorgeous variety of flowers and plants available and the staff there are incredibly knowledgeable, so you'll be able to make your choice nice and easy! But the best thing about Growers are there packages and hampers, so if you've really pissed off the Misses you can sort it out quick smart (and for a reasonable price.) Packages include fruit and wine, flowers and teddy bears and even a gourmet food hamper, which can all be ordered online and delivered to your door. So boys! Stop apologising and just go to Growers, they can do the apologising for you.

Established buisness with excellent service and huge variety to choose from. Bouquets are…read more beautifully arranged. Affordable.

Lovely store for flowers and wine! Nice and affordable too. I chose 3 bunches and the owner made up…read morea beautiful bouquet for me, she was very considerate and attentive as well

A great little shop full of a variety of quality bouquets at different price points. Picked up a…read moregreat bunch of natives for $30, wrapped very nicely. Friendly service too!

If you need a change from Pumpkin Patch and Cotton on Kids, Petit Lievre is definitely worth a…read morevisit. Offering really high quality, age appropriate clothing for kids, taking styles from the latest fashion trends and making them into adorable kids outfits. They sell for kids from newborns, right up to the age of 14. I've got a baby boy and a five year old girl and I love the current summer range for both. Nothing too fru-fru or frilly, they have managed the perfect balance between trendy fashion styles for kids that don't make them look like 20 year old gnomes. Quite pricey, similar to Pumpkin Patch but look out for the great sales. Anyway, our lil angels are worth a splurge every now and again... especially when it comes to playing dress ups!

Organised over the phone and picked up from Her Airport West Studio. Lisa put together the most…read moreamazing arrangement, with gorgeous fresh flowers at such a reasonable price for such great quality! At short notice She was able to present the most beautiful bouquet with a high level of flair and professionalism! Would highly recommend!!