I think adding the word 'boutique' to any shop name is a stroke of genius. People tend to like…read moreboutiques. Whenever I see that word I immediately assume the shop has one of a kind items and is beautifully designed. My dreamy definition didn't really apply to this store; even though it isn't a chain store, when I was browsing I felt as though I was inside one. Despite that, they had a huge range of women's clothing and it was certainly a pleasant atmosphere. I felt like I may have been a little younger than the target of the store, judging by the style of most of the clothing, but I still enjoyed having a look. Sometimes I get the feeling that the shop assistants are unhappy when I pay just a quick visit to their store, but that definitely didn't happen this time. The sales staff were lovely and seemed perfectly happy for me to have a quick browse.

The Krishna Boutique came as somewhat of a surprise in the middle of Cleveland. The area is not…read moreexactly what I would describe as exotic, but here I found a store that stocks clothing inspired by traditional Indian designs. Not that all the items on offer are Sari ripoffs, but the beautiful materials used are similar. The best way to describe the Krishna Boutique is as a less mainstream version of Tree of Life. Mostly they stock dresses in many different styles, but they also have jewellery. It's a lovely little store, well worth a look if you enjoy wearing clothes made of gorgeous fabric, which I definitely do. The man working at the time of my visit, who I assume is the owner, was also very friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. A very pleasant little shopping experience. The store has recently relocated so it has proven difficult to get a phone number and therefore accurate opening hours. The opening hours listed are an estimate based on the hours of surrounding businesses.

I can't tell you how many times I've looked at a pretty dress or piece of jewellery in this store…read moreand then walked away because the stuff is so expensive. Some of it is twice the price it is in the Valley markets. Maybe the rent is really high, but other businesses along Bloomfield Street seem to be able to keep a cap on their prices. I'm a shopper and it's not a good sign that to date I've never bought one thing from this store, when I have from practically every other shop in the street.

This is a really great gift store; it's huge and packed with products of endless variety. Not only…read moreare there plenty of gifts in all shapes and sizes, for a range of prices, but there are also lots of items for around the home. There are cushions, umbrellas, bags, random pieces to hang on the wall, little stuffed animals and dolls, and the list goes on. The shelves are packed full of merchandise with mismatched items sitting side by side; I felt like I was browsing a market stall rather than a shop, which is a wonderful thing in my opinion. The fact that the shop itself has no special embellishments, is simple with an unpolished floor and rather subdued light instalments, adds greatly to the effect. I absolutely loved the way everything was set out, the charming organised chaos, the impressive range of items and the pleasant atmosphere. If you needed a gift for someone and came out of here empty handed, I would be very surprised.

I have bought prezzies here. Is it auto-suggestion? Not sure but funnily enough, I don't think I've…read moreever bought anything for myself at Prezzies by the Bay. There are lots of beautiful objects here, so it's ideal for gifts. I've bought for my sister, my daughter, Mum and a couple of friends, so it's definitely a girl thing. Oh, I lie, last year I bought some Christmas decorations - guess that was for me, kind of... This shop is packed . with designer decorator homewares, jewellery, limited clothing and even soaps and stationery. God I love shopping.

What a beautiful little store this is. Objects of all shapes and sizes, as long as they possess…read moresome charismatic characteristic, can be found here. The store is quite small with rustic cabinets overflowing with items. Making your way through the delightful clutter of objects without knocking anything over is a challenge, especially if you're me. I think my body awareness stopped developing when I was a small child, as after many years of constantly spilling and breaking things, I have had to accept that I am rather clumsy. I like to think it is endearing. Despite this great flaw on my behalf, I managed to complete a tour of the store, testing delicious smelling hand lotions and admiring cute knick knacks, without causing any destruction. While I was in the store a couple came in and proceeded to search back and forth, a bit frantic. The woman working in the shop asked if they were after anything in particular, to which they replied a present for some sort of baby occasion, christening, newborn baby, I can't remember. The lifesaving shop assistant then directed them to a smaller room off to one side of the shop, packed full of an abundance of cute baby gifts. I thought this was a great idea, not only having a section in the store like this but also separating it to give the customers after those items space to um and ah in peace.

Super girly girls will love this store. It is filled with cute, adorable, simply gorgeous nic nacs…read morefor your very feminine kind of person. The fact that they are approved sellers of Crabtree and Evelyn should tell you something. Other simply delightful treats you'll find in here include aprons, stuffed toys, white route iron candelabras, calico hanging hearts, tea sets, and recipe books called "The Essential Tea Companion". I'm sure they've got a doll house hidden away in the corner somewhere. It's just that kind of shop. It's odd that in a store crammed full of stuff, nothing really stands out. Everything in there seems to be different shades of cream or baby pink. The pastel colour palette reigns supreme here. If you're looking for something overpowering in it's girly-ness, you should definitely take a look in here.

This breezy shop is an airy, uncluttered space full of different bits and pieces for around the…read morehome. They sell mainly small items with a beach theme, many of which make perfect gifts; beach towels, canvas scrolls with inspirational quotes, jewellery. They have a range of candles which are particularly scrumptious smelling. I really love the way this shop is set out. The products are arranged nicely and it isn't bursting to overflowing so I don't have to walk around acutely aware of whether my overly large handbag is trying to break things. It's a very relaxed, soothing vibe and a lovely place to shop.

That was a zap back to the past! When I walked into the Save the Children Thrift Shop I was…read morewelcomed by a $1 clothes rack. Yes! I didn't find anything that fit, but never mind. The other racks were crammed full of op shopping gold! It was a pleasure to stroll around the store filled to the brim with trinkets, gadgets, and other miscellaneous bits and bobs. It brought back the joys of op shopping days of old. The prices are more than reasonable, and I daresay this is the kind of place you want to bring an oversized garbage bag to. You'll need it. This here is a trove of untold treasures.

I have found that thanks to the great push of secondhand shops as the trendy place to purchase…read moreclothes, secondhand clothing is not nearly as cheap as it should be. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this Thrift Shop, full of pre-loved items at very reasonable prices. They sell men's and women's clothing, shoes, bags, books, jewellery, belts and other odds and ends. Upon entry there is a rack dedicated entirely to items that are only one dollar. Obviously those particularly pieces are not the highest quality or brand new in appearance, but still, one dollar! I didn't spend much time browsing the men's selection, but I was fairly delayed in my shopping trip thanks to my intense rifling through the ladies' items. They had a huge selection of tops and blouses, dresses and pants, most of which were under $10. There was also a surprising amount of shoes, most of which were in great shape. I returned to the store at the end of my shopping trip intent on buying something only to discover that they closed at 4pm, rather earlier than I'm used to, so keep that in mind if you choose to pay them a visit.

This is a great home wares store; despite its rather small size they offer an impressive range of…read moreitems for around the house. The brightly lit shop is made brighter by the array of colourful items piled throughout. What makes their products even better is that they are sourced from Australian designers. The store is set out according to themes, which I think is a great idea. It allows you to visualise how items fit together as well as how they will looks side by side in your home. The only negative thing I have to say about this place is that the shop assistant working at the time did not seem too happy to see me, but since this was a one-off visit I will give her then benefit of the doubt and refuse to judge the service in the store on this experience alone.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the door to this heavenly store was the divine smell…read more Hundreds of intoxicating candle aromas blended together cannot fail to impress your nose. I think that my obsession with lovely smelling items is a little more intense than most people's, so I absolutely loved this store. Candle Wick House stock the biggest range of candles I've ever seen, from tiny tea lights to monster-sized candles that would live to see many blackouts. They sell a variety of brands, including the Yankee Candle range, the Australian Ocean Collection, candles by Jelly Belly, and many more. Each of these brands offers many possibilities; you can imagine just how many different fragrances there are. For example, there are the more traditional smells such as sandalwood and lavender vanilla, but there are also blueberry scone, Farmer's market and almond cookie. As well as this, there are many other beautiful smelling options such as reed diffusers. I loved the design and feel of this shop; it felt soothing and cosy while the interior design was beautiful. I didn't buy anything but as I write this I cannot remember why not.

Walking into this shop is like Charlie walking into the Chocolate factory, but with candles instead…read moreof chocolate. Sure, call in if you need candles and gifts, but I would recommend even just going for the experience. The colours, smells and gorgeous decorations all mix together into a wonderland for your senses. Daina is more than happy for you to pick up and touch and smell various candles and diffusers and obviously passionate about the customer experience in the store. I love the Jelly Bean diffusers and the vast range of scents. Being Christmas time, Christmas decorations surrounded the windows and I cannot describe how intricate and well crafted these things are. I always have a great time browsing here and walk out feeling like I've been to a beauty spa.