The love of Carindale (like all the biggest stars, it's only known by one name) has been handed…read moredown through the generations of my family. My Mum passed down her passion for this place to me and my sister in law - and now we're handing down the pleasure to my 3 year old niece, Olivia (who loves it) and 14 month old Renzo (distinctly unimpressed). So why does this slightly ugly (from the outside) building inspire so much devotion in the female members of my family? Well, for those times we can't be bothered traipsing into town, Carindale pretty much has everything we could need. Except, perhaps, a chic cocktail bar. But I live in hope. Myer, David Jones, Sportsgirl, Dotti, Portmans, Witchery, cinemas, grocery stores, mobile phone shops, sports stores...it's like a one-stop-shopping-utopia for all our needs. With carpet. Yep, to this day, it's the only Westfield I've been in that has carpet. It's not particularly nice and occasionally gives you static attacks but I kinda like that it gives Carindale a strangely unusual USP. Even my friends in London laugh at my Carindale obsession (I've recently relocated back home after a lengthy stint living in London). Every email they send me usually starts with "so, how many times have you been to Carindale this week?" (I don't usually answer as I'm slightly ashamed that sometimes it's so often I feel I should take a sleeping bag and just move in). As Westfields go (and there's a gazillion of them in Brisneyland) this is not the biggest (yet) but it soon will be. I'm positively giddy at the fact they're spending $300m making it even more ginormous. For me! According to the website, it's due for completion in late 2012 and "will include a new parallel mall over two levels, a new full-line Coles supermarket, a relocated larger-format Target and a new dining precinct. Plus approximately 120 new stores including a range of Australian and international designers." Readers, dreams can come true.

I love Westfield Carindale! I don't think, from memory, I've ever visited and not enjoyed the…read moreexperience. I bypass three other closer, smaller shopping complexes and drive straight to Carindale. Took my kids, now 40 and 37, often and now take my grandchildren. I love the renovations, major stores and specialty shops. The parents' rooms are always clean and well appointed. Love the Event cinemas. Plenty of great coffee shops. Late night Christmas shopping is always a favourite time for me. Thanks Westfield Carindale.

Fairly modern and new shopping centre. Quite small but still offers a Jimmy Rods barber, Zarraffas…read moreCoffee, Woolworths, Gold Class Nail Salon, Akebono Sushi, Oxley Family Medical Centre, Golden Casket Newsagency, BWS, Flight Centre, Priceline Pharmacy. Fish Depot, Smart Dollar, Commonwealth Bank, Network Video & Black Milk Coffee. It's fantastic for grocery shopping and there are always free parking spaces, I love it!

Jindalee Homemaker City is the place you need to check out if you're buying stuff for your house…read more With places like Freedom and Howards Storage World... it has a plethora of furniture and bed shops, even a vet and a toy shop (secret yay). There is a 24 hour McDonalds located on site so you'll never go hungry, and there is a place that you can do your Yoga at if you're into that. There is also Rowdy Rascals for the kids and a place that sells stuff for horses, showing, jumping, equestrian type stuff. Oh did I mention lighting and bike shops too? It's split into two sections, the bottom and the top with a Coles and some cafe's and doctor surgeries on the top part... most of the home stuff is on the other level where McDonalds is. I live around this area, and there isn't something I can't find here, so it's pretty handy.

If you ever have to meet anyone at "the shopping centre" at Cannon Hill, be very clear with your…read moreinstructions. I don't know which braniac came up with this (I'm sure there's a history to it), but there are actually TWO "plazas" on the corner here. Maybe even three. Things are very awkward in Cannon Hill. What I do feel I really need to tell you is that the one plaza closest to Creek Rd is officially "Cannon Hill Kmart Plaza" and it is the best of the three. It's well-lit, clean and cheerful, and as it's the closest set of shops near my current workplace, I've been frequenting it for more than five years now for necessity's sake (Australia Post for bills & postage, Mister Minit for keys & watch batteries, etc). While it's still very suburban plaza chic (compared to the monstrosity that is Westfield Carindale a mere suburb down the road), it's FINE. You know? It'll do. It's got a few chain stores that Carindale doesn't (e.g. Kmart, Loot, Autograph), a few Carindale DOES (Coles, Liquorland, EB Games, Payless Shoes, Gloria Jeans, Coffee Club, etc omg okay so there are a lot of double-ups, not my problem), and Deli Talk, but you can read more about Deli Talk on their own Yelp page (as well as some of the other shops in the Plaza). If I gave CHKP any more than three stars, they'd just be for my personal memories that are associated with it (like getting my passport), but if I strip them out, it's still absolutely A-OK here.

So this is the best Kmart I have ever been to. Ever. This. Is. Not. A. Drill. People…read more I headed there on my first solo driving trip in QLD in a car I've never driven before and was happy to make it there without getting lost or breaking the car. Win. First off. Probably the biggest Kmart I've ever been to. Homewares everywhere. I was in cheapo decorating heaven. But I was not to be distracted. I was there for certain things and that was all I was getting. Wait do I need four empty terrariums? Alice. No. Control yourself. I found everything I needed pretty quickly and they - shock horror - had everything I wanted (and so, so much more) I filled my trolley nicely (quilt, laundry stuff, bathroom bits, hangers, desk) and headed to pay WITHOUT buying any candles, paintings, extra bedding or hanging things at this stage - you cannot believe how freaking proud of myself I am. The check out kid was so cute. I got all flustered at the check out trying to get everything out of my trolley without decapitating someone with my desk and he was so patient. I am super excited to return and fully unleash myself on the joy that is Kmart. Bring it on.

Quick and easy to buy food…read more Connected above Brunswick Train station in the Valley. 280 seat food court, Terry White Chemist, fitness first, Foodworks ( grocery store) 10-12 fast food places, 7-11, nail bar and medical centre. Parking building is also connected to the small centre on Alfred street. Major brand names like Subway, Hungry Jacks, Muffin Break, Fitness First, KFC, Hungry Jacks, pollen Florist, BWS liquor, sushi, Indian, etc. It's fine for a quick shop or a bite to eat. If you spend a certain amount at Foodworks you can get you car parking validated.

Valley Metro is more commonly known for housing the Brunswick Street Train Station in the Valley. I…read morepass through here more often than I probably should but it is quite a nice station and the Valley Metro Shopping Centre surrounding it definitely makes it feel a little safer and cleaner than most train stops. Surrounding this train station is a bunch of shops and a little food court. When I was here just before Christmas there was also a lovely group of guys playing Christmas Carols on their brass instruments. While mainly just the train stop, the shops do offer things to look at while you wait. There is a foodworks, newsagent and florist if you need to pick up some last minute things. The food court has plenty of seating but only a few food outlets to choose from. There is a great juice place, and a funky Japanese Crepe shop you should try if you get the chance. Overall, Valley Metro is a small shopping centre, if you can really call it that. Still, it makes the Brunswick Street stop a whole lot easier to bear.

The TC Beirne Centre or TCB is the arcade that runs between the China mall and Brunswick Street…read moreMall. They renovated it a few years ago and I believe it was going to be fashion mecca of some sorts. However these days, there is mostly just empty shops. They have even turned one empty shop into an extension of the Fun Zone and have filled it with arcade games. Despite the empty store fronts, the arcade serves as a nice meeting spot, away from the hustle and bustle of both malls (and the ferals who tend to gravitate around the middle of the Valley mall). There are a number of tables and chairs where you can sit and eat your lunch or drink your coffee bought from one of the takeaway food stores nearby. The Fun Zone, which is down the China mall end has a number of arcade games and skill testers, as well as a pool table. There's also an Internet Hot Spot with Wifi ($3/hour) and a dozen or so computers. There is also a Quick Charge On The Go where you can pay $2 to charge your phone.... They have chargers for all types of phones! Only $2 and you get 10 minutes of charge.

The further away from the city you get, the better op shops you'll find. The Moorooka Lifeline is…read moreless ransacked and rummaged through than other op shops just a kilometre closer to the city. It's a very neat and tidy op shop, everything is well categorised, and you can tell the ladies who volunteer there care about keeping the space spic and span. They've got an overwhelming selection of clothing. You try to push back coat hangers to look at something properly, but can't. The racks are filled to holding capacity. It's not the best op shop for home wares, or bits and bobs, it is mainly a second hand clothing store. Although this op shop isn't any cheaper than others in the area (standard price for a shirt would be $7.00), it does have more options. It's worth taking a trip out here just to be able to peruse through an unusually large volume of wares.

Anyone who says that Brisbane lacks culture need to get their tooshes to James Street in the…read moreValley. This beautiful leafy precinct is home to countless boutiques, salons, galleries, interior design studios, cafes and restaurants. Despite being known as a more ritzy and expensive area, there are plenty of things to do on James Street on a budget such as getting a fantastic cup of coffee from Merlo, seeing an art-house film at Palace Centro cinema, or even just browsing the one off shops in the area. Even as a person who lives close by, I'm never bored on James Street. There are constantly new businesses opening in and around the precinct making it a fantastic place to meet friends or spend your day off. In the middle of 2011, James Street launched Thursday night Up Late, allowing for longer trading hours and a night time option for patrons. James Street is the perfect place to waste a beautiful, sunny Brisbane day. And if you have an interstate or international friend to impress with food, wine, shopping or culture, James Street should be a priority on the itinerary.

This is quite a really nice street. Boutique retailers, bars, and restaurants. When you do come…read morehere, you can window shop, and if you spend, prepare to spend $$$. During the day , this place has a certain humm about it. Have a really nice coffee in one of the many " nook " Cafes scattered up and down the street sitting on the foot path , people spotting, and car spotting as well. By night the place transforms , into a hustling, bustling, night spot. Quite during the week, but Friday and Saturday nights, this place goes off. From the fairy lights in the trees,gleaming Lamborghinis , Porsches, Ferraris, to the beautiful babes. The restaurants and bars, definitely worth the look. When here try , The Cru bar,6's & 7's, Gerad's bistro & bar. Bucci, The QA, Ribs and Burgers, The Yiros shop, and much, much more.