Shivering away in three layers here in Sydney at the moment I have to say summer seems but a distant dream.

However flicking through Myer’s preview of summer fashion this morning gave me a small degree of hope that one day I will actually be warm again. You can view your local version of Myer’s Inspiring Summer Choices lookbook here.

It appears that once again bright, solid colours and prints will be big this summer - I’m loving the bright green Jag handbag pictured here (though I can live without the wooden heels on the shoes).

If you prefer monochrome, there’s also a nice selection of black-and-white accessories and dresses, including a very smart Sportscraft white shirtdress which looks great paired with a wide tan belt.

Better yet, Myer is offering some nice in-store discounts at the moment: save 20% when you spend $75 on full-priced clothes and lingerie from a range of labels (including Elle MacPherson, DeCjuba and Leona), save 25% when you purchase any two full-priced items from Maddox and more.

By Caroline Warnes

You’re probably already vaguely familiar with the Samsung U900 mobile phone.

Samsung has dubbed the U900 its official mobile phone for the upcoming Beijing Olympics and as such it’s appeared in advertisements everywhere, from buses to the television.

Considering the U900 has been so highly visible it’s lucky it’s such a photogenic phone. It’s stylish without being over-the-top flashy, finished in stainless steel and matte black plastic. The slider design is also very of the moment.

And then there is the one-inch adaptive touch panel, which sits within the regular keys. The panel displays touch-sensitive controls which change to suit whicher menu or application you’re in. There’s also a regular 2.2-inch colour display.

Then you have the U900’s feature set, which is outstanding, especially the 5-megpixel camera with LED flash and super-fast 7.2Mbps HSDPA data speeds. Also included is the regular host of high-end mobile phone specifications, including full messaging and connectivity.

If you’re buying the Samsung U900 outright, it will set you back a considerable $849. However mobile phone providers will likely be offering this phone for free on contract plans in the very near future.

Click here to find offers on Samsung mobile phones from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Designer label junkies will no doubt already be aware of the LG Prada mobile phone.

Following on in the footsteps of Motorola, who collaborated with D&G to release a stylish (but very expensive) phone in 2006, the LG Prada mobile phone (also known as the KE850) arrived on the scene late in 2007.

And I have to say that while designer-branded mobile phones hold a small cringe factor for me (I put them right up there with designer logo bags in the “look at me I’m wearing a designer label” stakes), the KE850 is actually a nice phone (and not too over the top in thrusting its designer status in your face).

It’s operated via a touchscreen and comes with a brown leather pouch as well as a Prada-branded wiping cloth. Although there is no 3G, there’s a number of multimedia functions included that should keep you busy.

Better yet, Target has just announced that it will sell the LG Prada phone for $399 (its RRP is $749) with prepaid plans through GRL Mobile - you can pre-order your handset in stores now.

By Caroline Warnes

With school holidays coming up, there’s no better place for a family holiday than the sunny Gold Coast!

While you’re there, Dreamworld and WhiteWater World are a must-visit. Not only will you experience all the rides and fun but you can also visit the tiger cubs at Tiger Island.

Other attractions include Nickelodeon Central, which is packed with rides and fun for kids including the new SpongeBob SquarePants ride, an IMAX Theatre and FlowRider, which combines surfing, skateboarding and bodysurfing into one fun-packed ride.

Then head next door to WhiteWater World for all the water rides, including the newest attraction, Little Rippers.

You can get the best of both worlds at Dreamworld and WhiteWater World with a two-day World Pass, which offers unlimited entry over two days between both parks. One great location, one ticket and no driving between parks.

Dreamworld is offering Lasoo members 10% off Dreamworld and WhiteWater World tickets until August 31. Please note that tickets cannot be refunded.

Buy Dreamworld & WhiteWater World Tickets

I’m sure many of us have gone through a phase of thinking we were really cool for owning a band t-shirt.

Back in the day at my high school there seemed to be some sort of unspoken competition to see who could come to school wearing the most obscure musical artist t-shirt possible on plain clothes days.

If the band had played one show at the local youth centre then immediately disbanded the next day then you were way ahead of the pack for “being into them before they went mainstream”.

In retrospect the whole thing was rather sad and these days I wouldn’t wear a band t-shirt of any description unless someone paid me to do it, however I do find the Modular People range of t-shirts more interesting than your average “stick a band logo on the front of a Bonds t-shirt and charge a hundred bucks for it” type of scam.

These designs have actually been produced in collaboration with the artists themselves including New Young Pony Club, Cut Copy and Soulwax.

I was disappointed to see that there is no Warrant collaborative t-shirt currently listed on the site, however I feel that this is merely an oversight on Modular People’s part. Rest assured that I am compiling a petition to have them added as we speak.

By Caroline Warnes

Although it’s nothing fancy, the Fujifilmi FinePix J10 is a solid entry-level compact digital camera.

If you’re looking for a basic point-and-shoot digital camera that will give you decent photos for under $200 then the J10 is worth a look.

While the features are basic, the Fujifilm J10 does sport an impressive 8.2-megapixel sensor, which is fine for most standard images. However if you’re going to be producing larger than average prints you may notice some lack of sharpness.

Fujifilm has included 15 scene modes, which is helpful for beginners, as well as ISO sensitivity, white balance and electronic image stabilisation. And that pretty much rounds out the entire feature set.

The FinePix J10 isn’t only no-frills in terms of performance - its looks are no-frills, too. It comes in one colour (silver) and features a very basic boxy design. That being said, it has a nice sturdy feel to it.

Click here to find offers on Fujifilm FinePix digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

When it comes to putting things on your skin, in my opinion you should keep things as natural as possible.

Aside from my beloved NeoStrata, which I’m guessing is about as natural as Nicky Kidman’s preternaturally preserved face, I really do try to keep it simple.

I’ve recently discovered the Burt’s Bees range of beauty products and am intrigued. The company started life making homemade beeswax lip balms and has since expanded into producing a full range of honey-based products for the skin and hair, as well as using other organic and natural products.

Why honey? Well not only has honey long been considered one of the greatest natural moisturisers, but it’s also recently been discovered that it contains antiseptic and antibacterial properties (great if you suffer from breakouts).

I’m keen to try the Honey Lip Balm, which sounds good enough to eat - it also contains shea butter, almond and cocoa butter.

I also like the range of products for your hair (shampoos, conditioners and treatments) - how good does a raspberry and brazil nut conditioner sound?

The range can be bought online at Adore Beauty and from selected health food shops.

By Caroline Warnes

The winners of the Mortel’s ugg boots are:

T. Dienhoff, 5045; M. Pavletich, 3216; J. Adams, 2899; J. Vaughan, 2763; M. Moufarrej, 2157..

There’s a lot of competition in the Bluetooth headset market these days.

After all, with everything going wireless, who wants to be literally tied up with numerous cables going from your mobile phone to your ear and vice versa?

The BlueAnt X5 Bluetooth stereo headset will do a passable job for most of us, however audiophiles will not be quite satisfied with the sound quality.

However if you’re listening to an average music file and you’re not an expert you will likely be satisfied with the sound.

Working in their favour, the X5s are very comfortable to wear, which is a plus if you’re going to be wearing them for long periods of time. While they’re on the large side, they come with comfortable headphone coverings.

Another bonus is the ease with which the BlueAnt X5s can be paired with devices, which is a strength of most BlueAnt products. They have no problems picking up most devices within range.

One standout feature is the inclusion of a standard audio connector so you can also use these headphones with non-Bluetooth devices, such as older model iPods.

Click here to find offers on BlueAnt products from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

When it comes to luxury accessories, Oroton is one of the more affordable labels and better yet it’s an Australian icon.

I think many girls growing up in the 70s and 80s probably have memories of their mum’s mesh Oroton purses - my mum had one in silver and gold (which I have thankfully inherited) and I thought they were the classiest thing ever when I was eight.

Oroton’s signature mesh (originally released in the disco-fabulous 1970s, of course) became slightly passe during the 90s but in the last few years has experienced a resurgence and is now considered a classic vintage look.

The company started in Sydney in 1938 and is celebrating its 70th birthday with the release of a gorgeous, gorgeous anniversary range.

The zip top clutch, pictured here in gold mesh (it also comes in black and silver), is a real standout but at $195 is unfortunately not going to happen for me at the moment.

For something more affordable, keyrings are $65 (I know, I know, but they have adorable mini mesh purses attached to them) and the 70th silk scarf is $75 (which is actually very reasonable for an Oroton silk scarf).

By Caroline Warnes