Lasoo Shopping and Reviews Blog

And the winner is:

K. Turner.

Fussy flat gladiator-style sandals of any description aren’t really my “thing”, but I could almost make an exception for these little gems.

The Nine West Dalejr sandals landed in my inbox this morning (well, not literally, but you know what I mean), reminding me that the warmer weather is oh-so-close now and it’s soon going to be time to get my toes out on display again.

If flat sandals ARE your thing, then you could do a lot worse than these ones (which are going for $169). And please, for the love of God, don’t forget to do some work on your feet before you get them out this summer. No one is interested in seeing your cracked, dry winter feet all decked out in fancy shoes.

By Caroline Warnes

The new TomTom XL 250 is the manufacturer’s latest entry-level windscreen GPS unit and is most notable for its simplified interface.

Externally, it looks similar to previous XL models, thanks to the basic styling and 4.3-inch resistive touchscreen. But once you start using the device, the difference becomes obvious, thanks to the new, simpler interface.

When you fire it up, two large icons appear on the screen: Plan Route and Browse Map. You can then use the device’s QWERTY keyboard to input information. There are also smaller buttons for functions such as adjusting the volume, accessing options and so on. Unfortunately, options to customise the unit aren’t as comprehensive as those for previous XL models.

Because the XL 250 is an entry-level model, don’t expect the most comprehensive features list around, but it does have text-to-speech (with your choice of a male or female voice), plus speed and red-light camera alerts (but not school zones). It comes loaded with the latest version of Whereis maps, and users can fix any map errors then share them with the community online using the MapShare service.

What you’ll find missing is those features that are nice to have, but not essential - MP3 playback, an FM transmitter and Bluetooth, to name a few.

The TomTom XL 250 is available for $249.

Buy a cheap TomTom GPS on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

I love Wednesdays just about as much as I love people who call Wednesdays “hump day”, so this morning I’m cheering myself up with the under $20 jewellery sale at Ella Bleau.

There’s a decent range of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces reduced across the site, with no sale item priced at more than $20.

Take for example this pearl and diamond pendant, which is going for just $10. They may only be simulated diamonds, but that’s a real freshwater pearl so it’s great value for money.

(Don’t forget to factor in shipping.)

By Caroline Warnes

We are giving away five double in-season movie passes to the new movie “The Killer Inside Me” in this week’s free Lasoo competition.

From director Michael Winterbottom and based on the classic novel by legendary pulp writer Jim Thompson, “The Killer Inside Me” tells the story of handsome, unassuming small town sheriff’s deputy Lou Ford (Casey Affleck). A quiet charmer of his idyllic West Texas town, Ford has a simple life and a pretty girl (Kate Hudson) to come home to. But when the job brings him face to face with a gorgeous prostitute (Jessica Alba) on the edge of town, Ford’s fragile world cracks – unbridling his own dark urges.

To enter this week’s competition, tell us in 25 words or less using the form below why you want to see this movie. The competition closes next Thursday.

Competition terms and conditions

The Myer fashion catalogues are always a treat for all of us - the girls get to drool over the latest Australian designer fashion while the blokes get to drool over Jennifer Hawkins and other assorted glamours who grace the pages.

And the current summer catalogue is no exception - I want at least half of the outfits featured inside (especially the pantsuit featured on the cover, but I know if I wore it that would inevitably lead to comparisons with Hawko, and let me just say that I really don’t need that).

There is also some really gorgeous lingerie featured inside. I love this Pleasure State Aether set pictured here, which is available for $59.95 for the bra and $39.95 for the bottoms.

By Caroline Warnes

The new Nokia 7230 is an affordable basic handset that packs in more features than your average entry-level phone.

It’s a simple and stylish slider phone that manages to look more expensive than its $149 price tag would suggest, thanks to the use of a faux stainless steel finish. The 2.4-inch QVGA colour screen is also an attractive addition. The phone slides out to reveal the T9 numeric keypad, which is thankfully well spaced out and easy-to-use - perfect for anyone with larger fingers.

As mentioned above, the Nokia 7230’s feature set is pretty impressive for a sub-$150 mobile phone. On the media side of things, the list includes a 3-megapixel camera plus built-in music player with support for MP3, AAC and WMA files. Nokia has also thrown in a 3.5mm headphone socket and external speaker grille, depending on how you want to play your music, plus a microSD slot for storage (a 2GB memory card is even included in the box to get you going). Rounding out the package is Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP to share your media or connect wireless headphones.

Buy a cheap Nokia phone on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

I’m currently on the lookout for a pair of shoes to wear for a stint as a bridesmaid in October, and so far am having little to no luck in that department.

Most heels designed for brides and bridesmaids are way too bedazzled for my liking, and don’t even get me started on white shoes (I find them incredibly tacky). I don’t really want to spend my money on a pair of shoes I’ll wear once then never again.

So far, the frontrunners are these Tony Bianco Rajani heels, which are thankfully light on the rhinestones and other frou frou, plus the champagne satin colour is so much more palatable than pure white.

For $129.95, they’re not a bad option - and if you’re a fan of the style but not the colour, they’re also available in black.

By Caroline Warnes

We are giving you the chance to win one of three 2GB Apple iPod Shuffles valued at $79 each simply by sharing your shopping experiences in the latest Lasoo survey.

Complete the survey and tell us in 25 words or less where your favourite place to shop is and why. The best three responses will win.

The competition closes on September 30, 2010.

Competition terms and conditions

You know I like a cheap and cheerful buy to celebrate Friday, and Diva is an invaluable source when it comes to cheap and cheerful.

So if you’re near a Diva store today, I suggest heading in to pick up a pair of these peacock feather earrings, which will only set you back $13 (if you’re prepared to wait, you can also order them online).

These babies are obviously a bit of a statement piece so I think they’d work best with the rest of your outfit toned right down - such as basic black.

By Caroline Warnes