Lasoo Shopping and Reviews Blog

I love the escapism that is shopping. I love aimlessly walking through the aisles and getting lost amongst all the new, shiny, pretty and glittery things. Understandably, many parents don’t have the luxury of casual shopping as they often have Miss 5 running off into the homewares section, while Mr 7 pushes over a display and Miss 2 hangs off your arm which is already holding 10kg of shopping.

Often it is actually necessary for parents to plan shopping trips to make the process easier, using websites such as Lasoo to find what to buy and where to buy before heading to the stores.

But advances in technology mean many parents are turning to new ways to shopping, such as online, direct purchasing and now subscription shopping.

A recent article in The Next Web- explores the future of shopping, specifically subscription shopping for kids clothes.

Created by the smart kids who created MySpace, Wittlebee is a company they sends you clothes on a monthly basis, delivering the basics to your door and essentially “putting your kids clothes on autopilot’. Jessica Alba is also experimenting with this selling method with her baby product range Honest which automatically sends subscribers the baby and household products needed for the life-stage of your child or your bundle preference.

Would you want to shop via subscription?

When I was younger fashion meant going to Target and getting to pick out a new pair of denim overalls. There wasn’t much choice in the kids clothes department.

How things have changed!

These days kids fashion has come a long way with the latest fashion trends from the runways of London, Milan and New York, infiltrating kidswear.

The new chic captured in the magazines and online fashion sites are now focusing on not just the mums and dads of the celebrity world but also their children!

Recently Harper, the daughter of Victoria and David Beckham was spotted at her mum’s latest runway show sporting a grey knitted ensemble. Our guesses are the kids clothing stores will be full of similar outfits this coming Autumn.

We definitely see the appeal with kids clothes, they are cute, and many of us think about our kids more than we think about ourselves. In fact I remember when i used to work in retailer a mother frantically choosing clothes for her children, but forgetting to look for any for herself.  In fact she told me that she prefers buying clothes for her kids as she know they will always look cute in them!

Do you dress your kids in the latest fashion?

Baby Harper Beckham at New York fashion Week 2012

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar last year, the late and great Elizabeth Taylor said of her infamously large collection of jewels (many of which were gifted to her by admirers, lovers and husbands) that when it comes to jewellery that “size does matter, but so does the size of the emotion behind it”.  Some helpful advice for those looking to buy that special someone in their life jewellery as a gift, particularly with Valentine’s Day on the horizon. Need a little help? Check out our jewellery gift-buying guide if you’re hoping to choose a piece that will become cherished rather than chucked.

· Take your cues from jewellery your partner already owns and wears. Do they prefer gold or silver? Do they have a favourite stone or gem? Do they love a particular brand jeweller or store? Purchasing an item that will compliment their existing jewellery is a safe approach.

· Listen out for clues. Pay attention if your loved one points out earrings they like in a catalogue, if they’ve mentioned they’re looking for a new watch or tried on a bracelet in a store last time you went shopping together. You may not realise it, but they may be dropping hints to help you along your way.

· Keep it simple. Don’t buy something just because it’s expensive or extravagant. A gold diamond ring might not appeal to someone that prefers delicate silver pieces. The most appreciated gifts are thoughtful and suited to your partner’s taste and style.

· Do your research.  Ask your partner’s family and friends for help. Do they want a ring, a necklace, bracelet or earrings? They may know something you don’t know about, like a piece of jewellery your loved one has lusted after for a long time but never purchased for themselves.

Bath time is usually wonderful and intimate time for parents to connect with their child.

Scented baby bath products, and bath toys usually help make this time for interactive and fun. But sometimes as parents we are caught in awkward situations that take us a bit by surprise.

Recently I was washing my almost-2-year-old midget in the bath and I asked him to stand up so I could wash his … *pause* …  *pause*. The pause was long. Truth was I didn’t know what to call ‘it’. For reasons unknown to all, including me, since the day we brought Midget Boy home, I have been referring to it as The Captain. I wish I knew where it came from, but I do not. It was around the time it peed on me, after no one bothered to tell me you need to point ‘it’ down in the nappy, not leave it up. All those volumes of tomes I digested during pregnancy and not one thought to point it out. This is vital information, people.

After the bath I realised that since the little midget had recently become a little parrot, I had better find a more suitable name as I was having visions of him going to school and referring to ‘The Captain’ in the toilets. In High School. I asked his father what he thought of naming it ‘Frank’ but it was a definite no-goer. I thought ‘why not just call it a penis, after all that’s what it is?’, but it felt a bit formal so I took to trusty ol’ Facebook to ask my friends what they called their own son’s or what they called their own growing up. 100 comments later and some of the funniest things I have ever heard bubbled to the surface: Willy, Dicky Bird, Pee-pee, Ticket, Tossil, Todger and my favourite from an Irish friend: Flute.

Willy was an outright favourite, with a graduation to Penis when they were a bit older also popular (although one friend went from Willy to Bill after 5 years of age which actually brought tears to my eyes). This is the direction I’m heading in, but the jury is out and I’m afraid The Captain is still sailing.

Who steers the ship in your household?

It may only be February but, for many, the year is in full swing. Back at work and in a routine, the lazy days of your New Year summer holiday can seem a distant memory. So why not make a little time to de-stress and enjoy some downtime?

· Get out and enjoy the last few weeks of summer. Grab a book and a blanket, find a leafy corner at your local park and enjoy some quiet time.

· Unwind at home. Get the house to yourself, light some candles, run a bubble bath, apply a facemask and slather your body with some sweet-smelling moisturisers and oils.

· Sleep in and enjoy a late brunch. There’s something special about waking up and having someone else cook you, your partner or family a delicious late brunch away from home.

· Take a walk or go for a ride. Bypass the gym and get back to nature. Head to the coast for a walk along the beach or hop on your bike and check out one of Sydney’s many cycleways.

· Indulge yourself. Make an appointment at your local day spa or book yourself in for a treat like a massage, manicure or pedicure.

· Sign on for something new. Whether it’s a yoga or pilates class or a book club. Dedicate a set amount of time for yourself and something you’d like to do at least once a week.

Letting the kids loose outside to blow off steam and get some vitamin D is win-win for everyone. This outdoor play centre includes most of the favourites you’d find at the park plus a basic cubbyhouse upstairs.

When you consider that a wooden cubby house on its own from a specialty manufacturer will set you back around $1000 – and that’s just for a basic pine wood model – this well-made play set is great value for money.

The clubhouse features a coloured roof canopy to protect children from the beating sun or rain, and inside there’s a vinyl-reinforced chalk wall they can doodle on, or scrawl the clubhouse rules – and we all know there most likely will be some. Underneath, a sandpit too is shaded from the elements.

The glide ride is suitable for two children and provides hours of amusement for little ones in the safety of their own yard while mum or dad happily goes about their business.

Like just about everything these days, it is self-assembly and will take the better part of a day to put together. The structure held down by wooden stakes but if you live somewhere prone to high winds, you should probably invest in metal stakes for extra stability.

Who needs the park when it’s all right there in your own backyard?

Congratulations to the WINNER of our Lasoo your way Back 2 School competition!

L.Benson VIC 3214 has won a $500 Lasoo EFTPOS card!

Thank you to everyone who entered and look out for our next competition coming very very soon!

Don’t forget to LIKE us on Facebook to ensure you are one of the first to hear about the latest at Lasoo!

It was like any usual Friday night and I carefully placed my lovingly prepared roast into the oven…

…and then it happened.

*BOOM*

My oven died….

To give it some credit it was probably around 15 years old and had probably been there since our apartment was constructed.

With this unforseen event, came another- I found myself immersed in an intense Oven-ducation.

I started trawling through the internet looking for more information about what to look for when purchasing an oven, and then of course- going to Lasoo.com.au to browse through all the ovens available from retailers such as Appliances Online, 2nds World, Saavy Appliances, The Good Guys, and more in one easy search.

After a few hours of researching I have virtually awarded myself an honours degree in Oven-ducation. To pass on this newly acquired knowledge- Here are my quick lessons on Oven-ducation:

Grills- The oven that recently passed away was from a different baking era, when it was fashionable to have an oven and a separate grill. Such ovens measured around 725 cm in height. However, most models for sale now have grills contained within the oven itself and therefore measure 600cm. If you find it hard to let go,  Chef and Westinghouse still make that design but they don’t have lots of the modern features available, and sooner or later you will have to adapt to the new oven dimensions.

Quadruple glazed glass door- When you look at an oven- you often open it and ignore the door. However peer through the top and you will notice layers of glass. The more layers the less heat is felt through the front of the oven! Lots of manufacturers refer to this feature as ‘cool  touch’.

Pyrolytic- 3 words…. Self…..Cleaning….Oven….   I know; you just fell off your chair. This amazing feature basically locks your oven door and the oven reaches 500 degrees Celsius, burning all the grease, grime and sticky residue, turning it into ash. You then get a damp cloth and wipe the bottom of your oven. Amazing…  Previously only attainable for the oven elite, now many affordable oven brands have this pyrolytic feature.

Telescopic Racks- These nifty attachments sit under your normal racks and help them to glide with ease. They allow you to pull out the rack much further than normal, giving you full visibility of your dish and help prevent those terrible messes which occur as a consequence of pulling out the rack too far.

Overall, I am sad to have lost my old oven, but with all these technological advances in Ovens, it has been easy to move on. Can’t wait for my new oven to arrive!

Valentine’s Day is drawing closer and, as it does, lovers the world over nervously anticipate what (if any) gifts they may receive and how they’ll come to mark this romantic day. If you’re tired of giving your lover the conventional dinner and flowers, why not surprise them with something a little different?

· Deliver the unexpected. Plan a little adventure to share like hot air ballooning, a helicopter tour or horseriding.

· Get creative in the kitchen. You don’t have to compete with Jamie Oliver in the cooking stakes but making something from scratch is sure to be appreciated – whether it’s your love’s favourite meal, homemade gelati or some sweet baked treats.

· Take a trip down memory lane. Make a CD of songs that are special to you both and play it as you take a road trip out to a place that holds special memories.

· Stay in. Leave the restaurants and bars to the crowds. Light some candles, grab a bottle of wine and curl up on the couch and watch some DVDs together.

· Too busy to celebrate on the actual day? Why not bank it and treat yourselves to a belated weekend getaway when you’re stress free with the added benefit of having something to look forward too.

· Love is in the details. Surprise them with something they’ve wanted to treat themselves too like that new release book by their most loved author or a new fragrance.

Now that the kids have finally gone back to school, it’s time for some much-needed YOU time.

Here are some great ways to get pampered at home and, best of all, you can do it on any budget. Make an iPod playlist of your favourite songs, grab some magazines and some beauty treatments and off you go!

Face mask: Rehydrating and purifying your skin regularly with a nutrient-rich face mask not only makes you feel great, it keeps the ageing process at bay. Try this Intense Recovery Mask by Jurlique.

Body scrub: exfoliating from head to toe removes dead skin cells and leaves your skin soft and glowing. Salt scrubs such as the Bliss - Body Care by Bliss Hot Salt Scrub, are the current hot trend.

Aromatherapy: Candles, oils and diffusers will create that salon atmosphere so crucial to completely unwinding and melting into your stress-free zone.

Manicure and pedicure: The state of your hands and feet is a dead giveaway to your lifestyle. Sprucing them up at home is easy and the range of products so extensive no one will ever guess it’s a home job.

Hair treatment: Store-bought hair revivers are often salon quality and can repair years of neglect and damage in the privacy of your own home.