No matter how young or old you are, everyone has a Disney favourite.

From classics such as Cinderella, The Little Mermaid to more recent releases such as Up and Brave there are so many movies to love and cherish. Now is a great time to stock up on Disney movies and hold a movie marathon right in your home as there is a Disney Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer at leading retailers such as Coles & Target!

With the Easter long weekend  coming why not have some fun family entertainment!

What is your favourite Disney movie?

A vacuum cleaner is a must-have home appliance. But which one to buy? Bagless, barrel, upright, stick, or something else? Lasoo investigates…

Every day, dirt and dust  travels into your home. Suction is what your vac uses to suck it all up, and the air that the vacuum takes in (as it sucks up debris) has to be got rid of. That’s where your vacs filtering system comes in - it’s responsible for delivering clean air back into your house, rather than redistributing the dirt and dust once again!

So, in a nutshell, even though design looks, model colour, bag or no-bag, weight, noise, mobility and compact storage are all important criteria to base your vac-buying decision on, really, these two things - suction and filtration - should be what you’re most concerned about.

Suction Size of the motor is usually crucial for maximum suction, but also look for variable suction/power to reduce it for delicate jobs like vacuuming curtains. As well, check out the air flow capacity of the machine - the most powerful vacuums have up to 4.8 cubic metres (170 cubic feet) per minute air flow capacity. Suction power is more important for a  carpeted house as dirt acts like sandpaper on the fibres, accelerating wear. Dust mites also love to hide in the depths of deep carpet pile.

Filtration Some cheap vacs don’t have filters. If you really care about the quality of your indoor air, then buy a vac with a HEPA filter (international standard, means High Efficiency Particulate Air) which traps very fine particles (like pollen and dust mite feces). These are known to trigger allergies and asthma. Vac must have a fully-sealed air system for the HEPA filter to work at its max, and the HEPA filter changed annually.

Additionally, these 7 vac features are also important:

1. Dust collection Disposable dust collectors are easier to use than a reusable bag which has to be shaken to release the dirt. But they’re an on-going cost (and expensive). Bagless vacs have a bin that has to be emptied which is messy.

2. Noise level If you vacuum regularly, then its noise (or lack of) will make a difference to your life. Plug in and listen in-store before you buy! The amount of insulation in the unit impacts on the noise. Cheaper vac equals little insulation.

3. Weight Carrying up/down stairs, using vac for car cleaning means a light-weight model is important. Some vacs are very, very heavy - if you’re a small adult, aged, infirm or you want the kids to vacuum, then check its weight before you buy. Stick vacs are a great light-weight option.

4. Mobility Wheels must have a 360 degree swivel and you need a long power cord, preferably retractable. An 8 metre operating radius is excellent, anything less and you’ll be changing power points.

5. Accessories Crevice nozzle for sofas, upholstery brush for curtains, skirtings and sofas, a dusting brush for furniture. Check essential tools are supplied or purchased as extras. Pet grooming accessories are becoming popular and can make a great difference to your home’s hygiene.

6. Features Controls on the wand eliminate some bending, adjustable head height is necessary if you have carpets with different pile heights, or for moving from timber to ceramic tiled floors. Blower function is good for airbeds. Extendable wand is important for dusting ornate ceilings - check it extends far enough.

7. Compact storage On-board storage for accessories, wand storage that keeps it attached to the vac, plus retractable not wind-up cord. Uprights don’t have a retractable cord - look for easy wind-wind hooks on the body. Check the vac’s stored footprint to make sure it fits where you intend to store it.

Find vacuums cleaners on Lasoo.

Sony has launched its first-ever video digital baby monitor, the NTM-V1, designed to help parents ensure their little one is safe and sound throughout the day and night.

Featuring a full LCD screen the Sony’s NTM-V1 digital video baby monitor is also equipped with adjustable volume control and built-in temperature sensors that sound an alert if it is too hot or too cold in the nursery, while its four LED sensors indicate when your baby is stirring.

The baby monitor is easy to setup, as both the transmitter and receiver come pre-paired and ready to use straight out of the box. Simply position the camera transmitter, plug it in and turn on the receiver.

The intuitive on-screen menu allows for quick setup and fast activation of various features including temperature alarm settings and voice activation mode, which eliminates most background noise and only activates the speaker and LCD when the child makes a loud sound.

The camera transmitter can be mounted directly to the wall (installation kit included) or simply placed on a flat surface to achieve a perfect viewing angle.

The nursery monitor has a five hour battery life (in ‘voice activation off’ mode) and also comes with a built-in belt clip enabling parents to carry it around the house with ease.

The Sony Digital Video Baby Monitor (NTM-V1) is available now at an RRP  $299.95

Features:

- 2.3” (5.84cm) full colour display

- Transmitter features include 2x digital zoom

- Night vision

- Temperature sensor

- 4 LEDs that will detect baby’s stirring and relay it directly to the receiver, anywhere in the house.

Shop for Baby Monitors on Lasoo http://www.lasoo.com.au/search.html?term=Baby%20Monitor

Across the country and huge sigh of relief can be heard from parents whose kids are going back to school.

After hours of entertainment planning during the summer holidays it is time to get the kids ready for a new school year. We have compiled a list of great Back to School items to help you get ready.

1) Lunch Box

After a year of use, being tossed around, dropped and  hibernating in your child’s school bag for longer than we care to talk about, it is probably a good time to buy a new lunch box for your child.

Not only for hygienic reasons but also to cater for your child’s needs. Older children might need to start eating more and if they have begun to do school sport you might also need  larger drink bottles and cooling compartments.

2) Stationery

Colouring pencils and rulers are a staple for children of every year but you may need to purchase new stationery such as folders, calculators or geometry equipment for your child if they are transitioning into more senior years. It is important to talk to your child’s teachers to understand what are new requirements for the up coming semesters.

3) Back pack

As your child grows, so do their bag requirements. It is important to get a bags that suit your child’s growth and give adequate shoulder and back support. While I was shopping I overheard a girl exclaim to her mother that she didn’t want a particular bag because it was ‘ugly’ and ‘boring’ which was strange because it was just am average looking black backpack. Though it was practical, had an inbuilt cooler (for lunch boxes and drink bottles), had great back support and padding… it was ‘ugly’. Mum’s response was a clever and practical solution “Why don’t you decorate it with stickers and put a nice key-ring on it?”. Here daughter happily obliged.

4) Shoes

Given the average woman owns over 10 pairs of shoes, it makes sense to put in some time and money into ensuring your kids have good school shoes they will wear most of the year.

5) Books

These can wait till your kids start school but it is good to know what type of exercise books they will need. For example some subject require you to buy books with pre-printed margins and some subjects require grid lines or blank pages.

6) Sports gear

If your child is picking anew sport now is a great time to grab some post-Christmas specials on swimming gear, and outdoor play equipment.

7) Printer

Kids are becoming more technology savvy than ever, so to ensure their projects look amazing, and their creative writing gets submitted on time, it is worth investing in a good printer. There are some very affordable laser printer varieties that on a print-per-page basis are better value than the inkjets.

8 ) Label Printer

We know things can get lost easily once your child takes it to school. Label Printers are great for ensure you have your child’s name on EVERYTHING from books to lunch boxes and even hats and stationery

You can use the Lasoo Shopping List functionality to help make your Back to School  shopping easier:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1wNF3oKFOw

What are your Back to School must haves?

If you love preparing freshly baked treats and food for your family and friends you either own, or are looking for a food mixer. This little kitchen helper is a staple in most homes and there are hundreds of new models available – But how do you know which mixer is right for you?

Overall, the mixer that is right for you depends on what you are using it for and you budget but here’s a general overview to help you decide what is the right mixer for your home:

1) Functionality – If you are using the mixer to bake simple cakes and meringues you are probably not fussed about the bells and whistles.

Handheld mixers are very affordable and can be bought for under $100. However, these are for basic mixing and shouldnt’ be used for dough or heavy mixtures.

There are some very affordable benchtop kitchen mixers that comfortably beat and whisk. If you keep the lookout Target often sell the Breville Platinum mixers with a bonus Ice Cream maker. Most come with the basic whisk and beater attachments.

If you are looking for a multifunctional machine, look for a mixer with the capability of adding attachments. The Bosch Food mixers come with some pretty funky attachments included such as a blender, mincer, citrus juicer and a chopper.

KitchenAids look amazing, but they only have attachments for the front which include, mincers and pasta makers (i.e. no blender or chopper attachments!).

Kenwood’s Chef range have 3 motor attachment sections which let you connect mincers, pasta makers, blenders and more. Lots of these attachments need to be bought separately but they often have free attachment packages via redemption during promotion periods such as Christmas.

2) Power - Generally speaking, the higher the watts, the more powerful the machine and the better it will cope with larger portions of thick mixtures such as dough. Also, the higher the watts the more expensive the mixer so make sure you determine what you will be using the machine for and you will get a better idea of what watts you really need.

600w – good for whisking and basic beating of mixtures

1000w – a good power range if you are planning on using other attachments such as blenders and choppers and for kneading dough.

1200w – perfect for large batches of dough, if you are using a mincing attachment or for recipes that require long mixing times.

3) One handed use – When you are busy in the kitchen you are probably multitasking, and your hands are probably a little sticky. One feature that often doesn’t get talked about is the ability to release the mixer with one hand. One of the most well known brands, KitchenAid are great (and beautiful) machines, but you can’t release the mixing head without using both hands. You need to pull the release switch, and then use your other hand to lift the heavy mixer head. The Kenwood chefs and the Sunbeam MX series models can be used with one hand to lift the mixer head, allowing you to access the bowl easily. It’s probably worth heading to a store to see which model you are comfortable with.

4) Weight- Bench top food mixers are supposed to be heavy and when you purchase one you should be prepared for it to sit on your kitchen bench top pretty much permanently! The weight is very important as the heavier the machine, the less it is likely to shake. Also, models made from stainless steel are easy to clean and are more durable than the lighter plastic models.

5) Warranty – Most mixers (such as Kenwood, Breville, Sunbeam and KitchenAid) come with a 1 year warranty period and a longer warranty on the motor (Sunbeam and Kenwood have a 5 year warranty on the motor!) Also, buying your mixer from reputable retailers such as Myer, The Good Guys and David Jones help as most will help you with the grunt work of claiming a warranty should anything go wrong.

Do you own a mixer? Which one do you own and where did you buy it from?

If you love ‘Where’s Wally‘, you will love these books! They train your eyes to be able to find gadgets, gizmos, characters and creatures among amazingly detailed collections of illustrations and images. Each book in the range comes with detailed spotting games that will keep the whole family entertained for days!

The SpotWhat books uses computer-generated design to create densely detailed images with specially detailed objects that you need to find!

What is great about this books is that they are fun and educational; teaching kids visual-word recognition, improving memory skills and to helps them develop skills that help with recall. It’s even fun for adults!

Find Spot What books on Lasoo RRP $12.99

There’s nothing like the kids waking up on Christmas day, opening their presents and saying “WOW!”.

A staple piece for any girl’s toy room is - a doll house!

There are lots of amazing dollhouses available in time for Christmas 2012 which are sure to bring a smile to her face (and also make her wonder what on earth is that giant wrapped up thing that doesn’t fit under the Christmas Tree!).

There are dollhouses for any price range and lots are actually on sale too!

Here are a few of our favourites:

Kidkraft My Very Own Dollhouse $89 Includes 7 pieces of furniture

Wooden Dollhouse $79 includes 13 furniture pieces

Kid Kraft Designer Dollhouse $329

Imaginarium Modern Luxury Dollhouse $119.99 Includes 11 pieces of furniture

What are you planning to give your kids this Christmas?

As Christmas approaches we at Lasoo are noticing there are a few standout toys that our community is searching for.

To help you with your Christmas Shopping we are going to highlight the hot trending toys based on interactions on Lasoo!

Ready to see what’s hot?

12th December

Skylanders

Integrating with the Wii, Xbox and PS3 gaming consoles, Skylanders Giants are HUGE this Christmas.  Skylanders merges a line of physical toy figures with a video game world which will provide hours of adventure! Great for rainy days and inside play over the Christmas Holidays.

Geleez

Pronounced ‘Jellies’ these activity kits are perfect for girls who enjoy arts and crafts. There are many different Geleez sets to keep them entertained, from decorating your own glitter stickers, to activity packs where you can create your own door hangers.

26th November

Fur Real Baby Butterscotch

“Can I pleeeaaassseee have a Pony?”
One of the hottest toys from the Toy Sales- Baby Butterscotch Pony is back in stores! This interactive Pony is a little girl’s dream and a fraction of the costs of the real thing! Find the latest deals on Baby Butterscotch on Lasoo.

Xbox Consoles

The prices on Xbox consoles are at the lowest price they have ever been, so this Christmas is a great time to get the kids a gaming console! There are some amazing bundle deals with bonus games and accessories. Browse the latest deals on Xbox on Lasoo.

Dollhouses

There are more dollhouses available than ever before and if you haven’t checked out the latest dollhouses on Lasoo, you’re in for a surprise! There are so many styles available and hundreds of accessories to match!

Find some of  the best dollhouses in Australia on Lasoo now!

11th November

Furby

Relaunched this year this interactive toy from the 90’s has come back and is getting an awful lot of attention from our users. Furby is an interactive toy that responds to speech, motion and even has an iPhone App that you can use to feed it!

Furby is great for kids as it will keep them entertained for hours, singing, chattering, and laughing. But be warned- there is no ‘off’ switch!

RRP $99

Buy Furby on Lasoo

Trampoline

It’s always great to see your kids having fun and being active!

Trampolines are a lot safer these days with built-in enclosures, spring-less systems and more sturdy designs. Plus it is always great to get the kids out of the house for a few hours.

Looks as though lots of Aussie Kids will be bouncing around this summer!

Find Trampolines on Lasoo starting from $199

Cabbage Patch Kids

There is something about sharing a toys you loved as a child, with your own children. It seems as though 2012 is the year of the ‘re-launch’ with Cabbage Patch Kids making a comeback! There are the new varieties of the Cabbage Patch Kids, but you can also purchase the ‘Vintage’ range which are based on the originals from 1983.

Each come with a personalised birth certificate and name. There are so many different Cababge Patch Kids, you are sure to find one that your child will love.

Cabbage Patch Kids range from $69.99 on Lasoo

Everyone loves music and games- so why not stock up on some iTunes gift cards that can be used to buy stuff on the Apple iTunes and App Store?

Right now there are some amazing specials on iTunes gift cards with Betta Home Living and Myer offering 20% off!

They make great last minute gifts and very useful Christmas present!

Find deals on  iTunes on Lasoo now!

There are two majors players in grocery market in Australia. But these same competitors also own the majority of petrol stations too.
Woolworths recently announced that they are looking toward greater ‘transparency’ with consumer and will soon release an App to help Australian’s compare fuel prices. Customers with an Everyday Rewards Card will be able to enter their details into the app and see the prices of fuel in their local area.
The ACCC has been keeping a watchful eye on both Coles and Woolworths to ensure there is healthy competition in Australia and to monitor their market dominance.
Some of us who travel long distances scope across multiple suburbs to see which petrol station sells cheaper fuel. But for busy mums and dads, sometimes this isn’t an option and the nearest petrol station will have to do.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how this app works and if it will help us make better decision when filling up!
Would you use an app to monitor fuel prices in your area? Do you travel to fill up or do you go to your nearest petrol station?

Full article can be read here