I used to think that Crabtree & Evelyn were too “old lady” for me. Then, I grew up and suddenly, they made some of the best sets and hampers one can get for Christmas presents! I always wait for Christmas time when Crabtree & Evelyn would release their sets and coffrets at value prices. Believe when I say that the prices are great for the items you get.

Above all, the packaging is gorgeous, and I think that this year’s is especially good. The packaging looks more sleek and tailored compared to last year’s and less flowery too. Not every girl likes flowery chintzy prints.

The other thing I like about Crabtree & Evelyn are their food hampers. Their biscuits are delicious! I especially like the Stem Ginger one – a little on the sweet side, but the crystalized ginger bits are lovely to bite into and remind you of warm kitchens, cold winter days and standing by the farmhouse sinks looking out into the cold snow blanketing the ground. Yep, that was the first time I tasted stem ginger biscuits so stem ginger biscuits have a special place in my heart

The other thing to look out for is Crabtree’s Christmas scents for the home. Contained in home fragrances, candles and various other items for the home, it imparts a delicious spicy smell around the house which epitomizes Christmas but not in the tropics because I find that the smell dissipates very quickly.

The Crabtree & Evelyn Christmas sets go on sale starting from November 29 2008 so check out a store near you for the value sets whether for yourself or as a gift!

I just bought the Asus EEEPc a few days ago.  It was bought on a whim which is not always a good thing.

Fortunately, I am quite used to buying computers from Low Yat Plaza so I knew what I had to do. Here are my tips for buying a PC at Low Yat Plaza:-

• Research online for specs so you know what it should contain
• Read a few online reviews of the product you are thinking of buying
• Take a walk around a few vendors to check prices of the unit you have in mind
• Compare prices
• Stop for a break and think about which vendor has the best price or best value package
• Always ask if the software provided is genuine. I cannot stress how important it is to get genuine software especially when it comes to updates and problems in future. One vendor tried to tell me that the unit came with windows etc for “free” but when I asked further was told that it was illegal software
• See if the freebies offered are worth it or if not, try to ask for a further discount if you don’t take the freebies

If you buy in bulk e.g. 2 you usually get a lower price. However, the EeePC was going for a standard (nearly) rate of RM1299 throughout the whole of Low Yat plaza for a 4G HDD unit with 512MB of RAM. An upgrade of RAM to 1G was RM60. So, you do the math.

Either way, its a cheap little portable PC and I’ll be reviewing it soon!

Crabtree & Evelyn does some of the best gift sets around. I have not met anyone who isn’t smiling wide upon receiving a gift from Crabtree & Evelyn.

For Mother’s Day, Crabtree & Evelyn has come out with their hatbox sets – round boxes filled with Crabtree & Evelyn signature bath and body goodies in Lavender, Rosewater, Summer Hill and Nantucket Briar!

Get them now for only RM165 a set. Each set includes:-

# Soap Leaves for Travel
# Hand Therapy Shea Butter Hand Cream
# Body Lotion
# Bath & Shower Gel
# Body Powder
# Triple Milled Soap
# Oval Hat Box

Ok, so we don’t wear hats here in Malaysia, but the pretty boxes will make Mom happy to keep all her little momentos.

On top of that, if you spend RM250 and above, you will receive a complimentary teatime set comprising cookies, tea and honey. I really like the cookies from Crabtree & Evelyn. They are very tasty and make a nice teatime snack.

So, if you still don’t know what to get Mom for Mother’s Day, head on down to the nearest Crabtree & Evelyn store and see what you can pick up there.

p/s I personally recommend the Hand Therapy Cream if you really don’t know what to get. It softens hands immediately and keeps them soft and smooth. Awesome stuff!

However, due to competition M&S has now dropped their prices in Malaysia so their things are now quite affordable. I used to buy lingerie from M&S – their bras are nice (not La Senza sexy nice but still nice) and of good quality.

But yesterday, what I picked up were 2 pairs of shoes!

Selected shoes from Marks & Spencer are 50% off – huge savings. My sis bought 2 pairs too for under RM100! That was because each pair she bought only cost RM49.50 after discount.

The best deal I got was on the pair of suede ankle boots. They cost me under RM70! Who’d believe it? And yes, they are both very comfortable indeed.

Ah I love sales don’t you?

And in conjunction with Easter, StrawberryNET.com is running an Easter Promotion for skincare and beauty products – which means SALES!! Here are some items I found worth the money:-

Lancome Star Bronzer Bamboo Powder – Compact Bronzing Powder & Blush ( Limited Edition ) – US$24.50

Stila Stila and Vanity Fair Set: 1x EyeShadow Palette 1x LipColor 1x Face Luminizer- US$19.50

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Honey Drops Body Cream
– US$14.00

For more Easter Specials go to StrawberryNET.com‘s Gift and Promotions. Remember: There is Free Shipping worldwide and you still get an extra 5% discount if you purchase 3 or more items.

If you are looking for cheap eyeshadows with great quality, look no further than Kanebo Media eyeshadows. Guardian pharmacy is having a promotion until the end of January 2008 and they are selling 2 Media eyeshadows for RM29.88 only.

That comes up to less than RM15 per eyeshadow duo. Since you are getting 2 colours in a set, that means you have 4 colours for less than RM30! If I did not already have so many eyeshadows I’d run out now and grab every colour I can get my hands on. Or maybe I just might do it anyway! Hop over to My Women Stuff to read my review of Kanebo Media eyeshadows.

If you suffer from dry skin on your hands, be sure to grab this Crabtree & Evelyn special offer! To celebrate 10 years of their famed Gardener’s Hand Therapy collection, you can get a whole set of Gardener’s Hand Therapy 250ml (RM145), 50ml handy tube (RM43) and Gardener’s Hand Soap 300ml (RM60) for only RM148!

Of all Crabtree & Evelyn products, this hand therapy cream is one product I keep coming back to to sooth and nourish rough skin on hands. Believe me when I say this is a deal worth grabbing!

This Crabtree & Evelyn special offer is available at all Crabtree & Evelyn stores (Malaysia) while stocks last or until 17 February 2008.

What better way to start the New Year than with a great deal to be had? I highly recommend grabbing the Stila Perfectly Gold Eye & Cheek Palette ( 3x Eye Shadows + 1x Cheek Color ) which is now only US$16 (RM53.50). This palette originally retailed for RM125 when launched and has a good set of warm toned gold colours, suitable for Asian skin tones.

I picked one up previously and it makes a great staple for me especially when I travel, because the colours work really well for day and night. Now that Christmas and the New Year is over, its time to look forward to the Chinese New Year, and what is better than going gold at Chinese New Year eh?

This sale is on at StrawberryNET.com and is probably while stocks last or until 15th January 2008.

So, the trick is to plan ahead. If you find and buy your festive or holiday themed item early, you are more likely to get them at a good price before they get snapped up, or before prices go up.

Alternatively, buy them just after the festive period or holiday season when retailers want to get rid of their excess stock. These holiday themed items are less in demand during the year and so retailers are likely to let them go at hefty discounts.

I bought these Christmas themed bowls from Tangs department store in Singapore just after Christmas at a hefty 70% discount. They ended up being something like S$2+ (RM8+) each. I also got a few sets of decorative snack plates at just slightly over S$7 (RM16) for a box of 4.
I plan to use them throughout the year because they look so festive and bright and cheery but I know they will come in handy next Christmas if I decide to hold a party then. Don’t you love deals like these?

The package came today – in a lovely red box.

And nestled inside, nicely wrapped up in thin tissue and prettily presented, was my nightgown. It looks and feels soft and satiny. The stitching looks well done and the material is slightly thicker than usual satin which I would expect would make for it to fall better.

You cannot beat them for presentation though. I can just imagine how this would look were it to have come as a gift! I’ll review Chicwear.com.my another day. For now, I’m dying to go home and try it on to see if it fits.