Last minute gift idea

So we had some FlyBuys expiring next year, and decided to cash in our rather pathetic total. It came down to only two choices - some plastic utensils or a penguin shower radio. Hubby picked up the radio last week.



This little chap is quite something. His goggles are the on/off switch, his flipper control the AM/FM and tuning, and his foot is the volume. He sits on our shower wall and belts out our favourite tunes, increasing the enjoyment of an otherwise tedious activity a hundred fold. We felt a little silly ordering him, but we're so glad we did. If you know someone who would appreciate some music to help their shower-singing along, this would be a great present.

Noel Leeming has it here.

Or you can buy less exciting shower radios...

In love with my hair straightener

So I had my hair straightened a few weeks ago, before it could be styled for bridesmaid duties. And it seems straighteners have come a long way in the last few years, because the last time I had it done it lasted less than a day. This time around, my hair stayed straight right until I washed it again. Overwhelmed with feelings of loss when my regular curly/thick/frizzy hair returned, I began dreaming of owning my own straightener. Last weekend we shopped around (and I mean around – we visited about 8 shops) and made the purchase. That afternoon I attempted to start straightening, but my uncoordinated soon prevailed and hubby stepped in to brandish the wand. And ah.... Straight, thinner hair. Still a bit frizzy, I grant you, but nothing to speak of once a bit of product is liberally applied. My ‘Wet 2 Straight’ is my new best friend.

I don’t think people with naturally straight hair can truly appreciate the difference. Being able to run my fingers through my hair (let alone a brush!) is a blessing I would never ordinarily have. Being able to wear my hair out, having just run a brush through it. Usually I would have to wet my hair, apply lashings of product, and then watch helplessly as it would multiply its own volume as it dried. The process of doing anything to my hair would take at least half an hour, and I’m just not that dedicated any more. I would usually just tie it back or up, having given up on attaining ‘crowing glory’. Now, that’s all changed! I haven’t had time to really experiment with styling it yet, but wearing it closer to my face without feeling like I’m suffocating is a real achievement. Hurrah for the hair straightener!!

How ironic

It's a great concept for a shirt, but funny that it proudly proclaims "Made in the USA". Out of anyone, Americans are the worst murderers of the English language.

This and other gear for writers here.

Canned wine... what next?

This could only have been thought of by an Australian. Canned wine. And they're openly targetting it at young people, who have no clue that wine is supposed to be sipped from a glass, let alone a can. Surely this can't be a positive development?

Full story here