SHARE: Emotional baggage

If most girls have their way, jewellery is the way to go when it comes to gift-giving. But occasionally, practicality will please - especially if you  add some pretty into the practical mix.


A friend I know is one Practical Penelope. Her brownie-points seeker spoils her with ipods, wallets, stationery and more - an engraving on her ipod, a secret card tucked into a shiny new wallet. All with tiny 'sentimental' touches - enough to tickle her pink and for her to tickle his...


Here are a few online shopping starters:


Luxe to Less
Smythson - more on the luxe, not so much 'less'. Amazing luxury leathergoods such as jewellery boxes, passport holders, make up cases and stationery.
Top 3 by Design - Design-laden goodness. Everything from homewares to gadgets to jewellery and accessories
O'Hara Designs - 2 Sydney gals who love the Harbour and love making handbags (amongst other things). The Kash laptop bag is one of their greats. You can even score yourself a new wallet while shopping for the girl.
Pigeonhole - If she's a little quirky or unconventional,, she might like Pigeonhole's "Offbeat design found off the beaten track".
Etsy.com - Less of a shop, more of a marketplace. Find anything and everything from Accessories to Woodwork. This site supports lots of emerging designers so you can trawl through and find something to her style and your budget

Brownie Points P.A memo: Practical is good but buyer beware. 'Weight loss for dummies' or a gym membership might see your Brownie Points go south of the border.

EAT: Friday night food safari

A friend I know adds a fun element to her long-term relationship date nights - Friday night food safari. Borne out of an aimless drive one Friday, looking for somewhere different to eat, said friend and partner ended up 45mins away from home in the inner west suburb of Concord.

There, they discovered a brilliant Lebanese restaurant, Le Sarab. The food was fresh and traditional with standard or commonly offered options cooked well-above-standard and a range of more adventurous options for the already-intiated such as the  very fresh and tasty Nayeh (raw meat)and Kibbe Nayeh (raw meat mixed with burghul, onion, salt and pepper). The service was a standout with warm welcomes and a lebanese education upon realising the diners were not from the neighbourhood.

Friday night food safari will extend to Uyghur (central asian) cuisine this week upon Brownie Point PA's friend recommendation. Explained in basic fashion as 'a mix of the best of asian, turkish and indian cuisine', Brownie Points PA is yet to sample the delights at Kiroran Silk Road Uyghur Restaurant (and as a rule, doesn't recommend anything unless otherwise sampled) - but apparently it's a huge winner. Table carnage  across the floor points to a good meal - empty bowls, smeared napkins and satisfied smiles.

Brownie Points PA memo: Take your fun out of the comfort zone -whether it's to the extreme like skydiving or just trying a bite to eat out of the area.

Back in the Office

Brownie Points P.A Memo:

Apologies, your Brownie Points P.A has recently been out of the office and attending to her day job.

However, she's back on board and at your service. If you ever have any personal queries, please feel free to email