Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens... A few...

of our Favourite Things...

... shopping sites on-line, actually :)

While Chris is busy planning her Christmas sitting on the couch with her SOXS Sanity Saver folder and pen in hand...(and trying to pin her hubby down for long enough to make some executive purchasing decisions), I've been busy finishing my shopping on-line.

And most of it arrived on my doorstep in the last couple of days!  Yahoo!!

I was talking with a friend this afternoon who was bemoaning the state of shopping centres - how people are grumpy and rude, how the hassle for parking really brings out the worst in people, and how negative she finds the whole Christmas shopping experience.  She said wouldn't it be wonderful if people were happy, and even went around singing Christmas carols as they shopped (can you IMAGINE it?)...

We agreed that shopping centres really are places to avoid from now until sometime in January.

I'm going to let you in on my secrets for finishing my Christmas shopping without setting foot in a shopping mall:

www.petersofkensington.com.au - oh boy, do I LOVE this site!  Not only is it easy to navigate, with a huge range of products for every taste, some at amazingly low prices, they also individually gift wrap each item you order over the value of $15 for free!  My first batch arrived yesterday, very well packaged, delivered to my door by the postman, beautifully gift wrapped, ready to pop under the tree.  What could be better?  I'm pretty sure you could also get them to deliver your gifts for you to most destinations in Australia.

www.sanity.com.au - for a great range of music and movies - at competitive prices delivered to your mail box fuss-free.  I love to give music as gifts, and my family this year had a few requests for unusual DVDs - I found them all on Sanity (not that I bought them all!), and I hadn't found any in the shopping centres.

www.experiencethis.com.au - for 'experience' gifts - including new Greater Union/Birch Carroll and Coyle gift cards - these cards come in various denominations from $30 to $150 and would be a brilliant gift for the movie lover in your life.  They can spend the value of the card at the cinemas in any way they want (movies, lollies, choc-top icecreams, champagne and Gold Class tickets...whatever!)  HINT: also great for staff gifts ;-)

www.lastminute.com.au - Chris told me about this site (no, I haven't actually purchased anything from here), but a quick review of the goodies here tells me this would be a good place to get some of your Christmas shopping sorted.

If you have any other favourite on-line shopping stores - especially our international readers who care to share - please leave a comment below, or send us an email to SaveXmas at gmail dot com and tell us why you are recommending them please.

There is still time to get your shopping sorted online - but don't leave it too late - some sites are citing delivery cannot be guaranteed if you order too close to Christmas, so check the individual sites for current delivery times and cut off dates.