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This week I shopped a lot, but not in the mall, this time I was shopping over the internet, and I had some great highs, though some disappointments too.

Of course I told you about my pleasing shirt delivery - a month earlier than expected, and all arrived safe and sound. The shirt quality was terrific, they were pre-shrunk so no laundry mishaps, and I noticed as I put them away that they are constructed without side seams, very pleasing.

I had wanted my Saturday Night Live DVDs and found first that Amazon had the best ones, only to be informed at the checkout that the DVDs were only playable in the US and Canada. Very disappointing.

I tried Sanity online but their site was slow as a wet week, even attempting to register took over an hour - so I quit and went over to JB Hifi online. Wonderful range of SNL dvds, but all were out of stock. I submitted an order, but knew there was a possibility I would be emailed with a 'sorry we can't' message. Yesterday I was told they had been shipped and would arrive within 10 days. I am once again, very happy.

Then I thought I would get my Yankees jacket, always dreamed of having one of the beautiful satin ones. I found two beautiful designs, only to find they don't ship to Australia. I tried site after site, the same two jackets appeared on different store webs, but constantly found they don't ship to Australia - though they do to Austria. Puzzling - do you think there are more Yankees fans in Australia or Austria?

I printed off the two jacket profiles to take to my local sports store to see if they could manage to get one in my hot little hands. I haven't approached them yet, I think I will wait another pay day as last night I went cruising for something else I have always wanted....

As a child I was given a music box from my mother, it played 'I could have danced all night' from My Fair Lady. Alas after several years of rough treatment we parted ways and I have missed it my whole life. I found the most exquisite pink satin faberge egg style music box that played 'Moon River' which is from another Audrey Hepburn movie 'A Breakfast At Tiffany's'. I went to the checkout only to be told that item could not be shipped to Australia. Devastated. Then I figured perhaps it was a customs issue, so I went back to their catalogue and looked at other music boxes. I found a silver ladybird that plays 'you are my sunshine' the special song between my mum and I, and of course, you know I am infatuated with ladybirds.

Checkout - no such luck - again, cannot be shipped to Australia. I think that they mean none of these things can be shipped to Australia, but why don't they say that, instead of giving me a message that indicates the problem is only with the particular item! I want that ladybird, how am I going to get that ladybird? All I want is a beautiful, meaningful music box, and this time I will look after it....

Well at least I have the dvd's to look forward to!

I started selling these sets after making way too many stretchy cord bracelets and I thought they would go like hot cakes if I just packaged them interestingly enough to stand out from other market items. Each set is comprised of four stretchy bracelets and one decorative box, in complementary shades.

You can buy packets of beads at Spotlight, Cost Plus, bead and craft specialty stores, and occasionally at Kmart and Big W but they are rather expensive in the latter two stores. You want to get a range of sizes and colours, remember you may have a theme colour (ie in my picture there is a blue theme set and a purple theme set) but each need contrasting colours. I buy large reels of stretchy cord at Spotlight.

It is as simple as threading the beads in the order of your choice, and as a guideline, most wrists like a size 15-17 cm length, but that is how long the beaded part should be, don't cut the cord that length, you need leeway as you work. Knot one end of the cord and bead until you have the desired length of beaded cord, then stretch the cord as you tie it, tie two knots, the first right over left, the second left over right, then trim the ends of the tied cord (I use nail clippers as they get in good and close without cutting the wrong piece of cord), when you release the tension on the cord, the knot disappears into the beads never to be seen again.

The boxes are purchased plain at Spotlight, and I use 3D stickers and stick on gems to decorate them, making a lovely gift set.

This project is easy enough for your children but make sure your child is old enough that the beads will not be a choking hazard, and don't make these beaded sets for infants and young children.

Today I got these great Rachael Hale contacts at Big W, $1.88 a metre roll. The dogs and puppies are on a blue roll, and cats and kittens are pink.

My Top 10 Back To School Treats

1. Novelty Mouse Pad. My Tweety Bird mouse pad is the favourite thing on my desk, it cost less than $10 and yes, people do still use mousepads, at the very least they prevent scratching your desk. You can even have personal photos printed on mouse pads.

2. Small novelty ice bricks, they live in your freezer and are frozen solid, then in your lunchbox they keep everything icy cool. I have pretty ones - stars, flowers, hearts, but you can get soccer, footballs, and basket balls for boys. Under $5.

3. Packets of gel ink glitter pens, pretty and cheerful, and excellent for craft activities.

4. Highlighters, they are colourful and you can never have too many. Try to find the best value packs and avoid ones with multiple yellow pens as they fade and even when freshly applied are so glary and hard to read. Even uni students and mums need these!

5. Post It Notes, and Post It Flags, I can't get by without these, and they are far from the boring yellow notes they were originally.

6. Stationery supplies from Smiggle online, they are a very cheap and groovy range and are Australian so the shipping costs are low. I even love their calculators, it is such a shame I don't need a new one, I can't justify buying their cute one.

7. Nudie Juices - there is so much press about juice boxes being simply sugary water but these tasty juices are ones you can trust. Great for an after school pick me up, or a breakfast booster.

8. Bonnie Belle lipsmackers, so many pretty colours and flavours.

9. Coloured cardstock and coloured activity pads, get thee to Kmart immediately!

10. Rachael Hale contact papers for book covering, also for older students, duraseal has some excellent patterns. Under $2 a metre.

Well, I only started to use the internet late last year, and I got my first debit card just before Christmas, so I am new to online shopping, and of course I had to 'test' the card, to 'make sure' it works!

I tested it on Amazon, My Tee Spot, JB Hifi online, Pop Cap Games, Amazon (again), and Smilebox. Yep, it works, time to stop 'testing'!

I thought I would make a recommendation for My Tee Spot (evolve) I found them through Google as I wanted Saturday Night Live t-shirts. This site has hundreds of novelty themed shirts, I even found Seinfeld t's and above is a photo of my Kramer t-shirt, which arrived today. That's right today. I ordered on the 29th December and was told my tshirts would arrive on the 5th of Feb, as I selected standard international shipping, well I was completely and pleasantly surprised when my two tshirts arrived this morning.

Well done www.myteespot.com  and thank you. For any readers who want a special gift for someone, I would definitely try this company, if they don't have the character or theme you want, they are open to suggestions.

My second shirt was a Saturday Night Live t-shirt, a portrait of Christopher Walken with the slogan "I Got A Fever", I think I am looking forward to wearing it as a joke when I visit my friendly GP. Though people in the waiting room might give me a wide berth!

So My Tee Spot are worth my tick of approval, when you are new to shopping and you try a company you have never heard of, you do wonder if you will get what you paid for, in this instance, I certainly did, and with the bonus of a very early delivery.

This is a photo of a bowl of baubles, I embellished the baubles by sticking gems on with stainless adhesive glue. They really come alive on the tree, and sparkle as they whirl and twirl.

Apart from post Christmas sales I find you can get large packs of plain or glitter baubles at Cost Plus, Red Dot, $2 Shop, and sometimes Kmart, Big W, and Target.

I find gems in amazing shapes, of course there are circles and rectangles, but also hearts, stars, flowers, butterflies, and all kinds of designs. I buy my packets at Spotlight, Cost Plus, and sometimes $2 Shop.

I find that it is best to put dark gem colours on light coloured baubles, and light and bright gems on dark shades of baubles so that they stand out enough to be seen.

Sets of baubles make great gifts, you don't have to pop them back in the original container they were purchased in, try giving them in a Christmas gift box or bag, or a basket, bowl, or fill a stocking.

I have fun making these and I hope you or your children will too, so get stuck into it, and the holiday hours will fly.

Here are some ideas for the school holidays, or for any time you are priviliged enough to have time to spend with children.

1. Go for a walk on the beach, gather up any interesting finds - smooth pebbles, driftwood, shells etc. Explore and enjoy your day out but afterwards you might use what you found to create a display box, decorative photo frame or other project. Making it together is very satisfying and you will be giving them a precious memento of your day.

2. Give a child packets of seeds and teach them how to sow them. They will have a hobby, learn to care for living things, begin to practice responsibility and have the joy of watching something grow and change.

3. Let your child watch as you write in your gratitude journal, tell them what you are doing and why - explain the concept, they may be ready to begin to think in this way. At first you may need to help jog their memory with some questions that will lead to their discovering the things they are grateful for.

4. If you know someone who needs a kindness (help around the house, a visit to lift their spirits, a hamper of food or clothing...), involve your child. The child will learn consideration and grace which will help shape them to be wonderful people as they grow up. A tremendous gift to your child, and to the world.

5. If you are preparing a child to welcome a new baby brother or sister, take out the precious things you kept relating to their own birth and infancy. Sit down and show them their ultrasound photos, the clothes they first wore, their hospital ID bracelet, letters and notes that you wrote about your thoughts and experiences at the time. This will show them that they were once like the baby to come, and that you haven't forgotten haow precious they are to you. Tell them they will always be loved by you and that the more people you have in your heart, the more love there is to go around. You might involve your child in collecting the new baby's precious mementos as they arise, it will help bond you as a family.

After I have finished my back to school ideas, I will be featuring some posts for parents-to-be - gift ideas and a wonderful idea called 'mother blessing' that I learned of from a special friend. So if you know someone expecting a baby don't forget to tell them about this site, or tune in and gather some ideas to surprise them with!

"You'll never ruin your eyes by looking on the bright side", unknown.

I was in a very long and slow moving Post Office queue today but it gave me the chance to have a good look at everything, and yes, I came home with a cutie. You might keep it in mind for a back to school gift, or tuck it away for a birthday....

Unfortunately I am unable to load the photo here, but if you give me a tick, I will add it to the gallery.

Betty Boop Stationery Set on clearance $11.99. For this, you get a plastic carry bag with Betty Boop printed on it, a hardcover spiral bound notebook, with a faint Betty Boop and star printed on the lined pages. A large Betty Boop two compartment pencil case (pink and purple), two gorgeous Betty lead pencils, a sharpener, eraser, Betty highlighers (6 colours) and three betty gel ink pens, lovely colours. Oh, and a ruler!

There are other varieties of stationery sets there, I saw pretty kittens, but no boy oriented ones, though each store would sell out of different items. The sets are suitable for ages 3 years and up, but I wouldn't bother for children under 5 yrs as they are unlikely to get as much use out of the kits, especially the very large notebook. For children under five you would be better off buying colouring in books and pencils or textas (make sure they wash off in water!).

I hope you like my bargain buy, I have always had a soft spot for Betty Boop and finally have some Betty merchandise - that's right, I'm keeping this myself!

Whoops nearly forgot there is a sheet of Betty Boop stickers too.

Amber amulets made of amber are said to ward off ghosts and demons, and a necklace of amber beads is used to promote health. In China amber represents the soul of the tiger. A good gift for those born in the year of the tiger (Chinese Astrology), and for children afraid of the dark.

Pearls have a very feminine energy and are linked with fertility, and longevity.

Rings represent eternity and the life cycle which is always renewed, thus eternal. My cousin bought herself a trilogy ring, each ring has a different coloured stone and the rings reperesent the past, present, and future. She bought the ring during a hard time in her life since the passing of her partner of many years.

Pens represent wisdom and learning, and make a good gift for students, professionals, and writers. You can increase the symbolism by choice of gold or silver pen, or by the ink colour and any stones encrusted in the pen.

Tigers symbolise power and protection. Asian mythology or tradition places tigers as the protector of the dead and bring peace to their souls

Turtles are obviously connected with longevity, but also patience and wisdom.

Owls are symbolic of wisdom and mysticism and is in many cultures believed to be the keeper of the spirits who have moved to the underworld. Be kind to owls and they will banish the unwanted spirits from your yard.

Hazelnuts and their tree are linked with wisdom and infinite knowledge, especially of a psychic nature.

Cherry Blossom these beauties represent love, feminine grace and love. In Asia the fallen blossoms represent fallen warriors, those who have died in battle.

Peonies I love these flowers and they are a great anniversary gift as they denote a happy marriage.

This is the list that was printed in my grandmother's birthday book, it details the birth stone, flower, and characteristic for people born each month.

January: garnet; carnation; constancy.

February: amethyst; primrose, or violet; sincerity.

March: aquamarine; daffodil or jonquil; courage.

April: diamond; daisy or sweet pea; innocence.

May: emerald; lily of the valley; love or success.

June: pearl; rose; health.

July: ruby; water lily; contentment.

August: peridot; poppy or gladiolus; married happiness.

September: sapphire or jade; aster; clear thinking.

October: opal or tourmaline; tulip or rununculas; hope.

November: topaz; chrysanthemum; fidelity.

December: turquoise; holly or poinsettia; prosperity.

This is one of our moon flowers that came out overnight to greet the new year. Imagine the sight that greeted me, over 50 flowers out along the fence, it was hard to count them all!

Of course this week has seen me up the shops several times. On Monday I shopped in Susanne Grae and bought two fabulous pairs of pants and two gorgeous tops, the tops were nothing over $9.95 and the pants had further discounts on them, I was pleasantly surprised at the till.

I also bought new reels of Christmas ribbon at 40% off, I have been using substantial amounts of ribbon in card making, so adding some new colours and patterns into the mix is always appreciated.

If there are any discount baubles still in your local shops I would recommend buying them so you can decorate them along with me when I do a little project in the near future.

On Wednesday I bought two new tops at Target, and stocked up on some badly needed double sided tape at Spotlight. I also looked at their excellent range of stick on gems and buttons. I will be making a new t-shirt design shortly using spare buttons, so you might think about gathering up some odd buttons if you want to join in.

The only thing I need now is more cardstock, that is something I like to take advantage of at back to school sales. I will be doing a series of back to school posts, in a short while, as the time grows near.

I hope you have had a great start to the new year, and I look forward to catching up with you all, love Starry

"We can't stop the waves, but we can learn to surf", Jonothan Kabat-Zinn