My neighbour told me about the site, and since then I am addicted to logging in to see what bargains I can snap up.  If you live in the west you have to log on really early as they open AEST buy you can pay for priority membership otherwise joining is free.  Great for kids clothes and shoes and the odd designer bit of clothing for Mum.  There are different retailers on everyday giving up to 90% discount sometimes. Handbags, shoes, sunglasses, homewares etc.  Happy shopping!

VISIT: www.ozsale.com.au

FFF FAB FIND C/O: Emma, Perth

Rue Vieille du Temple is just great. I like to start at the top at the metro Filles du Calvaire and wander down Rue des Filles du Calvaire which turns into Rue Vieille du Temple. This street is lined with great clothes boutiques like The Kooples, APC, American Apparel, and a little bit further down Princesse Tam Tam.

Then stop in for some people watching at Café de la Perle. It’s on the corner of Rue Vieille du Temple and Rue de la Perle. By day it’s just another café, but after 7:00pm, especially in the warmer months, people spill out onto the streets apèritif in hard. It’s great.

FFF FAB FIND C/O: Tess, Brisbane

Did you know that the fabulous shop in Florence called Luisa, Via Roma also has an apartment to rent next door to the shop?  A delightful shop assistant I have come to know took me there on a recent visit.  Check out their website or read my blog http://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com Click on and look for the stoy about Luisa, Via Roma

VISIT: http://www.luisaviaroma.com/

FFF FAB FIND C/O: Debra Kolka, Brisbane

Have you been to Eurovida at Paddington yet? I’m a fan. Kathy who runs it is a local and loves other locals and the food is excellent. The service is too.

VISIT: Eurovida 1/208 Given Terrace Paddington Brisbane

FFF FAB FIND C/O: Faux Fuchsia, Brisbane

Are you visiting Shanghai but completely overwhelmed by choice when it comes to deciding on dinner?  I’ve distilled hundreds of meals into two choices for you, both Chinese, one highbrow, one lowbrow. Both fabulous.

Firstly, Fu 1088. Considered by locals to be the finest Shanghainese restaurant in town, it’s housed in an old jazz-era villa in the former French Concession. Each room has been restored to art deco glory - you may end up seated in a former parlour, or boudoir, alongside the original furniture and paintings. Beautiful as it is to look at, however, you come here for the finest Shanghai slow-cooked pork (hong shao rou) and baked lotus root, mandarin fish, and delicate crabmeat and pork soup dumplings (xiao long bao). 

Fu 1088 - 375 Zhenning Lu, Jing An, near Yuyuan Lu (镇宁路375号  近愚园路)  +8621 5239-7878

Secondly, Langzhou Lamian. These little noodle shops are all over Shanghai, but this one is particularly delicious. Order your noodles from the giant pictorial menu on the wall, then watch in awe as your noodles are hand-pulled to order, and tossed through the open kitchen window into the fragrant broth bubbling away below it. Food theatre, about $2 per person. Enjoy!

Langzhou Lamian - Located on Fangbang Lu in the old city, near Zhenning Lu

FFF FAB FIND C/O:  Fiona Reilly, Shanghai

If you go to Lake Como, and you should, stay at Hotel Villa Cipressi in Varenna.  The Hotel sits in the most heavenly gardens and has spectacular views over the lake.  Varenna is one of the cutest villages with tiny streets winding their way down the side of the hill to the water. 

Take the ferry to Lenno and visit the breathtaking Villa Balbianello.  It was left to Italy by Guido Monzino and now for a small fee it is possible to wander around this magical place clinging to the side of the lake.

Go to Villa d’Este at Cernobbio for lunch and pretend you are filthy rich for a few hours.  The food is great and the people watching priceless.

VISIT: Deb’s blog: http://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com

FFF FAB FIND C/O:  Debra Kolka, Brisbane

Not that I’ve done much travelling lately, but one can dream of escaping to a luxurious hotel overlooking the Colosseum or the Eiffel Tower can’t they.  LUXE City Guides are a must for those who love to find the most luxurious places to stay to the most bazaar and quirky.  LUXE City Guides offers up to date information from Bali to Venice. The guides can be purchased in gorgeous boxed sets, the ideal gift to the most frequent traveller. They’re fun and hip and according the UK Times are the “The world’s coolest guidebook”.

VISIT: http://www.luxecityguides.com/

FFF FAB FIND C/O:  Emma, Australia

Recently, for my first time but definately not my last, I lunched at a surprising cafe, Anouk in Paddington, Brisbane.   It’s been a long while since I’ve eaten a meal so deliciously simple yet sublime and I believe it was due in part to the obviously very fresh ingredients.  Prices were sooooo reasonable too. I’m looking for an excuse to return soon!

VISIT: Anouk, 212 Given Terrace Paddington Brisbane Tel: + 61 7 3367 8663

FFF FAB FIND C/O: Annie, Australia

Fed up with tasteless lattes, plastic foam cappucinos and sad, burnt espressos without the delish crema that one associates with a really good espresso, I recently went in search of a quick and easy home set up. On a recent trip back home to Brissie, my (always wise and fabulous) sister had mentioned the Nespresso machine range, but I was sceptical and scoffed at the idea of an automatic espresso machine. Surely just popping a capsule and pressing a button could not produce what I was looking for! I was so wrong. I recently purchased a Citiz Nespresso machine from the fabulous US store Williams Sonoma (which deserves a Fab Find blog all of its own!). I am now enjoying fab espressos or lungos every morning at the press of a button. It is so easy! It came with an Aerocino milk frother, and so a latte or cap is now just seconds away. I know that some purists will balk at my purchase of an automatic machine, but seriously, give it a go. The range of coffee is great (I am partial to Roma and Ristretto), and they arrive in sealed capsules so there is no risk of oxidisation, and there is no messy clean up. It couldn’t be easier or more delish… a truly fab find!

VISIT: www.nespresso.com
FFF FAB FIND C/O: A Curtis, Washington, US

The most eclectic shop in town is Distracted, on Oxford St. It’s full of beautiful object that you must own or gift (it’s the perfect answer for hard-to-buy-for friends, coffee shop, art shop, hair shop, wax shop). Oh and the website is quite something to behold - it captures their essence perfectly.

WHERE: 324 Oxford Street, Leederville, Perth, WA 6007
(Ph) +61 8 9443 9340
VISIT: www.distracted.com.au
FFF FAB FIND C/O: Anthea, Australia

Check out honeyhoney.com.au for beautiful unique accessories, and now, even better… Butter London nail polishes! They ship everywhere! The owner is one very stylish lady :)

VISIT: www.honeyhoney.com.au
FFF FAB FIND C/O: Anthea, Australia

Varga Girl has left the city and moved to Oxford St in Leederville. Yay!!

WHERE: 349 Murray St, Perth, WA 6000, (Ph) +61 8 9321 7838
FFF FAB FIND C/O: Leila Chandelier

OK. I could not LIVE without regular McPorgies from Porgie & Mr Jones and apparently neither can other Melbournians with the humble McPorgie being rated as one of the best brekky dishes in the Melbourne Magazine from The Age the other day. English muffin with yummy scrambled eggs, gypsy ham, emmenthal cheese all toasted up and eaten with gusto. You MUST try. Happy days.

WHERE: 291 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria
VISIT: www.porgiemrjones.com.au
FFF FAB FIND C/O: Susie, Australia

The NEW Standard Bar & Grill in the Meatpacking District. It is, without a doubt, the hottest place to be (and be seen) in NYC right now! The atmostphere was incredible during Fashion Week.

WHERE: The Standard, 848 Washington St, New York, NY 10014 / Ph: (212) 645-4100
VISIT: www.thestandardgrill.com/
FFF FAB FIND C/O: Marlz, New York

Elizabeth you’re back!! and how… Congratulations xxx The site looks fabulous. I’ve missed you so have eagerly awaited this new venture. I am sure you will have many new (and old) fans reading this blog!

Paris… lucky enough to have visited twice. Last stay was for a week in an apartment in the Marais. Booked online through a reliable agency where you deal with the apartment owner. Wonderful, arty, quirky area which is close to everything. Many happy hours spent wandering and soaking in the atmosphere.

As for vintage clothes, my daughter swears by the good old op shops scattered around Brisbane. The grungier the shop the better for those really unusual finds.

FFF FAB FIND C/O: Annie, Australia

The Apothecary 1878 (Hindley Street, Adelaide) is fantastic. The heritage listed building has an atmosphere that is relaxing and inviting with a menu that makes it difficult to limit choices. The baked chevre with grapes and almonds is a stand out, as is the procuitto with fennel, orange and olive. They also have a great wine and boutique beer menu. 

WHERE: Hindley Street, Adelaide
VISIT: www.theapothecary1878.com.au
FFF FAB FIND C/O: Margot, Australia

First of all - Westport is one of Ireland’s most picture perfect towns, it really is pretty. It is also home to a great pub called Matt Molloy’s. Matt Molloy was one of the Chieftans, so this pub has some of the best trad Irish music around. Be prepared to stay all night!

Before we went to the pub, we headed down to a little place called Quay Cottage. The decorating is very ancient mariner, but it kind of works and is very cosy. But the highlight was the seafood chowder with house-made brown bread - really good, and the perfect meal on what was a cold, wet evening. I have a seafood chowder addiction, and this is definitely one of the best I have had.

WHERE: The Quay, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland / PH: 098 26412
VISIT: www.quaycottage.com
FFF FAB FIND C/O: J BAINE, NZ

Enjoyed a delicious and light seafood lunch with a glass of wine at Vin & Marée after a hectic morning of shopping, and it really revived our souls! My companions had oysters, then a big bowl of delcious mussels wih bread to sop up the juices. I had a really exquisite bouillabaisse served with the traditional rouille and large toasted bread croutons. It really had the most sublime, fresh ‘ocean’ flavour, permeated with the scent and taste of the various crustacean shells used to make the base (I guess!). The decor is a bit nothing, but we had a great window seat so we could watch the passing parade that is Paris while we dined.

WHERE: 165, Rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris / Ph 1 42 86 06 96
VISIT: www.vin-et-maree.com
FFF FAB FIND C/O: J Gibbs, Australia

The Flower Drum restaurant continues its quality commitment to fine cantonese cuisine and excellent customer service, and the atmosphere is elegant and welcoming This should be a “must visit” when in Melbourne! A couple of the highlights from my last visit were the King Prawns with homemade XO chilli sauce and the BBQ Pork Rice Noodle Roll.

WHERE: 17 Market Lane Melbourne, Victoria / PH +61 3 9662 3655
VISIT: www.miettas.com.au
FFF FAB FIND C/O: G Curtis, Australia

An excellent old Melbourne cafe to stop for one of the best coffee experiences in this city and would recommend you try the freshly baked cakes coming out of the oven as you sit and sip.

WHERE: 66 Bourke Street Melbourne

VISIT: www.miettas.com.au
FFF FAB FIND C/O: G Curtis, Australia