The rise of the '50 Shades of Grey' franchise has inspired a whole lotta women to experiment with…read moredifferent sexual ideas and formats. Sex is meant to be fun right!? If you want your own '50 Shades of Grey' experience then you will find everything you need at Peaches and Cream. The shop itself is even getting on the bandwagon selling the official themed merchandise, which comes in a few different options. I like the kinky handcuffs and feather duster ones myself! The shopping experience at Peaches & Cream never seems awkward, and the assistants are always so discrete, which I know a lot of people appreciate. It doesn't even feel like you are browsing in a sex store to be honest. My boyfriend and I come in here sometimes just to have a look around and contemplate new 'purchases', its always fun to be able to be silly and laugh at ourselves. It's hard not to when your surrounded by inflatable private parts!

I have visited Egg numerous times throughout each of my 3 pregnancies, at both the Auckland and…read moreWellington stores, and highly recommend them! They have a great range of comfy and feminine clothing, including work wear, jeans, nursing tops and dresses, and basics like leggings and singlets etc. They often have special promos so it is worth signing up to the mailing list :) fantastic helpful staff too. Five stars from me, I would not shop anywhere else for my pregnancy clothes.

From the owner: The birth of EGG & pregnancy style down under started in 2000 Charlotte Devereux was pregnant with…read moreher first daughter Jasmin. She simply could not find the style of clothes she wanted to wear, so together with her mother, business woman Colyn Devereux-Kay, they started designing stylish, fashionable and most importantly comfortable maternity clothes that you can also wear after bambino arrives. The majority of EGG clothing and accessories are proudly made in New Zealand with a great team of people who have been with EGG since our infancy. EGG also partner with the Mental Health Association to help raise money for Post Natal Depression awareness. EGG - Nurturing your maternity journey in style

St Vincent de Paul in Onehunga is the ORIGINAL op shop as far as I'm concerned. Back long long ago…read morewhen I was an awkward 14 year old setting out on my own personal style journey this was where it all began. I still have several items bought back in the late 80s from this very store; they are (I shit you not) family heirlooms I will be passing on to my daughter. Sixties green/red lurex shift with low back featuring a large bow? Yep, I own it and it was mere measly-bucks. In fact I remember this was the place where I got my forest green faux suede belted safari jacket. I LOVED that jacket so much I literally wore it out and have major regrets because when I bought it from here circa 1987 there were several others EXACTLY THE SAME right next to it. I think they were all completely unused stock from some recession-hit 60s groove factory. Oh those were the days. Anyway, these days of course you'll find the people who run these places are much more savvy and the good stuff costs a bit more. Also the word "vintage" was added to fashion-speak and ever since op-shopping just hasn't been as much fun. I do love this place though, but you can't be in a rush - these things take time. Another thing I love is the characters. Trannies, old dears (actually quite a lot of trannies); they all still come here and I love it. I think they even may be the exact same people who were shopping here from the early days. Like me.

The dopest of the dopest. The wrinkliest of the wrinkliest. The dustiest of the dustiest. From the…read moredollar racks to amazing 3 piece 80's business suits, all roads lead to St Vincent de Paul. This massive shop actually used to be two op shops - from competing churches/ parishes. Ah those were the days. What makes me sad though is the vultures who are just there to buy stuff to trademe. I guess it's just another stage in the evolution of second hand shopping. I just try to ignore them because their two dimensional greed can definately ruin a good op shop buzz. Tip for insiders - if you want a 15% discount tell the counter ladies you are a friend of Jesus.

You always hear negatives about the staff at zambesi, but on Saturday I went in and spent a fair…read moreamount of money and part of that was because of how helpful and attentive the staff were. If your looking for something stylish go to zambesi and ask for Bridgette she'll point you in the right direction.

If you're after a good night out then pop on into LK Ponsonby where they have everything from beer,…read morewine and spirits. LK is a Lion owned liquor store. Here they predominantly specialise in Lion products such as Speight's, Mac's, Steinlager, Becks, Corona, Little Creatures, Emersons, Guinness, Smirnoff, 42 Below, Appletons, Bacardi, Coruba, Jose Cuervo, Wild Turkey, American Honey, Isaac Cider range, and much MUCH more. Not to worry, you'll find all other alcohol brands here at LK as well. At LK they also have party supplies on offer to hire. These include ice bins, glass trays, punch bowls and ladles and much more. At LK you also have the option to buy gets. This involves giving a $30 keg deposit free which you get back once the keg is returned. Another perfect addition when having a party. With so many gift ideas for others ....or yourself....as well as party supplies and some snacky food, pop on into LK Ponsonby or jump on their website and get ordering for your next event.

Located right next door to Nosh so very handy: Nosh Ponsonby do not have a liquor license so you…read morecan just pop next door, for all your wine needs! I have been here a few times to purchase red wine namely Pinot Noir & Vodka. The staff are very knowledgable and helpful. They asked me if I needed assistance with choosing anything - have offered to carry my alcohol to the counter and chatted to me all the way through! They have regular offers & discounts on many brands so that's appealing! They sell soft drink, have a separate refrigerated beer room and stock all snack food too - at a premium price. I never feel under pressure to choose what I want (there is a big selection), which is good! Easy parking, open 7 days.

Geoff's is no longer the in-the-know Auckland hipster's secret. Go here on Halloween and you will…read moresee what I mean. Luckily, Halloween only happens once a year but year round Geoff's is the place that truly does have everything. I am most often here for random products like baby oil ($6 for a small bottle of branded petroleum by-product at a supermarket? $2 here), fabric dye, art supplies, sewing stuff and what must be Auckland's cheapest fabric. No offence to Spotlight, but go here first if you need anthing crafty. There's ribbon, cotton, buttons, sparkly bits, belt buckles, bra pads, googly eyes, appliques, patches.... on and on and on. The fabric selection is no small part of the shop and the pricing fairly freakin ridiculous. You'll also find toys, costume jewellery, probably Auckland's biggest range of wigs and "ready-costumes" for adults and kids, as well as such essential props as tiaras, plastic swords, feather boas, cowboys hats, gloves, face paint and garters. There are paints, brushes, canvases, dyes, sketch books...... You can even buy paperbacks, hardware, kitchen equipment, candles and it just goes on. What I love most about Geoff's is that it has been around as long as I can remember and as far as I know, Geoff himself is still around too. My kids love coming here with a handful of coins and leaving with treasures and so do I. The staff are awesome and Geoff's is such a wonderful reminder to me that some things don't ever change, they just get better with age.

This place is AWESOME. Recommended to me by a fellow sewing friend, I decided to check it out…read moretoday. Walked in the door and thought wow, this place is a bit...crappy. But then I walked in further, through the narrow door and into a huge space, filled with all manner of crafty supplies! I was there to buy interfacing, and buy it I did - 5m for $5! Incredible prices. I also got a zip for $1.05 and a belt buckle kit for $1. The prices are insane, even cheaper than what I paid living in the US. I saw some gorgeous fabrics in there, too, but I'm trying to watch my fabric budget right now so I sadly left it behind...for now. The woman who served me was really friendly, carefully rolled up my interfacing and asked about my projects. I can't wait to go back and browse their fabrics some more, and they will definitely be my go-to place for notions, too! I didn't explore the rest of the shop too closely, as I had a sick husband in tow, but they have a huge range of paint/art supplies, party supplies, incense and other trinkets, and heaps of other stuff too.

It's not often you walk into a store and want everything! Gorman is one of those places. Their…read moreclothes are different enough to warrant their price tag but not too crazy that you'd only ever wear them if you were to somehow transform into a runway model. They are for the every day, modern woman who is incredibly awesome. They have the most epic prints that you will only see at Gorman. My favourite piece from Gormans is their socks. Cheap enough to buy when you're short on cash but awesome enough to make an outfit look completely different. The best thing about Gorman in Newmarket is that now I don't have to fork out a huge airfare to Aussie for my Gorman fix. It's now right here for us to savour and enjoy. And also because not many people know about this store yet, you look like you've got a one of a kind piece just for you.

I really love everything about this store. This is Australian designer Lisa Gorman's only store in…read moreNew Zealand and it sells some really gorgeous pieces of women's clothing. Gorman specialises in dresses, tops and trousers in really cool, funky prints. I think the great thing about it is that the clothing can really be worn by anyone of any age. Nothing in there is ever too short in the hem or low cut on the bust, which is perfect for older customers, but the cuts and patterns ensure that the clothes still look really trendy and hip enough for a younger crowd. My favourite things though are the shoes and boots. I've got a pair of little Chelsea boots from here and they are so comfortable and really well made from real suede. They have lasted for ages and I wear them all the time. The store itself is really spacious and is all wooden floors and walls, making it feel really organic, which complements the clothing perfectly. It feels very light and airy in there, so you can really browse for ages and the staff are always really friendly and give great advice as they clearly know the products inside out.

I'm just going to put it out there - I LOVE Florists. For starters, who doesn't love being…read moresurprised with a big bunch of fresh flowers! Noone, that who. Whether is a birthday, anniversary or just to tell someone that you're thinking of them, they are perfect for every occasion. On top of this fresh flowers do wonders in a room. I genuinely find I am happier when i've got a bunch in a vase. Ok, so now that I have voiced my love of flowers, let's talk about Roses specifically. Roses is as good as a local florist gets. Firstly, their staff are super knowledgable, helpful and they listen to what you want. Secondly, they always have a gorgeous range of flowers and a couple of unique plants. And thirdly, their card range is legit! On my most recent visit I also discovered that they have those washable paper bag/pot type things, you know the ones that you see in all the trendy cafes these days. I got a white one with big black crosses and have put a large orchid in it - looks wonderful! Unfortunately, Roses is a bit of a trek for me but if you live in the area and are looking for a florist this should mos def be your no. 1 port of call.

I was organising a pageant for the African community in Auckland as part of a fundraising…read moreinitiative for the African Welfare. Everything was running smoothly until it hit me that I hadn't ordered any flowers for the winners. All I had done was write budget that included 3 bouquets of flowers for $50. With the amount I was willing to spend, I wasn't expecting anything amazing. I ended up calling Roses on Friday afternoon to arrange 3 bouquets to be picked up on Saturday at 2pm. I told the florist to surprise me and just give me what they could. On saturday, the day of the pageant I got so overwhelmed I forgot to pick up the flowers. Thankfully I got a call and when I explained I wouldn't make it to the florist before it closed, the florist offered to leave the flowers at the shop next door to be picked up and I could leave the money there. When the flowers finally arrived to the venue, they where so beautiful and I could not believe I had only spent $50.