Go to Nook on a day that your resolve is as strong as steel. Don't risk a visit to this shop on a…read moreday that you're feeling remotely vulnerable - your wallet will regret it later. Michelle, the owner of Nook, has for a number of years expertly gathered a refined selection of home wares, 'knick-knacks', clothes, bags, handmade arts and paper goods in this West End abode. I want to resist this comparison, BUT, to give you context, if you're in any way interested in Etsy, Frankie Magazine, one-of-a-kinds or twee anything, Nook is and will be a delight to visit. This is my go-to store for gifts for myself, cards for special occasions, notebooks and my new favourite nail polishes by Kester Black. Be sure to say hello to the shop cat, Pedro, if you get the chance! zß

A contained delight, Nook is the quintessential cute gal on…read morethe bloc. The owners have searched high and low and stocked this little shop with a killer selection of art cards, fancy twine, cake tins, bear cufflinks, stationary spectaculars and more. Come with some greens as you'll find it hard to leave without some Paper Boat Press ornaments (or ALL the nifty Pannikin goodies on display.) A veritable feast for the eyes, It's the perfect little nook to get your cute fix.

I remember this store from when it was located in the Wintergarden, and then it just disappeared!…read moreBut recently while I was roaming around the Emporium in the Valley it popped up out of thin air. I was so glad to see that this shop had just relocated and hadn't closed for good, because I've purchased many a gift from Essensuals and it's always been perfect for those people who are difficult to buy for. I must say though, I much prefer the old store to the new one. I'm not sure if it has changed hands or they just decided to change it up a little bit, but it was a little disappointing. The new store seems to have stock piled up everywhere, like a teetering tower of doom that could crush the shopper below at any second. It also seems like they don't have as much stock as before, which is unfortunate because you could find things for both men and women in the old store, whereas the new one appears to be very female oriented. Despite the disappointment that Essensuals has changed quite a bit, it's still full of pretty things like crystal wine glasses, decorative trunks and vintage perfume bottles. It's worth a look if you're not quite sure what you're looking for, but certainly isn't as impressive as it used to be.

Need to find a gift for that person who literally has everything? Or in desperate need of a mask…read morefor a masquerade party? Then Essensuals has got you covered. This place is piled high with unique gifts, home decorations and of course, ceramic masks (yes, never fear, those tacky plastic masks covered in sequins and feathers do not have a home here). There's a seemingly large emphasis on Parisian prints and artefacts as well as London-esque decorations and canvas prints depicting rainy days in New York City. So definitely a perfect gift idea for those jet-setters or dreamers who long after a city-change. So when you're next in Emporium, keep an eye out for a large, hollow dog - it stands guard outside the shop.

Gametraders is one of my favourite stores at Chermside, as they often get in retro video game…read moreconsoles such as the Nintendo 64, the Gamecube, the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. They also have a large selection of video games for older consoles. You should definitely avoid Gametraders if you have an addiction for Pop! Vinyl Figures, as they sell hundreds of them, in addition to merchandise for franchises including Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Doctor Who and Star Wars. They also have a large selection of board games and card games, many of which you would not find at most toy and department stores. Gametraders also sells comic books, anime DVDs / Blu-ray's, a small selection of clothing and various video game / TV show props, which would be perfect for cosplay. You will often be able to find items that Gametraders are selling for less online, though they offer convenience and a unique retail experience, which EB Games is finally catching on to, with the launch of their new Zing Pop Culture stores.

Video games are expensive - and don't really have anything to do with videos anymore now I think…read moreabout it. Gamestraders has a very clever model based around letting you trade in your old games to help offset of that brand new $100 game YOU HAVE TO HAVE RIGHT NOW. Other game stores do this too, but Gamestraders seems to be a bit more generous with their refund. Don't get me wrong, they then turn around and sell your traded in game for heaps more than they paid you, and it's pure profit (they only have to pay the manufacturer for new games so selling second hand games is heaps more lucrative than selling new). There's a decent range, and parents and partners can feel slightly better about watching their loved one trade in that game that cost a fortune just a week ago (trust me, you never really go back and play a game once you've finished it).

This Paddington op-shop is, as its name suggests, full of second-hand designer clothes as well as…read morebric-a-brac, old vinyl records, books, and a huge collection of vintage clothes from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Upstairs is full of shoes, bags, jewellery, hats and men's, women's and kid's clothing from big and small designers. Downstairs is a veritable treasure trove of high-waisted 50's skirts, pleated dresses like the ones grandma wears, evening gowns from all decades, leather coats from James Dean's glory years and my favourite, a rack of enormous faux fur coats from a time when people were a little bit classier. The clothes in here might not be as funky as what you will find in a dedicated vintage store but the prices are much easier on the eyes and if you dig deep you can often find something a bit special.

Ah Endo's, the place where clothes go to be reincarnated. Endo's is kind of like a bit fancier, bit…read morefunkier Vinnie's where the clothes have been sorted to ensure that only things with the potential to be reborn are allowed through the doors. This is great for op-shoppers in a hurry who would rather skip trawling through pilled Kmart dresses that aren't quite vintage and more early 2000s. The convenience and funky factors do mean that the prices are a little higher than in your average secondhand charity store, but usually you'll find something in Endo's that makes that worth it. Especially since you can find it in half the time thanks to their excellent stock selection. Whether you're a novice op-shopper or just a lazy one like me, Endo's has done half the work for you and all you need to do is pick what you want and pay for it! And then when someone compliments you on your new dress or jacket and asks you where you got it, you can feel very suave and hip when you reply with a wave of your hand 'oh, this old thing? It's vintage'.

I have been going to Garden City for the past 18 years since moving to Brisbane. It was my post…read moreoffice, grocer, chemist as well as a place to shop in general. Now that I am getting my mail delivered to my home, any of many centers would be convenient to me. But what kept me returning regularly to Garden City was a great little used book store, The Book Cafe. It was a concern when a generic chain bookstore was opened right next door to them last year, and this week, my fears for them were confirmed: their lease was up and not to be renewed. The "new" Garden City is indeed big and pretty. But without shops such as The Book Cafe, it is really just another version of every large shopping centre. Shame on you Westfield!

The thing that really grabbed me about this place is that they actually have a section where there…read moreare market stalls. Look, honestly, shopping centres really don't come anywhere close to the charm of the main street, but they do have a purpose. Like many of the Westfields, you pretty much know what you are going to get here, though the issue that I had was that sometimes getting out in certain directions (such as a direction that doesn't involve the bus stop) requires you to maneuver your way through a car park, so yes, this place really isn't all that pedestrian friendly.

The Manly Gallery is in the perfect spot in my opinion. If I don't have anything on of a Sunday…read moremorning, my favourite sequence of events is to grab a coffee from the Celtic Corner, wander through the Manly markets and admire the artwork on display in the Manly Gallery, looking out for new pieces on display. And all this practically on the same block, right on the harbour. The gallery has on show and for sale, artwork, paintings, sculpture and various other bits and pieces from local artists. Although there is a range of subjects, the overall feel of the gallery is local and water themed, making it a one of a kind in my opinion. Artists vary but include Christopher Pope, Pat Tolcher and my favourite, Karen Atkins.

I love small galleries which support and help nurture local talent. I realise it's not all…read morealtruistic, but there's a love for art emanating from small galleries and this one's no exception. Not too pretentious, Manly Gallery has some lovely works by local artists, some of whom have been creating fabulous littoral works in the Bayside for years. It's not all about the ocean, though; there are some lovely prortraits, sculpture and jewellery to check out too. This gallery has recently changed hands and I'm sure the enthusiasm to keep it relevant and vibrant is as strong as ever. Why not combine a weekend browse through the gallery with a visit to the Manly markets, brunch or fish and chips by the harbour?

Not just another toy shop for kids. These toys are toys you don't usually see in any other…read moreeducational toy shop. They have those ribbons that you clip onto dummies to keep them from dropping on the floor from Germany. They have little animals on them, what a cool idea! They have toys from around the world, cool little replica cars for your boys... I know my son couldn't put them down. The prices aren't too crazy expensive either. What kids toy shop would stop a wooden puzzle of a Japanese sushi bento box? This one does. If you're looking to buy a gift for a birthday, or a special toy for your children that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else, this is most likely the store for you. It's not a huge store, but it is jam-packed with crazy ideas for toys as gifts, accessories for kids, cooking sets made of wood, trains, train table sets and all of the above. I found the owners very knowledgeable about toy origins and the purpose for creating specific toys as well. My kids really liked this shop and I would definetly come back if I wanted to get something original to gift to someone for a birthday or for kids when they get older. Not a lot of toys are for newborns or babies, but the range is vast and I'm sure there is something for all mums and dads out there. This is a cool shop.

I love Growing World. I don't even know that many kids but I love Growing World. It's so different…read moreto many other toy shops out there - it reminds me of my own childhood. You will not find a Barbie or a Lego man here. It's all old-school and traditional, which I absolutely adore. They have a fantastic range of Playmobil sets, which I used to love, wooden dolls' houses, dressing up clothes and also wooden Brio train sets which I remember from pre-school. They have a great range of picture books and puppets - among my favourites are the legitimate Fraggle Rock puppets and the storybook puppets. 'There was an old lady who swallowed a fly' features amongst them and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw the toy, it was absolutely hilarious! An old lady with a big mouth into which the fly, spider, cow and assorted friends can be stuffed as the rhyme goes on... Makes you reassess what lessons we get taught by nursery rhymes as children...! Husband and wife owners Maria and Peter are absolute toy enthusiasts who travel the world visiting toy fairs and bringing back delights from all corners of the globe. They bring a natural flair and passion to their business, and can also be found at the Eumundi Markets and Eagle St Markets on Sundays. If you're looking for something different for someone small, look no further than Growing World.

The Collective is a little gem of a store, with beautiful treasures for those looking for a unique…read moreor hand made gift. It definitely has a style of it's own and possibly will not appeal to anyone looking for new and modern, although there is some merit in combining vintage with modern. They have clothing, toys, vinyl, knitted items and much more. Definitely worth a look. I noticed a gorgeous hand made wooden fawn yesterday, so precious!

The Collective is all things good about people power. I love that this fairly altruistic venture…read moreprovides an outlet for lots of talented, crafty people to showcase their creations and maybe make a dollar or two. A stroll through this shop has me wanting; the prices aren't always cheap but there's a lot of work in handcrafted goods. From dolls to clothes, and woodwork to toys, there are treasures here. It's the kind of place that's always good for finding a gift for someone near and dear, though not so much for the guys.