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Wellington-based designer Alexandra Owen blew the fashion press away with her collection at Fashion Week last year, and now Wellingtonians can welcome the very first Alexandra Owen boutique to their city. The store, on Wakefield St, will house her winter 2009 range as well as leather accessories, other labels and popular pieces from past Owen collections. Alexandra Owen, 253 Wakefield St, Wellington. Ph (04) 384 8925.
Chocolate Valentines
If your true love is chocolate (or if he knows you love the stuff almost as much as you do him) then this Valentine's Day could be the one to indulge your passion. Forget the box of soft-centres, slather the stuff on, with one of several new beauty treatments with a difference. Down at East Day Spa at SkyCity Grand you can have a chocolate facial, using Valhrona no less, and the Ilsci range of organic products. At the Forme spas they're offering a special Chocolate Delight package of a chocolate body scrub and massage for a limited time.
Valentine for you
Sunglass Hut have a special Valentine's Day offer, but get in quick because it's only available until Saturday February 14. Buy a pair of full-priced sunglasses over $200 and you'll receive a $50 Sunglass Hut gift card.
Matters of the heart
This week is Valentine's Heart Week, with the Heart Foundation hoping to raise women's heart health awareness. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, and to help with the fight against it, Elizabeth Arden have teamed up with the Heart Foundation to create Go Red for Women lipsticks. The limited edition lipsticks are just $35, with every cent going towards preventing heart disease among women. And while you will of course be supporing a great cause, it's also a great excuse to get a great red lippy - something every woman should own. Get yours now from www.goredforwomen.org.nz
Backward fashion
Everyone was shocked and amazed when Angelina Jolie wore her Max Azira dress back-to-front at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last week. Um, why? The dress may not have been amazing, but we do think it's great that someone actually used their brain and did something semi-exciting on the red carpet for once. We're just a tad tired of starlets all putting on strapless column gowns that pretty much look exactly the same.
Sleeping beauty
The Beds R Us Sleepcentre in Wairau Park has been designed to make bed buying a restful and pleasurable experience. They know more than beds, they know sleep. Flowers, warm residential style lighting, sheer floor-to-ceiling curtains, fabulous staff and even your own personal pillow protectors - it's heavenly retail therapy! They have a beautiful range of 100 per cent New Zealand made Sleepyhead and Design Mobel beds for adults and children and gorgeous linen and bedding so you can create your perfect night's sleep. They've even got a cool kids' section with TV and bean bags so parents can test drive the beds in peace.
Beds R Us have given us an Orthoform S Medium Queen size bed to give away, worth $2029. To enter, write your name, address and phone number on an envelope and send to Beds R Us competition, Viva, NZ Herald, PO Box 3290, Auckland.
10 Tips for a great night's sleep
1 Keep the lights low before bed so your brain knows it's bedtime.
2 Size does matter - a bigger bed means a better night's sleep.
3 Have a warm drink.
4 Slow down before bedtime.
5 Go to bed later rather than earlier if you're having trouble sleeping.
6 Clear your head - make lists of the things you need to do the next day before bed.
7 Turn your alarm clock away from you - looking at the time will only make you anxious.
8 We spend one third of our lives in bed - it's worth getting a good one.
9 If you do wake up at night and can't nod off - get out of bed for about 20 minutes and then try again.
10 Make sure you have the right bedding - treat yourself to good pillows and linen to make sure you're comfortable
