Getting the best price online for perfume this Mother's Day...

We all know that shopping around gives us a good chance of getting items at the best price, and the internet has opened up a whole world of extra possibilities. So Mother's Day is just around the corner, and you're flat broke - but doing a bit of research on line will let you get Mum a great pressie for the best possible price.

Perfume is a bit of a traditional favourite, and while checking various brands out for my own gift-giving, I was struck by the differences in price for exactly the same product between various online stores. So I decided to do a bit of a price comparison and share the results. This is what I found for seven different scents, arranged from lowest to highest price:

Diamonds & Emeralds by Elizabeth Taylor, 100 ml EDT, RRP $128.00

Difference between highest and lowest price = $74.50

http://www.ebay.com.au/ – Prices ranged between $11.50 & $24.95
Bisaro’s Pharmacy (https://secure.server101.com/bisaros/pages/pages.php?id=1) - $24.95
http://www.crazysales.com.au/index.php?categoryID=81&gclid=CI3Yu6b4jZoCFSRPagodOg-1-w - $24.95
http://www.oo.com.au/ - $24.95
http://www.mysuperdeals.com.au/ - $29.00
http://www.perfumecart.com.au/ - $29.00
http://www.perfume.com.au/shop/index.php - $29.95
http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/ - $29.95
http://www.oztion.com.au/ – Prices range from $29.95 to $39.95
http://www.fragrancechoice.com.au/ - $30.00
http://www.uniquescents.com.au/ - $32.70
http://www.perfumewarehouse.com.au/?gclid=CNHU3Y7xjZoCFR0SagodCQQOLQ - $39.00
http://www.perfumery.com.au/ - $40.00
http://www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au/ - $85.00
http://www.shoppingbag.com.au/ - $86.00

Paris by Paris Hilton, EDP, 100 ml, RRP $125.00

Difference between highest and lowest price = $60.05

http://www.oo.com.au/ - $28.95
Bisaro’s Pharmacy (https://secure.server101.com/bisaros/pages/pages.php?id=1) - $29.00
http://www.ebay.com.au/ – Prices range between $31.85 & $39.95
http://www.perfumeempire.com.au/ – $32.95
http://www.epharmacy.com.au/ - $39.00
http://www.crazysales.com.au/index.php?categoryID=81&gclid=CI3Yu6b4jZoCFSRPagodOg-1-w - $39.95
http://www.perfume.com.au/shop/index.php - $44.50
http://www.perfumecart.com.au/ - $47.15
http://www.uniquescents.com.au/ - $48.60
http://www.perfumewarehouse.com.au/?gclid=CNHU3Y7xjZoCFR0SagodCQQOLQ - $49.00
http://www.fragrancechoice.com.au/ - $49.00
http://www.mysuperdeals.com.au/ - $49.00
http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/ - $49.95
http://perfumeconnection.com.au/ - $49.95
http://www.expressperfume.com.au/search_results.asp - $52.00
http://www.seductionscents.com.au/catalog.php?gclid=CLie-4fnjZoCFQ6jagod7GV3FQ - $56.65
http://www.perfumery.com.au/ - $62.00
http://www.efragrance.com.au/ - $69.00 members / $79.00
http://www.oztion.com.au/ – $70.00
http://www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au/ - $88.00
http://www.shoppingbag.com.au/ - $89.00

Baby Doll by Yves St. Laurent Eau de Toilette for women 50 ml, RRP $99.00

Difference between highest and lowest price = $70.47

http://www.ebay.com.au/ – Prices range between $33.53 & $43.45
http://www.oztion.com.au/ –$35.00
http://www.oo.com.au/ - $39.95
http://www.epharmacy.com.au/ - $49.99
http://www.expressperfume.com.au/search_results.asp - $54.00
http://www.perfumeempire.com.au/ - $54.95
http://www.perfumewarehouse.com.au/?gclid=CNHU3Y7xjZoCFR0SagodCQQOLQ - $59.00
http://www.mysuperdeals.com.au/ - $59.00
http://www.efragrance.com.au/ - $79.00 members / $99.00
http://www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au/ - $103.00
http://www.shoppingbag.com.au/ - $104.00

CK One by Calvin Klein, EDT, 100 ml, RRP $89.00

Difference between highest and lowest price = $41.00

Bisaro’s Pharmacy (https://secure.server101.com/bisaros/pages/pages.php?id=1) - $39.00
http://www.ebay.com.au/ –$39.90
http://www.oo.com.au/ - $39.95
http://www.perfumeempire.com.au/ - $49.95
http://www.uniquescents.com.au/ - $52.00
http://www.expressperfume.com.au/search_results.asp - $55.00
http://www.perfumery.com.au/ - $58.00 http://www.mysuperdeals.com.au/ - $59.00
http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/ - $59.95
http://www.perfumewarehouse.com.au/?gclid=CNHU3Y7xjZoCFR0SagodCQQOLQ - $69.00
http://www.efragrance.com.au/ - $72.00 members / $75.00
http://www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au/ - $79.00
http://www.shoppingbag.com.au/ - $80.00

Paris by Yves St Laurent, EDT, 75 ml, RRP $153.00

Difference between highest and lowest price = $78.00

http://www.oztion.com.au/ – Prices range from $50.00 to $99.95
http://www.ebay.com.au/ –$72.45
http://www.oo.com.au/ - $78.95
http://www.mysuperdeals.com.au/ - $89.00
http://www.perfumeempire.com.au/ - $97.95
http://perfumeconnection.com.au/ - $99.95
http://www.expressperfume.com.au/search_results.asp - $103.00
http://www.perfumery.com.au/ - $116.00 http://www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au/ - $126.00
http://www.shoppingbag.com.au/ - $128.00

Agent Provocateur by Agent Provocateur, EDP, 100 ml, RRP $220.00

Difference between highest and lowest price = $123.05

http://www.oo.com.au/, $88.95
http://www.crazysales.com.au/index.php?categoryID=81&gclid=CI3Yu6b4jZoCFSRPagodOg-1-w - $89.95
http://www.mysuperdeals.com.au/ - $99.00
http://www.seductionscents.com.au/catalog.php?gclid=CLie-4fnjZoCFQ6jagod7GV3FQ - $104.45
http://www.fragrancechoice.com.au/ - $115.00
http://www.oztion.com.au/ - $119.00
http://www.perfumeempire.com.au/ - $124.95
http://www.perfumery.com.au/ - $127.00 http://www.perfumewarehouse.com.au/?gclid=CNHU3Y7xjZoCFR0SagodCQQOLQ - $129.00
http://www.expressperfume.com.au/search_results.asp - $130.00
http://www.efragrance.com.au/ – $175.00 members / $188.00
http://www.shoppingbag.com.au/ - $212.00

Opium by Yves St Laurent, EDT, 100 ml, RRP $204.00

Difference between highest and lowest price = $116.00

http://www.oztion.com.au/ – Prices range from $70.00 to $139.95
http://www.ebay.com.au/ – Prices range between $81.95 & $98.00
http://www.mysuperdeals.com.au/ - $110.00
http://www.uniquescents.com.au/ - $114.00
http://www.crazysales.com.au/index.php?categoryID=81&gclid=CI3Yu6b4jZoCFSRPagodOg-1-w - $114.90
Bisaro’s Pharmacy (https://secure.server101.com/bisaros/pages/pages.php?id=1) - $119.00
http://www.fragrancechoice.com.au/ - $120.00
http://www.seductionscents.com.au/catalog.php?gclid=CLie-4fnjZoCFQ6jagod7GV3FQ - $123.95
http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/ - $129.00
http://perfumeconnection.com.au/ - $129.95
http://www.epharmacy.com.au/ - $129.99
http://www.perfumecart.com.au/ - $131.89
http://www.perfumewarehouse.com.au/ - $139.00
http://www.perfumeempire.com.au/ - $139.95
http://www.perfumery.com.au/ - $167.00
http://www.efragrance.com.au/ –$169.00 members / $204.00
http://www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au/ - $184.00
http://www.shoppingbag.com.au/ - $186.00

So you see, it really does pay to do a bit of research before buying, even on line - you can win yourself some major brownie points without breaking the bank and save yourself a chunk of cash for the effort!

For those wondering why these particular perfumes, the simple reason is that a couple are my Mum's fave's and a couple I was checking for my Mother in Law. The others are either my personal choices (hint to my hubby and kids!) or my besties faves (it's her birthday next month).

Please note that none of the prices listed include postage (although a few sites either don't charge any delivery or offer free postage for purchases overs a certain amount). Availability is not necessarily guaranteed either, and in some instances, particularly in the case of auction sites such as Oztion and Ebay, prices can easily fluctuate depending on demand.

All the sites listed here are Australian and I've included the web addresses for anyone wanting to take advantage of the info, or check them out for themselves.

Finally, for all those Mum's out there, hope you have a great Mother's Day and get spoiled rotten!!!

Sneaky ways to serve up pumpkin for the most ardent orange veg hater!!!

Pumpkin seems to be one of those vegies that most people either love or they hate with a passion! My daughter is the former, my husband and son the latter, and as for myself, unless its baked or mashed up with loads of potato, I generally wouldn't give you "thank you" for it. But whenever we have a roast, my daughter demands that it absolutely must include baked pumpkin. That always left me with a bit of a problem about what to do with the rest of the dreaded orange veg! So I've come up with some rather sneaky ways to get everyone else in the house to eat it. Here's five of my fave alternative ways to dish up pumpkin for yummy, cheap eats that fool even the most discerning six-year-old.

Recipe number 1: Pumpkin vichyssoise:

The perfect hearty meal for cooler winter evenings.


Ingredients
750 g pumpkin
2 large onions
250 g potatoes
3 chicken stock cubes
1 litre (4 cups) water
1 cup cream
salt & pepper

Method:
1: Peel pumpkin, cut into small pieces, place in large saucepan.
2: Add peeled and chopped onions, peeled and chopped potatoes, crumbled stock cubes and water.
3: Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 25 minutes or until vegetables are very soft and tender.
4: Push vegetables and liquid through a fine sieve or puree in blender.
5: Return puree to saucepan, add cream, salt and pepper.
6: Bring to boil, stirring, reduce heat, simmer for further 5 minutes.

Hint: If you think the quantity is going to be too much for your family to eat at once, you can always freeze a portion of the soup. Just make sure you remove what you want to freeze before the cream goes in. Plastic Chinese take away containers or larger plastic butter or margarine tubs are perfect for this.



Recipe number 2: Pan-barbecued pumpkin and bacon damper:
The perfect impressive accompaniment to serve with soups or hearty casseroles.

Ingredients:
375g chopped pumpkin
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tblsp milk
2 rashers bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 1/2 cups self raising flour
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
60g butter

Method:
1: Boil pumpkin until tender, drain and push through sieve, giving you about 1 cup mashed pumpkin.
2: Stir in egg and milk.
3: Cook bacon and onion in pan until lightly browned, remove from heat.
4: Sift flour, pepper and mustard into bowl, rub in butter, add bacon and onion.
5: Stir in pumpkin mixture.
6: Turn onto lightly floured surface and knead lightly until smooth.
7: Press out to about 3 cm thickness with hand, place dough into large, greased, heavy-based shallow pan or place directly onto greased barbecue plate.
8: Using a sharp knife, mark into wedges 1 cm deep.
9: Place pan on barbecue plate and cook over a medium heat until damper is cooked through, about 30 minutes, turning several times during the cooking process.
Serve hot with butter.


Recipe number 3: Deliciously nutritious wholemeal pumpkin quiche:
This one is a particular favourite in my house, although I've never actually told them they are eating pumpkin!

Ingredients:
Wholemeal pastry:
1 cup wholemeal plain flour
1/4 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
1/4 cup wheatgerm or unprocessed bran
125 g butter
1 tblsp water, approximately

Filling:
15g butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 rashers bacon, chopped
1 cup mashed pumpkin (about 375 g pumpkin boiled will give one cup of mashed pumpkin. Left over boiled pumpkin can be used as long as it hasn't been mashed with milk, butter or cream.)
3 eggs
300 ml carton cream
1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
1 tblsp chopped chives

Method:
Wholemeal pastry:
1: Sift flours into bowl, add wheatgerm.
2: Rub in butter, add enough water to mix to a firm dough, cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
3: Preheat oven to moderately hot.
4: Roll pastry out large enough to line a 23 cm flan tin, trim edges, line with grease proof paper, fill with dried beans or uncooked rice (known as blind baking).
5: Bake in moderately hot oven 7 minutes, remove paper and beans/rice, and bake for further 7 minutes.
6: Remove from oven.
7: Reduce oven heat to moderate.

Filling:
1: Melt butter in pan, add onion and bacon, cook, stirring, until onion is soft.
2: Combine pumpkin, eggs, cream, cheese and chives in bowl and then whisk whisk in onion and bacon mixture.
3: Pour filling into pastry case and bake in moderate oven for about 30 minutes or until set.

Hint: If you are feeling "lazy", can't be bothered making the pastry, or just haven't got time, just substitute it for frozen packet puff pastry from the supermarket. Cook in flan tin as per instructions on packet and fill as per recipe.



Recipe number 4: Pumpkin & sultana muffins:
This one is sure to score brownie points and have the most hardened pumpkin hater gobbling them down - just don't mention the "P" word!

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups plain flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup sultanas
60g melted butter
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup of milk
1 egg, lightly beaten

Method:
1: Preheat oven to hot (about 200 degrees for ordinary oven, 180 degrees for fan forced)
2: Sift flour, baking powder & cinnamon into bowl, add sugar.
3: Stir in sultanas.
4: Make a well in the centre and add melted butter, pumpkin, milk and egg.
5: Mix the centre ingredients together and then incorporate flour mix to make a lightly mixed and rather lumpy batter.
6: Spoon batter into muffin tins.
7: Bake in hot oven for about 15-20 minutes or until a skewer poked into the centre comes away clean.


Hint: These little babies freeze quite well too. Put them on one of those foam trays that your meat comes on from the supermarket, place them in a freezer bag and tie closed to protect them from freezer burn.



Recipe number 5: Pumpkin scones:
An all time Australian favourite, particularly associated with Flo, wife of former QLD Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, although this probably isn't the recipe she used!

Ingredients:
45g butter
1 tblsp brown sugar
1/2 cup cooked, mashed pumpkin
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
2 1/2 cups self raising flour
Pinch salt
1/2 cup sultanas
Melted butter to glaze

Method:
1: Preheat oven to hot (about 200 degrees C for ordinary oven or 180 degrees C for fan forced).
2: Cream butter and sugar together, then mix in pumpkin.
3: Stir in egg and milk.
4: Sift flour and salt and add to creamed mixture with sultanas.
5: Knead a few times on a lightly floured surface, then pat out to about 2 cm thickness.
6: Cut into rounds with a floured scone cutter. Haven't got a scone cutter? A medium circumference drinking glass floured on top will work just as well.
7: Place cut scones on greased baking tray and brush tops with melted butter.
8: Bake in hot oven for 15 minutes, until well risen, golden brown on top and cooked through.

Delicious served hot, halved and buttered. Perfect with honey too, for something just a little bit sweeter.

Deliciously cheap ways to serve up roast chicken left overs!

Soup is one of the best ways to use up left over roast chicken, so here are three of my all time faves, followed by a quick and easy quiche:

Recipe number 1 - Traditional chicken and vegetable soup.
A sure fire winner with all the family, an easy way to get kids to want to eat their vegies and the perfect winter warmer.

Ingredients:
Left over roast chicken on the bone
3-4 cups cold water
1 large onion, chopped
1 large potato, grated
1-2 large carrots, grated
Any of the following fresh vegetables that you have on hand, grated: parsnip, turnip, swede, leek, celery, zucchini (the vegetable soup packs that some supermarkets have available in their fruit and veg section are perfect)
1 litre chicken stock Salt and pepper for seasoning

Method:
1: Place left over roast chicken on the bone in large pot with water, replace lid and bring to boil.

2: Reduce heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until meat starts to come away from bones.

3: Chop and grate vegetables while chicken is simmering.

4: Remove chicken meat and bones from pot and put aside to cool. Add chopped and grated vegetables to pot and keep simmering gently.

6: Once chicken has cooled sufficiently, remove meat from bones and chop roughly. Return to pot with water and vegetables.

7: Add chicken stock and season with salt and pepper to taste.

8: Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are all cooked and tender, about 20 - 30 minutes.

Serve with fresh, crunchy chunks of bread and butter.

Recipe number 2: Chicken and sweet corn chowder.
Another classic favourite, stemming from our obsession with Chinese take away when there weren't too many other options about!

Ingredients:
Left over roast chicken on the bone.
1 litre (4 cups) water
2-3 chicken stock cubes, crumbled (depending on your taste)
1 med onion, chopped
2 large potatoes, chopped
440 g can creamed corn
1 tsp grated ginger (the grated ginger in the jar works fine)
125 g can corn kernels, drained
2 cups milk
2 spring onions

Method:
1: Place left over roast chicken on the bone in large pot with water, replace lid and bring to boil.

2: Reduce heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until meat starts to come away from bones.

3: Remove chicken meat and bones from pot and put aside to cool.

4: Add crumbled stock cubes, potatoes, creamed corn, onion and ginger to water, bring back to boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.

5: Once chicken has cooled sufficiently, remove meat from bones and chop roughly.

6: Blend stock cube, potato, creamed corn, onion and ginger mixture until smooth, return to pan. Add chicken, corn kernels and milk and stir over heat until boiling.

Serve garnished with chopped shallots.

Recipe number 3: Creamy chicken, potato and leak soup.
The perfect hearty winter meal in itself.

Ingredients:
Left over roast chicken on bone.
1 cup water.
2 leeks, washed and finely sliced
2 - 3 large potatoes, finely sliced
4 tblsp butter
1 litre chicken stock
1 cup milk
1/2 cup cream
Salt & pepper

Method:
1: Place left over roast chicken on the bone in large pot with water, replace lid and bring to boil.

2: Reduce heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until meat starts to come away from bones.

3: Remove chicken meat and bones from pot and put aside to cool, reserving water.

4: In a seperate pot, melt butter and add sliced leeks. Cook for about 5 minutes.

5: Add sliced potatoes, reserved water from chicken and chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for about 30 minutes.

6: Meanwhile, once chicken has cooled sufficiently, remove meat from bones and chop roughly.

7: Blend leek and potato mixture and return to pot. Add chicken, milk and cream. Reheat without boiling.

Serve with warm, crunchy bread and butter.

Recipe number 4 - Easy chicken and leek quiche:
A delicious, quick and easy recipe that can be eaten hot or cold.

Ingredients:
Packet puff pastry
About 125 g left over roast chicken, chopped.
2 leeks.
1 tblsp butter
1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup cream

Method:
1: Line quiche tin and baking dish with puffs pastry, ensuring that all edges overlap to prevent shrinkage. Prick all over with fork and bake to directions on packet. Allow to cool slightly before adding filling.

2: Wash and thinly slice leeks. Heat butter in frying pan. Saute leeks and chicken for 3-4 minutes.

3: Combine leek and chicken thoroughly in bowl with cheese, eggs and cream.

4: Spoon into pastry and bake in moderate oven (180 degrees or 160 degrees for fan forced) for about 35 minutes or until cooked.

Serve with a green tossed salad.