Go Early – For parking, and because everything’s limited stock. David Jones & Myer opens at 5am and the other shopping centers open 7-8am. Lush seems to open whenever, one year it was 10am and so we stood waiting for 2hrs… true story. 

Plan & Prioritize – I make a list of what to get and from where. Also I put numbers next to them, buying say a tv is higher up in importance then bath bombs from Lush. What’s more important to you? Also plan the faster route from store to store, get the map before the day. Most of them can be found online, except for Melbourne Central. 

Know Your Size & Return Policy – Know your size in each brand before the day, so you grab and go to the check-out. NO TRYING ON ANYTHING! That’s going to take too long. But do check the return policies, most stores are cool with change of mind and things on sale – with an exception of a few, mainly more $$$ stores like Alannah Hill. Also thanks to me contesting policies Honey Birdette doesn’t offer return/refunds just because you bought a bra the wrong size. 

Impulse Maybe – Refer to the return policy on sale items. Also set a budget. 

Shop Online or Not… - Just because you paid for it ain’t mean it’s yours. Many times during sales they sell more than there’s stock and so they’ll give you a refund. Best to buy online before the day and instores too and return one, that’ll cost you $10-ish shipping, but better then not getting the item. Here's a list of the sales. 

Dress Comfortably & Bring Food – It’s a marathon! No heels or nothing you can’t run/stand in for a long time. Also bring snacks on the go, and water.  

No Browsing Till You Finish the List - Eyes on the prize! Also don’t bring Emily or anyone who has no idea what they want and strolls at a leisurely rate from store to store, after spending 2hrs+ finding parking. Bring a man to carry everything if you have one. ;)

Sunday 5th November



Breakfast at Hobba, we're not morning people but we've just come from a Harry Potter Marathon :P. Liven offered us a $20 off $40 spend, the perfect way to discover and try new places.

Hobba is quite easy to get to on the tram, near Chapel St. Set in a warehouse with a couple fans, this place is going to be crazy hot when it gets warmer.








Jas had the Benedict, smoked ham hock. Loved the ham but the hollandaise sauce was bland. On the fence, better things on menu and other places do it too. He rated the dish as 9/10 oddly, after that remark.






I had the mushroom stack which was pretty good, though the potato wasn't cream based but oil/buttery liquid... also I challenged myself as I hate bell pepper, but thought it would be different perhaps as cavier. Wouldn't get it again or recommend it.

Saturday 4th Nov
























The chicken salad was pretty good as always but needs lime and dressing. 
Not enough dressing.

Saturday 4th Nov



Of course we're running late. Would it be us if we weren't? The bus comes hourly and there are no trams. The marathon at the Astor started at 11am, but we didn't get there till the afternoon.




Windsor. So many op shops! Fortunately I can't enter with so many bags. So we only went to one. Mecca. A favourite for cheap books. The ones I bought were $2. The red op shops are 5.25 each even the Ashburton one these days (used to be a favourite).

We came upon some old Cristina re stock $1 each!! Op shops are the place to go for fancy paper - if you get lucky. Hello wedding invites for 20. I completely forgot about the hat I came in to look at...



Takeaway lunch from pasta bar $20. Idk why pasta is not a cheap eat... yes I know it is at home but we don't have a kitchen ("renovating" for life). Service was very friendly. What did this place use to be? A house she thinks. With a human sized fireplace? It really does look like one. The pasta was a bit oily but good. Probs wouldn't get it again unless desperate.



Finally we made it to the movie theatre, though I didn't take many pictures... no idea why. But I was posting memes, quotes and other things on instagram during the event.








8pm Dinner break at Fonda, where the tables are as sticky as the floor at a club...
We need lime for tacos, also granny smith matchsticks for the fish taco to be amazing.

The chicken salad was pretty good as always but needs lime and dressing. Not enough dressing.
Back to the movies we stayed till the camping one (missing a wedding and tragic but heroic death of Dobby) where we went home for breakfast and shower. Then back for the last movie. 




So sad we lost three on the team, the most devastating was George. Was Luna even in the final battle? She wasn't even dirty. Neville got his hero moments, he developed so much from the first movie. In the books there's a part where Harry discovers Neville could have been him, as in be chosen and marked as the one by Voldy, but they completely skipped that in the movie.




Snape's story is still the most surprising and tragic. As tragic as the fact that he only had two costumes and one outfit was being dressed as Neville's grandma.



RIP to all the actors who have died (in real life) since the movie. 
Especially the first and best Dumbledore. 

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