Tatty’s is a treasure trove of recycled designer, vintage and quality high street clothing and accessories. Fresh stock is put out regularly so it is worth popping by often.

Emporio U is a best kept secret for secondhand designer. It is down a subtle stairway off High Street and it is where you will find silk Hermes scarves in pristine condition alongside a plethora of high end leather handbags, clothing from NZ designers such as Zambesi, Trelise Cooper, Kate Sylvester, Karen Walker as well as international luminaries Armani, Ralph Lauren, Moschino, Marc Jacobs, Gucci and I could go on and on and on... 

I happily came across the newly opened Encore store in Newmarket the other day, it is bright and well laid out and has a host of fabulous secondhand garments and accessories to choose from. I found an amazing khaki wool studded Zara biker jacket, unworn, and well priced. There were many other items that caught my eye including a sixties style Chloe coat in a beautiful black tonal floral. 

Covet have taken up residence in the old Flotsam and Jetsam shop in Grey Lynn, fortuitously located near Ripe cafe. It is a really cute store with great displays and it's a natural progression after a coffee and feed to browse the racks. It is a consignment store so vintage, pre-loved designer and upper end chain store pieces knock together on the racks. There are lots of covetable pieces including a fair bit of Marni when I went in. Some really good footwear and interesting jewellery and there is also retro collectibles, bric-a-brac and crockery for sale.

I always leave Scotties in Blake street vowing to visit more regularly, the recycle section is so good and harbours many a covetable designer piece from seasons past. The shoe selection is particularly mindblowing, at any given time you will find Rick Owens wedges next to Ann Demeulemeester sandals, Margiela pumps and a perfect pair of Christian Dior peep toes nestled in with Comme des Garcons brogues. Last time I shopped the shoe section for work I walked away with cobalt blue studded McQueens, olive suede Balenciaga sandals, three tone high heeled Miu Miu brogues and  a pair of classic black patent Alaia courts. You really can't get much better than that, and the prices are incredibly reasonable. 

First stop of my top to toe makeover would be a cut at Stephen Marr. As well as being fantastic stylists, you get looked after very well - from a firm head massage while your hair is washed to the perfect coffee(or wine if you prefer)while sitting in the hairdressers chair flipping through the latest fashion magazines.

Next I would pop in to Lucy and the Powder room for one of their latest pampering packages - perhaps a skin rejuvenating treatment and foot massage. Then a browse of the powerful natural skincare available to take home. I highly recommend the Synergie range, it leaves your skin feeling amazing after each application.

The Department Store has plenty to offer with Karen Walker, Black Box Boutique, Topman, Topshop, Ruby, Blak, Sylvester, Lonely Hearts, Miss Crabb and much more under one roof. The ultimate place to head for some retail therapy.

Runway has an extremely covetable selection of footwear and bags. From the textural vegan delights of Stella McCartney, enduring classics by Diane von Furstenberg, vintage inspired treats from Chie Mihara to the offbeat and clever Marc Jacobs, it is heaven for accessoriy-philes. 

To take care of your inner wellbeing head up to Harvest Natural Health Centre. You can pick up the great ready made Natural Anne Tonics and there is a great range of effective vitamins and minerals or you could get a comprehensive run down on your inner heath by making an appointment with one of the naturopaths.

Bok Choy is a build your own noodle lunch eatery. Choose from udon, ramen or gluten free rice noodles then add as many vegetables as you like(there are many to choose from), your choice of meat, seafood or tofu and finally the sauce. It is all then fired in the wok and in minutes you have a meal for $5-$7 max.

Not only is Little Bird Unbakery a great place to have a healthy and nourishing lunch, they also have a range of grocery items that will enhance your at home meals such as cacao powder, goji berries, coconut oil, nut butters, organic olives and the full range of Little Bird cereals and products.

Just walking into Ripe gets the tastebuds primed for the delicious items that await in the counters. First up are the healthy and compact wraps residing below in the second cabinet - a quick bite on the run. The ultimate in takeaway lunches are in the two longer fridges with delectable, melt-in-your mouth salmon, pulled pork burritos, a plethora of satisfying salads, Ripe beef lasagne, potato cakes, hot pasta dishes and so much more that you can pull together to make the perfect meal. The freezer has soups such as cauliflower and parmesan, white bean, kale and fennel and homemade chicken soup as well as more substantial frozen casseroles. The coffee is a malty and flavorsome Altezano brew and so welcoming on a brisk day. 

Kokako is not only a vegetarian haven, with all meals on offer completely vege, organic and fair trade where possible, they are also very flexible with gluten free options. There are already gluten free dishes on the menu like the Mexican spiced organic adzuki beans with a corn tortilla, tangy cabbage salad and tomatillo and jalapeño sauce or the breakfast options - buckwheat ricotta pancakes with poached pear and creme fraiche and the spiced coconut and vanilla rice porridge. Anything with bread can be customised to include gluten free bread, such as the mushroom medley and avocado that i had, and the coffee and smoothies are delicious.

Honeytrap has only just opened and I have fallen in love with the toasted sandwiches. To date they have had a creamy and delicious curried cauliflower and cheese in a sesame seed bun and a baked bean and pesto, both quite addictive. The salads are chocka full of healthy grains and vege such as farro, broccoli pesto and haloumi, quinoa and pumpkin or an Asian slaw with wild rice. They only serve filter coffee but it is a smooth Supreme brew and is a refreshing alternative to espresso. 

In St Kevin’s Arcade is an unassuming barber shop that do great cuts at a very reasonable price. They take walk ins if they aren’t busy and the wait isn’t long.

Black Box stock a fantastic range of men’s grooming products from Triumph & Disaster. The scents are bespoke and ingredients derived from natural products and they do not test on animals. Products in the range include old fashioned shave cream, shearer’s soap, moisturiser, cleanser and a facial scrub.

You need to book in advance but the wait will be worth it at Stephen Marr. Some of the best stylist in town work within these walls and they can offer you the best advice on your choice of haircut and colour and of course execute it to perfection.

Dry and Tea accommodate men’s follicular needs as well as women’s. Based in the humming up and coming City Works Depot, it is the perfect place for a Mens Mini Groom which includes a neck, ear, eyebrow and sideburn trim at a reasonable $25 or a cut from $70 - $85.

If you want a classic cut and a razor shave head to Flash City where they have set up in the spirit of a traditional barber shop. If you feel inclined you can get a tattoo while you are there from the hundreds of designs lining the walls.

Meredith's is my favoured restaurant for spoiling myself. The degustation menus are enlightening and the service is always of a high standard. The atmosphere is low key and comfortable which allows the food to play the star role. The slow poached egg dish is always a favourite and the desserts are incredibly crafted.

Is it premature to call Ortolana the best new casual dining restaurant in Auckland? I will just have to visit a few more times to test my theory. The food is divine. To start with I had burnt fig, mozzerella with a sesame dressing which just melted in my mouth. The figs had a savoury flavour not unlike a zucchini which was a pleasant surprise. Next up was market fish - snapper with skin on, cooked to perfection, with green beans, smokey roast eggplant, a green chilli laced dressing and toasted nuts. The whole dish was seasoned perfectly and I could have eaten another. Dessert was gelato bombe alaska which sweetly sealed the meal. There are no bookings so make sure you get in early for a table.

Depot Eatery is a humming restaurant that really lives up to the hype. The food is fantastic, the service equally so and it is a fun place to do some people watching while you drink and eat. I have been twice as a treat and it is absolutely the place to indulge in a bottle of Bollinger, whether for lunch or a dinner celebration, and try as much on the menu as possible. The oysters are fresh and plentiful and notable dishes for me include the potato skins with gouda and porcini salt, the meltingly soft turbot sliders, kingfish belly with kasundi and the crisp iceberg wedge with ranch dressing. The fish changes often and the whole menu is dictated by the seasonal produce available. Well worth the hour long wait for a table so don't give up. 

The Engine Room is worth crossing the bridge for a regular treat. It is a busy bistro which is worthy of it's reputation as one of Auckland's top restaurants. I have had the twice baked goat's cheese souffle every time I have dined there, without fail. It is light and creamy in texture and incredibly rich to taste and is possibly the most comforting dish I could think of eating on a cool winter evening. It is hard to choose a main form the menu, all the dishes are perfectly executed but the veal schnitzel with rosti and caper butter is a firm favourite and the fish specials are guaranteed to satisfy. If you have room for dessert afterwards I highly recommend the churros which come with a heavenly chocolate dipping sauce and also the profiteroles.

Sunday Painters is one of my favourite spots in the city for dinner and perfect for an intimate date. It has masses of character with it's sweeping black and white striped curtains, booth seats and vintage crockery and the food is delicious. I love that they play lp's, it gives the dining room an authenticity that other places lack. As does the small black and white tv spouting Plath as you go to the bathrooms. And of course the food is superb - goats cheese stuffed zucchini flower with tomato couli, gourmet mushroom vol au vent with puy lentil veloute and rocket salad and hazelnut brulee with poached pear mouse to finish. Of course I can never resist also ordering the french fries with mayo so I leave stuffed but very content. 

My first stop for car stuff that I can take care of is Repco. Great for all of the mainstays such as engine oil, transmission fluid, lightbulbs for headlights, jumper cables through to cup holders. Plus if you are a real whizz at fixing your own car there is all of the technical bits and bobs you need.

These guys offer efficient and friendly service, they do it all from oil changes, wofs while you wait and mechanical repairs. They are conveniently located just off K'Rd and in walking distance of Ponsonby and Auckland City central. 

Fuel Conversions are my go to for my car as they are sympathetic towards older vehicles and also they do a fine job of repairing and tuning my motor. They also specialise in cars using lpg as a fuel source and can warrant and service your lpg tank and lines.