Diva & Co

Bought through: Deals.com
Voucher for: Delight Yourself with this Deluxe Pamper Package. Only $49 for a 60 Minute Deep Cleansing Facial plus 45 Minute Luxurious Hot Oil Manicure and Hot Oil Pedicure. Enjoy Fresher, Hydrated Skin and Stunning Nails Topped Off with OPI Polish. Valued at $154

Diva & Co

After spending much for the last month looking like a walking anachronism from a Rococo painting (shout out to all the talented peeps for Heidelberg Theatre Company's recent season of Amadeus!); my skin was feeling roundly confused from the almost nightly regime of full face makeup - theatre white - scrub clean - redo full face makeup - second round of theatre white - final cleanse and clean up. Phew! The look was of the time and paired with wig and

costume, rather spectacular, but I was definitely looking forward to my facial, booked for the day after my final show to give my skin a bit of TLC.

Diva & Co in Hawthorn East is located close to crazy intersection in Camberwell, so bear that in mind if you are looking for a parking space close to the salon. My booking was for Sunday afternoon so no need to worry about parking restrictions, and easily I found a car space across the road from the salon. 

The interiors were bright and calming white, dominated in the front of the showroom by four comfy massage chairs with soaking wells attached. A customer was enjoying a pampering pedicure as I was invited through to a secondary small treatment area for my facial. 

Talk about a pamper package! The 60 minute deep cleanse included a double cleanse, exfoliation, mask, massage and major moisturiser not just my face, but my neck and decolletage as well. It was all very calming and a meditative soundtrack allowed you to drift off for a blissful cat nap.

After enjoying that for about an hour, we proceeded to the second part of my voucher - the manicure and pedicure. Now, I don't get my nails done very often, so I profess I'm a bit unfamiliar with this procedure bar the painting of bright colours!

I had my pedicure first and thoroughly enjoyed a warm oil foot soak, filing, cuticle care (something I would never think to normally do), a buff, polish and even a mini foot massage with a special oil lotion. 

From the display shelves I had picked a fun, iridescent metallic from the extensive Opi range on offer called Kermit Me To Speak, and totally love how it looked on both my hands and feet.

My fingers received similar pampering but I was a little scared when the technician, a chatty and friendly Chinese girl picked up a modified pair of small scissors and proceeded with a little cuticle care on my nails. I would never do this to myself (eek), but surprisingly it didn't hurt at all, and I have to admit, my nails looked lovely when the polish was painted expertly on.

Both sets of nails have lasted quite well and you can buy vouchers lasting three months directly from Diva & Co for the manicure and pedicure set for about $35 (regular retail is approximately $75).

Pros: Bustling location close to lots of fun shops in Camberwell; relaxing facial; and pretty paint for your nails.

Cons: Might have some problems finding parking during the week if you need longer than an hour; can be busy so leave a message to make your booking - they will call back to confirm.

Chokolait at Emporium

Bought through: Ouffer
Voucher for: Chocolate Fix for Two People including Platter, Drinks and Take-Away Truffles. Valued at $64

Chokolait Emporium

I am such a chocoholic. Seriously, I have considered giving up "the food of the gods" for FebFast, or Lent, or just to see whether I can - and while it is possible for a short period of time (especially if I'm in a tropical country and have other novelty sweets to pursue) I always come back to the dark stuff. Always.

Chokolait, a boutique chocolatier which already has a successful store in the Hub Arcade of Little Collins St, has purloined some prime real estate at the Emporium CBD. Management must like chocolatiers as it looks like there will be dedicated temples to the dark stuff on every one of their glittering levels.

Chokolait Emporium looks like a whisky bar with is counter-programming colours highlighted by a black on brown textured finish. It's a reasonable size, but not overly expansive, so be prepared to be politely turned away if the place gets too busy, but don't cry, there's another chocolatier/ patisserie/ scone salon waiting to satisfy your sweet tooth not too far away.

The voucher I had was for a tasting platter accompanied by drinks and take-away truffles to boot and I was well impressed with all that was offered. The platter was a good size, the items a wonderful mix of chocolates, cakes and ices, and our drinks were delicious (though a touch gritty towards the end) but overall impressive to the eye. Our truffles, enjoyed later, were also of a delectable variety and elicited much mmmmm-ing with satisfaction.

A sense of humour and a dedication to the sweet palate had master chocolatier Ross popping out to personally deliver your platter and truffles (with a tip that the chocolate frogs are especially for the ladies); with an optimistic suggestion to socially share your theobromic high to all and sundry. Noted.

Pros: Tony location, generous platter with large drinks and extra truffles to take home; friendly staff; delicious offerings

Cons: None at this time

Ba'get

Bought through: Entertainment Book
Voucher for: One complimentary MAIN MENU ITEM when another MAIN MENU ITEM of equal or greater value is purchased. Valid for dine-in and takeaway

Ba'get

There's a fun eatery filled with tasty pho and delicious danishes just down the street from where I work. Ba'get is a concept borrowed from street food during the Indochine period in Vietnam when the French colonised this south-eastern nation and brought forth a fusion of cuisines that celebrated the best of both cultures.

I love pho - so fast and fresh - as does Alister when we caught up recently for a little lunch in the city. The space on Russell St is expansive, with small seats and tables for street dining outside during fine weather (if you don't mind a little traffic), and a reasonably sized interior area as well. 

Ba'get provide complimentary pandan tea in an urn in the centre of their store and the aroma transported me to Penang and Malaysia, it's a bouquet I've loved since childhood. The perfumes of Pan-Asia!

Both of us decided to get the Grilled Lemongrass Pork Bowl (snap!) which has rice vermicelli, pickled carrot and daikon, lettuce, cucumber, a bit of fried onion, coriander, Vietnamese mint, some regular mint, peanuts and fresh chilli - safe for gluten free-ers if you want an alternative to the baguette options. Filling with a great mix of flavours - there was definitely slurping with relish as we reached the bottom of our bowls!

Cute fixtures utilised upside down launder baskets as lights, while a glorious painted script on one of the main walls set the store apart overall in design from the fast food offerings that populate this Paris End of town. 

While you won't feel you can completely luxuriate in the surroundings - the space is not really set up as such - it is an enjoyable and appetising eatery to catch up with pals. 

Pros: Savoury and satisfying food with a fresh palate; good prices including a $5 morning coffee and danish offer; cute interiors and reasonable space for eating in

Cons: None at this time

Mealballs & Sons

Bought through: Ouffer

Voucher for: Enjoy Some of Melbourne's Finest Food in Trendy Fitzroy! Only $39 for a Meatball Feast for Two including Two Mains, Two Side Dishes, Two Desserts, and Two Glasses of Wine or Pints of Beer. Choose from a Tempting Menu Featuring Confit Duck, Slow Cooked Organic Lamb, Free Range Chicken and Much More. Valued at $88 - Top Rated on Urbanspoon


Meatballs and Sons

I love the signage for this eatery and the manager was the friendly, chatty sort, keen to impress the house beer to Alister - though truth be told, he was calmly nonplussed about the wheat beer bevvy on offer. 

I don't pretend to be any type of expert on alcohol so I demurred on this front and concentrated instead of the welcoming decor, staff and the bbq boisterous foodie options.

The offerings were certainly tasty to look at, and the menu seemed to be edging for a homestyle aw-shucks kinda feel - a little Americano, but mainly from their provisions personality write-ups.

We had chosen for our meatball mains: the skewered bourbon glazed pork with battered corn cobs; and the greek lamb with creamy Persian feta, baby spinach, olives and sun riped tomatoes. Both were tasty, with the pork the comfortable winner from a satisfying taste perspective. 

Our sides were the soccotash - a fabulous name for a simple dish of sweet corn with shell beans, some cut tomatoes and mixed capsicum; and the cauliflower gratin with aged cheddar that had Alister pronouncing that he needed to make this type of dish more often at home - it's simple, relatively healthy and absolutely delicious.

Now, as you may suspect, I quite delight in a dessert and our end notes were the homemade brownie with mascarpone and berry coulis; with Mum's home baked apple (mini) pie with custard layer and cream. Both were comfort food choices with the pastry of the pie being my favourite, though Alister was a little harder to please and found the overall meal, including dessert, enjoyable but not extraordinary. 

US homecooking flavours are filling and fine for me though, and I think this is a reasonable charmer with a easy smile and subtle surprises.

Pros: spacious decor with a warm welcome and a nostalgic Northern American nod in the menu; reasonable prices

Cons: homespun styled cooking may not be to everyone's taste

Cacao Green Swanton Street

Bought through: The Entertainment Book
Voucher for: One complimentary FROZEN YOGHURT when another FROZEN YOGHURT of equal or greater value is purchased

Cacao Green

Forget that it's on a crazy busy street that is probably one of the buzziest in Melbourne day and night, forget that the name doesn't refer to green chocolate (!) and more to a holistic and wholesome frozen yoghurt experience, and come for the absolutely delicious non-fat organic yoghurt that is free..! Of gluten, artificial preservative and high fructose corn syrup.

This location on Swanston St means there is always a sea of people on the pathways right outside it's entrance, but somehow this Cacao Green manages to recreate a little oasis of serenity with it's walled greenery and popping pearls of juicy fruits. 

Alister loves this place - the gypsy jazz fuels the beat of his heart and the yoghurt sweetens the palate most exurberantly. 

The staff are quite patient as you agonise over which toppings to choose, all the while you know that putting everything from that mini buffet will most likely overshadow the star attraction and look a mess besides - stick to complementary tastes and surprise yourself with textures.

Don't fret about missing out on something intriguing this time, there's always another warm day to look forward to, and hopefully a second voucher to enjoy with a two-for-one treat.

Pros: Easy to locate; a nice space in the rear of the store to enjoy your yoghurt and relax; absolutely delicious frozen yoghurt!

Cons: Swanston St is pretty busy, so go with the tide of people; hope that you can get a nice seat in the back area if others are planning on a fro-yo moment