2011 is near an end. What a year it has been! From the earthquakes to the oil spill and all the other various disasters, we have finally made it. It’s time to celebrate the good times with your friends and family and see in the new year. There are various festivals over New Zealand featuring local and international acts. If you want to party it up then you may want to attend one of New Zealand’s finest festivals below.

Highlife NYE Experience: Highlife is situated in the Matakana Country Park. It will feature four areas of music as well as many chill out areas for you to enjoy. There is a range of music to suit everyone including funk, indie, house, hip-hop, RnB, electro, live, jazz, breaks, nu disco, dub, world, drum & bass and more. Some of the bands in the line up include Bulletproof, P Money, Crazy P and DJ Spen.

Rhythm and Vines: The highly popular Rhythm and Vines Music Festival is held in Gisborne and is now in its 9th year. Be one of the first in the world to see 2012 over the hills of the Waiohika Estate. In 2010 more than 25,000 people attended the festival.

Coromandel Gold: Coro Gold features two days of partying with some of the best New Zealand artists including Shapeshifter, Shihad, Kora and Ladi6. It is the ultimate music destination situated on the Ohuka Farm in Whitianga.

La De Da: La De Da is situated in a vineyard in Martinborough. The lineup includes some of New Zealand’s finest - Six60, Katchafire, Concord Dawn and Kora.

Whatever you have planned for New Years make sure you put all those 2011 worries to the side and enjoy it and keep safe. It’s time to think of those resolutions for 2012 and put them into place to make it the most successful year to date. From all of us at Lasoo we want to thank you and we hope that you have a happy new year and stay safe!

Do you want mouth watering meals quickly and easily? The Multi Kai Cooker is a low pressure cooker which is an alternative to the traditional New Zealand hangi. It is an efficient, easy and cost-effective way of producing a perfect hangi every time.

The Multi Kai cooker uses Manuka wood as the fuel source, stones that are heated by the wood and wet sacks which continuously drip onto the stones. The stones act as a hot plate, the gas burner as the heat source and the manuka dust adds flavour. This combination of heat, steam and ash cooks the food with a magnificent smoky flavour.

The family size cookers have a 385mm diameter BBQ hotplate and cooking chambers and the large, deluxe and jumbo cookers have a 600mm diameter. No oil needs to be used, which means that it’s healthier for you and your waistline. It is also economical as a 9kg gas bottle will cook up to 10 meals. It is portable so can be used anywhere except for indoors.

If you have a work function, sports events or a family gathering then this is the perfect way to cook a dinner while enjoying everyone’s company. It is easy to assemble, use and clean. The Multi Kai Cooker will cook the entire meal to perfection, with a unique taste and delicious flavour. Get your very own Multi Kai cooker at Bunnings today!

Shhhhhhh!!! Lasoo is giving you the chance to get a sneak peak at the Boxing Day Sales from four of our top retailers. To thank you for being a Lasoo subscriber we are giving you this early-bird opportunity. You will be able to select the deals you want the day before Boxing Day and be a step ahead of the crowd.

Lasoo will send you a special e-invite on 25 December. This will give you access to our Boxing Day Sale Catalogues, so you can start making your selections early.

If you’re feeling generous and don’t want friends and family to miss out, why not invite them to join Lasoo. That way they can take advantage of this special offer too. All they need to do is click this link and sign up!

Don’t forget to look out for your e-invite on December 25!

If you are still racing around trying to find the perfect gift for a loved one then a digital photo frame is the way to go. Digital photo frames have really taken off this year and they are a great present for young and old alike.

Over the weekend I raced around the masses in the mall and came across a digital photo frame which I thought would be a great present for my parents. The Dick Smith 7″ Digital Photo Frame is a great way to share your photos with family and friends. You can also pre-load it with some pictures before you give it to them to add a personal touch.

It supports SD/MMC/MS memory cards and has a USB 2.0 port. Plug a USB in and it automatically starts to play the photo. The frame is 7 inches with a 16:9 screen. The sleek black frame fits in well to any modern home. The resolution is 480×234. The stand is rotatable which means that you can view the pictures horizontally or vertically. There is also a clock/calendar for all your handy planning.

Keep all those treasured memories alive and give someone you love a digital camera this Christmas. It may not be the best digital photo frame out there but it works fine. Currently only $49.97, check it out at Dicksmith now.

Only a few more days and Christmas is here. I’m sure everyone is rushing around getting their last minute presents and stocking up on the food for Christmas. Below are a few kiwi classic desert recipes to help you out if you are stuck on what to make this Christmas. It is the perfect reason to indulge in your sweets and treat yourself.

Pavlova

4 egg whites

1/4 tsp salt

220g caster sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp vinegar

2 tsp cornflour

Method

1. Preheat oven to 110C and line a baking tray with baking paper.

2. Beat egg whites and salt to a soft foam.

3. Gradually whisk in sugar until the mixture forms stiff peaks. Whisk in the vanilla, vinegar and cornflour.

4. Place the mixture into a prepared tin drawing, making sure the mixture is high and smooth.

5. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Important: Do not open the oven during cooking.

6. Turn off the oven, open the door slightly and allow the pavlova to cool in the oven.

7. When completely cool you can decorate with cream and all the delicious berries that you desire.

Trifle

200g sponge cake or jam roll, cut into pieces

430g can boysenberries in syrup, drained or any other canned or fresh fruit

2 cups of custard

1 cup cream, whipped

1 packet of jelly

Method

1. Make the jelly in the bowl and leave in the refrigerator to set.

2. Once the jelly is set, cover the jelly with sponge pieces.

3. Pour the boysenberries and custard over the sponge pieces.

4. Cover with cream and decorate as your desire.

5. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Check out Nosh for the freshest ingredients to make your Christmas a delicious one! Everyone have a Merry Christmas!

Congratulations to Molly Anne Rawiri for winning the Lasoo Summer Shopping Spree Competition. Thank you to everyone who participated in this great competition.

Christmas is nearly here and if you are still to buy presents for all your family and friends we have some great offers for under $30.

1) Samsung E1081T Mobile Phone from Warehouse Stationery

 2) Solar Torches from NZ Post

3) Christmas Gift Cards from NZ Post

4) Yellowstone Camping Accessories from Rebel Sport

5) Swim Sports from Rebel Sport

6) Picnic Backpack for 4 from Briscoes

7) Stevens Party Cupcake Stand from Stevens

Sterling Silver Pendant Poem and Card Set from The Warehouse

9) Dick Smith 4GB Metal Clip MP3 Player from Dick Smith

10) Patterned Hoop Earrings from Michael Hill

11) Marquee Folding Camp Chair from Bunnings

12 ) CZ Pendant from Pascoes

It’s the festive season again and no Christmas is complete without a tree. A Christmas tree is the most iconic symbol of Christmas. If you have already found the old decorations stored in the back of your cupboard from last year then you are half way there. Growing up my family always had an artificial tree and my grandparents had a real tree so I had the best of both worlds. This guide will help you determine if an artificial or real tree is the right one for your household.

Dimensions: Before you decide on a real or artificial tree, you should think about how high your ceiling is and where you want to display the tree. If you want the tallest Christmas tree your room will allow, we recommend buying a tree that is at least six inches lower than your ceiling height. This will ensure that the top of the Christmas tree isn’t scratching your roof and that there is room for a star or angel at the top. You should also think about where you want to put the tree so that you know how big you want the tree. Remember the taller the tree, the larger the base, so keep this in mind when you are choosing your Christmas tree.

Artificial: Man-made trees are much more appealing than what they used to be. They are convenient, hassle free and easy to set up. You can purchase one that has the exact size and shape that you are after and can last for up to ten years or more. Most artificial trees are made out of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The needles are made from sheets of PVC and then cut into the needle shape and then put onto the branches of the tree. They are great because they don’t shred like real trees which means less mess for you to clean up. There is a reduced risk of fire and they are also great for people with allergies. They are cheaper in the long run and are also better for the environment because it prevents one from being cut down. The downside is that you have to make space to store an artificial tree when it’s not being used.

Real: Real trees are great for their ability to retain needles, general colouring and shape. They are also generally selected if you love the smell and feel of a real Christmas tree. They stay healthy for around three to five weeks which means that they are sure to keep their needles well after Boxing Day. To ensure that it stays fresh, cut the end off the trunk to open up the veins that will deliver water to the branches. To test the freshness of the tree, smell it and then run your finger along the branches and if no needles fall off it’s probably a newer tree. When you are selecting a tree, look for one with a bright colour. Be sure to purchase one that was recently harvested. Having a real tree requires additional care, however if you keep the tree hydrated, it will stay vibrant and fresh.

Setting up and decorating your Christmas tree is an activity that the whole family can enjoy. Make sure that you position the branches so the tips bend upwards in a slight arc to support the hanging ornaments. Whether you choose an artificial or real Christmas tree, enjoy the festivities and have a great Christmas.

Have you ever been in the situation where you wish you could fold your water bottle up once you’ve consumed the contents instead of throwing it away? Plastic bottles are convenient but when you’ve finished with them you just throw them away. What about the impact on the environment? Vapur is a colourful, flexible and reusable water bottle designed for easy and convenient on-the-go use anywhere.

Every year, around 200 billion bottles of water are consumed globally with most dumped in landfills or left floating in the ocean. Vapur is an innovative replacement. Whether you are hiking in the mountains, camping, biking or travelling around the world, Vapur makes water portable. It can stand upright when full and rolled, flattened or folded when empty. This makes it great to fit into pockets or packs. Think about all those times when you have walked through airport security only to find that you had to put your bottle of water in the bin. With Vapur you can fill it with water on the other side of security instead of having to go spend money on the gift shop water.

It is freezable, dishwasher safe and BPA-free. The flat-bottom design means that it is easy to refill. Simply stand the bottle under a tap and within a few seconds you will have a bottle of water ready to take with you on your travels. You can also freeze water in the Vapur and it can double up as an ice pack.

Not only environmentally friendly, but the packaging has been made from recycled paperboard and is printed with soy ink. It is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. There is a writeable text area which allows for personalization so that you will always know that it is your one. Available in pink, blue, green, black and purple, it is great for all ages.

Vapur is a fantastic alternative to bottled water and a healthy way for you to hydrate. Those bulky plastic bottles can now be replaced with a stylish and innovative Vapur. Say goodbye to plastic bottles, invest in a Vapur and save cash, space and the environment.

Worldwide superstar Rihanna is back it again with her 6th studio album, ‘Talk That Talk‘. This is a follow up to Loud which went multi platinum worldwide. The success from her previous albums seems hard to beat, but she has produced another fantastic album. This is her most assured record yet with radio ready and catchy pop jams from start to finish. She is a multi-faceted singer and songwriter.

The album starts off with four great tracks, ’You Da One‘, ‘Where Have You Been‘, ‘We Found Love‘, and ‘Talk That Talk’. There are many stand-out tracks, including the title track “Talk That Talk”, featuring Jay-Z that is sure to be a club classic.

We Found Love, featuring Calvin Harris, is ruling charts around the world and can probably be found on almost everyone’s playlists at the moment. It has already a proven to be an instant worldwide smash by topping the charts in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, etc. This shows her ability to provide listeners constantly with refreshing new music. It captures so much emotion in the simplest of lyrics.

As her sixth studio album, she still manages to produce something catchy, unique and popular. ‘Talk That Talk’ shows off her vocals more than previous records. The Barbadian beauty is unstoppable and has shown much growth since her first single “Pon De Replay” in 2005. Be sure to check out her album in stores nationwide.

1. You Da One
2. Where Have You Been
3. We Found Love (featuring Calvin Harris)
4. Talk That Talk (featuring Jay-Z)
5. Cockiness (Love It)
6. Birthday Cake
7. We All Want Love
8. Drunk on Love
9. Roc Me Out
10. Watch n’ Learn
11. Farewell.