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Rita, the wonderful woman behind Blooming Brides, is an absolute lifesaver. I found her at the last minute (well, six weeks is pretty last minute when it comes to a wedding!) and met with her on very short notice to plan all of the details. Rita knew exactly what I wanted and was able to provide it for me at a price that I thought was more than reasonable (compared to all of the quotes I got for wedding flowers, hers was definitely the most competitive).

Rita sourced and set up the flowers for my wedding ceremony and reception as well as the bouquets, corsages, buttonholes and my hair piece. Everything was absolutely stunning and of the highest quality. I remember getting to the venue and even though it was pouring with rain I was so happy because everything looked exactly as I wanted it. She was definitely on my wavelength.

All throughout the planning and execution, Rita kept in contact with me and gave me some of the best customer service I have ever experienced. I would recommend her to anyone getting married in the Dandenongs/Yarra Valley (she specialises in weddings in that region) or even outside of the region. She really is the best!

I was worried when I moved to Melbourne that it would take me ages to find a good GP. I managed to find one on the first go at Swanston Street Medical Centre. Dr Wild is fantastic. She actually checks you out, unlike a lot of other GPs who just "churn and burn". She listens to your health issues, asks questions and does tests when required. You feel like you're with a doctor who really cares about you. The medical centre is also well staffed and organised, they have an on-site nurse who can do blood tests so that you don't have to go somewhere else. They also bulk-bill if you're a full-time student, which is great too! There is also a chemist and a dentist in the same location. It's a really good find!

I dropped into Mr Tulk one Saturday morning in March 2011 on my way into uni. The decor and the location is gorgeous, but that's about as good as it gets. All I ordered was a coffee and a croissant to take away and I had to wait ages to get it. Staff were milling around and seemed disorganised (it wasn't that busy either). The coffee was average and the almond croissant was stale and tasted terrible. I wasted $8 that morning. I won't be going back!

My husband and I had dinner at the Portland Lane Cafe inside the Portland Hotel in April 2011. It looked like a really nice, upmarket bistro and looked really inviting from the outside. Even though they were busy and we didn't have a booking, they got us a table and gave us menus to look at while we waited. Unfortunately, the food just wasn't that good (especially for $20+ mains) My husband's chicken parma was overcooked and hardly had any ham. My kangaroo burger was dry and really bland. Also, once we had ordered, we found it really hard to get the attention of any waiters. Yes it was busy, but it was as if they were deliberately ignoring us! We saw other people stand up and actually approach waiters to get their attention.

For what the meal ended up costing between us ($70 including drinks and coffees) it just wasn't worth it. We won't be returning, there is just too much choice in Melbourne to go back to somewhere so mediocre!

Approximate cost: $22

I went to Groom for the first time in March 2011 for an eyebrow wax. I didn't have an appointment, but they were very kind to squeeze me in even though they were busy. The therapist who waxed my eyebrows did a good job. The wax wasn't too hot and she didn't over-wax. She was also very friendly and chatty, she made the experience very comfortable. The only negative would be the price; $22 for a clean-up is a little pricey compared to a lot of local salons. I may consider going back based on the good service, but the prices could be a little more competitive.

I know that it's a big call, but I think that Streat has the best coffee in all of Melbourne. I visit every morning when I go into uni, and I don't think I could live without my caffeine fix from Streat. Apart from the taste and the quality of the coffee being top notch (I've never had a burnt coffee yet, and they know the meaning of extra hot when you ask for it!) they use all of their profits for an education and training program to help homeless people get off the street and into hospitality jobs. So you can feel good about buying your daily coffee from Streat - it taste great and they do great things!

I visited Eternal Image Laser & Beauty Clinic regularly (every 6-8 weeks) before I moved interstate. I have had waxing and laser treatments performed on me there, and the results have always been fantastic. I would never have considered laser in the past, but Mona gave me all of the information about the treatment and made it a really reassuring, safe and pleasant experience - with really good, lasting results! They also perform other treatments, and the facial that I had the first time I went there was simply divine - and a big reason for my going back! The one thing I love best is Mona's skill at eyebrow waxing. She knows exactly what looks good on me, and never goes overboard. Even though I live in Melbourne now, I make sure to book an appointment when I visit Sydney so I can get my brows done!