New Moan: The Twishite Saga

A pain in the neck


Next weekend, if you're perplexed by the yowling emanating from cineplexes around the country, don't be alarmed. It is merely the sound of thousands of Twilight fans having a meltdown as the sequel New Moon finally gets its release. Even if you don't worship at the altar of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner or you've never read any of the Stephenie Meyer books, parody novel New Moan: The Twishite Saga is well worth picking up. Described as a tale of first love, painful longing and even more painful pointy teeth, this is an hilariously irreverent spoof on the massive vampire phenomenon. €10.99 from eason.ie.


Hot slot


No matter what age you are, there's a wonderful satisfaction to be gained from opening up a piggy bank and counting your pennies. We've fallen in love with the gold Percy piggy bank from Marks & Spencer (€13.50) which is a great incentive to save. However, we are already steeling ourselves for that disappointing moment when we discover that all those coppers do not add up to a holiday in the Maldives, as we'd hoped, but might be just enough to splash out on a nice lunch.


Scent to try us


If perfume is one of your likely stocking fillers this Christmas and you don't want to end up with an unimaginative coffret, point the giver in the direction of Escentric 01. It contains Iso E Super, an aroma-chemical, and ingredients like pink pepper, lime peel and orris incense. Its effect on others is most dramatic – people seem fascinated by the scent and it really does have a pheromonal effect. It's unisex too, €70, available at Harvey Nichols.


Jumper for joy


Jumper dresses are our current wardrobe favourite, being warm, versatile, on-trend and requiring no time-consuming co-ordination in the morning – throw on some leggings and a pair of boots and you're sorted. This flamingo-adorned number is a burst of fun for dreary winter days. Get it at River Island, €47.


The Shopping Audit


* We're loving fingerless gloves


1980s fashion revivals generally leave us cold, but fingerless gloves? Hell, yes. Practical for when you need to text on the move and when they're as super cute as this pair from Access­orize (€17), you just have to.


* We're not sure about black lace dresses


Initially deemed our fail-safe Christmas frock of choice but we're now realising you get what you pay for. Cheap high street lace just looks nasty.


* We're lusting after Ugg Kensington Biker Boots


Immediately. Now! Please! Almost impossible to track down, we spotted the last pairs on the Office website, €277.


* We're heading to Kling


Eclectic, elegant, quirky and colourful ? sign us up. The Spanish brand has just arrived at No 2 Bloom's Lane in Dublin's Italian Quarter.