We’ll make this the best list possible, and you deserve to know where to get a great cake from! What if someone were coming over for dinner? They need a dessert! That’s where CAKE comes in!

Yeah sure most places have cake but what about GOOD CAKE? What kind of quality do they bake? If it doesn’t taste nice then who cares if it’s pretty or not.   

So with that out of the way let’s begin the list of the top cake shops in Melbourne.

TOP CAKE SHOPS IN MELBOURNE! 

1.  Baker D Chirico – Online Cake Shop

Homemade ‘European style’ cakes with small business followings around the world! In my opinion, these are the best cake shops for professional-looking cakes that don’t cost an arm and a leg.   

The Bakers of BDC continually win awards for their special recipes, taste and customer service.    

Everything is baked fresh daily from scratch by qualified bakers – you can’t get better quality than that.   

2.  Cupcake Central – Online Cake Shop

They are much better than regular supermarket cakes because they are moist with fresh cream! The variety makes it difficult to choose though because there are just so many!

I have also ordered one of their themed cake designs for an event, which was great quality but would advise you to pay extra for delivery simply because it is cumbersome to carry large cakes far.

As mentioned above, this bakery has competition in the form of Baker D Chirico but these guys make up for it by having more affordable prices and very convenient pick-up locations around Melbourne.       

3.  Michel’s Patisserie – Online Cake Shop

I like their cakes (for special occasions because they are more expensive than Baker D Chirico), but the shop itself is not too appealing; it has that typical French patisserie look with little space to stand or sit.

Their variety is pretty great including some fantastic chocolate cake designs which you won’t find at other shops (or anywhere else for that matter). Worth checking out!   

4.  Two Little Ducks – Cafe / Home-Delivery / e-shop

I have had the pleasure of trying their cupcakes and they are delicious! A little on the pricey side for cupcakes but the quality is worth it.

A disadvantage is that Two Little Ducks’ products are only available in their cafe or online. It would be nice if you could get your order delivered to your home because some people just don’t have time to run around looking at cakes.

5.  Bourke Street Bakery – Cafe / Home-Delivery / e-shop

A very well known bakery in Melbourne with a good reputation for loaves of bread and savouries, not so great reputation for cakes… But I felt like including this shop since they are starting to become more popular with their ‘Cupcakes’.

I think they are priced around the same as Two Little Ducks. Their cakes were not too bad but nothing to rave about.  

6.  Whisk – Home-Delivery / e-shop

Their cakes are pretty good in terms of taste but the designs are just not what you would expect for the price you pay which is why it can be a bit disappointing if this is your only criteria.

Their cupcakes aren’t too bad either! The official website could be better though because it’s really hard to navigate throughout all their products and it’s difficult to see what type of cakes they have available at any given time.

7.  Bakers of Brunswick – Cafe / Home-Delivery / e-shop

I’m not sure if they are still operating because this place has been closed down for months now :/ Their cakes were pretty average as well as their service but I remember that you could buy cupcakes by the half dozen just like Baker D Chirico!

Would be nice to see them back in business with those prices. All the best!

8.  Stephanie’s Cake Creations – Home-Delivery / e-shop

Their website is very confusing and it is not easy to navigate through properly. Everything is a bit of a blur and I find it difficult to see exactly what sort of cakes they have available now or at any given time.

Their shop on the other hand is huge with huge cupcakes, but those designs are not as popular as Baker D Chirico’s… Overall, average taste with an average look!

9.  Sweet Obsessions – Cafe / Home-Delivery

I feel that this place has potential because their service is pretty great with friendly staff who communicate well over the phone. Unfortunately, the reason why I keep going back to them is that there aren’t many cake shops around me that deliver cupcakes in my area.

Their choice of cupcakes is average and they are not too bad, but their cakes aren’t great…

Overall I give them 5 points because the delivery service is very efficient (you don’t have to wait for long) and I like their ‘Budget’ option which allows you to purchase 6 cupcakes for 15 dollars; the cheapest in my area!

10.  Baker D Chirico – Cafe / Home-Delivery

One of my favourite shops when it comes to cakes, especially chocolate cake (if they can do a good choc mud then they can do anything)!

The only reason why this doesn’t score higher is because of the price… Even if you purchase small cakes, they can be pretty expensive because of their marketing techniques.

I used to go there all the time for my cakes but now that I am looking at budget prices, Baker D Chirico doesn’t even make it onto the list anymore!

So, you have just finished your week of hectic work and are ready for some real fun? Well then, Perth is the place to be. And if you want to get the best out of it – then plan or risk missing out on all the action! Here’s a list of things Perth offers its inhabitants during the weekends.

1) Rottnest Island Bike Hire & Tour

Rottnest Island is one of Perth’s most popular weekend getaways, so much so that it boasts its airport dedicated solely to servicing this island retreat. It’s about 20 minutes by plane from Perth Airport which makes it very accessible. So come Saturday morning after that Friday night session at work, hire yourself a bicycle and cycle around the island.

It’s about 18km long, so you can do it in about 3 hours easily. Just make sure to take a packed lunch with you – or you’ll have to spend $16 on one of their expensive hot dogs! Check out this link for more details on bike hire.

2) Dolphin Swimming at Hillarys Boat Harbour

One of Perth’s most popular activities is to join an organised boat trip and go dolphin swimming! And we’re not talking about those tame dolphins that perform tricks and stuff either.

We mean joining a group and going into the open sea and feeling the adrenalin rush as 20-30 wild dolphins swim alongside you! All this for under $70 + transport costs! Click here for more details.

3) Sunrise Skydive at Jandakot Airport

So you’ve always wanted to skydive, but never had the guts? Well, you can do it for $120 and see Perth from 12km up in the air! But make sure to book early – there are only 3 spots per day and they fill up quickly! Click here for more details.

4) Swan Valley Wines

The Swan Valley is an hour away from Perth city centre and contains hundreds of wineries and restaurants – which means one thing: TASTING! And we’re not talking about a cheapo little tasting glass either. These bad boys will cost you $7 each, but they come with 7 tastings inside which makes them good value.

So if you’re coming to Perth on the weekend, make sure to spend a day touring the valley and tasting all those fine wines! For more information click here.

5) Fremantle Markets

Saturdays are market days in Fremantle, so head down there with your wallet ready. Not only will you find some fantastic bargains, but you’ll also get to check out some unique handmade crafts at their best! Some of the stalls do tend to be quite pricey though – so keep an eye out for those bad eggs! For more info click here.

6. Stop by Two Rocks Beach on your way up north.  

This area was originally named Shark Bay but after a few shipwrecks during the gold rush, some people decided that didn’t sound too great and changed it to Two Rocks (because there were 2 rocks under the water near shore).  You can still see one of these rocks from the beach, it is huge!

7. Lancelin

Take a quick pit stop at Lancelin to check out the wildest and crazy dunes in all of Perth.

8. Port Smith Boat Harbour

If you love fishing, do not miss out on Port Smith Boat Harbour.  It’s a great spot for some deep-sea fishing, or you can come along when they have their Friday night market which we, unfortunately, missed out on this time around.

9. Cervantes

Hit up Cervantes for some proper wild beach camping and check out the Pinnacles (or The Pinnacles).               

10. SugarLoaf Rock

On your way down south towards Bunbury, hit up Sugarloaf Rock for some epic views of the coastline.  

More on Perth activities this weekend, click on it.

Small business owners need to know which features an accounting software package has before making a purchase.

Accounting packages can cost anywhere from $0 (if you make do with an Excel spreadsheet and Google Docs) to $2,000 or more (for the high-end packages that integrate multiple modules.)  

This article provides an overview of small business accounting software and lists common features for accountants and businesses.

Although growing in popularity, cloud-based accounting software is not yet mainstream enough for most SMBs.

The leading accounting software companies such as Intuit, Sage and QuickBooks still offer traditional desktop solutions, very few smaller players offer cloud-based solutions other than Xero.

Desktop Software

Desktop software requires the installer CD to be inserted into your computer. However, you can still access and update your data via the Internet or a mobile app. Some benefits of desktop software are that it is fast, secure, accessible offline and customizable.

The downside is that it has to be installed on each user’s computer who needs access to the information. Since it is not web-based, updates have to be manually installed on all computers.

Desktop software may not comply with industry regulations if audited because it relies on being physically present at the time of login.

Also, using an outdated version of the program poses security risks as vulnerabilities cannot easily be patched without upgraded versions. 

Cloud-based Accounting Software

Cloud-based accounting software stores your company’s data on a central server accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection. You can access your information, add transactions and update reports from home, a branch office or the road.

Cloud-based software is more secure than desktop-based because it requires additional authentication credentials before entering sensitive data. Updates occur automatically so there is little chance of being left behind with out-of-date versions.

Compliance regulations are easy to adhere to when using cloud-based systems since you have 24/7 access to your company’s data online – no matter where in the world you are physically located.

However, cloud-based systems may result in a higher total cost of ownership due to subscription fees for maintenance plans, infrastructure costs and potential hidden costs such as hardware upgrades and staff training.

Some developers offer a hybrid model where certain modules are hosted on the Cloud while others are installed locally.

This gives users the best of both worlds, allowing them to have offline access to some functions while higher availability comes from other modules that are only available online.

Every small business owner is looking for the best accounting software to keep track of their day-to-day financials. But there are so many options out there, how do you choose?

Different factors can make one product stand out over another. The most important ones are listed below

• Scheduling or billing feature
• Ease of use
• Mobile application availability
• Upgradeability and support
• Budgeting and forecasting tools
• Security/encryption protection
• Customization ability

Small businesses need the highest quality in terms of security, encryption, ease of use, scheduling feature, budgeting tools etc. 

QuickBooks

QuickBooks is the #1 best selling product among all of its competitors. The reason for this is because it offers the most features in one package, while still being very easy to use.

It can handle any type of small business from a little bakery to a technology company to an insurance agency. Yet, unlike other products, it comes with few limitations and upgradeability options which make it even more amazing!

The many products on the market today are available either as downloadable software or web-based applications.

Quickbooks falls into the former category – you have to download it onto your desktop – but don’t let that put you off because there are loads of portable devices that offer full functionality without compromising security measures.

My favourite example is iPads, which offer the perfect solution for on-the-go small business owners.

Some of you might be saying, “hehe it’s not secure” or “it doesn’t come with an automatic billing feature”.

Not true! QuickBooks is one of the safest and most secure products around – it keeps data encrypted and backed up regularly – and we’ve all seen how technology has advanced in the last few years: automatic billing features ARE available (if you don’t want to set them up yourself).

Plus, you can always upgrade if these features aren’t enough for your business needs.

Quickbooks offers great support as well as some amazing budgeting tools that will help any small business owner find his way through tough economic times as well as plan for the future.

If you’re still unsure, just check out all of the features QuickBooks offers and compare them with other products on the market – I’m sure you’ll come to the same conclusion as millions of small businesses owners worldwide: QuickBooks is a must-have for your small business!

The bride-to-be deserves to be pampered on her last days of singlehood, but the women celebrating with her shouldn’t get bogged down by the stress of shopping for an appropriate gift.

A bachelorette party gift is something heavy on symbolism while being light on the price tag, and it should make some sort of statement about the bride while also treating the guests like royalty.

Before anything else, it must be known that your friend may not want any gifts at all! Some people do not like receiving presents on birthdays or at weddings, and this is a popular event to celebrate. It is best to ask the bride if she wants anything so as not to offend.

If you’re struggling to find a gift idea for your bestie’s hen night, here are some popular choices:

Lingeries

The first idea that can be an excellent bachelorette party gift is lingerie.

This would work well because it shows that you care about her comfort enough to give something nice and pretty for her new marriage. Something fun like costumes could also be great; perhaps one of the girls in the party will play a stripper and dance for everyone.

Personalized Bachelorette Party Sash

A classic bachelorette party gift is the personalized, monogrammed sash that can be worn around the bride-to-be’s waist during the festivities.

It also doubles as a cute accessory she can wear on her big day! You can get these online through many different retailers or at your local craft store.

They’re inexpensive and come in all colours and sizes, so it’s easy to find one that fits every outfit while still serving its purpose of identifying her for special treatment throughout the night. Personalized Bachelorette Party Sashes can be purchased online through a variety of retailers.

Hen Night Survival Kit

The Hen Night Survival Kit is a fun gift that will keep the guests entertained for hours.

This kit often comes with small games and activities, such as Bingo cards that have been personalized for the bride-to-be, pencils with her name on it, playing cards with phrases about bachelorette parties on them . . .

The list goes on! These kits are usually filled with lots of little goodies, so you get your money’s worth from this thoughtful present. You’ll find all sorts of variations in these kits online at places like Etsy or even eBay.

If you’re craftier than you are generous, you could even try to put together your kit before giving it as a gift!

Food And Drinks

Some great things include food and drinks. Everyone loves food and drink, and these make excellent gifts all around. You could even put them together and give a nice cooler or picnic basket to take to the bachelorette party so everyone can have snacks throughout the night.

The bachelorette party is practically synonymous with “drinking.” So, in the spirit of celebrating the bride and her wild side (without encouraging any bad behaviour), consider giving her a bottle or two of her favourite alcohol to make everyone’s night complete!

The possibilities here are endless – something pink and fruity for the girly girl; whiskey and beer for the adventurous friend; even flavoured vodka for those who like to add ‘tude to their drinks. Whatever you choose, it will be appreciated by all. 

Piece of Art

Another great idea is to get a nice piece of art to hang up in their home since this makes a lovely gift. You could go the traditional route and purchase a painting or try something a bit different such as a mosaic or stained glass.

This means that you will have something beautiful to look at every day while they are together.

Small Gifts

Some other small gifts include candles, scented lotions, funky socks, music CDs/downloads, fancy chocolates or other types of candy, and funny wine glasses. 

Keep these tips in mind next time you are looking for an excellent hens party gift! Remember to think about the bride! Whatever you decide to purchase should reflect their style so that it fits them well.

Here are some best things about heart specialists.

1.   Knowledgeable

Heart specialists are the true medical experts when it comes to problems with your heart. They diagnose, treat and prevent cardiovascular disease in adults and children, helping patients understand what is causing their symptoms.

Heart specialists work closely within multidisciplinary teams that include cardiologists, paediatricians, surgeons and nurses.

2.   Solution focussed

As well as diagnosing patients’ conditions, providing treatment plans for patients, assessing progress regularly and guiding them through rehabilitation where appropriate, heart specialists are also involved in training junior doctors in cardiology.

This ensures that the required skills are passed on so that future generations receive top-quality care when they need it most.

3. Flexible Working 

There are many opportunities for part-time, job share and flexible work in the heart specialist area.

Many hospital consultants (doctors who are in charge of a group of junior doctors) choose to do their hours by working four days out of every seven, which means they can dedicate more time to caring for patients without neglecting their family life or other interests.

With regular rotas that allow you to plan your life around your commitments outside the NHS, career breaks and career breaks for maternity leave, you can find flexible opportunities across all specialties. 

4. Challenging 

One day you’ll be diagnosing someone with angina (chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart), another day you might be operating on an elderly patient with coronary disease (where the arteries to the heart are hardened through atheroma plaque deposits).

There’s no time to be bored in cardiology! 

5. Rewarding

Heart specialists work hard to save lives, but they’re rewarded by seeing their patients move on to lead full and active lives once again. Every day is different, every patient is treated as a person – not just a ‘case’ or number.

Being involved in helping someone improve their life after a diagnosis of heart disease can make all the difference, and if you feel like your current job doesn’t fulfil this need for uniqueness, then perhaps cardiac medicine could be for you?

6. International opportunities 

As well as many UK-based roles, there are also plenty of international opportunities available across both adult and paediatric heart medicine.

These roles are often more competitive, meaning that you may need to have specialist training or experience for these jobs to be available.

Some require candidates to have completed their basic medical training in the UK before being able to go abroad, but others allow you to take your first job out of medical school in another country before returning home with extensive experience. 

7. Treatment Innovation

Heart specialists work at the forefront of treatment innovation, using leading technology and forensic techniques so patients get the best results every time they see a doctor.

You’ll be working as part of a team, passing on tips and tricks about balancing stress with family life as well as achieving excellent patient outcomes. 

8. Rewarding Hours 

Heart specialist nurses enjoy some great benefits that you won’t find elsewhere in the NHS. As well as having a fantastic rapport with patients and working very closely with consultants, nurses have amazing hours too!

Job shares are common amongst heart specialist nurses, meaning you’ll still get to spend time with your family while earning up to £32,000 per year.

Job share benefits: flexible working; friends who understand your life (and will be able to cover when sick); childminder when your kids are ill; quality time for yourself when feeling stressed; personal friendships at work; learning new skills by job sharing

Job-share requirements: usually two applicants will need to apply together to ensure both people can do the role together (a single application might not be able-bodied enough to do the role); often both applicants will need experience of working together already (if you’re job-sharing with a friend, you probably already know if this is the case)

Other requirements: usually two people who share a house and can pass references onto each other; must be able to communicate with one another about work/break schedule so as not to inconvenience either person.

Issue: some jobs require certain types of degrees or previous training before applying, which might mean it’s difficult for two people trying to job-share together to meet these conditions at once! This makes job-sharing more difficult than independent applications.

More on heart specialist, check here: tol tol victoria