Swapping is the new shopping by Andrea McVeigh

Swapping is the new shopping! Even Hollywood A-listers are at it! Lindsay Lohan was the guest of honour at a clothes swapping event held by Visa, the credit card people, in London this summer. But us Northern Irish gals have got in on the act too.
The Blick folk, who work out of a shared space for creative types on Belfast's Malone Road, held a skills swapping party recently, and a few weeks back I held my own book and clothes swap party at home.
The idea is to get a group of mates together and bring all your old books and clothes along - anything that still has some life left in it, but that you no longer need or want. Then put all the items down and let everyone be free to take their pick. It's also known as 'swishing' and it's all the rage in London these days. Try it yourself - me and my friends had a great girly night, a few drinks and a lot of laughs. You'll have a fab night and could even bag a new wardrobe without spending any money - how's that for credit crunch shopping!
You could even get everyone to donate some money and then give it to charity - and with Breast Cancer Awareness Month taking place this October, what better excuse do you need to get swapping!
Talking of books, a big event in the local publishing calendar takes place mid-month with the launch of Gerry Kelly's autobiography. The talented UTV talk show veteran hosted The Kelly Show, live on Friday nights on UTV, for no less than 17 years - so he's got some great stories to tell!
Known both locally and nationally as Northern Ireland's own 'Mr Chat', he's had a fascinating life - I had the pleasure of working for him on the Kelly Show a few years back and I know what a great man he is. And boy, he can tell a great story too! This is one book I can't wait to get my hands on. I'm not even going to wait until Christmas (or for a book swap party!) - I'll rush out to buy it as soon as it comes out!
October is certainly shaping up to be a busy month as Belfast Fashionweek also takes place mid-month. I love seeing the latest styles on local models and I know that I'm not alone - ticket sales keep rising every year that it runs and tickets for most of the shows usually sell out soon after they go on sale. I love the 1970s-style boho fashion looks that are filling the rails this season so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for some hot style tips during Fashionweek too.
Besides all the fab launches and social occasions taking place over the coming weeks there's another reason to celebrate autumn too - great telly! I'm currently glued to Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday evenings and have shouted myself hoarse cheering on local girl Christine Bleakley, the talented and extremely glamorous co-presenter of BBC1's flagship The One Show. As cheerful and friendly in real life as she is on TV, our girl Christine deserves to win - so get voting!
With Ugly Betty on Fridays, the airing of Little Britain USA, also on Fridays, and Strictly on Saturdays, that's my weekend viewing sorted. I'm also a big movie fan too, and I was lucky enough to catch a preview of How To Lose Friends And Alienate People, recently. Starring Simon Pegg as an inept British journalist who lands a job at a fashionable New York-based magazine, it's based around the real-life experiences of gaffe-prone British writer, Toby Young. It's also one of those British movies you wish they'd make more of - funny, clever and fast-paced with lots of laughs, snappy dialogue and great acting.