The Insider: Get in the pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so why not show your support by purchasing a pair of glossy pink Birkenstocks, designed for the event. The patent Madrid sandals cost £32.95, with a £3.50 donation to Breast Cancer Campaign; see www.birkenstock.co.uk or visit the Birkenstock Shop, London, The Natural Shoe Store and branches of Office and Schuh.

A royal wind-up

If you’re looking for something pointless but rather amusing, wind-up royal toys might be the answer. Choose from the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla – or get all four and have a right royal race. Watch them as they shuffle along regally, waving at the grateful peasants. Priced at £9.99 each. See www.iwantoneofthose.com.

Game tipple

Perfect for all whisky and bird enthusiasts, the Black Grouse combines the classic Famous Grouse and Islay malts to create a rich smoky flavour with a long smooth finish. Fifty pence from every sale goes to the RSBP to save the black grouse from extinction. Available from Sainsbury’s for £15.99 or see www.famousgrouse.com.

On the button

Be the envy of your friends when you upgrade to high definition with limited-edition designer Sky and HD boxes. The four designs combine fashion and function and are available from 15 October from £75; see www.sky.com/designerbox.

How to be cool and hot

Could this be the car for the credit crunch? The Twingo Renaultsport 133 offers most of the fun and performance you might associate with a larger GTI, but wrapped in a modestly small and relatively economical package. With a non-turbo, 133 horsepower 1.6 litre engine chassis, this little hot hatch offers a 0 to 60 sprint of 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 125mph. Less spirited motoring should see fuel consumption towards 40mpg. From £11,500, and with a free track day until November (www.renaultsport.co.uk).

Go girly

Tutti Cuti cushions make great gifts for girls of all ages. There are two different designs in pink and purple and the collection also includes stationery, wallets and bags. The cushion is priced at £13.99 (www.santorographics.com).

Wear the shirt

Football legend Pele has donated a signed Brazilian shirt and football to raise money for the Action for Brazil's Children charity. Bid online until 11 November at www.buyoncegivetwice.com

So smooth

The UK's first fair trade not-from-concentrate smoothie is available in raspberry, blackberry and banana or mango, orange and pink guava, and comes by sea from South America. One-litre Oké smoothies are available in Asda and Whole Foods for £3.25; www.okefairtrade.com.

Ready or not

Sleek and slim, the Tuxedo FinePix Z100fd is as smart as it name suggests. But it's not all about looks, what's inside counts too. Features include automatic red-eye removal, Face Detection technology and an intelligent flash. Available in brown, pink, silver and black, priced at £129.99 (www.fujifilm.co.uk).

Say cheese

Hide-and-seek has gone high-tech, as have a host of classic children's games, and all because of SWINXS. This clever console can talk, explain games, recognise players, keep score and referee. It costs £130 and comes with 10 games but more can be downloaded for free. Available from Early Learning Centre stores nationwide or www.swinxs.com.