Join the Itty Bitty Titty Committee

Sorry if the title is a little offensive to some, it's my way of making light of an extremely irritating political view that has arisen in Australia within the last week. Several days ago it was announced by the Australian Sex Party, that the Australian Classification Board will now be refusing classification of small breasted women in adult publications and films.
The National Classification Code dictates that anything that describes or depicts a person who is, or appears to be a child under the age of 18 will be refused classification. As someone who is small breasted, this has made me feel more than a little insecure about myself. Not that I intend to publish nude photographs of myself on the Internet, however if I were so inclined, they would be deemed illegal.

Why on earth would the Government choose to pass an incredulous law like this? This will not only serve to make women feel more insecure about themselves, but will also continue to shape the notion of "sexy" = "endowed". Not fair I say! What about my hips, the indentation at my waist or my rather large derriere? Will these be my saving grace for my illegally small breasts? Will there be a minimum cup requirement? Or will breasts be stopped at the gate merely by guesstimate? Who is this person who decides what is underdeveloped? Let's just hope little ladies that this person does not have a subscription to Ralph.
Thank you for tuning into this post, we will now return to Lola's regular programming schedule.

Lola's Chain Mail:Week ending 29th January

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date....sorry lovelies, the chain mail completely slipped my fuzzy little mind-this week has been fun (Australia Day) and very very stressful (emergency room). To join in on the chain mail, have a look at the instructions here.

You may have noticed a new addition to the sidebar, Lola's Picnic. It's a weekly picnic that I am going to throw for all those who would like to join in. Every Friday morning Lola will send you some yummy things to snack on during the day, expect fashion, media and entrepreneurship in snack size bars ♥ I will be blogging more about this on Monday....in the mean time, if you feel so inclined, do sign up I promise you it's 100 % fat free.

From my travels...

Whenever I go away, I like to buy a Babushka doll. I don't know how that tradition came about, but now it's a nice little thing to do. The first isn't from my travels, but was a present from my mother. The second was my first Babushka doll that a bought on my 21st birthday from a little shop in Melbourne.

My favourite, is the third. He originally lived on Miyajima Island in Japan. This island is inhabited only by deer. They wander the streets, searching for silly tourists like me to feed them. The last doll, lives on a fob chain, that has been in my family for over 60 years.

As I mentioned in a previous post, my brother is moving to Denmark for seven months, he has kindly offered to buy me a few more for my collection!

What are your holiday traditions? I know the lovely Porcelain Blonde takes a candle with her whenever she travels.... (such a gorgeous tradition ♥)

The Wishing Jar Video

Bright Star…

One of the things that I am most interested in is entrepreneurship. I love reading about young people who have thought of a marketable idea, focused it and executed their product.

I’m not sure what it is about business, but I find it absolutely fascinating. After having spent five years at university studying economics, I now view everything from a different perspective. Even if it’s just going to a new restaurant, I think about little nuances that can be changed to instantly enhance the idea or business.

One of my favorite websites is smart company, although not my usual online haunt, it does have a lot of inspiring interviews with young entrepreneurs. It usually provides a lot of detail about how the person’s idea or business came about, what mistakes they’ve made and new products they are introducing. It’s really good to see how entrepreneurs think and go about their business.

Having spent a fair amount of time with people who run their own companies and researching others, there are few key things that successful ventures have in common:

• They focus by doing something that they truly enjoy and are passionate about. If you don’t like you service or product, how could you possibly sell it to others?
• Successful ventures were not built on the basis of making a lot of moolah. If that is your goal, perhaps you might like to grow a money tree. Following on with my first point, money will often follow your passion and dedication.
• There are no mistakes, only lessons- Often when starting something on your own, there will be a few mistakes. Each might feel like a quake, but really it could be a tremor if you allow yourself to take something positive from the situation. When you are starting out, you can’t possibly know everything. Mistakes will happen, it’s just how you handle them that matters.
• Talent is fantastic, but drive is also important- All the talent and skill in the world won’t help you write a business plan at 8 pm after a long day at work. It can’t make you work the extra five hours a day it might take you to build something of substance. Talent and skill can be honed, but if you’re lazy and lack drive, your talent won’t count for much.

Please note: These are not from my experiences they are merely things I have learnt from others along the way. I don’t pretend to follow these religiously, however they are things that I like to remember when focusing on my own projects.

Are there any budding moguls out there? What lessons can you impart on the group?

Have a very wiki birthday!

Today officially marks one year since my first edit on Wikifashion. Time flys when you're having fun. I can't believe our project is a year old, so many things have happened that I didn't expect and things I did expect, didn't happen. That's the way things go I'm afraid, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I look forward to building the community around the site and creating something akin to Wikipedia for fashion. Dream Dream Dream.

The Wishing Jar

Welcome back to the Wishing Jar. How did your week's pan out? Did you work towards your bite-size goals? I learnt a few new html tricks and wrote a skeleton for my first chapter. If you didn't join in last week, here's how it works: Pop into the jar a few small wishes for the week. Nothing too big, something small that is achievable in seven days. Here's mine:

• Make my own flavoured green tea
• Smile more when making my videos
• Learn how to take nice photos of myself
• Buy the new Lush Strawberry massage bar
• Finish reading "Outliers" and "Dead Until Dark".

Sunday Love....

What's on for fashion in 2010?

Good question! I was sick of trying to keep track of fashion events that happen during the year. I always miss something or another and kick myself later for not having ben first to lay eyes on the gorgeous gowns during awards season.

So to make things a little easier for the fashion blogosphere, I've created a comprehensive list on Wikifashion for all of the events in 2010. If there is anything missing, feel free to edit it! Don't know how? Pop a comment in the box below and I would be more than happy to help out. If you love this list, it would be great for you to spread the word on your blogs, or simply add to it as you find out about events throughout the year.

Delilah

Here is my puppy in all her fluffy glory. She sure does look happy. I probably hadn't given her adequate belly tickles that day!

Lola's Chain Mail:Week ending 22nd January

Welcome to Lola's second chain mail, hopefully more of you would like to join in this week. For instructions have a look here. I hope you all have lovely weekends planned. Post away...

Seven things about me...thanks une belle fille ♥

The very lovely Une Belle Fille has nominated me for a Kreative Blogger Award (thank you!)....I am now obliged to tell you seven things about me...

Number 1. I love my puppy Delilah; Number 2. I adore Audrey Hepburn...

Ever since I was a little girl, I have adored Audrey Hepburn films, there is just something so utterly beautiful about her. I don't think she ever realised just how lovely she was, perhaps that's why she was so gorgeous?
My puppy Delilah is the light of my life, she is almost two years old and has made me laugh everyday since she came into my home...although a lot of pretty defenceless shoes have since departed!
Number 3. I love love love strawberries....
In fact I eat so many of them, my boyfriend thinks this is what will happen to me... From as long as I can remember, I've had at least a punnet a week. At the height of my obsession, two punnets a day! Glutenous? Of course not. In love? Without a doubt! There is nothing better than a fresh strawberry. I prefer mine completely plain, non of this chocolate coated rubbish. Although from time to time, that is nice. Some people dust sugar on theirs, I think that's sacrilege!
Estimated cost of strawberry obsession...
Length of strawberry obession- 20 years.Weeks- 1040.Punnets on average- I'm guessing probably 1.5, this is taking into consideration the months of having two per day.
Total punnets-1560.$Average Unit Cost- 4
$6240 (Holy guacamole batman, that's where my Chanel bag went! Oh well all in the name of love).
Number 4. I love geeks...

It's just my personal opinion, but I think geeks are the cutest kind of boyfriends to have. I have been dating my geek for over five years. Here are my reasons:

• Not only is he the love of my life, but he is also very smart. Whenever I don't know something, I ask him and he just knows the answer. Like a walking google search I tell you.
• He was kind enough to spend many many hours of his free time creating a wiki for me (very geeky).
• He finds the best Gossip Girl torrents around! His private torrent club thing has saved me from my Gossip Girl download delay many a time. Although I think my uploading of Gossip Girl horrifies him.
• He can teach me things, more often than not he tries to impart his wisdom of programming onto me. A little bit has stuck, as evidenced by my wiki editing skills.
• He accepts me for my geekiness. Although I love fashion, my profession is more than a little nerdy! And afterall we did meet in a macroeconomics lecture ♥

Number 5. I love 80s movies...

I don't know what it is about Molly Ringwald and John Hughes, but I find these movies so cathartic. They instantly make me feel calm. I don't know how, they're aesthetically very tacky and over the top. But at the same time very pretty to watch. I guess I am just an 80s baby through and through..
My top picks:

• Pretty in Pink- the scene where Ducky sings in the record store is so cute! Blane is also very cute, I love the scene where he tampers with the computer (he's a geek, therefore I love him).
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• Sixteen Candles
• The Breakfast Club
• Back to the Future trilogy (I know this isn't John Hughes, but this series is one of my favourites, I can watch these over and over again).

Number 6. I love my computer and am a little too obsessed with the internet...

Maybe it's what happens when you spend too much time with a computer programmer? Or maybe it was what fate had in store for me? Either way I love Miss Mac and the internet. Without either I think I might be a little lost. I do love reading, however there is something so lovely about searching for something and always being able to find it, to learn something new and to create something for others to contribute to.

Number 7. I sleep on 1200 thread count sheets...

Yes it does sound a little indulgent, but let me explain... up until a year ago I have never had my own bed, I have always slept on a hand me down from somebody else. My last bed was gifted to me by my Denmark bound little brother. It had a dent in the middle from where he used to sleep. It was so lumpy and uncomfortable, however my student induced povness forced me to endure this sleep torture for five years. Then I got a "real job" and bought the best bed and sheets I could afford. Why buy 1000 thread counts when I could get 1200 threads? I reasoned...

In my defence I purchased them online for the bargain price of $100 for a fitted sheet, top sheet and two pillow cases!

Thank you for reading, sorry this post was extremely long...I would like to nominate these lovely ladies for a Kreative Blogger Award:

• Ashleigh from Rantings of a Fashion Addict
• Nikki from A Flair to Remember

My fear of driving...

I have a slightly embarrassing confession to make...I am 23 years old and do not have my drivers license. For the past six years I have renewed my learners three times and have had four driving instructors, each ending in disaster. The worst telling my that my driving would surely kill someone. My little heart sank to the peddle and the small amount of confidence I did have was completely quashed.

That happened eighteen months ago, I have decided to fix this situation and get my license this year. Usually nothing gets the better of me and driving certainly has. It's just something I do not have an affinity for, I forget which is the accelerator and brake, sweat so much my palms can hardly grip the wheel and dread my next lesson.

This year, it's going to happen, I will get my license!

If any of you have an tips for me to overcome this fear, please do share ♥

Add your blog to Wikifashion ♥

Seeing as Wikifashion is a community project (watch my video here), it's only fitting that there is a comprehensive list of all the blogs from around the world. You can have a look at what our users have created so far. Although I'm sure a lot of your fantastic blogs are missing!

The above page belongs to the lovely Sushi from Le Blog de Sushi, her page is also today's featured article. If you haven't already wandered over to her blog, please do so.

If you'd like to be on Wikifashion as well, follow Sushi's lead and use our simple blog guide. If you need any help at all, please do let me know! Starting from tomorrow, I'll be using the blog pages to create our featured articles...

(note:The featured article section as well as technical pages, like terms of service etc, are essentially the only pages that I have control over, as I mentioned in my Wikifashion video, it is a community project that I want everyone to feel apart of, after all where would Wikipedia be if Jimmy Wales were the only one still editing it?).

Travel Bug...

So my baby brother is leaving today, he's going to live in Denmark for seven months. To say I'll miss him is an understatement. We haven't always seen eye to eye, most of the time I think he loathes me, but deep down I know he loves me ♥ Here's hoping he has the time of his life.

If there are any Danish readers out there, do you have any advice you'd like to give to my little brother? Best nightlife in Copenhagen? Eateries?

edit: Just spoke to my brother, who is currently waiting to board his flight. He has agreed to act as my "European correspondent" for the next seven months. Look forward to some gorgeous snaps of cobbled Copenhagen streets and European fashion. So excited for him!

The Wishing Jar

Sometimes it's easy to forget your dreams. To give up and not really try. I think the most effective thing with me, is to look at my goals and wishes in smaller terms. You wouldn't eat an entire cupcake in one mouthful would you? No, you would eat bite size pieces ♥

That's how I like to look at my wishes, in bite-size! So I thought it would be nice to start a wishing jar each week. Every Monday you can pop your bite size wish for the week in the jar. I promise, thinking positively at the start of the week and having something to work towards is really uplifting. Some ideas for the jar:

♥ I wish that I can learn html this week.

♥ I wish to learn how to sew a button.

♥ I wish to learn how to blow dry my hair.

♥ I wish to finish the first chapter of my novel.

Your turn.....

Zimmermann Autumn Winter 2010

Zimmermann is probably one of the prettiest Australian brands that I know. Completely out of my price range, but I love it none the less. So in the spirit of longing from afar, I give you Zimmermann's Wikifashion page. As magazines come out in the following months, I'm hoping to update item pages with editorial photos. If any of you lovely ladies happen to purchase something from the collection, feel free to upload your image and place it in the appropriate page. As the resident wiki guru, I would be more than happy to help if you have any problems or questions ♥

Drink Me...

When I was sixteen, I lived in Japan for a few months with an exchange family. While I was there my host mother would ply me with green tea whenever I asked for water. To this day almost ten years later, I drink at least two cups of green tea everyday. I left Japan with very fond memories of my family and a rather hefty caffeine addiction.

I firmly believe that there is no case of the blues that a good cup of tea can't fix. I'm not fussy, I'll drink any tea, whether its sencha, genmaicha or lady grey. My tea obsession has ebbs and flows, a few years ago I loved chamomile, rose green tea, then white tea, now I have an affection for a frothy soy chai latte.

One of the main problems that I have with tea, is finding a nice selection of quality flavours in pre packed bags. Loose leaves, are lovely when you have the time to prepare them, however it would be nice to throw a few bags of my favourite variety into my purse for my travels.

Never having been a girl to settle, I calmly thought about the situation, and have decided to make my own. I will be testing and perfecting my own concoction of chai, rose green tea and a night time brew. Hopefully this will be something I will finish within the next fortnight or so. I would love for any tea makers to suggest your favourite tea recipes? Pop yours in the box below ♥

Lola's Chain Mail:Week ending 15th January

Welcome to our first chain mail. For instructions have a look at my post here. Post away and enjoy. Remember the comments will close at 10:30 pm Australian EST. I hope you all have lovely weekends planned ♥

The 67th Golden Globes

The 67th Golden Globes are on this Sunday. I think that means that us Aussie girls will be able to see footage early Monday morning. We've started a wiki page for the show here. Feel free to edit the page when you come across video or images of the celebrities in their gorgeous gowns. Feel free to pop a comment in the box below, if this is something that you are interested in, or simply start editing the page whenever you like!

Are you kidding? I use my oven to store shoes.

Do you remember that episode of Sex and the City where Miranda asks Carrie if she has a rolling pin and Carrie tells her that she uses her kitchen as storage space? Well that was basically my attitude when I first moved out of home almost six years ago.

I didn't know my cheese grater from the vegetable peeler. If I tried to cook, it was usually some strange variety of jaffle. I think my boyfriend even documented my first attempt at cooking, that's how pretty it must have looked.

Over the years I have come to love cooking. Let me reiterate that, I said cooking not baking, Madeline baking is still a disaster. I find it relaxing and rewarding to buy fresh produce and create something yummy that my boyfriend and I will love.

There are a few things that have helped me get to this point, they are:

• Jamie Oliver- his collection of books focus on colour, variety and taste rather than precision and prettiness. Maybe he was thinking of me when he wrote it? My favourite is Jamie's Italy. The pesto page has been used so much that it is now covered in flecks of basil leaves.
• Taste.com.au- This website is absolutely fantastic, it has such a variety of recipes to choose from. The site itself is very user friendly, giving us cooking beginners many search options. You can choose from ingredient, low fat, cooking for two, holidays.....The best part about this site is the fantastic user reviews at the bottom of each page. I like to scour these for helpful hints on how to best execute the recipe.
• Google- Yes this does seem pretty obvious, but over the years I have found so many wonderful recipes just by searching Google. I am ashamed to say that I don't really follow food blogs as such, instead I just find my favourites for specific recipes I've tried and loved.
• Having good quality utensils- I know that as a student, it is almost impossible to purchase the entire line of Le Crueset, however if you do have some cash to spare, perhaps purchase one good cutting knife and a non-stick frying pan and pot. These basically got me through five years of university student povness.
• The fresh produce markets- Regularly going to the produce market has allowed me to revel in yummy fruit and veg and always find the best quality food. I think if you buy the bulk of your weekly groceries from the markets, it will really help you save a lot of money, cut down on wastage and ensure that you are planning healthy and in season meals. This way is basically fool proof for always having something yummy to eat. For lunch today I will be eating a lovely eggplant, squash and tomato soup.

What are your cooking tips for beginners?

Love Mail...

I think I've said before how much I adore Kikki K. Well now it's possible that I love it even more. After browsing the online store, I came across the adorable "Love Mail" reusable bag in the coming soon section. For AU$9.95, I don't think I will be able to resist it! It will be a gorgeous addition to the Lola office. What are your favourite reusable bags. Feel free to link to sites below ♥

Lola's Chain Mail

Sometimes working online and in an office all day, it gets hard to actually go out and meet other people. It is so easy to stay in your own little bubble and ignore the world. I thought it might be nice to send each other a note once a week or so. For privacy reasons I think it's best we keep the note giving, exclusive to commenting on other's blogs. So this is how it will work-

• Each Friday at around 8:30 in the morning I will post the chain mail and everyone who wants to be involved write their blog address in the comment box below.
• The first person can start by writing a nice note for the group, in the comment box.
• Then write a comment on the person above's blog. If their profile doesn't have an email listed, simply write a comment on their blogs. It doesn't have to be long or sappy. Short and sweet will suffice. You can send a funny picture, e-card or inspiring quote you found. Just something nice to finish the working week with ♥
• The last person to write in the comment box at 10:30pm Australian EST will receive a lovely note from me.

What does everyone think?

EDIT:Just so no one is confused, this will start on Friday morning this week. This post was just to see what people thought about the idea.

Hey there Delilah..

Why Lola?

I should probably explain why I have called my blog Lola, as it's not actually my real name. When I was born my mum couldn't decided between calling me Lola and Madeline. Unfortunately Lola didn't make the cut. So I thought it would be nice to have a space where I could show the other side of my personality. The more girly, feminine side of me with a dash of the nerdy Maddy for good measure.

True Blood it is!

Looks like we have settled on our first book for book club! We will be choosing one from the True Blood series. Does anyone have suggestions about which one to start with? Once we decide, I'll pop down to my library and start reading...so excited!

EDIT: We've chosen Dead Until Dark....If everyone is happy to read that we can get started. If you don't have a copy no need to rush and buy one, just review any book you are currently reading ♥

Table for one please?

I don't know what it is about dining alone or even attending a movie by oneself, but most people seem to avoid these types of occasions, for fear of what others will think. Seeing a movie by myself or sitting for hours in a local cafe while I pour over the latest Frankie magazine is something that I relish in. Perhaps it's because I'm an introvert and I need alone time? I don't know, either way I find it utterly relaxing to do things by myself. It feels almost like a treat.

Tell me lovely readers, what is your favourite thing to do by yourself? You can call it your secret single behaviour (Sex and the City quote).....

Join Lola's Book Club

Would you like to join our book club? Have a look here......

Rodarte for Target on Wikifashion

Since there has been an explosion of Rodarte for Target purchases within the blogosphere, I have decided it would be a good idea to start wiki pages for each of the items. The above is a snippet of the Swiss Dot Lace Dress page. So many lovely bloggers and tweeps have come out and contributed to the pages, which is fantastic. The entire purpose of Wikifashion is to bring fashion lovers and designers together and have collective contribution. If you have any pictures that you have come across, or you have any items, please do edit the page.

I'm hoping that one day, Wikifashion will have a fantastic community of editors. Kind of like if Wikipedia and the Vogue forums had babies, that's what Wikifashion's contributors would be like! It'll get there one day, next stop implementing a forum. I've always wanted one, seeing as there is no site in Australia that you can talk about social/relationship topics as well as fashion.

Peppermint Patty

This is my favourite nail polish. It is Sportsgirl's "Apple". Although it is a little streaky to apply, with some perseverance it has quite a good colour pay off. Also it is a good substitute for Chanel's Jade green polish.

Are you are social dweeb?

Being an introvert can be really hard sometimes, often people don't understand me or maybe that's just me being my typical over analytical self. When I get invited to parties I often feel a little bit stressed, even if it's with people I love to be around. I fret over what to wear, who will be there, when to leave, you get the hint. Basically I become a human slinky. If social outings come out of the blue, that's when things go a little haywire and I get a little too frazzled. Although I always make it a habit of saying yes to things, as I adore my friends and those of my boyfriend's dearly. I do not want them thinking otherwise.

My lack of social confidence and shyness is definitely something I need to work on this year. What do you do when you feel like a social dweeb?

Fendi Bicycle

Thanks to the Joelle from Hello,Lovely I now need this very pretty, yet overpriced bike. Even if I did own this beauty, I'm not sure I could even bring myself to use it. I would probably be like a crazy neighbour I once had, who polished his red convertible every night and never actually drove it! Maybe I should stick to my first love?

To write or not to write...?

Growing up I always loved books, I found them to be a lovely escape from my seemingly endless study schedule. It wasn't until I reached university that I lost my firm grip on reading, and I fear with it my quasi-decent ability to write. It has been a dream of mine for a while now to construct a novel. The problem, is that I have far too many ideas to form one fluid and logical book of any kind. Do I want to write about entrepreneurship and my journey? Or the crazy science-fiction idea that came to me in a eerily vivid dream on New Years Eve?

Sometimes I wish I could focus and cut the clutter from my mind. Only then will I be truly productive and create something of worth (that sounds a little bit too The Matrix for my liking). Does anyone have ideas for this? Maybe I should try meditation, has this been of a success to anyone?

Even though I have been quite gung ho about my other creative pursuits, there is something about writing a book that is holding me back. I can't seem to stop the fear of not being talented enough or persistent enough to do it. Even if I never send it away to be scrutinised and possibly published, I still can't sit down and try.

Search for the perfect red lip...

At the moment I am on an quest to find the perfect red lipstick. Does anyone have an idea of the colour the girl is wearing in this picture? My hair is the same colour and I would love to find one similar to this!

In the past I have tried these:

• Nars "Diablo"
• Mac "Ruby Woo"
• Lanolips "Apple"

I would like to investigate:

• The Lipstick Queen's "Red Sinner"
• Revlon Super Lustrous "Red"
• Dior Creme Gloss "Red"

The lovely Poppy King gave me a few tips as to how to apply a red lip, so now all I need to do is find one and I'll be set!

Get on your bike....

I love this photo, everything about it is so pretty! The bow, fringe, red lips, geek glasses and especially my future bike.

How to be productive when working from home?

Working from home can be the best thing ever, you can write emails from your laptop while lying in bed, create content while eating your lunch on the patio or even work from a nearby cafe instead!

Although, once the 9 to 5 veil is lifted, the seemingly endless options on how to work can be rather daunting and stifling to say the least. Will I work through the night? Early in the morning? Or both (in my case)? Trying to get your routine down pat can be the hardest thing to do as a small business owner. The constant juggle of trying to do everything and then some can be tiring.

Here are my tips to finding the perfect home work environment:

• Have an area in your house that you can close off to the rest of your living areas and dedicate to working space only. That way you can allocate yourself work times, as you will effectively be at "the office".
• If something is feeling a little bit off for some reason or another, you can't get into the mood for working, try something a little different. How about going for a walk? Or making yourself something more extravagant for lunch even if it is just a nice smoothie instead of a salad?
• My last post raised an important point, as you are now working from home it is very easy to fall into a sluggish trap of only venturing from your chair for food and drink. Make it a daily habit to take your dog for a walk, go for a run or pop on a yoga dvd. This is something I really need to work on myself, as I could go for days of typing, sleep, typing, sleep, eat without much else and be incredibly exhausted by the end of it.
• Again, if you are feeling a little lack lustre or need a change of scenery try working from a local cafe. Every town has a few lovely ones, as long as you buy enough chais I'm sure the owner won't mind you taking up some space to type for an hour or so.
• And if all else fails, don't force yourself to do anything. Forcing will make you resentful and you will ultimately produce rubbish. Have an hour or two off and see if you feel chirpier, if not give yourself a day and then chin up. Yes that sounds a little harsh, but I think working for yourself is difficult and sometimes it is best to work your way through periods of the doldrums, your business will be all the better for it!

Now if only I could work from a Parisian cafe..

Too cool for school?

After having spent five years at university completing degrees in economics and arts, I can't help but feel that I have racked up a $30,000 debt with nothing much to show for it. I started my first "real" job as an economist five days after my last exam and felt the harsh slap of reality after spending my first month sitting at my blank desk reading a dictionary of statistics. How had I allowed myself to not truly do what I loved and felt passionate about? Was making others feel happy and proud of me paramount to making myself fill fulfilled?

It was at that point I began to have a good hard look at my choices that had led me to this point. I have a habit of being a people pleaser, going with the flow and being optimistic about pretty much all situations that I didn't stop to think about what I was going to become. Although I love economics and find it incredibly interesting, I really don't think I have an affinity for the profession. I guess this was a case of loving the study but not the work. Perhaps I can become a theoreticist? Or perhaps I am a typical gen-y who drops things when the going gets tough?

Starting Lola PR and launching my project Wikifashion, was something that really helped me hone in on all of the things I love and felt passionate about. Working on both allowed me to write, soak up beautiful fashion editorials, blog, talk to lovely people, indulge in my love of public relations and the online media and finally work towards doing something that made me feel truly, effervescently happy.

Now I wonder if only I had realised these things six years ago, maybe I wouldn't be so far in debt? I can wonder all I like, but when it comes down to it, I think my degrees have helped me expand my way of thinking and allowed me realise that with a lot of hard work and persistence I can do whatever I want to.

Having said this, I hope to give a little advice about whether or not university is needed in order to achieve your ultimate career path and save you the hefty price tag for my epiphany.

While I was at university I met someone who promptly quit his degree and started his own business at 19 years old. A lot of people discouraged him from doing this and warned that he would need a degree. I supported his decision and joked that the people in his class would probably be working for him one day. Well that came to fruition around six months ago, and now no one questions his decision to quit university. Through a lot of self-discipline, hours of self learning and persistence this person has become pretty damn good at what they do, degree or no degree. Now I am by no means saying that if you want to become a lawyer or a doctor that you rock up to your local law court or hospital and ask for a job fresh out of school. Yes a lot of professions now require you to be qualified and then qualified some more. However there are a number such as in IT in the case of my above story, or perhaps starting your own business that a degree may not be necessary. A lot of careers come about because people have started from the bottom rung and slowly sweated their way to the top. Look at Richard Branson, he left school at 16 and bought an island when he was 28 years old. The two need not be mutually exclusive.

In a world where degrees seem as prolific as toilet paper, experience, motivation and some serious hard work can never replace a pretty certificate. However to stand on the fence as my people pleaser self would do, I would advise that for most a good helping of work experience, internships and extra curriculars will go swimmingly with your degree in getting you to where you want to go.

Jo Walker on how to become a writer....

Back to work we go.....

Sometimes I really do not want to work, it pains me to get out of bed in the morning. This usually does not happen as I love what I do. Basically I look at pretty clothes, talk to fantastic people, write and read magazines all day long. Yes it does sound taxing and that is the rosy view of it, there are a lot of other tedious tasks that I will not bore you with.

However, like I said most of the time I love my job and forget that I am working. When I do have a case of the work blues I like to look at my list of things that I aspire to become, do, achieve and as bad as it sounds, consume. I won't divulge the list as most of the time it seems a little silly and materialistic. However I find making a list like this to be so motivating and inspiring that I can't help but start tapping away at Miss Mac again. Try making a list of your own, basically a dot point form of your ultimate fantasy life. Try to do things everyday that will help you achieve these things. Yes, it can be daunting reading things that seem out of reach now, but if you never dream, why would you ever try and ultimately you will never achieve. Like Poppy said "the most soul destroying thing in life is not to try".

To help explain this concept a little better here is my favourite dream on my list....

• To go back to the New York Bar at the Park Hyatt Tokyo in December 2010 and sit at a window seat.... Even though this might seem a little unrealistic at the moment, it is specific enough that I can do something everyday to work towards it.

I'd love to hear some of your dreams.....remember no dream is ever too silly or out of reach unless you keep it that way.