On the wine trail

The first time I attempted to drink red wine I was at a health retreat with my work colleagues from Weight Watchers (there's plenty of contradictions in that sentence). It was one of those places where you only eat organic, vegan food and there's certainly no caffeine, alcohol or cigarettes allowed. We were staying there compliments of the establishment and spent the first day doing yoga, a bush walk, a cooking class and kayaking. But after retreating to our private bush cottage, my editor pulled out the cask of red wine she'd snuck in (it was good quality cask mind you - not a 4L goon box). Giggling, we poured it into coffee mugs (obviously there were no wine glasses in the place) and sipped it quickly, just in case someone caught us.

I'd never been a wine drinker, but not having to refrigerate alcohol sounded great to me and I was determined to like it. So I swallowed those first few sips down like nails, and the next few times I drank it after that, were the same. But eventually I found myself rather enjoying a good red (although I have to admit that at this stage, I had no idea what was good). I was drinking it at dinner parties (feeling very sophisticated at 20 years of age mind you), at after-work drinks and shortly it became my drink of choice.

So when my boyfriend and I planned a weekend away to the Hunter Valley last year, we were both excited at the prospect of trying lots of yummy wine and cheese. We drove up on a Friday afternoon and checked into our cabin at Pokolbin Village Resort. They have a restaurant, convenience store, chocolate shop, cellar and smelly cheese shop on the premises so we didn't go far that afternoon. After a delicious dinner and an early night, we woke ready to get stuck into the wine tasting.

Me being the anal organiser I am, had already plotted a course for us on the map and we planned to visit several wineries around the area. Pulling into the first one, we walked cautiously into the bar, or cellar door, as they're called in the wineries. We had no idea what we were doing and after standing at the bar for a few seconds, looking like idiots, perusing the wine list, finally a staff member helped us out with a few different reds to try.

Well we were off! I lost count of how many wineries we visited that day but we had a great time (even if it was a little blurry) and managed to fit in a tour at McGuigan winery, visit a cheese festival that was on that weekend, played putt putt golf and had a late lunch at Harrigan's Irish pub (which is HUGE and has a good range of tasty pub meals).

The next day saw us horseriding in the morning before visiting the cheese festival again, and then some more wineries... and the Irish pub again. We came home with close to 20 bottles of wine and a bit of a hangover but it was one of the best weekends I've ever had. Even if you're not a big wine drinker, the scenery and delicious food is worth a day or two in the Hunter. We plan to go back this year on the same weekend : )

Notes on Glossy Paper

Good advice

One of my favourite quotes comes from an interview with Sandra Sully in Frankie magazine. When asked for her advice, Sandra replied with the mantra: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got". So simple and yet so damn true. Most times when we feel something is holding us back in life, it comes down to us not being ready to change something about ourselves.

I am always surprised by some girls' attitudes at the fashion college I attend. When they find out I work in magazines, I am usually bombarded with questions of how they can get into mags and what I did to get to my position. When I give my story, most of them seem too impatient, and disinterested in starting from the bottom. They want the jobs to come to them. One girl even baulked at my suggestion to do work experience one day a week at a magazine she loves because she wasn't prepared to work for free. Yet, she continued to complain about not getting any job offers through the college's careers department. They probably didn't even know who she was!

The best thing to do when you feel like you're stuck in a rut is to take a good look at what it is about your life that's making you feel that way. Is it really your job? Or are you just lacking challenges at the moment? Is it a certain relationship in your life that's causing you grief? Or is it your own issues that are causing you to lash out at others? As cheesy as it sounds, you are the keeper of your own destiny and the only person who can turn things around.

So remember the quote and make a change today. You never know where a small, seemingly insignificant change can lead you : )

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It must be the Oscars!

I always love when awards shows come around. Not so I can sit through the hours and hours of boring speeches, but so I can scrutinse the stars' fashion choices. Hey, when am I ever going to get to wear a dress as beautiful as some of the designer creations that sashay down the red carpet? There is, of course, no awards show as prestigious as the Oscars. The whole world is expecting glamour, grace and beauty. Here's some of the looks I'm loving...

Emily Blunt
The Devil Wears Prada actress looks amazing in this metallic blue fishtail gown. This is my absolute favourite colour and it compliments her hair colour perfectly.

Naomi Watts
She's bringing old school glamour to the red carpet today. Miss Watts looks gorgeous with her soft blonde curls and pastel yellow dress.

Maggie Gyllenhaal
The new mum looks amazing in this figure-hugging number. Stunning!

Reese Witherspoon
She's done it again! Gorgeous colour, beautiful dress (I love the layers)... and her hair is HOT! I give this one an A+

And some dishonorable mentions...

Nicole Kidman must hold the record for the most consistent boring red-carpet looks in a row. At least she's not in beige this time, but seriously, what's with the bow?

J.Lo what's happened to you? Being married to ugly Marc has turned the diva into a mumsy version of her former self. And don't even get me started on the hair.

Oh no, Kirsten Dunst. It looks like someone's locked her in a cupboard with the make up supplies from Marie Antoinette. Get some sun immediately before your dress matches your skin colour even more.

Jesus, I don't even know who this girl is but who let those hideous boots onto the red carpet!! I am speechless.

Hope you enjoy the show! : )

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Chicks to dig

One of my friends responded to my celebrity post the other day questioning why it is that we look up to these celebrities - is it their glamorous lives that atrracts us? Surely we don't aspire to be as brain-dead as some of them are. Well I've come up with a list of celebrity chicks that really deserve the spotlight time they get and are much cooler in my eyes...

Zooey Deschanel
Not only does this chick have great fashion sense and the most amazing eyes, she always plays interesting, quirky parts - have you seen Almost Famous and Failure to Launch?

Reese Witherspoon
Great mum, killer bod, one of the highest paid actresses... what was Ryan thinking? Reese's amazing Golden Globes outfit certainly showed him exactly what he's lost. I've always loved her, but her part in Walk The Line gave me a whole new respect for her acting ability.

Abbie Cornish
Although she may just have played a part in the above said marriage break up (I don't believe it), Abbie is truly a shining star. Her performance in Candy gave me shivers. Plus she's Aussie!

Juliette Lewis
You could never say Juliette Lewis isn't an individual! While I've never seen her perform with her band The Licks, the photos and crazy outfits say it all. She's an amazing actress (have you seen The Other Sister?) and I reckon she rocks.

Drew Barrymore
Drew has grown into a truly beautiful woman. Smart and successful, you'd never guess she was a recovering drug and alcohol addict by 12 years old. She's always been one of my faves.

Gwen Stefani
Again, another of my personal faves. Gwen bought girl power to the 90s with No Doubt's hit "Just a Girl" and she's carved a successful and individual career for herself. Love her!

So I'd recommend adding these ladies to your list of top sheilas! Who do you love? Add a comment and let me know : )

Notes on Glossy Paper

Living in an online world

If you've seen the new issue of Shop Til You Drop you may have checked out their special online shopping special. I was particularly impressed with their shoot - including items all available to buy online. There's something about seeing the garments on a model that helps to see what they may look like - flat lay is just so deceiving. But my fave story was from the author of the new book The Global Shopper. Here's a girl who had a simple, yet great idea and turned it into reality.

I keep a list of websites I read about or hear about from friends, but Nicole has gone a step further and actually researched, and shopped her way, to an entire book about online shopping. I am yet to purchase the book for myself but I am sure it will be jam packed with heaps of online secret spots.

Two of my new fave sites include Michi Girl and Who What Wear (thanks Ange!). They're not shopping sites but cute daily fashion forecasts and commentary. Check them out by clicking the links to the right. If you have any cool new sites you've discovered, feel free to add a comment and let me know!

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Who wants fame?

Who would want to be famous these days? Seriously? Like many young girls, I dreamt of being famous one day and spent many hours at dance rehearsals, singing lessons and modeling agencies aiming for the spotlight. Not everyone has the attention-seeking gene but I was definitely buildng my life around the goal of becoming famous as a child.

Andy Warhol said "In the future everybody will be world-famous for 15 minutes." And with the plethora of reality TV shows beeming into our lounge rooms every week, it seems Mr Warhol knew what he was talking about. Just look at the thousands of people who line the streets, putting themselves at the mercy of the judges for their shot at fame, be it Big Brother or Australian Idol. (I myself had to do this for the sake of a story, and trust me, it is not something I would ever do again!)

In Australia we have more people who are famous for being on a reality TV show, than we have true celebrities. How else can you explain an ex-Big Brother contestant competing on Dancing With The Stars? Another starred on Neighbours, along with an ex-Idol contestant. And now the latest Idol pin-up boy, Dean Geyer, looks set to join Ramsay Street too.

And with the technology shift in our lives leading everyone to the internet, sites like MySpace and YouTube allow anyone to become an instant success. Bands have found fame this way and others, notoriety for their quirky YouTube creations. Hey, even blogging is a way to get your name out there.

But my question is, when you look at the life of celebrities (and trust me, I see more than my fare shair of gossip magazines and websites everyday - it's part of my job), what part makes it aspirational? Sadly, many young girls want to be famous, but not for something noble... they want to be like Paris Hilton. They know they can be famous for not doing much at all.

Now that I am older and wiser than my pre-teen self, I wouldn't wish fame upon anyone. When I recently asked Hilary Duff about living in the spotlight, her answers about the paparazzi were enough to make me question the sanity of anyone who wants to be in the public eye. I most certainly would make the worst celebrity. Venturing outside without makeup? Yep, that's me everyday. Bad outfit choices? I'm sure I've made a few. Partying? Of course!

In Hollywood where you're not anybody unless you've been to rehab, celebrities seem to live a sad life. And when a girl like Britney Spears who is worth millons and was once a pop icon, sends herself down a path of croth-flashing, drug taking and head shaving, it doesn't make me envious for one second. In fact, I feel sad for her and happy for my simple, and private life : )

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Money, money, money

Ah, the woes of money. After what seemed like a lifetime of waiting, I got paid last Thursday, and even though this money is supposed to last me a month (damn you monthly pay!) I have found myself in a very familiar situation once again - flat broke. I know I'm not the only person who seems to have spent my pay before it even arrives. Once you take out rent, food and bills, there isn't much left over to play with... or save. I always have good intentions of saving. I transfer some money straight to my ING account as soon as I get paid, with well-laid plans of keeping it in there and not giving it another glance... that is until a week later when I'm running low on cash and find myself having to transfer $50 to keep me going... and later, another $50... and so it goes.

Every male I know doesn't seem to have this problem. My smart boyfriend and brother both manage to save every week and my brother recently paid his $15,000 loan off in less than a year. And while you might be sitting there thinking I have thrown all my money away on clothes and going out, sadly it's not true. But as hard as I try to be good with my money and set out a budget for myself every month, I always seem to run out. Even though I take a packed lunch to work, walk whenever I can to save on transport, and most of my weekends involve free trips to the beach or a cheap meal and DVD at home.

So then I got to thinking, is it the difference between creative types and mathematical minded folk that has us differing so much in the money stakes? Is it my creative spirit and easy-going attitude that causes me to miss expenses here and there? I'd like to say it's as easy as that but I think it's more likely a combination of trying to fix up my debts, save for a deposit on a house (I'm going to need a lot of freelance work to top up that account) and living in the most expensive city in Australia.

Sure, I've made mistakes in the past and thrown away money on silly things, that's part of growing up and having fun while you're young! I've lost money to friends, made some bad purchases (most notably a $3500 car that blew up after six months), and lived from the ages of 18 to 24 pretty much on credit (if you don't have a credit card, don't get one). But I'm happy to say that I have been living credit-free since October. I got myself a new loan through a credit union (lower interest and no fees for early repayment) to consolidate my debts, cut up my credit card and opened an account with ANZ to get myself a Visa Debit card. So far, so good.

I now think about purchases before I hand over my cash. And if I really want something, I have to wait until I have saved the money to buy it. The satisfaction of buying new furniture with my boyfriend when we moved into our place, with cash, was surprisingly sweet. Now I just have to pay out that loan, and stay far away from the shops. Wish me luck : )

Notes on Glossy Paper

"I want" syndrome

I've always had a bad case of the "I wants". It's probably got to do with the fact that I read a million magazines every month and am obsessed with fashion, but I always seem to find at least 10 things I want in every issue. High on my list of wants for Autumn are some high-waisted jeans a la Kate Moss (pictured right). Of course, I know they will never look anywhere near as good on me as they do on her, but I am currently obsessed with a pair in Bardot and won't be satisfied until I make the trek to Bondi to try them on.

It is hard to weed out the needs from the wants. For example, I need to buy a computer for working at home... I suppose I could go with a special deal from Dell or even find myself a second-hand PC, but I want a new iMac (they're just so pretty and easy to use). And yes, I do need some new clothes for winter (I don't want to be unprepared like last year and end up freezing, even though the thought of shopping for winter clothes while it's still so warm and sunny outside is majorly depressing), but I currently have a large shopping list of wants for the season, some of which won't warm me from even the slightest chill.

It is selfish for us to want for ourselves when it comes to material possessions, or is it only natural? I know males will never understand why we need so many clothes, or why we often choose things that are more pretty than practical. I think it's ok to suffer from "I want" syndrome every now and then, as long as it doesn't consume us. It's nice to have something to work towards and if we only ever bought things because we needed them, shopping wouldn't be half as fun!

I know you probably have a nice list of "I wants" too... just admit it : )

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Girls and shoes: A love story

Like many girls, my love affair with shoes started at a young age. Perhaps it was the array of cork wedges and platforms I discovered in the bottom of my mum's cupboard when I was still on all fours, or the first pair of plastic "dress up" heels I received for my third birthday that started it all, but there is nothing quite like the feeling of slipping on a gorgeous new pair of shoes (even though, for comfort sake, most days see me in my trusty havaianas). My mum loves shoes, my grandmother loves shoes and come to think of, pretty much every other female I know has a weak spot for them too.

Shoes will never discriminate. They won't make you feel like crap when you're having a "fat" day. They are the one purchase (bar new underwear) that can make you feel great when every other thing is not fitting, or sitting right. Shoes make an outfit. A hot pair of statement heels in a bright colour will always steer the eye to your feet and draw compliments even from complete strangers!

A new pair of shoes can even revamp your old wardrobe. Plain black jeans and dresses come to life with the right footwear, and they make you feel great. So this Valentines day I say treat yourself to a gorgeous new pair of shoes - stilletos, wedges, flats, boots... whatever makes you happy. Your feet will love you for it : )

Oh, and make sure you check out Music and Lyrics with that someone special or your best girlfriend (in cinemas from today). Hugh Grant's "pop" dance moves alone are worth the $15 ticket. And as a self-confessed adoring fan of Drew Barrymore, I highly recommend it if you're looking for a good laugh and some light-hearted romance.

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Sex And The City: The Movie

There's been rumours of a Sex And The City movie circulating since the show ended, but it seems the wait is finally over! A report on smh.com.au today tells us that a script is being written and filming could commence later in the year. Hooray!

Being a major fan of the show, I admit to dreaming of living a life like Carrie's (who wouldn't want to be able to have her wardrobe by only writing a weekly column?). I also wasn't the only one mourning the loss of our weekly girlie fix. Girls all around the world have been known to hold Sex And The City marathons when a friend is going through a hard time and the Sex And The City tour of Manhattan is as popular as ever.

And if the show that gave us the stylings of Particia Field, Magnolia bakery cupcakes, cosmopolitans, Manolo Blahnik and endless relationship advice is anything to go on, the film is going to be one to watch over and over again.

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Where else but Queensland?

I tend to be a bit patriotic when it comes to my home town of Caloundra. Sure, while I lived there I joined in with the "clowntown" jibe, complained about having nothing to do, and about having to drive to Brisbane for some decent shopping. But since I've been gone (over four years now!), and espcecially since my short stint living in London, I have never appreciated it's small-town atmosphere so much.

Whenever someone informs me that they're heading up to Queensland for a holiday, especially if they're visiting the Sunshine Coast, I just can't wait to let them in on all the great spots they need to see. So I thought I'd share some of it's delights with you today...

First up, where to get the best food! My favourite Mexican resturant of all time, is a small establishment in the main street of Caloundra (Bulcock St - yes it's a funny name, I know). Meg's Joint has the most delicious combination dips with homemade tortilla crisps and tasty chimichangas that will leave you satisfied for hours. I also recommend the seafood burrito if you're a seafood lover.

If you love a good steak, then Alfie's Moo Char and Bar, overlooking the water at Bulcock Beach (owned by Allan "Alfie" Langer), has the best filet mignon I've ever tasted. I've eaten here several times with my family and it never disappoints.

And if you're looking for great, well-priced spot for breakfast with a view to-die-for, then Cafe By The Beach at Moffat Beach (Seaview Terrace) is a local fave. Their pancakes alone will having you coming back every time you visit.

There are eight beaches between Golden Beach and Currimundi and a drive around the headland is not to be missed. The newly built surf pool at Kings Beach is a great attraction for families.

And while the shopping in Caloundra itself can be a bit limiting, a 15 minute drive up to Mooloolaba will reward you with boutiques such as La Vida (Zanzibar Shop 13, The Esplanade) stocking Sass & Bide, Alice McCall and many more Aussie labels. And of course, Sunshine Plaza at Maroochydore is just up the road with plenty to keep you occupied for a day and a variety of cafes overlooking the lake where you can take a break and ponder more purchases.

Also make sure you head out to the hinterland to visit Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, have a swim at Kondalilla Falls, go horseriding at Mooloolah Valley Riding Centre, browse the Eumundi Markets and sample some tasty homemade treats in the quaint village of Montville.

I could go on and on... but then I'd just get homesick! Lucky I'm heading up there this weekend. I hope you'll check it out some day : )

Notes on Glossy Paper

Girls dress for girls

I know I'm not alone in saying that when I walk down the street, I'm checking out what other girls are wearing. Girls appreciate seeing a well-put-together outfit, or a hot new trend item they've been dying to purchase for themselves in the flesh (this can also induce huge pangs of jealousy and desire to rush to the nearest Sportsgirl with credit card in hand)! It's the "wow, she looks great, I've got to get myself a skirt/top/dress like that" realisation that has us storing away the image in our fashion memory banks for the next time we go shopping.

Working in magazines, it's also a daily occurrence in the office. We know when someone has a new item of clothing on, and just have to comment on it and need to know where they got it from. You can really blow your colleagues away by breathily answering, "it's from London/LA/Paris" and that's why many magazine girls are addicted to online shopping.

Girls feel more pressure to look good for girls than guys. We worry about what other girls will be wearing at certain events, we feel good when we receive compliments about a new outfit and we'd be lying if we said we've never bitched about another girl's bad outfit choice.

I would rather see girls trying new trends (even if they are bordering on looking like they're playing dress up's from their mum's cupboard) than resorting to cleavage-boosting slutty ensembles that scream "come here boys!" Fashion is supposed to be fun, so next time you're at the shops, find something that inspires you and makes you feel good. And forget what other people will say : )

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Department store chic

To those in the know, this news will be a few days old, but I am still excited by the fact that Stella McCartney has designed a winter range for Target, and yes, for Australian stores (in selected stores from March 12)! "I wanted the collection for Target to reinterpret all the 'best ofs' and 'must-haves' of Stella McCartney for winter and make my designs more accessible to a wider audience in Australia," she said in a statement. I personally can't wait to get my hands on one of her swing coats. Stella is no stranger to designing for other labels, last year launching a range for Adidas and H&M.

When the Designers for Target program launched last season, Sydney stores were immediately bombarded by fashionistas desperate to bag themselves a designer bargain. I myself, went to purchase two of the beautiful Alice McCall dresses but alas, the Bondi Junction store had sold out of all designs almost the day they arrived! Feeling somewhat depleted that I'd missed out on adding some of her lovely dresses to my wardrobe for a third of the price, I returned home.

But being the little investigator I am, I thought "no, I'm not going to stop there!". My editor was searching Ebay to find herself one of the dresses, but they had all been marked up by clever girls who saw a chance to make some money! I needed to find somewhere out of the city, somewhere where the girls weren't so switched on about these things, and also somewhere where people still knew Target to be a regular department store. I knew I could rely on good 'ol Sunshine Plaza at Maroochydore.

So I sent my wonderful mother up to the shops with specific instructions about the designs, colours and size I was after (and also orders from my colleagues, just on the off chance they would still have size eights left). Luckily for me, there was indeed one each of the dresses I wanted, and both in size 12 - it was fate! When that package arrived at work two days later, I was very pleased with myself. But also sorry for my colleagues who had missed out!

It started with chain store chic - with Madonna's range for H&M, Viktor & Rolf for H&M, Kit Willow for Portmans in Oz, and Kate Moss currently designing a range for Topshop in the UK. Now it's all about department store chic. Target in the USA has been upmarket for a while now, including ranges from designers such as Luella Bartley, for oh so cheap. Now it seems, the trend is coming here, and I couldn't be happier. Big W even has a glossy lift out in this month's Cosmopolitan with designs in all the top trends for the Autumn/Winter season.

So get the look for less!

Notes on Glossy Paper

Bringin' Sexy Back

It's been almost 45 years since the world said goodbye to Norma Jeane. Better known as Marilyn Monroe, she set the world on fire with her curvaceous figure and come-hither eyes. She was a sex symbol like no other, and back when size 14 was considered sexy, women yearned to look just like her. Still to this day she is considered a pop icon and one of the most beautiful women to have lived.

Fast forward to now, and while the catwalks pump out emaciated size-zero models, and celeb style icons include stick-thin Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton and Sienna Miller, there is a waft of refreshment in the air. Organisers of fashion events are slowly waking up to themselves and banning anorexic-looking models from their shows, and serving healthy snacks backstage (whether or not the models are eating them is another matter), and a new wave of celebrities are showing bigger, really is more beautiful.

The average woman is not a size six. She doesn't exist on carrot sticks and water. She likes a steak (and a beer). But she also knows how to look after herself and be happy with what she's got. Ugly Betty's America Ferrera, Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslet and Scarlett Johannson are all shining examples, and much better role models for a society obsessed with celebrity gossip. They can fill a dress in all the right places and you know they won't be skipping meals any time soon. They also happen to be some of the most gorgeous girls you've ever seen.

Healthy is the new beautiful and it's achievable for every single one of us... not just the size sixes : )

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Getting motivated

Ok, so I know I am one of the corniest people on the planet, hell, watching Home and Away can bring a tear to my eye at times, but am I the only one getting sucked into that Special K "do something just for you" ad on TV at the moment? Maybe it's due to my "I'll exercise tomorrow" attitude... I know I really should exercise but there just always seems to be something better to do, or an easy excuse for not doing it... which leaves me staring at my love handles after scoffing down a bowl of pasta in front of The Biggest Loser.

One of my closest friends surprised me recently by announcing she will be taking part in a triathlon, even though she is not typically into strenuous exercise (much like myself). Her give-it-a-go attitude impressed me so much and so far she has stuck to her word, walking and jogging for two hours every night, swimming laps and even giving up smoking to reach her goal. So if she can do it, why am I still sitting on my butt?

I'm going to allow myself to be inspired by the blatent Special K plug and make a promise to myself to take the time to exercise. Hey, I might even take the 2 week challenge and see where I end up! Wish me luck : )

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The real seachange

Who hasn't thought of packing it all in and finding a simpler life? The more and more I talk to friends and colleagues in the city, the more I realise they feel exactly like me! My daydreams vary from opening a boutique at the Gold Coast, to becoming a scuba instructor (dreamt up during a recent holiday in the Whitsundays) to creating my own successful Ebay business (you know, like the ones you always read about where they started with $50 worth of secondhand crap and now it's a full time job)!

Some of my friends' aspirations range from opening a B&B in north Queensland, to an antique and coffee shop in Melbourne, to a homemade cake business to cater to corporate meetings.

Whether it's the romanticism of living in a quaint country cottage, the no-worries-mate attitude of living in a shack by the sea, or the freedom of flitting from one foreign abode to another, the same principal rings true. We work to live, not live to work, and while many of us will spend years studying and working hard to make a name for ourselves in our chosen career, there comes a time where, naturally, we yearn for something else. Something a little more, er, simple!

And in a generation where we're told that we can do anything we want, I say why not? I'll keep inspired by checking realestate.com.au for the perfect seachange address and hope to write to you one day from my tropical paradise, computer on lap, before I duck out for my scuba lesson : )

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Are we all too selfish?

An article titled "Welcome to the Selfish City" (by Brigid Delaney) caught my eye today on the smh.com.au update. Being a Queenslander who moved to the "big smoke" four years ago to persue my dream of working in magazines, I immediately found myself associating this headline with my own feelings for Sydney at some times. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not bagging it out, in fact I love Sydney - I have grown so much, met so many wonderful people, had some of the best times of my life and found my soulmate all within the city borders. However, as I read this story I found myself nodding my head in agreement to many of it's downfalls.

According to 53-year-old British author and psychologist Oliver James, who has written a book called Affluenza (studying how much people measure their self-worth by what they own, how they look and where they live), Sydney has a bit of a "'f--- you, we're rich' type thing."

Yes, there are the Paris Hilton wannabes who flock to Bondi Beach (and indeed Paris herself just recently flashing around her OTT silver Louis Vuitton arm candy), the families up to their eye balls in debt to get "ahead" in the property market and put their kids in childcare, and the chained-to-the-desk office workers who are desperately trying to climb the career ladder and who choose their friends based on the benefits they can bring.

James believes that people who gravitate towards capital cities and high-powered jobs are a "self-selecting group of people", many of whom "are made to feel worthless as children, who are now competing viciously with each other". While I can't agree entirely with this belief (I had a great childhood!), I can definitely see the competition factor!

But what I do know, is that none of these material posessions will make anyone genuinely happy. I feel sorry for the girls who need to spend hours on their hair and make up to make themselves feel better about their appearance, the people who have worked so hard on their career they've missed out on finding someone who makes them truly happy, and those who feel lost and are seeking purpose in their life while trying not to be left behind. "Constantly comparing your lot with others, especially those who have more than you, is not a prescription for feeling safe," Jones writes.

And so my thought for the day is: Realise the good things in your life and let the other worries melt away. Help someone, not for your own gain, but to bring some sunshine to their life. And remember to smile : )

Notes on Glossy Paper