"If a Woman Rebels Against High-Heeled Shoes, She Should Take Care to Do It in a Very Smart Hat"

I think most people would by now know I'm a big fan of Condoleezza Rice's style. Style, not her foreign policy. Personally, I think she's changed the face of women politicians (the Queen doesn't count, as she's just a figurehead and doesn't make any important decisions). She pretty much made away with the idea that women politicians are dowdy; who can forget Miss Rice in those boots?!

And since we're nearing the end of her term as Secretary of State, and she'd probably be back at Stanford, who'd be my next politico-fashionista(s)?

Right now I'm stalking the style of the Sarkozettes, French women ministers known not only for their intelligence, but their poise and style.

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Looks like volume is still on the cards down undahhhhhhhhhhhhh! And I'm finally collating all my bits and pieces together for my little research "test"! But a little break nonetheless...

Soooo I 'm back in Melbourne, and it's freezing! It's probably about 10degrees now, so adjusting to the weather after so long in tropical Singapore is interesting. And figuring out what to wear is soo much harder; only because there are so many layers involved! Which reminds me, I need more long-sleeved tops and tights!

The flight was allright...maybe because from Singapore-Darwin I had the entire row to myself! : ) But there was a kid across the room who was crying all the time, and it was hard to sleep. Grrrr. And from Darwin-Melbourne I had a stupid kid who was kicking the back of my seat, and I was so close to turning round and telling her mother I'd break her legs if she didn't stop. Thank God she did, or I'd probably do it... maybe. So yes, flying a no-frills airline long haul wasn't that bad! And the food prices were surprisingly reasonable... $6 for a Delifrance-ish baguette sandwich, or a Subway 6-inch sub. But then again, I'm not that much an eater on planes, so I didn't even eat all my chocolate wafers! Gah!

And now back to looking for work... argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I had a grrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat weekend! : )

Friday I'll be heading back to Melbourne to hopefully launch my career as a premier political researcher (one must always dream!)... and there are certain things I need to do a.s.a.p.:

• Charge my iPod and laptop. Gosh, it's been so long since I've used the iPod since my phone is an all-in-one phone, mp3 player and camera (aren't they all?!); and who knows...I might want to watch Gossip Girl since I'm flying a no-frills airline for the first time on a long haul flight.
• Pack enough snacks. So far I have 5 packs of chocolate wafers, 1 packet of popcorn, 1 packet of Clodhoppers and 1 packet of Graham Oat chocolate thingies. Only because I'm too cheap to fork out $5 for a sandwich, and they can't tell me I can't eat my chocolate on the plane, right? That would be unreasonable.
• Pack. Period. Why, oh, why do I have 4 pairs of boots and 3 pairs of chunky heels???!!! And why didn't anyone tell me packing things in Ziploc bags save space??!!
  
• Make sure my purple room is spick & span for my return. : )
  

Last night the best friend, sister and I all trooped down to Fig&Olive for dinner... loved my maritime salmon sandwich! The menu does look enticing, and I was tempted to order a steak but I wasn't that hungry... maybe next time.

And Ben& Jerry's for dessert... on Rohan's behalf! The boyfriend was captivated by Ben&Jerry's on his last visit here, and keeps telling me to bring a tub back for him! Well, unless he wants some lumpy mess at the end of the plane ride... I do have a photo of me at Ben&Jerry's looking really evil while eating ice-cream... hah, I could be a shoo-in for Snow White's stepmother or something. But photos soon!

: )

Yesterday the sister and I met Vladimir Yarets, a Belarus man who's on a round-the-world trip on his bike. What's so special about him is that he's the first deaf/mute person to attempt such a journey, and hopes to enter the Guinness World of Records.

I was surprised to see his bike parked outside the Singapore Flyer (the stickers were tres distinctive!)... I thought he'd already left Singapore. But it was amazing... I am still in awe at what he's undertaking! Go Vladimir!

Well, the planned pedicure at Dashing Diva didn't work out (why did it have to close down??!!), but no matter, the best friend and I found a place that met our expectations and we were both pleased with the results! I now have sparkly, bronzy toes and the best friend has pink toes! Wheeeeeeeeee... although I can foresee my toes to go bare sometime soon...!

After which we had a satay dinner... I am still amazed that some people don't eat chicken satay... haha. Amazing how you learn new things about people all the time, even though you've been friends for so long! I suppose that keeps the flames alive... I think it'll be dull if you know literally everything about people.

And why do we always end up with aching feet?? Maybe too much swanning around in the huge-as malls... gah!

But yay to our first pedicure! We'll do it again when I come back the next time!

Tomorrow the best friend and I will troop down to Dashing Diva for our first pedicures! Well, it's a first for me, anyway. At 23, at that! I think I'm rather low-maintenance that way... I mean, I love clothes, makeup and fragrance, but I generally don't bother about my nails or other parts of my body. Like my abused feet. I mean, I'm a believer of the whole cleanse-and-moisturize routine, particularly for skin, so there's no need to bother with expensive facials or whatnots that might not work, anyway.

So tomorrow will be a nice pampering session! Which also doubles up as an early birthday gift for the best friend!

: )

Too much eating over the weekend! Mom, my aunt and I went to Carousel's high tea buffet on Saturday (that was good, pictures below)...Sunday we had brunch at Little India before heading off to Nana babe's place where we snacked on fat samosas, chocolate biscuits and mee goreng (fried noodles), and ended with a buffet dinner! Gotta say "no" to buffets for a while!

But it was good hanging out at Nana's and seeing her mom...must visit again come Eid! And babe, good job on your rooms! Love the spaciousness!