Joy 'N' Escapade

Synopsis: Six months ago, Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood), adventurer and host of The Undiscovered Country, disappeared while on an expedition deep in the uncharted waters of the Amazon River. He was presumably dead. One day, out of the blue, his emergency beacon is found activated.

Upon this discovery, his wife Tess (Leslie Hope) organizes a search party to find him. The team comprises her estranged son Lincoln (Joe Anderson); The Undiscovered Country producer Clark (Paul Blackthorne); lead cameraman AJ (Shaun Parkes); Magus mechanic Emilio (Daniel Zacapa) and his daughter Jahel (Paulina Gaitan); Lena (Eloise Mumford), daughter of cameraman Russ who disappeared along with Cole; and security guard Kurt (Thomas Kretschmann).

What they don't know is that this journey will take them to a place where magic comes alive and things are never what they seem...

For your information, The River is co-created by Oren Peli who also created the Paranormal Activity movie series. All eight episodes of The River are shot as found footage and thus, the visual approach is quite similar to Paranormal Activity. However, you won't find it boring because the story is told based on the crew's perspective, camera footage, flashbacks, and occasional fleeting glimpses of spirits. In fact, you get to see quite a number of vicious spirits and demons throughout the episodes as the team stumbles into forbidden territories along the Amazon River.

Overall, I find The River very entertaining. With a strong cast and you-don't-know-what's-coming-up-next moments, every episode will keep you glued to your seat.

A very good show and indeed, there's magic out there...

Food bites over the weekend

2012-05-21T17:04:00.002+08:00

Burnt Butter Wild Mushroom Salad @ Ben's, Publika Solaris Dutamas

This is the perfect salad for mushroom lovers. I couldn't resist poking around my plate looking for different mushroom "species" among a bunch of rocket, spinach, coriander, caramelized walnut, garlic, and chunks of melted butter and cheese. Thumbs up!

Red Velvet Cake @ Ben's, Publika Solaris Dutamas

Packed with sugary goodness. One mouthful is enough for a petite eater like me. :) I've heard about red velvet cake before but didn't actually get to try it. I love those red and brown layers and the cream cheese icing around is simply decadent!

Chocolate Truffle Torte @Ben's, Publika Solaris Dutamas

I'm still wondering until now why is it served with a glass of fresh milk? This truffle torte is very chocolatey, gooey, and oh-my-god-so-darn-sweet. Definitely too sweet to my liking. I feel like I'm eating a huge slice of mooncake dusted with cocoa powder.

Pan Mee with thin noodles (top) & Pan Mee with pumpkin thin noodles (bottom) @ Jalan Sepakat, OUG

Found this pan mee stall in OUG while we were hunting for lunch on Sunday. Hubby ordered his usual fix of pan mee with thin noodles while I got myself a bowl of pan mee with pumpkin noodles. I requested for more cekur manis and I got a whole bowl full of them! Yay! We shall visit them again when we happen to be around the OUG area.

Project: Reflect 52 #20 - My corset back wedding dress

2012-05-20T10:08:00.000+08:00

Here's a sneak peek of my corset back wedding dress. It's a full princess gown and I'll be wearing a can can underneath the skirt.

Other sneak peeks:
Beige halter neck lace cheongsam
Wedding heels

Major wedding preparation items are completed:

Civil registration
Pre-wedding shoot
Bridal shower
Wedding invitation card
Wedding luncheon venue
Wedding mass (preparation & journey) in church

More of our wedding preparation journey here and here.

♥

Kleenex: Share the Softness - What's important to you?

2012-05-16T21:35:00.000+08:00

A soft spot for softness

That's what I have in me - a soft spot for softness spotted in Mother Nature, such as the soft, warm late evening glow that illuminates the skyline...

...soft and fluffy white clouds in the horizon...

...and most importantly, softness that derives from important things in life.

A touching story of softness

I read about a touching story of an elderly couple somewhere on the Internet. The story goes like this... A reporter asked the couple, "How did you manage to stay together for 65 years?" The woman replied, "We were born in a time when, if something was broken, we would fix it, not throw it away..."

Share the Softness campaign by Kleenex

Nowadays, we are so busy making ends meet that we tend to neglect important things in life. Sadly, our family and friends may no longer top our priority list as we pursue our goals of dreaming and achieving big.

Therefore, I'm so glad that Kleenex launched a campaign called "Share the Softness" to encourage us to take a step back from our busy lifestyle and reconnect with what's really important in our life.

Ask yourself this question: What's important to you?

To me, my family is the most important thing in my life. Being able to grow old together with my husband, like the story above, is something I'm looking forward to each day.

Who would You Love to Share the Softness with?

Kleenex's "Share the Softness" campaign has been running on Kleenex Malaysia's Facebook page for quite some time.

The core concept of this campaign is the sharing of good things with people that matters to us and let them know they deserve the very best that we can give them.

So, surprise your loved ones with a beautiful Kleenex® Vintage Soft Pack today. Add in a personalized message to warm their heart.

Join now.

It's simple enough. Just a click and a message.

You never know what wonder those few minutes you spent by joining this campaign will do to your loved ones.

Eat like a Korean @ Dubu Dubu, Mid Valley Megamall

2012-05-14T19:08:00.002+08:00

Dol Sot Bibimbap

If you love Korean dishes, you will know that bibimbap is a staple Korean rice dish. It is served with chicken or beef, topped with a variety of vegetables and kimchi on top of white rice in a heated earthen bowl. I always love the colorful and artful presentation of vegetables and meat in my bowl of bibimbap.

At Dubu Dubu, a new franchise of Korean cuisine, their Dol Sot Bibimbap (with chicken or beef) set meal comes with three banchan (side dishes), a bowl of soup, and special Dubu Dubu spicy sauce.

Bibimbap lovers, this huge bowl of your favorite Korean rice dish is a must-have!

Soondubu Cheese Jigae with Chicken

Soondubu Jigae (with chicken, beef or seafood) is one of Dubu Dubu's signature dishes. Soondubu Cheese Jigae sounds interesting, so I order a set. Initially, I'm a bit apprehensive about having cheese in my soup but this dish turns out to be quite a delightful and wholesome meal! The set meal also comes with three banchan.

I opt for a less spicy soup base because their normal level of spiciness blows my tongue off from my previous dining experience. I love digging into the piping hot soup that comes with a generous amount of tender chicken pieces, silky smooth tofu, egg, and vegetables. I'm happy with the accompanying special Dubu Dubu rice too.

Dubu Dubu Bingsu

This delectable snack / dessert is made from sweetened red beans and soya jelly, served on a bed of shaved ice (bingsu), and topped with a scoop of ice-cream and corn flakes. Super refreshing!

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Dubu Dubu
Address: LG-048, Lower Ground Floor, Mid Valley Megamall

Project: Reflect 52 #19 - With Hand and Heart

2012-05-13T21:38:00.001+08:00

Our yellow, brown, and cream wedding invitation card. Thanks Enya & team from Storybook!

We are sending out the cards (either by hand or snail mail) in batches.

Our wedding motto - "Et Manu Et Corde" or "With Hand and Heart" is inspired by our engagement story.

More of our wedding preparation journey here and here.

♥

Movie: Absentia (2011)

2012-05-11T16:41:00.001+08:00

There are fates worse than death.

Absentia (2011) is an independent low-budget horror movie directed by Mike Flanagan.

Synopsis adapted from IMDb: Tricia's (Courtney Bell) husband Daniel (Morgan Peter Brown) has been missing for seven years. Her younger sister Callie (Katie Parker) comes to live with her as the pressure mounts to finally declare him 'dead in absentia.' As Tricia sifts through the wreckage and tries to move on with her life, Callie finds herself drawn to an ominous tunnel near the house. As she begins to link it to other mysterious disappearances, it becomes clear that Daniel's presumed death might be anything but 'natural.' The ancient force at work in the tunnel might have set its sights on Callie and Tricia... and Daniel might be suffering a fate far worse than death in its grasp.

An effective horror movie is one that makes you squirm in your seat and creeps you out with a disturbingly slow-paced storyline. This is what Absentia offers to the audience. There are many scenes in this movie whereby you have to hold your breath because you can't guess what will happen next. There are almost no "I-know-what's-coming-up-next" thoughts running through your mind throughout the entire movie. Its storyline is unfolded mysteriously, leaving much room for us to imagine what on earth happened to the characters.

In short, being an ingenious horror movie without Hollywood's usual bombastic "wow" effects, Absentia is definitely one those rare independent productions that will "wow" you with brilliant simplicity and creativity instead of costly special effects.

Do catch this movie on DVD if you can. I doubt it will be brought into Malaysian cinemas anytime soon.

Movie: Dark Shadows (2012)

2012-05-11T12:11:00.005+08:00

Every Family Has Its Demons

Dark Shadows (2012), directed by Tim Burton is a fantasy movie based on the gothic soap opera of the same name.

Synopsis adapted from IMDb: In the year 1752, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family.

Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet-or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy...until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive.

Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better...

Let's take a look at those who stay in Collinwood Manor:

1. Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp): 18th-century vampire who awakens in 1972

2. Elizabeth Collins (Michelle Pfeiffer): the current Collins family matriarch

3. Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller): Elizabeth's younger brother

4. Carolyn (Chloë Moretz): Elizabeth's rebellious 15-year-old daughter

5. David Collins (Gulliver McGrath): Roger's 10-year-old son who claims to be able to communicate with his dead mother

6. Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter): Elizabeth's hired live-in psychiatrist

7. Willie (Jackie Earle Haley): Collinwood Manor's caretaker

8. Victoria Winters (Bella Heathcote): David's newly-hired governess

Impressive much? If I need to use three words to summarize this movie, I'd choose gothic, dysfunctional, Tim Burton. If you've watched Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) and Alice in Wonderland (2010), you will be thrilled to watch Dark Shadows. Come on, it's Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Tim Burton again!

Well, I'm supposed to be thrilled. The gothic and gloomy atmosphere of the 18th century and cheerful 1970s are stunningly re-captured; Depp, Green, Pfeiffer, Carter et al. give good performances; and the soundtrack is groovy and fun. But... as the movie comes to an end, you just feel unsatisfied, as if you're expecting more than just good performances and occasional humor from the cast. The plot is based on nothing much apart from Angelique's blind hatred and ugly curse and Barnabas' silly eccentricity.

Anyway, Depp and Burton's fans should not miss this movie. A word of advice: Don't expect too much, just relax, and enjoy the freaking show! :)

Complete a Subway® survey & get a free cookie!

2012-05-10T09:16:00.000+08:00

Complete a Subway® survey at www.tellsubway.my and get a free cookie!

A Cookie of appreciation from SUBWAY®

Here's your unique survey code, XX-XXXXX-XXXX-XXXX, to be used for the redemption of a FREE COOKIE with any purchase on your next visit.

To redeem, please write your survey code in the space provided on your purchase receipt; and bring your receipt to claim your "Thank You" cookie at the store where you made your initial purchase.

T&Cs

Expiration: (within a month from your date of purchase)
This offer is provided to the person with Email address: XXX
This offer is only valid at the SUBWAY® Restaurant where you made your purchase: XXXXX
FREE COOKIE with any purchase on your next visit.
No cash value. Not for sale.
One redemption per customer per receipt.
May not be combined with other offers or discounts.
Original receipt must be surrendered with purchase.
While supplies last.

Noms @ Market Hall, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

2012-05-09T14:53:00.002+08:00

Lunch-hunting last Sunday brought us to Market Hall at Level 6, Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur.

Market Hall is a contemporary eatery with an open kitchen concept, wooden wall, tables, and chairs.

I quite like the rustic ambiance - perfect for lazy Sunday chats and catch-ups.

There are also racks with decorative items and shelves with assorted tidbits and dry food stuff for purchase.

We had Cafe Latte (served with a jar of assorted white and brown sugar blocks) and Iced Mocha (served with whipped cream) for our drinks. What's lunch without coffee, right? ;)

We spent quite a long time deciding on which main course should we order for lunch - beef, lamb, or chicken?

Finally, I chose one of the new items on their menu - White Chicken Stew.

This rich stew was served with a whole chicken leg, slowly cooked in cream with leek, white bean, baked potatoes, and wholegrain mustard. Steamed broccoli and carrots were served to balance the stew's creaminess. I had to resist licking my plate clean. :)

Hubby chose Lamb Balti Pie - a Moroccan dish of spiced lamb baked in puff pastry and served with mixed salad.

The puff pastry was served like a "cover" over the bowl of spiced lamb. You ate it by breaking chunks of pastry with your spoon into the spiced lamb stew. I loved the lentil/dhal-like aftertaste of the stew in my palate.

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For more information about food promotions, visit Market Hall's links below:

Website

Facebook page

Twitter

One-day Garage Sale (5 May 2012) by Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club

2012-05-07T15:37:00.000+08:00

Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club organized a one-day garage sale last Saturday, 5 May 2012 in conjunction with "Star Wars Day" on 4 May (May the Fourth be with you).

I like that giant Darth Vader balloon at the entrance of the venue.

May the Force be with us all!

Quoting the organizer's intro about the event:

It's not huge, but it'll be memorable. And it certainly is Swamfek. ;)

Oh, Jedi Mind Tricks are not allowed during transactions. You can't, anyway. The sellers are all Toydarians.

Activities: Lucky dip / donation box drive

There are lots of new and vintage Star Wars merchandises on sale.

The hubby was all dressed up for the event! He had his Empire T-shirt and new Adidas Hoth sneakers. :)

Mini food-tasting @ Rahsia Restaurant & Bar, Jalan Damai, KL

2012-05-07T10:58:00.001+08:00

Lamb Shank

A chunk of tender, succulent, and flavorful lamb shank on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, long beans, cauliflowers, and brown sauce.

Smoked Salmon Salad

A colorful plate of mixed fresh lettuce - romaine, buttherhead, green and red coral tossed with cherry tomatoes and olives, my favorite! Artfully sprinkled with grated Parmesan, croutons, and four mini rolls of smoked salmon.

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Rahsia Restaurant & Bar, a cozy bungalow-turned-restaurant located at 13, Jalan Damai, KL is our wedding luncheon / reception venue in June 2012.

Project: Reflect 52 #18 - Fridge, food, family

2012-05-06T20:31:00.001+08:00

Our humble beginning - fruits, vegetables, eggs - in our fridge. :)

Grapes and cherry tomatoes for snack.

Bread, salad leaves, canned chili tomato tuna, and cheese for breakfast.

What more should I ask? :)

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Just a thought, when someone achieves certain milestones in life and you aren't there with that someone, it goes to show you aren't part of that someone's life.

I'm so glad we made the decision to be part of each other's life. Let's go on! :)

Share & Earn with EverydayOnSales "Choose To Save" Rewards Program

2012-05-03T14:53:00.000+08:00

What is EverydayOnSales "Choose To Save" Rewards Program?

It's a program to reward EverydayOnSales' loyal members.

How to get rewarded?

It's by earning & accumulating points on a daily basis. You earn points by doing the following:

(Maximum 500 points to be accumulated per day)

Easy right? It's FREE! All you need to do is to earn & share loyally, daily.

For more information, visit the rewards program page here.

Example of my accumulated points

As of today (3 May 2012), I have accumulated 600 points.

What can you do with your points?

50,000 points to redeem RM100 cash voucher
(Jusco, Giant, Metrojaya, Parkson, Tesco)

30,000 points to redeem RM50 cash voucher
(Jusco, Giant, Metrojaya, Parkson, Tesco)

Terms and conditions apply.

Movie: The Avengers (2012)

2012-05-02T17:43:00.003+08:00

Every team needs a Captain.

The Avengers (2012), directed by Joss Whedon, is a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics superhero team.

Synopsis: When Earth is threatened by Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his cohorts, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits a team of superheroes to form "The Avengers". The team consists of Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).

AWESOME! Well, maybe that's an understatement.

Quoting Nick Fury, "There was an idea to bring together a group of remarkable people, so when we needed them, they could fight the battles that we never could..."

Director Joss Whedon says, "There's a thunder god, there's a green "id" giant rage monster, there's Captain America from the 40s, there's Tony Stark who definitely doesn't get along with anybody. Ultimately these people don't belong together and the whole movie is about finding yourself from community. And finding that you not only belong together but you need each other, very much. Obviously this will be expressed through punching but it will be the heart of the film." [via]

The Avengers is not a mindless action movie with nothing else but too much unnecessary action and eye-blinding special effects (Hint: Michael Bay's Transformers movies).

It's undeniable that The Avengers' special effects are awesome and entertaining; but the movie's true strength lies with the witty and robust dialogues that reflect each superhero's personality brilliantly. In short, The Avengers lives up to its hype.

Watch this short clip with special appearance by Robert Downey Jr. :)

Seriously, you must catch this movie on the big screen! Oh, and do stay back for a little while to watch the post-credits scene. You'll get to see another villain! :D

Nail Spa-rty at Posh! Nail Spa TTDI

2012-05-01T17:39:00.000+08:00

I had a pretty good time at Posh! Nail Spa during my bridal shower end of last month. Therefore, when I received an email from them about their product and services, I decided to share the information with you all on my blog. :)

Note: This is not an advertorial.

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Are you planning for a special function? You can now reserve Posh! Nail Spa for your special private party event during their regular hours and after normal pampering hours too!

Posh! Nail Spa is the perfect place for you to celebrate, thoroughly unwind, and enjoy being pampered with luxury manicures and pedicures while being the center of attention.

Birthdays

Bridal Showers

Graduation Parties

Baby Showers

Client Entertainment

Girls' Day Out

Get-togethers

Men's Night Out (Football and beer)

Or any other festive occasions you can think of to celebrate!

Package includes:

For minimum 6pax

Manicure & Pedicure

Complimentary Decoration

30% Off Add On Services

Free Upgrade to Indulgence Service for VIP of the Day

Gift / Discount Voucher

For minimum 12pax

All of the above

40% Off Add On Services

Complimentary 5R group photo for guests

Free Upgrade to Gel Polish for VIP of the Day

T&Cs

Reservation must be done one month in advance.

Surcharge for F&B applies.

RM99 onwards per pax.

Feel free to call them at 03.7724.1890 or 016.210.8219 for further assistance or visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/NAILSPA.POSH

They ensure you complete indulgence while having the ultimate pampering experience, as well as lots of fun, when you have your special party with them at Posh! Nail Spa.

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I'm pretty sure I'll be back at Posh! Nail Spa for my wedding nail art in June. It's gonna be fun!

The first ever Shogun™ Fest in Malaysia 2012

2012-04-29T11:56:00.001+08:00

The inaugural month-long food festival known as Shogun™ Fest was launched at Shogun Japanese Buffet Restaurant at One Utama Shopping Center last Thursday, 26th April 2012.

Shogun™ Fest is based on Japan's Cherry Blossom (Spring) festival. It's a month-long celebration with the introduction of special menu and delicacies that will only be available during this festival period, such as whole Roasted Lamb and Beef, Fresh Jumbo Oysters from New Zealand, Slipper Lobster, Silver Pomfret, and many more.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Dato' Sri Michael Chong, the current Managing Director of the Grand Saisaki Group. He said, "Besides celebrating the spring festival in Japan, this festival is also our show of appreciation for our loyal customers since the opening of our restaurants in 1999."

To mark the start of the celebration, a humongous 100kg Maguro (Tuna) was flown in from Maldives. Shogun's Japanese chefs, headed by Japanese Chef Usami Yasuro did a great job in showcasing their slicing and serving skill and expertise.

The super fresh Maguro was served immediately as fresh sashimi slices, maki, and sushi to eager guests.

My share of the fresh Maguro sushi. Delicately fresh and yummy!

For a wholesome experience of the festival, Shogun's Teppan Gelato, a premium Japanese dessert was also introduced for the first time in Malaysia. This ice-cream like dessert made on Teppan (remember Teppanyaki?) or metal pan shouldn't be missed!

We had a good time indulging in various kind of food!

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Do visit any of the five Shogun™ and Saisaki™ Japanese Buffet Restaurant outlets in Klang Valley (Sunway Pyramid, One Utama, Menara UOA, SOHO Solaris Mont Kiara, Fahrenheit88) from 26th April till 25th May 2012 (on weekdays only) to witness for yourself this celebration.

Now, there are more than enough reasons to use my SHOGUN & SAISAKI Japanese Buffet Restaurant VIP card more often! :P

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More photos on Facebook:

Sakura Spring Festival at SHOGUN & SAISAKI

Shogun Fest 2012

Project: Reflect 52 #17 - My shoes & I

2012-04-29T08:54:00.000+08:00

I have a pair of yellow ballerina flats from Vincci. I love them so much and I even gotten myself lemonade yellow shades for my fingernails during my bridal shower to match them!

I have another pair of ballerina flats. They come with a lovely shade of creamy white. I adore the ribbons on top and at the tips of the ribbons are little bling-blings. Love them!

Aha! Here's a sneak peek of my 2.5-inch, custom-made wedding heels. Glittery gold and looking very glamorous! They will add extra bling to my tea ceremony cheongsam. :)

Lucky we ♥

2012-04-27T14:23:00.001+08:00

Have you watched the movie UP? I still remembered how hard I try to stifle my sniffles for the first 30 minutes of the movie the first time I watched it in the cinema. The second time, I watched it on DVD and I cried a river.

Carl and Ellie - the sweetest couple on Pixar / Disney. The fact that Ellie died and left Carl alone, childless, broke my heart. Somehow, I couldn't forget the images of them growing up and getting old together, going through crisis after crisis; and in the finale, till death do them part...

Ellie's parting words on the last page of her My Adventure Book - "Thanks for the adventure - now go have a new one! Love, Ellie" - broke the dam and I couldn't stop crying. It's so heartbreaking.

I chose a few of their lovely images and put them together with this quote:

Lucky is the man who is the first love of a woman;

but luckier is the woman who is the last love of a man.

I just want to say:

Lucky we.

♥

Movie: The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

2012-04-25T11:34:00.001+08:00

You think you know the story.

The Cabin in the Woods (2012) is a horror movie produced by Joss Whedon (director of The Avengers).

Synopsis: Five friends - Dana (Kristen Connolly), Curt (Chris Hemsworth), Jules (Anna Hutchison), Marty (Fran Kranz), and Holden (Jesse Williams) are on a vacation and they are heading to a remote cabin in the woods, unknowingly stepping into the trap of an unknown operation conducted in an underground, sophisticated industrial facility.

Producer Joss Whedon describes The Cabin in the Woods as an attempt to revitalize the horror genre which he, along with director/co-writer Goddard (Cloverfield), felt had "devolved" with the introduction of "torture porn". He continues, "The things that I don't like are kids acting like idiots, the devolution of the horror movie into torture porn and into a long series of sadistic comeuppances."

In my opinion, this is a really creative movie, a must-watch for horror movie fans because it's likened to a giant onscreen jigsaw puzzle whereby you can try to put the pieces together and recognize horror icons / characters during the movie's climax (final 30-40 minutes). This gives the mainstream horror genre quite an awesome spin!

In the beginning, this movie opens with two different subplots; one about some technicians conducting an unknown operation in a facility, the other one about five friends driving into the woods for a vacation. 30 minutes or so into the movie, the two subplots merge and your horror-fun ride begins!

Okay, I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for you but really, the less you know about this movie, the more thrilling it shall be. In fact, you've been "forewarned" upfront as seen in the tagline: "You think you know the story." To be honest, you don't really know it. That's the fun part!

Mini spoiler: I love those glass cases containing different kind of horror characters / monsters! That's a very cool concept!

The ending is relatively sarcastic and to be honest, I find it really apt. If you're a horror movie fan, you definitely must not miss this one!

Reading Shopaholic & Baby

2012-04-23T16:44:00.000+08:00

Sophie Kinsella's "Shopaholic & Baby".

Synopsis:

Becky's lifeis blooming! She's working at London's newest big store, The Look, house-hunting with husband Luke (her secret wish is a Shoe Room)... and she's pregnant! She couldn't be more overjoyed - especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery... to the latest, coolest pram... to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician.

But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be Luke's glamorous intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky's perfect world starts to crumble. She's shopping for two... but are there three in her marriage?

Read:

Confessions of a Shopaholic
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
Shopaholic Ties the Knot
Shopaholic & Sister

A Couple's Prayer

2012-04-23T15:55:00.002+08:00

Dear God,

As we begin our journey, we invite You to be our strength and guide. We surrender ourselves to You and pray with confidence that You will always be there in our daily lives. We pray that we will be Faithful to our Commitment to each other willingly, with understanding and honesty. We also pray that we will have Your attitude in communicating in thought, word and deed. Teach us to follow in Your footsteps, in loving and trusting each other. Help us realize that we are called to be a blessing to each other.

Amen.

Project: Reflect 52 #16 - Gotten "Talon-ted"

2012-04-21T23:10:00.001+08:00

Quoting Riyuna (one of my bridesmaids), today's bridal shower (for me :P), which is a posh and really cheerful manicure-pedicure session at Posh! Nail Spa, TTDI is called "A Hen and Her Very Talon-ted Chicks". Good one Riyuna! I always enjoy reading your catchy one-liners! :D

Check out our lovely, brightly colored fingernails and toenails!

A big THANK YOU to my bridesmaids (Cheryl, Naoko, Riyuna, Silvy), maid-of-honor (my younger sister), and registration caretaker (Wind Goddess).

As the bride-to-be, I did the Indulgence combo, i.e. trim, shape, cuticle care, buff, foot file, exfoliating scrub (I chose Pomegranate), soothing lotion, light massage, and polish of my choice. So, I have lemonade yellow fingernails and apple green toenails! Cheerful and vibrant!

Vouchers and more vouchers in our gift bag.

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Find out more about Posh! Nail Spa on Facebook. They offer manicure and pedicure services, nail extensions and enhancements, waxing, and eyelash extensions.

Give them a call if you want to do private functions. What we did was that we booked three hours for all seven of us, plus some finger food and fruit juice.

Yes, I'm definitely coming back to Posh! to do my wedding nail art in June and I'll be bringing the groom-to-be for his first male manicure-pedicure session too. :P

Note: This is not an advertorial.

Movie: Battleship (2012)

2012-04-17T14:41:00.004+08:00

The Battle for Earth Begins at Sea

Battleship (2012) is a sci-fi naval war movie based on the classic Hasbro naval combat game, Battleship. I played the game once and I really like it! :D

Synopsis: Young and reckless Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch) gets himself into trouble when he tries to court Sam (Brooklyn Decker) who so happens to be the daughter of U.S. Navy's Vice Admiral Shane (Liam Neeson). Frustrated by his behavior, his brother Stone Hopper (Alexander Skarsgård) enlists him into the U.S. Navy. He's assigned as a lieutenant onboard USS John Paul Jones with crew mates Raikes (Rihanna), Ordy (Jesse Plemons), and Beast (John Tui). Together with naval fleet from 13 other nations, the ships are out in the Pacific ocean for a military exercise. Things get out of hand when they encounter an unknown gigantic vessel floating in the middle of the ocean.

Meanwhile back on shore on Oahu, Hawaii, Sam teams up with a double-amputee war hero Mick Canales (real-life Iraq veteran Lt. Col. Greg Gadson) and a communications nerd Dr. Zapata (Hamish Linklater) to foil the aliens' attempts of sending transmission back to their home planet.

I watched this movie twice and honestly speaking, it's more than just a brainless popcorn movie! Battleship is definitely an impressive action-packed blockbuster movie masterfully directed by Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom). Initially, it seems like Hasbro's propaganda move and it's quite hard not to compare Battleship with Transformers. You see the similarities? Brought to you by Hasbro, robots / ETs, things get blown up, a young reluctant hero (Taylor Kitsch versus Shia LaBeouf). Well, if it truly is Hasbro's tactic, it sure is a good one.

With its simple plot strengthened by impressive action sequences, astounding visual effect, intense score by Steve Jablonsky, and a great script with comic-relief moments, Battleship is definitely a winner!

More so, director Peter Berg has these to say and they truly are strong supporting elements of this movie.

How was it taking the USS Missouri out on the sea? "Awesome. That was awesome... And we had all these veterans, these men in their nineties, who came out, put their uniforms on, and they were crying. The ship was out there and people were going crazy. It hadn't been out in ages. Battleship is intended to be a fun movie, but I make no secret of the fact that I'm a huge supporter of soldiers and veterans, and we have real veterans who lost their limbs in our movie. Those guys, the old men that all come out in the end, are all real veterans, and I get emotional around that. It was a great experience for me." [via]

How did you find working with veterans such as Gregory Gadson? "Greg I found in an article on modern prosthetic in National Geographic, and I was flipping through it. I knew I had this character of a wounded soldier, I turn open a page, and there was Greg Gadson in his uniform, all muscle. Like The Rock from here [torso] up, and this intense look, and these two wild-looking robot legs, I'm like 'holy shit, I want that guy'... The veterans, we used veterans' administrations to find living - because a lot of these guys are in their late 90s, one of these guys was 102 - guys who served in World War Two and could still get around, move around. And these guys, there were about forty of them, and they just had the time of their life." [via]

About comic-relief moments, pay attention to Ordy, Dr. Zapata, and also the interaction between Alex Hopper and Captain Nagata (Tadanobu Asano who acts as Hogun in the movie Thor). You will love them! :)

All-in-all, Battleship has proven itself to be a successful addition to the sci-fi alien invasion movie genre. Watch this awesome movie now if you haven't!

This movie is partially educational too as it causes you to want to learn more about the Navy, especially the history of USS Missouri, battleships, destroyers, etc.

Oh, and it causes me to want to buy the Battleship game by Hasbro as well! :D