Such a lovely hedgehog brooch!
Project 365 2011 - Photo #242
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Original photo from here.
The hunt for my wedding dress has begun. Although I won't be buying the dress now, I do have in mind the wedding dress style that I like. The dress will most likely be an A-line dress, not off-shoulders, not too low-cut, with laces, and will have a blue sash at the waist. :)
Other interesting links:
Wedding Dress Style Guide
Wedding Dress Style Guide Based on Body Shape
Brunch with Heinz Weight Watchers Spaghetti
These are Weight Watchers from Heinz Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce with Parsley. We get them from Cold Storage. They are good for weekend brunches at home.
Like most canned food, the spaghetti strands are a bit too soft to my taste. The sauce is good - sour, tangy, and gooey. Next time I might add some meatballs, fresh tomatoes, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. :)
Project 365 2011 - Photo #240
Sunday, August 28, 2011
One of the beauty products that jerinelay.com provided for giveaways in August 2011 was Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion and I was the chosen winner - the number 13th person who liked her Facebook page! :D
Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion contains SPF 15 and it's suitable to be used under makeup during the day. It also hydrates, protects, and comforts the skin with an oil-free, lightweight formula. Contains exclusive ultra moisturizing tri-radiance complex to help capture and maintain water on the skin's surface.
Thanks Jerine!
Project 365 2011 - Photo #239
Saturday, August 27, 2011
We have Belgian fries from Pommes Frites, Sunway Pyramid for snack and Rosemary Aioli is our choice of dip.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #238
Friday, August 26, 2011
Feasting my eyes upon rows and rows of muesli, granola, and all sorts of oat and wheat stuff. Healthy snacks aren't cheap though.
Movie: Final Destination 5 (2011)
Death Has Never Been Closer
Final Destination 5 (2011) is the fifth installment to the Final Destination movie franchise. However, I've only watched Final Destination 4 so far.
Synopsis: Sam Lawton (Nicholas D'Agosto) has a premonition about the bridge he is on collapsing. As the vision becomes reality, Sam manages to save himself and his friends Molly Harper (Emma Bell), Candice Hooper (Ellen Wroe), Peter Friedkin (Miles Fisher), Isaac Palmer (P. J. Byrne), Nathan Gregory (Arlen Escarpeta), Dennis Lapman (David Koechner), and Olivia Castle (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood). After Candice and Isaac die in bizarre accidents, the remaining survivors are warned of Death's plans and told that their only means of survival is to kill somebody else and claim their remaining lifespan.
To be honest, this genre is not my ideal choice of movie to watch after a long day at work. :P So, I pay attention to special effects more than anything else. I'm glad there are ample amount of impressive and spectacular visual effects, especially the bridge-crumbling sequence at the beginning of the movie.
As tradition goes, all Final Destination movies boast of their cleverly choreographed freaky accidents. Well, the bizarre accidents in this movie are still as shocking as ever, suspenseful, and most importantly, they are gruesomely creative. I'm not gonna say much, but some of the deaths featured are just so grotesque, but in a subtle comical way.
If you intend to "torture" your senses with some form of anxiety, this movie will provide you the perks that you need. :)
Project 365 2011 - Photo #237
Thursday, August 25, 2011
We played Pop Pop! You remember them? They pop when you throw them hard on the floor. :D
Project 365 2011 - Photo #236
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The On This Day In 2010 feature on Facebook is not bad. It appears once in a while, so when it does, I take a screenshot out of it. As long as you don't post stuff that you don't want people to see next time and if your posts are memorable, this feature is pretty favorable.
So today, 24 August 2011, I know that on 24 August 2010, I posted this quote on my Facebook wall: The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. - Allan K. Chalmers
Movie: Secuestrados (Kidnapped) (2010)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Take your last breath.
Secuestrados (Kidnapped) (2010) is a Spanish psychological thriller movie.
Synopsis: A family of three - Jaime (Fernando Cayo), Marta (Ana Wagener), and their 18-year-old daughter, Isa (Manuela Vellés) - has just moved into an upper-middle class Madrid gated community. They are still settling down when three hooded Eastern-European criminals burst into their house. The leader forces Jaime to drive into town to withdraw cash from his bank accounts while his gang members, a crazy Albanian and a young and nervous accomplice stay behind in the house to guard over Marta and Isa.
The storyline is nothing out of the ordinary and the main theme of this movie is tension and terror caused by fear and violence. Therefore, the characters are not explored in depth and they remain just as emotional victims terrorized by the thugs in any possible way.
Talking about characters, Isa is the most emotional of all. Her insistent traumatized whimpering is so irritating and every time she's quietened by the thugs with a gag, I could sigh in relief.
The cinematography is masterful and commendable. I especially like the part whereby split screens are used to show simultaneous actions and at one point, two scenes converge into one. I think I have watched something similar somewhere but I couldn't recall.
However, the ending leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The movie starts off pretty good with a realistic feel of violence nowadays. It gains significant momentum as it roles but soon loses steam when most scenes show nothing else but torture and gruesome death. If you know how torture porn usually ends, then that's how this movie ends.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #235
Rice with Braised Beef Brisket, Radish, and Carrot at Du Viet Vietnamese Restaurant, Damansara Uptown.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #233
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Our couple sport shoes. His pair is yellow and gray. My pair is pink and gray. ^_^
Movie: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Män som hatar kvinnor) (2009)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Män som hatar kvinnor) (2009) is a Swedish crime thriller based on Stieg Larsson's international best-selling novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.Note: This movie is not to be mistaken with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) - starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara - coming to the Malaysian cinemas early next year.
Synopsis: A 16-year old Harriet Vanger has disappeared without a trace for 40 years. Her uncle, Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube), the eldest of the influential Vanger family, is convinced that Harriet was murdered by a member of his large and dysfunctional family. Over the years, he has gathered a substantial amount of hints and clues, but he was never able to put the pieces together.
To find out the truth before he dies, Henrik employs Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), a disgraced investigative journalist to work on the case. Mikael then meets Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a brilliant yet troubled computer hacker after he finds out that she hacks into his computer.
Their investigation unfolds a complex set of clues found in Harriet's Bible and this leads to a string of grotesque sadistic murders spanning decades. Soon, they begin to unravel a dark and morbid family history. However, the villain will not let them uncover the ugly secrets that have been kept undiscovered for 40 years.
This is a very good Swedish crime thriller. The main plot and subplots work very well together to make this movie one of the most compelling thrillers I've watched so far. The subplots are particularly important because they reveal personal problems and obstacles the main characters have to deal with and this gives us a fuller understanding about the characters and the storyline.
However, some might feel uneasy watching intense graphical and morbid scenes of violence against women - sadistic sexual abuse, rape, sodomy, incest, and torture. I find them very ugly and disturbing.
Kudos, however, should be given to Noomi Rapace who plays the Lisbeth Salander character so convincingly real. Her gripping performance makes this movie an unforgettable viewing experience.
In fact, great performances all around cement this movie's success. Veteran actors, Sven-Bertil Taube (Henrik Vanger) and Peter Haber (Martin Vanger) do great jobs as supporting actors.
Overall, this is a must-watch movie. Do get the DVD. If possible, I want to get the other two movies: The Girl Who Played with Fire (Flickan som lekte med elden) (2009) and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest (Luftslottet som sprängdes) (2009).
About the novel, I wonder if I should buy them. :P
Updates:
Project 365 2011 - Photo #232
Saturday, August 20, 2011
An awesome and delicious Tiramisu Cake from PassionLicious. Thinking of getting them to do my wedding cake. :D
Movie: Cowboys and Aliens (2011)
Cowboys and Aliens (2011) is a sci-fi movie based on the graphic novel of the same name.
Synopsis: In 1873, Arizona, a stranger (Daniel Craig) awakens in the desert and wanders into a small town called Absolution. He's injured and has a mysterious metal shackle on his left wrist. Soon, he discovers that the rundown looking town and its fearful residents are being taken "care" by an iron-fisted man called Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). The town's sheriff, Sheriff John Taggart (Keith Carradine) recognizes the stranger as the wanted outlaw named Jake Lonergan.
Not long after that, the town is attacked by "visitors" from the sky. Many helpless residents are abducted by the monsters. Jake, Dolarhyde, and a mysterious woman named Ella (Olivia Wilde) join forces to rescue the abducted residents. Along the way, they have to recruit allies - outlaws and Red Indian tribe - even if this is the most absurd plan of all.
Three big names - Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde - this is the strongest reason to why you should watch this movie despite its absurd storyline. Daniel Craig is best known as James Bond, Harrison Ford as Hans Solo and Indiana Jones, and Olivia Wilde as Quorra in Tron: Legacy.
Now, let's talk about the absurd storyline. It's a not-so-ordinary blend between science-fiction (due to the presence of extraterrestrial beings), religion (due to frequent usage of preaching elements, e.g. prayers, faith, the Lord; and also the Red Indians' ancient practices), and 19th century Western culture (cowboys versus the Native Americans, i.e. the Red Indians).
Well, let's see what director Jon Favreau has to say. He sought in Cowboys & Aliens a plausible approach to how humans from the late 19th century could confront extraterrestrial beings armed with advanced weaponry. He also sought to maintain a Western tone as aliens appeared in the film and the science-fiction element to stand on its own.
He said of both genres, "It's about finding the intersection of those two genres... If you do it right, it honors both, and it becomes interesting and clever and a reinvention of two things that people understand the conventions of, instead of just a retread or remake or sequel or reboot of a film you've seen before." [via]
The special effects are pretty cool. The aliens look like those from the 90s sci-fi movie, which makes more sense because the story's plot is set in the late 19th century and all the human beings of that era had were horses, shotguns, handguns, and spears. LOL!
Overall, this is an interesting and entertaining movie with ample actions that will keep you seated throughout the entire movie. Have fun watching!
Project 365 2011 - Photo #231
Friday, August 19, 2011
This looks easy enough to make. :D The hard part is to find a blender.
California Raisin Mango Lassi
Ingredients:
1/2 cup California Raisins
2 Harum Manis Mangoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup ice
125g sugar
2 screw pine leaves
1 cup water
2g mixed spice (cinnamon, cardamom, clove and star anise)
Directions:
- To make syrup, boil sugar with water.
- Add screw pine leaves (knotted) and mixed spice.
- Simmer for 10 minutes. Cool.
- Combine California Raisins, mangoes, plain yogurt, ice, syrup and spices in a blender.
- Blend until well mixed. Serve cold as refreshment.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #230
Thursday, August 18, 2011
This is a lovely mini amethyst cross pendant from HOJB. Value buy at RM88 at the moment.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #229
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Auntie Anne's Regular Pretzel Dog and iced lemonade is da bomb!
Happy 4th Birthday, Bloggie!
Happy 4th Birthday, Bloggie!
In a blink of an eye, you're now 4 years old. I'm very proud of you! Stay updated! :)
Bloggie's 1st Birthday
Bloggie's 2nd Birthday
Bloggie's 3rd Birthday
In a blink of an eye, you're now 4 years old. I'm very proud of you! Stay updated! :)
Bloggie's 1st Birthday
Bloggie's 2nd Birthday
Bloggie's 3rd Birthday
Movie: Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011)
Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011) is the sequel to Quarantine (2008), which is also a remake of the Spanish horror movie REC (2007). However, according to Wikipedia, Quarantine 2 is unrelated to Rec 2 (I haven't watched this one yet).
Synopsis: Two air stewardesses, Jenny (Mercedes Masöhn) and Paula (Bre Blair) are servicing passengers on a Nashville-bound flight from LA. A male passenger suddenly becomes ill and displays violent and aggressive behavior that causes harmful physical threats to the rest of the passengers. The captain is forced to make an emergency landing at an airport.
Paula is grievously hurt during the commotion and Jenny has to take charge of the safety of the surviving passengers. Troops of heavily armed uniform units begin to arrive at the airport. When a few Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (or CDC) officers arrive and start to enforce the need to follow protocols, Jenny and the rest soon learn that they have been quarantined and trapped in the abandoned airport. Desperate to survive, they have devise a plan to escape.
Overall, this is another so-so no-brainer zombie flick with a limited and easy-to-follow plot. So, you just need to sit back and "enjoy" watching people getting bitten and mauled to death, becoming rabid with excessive drooling and puking gruesome bodily fluid, being hacked to death by the none-zombies, you name it. The ending is somewhat expected and not exciting at all. I would say it's okay if you miss watching it.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #227
Monday, August 15, 2011
A vibrantly colorful knot found on a booklet.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #226
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Had a very busy weekend!
On Saturday, I went to the gym and came back with sore arm and thigh muscles. Then, I spent another five hours of spring cleaning and threw unwanted things away from the house. Paper stuff and plastic items were separated and put aside. They will be sent to the church's green program zone on Sunday morning. Sunday was spent at the church, parish office, and pre-marriage course.
Exhausted. Now I need to get ready for something else on Monday morning. I can do it!
Project 365 2011 - Photo #224
Friday, August 12, 2011
I don't know about you but I find these porcelain-looking baby dolls images kinda disturbing. They appear as one of the few desktop backgrounds from the Windows 7 Aero (Characters) theme that I set on my current work laptop. Haha.
Choosing Wedding Colors
Photo Source
Getting married is an exciting phase in life. :)
At this point of time, I love trolling the Internet for possible wedding themes, dresses, shoes, venues, and anything related to wedding. It's educational and fun too! :P
And so, I've blogged about these topics recently and here are the links in case you missed them:
Choosing A Month to Get Married
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Today, let's find out about wedding colors. First of all, here's a popular rhyme:
Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Brown, you will live in (or out of) town,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
Married in Gray, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.
[Via]
Here are some general guidelines:
Cool colors convey calming effect - blue, turquoise, silver. Warm colors create excitement - red, pink, yellow, gold, orange. Neutral colors convey unification or unity - brown, beige, ivory, gray, and white.
White, silver, blue, pink, and gold are now considered the luckiest shades. White is the most common wedding color associated with purity, innocence, cleanliness, and virtue. Blue signifies constancy, calmness, tranquility, truthfulness, nobleness, and faithfulness.
Green is an unfortunate color because its wearing is said to foretell a change into clothes of mourning. The old expression that a woman has a 'green gown' was used to imply promiscuity, the green staining being due to rolling in grassy fields. Black never goes out of style but it's also a symbol of evil, darkness, and death. So, avoid black. Purple symbolizes nobility, royalty, luxury, and authority but it's also seen as a mourning color for widows. So, avoid purple.
[Via]
Let's move on to the how-tos:
1. Seasonal Inspiration: Deep colors like brown, rust, and burgundy are natural choices for a fall wedding, while breezy pastels work great in spring and summer. Let the natural colors of the season determine your wedding colors.
2. Venue Accent: Consider the space where your nuptials or celebration will be held and select hues that accent. If a color is prevalent in wall decor, flooring, or surroundings, be careful not to choose a color palette that will clash.
3. Trust Your Instincts: If the wedding date or location hasn't been set yet and your wedding is essentially a blank canvas, trust your own instincts or tastes. Are there one or two colors that keep coming to mind? When you envision your big day, what do you see? Go with your gut.
4. Trust Others' Instincts: If you're at a total loss of what you want, browse wedding magazines, websites, and photos to gather ideas.
5. Flower Power: Flowers are a great way to determine the color scheme of your wedding. If you have your heart set on using a specific bud, let it be the color inspiration.
6. Create a Theme: Do you want an ultra-modern wedding or something romantic? Whimsical or preppy? Once you determine the overall theme, it'll be easier to select colors to support it.
[Via]
Ours would most likely be white and blue. :)
If you wish, follow updates about my wedding adventures here. ;)
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Photo Source
It's fun reading up stuff related to wedding. First, it's about choosing a month to get married.
Today, it's about an evergreen bridal rhyme, "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue".
Something Old
- Symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past.
- Wear a piece of jewelry your parents gave you as a little girl.
- Clip an old brooch to your bouquet.
- Wrap an old strand of pearls around or in your bouquet.
- Use an old piece of fabric to wrap your bouquet.
Something New
- Symbolizes optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead.
Something Borrowed
- It's usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride.
- The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
- The difference between something old and something borrowed is that the something borrowed has to be given back.
Something Blue
- Blue is believed to symbolize fidelity and faithfulness. Today, many brides follow the cliché for good luck.
- Here are a few suggestions to include something blue:
Wedding accessories. E.g. a tiny blue bow, undergarments with blue detailing, blue jewelry, headpieces, or shoes. This is a great way to add color to an all-white ensemble.
Wedding gown. E.g. a small blue flower, or a blue trimmed train on a traditional white or ivory wedding gowns. It's up to the bride to choose the shade of blue that best coordinates with her wedding theme.
Wedding flowers. E.g. include blue flowers in bouquet arrangement, or add blue details such as a blue ribbon wrapped around the stems, or wear a small blue flower in your hair.
[Via here and here]
As for me, I'd love a pair of blue bridal shoes. ;)
If you wish, follow updates about our wedding adventures here. ;)
Project 365 2011 - Photo #221
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Trying out Music Beta by Google. It's not available to all users yet. :P
Parfait-like Dessert
It's supposed to be called Berry Parfait with Granola and Yogurt. Raspberries, blueberries, and granola are exorbitantly priced, so we reduce and substitute some of the ingredients to make this Parfait-like Dessert. :P
Ingredients:
A box of Muesli (with dried blueberries & raspberries), a box of fresh raspberries, and a can of Nestle Smooth & Fruity yogurt.
We substitute Granola with Muesli because it's cheaper. The raspberries cost RM19.90 per box, so we've to say goodbye to blueberries (RM10.90 per box). This is one expensive dessert but we're pretty delighted with the end result. :)
Parfaits are supposed to be made in pretty tall glasses. Well, we don't have tall glasses, so we choose to make our parfait in a wide-rimmed plastic jar. :P
The steps are pretty simple. The first layer is muesli, followed by raspberries, then yogurt. We repeat the layers three rounds and keep the rest of the ingredients in the fridge.
Tada! Here's our Parfait-like Dessert!
It's indeed a sweet way to celebrate our one year and seven months together. :)
Project 365 2011 - Photo #219
Sunday, August 7, 2011
One of our favorite stops during our early dating days was at Snowflake, Subang Jaya. Here's our very first visit and this is our revisit.
It's always nice to relish sweet moments because it helps to strengthen our bond as a couple.
This time round, we have pearl milk tea at Snowflake, Mid Valley. I'm still pretty excited while waiting for the mini beeping UFO to vibrate and blink in alternate red and blue lights.
Cute tagline too: When your UFO lights up, it's dessert time! :D
Project 365 2011 - Photo #218
Saturday, August 6, 2011
This is Ramadan Special Salad from The Salad Bar. It has red coral & butterhead salad, topped with dates, dried cranberries, almond flakes, cucumber and tomato cubes. Its dressing is yogurt with honey.Check out our first visit, second visit, and third visit. Hehe.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #217
Friday, August 5, 2011
Rupture, our first mini Android collectible greets our R3-M3 from Star Wars. :P
More photos of Rupture on my Facebook album.
More photos of our Star Wars astromech droids on my Facebook album.
Movie: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Evolution Becomes RevolutionRise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) is a sci-fi movie about genetic engineering that leads to the development of super-intelligent apes.
Synopsis: Will Rodman (James Franco) is working on a cure for Alzheimer's disease by performing drug tests on lab apes. During the testing period, a female chimp gives birth to Caesar (Andy Serkis).
Caesar stays and grows up with Rodman's family and displays intelligent, human-like behaviors. Rodman finds that the drug not only regenerates brain cells but also genetically modifies Caesar's way of thinking. Caesar behaves unbelievably well in Rodman's home but one day he attacks a neighbor and human authority orders him to be locked up.
Caesar proves to be smart enough to escape imprisonment and helps lead his species in an uprising against the humans who keep thousands of apes like him in cages.
Honestly, I don't know what I want to say about this movie. Not that it isn't good but I find the story frightening. The CGI-ed apes - chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans - look very much real and alive. However, Caesar, the intelligent ape leader is acted by Andy Serkis, Hollywood's go-to actor for playing computer-generated characters. He's also Gollum's voice in Lord of the Rings. Read up interview highlights with Andy Serkis here.
Oh, there's Freida Pinto as Caroline, Will's girlfriend, if you remember her from Slumdog Millionaire. But I think she's severely underused. James Franco's character, Will, is a bit flat and uninteresting as well. I guess, the star who steals the show is the super-ape Caesar.
By the way, do stay back when the credits start rolling because you will be shown a very brief yet crucial scene that gives the movie an open ending.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #216
Thursday, August 4, 2011
I'm looking for a pair of custom-made blue bridal shoes with the perfect color tone, design, and style that suits our wedding theme. ;)
Better keep these numbers safe - 012-665 6663 / 016-926 6663
Mr. Raymond Wong makes custom-made shoes. Take a look at custom-made bridal shoes photos on his Facebook album.
Project 365 2011 - Photo #215
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Here are some office style updates from the Female magazine, June 2011 issue:
The long cardigan: Your long cardigan is the most versatile workwear piece in your wardrobe. Don't just save it for the casual weekend; layer it over a blouse and pencil skirt and keep the cardigan open. Make sure you keep the inside silhouette sleek or wrap a skinny belt around to enhance the hourglass look.
The cropped jacket: This classic cover-up can be worn over anything and complements the rest of your ensemble. Even if it's a casual Friday look, throw it over your dress or atop your jeans for just the right amount of polish. For a more formal look, pair it with a fitted shirt and tailored trousers.
The skinny belt: Don't underestimate a skinny belt! It can change your look and the silhouette of your outfit completely. Adding a skinny belt to an outfit creates layering interest, more waist-definition and keeps your look more streamlined. Work it over a blouse, dress, cardigan or jacket.
The printed shift: A great alternative to the plain, solid-colored shift and perfectly suited for the office, the prints on this simple shift give it an edge, especially when teamed with a cropped jacket and high heels. We recommend a scarf to add another dimension for day.
The dirndl (a full knee-length skirt that gathers at the waist):
- Create a streamlined look with a dirndl that flares less. Pair it with a structured cropped jacket for a stronger effect.
- Offset a heavy dirndl with a flowy, soft-print, feminine top, especially in delicate fabrics like chiffon and silk organza. Throw over a vest to smarten the look.
- Butterfly wings or a slinky kimono-style top creates an updated silhouette that balances out your top and bottom. Cinch your waist with a thin belt and finish with platform heels to add height to a heavy outfit.
- It's easy to look too casual with denim dirndl, so opt for a top with strong, structured lapels to make it work-ready. Soften the look altogether with a lightweight cardigan and belt it to define your waist.
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