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Health & Wellness

 

 

I won 2 movie tickets from JoinMe


Good to know that I won 2 movie tickets by joining JoinMe's "Write 10 Food Reviews to Win 2 Movie Tickets" contest.

Contest ends on Saturday, 2 June 2012. From the looks of it, by the time you go over to the contest page, there might be no more movie tickets. :P

View my mini food reviews on my JoinMe profile.

According to the admin personnel, there are more contests coming up. 

So, you might want to visit JoinMe's Facebook page for future updates.
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Ramen invasion


Due to the recent ramen invasion, I hereby compile a list of popular Japanese Ramen restaurants in PJ/KL area.
Let's see if I can hunt them down one by one to satisfy my ramen cravings.

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Movie: Dead Air (2009)

All America's worst fears. Realized. At once.

Dead Air (2009) is a horror movie focused on terrorism. 

Synopsis: A plague in the form of a toxic viral gas is unleashed at major sporting events across the United States. The gas turns its victims instantly "into an immediate rage of insanity and violence". Controversial Los Angeles talk show radio host Logan Burnhardt (Bill Moseley) and his production team are caught up in the middle of the chaos, and only blocks away from the explosion site, they begin to receive reports of rioters in the streets and listeners continue to call in reports of their first hand experiences. In addition to those infected by the virus, the terrorists, led by Abir (Navid Negahban), responsible for the attacks attempt to make their way to Logan's studio, killing anyone in the way.

This is not a glamorous Hollywood production, so don't expect too much. In a nutshell, this movie is about paranoia following the 9/11 terrorist attack in the U.S. Yes, it's all America's worst fears realized at once - terrorist attack (by the Muslims without a doubt), hatred towards the Muslims, mass panic, and near apocalyptic happenings.

The "zombies" are unconvincing; I guess there's not much budget for makeup. The only redeeming element is Bill Moseley as seasoned radio host Logan Burnhardt. He has a big mouth and does quite a good job hosting his radio show under intense pressure from what's happening around him and his team members.

If you would like to add another zombie movie to your list, you might want to catch this one.

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Movie: Men in Black 3 (2012)

Back in time

Men in Black 3 (2012) is a comedy movie and the sequel to Men in Black II (2002) and Men in Black (1997). Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprise their roles as Agent J and Agent K respectively.

Synopsis: An alien criminal called Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement) escapes from prison on the Moon and kills the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) in 1969. The timeline is altered, the veteran Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) is not around anymore, and the Earth is in danger from the attack by Boris' race, the Boglodites. Veteran Agent J (Will Smith) travels back in time to 1969 and meets the young Agent K in order to save him and the Earth.

The best part of this movie is how surprisingly well Josh Brolin "impersonates" Tommy Lee Jones as the younger Agent K. He does it effortlessly, including intonation and facial expression. I did a little search and found out that he acted as Bretton James, the protagonist in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

Men in Black 3 ends with a little back story that will touch your heart unexpectedly. I'm glad because it somehow gives a little weight to the movie. For those who have watched the first two movies, you will also be available to identity bits and pieces in this sequel.

Overall, this is a nice entertaining movie that you would not want to miss!

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Project: Reflect 52 #21 - Bikini, sun, wind, beach!


This is my new bikini with vibrant colors! Heehee.

Gotta make a list of what to pack for our honeymoon trip - clothes, swimwear, slippers, towels, sunblock, toiletries, supplements, medications, gadget chargers, money, passport!

I'm reallyyyyy sooooo readyyyyy for lots of fun in the sun and wind by the beach very, very sooooon!


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Funny finger food ideas

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The River (TV Series 2012)

There's magic out there... 

The River (2012) is a pretty good paranormal / action / horror / found-footage TV series.

There are eight episodes: Magus; Marbeley; Los Ciegos; A Better Man; Peaches; Doctor Emmet Cole; The Experiment; Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

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...
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Food bites over the weekend


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


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.


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


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.



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.

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Eat like a Korean @ Dubu Dubu, Mid Valley Megamall


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

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Project: Reflect 52 #19 - With Hand and Heart


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.



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Movie: Absentia (2011)

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.

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Movie: Dark Shadows (2012)

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! :)

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Complete a Subway® survey & get a free cookie!


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.

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Noms @ Market Hall, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur


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


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


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. :)

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