I've been INCEPTED!!!

Hahaha okay, that sounds so lame, but you get the idea!

My original plan was to watch Despicable Me (killing with cuteness! ^o^), but now I'm glad I chose to watch what is now this year's new MUST SEE MOVIE!

Heh, move over, Avatar and James Cameron! Inception and Chris Nolan are in the HAUS ahem I mean CINEMA!

What can I say? I REALLY liked it. Inception is some pretty sick stuff. It's an intellectual movie that makes you... question reality. As scary as that sounds.

You most absolutely DO NOT wanna miss the first 5 mins though (like I did T_T), NOR take any toilet breaks! The movie accelerates like a bullet train right from go and doesn't stop for even a second until 2 and a half hours later.

It can really make you jip sin i.e. get you wrapped up in it and you truly invest in the whole idea. You BELIEVE it, simply because it's such a well-thought-through concept.

Although what is to believed and what isn't, that's up to you.

So much so that I didn't even feel the 2 and a half hours pass at all! There's constantly so much going on on the screen, so many things to see, so many concepts that will blow you away and bend your mind. It's a viewer's movie. Period.

The action is SUPERB! The suspense is TO DIE FOR! (It's seriously kancheong max at a lot parts, I was on the edge of my seat and clutching my hair/face.) And the mindfuck at the end will make you leave the cinema wanting MORE! (And yes, I do advise that you watch it in a cinema.)

There's a little comic relief here and there to give your head a rest but honestly, I LOVED finally coming across a movie that really made me think and tickled my brain. While still being so entertaining! Haha I'm a nerd, so sue me.

I think it's safe to conclude that, together with Toy Story 3 a few weeks back, so far it's been a fab year at the movies for me! (Despicable Me will be relegated to PPS, sadly. No regrets there though.)

So if you haven't gone to see Inception yet, tell me, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU STILL WAITING FOR???

After coming out of the cinema feeling thoroughly befuddled and mindfucked, I proceeded to Cheezbox with Munibah and Afiq for some diabetic desserts!

I ordered the creme brulee (to satisfy that weird custard craving I had o.O) and it was... strange. I'm not sure if creme brulee's SUPPOSED to taste like that, or maybe I just don't like it very much. It's kinda tasteless except for the caramelized sugar, which was bitter -_- $3.50 for a smaller than palm-size serving.

Munibah had the super mega rich chocolate brownie which she NEVER finishes! But it's mad yums!! $4.80 for a larger than palm-size square.

And honestly, tell me, what's an outing with two vain, made-up girls and a DSLR without some CAMWHORING? ;)

Had to Clone Stamp my skin cause I had 3 massive red pulsating zits with minds of their own that I couldn't 100% conceal. Stupid PMS D=<

My darling of 11 years ♥

HEHEH this pic is actually a bit blurry on the face cause Mun's hand shook (DIY soft focus lol!), so my face is double focused. But when the pic is small, it just makes my eyes appear bigger than usual! xD

F my L, hate taking pics with Mun. Impossible to look anywhere even near pretty next to her :( It's so obvious her huge eyes dominate her face, whereas in my case, my huge nose and huge mouth dominate my face. Typical Chinese curse!!

I think this sums up EXACTLY how every single person who went to watch Inception felt at the end of the movie... Or at least, me.

[SPOILER PIC]

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I actually exclaimed WHAT THE F***?!?? really loud the moment the screen faded to black at the end. LOL!! Chris Nolan, you're a tease! :P

July photolog!

July's been a helluva long month, and it's NOT OVER YET!!

I bet all the readers coming to my blog tonight (those who haven't given up hope on my blogging haha thank you btw) will be like FINALLY this lazy ass bothered to blog!!! I've been stinking busy around the clock :(

My Mock 'O'-Level/End-of-Year exams are next month, so you'll be reading less and less of me anyway as my nose is mostly glued to textbook pages. I'm really REALLY sorry, I wish I could keep up blogging, I really do!!!

I truly enjoy getting to know all the new people I've met through Nuffnang and reading all your blogs and having a peek into the lives of different people from all walks of life! And of course reading and replying your kind comments :)

But if you're still interested in getting regular updates from me (psssh), you can always follow me on Twitter! :) @xxmarsarmygirl for the time being still.

Appreciate this post yo, specially put on a few kg's of makeup (shattap, girls will be girls. Or better yet, I will be me!) just to take these photos and as usual took MILLENIA editing them in Photoshop. Do you know how much WORK it takes to turn a greenish-grey photo into glowing peachiness?? Proud to say I didn't touch my face with any Liquify or Clone Stamp at all!!! Really keen to look into that Adobe Lightroom 3 that Victor recommended!

Say hello to my gorgeous pink Nokia 6120, the love of my life, the day my daddy gave away RM800 so I could bring it home. I simtiah-ed for 2 secs over the price (it WAS the last pink original 6120 on the island after all) cause it was my PMB reward and I deserved it. Oh boy did I deserve it!

Obviously long before I discovered colour editing... would you just look at how dull this pic is!! And before I discovered nail art too, my two fave polish colours were black and white -_-

And this is it NOW, 1 and a half years later!!! Accessorized to it's full chinky, bimbo potential! With matching blinged phone strap to match!!

Honestly, after 18 months of looking at the same object first thing in the morning when I feel it up to turn off my alarm and last thing every night before I roll over and fall asleep, plus lots more in between, I HAD to reinvent my phone to stop myself from getting so sick of it I'd wanna kill myself. Cause I still love it so much and can't imagine using another phone ever!!! (Hmm I might see a BB in my distant future though :P)

I dunno if it's still selling, but for the price it's going at now (very dirt cheap I presume) it's worth every penny! Faithful, reliable, does almost everything and will love you back unconditionally even when you've got bad morning breath!! *shifty eyes*

MUAKS!

After my more than pleasant experience with Jane Green's Jemima J, I decided to borrow Jia Yee's copy of Life Swap to read as well!

Didn't LOVE it, but definitely liked it a lot! Jemima J started off slow and dry too... is this some kind of a trend of Jane's?? Oh God who cares the only books I should be reading right now are TEXTbooks :(

I love the new clear bottle Bausch and Lomb Re-Nu packaging!

Makes it looks ultra cool and atas :D Downside: in the mornings when I wake up thirsty, it gives me the urge to drink it D:

Look what my mama brought back from my house in Penang!

Blurred out my address, unlike some silly people I've seen before. But anyway, I live in the Queensbay area, so HOLLA fellow QB-ers!!!

The free trial Freshlook Illuminate lenses I ordered last month! Thank you Ciba Vision!! Will save these eye-enlargers for prom ;)

My new Rexona Teens deodorant!! Omgosh it smells so good like vanilla I can't stop sniffing my armpits despite looking like a retard wtf. My old deodorant so massive the bottle I used for 2 years and there's still 1/4 quarter remaining. And chao seng already! -_-

And last but not least, my bronze Sports Day 2010 medal!

Not very proud of it, I think the Cornwallians deserved it more... but you know, better than nothing. 

And at least I'll have something to help me remember the effort I put into that day... :)

The Lit Fest, or Literature Festival, last Saturday was a SUCCESS!!! For me, it was the best Lit Fest I ever attended because it was seriously TOO COOL getting to be a part of it for once, instead of just a member of the audience like previous years. It was all my friends who were competing and performing! Kepo-ed backstage the entire time heheheh!

My Elocution certificate. I miss the days when the school used to give out trophies. I would've loved a shiny gold trophy in my last year :(

The topic I chose was "Beauty pageants are degrading to women and should be banned." Left it till 9 pm the night before the elocution and was rushing like heck! But all's well that end's well :)

That was also Judgement Day #2 for JAMS PP! Everybody seemed to LOVE it! I've never seen the school hall full of hundreds and hundreds of students be so attentive and enthusiastic ever before! Seriously a sight that struck me with awe.

WE had created a SUCCESS! I was surprised I didn't cry. I think I was just too excited. 4 months okay. 4 MONTHS. We held our first auditions in mid March.

A note written to us from the cast and crew, that moved Alisa to tears. And as requested by her, the pics are unwatermarked so she can reblog 'em (sorry it's so late!).

If any of you are reading this (lol I actually kinda hope not cause I'd feel weirded out! :P), know that the 4 of us are extremely proud of you. All of you exceeded our expectations in every way. You helped turn our little idea, hatched one afternoon in Coffee Bean, into complete reality, and we couldn't be more grateful.

JAMS PP has been one of the most amazing things I've ever had the honour of being a part of, and I'll never forget it. Go here for the full story, contributed by Alisa.

Oh. And guess what? I got chosen for National Service otherwise known as Program Latihan Khidmat Negara Siri 1/2011.

Besides making me feel extremely old... FMMLLLL MAXIMUS!!!!!!! T_____________T

I'm currently quite happy though. National Service is months and months away... maybe even years, so why worry right now? I realize it's kinda pointless and a waste of time.

Gonna focus on things that are happening sooner, like... this Saturday, my sister and le petit are coming back to Brunei!!! :D:D Can't wait, can't wait!! Just saw Ava last month but am missing her already ♥ I think she's the cutest baby in the world! Well, naturally ;)

"My Name is Memory" - Ann Brashares - 2010

I've seen this book compared to both "Twilight" and "The Time Traveler's Wife" and I'd say it's closer to the latter in style and story, thankfully.  However it lacked the emotional impact of TTW and in "Memory's" defense the only real similarity to Twilight is a much older hero and eternal devotion to the heroine.   I enjoyed this novel, but the ending is abrupt - I hear there will be two more additions - right now it feels their story might have been more powerful as one book, I kept waiting for tears, but they never came.  Hopefully she has some powerful stuff coming up for the next two.  

The Hit and Miss Engines" (plus photoshop jokes)

and the real thing...

         I didn't take this picture (my camera went to a PGH show without me) - that's no reason not to fuck with it though, right?

Hoopin.

"Scandal in Spring" - Lisa Kleypas

Finishing the baby of the Hathaway clan's story made me want to revisit the "baby" of the Wallflower series.  Still good.  The button scene gets me every time. 

"Love in the Afternoon" - Lisa Kleypas - 2010

Definitely the best of the last three...

Some sounds and colors

The prettiest granny afghan I've seen - $3 couldn't pass it up.
75 cent shelves and a new home for instruments worthy of display.

"He Loves Lucy" - Susan Donovan - 2005

This book earned a place on my Keeper Shelf a while back, but this was the first full re-read.  Still great.

Expired Film - pretty ok

Hazy Days

The guy of my dreams! . . . Sorta.

Recently, Mr Richard asked an interesting question in Character Building class. "What are some of the qualities you want/look for in a guy?" This meaning like, future husband, boyfriend, etc (mate?!).

Just felt like clarifying the 3 qualities I spoke about (I am AWFUL at spontaneous improvisation so the answer I gave in class was really short and stilted).

Okay, in a super ideal world and situation, I'd want a guy who's...

1.) Smart.

And I mean in terms of brains. Really doesn't have to be like rocket-scientist, straight A's, Mensa type.

But you know, at least somewhat intellectual and knowledgeable so I can pick his brain at times and we can have stimulating nerdy discussions/conversations!

I used to have Bruneian poklens hit on me and ask me out and AHEM, I think you can tell for yourself the huge mental gap there ("used to" cause I grew up and learnt to get the fuck away from that crowd).

2.) Funny.

As in a good sense of humour and can make me laugh and tell jokes and stuff. Or just say random funny things. Cause, sadly, I'm not THAT funny of a person (don't expect to have very many laughs when you visit my blog T_T).

I have a good sense of humour yeah, but when I say things meant to be funny, nobody ever laughs! Instead, they laugh when I say something that I don't even realize is funny at first... :S

So if like I date someone else not funny/no comic timing... die lah our relationship every day also stare at each other with stone face lagi -_- That would so never work out.

3.) Caring.

He has to care about me, my wellbeing, my feelings, my opinions and our relationship. And he has to show it. Can't be some reckless fool playing with my emotions (gah)!

I think all girls want the caring, lowmantic type who makes them feel really secure. And if they don't, they bloody well should!!


As you can see, I'm not unreasonable at all in my demands! Super simple ones only :) Cause I know I'm far from perfect too.

May I point out that LOOKS and MONEY isn't even on the list!!! To be honest, I mostly look at character only. Because I truly think that looks are in the eye of the beholder, everybody has different tastes. The guy you might find very fugly, could look really cute to me loh! I've seen girls get dreamy over guys who I honestly think look REALLY bad. See? All about individual tastes. "Hot/sexy/cute" is subjective!

And as long as he's not a beggar/destitute (where the fuck would I even meet guys like this anyway?? School, workplace, club?! I don't think so!), then I'm okay already, because I plan to make my own fortune! *eiseh*

However, I know that at the end of the day, when you fall in love with someone, all this "criteria" just fly out of your head. You cease to think, to be rational, to have reason. That head-over-heels feeling. God knows I've been involved with enough guys who are so totally wrong for me to know what it's like already.

But I suppose, marriage is (supposed to be) different. When you're ready to make that final decision, you really have to take a step back and evaluate your relationship and ask yourself, is this the person I truly want to spend the rest of my life with? No naive whirlwind romance nonsense!!!

Hopefully, one day I'll have enough sense to ask myself that very question when the time comes.

So... if you're single right now, care to share what are some of the things you'd look for in a guy/girl? :)

"Bet Me" - Jennifer Crusie - 2010

Still holding as my favorite contemporary romance ever, it's just nice to re-read the whole damn thing and fall in love with Cal and Min all over again.

Lens Flare addiction

"Never had one lesson"

Dear Emmy,

If you should ever decide a trippy sci-fi inspired 

solo record is something you are into, 

I have cover art ready to go.

Love, Laci Hess

MIF 162

"The One and Only Matt Miller" (and Friends) Present(s): the Vienna Noise Choir in Mid-Fi

Download from the link above and enjoy!

www.myideaoffun.org 

"Married By Morning" - Lisa Kleypas - 2010

Been pretty internet-less lately, so I'm making up for lost time.  I did go right out and by "Married By Morning" and I will admit to sneaking a peek at the AAR review written by Jane Granville before I started it.  I try not to allow reviews to sway me from something I'm anticipating, but I agree with her review completely.  It wasn't a bad story by any means, it just didn't live up to what I wanted it to be.

It's almost as if they like each other too much by the time they get their own book.  It's a little too easy on some levels.  The best thing prior to "Married..." was the incredible tension between them - always arguing to cover their growing attraction.  I wanted to see more of that. 

The real problem for me boils down to Catherine's character development.  I would have liked a different background for her than the over-connected one she got.  I'm a fan of the Jane Eyre - "Handsome Lord falls for Practical Governess" plotline - which he is and she is - but that isn't really what "Married By Morning"was. 

Series and connected books can be a double-edged sword.  In some ways you love seeing the family members who have already had their HEA, living out their HEA (typically by showing the first heroine 'increasing') and still very much in love with their hero.  However there can be too much.  Nothing is worse than an author who feels the need to rehash the first 3 books for readers dropping in at the end of the series, when you've already read the books she's summing up.  Kleypas doesn't really do that, just a line or two to refresh your memory, it seems she caters more to her faithful readers than those who may not have realized they're in the middle of a series. BUT, the family connections within the Hathaway Series are beginning to really bother me.  This is book number four and without trying to spoil anything, we now have 4 men, 4 women, and 3 sets of married siblings.  Two brothers married to two sisters, then a brother and sister married to a brother and sister (who are also siblings to the sisters of the first).  It isn't incestuous by any means, but it's starting to feel that way.  As if the Hathaways world is a little too small or they're such outcasts that there are no new people in it.  It's all much more complicated of course, there are secrets and surprises, but I have to say I'm thankful for Beatrix's story and some new faces on the way. 

"Tempt Me at Twilight" - Lisa Kleypas - 2010

Man, publishers must love a popular series.  It’s bank, right?  Of course there are the phenoms, such as Harry Potter and Twilight – but the same principles apply to romantic fiction.
1)  Keep the stories connected. 2) Keep the readers hungry for more. 3) Do your job and they will buy the next one.

The difference between romantic series and popular novels like Twilight lies in the focus.  The Twilight books are Bella’s continuing story, whereas romance series typically consist of siblings, each finding love in their own novel.  There was a time when I owned every book in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series, now only two remain.  The series started very strong, the second book about the eldest son, Anthony,  “The Viscount Who Loved Me” remains my favorite.  However there were just too many brothers and sisters, I couldn’t care about Gregory or Hyacinth’s stories, as Quinn seemed to lose steam and my certainly my attention by the anticlimactic conclusion.  On the other hand, I believe Mary Balogh’s “Slightly” series lost steam midway, but finishes wonderfully with my most expensive romance purchase to date ($20 hardcover), of “Slightly Dangerous.”

Lisa Kleypas has been a successful fixture in romance since the early ‘90s.  “Dreaming of You” is an absolute classic - and she’s no stranger to a successful series.  Her Hathaway family stories feature times of day in the title, and they are loosely connected to the 'Seasons' series.  She is a writing machine, overlapping releases of a contemporary “Texas Trilogy” with the first historical in the Hathaway series, “Mine Until Midnight.”  She is truly talented, always writing strong stories, and occasionally writing fantastic ones. 

She walks a fine line with the Hathaway’s though, they are a close-knit family - always connected, and up in each others shit,  the danger lies in future stories overshadowing the current one.  I found myself excited for Win and Merripan’s story before Cam and Amelia’s is concluded, but not nearly as excited as I am for “Married by Morning.”  Leo, the heir and only brother has been shooting sparks with staunch governess and ladies companion, Catherine Marks for two books now.  In fact, “…Twilight’ ends with a cliffhanger and I can only hope that “Summer 2010” has arrived and I can find it a the drugstore tomorrow.   So, on one hand, Kleypas has done a marvelous job – so much so that I’m sure that if “Married…” lives up to my expectiations the previous three Hathaway novels may fall by the wayside.  Only time and comfort re-reads will tell. 

As for ‘Tempt Me at Twilight” itself I was presently surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did.   It reminded me of “Dreaming of You” and ‘Devil in Winter” (two faves) in that most of the story takes place within one very large space – this time the Rutledge Hotel rather than a gambling hell.  The similarities don’t end with the setting though.  As with Derek Craven and Lord St. Vincent, once again Kleypas has succeeded in winning me over by unraveling the layers of a complicated hero so well that you forgive his early transgressions and rejoice when he finds the ability to declare his love. 

Green Pride for Macdougall!

Sports Day 2010 - The 4 houses, Student Council, Police Cadet and Red Crescent + Brunei and school flag.

We went, we fought our hearts out, but yet... we lost. It was so damn close. Yes, it's disheartening as fuck. If only we'd been faster, stronger, better...

But you know what? That's not the way to think! I have no regrets, we all tried our best and we lose as a team. This is nobody's fault. We're in this together. Just not our day, and the competition was too good.

Green as the grass!

Our gorgeous girl captain, Molly!

One thing I'm really, really happy about is our Macdougall march past presentation! WE ACTUALLY WON!!! And the dance... the dance PAID OFF! :') Effing hell, everyone (excluding me) learnt it in just 1 hour before the march.

Started with us girls doing our Waka Waka dance and singing along!

And then the guys with their aggressive err rugby Haka thingy.

And finally, everyone else holding up the cards to form our house flag!

So proud of all of those who came and marched, ran and tugged. TSAMINA MINA EH EH, WAKA WAKA EH EH, TSAMINA MINA ZANGALEWA, THIS TIME FOR MACDOUGALL!

If you're one of those who didn't come, well sucks for you cause you missed out on a really awesome team effort!

Ran the 100m relay with Molly, Sandy and Jaslyn. Came in 4th by a few feet, but because of Cornwall's disqualification (God granted us a miracle yet again! See here), I now have a bronze medal hanging in my room.

I love how once every year, everyone in Macdougall, especially the old ex-6G crowd, all come together as one and have us some good times! Can't believe this is gonna be my last SAS Sports Day :(

We might've finished last, but fuck that. We've got GREEN PRIDE!

Photo courtesy of Teo Wan Lu.

And I've got a red, sunburnt face D: Sunblock's useless against the ruthless Bruneian sun, I tell ya!

On Wednesday, I won the Senior Elocution competition for the Literature Festival!!! :D:D:D

I was really so shocked. I honestly didn't think I could win. It's not that I'm modest, it's that I underestimate myself ALL THE TIME. In a way, I use it as a shield against disappointments...

Patricia, a fellow Macdougall senior, got 3rd and Feddrick (nah, spelt it correctly! :P) also won for the Junior Elocution! So proud of them :)

SO GLAD I GET TO MAKE MOLLY HAPPY!!!! Honestly, I do all of these school things and put my heart and soul into them firstly for Macdougall and secondly for Molly. Never for myself.

Also really really proud of Jan, Patricia and Brian for winning the preliminary round of the Interhouse Debate for Lit Fest yesterday! That summary speech was definitely not cheesy. "We too have the choice. Reality television, or reality?" The stuff of legends!

Wednesday was also the judgement day of the Interschool Drama Festival (where has the time gone?!). Waving goodbye and good luck to the cast and crew who were leaving on the bus, me, Alisa and Maria actually cried... I think it was one of the best moments of my life. They were happy tears! :')

Then yesterday, we received the incredible news that our school actually got 2ND PLACE!!! Who would've ever thought?? A huge congratulations to all those Year 7 and 8's. So proud... They did it, they really did it. They were so overjoyed, their big smiles and happy shouts filled my heart.

I feel conflicted. I know I should be feeling sad, but lately I've been receiving so many things to be happy about! This doesn't happen often. And I truly feel guilty for being so happy.

BAM!

All photos taken by Munibah with her Canon EOS 1000D, unless stated otherwise.


P/S: Dear "Pity", next time you wanna take a stab at me, try using your real name and being a bit more clear on what the heck you're talking about. Because I sure don't hide behind anonymity. By the way, this magical tool called makeup was invented to improve the appearance of girls. We are given the chance to make ourselves look so much better without altering who we are and not taking advantage of it, THAT would be a pity. Sadly, looks do still play a large role in today's society and there's nothing we can do about it. Wanna be a feminist and go through your entire life without any makeup on? Good luck with that, I'd like to see you try. And I consider vanity a good thing, thank you. You have your opinion and I have mine.