10 I Bagged These At Parkson. Gin&Jacqie Blessed Me One.

It's all in the bag. In my case, two bags have been secured in custody. That's how my weekend was spent, by the way - shopping for handbags with enthusiastic man in tow.

My handbag, which has been subject to constant abuse, gave way recently. It has weathered rain, sun and sand. The once perfect black faux leather has peeled. I left it at that.

When Man received some cash vouchers recently because he'd been a very nice guy to the bank, he insisted that I get a bag. I'm boringly practical. I use most of my cash vouchers on groceries and things that wear out easily like socks or undergarments. What can I say? I caved in.

How I landed myself with two handbags is entirely the doing of 'two indecisive parties'. I'll not elaborate because I think that explains it all. We Malaysians like to say, "Cannot decide, ah? Take two lah."

Bags by F.Timber

In what I call a personal record, I have accumulated three bags into the first four months of 2014. That's almost a bag a month.

I won this bag (photo below) in a contest which I had 'inadvertently' joined, no thanks to a close friend of mine. She entered a facebook comment competition, teased me and tagged me. I retaliated in good humour and that was that.

A little about this bag. I love it so much. It is my favourite road trip bag. I keep junk food and drinks in it. Small sweets in little compartments, cold coffee in one corner, chocolates and chips in another. A packet of scented wet tissue, small bin bag and some plastic cutlery is also stuffed in ← these are essential for pigging out in the car.

Makes me wonder what everyone else packs for their road trip. What's essential to you?

Bag by Gin&Jacqie

Money doesn't buy elegance. You can take an inexpensive sheath, add a pretty scarf, gray shoes, and a wonderful bag, and it will always be elegant ~ Carolina Herrera

0 A new friend - White Snake's concert

A blessing. Meri offered us a pair of White Snake concert tickets which she'd won in a contest.

I've never met Meri in person before, but we clicked on Facebook and have had countless humorous conversations. She was like the rainbow that cheers the world up after gloomy weather.

We met for the first time that day, 30th October 2011. Let it be written.

I had an awesome time at White Snake's concert. The crowd was noticeably older. A comfortable feeling washed over me. No shrieking teens and unruly behaviour. It was more proper but no less energetic. Everything was just peachy and then it had to happen.

The occasional stench wafted up our noses but we couldn't find the source for sure. We guessed. Body odour, it was dizzily nauseating. Occasionally, I wrinkled my nose as though that would make it go away.  Good thing White Snake put on a solid performance that distracted my mind from focusing too much on it.

David Coverdale, the lead singer, has such charismatic stage presence, I could not help but be lulled into a fan-like trance. My hands were raised in adulation. Here's a short snippet of his performance:

Some photos I took:

Apa khabar!

Is this love..

Hot guitarist

The Stage

Opening Act, Ella was awesome as well

0 David Archuleta Live in Kuala Lumpur

See? It pays to be an Astro subscriber - I got a pair of free tickets to David Archuleta's concert. But ..shhhhh..I also wish that they would  give out big discounts on their subscription fee.

I honestly didn't think I would be wow-ed but I was. David brought the house down with his energetic performance and charming demeanor. One would expect seeing some difficulty singing on pitch with all that prancing about, but there was none here. Only confidence and a great voice.

It wasn't long before I started clapping and humming along to catchy tunes like "Something 'Bout Love", "Elevator" and oldies like "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" and "Stand By Me". 

The stage, before it began

Here he is - all heart and soul

Just a short clip to show you how amazing it was.

0 Creative Home Talk Show with Eric Leong @ 3 July 2011

Who attended Creative Home's Talk Show with Eric Leong last Sunday? Me!

It was part of the activities for in Publishers' idea (Interior Design Experience @1Utama) event.

I had a great couple of hours listening to our local celebrity designer talk about home renovations. My whole family is a fan of Eric Leong. He's lively, humorous and actively engages his audience with freebies.

Eric started off the talk with a guide on home renovation. We each got a nifty workbook to help us out. How cool is that. I'm going to keep it in 'mint' condition.

Unfortunately, home renovating is something I've been through so, "been there, done that, know it". What this Miss Know-It-All didn't know, was how to answer any of the questions Eric asked. That said, I didn't win any vouchers obviously although the organisers were giving it out for every answer, correct or not. Haaa..wrong answer also you could't get it right..pfft!

I had wanted to catch up on the latest renovation trends but couldn't last the four hours and left the hall while he was still on the topic of home renovation, which wasn't very polite of me. I knoww..I'm sorry, Mr. Eric

But it was either that or distress the crowd with my growling stomach. I was downright hungry and try though I did, the rampaging sounds of thunder plaguing my insides, would not ease away. The importance of breakfast should not be  taken lightly...I'm talking about missed opportunities.

Bah it all! I wanted so much to have my photo taken with Eric Leong because mom asked for it. Now, I've nothing to show....except for some amazing vouchers from a great goodie bag we got.

Goodie bag treasure

Mega money savers in the form of vouchers

Lebensstil Kollektion is my favourite brand, by the way - they've a cool collection of home and kitchen appliances at a pretty reasonable price.

Also in the bag, a Lebensstil keyholder and a DeLux name card holder

This one's a keeper. WhatTtt..I just like cute workbooks!

Mint condition

2 Magical Musicals Gala Premiere @ Sunway Lagoon - 10th June 2011

Mesmerising, that's how I would describe this latest initiative from Sunway Lagoon. The effort they put into creating a stage that could carry this musical over ordinary standards is certainly commendable. Malaysia Boleh!  "Huh? Where did that come from?.."

Getting in, however, was a sore point with me. We were made to go through three long queues! Humidity levels were high outside the theatre. As the hour dragged on, I became drenched in sweat. The agonising wait was obviously irritable to the tired faces that stared before the backs of many in the unmoving line.

This led me to believe that the amphitheatre would be nothing but a giant baking oven. Oh, woe. Oh wait, I'm glad I was proven wrong. Huge fans had been installed to counter the heat. Phew!

Amphitheatre @ Sunway Lagoon

The story of this musical is set in New York and it's about a group of performers seeking to make a name for themselves. Their struggles and how they find love in the end are portrayed in songs from Grease, Glee, Saturday Night Fever, Mamma Mia! and more, bringing substance to the loose script. Magical Musicals is therefore an apt name to describe this endeavor.

Saturday Night Fever

Playing with fire ..Jai Ho!

The cast

Posing for the photographers

I truly enjoyed the musical. I only wished that the food and drink vendors who keenly interrupt my view would remove themselves when the show was on. I also detest the fact that they were charging us at cut throat prices. RM5 for a bottle of mineral water is daylight robbery. This isn't a posh air-conditioned restaurant, for goodness sake.

These guys are a distraction.
Check out the price list!

The tickets

Tickets courtesy of AMBP, to whom I am grateful for this opportunity. For information on ticketing, showtimes and the production, head over to Air Asia Red Tix's website.

0 PJ Laugh Fest 2011 - God of Carnage

The PJ laugh fest is back! 

It kicks off with the God of Carnage, a comical tale of two modern over-achieving parents trying to resolve an issue of misdemeanor involving their sons in a friendly and organised manner befitting the status of civilised society.

It's a story we can easily relate to, poking fun at parents of today who shield their children against the harsh realities of the world.

As the two parents meet to discuss their sons, they soon find it a struggle to maintain the niceties when differences in opinions begin to cloud their original purpose. Good sense evaporate into ugly pettiness, giving us a glimpse of their uncultured behaviour. Not too different from times of yore when society was presumed to be crass in their dealings.

It serves as a reminder that while we have conditioned ourselves to fit in as deemed correct by modern society, we have yet to acknowledge that we are all subject to a myriad of emotions which largely contribute to the way we react to things. What we have mastered throughout the ages is to maintain a facade acceptable to the educated majority, which does not necessarily reflect who we are inside.


The stage


Will Quah, Lina Teoh, Maya Tan and Megat Sharizal played their characters well as the concerned parents but I must applaud the ladies in particular for the strong performance they put on. I felt drawn into their trivial arguments.

Maya Tan played the wife who was the perfectionist you just want to strangle. It was a straightforward role but she brought so much life into it that I was completely sold on her performance.

Lina Teoh was impeccable in the diversity she had to carry as the understanding wife who later became a defensive mother struck by a bout of nausea and had gotten drunk after the discussion fell apart. I'm so amazed by the "realness" of it all.

The play is a lengthy display of articulatory prowess, but there are comedic scenes catering to the more visually inclined as well.  You would not want to miss the part where Will Quah walks around in his boxer shorts. I could not recall anything else that accompanied that scene, nor the verbal assault that was going on. Too tickled to notice? Yeah, I think so..

Megat Sharizal's caveman rant will leave you in stitches and the part where Lina Teoh enacts a flawless vomit scene (was it real ..or not?) will gross one out enough to be impressed. Fair warning to those sitting in the front row ..

Enlightening and entertaining, this is one play I'm glad I didn't miss.

The location - PJLA Theatre

The lift is cute



What's inside the flyer

I was lucky enough to get a free pass in, thanks to Huai Bin (sixthseal.com), who had run a contest in his blog. 

Admission Fee: RM60. When: 28 April to 8 May 2011. Duration: 1 hour, 30 mins. Where: PJ Live Arts.

0 German Motors - Reliable, Professional, Personal, they are

We decided to try out a new car service centre - German Motors. Just wanted to tweak the car's performance a little. No regrets here.

They were attentive and voluntarily shared their knowledge. Even taught us a few driving tricks, like stepping on the brakes twice to completely stop the vehicle from moving, kinda like a handbrake. 

And when they made a mistake (a minor one), we were not charged for it - big plus point. I like.

A bit about what the place looks like:

Located somewhere behind Jaya 33, PJ

Many customers

Fully equipped and neat

Professionals on the job

Cozy office area

They gave a gift..how sweet

Popular with Mercedes and BMW car owners because they specialise in servicing these brands. They do things right. I'm not surprised they have many customers.

So, will we abandon our regular car workshop then? ...decisions, decisions..they do cost more.

0 At The Loaf, KLCC

When my brother was down in KL for a technical course, I took the opportunity to invite him out for dinner at The Loaf. The Loaf is known for its pricey-ness, but I had vouchers to ease the burden it would cause to my thinning wallet.

Dinner at The Loaf proved amazing, with the food being complemented by excellent service. I enjoyed my bites and every savouring moment.

I'm rarely comfortable in high end restaurants. I always felt I needed to 'fit in', with that regal tilt of my chin and shoulders pushed back. It was the warm and friendly waiter who relaxed me into a slouching position. As a result, I had a great time catching up with my brother and on all that small town gossip.

Vouchers - RM100 in total

The entrance from inside the mall

Romantic settings

Royal Seafood Pasta - RM 55

Rib-eye steak - RM58

Salmon Oelek - Indonesian style, flavourful - RM44

Tiramisu

0 YES..they reward their fans

YES, YTL's 4G mobile internet provider, has a website with up-to-date news, an online radio (Yes FM) and occasionally, freebies.

 Yes FM proves to be a breath of fresh air. As I write this, I've heard five great non-mainstream songs back-to-back, no ads  (well, maybe a couple of seconds) and no blabbering DJ (that's important, no?). Their selection of easy listening music has put me in a state of contentment and relaxed shoulders. Easy listening, not sleep inducing, I add.

A reward from joining a photo caption contest they held some weeks ago:

Black Swan Tickets, Notebook and YES, THE paperbag
to encourage you to support the "No Plastic Bag" campaign

0 Beastly - Don't be a beast ..there are consequences

A modern take on the classic Beauty and The Beast. I love this tale because it's a valuable reminder that it is what we have inside us that counts toward a fulfilling life.

Starring Alex Pettyfer as the Beast (Kyle/Hunter) and Vanessa Hudgens as the Beauty (Lindy), this movie could easily be mistaken for something too 'teensy' for this lady who's reaching her 4th decade. But don't be too quick to judge a book by its cover, I enjoyed it!


While it did not exactly move mountains for me, I found the film entertaining nonetheless, thanks to Neil Patrick Harris who played a positive thinking blind teacher with comical assertions. Oh, he made me laugh ...a lot. I looked forward to his scenes and really wished he had more screen time.

Mary-Kate Olsen did not fail to impress as the witch. The role suited her perfectly, down to the wardrobe.

My only grouse would be how the film ended, where the Kyle had magically transformed to his former handsome self. I felt like I was robbed of the perfect moment and my emotions were reined in too drastically following the rushed closure. Allow me to explain. 

Lindy did not see Kyle's transformation. She should have been more surprised and confused that the beast that she loved was really the school jerk. If you hadn't seen witchcraft before, would believe it? I would have expected her to do more than just call his mobile to verify the truth.

That last bit of acting from Vanessa Hudgens also came across a bit too unconvincingly and it just spoiled the moment for me.

Tickets courtesy of Cinema Online, from a contest.

0 A movie treat - Sanctum

Thunder Match graciously treated a hundred of their facebook fans to the movies and I was amongst the lucky lot.

It's been awhile since I last visited the cinemas, a long break spent in fun-filled days entertaining family members and friends from all corners of the country. I was pretty much looking forward to getting into the groove again.

We were initially told to collect our tickets between Saturday and Monday. I chose Sunday....yes, a Sunday! So I got out of bed bright and early, cheerfully made my way to Thunder Match's office in Berjaya Times Square, only to find out that Sundays were off days for the team administering the event. Gah!

I thought I'd have to make my way there again the next day, but nice guys that they were, we were all after that allowed to collect our tickets on movie night itself.

The generosity did not end there. We each received a goodie bag! How cool is that? I absolutely loved it.

Those huge bags are a perfect fit for our current "no plastic bag" social awareness campaign. Perfect because it can be reused over and over again.

In the goodie bag: Tissue packs, Pens, Notepads
Useful stuff

The movie (Sanctum) itself was a nail biting affair. I didn't know who was going to die how next. They were very creative in this context. I kid not.

Is this one of those movies where everyone dies? I'm not here to write a review but if I've learnt anything here, it is, "There's no turning back once you're in too deep".

2 We're all takers..

How very true....Just a line off a movie I recently watched, "Takers". Reminded me how we all love to take more than we give.

Anyway, this movie's about a group of professional bank robbers, betrayed by their fellow member, Ghost (Rapper T.I.), who had just been released from jail. It turns out that Ghost had only revenge in mind when he convinced the gang to take up a "job" with millions at stake. Why was he mad? They bailed on him when he was caught by the police and his girl got engaged to one of the other members.  

An interesting plot and it could've been a great movie, but I just couldn't feel the chemistry between the cast. It felt a bit forced and unnatural. Too many stars in the movie, not enough time to build solid characters. There's Zoe Saldana, Hayden Christensen, Matt Dillon ..!

My favourite scene was the chase in the subway where Jesse (Singer Chris Brown) went on the run when he was recognised by the cops. It was a commendable effort and it made me forget my prejudice against singers who act.

The trailer:

Tickets courtesy of Galaxie.

0 Adam Lambert - The glamour and the clamour

At the end of the concert, I was sure I lost some of my hearing. That's what you get when Adam Lambert's 10,000 strong Malaysian fans scream in euphoria.

Peace, was when he sang an acoustic version of "Whataya want from me". The crowd sang along and I felt as though we were all falling under a magical spell from the doe eyed looks I could see on everyone's faces.

It was a good crowd with a mix of all ages. No worries about being the old lady trying to fit into the young fold, like some of the concerts I've been to.

As the stadium fills

Digi balloons being bounced about 

Seeing his live performance was an out-of-this-world experience for me. He was one of those guys who could really sing the highs and the lows comfortably. Never would you have to worry about paying money for a squawk on the mic.

Adam Lambert didn't disappoint his fans. As good on the telly as he is live! He's an outstanding performer with great stage presence. Glamour? He dressed the part, without the diva attitude. 

A short clip:

Some photos :

That's how far I was from the stage

Looks at those muscles

Good thing they have the big screen

But not all of us are fans. Outside the stadium, was a clamour of protest against his gay lifestyle.

The police kept the protesters in check

Received this flyer from a protestor

0 Adam Lambert Rock Zone Tickets, but did we rock it?

Awww...my best friend bought us tickets to Adam Lambert's Glam Nation concert in Stadium Putra. He knew how much I wanted to see Adam sing live. Most of the tickets were sold out, so he had to make do.

The ticket counters:

It's all sold out, ma'am. How bout these way back here?

What I didn't expect was a phone call from Mix FM the day before the concert, "Hi, Congratulations! You've won 2 Rock Zone tickets to Adam Lambert's concert tomorrow!", a warm and friendly voice said to me. I was hard pressed to refuse. So I said, " Reaaallly?!! Thank you! Thank you so much, William!". The contest? Click here. 

I gave these tickets to my cousin Jo. I wasn't gonna disappoint my best friend - those tickets he got were as great and it came with heart :)

Omigosh! Mix FM Roadrunner, they're here!

Oh wait..wait for me..!

Finally caught up with them. Rock Zone tickets!

Freebies for the fans

Rock zone or not, I was just happy to be there.