1st Anniversary Giveaway Is Finally Here!

Giveaway Has Now Ended. Please check back soon for results and for a new giveaway notice!!

I started "blogging" in September of 2009. I didn't think I'd be so swamped that I wouldn't be able to blog frequently but it happened. But as a promise to blog more, I am having this giveaway! I have so many half-finished stories in my head it hurts but until I have to time to write them out, this will have to do.

Thank you to the 30 followers of mine for the support. I hope it will continue.

First, a look at the prizes. There are 4.

Set 1: Malaysia ONLY

Set 2: International

Bonus 3&4: Everywhere

Prize Breakdown
1. Set 1 can only be won by Malaysians.
2. Set 2 is open internationally.
3. Bonus 3&4 will be chosen from the remaining combined Set1&2 finalists.

To win you must:

1. Be a follower and state the below: (1 entry) MUST be done before extras.

Username:

Set # (1 or 2):

Fave post on my blog:

What do you like about my blog:

Any changes I should make to my blog:

For additional chances to win (leave a separate comment for each entry):

2. Comment on which Category I should update more. (1 entry)

3. Follow me on twitter @darkmotives. {state your twitter username below}

(1 entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway and post your tweet URL in the comments below.

You can tweet once a day until the deadline! Tweet can be done daily and must include @darkmotives (1 entry per tweet)

5. Blog about the giveaway and post a link to your blog post in the comments below.

(3 extra entries)

6. If you're one of my first 30 followers, you get 1 free entry so please post below. (1 entry)

7. Comment on a non-giveaway post in my blog. Please state which post below!

(1 entry each, 2 posts max)

8. Put my giveaway button on your blog and state your blog link below. You can use this image link: http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy62/reviewsbyabby/Misc/1621ze9.jpg (1 entry)

Please make sure you're following properly as I will check all links! Tweets must not be private!

Entries will be accepted until November 28, 2010, Midnight GMT+8.
Winners' names will be posted here as well as emailed within the week!
You will then have 48 hours to claim your prize or another winner will be picked.

Open Worldwide

Winner will be chosen through random.org to make things fair, more entries more

chances of winning!

Freebies A-Hauling: Send For Samples - Bio-essence and Libresse

To everyone living in Malaysia, you can grab some samples by just filling up a form!

Here are 2 of them:

Libresse: www.livelibresse.com.my

Even though it says there to expect a week or so for delivery, I received mine just days after submitting the form! How is that for good service!

Bio-essence Complete Nourishing Sleeping Mask: www.bio-essence.com.my/registration_sample.php

This just started on Facebook. There is also a contest going on so do both if you'd like!


That's all for now. Stay tuned for my giveaway! Have a great long weekend!


By Abby

Face It: Clarins samples from Jusco!

Today I was at Mid Valley getting my brand new haircut. Also, since I was there, I went and picked up some Clarins samples including the new Shaping Facial Lift, the old formula was already a bestseller so this one sounds promising too. Got my samples from a voucher within the Jusco magazine.

Check out the below pictures for more information.







The nice SA Affa gave me a consultation followed by 1 Shaping Facial Lift, HydraQuench Cream, and a Gentle Cleanser with Cottonseed.

A great day! Go grab your samples before they're gone!

They are also having this great promotion whereby the set comes with 2 Shaping Facial Lift (not full size though) plus 1 full-size Defining Eye Lift! The latter alone costs RM 152 according to Affa. And the twin Shaping Facial Lifts are apparently about RM 225 each. WHich brings the total to RM 602 but is now selling for RM 399! Sweet ain't it. Great for sharing too! While stocks last of course.


Also spotted Clinique roadshow, they are giving samples again but didn't bother since I still have mine. And it's the 3-step yet again so nothing new.

Till next time.


By Abby

Movie Buff: Despicable Me

To be (despicable) or not to be, THAT is the question!!

Yellow minions. How cute are they!?

Despicable Me marks my first full-length 3-D movie of all time. Heck, it IS my first! But fancy movie effects aside, how did the despicable baddie measure up to bigger summer blockbusters? Read on to find out...


Steve Carell (of Get Smart fame) voices Gru, who wants to the most villainous villain of all time. When one of the wonders of the world goes missing, and replaced by a pumped-up balloon version of it to boot, all eyes are on Gru. But did he actually commit that crime? Unfortunately NOT! In his mind anyway. And thus he, along with his awesomely cute and funny minions (see yellow squigglies) devise a plan to commit the crime of the century. If you have seen the trailers, or at least seen the posters, you'll know (or guess) that he is out to steal the moon. Yes, The Moon! That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind...THAT MOON!

Armed with a 10 year-old sketched out plan he sets out to get capital to steal said object. And where should he look for it but at the Bank of Evil (I guess criminals aren't allowed to bank at the same well....bank). Funny thing is that this Bank of Evil is located in an *drumroll please* actual bank!

Gru faces competition in the form of the actual Pyramid criminal named Vector (voiced by Jason Segel). Now here's a real bada$$! This guy has sharks, heat-seeking missiles on top of his house, lasers, hammers, rocket launchers, the works! And now they fight for the ultimate prize.

Julie Andrews voices Gru's fussy, hard-to-please mother who never rewarded his efforts. You might say she was the cause of Gru's turning into a criminal. And to think, Julie Andrews has played everything from a nun to a queen (on several occasions) and here she is, a hard-hitting criminal mom.

Russell Brand (the future Mr. Katy Perry) holds his own as the criminal version of James Bond's Q. His unmistakable British accent is very apparent but suitably older. He lends his voice to Dr. Nefario, Gru's biggest support. Every supervillain needs a weapons creator after all. He plays a bigger part towards the end of the movie.

Gru, facing major problems from his biggest rival adopts (takes advantage) of three orphaned girls Margo, Edith, and Agnes (who strangely bears a similar resemblance to Boo from Monsters Inc.). The funniest part is that there is one scene in which will remind Pixar fans of a certain animated movie trilogy, and this movie comes from Illumination Entertainment! I could have sworn that it was a Pixar movie based on those two points. I suppose it was merely my imagination.

Overall a very fun-filled movie. My bunch of movie-goers laughed our hearts out practically the entire film, which says a lot! The only part I wasn't convinced off, coincidentally the main point of the movie, is that the villain was not despicable enough! Imagine that, a villain that isn't bad enough. The yellow minions will have you in stitches even though you won't understand a word that comes out of their mouths.

Apparently, Malaysia is being blessed with a cinema opening even before America's. Despicable Me hits Malaysian cinemas on Thursday, 8th July 2010 and spans approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.


So if you're feeling stressed, or want to escape the footie fever all around, sit yourself down and immerse yourself in the world of the Superbad!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review financially or otherwise. Everything mentioned are my own thoughts based on my experience.

Movie Buff: The Prince of Persia Is Finally Here!

A scene from the movie

A buff Jake Gyllenhaal

From one of my favourite, if not the favourite producers, Jerry Bruckheimer, comes Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Having brought to the world the likes of Bad Boys, National Treasure, CSI, and Pirates of the Carribean, and many more, I expected A LOT from this one. Don’t you just hate it when the trailer contains all the best parts squeezed into that minute or two? Heck, I know I do! If you thought the trailer was good, you’re in for a surprise. Compared to the actual movie, it stinks! But one never knows how these video game cum movies will do. But this one far exceeded my expectations!

The movie starts with the introduction of a young Dastan and Bis, orphaned best friends trying to get by in life. As fate would have it, King Sharaman of Persia was in town for a little trip and witnessed Dastan’s bravery and smarts and proceeded to adopt him.

Flashforward 15 years, and Prince Dastan is now a dashingly handsome young man (Jake Gyllenhaal anyone!!) A total opposite from his two older royal-blooded brothers, his approach to life is a brasher, unbiased one. This can be seen in how he storms the gates of Alamut. This you must watch! As usual with Jerry Bruckheimer movies, stunts are original and very well-choreographed. Architecture is also emphasized with spectacularly designed sets and backdrops.

Inside the palace we see Princess Tamina, brought to life in the form of Gemma Arterton. When I first found out she would be in this film, my thoughts were “Uh oh…” especially after the “acting” she delivered in Clash of the Titans. But alas, there is nothing to fear. I thought she did well this time. Granted, she has a major role this time and has moved up from a Bond Girl cum Sorceress to a Princess of a sacred city. She is also the protector of the dagger at the centre of the whole movie/game.

When Dastan is believed to have murdered his father, the King, he is forced to flee, taking Tamina with him. Now he has to figure out who framed him, clear his name, restore peace to his family and country, and get married. What ensues is an incredible adventure filled with cool parkour stunts, and great special-effects! I am wondering why THIS movie wasn’t made into a 3D one. From what I saw, this would have been the only movie besides Avatar that I’d have bothered watching in 3D.

Alfred Molina lends his acting chops as a hilarious Sheik Amar who has an affinity with ostriches. Of all animals, they picked ostriches! Ben Kingsley plays Nizam, uncle to the three princes. There are some very funny characters in this one, and some real bad-asses with vile creatures used to take down the poor good guys. Unlike the Gladiator and Robin Hood movies, the fighting scenes, even though fast-paced, don’t zip by so fast you don’t know what is going on.

Okay, I will admit that part of why I was so looking forward to this movie was to watch Jake Gyllenhaal all buffed up and looking sultry, let’s just say, he didn’t disappoint! Part-way through the movie I even noticed that I wasn’t even looking at his chest. I was too enraptured by his lovely blue oases. Hear me when I say there were some protests when the kissing scene came about. I was silently one of them.

As I was writing this post, the trailer played at least 4 times! No surprise as this is the run-up to the movie’s official opening date. All in all, a MUST-WATCH to me. Even my movie date, who is easily bored and loves to fill those moments by eating popcorn was glued to the screen, quite a feat I tell you!

I will go out and say that this might just be the Summer Blockbuster of 2010!

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time opens in Malaysian cinemas May 27. Go on, I dare you not to watch it!!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review financially or otherwise. Everything mentioned are my own thoughts based on my experience.