My friend mentioned about watching this in cinema last week so I thought I should check out the trailer. I have watched the first 3 movies so perhaps I could give this one a chance one of these days.

Here is the storyline:

When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress Selene leads the battle against humankind.

Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (Emma Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives – and a Mississippi town – upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families.

Aibileen (Viola Davis), Skeeter’s best friend’s housekeeper, is the first to open up – to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter’s life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories – and as it turns out, they have a lot to say.

Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly – and unwillingly – caught up in the changing times.

**Nominated for Oscar 2011 best pictures.

After watching the movie, I decided to head to the nearest book store and buy a copy of the book by Kathryn Stockett. I like the movie and would love to check out more details in the book as written by the author.

Here is the book description taken from amazon.com:

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women—mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends—view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t.

War Horse is a 2011 war drama film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is based on both War Horse, a children’s novel set before and during World War I, by British author Michael Morpurgo, first published in the United Kingdom in 1982, and the 2007 stage adaptation of the same name.

Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, War Horse begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him.

When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets – British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter-before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse -an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure.

The last book in the Twilight saga has been made into 2-part movies. The first part is when Edward and Bella finally get married and go on honeymoon. However their newly married life has turned into disaster as Bella got pregnant and the baby is killing her from inside out.

As if that’s the only problem, they have a bigger threat as The Quileute’s Wolf Pack close in on the expecting family believing that the unborn child poses a threat to the people of Forks.

But don’t worry, it’s a happy ending.

I have finished reading the last book in the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer. I don’t know what makes me decide to jump into the bandwagon of this Twihard..damn!! I’ve heard of the books many, many years ago but was never bothered to buy one, after all who would want to read story about a vampire first love with a human girl and a werewolf as the third person.

Oh, now I remember it must be the remaindered book sale a few months ago where they sell Twilight, New Moon and Breaking Dawn at such lower price that I thought why not give it a try..and then after reading a few chapters I was hooked..huhu!

I have watched the first and second movie but honestly they didn’t motivate me to read the books. If you are a reader, then you might consider reading them to understand what all these hype of worldwide Twilight phenomenon. Trust me the books are much better for you to understand each character (Bella, Edward, Jacob etc). You get more satisfaction and feel when you read each of the books rather than spending those 2 hours on each movie. Since the books are initially meant for young adult, it is not hard to digest each word, it’s not like reading English literature or classic.

It took me a few days to finish reading 754 pages of Breaking Dawn. Give it a try, and tell me if it converts you to be one of the Twihard..haha!

I finally get to watch the movie last night. Life is the most spectacular show on earth…that’s the tagline and I agree with that.

The movie is based on a historical novel by Sara Gruen of the same title.

Taken from rottentomatoes:

Based on the acclaimed bestseller, Water for Elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. Veterinary school student Jacob meets and falls in love with Marlena, a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. They discover beauty amidst the world of the Big Top, and come together through their compassion for a special elephant. Against all odds – including the wrath of Marlena’s charismatic but dangerous husband, August – Jacob and Marlena find lifelong love.

If you are wondering if Robert Pattinson can really act (apart from being the vampire in Twilight saga) you should check out this movie.

Low monthly cost and no hidden fee.

Well, that’s  What Rob has to say about the Net 10 Unlimited mobile services. You can also check out what other Real NET10 customer has to say about their chosen mobile plan and the quality of the service.

If you are in the USA and would like to save on your mobile phone bills, consider various Net10 plans.

If you talk and text a lot, especially if you are running a home based business like me, then you should consider their unlimited plan for $50 per month. Oh, there will be no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks.

You will get to choose phone from trusted phone makers such as LG, Kyocera, Motorola, Samsung, and Nokia.

But if you hardly make calls, you can opt for their Easy Minutes Plus plan that starts at $15.00 for 200 minutes.

Or you can choose a Pay-As-You-Go Plan in which your minutes will simply roll over as long as you keep your service active.

What I like best is that since you are not bound by any contract you can easily choose whichever option is suitable for you that month. They also have Long Distance Service and International Neighbor program so that you can keep in touch with friends, family or business contacts in over 75 countries.

Check out this video on What Rob has to say about Net10 mobile plans and how it could help save your monthly expenses especially in the current economy.

It’s been a while since I have time to actually enjoy a good movie. My friends have been mentioning about this movie Dear John. I know it is based on novel by Nicholas Sparks by the same title.

Somehow I managed to watch it last week, although not from the beginning. Oh, the ending in the movie is not the same as in the novel, mind you since as most of Sparks’ books, the ending is always sad..sorry for the spoiler!

Oh, here is the synopsis of the movie taken from imdb.com:

Special Forces Army Sergeant John Tyree (Channing Tatum) is home on a two-week leave from Germany. He meets Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) after he dives into the ocean to retrieve Savannah’s purse that had fallen off the pier. John is smitten by Savannah and falls in love at first sight.

Savannah is a college student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is on spring break and is helping build a house for Habitat for Humanity. John joins in with Savannah to help build the house. Along the way a budding romance occurs, and Savannah falls deeply in love with John.

As she is about to go back to college, she promises to write John overseas during the next 12-months until he returns to her after completing his enlistment. Their love is put to the test when John reenlists after the 9/11 attack.

BTW, for those who love Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum, they are such a great pair in the movie

After researching around on trade show exhibits (although the local fair won’t be as big as trade show), I have came out with some basic list of items that need to be prepared if I were to participate in such fair.

First I have to make sure that my allocated table is properly decorated. Wouldn’t it be nice if I have some kind of table covers with logo and name of my craft business brand. In a way it will catch the eye of passerby to stop at my booth and check out my craft items.

And then if I have extra budget, I should get a table top display. Usually the layout of tables and booth at a craft fair will be crowded. You have to have an extra edge to attract the attention of people who come to such fair to be interested to check your booth.

Lastly since I will be sitting at the booth for most of the time, it will be wiser for me to have a stool or chair that is comfortable to sit on. Directors chairs which are sturdy and could be printed with my craft business logo will be a good investment.

So what do you think? How soon should I get ready to participate in the coming craft fair..haha!

This is the third book by Lisa See that I bought. The first time I read her book – Snow Flower and The Secret Fan, I decided to read her next one, Peony In Love. I have always been amazed with Asian cultural theme fiction like Japanese and then this one on Chinese.

I am currently reading the first half of the book and so far I just can’t wait to find quiet time to finish reading it. Here is the synopsis of the book taken from the author’s official website.

In 1937, Shanghai is the Paris of Asia, full of great wealth and glamour, home to millionaires and beggars, gangsters and gamblers, patriots and revolutionaries, artists and warlords. Twenty-one-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister May are having the time of their lives, thanks to the financial security and material comforts provided by their father’s prosperous rickshaw business.

Though both wave off authority and traditions, they couldn’t be more different. Pearl is a Dragon sign, strong and stubborn, while May is a true Sheep, adorable and placid. Both are beautiful, modern, and living the carefree life … until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth, and that in order to repay his debts he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from Los Angeles to find Chinese brides.

As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the villages of south China, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the foreign shores of America.

In Los Angeles, they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with their stranger husbands, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life, even as they fight against discrimination, brave Communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown’s old ways and rules.

At its heart, Shanghai Girls is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends, who share hopes, dreams, and a deep connection. But like sisters everywhere, they also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. They love each other but they also know exactly where to drive the knife to hurt the other sister the most. Along the way there are terrible sacrifices, impossible choices and one devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel by Lisa See hold fast to who they are – Shanghai girls.

In “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” series lead Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) enters a new stage of adulthood as he struggles to balance his new relationship with Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) with his ongoing search for employment — and, of course, his close alliance with the mechanic alien race of Autobots.

But when long buried secrets from the days of the space race between the United States and Russia come up to the surface, a disgruntled and betrayed Optimus Prime and his team of machines decide to leave mankind to their own devices. Bad timing, too, as a new menace arises from the dark of the moon and threatens to destroy every man, woman and child on Earth.

Transformers : Dark of the Moon starring Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Tyrese Gibson and more, will come to the theaters on June 29, 2011.

I can’t believe that I spent my whole afternoon and evening watching the live show of the British Royal wedding on TV today..sigh!

Well, what can I say..I just love weddings and after seeing some show about the late Lady Di and Prince Charles wedding like 30 years ago, I decided to find ways and make time to watch her son’s wedding.

I hope the couple will have many happy years together.

I remember when I was new to parenting, I really have no idea of what I will be facing with. Yes, you can read books, ask people who have many years of experience, but in the end, not until you have your own bundle of joy to attend to, things will not be so clear. Even with parents with more than one child, each and every one of the child will give unique experience in parenting.

So if you are new to mothering and care giving to infants, you might at one point or another be faced with diaper rash problem.

This special formulation of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is great to help treat and prevent diaper rash. The skin protectant contains 16% Zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam which soothes irritated skin. It also helps seal out wetness during a prolonged period of time, such as bedtime.

I think if you watch TV, you might have watched this Butt Paste on Oprah Show..haha! It is also has been featured on People Magazine and While You Were Out TLC. Of course if you are not a mother yet, you won’t pay attention to such product, but I tell you once you have crossed the bridge, such info will come in handy. Especially when you have a crying baby who wakes every one up because of his/her painful bum..huhu!

Oh, if you are in the US, feel free to visit their website and get a free sample of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.

I’ve been trying to read this book but I can’t seem to get it going past chapter one..huhu!

I bought it at a remaindered book sale for a fraction of price. I never read Kate Mosse’s work before so I thought why don’t I give it a try.

People said if you like The Historian than this book is for you. Now I know why I can’t seem to finish Sepulchre..haha! I read The Historian half way about 2 years ago and never understand what’s going on in the novel.

I think I will give Sepulchre another try in a few months time. And if I still can’t accept the whole idea of the book I might as well give it to a friend who could appreciate such style of writing.

Here is the description of the novel:
From the author of the New York Times-bestselling novel Labyrinth comes another haunting tale of secrets, murder and the occult set in both nineteenth-century and twenty-first-century France

More than a century later, Meredith Martin, an American graduate student, arrives in France to study the life of Claude Debussy, the nineteenth century French composer. In Rennes-les-Bains, Meredith checks into a grand old hotel—the Domain de la Cade. Something about the hotel feels eerily familiar, and strange dreams and visions begin to haunt Meredith’s waking hours. A chance encounter leads her to a pack of tarot cards painted by Léonie Vernier, which may hold the key to this twenty-first century American’s fate . . . just as they did to the fate of Léonie Vernier more than a century earlier.

For me, the first impression of a website does really matter. If it is over-designed or looks too complicated, even though it has massive info, I might feel reluctant to visit the website again and again. User accessibility to the website plays important factor. Messed up content structure, absurd layout and unsuitable typography will negate the functionality of a website.

So if you are considering an online presence for your e commerce business, perhaps you should consider hiring professional instead of doing the design yourself.

Nowadays there are many options to be considered. The least expensive service might not be the best solution. Web design agency like Lilo for example understands what it takes to have a website design that is original and thought provoking.

With over ten years of design agency experience, this web design London is also competent in web development and internet marketing. So if you are willing to invest now to see the future rewards, have a look at their portfolio and let’s see how Lilo gives their unique approach to your company’s website design.

As they say, what you can’t say with words, we say with design!

I think most people have watched the movie, but I am yet to find the time to do so. But I’ve bought the book and read the first part of her journey in Italy. Some people hate the book, I am too. Not hating the way the book is written, but the whole idea of running away from marriage, from work and find something which you think will bring you happiness..sigh!

Here is some excerpt from the book for those who feel like reading it:

And since I am already down there in supplication on the floor, let me hold that position as I reach back in time three years earlier to the moment when this entire story began—a moment which also found me in this exact same posture: on my knees, on a floor, praying.

How could I turn back now, though? Everything was in place. This was supposed to be the year. In fact, we’d been trying to get pregnant for a few months already. But nothing had happened (aside from the fact that—in an almost sarcastic mockery of pregnancy—I was experiencing psychosomatic morning sickness, nervously throwing up my breakfast every day). And every month when I got my period I would find myself whispering furtively in the bathroom: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me one more month to live …

I just found out that the official trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean 4 On Stranger Tides has been released.

Here is the storyline taken from imdb.com:

Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love — or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

I am not so fond of Penelope Cruz and is sad that Elizabeth Swan is not in the movie..huhu! But I will still watch it when it comes out to the cinema 19th May 2011.

I remember last year when we went to a book fair, we were forced to walk around the building just to get to the main exhibition centre. By the time we reached the main area, I was feeling overwhelmed after seeing all kind of trade show displays and listening to pushy sale people who were not competent enough about their book products..huhu! In the end I didn’t get to find anything that I was hoping for..sigh!

Hopefully the trade show that I am planning to go this weekend will have some refreshing approach. The home deco companies could be using logo floor mats to emphasize their brand or installing truss system to display graphics. In another word, they have to find ways to make their brand more prominent as people (like me) who visit such trade show usually won’t spend much time making up their mind before they move to another exhibit.