Birthday Brows at Sephora, Sunway Pyramid

It's that time of year again: redeeming the Birthday Brow service from Sephora. 

Things have improved somewhat since the early years: now you can schedule the appointment online. Not on the app or on the same day (at the very least, day before), but you can choose who you want. All without having to call the specific outlet. You get a confirmation email afterwards.

The only snag is deciding where and when because of when CNY is this year, the only choices I had was before, and definitely not after. 

Decided to try it out at Pyramid this year. Went to the cashier, tell them you're there for the Birthday Brow service, show them the aforementioned email, so that they can print out the redemption slip for you to give the person at the Brow Bar. Both the person working the cash register and the person working the Brow Bar asked for IC (I guess for them to make sure that it's actually you? I'm guessing there must've been a lot of fraudulent cases or something..).

While it says it's a 20-minute service, the bulk of it is really the filling in of the brows (with Benefit product, natch) after the waxing, depending on how long you've left your brows undone. Because it's not my first time redeeming this and I still have some shape in my brows, she just skipped the brow mapping part and just went straight into cleaning up the area. She also noticed that my birthday this year was going to be during CNY and got why I made the appointment because I for sure cannot do it after. 

To make both our lives easier, I opted not to have my brows filled in after and off I went. 

NB.

• As of this year, I saw that only selected outlets were providing this service. They've also trimmed the fat in this is now only available for Black and Gold members, and not for all members. So if you're a White member, you're SOOL.  

Labour Day Lobster Roll

Had no real plans for Labour Day, so when Nice Catch announced that they were giving away 100 free lobster rolls, I figured why not.

Again, I don't know what time the first people in line got there, but there was already a line and I only joined around 11.30 a.m. because it was still going to be quite a wait. No, I wasn't kaypoh enough to ask. 

Have to like that one of the T&Cs was that no under-18s allowed a free lobster roll, after years of entire families take up space and numbers in line and me being annoyed AF about it. But I figured their parents could always order something else for their offspring. 

Fast forward 2 hours in line later: they literally only started to check everyone's Facebook accounts (one of the T&C was that you needed to like and share the particular post) and for everyone to give their details on a clipboard at 1 p.m. on the dot. The first 20 something people were seated first, and they were only turning tables every half hour, so I technically only got inside around 1.30 p.m.. And they allocated some of the tables, if not half the place, for actual PAYING customers. 

Me and 4 other people, as the first few of our batch, we got to occupy the bar/chef's table seating next to the open air kitchen. So the chef gave us not just a portion of truffle-infused chips, but also a side salad with some salmon on top. I can't complain about that. They were not kidding about how everything's made to order: chips were fried and truffle oil infused to order, the rolls and greens were assembled to order. No wonder the wait. 

This was before we all got the lobster roll, which thankfully was pretty good; the lobster wasn't totally coated in mayo or whatever, the brioche bun was deliciously buttery. Okaylah, it might've been the hanger talking (the guy ahead of me was supposed to be working today [StanChart employee, I gathered from the lanyard] and he was getting hangry too). Now I'm not sure if it was really good, or if it was because I had been waiting in line for 2 hours.... But I did manage to finish the lot, so I'm glad that it was only a half roll. 

Better free half roll than paid half roll 

They also have a promo where you can get two half lobster rolls for RM69 and two full sized lobster rolls for RM109. The chef had a point when he said they wanted to make lobster more accessible for people. He didn't mention Burger & Lobster by name, but we all knew that's what he meant. I can't remember how much the latter were, but yeah, this is definitely more affordable and accessible than B&L. 

I had wanted to get a drink afterwards and I realised that I forgot my wallet. I wasn't entirely sure if I had enough small change to scrape up to pay for parking so I finally made use of Maybank's cardless withdrawal. Since I had my phone it was just a matter of initiating the transaction on the app and  Bob's my uncle. Never mind that I had to suck it up and pay the RM1.06 transaction fee, but yeah. Thought it was a good time to get home since I can't do much else sans wallet and I had another thing I had to go to. 

Redeeming Benefit's Birthday Brow service at Sephora

If you're a Sephora member, one of the birthday gifts you get regardless of level attained is a complimentary brow service (waxing, not tinting) from Benefit Cosmetics. If your local Sephora has a Benefit Brow Bar, then you can redeem it. But you first have to receive the email from Sephora beforehand (which if you've registered, you'll get it early in the month). 

Finally redeemed Benefit's Birthday Brows treat at Sephora over the weekend. They tell you to make an appointment beforehand, but I think I accidentally made an appointment for a different counter or something. (This is why I hate talking over the phone.) I suppose you could also try your luck, walk in and hope that they're not too busy or something.

This is how you redeem the brow waxing treat at Sephora (which I learned the hard way, so you're welcome):

1. Go to the cashier and tell them you want to redeem your brow waxing. 
2. You'll be asked for your phone number or email (if you registered, it should pop up). 
3. You'll then be asked if you also want to claim your other birthday items (a "curated gift", this year it was blush; RM30 off an online purchase and double points on first purchase). Since I already did that online, I told the cashier just that. There's no point lying about it, they can always check.
4. The cashier will print out the receipt/voucher that you hand over to the person at the Brow Bar. 
5. Sign the waivers (if you're not on acne medication, etc) and off you go!

Depending on how gnarly your brows are to start with, the actual waxing itself is pretty quick and only takes about 10, 15 minutes tops. They'll map out your brows and tell you where your arches should be, etc before the actual waxing.  

Here's something else I can tell you as someone who's gone around the Valley for this: The Sephora Brow Bars are (as far as I can tell) run by Benefit counter managers (these days), at least that I know of in KLCC and 1U. Which kinda makes me feel a little leery about going to the standalone stores for this now.

So if you want it done properly... #justsaying

Except for this one girl in Paradigm (who did a shitty job, IMO), I hardly ever get the upsell for other services. (I got a complimentary eyebrow tinting at Pavilion one year because of a scheduling snafu on their part, and while it was nice, but I dunno about paying for it on the regular when there's now products that do the same for cheaper). 

If you're redeeming this at the standalone store, you don't have to buy anything. You just make an appointment and bring your IC, but the last time I checked you can only make the appointment either a few days before or after the actual birthdate or something. You have to call and check with them.

Sephora 1U opening

Took the rare day off from work to check out the Sephora opening in the second home.

By the time I got there from the Kelana Jaya post office (to send something off to a Carousell buyer) around 10 something, this was what I saw. 

Fuck this, I'm out :P

All 150 vouchers were already gone. The guys minding the line were nice enough to tell us "latecomers" not to bother getting in line, and maybe to come back later when the store is actually open. Apparently the line started as early as 7 or 8 am (depending on who you asked), so the rest of us memang had no shot anyway. I'm guessing half the people in line had been up since sahur, and thought might as well go line up for a few hours :P One or two hours I don't mind, but 3, 4 hours is a really pushing it for me, personally. 

So I buggered off and because it was still early, I had a go at the Ramadan breakfast special that's got a piece of grilled chicken (which I suspect is just a piece of GCB patty), which I kind of like more than their regular breakfast set options. 

While nursing my McAffogato (you get a complimentary vanilla ice cream cone when you pay for anything over RM10 with your debit card, that I dumped it into my coffee), I glimpsed at the front of the line, and... it's Freebie Auntie (the lady in the middle, in pink), who I always see when free stuff is involved. Aiyah, old people sure early one lah :P 

Freebie Auntie and her grey-haired posse.
Seriously, what are those apeks gonna do with the RM100 vouchers ANYWAY?!

I not kiasu enough this time :P

I was also too late to catch a morning movie, so I finally deigned to brave the hordes and grab some samples while still there. 

Emcee Nadia Heng, during the first Q&A

After not getting anything during the first Q&A (usually a big waste of time because of the number of early eager beavers), I left to go get lunch and when I got back, was early enough to hang around for the second Q&A session, and also to peck out more samples from the girls walking around the place with the huge boxes in the meantime. At this point I have more samples than face to try them on :P 

After winning more Fresh deluxe samples (whee!) in the second Q&A, I left. No, I didn't buy anything either because the line was long and slow moving, which was just as well I was out-kiasu-ed for the vouchers because I didn't want to make a second trip back to use the voucher. Also I wasn't sure if I could swipe both my Black Card and ONECARD at the same time, or if it's a either/or situation. Time will tell, I guess. 

If nothing else, I'm glad this time they did the White Card signup at the door instead of at the cashier, which really slowed things down during the Nu Sentral store opening a couple of years ago. 

Freebie haul. Didn't buy anything :P

How I Scored a Free Pair of Skechers

Saw the post on social media about the event at the newly relocated Skechers store in the second home happening on both Saturday and Sunday - first 100 barefoot people in line at the store over the two days get to go away with either free pair of shoes, discount vouchers, socks ("one can never have enough socks", to quote Dumbledore) or water bottle. 1 in a 100 of getting something, but only 10% chance of getting the shoes.

We have relocate our Skechers 1Utama store with new concept to serve you better. The store opens this Wednesday, 15 July...
Posted by SKECHERS on Sunday, 12 July 2015

Figured since I needed a new pair of shoes (current North Face pair was getting uncomfortable), had nothing better to do, and it was going to be at the second home, I figured why not. I kinda did my prep: I went to check the available designs at a different store (Pavilion, since I was already in the vicinity and it's a so-called "concept" store) and drove the sales people batty with me trying on different designs in different sizes (it's not my fault that my feet are larger than average and they only have shoes 2 sizes smaller on the shelves) due to the different silhouettes.

Having read the PDF they uploaded on the site, I already knew going in that only 10 pairs of shoes will be given out. I was telling myself that I would be okay with (at the very least) one of the discount vouchers (50% or 30%), but if free also better lah. 

Woke up around 8 something, got there about 9.45 a.m. (free parking, phew), only to be at the back of THIS line... which one of the guys behind me later thought was only 20 something people, which is not too bad, but don't really want to know what time the first people (either two young girls on their own, or an entire family, plus grandma) in line got there. And yes, most people were barefoot, myself included.

At some point, the security kinda gestured everyone not standing in front of the store to move and finally roped people in line so we weren't blocking the neighbouring stores. In my confusion, I accidentally ended up in the second line in front of the store (whoops) while the ladies with clipboards was getting everyone's details in the forms and giving out the ballot/lucky draw numbers, but not before showing them proof that you either liked their Facebook page or followed them on Instagram. Let's just say my number was in the late 20s. 

After waiting for almost an hour after registration while they set things up, they finally kicked things off (I can't be the only one who's glad they decided to start about 15 minutes before 11 a.m.) and started the draw. 

The first pair of shoes went to a young Malay dude who was dressed head to toe in red baju Melayu (it was the second day of Raya, and the ladies thought it was very "ong"). The ladies running the draw were smart in spreading out the free shoes (since there were only 10), in between the socks (25), bottles (25), and discount vouchers (15 half off discount vouchers, and 25 30% discount vouchers). 

While all this was happening, I was thinking to myself, "voucher also can, but free shoes better" like you do if you ever heard of The Secret or the Law of Attraction, if you're not religious (prayer without deity involvement)). I literally was just listening out for my number to be called (I had committed it to memory and stashed the small square of paper in my wallet).

There were about less than 20 numbers left in the box, and suddenly, while they were drawing the number for the free shoes, they called my number! I don't know what I said when I realised it was my number they called. I went over, showed them my number and signed against my details on the form I filled out earlier.

If I wanted to pick the most expensive ones, I would've gone with the Shape Ups, but having worn them before, I wasn't exactly looking to get another pair. Took me longer than expected to make my final decision and GTFO out of the store, mostly cos of indecision, the sales people were busy with everyone else and the whole place was kecoh, and the checkout line was also unusually slow. Was also getting a little hangry by the time I was done. 

Harith Iskander: To Know Malaysia is to LAUGH MALAYSIA!

Scored a pair of free tickets from Nuffnang (thanks!) through an Instagram contest. (I submitted a Demetri Martin joke almost before the contest deadline, and wasn't expecting to win the tickets until I saw the Instagram DM). As usual, my problem was finding someone to go with who's available on a Wednesday night with less than 48 hours notice. Luckily a friend that was back for a short holiday had no plans last night. 

It took at least an hour to get to the stadium from PJ, with the usual crawl on the LDP. (I know there are other routes according to Waze and Google Maps, but wasn't confident that they were any less congested). After paying the RM2 entry/parking fee to the stadium, we found decent parking near Stadium Putra.

I was hoping that there were makan options once we got there (haven't had dinner, mah) and wasn't disappointed: Burger Junkyard, espressolab, Wheeloaf had booths and/or their trucks on site. There was also a Subway right outside the stadium, but the line was out the door. The line were also pretty slow moving at the Burger Junkyard booth (they're probably grilling to order), so ended up having pastries for dinner from the Wheeloaf truck, washing it all down with non caffeinated drinks (coffee or chocolate) from espressolab. But not before finding the Nuffnangers on duty to collect tickets - so kesian they all, had to stand cos got no table or chair, haha. Just as well, if sitting was going to kill us all at some point. 

Our seats was the midrange tickets (RM128), so we had a pretty decent unobstructed view of the stage, never mind that you would be relying on the screens cos you can't make out anyone on stage, but at least they weren't the higher, nosebleed seats. Was seated next to a man with his fidgety young son (?). While waiting, of course they played all the show "trailers" and it only finally started around 9.20 p.m., which was a damn long wait even by Malaysian standards. There were about 8,100 people (out of 9,000) in attendance.

Adibah Noor came on as host, to fluff the audience and to introduce Dr Jason. His set I've heard before, but still laughed. Dr Jason then brought on Papa CJ, who's set I've also heard before, but still laughed. They each did about 15, 20 minutes. Then Harith came on and did about an hour long set, some of the bits I've heard before (bits about his family, the semi-disastrous Commonwealth Games hosting gig, etc). My question as to why there was a live band was answered in Harith's set. Got music and visuals. Was a little too tired to be really into it.

Took about half the time getting home, even after stumbling a little at the road work detour along the Bukit Jalil highway. 

All in all, the show was okay, but there was no way I would've paid to watch this even if proceeds are going to charity. 

My Singapore Day Trip Haul

One person, one empty bag and after 12 hours in Singapore.. my haul, all up on Instagram.

Taste test: Bright Cow products

Here's how the rest of the Bright Cow products that I got tasted.. If there's one thing I have to mention, it's that most of the cheese product (that I got round to taste, anyway) is lightly salted, which might be great for some.

This is a long overdue post, I know, but we're not a cheese-eating household and it was just me and the sibling eating the stuff... I think. My dad could've tried some without me knowing.

They technically don't deliver to my neck of the woods, even though it's in PJ. I only found that out because the marketing manager Carol had to deliver the lot personally to me on a Saturday morning and that's what she told me. 

Blue cheese: Not as pungent as I thought... at least, compared to the first and last time I had it almost a decade ago at a classmate's house in America.

Magrello Feta: Edible.

Cherry mozarella: Attempted crispy mozzarella balls with tomato sauce. Didn't exactly followed the recipe posted and the cheese leaked during the frying process despite my best coating efforts and it was a bitch cleaning the pan afterwards. le sigh. 

Garlic cheese spread: Really mild garlic flavour. Again, not really salty, so you don't really taste it on sliced bread, but great on cream crackers. 

Yogurt: Like actual unflavoured yogurt - tangy.

I think one of the unopened cheeses also went bad because it took so long for me to get round to it, so I can't comment on that. I might have a couple more sitting in the fridge that I haven't found yet... 

After this, I'm gonna lay off cheese for awhile. For my complexion's sake, anyway.

Quickie Taste Test: Bright Cow Fresh Jersey Milk

Received a bottle of this to try. It's locally produced, unpasteurised and unhomogenised milk. It's Jersey cow milk and that the cows are NOT from New Jersey (as the sibling likes to kid, even though the Jersey Shore reference is beyond passée in 2014). 

Taste-wise: As someone who doesn't like the taste of plain milk (chocolate milk FTW), I had to try at least a little bit as-is. Tastes alright to me, I suppose. It also tastes just as good flavoured. I'm not sure if you can add it to hot drinks without essentially "cooking" it. I don't know about cooking and baking applications. 

Pro: Doesn't taste too bad. As someone who does non-full fat milk, this tastes close to that. 

Con: You probably only have a few days (a week, tops?) to finish because it's not pasteurised, which sucks if you're me and tend to take too long to finish stuff, unless you really love milk or have other people around to help finish... I wouldn't mind a half-litre option or something like that. 

The Google Maps list of where Bright Cow products are available are here and that there's a home delivery option, but due to the unpasteurised nature of the milk, it's pretty much Klang Valley only. Price-wise (not that I made a one-person comprehensive supermarket survey), it's only a bit more (under RM10 a bottle?) than other local, pasteurised milk. 

Sephora Nu Sentral store opening.. from the trenches :P

Droved down to new mall Nu Sentral only because they have free parking for a week (because only a few shops are open, it's still dusty, etc). 

Parkson there seemed slim pickings (especially in the skincare and cosmetics department) and the RM50 voucher (when you show the mailer that is available EVERYWHERE in the store with your Bonuslink card) stipulates that you can only use it with purchases above RM250.

Bought nothing there and went to check out the line for the Sephora store opening happening at 3.30 p.m.. The line had already started around 1 p.m. and I quickly went in line, along with three dudes behind me, one of them an middle-aged man. He was not the only person above 40 there (if he's doing it for spouse/kid, he must really love them to do so). Spent the time in line mostly avoiding the numerous cameras there to cover the event. 

At around the 2 something mark, they started giving out numbered stickers so that they have their first 50 people in line to receive the RM100 voucher (which the uncle in line behind me later saw and went "wah, RM100 voucher" as I told him where to redeem the Star cutout gift) and later, the 150 people for the RM50 voucher. I was the last person in line to get the former (yay!), mostly due to attrition.

Before they let the hordes in, there was a dance performance instead of the usual lion dance (I'd take Icona Pop's I Don't Care any day). Then they took back the stickers of everyone in line while giving out the vouchers. First thing I did was to head to the cashier to redeem whatever the newspaper cutting said it was before I looked around. 

The mascara is what you get when you bring the newspaper cut out from The Star

It took me forever to decide what to get because I couldn't decide if I wanted to stock up on existing products I'm already using or just try something different. Because they don't have the foundation shade I use (at Sephora?! Yep, I'm shocked too) and I had just repurchased a powder recently, I ended up buying a new facial cleanser (which I needed) and a little something to round out the purchase. Only paid RM2 for the lot :P

And... here are my grouses about it (which is more to do with because of the rush to open on time; I'm sure it won't be so in the future)

1. Not everything on the shelves had price tags; so the staff were busy running to the cashier and back to do price checks.
2. The checkout lines took for-fucking-ever because people were busy signing up for the White Card. Can't they have a counter set aside for this instead of slowing the rest of us down? Good grief. 

Free pun susah... at Parkson Pavilion's Brow Bar

Another year, another free birthday eyebrow service at Benefit Cosmetics's Brow Bar. For a change in scenery, I made an appointment at Pavilion's Parkson because I had other things to do in the area too, so what the heck - lump everything in one go, I say. 

By the time I got to the counter, there was only ONE person (counter manager, it turns out) working the Brow Bar who was already juggling a couple of ladies who were getting their brows tinted (don't ask - I don't know much about it, either) and was told to come back in another hour. So fine. I went around and came back next hour; she was still juggling the same people (yes, the brow tinting) and it also seemed like the non Brow Bar sales advisors were nowhere to be seen. One woman dynamo lah, she, holding up the fort liddat but you would think that the waxers would plan their lunch break a little better. I didn't just walk by and decided to do it on a whim, you know.

This time, I was told to just take a seat and wait for a bit for her other colleagues to come back (from lunch? what?). Since I was a little exhausted, I took a load off and flipped through the eyebrow book by Cameron Tuttle. While I was sitting there, she was lamenting her colleagues' scheduling FUBAR and still tinting brows. While waiting, another lady showed up for her waxing appointment, who also had to wait. 

Fortunately one of the young ladies finally got back and seemed pretty new because she was getting instructed on the paperwork involved. That, and both the absent waxers got chewed out (out of earshot of course, but you can tell). By the time I got done, the tinting was just finished and one of the ladies decided to wax them too. 

Since it was free, I can't complain too much about it; had I been an actual paying customer or was paying for parking by the hour (took public transport) and this happened to me, I would be LIVID. All I got for my trouble were angpow packets, which were cute I guess, but still..

Kings & Queen of Comedy Asia 2013

Thanks to Time Out KL (TOKL), I won a pair of tickets to (finally) watch an instalment of Kings & Queen of Comedy Asia on their Twitter feed two days before. Because of the time crunch (couldn't ask them to courier/post even if I wanted to), I had to personally go down to the TOKL office at Menara Ambank (short walk from the KLCC LRT station) the day before to collect them.

I know of the show from previous years, but I had never been because the tickets are just too bloody expensive for my taste (and also never got comped). This is the first time (that I know of) it being held at Istana Budaya (IB). Because the tickets are free, I also had lowered expectations of the seats - IB's nosebleed seats on the upper circle. And they were also not sequentially numbered. Not that it mattered much.

Having haven't been back to Istana Budaya for a few years now, I had to deal with the dress code (smart casual - no torn jeans or slippers, etc). Oh bollocks. But I dealt with it.

After waiting a nail-biting couple of hours for friend to battle bad heavy downpour traffic jam to get home so we can go together, I got us there just before 8.30 p.m. (slow, but at least we were moving) and were seated long before the house lights went dark. It's rare times like this I appreciate that live performances in Malaysia don't start at 8.30 p.m. on the dot (but rather, more like 8.45 p.m. soonest).

Audience fluffer/host Jon Atherton: I've seen the name for years, but had never seen the guy perform before. He's funny because he's been in Asia so long, he knows what we respond to. He did his 15 minute set and then some in between acts.

Imran Yusuf: Not bad.

Kumar: Finally got to see the guy after years of seeing him on TV and what not. A bit mumbly at times, but otherwise I totally get why he's The Little Red Dot's top comedian(ne?). When we first heard the revving noise of a motorcycle, I thought it was fake until an actual Harley came roaring on stage, with Kumar riding behind another dude.

Because the show is three hours long, there was a 15 minute intermission. We took this time to refresh ourselves with beverages (because it's the National Theatre, no booze sold on site, but the food and drink selection sold there was a bit ridiculous) and decided to move to the expensive seating downstairs. (It wasn't a full house).

Second half was Sheng Wang and Danny Bhoy. Sheng kicked his set off with his bit about using cotton buds to clean out the ears - a pretty Asian behaviour. But I personally find Asian people with (American) southern accents a bit jarring (look up Henry Cho on YouTube). Had no idea that Danny was supposed to be the headliner, but at least now I know. His entrance was a little slow because he got the stage rise option and it was moving a little too slowly, haha.

Perhaps I should mention that I had been pretty stone faced up to this point. I laughed but they were shallow and cheap laughs. Danny made me laugh tears, which is not a bad thing. Show finished close to midnight, and there was a meet and greet session for people who wanted to interact with the performers. Me? Couldn't be arsed. 

I Haz My BR1M 2.0

Last year it was announced during the budget that unmarried singletons (even divorcees/widows/widowers) over 21, with no "tanggungan" (kids), not already enrolled in local universities, make below RM2,000 was gonna get RM250 from the gahmen. 

I applied for the BR1M 2.0 online several months ago just to see whether I would get it, and I got the letter a few days before I was supposed to collect this week. (Woo hoo - gahmen angpau!) Fortunately, I did not have far to go.

Either because it was a work day or people my age are richer than I thought, I was in and out within minutes. Can't complain. Anyhow, you bring the BR1M 2.0 letter and your IC along to the first counter, where they check your name against the list, give you a voucher, then you shuffle along to the second counter where they verify the voucher and check to make sure that it's actually you (with the card readers), and finally to the (representative bank's) counter to cash out aforementioned voucher and off you go.

In retrospect, I probably should've driven instead of walked in the hot afternoon sun :P

Free Starbucks coffee on Friday

Never mind that it's drip and that it's in Malaysia, but free's free, right? It's always a little chaotic whenever this happens...

How to Watch Blockbuster Movies for Free in the Klang Valley

One of the perks about living in the Klang Valley is that one can never run out of things to do, and one of those things are free movie screenings. As members of the public, we might not get to attend press screenings (unless you're actually a member of the press) or go to the film festivals overseas, but we get what we can get. I haven't paid to watch too many movies for the last few years (of course I've paid to see a few, but that's besides the point), usually those I wouldn't necessary pay to watch. Because of movie piracy, we in the East get some movies days before the West and some screenings happen several days (up to a week) before - no complaints from me.

If you're willing to pay to watch movies, more power to you; this is strictly for cheapskates only.

Watching movies gratis as a member of the hoi polloi depends on several factors, which are:

1. Time - As these screenings are typically held on week nights and assuming you have a day job, you either have a job that you get leave on time for, or you have someone else who does and could queue up for tickets for you.
2. Location, location, location - Unless you've been dying to watch a particular movie, the closer the screening is to you, the better. There comes a point where it's cheaper to just pay to watch it near you than to travel too far to watch it for free. The rush hour traffic? Not worth it.
3. Flexibility and open-mindedness - As seating at free screenings are usually first come first served, so you don't actually get to pick where you're seated unless you're there ridiculously early. Remember, you're not paying to watch it.

1. The Star - 

• Cutout coupon in the feature about a particular movie title or online at eCentral, their entertainment portal.
• Collecting the passes varies between collecting them at Menara Star on a weekday morning (which is why you see retirees/college students lining up for these things way too early in the morning), 
• or at the cineplex foyer an hour before the screening. Of course the retirees would be in line TWO hours before, that's how kiasu they are.
• Major cons: Crazy long line, and the chance of good seats decreases the more retirees are in line before you. 
• Crowd: Mostly retirees and/or college students.

2. Nuffnang/Advertlets - They usually have free preview screenings for members, so if you're a Klang Valley-based blogger, you might want to sign up. For Nuffnang, you have to be Glitterati (theirs ads only on your blog and not other companies') as a minimum requirement. I've probably only been to a small percentage of their screenings because of the selection.

• Screenings are announced on their websites, so it pays to check the sites as often as you can. The contest mechanics for tickets also varies, but usually it's not too difficult -  I've gotten tickets for some of the worst/ingeniously simple stuff EVER.
• Seating: First come, first served; movie merch (if any) usually goes to the first few people in line, so it does pay to be early.
• You know it's a blogger event when you see camera flashes go off everywhere.
• Crowd: Younger crowd, working adults, not too many retirees.

3. Magazines - If you're a magazine reader, there's plenty to choose from; I'm going to use Time Out KL in this example, but you get the gist.

• You email Time Out at the designated email address about the specific screening they have for the month. 
• You'll get a confirmation code in return and you fill out the cutout in the current issue if you have it to give it to them at the counter before the screening. 

4. Radio - I've had better luck being nth text in than if I were to try calling. Mileage may vary. 

5. In season movie passes - Usually means you can't watch a particular title early in its cinema run; you have to wait until it has been *-listed a few weeks after.

6. Social media - Sometimes movie ticket giveaways happen on Twitter and Facebook if you follow or Like the right accounts. If you're going to be on there a lot, you might as well get something out of it.

7. Other contests - where ever you can spot them, go for it! 

I know I probably missed a few, so let me know.

Better World Books Sweepstakes Prize - FINALLY!

It has been nearly 10 months, but I finally received the rest of my prize from the Better World Books sweepstakes in today's post. I feel so bad that I have to keep emailing to say that I didn't receive the tee shirt and tote bag (talk about bad luck), but third time (with tracking) was indeed the charm :P

Thanks, Better World Books :)

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• Better World Books sweepstakes - woo hoo! (lifeasacynic.blogspot.com)

More GetGlue stickers!

Got more GetGlue stickers in the mail today - more duplicates, but also more stickers I don't really want ANYWAY, like the Gorillaz, GLEE, Tangled, True Blood and Mad Men ones. 

I'm open to swap offers.

Got some actual GetGlue stickers!

Put in a request for stickers on GetGlue.com awhile back and I finally got some in the mail today.

I only got 15, which I'm not sure it's because of their available stock or it's because they have to mail it halfway across the planet so they can't actually mail 20 stickers (postage was $1.18 from New York to KL in a small envelope, addressed to "GetGlue Fan").

Sticker breakdown: 

• Got some duplicates (top right corner), 
• Some generic GetGlue achievement stickers from early on, 
• a net@night sticker, 
• a Bones sticker,
• diggNATION sticker, and
• TANGLED sticker

Come to think of it, these might have been stickers from my previous account that I'm not really using anymore, as I made a sticker request from THAT account a long time ago before this and had decided to wait for the actual stickers to arrive before closing that account down. Hmm.

Skechers voucher - yay!

Ventured to Midvalley yesterday to collect my prize from a JUICE magazine contest that I entered last month - a RM200 Skechers gift voucher.

Now I am a step closer to getting myself a pair of Shape Ups... :D

(It's more like I refuse to pay RM400 for a pair of sneakers, but that's just me).

Someone Who'll Watch Over Me @ TAS, Lot 10

Caught the preview of the local production of Frank McGuinness's play Someone Who'll Watch Over Me at The Actor's Studio in Lot 10's rooftop last night (Wed, 5 Jan). Many thanks to Time Out KL for the tickets, by the way.

From The Actor's Studio website....

"3 men. An Englishman, an Irishman and an American have been taken hostage and held in a windowless cell in Beirut. They have no contact with the outside world and are uncertain about their future. As the three men strive for survival they also strive to overcome their differences."

Starring Charles Donnelly, Kingsley Judd & Gavin Yap as the Englishman (Michael), Irishman (Edward) and American (Adam) respectively, who are all chained to the floor by the ankle in a windowless cell (or so they have the audience believe), who try to cope with their incarceration with dark humour and fantasy escapism. 

The seats I got were not too bad for free tickets (I've gotten worse seats in the past) - at least I wasn't in the front row - I got seats stage left, several rows from the back, but the air conditioning blowing down on me (who doesn't usually bring a jacket or a shawl) was a tad annoying, but it's probably more to do with the place not being packed and I was alone in my whole row.

I didn't get the ending after that one viewing, but after reading about the play's inspiration - the real-life abduction of an English lecturer in Beirut who was released after four and a half years - the ending made more sense now. As someone who's not a professional theatre critic, I thought the play was alright. I only noticed a single instance of someone breaking character the entire performance.

The play will run from now to the 16th, with both night and matinee performances. 

Tickets are RM48 (RM28 for students and the disabled); and there's a RM28 flat rate promotion on the 11th and 12th January shows.

Psst.... KLue's also giving away tickets to Friday's performance. Find out how to get tickets here.

Postscript:

1. First time I've been to the (new to me) TAS @ Lot 10. Too far and cost prohibitive for my taste.
2. Seats in TAS also not too comfy (basically benches with thin padding); still prefer the ones in KLPac's Pentas 1. 
3. Amnesty people also had a table selling tee shirts, pins and what not. Nope, didn't get anything.
4. Took me an hour to get to Lot 10 from PJ. Urgh. I think I'll stick to either KLPac or PJ Live Arts if I can help it. 
5. New Actor's Studio location is a little tight, especially while waiting for the doors to open.
6. Don't get me started on Lot 10's parking - appreciate the after 6 p.m. flat rate, but still.
7. Got two missed calls yesterday afternoon before I answered a third time, so it'd be nice to be able to see TAS's caller ID on my phone - it's hard to find out said private number, let alone return the call.
8. Didn't see director Joe, but Dato Faridah was present.