Dreaming of the Maldives

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It’s been a while since I had time to work on this project, but now that my work schedule is lessening a bit, I suspect I’ll have to catch up with R’s record of five wins.

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On March 21 my competitor announced that she won her third contest.  Now she is not only the winner of one more contest than I am, she is also at around $190, while I am about $150 behind her. 

This morning, I had a great dream where I won a prize – a trip for two to the Maldives, worth $2500.  During my whole dream, I was trying to get the tickets and answering last minute questions from the company giving away the tickets.  As my dream progressed, it turned out that the tickets were for a 48-hour trip to the Maldives, with Matt and I set to fly directly there and on the way back with a stopover in Hawaii.  Not sure how much of the Maldives I would have seen on my dream trip, but the dream me was very excited.  I remember thinking in my dream, too, that I would finally be ahead of Rsaloust in the amount of winnings.  I was choked up when I awoke and realized that I was not going to the Maldives after all.

Obviously this is a sign that I will win again soon and that I just need to get busy entering more contests!

Thus, here are my latest entries.  On March 21:

  • Entered to win a $1000 HBC gift card on this supper recipe website.  This would solve my need for a new duvet set for sure!  Plus, I would finally get a food processor, so I would be able to make one of my favourite dishes more often.
  • Entered a contest on Today’s Parent for a $150 H&M gift card.  If the clothes are for kids, I have many friends whose kids might be interested in gettign this gift card.
  • Entered to win tickets to the Vancouver Aquarium’s Immersion event on Miss 604.  I haven’t been to the aquarium in years!
  • Also on Miss 604, I entered to win a gift package from Morgan Crossing, a new development that I pass by quite often.  I really like going to Mink Chocolates and I had no idea they opened a new location in Surrey.  
  • Again on Miss 604, I entered to win a chocolate fondue and champagne in 900 West Lounge, valued at $150.
  • I entered for an iPad on a pet food site.
  • Also on the Nutrience site, I entered to win Ivan free food for a year.  Actually the iPad is for Ivan too.  I heard they have cat games on it and Ivan’s declawed so he wouldn’t scratch the screen.
  • Some Rimmel Mascara from Elle.  I can’t wear eye makeup anymore but my sister might like this.
  • I also entered to win a $135 Ecco Latakia bag from Elle.  I really like that bag.

On April 4:

  • Entered the Flare magazine contest to win a $500 beauty pack.
  • I also entered to win a coffee machine.  I like the smell of coffee and I like shiny things, so this would be a nice addition to my mom’s kitchen counter (I also love making my mom happy).

On April 13:

  • Entered to win a $500 Holt Renfew gift card.  When I was in university and tried to browse through their store to see what the fuss was all about, they hassled me.  It would be nice to go back, use their gift card and show them who’s who now.  Take that.
  • I then entered Miss 604’s patio contest.
  • I entered Miss 604’s other contest, for a stay at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa.

On June 13:

      My Review of Blue Valentine

      Movie Prizes, , , , , ,

      After many days of doing other “delightful tasks,” I finally sat down and watched Blue Valentine. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, given that all I knew was the movie was “critically acclaimed” and the DVD cover has Michelle Williams (Cindy) and Ryan Gosling (Dean) looking lovingly at one another. It turned out I was in for a very emotional cinematic ride.

      The movie intercuts the early days of Cindy and Dean’s relationship with their present day relationship. The former depiction is that of a passionate and tender pair who are a delight to watch. The best scene in the movie involves the two displaying their hidden talents. According to director Derek Cianfrance, this scene was entirely improvised, with the actors really showing each other their hidden talents for the first time. It looks very natural and the joy of their respective discoveries is incredibly palpable.

       

      Juxtaposing the youthful enthusiasm and joyous love of this pair with the embittered and pained duo we see years later is almost a cruelty to the eyes and heart. We don’t see the degeneration of the relationship, but we can guess what has taken place and how Cindy and Dean have grown apart.

       

      I won’t reveal more than this, as it is easy to give away too much in describing this film. Suffice it to say, that I was hugely impressed by Blue Valentine. Williams and Gosling give fantastic performances and the dialogue is incredibly real. It is not an easy movie to watch for two reasons, though. First, its realism has a bluntness and in-your-face quality that is almost confrontational. It’s like Cianfrance is challenging his audience to examine their own relationships; to juxtapose in their own minds what they were like when they first met their significant other and how they interact with that same person now. Second, the film is also very honest about the sexuality of its characters and it depicts their physical interactions with the same unrelenting boldness it does all their other interactions. The film was originally given an NC-17 rating, but had it reduced to an “R.” That said, the sex scenes are in no way gratuitous. I didn’t find them offensive in any way and thought they were integral to the story.

       

      So, given all I’ve just written, I think it’s clear that this movie is not for the You’ve Got Mail/Bridget Jones’ Diary fans. However, if realism, rather than escapism is what you’re in the mood for give Blue Valentine a shot, though maybe not on Valentine’s Day.

       

      *So, where am I at in my winning streak? For those of you keeping score, I have won five prizes so far: Tickets to the Talking Stick Festival; Passes to West is West, $100 worth of Dutch cheese; Tickets to an International Dance Day performance; and passes to Something Borrowed, a regular popcorn, and a DVD of Blue Valentine. The approximate total of my winnings is $282.24. I should mention that I have won a $5 off coupon to East Side Mario’s, a free Tim Horton’s coffee with Roll up the Rim, and other percentage off coupons, but I am not counting those, as I don’t really consider coupons a prize and, well, I had to buy a tea to get the cup to roll up the rim, so yeah, that doesn’t count either. I’m quite happy that I’ve basically won one prize a month since I started, so here’s hoping for an even bigger win this month!

      Something Borrowed

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      How I ended up watching Something Borrowed:

       

      As I mentioned in my last post, I was happy to receive two passes to A Wake, courtesy of The Georgia Straight. Unfortunately, the movie’s run ended prior to my win. So, the paper kindly rectified the situation by giving me two passes to Something Borrowed, a free regular popcorn, and a DVD of Blue Valentine, about which I will write a review in a future post. I was really happy about this because I wanted to see a movie about a wedding this year, as my brother is getting married in September and I’m feeling a bit sentimental these days.

       

      In any case, I dragged my husband to the movie, as none of my friends were able to make it on such short notice. I did feel slight pangs of guilt as I knew chick flicks were not our usual movie-going fare. Yet, we enjoyed the convoluted plot; the shameless Heineken product placement; and the Tom Cruise clone that is Colin Egglesfield. I think, on my own, I wouldn’t have laughed out loud. So, I guess what I’m saying is that my husband, 15 years after I met him, is still my pal.

       

      Win tickets to Something Borrowed or watch it when it comes on T.V. Spending money on it is probably not a good idea. However, spending a Thursday night with someone you love definitely is.

      Win #5! Run of engagement passes to A Wake

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      A couple of days after I won tickets to “Taking Your Experience for Mine” I was notified by The Georgia Straight that I had won two run of engagement passes to A Wake.

      I was delighted to win tickets to this particular movie because it is loosely based on Hamlet, my favourite Shakespeare play. I have watched every version and seen every performance I could ever since I first read it at age 17. I’m very much looking forward to seeing it at Fifth Avenue Cinemas, as the place has special significance for my husband and I, as we shared our first kiss outside the theatre.

       

      Stay posted for my review in the coming weeks.

      International Dance Day – “Taking Your Experience for Mine”

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      Luck seems to be on my side lately as I have won my fourth prize since I began this blog back in January! I entered to win tickets to the April 29th show of “Taking Your Experience for Mine“, a dance performance that was part of International Dance Day.

      I entered this particular contest because I wanted to see my first modern dance performance live. Also, I must confess that I am a terrible dancer and have great admiration for anyone who can use their body expressively, rather than clumsily.

      The basis for Taking Your Experience for Mine was described as follows in the program:

       

      “Throughout the creative process I have explored many questions surrounding the relationship between the body and technology. Is there a new language? Is the renegotiation of skill being forced upon our state of being? What will happen if we always connect through a device? If we are always collecting and deflecting information in such an obsessive manner how long before it becomes part of our neural make-up?” (Sara Coffin, choreographer and director)

       

      I think choreographer Sara Coffin effectively presented these questions. I was especially struck by a couple of sequences in the performance. In the first, two dancers move to the music, pausing to photograph their actions and facial expressions. I was reminded of the film Shadow of the Vampire when the fictionalized F. W. Murnau asserts that if something is not on film it does not exist. Also, I have often thought that one can get so wrapped up in photographing an event that the enjoyment of the moment becomes lost in the desire to commemorate it.

       

      The second sequence that struck me was when one performer was watching a series of film clips on a T.V. and was describing what was happening while the other performer tried to dance in response to what she heard. I think technology does manipulate us and we will inevitably struggle to keep up.

       

      All in all, the evening was very enjoyable and thought-provoking. The reception canapes were also delicious. I’m certain that this will be the first of many modern dance performances I will see.

      The Contests

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      Yet again, dear readers, I come before you with a list of contests I have hoped to win over the past few weeks.  Some of those I would most like to win include: free yogurt for a year; a trip to York for two; and tickets to see the Canucks work their magic!  Wish me luck in April!  I will be back with photos of $100 worth of cheese next week.

      March 14th
      -win Ingledew’s shoes
      -Ultimate Canucks Night Out Contest
      -Win tickets to the Canucks for you and seven friends

       

      -Win passes to the Vancouver Aquarium to experience the New Amazon Gallery!

      -You could win a Riverdance Touch of the Irish Evening!

       

      -Whistler/Blackcomb during the TELUS World Ski & snowboard Festival – April 15th-24th

       

      -Win one pair of free Movie Tickets to see any movie of your choice!

       

      -Win A 2011 Scion TC Valued At $26,400!

       

      -Win free Yogurt for a Year!

       

      -Win $500 and a Winter Make-up Survival Kit

       

      March 15th

       

      -Win A $500 Credit Towards The Purchase Of A New 2011 Norco Bicycle!
      -Win A $1,000 Travel Voucher!
      -Win An Aluratek 12″ Digital Photo Frame!
      -Win 1 Of 5 Marshalls Gift Packs Valued At $272 Each!
      -Win A 2-night Trip For 2 To The Big Race In Indianapolis!
      -Fairmont Hotel prize packages
      -Win tickets to the season opener of the Vancouver Whitecaps

       

      March17th

       

      -Win A 2-night Trip For 4 To Toronto, Valued At $5,500!
      -Win A 6-night Trip For 2 To London And Paris, Valued At $6,500!
      -Win A Trip For 2 To Hong Kong And Macau Valued At $3,061!
      -Win A $100 Layla Grayce Gift Card!
      -Win 1 Life Choices Product Per Week For A Period Of 52 Weeks!

       

      March 18th

       

      -Shops at Morgan Crossing Giveaway
      -Win 1 Of 2 Trips For 2 To Great Britain Valued At $7,000 Each!
      -Win $10,000 Cash!
      -Win The Ultimate Mars Needs Moms IMAX 3D Prize Pack Valued At Over $2,000!
      -Win An Amazing Yves Rocher Prize Pack!
      -VIP getaway to the Bahamas
      -WIN the Ultimate Guys Weekend at the Vancouver International Auto Show! –
      -Enter for your chance to win a $1000 Gift Card at EB Games!!
      -HomeOutfitters Patio Contest
      -APRIL WIN WITH FLARE CONTEST

       

      March 19th

       

      -Win Canucks tickets (mail-in to Now newspapers)

       

      March 20th

       

      -Win tickets to Evelyn Strange

      -Win a kayak in Deep Cove experience with Adera Home

      -Win a $40 1-hr Private Golf Lesson from @theKooperz & @VanCityBuzz

      March 22nd

       

      -I entered to win tickets to #Immersion @VanAqua from @Miss604

       

      -I entered to win tickets for @scala_kolacny at the Commodore April 7th via @VancityBuzz & @LiveNationWest

       

      -Scala & Kolacny Brothers in Vancouver

       

      March 23, 2011

       

      -Vancouver Police Museum Bootleggers’ Ball
      March 24th

       

      -Win tickets to this year’s False-o-Ween, a straight up Halloween Party on April Fools Day

       

      -Win a run-of-engagement pass to see Red Riding Hood –

       

      -Win the Oscar-winning film The Fighter on DVD
      -Win a $10,000 shopping spree with SSense

       

      March 26th

       

      -Win a $100 dinner for 2 at a Dining Out for Life restaurant of your choice

       

      -10 Chances to Win Free Movies for a Year; Win $1000 cash

       

      -Win free gas!  Plus 10 chances to win $1000 cash – Esso Customer Satisfaction Survey

       

      -Celebrate the 14th annual Golden Plates by winning an exclusive getaway from the Loden Hotel
      -Enter to win a double pass to a private invite-only event at the Fairmont on April 12 plus a copy of Colin James’ new album, Take It From The Top: The Best Of

      -I entered to win a #KokaneeMountainCan prize pack from @Miss604

      -JC Dance Co at The Dance Centre (Discover Dance! Noon Series)

       

      March 27th

       

      -Win one of 10 pairs of tickets to opening night of Fiddler on the Roof! –

       

      March 28th

       

      -I entered to win tickets to see @Strombo film his show in #Vancouver from @miss604

       

      -Preston Mobility Blackberry Playbook Giveaway!

       

      -the 24 Hours Read and Win Contest (daily entries)

       

      March 29th

       

      -Win Four Tickets to Video Games Live at The Centre of Performing Arts

       

      -The Kit and Clarins’ Right Look Age Contest

       

      March 31st

       

      -a family pass to Maplewood Farm
      -I entered Win a 2-Person dinner at Sushi Vancouver via @theKooperz & @VancityBuzz
      -Win Fair Game on DVD
      -Win A $100 Nail Polish Shopping Spree!
      -Win A BodyRock Sport Outfit!
      -Win A Photo Session for your pooch
      -Enter To Win A Gift Set From Dermalogica And FITE!
      -Win A $100 Gift Certificate To GlowingBeauty.ca!
      -Win A Week Long Trip To York For 2 Worth $5,000!
      -Win A $50 Husky gift card

       

      April 4th

       

      -Told @hummingbird604 my favorite ballet piece for a chance to win tickets to @BalletBC 25 anniversary. What’s yours?

       

      -I Entered to win 1 of 2 $50 gc’s to @OysterVancouver From @VancityBuzz & @Cwistal

      My Review of West is West

      Movie Prizes, , , , ,

      Thursday night I enjoyed my second win of the year and went to see an advanced screening of West is West, courtesy of The Vancouver Sun.  West is West is the sequel to the 1999 film, East is East.  In the first film, we meet George Khan and his large family.  Khan is a Pakistani Muslim who came to England, married Ella, and had seven children with her.  That film deals with the culture clash between George and his children who rebel against his traditional values and attempts to arrange their marriages.

      In West is West, we see the Khans four years later.  Their youngest son, Sajid, is being taunted and bullied at school for being Pakistani.  He responds by denying his heritage and hurling insults at his father, who still wants to instil traditional values into the last of his children.  George Khan takes his son to Pakistan in an attempt to teach him what it means to be Pakistani.  However, Sajid is not the only one who ends up struggling with questions about cultural identity.

       

      I must admit I liked West is West better than the original film.  I found the darker elements of East is East difficult to watch and thought of George Khan as truly unlikeable character.  Yet, in the sequel, he is portrayed in a much more complex way and it is easy to feel sympathy for him, rather than just dislike.  The film is also very funny at times and that makes up for some cliche moments that occur.   I would recommend all of you check it out, especially on a grey day that needs some brightening.

       

      Official movie site: http://westiswest.com/

      I Won $100 Worth of Cheese!

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      Today, as I was working diligently on curriculum development, I received a phone call from the Holland Shopping Center.”Hello, you have won $100 worth of cheese,” a friendly voice said. The grey day outside suddenly seemed brighter and the month of March a little less dreary. I remembered lamenting to my mother only a couple of days ago that I guess I hadn’t won the draw prize from one of our favourite shops. Both of us were very delighted and surprised to find out I was wrong.

       

      The Holland Shopping Center is an oasis for those of us with Dutch heritage who yearn for the kind of products we only tend to see on the rare occasions when we get back to The Netherlands. They have products that go far beyond wooden shoes: high quality dish clothes, blue and white tiles, liquorice both salty and sweet varieties, stroop waffles, and, of course, cheese!

       

      After getting over my initial excitement, I realized that I must have a Dutch cheese party and include my competitor. I will be happy to watch her enjoy some cheese, even if she is tempted to pair it with whine. Just kidding, M.

       

      So, watch this space for cheese photos in the weeks to come and my review of West is West later this week.

       

       

       

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      2nd Win for Rsaloust!

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      I am very pleased to have won two tickets to an advance screening of West is West at Tinseltown, courtesy of The Vancouver Sun! I really wanted to see this movie because I enjoyed East is East, so much. West is West is its sequel. I will be attending the screening with my husband on March 24th, so I promise all of you a detailed movie review soon after.

      The approximate retail value of the prize is $25.00. My current total winnings is now: $89.50. This win has definitely made my month!