The weather still isn’t that bad for us here .. right now.. but come January and February.. where we are hit worst during the winter months that’s when everyone in Canada wants to get outta the cold .. for some warmth and sun. Like any smart women, we try to get the best vacation deal for the entire family. And what better deals than the All inclusive family vacations.

Lovely beaches and gourmet food and all kinds of water sports - stress free time for yourself and your entire family. Choose to have candle-light dinners for 2 .. or go with the entire family for bbqs and grills. They have so much to offer.. sometimes, i wished we had more time on the island. Check it out yourself.

I received this message on my expat blog profile, but helen, i’m unable to reply because you have not email address. You can write to me.. on my contact on this blog, else you can leave a comment here. Migrating is a huge thing, I’ve been thru’ it. .and I want to help as much as possible. I’m no expert.. but can only share my experiences with others. For those who are thinking of migrating.. feel free to ask me any questions. So Helen .. contact me.. because you need to.. ! I usually do not post your questions here.. but since you are 3 months pregnant.. it’s important.. that we speak quickly.

Hi, I am a Singaporean, applying for Canada immigration now. Just got the medical exam done. I am currently 3 months pregnant. Can you advise me on whether go Canada and deliver, or deliver in Singapore then go Canada? What are the charges if I deliver in Canada? Thanks.
by Helen on 01/07/2009 at 21:10:42

I received this package last week … but because of the storm and more bad weather.. we didn’t get to the post office till this week. All the way from Malaysia.. from a blogging friend.. that I’ve known since I started blogging. Thank you so much Wang Tai Tai aka Bookworm.. yer the best..!! Thank you for making my Christmas wish come true. Now i can have some more Scallops with sambal. I sent PB to get me some more scallops tonite.. mmmmmmm… !!

My heart warms on this cold snowy day even though we just had a blizzard last nite. But thankfully we didn’t lose power this time. It arrived at the post office before the storm but we were unable to get there in time. It came from Australia, from blogging friend - Charmaine Wan. Yes!!! All the way from Australia, as she had promised. I cannot be more grateful because all I wanted was a package of Sambal Tumis, but she sent so much more. How can I repay you Charmaine??

With a Christmas card as well, and the “ang moh” is called “Chris” kekeke!!

Nicely wrapped in Christmas wrappers.

In two ziplog bags.

And all these goodies inside. Not only Sambal Tumis, but also curry chicken, nasi lemak paste with assam fish and Lee Kum Kee black bean chicken. Thank you so much, Charmaine! First the pictures you sent for my quest to show Chloe the world and now these *hug* you have a heart of gold. I’ve gained so much from blogging and I’m forever grateful for all the kindness shown to me. Thank you Charmaine! God Bless You!

PS: I will update later on other packages that came in this week. Thank you all.

Today, I received a comment on this blog from Cooknengr .. and knowing that he normally doesn’t comment.. i took a quick look at it.. to find out the most awesome news . . he can give me to rejoice and end 2008 with a lot of laughter and joy. You see love can happen online .. but it has to be .. like FF & Cooknengr who came to know each other online .. and work hard on their relationship… and finally tying the knot. I’m truly happy for them and proud of them for overcoming so many obstacles together to get where they are right now. Unlike some that i’ve met/seen online .. or those i know personally in this town. .where folks jump into a relationship without even knowing anything about the other person. Some I know pack and move to another country .. without planning or knowing what they are getting themselves into (Kahwin cowboy type). Unfortunately, i cannot call that love . .and in fact disapprove of it myself.

Love comes in different form. . but love needs a strong foundation. Without that strong foundation and understanding of each other, the cultural differences, you are just aiming for break up… in the future. May not be near. .but it will come. So yes.. you can find love online.. but like i said.. in any kind of relationship.. it’s an uphill task.. what more a marriage.. a relationship so in such close proximity. One needs to know not only the good .. but the bad.. and be able to accept it.. and lived with it. So here’s to FF & Cooknengr..!!! A happy and blissful marriage .. and everlasting love to 2 very adventurous bloggers that I’ve come to know for a long time. Both of you really, really made me so happy for you and boy..!! can you two keep a secret..!!!!!

Here’s the beautiful couple! I stole the picture from the groom’s website.

The groom had kindly sent the official picture last nite.

PS: Please join me in wishing the Princess from Primrose - a blissful marriage as well.. for she too got married..!!! woohoo..!!! oh you wonderful gals.. deserves the best..!!! I’m happy for you too.. Princess.

I used to work in the hotel industry and as someone who was in charge of the Front Office and the Concierge department plus the Business Center of one of the most reputable hotel in Asia. It is no easy feat, I’ll have to tell you and with 1000s of in house guests and convention ones in the hotel daily, we have many request for concert tickets on ad-hoc basis and some very demanding guests.

My boss said my middle name was “efficient” and I didn’t earned that name for nothing. But what my boss don’t know was I depended on the folks at TicketFeeder for all my event tickets and those that were sold out. They are opened 24/7 and had the largest database for any kind of tickets. Whether you need sport tickets, concert tickets or even theater tickets, if it is anyone you can depend on .. it had to be them. They even help you to locate the best seats for your guests, your customers or even family.

Whether you are a Front Office Manager in a hotel like I was or only owner by association to your spouse’s business or a personal assistant to the CEO, ticketfeeder.com is a site i would bookmark and be known as “Ms Efficient” by your bosses or your spouse. The folks at TicketFeeders are professionals, their event tickets are genuine and there is absolutely no hassle working with them.

Many people are amused and fascinated when they learn that PB and I actually met on the internet some 14 yrs ago. They often ask me whether online relationships work? In which I reply that Yes, they can, but like in any relationship you have to have a very strong foundation. Like any relationship, online relationships are no different from a buddy introducing you to another, and then it’s up to you to work on it and find out if the person is suitable for being a friend, or more. Find local singles on localmatch.com, you can make new friends who share similar interests with you. But like I said, don’t expect to be swept off your feet, have realistic expectations and go into any kind of relationship with not only your heart but your brains too.

I don’t know if it’s a growing older thing or what, but I sometimes cannot help but think of my university friends that I’ve lost contact with. Each time I travel to the United States I’d always take up the phone book and try looking for them but to no avail. For some I still do have their old phone numbers but I can’t seem to locate them in order to keep in touch. By using a phone number lookup which is nationwide and guarantees you more success than any other online site, you will be able to locate a person even if all you have is a cell phone number. Looking for a long lost friend or relative is no longer such a huge task anymore.

I’m gonna leave this post right on top till Christmas.

My Christmas wish for this year from friends from all over the world is to get sent a packet of Tean’s Sambal Tumis. Just one .. not two .. not three.. just ONE..!! No obligations of course.. but I just want to see how many blogging friends and friends from home would do it for me.. hehhehee!!! just experimenting. Plus i do really like it lah.. since Barb from ChumsyAshley sent them to me .. in early May this year. .and i cooked it like last week.. and died and went to heaven.. muahahhaa!!! check out icecubejunkie.com for the Sambal Scallops that i cooked.

PS : Ok.. now you are probably wondering.. where to send to right..?? no.. i didn’t forget. This is my addy : 298 Main Street, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, B5A 1E4

Christmas is just round the corner and if you know me and PB well, you know that we are master procrastinators when it comes to Christmas gift shopping. Not that we hate shopping or Christmas, it’s because we own our own business and like everywhere else in the world Christmas is the busiest time for us. Since we have lots friends in the United States, it is the season of giving and showing love even though we are so far away and unable to be together.

As far as I know no one refuses Christmas chocolate gifts, even those who are allergic to chocolate. After all if they can’t eat it, they can always share it with someone in the family or party/gathering during this holiday season. With such a large selection to choose from one should have no problem picking up a gift online for the extended family or business associates. What I like best about Oh! Nuts is that they are Kosher, and for those who are not sure what it means, it is food that’s fit for consuming by your Muslim friends. I feel absolutely confident shopping for my Muslim friends here. I wish they shipped internationally, but at the moment I can only be content with sending these chocolates, dried fruits and nuts, to my friends in the States.

I can’t imagine relocating with kids tagging along. 8 yrs ago, when i moved here.. it wasn’t even planned.. yet it was already so much things i had to bring with me.. for a few months vacation. Little did i know that it would turn permanent. But my girlfriend, Lara and her husband and two kids, they relocated quite abit and if you are like them, you probably want to talk to mover NYC for a stressless move. But is there such as thing as a stressless move..?? I don’t really think so.. but if planning and help can lessen the load.. why not right..?? delegation is the key word.. according to moving professionals.. like my g/f .. Lara.

Today is Remembrance Day .. it is not a National Holiday in Canada .. although i cannot think of a better day to declare one. Remembrance Day didn’t mean a lot to me.. till Chloe went to school, afterall, the future generation should get to know of all the Canadian soldier who was stationed away from home and died to protect Canada. And what about those who are currently still in Iraq or Afghan, don’t they need to be remembered too..?? I am sure their family here in Canada is missing them. So for those who are in Canada.. do remember to tell your children.. what Remembrance Day means.

And to my Chloe.. Remembrance Day means.. “to remember the soldiers.. and those who died for us.” And that’s good enough for me.. from a 4.9 months old.

Skiing in Courchevel 1850, France, was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had. When I saw a blogging friend post pictures of it one day I was truly in awe and I cannot explain how happy and sad I was at the same time. Happy because it brought back many wonderful memories and sad because I truly miss traveling around the world. Those were the days.

Of course now that we are nearer to the States than France we can choose the various places in USA for our skiing trips. Telluride Ski Resort was pretty laid back and it has it’s own town where you can find everything you need… from food, lodging, shopping or any kind of outdoor activities you choose to do. The Gondolas are free to use and you just hop onto it and go to town anytime you want.

Lugging our ski equipment for our trip wasn’t really my ideal vacation and if you are like me and bringing the whole family along it only make sense to use Telluride ski rentals. They have the right fitting equipment, even boots, for you and your entire family or group of friends going for your trip; junior size are covered too. Making arrangement to have your ski equipment reserved or delivered is so easy, you can do it online or call them toll free. Rest assured that they really are the professionals and they come equipped to outfit you perfectly for your ski vacation. When you rent from Ski Butlers, customer service doesn’t end when you pay for the rental, they will also assist you with any technical problems you may encounter. Wherever you are, they offer the best and the latest ski equipment and their prices are quite reasonable by my standards. If you know me, I always go for the best deals.

For those who are new to this blog, you wouldn’t know that we run our own computer and entertainment store whereby we get asked a lot about gaming and online gaming tools/sites. Recommendations are always tricky but you know how I am, I like to re-direct people to the right, if you know what I mean. Online gaming can be fun and need not be addictive. I always tell everyone that online gaming is for the people who can game responsibly and sensibly.  I seriously do not recommend 24hrs gaming, take breaks and do other stuff in between.  I know of some people who do that and seriously, I do not agree with it no matter how interesting or how much there is at stake.

So when it comes to online gaming you want only the best, right?  A place where you can get real reviews from real people about their experiences with the different sites for the games you like or the games you want to try. A place that also provides a free training ground for blackjet players like myself who are new to the game but want to learn it.  No downloads needed and it comes with free advice and tips, I am sure anyone can get the hang of it quickly.  This gaming site is actually the brainchild of someone who enjoys gaming online as well, therefore he is able to identify what is useful for gamers like yourself.  Whether you are a US gamer, an international gamer or someone who needs instructions for different gaming rules, you will find this online gaming site interesting and full of news and features that you can benefit from. Have fun.. but remember gaming online is for those who can game responsibly.

We just had our Thanksgiving a few days ago .. and was invited for a baptism this year .. and a BBQ .. my favorite by Keegan’s parents. We felt we needed to be there for it .. because Keegan and her parents.. came for Chloe’s birthday .. even though we had the worst snow storm last year and had been always good to Chloe. Keegan’s mum always said.. that Chloe will always be family .. that was so nice. .and generous of them. We had a spread that day.. and it was fun.. Keegan’s dad even made me some steak.. but i already had too much. I should really steal some of their Thanksgiving recipes, that way .. i can make my Christmas dinner a success this year.

Save My Boys is about a mother trying to get her boys back from Lancaster’s County’s Children & Youth Agency. It is heartbreaking to me .. as a mother myself to hear stories like that .. and more so from someone that I’ve come to know and respect in the blogging community. Jenn from Jenn.nu is pleading for everyone to help her family, her mother lost her sons (who have special needs) and she a sister.. who was all willing to be legal guardian.. as promised by these social worker.. when they were taken away .. and then denied the rights.

As a mother or a parent, I am sure you can feel their anguished and their hopelessness .. but all is not lost.. because you can help. You can help by spreading the word around.. about this case. You can help by joining their FaceBook group and letting these people know that we know what is happening. If you are a parent, a brother, a sister.. or grandparents, you can help, by just dropping by Jenn’s blog or her mother’s and leave them some encouraging words.

You need not be a US citizen to help. The internet is a very powerful tool..!!! By creating awareness on your own blog and helping to spread the word is what you can do. HELP, PLEASE..!

I have many friends in the States that I keep in touch with constantly but I have a really bad habit of not carrying my little telephone book around with me. Of course those are the times when I want or need to call them. I kinda remember the numbers but most times I’m not sure or get them mixed up, so what better way then to use an online phone book search to make sure that the phone number really matches. It’s pretty easy to use and goes by the state they are in and it’s absolutely free.

This is Natalie from Seattle, Washington. In May, 2005, Natalie arrived from USA, a gift from blogging friend, Stef - a Singaporean married to an American. If you are wondering about Mrs Tweetyblog, this was the blog i started at blogspot when i first started blogging.. but had to shut down because of my chicken shit neighbour. Long story but if you want to hear about it, let me know.

Fast forward 3 years, Chloe is still playing with Natalie .. and carries her around. In the last few years, we’ve been blessed and touched by so many kind and generous people on the blogosphere. I cannot thank all of you for your gifts, kindness, kind words and taking an interest in our life. Thank you all for being a friend and thank you for reading everyday.