Chloe is currently in Grade 2 and besides her school friends - we also make sure she has friend from other schools. And since she is taking up so many extra-curricular classes, it is inevitable to be asked out for play dates and vice versa. But my play dates usually involves the mommies as well - that way moms can get together and eat, chat and drink - and most importantly relax. Thank God for electric grills , because we can grill just about anything for everyone. So everyone brings whatever they want to feed their kids and just throw it onto the grills I have and it’s that easy. I make lots of ice lemon tea and lemonade for the kids - and for us mommies - I add in a bit of my special liquor - like the cranberry ones that I bought locally from Lunenburg. My play dates are always a hit - because we have the trampoline - the swings and those big inflated castles for the kids to bounce and slide.

Chinese New Year’s goodies started coming for me and Chloe from all over the world. Friends from United States, Montreal, Toronto and all the way from Australia - came for us - the last 2 weeks and I haven’t had the chance to post it up on my food blog - but I’ve started stuffing my face with them of course. Chloe doesn’t know how to enjoy it yet - and PB - he wanted me to have more of them - so that I can get my fill and don’t feel so home sick. I thought no one makes these pineapple tarts that my mom makes but I was wrong - someone did and it looks almost like the ones my mom bakes every year during Chinese New Year when I was a kid. These pineapple tarts are so good - they are very expensive - so I’m eating them slowly and enjoying every bit of it. I already got some weight loss pills because I know I’m going to put on so much weight - from all the goodies that I’ve received. But hell if anything is going to stop me from eating them! hahah!

Chloe is a fish eater - but she refuses to eat salmon because it is not white in color. We all know that salmon is the best kind of fish to eat and I won’t fry the salmon - because I don’t like frying. I usually bake my fish - and wished she would eat some good fish instead of fish and chips. But nope - she refuses to eat my baked salmon - but when we order fish and chips - no problems at all - in fact - these days she eats more fish - than she did a year ago. What a strange little girl right?

So I was asked are picky eaters born or brought up to be one? We were invited to a birthday party today - and as usual - as m uch as the kid loves to go to parties - she refuses to eat anything at the party. Usually the parents would have fruits, pizza and pop for the party - even during chloe’s own birthday party - we had pizzas, chicken wings, fruits, chips but as usual - she won’t eat them.

The expert said that picky eaters are raised that way because of their parents but I can tell you that’s not true - in our household. We’ve encouraged and asked her to try everything and even bribe her to try new food - but nope - no way even if her life depended on it. So when I read on Parents Today while looking at some term life insurance quotes that picky eaters were made to be one - I cannot but shake my head - if only they knew how we’ve tried all ways to get Chloe to try all sorts of food. *sigh* - so for those parents like myself - don’t feel bad when you read the same article - i know it .. and you know it.

By now - you all know that I have a very fussy eater on hand. Unfortunately, for us - the school do not seems to understand how fussy our lil’ brat is - therefore, we try to order lunches for chloe from school - when we see something that she might eat. And if she doesn’t - we hope the teacher will see it and understand why we have to make a trip to school everyday to bring her food.

So this week, they had ham and pancakes but Chloe only ate like half a pancake for lunch - that’s not good at all but at least she was honest about it and told us the truth about how much she ate. Anyhow, PB was joking that no more lunches from school - that way he doesn’t have to give up his Padron for the brat’s lunch. But seriously, I’m not gonna fret about it - i used to - but for now - i’m just gonna count my blessings and be glad she is eating fruits - tofu, noodles and rice.

We were invited by the Zhu’s for their son’s one month celebration tonite. We left at 7.30pm from the store.. and already there were a few ppl there. The Zhu’s are very popular ppl eh.. and we are indeed blessed to have them as friends. Jasmine on the far left.. is another friend’s daughter - she is definitely getting prettier each time i see her. It’s too bad we don’t see her as often. And Jessica - of course is so sweet.

I was so excited .. i forgot all about taking pictures of the food and my diet pill reviews .. hahahha!! to engross talking with everyone.. and watching the 3 gals play.

There is Mrs Zhu - Yen - and a friend/customer.. and Mrs Zhu looking very radiant. I salute this woman.. because she worked in the restaurant till the day .. she had her baby .. and all thru’ her labour.. she didn’t make a noise. Very tough lady!

Regular customer - Mike and his wife turned friends were also in the party of course. This couple is very sporting.. and very, very kind.

We had a feast..! got lobsters too..!!!! and roasted pork ribs.. and vegies with mushrooms.. noodles.. rice.. chicken, duck .. and other things too. It was pretty good.. but i already had dinner.. so i took a lil’ of everything. The dinner ended at 10pm.. but chloe was very happy .. running around with the other children.. and thankful for good friends, good food .. and good company.

Barb is a truly good friend ..!! one cannot ask for more in a friend.. ! she knows how much i miss home and the food from home… and she thinks of me. .everytime she goes shopping .. and then her hubby, Andy is someone i really respect (reason/s I cannot tell here), he would go and send stuff out to me. She not only think of me. .but always thinks of Chloe and send encouragement to me .. and never ever intrude when i am busy. It’s hard to find someone who gives so much but never ask for anything.. and for that i’m truly blessed and grateful for her friendship. Even though we haven’t been friends as long as other bloggers, she truly has rise above the call of being a friend. Thank you .. Barb for your friendship .. bless your kind heart.

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… !!

Well.. !!! Christmas came early for me.. as you can see… woohoo..!!! Check out who sent me this package and what is in it .. on my food blog. You will love it..!! and i’m forever grateful to this wonderful person and her spouse. Can you make a guess who sent it..?? I bet she will do the same for you too.. if you ask her to. She is just an awesome person.. and not the first time sending stuff to me. Blogging is awesome..!!! i met so many wonderful friends online.

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

Every year during Christmas we really try and give gifts that mean something to everyone, not just any gift we pick up randomly. But we all know it’s hard to pick gifts for just about everyone.. so to make things easy.. we pick a theme each year. This year we are going nuts about Christmas, so friends and family can expect nuts & chocolates (a little) for Christmas, after all, who doesn’t like nuts and chocolates?

Finding a place with a variety to choose from and who promptly delivers our good wishes with those christmas nuts is important. I want to be able to get the man to do all the online shopping with me. I know he will be more than happy to shop online rather than follow me to the mall and fight with tons of people who are also trying to do their Christmas shopping, with screaming kids in the hallway. Or fight with the weather and try mail them out for me. And worrying whether they will arrive on time.

Anyhow, this year we are shopping smart at ohnuts.com, you can place your orders online or call them by phone if you don’t want to use internet payments for whatever reason. You get to track your orders and know exactly when your gift is arriving. You don’t have to worry about damaged goods because they believe in giving the best to their customers. Go nuts like us this Christmas, the hassle free way.

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.

A staunch believer of teaching them young, I try to let Chloe helped in housework.. cooking and even cutting of corns when i am cooking. It is actually so much fun.. seeing her so enthusiastic in helping. .and doing it right. It need not be a big thing, it can be just anything any mummy wanna do with their kid. It certainly makes her feel really good about herself.. that she helped me.

As you can see .. she is helping me dry up the potatoes and carrots.. and that itself to me.. is awesome. I like having her do stuff with me. Earlier on.. i had to do dishes.. so i let her wash her bottles, just by her scrubbing them with bubbles. She didn’t really washed it.. but you get what i mean eh.

There you go, here’s our pot of home made beef stew in slow cooker .. all ready to eat . .and for lunch the next day. And yes.. i let her put in the onion mix.. and turn on the tap for me.. to boil water.. and let her close the lid and turn on the slow cooker. And she was an awesome helper..! Teach them young. .and you will never have problems.. making them do stuff at home.. that was what my grandmother said.

You’ll be surprised that although I am in Canada.. i still get to watch my chinese tvb shows such as Moonlight resonance as soon as they come out on tv. Truth be told.. if it wasn’t because of being able to watch these shows.. i would definitely have to go back to Asia for good. Moonlight resonance is the latest i’ve been watching so far. Check out .. my entertainment site for more news on it. I’ve also been watching an eating show .. called Chua’s Choice. it is such an awesome food show.. all foodies mustn’t missed it.

For those who knows our brat .. Chloe.. you would know that we have a hard time feeding her any food .. or any new food. She eats noodles, rice and tofu .. and lots of corn.. and that’s it. She refuses to eat any kind meat.. but would eat luncheon meat. She would eat fish.. but not baked fish.

When we go up the city.. it is very hard to get her to eat anything. She would eat fries .. and nothing else. Very worried.. we packed things for her to eat .. when we are on the road. But on Saturday .. last week.. she ate something.. that we had been trying to get her to eat.. to make it easier for us.. when we are on trips. Wanna check it out..?? Click here.

There are awesome ppl here in Yarmouth .. although we have had our fair shares of not so good ones too. But today .. we received a huge box of goodies that the brat loves so much . . and we are forever grateful to our customer for bringing it back for us from Halifax. Can you guessed what we had..?? You can’t imagine what this simple food can do to someone who misses home so much.. and so very deprived of food from home. Check it out here.

My first Tim Hortons coffee after 3.5 weeks. Ahhhh..!!! bliss..!! I had my first surgery to remove my fibroids.. and had a hysterectomy in the meantime. But a week after surgery.. i had to go into the hospital again.. for an emergency laparoscopic surgery. Now the second surgery was more a shocking one.. because we didn’t know what was happening and threw my recovery time backwards instead of forward.. which by the way . .. i resent deeply.

Anyhow.. i hope this is all behind me now.. and i’m aiming to bring my weight down to 59kg.. !! wish me luck.. eh..! I haven’t started journaling my operation yet.. but i will as soon as i feel better. All of you should watch out for it.. because i have very graphic pictures.. and only one person had seen it so far. Check with Barb.. how gross it is.. if you want. When i am done writing my experience.. i’ll let you know where my health blog is. But you can also visit my food blog in the meantime.. and drop a comment.. Ice Cube Junkie

Ever seen a white chick cooking with a pair of chopsticks..??? i bet not too many people has..eh..? Well.. here she is.. !!! super duper.. 100% white chick.. with chopsticks. If you are wondering who she is.. she is Keegan.. my brat’s babysitter. Yes .. she can maneuver the chopsticks pretty well eh. She was actually playing with the brat.. about hair .. i think.. when i asked her to come help me.. with the stirring.. so that i can washed the dishes. Pretty cool eh..??

I’m sure by now .. all of you know that the brat is hard to feed. And like any good mummies.. i too worry sick.. because of her no intake of meat. If she can.. she would try all sorts of nonsense just not to eat that meat.. that she had already been chewing in her mouth. Lucky for us, she developed a liking for tofu, yogurt and milk. With these substitutes i think it is ok.. that she doesn’t like meat that much. What do you give your kids.. when they don’t want to eat certain food..??

While others have birthday cakes for their birthday.. my mother-in-law baked me a coconut cream pie instead, plus got candles some more ok..! They even sang me a birthday song. My birthday.. was like a week ago.. but they still remembered.. and did something special for me. Thank you .. Mum..! yer the best..!