I don’t know if you noticed this but bloggers are not only good with food and eating them nor cooking them nor just sharing with you good restaurants and nooks – but they are   also a group of very tech savvy individuals.  Why do i say that?   – because amongst us bloggers – i found some who are great at online auction and able to get the best items – one can never find in ordinary stores.  Another food blogger i met recently is very artistic – and can draw and design websites.  Plus bloggers are great at introducing their online friends and businesses for them – from parent’s workshop to handmade stuff – the amount of business generated for these individual online entrepreneur is immensely successful.    So don’t under-estimate a blogger – because like some famous blogger said – they can make you or break you – i quote and unquote.  The online presence is much, much greater than you think – in fact – I myself am so proud of blogging – i am doing a t-shirt to be worn to identify myself as a blogger.  What say you?

So over the weekend I read about the big boo – ha around Asia – where some claimed that bloggers love to go out eating for free!  wow!!  awesome!!  but truth be told bloggers are very privileged people especially those in Asia.  Why?  they always get invited for food tasting and they have so many things going on for bloggers in Asia.  But it is not only food bloggers in Asia who gets all the attention but famous bloggers like Wendy Cheng aka Xia Xue gets to go on trips to UK and Kuala Lumpur for advertorial purposes too.  So yes! bloggers are very privileged group of people – we love the attention.

Someone asked me during the weekend if I too get free stuff and eat for free ?  or get invited for food tasting?  Yes I get all sorts of free stuff from snow globes to snowmean and even snow boots last year from my advertisers to try them out and give my honest opinions about it.  What else do I get?  bird feeders – snow jackets and mittens – kids snow boots and PB got a shoe one time from one advertiser as well – a $200 shoe sent to us all the way from USA.   Awesome much..??  can’t really asked for more being a blogger eh.  It’s all the fun ! and all the trying out new stuff.  As for food – yes ! i get paid to EAT!! and i make lots of friends from all over the world.  Did you know that food bloggers in our community sends me food all the time? well, not only food bloggers for me – fans of this blog – who turned into great friends.  If you don’t know by now – you should go back and read all my post – my chloe gets all sorts of dresses from all over – we never really have to buy anything for her.

Anyhow – I’ve been reading Lady Iron Chef’s blog for a long, long time now – and his blog was a finalist for the Nuffnang blog awards held last year.  I’ve even commented many a times before I had my own food blog and I know – he is not what they had reported him to be.   An advertorial with Brad I heard range from approximately $1K to $2K – so – you think he is so el cheapo to ask for free food ?  I sincerely don’t like the way Private Affairs PR handled the situation with the press  – food tasting definitely means – come for a complimentary meal.  Can you imagine – if my advertisers were to send me a snow boots for a free trial  – and only to be asked to pay for it – when it arrived in the mail or being charged to my credit card?  obviously Brad is right to be a wee bit upset – but he was gracious enough to pay for his friends’ meals.  This is definitely the first – i’ve heard a restaurant inviting you for a food tasting to be told you had to pay !  Quite the mis – handling if i may say and definitely the first !  so i applaud Wendy Cheng aka Xia Xue for standing up for Brad – good for her!  Once again – I have not seen or heard of any bloggers to take advantage of any situation nor advertisers – bloggers have an invisible code of ethics and we write what we really feel about the product we are testing/tasting.  I’m one privileged blogger myself and I’m grateful to be working with so many great advertisers and tasting food from all over the world despite the fact that I’m in a small town in Canada.

I’ve said this many times – but i’m saying it again – just in case some of you are new to my blog.  This blog or blogging has brought me so much joy – not only because of the gifts we’ve received throughout the years – but the many friendship I’ve made on this blog.  About 10 days ago – we received this package from Toronto from Jenn & Chapman from www.passion4food.ca &   http://thesportjunkie.com/ .  This young couple from Toronto drives a  BMW !!!  and have their own career plus they blog!   and this young couple just got engaged and getting married next year!

This is not the first time that Jenn had sent me food and gifts – she is a awesome and very kind gal – I can’t wait to crash her wedding next year.  Hopefully, Lina and Barb can come to Toronto for a meet up next year eh.

In this 10 Kg box – there are lots of goodies – food, spices and gifts for Chloe as well.  Chloe was so excited to open the box – she thought it was from her Auntie Kai Mah – muahahhahaha!!!

Lots of soft toys for chloe.

And a boxful of Hello Kitty stuff.

And lots of yummy marshmallows!!  she loved it!

She ate some of them immediately – luckily we waited till Chloe was feeling better before opening the box – hahhaha!!!

There were pork floss in the box and lots of cuttlefish snacks and plums !!  yummy!!

And LAKSA PASTE!!

Lots of gifts for Chloe!

Lovely pictures of Jenn and Chapman – that I’ve requested and they are up on my wall now.

Bracelet for chloe and her soft toys.  Thank you so much Jenn & Chapman!!  both of you are too kind!  we are so blessed!

I lived in many different countries for several years – due to school and work – and yes – my work previously brought me many travel opportunities and I’m very blessed because I’ve had some of the best bosses.  And because of my travel experiences in many different countries I get to see different things and appreciate where I grew up in and the kind of support one can get back home where health is concerned.

We’ve  all heard stories about how teenagers do drugs because of stress from school, work or home – but having traveled so much – you and I know,  it’s not only the teenagers who can have problems with drugs.  Is it more in the West than in the East – I don’t think so – because even in conservative Japan – I’ve seen people do drugs there.   Addiction counseling  and  rapid detox for opiates was the most common route I’ve seen people take – when they have a loved one fall prey to this health and emotional problem.

One can feel quite helpless when you see a loved one struggle with an addiction and many years ago, when you hear about detox – you think about cold turkey treatment but with Rapid Detox – you don’t have to suffer the way others used to.   I’ve heard it is also quite safe – in fact, you can phone in and ask any questions you may have of the treatment before signing up for it.  Financing is available, so take action right away and help your loved ones now  or if you have a know someone who has an addiction with Oxycontin, Heroin,Hydrocodone, Methadone, Suboxone, Subutex, Morphine, Fentanyl, Dialudid, Darvon, Demerol, Codeine, Norco, Oxycodone, Percodan, Percocet, Roxicodone, Suboxone, Tramadol, Vicodin, Tylenol 3 and Tylenol 4, and other opiate drugs.

Happiest Mother’s Day to women around the world !  today is your day!  Celebrate all the women that you have in your life as my blogging friend said and I quote :

Mother’s Day, to me, isn’t just for moms, it’s a day for all women everywhere, it’s a day to tell the women in your life, no matter the reason that they are in your life, to tell them that they mean something to you, are important, and are loved. – Ms Kat

Today, Ice Cube Junkie and I received our extended/new contract from one of my advertiser ! woohoo!!  2 years of working together seems to have come up quicker than expected but I must say – I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.   I met so many foodies thru’ this network and have been given so many opportunities and support to promote different kind of food that i’ve tried and tasted.  Food has always been my passion and when you’ve traveled to so many places – and eaten from all over the world – you tend to be quite picky at what you eat.

Nevertheless, I’m always keen to try different/new  food and since I need to cook a lot of food from home on my own – I try to share it here on my food blog – with those like myself who is away from home – as we don’t always get the ingredients that we want – therefore need to improvise.    And my advertiser/s make it possible for me to eat different kind of food and to buy different kind of ingredients to cook what  I want from home.  Not forgetting the many good people I’ve met along the way – as they have send me all sorts of food from around the world.  I have to tell you – I’m quite  famous with the post office and the post office staff, for i’m constantly getting packages (at least once a week if not more).     I not only get food/ingredients but all sorts of  things from all over the world – the friendship that I’ve found from this blog is priceless – and I couldn’t have done it without all my advertisers/sponsors.

So as I look forward to another 2 yrs with this advertiser – I thought I would share this good news with everyone and hope you continue to support Ice Cube Junkie & I.   It has been an awesome journey – having this food blog – and if you love food and a good movie – you’ve come to the right place.  I have many stories to tell you about food around this small town and it’s surrounding areas plus – not forgetting the food I cooked and improvised to survive in this small town.  For those who’ve been to Singapore – you will know what i mean because Singapore is a food paradise - now what was I thinking when i came here *roll eyes*. hahahah!!

PS :  Some friends just messaged me on FB and said i sound like I’m in love with my advertisers/sponsors – hahah!! but it’s true – they are so awesome to me – how can I not love them.  They really treat me very well!  I’m truly blessed lor!

Thank you everyone who’ve visited Ice Cube Junkie and followed my journey of food and movies synopsis.  This blog has hit 1 million and 54 visitors as of today – I thank you for your support and hope you continue to visit everyday.  For those who are in love with food and movies – you know you’ve come to the right place.  Thank you all for being a friend.

A few weeks ago while looking at some advert from  nordictrac,  a huge box from Body Shop came for me – PB asked if i ordered anything from Body Shop and I said no.  I was a bit surprised to – because the box was mailed from Canada and it was too early i thought for anyone to remember it was my birthday.

So I opened the box up and inside was a note to show me who the sender was – it was Barb, Ashley and her hubby Andy – who ordered it from a Canadian website for Body Shop.  So it wasn’t too early to think of me – in fact – Barb had it carefully planned so it arrived before my birthday.  They were shower cream and butter cream to help me relax – I’m guessing Barb thinks I am very stress.  So now whenever i use the shower cream – i will be smiling at the private joke I had with Barb and a few other friends on FB. *wink, wink* -  Thank you so much Barb/Andy and dear Ashley – you really didn’t have to spend so much money on me.  I already appreciate you for being you – and always the silent listener to my daily life.  Thank you for being such a great friend – Barb!

Jen my blogging friend is in China for 1.5 months – but she will be keeping her blogs updated even though she is gone – so I asked that if you have time – please give face .. and visit her blogs.. and leave comments..  even just to say hi.  You all know lah.. being new blogger – they need lots of encouragement and love right?  afterall, you were a new blogger once upon a time eh.  So come on – won’t cost you a a cent – to show some support .. just a few minutes of your time – and i promise she is a good read.   Don’t know her blogs ..??  here it is  :

http://charmoflife.ca/
http://charmoflife.ca/
http://tvdramaqueen.ca/
http://passion4food.ca/

The postman told me I must be very special – because I received the most parcels from all over the world.  As I typed right now – I have yet to collect another one from the post office.  I don’t know who sent me another present but it’s quite overwhelming when one keeps receiving and not the one giving.  Blogging friends from all over the world had been sending me care packages for years now – and this one is from Netherland – and I’m sure you all are no stranger to her because HN is the sweetest mom you can ever meet online.

Packages of noodles for Chloe as you can see here.

And a lovely, lovely ceramic doll from Netherland – so cute! chloe claimed it already – HN – hahhaha!!

All sorts of noodles from Veggie Kids – i bet they are a lot healthier – HN said I can cook it like the normal kind of noodles – i haven’t tried it yet but i’m dying to let chloe try them.   There is also a photo of HN’s kids – Sethy & Sophia – cute and most charming kids of hers.  Thank you .. HN..!! and thanks to your hubby for mailing it out for me – i know.. how we all depend on our hubs .. because we are not in our homeland.

Some ppl said that bloggers are ppl who has lots to say but no one to listen to – I think i started out blogging this way – hhahhaa!!  But blogging has brought me many valuable friends over the internet – and did you know I met my spouse online some 16 yrs ago?  Yes, yes !  we spoke online for 6 years before coming to Canada and the rest – as they said is history.

I’ve always loved making friends with new bloggers and some you know will turn out to be lifelong friends like Jen Cheung from Toronto.  Jen is a very young and pretty gal – who is not only fashionable but passionate – someone who dares to show you her true color as well as very, very good with her hands.

If you are a fan of this blog – please hop over and show some support to Jen’s blogs and you might find that there are some gems there – from food in toronto – to handicraft work/sale by Jen herself and of course – she also tells you all about her life and her preparation for her upcoming marriage.

Some of you may already know her but nevermind – still can hop over and say hello – leave comments – donch be shy – Jen donch bite.  These are her blogs :

http://charmoflove.ca/
http://passion4food.ca/
http://charmoflife.ca/

Thanks for your support – new fans get special treatment after saying hello and leaving comments on Jen’s blogs – *wink, wink* – your passport to passwords (donch say i didn’t share with you)

Jenny had sent this postcard all the way from Western Australia when she was on vacation – which i received a few weeks ago – but didn’t even have the time to post it up.    Wasn’t she sweet to think of us even when she was on vacation.  This blog has brought me many wonderful people from around the world and they are always so kind and thoughtful to us.   The postcard is of CApe Leeuwin Lighthouse – I haven’t been there but Jenny – we have lots of lighthouses here in Nova Scotia too – I haven’t been to all but there is one near our town – John’s Cove – another famous one is near the city called Peggy’s Cove.   The next time I’m in these places I’ll be thinking of Jenny too.   Thank you for your postcard – i show everyone who comes into our store – and they all think you are so kind.

Gong Hei Fatt Choy ! to everyone !  I’m sorry it took me so long to write up a post for you all.  This year’s Chinese New Year had been a really busy one – and i’m sure you already know that.  We had our first Chinese gathering with friends who have adopted Chinese kids from China and this was arranged by good friends Adele and Gerald who came to pick us up for the gathering and dinner and sent us home as well.  So even though I had to do a quick trim fast cleanse reviews I had to make sure i find time for them.

We also managed to do up a basket of oranges for the Zhu’s from the Chinese restaurant – sent out some gifts for Chloe’s Kai Mah – in Singapore and give our a few ang pows while we were at it.

I missed all the goodies from home but I know – blogging friend Jen from www.charmsoflove.ca will be sending some stuff to us from Toronto – so I’m not so homesick now.  How about all of you ..?? how did you make out this Chinese New Year ..?? did you win a lot on the mahjong tables..??  did you Low Hei yet..??

It was after Christmas and we were still receiving gifts  – this time from Hawaii !  Look how pleased Chloe was – and cannot wait to open it.  Julie who had just gotten married – took time to send a present not only for Chloe but me as well and what a thoughtful gift.   Yes, a cook book from Hawaii !  she must know how much i love food hehhee!!  Thank you Julie.. ! you are so thoughtful !  I need a  quick weight loss program now – for all the recipes are so yummy.

Chloe just got home from school and didn’t even undress – she needed to open her present immediately.

So nicely wrapped up ..  with a bow.

A Hello Kitty puzzle and a cook book – i couldn’t take a better picture because Chloe was being cheeky and didn’t allow me to take more pictures.  Thank you very much .. Julie..! you are very kind and generous..!

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

May 2010 bring you much joy,  good health,

time to spend with your loved ones!

May your table be abundantly filled with good food, laughter,

good company and love all year round.

Thank you for being my friend, thank you for your support and all the goodies all of you have sent throughout the year.   Thank you for your unconditional love for Chloe.  I am truly  humbled by your kindness, thoughtfulness  and your generosity.

Our lil’ brat is the most blessed kid – not only frens from all over the world sends gifts.. for Christmas .. and birthdays..  she also has a very generous Auntie Kai Mah from Singapore – who dotes on her.  I am sure that frens and family here knows all about Kai Mah’s generosity.  This package came before Chloe’s birthday.. but we kept it away from her.. till her real birthday .. and that was on the 19th.  So on the 19th morning.. we took out the presents.. sent all the way from Singapore.. and postage at $90 !!!!!!!!  pengz..!! Even more expensive than my  Orange NJ dental implants that we had helped an extended family with.

3 presents .. carefully wrapped.. and i heard very stylo-malo too.. going to the post office.  Kai Mah’s son .. had to go line up .. while Kai Mah wrapped the present .. and put on the package label .. and Kai Mah’s spouse .. had to drive and parked .. at the post office.

Chloe all excited.. and unwrapping her present.. even before breakfast.

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Once again, I cannot stressed how blessed we are ..  this gift came all the way from UK .. from dear Rachel and CY.  Yes..!! we got frens from UK too..    you see how blessed we are.  Like Shirley from Malaysia, this gift came before Chloe’s birthday.. and once again..  i’m sorry i was so caught up with chloe and the store, I didn’t thank both of you properly.. but entrusted Lina to do so.  Like any good Kai Mah – Lina took upon herself.. to thank everyone for us.  Forever grateful to Lina too lah..!

Chloe is such an expert now with opening packages.. she told me.. she didn’t need any help.. hahahah!!!  you all spoiled her thoroughly.

She didn’t take too long to open this package up either..   because she was excited.. receiving one gift after another .. for her birthday.

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We are truly blessed with kind friends from all over the world.  This package was received before Chloe’s birthday from Shirley and Baby Kyle from Malaysia.  I’m sorry .. Shirley for taking so long to post this up .. and to thank you personally but I had been overwhelmed with taking care of Chloe and her new school, and I know you will understand.

A very thoughtful message from Shirley.

And lots of food from home – thank you very much again .. Shirley..!

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I cannot say this enough .. about how this blog has brought me so many kind friends from all over the world.  And Macy from the other side of Canada – Vancouver has been one of the kindest and most generous friend I’ve known.  I truly cannot express how grateful i am for her friendship.  And here she is sending us Christmas goodies.. thru’ FEDEX some more, i bet she knows how much we love food.. but of course, the ang moh loves his electrical supplies more but this goodies, he couldn’t resist.

An awesome package from Thomas Haas !!!!  for those who don’t know who Thomas Haas is .. they specializes in sweet delicacies ranging from fine handmade chocolates, delicious chocolate bars, and delicate fruit jellies to beautiful wedding cakes.

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In October this year, many of you kind ppl had donated to the fundraiser for Chloe’s school by buying the angels.  Some had generously requested not to have the angel but to donate the entire amount to Chloe’s school.  We had gone back to the school with the extra money and asked how we can donate the money.  The principal had suggested that we use the money for buying a LCD projector for the school instead of giving them the money.

So a month ago, we went hunting for a LCD projector and with your generosity, we were able to find one at our price range to donate to the school.   The school had sent us a card to thank us for it – therefore, we would like to share this thank you card with all of your kind folks out there – you know who you are. Macy, Barb, Auntie Kai Mah Lina, Auntie Alice and Auntie Katie.

And for those who haven’t contacted me with your address, please do so – so i can mail them out to you all.  Thank you very, very much for your generosity.  On the same note – during the year – whereby some have bought me a cup of coffee – a total of $332 was collected – we are donating this to Menu For Hope – a very meaningful and in line with my food blog in support of the UN World Food Programme.   I chose to do it anonymously because I didn’t wanna win any prizes as  it wouldn’t be fair if i won them right..??  But for those who had bought me a cup of coffee thru’ out the year – i’m pretty sure good karma will come to all of you…! and again..! i thank you from the bottom of my heart and your friendship is invaluable to me.

I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year !  from Chloe, the Ang Moh and Me.