Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Lena

New Year, New Ways to Stay on Track!

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

I normally write a “New Years Resolutions” post shortly after January 1st, but this year, I decided to be a little more forgiving. After all, is there really only one specific time to start anew? Whether you’re looking after your health, removing toxicity from your life or simply taking up a new hobby, I’m down for making a change when it suits you – not when the calendar flips over.

So, if you’re like me and realized that January came and went and you haven’t crossed anything off your list, I’m here with a few inspiring ideas to get you started! The best part? You can enter to win a $100 Costco Cash Card at the end of this post!

1. Think outside the treadmill. There’s no denying that many new year’s resolutions include joining the gym or dusting off the exercise equipment in your home. However, aside from an elliptical, exercise bike or treadmill, there are many other ways to get your workout in!
Boxing is a fabulous full-body regime and the Everlast Kit: Cardio Fitness Training Bag and Neoprene Gloves is engineered for light boxing and fitness style workouts. The base can be filled with either sand or water for stability and the Neoprene heavy bag gloves feature premium neoprene material. …

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When Tasked with a “To Do”, let TaskRabbit do it for you!


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I know you know that I recently moved into a new home. And I know you know this because I can’t. stop. talking. about. it.

I’ll admit it; I’m overwhelmed. There’s just so much to do! From the simple things like changing my mailing address to the more complicated matters such as making sure the kids are adjusting well in their new school, lately, I’ve been feeling the pressure. Add in all the tedious tasks like unpacking, assembling furniture and restocking the pantry… and perhaps overwhelmed isn’t a strong enough word! Of course, I’m not alone; 54% of Canadians rank packing and moving among their most dreaded tasks to complete at home.

Therefore, when help is available, I’ll take it. Gladly.

I was recently introduced to TaskRabbit, an on-demand network that conveniently connects people with “Taskers” to handle everyday home improvement tasks. Taskers can help with everything from furniture assembly to sewing to running errands for you – you can even hire a tasker to help you wait in line!
As someone who normally depends on experts for everything from delivery to installation, I was immediately intrigued. How does it work? Who are the taskers? How do I handle booking and payment? Turns out, it’s so simple! Here’s how to save time and sanity when you need help with a task. …

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Dreaming of Hawaii? Here’s How to Make it Come True


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When I first started to think about this post, I had decided to craft a list of reasons “why” you should visit Hawaii. However, I realized pretty quickly that I was essentially stating the obvious; of course you want to visit Hawaii. Of course you know the reasons why. Besides the lush greenery, the remarkable hospitality of its inhabitants and the over 750 miles of pristine shoreline, Hawaii has been and always will be a bucket list travel destination. So, wanting to turn your dream of Hawaii into reality, let’s focus on the “how” – specifically, how to plan for a family vacation to the Aloha state, and how to do it seamlessly with Air Canada Vacations.
1. When to Travel. Great news, especially for family travellers: year round, the temperature in Hawaii remains relatively stable, so you can choose to travel when it makes the most sense for you. While the islands have a drier season (summer) and a wetter season (winter), the sun shines almost every day of the year so your vacation shouldn’t be impacted by precipitation. My family visited Maui and Oahu in the month of November, and save for one morning where it rained for just over an hour, the rest of the time we spent (10 days) was sunny and clear with low humidity. …

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A Lifetime of Love with a First Time Fan

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The very first time I laid eyes on my future husband, it was through a computer screen.

YES! Michael and I met online. I know it’s a common meeting place for couples today, but back in 2005, there was still a strong stigma attached to online dating – specifically, the creeps and weirdos I’d surely encounter. The good news? My husband is neither.

However, with online dating, there’s always one major hurdle to cross: the first date. After chatting through the computer and on the phone for a week or two, we decided to plow ahead and not postpone the inevitable. We met for drinks at a local resto-bar and I was officially the most nervous I had been in my entire life.

About 10 minutes into our first date, I knew I wanted a second.

We chatted about everything from family to work life to places we’ve travelled and places we wanted to visit. We talked about kids (a definite yes) and outdoorsy stuff (a definite no), and discovered that we could have crossed paths about a dozen times before we did, yet found each other at the very right time. Needless to say, it was a very, very good first date.

At some point during our conversation, I mentioned that I was a bit of a sports nut. Baseball, basketball and especially hockey – I followed the sports, statistics, players, you name it. Michael laughed and admitted that he wasn’t into sports at all, save for the World Cup and UFC championships. I smiled and nodded and was just a little disappointed, but brushed the feelings aside, quickly. I mean, so what? There were more important things to a relationship than discussing the league’s leading GAA.
Our memorable first date concluded with promises to get together again that weekend. We met on a Wednesday night, so the thought of seeing him again in just a few days was so very welcome. After a long hug and a brief kiss, I drove home with a smile on my face. …

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Holidays at Home: Binge Watching with the Dell XPS 13


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For the first time in a long time, I’m spending my entire Christmas vacation at home. Gasp!

That’s right, friends – I’m trading palm trees for pajamas! Over the holidays, I have absolutely no plans but to wrap myself in fuzzy blankets, fill mug after mug of peppermint hot chocolate and catch up on all the movies and television series I’ve missed all year.

Translation: Do not disturb.
However, just because I’m lying low doesn’t mean that I haven’t planned for my holiday movie-a-thon and Netflix binge fest. I’ve got everything I need to ensure I have the best viewing experience, including the Dell XPS 13 – an evolution of the most celebrated product in Dell’s history! …

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This Christmas, Save on Energy!

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There’s no doubt about it: the most wonderful time of year is usually the most expensive, too.

I originally started this blog post by listing all of my usual holiday expenses, but quickly abandoned the effort when I realized the list would be longer than my children’s combined holiday wish lists (and, trust me, they go on forever). However, while brainstorming some of the things I inevitably spend money on, I realized there are so many items I don’t normally budget for at the start of the season, like gift bags, impulse décor purchases, matching holiday pjs, etc. It made me all the more motivated to save money where I can, and that includes reducing my energy bill!

There are simply ways to save on energy costs over the holidays; you may already be employing some of the techniques without even realizing! Here are my top four tips for using less energy:

1. Switch to LED Christmas lights. LED Christmas lights use up to 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights, and they usually retail for less than $10 a strand. There’s no better win-win!

2. Use the smallest appliance to get the job done. No need to use the main oven when a toaster oven or microwave will do – especially for cooking appetizers or reheating dishes.

3. Look for ENERGY STAR certified appliances and electronics. They use up to 60% less electricity than their non-certified counterparts, and during the busy holiday season, this can amount to significant savings!

4. Consider using no-bake recipes or baking in batches. Holiday baking is a tradition in most families, but there are smarter strategies, such as being mindful of off-peak hours or inviting your friends over for a Christmas cookie exchange.

I’ve been experimenting with no-bake treats this holiday season and am happy to share this simple recipe for Candy Cane Fudge!
It’s a little ambitious to call this a “recipe” because it only includes six ingredients and can be assembled in a jiffy. In fact, the first time I made this fudge, it was with my girlfriend relaying instructions to me over the phone! Yes, it’s that simple! …

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Breville the Bambino Plus: We Be Frothin’

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Confession: I called my husband and asked him if this title was “funny and cool”.
Further confession: His opinion matters, because he’s my personal barista.

I’m not sure when it happened, but it did: at some point in our relationship, I stopped making coffee. Morning after morning, it just became tradition for my husband to bring me a steaming, aromatic mug of much-needed caffeine. In fact, I became so accustomed to the arrangement that in the rare circumstance I was saddled with the task, I became flustered with even the most basic machines.

The good news? My husband is happy to accept the responsibility, so my life – in terms of my coffee consumption, especially- is actually perfect.

Of course, since he’s spent years honing and perfecting his craft, my husband loves to test out any and all of the coffee makers, espresso machines, and everything coffee-related in between, that he can get his hands on.
Therefore, when the Breville the Bambino Plus arrived at our door for review (and to give away! Read on for the link), I could tell that my husband had ascended to java nirvana. …

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It’s Not Easy Being Sneezy.

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“Bless you!” my kids holler over to me… TWENTY times per day.

It’s no secret: I have seasonal allergies. In fact, from March to October, I have a love-hate relationship with trees, grass and ragweed. (Okay, it’s mostly “hate” with ragweed.) And while sneeze-a-thons can definitely be a nuisance, it goes further than that for me; I frequently experience an itchy, runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion.

I’m not alone. Experts estimate that about 20 to 30 per cent of Canadians suffer from seasonal allergies – the immune system’s exaggerated response to an allergen. For me, “allergy season” starts in early spring and goes until the first frost of autumn. Translation: I spend about 3/4 of the year in hay fever hell.
(My husband, who is affected by indoor allergies that can be caused by pet dander, dust mites, etc. – actually suffers all year round. Yikes!) …

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Smarten Up! It’s Time to Make Your Home Smarter with Best Buy Canada

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

When we recently moved into our new home, there were so many things that made me giddy with excitement. A brand new kitchen! Rooms that need decorating! Walls that need paint! So much potential!

My husband? He had two words for me: Smart Home.

But what is a Smart Home – and why should you want to live in one? Simply put, a smart home is a residence where tasks, normally completed by humans, are automated by computers instead. For some homes, becoming “smart” can begin with the introduction of a connected hub such as Google Home, while for others, being smart includes a combination of automated devices, such as speakers, thermometers, security systems, appliances and more.

Now I know some readers will be thinking to themselves, “Oh, I live in an old home. There’s no way I can incorporate all this new-fangled technology!” (Bonus marks if you actually used the words new-fangled.) But here’s the thing – you can, and you should. And here’s how I know.

Toronto’s oldest home is now a smart home!
John Cox Cottage, built in 1807, was recently outfitted with the latest smart tech from Best Buy Canada. From Hunter Douglas smart blinds and intelligent cleaning via Roomba to a NETGEAR Arlo 1080p HD camera at the front door, it’s a tech enthusiast’s dream. …

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Precision Makes Perfect: the Breville Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Fast. Versatile. Precise. Exactly how I like my food prep – and exactly how I like the small appliances handling my food prep to perform. Because I am usually time-starved, often caught in a rut, always cooking in batches and mostly dying to get out of the kitchen. What I really need is a sous chef, or something that perfectly – no, precisely – mimics one.

Introducing the Breville Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice.
The Breville Sous Chef 16 Peel & Dice is one of the most revolutionary machines I’ve ever had the pleasure of reviewing. It peels, dices, slices, mixes and chops in half the time of doing it by hand – and without any of the hassle. Its extra wide chute is designed for every shape of food, so you no longer need to chop your ingredients into smaller pieces before letting the appliance do the work. (I’ve always felt that pre-cutting foods completely defeats the purpose of using a food processor – wouldn’t you agree?) Aside from saving time and speeding up your meal preparation, the machine’s precise cut leads to even and consistent cooking and perfect textures. …

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Do Try This At Home: Guinness World Records 2019

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Ah, fall and winter. We’ve been expecting you.

While the two seasons may be the perfect time to huddle and hibernate, the demands for family-friendly entertainment are actually at an all-time high:

#1. Kids will spend almost all their free time indoors, and, unless you enjoy hearing “I’m bored” approximately every 20 minutes, the responsibility for keeping them busy and happy falls squarely on your shoulders.

#2. The holidays and sprinkling of PA days during the colder seasons create several opportunities for play dates, family get-togethers and reunions with extended family. More kids = more #1 noted above.

You know what? Bring it! I’ve found a way to take family fun to the next level with Guinness World Records 2019!
(Above: Reading about insects and arachnids, obviously.) …

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Questions About Insurance? #AskAnneMarie

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Hello, readers! It’s been a while, huh?

Truth is, I’ve been pretty overwhelmed with my recent move. We are now inhabitants of a new city, the boys have started a new school and the bills are piling up – yes, moving is expensive.

Of course, being the savvy saver that I am, I knew we’d need to budget accordingly. I set about finding ways to save money while we were still in the old home, and that included trying to determine if I could save money on insurance. A quick search led me to InsuranceHotline.com, where I discovered I could get a quote – and, most importantly, compare insurance quotes – in three easy steps! There was no obligation to buy and the information was accurate and unbiased. Such a win!
Here’s the scoop: there are many ways to save on your insurance premiums, but none are more effective than shopping around. And I know you may be thinking, ugh, SUCH a process! It’s not, friends. Forget about waiting on the phone in call centre queues or dodging aggressive sales professionals. You can grab a quote online in minutes when it’s convenient for you, so there’s no excuse to not shop around to see if you can save some money! With auto insurance, for example, InsuranceHotline.com shoppers saved $450 on average in 2017 after comparing car insurance quotes. What could you do with $450? …

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This Thanksgiving, Save Time AND Energy!

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A few days ago, I came across a hilarious tweet in a list of “Dad Memes”. (Why I was looking at Dad Memes, I cannot fathom. The internet is a strange place!)

Anyways, giggling with glee, I showed it to my husband:
“My God!” my husband exclaimed, laughing. “You’ve turned into your dad!”

Yes, I replied. Yes I have.

It’s actually pretty simple: As an adult, a homeowner, and of course, a person who pays bills, I care about saving energy and saving money. And truthfully, it probably took all three for me to realize the importance of managing my electricity use. Not only can I monitor my energy consumption in an effort to reduce long-term energy costs, I can also increase the comfort, usability and market value of my home. …

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Cruise Views: 10 Reasons to Escape with Norwegian Cruise Line

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When the scent of pumpkin spice lattes and the allure of pretty blanket scarves grows old, Canadians are left with… cold weather. Time to start planning that vacation down south, eh?

For many of us, deciding where to go and what to do – and then having the entire family agree on the itinerary – can add stress to the planning process. But what if I told you that you the perfect vacation awaits? Start the car… no, really, START THE CAR!
Here are 10 reasons to Escape with Norwegian Cruise Line.

1. Proximity to the GTA. Norwegian Escape, voted 2017 Ship of the Year by Ocean & Cruise News, sails out of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal (only about an 8-hour drive from the Greater Toronto Area – very road trip friendly). Saving money on flights puts vacation dollars back in your wallet – which means you can splurge on excursions, on-board amenities or the ever-popular Ultimate Beverage Package! …

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Canadian Red Cross: Earn 20 Reward Points for Every $1 Donation!

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Friends… read on for a very special promotion from the Canadian Red Cross!
Every day in Canada and abroad, vulnerable people come to the Canadian Red Cross in their time of need. Whether they’ve just seen their home destroyed by a fire, or have lived through a natural disaster like a hurricane or earthquake, the Canadian Red Cross provides care and support when people need it most.

Familiar with their work? Trust me, it’s more than you know – and then some. As one of Canada’s leading humanitarian charities, here’s what the Canadian Red Cross has accomplished in the last year alone:

2,977 disaster responses in Canada
132,472 Canadians assisted
More than 6,000 engaged volunteers
More than 3 million assisted globally
557,000 Canadians took Red Cross First Aid courses
8,600 first aid instructors trained
1,100 lifeguards trained

There’s no doubt about it: the Canadian Red Cross is synonymous with humanity. …

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This Season, Fall in Love with Mexico

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See what I did there? FALL? I know, I’m hilarious!

Now that the kids have returned to school, pumpkin spice is everywhere and temperatures will inevitably return to (gasp) single digits, there’s no better time to start planning your next family getaway. Whether it’s tacked onto a long weekend in the coming months or over the winter holidays, a little planning is key when it comes to picking the perfect resort. So grab a PSL, huddle under a shaggy throw and get ready to fall in love with Mexico!
But, why Mexico? Let me count the ways:

1. Take advantage of daily flights from Toronto (and twice daily from October 28 – April 23!) with Air Canada Vacations. That means you can customize your family vacay to suit your schedule, tastes and budget; pop down for an extended weekend getaway or take a classic 7-day all-inclusive vacation. Mexico is conveniently a 4-hour flight from Toronto, so the choice is yours – plus, save BIG when you package your hotel and flights. …

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Jamieson Vitamins: A Safer Source of Vitamin D

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I love having “A-Ha!” moments.

Honestly, they’re just so satisfying, aren’t they? There you are, minding your own business, doing things the way they’ve always been done, and then… out of the blue… your mind is blown.

Recently, I had one such moment during a conversation about Vitamin D. No, really – hear me out!

I’d always been under the impression that I didn’t need to take my Vitamin D supplement during the summer months. I spend more than enough time outdoors, and figured about an hour or so of daily sun exposure would be enough to boost my level to the point where I could forgo taking a daily vitamin.
In fact, I was so confident in my warm weather health regime that I found myself bragging to an acquaintance about how I swapped my supplements for the sun.

“But you wear sunscreen, right?” she asked. “Of course I wear sunscreen!” I replied haughtily. “Well, if you’re wearing sunscreen – to shield you from the sun’s rays – how is your body producing Vitamin D?” …

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Maple Leaf Foods: Deliciously Embracing the Real Food Movement!

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

I’m here to make a confession. To stick my stake in the ground, as it were. To be completely and transparently honest about two things:

1. I often feel guilty about the foods I feed my children, and
2. 10/10 times, I prefer to choose food with ingredients I can pronounce.

Let’s tackle the first issue: guilt. If you’ve been following my life over the years, you’ll know that I work around the clock. In fact, I wear so many hats that no two days are the same; I’m a writer, photographer, host, traveller, reviewer, social media influencer, etc. Unfortunately, the lack of structure also means that meals are often last-minute decisions vs. carefully planned menus. Yes, I rely on convenience foods like hot dogs, cold cuts and frozen foods, more frequently than I’d like to admit.

However, even though I heavily rely on packaged food at mealtimes, I’d still like to be able to feed my kids food with real, natural ingredients. I’m less intrigued about the science behind a product and more concerned with being able to visualize, relate to and pronounce what I’m putting on the plate.

Until recently, I thought that I’d always be stuck in an endless cycle – 1. feeling guilty about the foods I’m serving, yet 2. serving the same foods anyways, while 3. having a desire to do better. Repeat.

Today, with the help of Maple Leaf Foods, I feel better about my choices.
I recently attended a media day at Maple Leaf Foods headquarters. The audience? Moms and dads in the social space, who were open to learning about the sweeping changes in the iconic brand. …

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Air Canada: Family Travel Made Family-Friendly

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2013 – the year I was first dubbed a “Family Travel Expert” in the media. At the time, I blushed at the title, feeling undeserving of the accolades and self-conscious of my resume. Today, five years and 46 family trips later, I’m more than at peace with the designation.

There’s no doubt about it: we’re a family of travellers.
To be assured, family travel isn’t without its challenges. In addition to the obvious chores such as booking, planning, organizing, packing and managing the day-to-day responsibilities while away, vacationing with kids means that I’m also coordinating missed schoolwork, staying on top of in-flight entertainment, declining (several) requests to buy candy and accepting (several more) requests for snacks.

In short, my carry-on baggage are 8 and 10 years old – and don’t always stay where I’ve stowed them. …

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Mind. Blown: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

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If you’re currently in planning mode for a Walt Disney World vacation, I’m going to insist that you stop what you’re doing, grab a cup of tea and settle in for some valuable reading time. Trust me! Because I’m about to tell you all about a hidden gem located in the very heart of the excitement of the Walt Disney World Resort. It offers its own unique benefits and also piggybacks on many of the benefits of staying on site.

It’s the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, an Air Canada Vacations partner hotel.To be absolutely transparent, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is owned by Marriott International. So while the hotel is located on site, it operates slightly differently from other Disney-owned properties. By the end of this post, I promise that likely won’t be a deal-breaker for you. …

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