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Decor

Simple Steps to Mini Garden Success with The Home Depot

May 21, 2015 By Lena

You know how some people have a green thumb? I have a black thumb. The black thumb of foliage death. And for years, I avoided any mention of gardening, flowers, landscaping… you name it. In fact, if it wasn’t for Frank Ferragine and his deviously straightforward advice, I probably would have been garden-less for yet another year.

I was peer pressured by Frankie Flowers, folks. Peer pressured!

He said I could totally do it. He offered simple steps. He recommended the right products to get the job done. And he gushed how it would turn into a family tradition that my boys would cherish.

He was right, of course. And as a member of The Home Depot Canada #HDBlogSquad, I was more than up to the task.

Sad, clay-packed flower beds? Check.
Overgrown grass and weeds? Check.
Patches of death on the lawn? Check.

A mom with an award-winning garden and penchant for landscaping? SECRET WEAPON.

Oh yeah, I enlisted the big guns. I called mommy and asked her to spend a day gardening with us. And why not? If we’re going to turn this into a family tradition, it might as well be a multi-generational tradition.

First things first. I picked Frank’s brain. Yep, I had a chance for a Q&A with the gardening guru himself! And I’ll be frank (pun intended), he is a master at his craft. Easy-to-follow, succinct and relevant advice – with product recommendations – that turned what I once considered an ordeal into a fun day outdoors.

Introducing… our very anti-climatic flower bed. Sans flowers, of course.
DSC_0968Yeah, that’s what we had to start with, times two. When we first designed our patio, I envisioned gorgeous flower beds filled with bright colours on each side… but I never realized that dream. Because I’m lazy. And don’t know what I’m doing. …

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Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: #HDBlogSquad, Frankie Flowers, garden, Home Depot Canada

Is it Time for an Upgrade?

April 28, 2015 By Lena

There are things I upgrade all the time.

My cell phone. My handbags. My hi-lites, patio cushions and iTunes collection.

I love to be on the up-and-up of the newest technology, the latest trends, and of course, the most sought-after products of the moment. It may not be your cup of tea, but that’s what makes everyone different, right?

But, how often do you upgrade your small appliances – like vacuums? Conventional wisdom says, “As long as it’s working, why do you need a new one?” And I’m not here to find ways to empty your wallet; rather, let’s have a congenial discussion on some of the reasons you’d want to make the investment.
dysonTime. Older technology small appliances like humidifiers, fans and vacuums often take longer to get the same job done. How many times have you pushed a hand vacuum over the same area multiple times, or cut the same area of lawn twice? While it’s tempting to make do with an older product, the smartest thing to do is place a value on your time spent. What could you be doing if you weren’t fussing with an inferior machine?

Performance. Closely related to time, the performance of a small appliance is one of the main reasons consumers tend to upgrade in the first place. Imagine if we all used manual washboards, or made coffee with a French press! With technological advances comes improvements in performance and automation. And when a product performs well, your quality of life improves. …

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Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: Cinetic science, Dyson, Dyson Cinetic DC77 upright vacuum, small appliances

Start Spring in Style with The Home Depot Canada!

April 2, 2015 By Lena

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Is it Spring yet? I know, *technically* on paper, the cold weather should be on its way out. Should be.

Alas, with the dreaded snowflake icon still showing up on my weather apps, I’m not holding my breath. So I’m doing my part to ensure I get my daily dose of seasonal goodness, and today, that includes sharing the latest Spring styles from The Home Depot Canada!

With warmer weather comes excitement for sunshine, backyard BBQs with friends and family, and enjoying the great outdoors. But before we can revel in our limited taste of the tropics, an outdoor refresh is in order! Spring is a time to prep the garden, clear the backyard and start planning your outdoor oasis – and The Home Depot Canada has everything you need to get started. From décor and outdoor power to live goods, a local associate can offer tips and tricks to help you prepare for the warmer weather.

Here are my picks for the season:

Whether you’re outfitting the ultimate man cave backyard, creating a contemporary patio or styling a small space, The Home Depot Canada is a one-stop shop for creating your perfect patio oasis.
Corliving Oakland 4 piece Patio Lounger lifestyleCorLiving Oakland 4-Piece Patio Lounger Set (Price: $1520.00). This stylishly comfortable lounger set is the perfect addition to any outdoor space. The cleverly designed chairs are practical with weather-resistant fabric and a robust steel frame that is UV-resistant, durable and easy to care for. …

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Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: backyards, Home Depot Canada, outdoor living, spring decor

Your Next Microwave

March 3, 2015 By Lena

It’s not the sexiest purchase you’ll ever make.

Heck, it’s not like you’ll tell your husband this weekend, “Let’s go look at some microwaves!” And when you do buy one, you may not have been anticipating the purchase – often, the only time one shops for a new microwave is when they have to suddenly replace or upgrade their current model.

However, at some point in your lifetime – maybe even sooner than you think – it will be time to buy a new microwave. And today, I’m here to introduce you to your next microwave.
DSC_0606It’s funny. Before I fell in love with my Panasonic Genius Prestige Plus Over-the-Range Microwave Oven, I didn’t give the appliance the respect it deserves, nor did I try to be particularly creative or daring in the foods I prepared. In fact, for the most part, my prior relationship with a microwave included the one and only “reheat” function.

FYI: It would be a shame to only reheat in a Microwave with Inverter Technology.

Oh, you can reheat. But you can also select from one of nineteen cooking settings, or let the microwave do the thinking for you. With Sensor Cook, built-in sensor technology lets you cook food automatically – with no need to set the power level, food weight or cooking time.

Did I just blow your mind? …

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Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: kitchen appliances, microwave, Panasonic, review, Your Next Kitchen

I’m Part of a Squad. A Home Depot Blog Squad. Fabulous!

February 19, 2015 By Lena

It’s no secret that I’m a little less DIY (“do it yourself”) and a little more DIFM (“do it for me”). And there’s no shame in that! I am happy to keep contractors gainfully employed, and with every home reno and small room makeover we complete, we get a little more confident… a little more creative… and a lot more willing to take on bigger projects.
B-OdvBqCMAAGpIDOf course, taking the time to complete a room facelift or renovation is 50% ability, and 50% inspiration! And as part of the very first Home Depot Blog Squad, I am thrilled to be in the company of some of the most inspiring design and decor bloggers in Canada.

Together, we’ll be tackling small reno projects – with products and advice from Home Depot Canada – and working to encourage YOU to take on some projects of your own. Let’s just say that you can do it, and we can help.

Today, I’d love to share some of the home decor and design projects that have been happening behind the scenes by the #HDBlogSquad.

Tim Lam of Design Maze
Shannon Acheson of AKA Design
Brittany Stager of My Daily Randomness
Jennifer Flores of Rambling Renovators

And… moi! Okay, so I don’t have my small reno project available *just yet*. Between our recent family vacation and a tiny (really, super tiny, like minuscule) plumbing fiasco, we are a bit behind schedule for a laundry room “facelift”.

(Can a laundry room be pretty? I’d like to think so! And trust me, I’m working to make the most of the tiny cell that has been zoned for laundry purposes on our second floor. You can look forward to my reno in the coming weeks!)

In the meantime, check out the DIY’s above, and be sure to follow the #HDBlogSquad hashtag on social to stay on top of our exploits.

Are you currently working on any home renos? Do tell!

Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: #HDBlogSquad, DIY, home decor, Home Depot Canada, small renovations

Life Hacks: Disney Cars Diecast “Parking Garage”

December 28, 2013 By Lena

Since I have two young boys who have an affinity for everything related to Disney Cars, I can pretend that their Mattel Diecast Collection is… well… theirs.

Truth is, I am a 35-year old woman who collects small cars with faces on them.

In fact, the only thing that keeps me from signing up for one of those online trading boards is the realization that I am in fact a 35-year old woman and perhaps I don’t need the Doc Hudson diecast car (even though every fibre of my being is telling me that yes, I really do).
Anyhoo, we have reached the point in “our” Disney Cars collection that we sorely need some organization. At just shy of 100 cars, I’ve been relying on the boys to keep the collection together in a neat and (somewhat) orderly manner. However, I’m constantly finding errant cars under the couch, in the clothes hamper, and my personal favourite: “Mom, can you pull out the fridge? Holley Shiftwell is under there.” Uh, never again.

Alas, finding a carrying case for a large collection was proving to be much more difficult than expected. Most Cars-branded cases available in Canada only hold about 10-12 cars, and regular diecast cases just won’t cut it for the many oversized cars we have. So, I decided to get creative.

First, I found this 39 Drawer Storage Bin at Home Depot Canada. Sensing that our collection would grow over the coming months, and that it was marked “Special Buy” (translation: get ’em before they’re gone), I decided to pick up three. We’ve opened two for the time being, pictured below.
I love that the Disney Cars diecast cars are a great fit in the storage drawers; lots of room to move back and forth and just the right amount of space on the sides. Plus, since they’re clear, I can peek through to see what’s inside….

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Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: Disney Cars Diecast Storage Garage, DIY Diecast Carrying Case, Reader Favourites

#ProjectSittingRoom

February 2, 2012 By Lena

The incurable re-decorator strikes again!

It’s a well known fact that I love changing things up. Remember my Reno-cation of 2011? Oh yeah, a home face-lift of epic proportions. Then I followed up with #ProjectLivingRoom, one of my favourite redesigns ever. (#urbanbarn fan4life)

And while I assumed I’d taken care of the re-decorating bug for good, there was just one little area that was begging for a redo: our sitting room.

Okay it’s technically not a room. And I can’t actually remember the last time somebody sat there. But it’s a little area off to the side of our living room, and it basically only exists because the room is so long that it requires more furniture to look balanced.

“Okay, Lena, so what was the problem?”

The problem was the über blahness of the area. Vanilla walls, vanilla leather chairs and a very vanilla feeling overall. One could literally become comatose if one stared at it too long. Blah.

…

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Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: Behr paint, home decor, renovations

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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