Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Family

Summer FUN with AIR MILES!

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It’s just about the midpoint of summer and I know some mamas are currently in the same boat:

1) The kids are bored. They’ve told us they’re bored. We know they’re bored.

2) The ratio of play time to screen time, previously planned to be about 75:25, has slowly crept up in favour of screen time. The ratio’s about 10:90 now, let’s just be honest.

3) You’d love to plan a family outing, but it’s not always easy (read: affordable) to do everything you want on a limited budget.

And to that I say… AIR MILES Summer Fun to the rescue!
Three cheers for the best time of year! There are tons of things you can see and do with the fam this summer using your Dream Miles. In fact, there’s more selection than ever for Dream Rewards under 1000 Miles, in addition to “show your card” perks where you’ll get instant savings on merchandise and experiences. This is in line with AIR MILES’ ongoing commitment to Canadians to offer new ways in which they bring Collectors closer to what matters to them! …

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LG: Dream a Little Dream (Kitchen)

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Looking at the calendar, I realize with a start that we’re less than two months from moving into our new house!

Truthfully, this year has been a blur. Between putting our current home on the market, travelling at least once a month and juggling the responsibilities of – well, LIFE – I haven’t had much time to think about how I’ll make the shiny new abode my own. Of course I’ve developed one or two (or 20) to-do and wish lists, but with our closing date just around the corner, it’s all beginning to feel very real.

At the top of my list? Building my dream kitchen. So when I received an invitation from LG Canada to come preview some of their efficient, aesthetically superior and technologically-sound kitchen appliances, you know I was all over it. Hosted by media personality Rick Campanelli and celebrity chef Chuck Hughes, I was treated to a demo of some the dreamiest innovations in home appliances I’ve seen in a very long time.
(Don’t be alarmed if you are irrationally excited by the following images and text – I’m legitimately just as enamoured!)

First up: The LG InstaView Door-in-Door® Refrigerator. Simply knock twice and see what’s inside. No, really! …

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Your Summer Family Destination: Niagara-on-the-Lake!

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My husband and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary this past weekend! I’d say that time flies but it feels like an understatement; somewhere along the way we collected a couple of kids, a home or two, and hundreds (thousands?) of incredible memories I’ll always hold dear.

Last year, for our 10th, we returned to Niagara-on-the-Lake where we were married. At the time, we couldn’t envision making the destination “family friendly” – but perhaps that’s just because all our memories tied to region were pre-kids. However, when invited to check out a new adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew at The Shaw Festival, and scanning over a masterfully-planned itinerary, we quickly realized that we can enjoy our favourite getaway as a family! Here’s how to spend a magical weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
1. What to Do: See The Magician’s Nephew by Michael O’Brien.

The synopsis:

“Tricked into using his Uncle Andrew’s (Steven Sutcliffe) enchanted rings, young Digory (Travis Seetoo) and his new friend Polly (Vanessa Sears) stumble into a magical portal that takes them to other worlds. Before returning home to Victorian London, they travel to the desolate world of Charn and unwittingly unleash Queen Jadis (Deborah Hay), a malevolent sorceress bent on domination. With the assistance of Aslan (Kyle Blair), Digory must undertake a valiant quest to the mysterious locked garden that holds the key to defeating evil and defending the new world of Narnia.” …

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This Father’s Day, boost his MOJO with Costco.ca and Masterpass!

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Decades ago, the iconic soap-on-a-rope and striped tie represented the hallmark of Father’s Day presents. After all, dads were branded as toiling away in either a factory or office, so the selection of gifts represented his “need to have” versus a “nice to have”.

Today, gift giving for Father’s Day isn’t focused on what dad does; rather, it’s focused on what dad does for us. He shows unconditional love and likes your post on Facebook. He solves math problems and makes the best marinara sauce. He changes dirty diapers and orders the biggest slurpee at the ballgame. He’s AWESOME.
Also? Let’s pay homage to his style, his MOJO and his always efficient approach to online shopping: 1) great selection, 2) fabulous price, and 3) a quick, convenient and secure transaction.

Thankfully, Costco.ca and Masterpass offer all of the above – a shopping experience dad can get behind! …

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Together Outside: Spring into Summer with Springfree Trampoline

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Note: The following giveaway is open to residents of Ontario, Canada only.
Summertime is the absolute best.

This year, admittedly, it took a little longer for Mother Nature to nudge the temperature over to double digits. But that’s okay – Canadians have short memories (and short summers!) so you know we’ll make the most of the warm weather while we can. …

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Hand Me Downy: The Ups of Hand Me Downs

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

My boys wear hand-me-downs, it’s just a given. As a mom, I care about value and sustainability – so being able to reuse clothes in our family means things can be worn and enjoyed for many years to come. Friends and family are amazed that I can still swap clothing among Ryder and Reid! Usually, once kids reach school age, the first child is much too rough on his or her outfits, making a second round of use almost impossible to pull off. That’s why we use Downy Fabric Conditioner. It’s specially formulated to protect against stretch, fade and fuzz and helps our kids’ clothes last longer, so they can be worn, re-worn and handed down, instead of worn out, thrown out and end up in a landfill too soon.

Meet Ryder. He’s our first born; tender, sensitive and always fussing after others. He gets first dibs on mostly everything, simply because he’s an early riser and an eager apprentice.
Meet Reid. Born almost two years to the day after his older brother, he loves cake and loud noises and operates on two modes: energetic and sugar rush implosion.

He’s also spent his entire childhood wearing hand-me-down clothes. …

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Your Spring Adventure Awaits: Join Springfree Trampoline and Earth Day Canada for Earth Day!

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Nothing but sun and crisp, spring weather. Friends, this is NOT a drill.

Just in time for Earth Day on Sunday, April 22nd, 2018, it looks like Mother Nature has decided to play nice! I’ve checked the weather forecast and good news – GTA folks are in for a bright, pleasant day with seasonal spring temperatures. How will you make the most of it? I just happen to know the perfect way to celebrate our beautiful planet!
Springfree Trampoline and Earth Day Canada have partnered to host the Springfree for Earth Day POP-UP Adventure Playground. It’s an outdoor family-focused event intended to highlight the link between outdoor play, physical literacy and environmental action!…

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Summer Camp – Do it Because You Love Your Kids AND Your Sanity

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…. and maybe not necessarily in that order.

I had a very short-lived experiment last week. It was called “let’s keep the kids home for March Break.” The outcome? We had fun (most of the time), but I wouldn’t exactly call it a success – mainly because by the end of it, I found myself wondering where my husband keeps the hard liquor. (It’s fine! It was only a fleeting thought.)

Look, I love my boys – but I love them more when they’re mentally stimulated, physically motivated and experiencing life-changing fun, growth and accomplishment… close to (but away from) home.

Oh yes, they will definitely be returning to Muskoka Woods CITYCAMP this summer.
If your child is not quite ready for a full-fledged summer camp experience, a day camp like Muskoka Woods CITYCAMP may be the perfect solution for you (and me, too!). Day camps encourage kids to try new things, develop skills and foster positive social and emotional growth when interacting with other kids their own age. They often offer a broad range of activities or specialize in one or two niches, allowing children to develop their interests in a fun and supportive environment. And, most importantly, day camps encourage young children to get a feel for a camp experience without traveling too far from home. …

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Grossest. Smelliest. Weirdest. Nosiest… FUN!

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

When I tell guests to excuse the mess because I’ve got two boys, ages (almost) 8 and 10, I’ll usually receive a knowing look. “Oh yeah,” they’ll say. “Boys are fun at that age.”

Of course, we both know what “fun” really means… it means gross, smelly, weird and noisy. Everything I both love and cringe over as a mom of boys. Normally, I’m an expert at finding ways to contain their energy, but with a whole week of March Break ahead of us, I decided if I can’t beat ‘em… yup, I’ll join ‘em!
Introducing Guinness World Records: Science & Stuff – a super fun and highly interactive book featuring the astounding, record-breaking world (and universe) around us, with an intro from TV science educator and author Science Bob. It’s written especially for curious little minds and is packed with gross facts, smelly anecdotes, weird trivia bites and noisy activities for the whole family to try. Translation: it’s right up my boys’ alley! …

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Walmart Toy Academy: They Do the Work, You Get the Credit!

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You: “Hey Lena, what are the top toys for the holidays? What should I get my 6-year old niece?”

Me: “Um, I can totally help with that!” (Visits walmart.ca/ToyAcademy) “I absolutely know what all the hot toys are!” (Searches for Top Dolls, Doll Houses & Playsets.) “Just give me a minute…” (Enough time to consult another toy list.)
Okay, you caught me. Even a self-professed shopaholic needs a little help, especially during the holiday season. Although I generally have my ear to the ground when it comes to trends and hot sellers, the truth is, I’m also the mom who wanders the toy aisles, completely overwhelmed with the selection.

Where do I begin? What’s the latest craze? Where can I find all the top toys without breaking the bank? …

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Whiteboards and Washrooms: Managing Chronic Conditions

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“Don’t worry mom, I had good job,” my seven-year old says as he exits the washroom.
“Does your tummy hurt?” I ask, still hovering.
“NO!” he screams, clearly irritated with me. “Stop asking!”

I may be slightly obsessed with my son’s bowel movements. He’s had Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) since birth, with at least one episode of diarrhea per week for as long as I can remember. He often complains of a tummy ache, clutching his stomach as he grimaces in pain. We’ve worked on the (unconfirmed) theory that he may be allergic to dairy or sensitive to acidic foods (he seems to be in his worst shape on Wednesday nights – coincidentally, Wednesday is Pizza Day at school). But since he’s a happy, well-adjusted boy with boundless energy and a devil-may-care attitude, we try not to visibly panic; we’ll adjust his diet when symptoms arise and keep notes on the foods that tend to trigger discomfort. …

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Falling in Love with Fall: Family Favourite Activities

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Welcome, friends, to our very favourite season – it’s fall, of course! The season of apple picking and spiced lattes; colourful leaves and decorated pumpkins. Now that the heat and humidity have made a departure, it’s time to pull on your cardigan and cute boots and enjoy this splendid season.

I love spending time outdoors with my boys. It’s so refreshing to be able to stay outside for the whole day without battling the elements! And today, I’m here to share some of my favourite family activities for making the most of autumn – so load the kiddies into the car, grab a mulled apple cider and get ready for some outdoor fun!

Rolling in the Deep (Leaves). Watching my boys have a good old fashioned crunchy leaf fight is such a hoot! If you don’t have a large property with copious amounts of tree fall-off, visit your nearest park or conservation area.
We always head to Erindale Park in Mississauga, where fallen leaves are plentiful. Another great spot is Riverwood Conservancy, where animal lovers can spot furry friends scampering about! …

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Human Connections in a Digitally Connected World

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My boys are ages seven and nine. They’re pretty much done with me.

Seriously! I’m the big, bad mama who makes them do their homework, finish their dinner, clean up after themselves and watch their language. And all this could be tolerated – even appreciated – if I didn’t have one, unforgivable, tantrum-inducing power:

The ability to take away their electronics. Oh yeah. I’m a baddie.

To fully appreciate their addiction to tablets, video games, computers and the like, here’s what happened when I told Ryder to “go outside and play on the trampoline.”

Yoink! That 3DS disappeared in a heartbeat. There I go again, being the bad cop!

Now before you bestow über-parenting respect on me for carefully monitoring their screen time, I must admit that the amount of time they stare at electronics does not bother me at all. I spend 14 hours every day basking in the eye-twitching white glow of a desktop computer, and I have no illusions that my boys will fare any better. They even read books on tablets! …

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Spread Kindness. Prevent Bullying.

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As a mom of two young boys, I spend a lot of time having the same conversations over and over again.

“That noise/word/song/saying is inappropriate.”
“Stop fighting.”
“You need to respect his space and move back.”
“How can you be hungry again? I just fed you.”
“Stop fighting.”

I’m used to it. Heck, at this point, I could probably break up a conflict in my sleep. But at the beginning of this school year, another topic of conversation weaved its way into our daily lives: bullying.

“I have no friends,” my seven-year old lamented. “No one wants to play with me at recess.”
The thought of my little guy – or any child for that matter – sitting alone at recess… well, it just breaks my heart. Especially for Reid, who was a popular, friendly kid – I just couldn’t understand what had changed. …

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Year Round Jumping FUN with Springfree Trampoline!

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Before I owned a Springfree trampoline, I had a few questions. (Actually, I had a lot of questions.)
Most centered around safety and size, but there was one question I really couldn’t find the answer to:

“Would the novelty wear out? Would my kids tire of the trampoline?”

Admittedly, there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer to this, because simply put, kids are different. However, I thought I’d take the time for a little Q&A session – the questions were posed by me before we owned a Springfree trampoline, and the answers are my conclusions after enjoying one for the last four months. If you are in the market for a trampoline this year or next, I hope you find it informative! …

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It’s a Springfree Summer Jumpoff!

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It’s no secret that our summer is infinitely better thanks to the addition of our new Springfree Trampoline. The boys are spending more time outdoors than ever; in fact, I find myself calling them inside almost every evening. It brings back memories of my own mom signalling for me to come indoors when I was young.

The thing is, trampolines make kids feel like kids.

That’s why I pleased to share with you some very timely news – if you live in the Greater Toronto Area, take note! Springfree Trampoline has partnered with two-time Olympic Gold Medal-winning trampolinist Rosie MacLennan to host a Canada 150-themed event at Yonge-Dundas Square. On Saturday, July 29th between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Springfree Trampolines will be set up with the tgoma interactive gaming system and guests will be invited to play. The tgoma system will be connected to a custom, Canada-150 themed version of the Quizzle game – the questions will all be Canadian trivia!
The best part? For every 150 questions correctly answered collectively by event guests, Springfree will donate one trampoline to Cystic Fibrosis Canada. They have ten to give away and need everybody’s help to succeed at this goal! …

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MommyTalks: Getting Back to Birthday Party Basics

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Many mothers are excellent birthday party planners. They develop an age-appropriate theme and source out coordinating invitations, party décor and a local venue. The exact sequence of the party is documented in a flow chart, complete with plan “b” (and even plan “c”) options. The equivalent of a car payment is spent on party food and gift bags.

I am not one of those mothers.

Don’t get me wrong, I wish I was. My kids would probably like me more if I knew all their friends’ names (I don’t), could effectively execute a 20-kid extravaganza (I can’t) and was willing to spend a small fortune in an effort to keep up (I’m not).

So instead, they have me – a loving, doting mother who avoids all mentions of birthday parties until the kids bring it up.
This year, the kids surprised me. When the subject finally came around, they insisted on simply having a few friends over for a backyard birthday party. At first, I was taken aback – you mean we don’t have to invite everyone in the class? We don’t have to rent out the local Bounce ‘n Play?

However, the more we chatted, the more it made sense to me. At ages nine and seven, they had already established deeper friendships with a few classmates, allowing them to select those they wanted to celebrate with. And, I believe there’s something more intrinsic at play: boys have an innate desire to show their friends where they live, their possessions, their lifestyle. Finally, with so much time spent indoors in front of electronics, it feels good to connect with friends outdoors, where kids can burn off energy and enjoy seasonal activities. So, I agreed that they were each allowed to invite 3-4 friends, and I would take care of the rest. …

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Fostering the Love of Reading: Happy Meal Books

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My sons are seven years old and nine years old, and one of their most favourite things in the world is a McDonald’s Happy Meal.
I mean, I get it. Their favourite foods, the autonomy to customize their own meal, and even a little treat and/or toy to round out the experience. It makes them happy, and because I’m secure in the overall nutritional choices I make for my kids, I’m happy too. …

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Be Part of Something Bigger than Just a Walk.

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This year, over 40,000 Canadians will take part in a powerful movement to create a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the JDRF TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Will you join in?
It’s no secret that I passionately support the fight again type 1 diabetes; loyal readers will agree that I’ve chatted about its effects – and our need for a cure – several times on my blog. That means you (or someone you know, someone you love) will be impacted by this disease. The number of people living with type 1 diabetes is increasing by 5% annually – and the greatest rise is in children under five years of age.

But we can change the script. …

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Win a Family Pack of Passes to an Advance Screening of Cars 3!

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Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo), with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!Hands up if you’re head-over-heels with excitement for Cars 3? I know we are! My boys are Cars fanatics and have patiently awaited this summer’s release. When the third installment of the franchise was first announced back in 2014, it seemed like this day would never come… and now June 16th is around the corner. However, for FIVE (5) lucky readers, you won’t even have to wait that long – I’m giving away a family pack of passes (four tickets) to special advance screenings in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton! The movie will be screened at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 14th, so the lucky winners will be among the first to see this highly anticipated new movie. …

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