Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Fashion

You’re Invited: Laura Concept Store Grand Opening!

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Calling all fashion lovers in the GTA – have I got an invitation for YOU!

The latest fashions, impeccable service and practical style advice. That’s the Laura philosophy.
13103543_1262976010396366_3552315898681950462_nLaura has come a long way since 1930, when company founder Laura Wolstein opened her first boutique in downtown Montreal. Today, Laura has over 170 stores (and still growing). However, perhaps most exciting is that you can now shop from home; Laura has launched an eCommerce website, where you can browse the entire Laura collection and have it delivered right to your door. (Tees and capris are currently buy one, get one 50% off.) Love it! …

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Slim, Sexy White Jeans. For Moms. Wait, What?

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Slim, sexy white jeans. And school-aged children. Think the two are mutually exclusive? Think again.

Introducing NYDJ Spotless Reputation denim. I’m wearing Ami Super Skinny jeans in – gasp – WHITE! And I can wear them confidently for a plethora of reasons I can’t wait to gush about – so moms, sit back and get ready to have your minds blown.
DSC_0345aFirst, and most importantly, NYDJ’s Spotless Reputation. The jeans repel certain liquids, like coffee and cola, for up to 15 washes. That means I can get right into the action without fearing errant spills or sticky fingers (both happen with alarming frequency when you have two young boys), and of course, be on trend for spring (white is everywhere!). I paired my jeans with my favourite comfy chambray shirt and floral rain boots – my go-to look this season. …

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It’s a Shopping Spree, on a Budget. It’s a Match Made in Heaven.

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I get it, I really do. It’s an oxymoron, I know. *How* could I treat myself to a shopping spree if I was on a budget? Aren’t the two mutually exclusive?

Folks, it CAN be done. With prepaid cards, it’s easy to splurge while sticking to a set spending limit! Think about it: open loop prepaid cards look and function like traditional credit and debit cards with a significant difference – they access funds that have been pre-loaded by a consumer or business. Therefore, they’re the perfect budgeting tool! They allow me to exert control over my spending and at the same time, avoid interest charges and overdraft fees (win-win-win!).

This past week, my good friend Zeba from Ella Pretty Blog and I went on a prepaid shopping spree. Armed with my American Express prepaid cards, we had a girls’ day at the mall with one mission in mind: spend the entire balance available to me (a whopping $500).

Which brings me to my second point: sure, you *could* spend a prepaid card on groceries (remember my previous post?), but I really want you to do something amazing, just for you. A prepaid card is often a gift – treat it like one! You only live once, and splurging on yourself is twice as nice.

Now, since Zeba is my official style advisor and the only person I trust to advise me on fashion and trends, you could say that we had way too much fun. But that’s the beauty of prepaid cards: you get to spend, spend, spend until the card runs out, and then, you walk away with amazing new things – not credit card debt!

Are you ready for the big reveal? Here’s what we bought!
AMEX IG Giveaway BNow I may be biased, but I think everyone needs a little Chanel, Minkoff, Spade and Kors in their life! Collectively, these are all items I would have coveted excessively but never had the gumption to actually purchase. Thanks to my American Express prepaid cards (which feel prestigious, almost luxurious, not gonna lie!) and a sweet shopping companion, I feel good about my purchases and know that I splurged the smart way. …

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Save Time, Money and Sanity with UGO Wallet!

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It’s bound to happen to you at some point. Heck, it happens to me all the time.

I’m out and about shopping at my favourite stores. I’ve loaded merchandise into my cart; I’m congratulating myself on finding the *perfect* sweater and trendiest heels. I’m even feeling a little smug, knowing that I have a gift card to offset some of the costs. And just as I reach the checkout, in full I am so awesome mode, I remember… what I’ve forgotten.

I forgot to bring the gift card!

Has this ever happened to you? Sure it has. Because despite our best intentions, life is busy, and we don’t always want to lug around a heavy wallet filled with stuff. I mean, what if your wallet was nicked? You’d be giving away not only your identity… but your gift cards! To Sephora! To Winners! To Milestones! Those belong to YOU, dammit!

Enter UGO Wallet. The app now allows you to quickly add your loyalty and gift cards to your smartphone, and if you have a compatible phone, you can add participating credit cards to make small payments easily at many retailers with just a tap of your phone. Then, organize them any way you want so you can easily pull ‘em up right when you need them. By storing the cards on UGO Wallet, they are always easily accessible and you never have to worry about missing an opportunity to use them. Bonus: You can use every bit of your balance – and who doesn’t want to maximize all their spending potential?
DSC_1938Uploading your gift card to UGO is as easy as 1-2-3. First, make sure you have the UGO Wallet app! It’s completely free and takes seconds to download. Next, select your vendor and follow the prompts to either scan or manually input your gift card number. The app will return an error message if you try to upload the wrong bar code or serial number, so it’s pretty foolproof….

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Festive Fashion with Style & Co!

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The days are getting shorter… the nights are getting colder… and that can only mean one thing: the holidays are around the corner! This year, I’m once again pleased to team up with Style & Co to help get your festive looks in order – everything from cozy and comfortable to holiday glitz. And before I go any further, here’s a sweet little deal just for you:

Spend $100, save $25 until November 19th with promo code STYLE! Shop Online Now.
DSC_1670aSo, what’s keeping you busy this season? How about work, school, parties, shopping, visits to Santa… oh my! Chances are, you’ll need a wardrobe that can play double-duty and still be fashion-forward (and affordable!). Enter Style & Co. Available exclusively at Hudson’s Bay, they offer on-trend pieces that are comfortable, wear well and can be dressed up or down for any occasion!

This year, I’m all about sweaters and tunics. They’re perfect layered over leggings and are equally appropriate for both the workplace and after-work drinks. I love the Mixed Pattern Sharkbite Tunic pictured above. Leopard and chevron collide! It has a pretty scoop neck and is just long enough to feel comfortable and carefree. I paired the tunic with Basic Leggings in a soft stretch cotton (a staple for any wardrobe). I love this look for every day office, holiday get togethers with the girls and even Christmas dinner!

(Don’t forget your accessories! Here, I added my favourite Double Heart Charm Necklace. It’s so versatile, I own it in gold, silver and rose gold. It also makes the perfect accompaniment if you’re gifting a special gal Style & Co clothing this season.) …

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It’s Halloween Time at Disneyland!

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Can you guess the single most important event in my children’s lives right now? I’ll give you a hint. It’s not the birth of Jesus. Or the first day of school. It isn’t even their birthday.

It’s Halloween, of course.

Think about it. The chance to dress up as their favourite superheroes or idols. Free candy. Tons of spooky and ghoulish decor. Free candy. Songs and stories dedicated to witches, goblins and ghosts.

And, FREE CANDY.

Keeping their obsession in mind, when planning my family vacation to California (psst – hello! I’m currently blogging from the beach!), I was thrilled to see that our dates coincided with Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Resort. I’ll be back to tell you all about it after we join the party tomorrow night!

In the meantime…. drum roll please… may I present to you, my costume!
r2d2aOkay, so the dress – which I picked up from Hot Topic – definitely isn’t as short or low cut as pictured. Or maybe I just don’t have the same height and boobage as the model. What I’m trying to say is, it’s very PG! And, I posted both the blue and red lipsticks as it will be a last-minute decision – not sure I can rock blue lipstick, know what I mean? Finally, thank goodness Reid offered to lend me his R2D2 Mickey Ears… it really completes the costume! Though he *did* wear it better, I’m sure.

I’ll be sure to post photos during and after the event – follow me on Twitter and Instagram for all the fun! And, if you’re wondering what my two little Halloween lovers are going as… we’ll have a little Captain America and Spider-Man trick-or-treating tomorrow night!

From Boardroom to Bar to… Boardwalk? YES!

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*BUMPING* because 99% of Style&co merchandise is now on sale! You can grab the looks below for 30-60% off the regular price – and summer hasn’t even begun! Start shopping.

I know you’ve heard the term “double-duty” fashion, or “it takes you from boardroom to bar” (translation: day to night). But what if you require outfits for:

a) a professional conference
b) a cocktail party
c) a special occasion brunch
d) a day in a theme park

Where should you shop? For me, I love Style&co. Available exclusively at Hudson’s Bay, they offer stylish, on trend, and most importantly, affordable pieces that will allow you to effortlessly create a summer makeover!

And today, I’m so pleased to show you a variety of easy, casual chic, and office-appropriate summer looks that are at the top of my rotation, especially while I was in Orlando for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration! Yep… these outfits were modeled on location from my hotel room, at the resort, and of course, in the parks!
DSC_0892First, every mom needs a pair of Tummy Control Capri Pants. They have a control panel that helps smooth the silhouette; however, they’re not overly constrictive and are actually quite comfy to wear. Dress them up with a blouse for the office, or pair them with a tee for a weekend of shopping or lunch with the family. The capris feature a 5-pocket style and are available in 3 colours!
DSC_0895I chose to go casual-chic with a simple white Style&co tee with a scoop neck and woven cap sleeves. And to drop the “office” feel, I can simply switch out for these Drawstring Cargo Roll Up Capris in “Titanium”. I wore this exact outfit at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and felt both stylish and comfortable! (The pendant necklace above is the GUESS Double Heart And Crystal Fireball Pendant Necklace.) …

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SKECHERS: The Official Shoes of Summer 2015

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Okay, okay – I’m not sure if I can declare SKECHERS as the “official” shoes of summer (are there legalities around that??) – but I am absolutely certain that ’round here, SKECHERS are the top choice.

So, maybe we’ll call them the Official Shoes of Lena’s Family. (Not the same ring to it, I know.)

Here’s the thing. Y’all are always asking me what I’m wearing, what I’m buying, what I love, and what I lust after. And I’m always eager to share! So of course I want to tell you about my family’s favourite kicks this year.

(For those who aren’t hip to street lingo like I obviously am, “kicks” mean sneakers. I know this because I Googled it. Three minutes ago.)

It’s rather simple; we’ve all found an amazingly comfortable, totally stylish and incredibly affordable pair of shoes, and they all happen to be SKECHERS. From Memory Foam to Power Switch to Game Kicks, they’ve got us covered.
DSC_0797First things first – yes, our shoes are dusty, scuffed and less-than-perfect. And that’s because when I say they’re our favourite shoes, and we wear them every day…. they actually are! This is NOT a vanity review; we’re not putting the shoes on just to show them off, and then throwing them to the back of the closet. Nope! They’re actually always on our feet! …

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Peer Pressure is (Probably) Okay

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In fact, it’s probably good for you, too.

It all started when Zeba of Ella Pretty Blog assured me that I should totally buy the Michael Kors “Colette” Medium Leather Messenger in Sun. Normally, I wouldn’t necessarily be swayed – it takes me forever to make a new handbag purchase, and even then, I create spreadsheets to analyze pros and cons – however, it was just before my birthday and I thought hell yeah, I totally should buy this.

Solidifying my decision was the fact that it was sold out everywhere (trust me, we checked!) which of course, created an inflated sense of “need” based solely on the fact that I couldn’t “have” it.

Introducing michaelkors.ca. YES! An online MK shop for Canadians, where (for a limited time) you can take advantage of FREE ground shipping to Canadian addresses, plus, the Canadian prices are on par with the US. It was literally a sign from the handbag gods that I happened to discover the online shop at the exact moment I decided to purchase a Michael Kors messenger bag, so I threw caution to the wind and smacked my credit card down onto the virtual checkout.

And four days later, ta-da! Sunny days ahead.
michael kors colette medium leather messenger toteI’m so happy with this purchase. Not only is it the perfect size – holding my oversized wallet, sunglasses and phone with ease – but I love that I can wear it messenger-style, as a shoulder purse, or remove the strap completely and use it as a tote. Plus, it brightens up practically every outfit that I’ve paired it with! See? Peer pressure is probably – no, definitely – a good thing from time to time.

Outfit: Jean Jacket, Express; Black Top, Marshalls; Leggings, Sweet Legs; Shoes, Tory Burch.

Have you made any impulse purchases this season? Do tell!

(Psst! With the warming weather returning, I think it’s time to bring back the covet list. So many things I want, need, have to have! It’s a good thing I’m fabulous with my finances… always practice safe spending, friends!)

Just Call Me Ms. Diaz

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Er… or maybe Mrs. Madden. Cameron Diaz is married now, yes?

Nevertheless, I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m obsessed with Cameron’s… everything.

Her style! Her hair! Her effortless way of exuding the perfect California beach babe. And through it all, remaining likable to both males (duh) and females alike. I mean, can anyone really hate on Cameron Diaz? She’s like the dream BFF (no offense to my BFF).

So it’s obvious that when I watched her performance in 2014’s The Other Woman, I instantly fell in love with her all over again. Of course, it *may* have had something to do with the fact that her character boasted the hottest collection of designer outfits and accessories – I’m talking drool-worthy with a capital D.

At the top of my list – her statement sunglasses from Saint Laurent, aptly named “BOLD1”. These YSL beauties are coveted for their classical look with a hint of modern styling, and although they are often listed as men’s sunglasses, they are striking on women as well.
DSC_0587The only problem? Finding them online was a chore, and when I did, they retailed for $345.00 USD. That’s over $430 Canadian! And while I’d be happy to spend that on a pair of sunnies I loved, I happen to own a lot of sunnies. So it just wasn’t in the cards.

Enter SmartBuyGlasses.ca. They afforded me the opportunity to review the site, and of course the very first thing I did was hunt down the Saint Laurent glasses. And not only did I find them; I found them for just $233.95 CDN with fast and FREE shipping. Hello!  …

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Oshawa Centre: Style Approved

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A few weeks ago, I received an invitation from the Oshawa Centre to check out their newest fashions for Fall 2013.

Cue the confusion. Oshawa Centre? Fashion? Now don’t get me wrong, but I’ve actually never equated the OC with style. After all, we’re talking about a mall whose anchor store, Sears, bares a decrepit, previous-generation logo that is normally seen flashed across liquidation centres, not fashion malls. However, since the Oshawa Centre is just steps away from my in-laws, and as a shopaholic, I am an equal-opportunity fashionista, I accepted the invitation to visit the centre and check out what’s in store for Fall.

First good sign: I looked past the King Street/Sears entrance. The main entrance to the mall is actually very well designed; welcoming, architecturally interesting and in keeping with their newly refurbished look. I entered the mall with an adjusted attitude….

… and immediately, I realized that my prejudices were completely unfounded. Inside – the Oshawa Centre is chic, contemporary and frankly, quite gorgeous.

A brief history of the mall:

“Oshawa Centre opened in 1956. It began as an open-air shopping centre and in the early days included only 28 stores in its directory – just one sixth of the size that it is today. The 10 million dollar project was coined ‘Canada’s Most Beautiful Shopping Centre’ and housed the historic Eaton’s of Canada as its major anchor store. The centre undertook a major renovation into a completely indoor mall complex in 1968, renovated again in 1994, and redesigned the south end in 2009 to include H&M, Sport Chek, and Shoppers Drug Mart. Today, Oshawa Centre has grown into a 1,219,962 square foot super-regional shopping centre serving as Durham’s fashion, service, and entertainment hub.”

With fashion-forward retailers such as H&M, Melanie Lyne, Danier Leather, Aldo Shoes, Guess and Rockport – to name a few – it’s pretty clear that Oshawa Centre is a prime contender for one-stop shopping, including affordable and trendy fashion options. Colour me impressed! And, for shoppers in Durham Region, it’s a great alternative to braving the traffic flowing into the city….

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Disney Social Media Moms: Frugal Fashion Recap

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I know y’all have been waiting for me to post my thoughts on the Disney Social Media Moms Conference – and it’s coming, I swear! It’s just that I normally need some time to collect my thoughts and present them in a way that will be relevant and interesting to you. It was QUITE the epic conference, though, and I’ll be back later this week with all the good stuff!

However, in the meantime, I know how much you love my Frugal Fashion Recaps (check out my BlogHer’12: Frugal Fashion Recap here) – also known as “What to Wear to a Professional Conference” – and so I thought it was only right to post another installment.

Last year, I was able to wear an entirely new wardrobe, consisting of four faboosh outfits, for under $200. This year, I wasn’t exactly counting pennies, but was nonetheless able to assemble a wide variety of outfits that allowed me to feel confident and pretty. Of course, the Disney Social Media Moms Conference posed an additional challenge; my wardrobe had to include conference day pieces, night ensembles, and even Disney Park outfits – ones that could keep me somewhat comfortable in the 35°C weather, that is.

And so here it is… a timeline of my outfits, the costs, and how I rocked them!

The very first conference event was on Thursday night – a Welcome Reception at Epcot. As mentioned in my I Have Nothing To Wear post, I decided to recycle an outfit from BlogHer’12 – a striped maxi dress from Banana Republic Factory Store. There I am posing with Stephanie (@SassyModernMom) and Tenille (@FeistyFrugal) – it was crazy dark at the venue (hence the grainy photo), so thankfully we all chose bright pieces!

The dress cost $49.72 (after discounts) – last year – which means, of course, there was no additional expense to my fashion budget for Disney Social Media Moms. I received exactly eight (8) compliments (hubby was counting!) so I’m officially declaring this do-over a fashion win.

Of course, it was the next day – Conference Day One – that I was really stressing about. Not only did I want to look appropriately professional for the conference, but there was also a Red Carpet Family Dinner at Disney’s Hollywood Studios which I just knew I wanted to dress to impress for. However, I also had no idea if I’d have a chance to change in between, so I had to opt for an outfit which would literally take me from “office” to “outing”.

(Not so easy when balancing highly air conditioned conference rooms and non-existent air conditioning at outdoor venues!)

In the end, I decided to go for a tried and true maxi dress – the easiest way to be fun and flirty and always dressed accordingly for the occasion. Of course, one of my first stops was once again the Banana Republic Factory Store. As soon as I laid eyes on this gorgeous maxi dress, I knew I had to have it!

With an abstract floral print and a figure-flattering empire waist, the dress was originally $110 – on sale for 40% off. Thankfully, I read In Touch every week – and always remember to save their GAP Factory Store and Banana Republic Factory Store coupons. Hence, I was able to receive an additional 20% off, making the dress only $52.80 after discounts. Have you been paying attention? That’s almost the same amount I spent on my maxi dress last year. Therefore, the sweet spot for Banana Republic Factory Store dresses is about $50 CAD – be sure not to purchase them at a higher price, because you just know there will be another sale around the corner.

I teamed it up with my prized Michael Kors Devon handbag and a pair of gladiator sandals from ALDO I’m so happy I held on to, even though conventional wisdom was telling me to toss them last year. It only took a few more seasons for the style to return, and now we’re in gladiator heaven with all the brands once again coming on board.

Since I already own the handbag and sandals, total cost for the outfit was $52.80! (Er… technically I should also factor in the new convertible bra I purchased, but let’s forget about that.)…

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I Have Nothing to Wear.

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It happens each and every time before a big event. I wait until about a week before I depart, and then frantically tear apart my closet.

I have nothing to wear.

“This won’t do! Ugh – why do I own that? This will work if I can lose 10 pounds in 4 days… That looked good in 2006. OMG I SUCK!”

*Technically* I have a few clothes to wear. Okay, more than a few. But come on, how can I go to an event as special as the Disney Social Media Moms Conference next week – without at least a few brand spanking new threads to show off?

(I know y’all are all wondering about this #DisneySMMoms hashtag I keep tweeting. Simply put – “The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration was created as one of the first family-friendly conferences where social media savvy moms and dads can network, learn, and share knowledge of social media while experiencing the magic of Disney with their families. The goal is to provide an intimate experience packed with access to industry leaders and opportunities to network with peers.” Translation: being the BEST social bee I can be… at the happiest place on earth. PINCH ME!)

To tell the truth, I know I’m not alone. Much discussion has flown back and forth between fellow attendees about what to wear, who’s going shopping – where, when, and what did she buy. (This gets a little complicated when you have friends with similar tastes and styles – yes, there will be an influx of long, flowing maxi dresses at the event.) We all seem to have one thing in common: a closet completely devoid of anything we want to take along with us. Buy. Buy. Buy. Spend. Spend. Spend.

So why do most women have the uncontrollable desire to pack a suitcase filled with brand new clothing? Certainly 99.9% of the attendees would have no clue if we are wearing a new top or one that is 5 years old. And 100% of the attendees wouldn’t care either way.

In fact, I’m willing to bet that some women will spend over 10 hours doing a combination of online research, in-person shopping, closet raiding, Spanx fitting, closet raiding part II, and finally, a Hail Mary trip to Insert-Your-Favourite-Store-Here a mere 12 hours before they jet off to Orlando. Not that I’m speaking from previous experience.

So why is there pressure to walk off the airport runway like we’re walking on a fashion runway? 

I suppose when it comes down to it, it’s because most women feel their best when they look their best. And it’s hard to feel your best in a shirt that you know has been crumpled at the bottom of your closet for months; a pair of pants that you swear your baby once peed on; or a dress that has been worn so many times, it has stretched and faded to accommodate your more voluptuous areas. A new outfit means a new me; a “me” that has taken much care and attention to present the best Lena possible.

(“Don’t be fooled by the dress that I bought; I’m still, I’m still Lena from the block…” – Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

The last conference I attended was BlogHer ’12 in New York City – you’ll recall that I wrote up a “Frugal Fashion Recap” that included the following looks:

Since purchasing the dresses for BlogHer, I’m happy to report that I’ve worn the first two outfits once more, and I’ll be bringing the last one to Disney SM Moms to wear again at the opening family dinner. See? My entire wardrobe does not have to be new – I am capable of recycling outfits!

However, I am currently in fashion panic mode and will be undertaking a shopping mission of epic proportions this weekend, as I only have five (5) shopping days left before we leave. This time, I’m trying to plan for an outfit that can withstand 40-degree weather, but also be fashionable enough to identify myself as someone who is attending a professional conference. I’m thinking tank dress? Perhaps an airy cotton wrap dress? Fashion gods, have mercy.

Do you rush out to buy new clothes before a special event? Or do you work with what you’ve got?