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creative writing

Writing it Down.

January 19, 2016 By Lena

When I was 14-years old, I started a diary. It coincided with the beginning of high school. I was a fresh-faced “minor niner” and suddenly, my world became a lot more interesting. There were new friends, new crushes and of course, a new set of important tasks that almost overshadowed my education (where does one buy the perfect grunge-inspired plaid shirt to go with Revlon’s Blackberry lipstick?). And when I was happy, troubled or somewhere in the middle, I wrote.

I wrote about my insecurities and my fears. I jotted down unsolicited opinions on everything from the length of a mean girl’s kilt to the blueness of my crush’s eyes. I wrote about my first boyfriend and my first heartbreak. And most of all, I wrote about my hopes for the future. I wrote about having a job I loved, exactly two sons (it was always my preference), and of course, meeting my prince in shining Burberry sunglasses. Funny how things work out, huh?
let goI wrote in a first, second, third…. seventh diary throughout my high school years and even into my first year of university. I can’t describe the sense of relief I felt as I unloaded my feelings. My diary didn’t judge me, offer unsolicited advice or spill my secrets. It was a form of much needed therapy through a period of angst and personal discovery. …

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: creative writing, dear diary, Lena

And Now, A Word from Our Sponsor

December 15, 2013 By Lena

Hello Friends!

So wonderful to have a moment to chat with you. With the hustle and bustle of the season, I realize that it’s been a long time since I’ve had an opportunity to just write for the pure enjoyment of writing… which technically, is the reason I’m blogging today.

I took a peek at my site this morning, and was pretty surprised by the amount of sponsored content. Normally, I pride myself on having a good balance of organic posts (fashion boards, beauty reviews, my boys’ exploits and more) to sponsored (brand-driven) posts. However, with the holidays right around the corner, it’s no surprise that many companies are jostling for advertorial space on popular Canadian blogs, including my own.

So here’s the deal. I know that I’ve been talking about brands lately. Between Twitter Parties, sponsored posts and reviews – not to mention home renos, shopping experiences and travel – I agree that my organic posts are sorely lacking. However, sponsored content pays my bills, gives my children experiences they wouldn’t normally have, and enriches my life through product and service discoveries. Hence, I’m asking you to please bear with me during the holiday season as I navigate through my list of “to-do’s”. I too am looking forward to the new year, with a less crazy content calendar, and more time to write simply for the pleasure of writing.

In the meantime, please know that I put the same dedication and creativity into writing sponsored content, always with the aim of making the article entertaining and informative for you. Thanks for sticking with me through the busy holiday season! When things settle down, I promise to post a colourful beauty board (did you check out my Radiant Orchid roundup?) and share those predictable, unavoidable “Only Lena!” moments. Hugs and Kisses, friends!

P.S. I’ve made the monumental decision to spend every evening watching holiday specials with the boys. Hence, if you find me MIA on social media this week, it’s because I’ve treated myself to a peppermint hot chocolate, fuzzy pink slippers, and two boys who believe in the magic of Christmas. Sounds like the perfect way to savour the season!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Christmas, creative writing, Family, Lena, sponsored content

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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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