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This Holiday Season, Give a Priceless Experience

December 7, 2019 By Lena 1 Comment

“Experiences, Not Things.” The saying was etched in sparkly red letters on a plush white throw pillow, carefully positioned on an elegant chair in a store window. I recall stopping in front of the small store, staring at the pillow while pondering the words before me.

Experiences, not things.

The moment was particularly poignant because just hours before, I had engaged in a discussion with my girlfriend about how travel is the perfect gift. You see,  it’s actually three gifts in one:

1) The gift of anticipation. Planning a trip with friends and family fosters closeness and offers a continuous build in excitement! From the moment you start thinking about booking a trip to the last-minute discussions about wardrobe, you’re on a happy high anticipating your great adventure.

2) The gift of experience. These include the sights you see, the foods you eat, and of course, the laughs you share with loved ones. Often, experiences also involve discovering a new country, culture or customs, which make them all the more enriching!

3) The gift of memories. Going through your camera roll; sharing an inside joke with a friend (“what happens in…”) or finding a ticket stub in your jacket pocket. You relive the moment all over again, hanging on to the good times until you start the cycle all over again.

This is why we choose experiences over things.

Of course, there are experiences, and then there are Priceless Experiences. Whether you’re booked to travel abroad or prefer to stay closer to home, Priceless Cities is available exclusively to Mastercard cardholders and provides access to unforgettable experiences around the world.
The best part is, there’s something for everyone! Enjoy a glass of prosecco and a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour at the hottest restaurant near you or play golf with a PGA pro while staying at a world-renowned resort and spa. You can even skip the line at a popular theatre show or take a hands-on donut workshop! …

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Filed Under: Food, Lifestyle, Travel Tagged With: mastercard, MasterCard Canada, miami, priceless cities, priceless experience, three wynwood

Start Something Priceless! The Surprise Getaway

September 25, 2019 By Lena 1 Comment

We are a family of travellers. Since 2012, we’ve taken over 100 trips together – exploring, learning, bonding, creating. In fact, the most enriching experiences I’ve had as a parent center around introducing my children to new cultures and cuisines. Family travel is awesome.

However, it was time to bid the kids adieu and TAKE A REAL GROWNUP VACATION!
My husband and I were (over) due for some alone time. Months ago, I started researching quick getaways where we could leave for a few days without overly disrupting the boys’ schedule or putting too much pressure on my mother-in-law (who would be looking after them in our absence). I kept everything a secret from my husband, mostly because I didn’t want to get his hopes up just in case I couldn’t pull something together. …

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Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: #startsomethingpriceless, galaxy's edge, MasterCard Canada, star wars, Walt Disney World

Back-to-School Shopping: Old School Edition!

August 15, 2019 By Lena 1 Comment

Tell me back-to-school isn’t the most wonderful time of year. Change my mind! I dare you.

Just like every summer, it seems the time has flown by and we’re already starting to prep for the new school year. Admittedly, I’ve eschewed the mall in years past, preferring to complete my shopping online (often, without input from my boys). I mean, it’s all the same to kids, right?

Except, this year, I don’t have kids. I have young men: Ryder is entering grade 6 and Reid is entering grade 4. They’ve both reached the age where they care about their clothing, shoes (excuse me, “kicks”) and absolutely every accessory that I’ll be sticking a label on (they may be young men, but they still lose stuff all the time). For the first time, they’ve asked to actively participate in back-to-school shopping! Because I have wonderful memories of shopping for all my “must haves” with my mom, I decided to forgo online shopping and take the kids to the mall. The experience? Priceless.
This year, I’m sharing my best tips for back-to-school shopping – the old school way! …

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: back to school, back to school shopping, MasterCard Canada, scarborough town centre

A Lifetime of Love with a First Time Fan

December 28, 2018 By Lena 15 Comments

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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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: #startsomethingpriceless, MasterCard Canada, Toronto Maple Leafs

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

June 9, 2018 By Lena 199 Comments

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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Filed Under: Family, Lifestyle Tagged With: costco.ca, Father's Day, MasterCard Canada, masterpass

Mastering the Art of “Me Time” with Masterpass

December 20, 2017 By Lena 189 Comments

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

This December, it’s all about me.

After 10 years of getting caught up in the holiday rush – shopping for presents, hosting Christmas dinner, losing my mind with blog commitments and ramping up for the new year – this time around, I’ve decided to simply … not.

I’m done. Out. Finito. And it was easier to achieve than I ever could have imagined. If you’ve been (or are currently) in the same boat, here’s how to master the art of “me time”, even during the busiest time of the year.

1. Practice saying no, and mean it when you say it. For the first time in 10 years, I am not hosting Christmas dinner. Now don’t get me wrong – I love having my family over for the holidays. I love baking and cooking and decorating and fussing about all the tiny details to make it a night to remember. But this year, I decided that I had earned a hall pass; we have other able-bodied members in our family who are just as capable of throwing a festive get together. The conversation went something like this:

“Hey! So I’m not going to host Christmas dinner this year; I’ll let someone else have a turn. So you guys chat … and let us know when and where to show up!”

I realize it may be too late for you to follow suit (there’s always next year!), but there are ways to lessen the burden if you are hosting, such as planning a menu with make-ahead items, declaring Christmas dinner a potluck so everyone shares the workload, or eliminating a few dishes that are not universal hits and yield too many leftovers.

(Need a great potluck dish? Try my Cranberry, Pear and Bacon Stuffing. Yum!)
2. Avoid shopping malls during the busiest time of year. Hey, I love hitting the mall as much as the next shopaholic (some would call it my home away from home) and I have nothing but love for my favourite stores. But during the craziness of the holidays – especially when you’re trying to maximize your well-being – there’s no bigger time suck than shopping for Christmas presents in-store. In fact, a recent survey by Mastercard Canada revealed the average time Canadians spend holiday shopping in-store is about 8 hours … but that doesn’t include the time spent bundling up in winter wear, clearing snow off the vehicle, driving to the mall, circling the parking lot, and finally, walking around from store to store, lugging heavy purchases. …

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: holiday shopping, MasterCard Canada, masterpass

Masterpass: My Favourite New Online Shopping Hack!

October 23, 2017 By Lena 229 Comments

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

This past week, I did something I hadn’t done in a really, really long time.

I went to my local shopping mall. It was noisy, and crowded. At 11:00am on a weekday! Dear lord, don’t people have better things to do on a random Tuesday morning? And ugh, someone coughed in my general direction!

Okay, clearly it’s been a while since I’ve been around, er, people.

The thing is, I love shopping online. It’s the absolute best! I can save time by shopping whenever it suits me, whether that be late at night or over my lunch hour. I can save money because comparing prices is as easy as opening a new browser tab, and many companies offer “online only” deals. And most of all, I can save my sanity, because I can browse in the privacy of my own home, for as long as I like without pressure from well-meaning sales personnel.
Therefore, I have just one question for you: Why aren’t you shopping online?

Recently, I discovered Masterpass. And within days of setting up my account and using it at participating retailers, I realized that it single-handedly addresses so many of the concerns Canadians have when shopping online. Today, I’d love to share exactly how it overcomes those barriers, with the hope that by the end of this blog post, you too will be setting up your Masterpass account. …

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Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: MasterCard Canada, masterpass, online shopping

Priceless Toronto: Summer in the City

July 28, 2014 By Lena

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

It happens to most of us at one point or another. We hold a membership to a club or service, but don’t fully understand the perks. We pay out of pocket for health benefit plans, but don’t take advantage of the massage allowance. We carry a credit card in our wallet, but don’t capitalize on the member benefits.

Super fun thing #72: Being rewarded. Just because.

I want every single one of my readers to do one thing this week – look into ways you can reward yourself. Read the terms and conditions of your auto club membership for hidden discounts; take advantage of online deals when shopping at your favourite stores, and if you happen to hold a MasterCard, take advantage of a host of special treatments, savings and perks.

Introducing MasterCard Priceless Cities, exclusive to MasterCard cardholders. In cities across the globe, you can take advantage of a host of special treatments such as a look behind-the-scenes or a spot at the front of the line, as well as access to private experiences and tickets to the most coveted events. Simply visit www.priceless.com and select the city you’d love to explore. Here, you’ll find downloadable vouchers for discounts, upgrades and more.

I’m so proud to share that Toronto has been included in MasterCard’s esteemed lineup of Priceless Cities! This summer, treat yourself to the luxury of the Ritz Carlton, and as a MasterCard cardholder you’ll be treated to a One-Bedroom suite upgrade. Visit the Canadian castle, Casa Loma, at a special price. Experience Ontario Wine Country like an insider with 25% off the regular price.

So, what can you do to have a priceless summer? You can…

Return to an Age of Bravery and Honour. As a MasterCard cardholder, only you are the recipient of a special price of entry to King Don Carlos’ court. MasterCard is proud to honour its cardholders with 30% off child general admission and 40% off adult general admission to witness the brilliance of all the cast at Medieval Times. (This is by far one of the most generous discount offers I’ve seen for this show! Take advantage while the offer lasts.)

We spent Saturday evening in King Don Carlo’s court, where our red knight – the truest son of mighty Castilla, Baron Ruiz de Roig – defended our honour in a mighty duel.

Medieval TimesYou can also let the family scream out loud at Canada’s Wonderland. Your family will get the best out of their day by exploring the park, and only your MasterCard gets you these thrills and adventures at a whopping $23 off the price of admission. (Hurry! These vouchers sell out quickly! Within hours of letting my Twitter followers know about this Priceless Toronto discount, they were sold out. But, good news! The site has been replenished and there are more available now.) We rounded out our priceless weekend soaring through the air on thrill rides. …

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Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: #LoveThisCity, family travel, MasterCard Canada, Priceless Toronto

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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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