Mom Central Canada

I’m Ready to Capture Nikon MOMents

June 11, 2014 By Lena

About six months ago, I purchased my very first DSLR camera. Almost overnight, my blog’s photography component went from Jennifer Lopez to Meryl Streep. Sure, I was taking better photos, but that was mainly due to the fact that I simply owned a better camera. But for the most part, I was only shooting in two settings: “Auto” and “No Flash”.

Well, what good is a DSLR camera if you don’t have the training, skills and expertise to go with it?

That’s why I’m so pleased to be working on the Nikon MOMents campaign with Mom Central Canada for the next 12 months. Today, I’m off to enjoy a full day of training, which I’m hoping will give me the confidence and knowledge to get creative with my brand new Nikon DSLR camera. So I suppose what I’m saying is… get ready for gorgeous new photography on my blog in the months to come!

So, what’s my new machinery? It’s the Nikon D3300.

Creating beautiful photos and videos has never been more fun! Life is full of surprising, joyful moments—moments worth remembering. The D3300 makes it fun and easy to preserve those moments in the lifelike beauty they deserve: stunning 24.2-megapixel photos and 1080p Full HD videos with tack-sharp details, vibrant colors and softly blurred backgrounds.

With its included zoom lens, the new ultra-compact AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II, the D3300 is a small and light HD-SLR and easy to use, too. Like sharing photos? The D3300 photos can appear instantly on your compatible smartphone or tablet for easy sharing with the optional WU-1a Wireless Adapter*!

Whether you’re creating high-resolution panoramas, adding artistic special effects or recording HD video with sound, the D3300 will bring you endless joy, excitement and memories—just like the special moments of your life.

Follow the #NikonMOMents hashtag for a great conversation about photography. Have a great day all!

An Allan Candy Halloween!

October 23, 2011 By Lena

Newsflash: I Have a Sweet Tooth.

I’ve always been addicted to candy – even in my late twenties when it was decidedly unfashionable to be seen with the sugary stuff – and certainly now that I’ve got two little boys who know the difference between “dinner” and “treat”… and how eating all of one will lead to enjoyment of the other.

In fact, my fondest “Trick or Treat’ing” memories involve me dumping out all the chocolate and passing it along to my brother, but only after bartering for his pieces of Big Foot, Peach Slices and Gummi Bears. Which I proceeded to stash up my pajama sleeves for a reunion later on, once everyone was in bed.

(I’m bobbing my head from side to side right now, humming the tune “I Want Candy”. True story.)

And it’s safe to say that both my boys have inherited my sweet tooth; they generally push, pull and climb on top of each other when they hear the rustle of a candy bag….

Look at Me: Blissdom Canada ’11

October 18, 2011 By Lena

As many of y’all know, I attended the Blissdom Canada ’11 Conference in Toronto this past week. Although it wasn’t my first blogging conference (third this year after BlogHer and ShesConnected), it was the first time I had partied up the Blissdom brand.

It was pretty darn spectacular.

For those of you not familiar with Blissdom, “The very best blogging, public relations and social media pros from Canada and the United States will be gathering in Toronto’s Hilton Hotel October 13 – 15, 2011 for a few days of networking , business development, community building, and a whole lot of mapletastic awesome.”
– www.blissdomcanada.com

Now while I’d love to just launch into a rundown of my experience at the event, unfortunately, I do have to put forth a disclaimer: there’s a whole lotta Lena coming up. You see, I am the worst shutterbug in the world – I actually never take a picture unless it’s of my kids (even then, I fail miserably). So the only photos I have from the conference are a mishmash of pics that were tweeted to me and posted on Facebook; hence, me me me. So if you have an aversion to my goofy smile and predictable pose (right hand on hip) you may want to come back later. Frankly, I wouldn’t be insulted….

New Betty Crocker Cookbook! (Giveaway!)

October 7, 2011 By Lena

This lady needs no introduction. It’s Betty, b*tch!

One of the most iconic and trusted names in the food industry – and your kitchen – Betty has been helping North American families to dish it up for over 90 years. In fact, leafing through a well-loved Betty Crocker Cookbook is one of the first memories I have; no doubt igniting a life-long love of cuisine.

Do you remember selecting your first recipe to try? Skimming down the list of ingredients; figuring out measurements, and saying a quick prayer that it’d turn out alright? I do. And Betty was right there with me. In fact, Betty Crocker has released over two hundred cookbook titles (!!!) and sold millions of books throughout the world.

Chances are, you’ve had your own “Betty Moment” too….

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Celebrating Moon Festival with VH Sauces

September 12, 2011 By Lena

Happy Moon Festival!

Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Chinese calendar. Moon Festival falls on September 12th this year (today!) and on this date, families across the world will gather with brightly-lit Chinese lanterns to share delicious Chinese cuisine with one another.

If you’re looking to celebrate tonight – or any night – and would like a little help in the kitchen, VH Sauces offer a quick, easy and tasty solution for bringing a little culture into your cuisine. From zesty Orange Ginger to the NEW Spicy Thai Chili Sauce, you can create a healthy and delicious stir fry on the fly – perfect for those weekday nights when you’re craving take-out but want a more nutritious (and wallet-friendly) option.

To celebrate Moon Festival this evening, I once again threw together my 5-minute standby:

Lena’s Quick Un-Pad Thai
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes

250g capellini pasta
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup medium cooked shrimp, deveined
3/4 cup VH Thai Market Pad Thai Sauce
1 tsp sesame seed oil
2-3 leaves fresh basil, chiffonade cut
Original PAM Cooking Spray

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook capellini according to manufacturer’s directions (normally only about 3-4 minutes).

Meanwhile, spray a wok or large pan with PAM cooking spray; set on medium heat. Add minced garlic and fry barely 30 seconds; add shrimp, VH Market Pad Thai Sauce and sesame oil; stir for 1 minute until heated through. Toss with drained pasta, remove to serving bowl and sprinkle with fresh basil.

Ta-da! A delicious, Asian-inspired meal that you can create in minutes with a few staple ingredients on hand – including the VH Sauce, of course! All my boys gobble it up, and even though it’s not strictly authentic, the flavours are nonetheless perfectly balanced.

If you’re on the go and don’t have time to deal with pots, pans and dishes, do try VH Steamers. They’re Asian-inspired meals ready in less than 5 minutes and steamed to perfection! Available in Kung Pao Chicken, Shanghai Ginger Beef (my fave!), Honey Sesame Chicken, Chicken Teriyaki, Thai Chicken and Shrimp (think I’d love this too – a must try!) and Zesty Orange Chicken, they’re quick and tasty, perfect for lunch at the office or busy school nights.

What makes them unique? VH Steamers feature a DuoTray SteamCooker – a fancy title which essentially translates to the meal cooking naturally in it’s own juices, which helps lock in flavour and preserve the texture of the food. I cannot lie: my husband is addicted to these convenient little wonders, and I must admit that they are leaps and bounds better than your average frozen entrée. They’re a staple in our home!

Click here to visit VH Sauces and Steamers.

You can make your own Asian-inspired meal thanks to a $50 Grocery Gift Card! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us how you introduce culture into your cuisine.

I am participating in the VH Moon Festival program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of VH. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.