Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

movies

Movie Buffs Rejoice! It’s the #RedboxCanada Twitter Party!

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I know, I know. You know all about Redbox from my previous post, right? But just in case you missed it, I simply have to remind y’all why it’s fabulous. Because what if I told you that you could watch everything from NEW RELEASES to old school favourites, in the comfort of your own home, for just $1.50 (plus tax) a day? That’s Redbox, friends.

You’ve likely seen a Redbox kiosk at a big-box retailer, grocery or convenience store near you. Redbox is Canada’s largest DVD “rentailer” with more than 1,350 automated kiosks across all 10 provinces, and if you’ve ever used the service, you’ll know it’s as easy as pie. Simply find a location online and select your disc (DVD, Blu-ray or Video Game) and reserve it. Go to the box, touch “pick up”, swipe your card and grab your disc. (Enjoy the show.) And the best part? You can return your disc to ANY Redbox location in Canada.

So, are you a movie buff? You won’t want to miss our star-studded #RedboxCanada Twitter Party! Join us on the red carpet (er… Twitter) for a movie-themed chat that you won’t want to miss. We’ll dish on celebrities, screen favourites, the most epic one-liners and more!
Redbox Canada GraphicSo, grab a bowl of popcorn and settle in for the party. And you just know we’ll have some amazing prizes to give away, including MOVIES FOR A YEAR! That’s 52 free rentals, tweeps! RSVP below, and see you on Thursday night. …

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By Invite Only: Want to See Despicable Me 2?

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Greetings Minions!

Another sequel? How Despicable!

In just a few short days, the world will be treated to the much-anticipated release of Despicable Me 2. The all-new animated comedy features the return of Gru (Steve Carell), his adopted girls, the unpredictably hilarious minions… and a host of new and outrageously funny characters. In this sequel, the Anti-Villain League consults Gru for help when they find themselves dealing with new super criminal Eduardo (Benjamin Bratt).

The sure-to-be family favourite opens nationwide on July 3rd, and with the kiddos out of school, and summer vacay in full swing, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a movie together. And… if you live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), boy, do I have an incredible opportunity for you!

Thanks to my good friends at The Home Depot Canada, join me for a private screening of Despicable Me 2!

Interested? Awesome! Here’s what you need to know – 

Four (4) lucky readers will win a prize pack consisting of four (4) tickets to a private screening of Despicable Me 2 on Saturday, July 6th. (There must be at least one adult present in your party.) You’ll be treated to concession stand goodies and we’ll even present you with an awesome gift: a DVD copy of Despicable Me, plus a Home Depot Canada kid’s apron, hard hat and set of pencils… featuring the adorable Despicable Me 2 minions!

If you live in the GTA and are available to attend our private screening on July 6th at 2:00pm (Cineplex Odeon Queensway Cinemas), kindly leave a comment on this post indicating your interest. Due to the awesome nature of this opportunity, please only leave your name if you’re certain you can attend, if selected. We wouldn’t want the tickets to go unclaimed!

I’ll randomly draw for four (4) winners on Tuesday morning at 8:00am. If your name is selected, I’ll forward instructions on how to pick up your tickets. Special thanks to The Home Depot Canada for sponsoring this event! Until then – Be Despicable!

Toons for Toddlers… It’s Chugginton!

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Last month, I let y’all know about Toons for Toddlers – 60 minute, toddler friendly screenings that run with lights left dim and reduced sound levels. If you’ve ever tried to take your little one to enjoy an animated movie in the theatre, you’ve probably found that once the lights go dark and the sound booms through the speakers, either your little one is scared… or else after an hour they lose interest. Toons for Toddlers is the perfect outing for your family!

With young children, November can be a challenging month. Days are grey, the weather is cold and damp, and these are the first weeks when running around outside for hours on end is no longer an option. Many of us go the family pass route for museums and other indoor fare, but if that’s getting stale, taking advantage of a Toons for Toddlers screening can be a nice affordable treat for the kids (and a welcome break for you!).

Last month Toons for Toddlers packed theatres with the awesome screening of the Wiggles Big Birthday, and this November 24 & 25 they are returning with The Best of Chuggington- Fan Favourites at participating theatres across Canada including Toronto, Ottawa, London, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, and Vancouver.

The best part? It’s an extremely affordable family outing! Tickets are only $6 per person (babies in arms are free). At the end of the show, each child receives a small gift (colouring sheet, stickers or other cool stuff), and if you want a morning off, this is definitely the kind of event that a grandparent could enjoy with their grandchild.

To reduce wait times at the box office, tickets are being sold in advance on line at www.toonsfortoddlers.com or you can phone 1-888-222-6608 for tickets.

About The Best of Chuggington: Traintastic adventures await in the exciting world of Chuggington where eager engines Wilson, Koko and Brewster are learning to become working trains. Join these three young chuggers on their adventures, fun and excitement on the rails. Throughout each episode, the trainees embark on different adventures where they learn to ride the rails of life and explore Chuggington, a safe and exciting world. Each episode is designed to teach simple, yet important, social-emotional lessons that help preschoolers prepare for their early learning years. Enjoy the show!

This post has been sponsored by Toons for Toddlers. 

I Am Totally Doing This…

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The very first movie I ever watched was E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

(Nope, I didn’t watch it in the theatre like every other kid in my generation; sadly, my parents didn’t do the “Let’s take the kids to the movies” kind of thing. However, they did buy the VHS from Shoppers Drug Mart when it was on promotion for just $16.99. Funny how you remember stuff like that, eh?)

With E.T., I was transported to another world entirely (pun intended). Never before had I been so enthralled by a story. Aliens! Space ships! Resse’s Pieces! That cute kid Elliott! Wowzers!

Did you love the little dude as much as I did?

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial celebrates its 30th Anniversary with its first-ever release on Blu-ray featuring an all-new, digitally remastered picture and includes the 1982 theatrical movie, an all-new interview with director Steven Spielberg, and “The E.T. Journals” featuring never-before-seen footage from the set of the film. The Blu-ray Combo Pack also includes deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, a cast reunion and more!

We got our hands on the Blu-ray and I must say, it’s one of the most enjoyable movie experiences EVER. Not only did my husband and I take a trip down memory lane, but we were able to introduce the boys to one of the “heroes” of our generation. Look for the special edition Blu-ray, on sale now.

And, if you’re still looking for a little pumpkin carving inspiration, try out this Extra-Terrestrial Pumpkin Stencil! I am totally doing this.