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pets

It’s Time to Have “The Talk”.

March 31, 2014 By Lena

My boys are only about a month shy of their 4th and 6th birthdays, so I’m a little surprised that it’s already time to have “the talk”.

Truthfully, I assumed I had at least a few more years. My sons are barely out of the toddler stages! I had convinced myself that the the dreaded conversation would take place sometime in the distant future, so I did little to prepare myself – I gave it little thought and importance. Let the parents of tweens worry about it, I thought, I’m still PVR’ing Disney Junior shows!

But it happened. It happened and I was caught off-guard; silently cursing the acceleration of childhood. And it happened at the most inopportune moment; I was flustered, disorganized and trying to accomplish about a thousand things at once, and there stood Ryder, hovering in my doorway. I could tell he wanted to ask me something, and I turned to him, my face dripping with annoyance and expectation. “What is it?” I snapped.

If I had known this would be the pivotal moment, the moment I had both feared and dreaded would come eventually (but not now!), I would have been better prepared. I would have had all my key points of love, nurturing and most of all, quiet authority and instruction, ready to dole out with calm, maternal intelligence. I would have called out to my husband, who, as the man of the family, would’ve been able to delve from his own experience.

Yet my perfect vision of “the talk” crumbled at my feet when out of mouth of my sweet, young and naive son, the dreaded words flowed: “Can we get a dog?” Unprepared, I blurted out an unintelligent, garbled response that only the most practiced ears would understand and interpret as no f*cking way.

So, my friends, the hour is upon us and it’s time to have the “No Dogs Talk”. As an aside, I blame my best friend for the premature timing of the discussion, as she recently acquired the most adorable puppy I’ve laid eyes on and I’ve been showing the boys his photos. So I suppose I’ve had a hand in this debacle after all, and now it’s time to set the record straight. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stand firm – and that troubles me. In fact, my husband is fairly convinced I’ll eventually give in. But for the time being, I will only take care of two babies, dammit.

Do you have pets? Were you convinced by your children – or, as a child, did you convince your parents? 

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: Family, growing up, pets, Reader Favourites

Animal Planet Pet Products… ENTER TO WIN!

April 27, 2011 By Lena

My husband has been strongly suggesting we get a pet pug.

Now not having grown up with pets, I’m a bit hesitant to introduce a new member to our family at the moment – especially since I’m finding it hard to keep up with two little pets (read: boys) I already have. Plus, Reid has recently taken to holding a toy in his mouth while he crawls around… so it’s very pug-like, no?

Anyhoo, I happen to know many dog and cat lovers, and therefore jumped at the opportunity to introduce these super adorable (and affordable) pet products from Animal Planet!

Now available in 70 Home Outfitters locations across Canada, Animal Planet’s new line of innovative pet products are developed to be both stylish and functional that are sure to speak directly to the modern day cat and dog owner. Products include:

COLLAPSIBLE TRAVEL KENNEL ($19.99)

Fido can be comfortable wherever you go thanks to this portable and lightweight travel kennel. With its weather resistant material, easy set up, and roll-up door and sides, this kennel is the perfect shelter for your pet anywhere you go.

The kennel sets up in seconds for home or travel, and quickly folds flat for easy transport or storage. And I happen to love the fashion-forward colour combinations!


COLLAPSIBLE PET HOUSE ($24.99)

With a soft and cozy interior, this collapsible pet house will make your pet feel like they’re in their own palace! It sets up quickly and folds flat for easy storage and transport making it the perfect portable shelter for your pet.

Even better – the soft roof is detachable for hassle-free set up and break down.

PORTABLE ZIP-UP PET BEDS ($14.99)

Fashionable, compact and durable, these easily transportable pet beds zip up quickly and feature comfortable shoulder straps for easy carrying. With a handy outside zip pocket, stylish graphics and attractive colors, they are the perfect for the fashion-conscious pet owner.

Nice to know: Your purchase of this product benefits the principal partners of R.O.A.R., Animal Planet’s project to help make the world a better place for animals.


PET BEDS – Small ($9.99)

Repay your pet for all the love and affection with greater comfort and cozier nap times. The Animal Planet Pet Bed is 100-percent fiber filled, keeping your pet warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather. This durable, pillow-like bed is perfect for any pet up to 25-pound and is finished with an ultra-soft machine washable cover for easy maintenance.

All of the products allow you to travel with your pet easily and in style. And check out those prices! Truly an affordable product from a reputable company. I’ve seen the products at Home Outfitters and think they’re beyond fabulous. Makes me wish… maybe…


Canadians can now find Animal Planet pet products at your local Home Outfitters. You can also score 25% off a regular priced item (including pet products!) when you use your HBC Card and present this coupon before April 28th.

Americans can purchase Animal Planet pet products through Amazon.com, where shipping is free on orders of $25 or more!


Three (3) lucky winners will receive one Animal Planet pet product! Up for grabs: a Collapsible Travel Kennel, a Portable Zip-Up Pet Bed and a Small Pet Bed! For the non-pet owners, don’t forget – they make great gifts for your pet loving friends.

To enter, simply choose your favourite product and leave a comment here, telling us what it is and the feature(s) you like most.

You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment for each. You can:

(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena!
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook
(3) “Like” Animal Planet on Facebook
(4) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(5) Follow Animal Planet on Twitter
(6) Tweet about this giveaway (http://tinyurl.com/3cpcju5). You may tweet daily.

Giveaway open to US/CAN. I’ll draw for a winner on May 27th. Special thanks to Animal Planet, and good luck everyone!

Filed Under: Contests Tagged With: Animal Planet, contest, Home Outfitters, pets

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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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