Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Toronto

When the Moon Hits Your Eye….

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Can someone *please* explain this expression to me? I mean, if the moon suddenly looked like a pizza pie, I’d ditch whomever I was with and boot it to the nearest take-out counter. Pizza love? Now that’s amore!

However, I rarely order pizza when I’m out and about for two reasons:

1) I’ve been trying (with moderate success) to live a gluten-free lifestyle. It’s not because I have an allergy or intolerance, or because I’m overly health-minded. It’s just that when I reduce gluten from my diet, I legitimately feel better. Sometimes, I’ll brag about my gluten-less ways (as opposed to glutton-less ways) but the truth is, wheat-free for me is more of an idea than a lifestyle.

2) I’m rarely satisfied with restaurant pizza. My preferred pizza is wood-fired with a thin crust, and has just the right balance of sauce to cheese. The sauce must be savoury without being tangy and the cheese should be stringy without being milky.

In Toronto? Let me recommend FIGO.
pizzaOne of the newest hot spots in the Entertainment District, FIGO offers up authentic Italian cuisine using contemporary techniques. I recently had the pleasure of dining there with friends, and their Margherita Pizza is one I’ll definitely have again.

How do you prefer your pizza? Are you a meat lover, a thin crust aficionado or a fan of pan pizza?

Ho! Ho! Ho! Toronto, it’s the 111th Santa Claus Parade!

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At Toronto’s very first Santa Claus Parade in 1913, Eaton’s arranged for Santa to be pulled by live reindeer, which had been imported from Labrador specifically for the Parade. The reindeer had a dedicated veterinarian who looked after them and supplied their special diet of moss. That year, children along the route started to march through the city along with Santa, stopping to dance and sing as they went. They dropped letters to Santa into baskets on poles carried by bearers, and every letter with an address received a personal response from Santa.

Today, there are more than 25 animated floats with themes ranging from Harry Potter to Hockey Night in Canada. More than 200 Celebrity Clowns lead the Parade and raise about $200,000 annually, while around 2,000 costumed participants march happily through Toronto’s streets. Because of its popularity, Toronto police have asked Parade organizers to extend the route by one mile in order to spread out the crowds of spectators.
1H0A4114 2 copyToronto’s Santa Claus Parade is the longest running children’s Parade in the world, broadcast across North America, as far away as New Zealand, Norway and Ireland. This year marks its 111th celebration!

“The Santa Claus Parade is a highlight for the City of Toronto, which brings joy and entertainment to people across Canada every year,” says Peter Beresford, Santa Claus Parade President and CEO. “Our continued partnership with MLSE helps ensure the Parade is at its magical best.” …

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GTA: Hoop It Up and Make A Difference!

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Torontonians – Wednesday is going to be a beautiful day. Sunny, warm and smiles all around… so why not have some fun and make someone else’s day just as bright?

This Wednesday, June 15th, Swiss Natural is encouraging Torontonians to move their hips and hula hoop at the Route of Change event to raise funds for Breakfast for Learning. (Fun!) Supporters are invited to join “Hoop Toronto” professional hula hoopers, at Yonge Eglinton Square from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for demonstrations, giveaways and fundraising initiatives. For everyone who joins the fun and hula hoops, Swiss Natural will make a $1 donation to Breakfast for Learning. The event kicks off a three-day Swiss Natural “fun-raising” initiative of hooping in support of Breakfast for Learning throughout downtown Toronto June 15 to 17, 2011.

The Players:

Swiss Natural, a Canadian owned and operated company offering over 400 vitamins, minerals and supplements. You’ve likely got at least one Swiss Natural product in your medicine chest; I’ve got five. The company created Route of Change to both give customers a voice and provide a comfortable environment where it would actually be heard. Bonus: Dr. Elvis Ali, ND is a Natural Health Educator at Swiss Natural, is there to answer your questions and help you on the path to better health and wellness.

Breakfast for Learning helps support and sustain school-based child nutrition programs through grants, ongoing support, and child nutrition resources and research. In 2009-2010, Breakfast for Learning provided funding to 2,300 programs, providing healthy meals and snacks to over 267,000 children and youth.

Hoop Toronto has converted thousands to the joys of hooping through energizing classes, high-quality hoops, and mesmerizing performances

The Cause:

One in nine children in Canada live below the poverty line and this is only one of the many reasons children go to school hungry each day. 31% of elementary school and 62% of secondary school students do not eat a healthy breakfast daily. Childhood obesity rates, Type 2 diabetes and other health-related issues continue to rise; and still Canada remains one of the few developed countries without a national nutrition program for children. (Source: Breakfast for Learning)

The Deets:

Yonge Eglinton Square on Wednesday, June 15th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

p.s. This isn’t the last you’ve seen of Swiss Natural on Listen to Lena!… since beauty starts on the inside first, look for a sweet giveaway during the July beauty event!