It’s Time for #ProjectPatio!
Hands up if you’ve waited for this long weekend… oh, ever since the very first snowflake fell last winter? The unofficial start of summer is among us, and I CAN’T WAIT!
The second and third weekend in May is notoriously busy for us, as Ryder was born on Mother’s Day, and Reid was born on Victoria Day weekend. Hence, there’s always something going on, whether it be a trip to grandma’s, a family BBQ, or basically anything that involves cake. Ryder is really big on the whole cake thing.
However, this year we’ve added a little more craziness into the fold, as we’re preparing our backyard for a complete overhaul. Yes, construction for #ProjectPatio begins on Tuesday! We’ll have to remove our old, flimsy patio set, tear down the boys’ mini playground, and say goodbye to the crappy, dandelion filled grass – that will soon be replaced with a stamped concrete patio. We’ve been in our home for almost 6 years now… which means that I’ve waited for this moment for over 2100 days. Yikes.
Of course, this is the perfect time to acknowledge my official sponsor for #ProjectPatio…. it’s none other than Home Depot Canada!
I am so fortunate to team up with the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer; a company whose core values include respect for all people, giving back to communities and of course, excellent customer service. I simply can’t count the number of occasions where me (or more often than not, my husband) has stumbled into the Home Depot Canada seeking help on everything from paint (it’s too green!) to gardening advice (I think we killed it!) to home improvement SOS (um… we just found out we purchased the wrong sized door). Through it all, the Home Depot Canada has been our go-to store, allowing us to create the home of our dreams!
And now… I have a very special delivery arriving today: products generously sponsored by the Home Depot Canada to create the perfect patio! Want a sneak peek of what’s on the way? Okay, I’ll share!
HAMPTON BAY Millstone 7 Piece Dining Set
$1099.99
The Millstone 7pc Dining Set is a great addition to any patio space. Includes two swivel rocker dining chairs and four stationary dining chairs and one open cast top 74×42 dining table. Comes with seat pads for added comfort.
- Aged bronze powder coated finish
- Rust proof aluminum frame
- Weather resistant fabric
- Dining chairs stack for easy storage
- Traditional design coordinates well with all décor
- Optional umbrella sold separately
- 5 year limited warranty
I am in love with the intricate design of the chairs and table – it’s a modern twist on traditional patio sets, and lends a certain element of style and differentiation.
HAMPTON BAY Millstone Umbrella – 11 Feet
$199.00
Enjoy the shade from this Millstone11ft umbrella. Coordinates with the Millstone 7pc cast dining set. Includes a crank lift for easy set up.
- Aged bronze powder coated finish
- Rust proof aluminum frame
- Weather resistant fabric
- Easy crank function
I’ve always wanted an offset umbrella that is situated on the patio vs the table; it allows conversation to flow freely between guests, and offers a certain Californian inspiration that I adore. The Millstone umbrella’s base is sold separately for $69.99; don’t forget to add that to your cart!
Finally, you could say that the next item supplied by the Home Depot Canada made my husband’s day year life. Alright, the truth is, he hasn’t stopped talking about it. (It’s borderline insufferable, to tell you the truth, but I just can’t burst his bubble when he’s so very excited.) Et voila!
WEBER Genesis S-330 Natural Gas Grill
$1249.00
This stainless steel rendition of our top-of-the-line Genesis natural gas grill creates an atmosphere of pure grilling excellence. It’s high-heat Sear Station burner, three standard stainless steel burners, and electronic ignition system are just a few of the noteworthy features you won’t be able to resist.
- 38,000 BTU cooking system provides powerful performance
- The 10,600 BTU sear burner for on-demand searing
- 12,000 BTU flush mounted side burner for multi-tasking
- The stainless steel rod cooking grids have a 7mm diameter
- Includes a 10-foot flexible natural gas hose
- Two stainless steel work surface offer plenty of room
(Yes, I think I have achieved “Wife of the Year” status. Thanks Home Depot Canada!)
We are waiting with baited breath for the delivery to arrive, and then we’ll be keeping it under wraps until the patio is complete (timeline is approximately 4-5 days). Follow me on Twitter (@Listen2Lena) where I’ll be sure to post photos of the transformation!
Until then, wishing you all a wonderful long weekend – Happy Victoria Day!







Upon entering the store I found THE perfect maxi dress for Conference Day One (pictured front). It was light, flowy, and featured an abstract floral pattern in one of my favourite colours for summer. The price: $109.99, less 40%. And when I presented my membership card at checkout, I instantly saved another 10%. A girl can get used to this!
Well, something had to be done. Thankfully
Here’s the scoop. In the market for a new camera, but don’t want to break the bank? The Nikon 1 J1 10.1 MP HD Digital Camera System that I gave away is currently listed on the MTF Price Matters site for $399.99 – which is an awesome deal in itself. But then, simply add coupon code LENALOVESMTF and it will take an additional $150 off the price – making your final price only $249.99!
So I suppose you can say it was wishful thinking when I believed I could stop in for some milk last Friday night. I know, I know – “Friday night, what?” << Yes, I have a cardinal rule for never shopping at Walmart unless it’s at 7:00am,
I love the idea of staying warm in style, because sometimes, even summer nights can feel chilly. Here’s a roundup of the more popular models -



It made absolutely no sense to me (and yet haunted me with a frequency of at least 1-2 times per week): in the dream, I would be working, driving, shopping, walking along a beach at night – really, insert any life scenario here – and I’d be licking a blue lollipop. But not just any lollipop; a big, round one… I suppose it would be slightly bigger than a Chupa Chup but smaller than a Big Mouth. It was hard to handle once in my mouth, but I kept at it just the same, trying to make it fit. I could taste the sweet, blue raspberry stickiness and just about get my teeth around it for a bite. But in the end – always, in the end – I’d pull it out of my mouth in frustration, and start smashing it against a hard surface until it shattered into pieces. And once among me, the sticky, blue mess, I’d feel a lot better.
I checked over the instructions once more. Chatting with Stephen Ledrew, segment to air live at 12:45pm. Check. Arrive at 12:00pm, as one of CP24′s professional makeup artists will get me camera-ready. Check. Need to get to the infamous 299 Queen Street West, where there is ample parking within a few blocks. Check.
After a good chuckle, I closed down the video and then took to Twitter to see what people were saying about it, because I’m curious like that. However, I was astonished at how many US media outlets were crediting “Walmart”, “variety stores” and “a Big Box Retailer” as the scene of Drake’s part-time job. DUDE! I recognized SDM the second I saw the uniform – never mind the tell-tale Life Brand product prominently featured by one discerning customer!
However, I soon realized that I was getting hot under the collar over a store that frankly, I hadn’t visited in months. How could a brand, so synonymous with Canadiana that I immediately recognized an employee uniform – have slipped off my radar for so long? I suppose, when it comes down to it, I’ve been lured by the convenience of the big boxes here in Canada; the chance to get everything in one place. And while I fill every prescription at SDM, I haven’t poked around there for quite a while. So, I decided to pay them a visit.
So, what’s the crap?
Unstopables are marketed as an “in wash scent booster”, which roughly translates to “pebbles of deliciousness that you toss in your washing machine.” They don’t clean; they don’t soften clothes; but hot damn do they ever deliver on the whole scent-boosting phenomena. Currently available in four scents – Fresh, Lush (my personal fave), Shimmer and Spring, the scent beads are dissolved during the wash cycle, infusing your fabrics with lasting fresh scent. Just use a little (or a lot!) and you have total control over the amount of fragrance and freshness.
Such is the case with Bath & Body Works Antibacterial Hand Soap. Before B&BW made their way north of the border, it was considered a luxury to own their sweetly-scented soaps. In fact, a trip to Niagara Falls, NY just wasn’t complete without stocking up on Kitchen Lemon, Sea Island Cotton and Sweet Pea Antibacterial Hand Soaps. At $3.75 per bottle, they were slightly more than the SoftSoap varieties found at Wal-Mart (okay, a lot more – often, SoftSoap could be purchased for $2.29) but I reckoned that my home was somehow homier with the addition of designer hand soap. Plus, B&BW frequently offered promotions, such as 5 soaps for $15, making it even more bang for my cross-border buck.












