*EDIT* My first delivery arrives today! (Squee!) But first, I was just creeping through the Urban Barn website and came across this little wonder…

Fish Hotel Fishbowl ($35): Give your pet fish a life of luxury with this palatial fishbowl.

Loves it! Ryder has been begging for a little fishy friend and I was sitting on the fence – mainly because I hate the look of traditional fishbowls. But I think this one will make the cut! And stay tuned for more #ProjectLivingRoom chat!

Original Post…

After a month-long Reno-cation earlier this year, you’d think I would be done messing around with my home. Right? Riiight? Wrong.

I am an incurable redecorator, and I’m not going to apologize for it. (more…)

That’s all, folks! I’ve re-decorated eight (8) rooms and have posted eight (8) equally awesome giveaways… my Reno-cation is officially complete!

If you’re looking for a little design inspiration, take a look at the reno-cation before/after photos. And if you’re looking to grab some of the loot for your own home – enter the reno-cation giveaways on the right sidebar!

I’ll be drawing for all winners at the end of June, so be sure to get your entries in! Good luck peeps!

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Sigh, it’s my last Reno-cation giveaway! I’ve had such an awesome time showcasing my new abode – and the companies that made it possible. Here’s another sponsor who made my life SO MUCH easier amidst the chaos: ConAgra Foods.

Now I know you’ve enjoyed goodies from one (or more) of their awesome brands – Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Hunt’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, POGO, Snack Pack and VH - at any given time, my pantry is stocked with these products!

We’ve already agreed that cooking was not my priority during the renovations, so when the good folks at ConAgra Foods asked if I needed a little help in the kitchen, I responded with a resounding “YES!”

I was very lucky to have received  a sampling of their most delicious foods to help create quick and simple meals, and of course, facilitate late night snacks! (Thank you Orville – your New Flavour Shakers White Cheddar Popcorn is simply delicious!)

I’m sure you’ve heard me say Ryder is addicted to popcorn, so his eyes literally lit up when the Smart Pop made it’s way to the pantry. (Did you know that Smart Pop has only 130 calories per 7 cups, 0 trans fat and 20% of your daily value for fibre, per 1/2 bag? Yup, it’s pretty much the perfect snack.)

If you didn’t catch my review on Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, shame on you! You’ve likely missed out on tons of quick, delicious and healthy meals!

With Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, you can enjoy unbelievably fresh tasting, healthy meals cooked to perfection in your microwave. The secret? High-quality ingredients and a unique DuoTray SteamCooker which circulates steam throughout the meal during cooking.

And if you’re looking for equally delicious, Asian-inspired meals, then you simply must try VH Steamers. I must admit, they’re my fave. Using a similar cooking technology as the Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers, flavour is locked in – which is especially awesome when the flavour is Shanghai Ginger Beef :)

(The husband has declared VH Steamers his new “emergency food”! They are stacked in my freezer at any given time.)

Wondering what I did with all the other goodies I received? I prepared the EASIEST MEAL EVER – which loosely consists of me throwing together a few items while masquerading as a master chef. Write this down:

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
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 and VH Market Pad Thai Sauce and 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 if you’ve got 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.

You find all the ConAgra brands at your local supermarket!

One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win Five (5) Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers Free Product Coupons and Five (5) VH Steamers Free Product Coupons! (Total Value $50)

To enter, simply visit Healthy Choice Gourmet Steamers and VH Sauces online and choose your two favourite flavours from each of the steamers. Then, leave a comment here telling us what they are.

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) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(4) “Like” Healthy Choice Canada on Facebook
(5) “Like” Life Unjarred on Facebook
(6) Tweet daily: Please use this ConAgra Foods Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on June 30th. Good luck everybody!

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know that I don’t often indulge in excess: I’ll never try to convince you to purchase a $1,100 stroller (rolls eyes), would rather wear Joe Fresh than John Galliano, and really do believe that extreme couponing should be an Olympic sport. Therefore, the fact that I’m about to endorse a $$$ fan should tell you that it’s pretty.damn.awesome.

Well, okay – it’s not just any fan. It’s the famed Dyson Air Multiplier: the revolutionary, stylish new blade-less fan. You’ve likely seen the commercials, or the products on display at your local Home Outfitters or Future Shop, and thought… I want that fan.

And so you should.

“Dyson Air Multiplier fans work very differently from conventional fans. They use Air Multiplier technology to draw in air and amplify it up to 18 times, producing an uninterrupted stream of smooth air. With no blades or grille, they’re safe, easy to clean and don’t cause unpleasant buffeting.”

Now I won’t get in a huge discussion about the technology behind the fan, but here’s AM101:

Up to 27 litres of air per second is drawn in by an energy-efficient, brushless motor. A combination of the technologies used in turbochargers and jet engines generates powerful airflow. Next, airflow is accelerated though an annular aperture. It passes over a 16° airfoil-shaped ramp, which channels its direction. Air behind the Dyson Air Multiplier fan is drawn into the airflow, through a process known as inducement. Finally, air around the machine is also drawn into the airflow, through a process known as entrainment, amplifying it 15 times.

(If you just got excited by that tutorial, you may be a dude.)

Why the Dyson Air Multiplier Rocks:

1. It’s Safe. Having two curious little boys – who are especially attracted to fast-moving objects – I can’t tell you how relieved I am to have a child-friendly option. Because the Air Multiplier is sans blades, I don’t have to stress over wayward fingers, toes or heads being hacked off. And please don’t get me started on the “safety grill” of conventional fans. As a child, I stuck a crayon inside said grill and literally blanketed a room in wax confetti. Considering that a crayon is the same width as a child’s finger, there’s a very relevant reason why no traditional fans will ever see the inside of chez Lena.

2. Easy to Clean. See that simple, ergonomic circle? Yup, just a simple wipe and you’re good to go. None of that dense, chunky dust settling into blades or grills, because let’s be honest, moms don’t need another reason to clean.

3. No Choppy Air. Before owning this fan I believed “buffeting” was the art of visiting buffets and leaving without loosening your belt or buttons. Turns out it actually refers to an annoying, choppy motion that traditional fans employ (ie. throwing air at you in hypnotic waves). The airflow from the Air Multiplier is smooth and covers an area unheard of by those bladed buffeters.

4. Touch Tilt. Have you ever tried to angle a regular fan? Took your back out, didn’t cha? The Dyson Air Multiplier pivots on it’s own center of gravity, so a simple touch gives you the control and direction you need. The fan also has an incredibly low center of gravity, which means that the heaviest components are positioned at the bottom for increased stability.

The table fans (10 and 12″) retail for $379.99 and $399.99 respectively, and the tower/pedestal fans will set you back $549.99. They’re now available online at Dyson Canada, and at your local Home Outfitters, The Bay, Sears, Future Shop, Best Buy and Canadian Tire.

But why should YOU buy this fan? Well, I’ll be frank. I didn’t buy it; the Pedestal model (AM03) was very generously sent to me for my Reno-cation. Before testing it out, I likely would have laughed at the probability of buying a $500 fan – but, now that we’ve had it for about a month, I honestly think it’s one of the best investments a family can make.

Think about it – you can always use a little extra cool air, right? And when you consider the enviable safety aspects of the fan, it just makes sense to invest in a quality product. In my home, I’ve theorized that twenty little fingers over ten years is $2.50 per finger, per year. Yes, I could certainly make that investment for my peace of mind and the comfort of my family.

So heck ya, I’m endorsing this product. If you’ve had your eye on it, you won’t be disappointed.

Here’s a picture of my husband sticking my baby through the fan while in operation. (Note to Child Protection Services: it’s completely safe! Read the above review.)

Click here to visit Dyson Canada.

The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

If you’ve been following my recent Reno-cation, you’ll know that cooking wasn’t always a priority. Thank goodness for Bento; fresh, convenient and always delicious, their amazing products are the answer to sushi on demand.

“As the largest sushi company in Canada, Bento serves more than 10 million handmade servings of sushi per year through a network of 22 quick service ‘grab and go’ sushi bars in premier shopping malls and office towers; more than 350 on-site sushi bars in quality supermarkets and more than 2,000 supermarket and institutional food service locations. The brands which the company’s products are known by include: Bento, Bento Express and Bento Sushi.”

If you caught my previous Bento feature, you’ll know that no supermarket stop is complete without a tray of their famous “Handcrafted Sushi. Ready to Roll.”

Think you know all about Bento’s sushi? Think again.

Introducing Bento Kenzen, a line of innovative products which bring an eclectic mix of exotic, beautiful and, of course, delicious sushi items right to your grocery store. Available exclusively at select Loblaws, Zehrs and Real Canadian Superstore locations (where else?), you can indulge in truly inspired creations, such as:

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only. 

Now I’m not quite sure if anyone has been taking notes, but y’all may have noticed that Reid’s bedroom has been missing from the before/after footage of my recent Reno-cation. Ta-da! Here we go…

Reno-cation: Reid’s Room

Creating a new room for Reid was both happy and heartbreaking for me. On one hand, I was quite content to move his crib out of our master bedroom (we’ve since changed the space to a sitting area, complete with cream leather couch). But giving Reid a new dwelling also meant that we’d be removing all traces of Ryder’s old nursery, a room that I had put so much time, thought and love into.

Alas, children grow up, and Ryder has a smashing new bedroom, so it was time to introduce Reid to the place he’d be hanging out for much of his childhood.

BEFORE

Unfortunately, I only remembered to take pictures when the room was just ready to be painted, so I can only really show a limited “before” room. We had previously painted the room in a muted sky blue, and my father-in-law had added a sunset theme on top.

AFTER

As you can see, the above video was filmed with my new Kodak Playtouch Video Camera. It totally rocks! I was pleased as punch to receive the camera for review from Kodak Canada. Please excuse my slightly shaking hand – I’ve got a sprained finger and it was hard to hold steady :(

NOTES

The paint colour we chose was Para Paints #P5040-34 Double Bogey. It may be difficult to discern the exact colour in the video, so here’s a paint chip for you. There’s actually a LOT more yellow that shines through when on the walls, making it an authentic pea green – as opposed to our main bathroom, which is more of a mint green. It’s in the same happy, upbeat family as Ryder’s sea blue – perfect for two, happy and upbeat little boys!

On to the video camera -

Read this:

“Go ahead. Touch it. You know you want to. Its unique touchscreen lets you glide through HD video like never before. That’s the beauty of the Kodak Playtouch Video Camera. It puts the high-end features you want right at your fingertips. With on-screen editing, you can easily keep the moments you want and trim the ones you don’t. And when you’re ready to turn today’s escapades into tomorrow’s buzz, getting them online is easier than ever. Just press the Share button and your videos are automatically ready for the Web.”

I LOVE this video camera! There are so many features I honestly don’t know where to begin. From a high level, the camera is stylish, very easy to navigate from the get-go, takes stunning pictures and full 1080p HD video, and fits into just about every pocket (even those attached to skinny jeans).

The features that rock my world:

One-button upload. With the Share button and Kodak’s Share button app, sharing your pictures is ridiculously simple. After you record your video or take a picture, press the “Share” button directly on the touchscreen. You can then tag it to YouTube, Facebook, or even send it to someone via e-mail! Then, once your Playtouch is connected to your computer, and with Kodak’s Share button app, your videos and pictures are automatically uploaded (and simultaneously transferred to your computer). Could it be easier?

Video recording in True 1080p HD. Pop in a SD/SDHC card and record up to 10 hours of HD video – my husband’s favourite feature! We can shoot up close or over the horizon, and even enjoy playback on the device with courtesy of the bright 7.6 cm LCD touchscreen.

Edit in the palm of your hand. That’s right – you can make changes to your video, such as trimming and extracting a still image, directly on the Playtouch.

Choose your effects. YOU be the director; choose from a variety of resolutions and capture effects, including black and white, sepia, high saturation, and 1970’s film look! You can also take 5 MP HD still pictures, which makes it the one of the most versatile video cameras on the market!

Click here for a full list of Kodak Playtouch features and specifications.

You can also purchase an incredible range of accessories for the Playtouch, including tripods, a fisheye lens, remote controls, cases and more!

(BONUS: Save 20% on accessories with any new digital camera purchase until June 19th, 2011 at Kodak.ca.)

We take the Kodak Playtouch everywhere we go, because you never know when you’ll stumble on a Kodak Moment. The Playtouch is available in four (4) colours – chrome, black, teal and orange – so you can match your camera to your personality!

The Kodak Playtouch Video Camera retails for $179.95 and can be purchased from Kodak.ca.

One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win a Kodak Playtouch Video Camera! To enter, simply visit Kodak.ca and choose your favourite feature of the Playtouch. Then, leave a comment here telling us what it is.

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

(1) Visit Kodak.ca and choose one other product that catches your eye. Then, leave a separate comment telling us what it is.

(2) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena!
(3) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook
(4) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(5) Tweet daily: Please use this Kodak Playtouch Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on June 30th. Good luck everybody!

Note: The following giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents.

A home reno would not be complete without some fabulous pieces from MTF Price Matters. Not only do they have a huge selection of discounted merchandise for the entire home, they’ve also got some pretty sweet deals on hard-to-find items!

And when the company heard about my recent Reno-cation, they generously sent over a few fabulous products for my home, including a Hampton Forge Knife 8 Piece Set and this Fujifilm Finepix XP15! In fact, many of the Reno-cation before/after pictures were taken with this awesome camera. The Finepix XP15 is currently listed on Price Matters’ website for $103.99 – that’s a savings of $86!

Since my Q&A about MTF Price Matters continues to be one of my most Googled posts, here’s the info once again for your convenience:

Q: The prices are SO low! Is the stuff legit? 
A: All of the merchandise at MTF Price Matters is 100% authentic. They simply do not do knock-offs. So you can take the low, low prices at face value – they’re awesome deals, plain and simple!

Q: I’m wary of online shopping. What if I have a problem?
A: Their customer service is ridiculously good. Like, the best service I’ve ever received when purchasing online. So don’t be afraid to give them a shout with questions, concerns or feedback (EST customers keep in mind they’re located in BC – so mind the time difference).

Q: The sunglasses I saw yesterday are gone! What happened?
A: Inventory is constantly being updated – and the best deals sell out quickly – so check back often.

Q: Can I pick up my order?
A: If you happen to live out west, check out their Pay N’ Pick Up service – you can save on shipping by picking up your purchases at any one of their twelve (12) locations. They ship anywhere in North America – US customers, welcome!

Q: I’ve heard the shipping costs are high.
A: Not so! MTF Price Matters is pleased to introduce $15 flat shipping on all Canadian orders! That’s right – load up as much (or as little) into your cart and you’ll always pay a low flat fee.

Now if it were up to me, I’d grab:

Sodastream Genesis Home Drinks Maker - I’m obsessed with this machine! “Help reduce the effect on the environment by using tap water and creating an exciting range of sparkling soft drinks in your own home. Its fun for you, your family and friends and kind to the planet too.” I’ve seen it retail for over $200 – here, just $144.49!

Ladies Original Fit BootCut 7 For All Mankind Jeans – Price Matters always has the BEST deals on designer denim! “The classic medium blue wash is whiskered and slightly faded through the rear and thigh with subtle abrasion and distress.” And, at a HOT price of just $59.99!

Shop online 24/7 at PriceMatters.ca. Remember: inventory is constantly being updated and items are available in limited quantities. So when you see a great deal, grab it!

One lucky reader will win the perfect household item for summer, a Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker! (Retail Price $50, MTF Price Matters: $34.99!)

Now you can enjoy the finest homemade frozen treats – at home! The Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker lets you make your favorites in approximately 20 minutes, with no fuss and no mess. Just add ingredients to the freezer bowl, press ON and the machine does the rest!

To enter, visit MTF Price Matters and choose three (3) products that you think would be perfect in your home (or on yourself!) Then, leave a comment here telling us about them.

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) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(4) “Like” MTF Price Matters on Facebook
(5) Follow MTF Price Matters on Twitter
(6) Tweet daily: Please use this MTF Price Matters Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on June 30th. Good luck everybody!

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

For those who have been following my Reno-cation, it may have crossed your mind, “What about the kitchen?” Truth is, we don’t really need an upgrade, because it’s pretty awesome as is. However, we did require a) a back splash, which is still in the works, and b) a new showpiece kitchen faucet.

BEFORE

See that sorry looking faucet? What can I say – builder’s specialty. We’ve made do with it for almost four years now, but it’s constantly a sore spot with my husband, who believes a gorgeous island deserves a stunning showpiece faucet. And that’s where my good friends at Delta Faucet come in.

Features: 

- Design inspired by the fragile scallops of a sea shell
- Graceful curves provide a delicate beauty that adds a romantic touch to the kitchen
- Multi-flow temporarily increases flow rate to 1.75 gpm
- Single-handle design for quick and easy water control
- High-arc spout swivels 360° for complete sink access
- Pull-down spray wand features a 62 in. hose for a 20 in. reach to clean the bottom of pots
- MagnaTite docking keeps the spray wand secure

I am pleased to say that I completed 90% of the installation of this faucet myself; after reading through the instructions and putting the parts together, I only needed a friend’s help to connect to the pipes under the sink.

And now, I can’t believe how my kitchen has come alive! It is truly a “showpiece” – it wouldn’t be a stretch to consider the faucet a piece of art. To tell the truth, for about two weeks after it was installed, I would catch myself just staring at the clean, fluid lines with unconcealed admiration. It is THAT gorgeous. We chose the Chrome finish, but it is also available in Stainless Steel and Venetian Bronze.

So just what is Touch2O Technology? Simply put, Touch2O technology allows water to be turned on and off with just a touch anywhere along the spout or handle. You’ll save time (just keep the faucet at your perfect temperature), you’ll save money (no more running taps! It’s so simply to turn on/off, you’ll make it a habit to do so), and you’ll reduce the amount of germs and bacteria you’re exposed to, especially those that linger on faucet handles.

AFTER

If “OMG I want this!” is going through your mind, I’m certain you’re not alone :)

Delta Faucet offers a full range of kitchen and bath faucets. You can choose from classic or contemporary styling, and all of their products are designed with their commitment to sustainability in mind.

And if you’re looking for a little design inspiration, do check out Beige is Dead, Masco Canada’s design and lifestyle blog. Here you’ll find decor inspiration and learn fun ways to inject colour and vibrancy.

The faucet retails for $399.99 can be purchased at major Home Center/Hardware Stores across Canada. Click here to find a retailer in your area.

One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win an Addison Single Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet Featuring Touch2O Technology, in your choice of finish! (Value $400)

To enter, simply visit Delta Faucet and find two more styles you love (kitchen or bath), in addition to the Addison faucet. Then leave a comment here telling us what they are.

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) NEW Follow Listen to Lena! on Twitter
(4) “Like” Beige is Dead on Facebook
(5) Follow Beige is Dead on Twitter
(6) Tweet daily about this giveaway: Please use this Delta Faucet Giveaway Tweet.

I’ll draw for a winner on June 30th. Good luck everybody!

You didn’t think I’d just show off my fabulous new home without making it worthwhile for readers, did you? Of course not!

Beginning Wednesday, tune in for some fabulous Reno-Giveaways!

I’ve got a just a couple of rooms left (sigh, the husband seems to be taking his sweet time putting up a shelf and moving some furniture)… but this week I’ll conclude my wrap-up with tons of great prizes to be won.

Want a teaser? Ahem… that HP Photosmart e-Station All-in-One Printer is pictured here for a reason ;) Stay tuned!

My Reno-cation wrap up continues!

On to one of my favourite rooms – our master bedroom. My husband had just one teeny request: make it resemble a guest suite in Chicago’s W Hotel, where we had stayed during our engagement. Easy peasy, right? Ha!

Well, thankfully I had a few things going for me -

a) A spacious master bedroom
b) A cream couch without a home since we merged our living and dining rooms
c) The desire to add a touch of modern elegance to an otherwise boring bedroom

(Unfortunately, no mini bar.)

Aside from my beloved Urban Barn “Yoshi” bedroom set, my “before” look was sadly lacking inspiration.

BEFORE

Choosing a paint colour for the room was simple – I had my heart set on a smoky purple. It had to have just enough lavender to be pretty, but with a healthy dose of grey for an edginess that hints at contemporary styling. In other words, very W Hotel.

It took literally seconds for me to settle on Big Shot, #P5195-44. I’ve attached the paint chip here because I only had a chance to take pictures at night – and my camera’s flash pulled out too much gray from the walls, making it very hard to decipher the true colour. Now isn’t that the perfect smoky purple? It’s like PARA created it just for me!

And…ta da! (You may click photos to enlarge)

AFTER

To complement the green in my duvet cover I purchased fairly cheap lamps from Bouclair in a jazzy shade of fern green – but once in the room, they suddenly took on a very chic and contemporary feel. Shh… don’t say a word, but they were just under $15 each (they still appear on the website as $44.99 each but were definitely marked down in-store).

I bought the abstract picture of New York City, also from Urban Barn, some time ago… but could never find the right home for it. Now, I’m so pleased with the way the wall colour sets off the vivid strokes in the painting. Perhaps New York W instead?

All in all, we’re pretty much in love with our new bedroom. Although it may look a tad cool and impersonal, did I mention that we have the cuddliest duvet in the entire world? Lots of snuggle time!

Just a few more rooms to go! Next up on my Reno-cation wrap up… it’s Reid’s room!

My Reno-cation wrap up continues with my main bathroom. This was perhaps one of the hardest rooms to makeover, specifically because:

a) It was orange before. Yes, orange. Like a bright, happy, Home Depot orange.
b) I liked it orange.
c) No one else liked it orange.

BEFORE

I’m also pretty excited about my new shower curtain. Purchased from Sears during their recent White Sale, it features a gorgeous black and sateen silver damask pattern. It pairs perfectly with the milkiness of the light green, and as I’d been lusting after it for ages, I just couldn’t resist. Word on the street is that there are coordinating bath mats too… perhaps I’ll let my Visa take a breather before I explore that option ;)

Only a few rooms to go!

Lena, a WAHM of two feisty little boys, is a writer, social media enthusiast and authentic shopaholic. In fact, if it’s on sale – she’s already bought it.

She started her blog, Listen to Lena!, as a way of communicating the best finds to friends and family, but as she continued to blog, it was not long before an old passion was reignited – writing. And so her site evolved to focus on her love of creative writing and includes product reviews and features, humorous takes on parenthood and her famous random rants. In 2010, Lena was name Best Blog and Best Family Blog at the Canadian Blog Awards and is consistently ranked as one of the highest trafficked blogs in Toronto.

Lena has extensive experience partnering with brands and has been recognized as one of Canada’s top digital women. Now a Community Manager with ShesConnected Multimedia Corp., she enthusiastically uses her skills and knowledge to help elevate women’s presence and influence in social media.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ListentoLena
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Listen2Lena

- Of Special Note - 

Winner: 2010 Canadian Blog Awards, Best Blog and Best Family Blog
Winner: 2010 Mom Central Blogger Grant – “Big Brother Blues“
Winner: 2011 Ultimate Sandwich Contest, Black & Decker
Toronto’s Most Trafficked Blog: Swingcat Productions, June 2011
Top 35 Mom Blogs We Love: SavvyMom.ca, October 2011

- Media (2011) -

“Online Voting“, Canada.com – April 15, 2011
“Healthy Cooking with Rachael Ray“, Dr. Oz Show (television) – May 9, 2011
“Blogger of the Week“, Medium Mag – August 17, 2011
“Work with Me”, Marketing Magazine (print) – September 2011
“No Longer a Review Blogger”, Marketing Magazine (print) - September 2011
“The Miami”, The Toronto Sun (print) – September 28, 2011
“Rate Cards & Disclosure“, Panelist, ShesConnected Conference – September 30, 2011
“A Funny Bean Lover Blogger“, Van Houte, C! The Coffee Blog – October 21, 2011

- Affiliations -

Collective Bias, Member
Fisher-Price, Play Panel
The Fresh Diet, Spokesblogger
Ford Canada, Brand Ambassador
Life Made Delicious (General Mills), Connector
OFF!, Brand Ambassador
PARA Paints, Brand Ambassador
Toronto Beauty Bloggers, Member