Lenzr Adds Four New Photo Contests!
July 19, 2011 by deblewis
Filed under Toronto, Uncategorized
Lenzr had added another 4 contests to their July-August season. Lenzr always adds new contests to their cycle, which is pretty great. You don’t have to wait long before a new contest to spark your interest is added to the roster.
Fireplaces and Furnaces Photo Contest:
The first contest is Fireplaces and Furnaces. Since it’s so hot outside, Lenzr is trying to cool you down by having you think back to the cold winter. Submit photographs of you in a cozy scene. You can be getting all nice and warm around a fireplace or furnace. The winner of this contest will get a Sony Laptop courtesy of an Ontario furnace installer. The summer season is, after all, the cheapest time to think about a furnace replacement or installation.
Toronto Tourist Attractions Photo Contest:
The second contest is all about Toronto Tourist Attractions. Everywhere I go in Toronto, I hear accents and different languages. It is tourist season but I guess I never realized how big of a “tourist” hub Toronto has. Our city does have a lot of attractions to offer visitors–the islands alone are great and appealing to both locals and tourists. Let’s all celebrate the beauty of Toronto! Submit the type of photo you would like in a travel publication. The winner of this contest will receive a Sea Eagle inflatable kayak courtesy of a Toronto B&B that’s as downtown as you’ll find in Canada’s largest city.
Haircuts and Hairstyles Photo Contest:
The third contest is by far my favorite this month. It’s all about Haircuts and Hairstyles. I know a lot about that, I’ve had some of the worst and best hair jobs, so I feel like I can relate to this challenge comfortably. The idea is to capture a beautiful, unique or iconic hairstyle, with the haircut as the main focus of your photograph. The prize is also incredible–you win a high-end blow dryer and flat iron courtesy of a new Yorkville Salon. You can also use the flat iron create beautiful waves, making it a 2 in 1, a curler and flat iron.
Objects in Motion Photo Contest:
The fourth contest that has been added is Objects in Motion. This photo contest is a bit of a challenge and in my opinion you might need a professional camera to get the winning shot. You must capture an object, person or animal in motion. Be sure your photograph indicates which direction your object is moving in. The winner will receive a Sony laptop courtesy of an international air freight company that’s constantly keeping objects in motion over land, sea and sky.
Be sure to enter your photographs before August 25th. Judges will deliberate and choose the photograph from the top ten. The winner will be announced on September 1st.
Liberty Social Hour – Le Bel Été.
June 27, 2011 by deblewis
Filed under Ontario, Toronto, Uncategorized

inLibertyVillage.com and CityEvents invite you to a series of socializing and networking events. Each Thursday will be hosted on a beautiful summer evening in various locations throughout Liberty Village. We present to you the “Liberty Social Hour: Le Bel Été.”
Liberty Village is the creative centre of Toronto, highlighting everything that is artistic, urban and chic. Liberty Social Hour will give Liberty Village residents a chance to experience the venues, and potential of Liberty Village while meeting your neighbours or collaborating with a local technology company.
Join us on the following Thursdays and create some valuable relationships within your community, Liberty Village:
July 7 – Barista Espresso Bar, 171 East Liberty St
July 14 – Merci Mon Ami, 171 East Liberty St
July 28 – Locus 144, www.locus144.com, 171 East Liberty St
August 11 – Mildred Temple, 85 Hanna Avenue
August 18 – Liberty Noodle 171 East Liberty St.
Sampler sushi appitizers
1/2 price sake cocktails
Sake tasting
From 5:30PM to 8:30PM, socialize, mingle, network, and experience your community.
And if that isn’t enough of a reason to experience this series, think of the free swag bags we’ll be giving out! We will be announcing a great drink or food special each week.
For more information visit www.torontocityevents.ca, www.deblewis.ca or www.inlibertyvillage.com and supported by www.mercadonews.com
Here are some photos from the first thursday at Barista Espresso Bar: Link
Merci Mon Ami: Link
Locus 144 :Link
Mildred : Link
Liberty Noodle : Link
Dolce Social Ballroom
June 21, 2011 by deblewis
Filed under Ask Deb, Ontario, Past Events, Toronto, Uncategorized
We recently introduced you to the hottest patios in Toronto. With delectable cuisine, incredible music and the best people in Toronto, the patios we highlighted will absolutely live up to hype this summer.
One of the patios, Dolce Social Ballroom, opened recently and we were there. Located just at the corner of King St. W. and Bathurst Ave., Dolce, as it is affectionately known, opened its patio in coordination with some of the youngest and hottest promotion companies out there: Lyme Productions and NuVibe. Between the crowds each company brought and the atmosphere of the natural paneling and white booths, the patio opening was an incredible event.
And we all know that King St. W. nightlife has always been above the standard. Small enough to be intimate but with the opportunity to share a drink with some amazing people from this great city, Dolce’s patio left no room for disappointment. 
On the second floor of 647 King St. W., the streets below seemed miles away. La Dolce Vita, the beautiful life that is Dolce Social Ballroom promises to be an amazing patio this summer.
Fresh Healthy Salad For The Summer Time!
June 13, 2011 by deblewis
Filed under Ask Deb, Uncategorized
The summer time always makes me want to eat healthy. The heat plays a huge factor–I have cravings for salads and fruits. Because of this, I figured I would share with you some of my favorite add-ons you can use as dressing and toppings on your salad to add an extra kick in your step and make it filling. I am going to share with you my favorite ingredients to make the perfect summertime salad. Very easy to do and delicious.
Bye Bye Lettuce, Hello Spinach!
Instead of the basic base of lettuce for your salad, try spinach. When I was a child, I really disliked spinach, I think it was partly because I associated it with the gross looking canned kind you see on Popeye. Spinach is very high in iron and calcium. If you are a vegetarian then spinach should become your new best friend. Iron is usually the number one vitamin that vegetarians are lacking because it is largely found in meat. Also, calcium is very important for the health of your bones. The warm weather is also very dehydrating and tiring so it’s good to feel light and weightless. So, for your salad, add the nutritious value of spinach.
No Need for Tomatoes, Think Strawberries!
Substitute tomatoes for strawberries. Since strawberries are sweeter, I find that they complement the spinach base better. Strawberries are also a great source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is incredible for the skin because it kills its bacteria and also helps brighten and even skin tone. Its antioxidant character is also great for the body because it helps the body with its necessary enzymatic reactions. Vitamin C is also needed for the production of collagen. Lack of collagen will cause your skin to produce more visible brown spots directly connected with aging. Collagen is necessary for the anti aging properties and preservation of the body’s youth.
Walnuts on Top!
Walnuts have high levels of antioxidants. They also have been proven to increase fat oxidation and reduce carbohydrate oxidation. This means that they will help fill you up while at the same time making sure that you are digesting your food properly. Walnuts improve the use of body fat, making them a healthy and light add on to a salad. It also doesn’t hurt that they are delicious. It is best to keep the walnuts raw because roasting them takes away some of their antioxidant values.
Bonjour Brie Cheese!
Brie is made from whole or semi skimmed milk. It adds an exquisite flavor and it’s a nice change from the regular cheese you find on a salad. The French love eating this for breakfast, but I simply enjoy it any time of day. Brie is light and rich in flavor. Meaning, it doesn’t weigh down the meal but it is rich in flavor and ties the whole salad together.
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing!
Best and final add-on to your salad. The mixture of olive oil and vinegar is perfect because it gives the salad the spice it needs and the benefits. Olive oil is great for the skin because of it’s strengthening values. but it is also wonderful because of it properties to displaces Omega 6 Fatty Acids. This means that olive oil has the ability to build a balanced Omega 6 fatty acid content. Olive oil is also known to lover blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
So what do you think of my choice of meal this season? I love this salad because every ingredient has its incredible benefit for the body. Summer is all about putting your best food forward, so make sure you are being taken care of, from the inside and out.
Lenzr.com Launches New Photo Contests!
June 9, 2011 by deblewis
Filed under Uncategorized
It’s contest time at Lenzr.com and for this cycle they have 4 new contests and, as always, great prizes. The great part about the Lenzr.com contests is the fact that they celebrate those who love photography and the art behind it. The contests are always clever and unique, challenging budding photographers to think outside the box and channel their artistic sides for the win.
Construction Sights:
The first contest for this cycle is called Construction Sights. Basically, contestants have to go out and find the beauty behind the thing we all fear most in the morning: construction. Since Toronto has a lot of that going on right now, it shouldn’t be too hard to find the opportunity to get snapping.
Maybe when you are on your way to work or can take a moment to potentially win a prize. Get your camera focused and take some shots of lane closures or the creation of new condos. The winner of this contest will receive a sony laptop courtesy of an Ottawa windows company. They are known for their expertise and quality work.
Best Staff Office Party:
This contest seems destined to be a favourite, maybe it’s because the word party is in the title and we all know how much everyone loves a great event. Pretty much all of us have experienced a Best Staff Office Party. It can be a co worker’s birthday office celebration or Christmas party. The idea is to showcase the most fun you and your coworkers have had at a party.
Think, everyone standing around the karaoke machine waiting for their turn to sing their hearts out, or your boss mixing the drinks and refilling the snack bowls. The winner of this contest will receive a Sony Laptop courtesy of an IT staff firm. If you are looking for help finding a new employee or searching for your future career, they are the ones to call.
A Counting Exercise:
This contest reminds me of a time I went to my friend’s kid’s birthday party. I remember sitting there, enjoying the party but constantly looking over at the presents. I kept counting the number of gifts wrapped in pink paper. If you didn’t know, pink is my favorite color so naturally I am attracted to it. Anyway, whenever the conversation was taking a slight tangent I would find myself trying to guess and count the number.

The A Counting Exercisewants participants to take pictures showing their visual statistical distractions. The winner of this photo contest will receive a Sony laptop courtesy of some web savvy North York accountants. Your company’s success should be your accountants number one interest. The sponsor offers the best quality and efficiency when it comes a business’s needs.
Shafts of Sunlight:
This contest is very beautiful. The title of it makes me feel calm and relaxed. It probably has to do with the fact that I have desperately been waiting for the warm season. Participants in the Shafts Of Sunlight photo contest are asked to make a shaft of light seem tangible. It needs to look like something the judges can hold on to.

Photos can be taken indoors as they brighten and uplift the mood of the room. The winner for this contest will receive a Sony DSCH70 Camera, sponsored by sunrooms in Ontario Canada.The contests all have a ten day Voting Period that begins July 15th and ends July 25th. During that time, other members and visitors to the site will be prompted to rate the pictures. You can promote your photo to all your friends and get as many votes as possible. Only the ten photos with the most votes get to advance to the Lenzr Judges on July 25th. The Judges will deliberate and the winner will be announced on the Lenzr Blog on August 1st. You must be 13 yrs+ to enter. Open to all Canadian provinces, excluding Quebec. For more information on the blogs, check out the Lenzr Blog.








