Loulou's views

Sometimes mixing business with pleasure can be a very good thing. I had a great time when I was recently in south Florida enjoying a family vacation and also getting the chance to tour the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort—the perfect way of mixing the best of both worlds! My business trip check-list Going away on a business trip  can be different from other kinds of travelling. That doesn't mean that it can't be enjoyable, but it does involve a little more than simply throwing some clothes into a bag and setting off for some sun, sea, and sand. When you have a family, even a normal holiday means that you have responsibilities to other people but when it is a work-related getaway, things are a little different. Making sure that you have a business trip check-list is essential—here are some tips to help you: Information Depending on whether you work for yourself or for a company, the level of research and preparation you have to do can vary a great deal. I like to keep a ...

I miss the sun, warm days, and flip flops on my feet. I miss little dresses, patio nights, and the sounds of summer, like my children splashing in the pool. I miss the smells of summer, too, like suntan lotion. I'm over winter—the cold, the snow, the blowing wind, the ice, and all the winter gear that has taken over my house— enough! Sadly, winter is not quite finished with us yet, as is quite evident by the looks of things out there right now. (Just brutal.) Thankfully, I'm leaving winter behind for a vacation down south, to my favourite south Florida resort , where I'll be enjoying the warm sun on my skin, and the fact that we can all wear our summer clothes again... at least temporarily. Bring on the sunshine. Here are some colourful things that remind me of spring that I'm loving right now: Hanky Panky: These are, hands down, the best. They're comfortable, sexy, and come in many awesome colours. These make a great little gift, too and are totally aff...

I've loved to travel every since I was a child. I have great memories of family trips—from summers spent in Greece, to vacations in England, Cape Cod and Florida, every vacation was special and memorable. Some trips, to this day, are more vivid than others, and one of those vacations for me was the first time we went to Orlando. Now, I'm a beach girl, so going to a city where we weren't surrounded by the ocean made me a bit scared, but once we arrived, I loved it. Disney World was great, even though the line-ups were long, but my favourite part was the resort we stayed in: The Hyatt Recency Grand Cypress . I was almost 13 years old, and I fell in love with the gorgeous pools, waterfalls, slides, and tropical landscape. This was a five-star, five-diamond resort, and the service was amazing . I can't wait to bring my kids. As an almost 13 year old girl, exploring the resort and making new friends with other kids my age was a highlight of my trip to Orlando. ...

I love to travel, especially during the winter months. Travelling as a family is so much fun, and with each trip we take, new memories are made. We frequently vacation to our favourite south Florida resort, but we've also considered buying a "home away from home" to spend even more time in our favourite city down south. After all, our winters here in Canada last for a very, very long time! Just with any big purchase, looking into buying a vacation home is exciting, but stressful. There is so much to discuss, and making a spontaneous decision is not well advised. After all, you're not just buying a new pair of shoes! Planning and thorough research will bring you the best results. Here are some tips and tricks for you to use, so that you'll get exactly what you're looking for: Preparation The search for a vacation home may be a little glamorous at some point, buy first you have to spend some time doing some serious research—things like looking through ad...

As a working mom of two, life is really hectic and sometimes, crazy. I know it's almost a faux-pas to talk about how "busy" we are, but hey—it's the truth! I know I don't stop from the moment I wake up at 6 a.m. until my head hits the pillow sometime after 1 a.m. every night. Most meals are consumed standing up, and I often feel like I live in my car. (Thank goodness for good music, otherwise I don't know what I'd do!) No matter how busy I am, I always make time for me . I go for weekly blow-dry's, I love going for massages, and if possible, I'll go for manicures and pedicures once or twice a month. I think it's really important to take care of ourselves, including eating well and working out. Looking good is just as important as feeling good, and the two go hand in hand, I think.  One thing I don't do enough? Facials! They're just as relaxing as a massage, only with the added bonus of doing something really good for your skin ...

Today I played co-host on Daytime Ottawa alongside Derick Fage, and it was a blast. We talked about all sorts of things, like if we'd go to Mars or not. (Um, no.) I even gave Derick some tips on dancing because he's going be one of the celebrities on next year's DWTS for Easter Seals. The thing I love best about Daytime is that it's an entire hour focusing on local talent, and it's a great way to learn more about the things that are going on in this awesome city we live in. I always love being on the show, but co-hosting is a whole other level of fun! (Can't wait to come back, Derick... hint, hint.) I even had the chance to make healthy brownies! I look a bit sad in this picture, though. It's just my baking face, which is similar to my "math" face. (The face of confusion!) And this is my look of surprise once I found out what a "cookbook" is actually used for. Just kidding, you guys. I know what they're for... I jus...

Some days, it feels like I spend more hours than I should in my kitchen—and I'm not even cooking or baking! Running a house with young children in it means there is always a sink full of dishes that need to be washed, and so I'm very thankful for my trusty dishwasher who gets to do all the "dirty" work. I was recently given the chance to try out the new Finish Power & Free dishwashing tabs by Quantum and at first I wasn't sure they'd do as good as a job as the ones I'm used to using, because they're made with less harsh chemicals compared to the usual brand we use. I love switching to cleaning products that are safer for my children, our house, and the environment, so I was excited to give these a try, but I was apprehensive at first, because sometimes, I've found, safer-for-the-environment products don't always do as good a job cleaning as the products that use harsher chemicals. The end result? Perfectly clean, streak-free di...

Did you watch the Golden Globe Awards? There was so much to love this year! Mostly, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. They were, as expected, hilariously awesome. And they looked fabulous. Seriously, wow. The hair, the make-up, and the dresses? Loved. These two are brilliant, gorgeous, and funny, and they make the Golden Globes worth watching for the non-stop laughter. They are the best. (And hey, Tina is Greek, so bonus points right there!) Okay, let's talk about how glad I am that Jennifer Lawrence won Best Supporting Actress for American Hustle. As you may know ( surely you all know by now) I really loved American Hustle. I am SO glad American Hustle won Best Picture, too! I'm loving the soundtrack, and I am dying to buy an entire new wardrobe consisting entirely of all the gorgeous clothes Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence wore in the movie. (And of course, I'll be stocking up on that double-sided tape!) Congrats, Jennifer Lawrence —not only for your big win...

Did you make any resolutions for 2014? Most people make a few, and by the time January is over, so are the promises of losing weight, eating healthy, and spending less money. That's why I don't really believe in resolutions... because I know they can be so hard to keep! A few months ago, before I started practicing for Dancing With The Stars for Easter Seals , I started working out and eating better. No more crash diets. No more eliminating the foods I love, like bread. (Life without carbs is not worth it, guys!) And you know what? By eating sensibly and working out, I managed to lose a lot of weight, and I've never felt better. According to a recent survey done by Kellogg's, 97% of Canadians agree that a positive attitude can help them achieve their goals. I think this is so totally accurate. Seeing the glass half-full is always better than the alternative, and doing the things you love, and staying busy, are really motivating. So is being a parent, because there is...

How are you handling this bitter cold? Sadly, this crazy minus 40 temperature plus insane wind plus crazy amounts of snow is just another typical day in January, if you live in Canada. And somehow, after 36 years of living here, I am still not used to it. I am definitely over the ridiculous, bitter cold, and I'm looking forward to spring, warmer days, and little dresses... no more layers! Winter has been completely brutal this year, and I'm counting down the days until we go away. In all the craziness of December, I forgot to share with you my gift wrapping segment on CTV Ottawa Morning Live. Although the holidays are behind us, gifts need wrapping all year, so here are some unique gift wrapping tips for you , so the next time you have to give a gift to someone, it'll look amazing! One day, maybe I'll turn my love for shopping and gift wrapping into something more... but for now, here you go!   Thanks for having me on again, CTV Ottawa, and thanks...

It's been a year since Tina Fey and Amy Poehler  made award shows worth watching again, and this Sunday, I'm more excited than last year for the Golden Globe Awards, because, well, Tina and Amy are back, along with some amazing presenters, like Robert Downey Jr. and Reese Witherspoon. Last year's Golden Globe Awards were fun to watch, especially for all the great red carpet fashion. It's my favourite award show, and I'm excited to see who wins this year. (American Hustle! House of Cards!) Here are the nominations, and who I'm hoping wins... Best Drama: 12 Years a Slave Captain Phillips Gravity Philomena Rush I'm hoping Rush wins, because I'm a huge Formula One fan. (Also completely devastated over the news of Michael Schumacher's skiing accident, and hoping for a miraculous recovery for him.) I've been to F1 several times in Montreal, and it's such a great thrill. Rush is a re-creation of the 1970's rivalry between Form...

You could say I'm really passionate about shopping for beauty products. (I'm passionate about shopping,  period .) I could spend hours in stores like Sephora and Murale, and I often get lost in time at the beauty counters in most department stores, like Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew. I have many favourite make-up and hair products that are on my "I could not live without" list. Here's hoping these never get discontinued! Here are five of my most favourite products that I always recommend: Moroccan Oil: I love going to hair salons that use Moroccan Oil . It smells delicious. I also love the Moroccan Oil Body Lotion, because then I can smell yummy all over. The Moroccan Oil I use on my hair leaves my hair feeling silky smooth and soft, and doesn't weigh it down at all.  I use it every day, on wet or dry hair. It takes away frizz, too. You can pick this up at most hair salons. It is totally a hair game-changer. It costs $43.00—a little expensive, but tru...

I can't believe it's 2014 already! 2013 went by quickly, and it was a very good year, with lots of ups, and downs, like any other year. A new year means new possibilities, new experiences, and doing more of the things we love. I'm not making any new resolutions in 2014, but I will do more of the things I love. DO MORE is my 2014 mantra, if you will. I am usually not very hard on myself if things don't go according to plan, but maybe this will be the year I set goals that are scary, goals and dreams that will take me a step out of my comfort zone. I think the beginning of a new year is a good time for some new goals, right?    . . In 2014, more than anything else, I will do more of what I love. I will...   Blog more. Write more. Travel more. Laugh more. Shop more. Love more. Exercise more.   And I'll work hard at achieving the goals I set out for myself. After all, I love a good challenge.   ...