Loulou's views

It's time to get ready for the holidays! I love celebrating all things festive—decorating the house, baking cookies with my boys, (even though I'm terrible at it) attending and hosting parties, shopping for the perfect gift for everyone on my list, and wrapping the presents. Yes, I absolutely  love  wrapping presents. I spent many hours working as a gift wrapper in the mall when I was in university, and I've loved gift wrapping ever since. You can definitely get creative with wrapping. I love using different textures and types of wrapping paper, and I always use ribbon to make a pretty bow, finishing off with something special, like a personalized ornament or homemade gift tag. Here's my  gift wrapping segment  I did on CTV Ottawa Morning Live,  showing you how you can become an expert gift wrapper, too. (This video is not new, but all the tips and tricks I share in the segment are as good as new!) It's not hard, I promise. Here are some other gif...

I've been back from New York City only a few days, but I miss it so much. It was a wonderful trip, as all trips to NYC are, and we had an incredible stay at the Langham Place , right on 5th Avenue. A highlight of our weekend in New York City was being invited to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the Rockettes . This season marks the 83rd (!!!) year of the production, and it's  one of America's most beloved and anticipated holiday shows—and a family tradition. The Christmas Spectacular first hit the stage on December 21, 1933 at Radio City Music Hall, and since then, over 75 million people have enjoyed the show. And what a show it was... The 2015 edition featured the dazzling, incredible Rockettes and their popular dance numbers, including everyone's favourite, The Parade of The Wooden Soldiers. In 2012, while I was in NYC for the annual BlogHer conference, I was invited to dance with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall with some of my othe...

Despite the cold weather and falling snow, I love this time of year because the holiday season is a great time to catch up with friends and family, celebrating the season creating new memories. I look forward to the festive parties, and whether I'm hosting friends or going out, my favourite part is getting ready for the night. (Any excuse to shop for new lipstick, a new dress, and new shoes is a good thing, right?) This holiday season, I'd love to help you sparkle and shine so you can look your best, too. I'm got a great giveaway with P&G that I'd love you to win—just in time for the holiday season! I'm giving away some great products from COVERGIRL , Oral B, Crest , and Pantene . Here's what you'll receive: 2 Oral B PH Crossaction Manual TB Soft Toothbrushes 1 Crest 3D White Brilliance Boost Polishing Treatment 1 Pantene Daily Moist Renewal Shampoo 1 Pantene Damage Detox Shampoo 1 Pantene Damage Detox Conditioner 1 Pantene Pro V We...

New York City—a city I can't get enough of, no matter how many times I visit. I always fall in love with all the city has to offer—from Broadway shows to fine dining, luxury hotels, and, of course, the shopping. It's more than all that, though; this city is alive in a way no other city is. It truly is the city that never sleeps. This past weekend I had the incredible opportunity to stay at and review the beautiful and luxurious Langham Place hotel, right in the heart of Manhattan. Thank you, Langham Place, for the special invite! We stayed in a beautiful Family One Bedroom Suite. This upscale hotel is in the perfect location on 5th Avenue, steps away from Empire State Building, Bryant Park, Rockefeller Centre, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Central Park. Langham Place in NYC offers something for everyone , from families to couples, and no matter who you're travelling with, Langham Place delivers. And the views? They...

I recently sat down and had a difficult discussion with my children. I talked to my boys about how certain messages they are being exposed to—when they are online, reading magazines, or watching television—are unhealthy. The messages I'm talking about are the ones that say young people have to look a certain way to be accepted; how dieting is good; and how young people can lose weight, quickly, to attain the "perfect" body. These unhealthy, negative body messages affect both boys and girls, and these messages are everywhere—targeted to children under the age of 16. I'm so glad Multi-Grain Cheerios launched a campaign to raise awareness about unhealthy body image messages—which are disguised as "harmless entertainment"—because it's time we do something to stop these harmful messages. The ads we see in magazines, online, and on television are making young people lose confidence in themselves and in their healthy bodies. Dietainment is what I'm t...

It's been unseasonably warm for November. I haven't started complaining about the weather like I usually do this time of year, but don't worry—cold, snowy days are coming, along with all my posts about how much I dislike the weather. Even though there is no snow on the ground, I miss summer. I miss the carefree days and wearing nothing but flip flops and a little dress. I miss staying out late at night, on a patio, with family and friends, and I miss evenings at the park with my boys. Now that November is here, it's complete darkness by 4:30 p.m. and I'm finding it difficult to stay upbeat, so last week, I got ready to go out with my girlfriend for a night out. Sometimes, all you need is an excuse to get dressed up, put on your favourite lipstick, listen to some music, and laugh the night away with friends. I'm telling you—make-up and a night out with good friends is an excellent way to not let the colder weather and shorter days bring you down. My go-to...

Parenthood. We're in it together. When I was a new mom, I was thankful for my support group: my family, my friends, and my online community. It was comforting knowing that no matter the time of day or night, there was always someone there who would listen to me. It's important that we're not only equipped with a great support system, but also, with the tools and resources we need to help us get through whatever issue we're dealing with on the journey of parenthood. With most things in life, this is something you should keep in mind: This, too, shall pass. Here's an issue that my family experienced a few years ago, and when I reached out to friends, I was surprised to hear that they, too, had experienced this with their children: bedwetting. Yup. It's a common, yet unpleasant, part of life. The truth is, you're not alone if you're going through a bedwetting phase with your child once they are over four years old—it's actually way more common...

Although I have school-aged children, I remember my days of being a student vividly. I remember the friends I had, what subjects I loved best, and the special teachers who helped me become the person I am today. It seems like yesterday I was a student in school, and now, my children are students themselves—in grade two and grade five. The years go by quicker than I ever imagined possible, and from the moment my oldest went to kindergarten I wanted my kids' experience in school to be a positive one, despite the occasional first-day-of-school-tears. As a mom, it's important for me to know that at the end of a long school day, it was a good one for my boys. The first day my oldest son started school was rough for me and for him. He cried, and didn't want to leave me. And I cried because I felt the same way! It was because of his loving, patient, and caring teacher that I was able to let go—and it was because of her that he thrived from the first day of school...