Loulou's views

Summer is all about travel and no matter how hard I try to not pack too many items in my suitcase, packing my beauty essentials is something that's non-negotiable for me. Even when I'm on the road, or on vacation, I always pack my Crest 3D whitening strips and toothpaste. Having a white smile is always important to me—even while on vacation or when I'm travelling. This summer it's all about the 2016 Rio Olympic Games , and I love that Canadian athlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton is sponsored by Crest—the only toothpaste I use! Brianne knows a thing or two about travelling and being on the road all the time. Here are some of her useful travel tips: 1. Adapt yourself to the routine of your destination's time zone as soon as possible. (This is not always to do, as I've learned when travelling overseas with my children, but it sure does help get everyone used to the new time zone sooner.) 2. Check the expiration date on your passport—make sure you've got enou...

I've loved the Olympics since I was a little girl, and no, not just because I'm Greek, although it does make me proud that Greece is the birthplace of the Olympics. It's so much more than that for me, though. Watching my country compete against other countries from around the world makes me happy and excited. I love the beauty of seeing countries come together this way—the Olympics unites us in a wonderful way, no matter the sport, no matter who wins. The beauty of it all truly lies in the story of the athlete—wherever they are from—and how they overcame obstacles and worked extremely hard to make their dreams a reality. Of course, none of that can be accomplished without the support, love, and tears from friends, coaches, trainers, and of course... family. Especially mom. (I'm going to start crying here!) Every single time I watch a Thank You, Mom P&G video I cry. It doesn't matter how many times I see the same video, it brings me to tears. Maybe because I...

I'm not ashamed to admit how many beauty products I have in my bathroom, and no, I don't think it's an unhealthy addiction to be obsessed with skin care and beauty products. On the contrary, I think as we get older, taking care of our skin and changing up our beauty routine should be a priority. I love experimenting and trying new products, and there are two things I'm looking for when it comes to skin care: 1. Proper protection from the sun's harmful rays. 2. Skin care that's designed to help keep my skin look youthful. To the rescue:  Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with SPF 30:  This cream provides UVA/UVB protection, reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and skin looks and feels firmer in days. Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Moisturizer with SPF 30:  This moisturizer fights the signs of aging, like age spots and dryness, like minimizing the look of line and wrinkles, and firms skin with continued use. Bonus? The build-in SPF 30. ...

Disclosure: I am a P&G mom ambassador. As part of my affiliation with this group I have been compensated to test the Loblaws Click & Collect service. The opinions on this blog are my own.  Although I sometimes love grocery shopping, I prefer to be doing more important things with my time, like spending time with my children, working out, reading a book, catching up on other important errands, or having lunch with friends. I have been using Loblaws Click and Collect for a few weeks now, and it's been so great—mostly because of the time I have saved. The entire process is so simple, and makes shopping fun. If you haven't tried it yet, you totally should. Just go to shop.loblaws.ca , and start clicking away! Select your pick-up location (where you'll be picking up groceries from) and then browse each "aisle" by category or brand. It's simple and easy to shop, and takes no time at all, leaving you with more time to do the things you really love. Yo...

Disclosure: I am a P&G mom. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and have been compensated to put Tide to the stain test. The opinions on this blog are my own.  Ah, the joys of summer... with only a few weeks left of school, my boys are definitely already taking advantage of the gorgeous weather we've been having—by spending all their time in the great outdoors, being kids. Bike rides, playing at the park, soccer games, shooting hoops, and swimming. Without a care in the world, as it should be, when you're a child. I truly love watching them be kids, despite the fact that they don't seem to care how very dirty they get when they're running around the soccer field. Grass stains? Check. Juice-stained shirts? Check. Of course, none of this really matters because they're having such a good time, and also, I know these stains won't be tough to get out, because I've been using Tide Ultra Stain Release , and it does the job...

I had the pleasure of talking about some great Father's Day gift ideas at all price points today on CTV Morning Live, no matter your budget... so you'll definitely find something here that will be perfect for the dad you're giving to this Father's Day. Gillette Fusion ProShield Razors and Sensitive 2-in-1 Shave Get Plus Skin Care: This is a great and affordable gift to give dad, especially if you put these products in a nice package, and get the kids involved in the shopping, too. At under $20, the kids can contribute their money, and feel like the gift is truly from them, along with a hand-written card. And who doesn't need or want an excellent new razor, right? The FlexBall technology is simply the best, and the new design of the shave gel and cream will provide maximum protection. Fuego Box: For the dad who loves to cook, spice things up in the kitchen, or just loves to eat, Fuego Box is the gift to give. It's a hog sauce of the month club, and this ...

What's your guilty pleasure? Mine is weekly (or sometimes bi-weekly) blow-outs at hair salons in Ottawa. When I'm traveling to other cities, I always do my research and book hair appointments too, because I love getting my hair done. I like the reassurance of knowing no matter where I go, there's somewhere I can do my hair, and I love that we have a variety of great salons to visit in Ottawa, like the new Society Salon. Society Salon just celebrated their grand opening on Sparks Street to a full house, including members of Ottawa media, Mayor Jim Watson, fashionistas and bloggers (who are always rocking perfect hair!). This new salon is located at 167 Sparks Street, right downtown, and it's the perfect place to do your hair on your lunch break, if you work in the downtown core. It's so convenient for government workers looking for a great place to do their hair before, during, or after work. This full-service hair salon (with three cut and colour chairs, a...

If you haven't  already  planned your summer vacation yet, it's time to start. Vacations and book go hand in hand for me, so I’ve rounded up some great places to visit and paired them with some great books set in each location to make your vacation even more memorable, and I chatted about it on  CTV Morning Live.  New York City is always a good place to visit, no matter  the  season—and if that's where you've headed—whether by car or plane—you'll want to get reading. Here are the  perfect  books to read while you're in the Big Apple:  The Great Gatsby: This classic Jazz Age novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald is such a great book. I've read it several times and I love it. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn:  This beautiful classic by Betty Smith will take you back in time in NYC about a family and their lives in Brooklyn from 1902-1919.  Both these books will make your trip to NYC even more special and while you’re in NYC,...

If your children are anything like mine, your house is basically all LEGO. Sure, LEGO is so much fun, and yes, I love seeing my children spend countless hours creating with LEGO—it just really hurts to step on the pieces that are left all over my house! Anyway, here's something to get the family excited: The first ever LEGO Imagine Nation Tour is travelling across Canada this summer, and I'm excited to take my boys to this fun event. They were so happy to receive a special package filled with some great LEGO sets. The LEGO Imagine Nation Tour is going to be in Ottawa June 10-12 at the EY Centre. This   brick building extravaganza is basically a LEGO lovers dream come true—no matter how old or young you are! There are 13 pavilions of interactive digital experiences, hands-on building activities, and 20 cool life-sized LEGO models. The Imagine Nation Tour includes activities for each play theme your kids are interested in (from Star Wars to Ninjago). You can also lear...

I love travelling to Toronto, whether by car, train, or plane. Every stay in Toronto is memorable and enjoyable, especially when I'm able to stay in the heart of Yorkville—after all, there is no better place in Toronto to dine, people watch, and shop. I had the wonderful opportunity to stay at  The Hazelton Hotel last week, and it was every bit as wonderful as my previous stay.   The Hazelton Hotel is simply luxurious, in every way imaginable. Here are five reasons to choose The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto: 1. The service: The service is second to none at The Hazelton Hotel; the concierge service is there to help in any way possible, from providing child care services, a personal chef, priority tickets to sporting events, airport transfers, and a personal car service to get you around Toronto. (Truly incredible!) There is an in-house doctor on-call, too. 2. The food: You can enjoy ONE restaurant on the patio, indoors, or through 24-hour in-room dining. ...