Loulou's views

These last few weeks have been the busiest ever, and Christmas was an absolute magical time spent with family and friends. We hosted several times, enjoyed Christmas Eve at my parents house, and Christmas Day at home before heading to the in-laws for more festivities. It was a perfect holiday season, but it's not over yet–New Year's Eve is coming up and it's time to start thinking about what to wear to ring in the new year! After all, it's a big night–we're saying goodbye to 2019, and welcoming a new decade into our lives. Who's ready for 2020? I know I am! 2019 was a great year filled with many memories, including a summer in Paris and Greece, winter break in Bahamas, and focusing on work and family. Now, it's time to look forward at all the things 2020 will bring, but before that how about figuring out what to wear? I recently partnered with DressYou  as a brand ambassador, and I found so many great pieces of clothing and accessories for all occasio...

How do you feel about shopping for swimwear? For some, it can be a less-than-pleasurable experience. I personally love shopping for swimwear because it means I'm heading towards water—and nothing makes me happier than swimming in the ocean or a pool. Going on vacation, especially in the winter, makes me excited—and so does finding the perfect swimsuit to wear while I'm enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. I feel confident in my body, and love wearing bikinis and one-piece suits. I believe there is a perfect suit for everyone, and that everybody should have the confidence to wear what they feel great in when they're on vacation. (And all the time, really). I love being a Brand Ambassador for Swimco  because they carry so many swimsuit brands. I quickly found out that shopping for swimwear online with Swimco is an easy and fun experience, because of the wide variety of suits they carry, and because of the excellent customer service. Swimco is a Canadia...

What makes your every day sparkle? It doesn't have to be anything elaborate, if you think about it. For me, it's truly the simple things that make my every day sparkle; things like goodnight kisses from my boys. Laughter with friends and family. A gorgeous, sunshiny day. Summertime. Watching my children sleep. Days when I fall asleep to the sound of the ocean waves. A hug from an old friend. Of course, it's also enjoying a night out on the town, or hosting friends for dinner. What makes these occasions even more special is enjoying a glass or two of La Marca Prosecco. La Marca Prosecco has been the drink of summer for my friends and I. Whether mixing it with orange juice, or drinking it plain, it's always a delicious addition to any occasion, and such a great way to celebrate big and little moments. It just adds that extra sparkle, don't you think? I'm go happy to be a La Marca Prosecco Brand Ambassador because not only am I able to celebrate the every d...

Now that November is here, it's time to start planning for the holiday season. (Yes, already!) The busiest time of the year has just begun—decorating the house, attending Christmas plays and concerts, enjoying and hosting parties, baking, and, of course, shopping for the perfect outfit with just the right amount of sparkle—all while enjoying hot chocolate by the fireplace, watching Elf. Indeed, it is the most wonderful time of the year. Although I always plan my holiday shopping early so I'm not panicking on December 24th, I sometimes forget to buy certain things, like items for the stockings. Yikes! I try to put traditional items in each stocking, like chocolate, candy canes, games and small toys. This year I'll be putting a Super Mario Bros Kids spin toothbrush in each child's stocking, so they're reminded about the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day—especially during the holiday season when they're consuming way too many sweets! I als...

Summer is pretty much over, even though we've had some incredibly hot days in September. (Which I'm not complaining about—I wish we had this weather year-round.) Summer was all about being outdoors and being active. My boys enjoyed two week of all-day tennis camp, and we swam pretty much every single day this summer, including one month of swimming in the sea (and pools at our hotels) in Greece. Besides swimming and tennis, we stayed active by taking long walks after dinner, bike rides, and playing soccer. Now that the weather will inevitably turn colder, I don't want to stop our routine of staying fit and active. Here are three ways to keep on moving as the days get colder: 1. Layer up, baby! Sure, it's suddenly chilly outside, and you'd much rather sit on the couch with your favourite book or head to Starbucks for a latte, but once you start moving, you'll feel warm in no time. Also, this gives you the excuse to go shopping for a cute new scarf and je...

Right now, there are a lot of things that make me smile. After all, as long as my children are happy, I feel content. However, we all have bad days— those moments of doubt and insecurities and fear that can take over the mind and put you in a state of complete unhappiness. I’m trying to enjoy every minute of this sunshine and warm weather. I love evening walks and basketball games with my boys after dinner, and love the fact that because I’m eating healthier, I’m feeling better, too. However, it doesn’t take much to turn a wonderful day into something… not so wonderful, despite the power of the sun and love from my children. It could be a sad news story I’ve read, a fight I’ve had with a friend or loved one, unpaid bills piling up, or worrying about what’s going to happen in the near (or far) future. And I do worry all the time, about everything. There are ways to stop the negative thoughts from forming into something larger, though, and these are the things I do to try to stay...

Spring is finally here, and with that, it's time to start again—from getting back on track with personal goals and routines of eating better and exercising, to freshening up the home, both inside, and outside. Spring cleaning is my favourite, because it's out with the old and in with the new—new furntiure, bright accessories and pillows, and flowers everywhere. It's time to open the windows and let the sunshine in! I am inspired every time I step into Urban Barn . My partnership with Urban Barn—working as their Brand Ambassador and Spokesperson—came at the most perfect time for me, since I was (and am still!) in the middle of bedroom and family room renovations. I always find exactly what I'm looking for whenever I'm in Urban Barn, and seeing everything in person helps me visualize what my rooms will look like. Sometimes all you need are a few new frames, vases, and pillows. Or, you might need  new furntiure to freshen up a room in your home, too. Urban Barn ...

Spring is finally— finally —in the air. Oh, just writing those words feels amazing! It has been a long, harsh winter, and despite a ten day beautiful vacation to Miami and Orlando, winter still dragged on, which meant I spent more time than usual sitting on the couch wishing the snow would go away so I could get outside with my children to do the things we love to do. (I'm sorry, but fun winter activities like skiing and skating are not that enjoyable to me because -30C is the worst!) Anyway, now with warmer days in our forceast, it's time to get back into shape. (Unless, of course, you've been smart and have kept up your workout routine even when all you've wanted to do is stay home, eat chips, and marathon-watch the new season of House of Cards.) I have been with GoodLife Fitness for years, probably from the first year they opened in Ottawa. I loved that I could go the gym whenever I wanted to work out, I loved that there was always a location clos...

Spring is officially here, even though there is still a lot of snow on the ground. Despite the less than seasonal temperatures and the snow,  I'm still excited, because I've been looking forward to spring since January. I really dislike winter because it lasts way longer than it should. There is nothing I enjoy more than welcoming spring back into my life and the best way to do this is by spring cleaning my home. Yes, cleaning can be fun, you guys. Especially when I'm cleaning out my closet to make room for new clothes and shoes for spring. Out with black, and in with colour! Here are some ways you can make spring cleaning your home a little easier: Make Doormats Welcoming: They're the front line against tracking in dirt, so keep them clean enough to function efficiently. If they're extremely soiled, soak them in warm water mixed with a scoop of of OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover for six hours then wash as directed—even the toughest stains get washe...

It's the season for baking, shopping, wrapping, cooking, hosting, partying, attending Christmas concerts, and celebrating with family and friends. It is a busy month, to say the least, and I love giving gifts that I know people will love and really appreciate—like a gift card to WaySpa. I love spa days and I love being a Brand Ambassador for WaySpa, because it's my job to test out different spas every month and blog about my experience. It's aways a wonderful and relaxing time, and I think that a gift card to WaySpa would make an excellent gift for everyone on your shopping list. Here are the TOP FIVE  reasons to give the gift of a WaySpa gift card this holiday season to the people on your shopping list: 1. It's a simple way to shop—just go to Wayspa.com  and with a click of a button, your gift card has been purchased. 2. You don't have to worry about wrapping your gift. Just put your gift card in a cute little box, or inside a holiday card, and y...

I love a great deal—when I'm shopping in stores, or when I'm shopping online. A favourite online shopping destination for me is Beyond The Rack , because it's where I can find a bit of everything I love to shop for in one place, from designer bags and jewellery, to clothes, shoes, and toys for my children. The best part about shopping Beyond the Rack is the fact that everything on the site is always on sale—up to 80% off, every single day, not just on Cyber Monday. So if you love to shop for great deals because it makes you feel less guilty? You can shop any day, because you'll always find something that is on sale! I was on CTV Ottawa  today talking about the great deals going on right now at Beyond the Rack, and I fell in love with the gorgeous Tory Burch bag I was showing. I think it's a perfect bag for all seasons, you know? And of course, it's on my must-buy list now! For those of you who are looking to do some holiday shopping online, I'm giv...

Can you believe we are only days away from December? November has been the busiest month, and before we know it, the holidays will be here—and we'll be rushing around as always trying to buy those last-minute holiday gifts for everyone on our list. I start my holiday shopping early (in fact, I am mostly finished shopping for my children!) but there are always a few gifts I leave for the last minute. Partly because I'm busy, and partly because I actually do enjoy the last-minute hustle of shopping for gifts in December. Tis' the season, after all. This year, I'll be giving the gift of WaySpa to many special people on my shopping list, because without a doubt, it'll be the gift that they'll love the most. Seriously, who doesn't love (or deserve) a day at the spa, whether it's for a manicure and pedicure, a fresh blow-dry or a one-hour full-body massage? As a WaySpa Brand Ambassador I'm very fortunate because I'm given the chance to t...

Are we over summer yet? I'm not. In fact, I was wearing my flip flops just last night on my walk to the park with my boys. I just can't yet give up on my favourite season, you guys. But something is shifting... I'm seeing myself drawn to the boots section in the shoe stores now. I'm dreaming up outfits that include tights and ankle booties. I guess that somewhere inside me, I'm ready to embrace all the wonderful things that come with fall: cute sweaters, skinny jeans, and new sexy boots. Are you ready to put your best foot forward? Here are my picks for the best new boots for fall:  These Hush Puppies are sexy, sleek, and comfortable. You can never go wrong with a pair of shoes or boots from Hush Puppies, and as a Brand Ambassador for ShoeMe.ca , I received these in the mail and I'm in love. Truly... they're the perfect (and quite affordable, at only $150) addition to your fall wardrobe.  I love Sam Edelman —from flats to boots, y...

I think it's incredibly important to take time for yourself as often as possible. We all lead busy lives, and now that the children are back in school and we've fallen into a regular routine again, it's time to book that appointment to the spa you've been putting off for too long. It's time to give yourself a pat on the back for surviving summer (as amazing as it was!) and it's time to treat yourself to a massage or facial... or anything you fancy, really. I'm absolutely thrilled to be working with WaySpa as a  Brand Ambassador.   For those of you who are not yet familiar with WaySpa, let me introduce you to your new best friend: WaySpa is a one-stop online spa marketplace for everyone. Whether you're looking to book a massage or man-pedi in your city, or a city you're travelling to , WaySpa has you covered. WaySpa helps you easily find the best treatments (facials, massages, hair styling, and so much more) conveniently online—from spas in...