Loulou's views

The holiday season is upon us and that means it's time for all thing festive--like shopping for everyone on your list!  This year, I tried to keep my shopping local so I could help support businesses in Ottawa that have struggled during the pandemic with numerous lockdowns. I was on Daytime Ottawa to talk about some great gift ideas from local  businesses, and you can watch the entire segment here to get some great ideas for shopping local this season.  Here are some great shopping ideas for those on your list this season: Beauty Check out Blush and Rose Beauty Bar, where you can pick up a gift card for a facial, pedicure, or manicure. This new salon in Ottawa's south end is so cute, and the service is excellent. I was lucky to enjoy a pedicure over the holidays, complete a glass of bubbly. You can also stock up on great Aveda products, candles, beauty essentials, and more.  In need of a massage? Check out Innes Massage Therapy in Ottawa's east end for excell...

Advent calendars have come a long way since we were kids–I remember our choices were limited to chocolate (and not the good kind) and windows that opened to reveal a different Christmas illustration every day. I loved those in particular, but now, we have countless choices when it comes to buying an advent calendar to help us count down to Christmas. I was on CTV Noon and CTV Ottawa Morning Live showing viewers the best advent calendars to give this year.  Here are my suggestions for advent calendars guaranteed to make everyone smile: For the sweet tooth: Purdy's Chocolates This year, Purdy's has come out with not one but two advent calendars for the chocolate lover! The starry night advent calendar contains pretty drawers you pull open every day to reveal a tasty, festive, wrapped in foil milk or while chocolate piece; a dark chocolate foiled bell, or a foiled chocolate salted caramel. If you flip each drawer while you're counting down, you'll reveal a be...

One of my favourite things about the holiday season is the shopping. I love giving back to local charities and organizations, like CHEO and The Shoebox Project, and I enjoy buying presents for my family (especially my boys!) and my friends. December is the busiest month of all, with work, social events, and hosting parties, so I try to plan ahead as much as I can, and check things off my to-do list daily.  Here are my holiday shopping tips and some great gift ideas to help you get through this hectic season with ease: One-Stop Shopping I can spend countless hours in Chapters-Indigo with my children selecting new books to add to our 'to-read' pile. Chapters-Indigo is the best one-stop shop for holiday gifts, too. They have something for everyone on your list, including technology, like Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones, to home decor, journals, toys, accessories, and stylish items like purses, scarves, and hats. Whether you're shopping in-store or online at indi...

Are you feeling festive yet? I love everything about the holiday season, you guys. From decking the halls to baking cookies (no matter how terrible I am at that!) to attending and hosting Christmas parties, it's truly the most wonderful time of the year. What I love most about this season, though, is shopping for the perfect gift for everyone on my list—especially when shopping is made easy. I just discovered the best way to shop for the holidays: through the Aeroplan eStore!  It's shopping made easy because I can shop online from more than 170 stores, while earning Aeroplan Miles. Earning extra Aeroplan Miles means I'm one step closer to booking my next vacation, so it's kind of like giving myself a present, too, because all I want to do after the holiday season is over is get on a plane and head somewhere warm. If you're not an Aeroplan member, you can join here . Aeroplan has a special 12 Days of Gifting shopping event coming up, too, and this is really...

With the festive season officially underway, I put together my 2017 holiday gift guide just in time for you to hit the mall. I featured some amazing products on CTV yesterday, but didn't have enough time to talk about everything on-air, so all the details are here to make your holiday shopping a breeze. For the beauty lover: Clarins:  Clarins is one of my favourite skin-care companies. The  12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar is the perfect gift to give someone to start celebrating the holiday season early, because they'll receive a little gift every day for 12 days. It contains two full-sized products and 10 discovery-sized products, which are much larger than sample size. It’s exclusively available at The Bay and on  www.clarins.com . It retails for $92, with a  value of $174.   The Essentials Winter Palette:  The Essential Eye Palette by Clarins is a holiday exclusive with sales going to support indigenous commun...

One of my favourite things about the holiday season is the last-minute shopping. As much as I plan ahead of time and get most of my shopping done for everyone on my list by the beginning of December, there is always something left to buy a day or two before Christmas, which is perfectly fine with me, because I truly do love the hustle and bustle of the holidays, especially the last-minute shopping. I received the most adorable set of silver bracelets from ALEX AND ANI this week, and they are the perfect accessories to wear during the fun holiday season. I've already received so many compliments on the bracelets, (I especially love my new kite bracelet—it's perfect to wear no matter the season!) and I love knowing I've inspired some friends to buy some of these bracelets for people on their list, too. 'Tis the season, after all. ALEX AND ANI have some great holiday sets to gift, which will make your holiday shopping even easier. How ...

I am getting so excited for Christmas, and all the fun that comes with it—especially getting the chance to spend some quality time with my children, who will be home from school for two weeks. Actually, this year, the break goes until January 9th, meaning that although we'll be busy right up until Christmas Day, we'll definitely need to find some things to do to occupy ourselves during the long break from school, without going stir-crazy. From getting together with friends and family, to lots of play time in the great (and freezing!) outdoors, we'll be happily entertained—but I know eventually I'll hear the dreaded:  "Mom... I'm bored!" Thankfully, we're set up with Netflix, and that means countless hours of entertainment, from the warmth of our home. My boys love selecting shows and movies to watch on Netflix, and I love the great variety of programming that Netflix has for all its viewers, young and... not so young. On December 23rd, Netflix and ...

The holidays are upon us, and while we're busy decorating the house, baking cookies, and feeling festive, it's also a time to remember that there will be many who won't be celebrating the holiday season from the comfort of their home. Every year, thousands of children and families find themselves spending the holiday season in the hospital. I know from experience—having spent time in our children's hospital with my oldest son—how important it is to keep children entertained and feeling happy while they're sick and not at home. Sometimes, something as simple as a new toy or game can help brighten a child's day while they're in the hospital, giving them the power to imagine a better tomorrow.  Since it is the season of giving, Duracell believes in powering the imagination of sick children by helping ensure kids can still be kids, and enjoy the magic of the season despite their illness that's keeping them away from home. For the 10th year in a row, D...

It's giving Tuesday, and I love the idea of giving gifts that give back. CanadaHelps is a registered non-profit charity—basically, a one-stop shop for donating and fundraising online for any registered Canadian charity. Our mission is to promote – and ultimately increase – charitable giving in Canada. Because we’re a non-profit our fees are typically half that of the for-profit alternatives. We do this servicing Canadian donors, charities and corporations. If you're out of ideas and you've already checked out my holiday gift guide , but still haven't found what you're looking for, I'm giving away THREE $10 gift cards to CanadaHelps that you can gift to anyone you want to give them to. Here's what you have to do: 1. Go to CanadaHelps.org and find a charity you'd like to support by doing a search. 2. Choose Charity Gift Card as your method of payment at checkout. 3. Feel great about giving back and giving someone a gift they'll love...

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and yet, it's also the most stressful time of the year for some people. While I love to shop, I know many people don't find pleasure in walking through the mall in December, looking for the perfect gifts to give the people on their list. I've put together a holiday gift guide that'll help narrow down the choices of what to give the people you love this holiday season—from luxurious gifts like a getaway to The Hazelton Hotel to books and skin care products, there is definitely something here for everyone on your list. Luxury gifts The Hazelton Hotel: I love to travel, and I love gifts that have to do with travel. Even if it's a staycation, or a weekend getaway, I can't think of a better gift to give someone you love. I had the pleasure of staying at The Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville, Toronto, and I think this is a perfect gift to give. You can unwind and re-connect in the luxurious rooms and suites, enjoy the ...