Loulou's views

Disclaimer: I received products for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and the page may contain affiliate links.  When I was pregnant with my first-born son, I started shopping for children's books to fill the bookshelves in his room. I fell in love with reading when I was in the fourth grade, and have been an avid reader every since–I always have a couple of books on the go. I wanted to instill a love of reading in my children from an early age, and thoroughly enjoyed shopping for the books I hoped my children would enjoy. Reading books became an important part of our daily ritual, and my children continue to enjoy reading now that they're older. My boys love reading the National Geographic Kids Weird But True! books, because these books provide a wealth of information and they're fun and easy to read. They're great books to travel with, and perfect to keep around the house for guests t...

We all lead busy lives—from juggling work to extra-curricular activities, sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough hours in a day to get it all done. Trying to find the perfect balance can be challenging, but one thing remains constant in my household: connecting around the dinner table. Coming from a Greek family, dinnertime was always a priority, no matter how busy our days were, and this is a tradition we’ve kept with our children. Now that our boys are older (13 and 10 years old) my husband and I often get them to help out when it comes to dinner preparation, and even cooking; I’m happy to say that my even my youngest son can make a delicious homemade tomato sauce, with some ingredients coming from our own backyard vegetable garden, like basil, tomatoes, oregano, and onions.   Growing a garden was a new venture for us this summer, and one we thoroughly enjoyed. It made meal time prep more fun, and also forced us all to eat more vegetables than we were used to.  ...

It's almost time for back-to-school–and while this is a good thing in many ways, (hello, routine!) I'm sad my favourite season is almost over. We've had a wonderful summer that included some travelling and we've made the most of these hot, sunshiny days. Even though I'm not heading back to school as a student, I share the excitement with my boys (or for my boys?)–my oldest is going into grade eight (I can't believe it!) and my youngest is heading into grade five. The best part about back-to-school? Shopping for school supplies, of course! I love stocking up on paper, pens, pencils, backpacks, and binders. Isn't it fun getting organized? I love shopping for products that give back, and this year, I'm happy to be partnered with Avery Products Canada because they give back in a big way–and Avery has some amazing products not only for back-to-school, but for the office, too. Avery Products Canada has partnered with the Pinball Clemons Foundation (P...

Warmer days are here again, and I couldn't be happier. With only a month left of school, we are already getting into summer-mode at home, making the most of our evenings with bike rides, soccer games, and swimming. This season, it's all about making the most of our time outside—and hosting friends and family for backyard BBQ's. Tis the season, after all. If you're not sure what to serve, perhaps start with a wine menu to set the tone and select the food after you've figured out the drinks. Here are six wines perfect for entertaining this season: Think pink! E&J Gallo White Zinfandel is an excellent choice. This refreshingly sweet wine is even yummier when you mix it with soda water, and garnish it with fresh berries. It's a perfect spring cocktail to enjoy in the sunshine, and a beautiful drink to serve your guests as they arrive. Get your grill on. With grilling season upon us, having a delicious red wine like Alamos Malbec is a must for your...

I don't think you can be Canadian and not love hockey, one of the greatest sports on earth. Although I don't love winter, hockey season excites me, and I'm a huge Ottawa Senators fan. I was so excited and hopeful last year that the Sens would finally win the Stanley Cup–and they came so very close.  The last time I was that excited for the playoffs was years ago, and I remember being absolutely heartbroken when the Sens lost. This time around, my youngest son joined in my excitement and we were lucky to attend a couple of playoff games to cheer on our favourite hockey team. The excitement at a Sens game is incredible, and it was even more awesome to see it all through my son's eyes. With the holidays around the corner, wouldn't it be a great idea to give the Senators fan in your life a little something to make them cheer even louder this year? Canadian Tire is giving Ottawa families a head start by helping turn local babies into the next generation of Sens...

Today was the last day of school, and I was equally emotional and excited. After all, my oldest son is moving on to a different school in September, as he and his classmates start their new journey to middle school. When I started this blog, he wasn't even in kindergarten! Time sure goes by quickly, and that's why it's important for me to make sure I'm spending quality time with  my boys as often as I can–including eating dinner together. It's important to carve out time with family and friends and slow down the pace a little, especially now that summer is here. Whether you're BBQing in the backyard by the pool, or taking a vacation overseas, dinner time is the best time to re-connect with your loved ones. Earlier this year, President's Choice (PC) embarked on a journey to get Canadians to eat together when they released their Eat Together film, seen here: I don't know about you, but watching the video brought a tear to my eye. (And the video'...

Finally, the long weekend is here! The weather has been amazing lately, despite a little rain. The Victoria Day long weekend is perfect for spending time with family and friends, and getting away from it all, in the great outdoors. It's time to pack up the bathing suits and sunscreen and get the BBQ fired up at the cottage. If you're heading out of town this long weekend, you'll be spending time packing and washing your favourite travel outfits to take with you– little t-shirts, shorts, comfy dresses and leggings, bathing suits, and sweaters, for around the campfire.  One of my favourite getaways was last summer when my family and I and a group of our friends went to Mont Tremblant for a few days of relaxation and fun in a beautiful house right near the village, complete with an indoor pool, 12 bedrooms, and a nice outdoor fire-pit where we roasted marshmallows late into the night.  The only thing I didn't love about the experience was the fire-pit sm...

We all lead busy lives, and sometimes, meal planning can be a bothersome chore, especially if you're someone like me—a person who doesn't love spending countless hours in the kitchen preparing dinner. Yet, we all need to eat, so what's the perfect solution? Thankfully I have Greek parents and in-laws who cook and drop off dinner for my family. (This is one reason I don't cook enough—or at least that's my excuse). However, this is not every day, so what's the other solution? SupperWorks . My friends have been raving about SupperWorks for a long time, and I was finally given the opportunity to attend an Ottawa bloggers night to put SupperWorks to the test. It was a fun night with a great group of bloggers, as we all put together yummy meals to take home to our families, wine and appetizers in hand. I left with six servings of Beautiful Baja Fish Wraps, six servings of Glowing Goddess Quinoa Veggie Wraps, and a 4-Cheese and Garlic Crusted Chicken Breast for ...

The festive season is just around the corner. I know it's hard to believe, but it's already November, and soon, we'll be shopping for everyone on our list, attending parties, and enjoying all the sights and sounds of the holidays, while dreaming of a white Christmas. My boys (they're eight and 11 years old) don't believe in Santa anymore, and haven't for a few years; but that doesn't mean they've lost the joy or magic of the season. For those of you who have younger children who still believe in the big jolly man in the red suit and would like the chance to see him up close and personal, I'm giving away a family four pass to the first CF Rideau Centre Breakfast with Santa event, taking place at the Shaw Centre on Saturday, November 19th . All the proceeds are going to Easter Seals Ontario to help purchase expensive mobility equipment to kids with physical disabilities. I love supporting Easter Seals any way I can, and had a blast partici...

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...

It's spring, but it's supposed to snow tomorrow. That's just not sitting well with me, because I'm ready for warmer days—days where I can just put on a little dress and cute wedge heels and meet my girlfriends for a drink on a patio or shop... outside... without freezing! Even though the weather isn't great, you can still grab your friends and do something fun indoors—like head over to the National Women's Show  at the Shaw Centre. You can shop your heart out at over 250 exhibits, discover the latest fashion trends, watch a few fashion shows, enjoy some tasty treats and drinks, and plan you next getaway (somewhere warm, I hope) with the help of travel pros. It can be a bit overwhelming heading into the Shaw Centre for the National Women's Show, but they've divided up into sections so you can make sure to visit what you're most interested in: Festival of Fashion Business and Career Centre Beauty and Wellness Travel and Adventure World ...

It's December, and holiday preparations are in full swing. Right now, I'm busy getting ready for the festive season and all the holiday parties by shopping for the perfect gifts for my family and friends. I'm also getting excited thinking about all the delicious food we'll be enjoying around the table at Christmas. (I'm being extremely careful right now so I can indulge over the holidays without feeling guilty!) I love this time of year and all the holiday traditions that have come to mean so much to me—decorating the house and the tree with my children while listening to Christmas music, watching our favourite holiday movies (like Elf and Home Alone) and taking walks after dinner to look at all the festive lights in our neighbourhood. December is one of my favourite months, and it's also the busiest shopping month—and even though I love to shop, (a lot!) things can get very expensive if I'm not careful. This year I'm determined to stick to a budge...

Sometimes, it amazes me how much I get done before 9 a.m. Before having kids morning was a pretty standard routine: wake up, get ready for school or work, and get out the door. Now? It's wake up, get ready for the day with one million interruptions, make breakfast for everyone, pack lunches, make sure school bags are ready to go, help the children get dressed, clean the house, do a load or two of laundry, clean the house, prepare dinner, and start working after I drop the children off at school... all while enjoying a cup of not so hot coffee, because it's not until the second cup of the day that I can sit down and exhale. It's a whirlwind for sure, but I'm used to it, and I love it, even though some days can be hectic. It's a given that when you're a mom, you're multitasking every day.  I know I am. A multitasking mom gets more done in a day than is humanly possible, with little to no complaining. (Who has time for that?) It's important to stay or...

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...