Loulou's views

I hate to say it—but... I'm so busy. The last couple of months have been busier than usual, and there is no end in sight, especially since the holiday season is here. I know—we all lead busy lives—but even though we're juggling a hundred things a day while trying to find some sort of balance that works for us, it's essential to take care of ourselves, too. I work full-time, run a business I love, and take care of my family, which in itself is a full-time job that never ends—and the most rewarding job of all. From housework to preparing meals to after-school activities and keeping up my social life (that's important, too!) I always make sure I'm taking some time for myself. Weekly visits to the hair salon? Check. Staying active and working out? Check. Taking vacations whenever we can? Check. A great skin-care routine? Check. By the end of the day, I'm ready for a moment of relief, and that usually comes after the children have gone to bed. Late at night,

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it's time to start thinking about the holiday season and all things festive—but first, Halloween! I get so excited for Halloween, and not just because I'm a mom. I love figuring out what costume to wear (I'm Harley Quinn this year!) and I love seeing what my boys are going to dress up as, too. (This year, they're going as a hot dog and a banana. Totally their idea). I get nervous on Halloween, especially because my boys are getting older and wanting more independence. They'd be happy to walk the streets on Halloween night with friends and leave me behind to pass out candy at home. I've seen one too many Halloween movies to let them go out alone on the 31st, though. With all the excitement that comes with Halloween, it's important to remember to be safe, especially since so many children are walking the streets at night, sometimes without parental supervision. Along with (very large) bags to store all the Halloween cand

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, but bullying—and cyber-bulling—are problems children face every day, every month. The best way to help children and teens is by raising awareness and helping those who need it most. I wanted to talk about this issue because I have children in grade 3 and grade 6, and although they haven't faced any serious issues, I see that not all children are as kind as they should be when I'm volunteering at the school. I asked Ottawa's Stuntman Stu some questions about this issue, because he and the team at Majic 100 started the No More Bullies campaign—which has received great feedback from schools, the youth, parents, and the community. Although the program is currently on hold, there are ways we can still promote kindness and remind children and teenagers the importance of being kind—to everyone. How did you come up with the No More Bullies campaign? What has the feedback been like so far?   The campaign started by accident.

I am a collector of fine things, especially designer handbags and sunglasses. Women (and men) can never have too many pairs of gorgeous shades to wear, because sunglasses are the perfect accessory to any outfit. I easily justify the cost of new sunglasses by wearing them every day—no matter the season. I've had the pleasure of partnering with SmartBuyGlasses several times and received some gorgeous shades to review from their site. I'm always so impressed with the quality of the shades I receive, since SmartBuyGlasses sells a variety of designer shades from Gucci to Ray-Ban to Tom Ford and Fendi. (And Burberry, Dior, Persol, Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Boss, Prada and so many more). SmartBuyGlasses offers the largest selection of sunglasses, eyeglasses, and ski goggles online, with over 180 brands. The only hard part will be deciding which pair of glasses to go with—I can spend hours browsing through the sunglasses and deciding on which pair to go with. And each time, I t

The school year is in full swing, and we're already nearing the end of October. There is so much to look forward to now that it's fall, except for colder weather and "germ" season. That's right... it seems like as soon as the kids are back to school, they get sick with a cold or the flu. And of course, cold and flu prevention is important year-round, but it's even more important to make healthy choices and take preventative measures to protect yourself and your family in preparation for the "Fall Spike"— the increase in sickness, which ranges from colds to severe asthma flare-ups, that's associated with children going to back school and the upcoming flu season. I'm thrilled to be working with Loblaw as part of the  #LoblawFluCrew to spread the important message (not germs!) on how we can keep our families healthy this season. Studies show that school children bring germs home from school and spread them to us lucky parents and ev

The thing I love most about fall isn't the gorgeous, changing colours on the trees or the fact that there is a cool breeze in the air every morning—for me, it's all about the boots. And, oh , the boots this season! There is something for everyone, and it is so easy to pull off a stylish look with the right pair of boots no matter the occasion. The must have boots this season? Well, there are a few, from the lace-up boot, to the ankle booties, and of course, the wedge heel—not just to be worn in the summertime. What's most important to me is comfort and style, and I found some great boots from some of my favourite stores that are both stylish, on-trend, and comfortable. Trust me, you need comfort when you're working all day long and keeping up with the kids before and after school! I was on CTV Ottawa Morning Live today talking about what's hot in boots for fall, and I showed some of my favourite looks from ECCO, Geox, Aldo, and Le Chateau. Here's

Fall is officially here, and as much as I already miss summer, I am so excited for all the wonderful things that come with fall—especially shopping for new clothes like sweaters, leggings, and boots. Dressing for fall is the best, because there are so many different ways you can style your outfits, like layering tanks and tees with cute knits, wearing leggings with big cozy sweaters, and rocking a cute dress with tights and boots. I love finding new pieces I can wear to work, to parties, and when I'm out on the town with friends on weekends. The truth is, I had never thought about shopping at Walmart for clothes, but I kept hearing about how great Walmart's private apparel line, George , is—great pieces at ridiculously affordable prices. Being the shopaholic that I am, I decided to venture into the clothing section at Walmart, and I was totally surprised by the great pieces I found for fall. I left with three entire outfits—including jewellery—for just under $100. I can't