Loulou's views

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...

It's almost time for the Oscars, and I can't wait! I'm looking forward to seeing my favourite celebrities on the red carpet, and I'm excited to see who will win Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Picture. If you're like me and must read the book before you see the movie, you're in luck because this year, the number of Oscar nominated books is higher than usual, which means you still have time to read these great books turned Oscar nominated films before February 28th. I was on CTV Ottawa Morning Live today chatting about the Oscars and which books-turned-movie have been given an Oscar nod. A very special thank you to Chapters-Indigo for always having the books I need for my segments and for always keeping me reading at home. If you're looking to pick up any of these great Oscar nominated books, head to Chapters-Indigo. Best Picture:  The Revenant: This novel by Michael Punke has been nominated for Best Picture and Leonardo DiCaprio is ...

It's time to get ready for the holidays! I love celebrating all things festive—decorating the house, baking cookies with my boys, (even though I'm terrible at it) attending and hosting parties, shopping for the perfect gift for everyone on my list, and wrapping the presents. Yes, I absolutely  love  wrapping presents. I spent many hours working as a gift wrapper in the mall when I was in university, and I've loved gift wrapping ever since. You can definitely get creative with wrapping. I love using different textures and types of wrapping paper, and I always use ribbon to make a pretty bow, finishing off with something special, like a personalized ornament or homemade gift tag. Here's my  gift wrapping segment  I did on CTV Ottawa Morning Live,  showing you how you can become an expert gift wrapper, too. (This video is not new, but all the tips and tricks I share in the segment are as good as new!) It's not hard, I promise. Here are some other gif...

It honestly feels like it was just yesterday I was picking the kids up on their last day of school, holding back tears over the fact that another year had come to an end, and where does the time go? (Also, tears of fear, because gosh, summer is L-O-N-G, even when it includes two weeks of tennis camp and a four week vacation to Greece.) Well, guess what? In a few days, kids are heading back to school for another year. As much as I'll miss having my two boys around me all day, I know we're all looking forward to routine again. And hey, some free time for me to work and uh... shop will be just lovely. When it comes to back-to-school shopping, I get really excited. I've always loved shopping for essential school supplies, like backpacks, lunch containers, and anything that'll help keep me—and the kids—organized. I was on CTV Morning Live talking about some great back-to-school products—here are some of my favourites: Net Nanny: Net Nanny is something all parent...

Valentine's Day is a few days away and I've got some thoughtful gift ideas—to give and to receive! I was on CTV Morning Live talking about these great gifts. You can watch the segment here . Here are some great gifts for Valentine's Day: Romantic Trip For Two: Who needs diamonds if you can escape to a warm, sunny destination? The memories of a great vacation are better than diamonds! I just got back from the Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour , Miami, and it's the perfect place to escape to if you're looking for a little romance and fun in the sun, if even just for a weekend. Besides, Miami is only a three hour flight from Ottawa. You'll be greeted with a glass of champagne when you arrive, and from there, you'll get lost in a world of luxury and romance, with bedrooms boasting gorgoeus views of the Atlantic Ocean, a heated pool, amazing service and food, and a personal driver to take you to the Bal Harbour Shops. Perfection, no? Swe...

Brr... it's been an incredibly cold winter and I'm over it already. Thankfully, my family and I are heading south to warmer temperatures, soon. I'm counting down the days—we all are, actually. I need the sun, the warmth, and the sound of the ocean waves waking me up every morning. I was on CTV Ottawa Morning Live talking about travel tips when you're travelling with the kids , and I had to mention three amazing resorts that I'll be visiting during my upcoming vacation to Florida. Having travelled to Florida many times with the little ones, I know what works, and what doesn't. These resorts are amazing, family-friendly, and very accommodating—and I know they'd be perfect for you, too—whether you're travelling with children, or not. 1. Diplomat Resort and Spa: We can't wait to be back at the beautiful Diplomat Resort and Spa . (For our 10th time!)  The Diplomat has been so kind to us over the years, providing us with amazing perk...

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...

I love being a Shoe Style Brand Ambassador for ShoeMe.ca . Today I talked about the latest looks and trends in shoes and boots  for fall, from ShoeMe.ca on CTV Ottawa Morning Live.  We talked about how easy and fun it was to shop online for shoes, too. Even though it was hard putting our summer shoes away, there are so many great options for fall and winter—like gorgeous boots by Frye, Sam Edelman, Nine West, Ecco, and more, all from ShoeMe.ca. I love the convenience of ordering online because of the great selection and because it's always free shipping and free returns. So even if you're not 100% sure of your purchase, you can easily return what you've bought with no hassle. Isn't that a great way to shop? You can see the entire segment  here. I love all the boots featured in today's segment, especially the black Sam Edelman booties, but these beauties by Hush Puppies might just be my favourite of all! They're stylish, and super comfortab...

The most wonderful time of the year is almost here! Although I would love summer to last forever, especially because it's been so wonderful, I think we're all ready to put the beach towels away and bring out the backpacks. I'm craving routine, aren't you? I was on CTV Ottawa Morning Live today, talking about getting ready for back-to-school and how we can all stay organized this year. Here's my segment , featuring items from Pottery Barn Kids , Hilroy Canada , Mabel's Labels , and Mastermind Toys —items that will help you and your kids get organized just in time for school! Here are some tips to help you and your children transition from summer to fall without any major meltdowns: Get Into The Groove While we were in Greece, my kids adapted to the Greek lifestyle—going out for dinner at 10 p.m. and staying up until past midnight almost daily, thanks to the World Cup being aired at 11 p.m. most nights. Since we've been back, we've been...

What's more blissful than a day at the spa? I'm a huge spa girl, and I make sure to work massages into my schedule whenever I can. From testing out fabulous treatments at resorts like the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and Spa  to visiting my favourite salons here in Ottawa, I try to make time for me, so I can unwind and relax. I was talking about  WaySpa.com  and the upcoming  Spa Week  on CTV Ottawa Morning Live, and now I'm really looking forward to some pampering, especially after a very busy month. Here's my segment about WaySpa.com and SpaWeek ! WaySpa.com  offers great deals on spa treatments from coast to coast. WaySpa.com has partnered with over 2,000 spas across Canada, and it's the place to go if you're looking for a mani-pedi combo close to home, a couples package for a NYC getaway, or a spa weekend with the girlfriends.  WaySpa.com   offers it all, and it's easy to buy treatments online. Spa Week  by Way...

Happy (almost) Valentine's Day! I hope you'll all get the chance to celebrate with the ones you love. The most important thing I love to receive on Valentine's Day are hugs and kisses from my boys, and hand-made cards. Those are the things I cherish the most, always. If you're looking for some great Valentine's Day gift ideas, check out my segment from today's CTV Ottawa Morning Live. I've got a ton of great gift ideas from Holt Renfrew and some cute stuff from Pottery Barn Kid s, too! I love the adorable Valentine's Day cards from Pottery Barn Kids, because they're great for everyone, boys and girls, of any age. Also, they are so very retro, no? So cute. My boys especially love the little mail box you can attach to the back of the chair to receive your love notes—it was so adorable! Enjoy, and Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo

Are you out of ideas on what to get the kids or your loved one for their stocking this year? Well, don't worry. I've got some great stocking stuffer ideas everyone will love—items that are unique, practical, and affordable. (Even things I want to find in my stocking this year... hint, hint, Santa!) Here's my segment from CTV Ottawa Morning Live where I showed some amazing items from Tag Along Toys and HomeSense. There is something here for everyone in your family! Happy holiday shopping, friends. If you need a personal shopper, you know where to find me. Thanks for the great items I got to show on-air, Homesense and Tag Along Toys ! Also! I feel like Santa's helper right now... the amazing items I showed from Tag Along Toys? I'm giving them away to one of my lucky readers! Leave me a comment below telling me what you want in YOUR stocking this year, and you'll be entered to win! (Local residents only for this giveaway, please. Winner will b...