Loulou's views

With the holiday season quickly approaching, many of us are starting to plan our holiday party schedule. From hosting parties with family and friends, to attending gatherings at local restaurants, it's gearing up to a very busy December. Ottawa has some excellent restaurants perfect for holiday entertaining, and on the top of my list for where to dine in style is Al's Steak House.  There aren't many place to go on a Saturday night that truly feel like a fine dining experience in Ottawa, where you can look forward to dressing up, people watching, and enjoying excellent food and drinks. Al's Steak House is the perfect combination of great food, excellent service, and romantic ambiance. Al's is unique because it was Ottawa's first steak house, and it's been a family-run business for over 51 years. Now on their third generation, Al's serves tourists, celebrities, athletes, and local residents every day of the week. The family-owned business has ...

With Canada Day just a day away, this country is buzzing with excitement with Canada 150 events, and there has never been a better time to take a vacation–or staycation–in Canada. I was recently on Breakfast Television in Montreal talking about the great things to see and do, and where to stay, in Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. Ottawa is obviously the place to be to celebrate Canada Day, but if you want to avoid the crowds, not to worry; there is a lot going on after July 1st, too. Here's what you can enjoy: Sky Lounge: Taking place between July 7th and 22nd, this is an exclusive culinary experience that will take the brave 150 feet in the air to discover Ottawa like never before; you'll get to experience a dining experience presented by chef Stephen La Salle, from Andaz Hotel's Feast and Revel delicious restaurant. You can choose between a a cocktail option with appetizers and Canadian wine, or a gourmet three-course dinner. You'll be strapped in Formula-1 sty...

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'...

I was never very environmentally conscious before becoming a mother. Once I had children, though, my perspective on most things changed, including my views on the environment, the world I was raising my children in, and what I needed to do to make sure my children were growing up aware of the things they needed to do to keep our planet green and contribute to their environment in positive ways. Thankfully, I've raised some really good people–boys who are smart and know more than I did when I was their age about science, the environment, and how even small things can make a big impact. Taking on a new job in Communications at Environment and Climate Change Canada has opened my eyes even further to how much work is being done around us to keep our air clean, and our communities safe and healthy. Here are some ways you can be more environmentally conscious in simple ways: Be Aware:  Becoming more environmentally conscious isn't difficult; in fact, living in Canada–a coun...

It's summer, and if you're like me, you've been planning your vacation for a while. Although the weather here is absolutely perfect right now, there's something exciting about getting ready for a vacation. My favourite summer vacation destination in Greece, because of the beauty and the culture. There is nothing more breathtaking than the Mediterranean Sea! I also love going to Miami in the summer (and winter!) with my family because it's a short plane ride, the resorts are gorgeous, and the beach life is perfect. I'm a last minute packer, and despite how often I travel, I always pack more shoes than I should–but if you don't plan accordingly, over-packing will be the least of your worries. Since we tend to be so focused on our destination, it's easy to forget about the journey, particularly security screening at the airport. The good news is that being prepared can help you breeze through the screening checkpoint , leaving you more time to shop, eat, ...

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...

On Mother's Day, I always like to reflect back to the happy days when I was pregnant with my two boys. Both experiences were wonderful and life-changing for me. I had easy pregnancies, where I was able to enjoy the many benefits of pregnancy bliss—guilt-free eating, relaxing, and just embracing my natural glow while watching my belly grow. I had relatively easy deliveries with my children, and I was surrounded by family, and supportive doctors and nurses. Mother's Day is a perfect time to remind ourselves that safe, easy pregnancies and childbirth are not always the case. Every day, more than 800 women around the world die from pregnancy or childbirth related complications. When I heard this high number, it astounded me. How can this still be the case?  I'm so honoured to be supporting ADRA Canada and standing up for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) this month. MNCH is one of the most common acronyms used in discussions about global health, but many of us ...

If you're still looking for the perfect gift to give this holiday season, you should consider giving something unique, something designed in Canada, something practical, and something timeless—like a new watch from Medium Watch Co. What is Medium Watch Co.? "We are a collaboration of designers, innovators, entrepreneurs, athletes and artists that appreciate the details. We value the tools of our trade and the accessories that define us. Through careful craftsmanship and customization of the products that we choose, we are making a statement about who we are." I recently received a gorgeous watch from Medium Watch Co . and love the sleek design and the choice of watches that are available for men and women. I had a hard time choosing which watch I wanted, but went with the black and rose gold mesh watch . It's perfect and I wear it almost every day. I love that Medium Watch Co. is designed in Canada and customized worldwide. Medium Watch Co. focuses on c...

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...

"Hello out there, we're on the air, it's Hockey Night tonight.  Tension grows, the whistle blows, and the puck goes down the ice.  The goalie jumps, and the players bump, and the fans all go insane.  Someone roars "Bobby scores!" at the good ole' hockey game."  Canada and hockey go together like bacon and eggs. Basically, if you live in Canada, you are born loving hockey. Although many play the sport, few are great at it, but that doesn't matter, because we can all appreciate a good ole' hockey game, right? After all, it's the best game you can name. I've been cheering on the The Ottawa Senators forever, and maybe, just maybe, this will be the year they'll finally take home the Stanley Cup. The 2015-2016 season is about to kick-off, and I'm SO excited. Seriously. So pumped. The first home game will be on Sunday, October 11th at the Canadian Tire Centre. Canadian Tire wants to get hockey fans in the mood for the fi...

I love getting away with the family for mini vacations, and this past weekend we took the kids (along with my sister and her family, and my parents) to Toronto for the weekend. We travel to Toronto with the children as often as we can, and this trip was planned so we could attend my mom's art show, see my best friends, do some shopping in Yorkville for the holidays, and enjoy a nice stay at the Marriott Bloor Yorkville once again. We had a sweet drive up in a Chevy Traverse—thanks again, Chevrolet Canada, for lending me this awesome vehicle for our road trip—the kids, of course, LOVED it, and so did we! A highlight of our trip was visiitng The Ripley's Aquarium of Canada , right in the heart of Toronto. It was, without a doubt, an amazing experience and everyone loved it. (Thank you to Ripley's for providing me and my family with media passes for our visit!) The Ripley's Aquarium of Canada opened its doors last fall and since then, it has been one of the mos...

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...

I've always been fascinated with Hollywood. After university, I applied to intern at various news stations like CNN, NBC, and CBS in Washington, D.C. I was accepted to all, and chose CBS. Looking back, I'd have chosen CNN, but as a 20-something recent graduate, picking the location with the shortest subway ride to and from the news station made a lot of sense to me. After that, I interned at Entertainment Tonight in Hollywood, California, which was a huge dream of mine. I was completely in awe from the second I walked onto the Paramount Studios lot, blown away by the constant action, and the television and movie sets. I didn't meet anyone famous unless you count Mary Hart, but I did drive up to the Hollywood sign and imagined one day owning a house there. (I'm now aware that not all dreams come true.) I loved Rodeo Drive as much as I thought I would, and I sat in Mary Hart's chair a few times. I left the internship early, to take a job I was offered in radio back...