Loulou's views

Even though the weather is cooler, we're still spending a lot of time outside enjoying the beauty of fall. It's also the perfect time to enjoy cozy evenings indoors with the family watching a movie, and eating some popcorn--two things that go hand in hand for me! One of our go-to snacks that's also pretty healthy is Orville Redenbacher popcorn. We love it because it tastes good, contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives, is made with 100% whole-grain, non-GMO popcorn, and is a high source of fibre.  Since we are also spending more time at home together as a family, trying to keep healthy while keeping our community safe, we are doing more baking and Orville Redenbacher has some great recipes that you can make at home with your children, incorporating popcorn--so fun! I just made these homemade granola bars, and it's a really simple recipe--they're so delicious, too! Orville's Power Crunch Bars Ingredients:  - 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oa...

*Edited to add: Thanks for everyone who entered the giveaway! I will try to give away more ticket this month, but in the meantime, please use code   HS4034  for 10% off your tickets!  Now that summer is over, it's time to welcome fall back into lives. Despite the change of weather, there is a lot I love about this season–the beautiful colours, the crips mornings, and my fall wardrobe: tights, boots, and sweaters make me almost as happy as little dresses and flip flops. Another thing I love about fall is visiting Saunders Farm –and I'm happy to say that this year, I am one of their Brand Ambassadors. Every year, we love visiting Saunders Farm with the kids. There is so much to do and see at the Farm, and it's especially fun in October, as we get ready for Halloween. Haunting Season at Saunders Farm is a blast–spooky, fun, and memorable. Plus, it's so very picture-worthy surrounded by the hundreds of bright orange pumpkins. The world-famous Haunting Season at ...

Summer is my favourite season–I love hot, sunny vacation days, hours spent around and in the pool, bike rides with my children, BBQ's with friends and family, and outdoor concerts and patio nights. It doesn't get much better than that. Somehow, we're just days away from school starting again, even though it seems like yesterday I was celebrating my children's last day of school. Although I'm a summer girl at heart,  I still love fall, and back-to-school. It's definitely time to get everyone into a regular routine again. One of my favourite things about back-to-school is the shopping, of course; and even though it's not me heading back to class (I wish it was, sometimes) I still love getting my boys ready. This year, my oldest son is starting middle school–grade 7–and my youngest son, grade 4.  To make everything go as smooth as possible, and to help alleviate the stress that sometimes comes with the start of a new school year, I partnered with two of...

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...

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...

October is here and the carefree days of summer are behind us. Our calendar is packed, from birthday parties to extra-curricular activities like swimming and tennis. We've set up a homework station at home, organized the bedrooms so the children always know where to find the things they need, and embraced the change in routine. I've said good-bye to summer dresses and I've even given up on flip flops. There is some sadness associated with fall, but... fall is also a beautiful, busy time—from wagon rides at the pumpkin patch to Thanksgiving and Halloween. Our house is bustling with energy from the moment we wake up and once the boys are off to school, I  start working, and start thinking about what to prepare for dinner. With such busy schedules, what I feed my family is really important to me, and I try my best to make sure my children are eating food they love that's healthy for them. Mornings are rushed, for most of us. In fact, nearly 70% of Canadian parents surv...