Loulou's views

Advent calendars have come a long way since we were kids–I remember our choices were limited to chocolate (and not the good kind) and windows that opened to reveal a different Christmas illustration every day. I loved those in particular, but now, we have countless choices when it comes to buying an advent calendar to help us count down to Christmas. I was on CTV Noon and CTV Ottawa Morning Live showing viewers the best advent calendars to give this year.  Here are my suggestions for advent calendars guaranteed to make everyone smile: For the sweet tooth: Purdy's Chocolates This year, Purdy's has come out with not one but two advent calendars for the chocolate lover! The starry night advent calendar contains pretty drawers you pull open every day to reveal a tasty, festive, wrapped in foil milk or while chocolate piece; a dark chocolate foiled bell, or a foiled chocolate salted caramel. If you flip each drawer while you're counting down, you'll reveal a be...

Are you feeling festive yet? I love everything about the holiday season, you guys. From decking the halls to baking cookies (no matter how terrible I am at that!) to attending and hosting Christmas parties, it's truly the most wonderful time of the year. What I love most about this season, though, is shopping for the perfect gift for everyone on my list—especially when shopping is made easy. I just discovered the best way to shop for the holidays: through the Aeroplan eStore!  It's shopping made easy because I can shop online from more than 170 stores, while earning Aeroplan Miles. Earning extra Aeroplan Miles means I'm one step closer to booking my next vacation, so it's kind of like giving myself a present, too, because all I want to do after the holiday season is over is get on a plane and head somewhere warm. If you're not an Aeroplan member, you can join here . Aeroplan has a special 12 Days of Gifting shopping event coming up, too, and this is really...

With the festive season officially underway, I put together my 2017 holiday gift guide just in time for you to hit the mall. I featured some amazing products on CTV yesterday, but didn't have enough time to talk about everything on-air, so all the details are here to make your holiday shopping a breeze. For the beauty lover: Clarins:  Clarins is one of my favourite skin-care companies. The  12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar is the perfect gift to give someone to start celebrating the holiday season early, because they'll receive a little gift every day for 12 days. It contains two full-sized products and 10 discovery-sized products, which are much larger than sample size. It’s exclusively available at The Bay and on  www.clarins.com . It retails for $92, with a  value of $174.   The Essentials Winter Palette:  The Essential Eye Palette by Clarins is a holiday exclusive with sales going to support indigenous commun...

As the holiday season approaches, many families will be travelling to get away from the cold or to visit their families in other cities. While we stay close to home for the holidays, we area already planning our annual winter getaway to south Florida. I am  so  looking forward to feeling the warm sunshine on my skin again, and spending hours on the beach and by the pool–pina colada in hand! My boys have always been excellent travellers, even on long flights overseas. While I help them pack their carry-on bags, I make sure I have all their favourite  Netflix  shows and movies downloaded. After all,  travelling can be chaotic at times, so why not take a little time before you leave to make sure your kids have what they need to stay entertained, and not annoyed, during your travels? If you travel often enough, you will know that sometimes, the unexpected can happen–delayed flights, lost luggage, long line-ups, and more–and I find that if my boys have th...

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...

The holidays are my favourite time of the year—after summer, of course. I love everything about this season: shopping for presents for everyone on my list, writing Christmas cards, wrapping gifts, decorating the house with my family, watching holiday movies, attending and hosting festive parties, and of course, the most important thing of all—giving back, in big and small ways, to those who deserve it the most. The Kellogg's Rice Krispies #TreatsForToys campaign is back, helping kids during the holidays in a great way. In partnership with The Salvation Army, Canadian families are encouraged to create a toy-shaped Rice Krispies treat and submit a photo of it on TreatsForToys.ca , or share on social media with the hashtag #TreatsForToys. For every photo of your Rice Krispies creation you share online, (and it doesn't have to be anything really creative; it is, after all, the thought that counts!) Kellogg's Rice Krispies will donate $20 to The Salvation Army for t...

One of my favourite things about the holiday season is the last-minute shopping. As much as I plan ahead of time and get most of my shopping done for everyone on my list by the beginning of December, there is always something left to buy a day or two before Christmas, which is perfectly fine with me, because I truly do love the hustle and bustle of the holidays, especially the last-minute shopping. I received the most adorable set of silver bracelets from ALEX AND ANI this week, and they are the perfect accessories to wear during the fun holiday season. I've already received so many compliments on the bracelets, (I especially love my new kite bracelet—it's perfect to wear no matter the season!) and I love knowing I've inspired some friends to buy some of these bracelets for people on their list, too. 'Tis the season, after all. ALEX AND ANI have some great holiday sets to gift, which will make your holiday shopping even easier. How ...

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...

I am getting so excited for Christmas, and all the fun that comes with it—especially getting the chance to spend some quality time with my children, who will be home from school for two weeks. Actually, this year, the break goes until January 9th, meaning that although we'll be busy right up until Christmas Day, we'll definitely need to find some things to do to occupy ourselves during the long break from school, without going stir-crazy. From getting together with friends and family, to lots of play time in the great (and freezing!) outdoors, we'll be happily entertained—but I know eventually I'll hear the dreaded:  "Mom... I'm bored!" Thankfully, we're set up with Netflix, and that means countless hours of entertainment, from the warmth of our home. My boys love selecting shows and movies to watch on Netflix, and I love the great variety of programming that Netflix has for all its viewers, young and... not so young. On December 23rd, Netflix and ...

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...

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and yet, it's also the most stressful time of the year for some people. While I love to shop, I know many people don't find pleasure in walking through the mall in December, looking for the perfect gifts to give the people on their list. I've put together a holiday gift guide that'll help narrow down the choices of what to give the people you love this holiday season—from luxurious gifts like a getaway to The Hazelton Hotel to books and skin care products, there is definitely something here for everyone on your list. Luxury gifts The Hazelton Hotel: I love to travel, and I love gifts that have to do with travel. Even if it's a staycation, or a weekend getaway, I can't think of a better gift to give someone you love. I had the pleasure of staying at The Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville, Toronto, and I think this is a perfect gift to give. You can unwind and re-connect in the luxurious rooms and suites, enjoy the ...

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...

December was an incredibly busy month with so much going on—from hosting and going to parties, celebrating with family and friends, attending Christmas plays at school, volunteering, decorating, shopping, baking, and wrapping—but it was a wonderful holiday, and many new memories were made. One of the best parts of this holiday season is giving back, and this year, we gave back in a BIG way. After all, it is the season for giving, right? This December, my mom, artist Katerina Mertikas , and Ottawa's fabulous Catherine Landry along with the lovely Nella Zourntos from Big Rig Brewery had a fabulous idea to host a paint night at Big Rig to raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank, specifically, the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard. Tickets to this incredible paint night sold out instantly, and everyone got ready to paint like Katerina, with some guidance, a lot of laughter, and yummy food and beer. We were lucky to have our wonderful Mayor Jim Watson stop by to say a few w...