Loulou's views

This Mother's Day, keep is simple by shopping local for the most important woman in your life. There are so many wonderful gifts to give mom for Mother's Day. Of course, the most important gift of all is the gift that's free: love, and spending quality time with those closest to you. For me, a truly happy Mother's Day means I'm spending it with my children and my family, doing things we love, together. A home made card from my children is always the most cherished gift I receive every year. However–receiving (and giving) something extra special is a wonderful way to celebrate Mother's day, too. This year, I thought it would be a good idea to shop for gifts from local businesses, because Ottawa is full of great companies selling amazing products every mom will appreciate. Here are my choices for the best gifts to give this Mother's Day: Tallow Boutique : Tallow is an adorable boutique located in Westboro. They sell so many wonderful items including...

Are you looking for something fun to do this weekend in honour of Mother's Day? This Saturday, May 12th, Koyman Galleries in Ottawa is hosting a special Mother's Day art show featuring the latest art work from local artist  Katerina Mertikas –my mom.  Enjoy a tea and special treats while browsing the two-floor, open-space gallery, while looking at the beautiful pieces of art.  If you're stuck on what to buy your mom this year, might I suggest a beautiful new piece of original art? I love the idea of buying gifts that never lose their value, gifts that can be enjoyed for years to come, and gifts that can be passed down, to the people I love.  The art show begins May 12th, and Katerina Mertikas will be present during the show. If you can't make it that day, not to worry–the art show runs until May 28th.  Happy Mother's Day! 

Mother's Day is coming up this weekend, and even though we should celebrate moms every day for all the work they do, (truly, it's a 24 hours a day job... forever!) it's nice to give something special to the moms in your life—or to treat yourself to a little something sweet, too. I will say there is no gift greater than being a mom, and I feel blessed every day to have two little wonderful people in my life who love me very much.  The greatest gift of all is being a mom to my amazing boys. I love giving practical (and affordable) gifts for most occasions, products I know will be used and loved. Here are some great suggestions on how you can spoil mom this Mother's Day, without breaking the bank: Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner: Why not put together a hair and beauty package with some great products you can pick up from the drug store or grocery store for an easy gift every mom will love? The new Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Con...

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 ...

I'm a girl who can't wear flats. Seriously, for some reason, even walking the streets of NYC for hours on end—or Disney World, or Athens—is more comfortable for me if I'm in shoes with a little bit of a heel. Of course, the shoes have to be stylish, too. When I used to think of stylish shoes Hush Puppies didn't instantly come to mind, but after trying some of their new boots and heels, I've been pleasantly surprised with the results. People are always surprised when I tell them my favourite pair of high-heeled leather and suede boots are Hush Puppies. Style and comfort together is key. I'm glad Hush Puppies asked me to work with them in getting the word out about their new line of shoes for summer, and I'm even happier that I get to give away a pair of shoes to YOU! I know you'll love Hush Puppies just as much as I do. I can't wait for you to discover why this shoe company is renowned for their comfy shoes and fashionable trends. To en...

Mother's Day is a few days away, and I'm excited because I'll just be coming back from New York City, which means I'll be receiving extra love and hugs from my two boys. Although being away from them is hard—even if it is only a couple of days—the welcome I receive when I'm back always warms my heart. Being a mom is truly the best gift of all—and spending time with my children is always something I cherish, on Mother's Day, and all the days. Being a mother means so many things, and to me, it is the most amazing experience. Even though being a mom is one of the toughest jobs in the world, it's what life is all about, after all. If my boys are happy, I'm happy. It's that simple. Every day has its challenges, but life is filled with a greater purpose when you're a parent. This Mother's Day, I'll be doing all sorts of things I love with my boys. My top three favourite things to do on Mother's Day? 1. Going out for lunch with my ...

As a mom of two adorable, smart, and funny boys, my favourite thing about Mother's Day is... well, just being able to spend time with my children. After all, they're my entire heart and world, and they fill me with so much joy every day it feels like my heart might burst. And every day, I am in awe of how much they've grown, and how they're becoming their own independent people. I cherish all the time we have together, and love that they still want me to put them to bed every night. I know this won't last; so I'll enjoy it while I can. Of course, anything hand-made with love from my boys is the ultimate Mother's Day gift, but what else would a mom love on Mother's Day? I was on CTV Morning Live talking about the great gifts I'd love to receive... and give... this Mother's Day. Here are some great gifts to give for Mother's Day: A luxurious getaway: I was on a press trip to Toronto recently and I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto ...

Mother's Day is around the corner and while I'm not overly sentimental, I love giving (and receiving) on this special day. What I receive from my boys that I love and appreciate the most are personal tokens of love and affection that come from the heart. A handwritten card is pretty much all I need to make me completely happy on Mother's Day, or any day of the year, for that matter. The gifts my boys give that come from the heart mean so much to me. When I receive other types of sweet gifts, I'm also very thankful. Gifts like spa treatments ,   luxurious hotel stays , and jewellery always make great gifts. I was given this gorgeous personalized necklace by my Stella and Dot Independent Stylist, Kristy Price , recently, and I wear it almost every day. It's the perfect engravable necklace and it goes with almost everything I wear. It was a special early Mother's Day gift I received, and now I want to give you a special Mother's Day gif...

Happy Mother's Day to everyone, especially to my wonderful mom, who does so much for me and my boys (and my sister and her children, too!) every single day. From helping us take care of our children, to cooking home-cooked delicious meals for us, and traveling with us, we are blessed to have her in our lives. I'm thankful every single moment that I've been given the gift of being a mom to my two amazing boys. They make me laugh every single day, and they make my heart burst with pride and happiness all the time.  Even when my six year old tells one of his teachers that I am a fire fighter, because "Mommy, what if he doesn't know what a blogger is?" Being a mom is the hardest, most emotional, never-ending, rewarding job in the universe, so today, pat yourself on the back, sleep in, (ha!) and treat yourself—to coffee while it's still warm, to a deserving massage, and to extra long cuddles with your little (or big) ones.  Enjoy your da...

Mother's Day is almost here and that means I'll be spending the day with my family, thankful for the great gift of being a mom to the two greatest boys. Although the most meaningful gifts are those made with love, like personal cards and crafts, receiving something extra is always nice. After all, every mom deserves something special on Mother's Day. I've put together a complete gift guide for Mother's Day, featuring products I think will speak to every mom out there. Here's my Mother's Day segment on CTV Ottawa Morning Live , so you can see and hear for yourself how great these products are. I  couldn't  talk about everything in length on-air, but I've got  the  full rundown for you here. The complete Mother's Day Gift Guide: Books:   Books as gifts are always a good idea—for any occasion, especially Mother's Day. If I only received books as presents for the rest of my life, I'd be very happy. Here are some books that are gr...