Loulou's views

Apple picking at Orleans Fruit Farm  I'm no baker, and rarely post recipes on my blog, but since it's a rainy day in September (during a global pandemic, no less) I thought it would be the perfect time to share this delicious recipe! One of our annual traditions is going apple picking, and we decided to make these simple apple cinnamon muffins that are perfect to eat as a snack, or even for breakfast. They're easy to make--my 12 year old made these on his own.  So yummy! Here's what you need:  2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon  2 cups diced apples (peeled, obviously) 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 cup milk  For the topping:  1/2 cup melted butter 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup ground cinnamon Instructions:  Preheat oven to 375F.  Mix together 2 cups flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl--set aside.  Mix 2 te...

Disclosure: I have partnered with Allergen Inc. and  Juvéderm for this campaign, and have received treatment and  monetary  compensation. All views and opinions are my own.   If yo u're on the fence about  Juvéderm  let me put your mind at ease–over the course of several months, I had the  opportunity  to experience  Juvéderm   fillers with Dr. Caronline Tosoni , and I loved my experience. She is one of  the  best cosmetic physicians in Ottawa, and after seeing her several times for consultations and treatments, I can see why she's so loved in this city. Many  people  I know go to Dr. Tosoni,  including several of my close friends. Her professionalism and expertise can't be beat! A ll the doubts I had prior to making my appointment with Dr. Tosoni were put to rest after my first visit with her. My initial fear was the pain from the needles, and wondering if anything would go wrong. I wa...

Disclaimer: I am partnering with Allergen for this campaign and I am being compensated for my blog posts and treatment sessions. I recently wrote about my consultation with Dr. Caroline Tosoni–a leading medical aesthetics expert and owner of Ottawa's top cosmetics clinic, Tosoni MD . During my consultation, Dr. Tosoni explained the benefits of Juvederm and how long each treatment would last. She answered all my questions (Will it hurt? Can I wash my face and put makeup on after? Is it safe?) and she put my mind to ease. I am thrilled to be working with Dr. Tosoni (and the Allergen team) so I can share my experience with my followers. Many people I know have done wrinkle-reducing injections like Juvederm, but don't openly talk about it. Is it because we associate these procedures with an older demographic? The truth is, women are starting to take care of their skin with Juvederm in their 20's as a preventative measure to help reduce the onset of fine lines. Juvederm ...

One of my favourite things about the holiday season is the shopping. I love giving back to local charities and organizations, like CHEO and The Shoebox Project, and I enjoy buying presents for my family (especially my boys!) and my friends. December is the busiest month of all, with work, social events, and hosting parties, so I try to plan ahead as much as I can, and check things off my to-do list daily.  Here are my holiday shopping tips and some great gift ideas to help you get through this hectic season with ease: One-Stop Shopping I can spend countless hours in Chapters-Indigo with my children selecting new books to add to our 'to-read' pile. Chapters-Indigo is the best one-stop shop for holiday gifts, too. They have something for everyone on your list, including technology, like Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones, to home decor, journals, toys, accessories, and stylish items like purses, scarves, and hats. Whether you're shopping in-store or online at indi...

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 ...

Ottawa has drastically improved in many ways over the years, making it a must-see city for world travellers, and a place to re-discover for local residents. The downtown core has two new hotels perfect for those looking for a modern, stylish place to stay: Le Germain and Alt Hotel . (These two hotels, in addition to Andaz, have helped make downtown come alive again). I had the chance to check-in to the Le Germain Hotel Ottawa with my husband for a mini staycation, and we loved the hotel–especially because of the location–only a short walk to CF Rideau Centre, and my favourite department store, Nordstrom. Nice hotels and shopping make me happy! I've stayed at Le Germain in Toronto, and I found that hotel has a more bustling, sexy vibe, but Ottawa's version was equally beautiful and elegant, with an artful design, spectacular views of the city, and great service. The rooms are clean and modern, each one its own work of art that stays true to Ottawa's unique vibe. A...

You guys, spring is in the air! Well, not today, since we're recovering from that crazy April ice storm, but I can just feel it... this weekend calls for sunny skies and temps in the double digits. How exciting is that? Pretty exciting, but not as exciting as the fact that it's the home opener game for our very own Ottawa Fury FC ! They'll be taking on North Carolina, and I can't wait to see our team in action again. I had so much fun attending Fury games last year at TD Place with my children, nieces and nephew–it's always a blast, and a perfect outing for the entire family. I'll be working closely with the Ottawa Fury FC this year promoting the games, doing some Instagram takeovers, and giving away tickets to soccer fans. I'm giving away a family four pass to this weekend's home opener, too! If you love soccer and want to cheer on the city's only professional soccer club, just leave me a comment below telling me why you're looking f...

I love exploring new places near my city. I was a little familiar with Manotick, but I didn't know just how much this village had to offer. Manotick–Objibway for "Island in the River"–is a quaint little village 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa, and less, if you live in Ottawa's south end. There is so much to discover in Manotick, including Watson's Mill, an 1860's grist and flour mill on the Rideau River. This working industrial heritage site is a wonderful place to visit with the family, where you can watch weekly flour grinds on Sunday's, and leave with a bag or two of fresh flour. You can also head to the Watson's Mill Manotick Spring Craft Market taking place May 18th-19th , the perfect time to enjoy all spring has to offer while shopping unique items from local businesses. There are over 125 unique and locally-owned shops in Manotick, restaurants that are some of the best in and around the Ottawa area, street front cafes, and plenty of ...

Spring is finally (finally!) in the air. This means it's time to start spring cleaning to make room in your closet for all the new pieces you have to buy this season. Along with spring cleaning your closet comes spring cleaning your mind and body, too—by eating healthier, and working out several time a week. I love incorporating a number of different activities to stay fit, but what I love most of all is taking classes at The Dailey Method . I began working out at The Dailey Method last summer when I was invited to take part in the #DoItDailey30 challenge as a blog ambassador. Once I got through my first class, I was in love. It was more of a workout than I expected, and after the 30 day challenge I not only felt better, I looked better, too. It was so motivating and a lot of fun. The Dailey Method, in case you're not familiar, is a group fitness class that helps you increase muscle length, strength, tone, and balance, while improving your cardio strength, post...