Loulou's views

How are you spending Valentine's Day? No matter what you do, it'll be perfect as long as it's with the ones you love. My favourite Valentine's Day includes a night either out with my husband, or staying in with our boys. Quality family time is always the best gift to give and receive, but there are also some great ideas that are sure to be a hit. Here are my suggestions for some great Valentine's Day gifts to give, from stores found right here in Ottawa, like Schad on Sussex for the perfect sweater, t-shirt, or jewellery, donuts from Ottawa's best donut shop, Maverick's Donuts, or candles, books, and reading socks from Indigo. Another great idea is a gorgeous bloom box of roses from Luxe Blooms. I also love giving the gift of art, and an original painting from local artist Katerina Mertikas is a wonderful idea. How about an at-home spa basket with a gift card for a massage from Innes Massage Therapy, or a cordless curling iron for an upcoming su...

Valentine's Day is such a sweet occasion to celebrate, don't you think?  I love doing something sweet with my boys on Valentine's Day, and celebrating with my husband later in the evening (and on the weekend when things slow down a little). Giving a sweet gift for Valentine's Day doesn't have to be complicated. Here are some great Valentine's Day gift ideas I featured on Daytime Ottawa: Ebay I'm sure you know online shopping is sweet because it's easy and convenient, but did you know 3/4 of eBay.ca sellers are Canadian, and 80 percent of what is sold is brand new? I partnered with eBay.ca for Valentine's Day and found some truly amazing products that would make the perfect gift for this occasion, like the new Adidas Stella McCartney Sonic Solar Red Running Shoes, retailing for $130, Valentino Valentina Eau de Parfum, $76, and a beautiful Cluse La Boheme watch, selling for $86. Fragrance and jewellery are the perfect gifts to give for V...

Valentine's Day is a sweet way to celebrate love and friendship and it's the perfect day to show how you feel about someone by surprising them with an unexpected gift to show you care. I was on CTV Morning Live and CTV Noon talking about some amazing gift ideas—from beauty products to chocolates and everything in between—guaranteed to please everyone on your list. For the beauty and hair lover: Fragrance: What could be sweeter than a new fragrance to receive for Valentine's Day? Hudson's Bay has an incredible selection of classic and new fragrances and my personal favourite scents for Valentine's Day are Prada Candy, Tory Burch Love Relentlessly, Chloé Love Story and Fleur Musc by Narciso Rodriguez. Omorovicza: This skin care company has great products for those who love to take care of their skin. Their Perfecting Lip Balm is perfect for soft, kissable lips, and sells for $45. It helps plumps lips while hydrating them. Omorovicza Gold Hydrating M...

Valentine's Day is a few days away and I've got some thoughtful gift ideas—to give and to receive! I was on CTV Morning Live talking about these great gifts. You can watch the segment here . Here are some great gifts for Valentine's Day: Romantic Trip For Two: Who needs diamonds if you can escape to a warm, sunny destination? The memories of a great vacation are better than diamonds! I just got back from the Ritz-Carlton, Bal Harbour , Miami, and it's the perfect place to escape to if you're looking for a little romance and fun in the sun, if even just for a weekend. Besides, Miami is only a three hour flight from Ottawa. You'll be greeted with a glass of champagne when you arrive, and from there, you'll get lost in a world of luxury and romance, with bedrooms boasting gorgoeus views of the Atlantic Ocean, a heated pool, amazing service and food, and a personal driver to take you to the Bal Harbour Shops. Perfection, no? Swe...

February is a cold month, and even though I'm just back from a warm and sunny vacation down south, I still miss the warmth and the carefree days and nights. February, even though it's the coldest month of all if you live in the Canada's capital, is also a month to celebrate love, and not just on Valentine's Day! It's important to heat things up every once in a while, and what better time than Valentine's season, right? There are so many ways you can show your sweetheart just how smitten you really are. Whether you've been struck by Cupid's arrow, or you're looking to spice things up this month, forget chocolate and think quality time... for two. Here are some tips to make this month HOT even though outside, it's not: Massage: Everyone loves a good massage, so why not heat things up, relax, and get in the mood with a sexy full-body massage? Massages release endorphins, which are sure to turn up the heat in the bedroom! Get Away: Leave th...

Happy (almost) Valentine's Day! I hope you'll all get the chance to celebrate with the ones you love. The most important thing I love to receive on Valentine's Day are hugs and kisses from my boys, and hand-made cards. Those are the things I cherish the most, always. If you're looking for some great Valentine's Day gift ideas, check out my segment from today's CTV Ottawa Morning Live. I've got a ton of great gift ideas from Holt Renfrew and some cute stuff from Pottery Barn Kid s, too! I love the adorable Valentine's Day cards from Pottery Barn Kids, because they're great for everyone, boys and girls, of any age. Also, they are so very retro, no? So cute. My boys especially love the little mail box you can attach to the back of the chair to receive your love notes—it was so adorable! Enjoy, and Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo