Loulou's views

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...

Can you believe there is only one week left until Christmas? Yes, the holiday season is upon us, and if you're anything like me, you've been especially busy this month. So busy, you glance at the calendar in disbelief at how quickly the days are going by and a little frightened with all you have left to do before the end of the month... and year. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to forget eating well and maintaining a healthy diet, with all the parties and cookies and festive beverages tempting you. Once you get in the habit of eating well, though (habits usually take 21 days to become a daily routine) it's easier to keep to your routine of eating well, despite the temptations around you. If you're looking to start your day off right, and improve your overall healthy, you should consider taking psyllium fibre. Sounds scary? It's not. It's just a naturally sourced dietary fibre found in Metamucil powder, and it has a long his...

I have vivid memories of my childhood, and most of those memories involve me having fun in the great outdoors. Skiing, skating, swimming, dancing—I was very active and always on the go. From countless hours playing at the park, to building forts in the snow, I only went indoors to eat and sleep. I remember building a space ship to take my friend and I to the moon, and I remember long bike rides on summer afternoons. We didn't need to text each other to know where to meet, and we made our own fun, wherever we were. Being outside, getting dirty, and being one with nature—it's the most natural part of childhood, and it seems lately that this generation is forgetting that. As much as I love technology, (and I'm the first to admit I'm addicted to my iPhone) it's taking up a big chunk of time for young children who would be far better off playing outside. Nature Valley asked three generations one simple question: What did you do for fun as a kid? Watching th...

Summer is all about backyard BBQ's, ice cream, enjoying drinks on the patio with friends, and of course, vacations. I'm excited to be heading back to Greece this summer with my family. Despite  all the economic uncertainty in Greece, there is no better time to travel to the one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The beaches, the food, the people, the history‚ the sights and the island life (Mykonos, Santorini, Zakinthos, Lefkada...) are like no other. And you'll leave with memories to last a lifetime. Right before every vacation I try to lose a few pounds, especially since I know I'll be spending my days in the sea, in a bikini. I'm pretty confident with my body and my curves, but still—when I have a goal in mind, and something to strive for, it makes me work harder to achieve my goals. Although maintaining a healthy balance of eating well and working out, I find myself more motivated before I have to hit the beach in the summertime. Summer makes it e...

Are you singing along with me? School's out for the summer... almost. And we're all excited! Well, mostly all excited. The kids are excited. Parents? Well, we're excited, too. After all, we love spending time with our children, right? And we don't have to pack lunches every day! But, most of us still have to work during the summer months, and summer is long. (Not as long as never ending winter, but long.) We're always looking for ways to keep our children busy, having fun, and staying active. Of course, most parents will sign up their children for summer camp, but with so many camps to choose from, selecting one that is perfect for your child is a daunting task. My boys have been taking tennis lessons through Capital Camps for a couple of years, and when I found out that they also offer a variety of Summer Camps , I got so excited. After all, I know they'll have a good time, because they love it during the yea...

December is here, and Christmas is just weeks away. I'm getting super excited, and so are my kids. It's pretty much the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the time of year we might veer a little off the healthy road we're used to. It's easy for our expenses to grow in the month of December, but our waist line doesn't have to! There are simple things we can all do—children included—to stay healthy , even during the oh-so-tempting month of December. Here are five tips on keeping the entire family healthy during the holidays: 1. Bake cookies, from scratch. Find a really hard recipe so that you'll be too exhausted to take even one bite once they're out of the oven. Isn't this a great way to save calories? 2. Get outside! Have a "who can make the best snowman" competition with the kids. You'll be surprised how many calories you'll all burn. (Be fair. Let them win!) 3. Get some zzz's. Sleep is so important, especi...