Loulou's views

I love exploring luxurious hotels in every city I visit–it's one of my favourite thing to do. Some people aren't hotel people; I'm not one of those people. I even love staying in hotels in the city I live in. Staycations are fun, and a great way to re-discover things about your city all over again. Sometimes, a staycation is all you need to feel like you're on vacation. Chateau Laurier is Ottawa's most luxurious hotel located minutes from Parliament Hill, Rideau Centre, the Byward Market and Rideau Canal, and it's one place I love visiting. It holds a special place in my heart because it's where my husband and I stayed after our wedding, before we left for our honeymoon to Aruba, and it's where my sister got married. We also love spending summer evenings on the Wilfrid's patio, taking in the glorious sunset while drinking champagne. I had the pleasure of staying at the Chateau Laurier last month, to experience and review the property...

We recently completed a master-bedroom makeover which included a new king-size Casper mattress that I reviewed last year. We love the mattress and our renovated bedroom. Our children's rooms were next; our son needed a new mattress, and the timing couldn't be more perfect, because I was asked to review and test out the Endy Mattress . I instantly said yes to this partnership, having read so many great things about this Canadian company. The Endy Mattress Review After a few months of sleeping on the Endy Mattress, my son has declared it's the best mattress he's ever slept on–and he truly has had the best sleep ever, hardly waking up throughout the night. The Endy Mattress has received great buzz over the last few years–it's Canada's highest-rated and best-selling online mattress–so this peaked my interest; what was it about the Endy that everyone loved so much? I was so excited to finally put it to the test in our house. Our bedtime ritual includes me l...

Canada's first St. Regis has finally arrived in Canada, making a grand entrance in downtown Toronto. With personalized butler service, a lobby bar, 124 spacious suites, a two-level spa, large swimming pool, and a stunning restaurant on the 31st floor, the hotel definitely caters to those who love fine dining, relaxation, and luxury. I was thrilled to find out Canada was getting their very own St. Regis, but even more excited when I was invited to review the new hotel a few weeks ago. I've had the pleasure of experiencing the St. Regis Bal Harbour twice, and I instantly knew that my experience at St. Regis Toronto would be equally as memorable–for myself, for my husband, and for our children. Fine Dining  The newest restaurant that's causing a lot of buzz in Toronto is LOUIX LOUIS, on the 31st. floor of St. Regis Toronto. It's the perfect place to indulge in your most desired cravings, from caviar to champagne, and everything in between. The menu features items ...

Disclaimer: I received products for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and the page may contain affiliate links.  When I was pregnant with my first-born son, I started shopping for children's books to fill the bookshelves in his room. I fell in love with reading when I was in the fourth grade, and have been an avid reader every since–I always have a couple of books on the go. I wanted to instill a love of reading in my children from an early age, and thoroughly enjoyed shopping for the books I hoped my children would enjoy. Reading books became an important part of our daily ritual, and my children continue to enjoy reading now that they're older. My boys love reading the National Geographic Kids Weird But True! books, because these books provide a wealth of information and they're fun and easy to read. They're great books to travel with, and perfect to keep around the house for guests t...

What are your goals for 2019? Sometimes I think we put too much pressure on ourselves with resolutions, but I think it's important to have some goals you want to achieve as the new year begins. I always set fitness and healthy eating as top goals for myself, but I've made a lifestyle change over the last few months with regards to eating better and staying on top of my fitness routine, so my goals for 2019 will be to stay on top of my never-ending workload, by keeping my editorial calendar up-to-date, getting through my inbox in a realistic matter, and working on things I love, that I can share with my readers and audience. Here are some ways you can make positive changes to your workload in 2019: 1. A stronger focus on personalization: When you're writing your blog or sending out email newsletters , remember to keep it personal. What started as a personal blog for me in 2007 turned into a business a few years later, and though I don't often blog about persona...

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...

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 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 ...

'Tis the season for Christmas cards! I know it's only November, but trust me–now is the perfect time to get organized to mail your holiday cards to family and friends. Sending out holiday cards is a great way to connect with loved ones, near and far, to let them know you're thinking of them. And whether your message is sentimental, funny, or casual–it's the thought that counts. There is something so special about receiving cards in the mail during the holiday season, don't you agree? I love adding the cards I receive to our mantle over the fireplace–they add that extra touch to the festive decor. I mail out Christmas cards every year–it's one of my favourite ways to get into the spirit of all things festive, and starting early means I won't panic at the last minute when things start to get really busy. Once I have my addresses together, it's time to select the perfect holiday card–and the best place to shop for that perfect holiday card is Minted ....

*Edited to add: Thanks for everyone who entered the giveaway! I will try to give away more ticket this month, but in the meantime, please use code   HS4034  for 10% off your tickets!  Now that summer is over, it's time to welcome fall back into lives. Despite the change of weather, there is a lot I love about this season–the beautiful colours, the crips mornings, and my fall wardrobe: tights, boots, and sweaters make me almost as happy as little dresses and flip flops. Another thing I love about fall is visiting Saunders Farm –and I'm happy to say that this year, I am one of their Brand Ambassadors. Every year, we love visiting Saunders Farm with the kids. There is so much to do and see at the Farm, and it's especially fun in October, as we get ready for Halloween. Haunting Season at Saunders Farm is a blast–spooky, fun, and memorable. Plus, it's so very picture-worthy surrounded by the hundreds of bright orange pumpkins. The world-famous Haunting Season at ...