Loulou's views

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 ...

Ten years ago, we visited  Atlantis Paradise Island  in the Bahamas for the first time. Our boys were much younger, and we didn't enjoy all the resort had to offer (like the water slides) but we still had a wonderful vacation, and planned on going back when the children were older. A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of travelling to Atlantis again with our entire family, including my sister, her children, and my parents. I was invited to this amazing resort for a media review, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity and the wonderful memories we made. From the moment we arrived to Bahamas (and were driven to the resort by limo–my boys thought this was so cool!) until the day we checked-out, we had a blast.  I don't think it's possible to visit Atlantis and have a bad time; it's a resort that truly offers something for everyone, whether you love to swim, golf, explore, shop, or relax. Bonus: the weather was perfection the entire week we were there. W...

Disclaimer: I am partnering with Allergen for this campaign and am being compensated for my blog posts and treatment sessions. I go for weekly blow-dry's. I highlight my hair every couple of months. I go for manicures and pedicures every two weeks. I work out regularly. I take vacations as often as I can, for work or pleasure. I indulge in getting massages. I do this because I have learned there is nothing wrong with taking care of myself and putting self-care on the never-ending to-do list. When I turned 40, I started thinking about the things I wanted to do to continue improving myself. Eating well, working out, and taking care of my appearance are all important things to me, along with being the best mom, wife, and friend I can be. I lead a busy life, working several jobs in communications and social media and being a mom to my two boys. Life is busy, but I make it a priority to take care of myself. I also started thinking about my journey with aging, and started consid...

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...