Loulou's views

We are back from our month long annual summer vacation in Greece, and this year, we had the pleasure of staying at the brand new W Costa Navarino resort.  I was invited to the W to review the new property and surrounding areas and it was a wonderful experience! My entire family loved every minute, especially the pools, rooms, and dining choices. We stayed in two gorgeous and spacious rooms, both with a large, infinity-style shared private pool right off our back balcony decks. The W Costa Navarino is a beautiful escape for those looking for a getaway unlike any other. From the Navarino waterfront, to the vivid and bright design and architecture, the hotel prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming to everyone, in luxurious surroundings that include rooms with private swim-up pools, airy and modern one and two bedroom suites, and stunning beachfront villas overlooking the Ionian Sea. If you're planning on visiting Greece this year or next, you should definitely visit the W Cost...

'Tis the season, friends! Christmas is less than two weeks away, and it's crunch time to get your holiday shopping done. While I'm a lover of last minute shopping (I will literally go the mall on Christmas Eve, just because I love the hustle and bustle of shopping hours before Christmas) I know most people are not into that stress, so to make things easier, I've put together a list of some great gifts to give this holiday season:  The gift of experience:  This holiday season, offer your family the gift of live performance. Make new memories by treating your kids to a day at the NAC , and taking them to see Mozart's Flight of Fancy and Romeo and Juliet Ballet . You can buy your tickets online, print them out, and surprise your family with tickets to so many upcoming family shows. A perfect gift to give those who have it all.  The gift for plant lovers:  Support local and visit Robert Plant Greenhouses in Ottawa's east this holiday season, and select from a huge...

Every trip to Toronto is made even more memorable for me when I stay at The Hazelton Hotel, located right in the heart of luxurious Yorkville.  I've had the pleasure of staying at the Hazelton Hotel many times over the last several years, and with each visit, I fall in love with the hotel even more. The Hazelton Hotel is most definitely a perfect escape for a couple looking for a romantic getaway and it's also perfect for a best friends weekend trip, a work retreat, or simply, any visit to Toronto. The Hazelton is "Canada's first and only Forbes five-star independent luxury boutique hotel" and though it's considered a boutique hotel because it only has 77 (very spacious) rooms and suites, it feels very grand and luxurious. The hotel is constantly ranked the #1 hotel in Toronto on TripAdvisor (five years and counting!) and was just voted the N umber Three Best Hotel in Canada  Conde Nast Traveller's 2022 Readers' Choice Awards. I have to agree, becaus...

I had the great pleasure of once again joining Choose Chicago on a press trip to experience the vibrant city of Chicago. Chicago was recently voted the Best Big City in America and as usual, Chicago was a dream, and I can't wait to return. (To read more about all the fun things to do in Chicago if you're planning a trip to the Windy City for your next holiday escape, you can read my article in Canadian Geographic Travel ).  Here are a few highlights that'll help you plan your next Chicago trip with ease--how to get there, where to stay, where to dine, and what to do:  Porter Airlines Travelling during the pandemic can be challenging, but my flight with Porter Airlines made the experience smooth, comfortable, and safe. I had all the necessary documents with me (proof of vaccination and rapid test for entry to the USA) and Porter took care of the rest--I was met with excellent service checking in, and in-flight (we loved our flight attendant so much!) along with tasty snack...

The holiday season is upon us and that means it's time for all thing festive--like shopping for everyone on your list!  This year, I tried to keep my shopping local so I could help support businesses in Ottawa that have struggled during the pandemic with numerous lockdowns. I was on Daytime Ottawa to talk about some great gift ideas from local  businesses, and you can watch the entire segment here to get some great ideas for shopping local this season.  Here are some great shopping ideas for those on your list this season: Beauty Check out Blush and Rose Beauty Bar, where you can pick up a gift card for a facial, pedicure, or manicure. This new salon in Ottawa's south end is so cute, and the service is excellent. I was lucky to enjoy a pedicure over the holidays, complete a glass of bubbly. You can also stock up on great Aveda products, candles, beauty essentials, and more.  In need of a massage? Check out Innes Massage Therapy in Ottawa's east end for excell...

Summer 2021 went by in the blink of an eye. After months of no travel and lockdowns due to Covid, we finalized our travel plans to Greece once we were fully vaccinated, and couldn't wait to get on the plane. We spent one glorious month in Greece, and had an incredible time.  While we usually do a lot of exploring in Greece, this year we had a busier itinerary than previous years--we travelled across the country visiting many ancient sites, museums, and beaches, putting over 5,000 kilometres on our vehicle--and it was totally worth it.  A highlight of our trip was visiting the island of Lefkada on the Ionian Sea, near the islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia. Lefkada is a popular island in Greece, thanks to it's world famous beaches, though thankfully not as packed as Santorini and Mykonos. It's rich with lush vegetation, natural landscapes, beautiful mountains, and breathtaking blue-flag beaches, including Kathisma and Porto Katsiki.  My husband and I had the great pleasure...

After a couple of years of limited travel due to the pandemic, passports are being renewed, and dream vacations are once again becoming a reality as people start to plan their summer 2022 vacations--with Gr eece being on the top of many lists.  There is nothing as magical as a summer in Greece. Always a popular travel destination, Greece saw a massive increase in tourism again in 2021, after being hit hard during the pandemic. Those who weren't able to get to Greece this summer can start to plan their perfect trip for next summer--starting in Athens, the capital of Greece.  One of the oldest cities in the world, and the birthplace of democracy, Athens is a great place to begin exploring before visiting the islands or continuing your journey through mainland Greece, because it offers so much for every type of traveller--a great mix of ancient sites, museums, dining options, sightseeing, and shopping, surrounded by the sea. If you have less than a week in Athens, here are a few ...

Even though the weather is cooler, we're still spending a lot of time outside enjoying the beauty of fall. It's also the perfect time to enjoy cozy evenings indoors with the family watching a movie, and eating some popcorn--two things that go hand in hand for me! One of our go-to snacks that's also pretty healthy is Orville Redenbacher popcorn. We love it because it tastes good, contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives, is made with 100% whole-grain, non-GMO popcorn, and is a high source of fibre.  Since we are also spending more time at home together as a family, trying to keep healthy while keeping our community safe, we are doing more baking and Orville Redenbacher has some great recipes that you can make at home with your children, incorporating popcorn--so fun! I just made these homemade granola bars, and it's a really simple recipe--they're so delicious, too! Orville's Power Crunch Bars Ingredients:  - 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oa...

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...

We are so overwhelmed with everyone's support with our children's book Together, Apart: Life During the Coronavirus ! We are thankful to have been interviewed on 580 CFRA, 1310 News, CTV Ottawa Morning Live, CTV Noon , CBC Ottawa, Orleans Star, and Ottawa Matters . The support and kind words, feedback, and images we have received from people who have purchased and shared our book have made us so incredibly happy and grateful. You can see more pictures on my Instagram page, too, under my book highlights. We are still selling books, and catching up with orders, so thanks for your patience, as the mail delivery is a little slower these days. (You can either have your books mailed to you, or you can pick up from either my house or my mom's house, too, and we also drop off books to those who may not be able to travel right now). After receiving many requests for Together, Apart to be translated into French, we are happy to let you know that the book is now available...