Tanged: a movie review

I have loved Disney animated movies ever since I was a little girl. Bambi, Cinderella, Finding Nemo, Aladdin and The Lion King are some of my favourite Disney classics. Last weekend I was invited to the premier of Disney's new film, Tangled, and I fell in love! Tangled has definitely been added to my list of 'favourite' Disney films!

I took my five year old son and his three cousins to see Tangled in 3D and we were all captivated the entire movie. My son absolutely loved the movie—it's great for the entire family.

Of course, like with most Disney films, I cried in the first 10 minutes, and again, like with most Disney films, I was laughing for pretty much the rest of the movie.

Tangled is about Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore) who has lived her entire life inside a tower, kept there by her controlling 'mother', Mother Gothel, who in fact is evil—she stole Rapunzel from her parents when she was just a baby (sob!) because her golden hair contained the magical power to keep Mother Gothel young and attractive. Mother Gothel is a great villain—you can't help but dislike her and her manipulative ways! She's also... likeable, too, in a strange way.

Of course, Flynn Rider (voiced by Zachary Levi) enters the picture and the Tangled story begins! Confident and handsome Flynn has wit, charm, and good looks—and he knows it. He's also a thief who gets held hostage by Rapunzel, and well... you'll just have to see the movie to find out what happens next.

Tangled made me cry and laugh and I recommend it to all my friends—young or old! It's one of those awesome movies that will have you leaving the theatre with a smile.

Aquafresh Advanced Futures contest!

What do you wish for your children?

Every day, I think about my children and their future. I think about the things that they'll do, the places they'll go, and what they'll become.

I watch my children developing and I wonder what they'll be when they grow up. My children have such distinct personalities, and I know they'll both do great things in life.

No matter what, I will support them, and I'll be the proudest mom at every graduation ceremony and at every event, whether it is a soccer game or spelling bee.

I wish for nothing but the best for my children; for health, happiness and success, and for them to find their passion and to make their dreams a reality.

Of course, saving money for their future is something that was started the day they were born. I want to make sure there is enough money saved up for their education, future vacations, and to help them get started out when they want to buy a house (next to mine, of course!) when they're older.

Aquafresh Advanced Futures has a contest going on right now where all you have to do is share your wish for a chance to win a $10,000 RESP courtesy of the new Aquafresh Advanced—how amazing is that?

Contest closes on November 30th, so go enter now! After you enter, you can read other people's wishes for their chidren—these wishes will surely bring a smile to your face.

Since we're also on the topic of toothpaste (thanks, Aquafresh!) here are some helpful tips on getting your children brushing twice a day:

Make it a habit! Children should get into a routine, brushing their teeth in the morning and before bedtime, for at least two minutes. Remember that a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is enough for a child under the age of six.

What are your tips for getting your children to brush their teeth? Leave me a comment below and you'll be entered to win a Philips Sonicare for Kids Toothbrush valued at $70 and Aquafresh Advanced toothpaste!

I'll pick a winner randomly on November 30th.

Disclosure:I am participating in the Aquafresh Advanced Futures program by Mom Central on behalf of GSK. I received a sample of Aquafresh Advanced and a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Where to go for your holiday shopping!

It's that time of year again—time to start your holiday shopping because Christmas is right around the corner! If you're like me and and are pressed for time and don't want to spend hours in a crowded mall in December, CSN Stores is the place to go to for all your on-line shopping needs.

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can literally find everything from stylish handbags to modern bar furntiure and even great cookware.

I also love the home office furniture they have—so many things to choose from for the home!

CSN Stores also carries everything you need for your baby and children—furniture, educational toys, diaper bags, strollers and so much more.




It can really be your one-stop shop for everything you need to buy this holiday season!

Happy shopping!

Lilac Lingerie: lingerie giveaway!

I was recently asked to MC the Grand Opening of a new lingerie store in Westboro called Lilac Lingerie.

I met one of the owners at a cosmetics gala I was co-hosting at The Bay, and I was very flattered when I was asked to be a part of Lilac Lingerie's opening night. Westboro is one of the coolest places in Ottawa—very hip and urban—with many fine specialty stores and restaurants. Lilac Lingerie is a perfect addition to Richmond Road.

The Grand Opening was a huge success—with giveaways going on throughout the night, champagne and signature martini's flowing freely, cupcakes from The Flour Shoppe, and relaxing hand massages from Renu Spa—it was a great night.




Lilac Lingerie is a beautiful and intimate lingerie store where the owners pay attention to detail, carry the finest designer lingerie, and help you find exactly what you're looking for. They also carry Cake Lingerie—a maternity and nursing line from Australia.

Cake lingerie and Lilac Lingerie are offering one of my lucky readers a set from Cake's Let's Them Eat Cake line, worth $80.


If you'd like to get your hands on some fancy maternity lingerie, just leave me a comment below.

For an bonus entry, becoming a follower of Loulou's Reviews.

Good Luck! I'll pick a winner randomly on November 22nd.

Tangled: Family four pass giveaway!

Are you children buzzing with excitement about the new Disney movie Tangled? I can tell you one thing—I sure am! I love Disney movies, and this one looks fantastic! I wonder, though—will I be crying at some point during this movie? I've yet to see a Disney film that didn't make me cry!

Here's what Tangled is all about:

When the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of Zachary Levi) is taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of Mandy Moore), a feisty teen with 70 feet of golden hair who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower where she’s been locked away for years, the unlikely duo sets off on a hilarious, hair-raising escapade filled with adventure, heart, humor and hair—lots of hair.




If you're dying to see Tangled, you're in lucky, because I'm giving away a family four pass!
If you and your family are free at 10 o'clock a.m. on November 20th, then you should enter this giveaway! The movie will be taking place at Silver City Gloucester.



Just leave me a comment below telling me what Disney movie is your favourite!

I will pick a winner randomly on November 18th.

Good Luck!

Mini Mioche: Giveaway!

Sometimes, it's hard to find really nice clothes for children—sure, I shop at the usual Gap Kids, Gymboree, and Children's Place for the most part, with some Lacoste, Burberry and Polo throw in there as well, but somtimes, I want to find items that are more unique and stylish. That's why I was so excited to start working with Mini Mioche last summer. Mini Mioche is a wonderful Canadian children's clothing company that makes fabulous and stylish clothes for girls and boys.

As a Mini Mioche Ambassador, my little one was lucky to have some clothes sent to him last summer and again this fall. Since I'm really picky when it comes to the quality of clothes I put on my children, I was thrilled that I was asked to work with Mini Mioche. Their fall line up is amazing!

Mini Mioche has the usual basics and fashion styles, the absolute softest organic cotton, great fitting products, and a variety of solid colors—which is great when you're the mom of two boys!

Each piece is designed and made in Toronto, and the clothes are made from 100% organic cotton. Mini Mioche is sold in fine baby and children's boutiques in Canada, the United States and online.

My 2 year old received the softest grey sweater and brown long-sleeved shirt from the fall line, and these two tops have been my 'go to' items when getting him dressed in the morning. He loves the 'soft', too.

I am so excited to say that Mini Mioche is giving away an item from their fall line to you! All you have to do is head over to Mini Mioche and pick out your favourite piece.

Leave me a comment below about why you love the piece you chose. I will randomly pick a winner on November 30th!

BONUS! If you feel like doing some online shopping, you can use this discount code: MCFALL, for a 20% discount on online orders! But hurry—get your Christmas shopping done now, because that discount is only valid until November 30th!

Disclosure: I am participating in a Mini Mioche ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf Mini Mioche. I received an outfit for my child to try as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Cheerios Milestones

Children grow up way too quickly. Every milestone my children reached was very bittersweet for me.

I remember vividly the day each one of my children started walking across the room. Now that I think back to those early baby days, I miss them terribly! From first smiles to first words, milestones are things to celebrate—while shedding a few tears, too. The pictures of my children sitting in their high chairs with Cheerios scattered about the tray table will always be priceless to me. Cheerios were a huge 'snack' food in our house. Easy for our babies to eat on their own, safe, and healthy. Cheerios are a staple breakfast food in my house, too—I'm a big fan of cereal in the morning!

Cheerios is celebrating your special milestones and rewarding you, too!

All you have to do is go here and upload a favourite picture to be entered for a chance to be one of 20 finalists to appear on a special edition Cheerios box and win Cheerios for a year!

PLUS one lucky grand prize winner will walk away with $10,000 towards an RESP fror TD Canada Trust! Contest ends on December 15th, 2010.

BONUS! Leave me a comment below sharing a story about one of your children's milestones for the chance to win a Cheerios playbook—perfect for learning and fun! I'll randomly pick a winner by November 8th and have your Cheerios book mailed out to you!

Disclosure: I am participating in the Cheerios Milestones program by Mom Central on behalf of General Mills. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.