[bc_video video_id="6258865959001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"]

[bc_video video_id="6258863579001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Purchasing flavoured oils at the grocery store can be super expensive, but herbs aren't! Making your own olive oil is like the gateway to real cooking! The process sounds fancy but is super simple. You will need:

• Basil
• Vegetable or Canola Oil
• Blender
• Pot
• Heating element
• Coffee Filter
• Strainer
• Jar/container/bowl for oil

1. Chop up your basil leaves, do not worry about removing any stems. Add leaves into blender.
2. Use a neutral and inexpensive oil like canola oil to blend with your ingredients. Make sure to have enough oil to help blend the basil leaves, the key is to infuse. Blend until smooth.
3. Next heat up your oil. Pour from the blender into a pot. Putting the oil on heat will start to activate all it's flavours.
4. Heat up the oil for 2-5 minutes. Once it's done, don't worry about cool down time, strain right away using the coffee filter. Let the strainer sit and wait for it to finish draining.
5. Put your oil into a portable container and use accordingly

This oil is great for dressing, marinades, sauces etc. You can freeze it as well! If you vacuum seal the oil and freeze, it can last years!

[bc_video video_id="6258429864001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Do you want a pop-up wedding on a budget? Monique is here to show us how to save by adding a few easy and gorgeous DIYs to the big day. DIY Wedding Cake Topper If you’re already going all-out with a big cake, this rustic DIY wedding cake topper is custom, chic, easy to make and stick in your cake! What you’ll need: • Paper and pencil • Craft wire (8-12 gauge) • Pliers • Wire cutters • And possibly some edible spray paint Step 1: Write out your design with a pencil on paper or print out your design on a piece of paper with your font of choice – I suggest using a script font because it’s easier to manipulate your wire Step 2: Take your wire and bend it using your printed design as your guide. Pro tip: use pliers if you want clean bends or the wire is stiff. Step 3: Cut the excess using wire cutters Step 4: Spray with edible spray paint or pop it in as is- up to you! Beautiful Alter and Flower Backdrop (on a budget) A pop-up alter is easy to build off of something you already have. Simply find an object as your base and you can use small materials to really bring it together. What you’ll need: • White fabric or sheets • Fishing wire or twine • Embroidery needle • Florals real or fake • Scissors Step 1 You want to start off with threading your twine or fishing wire through the needle and string the flowers onto the twine. Be sure to leave extra twine so that you are able to secure the twine to the gazebo. Repeat the stringing steps for the remaining rows of flowers. Tip – if your flower shifts, use a bit of glue from a glue gun to keep flower in place. Step 2: Secure strung rows of flowers onto gazebo by tying them onto the gazebo Step 4: Casually drape your white fabric over the gazebo and feel free to add some more flowers, maybe a garland to finish off the look if you like!     Botanical Place Holder A Botanical Place Holder is super simple and stunning!  You just need a gold pen and a leaf (holds up both). It can be a real or fake botanical, just make sure if it’s real you’re making it close to the day so it doesn’t whither. If you’re not a calligrapher at heart use a stencil!

[bc_video video_id="6258431430001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] There are a lot of foodies out there that love cooking for all sorts of occasions! If you’re thinking you’d love to cater your own wedding and “wow” your friends, here's how to plan it! How many guests? A couple should plan to have 15-20 for starters just so they don't overwhelm themselves. They could always do more if they have help with cooking. Also if this isn't the couples first experience cooking for an event they could entertain more guests. What tips do you have in terms of selecting the food for the event

1. You want to keep things simple
2. You want to look for food you can prepare ahead of time
3. You want to keep to food you’re familiar with – this isn’t the time to experiment
4. Also, you want food that can be enjoyed even if it gets to room temperature and doesn’t have to be piping hot

If this were an event you were catering, how would you orchestrate this? App: We’re serving a beer & mustard seed poached shrimp! You want to make sure you have about 2-3 per person. This can be prepared 3 days ahead of time and on the final day you have very little left to do! Beer & Mustard Seed poached Black Tiger Shrimp w/ Pineapple and Horseradish Sauce. Main: Keep it simple but tasty with Cajun-butter chicken skewers! Cajun-Butter Grilled Chicken Skewers topped with Mediterranean inspired Couscous, glazed heirloom carrots, grilled asparagus and roasted mixed beets, garnished with herbs and almonds. Make sure when plating to add height and keep similar colours separate from each other to achieve the best presentation. Fit for a King or Queen! Dessert: When it comes to dessert you want something that is sweet and universal! Mixed Berry & Lady Finger Trifles with lemon whipped mascarpone and toasted nuts/shredded coconut or Kahlua Chocolate Mousse w/ Honeycomb Toffee. This dessert is one that has ingredients, like blueberry purée, which can be made ahead of time and then assembled the morning of- so easy a kid could make it! How was much spent?  In total $400 was spent for the catered meal. However, if you were choose a meat option that is more expensive like beef tenderloin, or an expensive appetizer option like crab, you are looking at a larger amount. Toss in $100 for any help with your catering, and it's about $500 on average.

[bc_video video_id="6258426088001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Many brides have had to postpone their nuptials because of the pandemic! However, the bridal look is still something to get excited about. Whether you’re into dressing dramatically or want to keep things sleek and simple, there are wedding fashion trends to give you some inspiration. There have been a lot of changes in wedding dress styles over the last few years. This wedding season we're seeing that in full force, whether on the runways or all over Pinterest and Instagram. We’re seeing a lot of fun and whimsy in bridal looks this season. We’re also seeing sexier cuts, changing silhouettes, more colour, and lots of volume.  Trend #1 – Pants Instead of a Dress Alternative to a dress. Suit is a nod to Bianca Jagger’s effortless cool. Definitely for the cool bride. It’s a sleek, sophisticated, fashion-forward look.   Item 1: A softer take on a pant suit is the jumpsuit, like this lace one. Jumpsuits have been a huge trend in bridal. Especially for changing into for the reception or after party.   Item 2:  That suit is great! And I love how the lace jumpsuit is unique but still very romantic. Trend #2 – Volume via Exaggerated Ruffles & Puffy Sleeves Volume doesn’t have to be just in a ballgown princess silhouette. You can achieve it with voluminous sleeves and exaggerated ruffles and embellishments. Canadian designer, & For Love, has these gorgeous balloon sleeves (continued nod to the 80s that’s been happening in fashion), open back (also on trend) and white sequins! So fun. It’s being bold but still very dreamy.   Item 3:   Item 4: Beautiful, embellished 3D rosette skirt (plus thigh slit – also on trend for bridal)   Item 5:   Trend #3 – Colours & Prints Floral and Pastel: I love seeing colour in wedding dresses. If you’re a fan of colour, why not carry that into your wedding dress? It’s joyful and really makes an impact. For this season the big trend has been floral print in bridal dresses as well as dusty pastel colours. It’s about being more playful with bridal looks and after a pandemic, pieces that make you smile. Soft, romantic. Would be great for a garden or outdoor wedding   Item 6:   Item 7:   Trend #4 – Short Dresses Short dresses have been a big trend this season. Especially since weddings have been much smaller affairs, perhaps a city hall wedding or just a no-fuss backyard wedding with immediate family. Paired with a veil you really get that full “bridal” effect.   Look 8:   Look 9: Trend #5 – Transitional/Convertible Dresses & Toppers Convertible Dress with Removable Skirt: Way to accomplish both the long gown and short dress look (2 outfits in one!). Much more versatile especially with the constantly changing rules and plans in the past year.   Look 10: Toppers (Capes & Coats) – will show these side-by-side on the rack to show different styles: For those weddings that had to be postponed to the Fall or later in the year when cooler temperatures arrive, a capelet or faux fur topper is a great way to transition a more summery/sleeveless dress for colder weather. Gives variety to your look and makes for great outdoor photos in cooler temperature while keeping warm, and of course stylish.   Look 11:   Look 12:   Look 13: An edgier way that’s been trending is pairing a leather or denim jacket over the wedding dress (how cool would a white leather jacket be?)