New Tea Forte!

 Summers not over yet so it's the perfect time to grab some fresh new summer teas! 

A new shipment of Tea Forte arrived not to long ago and I wanted to share some of new items we brought in. 

First, the Tea-Over-Ice system. This allows you to brew you favorite tea in the upper chamber then flash chill it by pouring it over the ice in the bottom chamber! Tea-Over-Ice makes making iced teas fast and easy. These two pitchers are hand blown and are designed to look beautiful on your table.

The perfect companion for the Over-Ice is this sample pack. The Nantucket Sampler pack includes a selection of white, black and herbals teas. Lavender Citrus and White Ginger Pear to name my favorites. This flavorful selection of teas is the perfect way to pick your favorite.

From iced to hot (or iced again). The Garden Harvest petite sampler is another great way to sample a selection of teas with out having to fully commit to a whole tin. This selection of white teas includes White cinnamon Sage, Wild Apple Ginger, Tangerine Rosemary, Tupelo Honey Fig, and Peach Rhubarb Preserve. My favorite of the bunch is Tangerine Rosemary which is great iced and is what I am currently drinking while I type up this post. 

New Product!

Gurgle Pots arrived today!

The story behind the Gurgle Pot. 

They are fun and unique and can be used as a water pitcher, a flower vase or simply to add a splash of color to any home! 

Click Here to hear a sample of the Gurgle Pot sound,

or stop by the shop and hear for yourself! 

Lucky Bamboo Meanings

With the Arrival of new bamboo I thought I would share the different meanings of lucky bamboo! 

Yin - even 

• 2 - Double luck, happy relationships; good number. 
• 6 - Easy money, wealth, good flow of luck. 
• 8 - Good luck and fertility.
• 10 - Completeness and fulfillment in life.

Yang - odd 

• 1 - Simplicity and a meaningful life. 
• 3 - Good for prosperity and fertility.
• 5 -=Happiness, good and balanced luck in all aspects of life.
• 7 -=Good luck and prosperity in relationships. 
• 9 -=Good health, prosperity and love life. 
• 11 -=Good all-around luck. 

Why is there no four? Well in Chinese, four is close to the word for death, so it would be rude to wish death upon someone... no? 

Gift Ideas FOR HIM

Gifts Under $25

• Bacon Salt - Hickory Flavour $6
• Budweiser BBQ & Wing Sauce $8
• FREEZE!  Handgun ice tray $12
• Shooter cup ice tray $15

Gifts Under $40

• Gourmet Food Basket made to order JUST FOR HIM $30+
• Include: Kicking Horse Coffee, gourmet cheese, Garlic Expressions marinade and dipping sauce, chocolates, local comb honey, local Saskatoon berry spread, Cheesecake Spread, Davinci Coffee Flavouring

Gifts Under $100

• Padraig Slippers - they're never too hot or cold and you can wear them inside and out! $85+

Gifts Ideas For HER

Gifts Under $25

• Bath Salts, Hand Cream, Room Scent (made local) $6+
• Bracelets: pearl, diamante, wood cuff, bangles  $12+
• Local Lumsden Cookbook $16.95
• FRESH FLOWERS every month of the year! $25/month

Gifts Under $40

• Swarovski Crystal Earrings (24 colours!) $39
• Batik handbag $39
• Lucky Bamboo vase $19+
• Table top candle displays $19+

Gifts under $100

• Padraig Slippers!  The best gift she'll receive all year... 
• Bliss Basket - customize a selection of bath goodies JUST FOR HER.
• Locally made wreath $59+

Watch our Gift Giving Guide

Customize your own free slideshow

October Prize Winner

This month's Prize Winner has won a handmade birdhouse!  It was lovingly made in Pilot Butte Sk.  Lets all support local!  
The winner is.... Tara Hudye!  Come on in to claim your prize.


Want to win stuff too?  Sign up to receive our newsletter: sign me up

Virtual Tour of the Shop

A free photo slideshow by Smilebox

Weddings: To Theme or not to Theme?

Besides being fun to plan, theme weddings are becoming very popular.  Here are some themes that we really like.


           Watch for * = available at Lumsden Florist etc. 

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Country Fair

- Casual setting, usually outdoors, under a big event tent*, decorate with paper lanterns*



- Hot dog stands and candy apples amidst ring toss and dart games


- Favours: small honey jars with custom labels*, or handmade soap with your favourite scent and custom labels*


- Have guests toss air popped popcorn in lieu of rice



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Fresh Garden or Lakeside Cottage

- Line paths with ambience: using paper lunch bags or recycled 2L bottles with tops cut off; fill to 1/3 with sand and nestle in lit votive.


- Prop your old canoe onto its side, fill with ice and Voila - you have your bar half ready!



- Centrepieces: collect driftwood and stones from the lakeshore.  OR handmade birdhouses* which you can auction off!  OR try potted herbs or small plants*



- Set straw bales around in clearings and under trees for sitting space.  Cover with bright coloured blankets and quilts.

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Vintage Vanity Fair 

  - Hit second hand shops for fun classic diva accessories: Cigarette holders, half veiled hats, shawls, boas... Have handy for guests to use.


- Feathers! On everything: cake, in hair, with flowers. Use feather boas as garland and piled as centrepieces.*


- Flowers can be anything, but the full, imperfect garden roses look sooo good with their own half veil.*


- Think: old Coca Cola bottle machines with glass bottles cokes on hand, and of course, champagne darling!

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Modern Zen
    


- Zen in peaceful, and relaxing. Choose colours which are quiet yet modern: pale blue or cream with espresso.


- Centrepiece ideas abound: single, simple bamboo stems* OR a tall vase of curly willow* OR floating candle orchid vases seen here.*


- Location can be either outside with groomed rock or sand garden accents OR inside with elements of nature brought in.


- Have your bridesmaids hold simple paper parasols* in lieu of flowers


- Line walkways with a trail of rose petals* or river stones*

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Valentines Day 2010

Valentines Day



We were quite busy, with many brand new customers in the shop! Sean and I opened up for 3 hours on Sunday Feb 14, just to help out the last minute guys. Even I was surprised with 4 dozen roses waiting for me when I got home! (I love you too Sean!)






Our best selling design was either the "Forever Yours" heart shaped dozen roses, or "Lip Service" which consisted of tulips, roses and either a gerbra daisy or stargazer lily.

Equally popular was the 6 fresh cut roses and a box of local Prairie Cherry chocolates. Have you tried them? Delicious!

As you can see, the shop was fully stocked with many choices of flowers, all fresh from Ecuador, Australia, BC and other points afar!

So, flowers were the number ONE gift for the ladies. We discovered that the women who were shopping for their guys tended to choose other items:


- gourmet cheeses
- imported chocolates
- massage oils
- rose petals
- Padraig slippers


Thank you to everyone for your continued interest and support in our little shop!