Gifts for the Blissful Couple

The inevitable questions...

What do I get the couple for their wedding? 

How much should I spend on a wedding gift?

It seems that the retail industry has made gift-giving more complicated than ever!  We understand there is a huge market for gift registries and money to be made, but let's be realistic about this.

Sauce of Life Tip #1: Don't budget the money you spend on a gift vs. the cost of dinner at the reception.  There's more to life than money!  It's plan tacky too!

Sauce of Life Tip #2: The average amount of money spent on a wedding present is roughly $75-$100.  However, remember to consider other factors in this amount.

     How close are you with the couple?
    
     Are you a close relative, or long-distance cousin and you are meeting for the first time?
   
     Are you in the bridal party?

     Have you attended the showers or engagement parties?

www.weddingclipart.com

Sauce of Life Tip #3: If you know the couple well, it is more likely you will be happy to spend a little extra.  If you are bringing a date to the wedding, you should expect to spend a little more on the wedding gift.

Sauce of Life Tip #4: Don't bust your own budget!  If the only thing left on the registry is a $400 oil canvas, then either give cash or purchase a gift the couple may enjoy (this works if you know the couple well).  Try to purchase off the registry, the couple actually prefers those items!

Sauce of Life Tip #5:  Include the gift receipt.  Those gift registries don't always function properly.  I have seeen brides open 3 sets of the same knives because the registry wasn't updated by the store! 

Sauce of Life Tip #6:  If you have attended an engagement party and/or bridal shower, don't assume you have to spend $100 at each function.  A typical disbursement is: 15% engagement party, 25% shower gift, 60% wedding gift.  Split your budget to fit with the events you are attending.

Word to the Wise: Don't be cheap!  The couple is starting a new life together, if you have a little bit to spare, then share with love!

And the Winner is...

Congratulations to Krissy A.!  You won the Sweet Pea Scarves Giveaway!  You will absolutely love the scarf, it's so beautiful!

Pink and Sassy!

Written By: Va Va Voom (Katrina)

~ Pink makes everything a little bit sassier! ~

Five Things: Bold and Beautiful!

Written By: Ooh La La (Danielle Marie)

~ Let's start out with shoes!  What's better than bold and beautiful print pumps? ~

Shoes: Mootsies Tootsies

~What an amazing way to start a business meeting!  An array of bold and beautiful drinks! ~

~ Here's a bold and beautiful bag that can be used for summer and transfer into fall!  ~

www.facebook.com/maryalisonhandbags

~ My current bold and beautiful perfume! Tantalizing and Enticing! ~

~ What better way to end than with Rita Hayworth?  Gilda, bold and beautiful! ~ 

The Empty Chair

Written By: Ooh La La (Danielle Marie)

While we were at the County Zoo today, I was horrified to see a man quickly claim the last empty chair in the shade.  At the same time a pregnant woman was trying to make it over to that same chair while pushing a stroller and holding the hand of her 3 year old daughter.  All she needed was a place to rest in the shade, and unfortunately that last lawn chair was taken and never offered to the woman.

 
  www.schoppeefarm.com

What happened to the days when men would immediately relinquish their seats to any woman, pregnant or not?  This should be common-sense; it isn't rocket science!  Now granted, there may be exceptions to this theory, but over all, women appreciate the courtesy a man shows by relieving his seat for her.  It provides the man with a sense of chivalry and shows the woman respect.

So to make this short and sweet...

Men, offer up your chairs!  It is probably one of the most simple but honorable actions.  This may require you to become more observant and courteous, but make that extra effort.  Stand out from the crowd and be a gentleman!

vetrostock.com

Don't Forget the Pink Lemonade

Written By: Ooh La La (Danielle Marie)

Over the weekend, we had "steak night"!  It was an amazing combination of excellent food, excellent wine and excellent company!  We finished off the meal with two desserts for our guests.  We had a homemade dark chocolate cake and a pink lemonade bundt cake.  We had to share the recipe for this pink lemondae cake!  It was a great summer option for these warms evenings and it looks incredibly enticing! 

If you are having company over for dinner, always have options.  Not everyone prefers chocolate cake, however, who in their right mind would turn it down.  Enjoy this recipe!  It was absolutely amazing!


 www.sugarbabyaprons.com: recipe credit


Pink Lemonade Cake Ingredients
1 cup homemade unsalted butter, softened 2 cups white sugar 4 eggs, room temperature 2-3/4 cups flour 2-1/4 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 1 cup frozen pink lemonade 1 TBS Lemon Zest Pink food colouring

Frosting: 1 cup butter, softened 7 to 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted 1/2 cup thawed pink lemonade Lemon zest to taste Pink food colouring

Directions Preheat oven to 350

Sift the dry ingredients together and set aside. Beat the butter for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat another 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat thoroughly after each addition. Start adding the flour mixture one cup at a time, and alternate with the lemonade; ending with the flour mixture, mix well and pour into prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or when a knife comes out clean Let cool completely. FROSTING: Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl and beat with 1/2 of the powdered sugar. Add the lemonade and mix well. Add another cup of powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until you reach the desired consistency to spread; you may not need all of the sugar specified. Beat until light and fluffy. put icing into a good sized sauce pan and heat until icing is quite runny Spread on the cooled cake.

sugarbabyaprons.com: photo credit and recipe

Sweet Pea Scarves Giveaway!

Written By: Ooh La La (Danielle Marie) and Va Va Voom (Katrina)

We have our newest raffle item up for grabs!  It's a hand-dyed scarf from "Sweet Pea Scarves".  Check out the etsy page!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/abbeyfinn  Each scarf is hand-dyed with natural ingredients!


I recently bought one and it compliments so many of my outfits! It's an easy accesory to add a bit of color to any dress or shirt. My scarf was dyed with blueberries, cranberries and tea! Look how amazing the colors turned out on the silk.

"Sweet Pea Scarves are 100% silk hand dyed scarves created by Abbey Finn in Wauwatosa, WI. I use a unique natural dyeing process on 100% Habotai silk. My dye materials include natural "ingredients" like flower petals, vegetable trimmings, herbs, spices, coffee grounds, tea, wine, dirt, berries and more! The materials are arranged on the scarf and then wrapped into a cocoon-like shape and are tied with copper or steel wire. The scarves “ferment” for 1-2 weeks in glass canning jars. I r...euse the jars instead of dyeing the scarves in plastic bags. Much less waste! Each is labeled with the various dye ingredients. After they ferment, I open the scarves and allow them to air dry for about two weeks. The color is then heat-set and the scarves are then washed and ironed. The patterns and colors are unique to each scarf and unpredictable!" ~ Sweet Pea Scarves


 Here is the Scarf for Giveaway! Read the rules below to enter and win this beautiful scarf!

Giveaway Rules & Guidelines

The Sweet Pea Scarf Giveaway will begin Monday, July 30th.  You may enter the Giveaway until the winner is announced on Friday, August 3rd at 9:00 a.m. central time.


Follow these Steps to Enter the Scarf Giveaway!

1. Enter a comment under this post and tell us how much you would like to win this scarf! (Required)

2. If you are on Facebook, click on the links below and "like" the Provocative Manners page and "like" the Sweet Pea Scarves page.

https://www.facebook.com/SweetPeaScarves

https://www.facebook.com/provocativemannersblog


But in order to enter this Giveaway, you must write a comment below telling us how much you would like to win this scarf! 

Thanks for entering and Good Luck!