Goodwill Of All Kinds

Well, hubs and I went to the charity dinner for Doctors Without Borders on the weekend, and had an absolutely splendid time.

Because I'm a bit of a foodie, I have to tell you what we ate. Dinner began with Roasted Beet Salad on Butter Leaf Lettuce Frisee & Raddichio with a Lemon Dijon Vinagrette and Toasted Fennel Seeds. The main course was Striploin of Alberta Beef served with a Root Vegetable Flan, Roasted Garlic Potato Puree with Chevre & Truffle Oil, and Thyme Infused Seasonal Vegetables, and the inspired dessert was Tarte Tin Tin with Cinnamon Creme Anglaise. Yummy? You bet!

The night also included international entertainment -- my favorite was the Portuguese Folk Group of Calgary, who's bright costumes and fluid dance steps were ridiculously enjoyable. An eye-popping silent auction rounded out the evening, of which husband & I won two (two!) items. Hello whiter teeth and a two-night stay in Banff!

I was so pleased with the way the table numbers Epiphany Designs made looked in the overall scheme. Its not very often that I get to attend an event I've "worked on", so this was a great treat to see! Feedback from the event organizers was blush-inducing, so overall it was an amazing experience for the company to participate in.

So whats a gala event like? In so many ways, very similar to a wedding. Elegantly-dressed people wander the room. A band plays melodious music softly in a corner. And service at the damned bar is always slow. Ah, beautiful memories.

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Ever wonder what you're going to do with your wedding gown once the Big Day is over? Sure, some of us are the sentimental type and so, with visions of our daughters wearing the wedding gown on their Big Day, carefully clean, press, and pack it away.

However, there are also many brides who recognize that, most likely, the dress will never again see the light of day, and so are looking for a different option. Some will turn to Ebay, some will sell it to a consignment shop .... if you are one of these brides, here is a different suggestion for you!

Out in Toronto is a wonderful shop/charity that will work wonders with your dress. Called The Brides Project, this little store collects wedding dresses donated by brides, sells them at cut-rate prices to new brides, and takes most of the proceeds to donate them to various cancer programs (ie. camps for children suffering with cancer). Can it get any better then this?

In a nutshell, here's the way The Brides Project works: you (or any other bride!) donate your wedding dress to the store (it can be shipped there no problem). Another bride comes in at some point, sees your gown, falls madly in love (and why wouldn't she? Its gorgeous!), and purchases it at a fraction of the cost of what it would be in stores. She is then encouraged to send you a Thank You note to acknowledge the great contribution you've made, and your name goes on a list of donors on the website. With the money they make in the sale of your dress (and many others), The Brides Project contributes as much as possible to the Canadian Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Foundation during the year. This is done through events that their clients volunteer for (ie. a walk-a-thon). If you're willing to participate, they're willing to contribute. Typical contributions are $1000 per event to sponsor YOUR effort! Holy cow!

Ladies, if you aren't sure what to do with your dress, please take this great charity into consideration. I've known quite a few people who've both purchased from and dontated to The Brides Project, and it really is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Keep it in mind!