New Leaf Airlines is boasting about $59 one way flights to Edmonton, from Winnipeg. While they have a catchy headline, I'm reluctant to get on board with their low-cost, bare bones offerings. When things sound too good to be true, they often are. First of all, they charge for carry on luggage. So, haul that shaving kit and a change of clothes with you in a sports bag and it will cost you a minimum of an additional $31 per one way flight. Now that flight is up to $90 per one way. If you didn't understand that you pay for carry-on baggage when you booked on-line, they will ding you an extra $10 or so at the airport check-in desk. With this in mind, no doubt, Westjet has engaged in little price matching. They have done it silently and without big ads flashing $99 to Edmonton. But it's there. In fact, it's there every day in September. I looked. You can book the Westjet bargain directly on their website, or, you can book yourself a package and get an even better deal through Expedia.ca. When you bundle flight and hotel, there's additional savings. It's like paying regular price for the flight and getting your hotel stay FREE. I looked. So, in reality, you can take a weekend trip to Edmonton for $300 ($600 per couple) and that includes both flights and hotel, plus all that taxes. Kinda ridiculous, isn't it? And awesome! Why doesn't the same flight deal apply to Brandon departures? New Leaf doesn't have a Brandon route, so there is no need for Westjet to undercut the price on this route. Air Canada ignored New Leaf's entrance into the market, until just very recently. They had not previously acknowledged or discounted the matching routes....until now. I see today that Air Canada is also offering $99 one way YWG to YEG. Why would you book with Westjet, or Air Canada and not New Leaf? Well, and this isn't just my opinion, it's fact. New Leaf doesn't fly each route every day. In fact, they only fly this Winnipeg/Edmonton route on Thursdays and Sundays. And since the same plane (they have a very limited fleet) works other routes, it could get stuck in Hamilton or Abbotsford, for example. If your scheduled departure is delayed, it could be affected for several days. So, in this case (fleet) size really does matter. Westjet and Air Canada can typically get you out within a few hours, regardless of the issue. Secondly, I appreciate the opportunity to bundle hotel flight, for additional savings. Since New Leaf is only booking their own flights, and not using re-sellers like Expedia, there is no opportunity for package savings. Therefore I recommend the Westjet/AC/Expedia bargain like I have shown here in the photos. Expedia has all kinds of hotels at a variety of price points to choose from. I show a few in the screen-shot example.   Lastly, track record and customer service. I'm a low-risk traveler. I like the assurance of experienced pilots, mechanics and customer service agents. No problem should ever be 'uncharted territory' when I'm counting on people and equipment. I also appreciate the convenience of (multiple times) daily flights. I can't afford to get stuck in Edmonton (or anywhere else) because I got a 'great deal.'    

Air Canada has surprised Winnipeggers with a one-day sale on flights.  And before you yawn and dismiss it as "just another sale" what would you say to these prices?  Seattle $324 Boston $296 Halifax $439 Victoria, BC $237   There are, I'm certain, many many more bargains to be had. Even out of the ordinary destinations like Yellowknife are on sale from Winnipeg. ($437).    Prices noted above are return flights, and INCLUDE taxes. See why it's a bargain worth dropping everything to write about?    These prices are for flights in October, some deals are also available in September and early November.    Westjet has jumped in and has offered a few gems too. The best deal I say there was from Winnipeg to Moncton, NB $332 tax in. Yes, can you even imagine flying to the Maritimes cheaper than it typically costs to fly to Edmonton? Bargain!  (Oct 24th-Nov 1st)    The booking window closes at midnight September 1st. Visit Aircanada.com for more details and specific routes.    To see these deals and more, you can also join the Facebook group She Talks Travel.         

Here's how Wednesday went. It's Thursday now but I'll try to remember the events as they actually happened. Got up. Didn't mow the lawn. Are 5 Oreo cookies. Twice. As a mother of 2 busy boys, always on the go, sometimes you need to grab something to eat that's quick. Side note: Kids weren't here and I wasn't going anywhere. Irrelevant. Anyways. Cleaned the house a bit. Pinned. Oh yes. I'm a Pinner. Pinny McPinnerson. I'm also a do-er. This combination can result in some serious multitasking. And intermittent twitching under my right eye. The beauty of Pinterest and Utube? You can learn anything. From hand painting bamboo trees on a refurbished dresser to changing the tail light on your own car. All before noon. That totally didn't all happen on one morning before noon. My point is anyone can do these things. The only difference between those who do, and those who don't is believing that you can. It never occurs to me that I can't try at least. Of course not everybody wants to paint dressers or change their own taillight. Or sew. Or pinch flowers. I didn't want to change my own taillight. I also didn't want a ticket. So I tried. And I did. Back to the Pinterest addiction. I love LOVE decorating, a good quote, anything funny, music, painting, photography, and also to DIY. Which has led to pinning. So much pinning. So I like to think of myself as an extreme DIY'er. To clarify, extreme DIY'ing is not to be confused with skilled DIY'ing. The difference is, that no specific experience or skillful knowledge doesn't stop me. This is where the part I think is "fun" starts. So between my own wild imagination, Pinterest inspiration, and Utube....monkey see monkey do, I've learned everything from how to make your perennials bloom all summer long by strategically pinching the stems, to sewing, to building a bed frame from scratch to how to change my own mitre saw blade. Thanks Bob Villa. There's a chance you saved my life. Or fingers at least. So the extreme part of the "DIY" is more about the potential for things to go straight sideways. So then I got my hair done, somewhere after the Oreo cookies, but before the marshmallows. And nibs. Which brings to mind how easily I could public sleep while in the hairdressers chair. It's never actually happened (at the hairdresser anyway) but something about that chair and getting your scalp massaged and then that nice warm hairdryer after being cold from having wet hair....goodnight. So after the hairdresser I thought I'd see if I could find any tornadoes. Or funnel clouds. Or just clouds. I love taking pictures. I've learned everything I know about that from Utube. And practice of course. I headed out of town to find something cool. First I found a beautiful rainbow. And some really wild looking clouds. I drove up the road a mile and decided to take a turn down what appeared to be a road, in my opinion. Ok it at least appeared to be an opening, and coincidentally right as I slowed to turn, a truck that had passed me earlier, a mile before (as I was parked on the road and running through the ditch to take a picture), just happened to be turning up that same "not really a road-road". This confirmed, for me anyway, if they were gonna drive up that road then it must be one. I put the 4 cylinder in low, a little lipgloss, and began my journey into the abyss. At this point they were likely wondering what I was doing. This isn't new to me. I'm aware that if you're in the middle of nowhere, running around in the field/ditch/swamp/bush, and somebody sees you, they will watch you. People will stop and ask me if I need help. That's always nice. Thankfully it's never been an axe murderer. See parents? I'm all grown up, but it's still nice that I know you want me to be safe. So anyway I started up the not a road-road and part way in, could see it was more of a mud bog event waiting to happen, and my car definitely wouldn't make it through. Based on experience from "trying". I told you I like to try. So I backed up the not really a road trail, and then parked on the side of the real road to continue on with my obsessive photo taking. Within 2 minutes I could see the truck coming back up the road behind me. They were slowing down this time. They asked if I needed help. I said I did actually. That I needed a 4x4. The nice gentlemen told me I could hop in with them, since they were driving one. I asked if they had any candy. They didn't. So I thanked them anyway, but politely declined. We smiled and waved goodbye, and I took a few hundred more pictures. So here's some projects I learned how to do from Utube and Pinterest, and some shots from the last few days around the area.      

Last video we told you could save money just by picking up the phone, but that's not the only reason a broker is the right choice when it comes to finding a mortgage. In this video, Chris lays out all the advantages to using a Mortgage Broker on your next purchase or refinance!  

Grace Bay beach in the Turks and Caicos islands is heaven on earth. It's where white, soft sand meets the glorious turquoise ocean water. I describe the little known island, as "first world caribbean." I say this because, workers are paid a living wage and there is plenty of work. The food quality is of north american standard, and as a tourist you can walk around safely and without worry. The resorts are not gated. They are also not massive in size, like some in Mexico. Rather, I liken it to Hawaii. It's a safe, relaxed area, where accommodations are almost always condominiums rather than resorts or mega-hotels. Again, similar to Hawaii, your rental accommodation will have a kitchen and you can save money preparing your own meals. There is only one resort on the island that is indeed massive and all-inclusive. It's Beaches family resort. (The family-friendly version of the Sandals chain.) Grace Bay beach is a small area, just a few miles and you can comfortably walk the whole beach at sunset. You will do well to stay at any resort on Grace Bay beach. I have personal experience with Ocean Club and the Royal West Indies condominiums. Both are mid-range in price, well kept, and ideally located. If you haven't heard the stories of how the Turk and Caicos wanted to join Canada, you should google it. (Oh, how I wish they were a Canadian territory!) Regardless of their commonwealth affiliations, they have welcomed many Canadian businesses and you will be quite surprised at how "Canadian" this island feels. Drive past the Napa Auto Parts store, and the Home Hardware you could stop at Scotiabank on your way to IGA to pick up groceries. You might also be surprised to learn that you can get a return flight with Westjet, from Brandon for $524. Yes, that includes taxes. Hotel/condo rental is extra. A great price from Winnipeg, is about $485. Packages can often be found at $1200-1500 per person. However, if you plan to go at Christmas, or Spring Break, expect to pay three times that price. Definitely one of my favourite destinations, and almost always listed as one of the top 10 beaches on earth, regardless of the publication or author.