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Passports and Pigtails

A Travel Family in Search of Authentic Connection

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • Alberta
        • The Moose Hotel & Suites Banff: Making Memories out of Milestones
        • The Ultimate Alberta Road Trip: An 1100 km Guide to the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and Banff National Parks
        • Shadow Lake Lodge: A Back Country Hike-in Experience in Banff National Park, Canada
        • Folk, Flavour and Fringe: A Local’s Guide to Summer Activities in Edmonton, Alberta
        • Notes from the Hill: The Edmonton Folk Music Festival
        • Brunch and Bakeries: Exploring Edmonton’s Old Strathcona Neighborhood with Alberta Food Tours
        • Macaron 101: A Confection Class with Ollia Macarons & Tea
        • Elevating Expectation: A Stay at the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel
        • Mount Engadine Lodge: All-Inclusive Connection in Alberta’s Backcountry
        • Fairmont Hotel Macdonald: Staying in the Jewel of Edmonton’s Skyline
        • Fairmont Hotel Macdonald: A Mother-Daughter Weekend in the Fairytale Castle of Edmonton
        • Downtown Delights Food Tour: Indulging in Edmonton’s Diverse Cuisine Scene
        • Adventures in the Air: The Snow Valley Aerial Park, Edmonton, Alberta
        • FISE World Edmonton: An Epic Weekend of Spokes and Slopes
        • Visiting The Edmonton Ice Castle
        • Edmonton, Alberta: Spending Summer Discovering our Capital City
        • Alberta’s Majestic Backyard: This is Banff, Canada
        • Unplugged in the Rockies: Camping and Hiking at Abraham Lake, Alberta
        • Lions and Tigers and Towers, Oh My! Spending a Weekend in Calgary, Alberta
        • Back to Basics: A Calgary Farmer’s Market Food Tour
      • British Columbia
        • From Water to Wine: An Okanagan Vacation at Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos, British Columbia
      • New Brunswick
        • Exploring the Historic Charms of St. Andrews by the Sea, New Brunswick
      • PEI
        • Beach Sand in my Hourglass: This is Cavendish, PEI
    • Caribbean
      • Dominican Republic
        • Dominican Republic: Discovering your Idyllic Corner of this Caribbean Island
    • United States
      • Luxury, Location and Long Bars: A Stay at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston
      • Patriot Place, Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots: Kicking our NFL Bucket List Through the Uprights
      • Finish Lines, Fenway and the Freedom Trail: A Family Guide to Exploring Boston, Massachusetts
    • Hawaii
      • Sunsets, Surfers and Swells – A Week on Oahu’s North Shore
      • OAHU: Aloha to a Kid Free Week
    • Italy
      • Paris and Italy: A 28 Day Itinerary
      • Connection Along the Cinque Terre
      • Falling for Framura, Italy
      • Footsteps thru Florence, Italy
      • From Sea Glass to Sea Views, This is Positano
      • From Tuscany With Love
      • On the Canals of Venice…
      • Unexpected Bliss: A day in Portofino, Italy
      • When in Rome…Stay and Stroll
      • Pillars, Power and Performance: Visiting Rome’s Colosseum & Forum
    • Paris
      • Disneyland Paris – Magic en Francais
      • Our 34 Hour Love Affair With Paris…..Part 1
      • The City of Paris…Part Deux
    • Mexico
      • Mexico’s Mayan Riviera: An All Inclusive Week at the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort
    • Costa Rica
      • Kids Saving The Rainforest: Family Friendly Volunteering in Costa Rica
      • Casa Mia: A House in the Clouds of Monteverde, Costa Rica
      • Pasión Costa Rica: An Exceptional Education in Monteverde
      • Kelly’s Surf Shop: A Day on the Waves of Tamarindo, Costa Rica
      • Sirena Serena: A Boutique Oasis in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
      • Tree Houses Hotel: Sleeping in the Canopy of Costa Rica
  • Travel Planning
    • My Top 25 Travel Tips: Packing, Planning and Enhancing Your Experience
    • 8 Ways to be a Respectful Travel Family
    • A Journey of Roots: Planning a Multi Generation Vacation
    • Christmas Day….Home or Roam?
    • Paris and Italy: A 28 Day Itinerary
    • Local is the New Lux
    • Planning a Family Vacation Abroad
    • Checking In by Completely Checking Out….
    • It’s Not Just Water: My ‘Waterlust’ Affliction
    • It’s Never Too Late to Look at a Map…..
    • Stories for my Suitcase: 20 of My Favorite Books
  • Family
    • Gowns And Glamour: Preparing Your Graduate (and Your Wallet) For Their Big Moment
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Work With Us

Category: Alberta

Gowns And Glamour: Preparing Your Graduate (and Your Wallet) For Their Big Moment

November 10, 2021March 4, 2022 AmyButterfieldAlberta

High School Graduation is a major milestone to be celebrated, especially after two years of academic performance amidst a pandemic. Our kids are resilient beings who have put in years of hard work, exam writing and fine social balance dotted with spurts of elation, tears, extra curricular schedules, mask mandates, online learning, uncertainty and senior […]

The Moose Hotel & Suites Banff: Making Memories out of Milestones

March 29, 2021April 6, 2021 AmyButterfieldAlberta

Sitting on an expansive balcony at the Moose Hotel & Suites Banff is an incredible fortune indeed.  Not only due to the luxury of sweeping views and complete serenity, but because of the simple fact that we are sometimes gifted the opportunity of reflection.  In this rich space of mindfulness we achieve a deeper appreciation for […]

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

The Ultimate Alberta Road Trip: An 1100 km Guide to the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and Banff National Parks

June 24, 2020April 8, 2021 AmyButterfieldAlberta

Alberta, pinch yourself.  This your backyard. So go out and play. 2020 quarantine has put some dust on our travel wings, and as restrictions lift and regional tourism opens up, we are ready to stretch them out and shake them off!  This is our favorite road trip loop down the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and […]

Sugared and Spiced, Old Strathcona, Edmonton, Alberta

Brunch and Bakeries: Exploring Edmonton’s Old Strathcona Neighborhood with Alberta Food Tours

October 24, 2019September 17, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard – Food is an intricate pathway of connection, a network linking us to our emotional and physical self, our family and friends, to local businesses and global growers.  Food is an indulgence, a pleasure, a vital necessity, housing the power to both heal and […]

Original Cabin (Left), Shadow Lake Lodge, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Shadow Lake Lodge: A Back Country Hike-in Experience in Banff National Park, Canada

August 23, 2019January 25, 2022 AmyButterfieldAlberta

Deep in the heart of world renowned Banff National Park, nestled among the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains, lies a lush green meadow dotted by a quaint row of cabins that make up Shadow Lake Lodge.  At a pristine emerald lake nearby, a fly-rod dances in the air and a family stops for a […]

Macarons 101 with Ollia Macarons & Tea, Calgary and Edmonton

Macaron 101: A Confection Class with Ollia Macarons & Tea

July 12, 2019September 17, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

mac·a·ron noun:  a small round cake with a meringue-like consistency, made with egg whites, sugar, and powdered almonds and consisting of two halves sandwiching a creamy filling. OLLIA MACARONS & TEA When it comes to the elusive french macaron, the popular Calgary based confectionery, Ollia Macarons & Tea, is a master.  A dynamic French-Canadian duo, […]

Taste of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Folk, Flavour and Fringe: A Local’s Guide to Summer Activities in Edmonton, Alberta

May 23, 2019September 17, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

Edmonton, Alberta, isn’t your average capital.   It is a destination that beats to its own unique rhythm on a drum of cultural diversity.  Home to roughly 1 million residents, Edmonton is a proud Canadian hub that boasts spectacular skyline views, a dark sky preserve, a world renowned festival scene and the largest urban parkland in […]

Northlands Race Track, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Horsing Around: A Night of Thoroughbred Racing in Edmonton, Alberta

August 22, 2018September 18, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

“There is something about the outside of a horse, that is good for the inside of a man.” -Winston Churchill- There is something nostalgic about walking the grounds of a stable, the earthy mixture of dirt and hay, manes and tails.  It is the sound of hooves, the neighs and the nickers.  A blow of […]

Edmonton Folk Music Festival

Notes from the Hill: The Edmonton Folk Music Festival

August 15, 2018September 18, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

THE EDMONTON FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL For nearly four decades, music lovers have been staking a claim on the hill of Gallagher Park in Edmonton, Alberta, making the trek numerous times over the four days of the legendary Edmonton Folk Music Festival.  Held every year on the second weekend in August, Folk Fest is a hand […]

Snow Valley Aerial Park, Edmonton, Alberta

Adventures in the Air: The Snow Valley Aerial Park, Edmonton, Alberta

July 6, 2018September 18, 2020 AmyButterfieldAlberta

THE SNOW VALLEY AERIAL PARK, EDMONTON Those first unsure footsteps, shaking hands, a nervous but determined face, gentle words of encouragement…. and a zip-wire so fun it needs to be crossed half a dozen times before moving on.  A mix of rainbows, platforms, adrenaline inducing pathways and strategically placed rest areas suspended high above the […]

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We are the the "B' Family behind the stories of 'Passports and Pigtails', a family of four on a journey to explore as many corners of the globe as possible. Whether it is counting hotel stars, or sleeping under the millions above, we are simply in search of authentic connection.

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I have been wanting to try this little Italian inspired gem forever! Champagne birthday on the first day of Spring 🥂💕 Where Edmonton stores summer for the rest of the year. I’ll show you the world ❤️ Take me to the ocean 💕 Remember to breathe in the quiet ❤️

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2 years ago

A frozen stretch of open space as the sun set over Astotin Lake at Elk Island National Park over the weekend. But Spring is in the air, and most definitely in her step. ❤️

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2 years ago

It’s a big moment for them. It’s a big moment for us. 🎓❤️

High School Graduation is a monumental one time milestone to be celebrated, even during a pandemic that has it looking completely different than normal. But the one thing right now I am consistently seeing and hearing come up is an anxiety related to the complex weight of it all. Not only are parents unsure of what pose or package to purchase, I often witness them expressing a feeling of pressure and even guilt of how to make this emotionally based purchase come together in a time that is seeing more and more families facing financial difficulties. We need our kids to feel celebrated and loved. What we don't need is to prove it through stressful spending.

Here are my personal experience Graduation Photo budget tips that saved us a headache and several hundred dollars:

1. I spoke with my professional family photographer friend, Kyra Jasman Photography, who will be doing Teen B's dress shoot in a few months, and who also gave me great advice. The professional school prints have an incredibly high mark up rate. If the package offers digital downloads in high resolution, you will be able to print great quality photos on your own at a much cheaper cost. And once it is behind a frame, it will be difficult to tell a difference. And trust me, she was right.

2. She also told me to narrow it down. It is an emotional purchase that has you staring at 17 photos of your child’s beautifully perfect face. You won’t hang them all. You won’t even print them all. You will most likely pair them with future photos in their formal suit/dress, so do the hard part and just choose your favourites.

3. Despite a hair and makeup glam session for her photos, Teen B still suffered from a few flyaway hairs after putting on the gown. In every single photo. The photography company offered custom retouches to the tune of $20 each. I called and explained and they reduced the additional cost of retouching the 5 photos from $100 to $30. So never hesitate to ask!!

4. Digital really is a great option for today: Digital high resolution prints allow you to share your child’s photos on social media, meaning all those friends and family you don’t physically mail copies to still get to share in the moment. It also allows you to print at will, for much cheaper. We ordered through an inexpensive local printer, on Pearl (matte paper). I even trial printed one on both matte and metallic ($$) and the simple matte was much better.

5. Frames for those special family members can add up and be expensive, especially if you are shipping the photos. If you want to level up for less, look into items such as black, foldable, heavy paper frames. They are elegant, light and inexpensive. I purchased mine at London Drugs for $2.99/ea for a 5x7. The edging is beautifully cut with gold trim around the photo.

By no means am I saying you should never order print packages and many families choose this option for quality and convenience. All this is meant to do is try and relieve some of the pressure or even guilt in not doing so. For us, it was a matter of practicality and bang for our buck based on conversation and advice, and I am thrilled with the decisions we made. Rocking out your kids graduation on a budget is still rocking. it. out.

Cheers to all the parents raising kids, and Grads, in 2021. Let’s do what we can to help each other make it as awesome as it deserves to be. ❤️
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Recent Posts

  • Gowns And Glamour: Preparing Your Graduate (and Your Wallet) For Their Big Moment
  • The Moose Hotel & Suites Banff: Making Memories out of Milestones
  • From Water to Wine: An Okanagan Vacation at Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos, British Columbia
  • The Ultimate Alberta Road Trip: An 1100 km Guide to the Icefields Parkway through Jasper and Banff National Parks
  • Brunch and Bakeries: Exploring Edmonton’s Old Strathcona Neighborhood with Alberta Food Tours
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