When is it okay to fake it?

Today I went to Homesense to return some props we didn't use on a shoot.....it's one of my happy places!! 

This trip lead me to thinking about when it's okay to use a fake or copied item and when you need to go for the real deal.

While I was there, I picked up a chandelier for our living room.  My friend Tammy (who is amazing, talented and super helpful at sourcing bargains) told me about this fixture.  It is a copy of one from Restoration Hardware...also a favourite shop.

Our old fixture in the living room is original to the house which is great, but it flickers and doesn't really light all that well....the wiring is old and it's not reliable.

The decision to replace it wasn't easy since I really liked the old fixture.  I know we could re-wire it but when I saw this other one...well, I was sold.  I knew it would freshen up the room and add some character as well.

Here is the Restoration Hardware fixture....

The cost of their version is $2595 US plus delivery....the delivery charge is something that really bugs me with Restoration Hardware since they have stores here...why can't they order it in for me and I pick up from the store instead of paying $80 to have it delivered??  At least give me an option to save that delivery fee please.

The one I picked up was only $179!!!  I think that at a difference of over $2000, it would have to give off light so amazing that I looked 20 years younger and 20 lbs thinner....and even then I don't think I could spend that much.

So, in this case, the decision is to go with the fake...it is a great option that gives you the look for less.

The other item I picked up while at Homesense is cookie mix...I know, right?  Kind of a crazy combination of items to buy in one place!!

This cookie mix sounded great...healthy, yummy and easy to make.  I have purchased things from this company before and they were good quality so I trusted them.

Excited to make these for my kids after school I preheated the oven and got ready.  All I had to add was a bit of butter (I used coconut oil instead) and an egg...perfectly simple. My youngest son Luke and I added the ingredients and started mixing.  Whenever we make cookies we always try the dough before we bake them.  Luke says it's "just in case" so that we don't "poison" anyone with our baking...I say it's because he has a sweet tooth like his mom.  So spoons at the ready we tasted the dough...it was pretty dry and crumbly....and it was pretty horrible.  Tasted a little like sweetened cardboard!!  I made the executive decision to add some more butter to make them a bit richer....mixed again, tasted again...still awful.  I decided to throw in some peanut butter...to give more moisture and some flavour.  We put them on the cookie tray and baked them up.

The end result wasn't too bad, but a pretty poor substitute for the gooey and delicious chocolate chip cookies I usually make.

The verdict here is that the "fake" cookies that are trying to be healthier just don't cut it.  Sorry Bob, but your cookies don't make the grade.