Owl Garden Party

This past Sunday was Jaxon's baby shower that my dear friend Monica hosted in her back yard!!! It was amazing! Planned to perfection with an Owl Garden Tea Party theme to it - it was more than I could have ever imagined!!! When I walked in and saw it all, I was overcome with tears! After I dried my eyes, Jaxon was spoiled rotten and everyone had a delightful time. I am so lucky to have such a great friend like her! I managed to snap some photos before people arrived and wanted to share them... These are the sugar cookies I gave away to all our guests as "thank you's"...

And what is a party without CUPCAKES???? These were de-lish! Chocolate with yummy blue icing and fondant owls & flowers...

Plates & Napkins running with the owl theme she got these cuties online...

These were the "Wishes For Baby" cards that I asked each guest to fill out. It is a journaling prompted card that everyone filled out - we had such a great response - some made me cry and others made me laugh so hard I cried...

This was a gift from the hostess - it is a beautiful frame with the most breathtaking verbiage...(more crying!)

Mmmmmm Sangria!!! Jurgen, Monica's hubby, made the signature cocktail for the afternoon...

Beautiful hanging paper lanterns in the umbrella & gazebos....

Apple blossom centrepieces adorned each table...

She had gazebos set up in her massive yard...

Tables under the gazebos....

Sitting area on the upper deck...

More seating....

What a day that I will never forget! We noshed on tea sandwiches and all kinds of yummy desserts! It meant so much to me that all the people that took the time out of their day to come and meet our "little man"! Now what do you think the chance of the hubby helping me write all these thank you cards for the piles of gifts Jaxon received are???? Yah, I already got the "but you do SUCH a great job at it honey" speech! Off to start on those! ~Mamacita Bootybella

Time Flies...And Other Parental Thoughts...

Well it is hard to believe that my little bambino is practically a month old! "Time Flies" I used to hear parents say....my thoughts, yah right! You have kids that take so much work, how could time possibly FLY? I now understand how this happens! It feels like he should only be a couple weeks old because we are just adapting and settling into somewhat of a "routine", following the aftermath of bringing home a newborn. So much is happening...he is so focused on staring at me with his big blue eyes like I am someone special - his everything! I must remind him of this when he hates me during his teen years! He hiccups following most feedings - which sounds very painful but is so damn cute - each time it pulls on my heart, not knowing to laugh or cry for him. And the other night at 5am following a feed, my arms were sooooo tired and weak from holding onto him for the past hour. I NEEDED to put him down, but with his eyes closed and the soft light of our nightlight, all I could see was his little lips pursed into a smile that kept going and going - and no, he didn't have gas I am convinced - he was just really happy! How could I put him down now???? Dirty pool I say, dirty pool! When I was growing up I had a large love for reading. There is so much the little minds can absorb and imagine from reading a book - so opposite of watching it on the tube. It challenges you to focus on "what might be" instead of someone else's concept of "what it is" to them. To this day, I love listening to stories told on the radio in the wee hours of the morning as opposed to watching a movie on the television. Therefore, one love I am hoping to pass on to Jaxon is the power of reading. We have started as soon as he came home from the hospital. I know it is probably the last thing he is interested in right now but every night before we go down for the night, we read a story or two. I wanted to share this inexpensive collection of four books I bought the other day and love! For Mommy...

For Daddy...

For Grandma...

And of course, For Grandpa...

These were written by Jillian Harker and Kristina Stephenson and come with a couple greeting cards and envelopes in each one so the child can write a little note to each parent or grandparent. I got a wicked deal on these 4 books at Indigo, as they were originally listed at $18.99 per book, but I found all 4 in the Bargin section at $4.99 a book!!! Swing by and pick up these finds for your child's collection! ~MWAH

Without Further Adieu....

Intoducing.......Mr. Jaxon Briant!!!! My wonderful bundle of joy arrived at 3:12pm on Wednesday, April 11th...weighing in at at a mere 9lbs, 8oz and 19" in length, Jaxon was welcomed by a world of bright lights, busy people and a tearful mom and dad - elated by his safe appearance!
He was riding breech and coupled with his size, my OBGYN and I decided that it was in everyone's best interest to opt for an elective C-Section. And I couldn't have been happier with that decision. My recovery has been remarkable and aside from a ring of "flab" that seems to now "hang" around my mid-section - I wouldn't even think I just had a baby!!!! We are safely home and settling into a "routine". This regimen consists of: ~Eat~Sleep~Poop/Pee~Eat~Sleep~Poop/Pee~Eat~Sleep~Poop/Pee....ok, you get the picture!!! I have, overnight, learnt that dirty dishes will still be on the counter or in the sink two hours later, morning showers are not a necessity, but rather a luxury, and nothing is more important and rewarding than holding this little miracle in my arms every chance I get!!! And with that said, "the boss is calling" from his swing where he was sleeping a minute ago, but now appears to be ravaged with hunger..."Hold tight Jaxon...Mommy and her boobies are coming!!!" ~Mamacita Bootybella

Tired of Soliciting...

So yesterday afternoon, as I was attempting to "relax" before the bambino arrives, my doorbell rang once. After I hoisted my big belly up of the couch and waddled across the house, I was greeted by a stranger on my doorstep wanting to sign me up for a "free trial subscription" of the local newspaper. Ahhhhhh....no thanks. Return to couch.
Literally half an hour later, just as I was reacquainting myself with the cast of General Hospital, "ding dong" number two. Grunt, groan, shuffle, waddle, grab my breath....as I approach my front doorstep, another person I have never seen grace my front porch. And what could she possibly want from this 38 week prego? She, along with her small children and husband (standing off in the background) had been sent by the lord above to let me know there was room in their pews for big ol' me, and my hubby if I would like to bring him too - to Sunday's Pentecostal Service down the road. Ahhhhh...no thanks. Return to couch.
An hour or so later, just as I had wedged my ass comfortably into a "comfortable position" on the couch, propted all extremities higher than my belly so that swelling, tingling and numbness were to be kept to a minimum...I just began to drift off to sleep with The View ladies bickering in the background...knock, knock, knock, ding dong, ding dong! Oh for the love of %$#&*!!!!! Hoist, gasp for air, pretty much trip over the dog who is now running around ballistically because someone woke him up from his afternoon siesta, we both arrive at the door to our THIRD guest, who has come unannounced to my stoop! Any guesses on this one? Well it is election time in our end of the world so I am graced with the presence of some keener that has nothing else to do with their time than parade around neighbourhoods asking for "my guarantee" for a vote for their political party! Maybe if they "guarantee" that all their promises won't turn to lies the minute they are elected!!! Ahhh...no thanks!!! Skip the return to couch and head to office instead..... to produce this lovely sign that now adorns my front door....

Moral of this story....leave the pregnant woman ALONE!!!!!
And in case you were wondering if this works, I have had 4 others footsteps travel up my front porch, only to pause (reading my signage) and scamper off, leaving me to enjoy my last few days pre-mother-hood!!!

I'mmmmmm Back!!!!!! Double Take...

I know I have been M.I.A. for several months now, purely because I became self absorbed in what I have waited my whole being for!!! As you can tell by the photo below, we are expecting our little bundle of joy within the week! I have been busy shopping, decorating, reading, and educating myself over the past 9 months on how to be the most amazing parent! Now, I don't know that I will slam dunk that job, but I do have two parents that I think did a pretty good job when all was said and done, so following in their footsteps for the most part, should take me down a road of success?!

I really wanted to do a fun maternity photo shoot before the bambino arrived so a few weeks back we headed out to a local park to snap some photos. This is by far one of my ultimate favourites! What do you think? I love the way the photo turned out, however the anticipation of waiting for that melon to chill down, cut into it and devour it's flavours was getting the best of me. After all - it cost a whole $9.50 at this time of year....so imagine my utter disappointment when my hubby chopped it open to find out it had ZERO flavour and was white as a bunnies touché!!! What a freakin' let down!!! Oh well, teach me!

So I know some of you have faithfully followed my other blogs that I started, not for lack or organization! Clearly, 5 blogs are a tad too much to keep up with so moving forward, you will be pleased to know that EVERYTHING will be posted within "Bootybella Designs" Blog - this means you will find the following on this blog:
~ My witty thoughts on EVERYTHING (Careful what you wished for?!)...
~ My latest crafts & creations (Stamping, scraping and soon to be scribbles!)...
~ My favourite inspirations (And others that inspire)...
~ My most cherished and sharable recipes (Fun with food!)...
~ My suggestions on libations (AKA "What's in Mommy's Sippy Cup?")...
~ My Two Pennies on Products (A Bootybella Rating System)...
~ And anything else that "floats my boat"....
Are you ready to join this journey of "Mamahood" with me? I hope so because I would hate to think that no one is actually reading all this!!!! Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!

MWAH~
Soon to be "Mamacita Bootybella"

Speaking of Veggies...

It has been such a long time since I updated this blog....but for good reasoning....

Any thoughts?

Picklefest 2011....

I have been dying to make homemade dill pickles for years. A friend of mine makes wicked ones so I enlisted her help, as well as my new found friends, Tim & Dave from the Hutterite Colony just east of the city!!!! And voila!!!!
WE HAVE PICKLES!!!!!
Zee following is zee story of how zee cucumber becomes zee pickle...grab your popcorn, put your feet up and enjoy!!

FRIDAY NIGHT
After picking up my 40lbs of cucumbers from the Farmer's Market, 5 lbs of dill and 5 lbs of garlic, I return home to unload.
The evening is spent with help from my dahling hubby in the prep so we are reading to rock and roll first thing tomorrow morning!!!
Splish splash...Bootybella's cucs are takin' a bath...

Drying off on paper towels...

The freshly bathed and dried cucs settle in for the night in a garbage bag lined box...

My 40lbs of baby cucs juuuuuusssttt fit into our downstairs fridge, to stay crisp for the night before their big debut tomorrow morning!


SATURDAY MORNING...
One full dill head went into each sterilized mason jar...

A "minimum" of 3 cloves per jar...just for the bottom, of course we put more on the top!!!

The dill heads & garlic cloves patiently await the arrival of the cucs....

As far as the eye can see....

A sea of pickles....

Packed pickle jars awaiting dill & brine (oh yeah, and of course MORE GARLIC!)...

Fresh dill sprigs to top each jar...

Ingredients for the brine....

And just incase you wondered what "37"jars of pickles looked like....



And just because I hadn't had enough, why not pickle some spicy beans and a jar of peppers?????
Like the cucs, the beans started out in an icebath to be cleaned.....

Tipped all the beans....

In goes the dill, garlic and cayenne pepper & chilli peppers...all to help create that "KICK"!

And finally we will add the blanched beans, covering with a brine and sealing!

And I figured I would pickle a jar of peppers - something to give the guest that you want to leave your house!!! All I know is "I" am not eating any of these!

Fingers crossed that they all seal and I am gonna be in pickle and bean heaven for the next year....ummmmm...and apparently I will need an abundance! Wink wink, nod nod!!!

Stay tuned....
MWAH~