Christmas Time...

In just 3 more days we will be HERE....

london & guildford, england

And then Christmas Eve until New Year's Eve we will be here....

lanzarote, canary islands, spain

I cannot wait, I am seriously sooooooooo excited! We will be spending Christmas with my mom and her husband, and don't come home until Jan. 6!! Yay!! It will be strange to be on a beach for Christmas, but we're so glad to be somewhere hot that we don't even care how non-traditional this holiday season will be for us!! London will be so much fun too, I know Bella will just love all the festively decorated streets and stores, they go all out over there! (okay okay, I will love it too...!!)

We decorated our house for Christmas just a little, just to get us in the spirit of things....

yes, I know there are 4 stockings and only 3 of us, but they all match
and I like symmetry ok?!!

can you believe I actually painted and sanded those??!
I know I can't!!

and yes, this is the famous advent calendar...
turned out better than I expected but was
kind of a pain to make!!

Merry Christmas to everyone, enjoy the holiday season and the chance to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. See ya in January!! :)

Fun night!

Tonight my little family and I were lucky enough to go to the theatre!! Well...not really...but it's close enough for me! Our ward put on a Christmas play called Ebenezer and Friends, and let me tell you it is awesome!! Such good actors amongst us and I didn't even know! And really good singers too, I just loved it! Bella loved it too, she was clapping and pointing and waving, especially when the little kids came out for the Nativity scene! Made me think about her in a few years from now, hopefully she'll get to do something like that too! My mom always tells me about the time I was 4 or 5 and I was Mary in a play...I guess I was really rough with the "baby Jesus" and would just plunk him into the cradle! She said it was hilarious, but that the teacher wasn't too impressed and would always scold "Be gentle!!"....haha, good thing I've changed since then!!

If you didn't see the play tonight, go tomorrow (Friday)....so much fun, great costumes and singing, delicious treats....lots to get you in the Christmas spirit!!

changes?

Not sure if everyone knows this yet, but I may as well spill the beans....
NO...I'm not pregnant!!!
We are trying to sell Beautiful Bride...and it's taking FOREVER...I had to make the decision a couple of months ago, when I found myself with no time for me or my family and literally feeling like Bella's childhood was slipping through my fingers. This business is all-consuming, it takes up 20 times more time than you think and it is a 24/7 365 days a year career....that I love. And so it was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make, and it wasn't without many tears. I have put my heart and soul into it, but I feel like it came at the wrong time for me. So I am trying to move on. Live and learn right??! There is a couple who is interested in it, and we are just waiting on them for a decision. The suspense is killing me! I can barely stand the anticpation of it. I just want to have time for me again...today I spent the morning babysitting cute little Sadie, and I invited darling little Kyla over too...it was so much fun, and I know that it was good for Bella to have some girls over that were her age to play with!! I want to do that more often, I feel like people that I know just know me as a busy business owner, too busy to do anything with anyone. I want that to change!! I want playdates and mall dates and mommy/daughter dates and friend dates and husband/wife dates!! I want to wake up and stay in my pj's all day if I want to!! I want to learn how to cook better, and bake fun things and make cool crafty stuff!!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! I CAN'T STAND WAITING!!!

Digital Scrapbooking??

So, those who know me know I CANNOT scrapbook....I think if I had tons of time (and money!!) I could maybe be decent at it, but I just don't right now!! I want to make my mom (who lives in England and doesn't get to see us very often) a photo-book type thing of the past 2 years of her visits with Bella. But I want it to be CUTE. And relatively EASY. Oh and FAST, because we leave to see her in 3 weeks!!!

Any thoughts? Ideas? Thanks guys!!

Family Pics...warning there are LOTS

So, the prom fashion show was just okay....pretty mediocre and therefore I will no longer dwell on the overall failure of it all...

Instead, I will share these DARLING pictures that my AMAZING friend Ashley took for my family. Some background: she is from Cardston, and we both have such busy and conflicting schedules that we didn't get a chance to do these family pictures until 2 weeks ago. In Lethbridge. Where it was freezing cold. And so ridiculously windy that the streets were bare and Bella's enormous flower flew off her hat and down the alley way. So basically that made for a quick little shoot (30 mins) and not many locations/pictures, but somehow Ashley managed to get these fantastic shots of my cute lil fam!! I love them, and I love her for capturing it all! Next year I'm doing family pictures in the summer though!!! Her stuff is amazing, check her out www.sentimentsbyashley.blogspot.com

Thank you....

....to the wonderful few people who helped me with this crazy event. Hopefully everyone who read this and decided not to comment still may know some people to pass on the info to. I am absolutely terrified of tonight being a failure. I've never done anything like this and I've never felt so insecure of myself. I feel alone and misunderstood. And now I'm just ranting, so I will stop.

Thank you Emily, Val, Becka, Susie and Megan. Seriously, without you guys this would've been soooooooooo much harder!!

I will post tomorrow, hopefully with some pictures of the show and news of crowds of eager grads ready to view a fabulous fashion show!!!

SERIOUSLY, I NEED YOUR HELP!

So, week one of grad trunk shows is over....we got 4 different MODEST GRAD GOWN designers to lend us their entire PROM 2010 collections for 2 weeks...week one was in Cardston, week 2 is starting Monday here in Calgary!!!

We're doing a fashion show on Tuesday...should be tons of fun, but I haven't really had the time to organize it due to my crazy schedule lately!! Soooooo...this is where YOU (anyone? anyone??!) come in....I really need about 20 folding chairs that will fit chair covers over them...and I need some kind of dark fabric to drape as a backdrop over the entrance to the change room area in the store....this is so the girls can change behind there and make a dramatic entrance!! Any tips at this point would be of GREAT help, so comment away!!

Plus, if you know of ANYONE that might be REMOTELY interested in the chance to try on grad gowns for ONE WEEK ONLY (then they all get sent back to Utah!!) please send them to BB!!! Thanks so much guys, I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!! :)

BEAUTIFUL BRIDE MODEST PROM/GRAD!!

HEY EVERYONE! I was hoping I could get some help from u all in spreading the word about our modest trunk show...if anyone knows any YW leaders in other wards/stakes in Southern Alberta, Calgary or Edmonton, please pass this info on to them!! They can get more info. at www.beautifulbride.ca

For 2 weeks only we will have modest graduation gowns for girls to try on and order. Then they get sent back to Utah!! We will be in Cardston for 4 days and in the store in Calgary for 4 days. Tons of styles, sizes and colors!! We are also doing a fashion show in Calgary so I will need some girls in Grade 12 to be models if you know of anyone! The dates are:

CARDSTON (Dean and Joyce Gregson's residence)
NOV. 11: 1-8pm
NOV. 12: 5-9pm
NOV. 13: 2-7pm
NOV. 14: 10-2pm
CALGARY (Beautiful Bride)
NOV. 17: FASHION SHOW AT 7PM, CALL STORE FOR DETAILS
NOV. 18: 11-8pm
NOV. 19: 11-8pm
NOV. 20: 11-6pm
NOV. 21: 10-4:30pm

Thanks so much guys, I really really appreciate it!!

GIVEAWAY....

Anyone that knows me knows that since having Bella I've had some weight "issues"...well now that I'm going on vacation soon I want to lose some extra pounds and look cute on the beach again!!

Enter...the amazing BECKA!! By posting this on my blog I'm hoping to get an extra entry and win her cute notebook that will help me track my health and fitness!! Yay!! Plus she has agreed to be my "personal trainer" over the next 2 months so this is me saying THANK YOU!!!

Here is the link to the giveaway...wish me luck:)
http://bultsmabunch.blogspot.com/

Pumpkins...

I am NOT creative. I would like to be someday, so I start small projects (that sometimes never get finished!)and try to be more crafty so that I can be one of those fun moms that always does cool stuff with her kids! I saw this on UCreate, and decided to try it...really easy! Yay! And now I actually have some fall/Halloween decor! So so excited....a little overly excited for what it is but whatever!!

A problem....

These delightful little treats are now available YEAR ROUND. I discovered them again today in Wal-Mart and could NOT resist. Like I said...a problem.

Eternity

So I've been wanting to post this for a couple weeks but life is busy! Better late than never, rigt?? On August 26 it was our 3 year sealing anniversary. I still get teary eyed when I think about it. We got married first, and a year later got sealed at the Cardston temple. The difference in those 2 days was so noticeable. I have never felt happier than that day at the temple. While I was obviously happy and excited to marry Mason, being sealed to him was somehow something more. It made me realise that we really are in this together forever, and I can't picture my life without him. He even cried, but don't tell him I said that!! At our wedding I kept waiting for him to cry and he never did!! I was kind of mad, but our sealing day really made up for it!

I can't believe it's been 3 years already!! Amazing.

Summa time...is over...

I really need to get better at this blogging thing, that way I wouldn't feel the need to post massive stories about all that's happened! So I will give a brief overview our family's busy summer with a cute lil slideshow to top it off! Then I SWEAR I will get better!!

So...Waterton was first. We stayed at the Dahl cabin for a few days along with the Dahl's, the Balderson's and the Clements (yes, it was full!!). It was so much fun, and we did all the usuals like skipping rocks for hours, walking to the falls, indulging in big scoop ice cream and checking out the Prince of Whales hotel! Such fun, and Bella loved being around all the cousins and playing!

Next came Magrath Days, a tradition I hope we never miss! The parade was of course awesome, except for the water ballooning of small children! It was awesome to see family and catch up! We had our own fireworks show as well as the town's one so it was an exciting weekend for all! We even met some new friends from Calgary (thanks to Amy and Mike!) that we're excited to hang out with! Good times all around I tell ya!!

Our anniversary always falls on Magrath Days so a couple weekends later Mason took me to Banff for a night! It was our 1st night away (together) without Bella and it was AMAZING! We stayed at the Banff Springs and had a fabulously indulgent 24 hours or so together! Short but sweet, we loved walking around the massive hotel and the grounds, and the food was to die for!!

Mason's sister Karli and her 4 kids as well as Mason's mom stayed with us the week before we went to Banff. It was a chaotic but hilariously fun time, and Bella was so sad when they all left!! She even got her ears pierced with her cousins Liv, Ava and Madisyn...I definitely had a "i'm a bad mom" moment, but she recovered quickly and looks so adorable!!

I threw a baby shower for my close friend Naomi and her new baby boy Tristan. He is so freaking adorable, and the shower was such a success!! Anyone who knows me knows I love throwing parties, and any excuse will do!! It was so much fun, and the wonderfully talented Dorienne made the most amazing cupcakes and cookies!! Bella just loves Baby Tristan, she can't stop giving him hugs and kisses and wants to be near him all the time! I just love it, and can't help thinking/hoping that she'll be like that with a baby sibling too!! (no, that was NOT an announcement...)

Bella's best little buddy FINALLY came home from New York a few months ago too...Sadie!!! Although they've been busy too, we've managed to get together a few times and these 2 little girls play so well together! Susie and I took them to the zoo, and even though we got rained out it was a blast just watching them hold hands and walk around together looking at things! I love that we have such good friends with a baby Bella's age, it makes things so much fun!!

Last but not least, we just went to Edmonton to visit my family and go to the Fringe Festival. I haven't been to Fringe since our 1st year of marriage, and I LOVED it! We went in the afternoon and then again in the evening and it was so much fun! Fabulous performers and delicious treats, plus it was perfect weather!! Bella had such a good time with my little sister, Rachel, too. Rachel loved playing with her so much, I think it'll be fun for her to be the cool auntie when she's older!! (she is only 11)

That about sums things up...thanks for reading (if you made it all the way!!)...I LOVE summer and I'm so sad it's ending! I will be milking every last sunny day and spending it at the lake in Auburn Bay if anyone's interested in joining me!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Busy July!!

It's already been a busy month, but there is much more yet to come!! Last Tuesday I made the drive all the way to SLC with my manager and we came home on Friday. It was short but sweet, and although I didn't get much shopping in (boo!!) I saw tons of amazing dresses and got a lot of inspirational advice for Beautiful Bride!! I'm so excited moving forward, I really feel like it's about to just take off and be the cutest boutique in Calgary...so feel free to SPREAD THE WORD!!

After Utah it was off to Waterton for the weekend...cute pictures to follow!! It was fun to hang out with family and relax. We did all the fun Waterton things, including a couple of trips to Big Scoop and of course playing tennis!! So much fun and we had such fabulous weather, even Bella got a light little tan despite the spf 100 (exageration) I put on her!! Now Bella and I are hanging out in Magrath for a couple of days, playing with the cousins and avoiding reality for as long as possible!!

This weekend is a very good friend of mine's wedding and I'm soooo excited!! We are going to spend the weekend in Edmonton, which I'm looking forward to as well. Laura has been waiting for her Mr. Right for so so long, and they literally are made for each other!! So adorable, I can't wait to see her.

That's all the news for now, I'll post pictures when I can! Also check the BB Blog soon for some new dresses that just came in!!

Utah bound...

I am leaving for Utah tomorrow!! Yay, I love it there! Only thing is...it's for work AND I have to DRIVE!!! I am so nervous b/c it's just me and the manager from the store...and a looooooong drive! I haven't driven that far w/o Mason before, so we'll see how it goes!! I'll post pictures of some the gorgeous dresses we'll be getting! That part I'm excited for, it's a huge bridal show and is always a ton of fun!!

I'm going to miss Bella (she's staying with her grandma in Magrath for the week!) and of course Mason...then it's off to Waterton for the weekend, so a fun filled week for us for sure!!

hmmmm...

Question:
Why are people so cliquey (if that's even a word)??

Seriously, especially in the church it feels like. It is SO hard to fit in and SO hard to make new friends and be involved in things. I am SUPER grumpy today b/c quite honestly I AM SICK OF IT. So, sorry if this bugs anyone, it's just how I'm feeling today. I don't think MOST people realize how they're being (I say most b/c there are some who do it on purpose, let's be honest)...and I am sure I have been guilty of doing the same thing sometimes. You get into a groove and you're comfortable....well my groove has been disrupted and I am irritated!!! I don't even know why I'm posting this, maybe just to make people think about the way they treat others. There are many people just dying for an invitation to something, you might not think they'd be interested but they probably are!!! And you might think they're too busy to hang out with you but let's think about WHY they're too busy....there are no better offers so why not stay busy??!! Okay, I'm done venting. Sorry. Hopefully nobody takes this personally. Seriously, please don't. I'm just grumpy.

OH CANADA...

We had such a fun Canada Day this year!!! It was my 9th Canada Day as an official citizen of this great country...I love it!! Canada is truly home now, I would never ever move! It's beautiful and although the cold gets to me at times I do love snow! Plus the people are amazing...we are lucky to call this home. In fact whenever I travel people get so excited when they hear I'm Canadian...just goes to show how AWESOME we are!!

We went down south just for the Raymond Day parade...Bella loved it and it was fun seeing everyone and hanging out with family!! Here are some picture of the day...

Pictures...

Here are a couple of Bella "cleaning"!! Don't mind the outfit and hair...mid morning and we're just getting started!!!





Here are some of my funny little love...the ones where she is laughing uncontrollably are due to her dad being CRAZY for her!! So much fun!!

18 Months Old!!

Seriously, I can hardly even believe it!! I think I am now officially the mother of a toddler...crazy!! I always wanted to be a mom...right from when I was a little girl. I was always the one that hated anyone's feelings getting hurt and I would "mother"/"smother" (!!) the poor kids who got left behind sometimes. Being a mom has changed me...in BIG ways. From the moment she was born, life became about her and for her. She is amazing!!

Things my big girl is doing now...talking!! Well, tons of babbling but we have some words in there!! Hi, no, momma, dadda, yeah, no, shoes, ball, good girl, cold, bye, stinky, uckies (yucky!!)...I'm sure there are some I'm leaving out so I'll add them later! She smiles and waves at just about anybody and is a dancing queen let me tell you!! I love dancing to funny little commercials with her, she is hilarious!! She also loves to clean...yep u heard me!! She grabs the broom and the dustbuster and pretends she's cleaning all the time!! She also loves organizing...she is so particular about all her stuff being in certain spots and piles and I often open random cupboards to find things stashed in there!!

She is a total momma's girl and clings to me constantly...she is usually just right there next to me throughout my day, which is fun sometimes but hard to get things done at other times!! Now don't get me wrong, this girl LOVES her daddy too!! As soon as we hear the garage door open we run downstairs together and she just giggles and waves, so happy to see him!! She is soooo good at giving hugs, they are the best, and her kisses are awesome too!! I could go on and on about my little love, she brings me the most joy and sometimes frustration, and she is all ours!! It's amazing how lives have changed and how better they are. I can't even imagine what it was like without her!!

Summer has finally begun...

Man, it has been FOREVER!! I don't even know where to start on a recap...

May was a good month for me...lots of memories b/c it's been 4 years since I got baptized! Amazing I know!! The time has flown by and I still feel like a newbie but I am so so so greatful for the blessings I have due to this momentous decision.

One fabulous blessing is my beautiful baby girl...Bella made her modelling debut in the Beautiful Bride Fashion Show at the Welcome Wagon Bridal Fair!! She did amazing, strutted down that runway in the cutest flower girl dress and smiled, waved, posed and twirled her way into the hearts of everyone there! Seriously though, she is such a show off but can be so shy at times so I was surprised at her boldness! It was so much fun and she didn't even want to get off the stage! I had to go and get her! Too funny! Sorry the pictures are so blurry, I wasn't the one taking the pictures!!





With summer peeking it's head out every now and then we have been trying to take advantage of the beautiful lake here in our community. We LOVE it!! There is a cute beach, a water/splash park, a playground and even paddleboats/canoes (which I have yet to venture out on!). Bella was a little wary of the sand the first few times but now she runs across it the moment I set her down! She even runs up to the water and paddles a bit, so fun! As soon as I get her out of the car and she sees where we are she starts giggling and smiling and kicking her legs in excitment...the spray park is a HUGE hit with her! I can barely drag her away. I hope we have many more lazy days there this summer, it's so convenient and there is almost always someone there we know!





Last weekend was the RS retreat at the Prince cabin in Glenwood. I went just for the Friday night because I had signed up for the 8km Ladiesfest run in Lethbridge with my sister in law. I'm so glad I still decided to sleep over (even though I didn't get to bed until 3:30 and woke up at 5:30 to head to Magrath and then to my race!!)...I got to know some really wonderful girls and play some fun games! It was so fun to see everyone just let loose and be goofy, I really loved it! Now...the race...good news, I finished it!! Bad news...I felt like I was going to die!! Haha, no seriously, it was super fun, hard at the end (stupid whoop up drive hill) but we did really well (i thought!) and it felt amazing after!! Now I'm trying to convince myself to go through with the marathon in October...I haven't even started training for that yet!! I need help!! Any tips would be appreciated...I need to get in shape and loose the left over baby weight FOR GOOD and FAST!!! Help?? Anyone?? PLEASE??!!

Easter fun...

I know, all of a sudden I'm a blogging fiend!! Just wanted to post some pics of the fun we had last week with my mom...she called the Tuesday before Easter and said that flights were super cheap right now...(she lives in England) and so she came 2 days later and stayed for a week! It was so much fun, we hadn't seen her since we went over there in October, and so she just loved playing with Bella and seeing how much she has grown! We did some good shopping and hung out and relaxed...my brother and his girlfriend came to stay too so it was a fun family weekend! I actually made Easter dinner, quite a feat I know, my mom could hardly believe her eyes! And it was pretty good!! We ate way too much chocolate but made up for it in the long walks we took...beautiful weather and amazing company! Bella sure loved her "gogo" (that's Zulu for grandma), especially all of my moms bracelets and necklaces!! (she's eccentric that way!!) It was a wonderful week, and we were sad to see her go...but we've already started planning our next trip, so London at Christmas here we come!!