Monday, November 14, 2011

Goin' To The Chapel

This weekend was one of the happiest of my life - I'M ENGAGED!!! Jose proposed on 11-11-11 and I said yes! First, let me give a little background of our dating history so the proposal makes more sense. The first time that Jose told me he loved me was at Union Station when I was dropping him off to go visit his parents in NJ. I got out of the car to hug him and I said I love you (I had been saying it for awhile....lol) and he whispered in my ear, I love you too. It was a very special moment in our relationship and one we've both looked back on with fond memories. So we had discussed it and I knew a proposal was coming, but I didn't think it would be until the end of this year. For the last week or so, Jose had mentioned to me that he had an errand to do for his mom that required him to go to Union Station on Friday. I had the day off from work so he asked if I could go with him and wait in the car so he didn't have to worry about finding a parking space (if you've ever been to Union Station, you get this) :) so of course I said yes. He gets out of the car and walks around the back and then he opens my door and gets down on one knee and pulls out the ring. He says, "This is the first place I told you I loved you and I will always love you. Will you marry me?" I kept saying, "Oh my God" and finally I got out the word yes....lol  As we were driving away, I called my best friend to tell her and I burst into tears on the phone. I guess it just took a minute to hit me that this was real and it had finally happened. I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful man in my life and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him.


My E-Ring


On our way to Union Station...

After we left Union Station we went to have lunch at an Italian place in Leesburg called Gallettas. This was the second time we had been there and it was as good as the first. We had the di Parma sandwiches and they are ah-mazing!




The rest of the weekend was pretty low key since we had both of the girls, but we still took time to enjoy being newly engaged....



Funny, how we forgot to take a picture of us the day we got engaged, but we took a pic of our lunch....lol...Here are some pics of us over the last year....

Christmas 2010 NYC


Bluemont Vineyards, Winter 2011
Odyssey Dinner Cruise, March 2011





Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Birthday Recap

I was so excited to start my blog on my birthday, that I kind of forgot to give details of my actual day! Let me start out by saying, sometimes my birthdays are bittersweet because I miss my family. I live in Northern Virginia, about 30 minutes from Washington, D.C. My daddy & stepmom, 2 brothers, & all their families live in Mississippi (where I was born and raised until I was 16). I also have another brother that lives in Michigan with his family. My mama passed away in June 2009 and I miss her everyday, but it's even more so around special occasions. Even though I miss my family, I'm blessed to have a beautiful 9 year old daughter, Makenna & my boyfriend, Jose, & our 2 Dachshunds, Oscar & Addie, here with me in VA. So my day started off with a text at 3am from my brother James telling me happy birthday. My brother is a truck driver so there is no telling what time zone he was in when he sent that. :) I went to work as usual and my co-workers (one is my best friend) took me out for lunch for my favorite - Mexican! Yummy! Then when I got home later that night, Jose, Makenna, & Claudia (Jose's daughter) took me to Chili's for dinner. I ordered their Oldtimer burger and everyone at the table cracked up. :) When we got home there were balloons, cards, & a birthday cake from Coldstone waiting for me. I have literally wanted this birthday cake for years and finally got it...lol - I was so happy & it was worth the wait! After we had been home for awhile I noticed that Addie was acting funny because she would only stay in the kitchen and kept looking up at the ceiling. I commented on it and everybody told me that she was scared because one of my balloons had popped earlier and she refused to go in the living room where they were - my poor baby! My balloons have been in the closet ever since Monday night so she feels safe again. :) Besides the fact that I may have to eventually pay for doggy therapy, I had a wonderful birthday! Here are some pics from my day....

Addie, prior to the need for therapy

Card From Addie & Oscar (A.K.A Skis & T's)

Card From Makenna


The most hilarious b-day card ever...I literally laughed so hard I cried





The balloons that struck fear in the heart of Addie
The "2" balloon popped...but how cute is the paw print one?!?


A Cheesecake Named Desire...mmmmmm


Can you find Oscar in this picture?



My first drink of year 29


What birthday is complete without chocolate?

Monday, November 7, 2011

Nice to Meet You Twenty-Nine

Today is not only my first ever blog post, but it's also my twenty-ninth birthday. I've followed many blogs for several years & have always wanted to start my own, but just never got around to it. As I've followed these blogs, I feel like I've gotten to know a community of inspiring, creative, & fun women. I'm so excited to have my own piece of the blogging world as I begin the final year of my twenties! During my twenties I have experienced love, loss, and a whole lot in between that I wish I had chronicled with more than the occasional photograph. I hope that this blog not only serves as a way for me to look back on my own life, but hopefully touch the lives of others at the same time. Twenty-nine here I come....