One Year Ago

One year ago today, Mr. RH must've been feeling crazy - because he asked me to be his wife.  I *think* I said yes, but it's amazing how, after months of obsessing over that moment after it happened, I am starting to forget most of the evening.

Is it weird that I remember walking down Michigan Avenue at midnight, too lazy to hail a cab but also too tired to do anything but keep on walking?

On one hand, I cannot believe a year has passed!  A whole year!  365 days!  And on the other hand.... I feel like we've lived several lifetimes since then!

We've added two nephews and a niece to the family (and haven't seen them NEARLY enough!).  We've attended multiple weddings (which made me meltdown, because, holycrap!).  We've written guests lists, fought over the perfect wedding (big party vs. intimate gathering), Mr. RH was baptized, I became a godmother, I rocked the shit out of a hashtag (#almosthitchedbitch), got said hashtag banned from instagram, found out many friends were expecting, met some of their new babies, and obsessed over My Big Day, blog-style, more times than I care to count.  Don't even ask me how much I've obsessed on twitter.  Let's just say I've lost some followers... and gained approximately one million bride-to-be friends who just get me.

Away from the internet, I talked a lot of wedding talk - but have tried to keep myself bridezilla-free.  I feel like I've been fairly successful.... but then again, it's hard to gauge because the people who love me most probably lie to my face.  THANK YOU, loves of my life. 

Mr. RH and I have faced some really intense struggles, and I vacillate between thinking  "things can only go up from here" and "is THIS what I'm in for for the rest of my LIFE?!"  It's all very glamorous, and I'm sure Mr. RH has been thinking roughly the same thing.  Especially when I sit him down for the 35th time to go over the wedding ceremony and he tells me to choose what I like and I ask him to just tell me how he feels.  (Spoiler: he feels harassed and he really just wants me to be happy.)

So, today, 36 days out, feels... crazy.  Insane, actually.

I barely recognize the kids in that photo... they're about to go through some craaaziness that I don't think I can even explain to them properly.  

And I'm not even talking about wedding planning.

One year later, and I am at least 200% more excited about marrying that man.  I know that we are both probably more clueless than I can even fathom, but that no matter what happens - we are both super excited about what comes next.

Forever and ever.  Etc etc.

Post-Engagement Surprise

I'm pretty sure I promised you a few more engagement madness photos.  And then I dropped off the planet like all the awesome bloggers cause that's how I roll.

So, we got engaged at Buckingham Fountain.  Late at night.  Walked about a mile (in wedges!  in the dark!) to get to the hotel.  Passed out immediately (after staring at the ring for an hour, duh, don't be foolish).

As for the big tah-dah, Mr. RH had something else up his sleeve.  The next night, we actually made dinner reservations with two of my best college friends.  We got to dinner early and I was panicked - how could I tell them casually and yet awesome-ly?!

We sat at the bar waiting for my friends to arrive - and one of them did.  I had stashed the ring safely in Mr. RH's pocket for more excitement.  As soon as she walked in, her eyes went to my hand.  We barely made eye contact as we all hugged.

So she makes small talk.  Blah blah blah.  Mr. RH walks away to ask the hostess a question... and she whisper-yells "omg, are you engaged?  is it going to happen tonight?  what is going on?"  And, like the cat that ate the canary, I spill immediately. 

We had a little fun putting the ring on my friend's hand to see the 2nd friend's reaction.  It was hilarious. 

After dinner, Mr. RH had cooked up a little surprise ahead of time: a carriage ride around Chicago.

 

We showed up near the Hancock tower and there was a carriage waiting for the two of us.  Noodles the horse brought me roses. 

At first, I was a little embarrassed.  I mean, who rides a carriage around the busy streets of Chicago?  On a Thursday night?! 

We do.

(Thank you, Chicago bus for completing the only non-blurry picture of the two of us from the ride!)

We went all up and down Michigan Avenue.  Past Buckingham Fountain (good memories!), over the river, through the woods, etc etc etc.

After I got over my fear of getting run over by a bus and/or of having the wooden cart come apart... it was really fun.  It's weird because I don't remember talking to Mr. RH all that much... we mostly just held hands and enjoyed the beautiful night.  

(Just Me and Noodles the Horse.  Don't mind my cheesing-neck... Noodles was trying to eat my flowers and dude, horses are LARGE.) 

I'm sorry if some of these details are boring... it's just that I've already forgotten so much in 2 weeks and I can't bear to let any more of the details slip away.

There was one interesting moment on our ride though.  We were down south on Michigan Avenue by Buckingham Fountain.  Stopped at a red light.  A little SUV pulls up next to us with a pit bull in the back seat.  He is instantly interested in the situation and Noodles is distinctly uninterested and JUMPS (ok, more of a hop, but honestly, might as well have been the high jump) a foot to the right.  

I grab Mr. RH's hand/entire body and hold on for dear life.  Thankfully the driver of the car shut the car (on the poor dog's face.... but he was kind of being an ass and deserved it and moved before he was hurt, obviously). 

Fortunately, nobody was killed this night on a evening carriage ride through Chicago.  

I'd never been on a carriage ride before, let alone through Chicago, so all in all I'd say it was a pretty fantastic way to celebrate our engagement. 

And plus, the roses that Noodles brought were pretty darn gorgeous.  If I do say so myself....

 

Nobody's even reading the words any more so I'm just gonna call it quits here.

Have a fantastic weekend!!  Be grateful you are not stuck at work like I am!

The Goods

Twitter has told me that you all are here for only one thing today... but if you think you're getting off that easily, you are sadly mistaken.

Thing is... I still can't really believe that this is my life. 

That this guy who appeared out of nowhere loves me enough that he doesn't want to lose me.  Not that he ever could.

That this guy who entertains me SO much that he can't get me to stop talking, even after days and hours together.

 I've got all the goods I'll ever need, that's for darn sure.  But I guess you already knew that.

 I guess I should give you what you come here for?

 

 Women and sparkly things.  Can't keep them apart.

I guess you'll just have to come back tomorrow for a better money shot... fits tomorrow's post better, sorry folks. 

Happy Tuesday!

I Need Your Vote!

Over the weekend, in the midst of wedding madness, I took a few engagement pictures for a friend. The location that I wanted to use was the Indianapolis Museum of Art Gardens, but unfortunately that was a bit too far away from the wedding.

But fortunately for all of us, we had to drop a few girls off downtown and therefore drove right past the Museum.

Now, I would like to qualify these photos with the fact that I am not a professional photographer. My friends knew this, and wanted me to take the photos anyway.

Photo #1

Photo #2

Photo #3

Photo #4

Photo #5

Photo #6

Photo #7

I think they are only using the photos for an engagement announcement or a Save-the-Date card.

So do me a favor and vote for your favorite... right there in the upper right side of this page.

You can pick more than one favorite if you have one.

Happy Wednesday!!

I Kept the Secret! / They're Engaged

Well, I did it. I actually kept my mouth shut.

Alice had NO clue what was going on leading up to her engagement. I activated my texting-tree of contacts and spread the word around campus like wildfire. We all arrived way early and the surprise went off without a hitch.

Both Alice and Jack cried - I was so happy for them!!

The ring is beautiful - perfect, flawless. It is actually Jack's grandmothers, which I didn't know until this morning.

I love the fact that Alice sprinted to the engagement from a chemistry lab - her professor had told her there was an emergency with one of her friends and she needed to come right away. I love that she was wearing her dorky watch and completely unprepared for any sort of romance. I am so lucky I got to be a part of the surprise of her engagement. I feel like I was let onto a most beautiful secret.

Alice and I share the same birthday (and we look a lot alike, and we have a lot of similar family stuff... it's actually kinda freaky), so I can't help but feel like I'm the washed-up old maid twin who's never going to get engaged. I asked C last night if we were any closer to being engaged, and he pretty much broke my heart.

We have been thisclose to getting engaged for at least a year or more now. And it hit me last night: he's just not ready - and I don't know if he'll ever be. We have shared so much and gone through so much, but I just don't think he thinks I'm the girl for him - end of story. As of now, we're still together - but I'm starting to lose hope that this will actually ever go anywhere.

Well, this was supposed to be a post about how excited I am for Alice - and I am, I'm thrilled! I guess times like these just bring out the bittersweet...

Happy Friday!

love,

Internet, I am Spewing a BIG Secret To YOU / Shh! Don't Tell

Yesterday afternoon, I was calmly checking my e-mail when one of my good friend's boyfriend's name pops up in my e-mail. (He graduated last year and is working in Southern Indiana.)

Weird, I think.

I read the e-mail:
"Sarah,
I could really use your help with a surprise for Alice. Do you think you could give me a call sometime tonight? My number is xxx-xxxx. Thanks so much!
Jack"

Weird, I think. I wonder if he's going to propose. Nah, he wouldn't contact me if that were the case. Somebody else, someone better.

Then I realize I'm late for class and vow to call him as soon as it ends.

So I sit through class, counting the minutes until I can talk to him. Several times I want to start asking my friends what they think he wants. I seriously can't believe I kept my mouth shut for 2 hours with all these thoughts in my head. {Pats self on back.}

Well, am I ever glad that I did!!

I called him and we chit-chatted... the whole time I was thinking "JUST GET ON WITH IT!!" Finally, he says:

"Sarah, I'm going to propose to Alice tomorrow - and you are the ONLY person who knows."

My brain says: "Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit!!!"

He says: "Are you there?"

I say: "Mhmmph... uh uh just trying to catch my breath. Yes I heard you. CONGRATULATIONS!!"

So today at 1 pm, Alice will be heading to class. At this time, I am authorized to send out a mass text message alerting all of her closest friends of the situation. We are going to gather in a certain location for a party before he pops the question... and then he will pop it, she'll say yes, and they will arrive at the surprise party.

HOLY CRAP, right? The weight of it all is crushing my small lungs, I tell you. So, yeah. I guess I'm skipping some class today - all in the name of love, I say.

It is going to be such a good Thursday - I can just tell!!

love,