We're Engaged!

Big news!  Howie and I got engaged on Friday night!  We are so unbelievably excited and have had a blast telling our closest family and friends/celebrating with these family and friends allll weekend long.  I think I've had more champagne in 2 days than I have in my entire life put together!

I knew that the proposal would be happening sometime soon because, despite Howie's best efforts, I've been catching on to his (lack of) stealth-ness by his many trips to "Whole Foods in Rocky River."  Howie hates vegetables and anything organic/relatively healthy, so I knew something fishy was going on. Howie: you probably should've said Rocky River Brewing Co. and I would've thought nothing of it!

I was expecting a low-key Friday night and was suggesting to Howie that we go to dinner and a movie because I've been wanting to see the new Hunger Games.  When I got home from work, saw all the blinds closed and Christmas decorations on, but knocked on the front door with no answer, I thought hmmm and went to the back entrance.  As I was walking, I started smelling candles - lots of candles - and Howie never lights candles.  My heart skipped a beat!  When I opened the door, I saw flowers, candles and photos of us everywhere!  Howie was dressed up and waiting in the dining room with a dozen long-stemmed red roses and a pretty little jewelry box.  I dropped everything on the floor at once, including my laptop (which is still working thank goodness!) and Howie asked me to marry him and I said yes!

We had a long night of celebrating ahead of us, starting with a champagne toast with our families.  My parents and brother came over and Howie's parents skyped in from Buffalo.  After laughing, toasting and taking about 200 photos, we said goodbye and Howie and I continued our night alone with a fancy dinner at Spice in Gordon Square.  Side note: go there as soon as possible and order the Polenta Chickpea Sticks appetizer.  Ahhhh-mazing!  Howie agrees.  We went to Sweet Moses afterwards for a mug of the best hot cocoa we've ever had, complete with homemade marshmallows!  After dinner and dessert, the night got a little fancier - Howie booked us a suite in the Ritz Carlton overlooking Terminal Tower and Key Tower complete with a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.  It was a fairy tale to say the least!

We're beyond excited to have a life filled with love, happiness, and tasty recipes (of course!) and to keep celebrating with all of our family and friends over the holidays!