It was bound to happen sometime.

Well, tonight I started packing. 

It was weird, but oddly, it wasn't too sad. 

Last night I finally had the "oh my goodness I am moving and leaving behind everything that is familiar and normal to me" moment

Last night I was sad. 

I had a cry on the phone with Brian, and then I moved on. 

Tonight I packed.  Tonight I was not sad.

Truth be told, I was wondering when it would really hit me that I was moving.  I wondered if it would be when I packed the last thing from my room into my car, or when I finally settled into the new place.  I knew it had to hit me at one point, and this time it happened on the way home from dinner with an old friend.  It hit me like a ton of bricks. 

My job was posted internally yesterday after turning in my month notice a week ago.  I think that is when it really became real. 

I was quitting my job, and I was moving. 

My whole identity as Educational Outreach Manager at Girl Scouts of Western Ohio from Newport, KY was being taken away with one letter. 

For the first time ever, I am venturing out on my own (well, with Brian) without a real plan.  While this freaks me out to my very core, I am also looking forward to not having a real plan and seeing where life takes me.  I was given the option of staying up here and stretching things out a little longer with work and everyday life.  As appealing as this sounded to me since it was devastating to turn in my notice, I know that I need to move on.  I feel so unsettled right now going back and forth all the time. 

As sad as I might feel about moving and as stressed as this all makes me, I know that what is to come will make up for all of this.  The sadness and stress are only going to be around for a little while, but will lead to excitement and a lifetime of happiness (or so they say).  I've got a great support system from my family, friends, current co-workers, and new friends.  I feel very lucky to have all of them on board as I handle all of these life changes.

As sad as I am to leave my job, I was reminded today (by my GS BFF) that I have made a difference in the time I was in my position.  Not just on the girls, but on the organization itself.  I was able to do things that others couldn't before, as well as try new things to ensure that relationships were built and goals were met.  She told me that I should feel proud of all the things I had accomplished and understand that I made a difference.  I needed to hear that and realize that I was leaving in a good place.  I am leaving my job while still loving it, and for that I feel very fortunate.

Until next time.

It's in my blood.

So today I realized that I have been engaged for 22 days. 
Now, while this might not sound like a milestone, I will give you some information to consider.
In 22 days, I (with help from my mom) have accomplished the following:
Date
Venue
Dress
Flowers
Caterer
Photographer
Invitations
Band
Date reserved for cake (tasting in two weeks)
Date for bridesmaid dress shopping (in three weeks)

Hairpieces


I mean, we still have things to do like pick suits, save the dates, engagement pictures, etc., but the main things are finished.
It's crazy.

My parents and I visited the venue again tonight and met the band.
Scott was so nice and easy to work with and I am so excited to have a live band rather than a DJ.
Everything seems to be coming together pretty nicely! 

"I didn't know there were 8,000 different kinds of flowers..."

Yesterday I picked flowers.  The flowers above to be exact. 

 It was difficult given that I don't know anything about flowers.  It was also difficult because half of the flowers I thought I wanted aren't actually in season in November- go figure. 

But, I am so excited to have this bouquet!  My bridesmaids will have the white flowers with the green "berries".  My junior bridesmaids will have wrist corsages. 

Just another thing checked off the list.

The Emily Dress

Today I woke up like a kid on Christmas morning.  I woke up on my own at 8:00 (this doesn't even happen on a work day) and couldn't go back to sleep knowing that later that morning I would be trying on loads of dresses to find "the one".  I made appointments at two different stores.  While I had heard bad things about one of them, and was unsure myself about going there, I managed to find an amazing dress at this store with the help of my consultant, Angie.  With the support of my mom, sisters, soon to be mother-in-law, maid of honor, and roommate, I found the dress of my dreams.

The first dress I tried on was the one I was looking so forward to wearing.  I loved it because it had an empire waist- and it had pockets- but the general reaction was "eh".  I was bummed but pressed forward.  The second dress, while different and very fun, was just not doing it for me.  Then, the third dress came.  It was unfortunate that I didn't have a mirror in the room I was getting dressed in.  I had to rely on seeing my mom's reaction to the dress before I could even have a reaction for myself.  I came out in the dress and turned to look at myself (not as conceited as it sounds).  Once I finished fiddling with it and "floofing" it, I took a minute to really look at myself in this dress and let it sink in. Within about 2.5 seconds I did what I had sworn up and down I wouldn't do.  The waterworks began.  This caused a chain reaction to everyone in my entourage.  I knew in my heart that this dress was meant to be mine.  But in my head, in true "Say Yes to the Dress" fashion, I knew that I should still try on a few more before really making such a huge decision.

After some more hits and misses, and one potential front runner over dress #3, I went back to that dress.  I decided to add some personal touches to it and see what it would look like with a hair piece.  Well, once the accessories were in place and the dress was clipped to fit, I stood up on the circle pedestal and looked at myself (again). In that moment I knew that without a doubt this had to be my dress.  It was made for me- I just know it.

After lots of tears, figuring out that I could still bust a move in the dress, and $200 off, I made the best decision ever (besides deciding to marry Brian, of course) and purchased the dress.  Once I got home I looked up the dress online.  Looking at it online does NOT do it justice. I had looked at all the dresses on the site multiple times and had overlooked it every time.  It looks nothing like the real thing and I am so glad that Angie brought it to me to try on.

Besides the excitement of sharing this once in a lifetime moment with such amazing people in my life, the other best part of my day was a text I received from Brian.  In the midst of the stress and craziness of finding a dress, I managed to find a second to check my phone.  I had a text message waiting from Brian that said, "Remember to have fun.  Don't stress.  I love you.".  Between that text and the idea of marrying Brian in that phenomenal dress, and having my friends and family there with me to share in this time, I knew that I was the luckiest girl in the world.

Tomorrow we are picking flowers.  Part of me suspects that this could prove to be more stressful than dress shopping ;)

Oh yeah, here is the fiance I speak of... we're cute.

Let's give this a whirl.

Today I am in Cincinnati.  Well, Newport; but it's close enough.  As I look out my bedroom window to the hustle and bustle of good old 471, I think of how familiar everything here is.  The noise, while making it difficult to hear my roommate in the not so far off kitchen, is something that has become soothing to me as I fall asleep at night.  Every once in awhile I'll hear a semi go by in the middle of the night.  Even though it wakes me it never startles me, but rather just reminds me that life is still going on outside while I am sleeping.  It's easy to say that I will miss my friends and family when I move to the "ville", but I will also miss the familiarity of the everyday-including the noises and nuances that come with daily life here.

But let me back up.  I'm engaged!  Yay!  After a pretty cute proposal during a wine tour in Epcot, I will soon become a bride to the most amazing guy.  I don't plan on getting too "gushy" because it's not my style, but he truly is wonderful.  You will most likely never hear me use the word "wife" either.  It makes me feel old and I don't like the way it sounds.  So, until I can come up with something else I will be a fiance, bride, etc. 

So back to the proposal.  Everyone asks so I figure I will explain it all here in one place so that everyone knows the story....

My parents are snowbirds and head to Florida in early January.  They were going to Panama for two months before heading to Orlando for a two week trip on the way back home.  My mom and dad opened up their condo to me and my sisters if we wanted to come down for a vacation to visit Disney World.  After talking to Brian we decided "why the heck not?!" and made plans to go down there and visit.  The time finally came for the trip.  The first day we arrived we went to Downtown Disney and did the "pool thing" to rest up for our two day park hopper craziness.  On that Sunday Brian and I ventured to Hollywood Studios in the morning to start our day!  After we had finished our trip there, we decided that we had enough time to go to Animal Kingdom before heading to my favorite Disney park- Epcot. 

By the time we got to Epcot, we had had enough of crying kids and strollers and decided to take a more adult approach to the Disney experience by partaking in a world drinking tour in the World Showcase area.  It all started with margaritas in Mexico, followed by beer in Germany, and Bellinis in Italy.  While in Italy, we found this nice area that overlooked the lake and was actually a quiet spot.  A quiet spot in Disney!? It's true.  We found a nice spot near a fountain and decided to sit and enjoy our drinks. Apparently, it crossed Brian's mind that he wanted this spot to be where he proposed.  But, with my impatience and wanting to move on to the next country, combined with him knowing of my dream to go to Paris, he thought he would give France a chance to be "the spot". 

So, we made it to France.  At this point I was still clueless as to what was going on in his head.  I did, however, find it odd that he kept asking me if I liked the overlook in France better, or the one in Italy.  I was getting somewhat annoyed that he kept asking me and kept replying saying, "I mean, both are pretty nice- it's just really nice out."  I assume I wasn't helping.  We went into France to get some wine and low and behold they had an Epcot wine tour.  Brian insisted we partake in it even though I kept saying, "You don't even like wine?!".  He bought our ticket and we got our wine in France.  Sidenote, Brian had insisted we get the tour because it took us back to yup- you guessed it- Italy.

We got back to Italy, got our wine and decided it was obviously delicious.  We went back to where we had been sitting before.  He turned me around and pulled on both my hands and I kind of just knew what was going to happen.  He said all kinds of nice things and then asked me to marry him (while down on one knee).  I responded by saying "obviously" rather than "yes", but made sure to add a "yes" in later.  I finally told him that hugging him while he was on one knee was awkward and insisted he stand up.  While he was in the middle of rising I exclaimed, "Well, I want to wear the RING!!!" and had him put it on.  We then made the phone calls to family and friends, went and bought a bottle of the wine we were drinking when he asked me, and walked around until our shuttle came to get us.

A lady at the park found us and gave us "Just Engaged" buttons to wear throughout the park.  We wore them proudly that night and the entire next day at the Magic Kingdom.  It was overwhelming to hear all the "congratulations" from the workers, other Disney guests and the characters.  It was pretty magical.  I'd like to think our future kids will think it is pretty awesome that mom and dad got engaged at Disney World :).

So, in staying true to fashion, my mom and I pretty much had everything planned in our heads by the morning after our engagement.  Within a week of being back from vacation I had a date, venue, photographer and a dress appointment.  My mom has taken care of practically everything else which has been super helpful since I have been busy trying to figure out the when and how of moving to Louisville.  While it will be hard to leave Cincinnati- especially with the new Moerlein Lager House that was built- I am excited to embark on a new adventure.  I really do love Louisville and all the fun and "newness" that it has to offer.  The atmosphere there fits me very well and I am excited to create a homebase there while never forgetting that my friends and family- my home- is but a mere 90 miles north.

If this post kept your interest, stay tuned for all of the fun that is to come as I transition from a single gal, to an old married lady ;)