One Saturday morning

I still can not believe it. It's Tuesday morning and I am still grinning from ear to ear. On Saturday morning Brian knelt down on one knee and asked me to marry him. At least, that's what I think happened. It's difficult to recall what it all looked like through my tear filled eyes. I have no words to express the happiness I feel. I have been blessed with a man who has made loving him the easiest thing I have ever done. 

Here's how it all happened. It began with a note on my nightstand that led to a scavenger hunt as soon as I crawled out of bed at 7:30am, an unusually early wake-up call for me. I thought it was an early Easter game, but I was wrong! Here's the clues and where I found them.

Hey Friend!!

Here on your nightstand, you will find a clue. This clue has been designed to lead you to another clue, which will guide you to yet another. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to collect every single clue. An age-old rumor suggests there is a treasure awaiting the person who successfully completes this operation. I suppose there’s only one way to find out. You’re up, kid…

We met. We kissed. We fell in love. We cherish this place. (Collage of all important places to us at Rowan University given to me as a present from Brian the first Christmas after graduating)

Sometimes, I like to think I’m craftier than I actually am. The product may not be what I had once envisioned but the words ring oh so true. (A vase Brian designed, he does like to think he is crafty but his gifts are always heartfelt!)

Look behind you and down… this is where you leave your socks. (I go to bed with socks every night then throw them on the floor, it's a bad habit.)

What is your love language? As perfect as I think our relationship is, I never want to stop trying to make us better! (A book by Dr. Gary Chapman recommended by my dear friend Adriene.)

Often, when you wake up on a weekend you bypass me on the couch and head straight for these! (Cookies, I need something sweet in the morning.)

Everything you make here is so amazing. I’m so lucky. (The counter, I love cooking and made a resolution two years ago to become a great cook!)

Thanks for letting me hang this here. (Veterans Stadium St. sign. He gets Phillies in the house if I get Yankees.)

You’re so talented in so many ways – one of them being musically. Maybe you could play this more?? (The piano my sister and her husband bought me for Christmas. I have got to do a better job of practicing!)

We once sat here in camping chairs. Now we sit on this, the most comfortable of its kind! (Our couch, which took a million years to come but was so worth it.)

We met at a radio station that played all of these artists. (Our record wall! This took me forever to find.)

“I love you more today than yesterday…”

“How sweet it is to be loved by you…”

“I just called to say I love you…”

“I got you to kiss goodnight, I got you to hold me tight…”

“Baby I’m amazed at the way you love me all the time…”

These great love songs defined relationships and transcended generations. But you won’t hear them on the radio without a few commercials. Head over to the place we like to play all of our music and press play.

The Proposal!!

An Easter staple

For several years I agonized over the fact that I would never find the family recipe for the cookies that have been missing from our Easter table. Knot cookies are something that I can remember being a part of holidays from when I was very little. Several Thanksgiving's ago my Aunt mentioned that she actually had the recipe shared with her and I was psyched to know the cookies would again make an appearance!

I was anxious to try out the recipe last Easter but was sadly disappointed by the result. The cookies had way too much anise oil in them and would put hair on your chest. I've tried again this year in hopes that I can get it just right and start up the tradition again. After the smoke cleared in the kitchen, I can already tell they're going to be more delicious than last year. Here's a look at the finished product...

Quarter Life

This past Friday, I was lucky enough to celebrate my 25th birthday, or as I like to call it, my quarter life. It was a wonderful weekend filled with the people I love who made every effort to make this year a special one. Looking back, the first 25 years were pretty wonderful, and all the times that challenged me helped to mold me. The past 25 years are composed of my childhood on Pine Needle St.,  my adolescents when I spent most of my time crying over people and things that didn't matter, and young adulthood where I have tried so hard to figure out what being an adult even means. That time and those experiences, good and bad, have shaped me into the person I am today. 

The next 25 years or so give me what we Italians call "agida." Of course I wouldn't be me if I wasn't stressed about something. Do I continue my education? How is it that a school that gave me my bachelor's doesn't believe it's a good enough education to hire me? What is the next career move and when do I make it? Where do Brian and I settle down and when? And then, there's kids whom I want desperately but can't imagine having for about another million years because I still feel 16. 

I guess, I'll have to take it slow and remember that what's meant to be, will always find a way. To the next 25 years being as blessed as the last!

Sold

It's unreal how quickly life passes when you think about it. It feels like just yesterday Michelle and I were playing in the toy house by the swing-set in our backyard and now, this weekend, Brian and I were helping to move her and her husband into their new home.


While right now every muscle in my body hurts, I enjoyed every second of being a part of one more big milestone in my big sister's life. As usual, I was overjoyed to see all the beautiful things life has in store for her and for Justin. And of course, I was happy to see that no matter how old we get, or how our lives change, we still can revert back to those little girls in an instant, giggling over things that no one else understands.


Congratulations sis, on your beautiful new home, you deserve it <3