Joe the Bear

I debated for awhile if I wanted to put this past weekend in writing or not. The chicken story is funny, but our engagement itself was more along the lines of precious and intimate and has nothing to really do with health or fitness. 

So if engagements bore you or you're bitter that your own man won't pull a ring out of his butt or whatever the case may be, stop reading, I won't be offended, I promise. I'll be back to babbling about almond butter and burpees come next week. 

I think it's fair to start with the fact that Andrew and I met when we were 18; first day of freshman year actually. The following (almost) 8 years since then (we didn't date that whole time) has been a beautiful crazy journey that I wouldn't trade for the world. From Illinois to Colorado to now Maryland, it has been mind blowing to see how we've changed and grown as both individuals and as a couple. He is my partner in crime, adventure buddy, best friend. Everything I could ask when looking for a husband, and I'm so pumped to marry him. 

Anyways, enough of the mushy stuff. 

It was supposed to be a camping trip. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit suspicious - but I was more suspicious of THIS upcoming weekend (we are leaving for Puerto Rico today). We left to camp straight from work on Thursday. It was pouring rain. 

It was a trip I had given him full reign to plan; something type A Kait doesn't do too often. So as we continued to get deeper and deeper into Virginia, and the clouds continued to pour buckets onto his car, I was getting increasingly nervous. 

"Andrew I really don't think we are prepared to pitch a tent in pouring rain. Do we even have a tarp?"

"Andrew if I'm wet and cold all night I'm gonna be so miserable. Do we even have like a flashlight for the tent?!"

The enraging part was, he found my anxiety funny. Told me not to worry, we would be fine, he "had an extra sweatshirt I could use."

...

About an hour away from our destination, I went into full fledged pout mode, slouched down into my seat and went silent. 

"Hey reach behind the seat and pull out that envelope back there, I've been meaning to ask you to fill out that form."

What I actually pulled out was this:

It was an absolutely adorable weekend. From the Iris Inn where our  cottage was located (if you are ever in the Shenandoah Valley, stay here, it's perfect) to a misty proposition to be his wife down by a waterfall at the end of a hike, it was all picturesque. And just so us. 

the bed

the breakfast

the waterfall where IT happened

I believe Andrew would be upset if I failed to mention the friend we made on the hike down to the waterfall...  

We decided his name was Joe. We actually ran back into Joe on the hike back up as well. He was less friendly the second time around, and I really wasn't looking for a 30 minute long engagement, so we ditched the trail and hiked the rest of the way back on the road. 

Dinner on Saturday night was in Charlottesville, which has now officially made the list our favorite cities. In the midst of my post-engagement butterflies plus some champagne, I erratically ordered catfish as my first meal as a fiancé. 

the catfish

Andrew will never let me live that down. Regardless it was delicious. 

Saturday was some more hiking, followed by a Dierks Bentley concert to cap off a weekend chalked full of my favorite things. He was awesome live, and even spun off into some Avicci and One Republic songs.

That's it guys. I'm engaged! We haven't done much as far as planning goes. I'm sure I'll give y'all the occasional updates on here, but I can promise you this won't turn into a wedding planning blog. Like fashion, I'm just not too trendy, and casual will be the name of the game for our happily ever after day. 

I'm off to San Juan to lay on a beach. This beach to be exact. 

Cheers to sparkly rings and sparkly oceans -

Kait

My Lion King Pal

Today began with a fantastic breakfast of cranberry walnut pancakes, with one of my best friends in the entire world. Who, as of a week ago, is ENGAGED!

Danielle and I met the summer before we went into kindergarten, and instantly became the best of pals.

From soccer and softball teams, to catching lady bugs wearing out matching Lion King overalls, we were one of the strangest pairs around. Still are, as a matter of fact. All throughout elementary school teachers would get the two of us confused, and I believe it was up until 7th grade that we played out elaborate soap operas with our barbies. Is 7th grade too old? Hold your judgement.

We had our ups and downs in our friendship, as anyone does, yet we've always managed to stay close and updated on each others lives. And now, nearly 20 years later, I get to stand in her wedding this summer! I couldn't be more pumped! Congrats again Danielle and Jeff!

Breakfast was supposed to be followed by a 7 mile run at race pace. Unfortunately, when the afternoon rolled around and wind chills were still below zero, I just couldn't get myself to do it. I wouldn't say that I hate running in cold, but it's the wind that gets me.  So, defeated, I headed down into my basement to do intervals on the dreaded treadmill for an hour, while watching The Biggest Loser and listening to the new Dierks Bentley album. Ya win some ya lose some.

In other news, they're forecasting some 50 degree days in Columbia next week, and I couldn't be more pumped about it. Here we go.