I have been back home from vacation for a while now ☺️ it was lovely and so much needed! Although I miss the sandy beaches of Maui and my family and friends, getting back into the swing of things has been great. 

It’s been very mild and (dare I say it?!) sunny for late Feb/early March in the beautiful PNW. I’m not complaining, it’s been so nice to go on walks everyday without having to completely bathe my blondie. 

Speaking of, she’s doing well ☺️ loved staying with her auntie and grandparents while we were gone. Right now we’re all snuggling in my bed (Bella too!) and loving life. Happy Monday morning to us! 

Lots of things on the agenda for this week, then back to work for a stretch. Then wedding dress shopping with my momma! ❤️



Beautiful North Lake Tahoe



A beautiful sandy, lava rock beach on Maui



What better way to celebrate February than going to Maui with my fiancé?  And then to Tahoe for one of my best gal’s wedding!?

And I’m on vacation, which I’m very excited about.  Maybe a little too giddy that I don’t have to take my engagement ring off for 12+ hrs at a time 🙂

Off to packing – who else is a procrastinator packer?  Totally raising my little hand!  I hate hate hate packing and I always do it last minute 😦 this should be interesting, since we have to pack summer and winter clothes!  Girls worst nightmare!  Hehe being a little dramatic ……. XOXO

In a few days it will be my late Gram’s birthday.  She has been on my mind and in my heart with a strong presence the last several weeks.

She had a joke that each year on her birthday she would be twenty-six years old.  When I was younger I laughed and laughed with her about her new age.  How could she be the same age as the year before?  When I was a little older I played along, asking her if she would, again, turn twenty-six that year.  Sometimes, catching me quite off guard, she would say she was turning thirty-five or twenty-seven.  Now, as January 23rd approaches, I miss that silly, sweet conversation that happened this time of year.

I still feel as if I can pick up the phone and we can have our hours long conversations.  I miss the stories she would share with me – about her travels, her trips to the grocery store, what she was cooking for dinner.

I miss her smile and her laugh.  I miss the sweet smell of her perfume and her hugs.

My heart hurts that she won’t be there in person to see me get married.  She won’t be able to be with us as I find the perfect dress.  I won’t be able to look across the room during the reception, seeing her floating on a cloud, pure joy dancing in her eyes, champagne glass in hand, heart bursting with happiness and pride.  I won’t be able to admire her effortless class and beauty.  She loved a party.  She loved the company, the glam and glitz, the food and drink.  It would have been absolutely lovely to have our first dance to her singing.

Before she died it was all she could ever talk about.  “Alix”, she sighed, “you need to start dating.  I just don’t understand why someone as beautiful as you doesn’t have anyone!  Get on it, you better have something good to report before we speak next time.  I’m a little disappointed.”  She made me laugh.

We will all remember her on my wedding day.  We will all miss her.  I can only close my eyes, see us holding hands together.  Hers lifting mine to admire my wedding gown, making her princess twirl for her.  Happy tears and joyful smiles on our faces.  Her green eyes absolutely sparkling.

Gram, I hope you have a beautiful twenty-six birthday.  You look damn good.  And I will surely be seeing you on my special day.  You will be there, in spirit and in my heart.  I love and miss you.

You know how you think you know your life and what to expect?

Yeah, I thought I did too.  (YEAH RIGHT)

Yes, we had talked about getting married.  Yes, we talked a little about engagement rings.  No, I didn’t set foot in the jewelers with him and pick it out (eek – scary!).  Yes, his marriage proposal surprised me.

Coming home from Disneyland sporting my favorite yoga pants and SeaHawks shirt (because what else would you wear on your sad, sad, sad flight home from the happiest place on earth amongst screaming children and smelly adults?) I never thought that night would end as it did.  I was tired, hot, and my now fiancé said I smelled of airplane.  So romantic, I know.

After I saw that he decorated my living room with rose petals, tea light candles, hershey kisses and had music playing in the background, I knew something was up.  Something big.

Since then I’ve been floating.  Engaged bliss?  Yes.

I’m excited for this new chapter in my life, in our life, and I am so thankful for everyone’s support and love.  These next several months will be something to be forever remembered, enjoyed, and will also mark our new beginning!

XOXO

XOXO

Disneyland ie the happiest place on earth 🙂

I knew we would have so much fun together, I was so looking forward to the trip! Once my family found me… I knew with strong certainty we would make special memories together on this vacation and adore each moment together!

Highlights of the trip:
•being together; putting my mother, my twin brother and younger sister together always ensures free entertainment due to our sense of humor, sarcasm, and our love to laugh and live
•recalling all of our disney memories from actual visits to the park from when we were little to watching and remembering disney movies
•walking fast; I have a naturally fast walk and it was so splendid not having to mentally slow myself down – our first whole day in Disney we got shit done! Pretty sure we walked over 3 miles all around both parks, and sped walked it through strollers, confused guests, lost guests, guests making poor life choices 😉
•yummy foods; we had some ridiculously expensive food (like stupid expensive but what do you expect for a theme park)
•world of color; SO MUCH MAGIC
•Christmas decorations and magic all over Disney!!
•loving on each other 🙂
•pink Minnie ears …. A MUST!

And now I’m waiting to fly back to the PNW… Sad to leave my mouseketeers but happy to go home to my furbabies and love.

Thank you cute family, I love you so so much and with all my heart. Merry Christmas, thank you for all the love and fun! You are everything!