WE'RE ENGAGED!

For anyone who hasn't heard the news, Franchesco and I are engaged! After spending Christmas at home in Pennsylvania, I traveled to Brazil (for the 2nd time since Franchesco left Minnesota) to visit him. I flew into Sao Paulo, and the very next day on New Year's Eve we flew together to Rio de Janeiro. We spent New Year's with some of Franchesco's friends at Copacabana beach, and then spent the rest of the week lounging by the ocean and taking in the sights of the city :)

Now to the good part! On Thursday 01.06.11 Franchesco took me to see the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) statue high up in the mountains overlooking the city and beaches. It was a beautiful, sunny day and it will always be remembered as the day Franchesco asked me to "marry with him" :) That same day we visited the Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf) where we saw even more amazing views of the city, and we even saw a rainbow. I like to think of it as a token of good luck! We finished off the day with a romantic sunset walk on Ipanema beach.

We are both very excited to be able to spend the rest of our lives together and to have a "no-distance relationship" again! If you know me at all, you would know that I'm also excited about our engagement because that means for a whole year (or more!) I get to plan our wedding! Not an imaginary wedding made up of magazine clippings and photos saved in folders on my computer, but a real-life wedding! I decided to start this blog so that I could share my ideas with anyone who is interested and also so I can think "out loud" as I go through the planning process. One day, I can look back at all these memories and laugh at myself for being stressed over stupid details (it's bound to happen), but most importantly to remember all the events that occured during this once-in-a-lifetime chapter of my life. I hope you'll enjoy this last single-girl year along with me!