The Boy

Since I first started seeing Eric, he had many piercings - the industrial, gauges, lip ring... I had always been a fan, and he would comment that he likes mine too (nose, and a couple ear piercings). On the day that he proposed, I noticed they were all gone. Apparently, he decided that he was sick of them, and took them all out... at the gas station! Just like that, his face is metal-free.

And I'm ok with it. Really. It took some getting used to, but it's not like I miss them or anything. The reason I'm writing about it is maybe to give you a little glimpse into my life with the boy. He's spontaneous and stubborn at the same time. He makes decisions in a few seconds that change his life forever - the prime example being our engagement - and he doesn't look back. It's impressive, admirable, and frustrating to me all at once.

And I love him.

Easter

Some of my favorite parts of today...

Finally getting a pic of this group of friends - and dressed up at that!

Finding out Eric is a pretty good doodler... especially on eggs.

Feelin for my little nephew-man and his complete exhaustion...

This rare, beautiful moment.

Catching a glimpse of the friendship between these brothers.

Seeing and appreciating my family and truly feeling thankful
for all the creative, loving, patient, kind, and zany personalities of us Holts.

Taking Back Toledo... kinda

The boy and I went downtown tonight to check out a new pizza place next to the Mudhens Stadium with our friends Liz and Marc. Afterwards, we crossed the bridge to International Park to walk along the river and see the sun setting over the skyline.

No matter how much I want to live in a bustling, thriving (warmer!) city, I will always want Toledo to succeed. No matter how much I complain about this city, I still find myself strangely proud of Toledo. Sure, we are struggling just as much, if not more, as other similar sized cities - but it seems like there is hope. This fall, we will see the new hockey arena open with another wave of new businesses opening around it. It will be interesting to see downtown Toledo continue to grow and become an exciting place to be.

Notice:

I hate to say it, but I'm kinda blogged-out. I hate that my blog posts are becoming sub-par and I'd rather announce a break to get re-energized and re-creative-ized than scramble at the end of the day to take a picture of something in my room or around the house and think of something to say. So, here's my official notice of a blog break. I'm unsure how long - I'm thinking just a couple of days. Maybe inspiration will strike today and I'll be back tonight. Who knows?

I apologize for my silence until then. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Spring Cleaning

I'm getting rid of stuff. All sorts of stuff. Tonight a huge bin of CDs went from this:

To this:

Many thanks to the boy for doing most (ahem, nearly all) of the grunt work. Love him!!! I'm super exhausted and tomorrow is a long day so I'm off to bed. When will you tackle your spring cleaning??

The gym

I've been working out a lot in the past couple months. A couple weeks ago I got these new kicks. It's been interesting seeing my energy, body, and outlook change as exercise has been re-introduced into my daily routine. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I still really just want to come straight home after work and lay on the couch with the boy and CHILL - but most of the time I stick to it. It's really starting to pay off too...

So, I have 10 weeks until the fam trip to the beach.

And a year and 2-ish months until I get MARRIED!

If that's not incentive, I don't know what is...

A Bad Mommy

Whenever I spend the night somewhere other than home, I know I have someone who will be very unhappy when I get back. This morning, I returned from BG and right at the top of the stairs sat my very unhappy cat. I swear he will give me this look all morning until I've overfed him, let him sit on my lap petting him while he still pretends to be mad, and cleaned up whatever messes he's left me. I think I'm still in the 'doghouse' so to speak. Better get going!!

Network!

My sweet new business cards came in the mail today from moo.com!! Now I can really network - like a real professional! How exciting!

Spring!! Like Tigger!

Optical Illusion? Is it really a rectangle?

So today was a very beautiful, slightly warm, extremely sunny day. And I had to work through almost the whole thing! Towards the end of the day, Lauren and I opened up a window in the office. These lady bugs are everywhere!

I so wish the screen hadn't been there, but I couldn't resist posting this photo. I think I have a thing for shadows!

Springtime just makes me so happy to be alive! Logically, we all know that spring will come eventually but I think our emotional side still gets a slight shock when we start to see blooms, the sun coming back and the clouds scarce - when the weather isn't like taking a punch to the gut every time you step out the door. What is it about spring that eternally surprises us?

I love the contrast between winter and spring. Sure the big contrast is winter and summer - but spring is the interesting one to me. It's all about life coming from seemingly dead-ness (word?). I think I wouldn't trade those little moments where nature catches us off our balance for anything. Isn't it so awesome that it doesn't become inane?

Sit back, enjoy the slow growth and bloom of all that is around us. Start smiling as you walk into work, because we all know this is the time where people start looking up from the stare-at-the-ground-as-we-walk shield from the cold. And find something in yourself that could use some new life and cultivate it!

Still in a state of shock...

So I'm definitely still shocked. Totally unsure if it has completely soaked in yet. And completely surprised that the stress levels would immediately rise rather than lie dormant for a few more months before rearing its ugly head. I'm completely overwhelmed by the number of people who have congratulated me and been over the top excited. What a crazy week for me! My facebook has been blowing up - first with my birthday, and now with this million-times more exciting "relationship status change."

I took the obligatory "hand with ring" photo today but I don't have the brain power to load it and post it. I apologize - I'll put it up soon, I think. Still not a big fan of my hands - ha.

Here's what I hope-

That I don't become a "bride-zilla"
That I don't stress myself and others out over nothing (def. bridezilla)
That Eric loves me more in a year than he does right now.
That I can make my family proud.
That I can prove myself at work and save like a penny pincher!

The list could seriously go on and on. I'm totally psyched. Totally nervous. And yea, probably totally still numb. Tomorrow I approach the last of my potential girl-side wedding party peeps and I really hope she agrees to be such a huge part in this day.

Oh, and I hope this blog doesn't become the "wedding-planning-stressed-out-in-love- ALL WEDDING" blog.

It won't. I promise.