Engagement Bliss

I had no idea what I was in for, the past week as been totes amaze! I have been the center of attention everywhere I go and that's not something I am used to.

After spending Saturday evening at my parents' house, I practically had to carry Jake to the car with his back still acting up.  On the way home, he played songs from his phone in the car - songs he thought would be perfect for our first dance. He's not usually super sentimental but he squeezes it in at all the right moments.

The next morning we took a long walk to The Bagel Factory in Squirrel Hill for breakfast. On the way home I wanted to get my nails done at D&M nails (best place ever) and Jake agreed (somewhat reluctantly) to get a pedi. Crazy, I know!

I doubt he will go back but I think he enjoyed it.

Things got real the second I walked into work on Monday morning. I was greeted with huge smiles, cheers, hugs, cookies, flowers, wine, cards, Amish wedding jelly, balloons, wedding magazines and overall craziness and excitement!

I spent the better half of my morning telling the engagement story details and smiling ear to ear. The Visual Team at AE consists of 4 guys and 30ish girls who are all around my age. As you can imagine the girls take engagements, weddings, babies, birthdays and even the olympics very seriously but I never expected they would make me feel so special.

As the week went on the well wishes and goodies did not slow down.

The Coopers (Jean, Frank, Katie, Mickey and Steve) sent flowers to my house, with a sweet sweet note. Steve called and left me a voicemail, and I just about cried. He welcomed me to the family, wished us luck planning, said the news was very exciting for all of them and was looking forward to Jake's birthday party in a few weeks. Jake's parents, 2 brothers and sister live in Connecticut, within 15 minutes of each other so we don't see them as much as we see my parents. They are wonderful people and I feel so lucky to be part of their family. 

With the Coopers (Frank's side) comes the Hessions (Jean's side), all 200 of them.  OK, not 200 but close. Jean is one of 10 and I have meet all of them plus their significant others, their kids and their kids significant others! Jake and I took our first big trip together to Texas for one of his cousin's (he has almost 25) weddings and it was overwhelming. Overwhelming in a "this is awesome, these people are all so great" kinda way. I felt like I was already part of the family within a few hours. Needless to say the word spread fast in the family and everyone has been texting, calling and facebooking like crazy.

A few weeks ago at a Hession wedding in Iowa Jake and I were told we had the #1 spot in the "next wedding pool."  I guess we won!

Just when I thought it could not get any better my parents and brother came over Thursday for dinner and brought me flowers. It was really special to have Adam on leave from the Navy to celebrate with us. 

To top off the night Jake had the newly published hardcover version of Suri's Burn Book shipped to my house. If you don't know what Suri's Burn Book is check it out immediately.  Allie Hagan (a bolgging genius) posts shots of celebs and their kids then comments on the pics as if she were Suri Cruise. This blog has single handedly brightened my day on numerous occasions. I may be exaggerating ... but seriously, check it out.

Saturday rounded out the first week of our engagement and what better way to spend it than in Ohio with two of my best girlfriends! It was great to be with them and talk about wedding planning. I also got a year subscription to Martha Stewart Weddings... so spoiled!

As far as the planning goes I figured I would hold off and start thinking about it in a few months.

Ha, no. Please, I live to plan and could never sit on something like this for more than a day.

We have the date picked, the venue booked, the photographer booked, colors / theme picked, the invitation suite underway, guest lists just about done, flower vendor picked and so so so many ideas to sift through.

I think for my sanity - or mostly Jake's sanity - there may have to be a few days a week designated as "no wedding plans day."  I'll get a spreadsheet and calendar started for that right now. 

Joke, kinda.

Where it All Began

It's time! I have been playing with the idea of writing a blog for a few years now, but I have never gotten around to it. I read tons of blogs about art, food, crafts, weddings, parties, gardens, friends lives, Suri Cruise, photography, and even yard sales.

I love to hear and see what others around Pittsburgh and the globe are doing. I may be very nosey, but I prefer to think of it as learning new things, following trends, and getting ideas for my house or a party. However, I love the real stories and honest emotions in blogs - the down and dirty truth!

If you've met me, you know I think fiction is for the birds ... with the exception of the 50 Shades and Hunger Games books (I'm a sucker for a trilogy).  Primarily, though, I'm a fan of non-ficition; I find comfort in real life situations and knowing that I am not alone when I feel a certain way.

My main motivation for blogging is to have record of everything Jake and I experience together. Life moves too fast, so I want our memories to be documented - to look back 30 years from now and reminisce.

If I can inspire or comfort someone by blogging about our life experiences then that is a bonus. Plus, we have so many friends and relatives across the country this will keep you all up to date.

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Let's get this thing started!



Jake and I are going to dual blog ... or at least try.  I cannot promise we will blog every week, but we are going to do our best to get some stories and shared experiences up on a regular basis.  First, here is a little bit about us ...

Jake: an oncologist / hematologist at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, loves movies more than anyone I know, loves Batman, wears bow ties, is originally from Connecticut, went to Notre Dame and University of Connecticut, is beyond smart, would do anything for anyone and does everything for me.

Erin: Manager of Visual Production at American Eagle Outfitters, loves the Amish more than anyone I know, loves to bake, wears jeans everyday, is originally from Pittsburgh, hates math, says what she thinks, can't wait to spend forever with Jake.

The Proposal:


As of August 18th 2012 we are officially spending the rest of our lives together! 

Jake and I had plans for dinner at Salt of the Earth on the 18th, he surprised me with the plans earlier in the week and I suspected nothing. He had been throwing me off for a few weeks, asking about my work schedule in September and how many personal days I had left in 2012. In my mind we were close but I never expected it this summer.

Jake got to my house just as I finished a run in Schenley Park, around 2. I was sitting on my front porch reading a magazine as he 'old man walked' up my stairs. He had pulled a muscle in his back two days earlier, I felt bad but was cracking up as he waddled over and kissed me. Just a typical afternoon up until this point. He went into the house and a few minutes later came out, walked right over to me, got down on one knee, grabbed something in his cargo shorts pocket and began talking to me. It gets a bit fuzzy here for both of us but we think he said 'You know how the other day we were talking about what a perfect match we are? Well, we really are, I love you, will you marry me?' He opened the box and I honestly have no recollection of what my ring looked like or what I said. I immediately began to cry with my face in my hands. I said yes, and cried some more. 


We spent about 10 minutes on the porch as a newly engaged couple. Then technology called and we began frantically calling, texting, tweeting and facebooking our news.

I called my parents first, they were in the parking lost of Cabellas and ecstatic. Jake and my dad had gone to the movies about a month ago and Jake asked me dad for permission... therefore my mom knew it was coming. He called his parents next, Jakes mom 'had a bottle of wine chilling for this day' so she was going to break that open after we got off the phone. We text my brother, his brothers and his sister. I called my grandparents and great aunt. I talked to two of my closest friends immediately, one of which was celebrating her 30th birthday that day and said 'this is an awesome birthday present!'.


We both sent mass texts to our closest friends and spent the remainder of the day and evening receiving responses and calls that made us laugh, cry and feel extremely blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family.

After the news hit the web we took off for dinner and then my parents house to celebrate. It was hands down the best day of my life, to date.

The Ring:

From Frost & Company, The Cark Building in downtown Pittsburgh, It's amazing, everything I have ever wanted and more! I'm dying right now because they had incorrectly sized it so I had to take it back. It will only be gone for 2 days and it's only a symbol of our engagement but you cannot give a diamond to a girl and take it back! We had thought that since I had just been on a jog that my finger was swollen from the heat. I tried to squeeze it on so many times Jake had to tell me to stop, I actually had been pulling skin off my finger. I jumped into customer service mode and told Jake it was unacceptable for a business to make such a mistake. As paying customers we deserved impeccable service and he should call to voice our disappointment. Had I just turned into a 65 year old woman on my engagement day?! Yes, I had.  I tend to get hyped up about... everything. Thank god Jake knows exactly what to do and say to me, he practically stopped me from picketing outside The Clark building and brought me back to earth. 

And with that we are off and running as the future Dr. and Mrs. James David Cooper - Kmick. Kidding, I will lose Kmick. As hard as it will be for all of my friends to not call me Kmick.

I have a lot to learn about blogging, being engaged and married so stay tuned for more posts as our lives turn from 'me' to 'we'.