Real Life Wednesday: Best Week Ever.
Oh my gosh. Um sooo. This past weekend was one of the hardest secrets I’ve ever had to keep!
If you follow me on instagram, you already know that my brother got engaged to one of my most favorite people in the universe. It was a mini fairytale and I’m going to tell you all about it… in a second.
First, I have to talk about food. Of course.
Since we were going to Cleveland for the proposal, I convinced everyone to stop at Jeni’s on our way there.
Ugh. This ice cream is such a dream. I adore it so much.
Also, can we talk about how cute the Jeni’s stores are? Adorable.
Anyhoo, I had to get the buttermint because it’s one of my favorites (I even made a version for the blog) and the marshmallow birch, which was sort of like root beer with marshmallows.
Eddie got the goat cheese that I just talked about two weeks ago and he and my dad actually got back in line for seconds before thinking twice. Jeni’s has nice little portions. Like you could probably eat five of them.
After our ice cream, we headed to the spot for the surprise engagement party. First, can I tell you how impossible it’s been for me to look Mary in the eye without bursting with excitement? She worked with me all day on this video back in early March and then a few weeks later we went to DC for the weekend.
I was so afraid I was accidentally going to say something and blow the surprise.
So the deets (and I hate that word): Andy had all of us (friends & fam) meet at a supper club for the surprise party. Mary’s sister, Caitlin, planned the whole thing and did these gorgeous flower arrangements and the cutest menu and little mason jar candles and it was perfection. Most adorable thing ever.
We all watched giddily from inside as Andy and Mary pulled up and parked, with Mary thinking she was meeting her family for dinner. But he grabbed her arm before she walked towards the club and put her on a golf cart, drove her to a gazebo on the lake, and gave her a heather moore charm for her necklace that said “marry me.” Then he proposed and she was shocked and we were all still waiting incredibly impatiently for them to walk back.
That was her next surprise, the engagement party. It was so perfect and fun and #omg.
That was that… and her utter shock was the best part.
Sooo. I can’t go before telling you about delicious brunch on Sunday at Coco Café.
Fresh juice, coconut zucchini bread, avocado omelets, melty brie challah French toast and smoked salmon eggs benny on potato latkes. So freaking good. Wanted to eat it all until I couldn’t take it anymore.
Like. Just shut up.
And a donut after. Obviously.
I’m also sort of freaking out over this idea of a “starter” at brunch (i.e. the zucchini bread). Why am I not doing this… like always? And that french toast. I can’t even take life anymore. It was ridiculous.
61 Comments on “Real Life Wednesday: Best Week Ever.”
YAYYYYY! SO excited for them! I was wondering if it would happen soon. You guys seemed to have fun on the DC trip! Such a cute party!
Oh man… I’d never heard of Jeni’s and what do you know!? They’re opening one here (Charleston SC area) in the next few months!!! (Also, congratulations to your brother!)
lucky!
This was just about the most romantic, awesome proposal ever!! Just magical! It really looks like the best week ever for you.
Oh my gosh! That sounds like an amazing engagement! And also–your sister-in-law works for Delallo?!?! That itself is amazing.
Congrats to you and your fam!
no no! i had her come and work with me – she doesn’t work with them.
Aww the biggest of big congrats to your bro!! So exciting!
Awwww, so happy for your family!
What a special day…for everyone!! So fun. Congrats to the family! Although, I was kind of mad to see that Coco Cafe is in Pittsburgh and not Cleveland. You had me all excited for my next trip. ;) But maybe I’ll just have to meet someone there for breakfast..hmm, wonder who?
What an amazing way to propose and celebrate the engagement. Looks like a fabulous time was had by everyone.
So exciting!! Congrats to the family! And I NEED that ice cream in my life!
How fun are surprises! I am super bad at keeping them though.
What a great party!
Congratulations to your brother and future sister-in-law! What a wonderful surprise!
My bridal shower was at Coca Café and everything they did there was AMAZING. Best bridal shower ever. This reminds me that I need to go back.
that is awesome.
It WAS awesome!
GUH I love Jenis so much. I live in Columbus, so it’s a problem. The buttermint is to die for.
What a cute engagement party and the breakfast food….yum!! I want a donut
I am dying that you are on a buzzfeed article! I thought I recognized that picture :) (#2)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/tashweenali/peanut-butter-and-chocolate-recipes
Congratulations and best wishes to them!
That engagement party is just about the cutest damned thing I have ever laid eyes on. I would have a hard time keeping the secret too! I helped my roommate’s fiance propose and she kept trying to make plans the day of the proposal, and I kept coming up with excuses why I couldn’t. I think she got frustrated with me, until she got a bog ole diamond. Then she was all better! Haha
that coconut zucchini bread looks mighty yum!
Love all of this! Your bro did a great job! And gaaaah donuts! I am so making some this wkend for Easter!
Fresh juice and coconut zucchini bread sounds incredible! Of course, I’m a sucker for anything breakfast/brunch related anyway. :)
Where there are icecreams, there is happiness!
http://inatrendytown.blogspot.com.es/
Congrats to your bro and his new fiancee and that’s so awesome! And love that the whole family was in on this surprise! WOW! Such a happy post!
Jeni’s is THE BEST and the cutest ever! I want to move into her shops and just sorta live there, raiding the ice cream and fancy sodas any time I want… And I’m insanely jealous of all the cities lucky enough to have Jeni’s. She hasn’t come to southwestern Ohio yet, where I live, but continues to open in other states. So jealous.
I need to eat all of those things. Since having kids, I never get out for brunch anymore – I just can’t handle waiting in line with two misbehaving, semi-wild ingrates. Makes me SO jealous to see the delicious brunch offerings out there. The juices look so fresh and bright too!
This really does deserve the title of best week ever! Buttermint ice cream…a surprise engagement party…and that brunch looks incredible! Congratulations to your brother and his fiancée!
This is the cutest thing ever!! What a fabulous day for all of you!! I’m mighty proud of you for keeping the secret. I agree that I was disappointed that CoCo was in Pittsburgh. I was hoping you found a new place in CLE for me to try!
Congrats on your new future SIL!!
EEEEK!!! You are the best secret-keeper ever – and what a gorgeous engagement!!!
Now I want zucchini bread…AND a fiancé. Thanks.
this made me laugh.
That is such a cool idea for an engagement party! And now I reallllly want to visit Jeni’s, but I never go to Ohio. Maybe I’ll have to plan a little trip!
I LOVE Coca Cafe in Lawrenceville. One of my favs – just wish it was bigger so the wait wasn’t so long on the weekends. Have you been to Eleven in the Strip for brunch? They have a brunch menu with a starter, entree and cocktail (bellini!!) for something ridiculously cheap (for Eleven) – $25 I think. And of course it’s delicious.
been for dinner, but not brunch! i must go.
WOW! That is so beautiful, thoughtful and romantic! Such a wonderful memory for them to treasure. Thanks for sharing, it brought a smile to my face. :)
My best friend Hannah and I love your posts SOOO much! We are still in high school but you literally are our soul sister, please never stop posting! :)) #baconandglitterloversforlife
thank you so much madeline!! xoxo
Oh my gosh, this is SO cute! the food looks amazing, the decorations gorgeous, and the story pretty much had me going ‘awwww’ out loud in my house, by myself! What a fun way to surprise her. Now I’m in a party planning mood!
What a great engagement party! Congrats to your brother + Mary!
I have Jeni’s book and love her ice creams. BTW- have you seen the Swatch watch that has “sprinkles” on the band and face of the watch? I think it’s for you.
i have! i need that watch.
I love everything about this post! First, Jeni’s is the best and go whenever I can go home (Columbus) and get their salty pistachio! Second, the engagement party is beyond cute!!
I think I need all of that brunch food in my life. And congrats to the pair of them!
You were in Cleveland, my town :(
Congrats to your family, let the wedding planning begin!!
So much fabulousness! And can I say that I LOVE those pendant lights hanging in the first & second photo?! So lovely! They look like an old milkbottle or something. I think I must have them for our little dark kitchen. If anyone has a source or a way to DIY please let me know!
AWE that story is SO cute, and the pictures are super lovely!!
Super congrats to the happy couple!
Re: brunch appetizers, you must must MUST do this when you come back to DC and go to Founding Farmers (which you’re totally doing, right?!??).They have beignets and fluffernutters, but my fav thing to do is order the stuffed french toast to share as an app. It’s ginormous french toast sticks filled with custard and it will change your life. Promise. I didn’t lead you astray with Baked and Wired, so I clearly know my stuff ;)
Congrats to your bro and Mary! What a cute story!! :)
I need to go to Pittsburgh now for a Sunday brunch at Coca Cafe. That menu looks INSANE!
So so sweet! I swear, the engagements these days are getting more and more fancy! Kudos to all the creative men out there! And good job keeping in that secret, I would have gone crazy, too!
OMG SOOO cool!!
That proposal is one of the best things I have ever seen! I’m so pro mason jar. Congrats to the happy couple!
How sweet – such a thoughtful proposal…I love it!
Ador
Adorable engagement party! Congrats!
That restaurant reminds me of the restaurant I just worked at, zucchini bread sandwiches (two slices stuffed with cream cheese of course), raspberry and Brie French toast, fried green tomatoes, ham Brie and Apple omlettes, all the best brunch foods!
needless to say…alll this time I did not know you resided in my old hometown! and gosh now you are giving me all these wonderful places to eat when I come home. I LOVE brunch, lurve it. want to marry it.