Where am I going with all this?  Recently a friend of mine told me he was getting engaged.  Well this isn’t entirely true. A bystander asked him if he was married and he let slip, “Funny you should ask, – I’m actually going to propose tomorrow.”

He said this as though he was ordering a burger, hold the cheese with extra fries.  It didn’t seem like a big deal when he said it and to be honest, my perception was that it wasn’t a big deal to him.  I can understand maybe he didn’t want to make it seem like too much of a big deal because he was nervous or excited or thought she might say no, but as a good friend of his and of this soon to be engaged couple, I would have expected a bit more, shall we say, enthusiasm?

I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised then when she, the new fiancé didn’t even call the next day to announce the good news! I got a text message.  And only after I probed a bit to learn more.

Are we not as good a friends as I once thought? Were they not entirely enamored by one another and happy to share the news? Are they just taking this moment as one to share between the two of them?  Albeit annoyed, I respect their privacy, even though I wanted to celebrate for them by showering them with champagne and well-wishes, it made me think. How do most couples share their engagement news?

My hubby proposed at 2:00 a.m.m after a late flight home from a business trip.  We called everyone we knew who would answer their phone to shout out our excitement.  But maybe we’re different – to each their own, I always say.

So spill it – how’d you spread the news to your friends and family? Email? Text? Phone call?

Smells good!

As Thanksgiving fast approaches,

I can’t help but wonder how couples out there are spending their holidays. It’s a topic that can go in any number of directions and in surveying some of my friends, they’re all doing something different; some are going to the houses of their families, some are venturing to their in-laws and some are foregoing family altogether and are opting to spend time with close friends.

My husband and I often joke that we really got lucky in the in-law department. We’re very fortunate in the fact that we both enjoy each other’s families. I know what you’re thinking and no, I’m not just writing this for the sake of the blog (which I know his family will probably read). We truly love each other’s families. We really do! Really!
But when you first start dating someone or become engaged, the conversation about where to spend Holidays is a little rocky.

How do you decide where you’ll go? Do your parents get disappointed that you’re not there to celebrate with them? How will his family feel about having you there? Do you forego the decision altogether and each go your separate ways? Or do you do something together, just as a couple?

When Tom and I first started dating, we spent Holidays apart. I can remember missing spending that time with him, but also didn’t want to give up the time with my own family. When we got engaged, that all changed. We began to realize that now and going forward we’d need to split the time among both our families. Last year we celebrated Thanksgiving with my family in Delaware and we flew to sunny Florida to spend Christmas with his family. While I loved spending the week in the pool, I couldn’t help but feel a little home-sick and a little guilty about missing the time with my family; after all, it was the first Christmas in 28 years that I’ve ever missed.

So when the Holiday conversation approached this year, we were pretty set on what we wanted to do. We’d split the Holidays again and this time, flip flop them. Our bags are packed for sunny FL; we leave on Tuesday. It seemed like the right thing to do for us and we’re happy that our families are so flexible. I’m looking forward to cooking dinner with my husband and my Mother in Law and chatting with my Father in Law over a glass or two of wine. And now that my parents have moved to North Carolina, we’re looking forward to hosting Christmas for them in our house this year.
So what about you? Where are you spending the Thanksgiving Holiday? How did you decide where to go ?

Whatever you decided to do, have a safe and happy Turkey Day!