I'M ENGAGED! I proposed on 2/22/2020

Realizing I Wanted To Propose To My Boyfriend 

In October (2019) I realized that 2020 was a leap year, and somehow, that was my sign, that’s how I knew I was going to propose to my boyfriend.

4 years ago, with the last leap year, I learned about an old Irish tradition of women proposing on leap day on leap year, and I thought it was so cute. (There’s a movie called Leap Year too. It’s super cute. I defs recommend it.) 

4 years ago though, with the last leap year, Justin and I had only been together for 6 months or less, so naturally I just fantasied about the future instead. I wondered if we’d still be together, and if I’d still like this leap year proposal idea. “What if I propose on the next leap year in 2020?”

I feel like I had been waiting for a sign to take the leap, and leap year was that sign for me. 

I knew right away I’d propose in February, but I wasn’t sure if I would do it on leap day exactly, or maybe Valentine’s Day. Eventually I just opted to choose the weekend between those two and go for February 22nd. 22 is a meaningful number to me too, plus I’m 22, and he’s 22, and on 2/22/2020. All the twos! 

The Planning & Prepping

I had been planning this since October and I wildly underestimated how hard it would be to get through all of the holidays between October and February and NOT propose. There was Halloween, Thanksgiving, December and all of its Christmasy cuteness, there was New Year’s Eve, my birthday in January, and then Valentine’s Day too. There was so many days where I almost proposed, or almost slipped up and mentioned something about it!

I highly recommend NOT planning a proposal 6 months away because OMG it’s so hard to keep it a secret for that long!! 

But I’m stubborn and I had a plan and wanted to stick to it. 

So...

In November I got him a ring that I know he’d love. 

In December I crafted a solid plan that I knew I would stick to. 

In early January I told just our immediate families. 

In late January I told him to save Feb 22nd as a belated Valentine’s date night and that we should dress up, go out, stop by the beach, and go to dinner. He was totally down and didn’t seem to suspect a thing. 

The Proposal 

On 2/22/2020, I asked my best friend to marry me and (spoiler alert) he said yes!

I wasn't sure if I wanted to turn the proposal into a video, but I decided to go for it, and I decided to share it too. I made the video for us mostly, secondly for friends and family, and then just for anyone who likes happy, feel-good content. I love these kinds of videos and always have, so I figured, why not share it and spread some happy content.

I'm so happy I turned it into a video too because that day and really this whole first week has been a whirlwind. Having the video to look back on and rewatch really helps this milestone sink in more.

You can watch the proposal here:

Then.... We Were On TV!

Amidst the countless congratulatory messages we were receiving from family, a few days after sharing our proposal video, a TV producer DMd me on Instagram. She said she loved the video and asked if she could share it online and also put it on TV. I said yes. Why not share the happiness even farther? Right?

Our proposal was on TV on 2/27, I had recorded it in the morning and later that evening we just so happened to be having a birthday dinner for my grandpa, so we all got to watch the tv clip together. Pretty crazy. So surreal. I still can't really wrap my head around this week.

The show is called Right This Minute, it's a viral video sharing show. They try to share videos before they go viral.

You can watch the TV clip here. It's exactly what was on TV.

Follow Your Heart

After watching the video and after reading this, you'll obviously see that I've wanted to ask him the big question for a long time. 

I’m such a firm believer of following your happiness, following your heart, and not letting anyone or anything, not even yourself, get in the way of that. I’ve been so true to that in most of my life too, but this was a big thing I had just continued to let myself overthink. I worried about social-norms, and breaking the mold too much. Although I know this was the perfect time for this milestone, I do wish I hadn't let those fears hang over me for so long. 

I’m ready to step into this new decade just fully following through with wholeheartedly, unapologetically letting my heart lead the way. 

There was no better way for me to start this new chapter than doing exactly this. 


The Big LEAP

Today is leap day and as I'm reflecting back, I could not be more proud of myself and how far I've come since the last leap day 4 years ago. Although I had fears, I had faith, and that was stronger. I took the big leap, and look at everything that's come of that. 

I gotta say too, I'm damn proud of how far my FIANCE (omg so cool to say that) and I have come in these 4 years too. So proud. Man we've faced so much together, but we've come out the other side closer and with a stronger, deeper, richer love than ever. I am so blessed to have a life partner who loves all of me - highs, loves, untraditional, and all of my unique-ness. 

Ps. I’ve never understood why only men propose in straight relationships. That’s never resonated with me, and obviously I’ve always loved the idea of me being the one to propose.

I’ve always believed that if a woman wants to propose, then she should, because relationships are 50/50 and it’s just as much our say as it is theirs. Equality. Period. 

Regardless of gender, if your heart is set on someone, if you’re ready to take that leap and think they will leap with you, then you should simply listen to and follow your heart. 

You don’t need a leap year to take the leap, but it’s okay if it takes a leap year to remind you of that. 😆😉