We love telling our "how we met" story! On a sunny day nearly 6 years ago at Goleta Beach, he fell paddleboarding, and I heroically swam to his rescue—or so we claim 😉 In reality, we connected on a dating app in 2018. Russell in Santa Barbara, me in Santa Maria, we spent every weekend together. Fast forward to 2021, we moved to Fort Worth, TX, now sharing our home with Berlin (our German Shepherd) and Matilda (our rescue Pit Bull mix).

On a scorching summer day, we were off to brunch near the Trinity River. Russell, knowing my love for a good view, suggested we check out the skyline from the top of a nearby parking structure. Little did I know, amidst the stunning backdrop and a random truck as our audience, he poured his heart out and got down on one knee. He had been scheming with my mom for weeks (yes, he asked her permission!), making it a moment as sweet as our favorite brunch pancakes.