Like any true love story this decade, it all started with a dating app. Circa summer 2017, we both were swiping on Bumble. Boy swipes right. Girl does too. Bam, it's a match! We started chatting and realized we had a lot in common. We exchanged numbers and made plans for later in the week. He suggested Mexican and immediately scored bonus points. After a few days of texting leading up to our date, I could tell there was something different and special about this man and became more and more excited to meet him. Once we sat down, we started talking and he asked where I worked and said he knew a few of my coworkers. Little did I know, Julian had stalked my LinkedIn (who does that?!) and found out that someone I used to work with (looking at you, Joe), now worked with him. He, of course, went to get the 4-1-1 on me to make sure I was normal-ish. Needless to say, he played off the "this is the first time I'm hearing about what you do for a living" act pretty well! We sat there for hours just talking and drinking margaritas; not even touching the chips and salsa that just sat there awkwardly in front of us. The conversation was so easy and we just seemed to click. A few weeks in, I told my friends, "I think he's the one." They told me to slow my roll, but like they say, "when you know, you know."

New York City has always had a special place in my heart, so when Julian and I booked a trip there in the fall, I was ecstatic. Our first full day we spent exploring and walking all over the city. Since we were traveling with friends, I had planned a date night later that night for Julian and myself at a rooftop bar and speakeasy restaurant. My mom and I had been there a couple of years prior and loved it, so I wanted Julian to experience it as well. The whole day I felt like I was fighting off a cold, but powered through it as we headed out for dinner and drinks. The rooftop bar was beautiful! We got a seat by the window, had a great view of the skyline and just enjoyed each other's company (and our $20 cocktails). After drinks, we headed to the restaurant across the street. The hostess takes us to our seats, conveniently located next to the kitchen "door." That, combined with me feeling worse than I had all day, wasn't exactly proving to be the most romantic situation and I was more than ready to pay the check and get in bed for the night. At the end of the meal, Julian suggested we have our server take a picture to document the night. I said "sure" and proceeded to take a picture of him from across the table. He laughed and said, "No, let's get one of us." The server came back and Julian stood up to sit next to me on the bench. I thought it was so strange he would do that, still not even thinking about what was about to happen. The server took what felt like 50 pictures and as he's about to hand me back my phone, Julian gets down on one knee. I, of course, start sobbing and say yes. I am not one to be surprised, EVER, and he absolutely did it! Turns out, he had been planning this for weeks but almost didn't do it because I was feeling so terrible. I am so glad he did because it was the most perfect night I could have asked for!