Hey y’all! I’m kind of combining two blog posts into one since I just took my husband on a hot date this week to celebrate it being two years since he proposed to me, and because I also think this makes for the perfect time to launch my Men’s Gift Guide created by Grant!

Monday December 4 marked two years since Grant proposed to me. I had blogged all about it on the Southern Jewlz site, but since my personal lifestyle blog is new to this year, I wanted to share the story with each of you.

Whenever Grant and I first started dating we would go on lots of neighborhood walks (we were basically neighbors!) to get to talk and really get to know each other. So on one of our very first neighborhood walks Grant asked me if I was the kind of girl who had a set plan on how I would want to be proposed to. I just responded with, “Not really besides the fact that I need like fireworks, glitter bombs or a water show. Basically any kind of big production would work.” After saying this nonchalantly Grant said he took strong note that he would have to make it quite the event whenever that time would come. (Side note, Grant told my younger brother only 2 weeks into us dating that he would marry me one day. When you know, you KNOW!)

Grant and I began dating on October 4, 2014 and he asked me to marry him on December 4, 2015. (We ended up getting married February 4, 2017 meaning we dated and were engaged each for exactly 14 months). Every year I would go to Las Vegas for two weeks of December to set up Southern Jewlz booths in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo. Grant came in 2014 to see me the second week of my work because I had two booths going on at the same time, but in different locations. When 2015 rolled around, I honestly was tired. Running a store front, an online warehouse and the Vegas booths all at the same time while now being in a serious relationship was just taking too much toll on my little body. I think this was the start to me learning to balance life a little more and focus on the blessings God has given me rather than feeling like I had to work every waking moment of my life. I decided to take a break from the NFR in 2015, but since I already had paid my deposits on my booths, I still wanted to go to see where I would want my booth to be the next year (with full intention of going back).

I had always had multiple friends who wanted to come see me while I was working during the NFR, but it was so hard to balance friend time while working so much. Since I would be taking the year off, I proposed to Grant that we invite some of our friends to come with us. I asked that he coordinate and plan it all since I was so busy with work and he totally agreed. I remember him telling me that every single one of my friends that he invited agreed to come and that he had a group text with all of them that he left me out of per my request.

The morning that we were leaving for the airport, the security alarm at my store went off and had me all kinds of flustered. This along with it being during my busiest time of the year, it was probably the shortest and snappiest I had ever been with Grant. As we arrived at the airport, we realize that Grant actually doesn’t have a seat on the plane because the flight was oversold. (I cannot imagine his level of anxiety at this point because all of his proposal plans were time sensitive). Me on the other hand, I had not a care in the world. I told him my friend Emily and I had missed our flight to Vegas a few years earlier, so I had been through this drill. (Clearly I had no idea he was about to propose!) As it came boarding time, we were the last to wait to board as we were waiting on 2 people to show up within a few minutes for Grant to have a seat. Fate worked out and he got on the flight. Even after being snappy towards each other with the stress of the oversold flight, I still convinced the person sitting next to me to trade seats so I could sit by Grant.

When we arrived in Vegas, I had my driver Franky pick us up. Grant told me that we had dinner reservations at Prime in the Bellagio, so I was asking Franky if he had ever eaten there. He told me he hasn’t dropped many clients off there, so I started asking his recommendation on places to eat. This was another obvious sign that I had no idea what was happening as I was trying to change the plan on poor Grant.

We got checked into the Cosmopolitan which I was so excited to be staying where the infamous chandelier bar is located! Some of our friends were already there and we met in our room. The front desk upgraded our package to a suite with a view, again I’m sure because they knew Grant was proposing, but I obviously had no clue and thought maybe it was our lucky day!

As it came time for dinner, I couldn’t wait to wear my feather fringe black mini skirt and black long sleeve crop top since I was in Vegas! This would be another hint that I had no idea, because I would not have planned to have a small part of my stomach showing when being asked the most important question of my life. I also remember at dinner excusing myself to go to the restroom. My friend Emily came with me and was very persistent about me putting on her lipstick color. After the proposal she told me that she thought her color was more complimentary and picture worthy than the bright pink color I had on.

So as we left dinner at the Bellagio, I thought we were all going to the High Roller together. While walking by Hyde (a bar on the balcony of the water show at the Bellagio) Grant told me that we needed to stop in to say hi to one of Ryne Heath’s friend’s that works there. I remember being in line taking selfies and saying “Between Wild Wendy and Ryne, we are going to know everybody in Vegas!” As we got out on the balcony, it was pretty much just our group. With the water view in the background, everyone agreed that we needed to take pictures. Grant and I were encouraged to go first and let me tell you what – every single one of my friends got their cameras or iPhones out! I still was not aware of what was happening and thought “maybe this fringe skirt really is a winner” haha. Then Grant pulled me in close and started whispering some of the sweetest words he has ever told me. ALL OF A SUDDEN A LIGHT BULB WENT OFF! He then wrapped up his words with “Will you marry me?” and because I was in such shock and standing on basically a stage in front of my friends and some family members, my first response was “Stop It’. I can act like I like being the center of attention, but when that attention really is all on me I do my best to deflect it away. So Grant had to ask me again what my answer was and I clearly said yes. I didn’t even look down at the ring for a good 2-3 minutes because I was just crying and making out with my future husband to be! By the time I did look down, I was completely blown away by the beautiful ring Grant gave me. The crown that is part of my business logo was created to hold up the center diamond and the side diamonds are all from one of his grandmother’s rings. It is the most beautiful and intricate ring design I have ever seen and I am so proud to wear it every day.

As soon as the reality hit me, Grant and I each went to call and wake our parents up to tell them the good news. It was 1am their time so I know my mom had to be scared when she answered a late night call from me from Vegas. After that, we enjoyed the water show view, partied, danced and celebrated the night away. Wild Wendy even had pink sparkly koozies made with our names on them and “He Wrangled The Unicorn” on the back! Mine and Grant’s trip was another 3 days, and all of a sudden I truly forgot about work and enjoyed the engagement trip of a lifetime with some of my favorite people. I then realized that I basically handed him the perfect way to plan an over-the-top engagement on a silver platter by asking to not be a part of the group text with everyone else on the trip.

Pictures from the night Grant proposed to me: