Best Weekend Of My Life...So Far

So clearly I've taken a little blogging hiatus. However, I am ready to get back to business, and this post is one I'm so excited write.

As I mentioned (only 600 times), this past weekend was the weekend we went to Savannah for dinner at Paula Deen's house. I have never been so excited/nervous about anything...really. Ever.

We got there Thursday night late and spent all day Friday sight-seeing, eating, and patio-sitting. We had lunch at the Lady and Sons, and it was DELISH.

 SO excited.

 Fried green tomatoes...mmm.

Yep, I really am taking your picture in the restaurant. This is happening.  

Fast forward to Friday night...

We got a recommendation for dinner Friday at Noble Fare. When we got there, we were told our table wasn't ready, but we could take a seat on the patio and have a cocktail while we waited. So, we get out to the patio and there was another table (small patio) with people having drinks. I IMMEDIATELY recognized one of the people as Brandon Branch, Paula's design assistant/right hand man. He's on her show occasionally, and they just published a book, Savannah Style, together. He is like they Gayle to Oprah, people.

So of course, I said, "Oh my god - are you Brandon Branch?!!" Long story short, we ended up joining tables with Brandon and his partner, and had a 3 hour amazing dinner - just the four of us. I learned A LOT about Paula and I was SO excited when he told me we'd have the inside track at her house the following night. Excited/Terrified.

Can I just share our view? I would LOVE to wake up to this every day. It was gorgeous.

Can I also tell you the last time I leisurely laid out by a pool while being served margaritas and not blowing up swim floaties and serving Capri Suns? Oh wait - no I can't. THIS was fabulous.

So Saturday night...we get ready. We grab a cocktail and jump in a cab. 

Can you tell I'm freaking out just a little?

It was GORGEOUS. Just like I pictured it! 

My new BFF Brandon informed me that Paula was en route, so I got a great spot in the backyard and waited for her to come in and make her speech. 

Paula walks in (I was too excited to take pictures) and gives her "Thanks everyone for being here tonight" speech. I was just beyond excited. It was so incredibly cool and surreal to be there. 

Then...She says..."I hear there is a couple here named Ryan and Alyssa."

Ummmmmmmmmmmm....

"Ryan and Alyssa, Y'all come on up here!"

Of course I was thinking, "WHAT the H is going on?"

So after a long pause and several "someone tell me what's going on" demands, Ryan dragged me up onto her backporch (pictured above) to meet Paula...just the two of us...in front of 300 people. The conversation (with a mike and an amp by the way) went a little like this...

Paula: "Ryan...oh my gosh, she is gorgeous!" (as she grabs me by the hands)

Me: (Oh sweet Lord, Paula has me by the hands)

Paula: "Now, are y'all married?"

Ryan: "No we are not."

Paula: "Ryan...why haven't you asked this young lady to marry you yet?"

Ryan: "Well, I don't have a ring."

Right about then, Paula reached into her pocket and pulled out A GORGEOUS RING.

Paula: "Well, I have a ring. Y'all want to use this one?"

Me: (No way this is real)

Then Ryan hit a knee and PROPOSED. 

Like a total moron, I was completely STUPIFIED by what was happening. So, she puts the mike in my face and I said, "um...uh...um...Are we on TV?"

(laughter)

Paula: "Well honey, What do you say??"

Me: Yes! 

Shocked? Just a little. 

Then, the band started playing and we danced...our first dance as an engaged couple, on her back patio.

Then we celebrated...with Paula and all of our new friends. 

Jim, Me, Brandon, "Jelly Roll", and Dora

The money shot. HOW deer-in-the-headlights is this one? Ha! 

And Y'all, she is EVERYTHING I'd hoped for and more. Gorgeous, genuine, hilarious.  

With Bobby Deen

 With Paula's hub, Michael Groover. LOVED him. 

 The new love of my life, Brandon Branch. He helped Ryan make it all happen.

Ryan took most of the pictures post-proposal, so that's why he's missing! We are getting several of the two of us from the professional photographer who worked the party. 

Yep, best weekend of my life.

I am one LUCKY girl. 

I'm still shocked and amazed that Ryan pulled this off. 

Oh, and here's my amateur attempt at taking a picture of my ring.  I just loooooove it. 

I am so excited for this new chapter in out lives, the great memories we made on this new trip, and our new beginning. 

Night, y'all.