• WHITE PAPERS by BLEU STOCKINGS

  
  A Booklist for Bleu Stockings
  by Branding Salon
  
  What is a Brand?
  by Rachel Cost
  

A HOLIDAY PROPOSAL IN PORTLAND

Posted on | December 30, 2008 | 4 Comments

It was the night before Christmas Eve and all through the house I was baking up a storm for a Christmas Eve soirée Michael and I were planning to host. Here in Portland it has been a snowy wonderland and the local news coined the storm ‘Arctic Blast ‘08.’

While we where getting ready Michael said he was going out to ‘shovel snow in the driveway’ to get ready for guests. I continued baking and then, after a while, I poked my head out the door to inquire if he needed any help. I noticed he had started a fire. I asked if he was going to ‘burn the f sticks’ that we had in the front yard, left over from some gutter cleaning/yard work. I put on some boots and tromped through the snow out to meet him by the fire and it struck me what a romantic setting it was with a fire in the stone fireplace and the backyard covered in over a foot of snow. And then Michael bent down on one knee in his snowshoes and asked me to marry him! The engagement ring is a vintage 1930s ring which I absolutely love. I said YES! and have pretty much been in seventh heaven since then.

After Michael proposed I first called my mom and then I tweeted about it. Because my Facebook account is linked, a few new Facebook friends who are Michael’s close friends reached out to me to say they hoped to meet me soon. Also, some friends who had just flown in from California came over at 2:00 am with a bottle of Champagne to celebrate. I’m not one for all the usual wedding fluff and, instead of choosing wedding colors, we are going to select our wedding fonts!

Needless to say our party for about 22 guests was wonderful. This has been the best holiday ever and I can’t think of a better way than to spend it with my fiance, friends and family enjoying good food! Our menu for the party was a melange of simple appetizers and pot luck dishes brought by our friends. We made a strata dish with swiss chard, dates stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in bacon (divine), artichoke dip and vegetable crudité with pesto cream cheese. Guests brought a roasted turkey, homemade honey-buttermilk biscuits, crab stuffed mushrooms, toasted hazelnuts and other delights.

For dessert we made tiramisu, candied citrus dipped in chocolate, and chocolate cherry and vanilla meringues. We have since been to other holiday parties and I got to make my favorite chocolate espresso flourless torte with crushed candy cane whipped cream, and for another event Michael made a salad with homemade truffle oil croutons.

I feel truly grateful for all that I have and, reflecting back on 2008, it’s been a fantastic and eventful year. I’m looking forward to 2009!

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