Miss Celie

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Prime Rib

Saturday night I went to dinner at Baltimore’s Prime Rib. We were celebrating our one-year dativersary.  I actually made a dress to wear for this date. But, it’s kind of ‘fallish’ (maple leaves/dark purple) and I never get to wear this dress I had made in China. I’ll have to post my new dress later this week.

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I had some sea bass that was so delicious I just about licked my plate. I wanted to take the little potato skins, curl up into a ball and make one a little hammock for me.

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And, somehow, between the wine and before dessert, this happened. Better yet, the band was playing one of my favorite sounds, What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong!

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Somehow, I’ve beat the stats as a late 30s, college-educated black woman (otherwise known as the group “least likely to marry”) and have found  the love of my life. I don’t know how this happened but I’m thankful 🙂

We told our parents that night and tried to text and call close friends the next morning. I did a terrible job of that.  Umm, also, my *hand* hurts from stretching out my fingers and staring at my ring. I had to take ibuprofen and use a heat pad last night.

Ohhh!! My secret/private Pinterest board is about to be SUPER public!!

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And, in true modern social media fashion, we are Facebook official. Which, of course, makes it totally real.

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294 comments

  1. Congratulations! I’m trusting this gorgeous guy’s cool with dogs and piles of fabric, or he wouldn’t have made it to date #2. You realize of course, you are now going to be asked if you’re making your own wedding dress. Bwahahaha.;-)

    • The wedding dress was my 2nd thought after figuring out that she was engaged! hahahah!

  2. I have been reading your blog for a year now and love it. I don’t usually comment but I wanted to say congratulations that is awesome!

  5. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Oh I’m so very pleased for you both! What a lovely way to brighten up a Monday!

  7. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Yay!! So happy for you both. Like Jen H, I don’t usually comment on blogs but I just couldn’t help it this time. So pleased for you both. (Good choice he’s so handsome – lucky you 🙂 (all the way from England)

  8. Congratulations! I have been reading for years but don’t comment very often and I’m so happy that you’ve found the one for you!

  12. Oh Happy Day! I am just pleased as punch for you! If anyone was destined to beat the odds, it was you. I wish you the very best on your new adventure, and tell this gorgeous guy that if he doesn’t treat you right he will have an entire world of bloggers after him. Oh, and tell him I think he has really good taste in women.

  15. Congratulations! And I must second Parisgrrl – will you be making your wedding gown? Bridesmaid dresses?
    You guys are a such a cute couple!

  19. Since you cook and sew….does Jordan like to clean? But seriously, it is so wonderful to have a special someone who wants to spend the rest of his life with you and share good times and bad and have someone to lean on. Many many best wishes!

  22. Congratulations! Your fiance is adorable! (I’ve got a thing for baby faced boys!) You two will make beautiful babies (if that’s in the plans!)

  26. Congrats! I’ve been following your love-life saga for few years now, since we’re about the same age and struggled similar problems (for some reason, it felt comforting I wasn’t the only one and it was a planetary issue). I got lucky last year, and I wish you enjoy your man as much as I enjoy mine! Best of luck to you both!

    • Thank you *so *much for saying this. I have family who wondered out loud to me why I talked about my dating life on my sewing blog. This is why. I used to feel SO ALONE in being single at my age. I guess I wanted other women to know that they weren’t the only ones and dating and break ups still happen and it’s *fine*.

  28. Congratulations! The world is full of people you have never heard of, who nevertheless feel happy because you are happy. Including me. Thanks for sharing your happiness.

  29. I am so happy for you. He is one lucky guy. You look fab in that dress.

    ________________________________

  32. I’m a dedicated lurker here. Been reading for a long time. Just want to say I’m so happy for you to get the joy you deserve. Congratulations to him and best wishes to you for a happy life!

  33. OMG! Shut my mouth! Congratulations-you two look stunningly gorgeous and happy together. Oh…Just thought of the DRESS-will she or won’t she?

  34. What wonderful news! Many congratulations, best wishes and all the rest to you and that lucky guy. I’m a long-time reader of your blog, not that it matters. But I’m so happy for you!

  35. CONGRATS! I have been following your blog for years, through the cop, the vegan and others. I could totally relate to you because I too am in the “least likely to marry” group and on top of that I turned 40 this year. I am sooooo happy for you. You both are simply glowing. Best wishes.

  41. Many many congratulations on this wonderful news – very much looking forward to your sartorial choices for the big day 😀

  43. Congratulations! Yours was the first sewing blog I discovered several years back and I completely credit you with my renewed interest in sewing. Many many happy years.

  47. Congratulations! I’m another who doesn’t often post on blogs, but I’ve been reading yours for years and I’m so happy for you!

  48. Congratulations! You are so adorable and talented. I love reading your blog am getting inspired by your creativity.

  57. Congratulations!!
    I have read/lurked your blog from the beginning and even tho’ we have never met IRL, you are still a very real person for me. I am so happy for you!!
    All the very best (and I shall watch the preparations with rapt attention)!

  62. OMG congratulations!!! I think it is hilarious that as soon as I saw the title I thought “she is getting married” LOL!!! I have no idea where that thought came from but it was obviously spot on. He is one lucky man!

  65. Congratulations! What a lucky guy – your are going to be one drop.dead.gorgeous bride!

  67. Congratulations!! I’m so happy for you both. You look wonderful together and so happy!!

  71. Congrats! I saw the title and I knew what it had to be. I’m so happy for the both of you.

  72. CONGRATS!!!!! I am so so so happy for you. I never really thought about the group “least likely to marry” before, but that totally explains why my mother is constantly trying to set me up LOL.

  73. Congratulations! This really brough a smile to my face this morning. As well as everyone’s comments. Great community. Best wishes to you!

  74. Another long time reader delurking to say Congratulations! and to wish the two of you many many years of joy and companionship together.

  75. BEST POST EVER! How wonderful! Best wishes, and a long and loving life to both of you! (Love the ring.)

  79. Congrats, congrats, congrats!!!! So happy for you both. Knew it was serious with all the mentions of his parents and vacations, hadn’t seen that before. Again, congrats.

  81. I saw a share on Facebook yesterday but couldn’t comment – I was so hoping you’d blog today.

    Congratulations – you look so happy together. I wish you both many years of joy and happiness !!!

  84. So utterly happy for you both! You make an absolutely gorgeous couple! Such good news on a Monday morning! A lifetime of happiness to you both!

  87. Best wishes to you both! Your audience will enjoy reading about all the sewing and styling you’ll do for your own wedding, in the months ahead. Keep in mind, though, dear Miss Celie, that it is the marriage on which you should expend the vast bulk of your energies. The wedding is just a nice party to celebrate the beginning of a lifetime spent together.

  96. Congratulations and best wishes to both of you! You will be embarking on a new chapter in life together!!

  101. Congratulations and best wishes! Not much makes me teary on the ol’ internet, but I guess reading about the happiness of a blogger I’ve been lurking for years will do it. 🙂

  102. How wonderful for you both! He is one lucky guy.

    (i thought the dress you had sewn in China had torn or??) What happened is GREAT NEWS!!

  103. What wonderful news! Much happiness to the both of you! We started our sewing efforts together – so I’ve been following your blog (and life!) for a long time. I feel like one of nearest and dearest has shared this news. Congrats to both of you and I wish you much happiness! The burning question is, of course, will you or won’t you make your dress??

  107. Oh my goodness! How exciting!!!! Congratulations lady! 🙂 I pray you both have all the joy your hearts can handle and then some!

  112. Yeah!!! Congratulations – you light up my days with your wonderful blog and I’m so happy for you!

  113. What wonderful news! One thing I’ve always enjoyed about your blogging is your honesty and humor in sharing the ups and downs, not to mention the incredible sewing. This is a great up, congrats!!

  118. S’wonderful. Very happy for you.

    So of course, we want to know about the dress, but who’s going to officiate since it might be challenging (though not impossible) for you to be bride and minister? 🙂

  120. Congratulations – I’ve never commented before but love your blog and wish you & Jordan many, many years of happiness together!

  122. Least likely to marry? As in gorgeous, smart, great homemade dress?? Sheesh! Glad life demonstrated the absurdity of those statistics :-). Very happy for both of you..

  123. Congratulations to your beau and best wishes to you….you both look so happy!

  124. Oh that’s wonderful! Congratulations! ! Are you going to make your wedding dress?

  125. Congratulations! This is wonderful news and there is much, much, much to celebrate!

  127. Woohoo! I was on a train when I read this and sqealed out loud I think :-). Congratulations, I’m so very happy for you. Like AnaJan, I have found it comforting in a way to read about your dating life (and interesting: how does dating work for others?) even though I’m a bit younger. I think I’ll keep looking to you as an example of how things may go!

  129. awwwww exciting! you know we’re all coming to the wedding right? don’t worry, we’ll sew our own bridesmaids dresses….. super happy for you xxx

  136. Congratulations to you both!!!! Such an exciting new journey to begin!!! Wishing you a lot of joy and blessings!!!

  138. Congratulations ! I am so happy for you. I’ve followed you for many years and always took comfort in that your struggles were similar to mine. I wish you all the happiness in the world you truly deserve it.

  141. Congratulations ! You deserve to be happy and how wonderful you met your love. A cute cute couple.
    Now make that wedding dress so we can all enjoy part 2!

  143. Congratulations!!! I have followed your blog for years. I will miss the funny dating stories, but this is GREAT NEWS.

  154. So happy for you! I’ve followed your sewing and blog for so many years. It’s nice to see you happy. He’s really cute too;)

  160. It’s funny that everyone ‘knew’ it. I had to read your post farther down and still had a moment of, wait, what am I missing?

  164. Does one still say, “OMG!”? So happy for you! I’ve bee following since before you got those eyeglasses from S. Korea (NO- I never did…) Please stay in touch with us thru the blog. We need to hear all (well, most…) of the details. 😀

  167. Congratulations! I’m another one that has read your blog for years but doesn’t always comment. You’re one of reasons I became hooked on Burda magazine. Anyhow you two make a great looking couple and I wish you all the best!

  175. I am so happy for you!!!!! I’ve been reading your blog for years, and hoping that one day you would meet the right man for you, and it finally happened!!!!!!! So when can we start reading about the wedding dress? You are going to make your wedding dress, right??

  176. Hooray!!! Huge congratulations to you both 🙂 I can’t wait to see all the wedding posts!

  179. I’d turn cartwheels for you…but I would hurt myself SERIOUSLY. So I’ll have to make do with smiling from ear to ear and wishing you a delightful time planning the wedding and a big happy ever after!

  185. Congratulations! The bit about the ring is hilarious–I do hope you can get over the aches. I hope you two are very happy.

  186. I’ve been reading forever, but today I must write! Congratulations! May your life together be long and happy.

  188. I can’t believe I don’t even know you, yet your news has put a big smile on my face! I have been following your blog for ages and really enjoy your updates. I like your humour and you always seem happy and content with your life (maybe you might hide things from your readers, but you still seem like an optimistic person to me).

    May you and Jordan live happily ever after.

    Tamsin

  189. Totally awesome news! Been following you for a few years. Congratulations to Jordan for recognizing what a fabulous catch you are and not letting you get away!

  194. Aw! Congratulations!! I was wondering if that was going to be the topic of this post… 🙂

  198. Yaaaaaaaay! Congratulations, Renee and Jordan! That’s SO exciting!!

    I got engaged a year ago…getting married in October. It’s fun to plan and SUPER fun to plan making your dress! I hope you’ll consider it. 🙂

  199. I’m a faithful stalker of your blog and haven’t ever posted, but this moved me. Congratulations!

  203. Congratulations! I’m so happy for the two of you! Enjoy this time together! And, celebrate it every time there’s even a mild occasion. (That celebrating can continue beyond the wedding as well – my husband and I have gone on multiple honeymoons!)

  204. Congratulations!! I am so happy for you. I can relate to your struggles with dating. I was also a member of the group. I married DH last in my 30s. I can’t imagine life without him now. Best wishes for many, many years of happiness!!

  206. So happy for you. It couldn’t happen to a nicer person – and he looks pretty special too! 😉 Best wishes for happily ever after.

  207. Best Wishes! from a lurker. Good news always brings us out, and this news is wonderful.

  208. AAHAAHAHAHAAAAA!!! Best news ever!! I’m so happy for you!! I met my husband when I was 30 and got married at 35 and I can’t imagine getting married any younger. Have fun and I look forward to reading about your planning. Seriously… when everyone you know if sick of hearing about your planning I’ll be more than happy to read about it!

  209. Congratulations! So excited for you both! I met my husband when I was 39. Well worth the wait! Blessings to you both!

  210. How do we give to you on your special occasion. Seriously, your blog has kept me sane during all manner of life’s challenges. Are you going to be registered…travel honeymoon fund, house with a garage fund…this Celie’s Wedding could go viral ya know. I for one wish I could give to you even a small token of my appreciation. Ahhhh, so happy for you.

  211. Congratulations! I’ve been lurking here quietly for years and I’m wildly pleased for you – a real life happy ever after! It’s so lovely! And as a new bride myself (we eloped last month) I’m on the edge of my seat at the thought of all the wedding details to come! Yay! So, so happy for you!

    • Just skimming through all the comments – I love the way this has brought us all out of deepest darkest lurkdom! Did you know we all enjoyed your blog so much?

  213. Hi Renée,
    Just like Claire above, I am among those lurking fans of yours and from France. I am so so so happy for you that I am having tears in my eyes.. You could be my daughter anouncing this great joyful news.

    ALL MY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND JORDAN !!

  214. Congratulations. I had a good feeling about Jordan – he always made you smile in your posts.

  215. I see my wish for you was granted! I am bursting with happiness for you both. BIG CONGRATULATIONS…..I can’t wait for the Fortsetzung! Happy dancing.

  216. Congratulations!! I am so happy for you! Another of your lurkers, but I feel as though I know you well enough to send a wedding gift! Happiness to you!

  217. Renee, I just couldn’t be happier for you. I’m so glad, so happy. My heartiest and sincerest congratulations to you both. Have you set a date? Me & my DH married on our second dativersary.

  220. This wonderful news made my day yesterday; I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cuter couple! Best wishes for a long and happy life together. x

  222. Coming out of lurking to send my best wishes to the two of you. I’ve been following your blog for so long I feel like I know you IRL! I did meet Trena here in Paris a few years ago, so there are way fewer than 6 degrees of separation. Félicitations!

  224. Congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog for about 2 years and am so happy to hear about this latest event. I hope you are very happy and look forward to all the dresses and honeymoon clothes you will make. Maybe even a men’s shirt now?

  225. Congratulations! Mid-30s marriages are the best! Ask me how I know! 😎 Finding Prince Charming makes it worth having waded through all the frogs, toads and other various reptiles.

  226. I am so very very very happy for you! I’ve been following your blog for years and there is no one I would wish more happiness to. You will be a radiant bride and a wonderful wife. He is one lucky man!

  227. I knew – as soon as I saw the title, I said (to myself) “OMG, she’s engaged!!!! I know it!!!”

    And I was right. 😀 So many heartfelt congratulations.

  228. Cheers to being a statistical rulebreaker!

    Congratulations on your engagement and blessings on your marriage!

  229. I’m really behind on my blog feed and just got to this now. HUGE Congratulations!! How wonderful and exciting for you both! Statistics were made to be broken and I also highly approve of marrying in one’s 30s ;o) Have you started thinking yet whether you’ll make your dress? I’m sure I speak for a lot of people on here when I admit that I hope you will!

  230. Congrats, I am so happy for you. Enjoy each other and make more happy memories together.

  231. I am so happy for you . . . and I don’t even know you except through PatternReview and your blog which I’ve been reading since before the cop I think. Big hugs and congratulations! Have a wonderful life together!

  234. Congratulations!!! What a good looking couple you both are!!! Your Prince found you!!! What a Blessing! I have been following your blog for awhile. Your blog is one of my of my favorites. Keep us posted!!! Do you plan to make your wedding dress?

  237. So happy for you both! Congratulations and like everyone else who reads your blog, can’t wait to see what you decide to make for The Big Day……. Because you will sew your own of course, won’t you??!!

  238. So, I like so many others, will de-lurk to congratulate you and wish you all the best. He is one lucky guy. May you have a life of happiness, contentment, and sweet peace together.

    Am looking forward to observing the wedding planning from the sidelines. Especially the wedding dress decisions! Oh MY THIS WILL BE FUN! Take care!

  242. I am so glad for you both. I was 35, and figured I’d never marry. Now it’s been twelve of the happiest years of my life. Enjoy!

  243. What the hell! I step away from your blog for a few days and you get yourself engaged? You can’t turn your back on anyone these days. Congratulations! I’ve been following your blog with such affection–so happy for you.

  246. Wow, you have the eqivalent of the population of a small town wishing you well! Can you imagine how huge your wedding would be if you invited us all? 😉 Congratulations to you both, very happy news 🙂

  248. Congratulations!!!!
    I’ve only commented once on your blog but have stalked you faithfully. I had to comment again because, oh my goodness, I am crying happy tears for a person I’ve never even met in real life.
    I wish you and the your guy all the joy in the world.

  249. Congratulations! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of years now and feel like I know you, even though I don’t. I went to Baltimore once for a work conference and felt like I would see you around every corner, and was genuinely disappointed when I didn’t. Anyway even though I’ve never met you, I’m so happy for you. Here’s wishing you every happiness, and thanks so much for sharing your happy news with us.

  252. Wonderful news! I’m so happy for you. Joy, I second your comment: more man sewing is on the way? I remember your pledge: to not sew for a man until you have a ring on your finger; No excuses now 🙂 But seriously, happy happy dativersary and what a magnificent way to celebrate it. Sorry if too forward but if you are thinking about little Jordan-ées it might be worth looking at TCOYF (Google it). Wishing you a lifetime together, and most importantly, patience, tolerance, and problem-solving skills (I think those are the road to bliss…)

  253. Congratulation’s!!! I have been reading our blog for a while and I am happy for both of you The old saying is true good things come to those who wait Best of luck to both of you!!

  257. I’ve been following you on Pinterest for a while so I had to check out your now public wedding board. Oh, your wedding is going to be beautiful! I love your ideas! Happy planning!

  262. I’m a little late to the party but the sentiment is sincere, CONGRATULATIONS! You will never have to try to answer that dreaded, unanswerable question “Why isn’t a nice/cute/funny/talented/smart girl like you married?” Wishing you both a happy future!

  264. I’ve never left a comment but just wanted to say best wishes about your fun news! Thanks so much for doing the blog. Love it. (Also love seeing glimpses of B’more.)

  265. Congrats to Jordan and best wishes to you, Renee! Dare I hope you will make your own dress? And maybe there is time enough for the two of us to have lunch before you tie the knot? (I’m hoping for a bit of an engagement, then, yes?) Oh… so excited for you! Except I tried to find your engagement FB page and could NOT.

  267. I have never left a comment and have been reading for years, but I just wanted to say congrats and best wishes!

  268. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I actually shrieked reading this! I am so happy for you! I’ve been reading you for years and hoping you would find your ‘person’. And you have! SO HAPPY!

  269. This is my first time making a comment, but I’ve been following you for years. Yay for you and Jordan!!!

  271. I’m late to this party too!!! Congratulations!!!! I was late to get married myself and I have to say that I love the stability that comes with being married. I wish you great happiness!

  272. And I’m even later but better late than never to say congratulations! Good luck on this next exciting phase in your life.

  273. Been following you for years! So happy for you. One commenter said it best….there’s a world of people out there you don’t know that are so happy for you. You got engaged on my mom’s birthday. I consider that very good luck!!! Best wishes for a long happy life together. Marguerite

  274. Coming out of my lurking corner to say CONGRATULATIONS! European honeymoon, by any chance?

  275. Congrats! You look adorable together! Can’t wait to hear all about the wedding dress construction. I know you and the dress will be stunning.

  278. Another lurker here.. I never comment but have been reading your blog for years now. I am soooo happy for you guys CONGRATULATIONS!!! Your both look so happy! Warm hugs from Europe

  286. A little late to the party, Congratulations and Felicitations–wishing you both much joy and happiness!

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