May 7 13

On the 12th of this month I will be celebrating being the mama of 3 amazing, challenging, wonderful children.

On the 17th of this month I will be celebrating 15 (!!) years of marriage.

On the 22nd of this month I will be celebrating 35 (!!) years on this earth.

It’s a big month, you guys.

When I returned from Mom 2.0, there was a box sitting right beside my bed.

My husband was off dealing with a wee bag kerfuffle.

Do I open it? Yes? No? After 15 years, it’s surely impossible to surprise me, right? I should just open it. But, I mean, the man went back to the airport for me, the least I could do was wait for him. Plus, he’d know. I’m crappy at lying and/or keeping secrets.

I didn’t open it, for the record.

When I did, I nearly passed out.

It seems that it IS possible to surprise me, even after 15 years together.

Do you know what it is?

He says. This makes me laugh. Do I? DO I.

It started with a tweet.

Kelly-Ripa-Junos

It looked like this.

Kelly-ripa-Junos-dress

And I searched and searched and searched.

And came up with nothing.

No “Kelly Ripa cream-coloured knot dress.”

No “Kelly Ripa Juno Awards dress”

No “Kelly Rips sings Titanic with Michael Buble”

I couldn’t find it. And I’m really good at this. I’m a fashion blogger, for crying out loud. I did an entire series for Mamapop on how to dress like people on television.

But he could.

HE COULD.

And it’s mine.

And it’s Valentino.

Kelly-ripa-junos-valentino

And you can bet your ass that I’m wearing it right now in my home office singing “My Heart Will Go On” into my hairbrush. To my dog.

Because I can.

Because I married right.

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  1. Oh Ali! Gav wins everything today (and can hold on to his title of Canada’s most romantic husband). I hope to see you twirling in that dress soon!

    Comment by Jennifer on May 7, 2013
  2. OMG LUV this…PLEASE post a pic of you in it…Such a fab story…YAY for great men…Cheers

    Comment by Dee Brun on May 7, 2013
  3. Indeed! Going to wear it on my birthday…and then never take it off. 🙂

    Comment by alimartell on May 8, 2013
  4. GAV MARTELL: Ruining husbanding since 2013.

    Comment by kat on May 7, 2013
  5. Aw, yeah. Though I’m not surprised — you married a good man. xo

    Comment by Angella on May 7, 2013
  6. Oh Gav. Love this. What I want to know is how did HE find out what dress she was wearing?!

    Comment by Gwen on May 7, 2013
  7. He refuses to reveal his secrets. Poo.

    Comment by alimartell on May 8, 2013
  8. Best. Husband. Ever.

    Comment by Sandy on May 7, 2013
  9. Fabulous. All of it. I agree with Dee, you must post a pic of you in the dress.

    Comment by Lisa on May 7, 2013
  10. He sure is a keeper! Can we clone him?

    Comment by Kristabella on May 7, 2013
  11. It’s really too bad that he doesn’t have brothers…

    Comment by ali on May 7, 2013
  12. I’d really be happy if he could just train one of his single friends for me.

    Comment by Kristabella on May 7, 2013
  13. Gav = one righteous dude!

    Comment by Rae Ann on May 7, 2013
  14. Nice! That’s a very sweet surprise – happy celebration month to you 🙂

    Comment by Eileen on May 7, 2013
  15. Valentino! I love it and this story! OMG Ali! Best anniversary gift EVER. Post a picture as soon as you wear it! And how did he find it?!

    Comment by Loukia on May 7, 2013
  16. Gav wins! That is beyond awesome Ali! Happy early Anniversary to you both. And for the record, I think you both married right. Quite right ;).

    Comment by Nadia Carriere on May 7, 2013
  17. You = officially my favorite.

    Comment by alimartell on May 8, 2013
  18. Clearly, he has a secret in with Kelly Ripa. He is, after all, a famous food blogger.

    Comment by Avitable on May 7, 2013
  19. HOLY CRAP THAT IS AWESOME.

    Comment by Jen Wilson on May 7, 2013
  20. ps. People born in May are the best kind of people.

    Comment by Jen Wilson on May 7, 2013
  21. THIS!!

    Comment by alimartell on May 8, 2013
  22. I would never take it off. Ever.

    Comment by Heather on May 7, 2013
  23. Gorgeous!

    Congratulations on all 3 awesome occurrences of the month: birthday, anniversary, and on scoring that amazing dress!

    Comment by Elisa on May 7, 2013
  24. I love it, love it, love it. Absolutely stunning. I want to turn 35, too!

    Comment by Louise on May 7, 2013
  25. So sweet, enjoy wearing it!

    Comment by J from Ireland on May 8, 2013
  26. yay husband! That is awesome what a lovely surprise

    Comment by Jules on May 8, 2013
  27. It really was…such a surprise.
    And I can’t stop smiling, dammit.

    Comment by alimartell on May 8, 2013
  28. All the best people are born in May (says someone whose birthday is tomorrow.)

    And seriously, best husband ever. My husband would never even THINK to do that, let alone do that. And I have a really good husband.

    Comment by jodifur on May 8, 2013
  29. It’s the best month, really. 🙂

    Comment by alimartell on May 8, 2013
  30. The other guys will never forgive him for this.

    Comment by Suebob on May 8, 2013
  31. There is a very good chance that this might be the truth…but the wives’ll love him. 🙂

    Comment by alimartell on May 8, 2013
  32. OH MY GD!!!!!!! Fine, he can still keep his most romantic husband in Canada title. Guess what I got for my birthday last month??? NOTHING!!! Although, there were balloons hanging from the kitchen ceiling when I woke up, so he gets a few (very few) points for that. Awesome dress!!!!!

    Comment by Adina on May 8, 2013
  33. He can write you prescriptions whenever you want. That’s kind of a good perk?

    🙂

    Comment by alimartell on May 8, 2013
  34. […] done my husband a slight disservice by announcing to the world how over-the-top wonderful he is. I mean, he hunts down Kelly Ripa’s Valentino dresses. But he does other things, less exciting (and expensive) things for me on a daily basis that I […]

    Pingback by I’m Pretty Sure I’m A Vegetarian Now | Cheaper Than Therapy on May 9, 2013
  35. I’m sending Terry this link. Right now 🙂

    Comment by Erica on May 9, 2013
  36. sheesh, dude…. how do you do that? Like… Buy a dress for your wife? damn!…

    Comment by Terry on May 9, 2013
  37. […] yes, well, that’s because it’s THE DRESS. It has nothing to do with […]

    Pingback by My Kryptonite | Cheaper Than Therapy on May 13, 2013
  38. I love when husbands get it right. Good for Gav. What a great, and thoughtful gift.

    Comment by Candace on May 21, 2013
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