It's Here!!!

If you don't know what "it" is then you have been living under a rock. Thats right folks, William and Kate get married tomorrow and you better believe that I am sacrificing my beauty sleep to watch. Yes, I realize that I don't know/will never ever meet these people and that it is all very silly but something about it is also very exciting. I can't stop reading about it and watching all of the TLC/Lifetime specials (and yes, the movie); my co-workers also laughed at me when I said "Happy Royal Wedding Eve!" as the office started to empty out this afternoon.

I also keep thinking about Kate; I imagine that every bride is incredibly excited/anxious/nervous/giddy on her wedding day but I think it must be the strangest feeling for her to know that while she is sleeping there is a twenty-something girl in South Carolina talking about the wedding with her friends at the gym. Not to mention the thousands of people sleeping in the streets of London in the hopes of catching a glimpse of her...

Yes, I updated the picture from yesterday. I just thought this exchange between Kate and her sister was too sweet to pass up (Picture via CBS News)

I can't wait! Thanks for reading and TGIF!

Mary

I Spy

Below is an actual photo of the shelf in my bedroom right now. Once you see it, you will think "Wow, that's really embarrassing, why did she post that?" And the answer is I posted this because I know you all won't judge me...so don't prove me wrong:

It might not jump right out at you, keep looking...

Ok so at first glance you see a few photos (Shout out Grandmother & Fado and Wofford Graduation in the fountain!), you might notice a few books, my glasses case, earrings...oh um wait, whats that? Oh that's just a bag a plain Easter m&m's, a half empty bag I might add.

Yes, I was given these m&m's by the Easter bunny and upon my return to Columbia I decided I should store these in my room for safekeeping [I ate all of my jellybeans on the car ride home so I didn't feel well/the m&m's were my #1 priority]. Well I naturally opened the bag and seem to be eating handfuls every time I go into my room. Going to work? Need a few. Making my bed? Definitely need an m&m (or 12). Going to the gym? m&m.

SOMEONE STOP ME.

Well, I guess now that I have posted this I can come out of hiding and share the Easter joy with my roommates...but maybe just a few more m&m's first...

Thanks for reading/not judging!

Mary

Hoppy Easter!

Sorry for the lapse in posts loyal followers, I have been home in Atlanta with my dad and sister this past weekend and we like to stay busy (i.e. not be on the computer). The Easter service we attended today was beautiful; and it was crowded, like chairs at the front and behind columns sort of crowded but it was a wonderful service and we enjoyed lunch together before I hit the road to head home. Sorry for the short post but my bed is calling my name, pictures first though!

Sister!

Laura and I will be attending the J.Crew cardigan convention next Easter

Laura and dapper Dad

My father with his favorite daughter

I hope you all had a great Easter weekend as well, thanks for reading!

Mary

Shore Thing

Do not judge my roommates and I based on the pictures shown below. It was a theme party after all; so here we are, at the shore...

Guidos.

Ok so Marsha and I are smiling like semi-normal people in this photo but I do think it showcases our accessories quite nicely.  Please note my oh so modest pink hoop earrings

Marsha and I with the birthday girl!

We were all joking on Friday that we couldn't go too crazy with our Jersey Shore tans because we were attending the engagement party for Ashton and Matt on Saturday night. It was so nice to spend time with Ashton and Matt's families and really kick off their wedding festivities. Matt's dad recalled a moment where he saw Ashton skip after Matt into a restaurant and concluded his toast by looking at the happy couple and saying "May you always skip", so sweet!

Girls at the engagement party. Mom, please ignore my awful posture in this picture. You taught me better than that.

Blair and I pre-dance marathon session. There was a DJ so it was not like we had a choice!

Roommates with our bride-to-be!

It was a great party and I am so excited for Ashton and Matt's Philadelphia wedding in September. The only thing that makes me nervous is that Blair keeps warning me that he is not such a great airplane passenger. Aisle seat in the front of the plane please!

Thanks for reading!

Mary

Sugar High

Attempting to eat healthy and going to the gym are not going to be kind to me this week. Why you ask? Well mainly because I have been on a diet of cake this weekend. My roommate, Sam celebrated her 23rd birthday this past Thursday (a celebration that naturally carried into the weekend) and it was a birthday cake feast. I think the pictures speak for themselves:

This is the cake that Sam's boyfriend Zeco made her [our house]. This cake is amazing 1. Because it was made by a person who is not a professional baker and 2. Because it was made by a boy. Homemade icing and everything. Legit.

That's right folks, it's got layers. Orange and strawberry layers with strawberry jam in between. Delicious.

The cake that I made for Sam is not quite as aesthetically pleasing as Zeco's but it is chocolately. I am talking "Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake" recipe sort of chocolate.

I felt like adding chocolate chips to the chocolate icing would be a really good decision. My scale and bathing suit season would probably disagree. Oh well.

Needless to say I think the birthday cake sampler that we have at our house right now has created some serious sugary joy and also some serious tummy aches. We topped the weekend off with a "Jersey Shore" party in Sam's honor and an engagement party Saturday night for our other roommate Ashton and her fiancé Matt. I will be posting pictures of the engagement party soon and am debating about the "Jersey Shore" photos as I do not want my family and friends to disown me. Hope you all had a great weekend!

Thanks for reading!

Mary

Those Publix People

Well I told you so. Those Publix people did it again. They have released yet another commercial that made me spontaneously start crying (thank goodness 2 of my roommates weren't home and one was cleaning her room). I can't find it anywhere but basically there is an older sister whose family is throwing her a going away party before she leaves for college and her younger brother keeps telling people he won't miss her (is this sounding familiar yet Laura Branch??) and then the older sister catches her brother sadly gazing at a picture of them when they were little [cue the waterworks] and she says "I'll miss you too". Tears are a'flowin at this point...

Yep, it was an ugly cry. Thanks Publix.

But since I can't find that commercial this one will have to do. Do Publix commercials cause this much emotional stress for anyone else?! No? Alright....

Thanks for reading!

Mary

And They're Off!

This past weekend in Knoxville officially kicked off the 2011 Wedding Tour that Blair and I will be making (more official tour dates to come, have to no fear), but literally this is how we (ok, the guys) kicked off wedding season:

Blair?

The boys waiting for the bride and groom to arrive

Blair and I at the reception, guests could enjoy cocktails on the balcony after the ceremony and the art galleries were also open for people to enjoy

Reunited and it feels so good!

Wofford's Old Main groom's cake (oh and it was delicious, don't worry I tried it)

Mr. and Mrs. Austin Fitch!

Lizzie, Sarah Beth and I enjoying the band. The Wofford crowd (including the bride and groom) were front and center with the band most of the night

 Leah and Austin's ceremony was beautiful and the reception was so much fun. It was great to see the bride and groom dancing and really enjoying time with their guests. That's what it's all about! In other news I mentioned that Blair's parents redid their backyard so if you need me this summer you can find me here:

Places for eating...

And places for napping. Pretty much all I need!

I hope you all had a great weekend; thanks for reading!

Mary

Sisterly Advice

My sister Laura recently started a "tumblr" called Peachy Things where she posts photos, quotes, or anything else that inspires her (as I have said before, she is much more creative/intelligent than I am). I was having a packing dilemma getting ready for this weekend and during a commercial break from Real Housewives Of New York City I saw this post from her and found some clothing selections guidance:

Perfect. Even from miles and hours away my sister has managed to pack for me. And if you know anything about the Branch girls you would know that Laura and I wear a lot of red and even more black. Guess what colors are filling my suitcase for Knoxville this weekend...

Thanks for reading & have a great weekend!

Mary

[Almost] Sleepless Nights

I have developed the awful habit of what I will call "Bravo Binging". Yup, I am addicted to Bravo TV. I know, I know, how shameful, shallow, etc. but I just can't change the channel, unless Modern Family is on, obviously. Last night my roommate Ashton and I stayed up until MIDNIGHT to watch a sneak peek of their new show, Pregnant in Heels. I didn't hate it...

Waste of time that could have been spent sleeping? Maybe.

I am also mentally preparing myself for even less sleep once this returns:

Real Housewives of New York

So yes, this is pathetic but as my roommates and I were discussing on Sunday night, its just an or so (hours in my case) where we can spend time together, laugh a lot and gossip. Basically what twenty-something girls do best. I have to run because Pregnant in Heels is about to air again...

Thanks for reading!

Mary

Pots, Pans, Bowls & Dishes

Lets give Anna the kitchen of her wishes! (The clever jingle on the invitation for the shower, our fellow hostess Jenna is quite the rhymer)

Anna's Kitchen Shower was today and it was wonderful; the weather today was fantastic and it was so nice to all be able to spend time together to honor Anna and spend an extra little bit of time with our friend Martha who moves to Colorado a week from tomorrow. Here are a few pictures from the afternoon, enjoy!

So. Much. Delicious. Food.

So cute; and about to have a bomb.com kitchen

Hostesses with the bride!

Martha, Anna, and Leanne with their sweet moms and Anna's sister Ellen

Wofford girls!

Thanks for reading!

Mary

Spoonful of Sugar

That's all I felt like I purchased at the grocery store. That, and butter. Lots butter. Why you ask? Well, this Sunday marks the kick off of my friend Anna's wedding festivities and we [the other hostesses with the mostest and myself] are so excited! Meagan and I are in charge of the sweets (naturally) and I am making carrot cake cupcakes with maple cream cheese icing and fudge. Maybe my cupcakes will looks like this when I am done...


Take it easy Martha Stewart.

Oh or this; this looks super easy

Piece of cake.

Ok. Lets be honest with ourselves, none of the above are in my limited skill set. It is however, supposed to be a beautiful day tomorrow so I am planning on opening our kitchen doors and windows, playing some music, whipping up a cupcake batter storm with my KitchenAid mixer (holla!) and doing a whole lot of this...

Much better.

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!

Mary