Put Your Record On

So if you have been reading this blog from the beginning you may sometimes wonder how exactly so many embarrassing things can happen to the same person; well, I have a doozy to add to the list today. Allow me to set the scene:

Tuesday night, I am driving home from the gym and it is dark. This leads me to [foolishly] believe that once I turn up my radio that no one will be able to see me singing just a tad too loudly along with this song. False. While it is not quite a duet by Gladys Knigth & The Pips, there are definitely times where their voices overlap (Gladys and The Pips, that is) so I am trying, and I think succeeding to cover all of the vocals as I am sitting at a red light. I glance over right as my car has come to a stop, mid-sing, and discover that the elderly gentleman in the car next to me is looking in my direction like I am certifiably insane.Yes, I am mortified but what is worse is that the song had really just started so even though I had been caught singing, I was still mumbling the words as I couldn't let the midnight train to Georgia pass me by.

Seriously, I dare you to not sing along with this song.

I hope you all are having a great week and that you are singing in the car tonight because its almost Friday! Thanks for reading!

Mary

A Win in Tiger Town

This weekend Blair and I went to Greenville to spend some time with friends, cheer on the Clemson Tigers, and register (duh duh duh...more on that later). Needless to say we all knew that the Clemson vs. Florida State game was big but I am not exaggerating when I say that I think that the noise level in Death Valley during the second half reached a deafening level. The Tigers came out on top with a 35-30 victory over the Seminoles and Blair and I came away with another great weekend under our belt thanks to Tiger Town.

Before dinner at The Trappe Door in Greenville on Friday

Dinner date

Our hosts/professional tailgate chefs

Sporting our Clemson colors on gameday!

The future Mrs. Jones (eeek!)

[Almost] Reath family photo opp

The Tigers take the field...

And the fans storm the field

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend & thanks for reading!

Mary

Seven

Disclaimer: In an effort to prevent this from becoming a "Wedding Blog" (Although some would argue it's too late); I decided that providing one update a month is plenty of Branch-Reath nuptials for all of you loyal readers. I hope you all enjoy!

All Decked Out

Like I said before, my dad was the first one to nail down his outfit for the big day. My dad is not exactly a "shopper" so when he told me that he purchased a new tuxedo I was actually quite shocked. After a trial run at his Kiwanis banquet with the only complaint that it was a little warm, I think dad is good to go!

Our respective mothers have started their search for their big day attire and Laura and Lindsey will be set to go once we get some bridesmaids dress details finalized. More on that to come in "Six".

This post is really about Blair; Blair knew right away that he wanted to wear a classic black tuxedo. My inner bridezilla loved this because I think this is such a timeless look and I was so glad that this was what Blair wanted as well. I know you all are thinking, "Mary, he wants to wear a tux, what is the big deal?"; but for me its not really about the tux so much but that this is what Blair thinks he is going to feel and look the best in because if there is one day to feel your best, shouldn't it be your wedding day?

Old picture but Blair is looking sharp

Its so exciting that seven months from today Blair and I will be surrounded by our friends and family celebrating our wedding at our rehearsal dinner. And I know when I see Blair for the first time seven months from tomorrow (yes, I realize I sound like one of those crazy wedding-countdown brides) waiting at the end of aisle that he will look just as handsome and happy as always.

In other wedding related news, Blair and I realized that engagement pictures are included in our price package from our wonderful photographer Angie. At first we were both a little hesitant about this as sometimes engagement pictures look a little too posed for my taste but the more I thought about it, the photos will be a great way for Angie to spend more time with us before the wedding and it will be nice for us to have pictures of us that were not taken with ole' faithful (aka my coolpix camera). We are still discussing where we want to have these taken but I will definitely keep you all updated on what I am sure will be funny day.

Thanks for reading and check back in a month for "Six"!

Mary

Winning

So while the Georgia Bulldogs may not be off to such a phenomenal football start; some of their alum are definitely having a winning season; mainly Kyle Chandler (aka Coach Taylor from Friday Night Nights) who won an Emmy Sunday night for Lead Actor is a Drama Series.

May or may not have cried a little...

That's right, born and raised in Loganville, a Georgia resident makes it big! Laura and I have watched him since he was on Early Edition in the mid-90's so watching him win an Emmy last night almost made me a little homesick as we loved that show so much when we were younger and now we have moved on to different phases of our respective lives. Funny how the little things take you back.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and thanks for reading!

Mary

Giddy for Friday

LEANNE AND ANDREW ARE ENGAGED!!!!!

All Your Wishes

To Blair:

I hope that on your birthday you can have all of the Gatorade, Cheetos, Pepsi, and King-Sized Kit Kats you want!

Priceless.

But really, I do hope that Blair has a wonderful day, I am sad I am not in Sparkle City to celebrate with him but this time next year he won't he won't be able to escape my birthday-festivity-planning! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOTY!!!

A Family Victory

Although our mighty Terriers may have narrowly been defeated by the Clemson Tigers, this was most definitely a winning weekend because we got to spend some quality time with Blair's parents and many of our good friends from Wofford as our small school invaded the Clemson campus with our Terrier spirit.

Out in Clemson Friday night, trying not to let our old age show

Blair and Phil showing off their stellar dance moves

Reath men

Fellow bloggers, Mary Loyal and Anna!

Just over a month away from Anna's big day!

Showing off our Wofford colors

Black & Gold

Some of Wofford's finest

The Terriers take the field!

Our delicious dinner Saturday night at Red Minnow

It was such a great weekend and it was so exciting to watch our Terriers put up such a fight. I hope you all had a great weekend & thanks for reading!

Mary

Walls of the Heart

"So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart"

-Former Poet Laureate Billy Collins "The Names"

Sprinkle in Some Gold & Black

Add a little bit of Terrier spirit to this picture and you are good to go!

Yes, this weekend our mighty Terriers will take on the Clemson Tigers! It sounds like Wofford Homecoming will arrive earlier this year and I could not be more excited. Blair's parents will also be in town to help celebrate his birthday and it's projected to be about 10 degrees cooler than it was last weekend. This is music to my ears!

I hope you all have a great weekend, go Wofford and thanks for reading!
Mary

There's No Crying in Baseball!

Well, not baseball in this case, just in public. Twice since Sunday I have cried in public. And I am not talking a single tear, these were free-flowing ugly-face-making sort of tears. I can't help it; it's a miracle I don't get kicked out of movie theatres more often for aggressive sobbing.

Cry-Fest #1: Blair and I stopped for lunch at Firehouse Subs on our way to the lake on Sunday. From our seats I could see a T.V. mounted on a nearby wall; Blair could not. ESPN starts to air one of their tear-jerking montages, which get me every time but this one was particularly moving as it was the story of "Man in the Red Bandanna" (Make sure you have tissues handy). OK I will give you 13 minutes to watch this...And now you're crying too. Well I was, in Firehouse, with the post-church crowd. Blair tells me it looks like he just broke up with me in the middle of our lunch, and it does but I couldn't help it; I knew I was going to start crying as soon as I started watching but I couldn't pull my eyes away, or wipe them because Cheetos were my chips of choice.

Cry-Fest #2: A happy cry, Blair's birthday celebration is set to take place this weekend so I was in the grocery store picking up a few treats and made my way to the greeting card aisle. It is important to note that at this point I only have baking supplies in my cart. I start reading the birthday cards and some of these are so funny I start the silent laugh, I am laughing but literally making no sound. And then I start crying...great. I wish I would have video taped the looks I got that said this "Oh, look that said girl has a bunch a baking stuff in her cart and is crying in the middle of the store". Maybe some people put two and two together but probably not, I don't have that kind of luck.

So, if you have ever had the urge to cry in public, have no fear because it has happened to me twice...in three days. Hope you all are having a good week so far and thanks for reading!

Mary

Labor of Love

This weekend was so much fun and I was very glad that it was a glorious three days long! Sometimes I feel like one extra "weekend day" is all I need so Labor Day weekend was just what the doctor ordered. Friday night I was off to Greenville to meet Blair, along with our friend Sarah, Whitner, Brandi, and Sean for a delicious dinner at Smoke on the Water downtown. It was such a fun atmosphere and the food was great, I highly recommend it!

Sarah and Whitner at dinner on Friday night

After a modest order of brisket, mac n' cheese, and spinach casserole. Pretty much the only reason I hesitated on dessert was because I couldn't make a decision. Note to self: Work on decisiveness.

Saturday meant time for Clemson football! After successfully packing up all of the tailgating equipment we were off...off to the hottest football game that I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

Slight relief from the heat=Tree next to tailgate spot

Reath brothers

Next week we will all be wearing black & gold as the Tigers take on the Terriers!

Here they come!

Host & hostess extraordinaire

Hope you all had a great last weekend of summer, thanks for reading!

Mary

The Dog Days

Are just beginning! The college football season starts this weekend and that means I will be busy cheering on the Terriers and the good, ole Georgia Bulldogs. I love football season so as much as I hate to see summer come to an end, football begins! Now, back to my dogs...

A few times every week I try to read the Atlanta paper online so I can stay in the loop about what is happening in my hometown. A few days ago I stumbled across this article which explains that Herschel Walker, the record-breaking UGA running back that was a star in the 80's wants to open his own concession stand at the Atlanta airport called "The Greatest Bulldog". Modesty is obviously not an issue here but I am not certain that the international visitors the visit the Atlanta Airport will understand the profound importance of Herschel Walker or the food he will serve that represents the various pro teams that Heisman Trophy winner played for.

The best of the best (Yes, this is Herschel dominating a Tennessee player, sorry Blair)

On a slightly more sentimental note, this article explains the connection that most of the assistant coaches at Wofford have not only to the school itself but to Head Coach, Mike Ayers. Coach Ayers explains that these relationships are one of the many things that sets Wofford apart from other programs.

Go Terriers!

If you weren't ready for some football I hope you are now! Blair and I are off to Clemson this weekend to kick the season off right with Whitner and Sarah. It is supposed to be a cool and refreshing 97 degrees in Clemson on Saturday so if I make it back alive I promise to share some pictures.

Happy long weekend and thanks for reading!

Mary