What's In A Name?

Quite a bit actually. First, middle, last, street address, city, state, zip. Yes, Blair and I have been tackling the beast otherwise known as the guest list. While this is an exciting list to compile as these are the people that will surround us on our wedding day; it is impossible to think that with each and every addition to my spreadsheet I know that all of the above information is required for each person. Let the e-mails begin! Or, if you prefer to sign any text messages you might send  to me over the next week or so with your full name and mailing address I will accept those as well.

HELP. (Image via)

Now that Blair and I have made "listing" our new verb of choice; we are set on getting this finished as soon as possible so that my hands may become unfrozen from the typing position. Thanks for reading!

Mary

The Traditions Continue

This past week at St. Simons with my extended family was just what the doctor ordered. We usually go earlier in July so I was overly eager to jump in the car on Saturday morning and drive down there. St. Simons is a very special place to all of those in my family; it is the place where our grandparents met, where we have grown up visiting, exploring, and just being with each other and I can only hope that one day Blair and I will have children that come to love this place as we have.

Mom, Laura, and me before a delicious dinner at Coastal Kitchen

Most every day involved beach sitting, pool swimming, nap taking, junk food eating, book reading, and lots of relaxing.

The usual afternoon thunderstorm rolling in on the beach

Here it comes!

Blair arrived on Wednesday evening and everyone was so excited to spend more time with him. He fit right in and was such a great sport (hence the air-brushed t-shirts)

Sister!

Sister sporting the Lady Gaga glasses

He made it!

Thursday night we had a big cook-out and a little celebration for Blair and I. Little did we know, another big surprise was on the way as my cousin Rebecca's boyfriend, Sean was waiting for her on the porch of their house when she was sent back for an errand fabricated by my uncle. When Rebecca turned the corner on the back porch Sean was there waiting to propose!

Our favorite new articles of clothing. Blair wore his to the beach the next day!

Waiting for the newly engaged couple to return!

Yellow cake with chocolate icing, Blair's favorite

Happy to report that there was zero of this cake left at the end of the week

The future Mr. and Mrs. Carey!

Engaged cousins!

Sadly, the week always has to come to an end and I am already so excited for next year. Hope you all are having a great week so far, thanks for reading!

Mom's vote for the Christmas card

Little one

The happy place!

Location, Location, Location

One big wedding decision: Made! We will be having our reception at Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta and Blair and I could not be more excited! And this is of course the only possible reception venue that I managed to not snap a photo of (I know, big fail). Anyway, the staff there has been wonderful so far and I am really looking forward to continuing to work with them as the planning continues. We just got back from the beach earlier so between spurts of unpacking, a few nap, and now the Lindsey Lohan version of The Parent Trap on ABC Family I knew I needed to let you all know I was still here!

A little itty bitty picture for a BIG day!

More to come about the beach trip and I hope you all are enjoying the sunshine, thanks for reading!

Mary

Some Beach

If you need me for the next week I will be here:

Image via

It is going to be so wonderful to spend time with my family, relax, and soak up some sun. Blair is making the trip down on Wednesday to be reevaluated by the extended family, just kidding (sort of). It feels nice to have some big wedding things solidified (I haven't forgotten to fill you in!) and to 100% enjoy this week of vacation.

I will try to fill you in some while I am gone but I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thanks for reading!

Mary

A Staple

I have a problem. It is this; once I find a restaurant that I like it is added to the rotation. What is that exactly you ask? Well, its my list of 4-5 places to eat in any city that I frequently visit. My parents, sister, Blair, and friends could all attest to this, if you ask me where I would like to eat I will name the same 4-5 places and then just blankly stare back at you as if I have obviously listed every dining facility in the city (Atlanta, Spartanburg, Columbia, Knoxville). One of the places on this "rotation" in Atlanta and Columbia is Chipotle.

Go eat here. That is an order.

I picked it up for dinner last night and will possibly definitely be going back there as I do not want to spend money at the grocery store before I leave town for a week. Their website can tell you much more about "The Chipotle Experience" but the ingredients are always fresh, the people are always nice, and the service is wonderful. I think I have frequented the Columbia location one time too many though because as I make my way down the line (you can see all of the ingredients as they are added to your salad/tacos/burrito etc. as well as how the food is prepared in their open kitchen) the same young man is typically at the salsa/guacamole station. Our conversation goes as follows:

Him: Mild, medium, or hot salsa?
Me: Mild please
Him: Corn, sour cream, or cheese?
Me: Just corn please [Side note: Something about their sour cream is amazing, try it]
Him: Guacamole or lettuce?
Me: Guacamole
Him: Guacamole is $1.25 extra [Not sure why but this is fine by me]
Me: I'll spl...
Him: Lemme guess, you'll splurge?

So the people there know my order? Yes. Embarrassed? No. Yes, the food may be a tad pricey but you won't leave hungry and it really is so much more tasty than any other fast-food-Mexican-place. I highly recommend it. Seriously, add it to your "rotation".

Thanks for reading!

Mary

HOW?!

How did I miss the fact that Sunday was National Ice Cream Day!? Guess I have to make up for it...this entire week. Wedding dress shopping can wait.

Um, yes please.

Hope your week is going by more quickly than mine (I think mine can sense that I am going on vacation next week)! Thanks for reading!

Mary

A Sawyer to a Walker

I promise to provide details of the Atlanta trip as the week goes on (including how Blair and I totally geeked out after seeing a reception venue and went and saw Harry Potter...in 3D), but right now I would like to offer a BIG CONGRATULATIONS! to our friends Meredith and Stevens who got engaged this weekend!

Blair and I have had the pleasure of spending a good deal of time with this pair since we graduated from our respective schools (They both went to PC) and their friendship really has been such a gift. From weekends in the mountains to floating and talking for hours in a lake, the time we spend with them is always so refreshing.

2012 is going to be a big year for us!

I am so excited to get to share this phase of our lives with them and cannot wait for the celebrations to continue. I hope you all had a great weekend and thanks for reading!

Mary