My name is Mary and I am a 20-something embarking upon my first year as a wife and as a blogger. I am a southern girl who loves college football, golden retrievers, shoe shopping and offensively dirty martinis. My husband is my heart and I love cooking for him – but before he came along, I loved cooking for myself, my friends, my family and anybody else who was around for parties or potlucks!
I developed a passion for cooking at an early age when I had to earn a Brownie badge for preparing a meal for somebody. I made homemade vegetable soup for my parents and voila – an obsession was born! I also love writing – so this blog is the best of both worlds for me: a creative venue for me to express myself AND a way to share my passion for cooking with the world because cooking truly is the bright side of my daily routine!
In March 2010, I joined a weight loss program and found that a diet did not have to be MIS-ER-A-BLE. I actually had fun plugging in recipes and figuring out what I was allowed for the day. Now, it’s actually fun to sit down, plan out a menu for the week and know what nights I can allow myself a cold beer or glass of wine without it counting against me. A lot of the recipes I post will be “lightened up” – but you may not need it to be. The great thing is that they are easy to modify – which is how I got them to work for me in the first place!
I hope you enjoy my adventures of eating, drinking and being Mary – and I hope that some of you may see that there is a bright side to cooking!
cookingonthebrightside 
Hi Mary!
I am so impressed by you and your new cooking website! You are so smart and creative (not to mention a fabulous cook!) Wishing you much success…as my tummy gets full!
Congratulations!
Love,
Barbara
oxoxox
Thank you for the comment and for your support – I hope you find some good recipes on here!
Hi Mary,
I stumbled upon your blog from reading some of your posts on Facebook. You are so talented! I never knew how much you enjoyed cooking! You have inspired me to try new recipes and cook a little more often than I do. 🙂 Looking forward to trying some of your recipes. I’ll let you know how they turn out!
Hope you are doing well.
Niki
Mary – really enjoyed reading your recipes and comments – you are so talented! I will be a constant follower….
Lizette Green (Your mom’s friend at the Falls!)
Mary,we enjoyed your blog. Keep up this good sturr. ad a good time with you today…Your desert was delicious. Auntie and Andrew.
Mary,
I’m so excited to try many of these wonderful recipes! Since I have to cook for two now AND I’m in wedding mode, your recipes are just what I need and are absolutely perfect! Thanks so much for sharing and for being Mary 🙂
Jen
Love your blog. My husband googled for a triggerfish recipe….we chose your Spicy Sauteed Triggerfish with a Lemon Caper Wine Sauce. It was DEEEELICIOUS! I’ve been printing recipes from your blog all day. You should publish a cookbook. Would you be willing to share your weekly menus?