P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Diddy – whatever your name is right now because I really can’t keep track anymore… you just made my day. In a crazy viral Twitter-frenzy, Diddy set off the rumor mill by announcing on his Twitter page that he would be joining the cast of Downton Abbey as a season 4 regular. There had been buzz about creator Julian Fellowes adding more diversity to the brilliant cast next season, and Diddy’s been known to act here and there, so it seemed semi-plausible?

Diddy later posted his Downton (or as he says, “Downtown”) debut – a Funny or Die video, masterfully created into some real Masterpiece Theater. Diddy’s “character,” Lord Wolcott, brings some much needed flavor to the show and seems to say exactly what I’m thinking to myself when I watch the ridiculously improbable story lines (“I KNEW you could walk!”)  My love for Downton Abbey just got kicked up a notch. I’d like to see how crazy the 1920’s could get when Diddy brings Ciroc to the manor.

Watch his Downton debut (warning – Diddy uses some explicit language) and take note of some of my fave quotes:

• “I can’t love you, not when I love Sybil, and Mary…and Mrs. Pattamore, and the Dowager Countess and a couple of maids…”
• “Everybody, welcome to the first ever white party”
• “You said they call this a telephone?”
• “Boy, I knew you could walk!”
• “This World War is so dreadful; I pray there’s not a World War II”

Posted by Amanda

As a fellow member of Camp Busty, I’m extremely envious of gals who can show off their shoulders and backs in strapless or scoop tops.  Not just because of how they look, but because (to me) it seems like they’ve gobbled up the dress market! Finding a non-strapless wedding gown was an ordeal.  And the bridesmaid’s dress I wore last summer, with its plunging back, lead to a crushing collection of straps, snaps and point underwire to avoid the dreaded sags.

So don’t “woe is me” Sofia for her complaint. As someone whose job it is to walk red carpets night after night with fresh new looks, she’s definitely at a disadvantage over the clothes-hanger body types of Gwyneth Paltrow or Nicole Kidman. Fashion reviewers might complain that she always wears the same cuts.  But has that diminished her beauty one bit?  No way!

Check out some shots of Sofia Vergara’s smokin’ signature red carpet look:

2011 SAG Awards
Image source Pursuitist.com

2012 Emmys
Image source HollywoodReporter.com

2013 White House Correspondent’s Dinner
Image source Vogue

Posted by Michelle

Image source Cosmopolitan

In case you haven’t heard, on May 26 the legendary TV show, Arrested Development, will make a roaring return to a Netflix screen near you!

If you like dysfunctional families, inappropriate humor, clueless grown-ups, magicians who ride around on Segways, a failed psychologist who thinks he’s a member of the Blue Man Group, dramatic family lawsuits, and the most awkward person alive (Michael Cera), then make sure to tune in.

Arrested Development also teaches us important life lessons, like what to say if you don’t understand someone, how to use proper grammar, how to greet your siblings, and how to get your child’s attention. Truly, it’s a life-transforming and informative show.

In case you don’t know her already, let me introduce you to my favorite character of the family, Lucille Bluth; a 60-something mom who winks when she drinks, refuses to dine anywhere that isn’t a country club, outwardly criticizes her children, and fosters an unhealthy and clingy relationship with her youngest son. Not to mention she has the best one-liners. In case you find her just as amusing as I do, check out BuzzFeed’s “28 Ways To Live Life Like Lucille Bluth.”

In the meantime, make sure to do your research, catch up on all the inside jokes, character developments, and plot lines before the new season airs. That way, you’ll be ready to rumble as soon as Netflix simultaneously streams the entire season.

Who else will be staying up until midnight on May 25? Dedicated fans at mm/c, let yourselves be known!

Posted by Carolyn

The time has come, ladies and gents, to put away those fuzzy sweats and squeeze into the cheeky bathing suit bottoms you’ve been hiding away for months. A scary thought, I know.

With that comes the time to slim and firm the parts of your bod that haven’t seen daylight in a while. Another scary thought.

I’d like to say the change in seasons means I’ll be hitting the gym harder than ever, but in reality, my three-days-a-week spin routine is probably going to continue the way it is at best. That said, I’m instilling a new routine to get this little bod into tip-top shape for the beach. Follow my newfound regime to laze your way to Victoria’s Secret status in no time.

1. Stop eating free cupcakes (and the like). When you work a couple blocks from Georgetown Cupcake, it’s easy to turn the free, super-secret cupcake of the day into an everyday occurrence. Time to take a momentary hiatus from the daily cupcake party.

2. Walk places. Nice weather = walking weather. The trek from North Station to Copley Square is a cakewalk with the right footwear.

3. Take the stairs. Sorry, peeps. Elevator’s off limits until August.

4. Drink vino, not beer. What?! mm/c client/friend/resident wine queen Liz Vilardi once told me that the secret to lookin’ great whilst dining on pork belly, rabbit rillette and fromage from Belly’s “butter” category is washing it all down with lots of acidic vino. That science makes sense to me! I am not going to argue that point.

5. Commercial breaks = sit up breaks. Said it. I’ve been known to get my crunch on in between American Idol performances.

6. Get up at lunch. I’ve made a vow to get my butt outta this chair at lunch time, even if it’s just to walk around the block, and I suggest that all you loyal m.blog readers do the same. Plus once in a blue moon I’m lucky enough to run into this talented guy.

7. Workplace exercises are not off-limits. Don’t worry, Marlo. We won’t be whipping out the running shoes for midday sprints, but someone at mm/c (cough cough, Maya), has taught me that lunging to and from the bathroom makes for toned thighs and a good giggle.

See? Easy as pie (although pie should probably be in the free cupcake category). See you on the beach, white wine in-hand, fellow fitness buffs!

Posted by Mary

“Man Swallowed by Hippo.” When I saw this headline, I thought, either this is from The Onion or there’s going to be some sort of belated April Fool’s joke at the bottom of the article, making me feel like an idiot for reading the whole thing.

But no, this legitimately happened, and the man lived to tell the tale. Sure, he wasn’t actually swallowed whole in some sort of Pinocchio and the whale scenario, but the guy was definitely almost digested. The “huge tusks and slicing incisors” also didn’t make things easier for his escape – nor did the sliminess and the “sulfurous smell, like rotten eggs” of the hippo’s belly make it any more pleasant.

It made me think about the sweet little wooden hippo that sits on my coffee table – a wedding present brought back from Africa by a friend. That thing is so cute, but apparently misleads me into thinking hippos are harmless. What next – do pandas and puppies have violent, people-eating tendencies too? Needless to say, this only further confirms that I am not a safari-vacation kind of girl… I’ll stick to the beach where the biggest threat is a rogue seagull.

Posted by Amanda

Chanel:

Image source Luuux.com

Originally hand-drawn by Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, Chanel’s tattoos channel an oriental vibe with a hint of classic sophistication – strings of pearls, cherry blossoms, and delicate chains carried by birds that can be slapped on in a variety of designs.

Dior:

Image source Refinery29

Leave it to Dior to create tattoos that look exactly like jewelry trying to look like tattoos. The Dior Grand Bal Golden Tattoos designed by jewelry designer Camille Miceli are made of 24 karat gold leaf and cost about as much as the 3D versions. When it comes to sexy paste on skin art, I’ll take gold leaf on my limbs over ladypart sequins any day of the week.

House of Dereon:

Image source blog.tattoosales.com

Beyonce took temp tats in a whole new direction with her futuristic pin-up biker chic line of temporary tattoos designed by…wait for it…her mom. Way to go Tina Knowles, who knew you had such a sassy side?

Hipster Tats:

Image source Tattly

Last but not least, if you don’t buy into the fashion industry’s Cracker Jack box tattoo shtick, go the hipster route with these temporary vegetable tattoos, because, in case you haven’t heard, veggies are so hot right now.

Posted by Jenna

Although I haven’t assumed identities for all mm/c employees (that would be a long list!), I’ve provided identities for the best possible matches. Don’t be sad if you didn’t make the final cut in this post, because there may just be more to come.

Let me start out with the easiest one… myself.

Carolyn is Hermione Granger.

I’m slightly sassy and we have similar hair. Sometimes I’m annoying and I pretend to be a know-it-all. It’s the best I could come up with.

Image source ScifiScoop.com

Mary Concannon is Harry Potter.

Mary is the all-around super-star of the Account Coordinators here at mm/c. Not only is she a wealth of knowledge for any question, but she hires interns, is the keeper of the closet keys, and everyone loves her magical capabilities. Plus, Harry rhymes with Mary – duh!

Image source SchpinTV.com

Quinn is Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Similar to Kingsley, Quinn comes from a faraway land and let’s face it – she’s just as badass!

Image source HarryPotter.wikia.com

Erin is Dobby.

Erin makes the magic happen around here at mm/c. If you want something done, hit up Erin, because when she snaps her fingers, things happen. Sorry about your wardrobe Erin. I’ll work on throwing you a sock sometime soon!

Image source HarryPotter.wikia.com

Ben is Ron Weasley.

Similar to Ron, Ben is always around for some comic relief. Enough said.

Image source acciogallifrey.tumblr.com

Nina is Crookshanks.

Nina is pretty much a cat already, so this one was an easy choice.

Image source HarryPotter.wikia.com

Jenna is Luna Lovegood.

If this was based on looks and voice alone, Jenna is the perfect choice. Her sweet voice and long blonde hair make for a perfect alter ago. However, I’d like to make it clear that Jenna doesn’t speak to inanimate objects and is slightly less loopy.

 Image source ourgoatradio.blogspot.com

Maya is Cedric Diggory.

Maybe you’ll think this one is a bit of a stretch, but work with me here. Maya has good looks, charm, and she’s the queen bee of the social crowd. Isn’t she dreamy?

Image source BreakingDawnMovie.org

Rob is Sirius Black.

That’s right, Rob gets a shout out on m. blog. Whenever we need him most, Rob appears from out of nowhere to save the day, just like Harry’s uncle.

Image source FanPop.com

Sam is The Weasley Twins.

Sam always has a prank up his sleeve. Just like the Weasley twins’ fireworks incident, Sam climbs in high places for a scare and sends absurd prank emails for a laugh.

 Image source Collider.com

Ariel is Fleur Delacour.

Fleur is a gorgeous gal with a little bit of a hippy chic vibe to her. For some reason, this one just popped into my head. Did I mention she’s one of the most kick-ass witches out there?

Image source FanForum.com

Brianne is Professor McGonagall.

Brianne is one of the most powerful PR mavens here at mm/c. She’s a living legend with major style. Thank god we have her on our side!

Image source HarryPotter.wikia.com

Marlo is Albus Dumbledore.

You got it. The one and only, the most powerful wizard in the world, is none other than Marlo Fogelman. She’s the boss and when she speaks, nobody interrupts.

Image source guardian.co.uk

Lulu is Mrs. Norris.

Last but certainly not least, Lulu is Mrs. Norris, Filch’s pet. Just like Mrs. Norris, Lulu roams Hogwarts (mm/c) perusing for (and barking at) intruders.

Image source aibob.blogspot.com

What do you think? I know there are some key characters missing, but I think this is a good starting point for our magical transition. Thanks for bearing with my dorkiness. Stay tuned for more alter-egos

PS – What if the MBTA was the Hogwarts Express? This game could go on and on!

Posted by Carolyn

Sometimes, though, studios decide to actually stick with the working title as in the case of High School Musical and Snakes on a Plane (at the insistence of Samuel L. Jackson [the title was going to be changed to Pacific Air Flight 121 upon release]).

In honor of the start of summer blockbuster season, here are what some movie posters would have looked like if they had kept their working titles:

 The Dark Knight – Rory’s First Kiss

Image source Blastr.com

The Dark Knight Rises – Magnus Rex

Image source EmpireOnline.com

The Avengers – Group Hug

Image source Blastr.com

Iron Man 2 – Rasputin

Image source Blastr.com

Captain America – Frostbite

Image source EmpireOnline.com

Star Wars – Blue Harvest

Image source Blastr.com

Matrix Reloaded – The Burly Man

Image source Blastr.com

E.T. – A Boy’s Life

Image source Imgur.com

Chamber of the Secrets – Incident on 57th Street

Image source DenofGeek.com

Posted by Ben

There is a veritable cornucopia of things to do with Mason Jars online, and I became paradoxically overwhelmed and underwhelmed by my options, so I hit the pages of my most recent issue of Garden & Gun (for all y’all yanks raised above the Mason Dixon line I suggest you take a terry through its delightful pages which delicately preach the art of deep frying, duck hunting, coon hound husbandry, and oyster shucking etiquette).

Thus, my pension for pickling was piqued. Many might fear that a DIY of this nature might land you at the top of a Pinterest fails blog or give your roommate some hideous form of salmonella poisoning, but the ingredients and instructions are some of the easiest and cheapest I’ve come across, so fear not!

Dill Pickles:

- 8-10 small pickling cucumbers
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons pickling salt
- 4 heads fresh dill or 4 teaspoons dill seeds
- 4 small cloves garlic

Just boil water, add ingredients to jars and wait for a 7-10 days.

Meh.

Glorious.

There’s nothing more satisfying than hearing the seal “pop” on a new jar of ice-cold pickles. I was so pleased I went on a pickling rampage and proceeded to brine the living daylight out of any vegetable I could get my hands on (I have since learned moderation). I even went so far as to pickle the hottest peppers in the world, ghost peppers, which I aptly labeled “Pickles of Death” for the sake of my roommate, who has been known to secretly sample my culinary experiments. This is an accurate (if not under dramatized) representation of the resulting pickled pepper.

Now only if I knew what to do with all of those Cuppows….

Posted by Jenna

Image source SavingwithShelle.com; Jenna Llewellyn

Image source DNAInfo.com

Looking to give your doggie some love and affection outside of run-of-the-mill pats and treats? Jorge Bendersky, an NYC groomer to the four-legged stars, has found the missing piece to the pooch-loving puzzle and it’s covered in sparkles and gemstones.

According to DNAInfo.com, adding some temporary ink to your tail-wagging companion like Bendersky not only ups their self-esteem (think of all the eyeballs ooh-ing and ahh-ing over those tats!), but increases their daily love intake by making your pooch the most popular in the park.

To temporarily tattoo his clientele, Bendersky starts with a short, summery haircut. Then he uses a stencil to fill in the desired area with brightly colored canine-safe glue and finishes the look with customized glitter, gems and rhinestones. For roughly $100.00 a pop, the tats are most commonly positioned just above a puppy’s tail or hips (yes, we’re talkin’ tail-wagging tramp stamps).

Would you add ink to your dog’s ‘do? At the moment I’m leaning more toward the pink polish on this Frenchie’s paws. Tres chic!

Posted by Mary