6/12

*Project 12: A photo on the first day of every month in 2014*

January | February | March | April | May

Read

Amanda = 2 books

Animal Farm (not bad) | Divergent (pretty bad)

Traveled

June 5-6  Salt Lake City, Utah // Business trip (recap here)

June 20-22 Texas // My little brother got married! (see pics here)

Dates

We snuck one in at the last minute this month! 
On Saturday, June 28, we went to the Oklahoma History Museum and then to BWW for lunch.

(Remember how we're related to someone famous?)

Things that Happened in June Last Year

1. My mom's side of the family had a reunion at the lake house in Texas

-I took pictures of my grandpa in the grocery store

-I took a lot of other pictures too

2. I spent the weekend in Chicago

Notable Events

Did I mention my little brother got married? I'm still recovering.

* * *

Coming in July...

IT'S BIRTHDAY MONTH.

I already have a number of plans for the epicness that will be Amanda turning 28. For one thing, I called one of my friends a few nights ago and asked her to host a party for me. That's how I roll. For kicks, you can check out what I did on my birthday last year. I took pictures all day. Because obviously.

Also, Jordan turns 29 the week after my birthday. July is just full of birthday fun.

Runners Tell All is happening again on the 21st, so you will want to join in on that awesomeness.

Finally, I'll be taking a two-weekish blog and social media hiatus later this month, which I will announce so you aren't confused about why I've disappeared from the world.

Summer is in full swing, and I hope you're enjoying it so far! I know I am.

Until next month!

Guess Who I'm Related To? (Hint: He's a Famous Actor)

I feel like it's high time we talked about this. 

In fact, I feel remiss for not bringing to your attention sooner the fact that I am related to an actual, legit famous person. Not like a "kind of" legit famous person. A LEGIT famous person. Yes, I'm only related through marriage. But whatever. I'm counting it.

Ahem.

My husband's great-uncle (fyi: great-uncle = grandpa's brother and/or dad's uncle) is the actor James Garner.  Do you know who James Garner is? I can bet your grandma does, and you do too, you just don't know you know it. (Name that TV show: They don't know we know they know we know...)

James Garner was a high-profile actor in the '70s with a TV show called the Rockford Files (1974-1980). At some point before he was famous he dropped the "Bum" in front of his last name, hence the Garner. Bumgarner just doesn't make a great stage name.

He was also the Maverick as a young lad (TV series 1957-1962) and starred in the 1994 remake with Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster.

[source]

Still don't know who he is? You might recognize him as the old man in The Notebook. 

He guest starred as the grandpa on the TV show 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter and has also been in two movies with Julie Andrews. TWO! They've kissed. My husband's great-uncle has kissed Mary Poppins.

And he's been in lots of other movies and TV shows like this one with Doris Day (1963):

[source]

Just the other day, Jordan and I were looking through some old pictures at his parents' house. We pulled out one, and Jordan said, "Hey, that's Uncle Jim!" Right. A candid photograph of Uncle Jim. He's only a rich and famous actor, but whatever.

We invited Uncle Jim and Aunt Lois to our wedding. They couldn't come, but they sent us a check and a nice handwritten letter congratulating us on our nuptials. 

I know the whole six degrees of separation and all that. Somehow we're probably all related to someone famous. I just happen to think this famous relation is pretty cool. I mean, how often can you randomly flip through the channels on a Saturday evening and come across a movie or show starring your famous relative? Well it's happened more than once to me. Believe it.

EDIT: You guys, this does NOT mean I am also related to Jennifer Garner (see comments below). Let's stay on topic, shall we?

Are you related to anyone famous?