Favorite Five Friday (127th Edition)

Guess who’s back?! I hope you didn’t give up on me. Let’s see if I remember how this goes…

FAVORITE FIVE FRIDAY

1.  Six years ago a very nervous young man told me “you’re it.” He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The memory is so vivid in my mind – filled with excitement, tears, and joy. Looking back on the last six years, I would say yes all over again. Babe, thank you for being brave enough to ask.  

2.  I love October. Part of that is because it’s my birth month! I’m pretty sure the best people are born in October. 😉 I had a fabulous birthday this year filled with all my favorite things. I spent the morning snuggling my cats and reading a great book. One of my besties met me for lunch and treated me to a beautiful manicure. Once I got home, Dan was there to take me for birthday donuts and to get delicious pumpkin scented candles. Then I opened some presents from him and my awesome family – they are too good to me. After, we were off to dinner at Summer Buffalo with our best buds. Post dinner, they surprised me with an evening of pumpkin carving, Hocus Pocus, and the yummiest homemade cake. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be loved so well. 

  
  
  
  
3.  This week was the annual Tour Guide Halloween Party! I love getting to hang out with my awesome coworkers and seeing their creative costumes. This year Dan and I had planned to go as Wednesday Addams and Uncle Fester. Unfortunately, Dan wasn’t able to shave his face because of some filming he was doing (yay – showcase!) so we felt like we needed to nix the Fester plan. Well, I feel like we came up with something pretty great. Dan wore black and followed me around all night with just his hand on my shoulder… Making him the perfect Thing. It was a hit, and we had a great time! 

4.  Guys. It was National Cat Day. And we all know how I feel about my cats. So, I’m a little obsessed. But how cute are they?!

5.  Look at me! I posted a Favorite Five Friday. It took some time and effort, but I’m back. I hope you’ll still have me! 🙂

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween!

Favorite Five Friday (100th Edition)

The 100th Edition is here! (Seriously?!) WHOO HOO!!! I can’t believe that I’ve kept this up. Thank you to everyone who is still reading my updates and thoughts on life. It means more than I can say. I’ve got some really great things to share. Without further ado…

FAVORITE FIVE FRIDAY

1.  The World Famous Universal Studio Tour is about to welcome some brand new guides to our “Tramily.” I got to help out with the open call, the first impression the candidates make on the Studio Tour management. It’s such an exciting environment to be in, and I love meeting the folks who walk through the door. I am also looking forward to getting to know the trainees better next month – I’ve been asked to be Trainer again! I am so thrilled. I truly love getting to know our new guides, helping them craft their tour, and getting them pumped up to work for an awesome company. See you soon, future Guides!

Lovely ladies at the Open Call

2.  As an actor, having a social media presence is becoming more and more important. I’ve been trying to up my game. Put myself out there a little more and gain some likes and followers. Social Media is not always fun or as easy as it sounds, but it is certainly useful! This week I passed 1,000 likes on my Facebook Actor Page. I am so overwhelmed by the support from my friends and family. You guys are THE best. I am unbelievably grateful. If you haven’t followed, liked, or looked yet… check it out! Click the above link for my FB Fan Page. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram as @JoannaHackman.

3.  I love Disneyland. I love my family. Put the two together and you get a whole lot of love. And a whole lot of fun! We got to spend about 72 hours together at The Happiest Place On Earth to celebrate my Dad’s 60th birthday and my Grandma’s 75th. Huge Celebration! It was so fun to catch up with my family and ride our favorite rides together. There is also something so special about seeing Disney through the eyes of a child. My 8-year-old niece was so excited all the time. I have so much love for that place, and even more love for the people who enjoyed it with me.

 

4.  My family had another reason to celebrate on this trip – my big brother got engaged! He had been planning and waiting for months to propose to his amazing girlfriend, Sabrina. He picked the perfect spot for them – Ariel is her favorite so he proposed right in the middle of the Ariel ride. So cute. We were all waiting to congratulate them after. Including her family – which was a total surprise! I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it. My bro is so happy and Sabrina already feels like family. I am finally getting the sister I always wanted. She was totally worth the wait. Congratulations Jeremy and Sabrina!

5.  It’s Oscar season, y’all! My awesome, talented friends got together and wrote a short musical piece about all the Best Picture nominees. Dan and I both got involved and had a blast. He was asked to play J.K. Simmons/Fletcher from Whiplash – which he was perfect for. I was so excited to be asked to play Felicity Jones/Jane Hawking for the section about The Theory of Everything. They did an amazing job putting it all together, and I am so proud to share it with all of you. So, for your consideration – Best Picture: The Musical…

 

Thanks for stopping by to see the 100th Edition of Favorite Five Friday!

There is more to come. I am working on some new ideas and some changes. So, keep an eye for more Acting Up coming your way.

Happy Friday!

Favorite Five Friday (89th Edition)

Oh, what a week! Birthday celebrations and fun all week long. Y’all, I have felt so loved. Check it out…

FAVORITE FIVE FRIDAY

1.  Dan and I have lots of anniversaries… So many important and special dates that we remember as we add more years to our relationship. This week was our engagement anniversary! 5 years from the day he got down on one knee in front of a mixed crowd of strangers and friends. 5 years from the day he pulled out a ring and asked me to be his wife. My heart is so full when I think of those memories. If he asked me again today, my answer would be the same. Yes!

2.  So, it was my birthday this week! (Yay Birthday!!!) We did lots of fun things to celebrate. First, we continued a really great tradition. For the second year in a row, we welcomed in my day of birth by getting street tacos in the middle of the night. This might sound crazy, but it’s actually convenient. We were getting off of work in the middle of the night anyway, and our favorite little street taco cart pops up on our corner late at night on the weekends.  Too perfect not to be tempted. 🙂 The tacos were delicious, and my birthday had arrived!

3.  Whenever there are presents, I am like a kid on Christmas morning. I was thinking about that this week… I have never thought of gifts as one of my love languages, but man, do I love opening thoughtful gifts from loved ones.  I so appreciate the presents, the phone calls, the texts, the social media posts. Day made.

Opening gifts in PJs. It’s what you do.

I couldn’t figure out how to open it…

Dan always makes me laugh with his gift wrapping.

4.  I wanted to do something a little different for my birthday this year… So, Dan put together a fabulous birthday brunch with a few of our closest friends. We went to The Castaway in Burbank, and oh my gosh, this place is gorgeous. Delicious food with a ridiculously beautiful view of the city. It was so lovely. I guess I’m a grown-up now. (Or maybe not!)

5.  This was my Golden Birthday! (Just in case you are wondering what that means: your Golden Birthday is when you turn the age of your birth date) That’s right 26 on the 26th. I had been excited to celebrate this one for a while. I even made a goal on my 101 in 1001 to write myself a letter on that day to be opened in 10 years. So, that’s what I did! I took some time for myself to think about what I have accomplished so far and all that I still want to do. I wrote a letter about who I hoped I would be in 10 years – my goals, my dreams. There may have been a few reminders and some advice, too. And bullet points, because, ya know… I’m me. I probably still will be 10 years from now. 😉 I have tucked it away into a safe place, and I can’t wait to open it on my 36th birthday.

I had a fantastic birthday and really wonderful week. Thank you all for making this girl feel so special.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

And HAPPY HALLOWEEN!