I'm Kind of a Big Deal. I Have Fans.

6.27.2014

So last weekend my brother got married.

As tends to happen when a wedding occurs, extended family gathered to celebrate the nuptials, which meant I got to see my aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents that I hadn't seen in a while.

For normal people, this type of family gathering usually means a lot of small talk. 

How's your job? Good. How's Jordan? Good. When are you going to give me my nineteenth great-grandchild? I don't know, Grandpa.

Luckily for me, I have a blog. Also lucky for me, and most importantly, the majority of my family reads it.

It's always fascinating to me when people say they don't tell anyone they know in real life about their blog, because I tell everyone I know in real life about my blog. I mean why not? It's basically free advertising, plus I'm hilarious of course, so really what I'm doing through my blog is bringing happiness to the people around me. And who doesn't want more happiness? (Hint: no one.)

The only thing that gets slightly awkward is when I do things like blog about getting my period on my business trip. But I just have to be okay with my grandpa knowing about my lady business. It's a good thing TMI really doesn't exist in my world.

Anyway, I do have a point here.

At the wedding, I saw my aunt Jeanine and aunt Jane. The first thing Aunt Jeanine said to me was, "I feel like I should ask for your autograph or something. It's like you're famous! I just love your blog." 

And I blushed and was like, "Oh yeah? Well thanks. I'm glad you like it." Humility is a lost art, you guys. I hope you're taking notes.

Then she was like, "I get so excited when I get an email about a new post." And I was thinking, Crap, I blogged about my period a few weeks ago. Awwwwkward. Oh well.

Aunt Jane was just as effusive in her praise of my brilliant writing skills AND bonus: I didn't have to update anyone on my life because everyone already knew about it from reading the blog! Boom.

At some point during the reception, I was running around taking very important pictures of stuff like this:
And I stopped by the table where my aunts were and said, "Let's take a picture together for the blog."

You seriously would have thought I'd just told them they'd won the lottery.

Aunt Jeanine was like, "OH MY GOSH I COULD GET ON THE BLOG?"
And I was like, "Sure if you give me twenty dollars."*

So, Aunt Jane (left), Aunt Jeanine (right), this one's for you. Because you're such fantastic blog readers, and I like to give my readers what they want.

Then my uncle Brian wanted in, because guys like blogging too.



And that's pretty much what happens now at family reunions.
It's crazy, you guys. I have fans.

I'm kind of a big deal.
___________________________

Now I'm curious:
Does your family know about your blog? Do they read it? Do you have fans?

*That was a joke. It's actually only ten dollars for a picture.
Renee said...

Oh hiiiiiiii Aunt Jane and Aunt Jeanine!!! :)
It's funny because I'm actually one of the ones who keeps my blog on the down low. I get all awkward when someone brings it up and I immediately try to change the subject....."loooook, spinach dip"!!!! I'm not sure why because I'm proud of it...maybe it's because of posts like "getting my period on my business trip".

Unknown said...

You're such a star. Soon you'll have people screaming your name and asking for autographs when you're going for a run or grocery shopping. :)

As for me, only my mom, stepdad and boyfriend know about my blog and read it regularly, and I like to keep it that way. :)

Niken said...

hahaha,,
i bet you have a lot of fans. well, i never told my family that i have a blog. but if you know my dad, he's an IT engineer, so i didn't know how but one day he suddenly commented on my blog and hit that follow button. and then, i changed my blog url. somehow he found me again. ha! ha! i think that my family 'secretly' read my blog and don't tell me, just like i 'secretly' have a blog and don't tell them.

shelleystirs said...

I keep my blog on the dl. A few people know it exists, but I write it more for me than anyone else.

Only $10 for a photo with you, huh?

Jenn @ Optimization Actually said...

I'm perfectly ok with my mom and sisters seeing my blog. Usually they know my thoughts and stories before they make it onto the blog anyway. My grandmothers recently discovered it and that feels a little strange. Not so much embarrassing but because I occasionally write about things on which we have completely different viewpoints (and that we never would have discussed in person).

For the most part, though, I don't mind. After all, I'm the one who decided to put it all out on Facebook. That's great that your family is so involved with yours!

Kate said...

SO CUTE!

My family doesn't know about my blog. My mom has always been one of those skeptics of putting anything personal on the internet, so she would have never understood. And Dad just agrees with everything she says. :P

Allie @ Everyday Adventures said...

I don't go around advertising that I have a blog to family or friends, but I don't mind telling them about it if it comes up. My mom and my grandma both read mine!

Rachel said...

My whole family is pretty big fans of my blog, too. I couldn't imagine having a blog and not having them know about it. My Mom sends me email complaints when I deviate from my usual post schedule or skip a post, and she sends me fan mail when I add an extra unexpected post. If I stopped blogging altogether I think I'd have a riot on my hands. My grandparents don't read my blog because they don't really know how to use the internet, but quite a few of my relatives do--I ran into the wife of my grandma's brother at the grocery store, I think that makes her my great-aunt but I don't know her that well, and she told me that she was keeping up to date on Angel and I by reading my blog! My cousins read the blog and REALLY like to be featured on it. At first I didn't put any pictures of them on because I didn't know how they would feel about it but then they said-- "Rachel, I read you blog post about this party we were at together but you didn't even put any pictures of me!!" They want to be on the blog, it's cute.

Of course, when everyone from my great-aunt to my pre-teen cousins are reading my blog that does make you a little more careful in what you say...but I'm naturally not the kind of person who would write about anything scandalous anyways...I have Angel if I want to say anything scandalous to someone, I just tell him....

Charlotte's Frame said...

Awww! :3
My parents & sister know it, but that's about it!

Amber Marie said...

This is so cute! My family acts the same away, but they truly are the only ones that probably read ...besides you! ha ha! I'm kind of taking a hiatus right now as you could probably tell- I've been studying for the GRE (Tuesday!)

Courtney Rose said...

This is too cute! I am definitely one of those "don't ask don't tell" about my blog. I'm not embarrassed that I have one, I just don't bring it up to people. My boyfriend on the other hand will tell every single person we see about it. Especially if he see's me taking pictures of something "Oh hun, is that for the blog?!"

Audrey @ In Shape Cupcake said...

This is so cute! Love that they support you so much! That's awesome.
My immediate family knows about my blog and they support me but all my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc., they don't ever read it but they make fun of it constantly when they're around me, due to me being a health nut. None of them eat healthy, so I get it, but it's annoying.

Food, Booze, & Baggage said...

This was a cute post! Some people know and some don't. I'm pretty shy about telling people and get embarrassed talking about it. I feel like they are obligated to say they like it to my face...though I have to say my friends who do know about have been awesome and super supportive (so I guess I'm being silly not telling people). I feel weird writing some things because I know my in-laws follow it but I try not to think about that when doing posts. My husband actual said to his mom one day on the phone, "well haven't you been reading Mariah's blog"...I was like OMG don't say that to your Mom, she shouldn't feel that only way to get updates on our lives is via the blog.

Jennie said...

Hah! I never advertise I have a blog in real life. Sometimes I mention it offhand, but I'm very careful about not giving people the web address, because I have a thing where I don't really like people knowing about my life just so they have something to gossip about. Your family is so cute about your blog!

Ali said...

This is so funny! My family knows about my blog, but they never comment, and it rarely comes up when we chat. I don't think any of my husband's family knows I have a blog though, which might be a good thing sometimes!

Cece @Mahogany Drive said...

That is so incredibly adorable and cute!!! Some family knows and some friends know but I have give the link to only a select few with specific instructions that I'm not to be "outed." I don't use my real name on my blog so I'm mostly in the closet and I like it that way. Sometimes I think it would be nice to be out but for those awkward moments you talked about I prefer not to be. BTW-congrats to your Brother on his marriage.

Rebecca Jo said...

My family usually stays up to date on life through my blog... they always say, "I know what's happening with your parents because of your blog"
My brother HATES my blog - he's so private... he hates when I post his daughter's pictures, but I tell him they're my nieces so bite me :)
My in laws love when they make the blog too...
I always have to be aware of what I say for the fact that ALL my family reads it :) Makes a difference :)

Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC said...

that is awesome! family is the best and you are totally famous :)

Jenny Fish said...

I tell everyone. I think it would be weird if I didn't - and besides, I think I would only have 10 readers if my family didn't read my blog haha. My grandma loves it. She tells all her friends. It's kind of funny.

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

My family all knows - if they read it is a whole different question, that I'm not sure about!

Unknown said...

This is the cutest! I love an alternative perspective because I don't tell people in real life that I have a blog - aside from maybe two of my friends and an Aunt, no one knows about it. I get all awkward and embarrassed if it somehow pops up and I just shut down the conversation. I don't know why to be honest. I don't write anything on my blog that I wouldn't tell someone in person but I just feel like it's so private (private yet available for millionnnnss to read if they want to) :)
Maybe after hearing your families sweet comments, I'll slowly start telling mine!

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

I totally told everyone about my blog because duh we want people to read it right?! Love that they all wanted in, and to make it on the blog. I always feel weird when one of my facebook friends tell me they read such and such a post. Then I remember I share it so if they read it then I guess that's a good thing. Still weird though. Haha!

Unknown said...

This is fantastic! Funny thing. I tell everyone about my blog, family included. BUT, they don't read it. Yay, I'm that cool. My family doesn't even read my blog. BOOM! Okay, my mom does. Usually when I see extended family they ask me what I've been update. I reply with, "Oh I've been working on my blog." Sometimes I think I get weird looks and then the conversation trails off in to something else. I'm just that famous they don't brother to check out all my hard work.

Julie @ Just the Joy's said...

haha! This is too funny! But it's awesome! You ARE famous! :) I honestly don't know of anyone in my family or friends that reads my blog. I really don't talk about it and I know my parents know I have one but I don't really think they care/understand what it's all about. :)

Courtney said...

That bridal shower this weekend? All of those ladies were like, "Hi Camerons sister! Nice to meet you! I read and love your blog!!" and it's like uh.....okay, what should I tell you about myself that you don't already know?

And THEN there is my husband's enormous office, where apparently I have a huge cult following and they all get their emails on the same morning and he overhears them discussing my latest posts around the water cooler{or whatever is in office's these days}

And while part of me is like sweet! readers! Another part of me is like, holy crap, I need to censor myself! lol.

Laura said...

This is absolutely adorable! Your family is seriously the coolest!

Anonymous said...

Aww, family fans, how cute! I actually don't tell anyone about my blog except my boyfriend and a small group of friends. I think I'd die if my family members mentioned something they read on my thing at a family reunion!

Caitlin said...

Hi Aunt Jane + Jeanine!!!! This post is so adorable... I love when family members get involved in interests :)

My mom reads my blog like it's her full-time job. Ever check out my Facebook page? She will literally 'like' every post for my blog within .000001 seconds of my posting it. She's a pretty awesome fan to have.

Mary said...

Haha! I love this!
My fiancé Dan knows about my blog but has never read it and everytime I tell my mum to check out the pictures on my blog she's like "Erm... How do I find that again?"! My friends don't know about it. I've never really had the need to tell them and none of them are interested in healthy living or running. Some of Dan's friends read it religiously though which does make me think twice if I want to post about getting my period!

Chelsea Phelps said...

Haha love this! My family gets so excited to be on the blog too! My entire family knows about the blog. After we hang out for a weekend, the first question is always "Will I be on the blog?!". We started it as a way to keep our families updated, so it would be a little silly not to let them know about it! In my opinion, of course :)

Tawnya Faust said...

Haha!! I love this, this is exactly how my family is about my blog. I feel like they have such an advantage over what's going on in my life because they read about it on the blog... then when I have no idea what's going on in theirs I feel kind of bad!

Love your blog, definitely your newest follower! Thanks for stopping by mine! xo

Bailie @ The Hemborg Wife said...

One of my best friends recently emailed telling me how she always reads my blog at works because she is so bored there and I was like o yeah making people unbored at work my job is done!

Holly said...

Haha I love this!! My sister reads my blog religiously, and my mom knows about it, but my dad and brother don't really understand it. They all know I blog because I talk about blog friends who I'm now real life friends with so that's cool, but they don't read it. I post my blog stuff on Twitter, but none of my family follows me except my brother and I know he doesn't read it. But some of my friends do, more than I realize--I got a tweet a few weeks ago from a friend from my church camp who said she loves my fitness blog because it inspires her to work hard and she knows she can do it!! That made me happy :)

I guess if (slash when...ooo spoiler alert!!!) I move away, I'll post more of my day to day stuff so my family can keep up with me more, so I probably will share more stuff then and encourage them to read it. But now, I don't feel like my mundane life deserves to be noted more than I already do, haha.

The Hungry Goat said...

You're famous!

My mom doesn't even know how to use the Internet so...no, no, definitely not.

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

Most of my family doesn't read mine either. You aren't alone friend. However, our Mom's read our blogs and that counts for like 12093841234 people =)

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

1. I bet your Aunts are super excited you put them in this post.

2. That is super fun that your family keeps up with your blog.

3. I'm sometimes shy about telling my family all about my blog. For starters, a lot of my family is super busy and the second part I'll tell you in person =)

4. I had a friend that had a huge blog and she finally quit, for several reasons, but one of them being that no one ever stopped to ask her how she was anymore because they read all about her on her blog. I thought that was interesting and I felt bad for her at the same time.

Emily @ Ember Grey said...

hahaha!!! This is awesome. I feel the same with my family (my grandparents respond to every single one of my posts... it's pretty sweet.) You ARE hilarious, which I feel like does make you famous in the blogging world! You take that award and run with it, lady! (Do you see what I did there? Since you're a runner??) (It's been a long day...)

Kristen Skelton said...

My family knows I have a blog, and they read it, but I forget they read it. That is, until we get together for some kind of family thing and they mention something that I said, or say something like, oh, yea, I saw that on your blog, and then I realize that people actually read what I have to say, which is kind of strange.

Z said...

This is so funny!!! I guess I'm somewhere between the two extremes - my parents and my close friends know about my blog and some acquaintances ~know of~ my blog, but at the risk of critiquing my writing too harshly, I do my best to not tell EVERYONE. It's awesome to know your family is so supportive!!!

The Lady Okie said...

So true, Beka! Moms are the only fans we need really :)

The Lady Okie said...

I really hope you do tell yours! I get awkward too, but you kind of get over it after a while. It is so strange that it's more awkward to tell your own family things then it is random internet people.

The Lady Okie said...

That's hilarious! Cult following! haha. Also, in my office people totally stand around the water cooler. It's a thing.

The Lady Okie said...

Oh my gosh, girl, my aunts were SO excited to be in the post! I love it.

And so interesting (and sad) about your #4! I wonder what she meant by that. Like, none of her friends asked or family how she was? I actually have gotten that a little, where people are like, "yeah I read about that on your blog," but MOST of the time they still want to hear from me and they ask about stuff. But wow that is sad and something I should make sure to be aware of. I know I joked in my post about not having to do small talk (which is nice), but I would be sad if no one actually asked me how I was doing because they knew from the blog. I mean, there's a ton of stuff I don't put on the blog that no one would know if they didn't ask....

Saxon @ Lets Drink Coffee, Darling said...

Haha, that's too funny! I love that your family wanted pictures at the wedding so they could be on the blog! (My family just don't have a choice usually. ha!)

I always thought my family would read my blog a lot, but I think it's mostly just Tyler's family and then a few friends who I don't really see in real life anymore that just see my posts on facebook. Sometimes it's weird how they still know a lot about you, but since they don't blog you don't get to know quite as much about their lives anymore.

I'm always feel like I have to censor some posts since his family DOES read it, because they're the type that pretty much think that any information you put out about yourself on the internet is bad - because obviously someone's going to come break into my house now or start stalking me. But they understand that I enjoy it and usually don't say anything...I just know they think it, especially of posts that take place at my house of decorations and that type of thing.

Abbey said...

first, holy COW you get a lot of comments!

second, they're awesome and adorable.

Anonymous said...

You are a big deal. But I totally already knew that.

Some of my family knows that I blog...I don't exactly hide it, but I don't advertise either. I like to think that it'll be like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow if they ever happen to stumble upon it.

In other news, I need to email you about a potential meet up at some point. See it's on my 30-by-30 to meet up with a blogger friend who I haven't already met in person. And I'll be in OKC for a wedding on the weekend of 8/30...so if schedules align, maybe we could meet?? My people will contact your people....

-Amy

Anonymous said...

For shame... I totally am one of those who say "I don't want my family reading my blog." For some reason I tell myself they won't be interested and it would make it awkward if they were reading it. I'm inspired now, going to share it with them especially since so many of them live far away.

Amy said...

i always get a little "weird" when my family starts a conversation with "so i saw your post the other day..." it is a mixture of joy and terror...WHICH post did they see, did i humiliate myself or admit to something they have no idea....orrrr was it a really cute post to just reaffirm their love for me? ha.

you are most definitely a star with fans!

Laura Darling said...

Hahaha this is a riot. Whenever my blog comes up at family events I get so embarrassed!

Kristin said...

My family knows I blog - because they ALL blog - but that's about it. Oh, and my work found out I blog when I wrote an article about leadership reviewing lessons learned from a leadership seminar we hosted - and they found it and shared it with, well, my WHOLE work. I don't advertise, but there's no point - the cat's out of the bag anyway!

Sarah said...

I always walk that fine line with my friends/family about telling them about goings ons in my life because I assume they do read the blog and maybe don't want to hear it again. But then it gets awkward if they didn't and they have no idea what I'm talking about. But then you can shame them into reading more ;)

Anonymous said...

I have to be honest, the majority of my family and friends do not know about my blog. :) Every year, I slowly tell a few people about it though, so eventually everyone will know. Ha, ha. But right now, it's mostly just a few close friends and my immediate family that know about it. I just feel weird telling people that I personally know to read a blog all about... me. And I also feel awkward when I get silly on my blog or write about more personal things. It just feels 'safer' to not have everyone know... but I think I do need to change that at some point. :)

Andiepants said...

HAHA! Well, I am one of those that likes their blog life on the down low. I have some serious, some sad, mostly happy, and some bitching posts. So no, some of my friends and family members wouldn't be too joyful as to why I do this. I do know hubby loves it because it keeps me creative and sane. I write boring reports for work, so this is the only time i get to write for fun and for me!

Andie's Traveling Pants

Holly @ Hello Audrey Ruth said...

My family has always known about the blog. My dad will actually call me weekly and ask why I haven't updated my blog. He says he doesn't know what's going on in my life if I don't update. So, I try to tell him over the phone and he says he doesn't want to talk on the phone, he wants to read it. I think he has a bit too much time on his hands.

It took me forever to tell my in-laws though. I don't really write about anything I wouldn't want them to see but they can be pretty critical so I chose to keep it a secret for a long time.

Betsy said...

HAH that is too funny. at my garden party last weekend, some of my friends from high school met a friend (who has become a best friend) that I met through blogging, and they were like WAIT THAT REALLY HAPPENS?

and my mom found out that Jon was in a cast last week because her coworker read my blog and asked Mom how he was doing. Ha!

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