James and Amanda met February 22, 2010 at Jack and Benny's. Amanda was waitressing at the counter, and James came in for breakfast after working all night. Iggy Garcia, James' landlord and Amanda's boss's brother was also sitting at the counter with his sister Rosa, and intoduced the two. While they didn't talk much that day, James came back the next day. And the next day. Amanda friended him on facebook, and Wednesday night the two talked online. James asked her nonchalantly if she wanted to see Cop Out Thursday night, and she agreed. After the movie, they went their separate ways, but after a late-night chat, Amanda ended up at his apartment to play Guitar Hero. After spending much of the following week together, James asked Amanda to be his girlfriend on March 4.

On April 22, after 7 weeks of dating, Amanda and James went to the Minute clinic at Kroger because Amanda wasn't feeling well. After making an appointment, they had some time to kill, so they walked around the jewelry store to check out engagement rings so James could get an idea of what Amanda might like someday. As it turned out, Amanda found the exact ring she wanted and let him know. James took note, and said he would start saving, but that he couldn't possibly buy the ring that month.

After the appointment they went to lunch at Panera. During that time, James frequently teased about when he could propose. "I could wait until Christmas," he said. Then later, "Or I could do it tomorrow." James suggested a walk in the park, so the two made their way over to the Park of Roses. They walked through the woods for a time before finding a tree fallen across the path. They sat down to talk a bit, dicussing "sparkly things."

"So do you want something sparkly like this?" James asked, pointing at the diamond necklace he had given Amanda two weeks before.

"No, I already have one," she replied.

"How about sparkly like this?" he asked, pointing to her earring.

"Well, I suppose I could use one of those," she responded.

"Well, what about something sparkly like this?" he proposed, pulling out the ring from his pocket and getting down on one knee. "Amanda Winter, will you marry me?"

It turned out that James had went back and bought the ring while Amanda was at the clinic. He was going to wait and set up something really creative, but with every step he took the ring box would hit against his leg, and he was too excited to wait.

Amanda said yes, and now the couple lives in a condo in Dublin, with two cats, a hedgehog, and a new puppy.