Jamie's Rabbits

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends V. 123

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 05:52:00 +0000

Every so often I post things of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens after my recommendation. Ignore, embrace, debate. Earlier volumes of The Rabbit Recommends can be found here.

Television

I have Netflix. And by that, I mean I have a Netflix password. Thank you Patrick. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a new show from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock of 30 Rock fame. If you loved TGS, then you'll adore UKS. I didn't realize how much I needed joy in between watching Orphan Black and The Americans. Episode #4 will raise you up just like Josh Groban promised.

Music

Spring temps mean music for sitting on the porch, drinking lemonade and thinking about who's going to rake all those leaves.

Emily Hearn is a lighthearted singer/songwriter who's on tour with Tyrone Wells and collaborating with Ben Rector - two more of my favorites. Her new album Hourglass is a delight.

Movies
YOU GUYS. I'm still feeling the effects of Oscar burnout so I've only watched one movie in three weeks: DUFF. It was adorable, but you can wait to watch it on the comfort of your couch. And I give you permission to find the lead actor attractive despite him portraying a high school student. God did not stumble when it came to his face.

Reading

This post-apocalyptic novel has lingered with me in the best way. Like Taco Tuesday. No surprise since it's a finalist for the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award. It's so beautifully written. Add it to your TBR pile. As of this writing, it's only $5.99 on Kindle.

One Stupid Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco's Life: Words matter y'all.
Lessons from Curt Schilling's Satisfying Internet Victory: Seriously, the words matter so much.
You Don't Need to Write: My friend Elizabeth confirmed my suspicion that not all storytellers have to write.
Owning Our Gifts: Lindsey encourages us all to bloom where we're planted even if we don't like the patch of dirt.

YouTube

I'm still mourning the loss of The Colbert Report, but Stephen's cameo on The Mindy Project this week was ridiculously funny. This short video of him talking about his faith is great. I feel the exact same way about Peter.

Just in case you didn't know, I co-host a podcast with Knox McCoy called The Popcast (pop culture). A listener and friend, Sarah, let me know I remind her of Nick Kroll's character in his sketch PubLIZity. This was the best compliment I've ever received.

Sometimes you wish you could headbutt someone, but you shouldn't. Or worse, you can't.

What have you watched or read or heard that you're loving right now?

The Post About Which Oscar Nominees to See and Skip

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 21:35:00 +0000

The Oscars are this Sunday. That may not even be on your radar, but I adore films and fancy dresses and awkward small talk on a red carpet so I’m counting down the hours.

Dozens of films have been nominated for writing, acting, directing, hairdos and the stuff like that there. I watched them all for you. And they’re not all worthy of your time.

Here's a list of the films nominated for the major awards. I've listed them in order you should see them and where you can catch them.

Wild. (2 nominations) As good as the book, which was perfection.
March 17: iTunes, Amazon

Selma. (2 nominations) Wow. Everyone should see it. All of us.
In Theaters

Birdman. (9 nominations) Delightful. Quirky, yet superb acting from a fantastic ensemble.
Google Play, iTunes, Amazon

American Sniper. (6 nominations) Not as good as the book, but still great. Bradley Cooper's accent is distracting at time, but then he's so pretty.
In Theaters

Whiplash. (5 nominations) Really just two actors and some jazz music. But intense and so very good.
February 24: Amazon, iTunes

The Imitation Game. (8 nominations) Benedict Cumberbatch is beloved for a reason. Thriller and learning history all in one.
In Theaters

Gone Girl. (1 nomination) The book is magic…dark magic. The movie captures that darkness perfectly. If you don’t like weirdness, it’s not for you.
Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Redbox, Netflix DVD

The Theory of Everything. (5 nominations) It's a beautiful true story of romance and science. If you can pretend they didn't eventually divorce, then it's worth it.
iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Redbox, Netflix DVD

Still Alice. (1 nomination) It will break your heart in all the ways you think.
In Theaters

Foxcatcher. (5 nominations) Steve Carell is worth the hype. It's based on a true story that's fascinating. However, it's weak in several areas which is why it didn't get a nod for Best Picture.
March 3: iTunes, Amazon

Nightcrawler. (1 nomination) It's a ruthless thriller set in the world of LA crime reporting. It's a lot to digest, but good.
iTunes, Amazon

Boyhood. (6 nominations) Hmm...I wanted it to have a plot beyond just normal day-to-day life. It does not.
iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Redbox, Netflix DVD

The Grand Budapest Hotel. (9 nominations) Director and Screenwriter Wes Anderson gathers the same old crew for another weird and whimsical film. Good, but shouldn’t have been lauded this way.
HBO GO, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Redbox, Netflix DVD

Into The Woods. (3 nominations) You MUST love singing. And not happy endings.
March 24: iTunes, Amazon

The Judge. (1 nomination) I wanted this film to be good, but it really wasn’t. I think Robert Duvall received a nomination simply because he’s over 80. It's the Betty White effect.
Amazon, iTunes, Google Play

Inherent Vice. (2 nominations) Nope. Even Reese Witherspoon cannot redeem it.
Amazon, iTunes,

Two Days, One Night. (1 nomination) It's in French. I CAN'T EVEN YOU GUYS. But it's not bad if you can pay attention to read the screen. This is not my strong suit.
In Theaters (but probably not where you live)

Bonus
How To Watch the Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts Online
Where to Watch the Oscar-Nominated Documentaries

This is just an overview. For a detailed look at all things Oscar, consider buying my first ebook The Popcast’s Guide to the Oscars.

One review: "Truly brilliant work on the Oscars guide. My friend was reading excerpts out loud yesterday and we were both cracking up."

What were some of the best films you saw in the last year?

The Post About The Oscars Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 14:53:00 +0000

Knox McCoy and I have been cohosting a podcast called The Popcast for 77 episodes.

Our mission statement is simple: Educating the world on things that entertain, but do not matter.

For example, this week we tackled these hard hitting subjects:

Book and movie sequels
Brian Williams
The Grammys
Channing Tatum
Madonna
The BAFTAs
Jennifer Lawrence

It's one of the most fun things I do each week. We don't teach people how to start a business, or write a book, or wax poetically about the Middle East - we just chat about pop culture in the most entertaining way possible.

And believe it or not, people listen. People, other than my mom.

When we launched, we were featured in New & Noteworthy. Last month, we were featured in What's Hot.

Do you know how long I've waited to refer to myself as "what's hot?"

A LONG TIME INTERNET.

To celebrate that milestone, Knox and I wrote our first e-book. The Podcast's Guide to the Oscars.

Gorgeous cover design by Molly Gentry

Nine chapters to fully prepare you for Hollywood's biggest night. Whether you watch or not.

When To Watch, When To Not Watch
But What About If I Haven't Seen Some of These Movies?
So Who Is Going To Win?
But Who Do We Want To Win?
The Oscar Cake Pop Eating Game / The Oscar Drinking Game
Let's Get Weird
Blondtage Bingo
Oscar Snubs
Who Are We Irrationally Rooting For?

Reader Review: "Truly brilliant work on the Oscars guide. My friend was reading excerpts out loud yesterday and we were both cracking up."

Support us by grabbing your own copy here.

To celebrate this milestone of celebrating another milestone, I wanted to host a little giveaway.

Two winners will be chosen to select between one dozen Oscar cake pops shipped anywhere in the US ($40 value) or a $25 Amazon gift card.

P.S. I make cake pops.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

The Post About How To Make Friends as an Adult

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 16:44:00 +0000

Leslie is having a baby next month. She's ridiculously cute.

It's annoying.

Let's be honest. We want those who are never fat who are getting fat to look fat. I can say that about Leslie, because we're friends.

Leslie and I didn't grow up together or meet at college where many great friendships find their origin. We met at church. We saw each other occasionally in the halls or near the doughnuts, and we liked each other immediately. But we were in our thirties. Could we become friends?

Jerry Seinfeld suggests no.

He's not wrong. Making friends as an adult is challenging. My friend Kara, who I've been best friends with since 1993, knows all my secrets. ALL OF THEM. She also knows the easy stuff like I love guacamole and guys with nice forearms and sitting at restaurant tables far from toddlers.
We have a shorthand that's delightful.

But even still, Kara and I don't connect on everything. She thinks Twitter is weird. Shopping is boring to her. Her career doesn't define her. She does not find The Bachelor riveting.

That's where Leslie comes in... Leslie boldly came up to me one Sunday and said "I'm going to need us to go to breakfast and become friends."

We did both.

Here are my tips for doing the same:

1. Find strangers. Take a class, join a club, volunteer, or join a gym. Also, look at the activities you're already doing and see who's around. Do you like any of those people? Maybe you spend all your time on social media - who's there that you like? My real-life friend Erin was a stranger I met on Twitter. We both loved books, music, Doctor Who and snark. One day, she suggested we meet for coffee. She brought me a cupcake and we've been friends ever since.

2. Find non-strangers. Who are your friends' other friends? Do any of them love the things you love? What about your friends' significant others? What about the people you went to school with who have grown up to be interesting adults. Facebook is a great screening tool. Look at the folks you haven't unfollowed and consider seeing them in person.

3. Speak up. When you're around someone you think might become a friend - talk to them. Ask questions, learn their story and share yours. It doesn't have to be a 3 hour meal, but snippets of conversation can lead to learning all about a person. Be vulnerable, not dramatic. Be transparent, not codependent.

4. Don't give up. I'm not suggesting stalking your prospects, but people can be shy or distracted or in a busy season. Don't be afraid to keep putting forth effort to get to know someone.

5. Don't look for a BFF. Sometimes we think we need the types of friends who will be in our wedding or be the godparent to our kids. Lower the bar. Look for a book friend or sports friend or parenting friend or neighbor friend or a Real Housewives of Atlanta friend or one of each. Simply fill in your gaps.

Quality friendships are ridiculously valuable and they require real effort. Until they don't. The effortless friendship is worth any awkward pursuit.

How do you make friends as an adult?

The Post About Instagram Commentary

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 22:28:00 +0000

Here are a few additional thoughts on some Instagram photos I recently posted.

A photo posted by Jamie Golden (@jamiesrabbits) on Jan 20, 2015 at 6:42pm PST

I'm a member of See Jane Write, a network of women writers. In the last year or so, SJW has hosted three events about writing a book and I've attended all three. I keep thinking I want to write a book. Then I remember how difficult it is to write 500 words here and the nap required immediately after I manage to do so.

In the workshop represented by the photo above, the author mentioned taking roundtrip train trips from Birmingham to New Orleans in order to get her pages done. However, I just read The Girl on the Train and I can't even ride the train at the zoo anymore.

Have you ever wanted to write a book?

A photo posted by Jamie Golden (@jamiesrabbits) on Dec 23, 2014 at 2:08pm PST

Isn't coffee the dreamiest? My parents drank Folgers instant when I was growing up and I thought it was possibly the worst drink ever. Then my college roommate Angie introduced me to coffee beans. Then my friend Jason introduced me to french press. Then my friend Patrick introduced me to an automatic frother. I want you to meet them too.

How do you drink your coffee?

A photo posted by Jamie Golden (@jamiesrabbits) on Jan 21, 2015 at 7:05pm PST

Erin, Megan, Lauren and I drove to Atlanta on a school night to see Ben Howard at The Tabernacle. He's the hat trick - British, Singer, and Songwriter. This song, In Dreams, produces levels of serotonin comparable to macaroni and cheese. I know this, because it's on my serotonin playlist.

What artist or song would be on your serotonin playlist?

A photo posted by Jamie Golden (@jamiesrabbits) on Jan 26, 2015 at 7:32am PST

I tested positive for the flu last week. It floored me for five solid days. I simply moved from the bed to the couch and back again, dragging the duvet around like a lost, feverish child. How do moms and dads get well since kids don't care if you're dying and sleepy? My mother dropped supplies on my porch multiple times during my black plague. You guys...everyone needs a mom.

What is your go-to comfort when you're sick?

The Post About Beth Moore Thinking My Mom was a Drug Dealer

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 00:43:00 +0000

My last post was inspired by an article on Christianity Today "What Happens When We See Women Teach the Bible."

This piece made complete sense because of two women: Jan Golden and Beth Moore.

The former, my mother, has been an adult Sunday School teacher for as long as I can remember. Her Bible riddled with notes and lines highlighting scripture that resonates.

The latter has been a staple on my bookshelf since the 90s. The first book she published was the first I read: To Live is Christ. My long-suffering relationship with the apostle Paul (I'm Peter in every bumbling, brash way) was resolved with this detailed study.

These two women of God recently collided.

On Twitter, I follow both Beth Moore and her daughter, Amanda Jones. Therefore, I see their tweets to each other in my timeline.

This is a simple and sweet exchange. I replied.

This is a picture of my Mom's cell phone. She has to add minutes to it at a kiosk. It's untraceable by the FBI.

Beth, kindly replied.

YOU GUYS. She thought my mom was an actual drug dealer. It was the most magical moment I've ever had on Twitter. Including that time I had to win over Natalie Grant.

For the record, it's a Baptist church, so no good wine - just grapefruit juice.

My next move was to call my mother and read this exchange verbatim to her.

I did. It still includes a welcome window reading "Merry Christmas from Me" when she turns it on.

FOR EIGHT YEARS.

I'm so glad Jan and Beth met.

The Post About Learning to Teach, Lead and Speak

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 20:56:00 +0000

Marty was the youth minister at my church when I was a teen. He was kind and funny and invested his life in a group of rural kids who needed to understand how God could transform their lives.

He also taught us how to sell "toilet paper insurance" to raise money for missions. Families bought the policy and then we cleaned up their yard if it was TP'd at Halloween. If they didn't buy the policy, we rolled their yard.

Praise God.

In this group was a guy a few years older than me who we'll call Sam. Sam was confident, charismatic, and so very smart about the Bible.

Marty believed in growing up leaders within our group. Each year, he took extra time and resources to pour into a smaller group of students. This group would then lead small groups and teach other kids at retreats. It was no surprise he picked Sam, but it was a HUGE surprise he picked me.

As a young woman who had grown up in a fairly conservative Baptist church, the idea women could teach peers, much less lead groups was foreign to me. Being a part of this leadership group was exciting and empowering.

Until it was time to take theory into practice.

As we prepped to go out and do and make disciples and pour into our own groups of people, Sam spoke up.

He didn't think girls should be teaching. Or leading. Or even speaking in front of a crowd.

The excitement and empowerment was exchanged for frustration and hurt.

Thankfully, Sam's wasn't the voice that lingered over me that day. Marty was speaking truth into our group. Truth for girls and for boys.

He talked about how leadership isn't determined by one's sex, but by one's capacity to do the job. God will send anyone who is obedient and prepared. Marty referenced women in scripture like Deborah, Esther, Miriam, Mary, Anna, and Phoebe. They weren't on the sidelines, but they were used powerfully by God to lead, to teach, and to speak.

Sam passionately disagreed. He said this should be a deal breaker.

I taught my first small group just a few days later. I've not stopped speaking since.

Who has been a Marty in your life?

This post was inspired by "What Happens When We See Women Teach the Bible."

The Post About My 2014 Annual Report

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 03:47:00 +0000

2014 was weird and wonky and wonderful.

It was 12 months without a regular full-time job and discovering God can be trusted in word and in deed.

It was 52 weeks filled with road trips and coffee shops and new friends and learning you can still eat out at fun restaurants if you stop eating out at crappy ones.

It was 365 days of laughter and gritting my teeth and discipline and understanding the beauty of the unplanned.

It was a year of sabbath for a very weary heart.

This is a little recap and celebration of chasing rabbits again in 2015.

2015 will be different. Not because I have concrete plans, but because I don't.

Let's wander through this year together.

Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Top Secret Rabbits

The Post About Instagram Commentary

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:09:00 +0000

Here are a few additional thoughts on some Instagram photos I recently posted.

Sometimes, I make amazing choices that benefit my health. Sometimes, I make amazing choices that benefit my mental health.

As I checked out with these four items in tow, the cashier said "You must have had a hard day. But you're about to have a great night."

Tru dat.

What's your go-to comfort purchase?

This is my friend Hannah and her brand new daughter, Adelaide. A is one month old and weighs FOURTEEN POUNDS. Can I tell you something? All babies are beautiful, BUT fat babies win the prize. Having recently eaten with three new moms, I've noticed how anxious they can get in public. The potential for screaming and pooping and drooling is high which is rare in a restaurant (unless the joint serves happy hour wings.)

These parents apologized because their babies whimpered or slept or didn't sleep or needed feeding. One even said "I'm sorry he wasn't more entertaining." I want to publicly ask for forgiveness if I ever made a mothering friend feel nervous about how their baby may perform. This isn't a soundstage on a studio lot, it's Chick-Fil-A. Your kid can cry.

Are you an anxious mom? Are you someone who makes a mom anxious?

Do you have a Jimmy John's where you live? There are more than 2,000 so let's pretend you do. They sell "day-old" bread for $0.50 every day. The best part is they consider "day-old" to be anything older than four hours. Hence this delicious cinnamon french toast. JJ's even has a Pinterest board full of recipes for this slightly aged masterpiece.

What's your favorite fast food restaurant?

My bathroom just got shiny new tile floors and a gorgeous new commode. Can I tell you how much I love that toilet? With its elongated bowl and water efficiency. Adulthood. However, the color of the tile was more beige and less gray than I expected so painting the walls seemed necessary. I prepped the room, taped the trim, set down drop cloths, picked out a cute paint shirt and got to work. That lasted 20 minutes. I'm 5'2"-ish. I can't.

Thankfully, Katherine from Grass Stains offered to paint the room in exchange for cake pops.

What would you do for me in exchange for cake pops?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About Why The Internet is Not The Worst

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:12:00 +0000

I took the summer off from blogging. Now I'm back.

Enough about that.

Often, the Internet can be a pot to boil all of our bitter and our furrowed brows and the steam that rises is SO DRAMATIC.

However, the Internet can be better than that. Learning and sharing and connecting.

The Internet is where I learned:

Jessie J can actually sing.
I should enable two-factor authentication on important accounts so my nude photos** don't get hacked.
Why we have eyebrows.
How to pluck perfect eyebrows.

**cloud pics

The Internet is where I shared:

The best part of the recent Emmy Awards ceremony.
Bill Cosby's response to Victoria Osteen's comments about God's greatest goal for us.
Ann Voskamp's eloquent words about what the church should about suicide and depression.
A goat who may or may not be me in the first grade.

The Internet is where I connected to:

Just a sample of folks, like you, whom I adore.

What has the Internet done for you lately?

The Post About The Popcast Anniversary Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:31:00 +0000

Last year, on August 14, I launched a pop culture podcast with my internet turned real-life friend, Knox McCoy. It's the The Popcast.

Fifty episodes later, we're still talking. And surprisingly, more than a few folks listen.

Here are our most recent episode topics:

Episode 50: The power of names. We guess which celebrity names are fake, which ones are real, and talk about how your name can influence your life.
Episode 49: Celebrity couples - our favorites, least favorite and the ones we feel embody everything there is to embody about celebrity-ness.
Episode 48: Movie Soundtracks. Is Garden State or The Bodyguard the best? What about Dirty Dancing? Best, worst, and in-between.
Episode 47: Bromance. What does it mean? Can women be involved? What are the iconic ones? Which famous people have bromanced the best?
Episode 46: Supporting characters who deserve their own thing and the idea of spinoffs. We also delved into introverted behavior.
Episode 45: Urban Dictionary entries, technology we just can't get into, and the blurry line between meeting someone online and translating that to real life.

Never miss an episode of The Popcast by Subscribing via iTunes or adding our feed to your podcast app.

If you need more encouragement to become codependent on us, we're hosting an anniversary giveaway.

Simply follow the instructions from PromoSimple below. FIVE winners will be chosen randomly to win one of the pop culture prizes listed. Bonus entries for following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

The Post About Restless Rabbits: Week Three

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 17:33:00 +0000

Let's chat about what we've read this week. OR if you haven't read - there are still some great questions to discuss from chapter eight through thirteen of Restless by Jennie Allen.

But first...our small group snack. My friend Elizabeth Hyndman posts her Friday Five each week and it's always full of goodness. This fella was stuck in the Las Vegas airport alone and made the most of his overnight stay with his iPhone rigged to a suitcase.

All by myself from Richard Dunn on Vimeo.

Now to our reading.

In these chapters, Jennie presents up "The Threads." She sets up the process of identifying the components of our story that mix and mingle to paint the picture of our purpose.

Here are questions to ponder. Answer as few or as many as you like in the comments.

What do you most hope to get out of the process of reading Restless?
Our IRL group shared many answers of what they were looking for:

clarity
focus
reduced fear of change
ability to get off the sideline

It can be difficult to step out to pursue our purpose because comfort will keep us content. Or at least that's true for me. For me, I'm looking to sit more at ease in this season of waiting. I'm not great at "at ease."

What would you do if you weren't afraid?
This is a question Sheryl Sandberg asks in her fantastic book "Lean In." My favorite discussion in our IRL group was how we often think of all the obstacles to living a dream - like finances, caring for parents, having young children. However, I must remember that thought process points straight to my arrogance to think I'm in control or that God won't care for the things I think only I can manage.

If I weren't afraid, I would write and train full time. That's as far as I've gotten because I don't know what to do to make that happen. To be continued...

Identify a highlight from each life stage when you felt pleasure in what you were doing. When were moments you remember being proud and satisfied.
There are so many and I WOULD ADORE IT if you would share in the comments. For me, my first memory is being 5 years old in the community pool meeting Gretchen Davis for the first time. She said she would be in Mrs. Dodd's kindergarten class in the comings weeks and I was THRILLED because that was my assignment too. Feeling connected immediately made me feel less afraid. I now can see how I really enjoy meeting new people and making connections. It's also the foundation for my passion for social media - so many new people with whom to connect.

Now, get thee to the comments and share your answers and thoughts. Also, feel free to email me at jamiesrabbits @ gmail.com for some one-on-one.

This week's reading assignment: Chapters 14-18.
We're still trekking through our Threads. Write down anything that wrecks you or confuses you and we'll chat it through on next week's post.

The Post About Restless Rabbits: Week Two

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 22:30:00 +0000

Let's chat about what we've read this week. OR if you haven't read - there are still some great questions to discuss from the first seven chapters of Restless by Jennie Allen.

But first...our small group snack. I've been obsessed with super synced dancing since my friend Jen Clapp shared this treasure with me.

Now to our reading.

In Part One, Jennie presents up "The Call." She sets up how we are called to dream, called to surrender, and called to run the race. It's a great introduction to what God has plotted out for us.

Here are questions to ponder. Answer as few or as many as you like in the comments.

What was your favorite sentence or passage or idea in Part One?
My favorite sentence was on page 6: "I want you to dare to believe that God has a vision for how you are to spend your life." It's the paraphrase of John 10:10 when Jesus says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Our lives, our years, TODAY isn't just something to get through.

Can you know God's purpose?
I'm going to answer this question with a question: How does God benefit...how is He glorified by hiding His will for us?

Do you know people who seem to be walking in God's purpose for their lives? What makes them different?
When I made my list of folks who seem to be camped out in God's will, a common thread appeared: courage. Courage to speak or courage to act. Fear almost seems imperceptible in their lives. Although it's not the absence of fear, just the pushing through it to the other side, right?

Are you surrounded by dreamers in your life?
I try to avoid friendships with those who bring drama. I crave those who balance thoughtful consideration with smiley emojis. When I told my friends I was quitting my job, they pondered and prayed and then high fived the decision. Because my closest friends are dreamers. Even my logical and bottom-line family members have wrapped most of their questions in encouragement.

When did you stop dreaming?
Another question answered with a question: Do you remember dreaming as a child and now those dreams seem long gone?

In Chapter 7, Jennie provides the running parable in which she shares four starting places. Where are you in the race?
A. Numb: Busy, surviving, somewhat content.
B. Thirsty: Not satisfied, don't know what to do about it.
C. Running Free: living it, feeling purpose, seeing God move.
D. At The Starting Line: don't really know God or have a personal relationship with him. Start here.

For me, I feel I'm running free. However, I also thought I signed up for a sprint and I'M ON MILE SEVENTEEN.

My favorite response to this from our IRL Restless meeting was: "My life is full, but it isn't really fulfilling."

Now, get thee to the comments and share your answers and thoughts. Also, feel free to email me at jamiesrabbits @ gmail.com for some one-on-one.

This week's reading assignment: Chapters 8-13.
We're getting to the heart of the matter. Write down anything that punches you in the gut or furrows your brow and we'll chat it through on next week's post.

If you'd like to catch up and join us: Read the first chapter of Restless here and click "Look Inside."

The Post About Restless Rabbits: Week One

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 22:24:00 +0000

Let's read!

Last night was week one of our IRL Highlands small group. We have a dozen folks sitting in my living room for the next six weeks tackling Restless by Jennie Allen. Restless explores the fact that God has called each of us to do great things, and then helps us discover what that might mean for each of us.

Now, it's your turn.

As with any good gathering, online or not, we need to have a snack and introduce ourselves.

First, the snack.

I spent most of last week falling down a YouTube rabbit hole after searching for "Gender Reveals Gone Wrong." Heaven.

Now, for the introductions.

In the comments below, give us some of the same info we shared in our living room group.

First Name
Where You're From
Why You're Interested in Reading Restless
Share three facts about you, but two should be true and one should be a lie. I'll guess.

I'll go first.

This week's reading assignment: Part I: The Call. It's about 50 pages and it moves fast. Jot down things that strike you as fantastic, odd, or uncomfortable and we'll chat it through on next week's post.

If you're still not sure you want to join in: Read the first chapter of Restless here and click "Look Inside."

The Post About What Happens At The Party

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 04:37:00 +0000

Jamie's Rabbits is a safe place. It's just you and me here so let's confess.

What's the strangest thing that's ever happened to you at a party?

This happened to me tonight.

As the photographer and my friend Stephanie Parker said "It's not a party until you start measuring head size."

The Post About A Song for Graduates

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sat, 31 May 2014 02:33:00 +0000

There's a lot of advice out there for graduates.

A few of my favorite recent speeches were given by Mindy Kaling at Harvard and Rainn Wilson at USC.

However, there's something missing at these graduation ceremonies...a great class song. Not an alma mater, but an actual song that some trio of capped and gowned graduates sings in harmony to canned music over bad speakers.

When I graduated high school, my classmates chose a song written a decade earlier. Not a classic ode to change or hope or wisdom.

They chose The Theme from St. Elmo's Fire.

THE LOVE THEME.

That's not all. There were lyrics for our capped and gowned singers.

We laughed until we had to cry
And we loved right down to our last goodbye
We were the best I think we'll ever be
Just you and me
For just a moment
We chased that dream we never found
And sometimes we let one another down
BUT THE LOVE WE MADE
Made everything alright
We shone so bright
For just a moment

YOU GUYS?!?!

I respectfully request a do-over. I nominate and unanimously choose "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles.

This song was originally composed at the end of a concert in 1958 when Charles and his orchestra had 12 minutes left to fill. Both the lyrics and music were entirely improvised on the spot.

Life Lesson #1: Sometimes your best work will happen when you throw out the business plan and the marketing strategy and just do it.

Charles doesn't begin singing until a minute and 30 seconds have passed.

Life Lesson #2: Be slow to speak, and quick to listen.

The song is almost seven minutes long. Most songs played on the radio at the time were two and a half minutes. Radio and record executives balked at the length but Charles stood by every second.

Life Lesson #3: What you create or your choices won't always make sense. That's okay.

Billboard magazine initially gave "What'd I Say" a tepid review: "He shouts out in percussive style ... Side two is the same." Charles' label, Atlantic Records, pushed the single despite a lack of critical acclaim. Within weeks, the track topped out at number one on Billboard's R&B singles chart, number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and it became Charles' first gold record.

Life Lesson #4: Not everyone will be on your team, but the ones who matter will be.

While the Beatles were developing their sound in Germany, they played "What'd I Say" at every show. When Mick Jagger sang for the first time with the band that would become the Rolling Stones, he performed a duet of "What'd I Say." The Animals, Steve Winwood, the Beach Boys, and Van Morrison counted the song as a major influence on why they were interested in music. It's been covered by Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jimi Hendrix, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, Etta James and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Life Lesson #5: Leave a legacy.

What was your class song? What would you add to a graduate's playlist?

The Post About Working Out God's Story

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 30 May 2014 02:16:00 +0000

Four days after God texted me to quit my job, I attended Storyline, a conference I'd registered for six months earlier. The event is intended to help folks create a life plan. I'm glad God knew I'd need a life plan six months before I did.

In Session Two, I wrote down three sentences that would haunt me AND anchor me for the season that was ahead.

1. Define one primary ambition.

While I worked out my notice, I was asked to teach a class at my church that helps folks discover their personality, gifts, and purpose in life. Who better to use as an illustration than me? I spent an enormous amount of time asking friends what they thought my strengths were, looking at my passions and talents, and considering all the ways I found fulfillment. And I prayed.

In a few weeks, I realized my heart and skills and experience were the perfect match for an organization I was already connected to who had a huge need in the realm of social media. So I listened to "Oceans" by Hillsong United on repeat and submitted a proposal for a job that did not exist.

They read it, responded to it, and wheels began to turn. Slowly. It has become my one primary ambition. Whether it becomes my full-time, 401(k) job or I simply get to do it as a volunteer gig, I'm all in.

2. People-pleasing will kill your story.
At Storyline, John Richmond said "Don't measure yourself with the same ruler others use to measure you." I'm a recovering people pleaser. Quitting my job has sent me back to people pleasing rehab on almost a weekly basis. I want friends and family and even you to feel confident and reassured about the decision I've made. Especially in the waiting. I've considered jobs and moves that aren't remotely related to the one primary ambition simply to put people at ease.

This is when it's so important to have an inner circle who will root for you, pray for you, hold you accountable, and expect nothing from you but obedience to God. They're not afraid to ask hard questions and also not afraid of the sometimes weird, wonky answers.

3. Filter out even the good stuff.
Earlier this month, I was offered a dream job working for a dream boss. My days would be spent doing good work for good people. It was only two degrees off from my primary ambition.

The decision to say "no" was harder than almost anything I've ever done. Truly. When I spoke to the dream boss who wasn't to be, he said "My biggest fear wasn't that you would say no, but that you would say yes and in three months you'd be feeling nothing but regret."

THAT MADE ME WANT TO WORK FOR HIM EVEN MORE. Yet, it increased my confidence I had made the right call.

So I continue to wait. But actively wait.

Isaiah says it like this: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Running. Walking. Eagle Wing-ing.

I'm still all in.

The Post About The Summertime Musical Popcast

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Thu, 29 May 2014 03:03:00 +0000

Who will own the summer music scene?
What are the all-time favorite summer songs?
Why do we listen to the specific music we listen to?
If Miley Cyrus never existed, who would have taken her place?

Click to listen to Episode #40.

What's a perfect song for summer?

This is our Popcast Summertime collaborative playlist. Add your favorites!

The Post About TV Shows To Binge This Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Wed, 28 May 2014 02:12:00 +0000

Summer is for poolsides and baseball and beaches and sunshine and flip flops.

All of these things are fairly overrated.

Instead of going outside, why not stay in your pajamas and TV binge?

Here are 12 shows I really loved that you should consider adding to your watching wish list.

Drama

Firefly (14 episodes): Nathan Fillion partners with creator Joss Whedon of Buffy and Avengers fame to create this fantastic sci-fi western. Episode #8 "Out of Gas" is one of my favorite hours of television. Ever. (Amazon Prime / Hulu Plus / Netflix)
Orphan Black (10 episodes in Season 1): My podcast partner, Knox, demanded I watch this show and I finally did. Holy moly. A character-driven sci-fi show with the amazing Tatiana Maslany playing most of the parts and killing it. (Amazon Prime)
Sherlock (6 episodes in Seasons 1-2): This contemporary adaptation has teamed Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman for truly some of the best TV out there. Episode #4 "A Scandal in Belgravia" could be its own feature film. (Netflix)
Luther (10 episodes in Seasons 1-2): I have my friend Erin Moon to thank for introducing me to the actor Idris Elba. Luther is psychological crime drama at its best. (Amazon Prime / Hulu Plus / Netflix)

Comedy

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (22 episodes in Season 1): Andy Samberg got all the praise for this police sit-com, and rightfully so, but it truly is one of the best ensemble shows on TV right now. One word: Gina. (Hulu Plus)
The Goldbergs (23 episodes in Season 1): I adore Gen Xers being in charge of television right now because nuggets like this ABC comedy are green-lit. Set in the late 80's, this above average family is parented by funny pros Jeff Garlin and Wendy McLendon-Covey. (Hulu Plus)
Better Off Ted (26 episodes): Veridian Dynamics may be a an evil corporation, but it looks like a fun place to work. This workplace show combines the absurd with a dapper leading man. (Amazon Prime / Netflix)
Freaks and Geeks (18 episodes): Before Paul Feig was making movies like Bridesmaids, The Heat, and the upcoming Peanuts, he created this teen comedy-drama set in 1980. One of the best shows to ever have such a short life. Include before-they-were-big-stars: Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, and James Franco. (Netflix)

Worth It, But It's A Big Commitment

30 Rock (138 episodes): I own a Tracy Morgan bobble head. Tina Fey is my spirit animal. (Netflix)
Veronica Mars (64 episodes): Kudos to all the Internet Marshmallows who insisted this Kristen Bell drama about a teen moonlighting as a private investigator would be great. Because it is. (Amazon Prime)
Friday Night Lights (76 episodes): You guys. High school football in the South. Tami Taylor's hair. Riggins' abs. These are a few of my favorite things. (Amazon Prime / Netflix)
Doctor Who (104 episodes in new Seasons 1-7): This British sci-fi drama is truly a huge commitment. The ninth doctor is a cheesy, but absolutely necessary prologue to tenth and eleventh doctors who will wreck you. But when you get to the episode "Blink" you will never turn back. Or blink. (Amazon Prime / Hulu Plus / Netflix only has 6 seasons)

Shows On My Own Summer Binge List:

House of Cards (Netflix)
Moone Boy (Hulu Plus)
The Wire (Amazon Prime)

What TV show do you recommend everyone should binge and why?

The Post About How You Take A Break

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 27 May 2014 04:16:00 +0000

Of course, today was a day to remember the incredible price paid by men and women in service so that we might lounge at the lake and eat watermelon.

I hope you did all three - remembered, lounged, and ate.

Since I'm not actually a cook, I made the only burgers I could.

How did you celebrate a long weekend?

{image: Jamie}

The Post About Restless Small Group

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Mon, 26 May 2014 02:09:00 +0000

Next week, I'm co-leading my first Highlands small group with my fantastic friend, Javacia Harris Bowser.

We are spending six weeks tackling Restless by Jennie Allen.

Restless explores the fact that God has called each of us to do great things, and then helps us discover what that might mean for each of us.

Jennie offers a simple process to identify the raw materials—the unique threads—we’ve been given by digging into five areas:

Gifts
Suffering
Places
People
Passions

"We ache to be part of something great, and it makes us nervous at the same time. We were built for this, but we all fight hundreds of mixed motives and fears. Jesus said of us, "Whoever believes in Me...they will do even greater things than these." (John 14:12).....Our souls are restless until they rest in God. We were made for Him and He gave everything so that our souls could finally and forever rest in Him."

There are two ways you can be a part of this study.

1. Join us in person.
Be a part of our IN REAL LIFE small group starting June 1. Just go to the Small Groups section of the Highlands website and search for "Restless." Space is limited.

2. Join us here on the blog.
Each Monday, starting June 2, I'll be writing a discussion post and we'll chat through what we read the week before.

Read the first chapter of Restless here and clicking "Look Inside."

Have you ever felt restless?

The Post About The Popcast and Summer Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 25 May 2014 04:25:00 +0000

Previously...
I host a podcast with Knox McCoy called The Popcast. It is the Brad Pitt of podcasts: solid, dependable, hard-working and charmingly humorous. More specifically, The Popcast is a weekly argument / conversation about all things pop culture.

In this week's episode (#39), we throw a Summer Movie Extravaganza. We discuss the upcoming movies of the season, name the worst blockbusters, talk about actors who do their best work only in the hotter months, and we each pitch our own ideas for the perfect summer film.

Click to listen to Episode #39.

What's your favorite summer movie of all time?

The Post About Friday is for Cat Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 23 May 2014 21:25:00 +0000

Friday is for surely goodness and mercy.

And cat videos.

I LOVE CAT VIDEOS. It meets just enough of my need so I don't acquire an actual pet.

Here are five of my all-time favorites.

What's one of your favorite go-to videos to make the day brighter?

The Post About Picking Up Strange Habits

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 23 May 2014 00:20:00 +0000

My parents are delightful.

They've taught me many things. My dad taught me how to mow the grass, although I refuse to do it. My mom taught me to sew, although I refuse to do it. They also taught me to be adorably codependent on those who can cut grass and sew.

Hopefully, they've also planted seeds of compassion and kindness and approaching the world with as much humor as I can stand.

Their real legacy though, is a few of the small quirky things they taught me that linger even now.

All medicines belong in the kitchen. I'm guessing this was because the worst headaches came at the prospect of cooking dinner for the one thousandth night in a row.

Sunday nights are for popcorn. We would always come home from church and cook popcorn on the stove and watch one of four channels on TV. Magic.

Wedding napkins are a collector's item. Those cocktail napkins embossed with a couple's names and the date are surely worth stacking up in a cabinet. Even if there are hundreds.

Candy should be eaten in an orderly fashion. Specifically by color and number. My mother assures me this isn't a medical diagnosis, just the right way to do things.

Do you have any unique habits you picked up from your family?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About How To Be Better at Instagram

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Wed, 21 May 2014 19:56:00 +0000

It was recently reported that Instagram is doubling its base number of users every year. Currently, there are more than 200 million monthly active users. That's a lot of pictures of clouds.

Since there are new folks jumping on board every day, I thought I'd share some insight on how to be a better Instagrammer.

I don't necessarily consider myself an Instagram expert, but I have been an active user since March, 2011, and I have never used the Kelvin filter. Those are decent credentials.

Let's start with a list of things people don't particularly fancy on Instagram. This is based on HARD CORE scientific data collection on my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter:

Not Pictures:

Laura Tucker Gallitz: Anything that's not a picture - like cute/inspirational/funny sayings. Have they not heard of Pinterest?
Laura McClellan: Memes or something that is not your original content.
Sonja Lange: My kids said "shout outs."
Matt Cuthbert: Screen captures - esp. of whatever music someone's listening to.
Jen Clapp: Typed quotes (aka not pictures.)
Mariah: Screen shots of your Facebook status/note app.
Jason Gausta: Videos.

Body Parts:

Stephanie Parker: Feet.
Jodie Dardeau: People with better bodies than me. No fair.
Eleanor Mathis: Beach + knees pics. BORED.
Michelle Holland: Breast feeding mothers or any pic where their breast or nipple is showing.
Kelly Olsakovsky: It's worth a second mention. Feet.
Laura Wilder: Injury pictures make me gag!
Brandi: Wounds.
Katy McCay: Injuries, low cut tops,

Creepy Animals

Katie Earley: Bugs. Dead animals.
Shawn Stinson: Pics of the snake/deer/squirrel/rabbit/turkey you killed today.
Joy Sowell: Pictures of snakes!

Yourself

Lance Moore: Selfies.
Julie King: Selfies!
Kari Lipp: Drunk selfies.
Ed Cyzewski: I'm not sure whether I dislike selfies or foodstagram's more. Although foodstagrams look REALLY silly when people are actually taking them.
Shawn Stinson: Selfies with worship song lyrics or bible verses as the caption.
Vickie Aldridge: Selfies are a biggie. Unless they are artsy or creative, Otherwise I don't like the same face different day and location.
Dawn Reiss: The "artistic" selfies, one after another.
Tiffany Olsen: Selfies with duck face. Selfies from above. Selfies from below. Selfies in the car. Selfies with serious face. Selfies with a...

Bad Captions

Kayla Perry: •• G I R L S typing like // T H I S •• in their captions. And having Bible verses as the caption of their selfies. No ma'am. Please stop.
Kristin Graham: Ones that need an explanation, but are posted without a caption.
Angela: Photos with a trillion hashtags.
Maranda Cranford: #hashtagsthatarefullsentences.
Molly Gentry: Photos that have to have multiple sentences to explain why it's worthy to post.

Poor Pictures

Leigh Kramer: Unpretty things, like piles of laundry, scary insects, wounds, or screaming children. Not even a filter can fix that.
Chris Callahan: Blurry/grainy/out of focus/dark/etc and not in an artistic way. Lazy gram is not appreciated.
Katy McCay: Blurry, out of focus or just bad pics (it's ok to take 100 and use 1, why don't people know that?)
Burrill Strong: Badly overexposed sunset/sunrise shots. If you have to tell me it was beautiful, your photo wasn’t good enough to post. Any photo that obviously had an Instagram filter applied.
Meredith Davis: Murky, gooey, super close up food shots using a flash...
Amy Payne: Generic, unremarkable sky shots.

Miscellaneous Grumpiness

Ryan Leigh Runyon: When someone's personal IG suddenly becomes a hard-sell business IG.
Sarah Miller: Essential oils. "Hand lettering." Outfit of the day. Workout outfits. Screen shots of the music you're listening to. Coffee. When it's your friend's birthday so you post a collage of photos that is really a collage of your self and your friend just happens to be in the photos too.
Jared Hollier: I don't like when people post half a dozen pics in a row.
KJaco: Photos of black coffee (just because it's brewed in a different way doesn't mean it's cool), multiple photos in a row from the same event/same people, photos or screenshots of inspirational quotes.
Rachel Callahan: Writing and only writing of any variety. Wounds, toes, bleeding animals (usually dead), nearly empty plates, extremely grainy anything, cleavage, mom jeans.

But let's be honest. This is America. You can do what you want. If you want to post a slightly blurry selfie of you with a bloody knee and no shoes holding a dead squirrel with a Bible verse above your head, then YOU DO IT.

But know this: folks probably won't click like. They will probably unfollow you. And you'll miss out on the "social" part of this social network.

So how do you increase the interacting? I took my five most liked pictures of all time and came to some conclusions.

First, it's a decent picture. Centered, good light, and it captures a moment most folks can relate to. Then I added a caption to juxtapose the fancy scene: Directing a wedding. Had to tell a groomsman: "If you smoke that joint in this processional, I will cut you. And by 'cut you,' I mean I will find a dull knife and stick it in your neck." YOU GUYS?!?

Instagram is a great way to be a storyteller - not just in images. Plus, I asked my followers to share their thoughts.

Photos of food are a deal breaker for many so I rarely post them. The key is to get an interesting shot that's well composed and sitting in fantastic light. Most restaurants are simply too dark, which is why most Instagram food fails happen. Eat outside or by a window during the day. Also, consider the menu item: does it sound like something people would love at just the thought of it? Like sweet tea fried chicken with white barbecue sauce with a side of fried pickles. Pick this combo up at Saw's Juke Joint in Birmingham.

Follow Helene Dujardin and let her inspire better food photos. If you are super serious about it, buy her book Plate to Pixel.

Remember what I said about storytelling? Instagram is a great way to invite people into your life. I want my feed to be a reflection of every part of who I am. Although this picture wasn't quite the quality I would have liked, the caption explains why it works: In January 2013, I named a green Lifesaver after a coworker and prayed for her every time I saw it in my purse. Today she got baptized and I ate the best piece of candy ever.

Be vulnerable. Don't just share the surface or the pretty parts of life. Be 3D, even in the 2D.

Outside is a common Instagram theme and I LOVE IT. I like flowers and sunsets and oceans and buildings and rain and clouds. But it's crucial we make these captures stand out. My best two tips are these:

Consider angles. Don't be afraid to shoot from above, below, or from any sharp angle. I was hugging this tree to get this shot which looked ridiculous. I've laid prostrate in my driveway to get a good shot of a sneaker. Looking silly is not a good reason to miss a great photograph.
Think like a square. Make every part of the IG square interesting. The sky in the above picture is as important as the tree. I filled the square rather than have any wasted space. I also cropped out anything that took away like power lines.

This photo combined cake pops and the Olympics. It was GUARANTEED to be a success. My tip is to always ask yourself before posting:

Will anyone but me care about this?
Am I okay with anyone on the internet seeing this?
Have I posted any other types of photos but this one in the last few days?
Would this picture be better discussed in therapy?
Is this a picture of feet or blood?

Your answers will determine if I follow you.

What are your tips and tricks and complaints about Instagram?

Let's be friends on Instagram. Follow me @jamiesrabbits.

Note: Don't forget to join my new secret club and enter to win Amazon gift cards. Ends tomorrow!