Jamie's Rabbits

The Post About Stepping Out On You

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:35:00 +0000

Six weeks after my naked drunk driver encounter and I'm boot-free. I still limp like an old man with style but a few more weeks of physical therapy and I should be running 5Ks again.

No.

I had the following exchange with my Colombian orthopedic doctor.

Me: What shoes can I wear now?
Doc: You could wear Crocs?
Me: Your Mom could wear Crocs.

This banter falls flat when your medical professional speaks English as a second language.

During my blogging hiatus, I've been working on two podcast projects.

Golden Moon Buffet:
Erin Moon and I are serving up a weekly all-you-can-eat buffet of pop culture goodness on the Xtra Bacon network.

Episode 2:

Reese Witherspoon: An American Citizen on American Soil
Movies You Quote Like You Got Paid To Write Them
Celebrities You Should Follow on Social Media and In The Airport If That Works Out

Episode 3:

American Vs. British Pop Culture. Who would aliens take with them?
Books That Failed To Live Up To The Movie. Our apologies to Stephen King
Erin and Jamie Have Guilty Pleasures. And they’re humiliating.

A new Golden Moon Buffet episode every Wednesday. Subscribe on iTunes here.

The Bachelorette:
Knox McCoy and I are at it again.

Episode 1: Preview of the first 13 contestants vying for Desiree's heart. I will support whoever can get her to grow her bangs back. I'm thinking Juan Pablo.

A new Bachelorette podcast episode every week. Subscribe on iTunes here.

Winners:
You're all winners. But only two won the giveaway I hosted. Congrats to Noel D. and Candace D. Email me at jamiesrabbits@gmail.com to collect your bounty!

Winner-To-Be:
My Bachelorette podcast partner Knox is hosting a giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card. Easy peasy entries accepted here.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.120

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 05 May 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Each week or so 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.

I'm obsessed with all things paperless.

Rabbit Sidebar: Except wedding and graduation invitations. I'll only pony up a crock pot or wad of cash if someone had to lick a stamp and the back of an envelope. Please don't Facebook invite me to your life event. No.

But despite my preference for digital, this video makes me happy. And for all of you reading "real" books and printing emails, this is my concession.

The 50 Most Perfectly Timed Photos. Perfect place, time, and angle. And then you win the Internet. Disclaimer: #46 is the worst.

I once had a blogging mid-life crisis and didn't write for more than 3 months. It was a boy in skinny jeans and a pair of Toms that turned it around. This may be the reason I love this one-for-one charity idea from Tripp & Tyler.

Things I Read This Week That Weren't Poppycock (see...not giving up...)
Groupon Dating by Jason Melville Gausta: Jason and I had a conversation. It became this very delightful post. It begs the question "How much is your soul mate worth?"

60 Thoughts About Turning 60 by Ian Martin: Quick preview:
17. The scarier the world becomes, the more important it is to focus on the correct use of "less" and "fewer".
37. It's funny and comforting to know that after you are dead, you will still get spam.
60. When people finish a sentence by saying "the list is endless", it always means they have run out of things to list.

5 Words Everyone Says by Jon Acuff: "...we all say them thousands of times in our lives. At the end of adventures, in the middle of mistakes, late at night, early in the morning, "How did I get here" is a sentence that none of us escape." This post was just goodness.

A Prayer for the Miraculous by Jessica Buttram: This post actually makes me angry because she is not writing every day. Holy moly with the words.

As I left the grocery store today with a buggy full of items and a broken foot, the bottom dropped out and rain fell in buckets. A member of my church happened upon me. She offered to drive my car to the sidewalk and load my purchases. Right?!?

This video captures folks helping others via car dash cams. May it restore our faith and prompt us to kindness.

The Post About A New Rabbit Venture

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:18:00 +0000

I met Erin Moon online.

Several of my friendships have progressed as follows:
1. Follow on Twitter.
2. Friend on Facebook.
3. Text about people on Twitter and Facebook.
4. Eat cake in real life.

That's exactly what happened with Erin. We met over coffee and a cupcake in Birmingham and became fast friends. We realized we both fancied celebrities, pop culture and Downton Abbey.

Fast forward and today we're launching a podcast about those very things called The Golden Moon Buffet.

The first episode of the Buffet serves up:

Gwyneth Paltrow - Everyone Hates Her Now
Summer Movies That Will Be Incredible And Those That Will Be Furious
Mobile Gaming is like Two Teaspoons of Meth

I would love for you to join us on this adventure. You can do so willingly by listening in one of two ways:

You can also visit our website at www.goldenmoonbuffet.com. No Chinese restaurant owners had snatched up that domain. What the what?

If you need more encouragement to become codependent on us, I'm hosting a little giveaway.

Simply follow the instructions from Rafflecopter below and you'll have up to 10 chances to win. One winner will snag a $25 gift card to Amazon and one will get a $25 iTunes gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fine Print: Open to those 18+ in US or Canada. Amazon and iTunes SURELY appreciate my business, but they don't know anything about this giveaway. It's all me.

The Post About 5 Lies We Believe About Extroverts

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:36:00 +0000

I'm an extrovert. Let me pause here while you process that NEW INFORMATION.

According to The Myers & Briggs Foundation this plays out as follows:

Extraversion (E): Getting your energy from active involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. Being excited by being around people and liking to energize other people. Understanding a problem better when talking out loud about it and hearing what others have to say.

All of the above.

I've never considered the other side of the room any less than though. I have introverted friends who I like and who seem to like me. The differences tend to be "...they get their energy from dealing with ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions inside their heads. They often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people they feel comfortable with."

I've made a concerted effort to learn about being me and how to help those who are not me not despise their time with me. I've done that by reading some great resources:

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
How To Get Along With An Introvert by Donald Miller
Four Lies About Introverts by Amie Patrick
Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh

I now consider myself a worker on the Underground Railroad for Introverts at parties. I can navigate you through any overwhelming social scenario with comfort and ease. And I usually have candy in my purse.

This olive branch notwithstanding, I have always believed being extroverted wasn't a bad thing. That was until I wandered into the Internet wilderness. Suddenly I found myself the target of those who find "my kind" to be more than a bit disappointing.

I polled Facebook fans and Twitter followers and asked "What’s the first thing you think when I type 'extrovert?'"

I thought the kind answer was this:

@jamiesrabbits You.
— Amanda (@mandiemariebee) April 26, 2013

But the majority of responses were what scientific research professionals would call "icky."

Loud, uncomfortable, tiring, hates to be alone, acts without thinking, likes attention, crazy, too much, jerk, outspoken, tireless chatterbox, and the most popular: not me.

Please give me a second while I eat this Snickers.

That's better. Let me address a few of the misleading characterizations.

1. Extroverts Are Loud: I'm not saying my sound isn't impressive, but the implication doesn't seem to be volume but rather noise. It's as if an extrovert's content isn't valuable just because it may seem less thoughtful or quieter in comparison. And YOU GUYS...I talk about Cheez-its and shoes, so there's that.

2. Extroverts Love To Meet People: Again, the assumption is I don't experience social anxiety. I get embarrassed. I feel insecure. I'm not immune to the nervousness that comes with walking into that ballroom or sanctuary or networking meeting. I like to be WITH people, but meeting them is often preceded by uneasiness.

3. Extroverts Are Mean: Eek. There are definitely unkind people in the world. However, that's less about being extroverted and more about being a douche-canoe who coincidentally may be extroverted.

4. Extroverts Can't Be Alone: That's like saying introverts can't be WITH people which is poppycock. It may take me a bit more time to reach my fill of people but I always do. You'll know I'm in need of some solitude when you find me hiding in the ladies' room.

Rabbit Sidebar: I'm bringing "poppycock" back, so get on board.

5. Extroverts Hate Introverts: I'm not sure why we're being pitted against one another because we shouldn't be at war. I know it's my job to be sensitive to those who navigate the world differently than me. But it's your job too. Let's reject the either-or.

I promise not to try and fill every moment of silence, if you promise not to just stare at me with a furrowed brow.

So what lies did I leave out? What lies are folks spreading about introverts?

And remember, extroverts and introverts both have feelers. Don't hurt them in the comments.

The Post About Content Creator's Commentary

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:17:00 +0000

Here are a few additional thoughts on some Instagram photos and Tweets I posted this week.

My neighbor adores animals and works at a rescue mission for orphaned pets. This is her foster child, Gertrude. Gertie tends to wander into my yard and scare the crap out of me every morning. There's really no better way to jump start your day. Unless it's with actual bacon.

What's a must-have or must-do in the AM?

I want to address the rumors. Yes, I can still manage a sick dance break in my kitchen even with a broken foot.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) April 21, 2013

When I visited the orthopedic specialist after my car accident, he asked me if I had sprained my ankle in the past 6 months. As you know, I had. The story I told him may not have matched the one I told you in November. However, if you are needing some of your own tear-a-tendon tracks, might I suggest my Spotify "Clean The House" playlist.

What song motivates your moving?

If you're like me, then you're searching for internet goodness every time the clock ticks. In one day, this was my search history on my phone. Let me explain this mess:

Chris Hemsworth is in a new trailer for the next Thor movie. He's pretty.
I have hydrangeas in my yard that I'd like to be purple instead of blue.You can make that happen.
A PMS color chart may not be what you hope it is.
The flight time from Atlanta to London is 9 hours. I'm confident my ADD can manage that.
The good news is that healing a broken foot faster includes cheese and ice cream. Legit.
I'm still not sure how to boil an egg. Or why you would do it.

What's the oddest thing you've searched for this week?

If there’s any legacy I could leave, it would be that it’s spelled “whoa.”
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) April 25, 2013

SO MANY people are spelling it "woah." I don't know who led these folks down this slippery slope but it's also prompted them to spell "yeah" as "yea" and "fo sho" as "for sure." Let's get it right friends.

What word do you see misused the most?

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is Friday.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) April 26, 2013

Friday, right? Yes.

You should answer at least one of the above embedded questions. Yes, you.

The Post About A Naked Drunk Driver: The B Side

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:22:00 +0000

I had a car accident 3 weeks ago and I shared a little bit of the fantastic that resulted from it. However, questions keep coming so I thought I might provide a few of the other details that served to entertain.

When my wreck occurred, I immediately thought "Cars always blow up in movies." This prompted me to immediately exit and get out tha way. Thankfully, I only had enough fuel to go seven more miles because I'm a planner like that.

When I looked up, the other driver was also hopping out of his totaled car. The difference was he was intoxicated. Also, he wasn't wearing a shirt, pants, or shoes. He fled by foot in his red plaid boxers yelling "Sorry Lady." I appreciate him admitting fault at the scene and acknowledging my classiness. I do not appreciate him stealing that truck and making it difficult for the police to find him.

You know how awesome cell phones are? Me too. Which is why I just kept repeating "I need my cell phone" to all the neighbors and other drivers who kept trying to help me. This codependency is part Words With Friends and part not knowing anyone's telephone numbers so you can call them and tell them about the naked guy who just hit you.

My friend Patrick arrived on the scene to help me find that cell phone and take me to the hospital. Soon, I learned Patrick had taken an Ambien, didn't have his glasses and forgot his license. The hospital staff suspected we were an unusual case when they entered our ER room and found me in the chair and Patrick on the bed.

There has been nothing but kindness since my accident. Cards, gifts, visits, take-out and hugs from real-life family, friends, coworkers, and you. The last is my favorite. I adore that we can come to care about people we may only know through a screen.

Never assume online friendships are less valuable. I don't.

Here's the wisdom of one such online friend who has since turned out to be all kinds of real-life.

True story.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.119

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:57:00 +0000

Each week or so 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.

Hopefully you caught this gem earlier in the week when the family was ALL OVER the Internet and TV. But if not, enjoy the photo blog Reasons My Son Is Crying which has one dad adorably documenting the "logical" reasons a child cries. The three pics above are captioned as follows (l to r):

I wouldn’t let him eat mud.
I wouldn’t let him drink bath water.
He took his socks and shoes off. His feet are now cold.

P.S. There's also the spinoff Reasons My Talk Show Host Is Crying featuring Conan O'Brien.

YOU GUYS. Sports Balls Replaced With Cats. I love the Internet.

Should I Text Him? Flowchart infographic which I should use more often. Hi, I'm single.

How Animals Eat Their Food. These are the types of guys I would be friends with in real life. If that tells you anything about me.

On April 6, the 27-year-old son of pastor and author Rick Warren committed suicide. That sentence alone is a tragedy...for any family. However, the resulting backlash against the Warren family from those who consider Christ their Lord as well was disheartening. Author Beth Moore addressed it in a blog post this week titled Sadness and Madness.

Life is hard enough without hatefulness rife in the Body of Christ. We are called to carry one another’s burdens, not pile relentlessly on top of them. We can still hold one another accountable. We can still ask questions. We can still disagree. But we can do it with respect. I’m sick of the bullying. The mud-slinging and the meanness. I’m sick of careless, idle words thrown out there in the public square and professing believers in Christ standing on the necks of their own brothers and sisters to sound smart and superior. As if it’s not enough that we are surrounded in this culture by Christian haters, we’ve got to have our own hater-Christians. It’s insane.

Tweets I Starred

I’m really good at violating Oreos.
— Gretchen Bush (@Gbushmomma) April 11, 2013

@jamiesrabbits for some I knew this would make sense to you twitter.com/stantonmartin/…
— Stanton Martin (@stantonmartin) April 13, 2013

I bet the first person to take a picture of their feet at the beach wasn’t annoying at all.
— sammy rhodes (@prodigalsam) April 13, 2013

Stay Calm and stop making so many variations of that poster.
— Amanda (@mandiemariebee) April 10, 2013

Love is really about finding someone who hates the same things you do.
— Michael Deppisch (@deppisch) April 10, 2013

What have you consumed this week that you loved?

The Post About 5 Lessons Learned at my First 5K

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:05:00 +0000

What a pretty place, right?

Sloss Furnaces is a historic landmark in Birmingham that operated as a pig iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971.

But that's not why we're here.

We're here because I ran my first 5K at this site 2 weeks ago.

Let's review what I learned while running the Rumpshaker 2013.

1. Running is early. I love the sun on the horizon, but did you realize it hits that beautiful spot in the late afternoon? Let's look at it then.

2. Running is expensive. Maybe not for everyone, but I need the neon shoes and tank and shorts and hair tie and iPhone armband and pom pom socks. Plus, I need the extra data for downloading the perfect running playlist from Spotify. I have a mortgage and handbag problem, so no more financial commitments.

3. Running is hard. On your hips, on your knees, on your skin, on your hair. I visited my hairdresser the night before this event and I was desperate to slow it down to save the greatness of my salon blowout.

4. Running can make you fat. After the finish line, I tackled that bagel like it was Matt Damon asking me to marry him. Then, my friends and I justified 2nd breakfast which came in as pancakes and bacon. Note, the 5K only burned 300 calories. THAT'S 1.5 REESE'S EGGS YOU GUYS.

5. Running can be for a great cause. This 5K promoted awareness about colorectal cancer and raised funds to fight it. My best friend's dad is a colon cancer survivor and my dear coworker Elaine died from it in 2012. It was an honor to run on their behalf.

And keep that blowout looking good.

Pros and Cons of Running? Go.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.118

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:50:00 +0000

Each week or so 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.

Do you ever feel less-than compared to the rich and famous? Well, we can't always sit around waiting for their mug shots, so artist Danny Evans has provided his support by photoshopping celebrities to look like ordinary people. I went to high school with his version of Brangelina. I WAS his version of Miley Cyrus.

I'm an Amy Poehler fan. When she hosted the Golden Globes with Tina Fey, I wanted her to host my life. When she separated from Will Arnett, I wanted to send her an Edible Arrangement. When she launched a video series "Ask Amy," I wanted to hire her as my therapist. I've been needing some bravery this week as I start and want to start embarking on some newness in my life. Amy's advice is "do it and see what happens." That's a good word.

My friend Katherine is ridiculous. She is funny. Quite funny. And you can read her blog Grass Stains or follow her on Twitter and get access to that ridiculous goodness. Please start at her ongoing series Uncomfortable Truths. That adjective is appropriate. Your second stop should be "I Don't Think I'm Cut Out For Facebook." It's a powerful post prompted by the death of a friend and the ongoing debate about legalizing gay marriage.

Easter 2013 - Death to Life from Church of the Highlands on Vimeo.
I mentioned in my last post that I ugly cried twice during Easter services at my church. This 9-minute video initiated the second incident.

Psalm 40:2 "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

Tweets I Starred

I'm so hip old people should replace me.
— Tyler Tarver (@tylertarver) April 5, 2013

@jamiesrabbits Texted my mom a couple days ago then put the phone to my ear waiting for her reply. :-/
— Hilary Farris (@HilaryFarris) March 30, 2013

Password must contain a capital letter, a number, a plot, a protagonist with some character development, and a surprise ending.
— John Green (@johndashgreen) April 2, 2013

@jamiesrabbits Nope. If you choose that suite, you don't leave.
— Clair McLafferty (@see_clair_write) March 29, 2013

Frantically hitting the “End” button on an accidental phone call is my workout.
— sammy rhodes (@prodigalsam) April 6, 2013

What do you recommend for me this week?

Especially since I'm laid up with no car and bum limbs and pain meds....

The Post About A Fantastic Weekend Ending In An ER

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:29:00 +0000

This Easter weekend was fantastic. Let me bullet point it for you.

I spent Friday night with one of my favorite people who also happens to color and blow out my hair.
I ran my first 5K on Saturday morning which included hills and maneuvering through a blow-up colon.
I ate pancakes. Twice.
I attended services at my church on Saturday night and Sunday morning which made me ugly cry. Twice.
I wasted Sunday afternoon with my whole family and we ate cake pops and breakfast casseroles.
I went to a Walking Dead Finale Party on Sunday night and we lamented the episode drought before us while eating more cake pops.

To cap it all off, I spent the final hours of Sunday night in the ER after being hit by a drunk driver.

Still, fantastic.

I didn't feel the fantastic part at the moment. Not at the moment the driver barreled through that stop sign. Not at the moment my seat belt and air bag blocked me from the windshield. Not at the moment I crawled out of my car smelling gas and smoke. Not at the moment the drunken man abandoned his truck in no shirt or pants or shoes and started running down the road.

Well, maybe that part was a bit fantastical.

The fantastic has risen to the surface at such odd times. When the CAT scan radiographer shared how much she struggles with missing her dad who was killed by a drunk driver. When my neighbor offered to help me while in tears because she's still grieving the loss of her roommate from a deadly car accident. When I found myself sharing my faith on the phone with an insurance claims staffer who asked me if I really believe in miracles.

I have a totaled car. I have a bruised body. I have broken bones.

I have generous friends. I have a loving family. I have more days ahead.

Fantastic.

The Post About Poking Drama In The Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Drama. It may actually be the worst.

Not the drama Daniel Day Lewis evokes or the kind found between the pages of a great Sweet Valley High novel. It's the sort that makes you want to poke people in the eyes while you're kicking them. The type of drama that makes you shake your head and wonder how you spiraled to such depths of poking and kicking.

I generally find myself having lengthy conversations with God in my kitchen about drama. I will respond to criticisms, hurl back my own and then eat some feelings via frozen Thin Mints.

What is it about talking this kind of drama out with the Creator of all good things that seems to help clarify it? Is it the talking or the listening? I think it's actually when I listen that I land on one of the following:

1. I'm an idiot. This drama is ridiculous.
2. I'm hurting. This drama comes from somewhere painful.

I don't like figuring how idiotic I am, but I also hate the alternative. I think this is the prickly part of James 1:2-4 "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."

Boo to endurance.

I'm all for the opposite of endurance. Unfortunately, I looked up "endurance" in Roget's and the antonym is "weakness."

Boo to weakness.

I suppose I should dig in for the long haul and grow that blasted endurance. James does mention something about being "strong" and "ready for anything." Sounds almost like a superhero. I could be a superhero.

I'm all about a great pair of tights.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v. 117

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Each week or so 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.

It's highly likely The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is not a new discovery for you. I've been hoarding this recommendation for months because I couldn't bear to send you to it without it being worth the investment. It's not that I didn't love this modernized adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, it's just that it was in the middle of the series and I was STRUGGLING waiting for each new installment. But now there's resolution...almost 100 episodes later.

So here's Episode 1. I apologize for how you will waste the rest of your day.

I attended the Killer Tribes conference this weekend which was a snazzy event filled with lots of nuggets of wisdom and Cheez-its. One presenter, Amy Lynn Andrews outlined her favorite apps for time management. Here's her list:

Gmail. I love how I can get all my emails (from my various email addresses) in one spot and how it integrates beautifully with so many other apps and Google products.
Google Calendar. Again, integration is excellent and I love the ability to have multiple calendars and customize each.
CalenMob Pro and CalenMob. The best mobile app I've used for Google Calendar.
GoTasks. I find myself using this really simple task list that integrates with Google Tasks well. It's especially good for quick lists, like shopping lists.
The Secret Weapon. A robust way of keeping track of to-dos. I have modified the system they present to suit my needs, but it uses Gmail and Evernote together.
Evernote. The very popular Evernote is an excellent way to keep track of notes and anything else you want to capture. Here are the Getting Started pages.
30/30. A free app that helps you keep track of the tasks you need to complete in the amount of time you've allotted for each. Lovely.
IFTTT. If This Then That is a very handy way of automating tasks linked between many channels. Create "recipes" to work for you.
Pocket. This helps those of us who have a tendency to leave lots of tabs open in our browser to "read later." This app lets you add anything to your Pocket to read later.

Another Killer Tribes presenter was Kristen Howerton, blogger at Rage Against The Minivan. I don't have kids, but I know her post this week, Let's Bring The Holidays Down a Notch, is pure gold. May all you moms be encouraged that you are enough.

Have I ever mentioned I adore cats on the Internet? I have? Well, here are some more: 25 Things Cats Are Not.

And these tweets...

My life is like a romantic comedy except theres no romance and its just me laughing at my own jokes.
— Condescending Wonka (@WonkaTweets) March 18, 2013

I’m 100% okay with my future husband needing more sponge rollers than me. twitter.com/JamiesRabbits/…
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) March 18, 2013

For @jamiesrabbits: Bradley Cooper. With rollers, as requested. I now have no more dignity. You're welcome. twitter.com/AwfulArt/statu…
— Awful Art (@AwfulArt) March 19, 2013

The Post About How To Make Cake Pops

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

I fancy cake pops. Not really to consume, but to produce. My heart has always belonged to deep fried anything and sweets simply don't turn my head.

Despite this, I find making cake pops to be very therapeutic so I keep keepin' on. Much to my coworkers' delight.

I want you to experience the same soothing calm waters this task can render. Here's a recipe for cake pop success that you can achieve in just 3-4 tries. I'm kidding. Not really.

Cake Pops

1 box cake mix. Any flavor. Follow directions for 13x9 pan. Buy Duncan Hines because you want to have nice things.
1 can cream cheese frosting
Candy melts. 16 oz. Get Make-n-Mold candy melts from Hobby Lobby. Wilton also makes melts sold at Wal-Mart, but they're a smidge thick and ornery. I DO use them in a pinch.
Lollipop sticks. Get these at craft supplies stores or Wal-Mart. Or spend a month knockin' out some Blow Pops and recycle.
Snack size sandwich bags
Sprinkles that make you happy
Styrofoam block. Take the sticks above and "pre-drill" holes in the block so you can dry your pops.

Bake the cake and cool it completely. You can do this anytime and simply freeze the cake for later. One quarter of a cake will make approximately 12 pops. Other segments can go in the freezer for another day. Or in your belly. Whatever.

Take the cooled cake and crumble it into a bowl. I use a food processor, but your grubby hands or the grubby hands of your offspring will work well.

Mix the crumbled cake with the frosting with a large spoon. I use about 1 egg-sized dollop for each quarter of a cake. Always add frosting a bit at a time, because if it gets too sticky, it won't shape up or stay on a stick. The amount of frosting you need will vary on the moistness of the cake. Moist is the worst word ever.

Roll the cake compound into quarter-sized balls and place on a baking sheet. Don't forget to put down wax paper. Why should we wash things if we don't have to?

I place the balls in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Then I move them to the fridge for 5-10 minutes. If you dip a pop that's too cold into really hot candy melts, then the melts will crack once they're dry. However, if you dip a pop that's not firm, then it will fall off the stick. They're so dramatic.

Melt your candy by following the instructions on the package. Use a plastic or ceramic bowl that's deep enough for you to dip into. I use 1 cup plastic bowls which can normally cover 12-15 pops.

I never use "high" on my microwave because if melts get too hot then they burn and die a tragic death. There's no CPR that will bring them back.

CHEMISTRY DANCE BREAK: I use candy melts instead of chocolate because the melting point of chocolate is 86° - 90° F which is lower than your hot body. So when you go to decorate and manhandle the pops, they will get sticky again. Sticky = bad.

I also use paramount crystals as a thinning agent for the melts. If you don't have this weirdo ingredient in your pantry, simply use shortening or vegetable oil right before the candy is 100% melted. Use one teaspoon for each cup of melts. Note: Any HINT of water will ruin candy melts. Don't spit.

Dip the tip of your stick in the melted candy and insert it into your balls about halfway. That sounds sketchy, but it's not.

Carefully insert the cake ball into the melted candy. Go at an angle and rotate until covered. Gently tap the stick on the rim of your bowl so excess candy coating will drop off. Rotate while you do this. If you treat it like a gavel, then the ball will fall off. Never a good thing.

If you accidentally don't cover all the cake at the base of the stick then it will leave a hole. This creates a cake pop that will later poop cake. For real.

Place your gorgeous dipped pop in the styrofoam block so it can settle.

Your options for decorating are only as limited as your brain and wallet. When you use sprinkles, simply shake them on right before placing the pop in the styrofoam. You can also do some easy peasy design with melted chocolate dumped in a sandwich bag. Nip a tiny corner of the bag with scissors and then take a dry pop and drizzle until you just can't stand it.

Voilà.

Unless I'm serving the pops immediately, I wrap each one in a plastic bag and tie with ribbon. I'm fiscally conservative, so I buy zipper jewelry bags and then just cut off the zipper. My Dad would be proud.

Here are a few more tips to make your experience a grand one.

Plan for a few cake pops that won't work out. I still do with every recipe.
Cake pops store at room temp in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for at least 5-7 days.
Plan for 1 hour to mix, bake and cool the cake. Crumbling cake, mixing with icing and shaping them takes 30-60 minutes. Dipping, drying, decorating and wrapping in bag with ribbon takes another 1+ hour. It's not a sprint.
My Amazon List for Cake Pop Making Supplies
Most importantly, wear an apron and put down wax paper...everywhere. It's a messy gig.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to comment on this post and I will reply. You can also email me at jamiesrabbits@gmail.com and I will reply. Note: I sometimes reply in my head before replying with the typing and such. Patience is a virtue.

Good Luck!

{images: Jamie}

The Post About Google Ruining Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Google announced last week that Google Reader would be retiring. I assume it's becoming a Greeter at Wal-Mart or a professional napper {coughDADcough}.

I loved Google Reader because it kept all my blog and website feeds in one handy place so I could read whenever the mood struck. Since I was now in the market for a new RSS feed aggregator I sought advice. Lifehacker, a website I read through Google Reader, posted an article addressing this dilemma "Five Best Google Reader Alternatives."

Leigh at Hopeful Leigh also wrote about another popular option Bloglovin'.

I narrowed it down to feedly and Bloglovin'. This led me to a great article comparing the two side by side: Bloglovin’ vs Feedly: Which RSS Reader Reigns Supreme?

I tried out both but feedly was the winner for me. It came down to 2 issues:

Bloglovin' didn't import my existing folders or starred items like feedly.
Swapping to the original source/blog/website was fluid in feedly and not so much in Bloglovin'. For commenting (which is my goal) this is imperative.

Definitely choose a system that works best with your preferences for blog reading. As always, I'm not the boss of you.

Now for a quick feedly tour on your desktop.

I like to look at all my baking or home design or photography at the same time so having folders is crucial for an ADD gal like me.

Here's a blog I fancy Fer The Love of Writing. Fer lives in Alaska and is ridiculously fantastic. We met on the Interwebs so we're close. As you can see, I have options when viewing her posts in feedly - Full, Mosaic, Tiles and more. Options can be selected for each website with a default selected.

The sidebars keep me organized and let me switch things up when my spirit animal changes to squirrel.

My actual preference is to read blogs on my phone or tablet ~~while stopped at red lights.~~

Look how pretty Fer's blog is on my tablet. THE TUNDRA LOOKS SO INVITING.

More than 500,000 have made the switch to feedly this week and they try to make it simple by providing an easy peasy guide: Transitioning from Google Reader to Feedly.

If you've never even thought about reading blogs or other news sites this way, let me encourage you to consider it.

Might I recommend...Feedly?

Comment with your thoughts, recipes, or digital high fives. Also, if you have a blog I need to add to my feed reader - include the web address in the comments and I'll get it added!

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.116

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:32:00 +0000

Each week or so 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.

Happy St. Paddy's Day! I'm English through and through but I'll embrace any excuse to eat potatoes and kiss handsome gingers.

My friend and writer Elizabeth Hyndman sent me this glorious video nugget. What happens after "happily ever after?" Now you know. Ariel is still a loser.

Sean chose Catherine. ABC did not choose Sarah to be the next Bachelorette. All is right in the world. Check out this week's Xtra Bacon podcast where Knox and I tackle important issues like Sean's hot brother-in-law and how I'm always sad when 24-year-olds start a sentence with "I've waited my whole life..."

Great Gift Idea for Birthday/Anniversary: My friend Amanda sent an email to real life and Internet friends requesting assistance with a birthday project for her fella - Joseph. She asked each of us to send in a picture including a number from 1 to 25 (Joseph's age) and plaid (Joseph's wardrobe.) Our efforts produced a Happy Plaid Birthday album with yours truly representing #5. Don't miss my favorite...#13. I kinda love this idea.

Who’s in for being sister wives with Jessica Biel?
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) March 10, 2013

Did you fall in love with Justin Timberlake this week? I did. Again. Watch his funniest moments while hosting SNL. Watch his funniest moments while sitting in on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

I'm headed to Atlanta this weekend for the Killer Tribes Conference. I'm looking forward to several sessions but particularly "Making a Living as a Writer" with Shawn Smucker. I assume there will be a section on earning cash if you only want to write tweets and FB statuses.

Are you going? If you are, then come find me and let's hug it out. I'll be the one talking inappropriately during the sessions.

@jamiesrabbits one of the sermon points today: Don't be afraid to chase rabbits.
— Gianna (@Noscriptomylife) March 17, 2013

My ADD habits are Biblical. Get on board.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v. 115

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:27:00 +0000

Each week or so 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.

One of my Internet favorites is Amanda Williams. She's smart, witty and honest - an ideal person combo. She recently wrote a powerful post "Finding God in a Little White Pill." A friend once told me she was praying through her depression. I replied that my Mom was praying through her high blood pressure. She immediately countered "Blood pressure is something to take seriously. She should see a doctor." See how I verbally trapped her like a close friend? The brain is an organ just like the heart. We believe God uses doctors and medicines to heal us. Why don't we believe that for every part of us?

Speaking of our health... Healthcare is a BIG deal in America. Most often the discussion centers on who should pay for healthcare. Journalist Steven Brill decided it was time to steer the debate to the more important question: Why are healthcare bills so high? He wrestles for the answer in his recent feature "Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us." This is not for the faint of heart - it's 1 article with 24,105 words. Every word is compelling.

If I could follow only one person on Instagram, it would be Tyler Tarver. He takes fantastic shots and then adds perfect captions - an ideal IG combo. He and I agree on math, Lost, Ryan Gosling, and ADD. We do not agree on which Disney Princesses would last the longest in the Hunger Games. He was kind enough to invite me on his Talk Hugs Podcast to tackle this and other pressing issues. Also check out Tyler on Twitter and Facebook.

Emeli Sandé is from Scotland. She went to medical school. She's married to a scientist. She wrote her first song at 11. Her debut album, Our Version of Events, is phenomenal. I've had it on repeat since discovering it was the bestselling album in the UK in 2012 ousting Adele's 21. All the tracks are superb, but start with Next To Me, My Kind of Love, and Heaven.

The 30 Happiest Facts of All Time will let you have a moment of surely goodness and mercy. I mean...#7 you guys. I'm headed to Sweden.

Meeting your child for the very first time can be just as powerful and life-changing as when someone meets their child in the delivery room. There are no unwanted children, just unfound families.

To learn more about adopting from foster care, visit Adopt-US-Kids.

The Post About Tweens and Tiaras

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:03:00 +0000

My youngest niece was in a beauty pageant this past week. She enjoys getting her hair done and garnering lots of attention. It's why we get along so well.

These types of events are really fantastic because even the stuff that's bad is delicious. Here were my observations.

1. My niece listed her favorite food as bacon and she wants to grow up to be a meteorologist. Like her father. THAT'S FIGGIN' ADORABLE.

2. The 10-year-old whose favorite hobby was babysitting. Time to call child protective services.

3. Kenny G is the king pageant muzak. Unfortunately he’s also the king of gynecology office muzak. Now you know where my head was.

4. The 11-year-old whose favorite food was turnip greens and wants to grow up to be a chiropractor. Are either of those actual things?

5. Five contestants listed their favorite hobby as texting. Is that as sad as it sounds?

6. Three girls stated they wanted to grow up to be artists. This pageant disclosure is their way of telling mom & dad they’ll need to move back home someday.

7. The contestant whose middle name is "Tequila." I assume it’s what helped mom get through labor.

8. More than one contestant listed "Marine Biologist" as their anticipated career. What’s our middle school obsession with this ambition? Is it Nemo? Aquariums? Captain D’s?

9. When your favorite subject is science, you’re not allowed to choose cruise ship singer as your future career.

10. My niece was gorgeous, both inside & out. Unlike her aunt & grandma who probably shouldn’t be allowed to attend kid competitions.

{images: Jamie}

The Bachelor Podcast: Women Tell All. For Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:43:00 +0000

It was good for me.

Last night was my favorite episode of each season of The Bachelor - the Women Tell All.

All the booted contestants gather in a room with great lighting and a boisterous studio audience and are asked to relive being dumped on national television.

It's delicious.

You can watch the entire episode on www.abc.com.

Best line of the night:
“I’m not calling you a liar,” Tierra said to AshLee, “I’m saying, ‘You lied to me.’”

Knox McCoy and I recap the episode in our Xtra Bacon Podcast.

Click here to listen to it (and click here to subscribe).

What are your predictions? Who will win? Who wrote the letter to Sean? What happened to Tierra's dent? Who will be the next Bachelorette? Is Sarah the worst?

The Post About 3 Bad Work Habits I Must Break

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I'm single. I don't have kids.

I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay.

I really am okay because I sleep until 10:30am on Saturdays on a mattress filled with cash I don't spend on diapers or little league fees.

The real reason these descriptors matter is because of the impact they have on my work habits.

You see...when I meet new people they tend to ask questions in this order:
1. Are you married?
2. Do you have kids?
3. What do you do for a living?

My answers to #1 and #2 have never changed. But #3 has varied.

A: I'm a cashier at a grocery store.
A: I work at the CDC.
A. I'm a bank teller.
A: I sell handbags at a department store.
A: I plan events for churches.
A: I'm a youth minister.
A: I'm the director of marketing for a nonrprofit.

See what a liberal arts degree will get you?

What's consistent is the fact I've always wrapped myself up in my job. It describes me. It defines me. It is me.

This leads to some bad habits you may practice that I've been trying to break.

1. Working when I'm not at work.
My coworker Julie was on vacation and I sent her the above email with the subject line: "Emergency - please open" to test her. Notice she responded within 90 minutes.

Do you check work email at 10pm? Do you answer texts from coworkers on weekends? I'm not opposed to the occasional catch-up, but failing to have boundaries between the personal and the professional is just asking for failure in one of those arenas. Unrelated: Working on that design project after hours instead of working out leads to a muffin top.

2. Working through lunch.
Powering straight through lunch may seem productive and even noble, but not taking a break simply makes dreaded tasks more overwhelming. Plus, I'm simply not an amazing employee when I have a Hot Pocket in one hand and the computer mouse in the other. Unrelated: Hot Pockets lead to a muffin top.

3. Working long hours.
I've always believed staying a couple of hours late would mean I'm more productive. The reality is and research shows, working more than 8 hours a day decreases your rate of productivity and can actually lead to a 40% increase in heart disease. Secretly, I've also felt as if my value comes from busyness. That's dumb. Ergo, I'm dumb.

What are your work habits that may need some breakage?

The Post About Judgey Jamie and Her Hold on Me

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 22:15:00 +0000

This one time I thought I'd get you to hold me accountable to writing blog posts. So I made my intentions known.

I've committed to posting on my blog 16x in February. One down. The rest may appear on the 28th. jamiesrabbits.com/2013/02/the-po…
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) February 1, 2013

So...you waited. And I didn't write.

@julespreever Was it 16 posts or 6? I think it was 3. I'm on it.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) February 11, 2013

I didn't even write three. It was only one.

When live tweeting the Oscars, I was called out.

@jamiesrabbits As a movie fan I say“Wow.Thats an accomplishment.”As a fan of your blog“So that’s what she’s been doing instead of blogging.”
— Shawn Stinson (@FromStreetRd) February 24, 2013

There was no excuse.

@fromstreetrd You’re absolutely right. #badblogger
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) February 24, 2013

So what are the real reasons I haven't been writing?
1. Work. I like to write posts during lunch at the day job, but January and February are my busiest months. So lately, lunch has been inhaling an oatmeal creme pie while deleting all the extra spaces coworkers put after periods. Time-consuming.

2. Podcasting. I entered the mature an complex world of podcasting by recapping The Bachelor each week with my friend Knox McCoy. It takes a lot of my free time to pause the episode every 7 minutes to figure out the design of a contestant's hip tattoo or stare at Sean Lowe's bare chest.

3. Judgey Jamie. She's real. And she's abominable. She wants posts to be hilarious or moving or candidate pieces for a literary prize. Since I'm not really that type of writer, my post about how hard it is to plug things in while in the dark goes unpublished.

My friend and not-bad blogger Katherine held me accountable to write this post while we sipped coffee at Barnes & Noble. She suggested I should avoid making declarative statements about how many posts I'm going to write in a month. I should just write.

I'm really going to take her advice.

Probably.

The Post About Cake Pop Nationalism

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:52:00 +0000

It's National Cake Pop Day.

I hope you celebrate by eating one. Or six. Or have a doughnut. Or some goat cheese. Or whatever is not paleo.

NO PALEO.

Here's a sampling of some of my recent creations...

These pots were for a one-year-old's tea party. Most infants don't drink tea, unless you're in the South and then sweet tea and sippy cups were made for each other. This explains our teeth.

These Lego heads were for an adult man with a wife and kids. I appreciate people who do not grow up. Growing up has not had the effect on me that one might have hoped. I'm good with that.

Roll Tide! Or Go Beyoncé! Whatever your football preference.

These little earths were for a going away party with heart sprinkles in the arrival and departure destinations. Through this project I learned I'm obviously ethnocentric since the only part of the planet I can draw is the United States. And even then, I generally left off Texas.

I've learned in golf, whether mini or maxi, that the key to improving your score is to hold the scorecard.

Did you sing it in your head? Don't. It will buy some land and never leave.

May your plans this Valentine's Day make all your single friends extra irritated.

{images: Jamie}

The Post About Musical Flashback Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 20:40:00 +0000

The first cassette tape I ever owned was a gift from my parents. It was Amy Grant's The Collection. I literally wore it out from singing Sing Your Praises to the Lord at my 34-key keyboard. And although I'm fairly certain Jesus was compelled to mute me, it's a lesson He's still trying to teach me.

The second cassette I ever owned was a gift to myself. It was Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual. I think my mom generously chose to ignore the meaning of songs like She Bop in order to let her little girl dance like a crazy person while singing Money Changes Everything. Another lesson Jesus is still trying to teach me.

But some of my favorite music memories are found in 1994 to 1995. I whipped together a Spotify playlist including 30+ of my favorites from that time.

I wanted to learn to play the harmonica because of John Popper. I wanted to wear all black and be sad because of Dolores O'Riordan. I was willing to date someone with my same name because of Jamie Walters.

To this day, Babyface's When Can I See You makes me want to curl up with Häagen-Dazs and pine under the duvet.

Since I didn't want to be the only one musically reminiscing, how's about a giveaway? I will give away music moolah to TWO lucky winners to the digital music vendor of your choice: iTunes, Amazon, or GooglePlay. Winners will be chosen randomly.

The only thing you have to do to enter is follow the easy instructions in this handy Rafflecopter box.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Just like the box instructed, answer the question: What song makes you musically flashback in the best kind of way?

The Post About The Bachelor: For The Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:37:00 +0000

I think if you get to know me, there are a few things you'd discern. I like to know a lot. I like to laugh a lot. I like to eat out a lot.

You would also know Monday night was a very important time in my life.
1. The University of Alabama secured another national championship.
2. The 17th season of The Bachelor premiered.

That second one may seem silly for a smart and worldly gal like myself, but there is nothing better than being a voyeur for 10-12 weeks of reality crazy found on The Bachelor and its slightly grumpier sister The Bachelorette.

Plus, you get the following:
1. Live Twitter Feed. Following the hashtag #TheBachelor during the episode will make you giggle and gasp and shake your head at the goodness found on The Internet. Including my favorite from this season's bachelor Sean Lowe.

The smell of spray tan was strong that evening. #TheBachelor
— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) January 8, 2013

2. Episode Recaps from Knox McCoy. Other than the Bible, there is nothing better or funnier you could read each week.

3. Podcast from Yours Truly: For Love. I get to chat with Knox about our take on each episode. It's one of my favorite conversations. Click below to take a listen.

But all these things are made possible because of the episodes themselves. Join us this season for the comedy and tragedy that is The Bachelor.

Watch Episode 1: (embedded)

Listen to the Podcast (embedded)

Do you watch The Bachelor? Why or Why Not?

The Post About Catching Up Via Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:14:00 +0000

How's about we catch up from the holidays?

I spent two solid weeks reading books, eating Mom's peanut butter fudge, and watching really crappy TV.

It was divine.

During the break, I tried to stay connected to the Internet...you know...because I have an addiction to social media.

First step, right?

Here are a selection of my tweets and a little writer's commentary.

I wish the word “embarrassing” had two of every letter so I could spell it right on the first try.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) January 3, 2013

Do you have those words you just cannot spell? This is mine. There's also "accommodate." Double consonants are my nemesis. What are your spelling enemies?

My favorite part of winter is not living above the Mason-Dixon.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) January 4, 2013

I want to love scarves and fuzzy socks and snow. But I've realized I have about a 4 day tolerance for winter. And that's really only if I'm planted at a ski resort. Do you fancy the cold?

Does Insanity sell a DVD workout to help you look like a “Before?”
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) January 5, 2013

Remember how I told you once I spent Christmas and New Year's watching crappy television? It included infomercials. I mean...all of them. "Insanity" is the worst. I look at the before pictures of the women and think "What's the problem?" Have you ever bought something from an infomercial?

My fairy godmothering today reminded me being a parent is easy. As long as you have plenty of cash, gadgets & only do it 4 hrs a month.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) January 6, 2013

I babysat my godsons who are 8 and 6. Moms of boys - how do you go to the bathroom when you're in public? I finally waited for a stranger in a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts to seem pleasant enough to watch them so I could pee. Was that not right?

There are really no limits to what I can accomplish when there are other things I'm supposed to be doing.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) January 6, 2013

Surviving ADD...one day at a time.

You should answer the above embedded questions. Yes, you.

The Post About Xtra Bacon: Holiday Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Some of my favorite people on the Internet are those I met on blogging forums and Twitter. You may even be one of them.

Assume it.

This week, I gathered round the laptop and chatted with three such favorites - Knox McCoy, Amanda Bast, and Joseph Craven. We dissected the upcoming holiday movies.

Here's a sneak peek of our take on the movie Killing Them Softy with Brad Pitt:

You can hear the whole shebang by choosing one of the following:

1. Visit Knox McCoy's blog and simply click play.

2. SUBSCRIBE to the Xtra Bacon Podcast on iTunes

Which 2012 holiday movie have you already loved or can't wait to love?

I'll go first: Zero Dark Thirty. I read the fantastic No Easy Day by Mark Owen and knew I wanted to see the hunt for Osama Bin Laden on screen.