The Post About Instagram Commentary

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 How To Be Better at Instagram

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!

The Post About Instagram Commentary

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

When spring hits, I become OBSESSED with being outside. And by "being" outside, I mean eating outside. There is no patio I won't frequent. I may actually be on your patio right now. The rest of outside can pretty much stick it. When I go to the park to eat my chicken nuggets at a picnic table and I see folks running, I think "Who hurt you runner person? Come eat a fudgsicle with me under this awning."

P.S. If you are ever in Birmingham, we will eat at Garage Cafe together. It will seal the deal on our friendship.

Another component of spring I fancy is the farmers' market. Although I wish there were farmers' markets that started at noon rather than closed at noon. I would spend all my allowance on berries. The unfortunate part is I don't cook. Not even a little, so I have to stick to things you can rinse off and eat immediately. Or jellies. Or jams. Or marmalades. Or preserves. By the way, what is the difference between those four? Is it a scam by farmers? Me thinks so.

These are my delightful friends, Haley and Jen. They're lounging in a movie theater in Atlanta where we went to see the Veronica Mars movie. I want to live in this AMC complex. Cupholders, free popcorn refills, and leather chairs that recline incrementally based on your emotional state. And your emotional state is all whimsy and twinkle stars because of these chairs.

I am my most irrational when I go to Target. On any given day, my list includes milk, eggs, and hairspray. I leave with milk, eggs, a picture frame, towels, post-it notes, nail polish, two workout DVDs and NOT HAIRSPRAY. 

These are my youngest nieces on a scenic hillside for our annual family Easter Egg hunt. In this moment of contemplation, they're plotting where on the "estate" they haven't looked since seven eggs are still missing. Although I was the one who hid the eggs, I am no assistance. I'm distracted by baby cows and the fact that I'm outside without a snack. Those eggs were found one week later when my Dad cut the grass. RIP Starburst jellybeans.

Chronologically, I'm Generation X, but my Y tendencies are strong. This is most noticeable when I'm driving. I can't seem to just be present in a car and be still when there's a down moment. When the light turns red or the traffic is stop and go like in the photo above, I immediately reach for my phone. BECAUSE GOD FORBID I NOT TAKE A PICTURE AND EDIT IT AND POST IT SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

{images: Jamie}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends: February 2014

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.

1.Classic Movies in Miniature Style. As part of his graduation thesis, Murat Palta decided to blend traditional oriental motifs with contemporary western films. Pop culture art is a favorite. Particularly when it features such delights as Star Wars, Inception, and Kill Bill.

2. The Popcast. This month on our pop culture podcast, Knox and I tackled the Olympics, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, House of Cards, Jimmy Fallon, Pharrell, Valentine's Day, True Detective, The Oscars, Alec Baldwin, Canada, Seth Meyers, Boycotts, The Super Bowl and much more.

3. Rapper's Delight. The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon debuted this month. Jimmy's wheelhouse is viral video content. Don't hesitate to check out his Lip Sync Battle with Paul Rudd or The History of Rap 5 with Justin Timberlake. My personal favorite is Brian Williams' Rapper's Delight.


4. Pixar Theory: Last summer, Jon Negroni wrote a great piece called A Grand Unified Theory of Pixar which hypothesized all the movies were connected in one cohesive timeline. It's a fascinating read. This month, Negroni put forth my favorite theory: Andy's Mom in Toy Story is Jessie's Previous Owner. Perfect.

5. Ellie Holcomb: I've always enjoyed the music of Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. Drew's wife (and one of the "neighbors") Ellie Holcomb released her first full-length solo album this month, As Sure As The Sun. It is special. Not only was it a Kickstarter baby, but it's good music. Each song is like a page torn from a journal of a person wrestling with God and faith and trust. It hit home.

6. Stormscapes. I live in "tornado alley" in a city full of trees so it's rare to see the beauty in storms. Last summer, Nicolaus Wegner camped out in South Dakota and Wyoming and captured thunderstorms and supercells at their fanciest.


7. My Life in Middlemarch. Rebecca Mead writes a book that's part memoir, part literary criticism and part Eliot biography. This exquisite novel made me fall in love with that high school required reading and believe it to be more than I recall.

8. Sean Lowe's I Am Second. I'm a fan of this particular Bachelor. His video and Annie Downs' take on it confirms why. 

9. The Americans. In the aforementioned Popcast, Knox has tried without fail to have me fall for this 1980s cold war spy drama on A&E. I finally caved when the first season went up on Amazon Prime. After a 4 day binge, I was completely hooked. The KGB is just a wallpaper for this tumultuous drama about a marriage in crisis. So good. Not suitable for all grandmothers.

10. This Old Man. Roger Angell wrote this frank piece for The New Yorker about living in your nineties. Here's just a sample of the goodness:

But I believe that everyone in the world wants to be with someone else tonight, together in the dark, with the sweet warmth of a hip or a foot or a bare expanse of shoulder within reach. Those of us who have lost that, whatever our age, never lose the longing: just look at our faces. If it returns, we seize upon it avidly, stunned and altered again.

11. Unlikely Simultaneous Historical Events. A list that will make you furrow your brow. Includes: The first wagon train of the Oregon Trail heads out the same year the fax machine is invented.

My Favorite February Tweets

Frozen: A cautionary tale about isolating an extrovert based on the special needs of an introvert sibling.
— Rachel Callahan (@ObjectivityRach) February 4, 2014

Life is 10% what happens to me, 75% how I handle it, and 15% how I share it on social media.
— Jared Hollier (@JaredHollier) February 5, 2014

"My current stage of life is much better/worse than yours and here's why..." -Majority of today's viral blog posts
— Cindy Warren (@cindy_warren) February 13, 2014

David, you're the John to my Aeryn. The Wash to my Zoe (please don't die). The Rory to my Amy. The Daryl to my Horton Scout 125. #makeyoutey
— Ruthie (@bogueandweejer) February 14, 2014

Note: I included this because each of those pairings is truly the most romantic. And I was proud I knew them all.

If I was blind I could tell who the hot girls in the nail salon were by how boring their stories are
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) February 18, 2014

Ironically, the more camo you wear, the more people see you.
— Corey Boyd (@CoreyBoyd) February 19, 2014

"Haha you're way fatter than you thought!" -stairs
— Amber Krogel (@amberkrogel) February 21, 2014

Twitter: where we gather to complain about our Facebook friends.
— Laura McClellan (@laura_mcclellan) February 21, 2014

Tip: NOTHING worse than tweets about how cool your life is. Everybody hates that and resents you for them. *Sent from the #Oscars stage
— andy lassner (@andylassner) February 27, 2014

Linking up with the delightful Leigh Kramer to share what I loved in February.

What did you fancy last month?

The Post About Instagram Commentary

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

Since I'm in this season of unemployment, I'm readily available for activities. Particularly when they're free. Friends invited me to go hiking in the Sipsey Wilderness and I thought "Why not?" Then two miles in I remembered the answer to that question. Hiking is the worst UNTIL you see a waterfall. And then you have to hike more and it's the worst again. I feel the same way about flying.

What activities do you forget how awful they are until you're in the middle of them?

My parents and I went to see Saving Mr. Banks because it's about Mary Poppins and there were no super awkward scenes (I'M LOOKING AT YOU HER.) I fancy all things British and this film reminded me how much I want to be a tea drinker. My mom heard the cry of my heart and bought me an adorable tea set.

What are your tips and tricks when it comes to tea?

Speaking of the Brits, one of my favorite television shows ever is Sherlock from the BBC. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are perfection in this mini-series. Season 3 premieres in the US this Sunday on PBS. I "cheated" and watched it with the UK and managed to see the entire season (3 phenomenal episodes) in 12 short days. Please email, tweet, facebook, or carrier pigeon me when you've seen it so I can discuss all my feelings. And there are SO MANY FEELINGS. You can catch seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

What TV show are you loving right now?

My niece and I had our first pop party which was long overdue. She's a natural as you can see by her owl and mini cupcake cake pops. You can throw your own party with my tips on making cake pops. The most important part of our time together was this conversation:
Her: I don't think I want to be in the beauty pageant this year.
Me: Then you should negotiate with your mom and dad.
Her: What does that mean?
Me: It means a beauty pageant costs a lot because of the dress, shoes, getting your hair done, pageant fees, and tickets to the event. Not to mention the time involved. You should tell your parents you're willing to skip it IF they take you to the trampoline park instead. That's negotiating.
Her: Well...I would probably pick an expensive dress so I think that means I could bring a friend to the trampoline park.
Me: The student has become the master. 

Am I a good aunt or a GREAT aunt?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About Instagram Commentary: Food Edition

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



Most in my life have learned my love language is snack foods. This "conversation" was with a coworker who was planning ahead. But I'm actually not a sweets person. I talk the idea of being the "salt of the earth" to heart. To my disease-ridden, artery-clogged heart. Amen.

What is your love language for favors?



My godson turned 6 years old this month. He requested the above for his classmates. I am Michelangelo. He is described as "...the comic relief. While he loves to relax and eat pizza, this Turtle also has an adventurous and creative side." I LOVE TO RELAX.

Which Ninja Turtle are you?


My Dad's birthday was Friday and he requested to eat here. At 5pm. I must love my father because I ate at twilight at a chain restaurant with food in the name.

Where do you eat against your will because of love?



Starburst are the original juicy couture. However, NO ONE HAS TIME FOR YELLOW. Yellow is the Papyrus of fonts. It's the Clara of Doctor Who companions. It's the Kevin of Jonas Brothers.

What's your least favorite of something?



My friend Katherine gave me a set of Star Wars pancake molds. She said she had 4 kids and no time to be this detailed in the mornings. Since I am childless, I have plenty of time and energy. I wanted to be Princess Leia when I grew up. I still sorta do...

What fictional character did you want to be when you grew up?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.120

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 5 Etiquette Tips for Instagram

I sure do fancy Instagram.

I know it appears to be just another social media network to get sucked into and appearances are not deceiving. However, I still love it so.

Of the 200-odd folks I follow (and that hypen may be in the wrong place) I don't actually know but a handful of them in real life. However, I like to visually learn about their lives, understand their perspectives, and creep up on them.

It's fine.

For those of you who are IG-pros or new to the platform, let's explore some ways to win at Instagram.

Here are my 5 Instagram Etiquette Tips:
1. #hashtagabuse: #its #annoying #as #all #getout I like the occasional hashtag to connect my pic to a community of people who also like #cakepops or #cheezits or #thor. But otherwise, you're bummin' people out with the laundry list of tags. Seriously.

2. Josie Grossie. I know "gross" is relative, but for me it includes pictures of the following:

• Dead Animals
• Toilet Bowls
• Injuries 
• Wonky Feet

3. Jesus Loves Thieves and Whores, But... Snagging a photograph off the web and then presenting it as your own is not cool. And illegal. Also, I'm sure your boobs are probably real AND spectacular, but calm down.

4. Don't Hog The Feed. Actually, you can post as many pics as you'd like as often as you'd like, but know that people are sadfaceemoticon when they have to scroll past a dozen of your pics every other hour.
 
5. Hi, This Is My Face. Again. Selfies. If you post self-portraits more often than not, then you need to start hashtagging those photos with #iwasnotheldenoughasababy.

Here are some pet peeves of your own...

Of course, Instagram really is whatever you want it to be as the wise The Joseph Craven would want us to believe.

What are your tips or pet peeves when it comes to Instagram?

The Post About Random Rabbits

Today is Game Day.
I'd like to review my process of team loyalty as we begin a new season of NCAA football.
1. Always root for University of Alabama.
2. Always root for Auburn, unless it conflicts with #1.
3. Always root for SEC teams unless it conflicts with #1 or #2.
4. Never root for Tennessee, even if in conflict with #3.
5. Never root for non-SEC teams, unless their opponent is higher ranked than any SEC team (sans Tennessee.)

See how simple that is?


Amanda got older.
My viral friend Amanda turned 25 this week. Her viral/real-life boyfriend Joseph gathered a small group of us to wish her a video "Happy Birthday." But in an angry inconvenienced way. Some of my favorite bloggers make an appearance. And baby Evan.

Photo-A-Day
A new month of Photo-A-Day begins today. It's a snazzy way to stretch your photography muscles beyond pictures of your lunch and face in a mirror. Although I stand by the value of those two things. Post your pics to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or print them as doubles at the local pharmacy and hang them on your fridge.

Cotton Candy
Buddy Roberts invited me to The Cobalt Club. Drop in to learn what I consider the actual purpose of Jamie's Rabbits.

Don't forget: I'm hosting a giveaway with 8 winners that ends Monday...

The Post About Random Rabbit Pictures

Finding time to write has been difficult. Between the eating and the sleeping, it's almost all I can do to wash clothes. This is why one article of clothing I have on today is not as fresh as the others.

Let's leave it at that.

But I do have time for pictures, so let's review.

This year I've been attempting #photoaday developed by Fat Mum Slim. I'm in it to win it 95% of the time. But in order to maintain this batting average, I sometimes do something reprehensible.

Instagram and Drive.

I know...it's bad. I'm stopping. Just one more cigarette picture and I'll quit.

Last week, the day's picture prompt was "arrow." I thought "How fun would it be to get more than one arrow? Where is more than one? On the road. How convenient. I'll slow down and do that."

And then my car died on the 4-lane road. Right in front of the arrows. So there's that.

I have a general rule about not eating at sit-down chain restaurants, particularly if they have food in the name.

I find their food to be less-than. Plus, they aren't generally owned by locals and I like to support the 'ham as much as possible. 

But there is one exception. And its name is "Breadsticks of Life." Hubba hubba.

Speaking of locally owned. If you happen to live in Birmingham or drive through Birmingham or want to drive through Birmingham and eat food with me, then consider Slice Pizza and Brew. They donate 10% of their Tuesday proceeds to local nonprofits and that's just good business. Plus, the above was scrumptious.

"Soul Pie" Pizza: Turnip Greens, Black Eye Peas, Conecuh Sausage, Grilled Red Onion, Pepper Jack & Cheddar Cheese. That was chased by a S'mores Calzone. MARSHMALLOWS Y'ALL.

I do everything Entertainment Weekly tells me to do and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn was considered a must-read. I'm 80% done and... HOLY MOLY WITH THE TWISTY TURNS AND JUNK.

Last night I had to stop reading and put my iPad outside of my locked bedroom. And turn on a night-light.

It's that good.

This is week #1 of healthy eating and I think I'm doing an amazing job.

Trust me, I have a plan.

Follow me on Instagram or Twitter or like me on Facebook to get more special glimpses inside the Rabbits.

And "special" may be misleading.

Do you have rules about where you'll eat? Do you combine healthy habits with bad habits? Do you like Olive Garden?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.109

Each week or so I post a readable or watchable and/or a listenable 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.

Read

My family is always kind enough to indulge my mediocre habits by eating cake pops, modeling for photo shoots and reading this blog. One way they doted on me at Christmas was gifting me with a subscription to Popular Photography magazine. After 3 meager issues, my judgment call is...swoon. Whether you are a less-than-amateur like yours truly or a pro, it's a handy resource. It's been a perfect guide to equipment, software, how-to, and inspiration. It's also pushing me to bring my Instagram photos of Cheez-its to the next level of artistry.

Watch

I know I might be beating a dead horse by asking you to watch Invisible Children's video/movie about Joseph Kony especially since it's been the chatter of The Internets all week. But I'm asking you to watch for a reason chased by a disclaimer. I attended a conference this week where the editor of The Chronicle on Philanthropy shared research that Generation Y/Millenials are the most generous generation both in volunteer time and dollars based on their current meager earnings (Mark Zuckerberg is a delightful outlier.) This video simply serve as more evidence of that truth. Now for the disclaimer: I am a big fan of Invisible Children but I AM disappointed by the percentage of dollars that goes to work on the ground in Africa (less than 33%). Support IC in word and deed and then consider giving your actual cash to organizations such as Samaritan's Purse, Charity Water, or Mocha Club who have a impressive reputation of putting almost every dollar into direct service. Learn more about any nonprofit's "financial credibility" by visiting Charity Navigator.

Listen
This week I have all kinds of musak on repeat in Spotify. Have I mentioned I don't buy music at all anymore because of that delightful little service? Love.

Where We Meet by Tyrone Wells. I discovered Tyrone when he popped up on my Dave Barnes Pandora radio station. Pandora thought I might like him. I did. I do. His newest album does not disappoint. This is one of my favorite tracks: I Can't Save You Now.


If you're reading this on Sunday, don't forget to enter my latest giveaway. Ends tonight!

The Post About A Photo Every Day and 16 Apps To Help

I'm that annoying person who wants you to stop the car, the fork, or whatever you're doing so I can take a picture with my phone.

January 2012 has led to even more mobile photography aggression because of a Photo A Day Challenge created by Fat Mum Slim.

I like everything about it. I like:

1. Telling my story with pictures.

2. Being guided in each chapter of that story.

3. Snooping on other folks as they tell their stories.

I'm already being nosy with many of you (thanks for not blocking me) but I want us all to do it. ALL OF US.

So here's February.

You can share your pics on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, your blog, or simply send them directly to my inbox : jamiesrabbits@gmail.com. 

I'm serious about prying on your life. 

If you're using a smartphone to capture moments, might I suggest the following apps?

Camera+, Snapseed and PolyMagic are my favorites, but every one of my children gets quality attention.

Another way to go is simply snap the pic with your camera and call it a day. You'll have to spend all that free time hanging out with friends or sleeping in, but whatever. 

Comments? Concerns? Suggestions for therapy topics?

The Post About Random Rabbits

Another post of the randomness deemed unworthy of a dedicated post.

1. Two hobbies: baking and photography. I'm mediocre at both so I'd like to focus and possibly turn one into something of substance. Unfortunately, my ADD has thrown out its "Mom Arm" and I'm not able to move forward in only one direction. 

So until I can get my diagnosis beaten down, I'll continue to dabble in both.

'Tis the season for cake pops.

And there are senior portraits. With a brother thrown in for Christmas card measure.

I took Maranda's photos in a swanky park in a swanky part of town across the street from a swanky house. Then I forced her to complete her outfit change in the backseat of a car.

Because I'm classy like that.

I was encouraged that she wasn't a complete professional at that task. 

TRUE LOVE WAITS MARANDA.

2. Christmas Shopping. I shared my parents' wish lists with you. 

Rabbit Sidebar: If you go back and read that post, you'll discover my mother's rebuttal in the comments which includes her REAL wish list. Southern mamas and their drama.

I struggle with shopping for Christmas gifts because I'm a descendant of Adam and Eve. Therefore, I tend to buy myself nice things that are on sale and make my nieces coasters out of felt.

This necklace is Exhibit A. I went shopping at a local market for jewelry for my sister-in-law and I found this vintage book necklace from Lil' Seeds. 

It can now be found around my neck.

3. S-M-R-T. Remember how I told you once about how I scored a 34 on my ACT?

Last week, I left my car running in my office's parking garage. FOR SIX HOURS.

4. Guest Post: Today I'm guest posting at Gray Hair and Acne with a post titled Cheez-its, Robert Pattinson, and Fighting Aging. I provide 5 solid tips for kicking Father Time in the shins.  

Thank you to Andi Cumbo for being such a lovely hostess. If you're a reader or a writer or somewhere in-between, then follow her on Twitter. You'll have no regrets.  

5. Winner.  

The lucky winner of the $50 Options Gift Card Giveaway is commenter #268 - Amanda Cook. She won for following AdoptUSKids on Facebook, but her response to the question about favorite family member is this:

One of my favorite family members is our cat, Fuzzy, because the kids love him SO much. And he lets them love on him, too. He is very patient with them, but he does keep them in line. He is the perfect cat for training them to love animals well.  

Furry people need love too. 

Congrats Amanda! Email me at jamiesrabbits@gmail.com to collect your bounty!

Now, Rabbit Reader, you say something. Random or otherwise.

{images: Jamie}

The Post About Photography: A New Series

I'm starting a new series on photography. 

Let's dissect, shall we?

1. "I'm starting..." Please know this means nothing. Don't ever be foolish enough to think it means I'll continue or finish anything that follows that phrase. 

2. "...new series..." Again, this indicates there will be more than one. Who promised that?

3. "...photography." This is the big one. I'm not a photographer. Do I own a camera? Do I take pictures with it? I know answering "yes" to those questions has raised up a generation of people who call themselves "photographers" but are no such thing. I bow at the feet of professional photographers who capture moments in time with skill and talent I do not possess.

Still...I'm starting a new series on photography.

It will include tips, tricks, suggestions, and lessons learned by an amateurish photo snapper who stumbled into a hobby she quite adores. 

There will also be guest posts by real photographers with wisdom for amateurish photo snappers like her.

As a preview...

Tip #1: Always fix the things you can before you click.

My sweet friend, random greasy hiking stranger on the Makapu'u Lighthouse trail in Hawaii, should have done just that.

What could he have fixed? Or rather asked me to fix so I didn't have to blow my rape whistle?

Yep, I wore pocketless everything on that hike so gadget storage was minimal. Now I'd need to spend quality time in Photoshop in hopes of making this picture usable.

Here are things you can check on the front end:
1. Subject: Make sure hair is in place, teeth are clean, clothing is covering important bits and pieces, and hair ties are in the hair, not on the wrist.
2. Background: Are there people with weird faces? Is there a pole coming out of your subject's head? Does this particular background take away from your subject at all? Sometimes we get so focused on the subjects that we forget to look behind them.
3. Personal Space: Don't be afraid to zoom, whether with the button on your camera or your feet. This is especially true when the background has a lot of "noise." Why crop later when you can crop now?
4. Lighting: It's crucial to think about the lighting in a scene. Is it too harsh? From which direction is it sourced? An amateur rule is keep the lighting to your back as the photographer. However, with practice you can learn to bend the light to your will in the most delightful ways.

Bonus: Be Bossy! You're holding the camera so you're in charge. Don't be afraid to tell people how to stand or where to look or how to remove that iPhone from their dainty parts.

So stuff like that there in the new series I'm starting on photography.

But don't get your hopes up...

What questions do you have about photography that we could answer together?

{image: random greasy hiking stranger on my camera}

The {Guest} Post About Photographing Your Favorite People and Places

My rabbit guester today is Liz Thomas from Liz Thomas Photography. Liz and I go way back. Like bighairandscrunchiesandhypercolorshirts back. My first memory of Liz has her surrounded by paper and photographs in the yearbook room at my high school. I remember thinking "She has such a big personality to be so little. I like her." Petite Liz and I lost touch after graduation despite what we promised to each other in that yearbook we designed. However, Mark Zuckerberg saved the day and we've reconnected. Now I think "She has such a gorgeous portfolio to be so little." Let's see what petite Liz can teach us.

Jamie was crazy enough to invite me write a guest post, and I was thrilled, because I love Jamie and all her rabbits. We knew each other long ago in school, and to be back in the presence of Jamie's wit via Facebook and her blog...well...it just makes life better, doesn't it?

So here goes...a tutorial of sorts.

Capturing something real is what I live for (professionally speaking).

Recently, I photographed a wedding and the comments that sent me over the moon were about the bride's dad. "We couldn't believe how he smiled." "We haven't seen him like that in years." "That's the man I married." Whoa!

Was it my rockin' personality and fantabulous shooting skills? Let me assure you - not!

How does it happen? And, how can you take photos that make you feel something...something real?

Photography has been a gift. It's taken me to faraway places, introduced me to people I might never know, and shown me a world I would not see otherwise.

Whether its travel, weddings, families, or police officers (uh-huh!), some things are always the same. People are people. Learn to anticipate.

Here's what I mean:

Say you're at your cousin's wedding. Your uncle is dancing with his daughter, the bride. You snap off a few. They're pretty good, if you say so yourself. As you turn to walk away, the song wraps up and you hear "awww...ahhhh..." No surprise, right? But you missed it...the real moment.

Nine times out of 10, if a bride dances with her dad, he will kiss her or hug her tightly - so very sweetly - when the music stops.

And if you're ready, you'll capture something...something real.

Wait for the moment and don't stop shooting, just in case the moment goes flying by you! You can't create a moment like that, you can only be there when it happens.

This high school senior wanted her childlike spirit captured. She recognized the childhood chapter of her book is closing.

Learning to anticipate was not an accident. And, it didn't start with photography. Since I was a kid, I wanted to be a writer and tell stories. About people.

When I was in college, I worked as a public relations photographer. I will never forget a meeting with our editor before a college event saying, "the president played football in college, and he still looks like a line backer. Whatever you do, don't shoot him from the backside. And he always makes a telling expression when he says 'such and such'- get it!" We learned to watch and wait. We were shooting film on manual cameras- you had to get it right.

My boys are infamous for their big mouths- literally and figuratively:

Everyone has an expression, a gesture, a look that screams a part of who they are. Grab that moment!

That's how I approach most everything I shoot. A writer asks about details and weaves a story connecting those details. It's the same with photos that stir you. They tell a story and show you provoking details without a word. With an article, readers want to know the who, what, when, where, why or how?

A photo can tell the same story.

So ask yourself, whether it's a family event, an aging parent, a wild toddler or a trip to Six Flags: what's the story here? what do I want to remember about the place? the person? the day? this moment?

My grandmother loves puzzles. My boys love puzzles. Lucky me, they decided to share the task of putting one together. I grabbed a camera.

I could've said, "hey everybody look at me. Let's take a picture of you with the puzzle." I bet 5 million dollars that two out of three would not have looked at me or smiled. What I wanted to remember was the story. It's not just the moment, it's the angle and the details. Notice below, the angle changed depending on the detail.

So what can you do? Aim for three shots:

1) The Place: Set the scene. This is the where and the who. By looking at the images of my granny, I will remember in which room we were. I will remember my grandmother had fallen a few days before and still wore the bruise on her jaw. I will remember which hands belonged to whom.

2) The Moment: This is closer, is shot from an angle that says who and what.

3) The Details: This is close. I wanted to remember the contrast of the hands - the wrinkled ones and the not-wrinkled ones. I wanted to even remember the puzzle since my boys loves learning states and capitals.

Maybe you just have your phone or a point-and-shoot. It's even more important to anticipate. You know how long your camera may take to respond, so plan for it. Start snapping just before the moment and you should actually capture it.

My friends just adopted a little girl from Ethiopia. What happens at a homecoming? Husbands and wives, mothers and children, all make a beeline to embrace!

So here's what you can do at such an occasion:

1) Survey your surroundings, find good light, take pictures from different angles (especially if you have a fully-automatic camera, because this will affect the lighting of your photo.)

2) Find the important players, even the folks who don't think they need their picture made. There will come a day when someone will cherish that real-life image of them!

3) Think of the story you want to tell. If it's a family reunion, it's not people eating that you want to capture. Sure, take photos of the spread of food, just not people eating! :)

4) Find the emotion Whose moment is this? Who's going to react?

5) Anticipate how the events will unfold.

6) Get in position and wait...

We were in the airport and I wanted the viewer to know that.

Mommy had been gone...little sister was coming...brother was anxious...

Dad would be anxious, too, as would a host of other people. Where would I be to capture this? Sometimes, all you have to do is turn around and your moment is waiting for you!

Brother meets sister for the first time.

Mom, Dad and brother are proud. Relieved the journey was behind them... (keep shooting!)

You can see more of these moments here.

Maybe it's a place you want to document like your childhood home. Ask yourself:

1) What do I remember about this place? the kitchen, my bedroom, the carpet color

2) Who is special here? Where do I have the most memories of that person?

And, get several angles of the outside of the house.

I'll leave you with a project I photographed this summer. A grandmother's legacy of more than 200 quilts.

You can see more of that story here.

I hope you've found something in this post to help you document your favorite people and places! Please drop me a note. I'd love to see what you're working on! liz@lizthomasphotography.com

Time to stalk Liz. Subscribe to her blog. Like her on Facebook. Follow her on Twitter.

Question from Jamie: What's captured in one of your most treasured photographs? I'll go first in the comments.

{images: Liz Thomas Photography}