The Post About The Rabbit Recommends V. 123

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

Television

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

Music

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

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

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

Reading

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

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

YouTube


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


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


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

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

The Post About Friday is for Cat Videos

Friday is for surely goodness and mercy.

And cat videos.

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

Here are five of my all-time favorites.











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

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends: April-ish 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.

This month is an "-ish" because I didn't wrap up March. It's such a nice month with its...well...there's nothing too grand about March (unless you celebrate a birth) but I hate to ignore it completely. Like I do cleaning my freezer.

1. Facts That Sound Like Huge Lies. #1 will sell you on watching this entire clip.


2. How I Met Your Mother. I spent 104 hours of my life watching this sit-com. I know this exact figure because of the website tiii.me. 90% of the time, I loved it, but the finale pummeled me. No words. TV critic Alan Sepinwall summed up my feelings perfectly.

3. The Office Time Machine. This is a website that allows you to plug in any year and view a brief compilation video of every single time the TV show The Office made a reference to something that happened then. Here's one of my favorite years, 1994, as an appetizer. 


4. Vintage Easter Bunny. Buzzfeed collected 19 vintage Easter Bunny pics that will make your skin crawl. I could also show you three from my own Instagram feed.

5. Majestic. Kari Jobe released a live worship album recently. In finding the links for this list, I stopped to listen for the umpteenth time and stood up from my chair and sang like I was her twice.

6. Prince George on Tour. I didn't know seeing Prince George down under would wreck me so. But for 3 weeks, I was captivated. I mean, I want to touch her hair too. He's as cuddly as a kitten and here's proof.









7. Kids React to Walkmans. I'm old. You're old. We're all old.


8. Stephen Colbert. I'm a huge fan of The Colbert Report and the guy behind the character - Stephen Colbert. One of the reasons is how often he talks about his faith. Relevant Magazine recently shared 6 Times Stephen Colbert Got Serious About Faith.

9. The Rosie Project. I devoured this book in 6 hours last month. Don Tillman is a genetics professor who creates a detailed questionnaire to help him find a wife. She will be punctual, logical and most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver. Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. Funny and heartwarming.

10. Helen Keller. Although Helen Keller was deaf and blind, she wrote two particularly moving letters. One to the New York Symphony Orchestra after "hearing" Beethoven's 9th and one to Dr. John Finley after "seeing" the view from the Empire State Building. We're all underachievers.

11. The Most Famous Book Set in Each State. Mental Floss compiled a list of all of the best-selling book sets in each state. My home state of Alabama, thankfully, picked To Kill a Mockingbird rather than a biography of Bear Bryant. My heart goes out to Arkansas.

12. Bitman Begins. My theory is there can never be enough Hemsworths. My favorite two gathered for this newest film adaptation.  


13. Jen Hatmaker. I discovered Jen Hatmaker shortly after she published 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess and I liked her almost immediately. Someone who had faith AND a sense of humor. A combination that is all too rare in my opinion. She wrote two blog posts recently that inspired me: Run Your Race and Where I Stand. 

What have you loved recently? What are your recs for books, movies, TV, websites, articles or cat videos?

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 The Rabbit Recommends v.121

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.

Leigh Kramer wrote a fantastic post last week titled "Nashville Doesn't Love Me." She shared about the struggle of moving to Tennessee and seeking depth but it alluding her. I think this post was brutally honest and vulnerable - in such a good way. I sense she received a bit of backlash and followed up with 2 additional posts to provide some context. However, I prefer the first swing she took at this tough topic of searching for community.


I can be red or blue or a gorgeous shade of purple on any given political issue. However, I'm definitively pro-life. The way in which Wendy Davis was deemed a hero last week was disappointing. This article by Kirsten Powers in The Daily Beast articulated what I could not.

Chad Gibbs wrote one of my favorite books Love Thy Rival (free on Kindle as I type this). Now, he is writing a column for the Opelika-Auburn News about being a new stay-at-home Dad. I couldn't pick just one article, so read them all.

There is so much goodness in The Atlantic's How To Be Better at Email: A Comprehensive Scientific Guide. Including:

• Check email no more frequently than once every 45 minutes.
• Turn off incoming email notifications and set up email clients to display the sender, subject line and the first three lines of the email to make messages easier to scan and triage.

Buzz Feed's 18 Babies Experiencing Things For The First Time is .gifs with babies. Your ovaries will thank you. You too, gentlemen.

My friend and blogger Rachel Callahan posted this picture on her family trip to Legoland.

The caption was “So my life has come to this.” Darth Vader

I’m keeping my kids. Daughter is screaming. SON: Do you know why she is screaming? ME: No, why? SON: (coldly) Because of you.
— Knox McCoy (@KnoxMcCoy) June 27, 2013

Knox's son is my new favorite.

Super Mario Bros. In Food. By Hunter Harrison.
 
Plus, rabbits I chased this week:
Podcast: The Bachelorette Recap in which I said: "The odds were against him but that doesn't mean all of America didn't stand by, flags at half mast, when Juan Pablo went home."

Podcast: Golden Moon Buffet in which we tackled Miranda July pulling an NSA hack on celebrity emails; Jay-Z as a bad parent; and the best, worst, and yet unmade patriotic movies.

Blog Post: I wrote about being called "annoying" by an Internet stranger. It was a good thing. I promise.

Tweet: I'm nothing if not spiritual.

Lunch small group discussed avoiding distraction in our walk with God. Then we focused on how to cheat at Candy Crush.
— Jamie Golden (@JamiesRabbits) July 2, 2013

Rabbit Sidebar: THIS is how to cheat at Candy Crush.


Cake Pops: A tribute to Doctor Who and America.

Now you recommend something to me. Do it.

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 The Rabbit Recommends v.119

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 The Rabbit Recommends v.118

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 The Rabbit Recommends v.116

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

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 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 Christmas in Lights

Since I was blog silent during the recent major holidays, I failed to share some fine chasing rabbit moments.

For New Year's, I visited Caryann in Nashville with the other bestie, Kara. We found ourselves searching high and low for entertaining activities since Kara's husband requested we avoid as much debauchery as possible.

Caryann is a self-proclaimed non-planner when it comes to non-work. This trait led to a riveting visit to The Lipton Lights in Franklin, TN. This light display at a neighborhood house collects donations for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Helpful background information: Caryann tends to make friends with people who like to work puzzles. I am not one of those friends.



I apologize for that two minutes and eighteen seconds you'll never get back.

I'll be dropping a Whip My Hair cover soon.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.80

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

I got Konrad my Nikon D40 SLR camera over a year ago and I still feel like I'm learning to drive a stickshift with no feet. I've tried to read so many sites and every explanation comes up a little short. I know I should take a class, but I like to spend my money at Redbox and Chick-Fil-A. Luckily, Kevin and Amanda saved this day with this top-notch tutorial.

Watch

I love award shows. Fancy clothes, awkward red carpet questions, and losers who aren't me. The Emmys were last week and I thought they were the best yet (based on my measly 15 year streak of watching - nerd). My recommendation is largely due to this phenomenal opening number.

Listen

A recent concert excursion to see Dave Barnes led me to Steve Moakler. He's got that John Mayer vibe without being the occasional tool. Of course, he's probably a tool at times too, because who of us isn't? I digress. Steve's latest album is All The Faint Lights which is worthy of some loose change.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.77

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

A few moons back I asked for your recommendations on reading and Hunger Games popped up last week in the rotation. Hearted it. I knew I would because it's for young adults. You see, there's a special part of my brain reserved for Twilight, VC Andrews and Sweet Valley High. Yeah, really. Hunger Games is a scifi novel about a post-apocalyptic world where an annual event pits district representatives of the teen nature against each other in a contest for survival. Addictive.

Watch

I've already shared my passion for educational games played exclusively on beige bulky boxes. This unfortunately "fake" movie trailer provides many nods to a game I now play on my iPhone. LOL moment? cemetery plots.

Listen

So You Think You Can Dance wraps this week. Sadness. But it continues to introduce me to music that gets my muffin moving all through the house. This week was Janelle Monáe who sings the fabulous Tightrope. Her album, The ArchAndroid, is filled with delightful cuts including the must-download Cold War.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.75

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

The blog, How About Orange..., is one of my must-reads. Author, Jessica Jones, is a graphic creator of the best kind. She offers crafty how-to's, ideas, freebies and all-around inspiration. But with a modern twist. No hens. Plus, I like her even though the color orange makes me think of Jack Nicholson which generally makes me melancholy. Oh, Jack.

Watch

Undercover Karaoke with Jewel from Jewel

First, I love Jewel. I enjoy her unique sound and her crooked teeth. Her debut album, Pieces of You, hogs a lot of the space on my college mixtape. I mean, I stand in the rain and take my coat off because I'm crazy like that. This video is a delightful use of her talents.

Listen

I went to see one of my fave musicians Dave Barnes work out his comedy this weekend. 1. He was really funny. 2. As sad as I was that he didn't sing, he brought two great singer/songwriters with him. The first I'll introduce is Ben Rector. Great voice, great lyrics, and not great suspenders. But he acknowledged that. This song, When a Heart Breaks, is just a sample of a delightful catalog of music.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.72

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

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I promised a new rec and I have it. One Day by David Nicholls is the perfect summer read. Maybe not for those who bass fish or have chest hair, but definitely for the rest of us. We catch up with Emma and Dexter on the same day every year for 2 decades. It's a journey through the years filled with humor, romance and great writing.

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My youngest godson now insists you call him "Luigi." A child at my work camp last week carried a Luigi doll everywhere. The toy had goggles for the pool. Mario Brothers is all-powerful.

Listen

Singer songwriter time. I first heard Matt Wertz on tour with Dave Barnes and I was sold. This is my favorite song "I Will Not Take My Love Away." Might I also suggest "Carolina" and "Sing My Lonesome Away?"

The Post About Lip Syncing Gurus

Ryan and Ethan's tribute to Jerry Seinfeld's Halloween bit.

Both the content and delivery are perfection.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.66

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns should find its way onto every Christian's reading wishlist. Stearns went from President of Lenox China to the leader of WorldVision and this book tells that fascinating story. Then he tells the more important story of children and families living in devastating poverty around the world. And Stearns challenges that Matthew 25 is our guide: "I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me. I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me."

BONUS? In the month of May 2010 you can download the audio version of this book for free here.

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When the 120 satellite channels and 150 TiVo hours provide no entertainment, then I find Seinfeld. I'll encounter episodes like The Parking Garage or The Bubble Boy or Serenity Now. This short video clip about the sadness that is George Costanza's life made me extra happy.

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I love Coldplay. And I love the poor man's Coldplay: OneRepublic. Their second album, Waking Up, is delightful with my favorite cuts being Good Life, All This Time and the featured Marching On. If you like The Script or The Fray or {The} Lifehouse, then you should dig on this.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.64

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

Jon Acuff already had a blog I love - Stuff Christians Like. It's great satire highlighting beloved Christian-ese things including "Using 'let me pray about it' as a synonym for 'no'" and "Drawing in the bulletin." As of this recommendation, Acuff is up to #746. And now he has a fabulous book of the same name. I encourage you to drop a few bucks on this hilarious read, but feel free to start with the FREE audio book like I did.

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Dixie Carter, May 25, 1939 – April 10, 2010

Listen

I've mentioned before how much I love music on TV and in movies. If it's a big moment with a moving song, then I'm pausing and Googling lyrics on the spot to add it to my library. This happened during this week's Ugly Betty when this crazy great song began playing during Hilda and Bobby's wedding. I discovered it's Be My Only by FM Radio which BTW you can't buy. Ugh. But it did lead me to Schuyler Fisk who makes up 1/2 of the band. She's the daughter of actres Sissy Spacek which is a small footnote compared to her great music actually available for purchase. This song is Paperweight, a duet with Joshua Radin.