The Post About Being a Work of Art

One of my favorite sentences in the Bible is found at the beginning of Ephesians 2:10.

"For we are God's masterpiece."

That's who I am. That's who you are. We are works of art.

And not like art you make at camp or at Sips-n-Strokes or in Introduction to Pottery. We are Chihuly glass and Adams photographs and Van Gogh canvases. We're not hung on just any refrigerator. We grace the fridge doors of the Creator of the Universe.

But there's a dilemma.

That's not how I see myself. I let other things define me. My hobbies, my skills, my relationships, my experiences, my titles.

I am a Writer. Marketer. Daughter. Sister. Aunt. Godmother. Friend. Baker. Volunteer. Fan.

I am Single. Childless. 

However, these titles aren't really who I am. I am a masterpiece. He said so.

But are masterpieces sporadic writers? Are they bakers who leave messes in the kitchen? Are they unmarried? Are they marketers without jobs?

This chasm between what I think I am and what I really am has never been more difficult to cross than now. Unemployed me couldn't possibly be a treasured piece? What am I without to-do lists and deadlines and an organizational email address?

I am enough.

Thankfully God is prone to repeat Himself. Not because He forgets, but because we do.

Psalm 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

It's important to remember this was written by David. A guy who was a polygamist, murderer, adulterer, and pretty crappy father. Yet he didn't let those titles define him. He knew he was a work of art. He knew it full well.

Let us know it full well too.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About What You Want to Know

I've received several questions about this season of being out of work. I thought it might be time for a handy FAQ.

1. Why did you quit your job?
Read this. It's still true a month later.

2. Do you have a job now?
Not really. I have some freelance gigs and the occasional cake pop order, but that's it.

3. If you don't have a job, what do you do all day?
Well...it depends. Some days I do research and write the entire day. Some days I volunteer at our local dream center and read at the library. Some days I snuggie it out and binge on Netflix and nap twice.

Then there's the time spent staring at God asking "What next?" Right now, He mostly just grins like He knows something but not telling.

4. What's been the hardest part of quitting?
First, I really do miss my coworkers. Thankfully they text and call often which helps maintain my codependence. Second, I'm as extroverted as they're made. Being home alone is not my wheelhouse. So getting out of the house and explaining the value of Boar's Head to Publix shoppers has been helpful.

5. What kind of job do you want?
My heart and passion is storytelling. Sharing an organization's story would be my dream - what they do, why they do it, and how they want to do it bigger and better. Content marketing is actually my background which means an ideal working scenario would be tweeting, facebooking, instagramming, youtube-ing and blogging about good stuff. If you have a lead on something, my Mom would appreciate you sharing.

I'm also willing to be someone's trophy wife.

6. What are you learning?
It's almost surprising how much I've learned. Like, how dumb I am. I'm learning to budget, to distinguish between "need" and "want," to be present, to rest, to reconnect with friends and family, and to just camp out in the Bible rather than try to read a verse at a traffic light once a week and hope it sustains.

The biggest lesson is how much I let work define and consume me. I was chained up by it and only now can I see the marks it left behind. More on that later this week.

I've also confirmed that pajamas are my favorite. 

7. What are you doing for money?
Holding it tight in my hand like it's Bilbo's ring. Maybe not that extreme, but I did shut down almost all unnecessary spending when I turned in my resignation. And do you know what? I saved a lot of money. IT'S AS IF MATH WORKS YOU GUYS. Folks have also been so kind to treat me to lunch or coffee or a movie. Learning to receive well is another skill I'm practicing.

My coworkers gave me a Starbucks card as a going away gift since they couldn't purchase an Alabama Power certificate. They wanted to make sure I still had access to coffee and wi-fi if times got tough. See why I miss them?

What questions or advice do you have?

The Post About God Telling Me To Quit My Job

God is good. God is great. God is aggravating.

Let me explain.

This summer I took a sabbatical to the Carolinas. Five days intended to focus on God and ponder how He designed me to impact the world.

I forgot God designed me as an extrovert who finds restoration and solace in the presence of people. So wandering alone in the Blue Ridge mountains left me crying over complimentary waffles at a Holiday Inn on Day 3.

Sabbatical over.

But the pursuit of God was not. I went home to my cozy Birmingham and dug into the process:
1. Study the Bible.
2. Read spiritual resources.
3. Seek Godly counsel.
4. Talk to God out loud in my living room.

I started in Genesis. There is no better place to start than the beginning. Plus, Genesis is where we learn that road trips with Jesus always take longer. I camped out in 50 chapters filled with obedience, rebellion and a Creator's commitment to always do what He says He'll do.

God told me to quit my job. 

I heard it in passages like Genesis 12 when God tells Abram to leave and go. I read it when God asked Abraham to lay down the very thing that defined him in Genesis 22.

Next, I read four books with a bent for stepping out in faith. I listened closely to Jen Hatmaker as she made room in her life for obedience and generosity. I highlighted all the sentences Chris Hodges used to explain the difference between having to serve God and getting to serve God. I reread Mark Buchanan's powerful exploration of how Jonah (and Jamie) live in a wonderless borderland. Finally, I wrote Bob Goff's words on my heart:

“Every day God invites us on the same kind of adventure. It's not a trip where He sends us a rigid itinerary, He simply invites us. God asks what it is He's made us to love, what it is that captures our attention, what feeds that deep indescribable need of our souls to experience the richness of the world He made. And then, leaning over us, He whispers, "Let's go do that together.”

God told me to quit my job.

I camped out with Godly people in two different weekly small group meetings. Old and new friends shared story after story of God miraculously providing in circumstances that would challenge the greatest of cynics. Rabbit Sidebar: I'm a ROCK STAR cynic.

God told me to quit my job. 

Throughout each of these steps, I found myself back on my loveseat in my living room in my house telling God what-for.

Me: Why would you want me to quit my job? I love my job and the people at my job and the snacks at my job.
God: {patiently listening}


Me: Who's going to pay my mortgage? Bank of America does not accept side hugs as payment.
God: {patiently listening}


Me: What kind of job will I get? I haven't updated my resume since 2006.
God: {patiently listening}


Then on a Monday night at 9:20pm, I put my foot down.


Me: YOU CAN'T ASK THIS OF ME. I'M NOT BRAVE LIKE BRAVE PEOPLE ARE BRAVE. 

And then my phone buzzed. This random text arrived from a friend at 9:22pm:

"Hey! I was reading in Deuteronomy 1 and Moses is reminding the Israelites of their disobedience due to fear and not trusting God. I don't know what God is speaking to you but thought of you when I read this and our need to be obedient when the instruction is clear."

God told me to quit my job.

On Thursday, that's just what I did.

Why does God want me to quit my job? Who's going to pay my mortgage? What kind of job will I get?

I don't know the answers to these questions. I only know that God and I will do it together.

God is aggravating, but He is also good and He is great.

The Post About 3 Bad Work Habits I Must Break

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 Resume Tips and Tricks

I have a day job. I'm a marketing director at a child and family welfare agency in Alabama.

I adore it.

Even on days when it's tougher to love, I  simply tweet out my solution...

But trust me, even on the worst day, there are not many better places to work. Coworkers who are normal, an office with a comfortable chair, and a mission of nurturing children by strengthening families.

I think the word is out on our goodness or the economy is in the crapper, because we receive 100s of resumes for each job we post.

However, our HR Director doesn't read them all. Who would have time for that? So she works it out so some get eliminated from the beginning when they violate a few rules.

Here's how you wouldn't make it past square one in our hiring process:

1. Use Comic Sans as your resume font. There are other options folks. Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Georgia exist on almost every computer on the planet. Use them. Even the disaster that is Times New Roman would be better than CS. A professional job demands a professional font.

2. Don't follow instructions. There is only one way to submit resumes to my nonprofit which we include in every job posting - email attachment to employment@childrensaid.org. If you snail mail or fax or hand deliver it, then you will not receive a rose. Most employers have guidelines for submitting applications or resumes...follow them to the letter. 

3. Send resume from an unprofessional email address. When my best friend Kara decided to return to the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom, she asked for tips. I suggested not sending her resume with her email address that begins with "kpookie." So unless you're applying for a job in a pet store, your resume email address should not be dogsgetme81@aol.com.

4. Using an unprofessional ringback song and/or voicemail message. I was hiring camp staff this summer and I made a call to an applicant. He was a graduate student in counseling who was also looking for permanent employment. His ringback tone was the unedited version of F*** You by Cee Lo Green. His voicemail was "Hey...it's _________. I'm probably busy gettin' busy so leave a message. I might call you back. I might not." 

True. Story.

5. Don't proofread. Spell check and grammar check won't protect you. Make sure you have someone else proofread your cover letter and resume. Employers are assuming you're putting your best self forward in your cover letter. And no ones wants to hire a "best self" with a master's degree, 10 years experience who can't write. 

Note: This applicant also left a digit out of her phone number. So, there's that.

What job search tips do you have?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About Eating A Frosty For Good

I'm so grateful that helping kids find forever families is part of my day job.

It can be part of your weekend by participating in Wendy's Father's Day Frosty Weekend (June 16 - 17) by doing any of the following:

• Buy any Frosty^™ product
• Check-in to a Wendy's
• Retweet #TreatitFwd

For every action, Wendy's will donate $0.50 to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in support of Wendy's Wonderful Kids (WWK). Two of my colleagues are WWK Recruiters who use proactive, child-focused recruitment efforts to move America’s longest-waiting children from foster care into adoptive families. Recently released research from a 5-year evaluation of WWK shows that children referred to the program are up to 3 times more likely to get adopted.

NO better reason to eat a yummy Frosty.  Or two.

The Post About How You Protect Your Privacy Online

This week I'm presenting a training to social workers and child advocates on the topic of online privacy.

Writing a blog outlining every detail of your life is simply one of the many things you might want to avoid.

Those who can...do. Those who can't...teach conference workshops.

Here's the training description. Pay attention Rabbit Readers because I have questions for you.

Internet Invasion: Protecting Your Online Privacy: In the past few years, we have seen the rise and dominance of social media and interactive websites. This participatory type of online activity facilitates information sharing, creativity, collaboration, and network building. Good things. However, there is a trade-off: privacy invasion. This invasion occurs as sites collect personal information and use it for marketing purposes. The invasion continues as information shared online can often be accessed by strangers and predators. This workshop will show professionals how to help kids (and adults) stay safe online, manage their reputation and outsmart advertisers. We will tackle each of the following topics: 
1. Safety: interactivity, cyber bullying and exposure to inappropriate material. 
2. Online Marketing: How marketers build brand loyalty and the collection of personal data. 
3. Credibility of Online Information: Learning how to question what you read online.

I know you're already jealous you're going to miss it, so here's the content of one of my 89 slides.

*Don’t put your full birth date on Internet profiles.*
Identity thieves use birth dates as cornerstones of their craft. If you want friends on social-networking sites to know your birthday, try just the month and day, and leave off the year. Since some online profiles won't let you move forward without providing the full date, simply pick a "fake" birthday and use it.

I always wanted my birthstone to be Sapphire so my online birthday is in September. I bought sapphire earrings to celebrate.

What tips do you have? Have you had your privacy invaded online? What did you learn from it?Are you a online predator?

The Post About Helping Me Change Kids' Lives. Seriously.

So far, no one has been asked to buy me a wedding or baby gift. Much to my mom's dismay.  

So how about a trade?

I joined the staffing team at Children's Aid in 2006 to plan events. Accepting that job was accepting a front row seat for heartache and high fives.

Heartache:

• Approximately 300 foster kids in Alabama are waiting for a forever family. The average time in care is almost 3 years.
• 1 in 4 kids in Alabama live in poverty. Poverty can impede children’s ability to learn. It can also contribute to poor physical and mental health. 
• 200 kids age out of foster care each year in Alabama. Over half of youth who age out will experience one or more episodes of homelessness, and nearly 30% will be incarcerated at some point.

High Fives:

• CAS has seen more than 100 kids matched through adoption with forever families.
• CAS served almost 10,000 individuals last year and assisted them in being part of healthy and safe families.
• CAS is employing and training hundreds of youth who will likely age out of foster care. Through our work, they will have the life skills to overcome the odds.

Would you consider making a donation to CAS today in honor of Alabama Gives Day? Even if you're not from Alabama? 

My goal is to raise $500 in 24 hours with my Quasi-Wedding/Baby Gift for Jamie Fundraiser.

Here's my giving page: http://algives.razoo.com/Jamie

What do you get? Tax deduction. Warm fuzzies. Plus, an old-fashioned postcard mailed from me to you. There will be doodles and cheerleader letters.

Thank you. Supporting CAS truly makes the difference in the lives of kids.

P.S. I wouldn't ask you to do anything I wouldn't do. I'm donor #1.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About Sharing Your Faith at Work

"Do or do not. There is no try." Yoda.

Wise words from a wee man. The same truth applies to exercise, driving the speed limit and giving birth.

It also rings true for sharing your faith in the workplace. 

I'm talking to some college students this week about that very topic. As I've prepared blanks and handouts and dry erase board maps shaped like my breakroom, I realized I have a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips - you.

So answer one or all of the following:

1. What are your tips on sharing your faith on the job?

2. What trauma have you experienced in this area?

3. What trauma have you induced?

Rabbit Illustration: 

A coworker who told me she was an atheist once asked me to pray for her father who was battling cancer. I quickly agreed and asked if I could pray with her right then. She said "Yes, but don't ask God to follow up with me after He heals my dad. This is a one-stop shop."

Fast forward a few years and she loves God with her whole heart. And she bakes Baptist breakfast casseroles like a ninja.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About 10 Items I Would Like To Buy With FSA Money

Do you have an FSA account? If not, let's have Wikipedia recap for us.

A flexible spending account (FSA) is one of a number of tax-advantaged financial accounts that can be set up through a cafeteria plan of an employer in the United States. An FSA allows an employee to set aside a portion of earnings to pay for qualified expenses as established in the cafeteria plan, most commonly for medical expenses but often for dependent care or other expenses. Money deducted from an employee's pay into an FSA is not subject to payroll taxes, resulting in substantial payroll tax savings. One significant disadvantage to using an FSA is that funds not used by the end of the plan year are lost to the employee.

Did you read that last sentence?

Today I find myself with $200 in "funds not used" and I have 3 days to spend it.

The above picture is my current shopping list. It rivals the most senior of adults. Its absurdity extends to the fact I have normal blood pressure, don't need reading glasses and have no idea why one uses orthopedic inserts. Yet these are the items deemed "eligible" and seem most reasonable to purchase.

Here are 10 eligible items I thankfully don't need, but I'd like to purchase anyway.

1. Ambulance Ride. I bet there's no line and no waiting if you pull up in this at the bank.

2. Body Scan. It would be my new profile picture on all social media outlets. Because I'm confident I look hot on the inside.

3. Carpal Tunnel Wrist Supports. Like the ones Wonder Woman wore.

4. Lice Shampoo. Bottom line: Does it add volume? Can I get it in a color glaze?

5. Ovulation Predictor Test. This would aid in knowing when it may be best for me to work from home.

6. Lodging at a Hospital. Who cares that New Orleans is booked solid for January 9? I hear Tulane Medical Center has lovely amenities.

7. Guide Animal. EVERYONE WOULD LOVE MY MINIATURE HORSE.

8. Hearing Aid. Sometimes I like to pretend I can't hear. This would assist with that objective.

9. Meals at a Hospital. Lunch is on me.

10. Oxygen. Occasionally I take the stairs at work.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About Adoption and a $50 Gift Card Giveaway

{GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

I've spent November baking. Let's review the sweet smut, shall we?

That's a Pecan Pie Cupcake with pie filling as frosting in the middle. 

Yeah, I agree.

There was cake on sticks. 

Which really is the best way to eat it.

Our beloved college football was represented. I did not discriminate, although Roll Tide.

There was a method to the kitchen madness. November is National Adoption Month and I sold some diabetic unfriendliness to raise money for the cause.

Specifically, I was raising funds for my friend/coworker Lisa and her husband Barry who are adopting a little fellow from Russia.

She even got in on the baking action. My other coworkers have been supporting her efforts too!

You can learn more about domestic or international adoption by checking out the following:

AdoptUSKids is a service of the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. The mission of AdoptUSKids is two-fold: to raise public awareness about the need for foster and adoptive families for children in the public child welfare system; and to assist states to recruit and retain foster and adoptive families and connect them with children.

Show Hope is a non-profit organization that mobilizes individuals and communities to meet the most pressing needs of orphans in distress by providing 1) homes for waiting children through adoption aid grants, and 2) life-saving medical care for orphans with special needs. 

As one more effort to help raise awareness about the very important issue of adoption, I'm hosting a giveaway.

Winner:

$50 Options Gift Card - Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, Athleta

How To Enter: {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}
Leave a comment answering this:
Who's one of your favorite family members? Why?

**2 Extra Entries**
Each of the following will give you 1 extra entry.
 

1. "Like" AdoptUSKids on Facebook or follow on Twitter.
 

2. "Like" Show Hope on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

 Make sure to leave a separate comment for each, whether you're doing it for the first time or you've already done it in the past.

Important Details: Open to anyone 18 or older in the US or Canada. Must enter before 11:59pm CST on Wednesday, December 7 to qualify. Winner will be chosen randomly using Research Randomizer and announced next week. Obviously, anonymous folks can't win unless they leave a name in the comment.  

Disclaimer: Although I'm a huge supporter of Adopt US Kids, Show Hope, and all the retailers on that gift card, none of them know the first thing about this blog or giveaway. 

{photos: Jamie}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.99

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.

Labor Day Edition: Wikipedia tells us Labor Day is a federal holiday celebrating the economic and social contributions of workers. Although, most of those who work retail, food service, transit or at hospitals will have to celebrate at work. I'll sleep an extra hour (on top of the 9) in your honor. The following are recommendations for those who work hard for the money.

Read

Do you know where I excel in the hierarchy of an organization? The middle. At the front line, I'm grumpy about having no input on my desk chair. At the top, I crumble under the pressure of having to supervise...anyone. A qualified therapist would tell me my inability to be a boss stems from being a latchkey key who only had to make an after school snack for herself. Enter one of my favorite leadership books: The 360º Leader by John Maxwell. I have a John Maxwell crush which is similar to my Michael Hyatt crush which is not similar to my Matt Damon crush. This great read first addresses 7 myths we often believe about leadership such as "I can't lead if I'm not at the top." Maxwell then outlines 23 principles on leading up, across and down. Hence, the circle of life.

Watch
There are outstanding workplace movies: Office Space, Devil Wears Prada, Clerks, Working Girl, Anchorman.

There are outstanding workplace TV shows: Mad Men, West Wing, 30 Rock, Sports Night and of course, The Office.

Although I'm as much a fan of the original UK version AND I feel the current version has lost a bit of its way, I'll never adore a clip as much as this one.

What are your favorite fictional workplaces?

The Post About a Thursday in the Life

A reader messaged me last week with the following:

"I want to spend a day with you since it's probably all caffeine, frosting, and shiny objects."

Exactly.

I'm in a wish granting mood, so here's a rabbit recap of Thursday, July 28 for Michael.

My parents are the type who linger in the AM. A cup or two of Folgers, a newspaper scan, some laundry, and maybe re-tiling the bathroom. Hours pass and only then do they consider dressing for work.

I'm a sleep-until-you-cannot-stand-it-any-longer morning person. Getting ready is timed to the tee. Iced coffee inhaled while layering a 2nd coat and rerunning some legen-{wait for it}-dary television. No room for error. 

Or a nutritious breakfast.

I consider the car a perfect place to multitask. However, my attention deficit is sidelined when faced with the worst of moving violations: slow left lane driving. In that moment, I manage a laser-like focus in attempts to will you to move to the right. My mutterings and stank eye rarely seem to work. 

BECAUSE TERRORISTS DON'T RESPOND TO REASON.

I'm able to recover from the commute by serving families at my day job at Children's Aid Society (CAS).

Rabbit Sidebar: CAS is also the name of the public child welfare department in Canada. This leads to daily skirmishes with Toronto Facebook users who abuse their children and don't know Alabama is in a different country. STOP YELLING AT ME, EH!

My workspace is 100% feng shui. 

Doesn't "feng shui" mean stashed with candy, comfy chairs, and Star Wars memorabilia? No?

Then it's feng shwanky.

This specific day pushed me 2 hours north to a conference for foster care teens. My passenger ADD kept company with Google Reader and my new boyfriend: Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones. A coworker shared this delight and I fell hard. 

So hard that I'd drive to Panama City Beach and buy us matching airbrushed tank tops.

I'm a hotel fan. Poolside, in-room coffee maker, and someone makes my bed.

Another traveling highlight is breaking bread with snazzy coworkers. Please enjoy a transcript of one dinner topic from that evening:

Roseann: What moisturizer do you use?

Me: I use Philosophy's Hope in a Jar.

Roseann: {points to bottle of Chilean wine} This is my hope in a jar.

Another topic:

Me: I take melatonin to help me fall asleep.

Rod: You should try liquid melatonin.

Roseann: {points to bottle Chilean wine} This is my liquid melatonin.

This day's life lesson? Always sit by Roseann.

What would you change about your average day because it's less-than? What would you supersize because it's like-wow?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About $40 Target Gift Card Giveaway

I'm presenting a webinar for work next week entitled "What Every Parent Should Know About Social Media."

I'd like you rabbit readers to do a bunch of the work. K? K.

Rabbit sidebar: How much do I loathe reply text messages that just read "k"? Spoiler: I loathe it hard.

My employer probably won't pay you for being my webinar researcher, so let's have a giveaway!

Winner:

$40 Target Gift Card (GIVEAWAY CLOSED/WINNER ANNOUNCED SOON)

How To Enter:
Leave a comment answering the question:
What's a tip you would give parents about social media?

**2 Extra Credit Entries**
Each of the following will give you 1 extra entry. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each, whether you're doing it for the first time or you've already done it in the past.

1. "Like" Jamie's Rabbits on Facebook.
2. Follow Jamie's Rabbits on Twitter.

Important Details: Open to anyone in the US or Canada. Must enter before 11:59pm CST on Monday, July 25 to qualify. Winners will be chosen randomly using Research Randomizer and announced next week. Obviously, anonymous folks can't win unless they leave a name in the comment.  

P.S. Although I spend money at Target like I'm a trophy wife with a generous trust fund, they don't know the first thing about this blog or this giveaway.  

Meanwhile...We have two winners for the iTunes/Pandora Giveaway!

$25 iTunes Winner: #200 = Jenny - "I LOVE Adele's new album!"  

Pandora 1-Year Membership: #149 =  Debra F. (who won for following on Twitter) "The last album I bought was Stevie Nick's 'In Your Dreams' and I do love it." 

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

{image: fhoke}

The Post About 6 Pens That Could Rock Your World

"Monday is a lame way to spend 1/7 of your life."  Anonymous

Truthfully, my day job is quite lovely. A nice blend of good people, good work and free coffee. Notice the missing "good."

Plus, my fascination with office supplies is well served by my roles as organizer and planner.

But I face an obstacle. I hold my pen wonky. 

See.

Clearly I was not paying attention in kindergarten. That may have something to do with the "hearing problem" diagnosed by my teacher. Yes, your suspicions are correct. ADD.

So in order to write, I needed unique utensils. The thicker the pencil or ink, the better.

You might assume as I got older I would have tried to relearn. But I'm southern and Baptist. Those two don't bode well for changin'.

Therefore, I can be a diva about pens. I like what I like and here's what I like:

1. Bic Twisty: This work pen may be at my house which is not ideal for marketing to the outside of my house. However, it's a classic ball point that's perfect for quick notes.

2. Bic Atlantis: The only other ball pen I'll consider. Endorsed by Bryan Allain.

3. Pentel Energel: I despise capped pens. My "hearing problem" causes me to forget the ever-important re-cap. But this pen is an exception.

4. Pilot G-2: Do we all love this pen? We must. I do prefer 0.7 or higher flowing from its veins.

5. Pilot B2P: This is the G-2, but all green and stuff. Same guts, but the outside is made from a recycled bottle. A pen addiction is suddenly in the Bible.

6. Pilot Vball: One more capped exception for this roller ball dream weaver. I should own stock in Pilot.

So...what office supplies are your must-haves? Which pens do you adore? Or do you care about things more important than this?

{images: Jamie}

The Post About How To Easily Help a Foster Child Today

I'm privileged to sit on the front row watching colleagues who work diligently to find forever families for children in Alabama. One friend in the business is Heart Gallery Alabama. 

Heart Gallery Alabama helps promote adoption of kids in foster care by recruiting professional photographers to help capture the unique spirit of each child. They also create videos of each child to help tell "their story." And they do this with no state or federal funding.

Today (and today only), Heart Gallery has a shot of winning a Toyota in the 100 Cars for Good program on Facebook. And it's a good shot since only 5 nonprofits are in the running.

Heart Gallery would be able to expand their services by reaching every corner of the state.

Please vote. 

I wouldn't ask if I didn't know the difference HGA made in the lives of kids who are waiting for a forever family. 

"There are no unwanted children, just unfound families." 

P.S. You can search for foster children available in your own neck of the woods by visiting Adopt US Kids. 

{image: Jamie}

The Post About Being In The Woods

I'm out of the office this week trying to create more of this:

This is Camp APAC held annually at Camp ASCCA in Jackson's Gap, Alabama. 

I'm with 141 adopted kids. And 68 staff. And 2 horses. And 600 camp pancakes. 

Thank the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for camp pancakes.

It's my favorite 5 days of the roughly 250 I work each year. 

It's because these are children who have found forever families. Moms who will cheer them on at ballgames or recitals. Dads who will help them with homework or walk them down the aisle.

Moms and Dad who will be there for any and all of it. Forever.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a forever someone for any of the 115,000 kids in foster care waiting to be adopted, visit Adopt US Kids.

 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
      this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
 God places the lonely in families;
      he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.

Psalm 68:5-6

(image: Jamie}

P.S. Today's the last day to enter my $40 Lowe's Gift Card Giveaway.

The Post About The Birds Who Carry Your Email Away

I sometimes serve as the backup technical wizard at my office. 

I thought it was because I was young and spry. But most of my questions come from those younger and spry-er. They say it's actually because I use terms like "jpeg" and "hashtag."

Recently, a coworker frantically called due to an email lingering in her Outlook outbox. After a few questions, I deduced the drama was related to the Mount Rushmore-sized attachment. 

No one embraces limits. Even when I clearly explain that the "birds who carry the email to the far off land of Serverbia" can only fly with so much weight on their wings.

Sidebar: How snazzy is Matt Wertz' new album Weights & Wings?

I suggested we delete the outgoing email from the outbox, but it wasn't budging when we tried the Plan A combo of highlight and delete. So here's what came next:

Me: Why don't we try clicking the email & dragging it to the deleted folder?

Coworker: How do I do that? 

Me: Just click the email so it's highlighted and while holding down the left button on your mouse, pull it till it hovers over the folder labeled "deleted items" and then release the mouse button.

Coworker: I don't have a mouse.

Me: What? 

Coworker: Remember, I have a laptop. So I don't have a mouse.

Me: {blink, blink}

For the record, young and educated does not necessarily mean savvy. 

I blame a childhood filled with too many trophies for just showing up.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About How Comic Sans Can Help and Hurt

My friend and coworker Lisa texted me a snippet of "How To Remember Everything" in this month's Health Magazine. 

Sidebar: Health is an ideal publication to read while not exercising and bingeing on Doritos.

Lisa wasn't necessarily critiquing my memory skills, but she wouldn't have been far off the mark.

I promise to post the details of my most recent come-apart over a missing sneaker.

Lisa's text was actually intended to point out #3 in the memory protection tactics.

Lisa, a lover of the font Comic Sans, thought she'd found a weapon to battle my well-documented font snobbery.

She is wrong. As is the scientific study. As is Health Magazine. As is your mother.

Comic Sans is diabolical. 

As is its slimy cousins Kristen and Papyrus.

Note: My favorite free handwriting fonts are found at KevinandAmanda.com.

{images: Jamie}

The Post About a Less Than Font

Transcript of work email regarding an event invitation being sent to prospective participants.

Coworker A to Coworker B: I love that you changed the font on this letter. I'm guessing in response to Jamie's reply that she would not attend the group because the font was in Times New Roman.

My Reply: We all know that Serif fonts incite anarchy.

Learn more about my obsession with fonts.

{image: margolove}