God, I love Pinterest. It’s all but replaced blog reading for me as my late-night entertainment. And in the morning, after I drop the kidlets at school, there’s nothing I like more than sitting in my quiet house with a large steamy cup of coffee, browsing Pinterest. It’s just so bright and fresh and promising! It’s full of inspiring, funny, touching quotes. Gorgeous typography. Cute clothes. Tempting recipes. And THE CRAFTS, MY GOD, THE CRAFTS. That’s what reins me in every time! Need a t-shirt refashioning tutorial, or twenty? Pinterest. A quick and easy teacher gift? Pinterest. Anything in this world with a sock monkey, an owl, a cupcake, or an octopus on it? YEP. PINTEREST. If I find myself in need of inspiration, motivation, or just a decent chili recipe, I head right to Pinterest. Pinterest is like its own religion. What’s not to love?
Well. I’ll tell ya. The dark side of Pinterest, besides the fact that it’s nearly as big of a time-suck as Facebook or Twitter, is the way it makes you believe YOU CAN DO ALL THIS SHIT. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten an idea in my head based on something I saw on Pinterest, and it turned out to be a monumental FAIL. It’s like Pinterest tricks me into thinking I can actually sew, when in fact, I’m inexperienced and self-taught, and I have LOTS more luck constructing things out of hot glue and duct tape. I see recipes on Pinterest and think, this looks amazing! It will change our lives! Why didn’t I ever think of adding pumpkin to that? What was I THINKING? Then I make it and my husband acts like he’s smelling a turd. It eventually sort of brings me DOWN, actually, when I realize how little time I have for all this crafty stuff, and how disorganized my house is, and how hard it is to make life look like it jumped off the pages of Pinterest when you have five crazy kids. I have to constantly remind myself that my life is pretty kickass even without monogrammed Mason jars and custom closets.
Still, even though it occasionally fuels my self-doubt, I freakin’ LOVE THAT SITE. And this is my favorite thing about Pinterest – you can tag other users, almost Twitter-style. Kayley and I constantly tag each other in things we pin, whenever we see stuff that reminds us of each other. Here is my Kayley board – see all the cute makeup/nails/Converse stuff? I smile whenever I see that board, because everything there makes me think of my girl. It’s a beautiful thing. If you’re not addicted yet, get on there and find me! This pretty much sums up the answer to, “Why Pinterest?”
Hells yeah!
While I think the image at the end of your post is kind of … condescending & I disagree with it (be selective with who you friend, people! and interact with them! then you don’t have to “stalk” them), I am checking out Pinterest. I’ve seen you post about it before, but never went there. Now I’m (not so patiently) awaiting my invite.
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LaLaLaura Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
I guess it could be considered condescending – also, I really DON’T want to learn to crochet a flower, if my crochet skills turn out to be anything like my (non-existent) knitting skills – but it’s all in fun. I invited you!
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I agree! You totally made me laugh so obnoxiously out loud, I scared Jack in the other room! “like he’s smelling a turd!” just cracked me up! There is this interior blogger who is also on Pinterest and you should see all the shit she does! Makes me feel like such a loser when I look at my house and think of all the what if’s and the wants I have in the area of decorating. Guess what? She has no kids at the moment. She is pregnant so we shall see how creative she is when the new baby takes up all her time and money. I can sew and knit, scrapbook, embroidery and cross stitch but it hasn’t improved my life and surely doesn’t make my house look like a page out of a magazine. By the way did you see the pin I sent you?
Tamara´s last [type] ..What’s for supper
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LaLaLaura Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Tamara, I wasn’t following you on Pinterest! I have no idea how! I am now, though. And I saw where you pinned me – the YGG pumpkins? Cuuuuute!
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Hey I forgot to mention, your new photo looks just like Kayley with blonde hair! I had to take a second look!
Tamara´s last [type] ..What’s for supper
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LaLaLaura Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Poor Kayley – she actually put on Facebook awhile back, “I know I look like her, people, but PLEASE don’t call me Mini-Laura!”
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I can understand that, but that photo really looks like her!
Dont tell her I said that! People always said I look like my mom too and I would cringe. Now I am my mother’s daughter. My boys are still at the age where they like to find things about us that match. I know one day they would rather poke their eyes out then look or sound like me! LOL It was the YGG pumpkins, I always think of you whenever I see anything related to that show! 
Tamara´s last [type] ..What’s for supper
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Yo! Invite me again. I think I deleted the first one for fear of another “time suck,” (I think you should copyright that saying. I use it all of the time now) but now you are making me want to try it.
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LaLaLaura Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:22 am
I’ll invite you again, Amy Lynn!
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I’m glad that I ceased by in a web site that may give and provide me lots of learning and knowledge. I have to say that I agree too that you totally made me laugh so obnoxiously out loud, I scared Jack in the other room, “like he’s smelling a turd!” just cracked me up. There is this interior blogger who is also on Pinterest and you should see all the shit she does. Thanks for the great share.
Lizbeth´s last [type] ..Gathering Herbs for Healthy Kidneys
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I love this post…perfectly written! I just joined Pinterest and it is pulling me in with all the wonderful photos! I still have to learn how to actually read tutorials or DIY articles, but the pictures do Inspire. I am sure I will pack my brain with creative ideas and I am SURE most are over my head in actually creating.
Have a Fun day and Happy Pinning!
Debbie´s last [type] ..Preserving the Harvest
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LaLaLaura Reply:
September 29th, 2011 at 9:24 am
I don’t even click through to the tutorials very often; I just get a high from seeing the pretty pictures!
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