One afternoon, I decided it would be fun to explore my boards on Pinterest to see what I had tried and how I’d been inspired into greatness by this mecca of idea sharing. I thought I had great self awareness, but apparently, I either think I’m the kind of person who makes homemade donuts and uses an IKEA shoe rack to organize my spices, or I really want to be. I quickly realized that my Pinterest grade was an “A” for participation but an “F” for Assignment Completion.
I decided I needed to put focus around my future Pinterest efforts, but it only seemed right to begin that process by paying respects to my Pinterest Graveyard. This is dedicated to all the pins I pulled onto my boards giving them hope that they would one day be selected. There were so many, it was hard to choose, but the below are truly special in an I was never going to do these things so why did I click that tiny red button kind of way.
Entry way Organization
A perfectly organized entryway would offer a home for aligned backpacks and jackets along with detailed chores and schedules. We would never be running out the door with cleats in one hand and a bag of chips in the other because we planned and that plan was documented with cute cubbies and chalkboards. My kids would take one look at their own personal organization space, see their smiling pictures (because all the great entryway pins have photos) and no longer argue about who’s turn it is to feed the dog but instead, go something like this:
Ethan – “Kenzie, is it your turn to feed the dog or mine?”
Kenzie – “I don’t know, Ethan. Let’s go check our organization center with the posted chore chart.”
Ethan – “Good idea!”
They walk hand in hand to the chart
Kenzie – “Ethan, it looks like it’s your day, but I know you have a ton of homework because your schedule says so. I’ll switch days with you.”
Ethan – “Thanks Kenzie! We can make the changes ourselves with the chalk Mom provided in the decorative cup hanging on the wall.”
And scene… Feel free to laugh but something not so far off from the above is what inspired me to pin more than one of these to my board.
Coordinated Outfits
You know the ones I’m talking about. They include the perfect handbag, sunglasses, and a matching nail polish. I pin these all the time thinking how cute the coordinating colors are and how adorable the shoes will look with the bag.
Problem #1 – I own one pair of sunglasses from Target. I assume they match everything. If they don’t, I’m not sure I care. If they get stepped on by my kids running out the door with their cleats and bags of chips, oh well. Target will offer me another pair at a discounted price.
Problem #2 – My toenails will always be the color from my last pedicure. Again, I assume that will match everything. I’m just thrilled they aren’t chipped although depending on how long it’s been since my last visit to the nail salon, chipped may be my current color of choice. Maybe I’ll start my own Pinterest board highlighting what outfits work best with chipped toenail polish.
Food
I will admit that the food area is where I am most successful. Pinterest has helped me to organize my meals and inspired me to try new recipes, but I actually have a recipe pinned for Boeuf Bourguignon. Yes, the recipe that Julia Child made famous. At some point, as I was perusing the wonderful recipes on Pinterest, I said to myself – you should add a recipe that uses the words herb bouquet and requires you to separate bacon rinds from lardon. I barely had time to spell this dish properly, so I clearly don’t have the time to pull off this meal. Check back with me after the kids go to college.
I’ll also be deleting all homemade donut recipes from my account. There are places where we can buy deliciously wonderful donuts. They will have sprinkles and icing offered in full size or just the holes for a very reasonable price. They are good at what they do. Why am I trying to take away their business?
Summer Projects
Did you know I dream of growing my own blueberries? Neither did I, but there are at least two pins telling me how I can make that dream a reality on my “Summer Projects” board. Apparently, I’m also interested in creating an herb garden – not just any herb garden but one with homemade planters. I suppose the experts at Home Depot have nothing on me when it comes to this skill. This is the craziest of them all since I really hate gardening and when my neighbor offered to help landscape our backyard, my only requirement was that the plants require no attention to live.
There you have it. My Pinterest Graveyard. I hope these ideas find new homes that will appreciate them more than I did. I promise to limit my future Pinterest boards to the following that I’m actually getting use out of – crockpot recipes, whiskey drink ideas, and bookshelves.
In this journey of self realization, I spoke with my fellow Jax Moms Blog contributor, Nicole. Stay tuned for her blog tomorrow about her much more organized world of Pinterest and how she and I are going to share our tips and ideas with each other (yes, I actually did have something to contribute), challenge each other to step outside of our own Pinterest boxes, and blog about our successes or failures.
How about you? Do you have your own Pinterest Graveyard? What have you pinned that you know deep down you will never attempt?
You’re so funny Christie! I can totally relate to this. Every bit of it!
Christie, as you know, I am not a person who ever posts. I read (most) of your blogs, but I am onto a contributor. This blog, however, has left me cracking up! Knowing you and your family like I do, I could visualize everything here! LOVED it!