The Womanly Art of Pinterest

So Matt suggested I needed to add more "Art of Womanliness" items to my blog so it wasn't just all "HOLY COW look at my KID!" which is currently all I blog about.  Except my Birchbox, which is pretty womanly.

I began pondering what makes me womanly.  Well, sometimes I clean (although the obsessive compulsive cleaning has died down a bit since I had a baby... because I'd rather play).  Sometimes I do my hair and put on make up (and I'm still kind of tempted to get into the realm of sharing tutorials, but that's not happening in the near future).  But what does every internet-savvy woman have in common right now on the internet?  Why, that'd be PINTEREST!!

Source: socialmediamanager.it via Melissa on Pinterest

What is Pinterest?  Well, it's basically a virtual bulletin board.  I can "pin" these great ideas I find on the internet, so in theory if I ever get finished pinning, I can go back through my pins and actually DO the stuff on there.  I can look at pins others already posted and repin them to my boards.  I can also surf the vast internets and pin things as I find them.  **Just so you know there's all this stuff floating around right now of "pin-able" material and copyright things--just be careful pinning from websites, especially some photography, because some people are really touchy and somehow can't stand the free publicity that Pinterest offers**

But is there an ART to pinning?  Of course there is!  I took a lot of time to think about the boards I would create (because they have names, and because they're my names, they should be infinitely more clever than the standard options).  And of course I'm very careful about what I pin, making sure I'm not pinning to just show off, but also picking interests that are true to me, projects I am really interested in, and practical help for home and life improvement.

I have such exciting boards as "Wally's World" which would encompass all cute pug and dog related items.  Mogwai has his own board, too ("Mogwai can has?").  I seriously enjoy pug art, so I feel good about these pins, plus there is a camaraderie with dog owners that I just enjoy.

Source: Uploaded by user via Melissa on Pinterest

I have separate boards for quilts ("Quilties"), Crafts (Crafties), and crochet (crochet--it couldn't be made any cuter).  I try to pin both inspiration and actual links to actual patterns and/or tutorials.  Nothing is worse than finding something clever only to find out you can't actually learn how to do it yourself. 

Source: make-it-do.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I have boards that speak to the future--"For the Next One", indicating there will be in fact another baby at some point, right?  And "For the Home" which is optimistic because I've yet to hang about ten thousand pictures around here.  And that's a fairly accurate figure, for people who think I'm into hyperbole.

Source: marthastewart.com via Melissa on Pinterest

And remember that Pinterest is just like Facebook (or my blog--shout out you cyber stalkers) and people can judge you by the content.  So I highlight my funny side (LOL), my work side (teaching), and my spiritual side (Faith).  Just for content in general, remember anyone (on Pinterest anyway) can find you and look at your boards.  So if you've got a crazy sense of humor that some might deem offensive, no better way to make that public than pin a ton of questionable content.

Source: crochettoday.com via Melissa on Pinterest

 Luckily, I'm pretty normal, so there's not much on here I'm embarrassed about.  Well, except on my "Books Worth Reading" board I have nothing pinned.  But that's not my fault, I don't search Pinterest for books, after all.

Once you get an invite (message me, I will invite you), you will spend some time setting up boards, picking people to follow, and starting to discover all the stuff people pin.  It's a great place to share ideas and be inspired.  Obviously, I really enjoy it.  And I've done several projects, for example: crock pot mac'n'cheese (disaster, do not pin), heart crayons, Easter bunny crochet, and Peep flower arrangement.  Speaking of Easter, I make a board for each holiday, too.

Source: goo.gl via Melissa on Pinterest

Once you get into the swing of things, you'll be able to decide what boards you need and what interests you have and who you follow that best compliments those needs.  There are Pinterest disasters (you get so excited pinning items you pay no mind to what board they go to, then later expect to find them somewhere only to think they've gone missing).

And the OCD part of me wants to remind you that unless you set it otherwise, the last pin you make on each board is that board's cover.  So if someone is surfing your boards, that's how you're introducing your coolness in that area.  So pin what you will, but always pin something everyone will be envious of last.

Source: momoutnumbered.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Hopefully if you're doing this or thinking of doing this, your "womanly art" is centered on your betterment and creativity, and not just being someone you "think" you should be.  I pin stuff that interests me and means something to me, just as I've shared these pins with you--these are the pins that made me especially happy or crafty.  I'm glad they represent me.

Source: fairytalesaretrue.com via Melissa on Pinterest

So what do you think?  Are you a womanly pinner?  Or are you thinking about joining?

52:16:Slide

Around our house...

We just lost a lot of living room space!

I'm aware this slide goes outside.  However, the weather has been rough, and I'd rather keep this thing inside to play, and well... I don't want it to blow away!

I think we should install a counter on the bottom to count the slides per day.  I'm pretty sure she must slide at least fifty times a night.  And now she's really confident, so she also takes her toys with her down the slide!

Oh and I haven't mentioned, but we did take Claire to get her hair cut.  I really despise bangs and didn't want them for Claire, but she started pulling out her little rubber bands and her hair was forever in her eyes (or stuck to her snotty nose!!) so I flipped out and just walked into a random salon and told them to cut the bangs.  In all honesty, I do think she's cute, but I'm still kind of upset I spontaneously got them cut without brainstorming other solutions (solutions that weren't rubber bands, clips, headbands, hats, wet combing... you get the picture, I feel like I tried everything to save her hair!)

April Birchbox!

I totally forgot to stake out the mail for my Birchbox... already!  I just didn't expect it so soon.  That's my excuse.  However, I've been so happy with Birchbox, without even opening it, I could tell it was awesome.  My teas (that I ordered two boxes of) have been absolutely my guilty pleasure.  Nothing like taking time out for a cup of tea on the back porch, enjoying spring.  So, I learned I loved that thanks to the last box... what will I find I can't live without this month?

Stupid picture... it's not this way on my computer!!

• Wonderstruck-Taylor Swift perfume, retail $49-60.  I've already smelled this.  I actually scored a "sample" when it first came out, but it was the lame kind that is just the swab and lasts for exactly ONE trial and I wasn't sold.  SO unsold, in fact, I didn't put it on my Christmas list and instead got a Kardashian perfume and a Jessica Simpson perfume.  But I was at Dillards over the weekend and tested it again and realized it wasn't as bad as I'd remembered.  In fact, it was the one perfume Claire actually liked--she has gotten adept at smelling those little perfume cards.  So I'm happy with this generous sample (except it's a dab and not a spray, freaking lame).  I think after wearing this around, I'll probably ask for it.  
• Benta Berry G-1 Exfoliating Facial Cleanser, full size $16.  I love me an exfoliating facial cleanser, I won't lie.  This stuff smells great and the sample is clearly big enough for a few tries.  I haven't tried it yet because I didn't have it in the bathroom last night.  I don't know if it'll replace the cleansers I already love and trust; I'm guessing it's more heavy duty than an everyday product.
• Pangea Organics Facial Scrub, full size $32.  Yikes!  Too expensive!  It's also one of those tear open pouches which inevitably dry up before your second use.  I have three Pangea products, so I assume it'll be the same--intoxicating smell.  I will not be tempted! (but I guess Birchbox wants me to know I need to exfoliate my face?  Two scrubs?)
• Pangea Organics Eye Cream, full size $55.  For that cost, I imagined my eyes would have been transported off my face and replaced with perfect skin from someone else.  Didn't happen.  In fact, I didn't notice much of a difference.  Another tear open pouch, I'm hoping to try it again tonight and maybe tomorrow.  I don't use an eye cream.  I have a bunch of Clinique samples that I'll try when I look particularly tired.  I haven't found anything that makes me rave.
• Pangea Organics Lip Balm, full size $12.  How generous that they sent me a full size trial! (that paid for the Birchbox right there!).  I've been using it since yesterday.  It's really citrusy smelling (grapefruit and sweet orange, I believe) but it's just your general lip balm.  I probably will stick with Burt's Bees unless something amazing happens to my lips by the end of this tube.
• Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream, full size $33. What are you saying, Birchbox, that I have wrinkles?  I tried this today, fearing Birchbox was right, but I didn't see much difference.  I liked it on my neck since I always feel I can use a little pick me up there.  But my face still feels heavy.  It feels softer, though, so I know it's a good product.  I don't think it did anything for any wrinkles, but the sample is pretty darn generous, so I'm hoping I'll notice something.  Oh, and this smells awful.  Like an old lady who HAS wrinkles.  

So that's what I got!  I love my little sample boost!  I didn't realize I'd not be able to live without the tea in the last box.  I'm also still using my hair oil (yup, lasted as long as I thought it would!) and it makes my hair so soft and pretty!  I notice it's not really conditioning--my hair gets static-y.  However, if I use it one day, it seems to linger into the next day.  I'm not buying the perfume from last month, but I did use up the sample.  I like the nail polish and use it, too.  I still haven't tried the eye shadow.  Tsk.

Have you decided to order a Birchbox yet?  Discounts, easy ways to earn money off of full-sized orders, and lots of cool samples!  If you do, remember to mention I sent you!

Crochet Easter Bunny

I pinned this tutorial a while back with a whole slew of gems from Lionbrand yarn. 

 

                                                                                 Source: lionbrand.com via Melissa on Pinterest

 I found him adorable and immediately wanted to make him.  Although I am pretty adept at crochet, I shy away from this type of work.  Why?  Well, for one thing, I figure it's never going to turn out like the picture.  Then I don't think I crochet nearly tight enough for a stuffed product.  I don't know why my stitches seem loose, because they are really uniform.  I've been working on tightening my stitches though.

Finally for Easter, Auntie Anne came over to do some pre-holiday crafting and I broke out my yarn and hook and got to work.  I wanted to make him pink, but my pink yarn wasn't having this, so I switched to white and settled on making the ears pink.

I think he turned out rather well, except his body totally stretched out when I had to stuff it.  The head and limbs and tail all looked fine though.  If I were a true perfectionist, I'd have remade the body.  Unfortunately, I started working on this so late, I didn't have the time (or patience) to try it twice.  I really liked the pattern.  It was easy to follow, really simple, and made me feel comfortable to try this technique again for more toys in the future. 

And Claire?  Well, here she is with all of her Easter spoils, including Bunny, who was tossed aside for a pack of Peeps.  But she did take Bunny to church and gave him several hugs.  He even went on a wagon ride to visit Auntie Megan and was only thrown out once (thinking white was definitely not the color for Bunny).  So, it seems Claire really does like him, too.  He got more love than the Hello Kitty lamb, so, there you go.  Better than Hello Kitty.  Success!

52:15:Hunt

Around our house...

We've had a visit from the Easter Bunny!

We had an absolutely wonderful Easter this year!  I'm planning on doing a full post for it in a few days after things settle down and all the Peeps are eaten!  Claire really got into the spirit this year!  We had a wonderful time at church, she enjoyed destroying her delicious Easter lunch, then we got right down to business for an Easter egg hunt!  I wasn't sure if she'd get what we were doing, and Matt did a good job of just placing eggs randomly out in the open.  Once Claire saw the first egg, she was off!  She even put them back in the basket herself (evidence would be that most of our eggs are smashed now, since "place the egg gently in the basket" in Claire-speak means "throw the egg as hard as you can into the basket").  She was so cute running around in the yard finding eggs though, I couldn't complain.  

We are completely and utterly blessed to have this little girl in our lives.  I can't wait to share more about our Easter week and some of her goodies.  Now we all shall sink into our Cadbury Egg comas :)