Pinterest: (n) a tool for collecting and organizing the things that inspire you
It was created in San Francisco, California, and stresses to its users the community of Pinterest, and the idea that you can use it for all areas of your life. I have to agree -- from children's parties, to inspirational quotes, to tangible clothing items you never knew existed, Pinterest pretty much has it all. It's definitely been a paper saver for my life (go green!).
But
I have to ask the question... has Pinterest made life easier or more difficult? Let me explain before avid Pinterestians eat me...
This past weekend I helped throw an engagement party for one of my very best friends. My fellow bridesmaids and I made a private board, pinned recipes and decor ideas and games and everything we might possibly need for wedding festivities. And I LOVED it. It was so much easier to pin something, comment on what others did, have ONE conference call with everyone, send out an e-mail and voila!, we had planned a party. I was loving it, and I thought these cookies would be moderately difficult but nothing I couldn't handle -- after all, I was born with a creative gene, so it would be no problem for me, right?
So, I knocked the dirt off my shoulder and got down to business... quickly realizing I completely underestimated the complexity of said cookie and overestimated my cookie decorating/baking abilities.
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| NAILED IT |
I am the type of person that absolutely loves homemade items with pre-made materials... I am always going to buy the icing that is already mixed for me, the cookies that all I need to do is put them on the cookie sheet and in the oven, and this time was no different. In my opinion, while they may not taste the same as that homemade goodness that your mom used to make, these things were made to make life easier, especially mine... I'm just using the resources I've been given, right? Right. Snaps to all of those that can make things from scratch... I know one day you will take over the world.
Back to the cookies at hand... they were a flop, in my opinion. And while the heart cupcakes were simpler, a few of the strawberries I bought were too big to fit inside the cupcakes (rookie mistake?), and the pasta salad I put together looked fantastic... the night before. Once put out at the party, I realized it needed a freshening of Italian dressing I had left at home (face-palm). The only things I thought truly worked out that I had my hand in were 1. the color scheme because the light pink roses, peach gerber daisies and peach carnations went amazing with my friend's blue mason jar vases (score!) and 2. the "she said yes" banner (also matching the color scheme).
Maybe I should face it... I am not a baker, and I never will be, and that's OK, but when I get on Pinterest and see all of these amazing looking DIY items, I feel completely inadequate when they FAIL. True, life is definitely trial and error, but it made me start to really think -- is Pinterest helping or hurting?
I asked several people that are future brides, past brides, dealing with brides, etc., all the same question: is Pinterest helpful or hurtful?
Almost everyone said helpful!!! Completely, because it's a great way to organize your thoughts and plan and get creative. One of my friends said "it helps spark creativity and provides useful tips. I think it empowers brides," which I definitely agree with. If Pinterest is used correctly, it IS empowering. It inspires and sparks creativity and gets those thought wheels rolling that otherwise would stay stagnant, on the same path as others -- it's supposed to help bring uniqueness to your day.
Two of my friends made great points as well:
"Helpful because it gives you so many ideas, but hurtful because it could contribute to you going over budget... if you're smart about it, it is more helpful"
"...helpful if you keep things in perspective -- it's a collection of ideas from thousands of weddings from all over the world. Not every bride is doing all the amazing crafty things you see on her pin board. It's good for inspiration, but don't let it overwhelm you!"
It's true. Almost all of the brides I speak to are either 100% Pinterest-brides, or are the complete opposite. And you can see the difference in their eyes. At the mention of Pinterest, one lights up with eagerness and hope, sitting up straighter with a smile, and the other tends to have a flash of fear and starts to laugh while shaking their head. I am here to tell you... that is OKAY! That's why there are professionals. Maybe I should take my own advice (which I will the next time someone wants those cookies...).
So many brides take an idea from the internet nowadays and refuse to think about the logistics of a purple rose, or they want flowers in April that you can only find in South America during July... it's unrealistic and they are unwilling to compromise. I have heard from so many florists how hard it is to reign in that Pinterest-bride -- we love them for their decision-making and ideas, but it is also their downfall. You have to be willing to compromise. Pinterest is for IDEAS, not PERMANENT DECISIONS. You're supposed to be inspired by it, not recreate it to a T. There's a reason it's there, but you have to be able to see the reality. Maybe a yellow dress with a bouquet of wild flowers looks stunning in the pictures you've seen, but if any of my friends try to put yellow on me, they will quickly want to remove me from the pictures. It's not going to work for everyone, and, yes, even though it's your big day and you should get what you want, being labeled a Bridezilla is not a compliment.
And yet, there are the brides that completely make it work. Take these pictures from an actual Pinterest-wedding. It was gorgeous!!
Lindsay and I were talking about the other aspect of Pinterest... how it makes you feel like less of a woman or mom or girlfriend when the things you see you can't recreate, or don't have the time it takes to really make it perfect. There are women and men out there that have made this their lives, and we thank them for it! How else would I know how to make homemade cleaner or a candle holder out of safety pins? But, that's them and you are you. Today's world is CRAZY -- cray cray, serious cray cray -- and it is so hard to keep up with everything and run a household and plan your wedding and work full-time and have a social life... geesh, I'm already tired. So something lacks. But keep in mind... at least you're trying!! You are giving it your best shot and your child, while they may not understand why Susie's mom was able to make 48 cupcakes with miniature Cinderella castles on them and you barely made it to Kroger in time to grab the last 24 buttercream frosted, smiley-face ring cupcakes... they will one day, because I have a feeling life is just going to get faster and more complex. And when they bring home a melted, store-bought cake for your birthday, you will smile and know that they know.
Pinterest is a great TOOL... but it is not the end-all, be-all. Keep things in perspective. Try and re-try. Know that your day is going to be special because you are unique, one-of-a-kind. Don't be so focused on being different that you lose what it's all about. There are brides that become so overwhelmed that they change their colors/ideas for their wedding 3 or 4 times because they saw something else on Pinterest. DON'T let it do that. Go with your gut. Use it as a TOOL.
In the meantime, if you need a good laugh, check out this website: Pinterest Fail
or take another look at these cookies, and this banana pudding cake one of our girls attempted
"eat, drink & be merry!"
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