I Take Back Everything I Ever Said About Pinterest

Not everything. It's still a major time suck, more than I'd even imagined actually. But it's an exquisite time suck.

Because here's what I didn't realize about Pinterest: it's majorly fun.

I know, right? Who knew?

Okay, so it's still not the great provider of story inspiration for me. Not how my brain works, not when I'm focused entirely on a story already in progress. My head's already kind of full, I guess. Not to say that Pinterest won't someday be a source of inspiry story goodness. It's possible I might come across something, even today, that makes me rethink a story I've already created or cause me to want to tweak a storyline or character. But, mostly as far as Pinterest and my stories go, right now? It's pretty dang awesome when I come across some new pin and think, Holy CRAP that's my [fill in the blank]!! Mega visual representation of what's already in my head and stuffed away into perfectly organized boards.

But Pinterest is more than just a tool for organizing story ideas and images.

There's also stuff like this:

Raspberry Lemon Coconut Cake

Like you can learn how to actually make this. And also people will tell you if it's good and how easy it is and how much they bitegasmed over it; and if it appeals to you, you can pin it and return to it whenever you want. So easy. So scrumptious.

And there's stuff like this:

YES. TOTALLY.

Which is funny and hits so close to home you have to snort as you pin it to your own "Crazytalk Full of Awesome" board just for kicks.















But also you can have boards with stuff like this:

It's not necessary to have a board dedicated entirely to Jared Leto, but, you know, if you wanted to and stuff, that's okay. (Had someone suggested an "Oh Jared" board as a possibility, I probably would've jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon ages ago.)

Or you might have an entire board dedicated just to "Hot Stuffs" or maybe you want a board dedicated to "Getting Your Hair Did Up" or to "Fancy Nail Lacquer Jobbies" or to "Miracle Solutions to Cleaning EVERYTHING" or to "Crafty Ideas that Will Make Your Head Explode" or you can do like Lola Sharp and have an entire board dedicated to "badass!"

Seriously, you know how you can find anything on the Internet? Well now all that stuff you never knew you were looking for finds its way to YOU. Or, you can go searching for it and now have a place to store it in such a way that others can see it, use it, and sing "HALLELUJAH [insert your name]!" because it was such an awesome pin.

And that's not all. The best part is you get to sort everything all out and label it and stuff, even adding funny/stupid comments if you want. It's like girls gone wild with a label gun--and the whole world gets to see what an amazing organizer you are. All those skills you've built up over the years creating little labeled cubbies and type A control freak craziness in your pantries and linen closets and garages and underwear drawers finally get their own bat channel. Other people can now dip into your little cubbies and use the stuff you store away (when you pin something to a board, it shows up on the pin stream of all the people following that board)*. And unlike with all those recipe books you own, which have collected enough dust to warrant a hazmat investigation, you can sort recipe pins into something like "Eat Me" like me, or you can break it down to "Gluten Free Eats" or "Yellow Food." Whatever trips your trigger, Tiger.

Also? Also? If you've got a super brilliant idea/image/whatever you want to share with the world, you can upload it and pin that sucker and watch it get blasted across Pinterest like juicy gossip. There's so much you can pin. Music videos, movie clips, recipes, clothes you want, trips you want to take, fantasy imagery, tips and tricks, photography ideas--ANYTHING YOUR BRAIN CAN HATCH.

Oh lord, I think I just had an Herbal Essense moment. Total mind blow.

I swear, I'm an addict now. Thanks, Lola Sharp.

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If you're not using Pinterest but are curious, check out these pinners to start with. They've been at this a lot longer than I have, and I end up repinning a lot of their stuff: Actually, check them out even if you're on it already.

Lola Sharp
Mary Brebner
Rhonda Cowsert
Jane (Booketta)
Michele Powell
Jewelz
Sarah Ahiers
Sara Larson
Sheri Larsen

And Mine: Carolina

If you are using Pinterest, what are you using it for? Do you have any pinners you'd like to recommend? Also, leave me your pinner name  if you want and I'll look you up.




*I have no idea if I'm using the correct terminology for Pinterest. Stream, pinner, etc. Not sure if there's proper lingo for it or not. I'm just running with it.