PINTEREST MAKES ME PINE

Not so long ago, I whined about how Pinterest made me feel pathetic. I declared that the fashionistas, posing with their perfectly tilted heads, and baubled-out wrists made me feel ridiculously uncool and uncoordinated. I decided that the travel pins only made my wanderlust get worse and the reality of my current finances more clear. Finally, I determined that I’d never have time to be as crafty as I wish I could be and that, with my busy schedule, DIY projects were a distant dream.

Guess what? I’ve soooooo changed my tune.

That’s right. Pinterest is my new best friend and my newest full time obsession. Forget Facebook stalking. That’s so 2012.

These days, I’m all about stalking other people's visions, visuals, and very cool sh*t. From fabulous fashion and must have Spring/Summer style, to recipes that I’m sure I can find the time to make, and to inspiring DIY projects and parties that I’m trying to find an excuse to have, I cannot REPIN fast enough!

Here are some of the boards, ideas, and pinners that I’m pining for:

 Perfectly Styled

Who knew that the reality show OC would turn out designers with actual taste and fabulous style? Right now, I’m totally digging the boards from Lauren Conrad. I’m also, of course, obsessed with the boards from my girl Robin Saperstein, who has a knack for gorgeous accessories and keeps a close eye on fashion iconslike Olivia Palermo. 

Perfectly Fed

You know what, I’m discovering that the oven and me actually get along quite well and thanks to a few trusty recipes, I can move past my mostly-meatloaf-meals and try other delicious dishes. I’ve been making a ton of recipes from Skinny Taste... Her recipes are healthy and light and seriously easy.  I’m even going to try some of the mother’s day recipes from Martha Stewart Living.  Turns out, her ideas are not all that un-doable for every day moms. Well… they're aaaalmost undoable, because, um, I don’t have my own lavender or cucumber garden, BUT the new me is willing to give it a try... especially since Trader Joe's packages that sh*t up and gets it ready to go!

Perfectly Partied

Over the next few weeks and months, I’m going to be hosting a bunch various parties and events. I’ll be sharing details of these as I roll them out, but let me just say in the meantime, a) I’m now wishing I could be an event/wedding planner and b) my inner DIY/Craft Goddess-ness is chomping at the bit to come out and play. Pinners  like my darling friend Eden Passante of Sugar and Charm, inspire me daily. Also digging Young House Love, Savings Mania,  oh and, of course, the queen of DIY herself… Martha-I-can-do-everything-Stewart.

Basically, this season, as the self-acclaimed “not so queen of it all,” I'm challenging myself to wearing, making and DOING everything I love... Or at least trying to do all of that. Next time, we’ll discuss the travel boards. That requires a whole different story… and budget. 

Who are your favorite pinners and boards to follow? 

SHE STREAMS'11

Exciting news! I've been ask to speak at SheStreams '11! This is such an honor as I will be speaking with women I admire... Nicole Feliciano, Melissa Gerstein & Denise Alberts, Janice Croze, Audrey McClelland... the list goes on! But we're talking serious heavy hitters. I love any opportunity to go to New York so to get a chance to connect with social media influencers and smart brands and advertisers in my favorite city in the world (okay, second to Paris) is incredible.

A little on SheStreams:

What is SheStreams conference?

SheStreams is a conference that spans two days of informative and engaging sessions intended to catapult women and brands into the future of social technology. It will take place on Friday, September 23rd and Saturday September 24, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Times Square in New York City.

Who Should Attend SheStreams Conference?

Who should attend SheStreams Conference?

-Women that are interested in the newest platforms and technologies that will connect them with other women and brands

-Brands and business who desire an understanding of what’s new in female social media

-Providers of new and established social technologies

Start spreading the news! http://www.shestreamsconference.com/

MANNERS MONDAY: DO YOU HAVE "FOMO"?

Manners Monday: Do You Have FOMO? from lisagache on Vimeo.

According to a recent NY Times article, social media can induce feelings of being alone, left out, a loser... It's called FOMO. Fear of missing out. And personally, every time I see a #hashtag for a fab event (that I haven't been invited to), or a best/funniest/charming blogger of the world list published (that I'm not on), my FOMO sets in. Oh, and don't get me started on the facebook status updates spewing marital bliss or tropical vacations for weeks on end. One word: FOMO! Well, Lisa Gache, my partner in all things manners, and I got to chatting about this syndrome and how it relates to manners...

Do you have FOMO? Are you mindful of what you post so as to protect other's feelings?

Here are Lisa's tips:

Don’t rub it in. If something wonderful happens that you want to share, at least have the decency and sensitivity to announce it in a slightly self-deprecating manner. This might help to make the bitter and jealousy pill (another person might be feeling) easier to swallow.

Keep it short and sweet. Do not write a dissertation. A few simple brief sentences about what is going on will suffice. No one needs to hear every last piece of minutia. Save your most intimate details for those face-to-face conversations with your nearest and dearest.

Word to the wise. On the flipside, if you are constantly consumed with what everyone else is doing, you can’t possibly enjoy your life. Do yourself a favor. Shut off your phones, computers and any other technological devices that connect you to the world and reconnect with the most important person there is, YOU!

Create a new destiny. Rather than letting FOMO control you, your time would be much better spent creating a new and exciting future that makes you happy and that you can control. Make a conscious choice to become interesting, find a passion, start a new hobby, travel, get cultured, the list is limitless.

Give someone a fighting chance. The incessant checking of email, texts, Facebook updates and tweets is enough to drive anyone crazy. These tools only serve to validate the FOMO hysteria. Don’t be a slave to them. Instead be present to your relationships and give those you interact with in person your undivided attention. Trust me, they will thank you for it.