If you are connected to social media in any way, then you have probably heard of the website, Pinterest. Whether you’ve joined yourself or just want to know what all the hubbub is about, you’ve come to the right place.
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a group of online virtual bulletin boards where you can “pin” different ideas that you find through searches or around the web. The boards can be customized to organize whatever you would like. You can find an example of some of my boards here. I have included everything from my boys’ birthday parties to recipes I want to try to ideas to decorate my home.
How Do I Join?
When I first signed up to Pinterest, I simply went to the website and signed up. I received a message that I was put on a waiting list and they would email me when I could “join” the online site. This waiting list has been frustrating for many and in some cases, has taken weeks to get approval. If you want to join, I suggest asking a friend who is already on Pinterest to invite you. This seems to speed the process up. If you’d like an invite, feel free to leave your email address in the comments section and I can invite you through my site. (I receive no benefits from having you sign up through any link sent by my account).
Where do I find pins?
The main way to find pins is to use the search feature through Pinterest. This locates similar ideas that have already been pinned onto members’ boards. This is known as “repinning.” Once you select an image you want to pin, your screen looks similar to this: {insert image}
As you can see, the original source link (red arrow) is included. Once you click on that link, you go to where the original recipe or idea comes from and you can create, make, decorate! Hover over the image and the “Repin” and “Like” options come up (maroon arrow). To repin, simply click and then you categorize this pin onto your boards. For this pin, I’d simply repin it onto my “Food Deliciousness” board, which has recipes I’d like to try at some point.
The other way to find pins is to install the “Pin It!” toolbar. Once installed, as you peruse the web, you can click the “Pin It” button at the top and the images from that web page pop up. You can then choose an image to pin, categorize it, and pin it. Doing this makes the image and source available to all other Pinners.
What makes it great?
In January, I threw two birthday parties using decorating ideas and recipes from Pinterest. This past December, we had a Christmas party inspired by Pinterest where we crafted the ideas we had pinned and made appetizers and desserts that were found on Pinterest as well. I have used many of the ideas in my own life and house. Here is a blog post about different ideas I’ve adapted from Pinterest recently.
If you have ever used Google to find a new recipe or scoured the blogs you read for a fun craft idea for the kids, then Pinterest is perfect for you. Even if you haven’t necessarily done those things, Pinterest is still a great way to organize your thoughts and ideas. You can follow friends and repin fun ideas that they find. These bulletin boards take up virtually no space, require no thumbtacks and don’t become messy with a million pieces of torn paper ideas. Organizing life is as easy as 1-2-3 with Pinterest. (You can even PIN organizational ideas!)
The Challenge
If you haven’t already signed up, try it out! Once you become a part of it (or if you already are), send us your favorite family recipe pins that are a success in your household! We’ll add those to a newly created “Chicago Parent” board on my site and you can follow it to repin all the great ideas from other moms and dads.
