Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm not big into the sappiness that is Valentine's Day. I've never been supersad when I didn't have a Valentine - although, I'll admit, it's a lot easier to dismiss Valentine's Day when you do. The boy and I may not celebrate today with crazy expensive dinners or jewelry or plane rides or whathaveyou, but we'll celebrate by being together. And, honestly, that's the simplest, and sweetest, way I'd want to spend the International Day of Love [andmoneymakingbyeverysortofcompanypeddlingpinkandredandflowersandchocolatesandlingerieandcuddlebears].

Google celebrates V-Day with a very cute, and simple, and innocent animation on their home search page  [which I rarely visit anymore thanks to the automatic search in the address bar in Chrome!]

Go check it out, and I hope you smile. And, today, celebrate EVERYONE love, not just that special someone you may, or may not have. Including yourself.

I've Been Reading...

I realize most of you readers might read my posts in Google Reader. That's okay, I read most of my blogroll in Reader too. It's so nice, concise, centrally located...

Anyway, this isn't a post to praise Reader. It's to discuss a different kind of reader, me! As you might know, I've been reading books on a kindle for a little more than six months now. It's changed my life.

Okay, perhaps it hasn't been that dramatic of an influence in my day-to-day operations. But, I do love it. Perhaps it's just that I have a fancy new technological toy on which to read, but I read much more now than I did before. I expound upon that in my new page, up in the header area. It's so cleverly entitled, "I've Been Reading." I know, super creative and mystical.

If you're a reader like me and are curious to know what sorts of intelligent [and not-so-intelligent, i.e. LC's masterfully crafted L.A. Candy series. I am anxiously awaiting her next series. No joke, I am. I love them. We all have our weaknesses...] then check it out!

I'd love suggestions! Let me know if you have any, or if you'd like to discuss which books you hate/love/can't believe I'd even think about reading. Let's interact.

[I bet you thought this post would be about Twilight. Sorry to disappoint...]

My New Favorite Show

I know I never posted that Project Pinterest post on Tuesday, but it's coming, don't worry. AND I'll even be ready on Tuesday with a new one. I know, promises, promises and no action. You'll just have to trust me.

Anyway, my new favorite show is Downton Abbey, among a slew of others. But Downton is by far the most captivating, and the most beautiful. It's beautiful in the location, the costuming, the soundtrack, and just the storyline. It's my favorite literary time period (and costuming period) come to life. Sometimes I wish I was still dressing in costume every day so I could update my Edwardian wardrobe.

If you love Downton Abbey as much as I do, visit this post. And, you can watch the first season on netflix, totally free (with a netflix account, of course. And if you don't have an account, this is a perfect reason to use that free two-week trial. Trust me, you'll finish in two weeks. Or two days.)

Project Pinterest

This is the year of the achievable goals rather than doomed-to-fail New Years' Resolutions. My photo a day blog is going pretty well (it's been more than 21 days and, what do they say, it takes 21 days to make something a habit?) In my last post I wrote about Pinterest, and lamented the fact that I could sit and pin all day but rarely actually take creative action away from the computer. So, here's my next goal: Project Pinterest.

Every week, I will [attempt] to actually complete something that I've pinned. That could be a recipe, a DIY project, or [if it's a really great one], an outfit based on a style inspiration board. Much like my no-pressure photo project, this will also be a no-pressure, low expectations Pinterest project. I'll be honest, I'm pretty excited about it. 

AND as we all know, things are always done better in groups. If you find yourself experiencing creativity block because you're surrounded by so much creativity on Pinterest and are trying to find the motivation to do some of those projects yourself, then here it is! On Tuesdays we'll post our Project Pinterest of the week, and I'll link to yours if you complete something as well. We can encourage each other to actually get off the computer and be semi-productive, and see what we've accomplished.

Let me know if you want in!

Pinter-what?

If you haven't heard of Pinterest by now, and you are a girl like social media, online shopping, and the idea of being creative but sometimes have a hard time actually being creative, here's a site for you.

I've been on the site since the summertime-ish, and slowly but surely the phrase "I saw this on Pinterest" has been creeping into my vocabulary. Now that my sisters and a growing number of my friends are also on the site daily, that phrase is morphing into "Did you see that pin on Pinterest?" It's become an addiction hobby that I truly do enjoy.

I try to limit myself to being on during my lunchbreaks, for a variety of reasons:
1. I never actually do any of the DIY projects I pin.
2. I spend too much time fantasizing about a wedding I'm not even engaged for at the moment, with favors, decorations, dresses, and locations that all cost thousands of $$$ more than I could ever spend.
3. I spend too much time looking at food right before lunch. The solution: while I am eating.

One could argue that Pinterest only encourages a consumeristic society; that looking at all these lovely things that I can't have now, probably won't ever have, and probably don't even want, just encourages lusting [of the materialistic flavor. Or, judging by all the half-naked men pins, perhaps of all flavors]. There is definitely a possibility that overindulgent pinning could lead to such an attitude, and probably affects me in this way more than I realize. Do you feel it leads to want more than you would if you weren't on the site?

Alternatively, as a self-proclaimed shopaholic and addicted online shopper, as well as a materialistic 20-something of the I-need-it-now generation, I think Pinterest can also serve to curb spontaneous and impulse buying. Here's why:

January was my "no-excess-spending" month; or my $0 budget month. Every so often I see my bank account statement [which I, much like that main character in Shopaholic, I usually try to avoid], freak out, and make a no-spending budget with renewed zeal. Pinterest has helped in that if I really want an item, I pin it, and then leave it alone. I get that instant gratification, but I don't shell out the money until I decide I really actually do need it or can treat myself to something.

Coming soon: making it useful - "Project Pinterest."

If we're not friends on Pinterest yet, then click the 'Follow me" button at the top of the sidebar! If you're not a member of that online community and need an invite, let me know and I'll invite you.