Pinning & Planning

My Mom recently became introduced to, and by introduced I mean has become quite smitten with, Pinterest.

As I’ve helped instruct her on the ins and outs of creating boards, pinning, re-pinning and learning about the ability to completely lose track of time as you scroll down the Pinterest pages, I quickly realized how much I have been missing this site in my life (my productivity may disagree but you can’t win all your battles).

I quickly jumped on the Pinterest wagon in its infancy but over the past few months barely frequented the site, my boards left stagnant, my time online spent reading blogs, articles and Twitter.

Wow, I’ve been missing out.

I forgot how inspiring and motivated you can feel as you browse through the images and ideas. I may even go as far as to say Pinterest has seemed to have improved since my last tenure. 

The boy and I have been in my new apartment since September and while we’ve been 99% moved in for awhile now, its those final details that are driving me nuts. That random box of frames, the blank walls in the dining room, I’ve been racking my brain on how to distribute/store/organize/decorate, how to add some finishing touches on this apartment that I love so much, one that I plan on staying in for at least a couple years. 

And now Pinterest has re-entered my life and along with it, the hope and promise of fresh ideas, DIY-projects to consider, ways to transform my apartment into my home. 

Thank you Mom for reminding me of this gem and with your new passion for pinning, I’m thinking we can put together some pretty fantastic plans. 

Here are some photos that are currently getting me excited and eager to work on my interior design and make our living quarters really feel like ours: 

more of my Pinterest boards & photos can be viewed here

Just ask

Females have ruled the larger percentage of my interactions 

for most of my life.

I have a sister and between her, myself and my Mom, 

my poor Dad was overruled.

I lived with all women in college,

and while always having male friends, 

my female relationships were the most prevalent. 

And like most female friendships, 

we understand each other, 

we can read each other 

with simply a look, 

an energy, 

a tone of voice.

I know when something is wrong

when something is upsetting my best friend, 

or my Mom,

without a word even being spoken.

But as the boy and I have embarked on cohabiting

the past few months

I’ve learned an important fact:

men aren’t mind readers. 

Through trial and error

I’ve learned that I can’t expect 

all my thoughts and concerns 

to be understood,

just simply by the way I look as I walk in the door

and settle on the couch, 

soaking in my worries and desires.

My Mom lived with me for over 18 years; 

why should I expect someone else to be able to know 

that I’m upset about something trivial 

(nothing to wear) 

or craving something random 

(ice cream), 

when it appears that I’m just in a weird, stubborn mood.

The boy knows me deeper 

than I realize most of the time, 

and he knows when I’m stressed out, 

but not what about, 

if I don’t verbalize it.

As the boy gently reminded me last night, 

expressed out of what I imagine can be very frustrating, 

all that is needed, 

is words.

"Just ask."

"Just tell me all."

"Empty yourself out,

you’ll feel better, 

and I’ll feel better knowing."

Men are many things

but they aren’t mind readers, 

and that’s ok.

And on that note...

I let him know that I’d really like his help 

with changing the lightbulbs in the bathroom this weekend.

iPhoto photo taken while hiking in Newport