What is Pinterest and Why Use It?

What is Pinterest?

 "Pinterest is a virtual pinboard"

  Do you currently keep a file cabinet with scraps or pages from magazines of things that interest you for future reference?  With Pinterest, you can sell the file cabinet and use that space for something else!    All those ideas can be kept at your fingertips in one place online at Pinterest!  The best part is it is free!!! and at anytime you can clean out your file by deleting items.   It is really interesting to start pinning and discover where your interest really lie. 

So what can you do with Pinterest?

Decorating ideas for your home, Find your fashion style,  find great recipes,save inspirations, Plan a wedding or a party & 100's of other things!  The ideas are endless. 

Some unique ways I use Pinterest include:

1) Type in a paint color and rooms that paint color will often pop up.  This is helpful if  I am trying to help a

 client visualize a paint color I have chosen for them!  

I typed in Sherwin Williams "SW6211- Rainwashed" and got about 30 examples of that color used in a room.  

Here is one:

Via

See how this can help you to see the color in a room.  It might not keep you from making a mistake but it will help you to see how vivid the actual color can be in a space.  

2) Create boards for clients where I can pin things, but invite them to pin things as well like this great marble subway we are getting ready to use in a project!

3)  Keep up with great tips that I want to refer back to later, like this great blog post from my friend Courtney Price on "How to Care for Marble Countertops" 

4)  I often find myself at the end of the day in the car, thinking  about what am I going to cook for dinner...Guess what I do...I access my mobile Pinterest account, peruse the recipes I have pinned and stop off at the grocery to get exactly what I need!  The recipe is right there so no need to make a list!

 It's a total lifesaver!

Here is the chili recipe we are having for dinner tonight!

Thank You Crepes of Wrath!

Credit Via

How do you get a Pinterest account?

You can click here for complete instructions or continue reading below!

1) Go to www.pinterest.com and select the button "Join Pinterest" at the top of the page

2) Register by using email,Facebook or Twitter Accounts, simply allow access when asked.

3) Next you will install the "pin it" button in safari and drag to your book mark bar above.

If you don't know what your book mark bar is watch the tutorial here

4) Start Pinning away!!!!

Did you know that 21 million people use Pinterest a month?  Have I convinced you that you are missing out if you don't have an account?  Join today to pin items of interest or  just plain want to see what everybody else is up to? 

Isn't it time you got a piece of the cake  I mean pie?

Credit Via

Other questions you may have:

("Credit: Copy was taken directly from Pinterest Site")

1) What is a pin?  A pin is a visual image that you can either upload to your Pinterest page or capture by using the "Pin it" button you download to your book mark bar

2) What is a board? "A board is a set of pins.  aboard can be any topic you like such as furniture, paint colors, recipes, or personal style.  It can be anything you want to save.  You can name it whatever you want!   You can "pin" as many as you like!

3) How do I install the "Pin it" Button to begin pinning, Click Here for instructions!

Now go have fun and let me know if you love it!!!!

If you are already pinning tell me what your favorites are!

If you follow me on Pinterest here, I will follow you back, but if you want to follow my " High Point Market Style Spotter" Board, you will need to also Click here and follow that special board to see the newest trends at market Oct 13-18th! 

I only get points for the contest from pins

 and likes on that board!

Let me know if you need any help on Pinterest!

I love pinning so much, I would enjoy helping form another "Pinterest addict"!  haha!!!

High Point Market!!!

Market is Almost Here!  Are You Going?  I would love to meet up!

Only 5 more days and I will be In High Point for The International High Point Furniture Market!  This will mark my 18th year of attending the market!  I remember the first time I went to market as a design student with my freshman studio class.  I was so over whelmed by the number of buildings and showrooms.   Each year when I would return I would try to figure out a way to tackle the entire market.  No matter how many days I attended, I realized there was absolutely no way to see the entire market during market week.  You really have to pick and choose where and who you will visit while you are at market.  

So What Do You Think The Trends Will Be?  

I would love to hear from you on this!!!

This year is really different for me!  As winner of the 9th Style Spotter Contest sponsored by  Olioboard and The High Point Market,  I have a little more responsibility than just visiting showrooms and sourcing items for projects!  This year I have to spot trends and upload pics to Pinterest for the "Market Style Spotter" Contest.   I am really excited about seeing the new introductions and spotting the upcoming trends.  If you want to follow along to see the trends as I post them, you must have a Pinterest account.  If you would like an invitation, please email me at Lmende@gmail.com and I will invite you!  If you already have a Pinterest account like 21 million other people, just go to The High Point Market Style Spotter Pinterest Page and click on my picture to follow me or just click here.  I am so excited to be on Style Spottter panel at this year's market!  I will be pinning some of my favorite items while I am there.   I would really appreciate your support!  Feel free to pin away as many times as you would like and invite your family and friends to do the same!!!  Here is how it works:

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE STYLE SPOTTER

Vote for the best pinboards and products for each Style Spotter by generating “likes” or by re-pinning photos to your own Pinterest board.

At the end of Market, the most popular pinboard will win that Style Spotter a free trip to the April 2013 High Point Market!

  Please pin away!!!!

Here are the Style Spotters for the October market!  As You can see, I am among a very accomplished group of people!  I feel very honored and humbled to be included!  Traci Zeller and Stacy Naquin are already friends of mine but I look forward to meeting the others!

Your Support will be greatly appreciated!!!

Gretchen Aubuchon

Fashion + Decor

@fashionanddecor

Cassandra LaValle

coco+kelley

@casslavalle

Jason Oliver Nixon

Demystifying Design

@JOliverNixon

Lisa Mende

Lisa Mende Blog

@designLHM

Lori Dennis

DesignCamp.com

@loridennisinc

Janel Laban

Apartment Therapy

@AptTherapy

Traci Zeller

Traci Zeller's Blog

@tracizeller

Julia Buckingham Edelmann

Material Girls

@buckinghamid

Stacy Naquin

Stacy Naquin Blog

@StacyNaquin

Do You Have The “Gisele Bundchen effect.”

Recently The Globe and Mail published an article written by Adriana Barton, "Obsessed with home decor? You may have self-image problems."  Women are comparing themselves and their homes to others to the point of causing self esteem issues.  Has the onslaught of home design tv shows and websites like Pinterest, helped us or made us feel  inept?    Can you believe that in one year, Pinterest  has gone from  1 million visitors a month to 21 million a month!  This growth has been caused mainly by the home decor industry.   We like to see what's out there and what others are doing.  There has been lots of conversations from bloggers about how blog make life look perfect but often the blogger feels far from perfect.  Many bloggers have gone so far as posting a picture of a messy home or sharing their insecurities to let their readers know that "life isn't perfect" in blog land.  Blog posts about "real life" always get loads of comments from readers.  I think has become a real issue for many people.  As women, we often feel our home is an extension of ourself image, just like our weight and our clothing.  We may not be able to lose 50 lbs in a day, but we can go out and buy those killer lamps that somehow makes us feel better about ourselves.   I know that I have been guilty of this in my own home.  I ask you to go read the article and tell me what you think?  Has this been an issue in your life?  How can we change this?

Something We All Need - A Reading Corner!

Bruce Long Design as seen on Houzz

                                                 

Do You have a corner like this in your home for respite?  If you don't why not?
Everyone needs a place to sit, relax, mediate, read or just be alone.  What are

 the elements that would create a perfect corner for you?   Let's talk about what you  need to consider to create a place like this for yourself.    Here is list of things you need to consider to create this corner for yourself.  

These are the basic items you must have:

1.  Pick a place in your home which makes you feel good.
2. Comfy piece of furniture.  It can be a cozy club chair,
a chaise or even pillows on the floor.  
3.  Ottoman if you pick a chair to prop your feet up.
4.  Lighting - Floor lamp or table lamp preferably both. 
5.  Natural light
6. Window treatment to control natural light
7. Side table to hold a drink, notepad and a pen
8. Bookcase, basket or somewhere to store books
9. Soft throw in case you get cold.

What are some items that could be added to 
make your special place unique?

1. Why not make your ottoman a storage ottoman so you can
hide anything you want to have in your corner conveniently hidden. 
2. Personalized notepad to make you feel good when taking notes
or planning your day.
3. A pad of pretty sticky notes to earmark pages
 you want to refer back to in your reading material.
4. A good daily devotional book
5. A journal to record your thoughts - may be a gratitude journal.
6. Box of notecards for note writing.
7. Pretty container for holding pens and pencils on your side table
8. Special candle for the season
9. Things to nurture you like, hand lotion or cozy socks.
10. May be you want a vase for a flower.
11. Brainstorm things that are unique to you for your special space.
12. If you don't want a storage ottoman, you will need
 a pretty storage box by your chair. 

The most important thing is to create a space in your home to make time for yourself.  Could it be your favorite place to relax and read is in your bedroom, 
we will talk about that next!  

  

Guess What Today Is....

Via Seasonal Love

Martha Stewart

Art With a Story/Mclaughlin Designs

paperandpalette on etsy

October is a seasonal time of transition.  As with the seasons, we all go through transition in our lives.  Puberty, college, marriage,babies,empty nest, divorce and death are a few of the most noted forms of transition in life, but there are many others.  How we handle times of transition is up to the individual.  We can embrace life's changes to become stronger people or we can choose to be victims.   The quote above is from Elizabeth Edwards, deceased wife of politician,John Edwards.  I had the opportunity to meet Elizabeth only month before she died.  I told her how much her book Resilience, had meant to me after losing my own child.   We talked about divorce, death,our "new normal" and our children.  She mentioned how grateful she was that John had left work, that day to take Emma Claire her book bag, while Elizabeth was away.  I couldn't help but be totally amazed by her composure and grace.  I asked her to share her secret  to remaining positive in trying times. She said for her, the key, was to remain grateful.  She said she spent time daily in her a favorite chair  reading devotionals and having quiet time.  "Spending time reflect is important" she added.  How often do you start your day spending time in your favorite spot reflecting, being grateful?  Do you have one?  If you don't have a cozy corner check back tomorrow.  I have a few suggestions you might want to consider.


Until then be grateful, Happy Monday!

Don't forget to sign up to follow my High Point Market Style Spotter Board Here! 

 That way you will see my choice for top market trends first!

High Point Furniture Market is Oct 13-18

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