Finding Balance Using Pinterest!

If you haven't started using Pinterest yet, chances are that you've at least heard of it. What is it? An online "pinboard" where you can keep track of things you like, or are "pinterested" in.

I admit, at first glance, my reaction was, "Who the heck has time for this? Just what I need... another Internet time-waster!" However, after being invited by many friends, I decided to at least check it out and since then, I've found some significant value in it!

If you're familiar with my upcoming novel, "Momnesia," you know that it's about an unconventional entrepreneur trying to find balance between her "momminess" & her "sexiness."

If you haven't read it yet, what you may not know is that in the story, the main character realizes that she has become so "invisible" in the process of taking care of her family, she can't think of what she'd like even if she did have some free time! She makes a list of things she used to like and things she might like now, and vows to try and work them into her schedule.

So how does this tie in with Pinterest? It has recently occurred to me that it can be a valuable tool in keeping track of things we like, want to try, or simply get some pleasure from looking at! For example, I have boards that include music I like, home decor, favorite books, beautiful lamps, funny quotes, and amazing libraries. There are things I've come across that have made me realize I really like such-and-such thing, but hadn't thought about it before (like the beautiful lamps).

I've also decided that the answer to the question, "Who the heck has time for this?" is... just about everyone! Any mom with a smartphone who spends time in carpool line, waiting at karate, dancing school, etc, is likely to have three minutes to scroll through Pinterest and find a little pleasure in something. Don't have a smartphone? A few minutes on your computer may be just the thing to treat yourself, and find ideas of things you enjoy.

As an aside, I've also found that it's a great replacement for bookmarking items I'd like to buy but aren't ready to purchase just yet. Instead of having tons of separately bookmarked web pages, I have a board of "Things I'd Like to Buy," with pictures of the items, all in one place!

I invite you to check out Pinterest and see if you can find ways to use it to "Find Balance" between your "momminess" & "sexiness," work and life, etc.

Here are some links:

• To follow me on Pinterest, click here!
• To create a "Momnesia" pin on Pinterest, click here!
• If you're reading this post before March 17, 2012, click here to enter my PIN IT to WIN IT "Momnesia" Book Giveaway!
• If you're not on Pinterest and need an invite, e-mail me to request one and I'll send it to you. (Please do not add me to any mailing lists!) loriverni "at" gmail "dot" com.

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, I invite you to follow my blog and/or peruse past articles if you want! You can also learn more about my novel, "Momnesia" and find sneak previews, free stuff, events, & more at www.LoriTheAuthor.com, and by following my page on Facebook!

Thanks for visiting!

Five Things I Learned This Week

1. Clubbing, which begins no earlier than 11 pm, was a lot more fun when I didn’t get up at 6 am every day because my kids’ school days start so early. And when I had friends who wanted to do it with me.

2. If you join a gym, you can drive by and say “That’s my gym.” You can wear the t-shirt, carry the membership card, and pay the money. But if you don’t go there and work out, you won’t actually become any more fit.

3. There are some friends with whom there is no choice but to phone at a time you know is inconvenient for them; the only other option being to call at 3 am to shoot the breeze because really, there is no time during normal waking hours when you’d both be available.

4. When applying a fake cat nose to one’s face, do not use "Outlast" lipstick because you are too lazy to search for normal lipstick that would have washed off without practically having to apply a chemical solvent.

5. When waking a teenager, begin by finding the wire peeking out of the blankets. Follow it along, and if you come across an iPod, reverse directions. Eventually you will arrive at the earbuds, which are in the head of the near-comatose teen. (More waking a teen tips in this humorous article: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/-/user-post-how-to-awaken-a-teenager-on-shine-2402224/)

Can Married Life Be Exciting?

Married life. You live with the same person, day-in and day-out for years on end. You know how that person brushes their teeth, how many times they're going to sneeze, and the punch line to every joke they tell.

Married life with kids? You're worn out from the daily duties, a great percentage of your conversations are about the kids or logistics surrounding the kids (which one are you picking up from what activity, at what time?), and there's barely any energy left for... well, anything.

So, is there a way to have all the benefits of marriage (companionship, friendship, and ten thousand other great things that can be hard to think of at times), yet still have excitement, adventure, and romance?

I think there is, but it takes some work, creativity, and willingness on both people's parts. So, here is the question:

What do you do (or would like to do) to keep your marriage from becoming like a boring television program you've already seen a thousand times?

I'll start: Get ready separately, then go to a trendy bar or restaurant for a drink, like you did when you were dating.

Got any good ones? Comment below! And feel free to share this with your friends! (Click SHARE button to the right.) Looking forward to reading yours!

Women and Friendship

Women and friendship, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

Close-knit girlfriends who are there for you always, through thick and thin, bringing bottles of wine in your time of need? Who you can call at 3am just because you need to talk and they'll groggily be glad to hear from you?

Alas, this is not Sex and the City. This is real life. And while some lucky ladies may have a friend out there who she could call at 3am, it is the very rare bird who actually feels like she can. Or would.

More commonly, our lives are filled with acquaintances: People we spend time with, chatting about things like our childrens' schools, work, what's on sale at Penney's and other mundane topics, but never really getting to the nitty gritty.

Sure, there are some friends with whom we come closer to the sandpaper of life--gingerly touching with a fingertip--but then turning that index finger and using it to point. At her? At ourselves? Pointing, no matter in what direction, is easier than exposing a wound, open for another person to see.

But then, there is another question: What would happen if we were to continue rubbing? If we were to force ourselves through the discomfort of touching those rough surfaces, allowing our friends and ourselves to break through the protective barrier that we all keep around us (thin though it may be)? And what if, instead of pointing, we were to lay the fingertip on the table, open, wounded, and allow one another the opportunity to nurse it with the antibiotic salve of friendship?

It might be like in the Sex and the City movie (the first one), when Samantha spoon-feeds a few bites of hot cereal to Carrie, who has been jilted and is completely miserable. Whose friends know she is miserable because instead of putting on a brave face and acting "okay," she openly cries in front of them, then gets into bed and won't come out for two days.

But then again, it might not be like that (we logically remind ourselves, "Those girls are in a movie!"). That's the risk that we women, who go through life acting like acquaintances yet wishing we were soul mates, would have to take. It would be uncomfortable. And it would take two people both doing it at once.

It would take getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

I've often wondered, if we women were to put a moratorium on "surfaceness" and a stronghold on "safeness," could women and friendships be different? What do you think?