Pinterest

I love Pinterest! Who doesn't?  I don't know if this is weird, but random things usually spur me to write about something.  This time, it wasn't a comment that caught me off guard... but a dream!  In my dream, I moved into an enormous house.  Each bedroom was perfectly decorated, the bathrooms were immaculate, and the home was as spacious as could be.  I couldn't remember anything else, just that the house was my definition of perfection.  When I woke up, I wondered why I had such a random dream.

I realized that the night before, I scanned through my 'home' board on Pinterest, lusting after each and every pin... fantasizing what it would be like to finally be in that stage in my life when I could decorate my home however I pleased.  As much as I love Pinterest, it can be deadly.

While there are many pros to the site, I think as much as I love going on, it can be pretty damaging- only if you let it be, of course.  I hope my criticisms don't come across too harsh, or that being a student, I am not thankful for what I have.  This is definitely not the case!  Also, I do not know any more than anybody else- so I do not want to come across as a snob.  I guess, I just want those who feel discouraged by the images they see on Pinterest, that you should not let them phase you!  We do not live in a fairytale where we can have everything on Pinterest appear right before us.

#1: The glorious women.

The majority of women on Pinterest are a size 2.  The average size in the US is 10.  I found myself roaming the "Health and Fitness" section and got pretty down on myself.  I didn't even realize the impact all of the pictures, ideas, and advice had on my life!  Little did I know, I expected myself to look like them... which I found so silly because 1) half the girls are on roids who 'somehow managed to keep all the fat in their chest..' if you know what I mean, and 2) I always heard stories about how much media has an impact on our society.  I thought, "That's ridiculous! Why do people fall so easily into this trap???"  I believed that media impacted mainly teens so I thought I had escaped the deception- but this wasn't so!  I've learned that as long as I'm healthy, that's what truly matters.  I go to the gym everyday, eat well, and enjoy being active as much as possible.  What else can I do? Starve myself?  Heck no.

Pinterest:

Don't get me wrong- I have great respect for those who are super fit.  I just believe that people are built differently due to metabolism and a variety of different reasons- so for girls to think that this is normal and that they should stop eating so that their body will morph into something they see on Pinterest, is absolutely ridiculous.

Reality:

Now THIS is what I'm talking about!  Is this girl a size 2? Nope!  But she's healthy and strong because she's a member of the US Olympic Water Polo Team.  While I could have picked a lean runner, that would not prove my point.  You can be healthy and still have a little insulation- and that's okay!  I just wish pictures like this made it more often on Pinterest to show that this is something you could strive for too.

#2: The fantasy homes.

Ain't nobody's house look like the ones on Pinterest! Okay, maybe... but seriously, endlessly high ceilings, spiral staircases, ocean views, architectural ceiling beams, secret libraries, giant home theaters... the list goes on and on! Sure, there are some thrifty ways to spice up a room, but these things that are not commonly found in a home make a naive girl believe that this is the norm, and that someday, her sugar daddy will supply her with a home full of all these pretty things.

 Pinterest:

Of course, it's fine to dream... these are BEAUTIFUL and on my own board! So, maybe I'm being hypocritical by pinning these? I don't know, think what you may, but seeing so many images could make one feel inadequate by being unable to afford the money to live in a home such as these.  

Reality:

As much as I tried, I couldn't find normal homes on Pinterest.  Here's one entry way... which I find no problemo with!  And it is much, much more realistic.

#3: The expensive clothes.

Honestly, the sewing tutorials are AWESOME.  And, of course if you find fabric at a nifty price, you could save yourself a buck or two.  But the clothes I see on Pinterest that link to "cheap websites" to help you save money, are not very cheap!  At least, they don't fall within a student-friendly budget.  My staple stores are TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross.  There, I can get jeans for $20, shirts for $15, and dresses for $30.  These websites or even outfit ideas are far beyond what I can find at a store! 

Pinterest:

This is a large cardigan I found off a "cheap" website... for $40... I'm not sure what the shipping was.  These guys typically go for $40, so it's not too bad of a deal.  It's just, when I think of "cheap" website, I think of something that I can't find in stores (the ones I shop at, at least:)

Reality:

Can you tell how extremely awkward I feel when Josh is my photographer?  He starts to make jokes and laughs for no reason... he's probably the main reason why I DON'T have many pictures of myself.  Everybody give him grief when you see him.  Just kidding... back to topic.  TJ Maxx, Billabong for 15 dolla.  Moral of the story- as awesome as it is to turn to Pinterest to find those holes in the wall that have thrifty clothing- there's stores out there that have stylin', inexpensive clothes all around us!

#4: A girl's best friend- DIAMONDS.

I know this is kind of specific, nobody necessarily types in "diamonds" into Pinterest... but what I'm talking about here is a wedding ring.  I see so many rings pinned by people and I just think, poor thing... if only she knew how much that cost.  ALL the rings I've seen pinned contain at least one carat in the middle.  Not to mention the two half carat diamonds that accompany each side.

Pinterest:

These are GORGEOUS.  Some girls love a big diamond, while others are satisfied with something more conservative.  Personally, I like a bigger rock.  1) They're sparkly (: 2) I have chubby, short fingers- if I had a teeny rock, I'm pretty sure my fingers would look even more like sausages! haha.

Reality:

As a student, this is probably the average size ring I see.  So simple and sweet.  So girls, don't be mad when your husband can't afford that $20,000 ring!  When you're first starting out, you'll have something more conservative- unless you rob a bank ;)



In Conclusion.... (Can you tell I write too many papers?!)

I hope this doesn't seem like I'm bashing on Pinterest- I'm not.  It's great to dream! I do it probably too often ;) ...My only concern for younger women is that they build up these unrealistic notions in their heads that when a point in their life comes, they expect the best of the best.  But as we know, we don't live in a fairytale world.  As mentioned, I love Pinterest...  I just think it's important for people to be grounded and have hopeful and realistic goals.