“In Pinterest world everything’s pretty and nice, but remember perfection always comes with a price: manicures never chip and tights never run, but in real life this world wouldn’t be any fun."  thefrisky

Fun.  In my mind Pinterest is supposed to be fun. Please keep pin-ing the pretty.

While “sharing is caring” I can’t help but get the feeling folks who are publishing “advice” on “best practices” and how to work it into a strategic marketing plan don’t fully get the addiction to the time suck revolving around pinning “40 shredded chicken recipes.”

& that's ok.

@drewber has an awesome post that explains this very thing:

“…But when I started trying to do it, I realized I was too late. More than that, I just wasn’t good at it. It was the same reason people told me they couldn’t relate to Twitter the way I could: they just had nothing to say. And that’s the thing: I’ve got PLENTY to say but not that much to show you. So, essentially, I’m fucked. I’m a person who thinks in words. I lose Pictionary every time I play it but I am a certified sniper when it comes to Catch Phrase.

When I go on Pinterest, I feel like people are speaking Chinese while playing Mouse Trap and patting their head, all at once. I simply cannot keep up with the rate that things are shared. It’s not only that, though.

I am just not the demographic…”

Drew’s post actually saved me (do read the entire thing) – comments about specific boards being creepy were dead on. Instead of 61 pins of wedding items I now have 31 and changed the name of the board.  This version gives of “less of pining for a man” vibe.

Again, Pinterest is supposed to be fun. Please keep pin-ing the pretty.

Which brings to my last point, Pinterest has managed to seep its way into the workplace. Internal email at the office has been plentiful, below is my single contribution:

Part of me struggles with fitting every brand into the Pinterest peg board. Same goes for Tumblr.

If you test on content that doesn’t fit typical Pinterest success stories you’ll have worthless results.  As noted in this article unless you are J.Crew, Kate Spade, “Sunday’s are made for …” (Bergdorf Goodman) or Nordstrom  it may be ok to sit this platform out or really invest resources into a creative strategy. If you don’t have (pin)interest in reading the article above these 5 questions they list are worth answering before considering if you are ready to “pin it to win it”:

1. Can we afford the time/resources it would take to maintain a robust presence in this medium?
2. Is my audience there already?
3. If so, is my audience already talking about my brand in this space, and how are they talking about it?
4. How will this medium help me tell my brand’s story?
5. What are the potential risks involved with this medium? “ 

Telling a brand’s story via Pinterest should be fun. Please keep pin-ing the pretty.

Four months since my last post. That makes me sad. It's new city and a new day and time to start writing again. Being back in Seattle made me realize how many "near misses" I almost lost sight of...

However, plenty to be excited about since Mad Men has returned for another season. I am loving that both my sister and Laura come over for some #Draping and some viewing fun. It gives me something to keep me on target with keeping house and have enjoyed making apps and/or desserts for my draping ladies. The company is pretty fantastic too.

I'm not sure what to make of this Infographic. However, if any of the characters would admit to using Google+ Peter Campbell would be the man to do so. Blech.

I choose not to react to suggestion Peggy Olson would have a feminist themed Tumblr blog, of all things called, "How to stay on top without being a bottom". I get that it is fictional, but no. Just no.

 "Mindy Sue Who" is apparently a new term of endearment.

Typically I crave change and am more motivated by the "big picture" and I tend to make high risk decisions. One look at my resume history and that is pretty clear.

Moving to DC from Seattle, closing the gap on a LDR to a "same city/same couch" relationship, warming up to new colleagues and getting a new boss, and projects is a lot to digest all at once.

This quote by Sydney J. Harris pretty much explains my mindset:

“Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better."

I forget about the muck in the middle. Learning through loss, growing through uncomfortable experiences, and respecting the fair fight.

Visiting Seattle over Thanksgiving made me realize I can have my Seattle cake & eat my DC torte too, so to speak. For whatever reason, it moved me past the thought of missing out on one part of my life before running with the opportunity to develop a connection to the "other Washington".

“Happiness is a direction, not a place.”Another perfect quote by Sydney J. Harris (running to the library to get his books, btw)

Back to my laughing Buddha, his directive smile and one glove love lets me know I’ve arrived in the space I am meant to be, even though it’s work in progress.

Obsessing over: getting on track with an exercise routine, like come up with a game plan, execute, rinse and repeat. 3x’s per week?

Working on: figuring my shit out.

Thinking about: how much fun this trip back to Seattle was great time with friends who are family and family behaving like friends.

Anticipating: First Christmas with the Brit and trip abroad. Lots of firsts, but none as awkward as this lovely gem.

Listening to: Kathleen typing away and Bravo in the background (obvi!)

Drinking: (was) a glass of Ravenswood with some of my fav Seattle gals.

Wishing: I could combine the best of both coasts in single place. I plan to get used to living bi-coastal.

I've had better days. Adjusting to all the change in my life takes its toll at random times and when I least expect it.

A call to my friend back in WA certainly helped (Thanks GG!) and so did a trip to Five Guys and a long walk where I got a little turned around in a lovely wooded area.

My day turned around when Anthony offered to help with my finalization of my prep for the panel discussion I am going to be a part of tomorrow at American University.

I was getting way too serious about the whole thing. He was true to silly form and suggested a 6th question to ponder....

Let's just say, I am glad it's a new week. Shame on me for skipping a post yesterday and I don't even have a good reason. Sorry ya'll but keeping up the quality (& I use that term loosely) on the daily is hard stuff. I what I have noticed is that writing about bacon or social media seems to attract more readers?

Monday Check-In (is this a thing now?) I am totally stealing this one of my fav tumblrs.

Obsessing over: Making these for the entry way.

Working on: Talking points for myself (details later).

Thinking about: Leaving at a normal hour and being lucky enough to walk home in the sunshine today!

Anticipating: Celebrating the holidays in a different way this year. Thanksgiving will be in WA, Christmas in DC, New Years in London and my birthday in Paris.

Listening to: The air vent that is really loud over my cube & is part of the reason I am freezing my tail off.

Drinking: Diet Coke (promise only ONE today!)

Wishing: My condo in Seattle will magically rent itself instead of all the work I'll have to do to make it happen from the East Coast.

I love Thanksgiving. It's about food. The gift of being with friends and family. I'm excited to do it twice this year - Keri and I have kept our promise to upkeep our yearly tradition cooking up a storm in her lil kitchen & then I'm heading to the PNW to have the momster to do it up right. (Yes, she fully embraces the nickname). I am SO demanding this left over meal will be made while I am home.

ps- Theoretical Statistics seems is pretty intense. Umm yeah so I am going to delay the Netflix write up, there was a lot of material way over my head and need to find a way to speak to what parts I could actually understand for anyone who read yesterday's post and was "dying" to learn more and is "devastated I'm blabbing about food....

I will dish the best of the night, Anthony (aka The Brit) and I had a wonderful meal at Oyamel the ceviche was nice and spicy...this wine is going grace our DC Thanksgiving table.

Cheers! What is your favorite holiday food tradition?

Heading to the The Brit's office to check this out "The Story of the Netflix Prize" bascially get to hear about how crowdsourcing algorithms to advance Netflix reccomendations to users. Really jazzed to learn more about how the winning team made this happen and see if there is any cross over in the work I do each day!

Recap tomorrow.

Nikki on Pinterest

...& Tumblr too.

Social Coping skills 101:

I get to organize all the pretty things on Pinterest . I probably never will spend money or time some of these awesome DIY projects on there but someone has gone to great lengths to capture it on film/blog/etc. There are tons of great recipes on and have made a few dishes. OH, and it's "invite only" or at least it was at first. I likey exclusive!

Facebook - I am not loving as much as I used to - great "research" tool so I can get out of awkward phone conversations or being strategic when connecting with someone after a long period of time.

Best for last Tumblr, OMG - some of the most hilarious, heart wrenching, and sensible idioms ever. It's like online heaven for smart kids. Thanks Kath, Ali and Julie for introducing me to this small corner of awesome.

I clearly love my online life. Some may say I spend too much time on each platform, which is fine but I need these communities to deal with all the crazy in real life. Sorry, I am not sorry.