So, I admit it...I have Pinterest Envy. I avoided that particular website as long as possible, knowing that it would not in any way, shape, or form be good for my peace of mind if I joined...and then I got the iPad. See, part of getting the iPad was the iPad training course. Part of the iPad training course was figuring out all the cool apps available for the iPad. And...one of the main places we were instructed to look for those cool apps was...you guessed it...Pinterest.
So, you see. I didn't have much choice. I was instructed to join. It was part of a class, and this good little student always does what the teacher tells her to do. I was instructed to sign up for an account, and I did.
Getting sucked in, though? That was all me.
It started out innocently enough. I spent my Pinterest time (yes, in this iPad training class we had dedicated Pinterest time...they were pretty amazing instructors. There was also lots of food. I would take this class again.) looking through educational pins. I started my first board: "Classroom Ideas." Then I happened to notice a recipe for those cinnamon-coated almonds that I crave when I go to the state fair, so I started a second board: "Yummies."
And thus began the downward spiral into Pinterest Envy. I'm up to (cough -- says under her breath) 15 boards, including one for my newbie foray into fangirling for both the BBC's Sherlock and the upcoming (she says with bated breath and reverence) Outlander television series on Starz.
Those who know me know that I like to make and do. Sometimes my efforts to make and do are quite successful, and sometimes they're...well...not so much. Pinterest has given me so many ideas for cool make and do "stuff" that I will never get it all made and done.
But we did have strawberries dipped in white chocolate and then green sugar for Christmas. They were pretty amazing. So were the green and red sweet pickles. And the apple pie I made with the apple pie filling I canned using a Pinterest recipe.
So, it is time once again to plan a little boy's birthday party. Year 1 was pretty easy -- just a "First Birthday" theme. After all, it was his birthday, but he didn't much care what was going on. Lots of people were paying attention to him, he got to rip up some shiny paper, there were new toys involved, AND he got cake. Theme and activities were not so very high on his list of priorities. Last year, I attempted to go with a "Bubble Guppies" theme, although thanks to the fact that the Nickelodeon marketing machine seems focused exclusively on Dora, it was more a fish theme with some pictures of the Bubble Guppies printed off the computer and hung around the room. He got a fish for his birthday, which he thought was pretty cool AND which the cats promptly tried to eat (said fish now lives happily in my classroom, where he is visited and adored daily by a herd of 8th graders). Again, he didn't much care about the trappings as his favorite people came to see him AND there was cake.
This year, though, the stakes are a bit higher. He is a little more "with it" and has actually been to some other parties. His personality is really starting to come through, and he has opinions, which he thoughtfully shares with Mommy. They usually involve the words "No" and "No Like Dat."
And so, I asked him what kind of birthday party he would like to have this year. Would he like firetrucks or cowboys or Paw Patrol? It was bedtime, and we were reading his favoritest book in the entire world, so I was not surprised when he told me that he wanted a Poky Little Puppy birthday party.
I was okay with that -- my cousin had just had one for her little man's first birthday party, so I figured I could just copy some of her ideas. She's creative and smart and the pictures from the party were very cool. Plus, I knew she wouldn't mind if I borrowed her ideas.
And then I made the mistake of getting on Pinterest to see if I could find anything else that might be fun for the Poky Little Birthday Party.
My mind is still reeling, and I am still absorbing the wealth of information about cool makes and dos possible for one short birthday party (and let's be honest, Chayton isn't going to care about the theme as long as his favorite people are there AND there's cake). I have been pinning and shopping and pinning and planning and mentally putting together this party for a month now. I'm quite excited (others might substitute the word "obsessed," but it's all semantics). Of course, this may have something to do with the fact that we had an entire week of snow days last week and I had quite a bit of extra time on my hands. Seriously. I had plans for a simple party with friends and family (and cake). Not so much any more. I fully accept that any stress I am feeling about this party is completely of my own making, but I really think Pinterest deserves just a *little* bit of the blame, too...
At this point and time, we're going to have a "tocklet" cake -- Chay's strongly-expressed opinion on this has been crystal clear -- in the shape of the number 3 (thank you, Pinterest, for the information on how to make that out of 2 bundt cakes, frosting, and THREE POUNDS of M & Ms), as well as some "doggy" food: muddy buddies (often referred to here in the Midwest as "puppy chow."), Pirouline cookies for "dog chews", Chex Mix for "kibbles and bits," and "pupcorn." We're also going to have puppy and bone cookies the guests can frost and decorate (because honestly, I just hate frosting sugar cookies. If there's any way I can pass that particular job off to someone else, I will do it.). Oh, and punch. Some sort of punch.
We also have a pinata, which is just too darned cute to smash into smithereens, so we'll just make it the centerpiece of the table. We have a "put the sticker on the puppy" game, as well as a puppy paw print bandana to cover eyes; "doggy bags" with pencils, bubbles, and another toy; puppy coloring pages; and my personal favorite -- a puppy "adoption center" with a stuffed puppy for each small guest, along with an adoption certificate and collar to put on the puppy.
I am having fun. I am having fun. I am having fun. Tomorrow when I am cleaning the dining room and baking and freezing dog- and bone-shaped sugar cookies, as well as assembling "doggy bags" and figuring out where I am going to put 40-some people next Sunday afternoon, I will keep reminding myself that I am having fun (seriously, I am. Party City is a store I haven't really shopped in before, and now I know why. I'll need to confine myself to the dollar store from now on.).
Unless I find myself with a few spare minutes, in which case I will probably hop on Pinterest. You know...just to see if there's anything else cool to make and do.
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