Pinterest - How to Make it Work for You

So we are all using Pinterest by now, I hope. If you aren't using it, that is a whole separate problem. You need to get over there and see how awesome it is! If you are using it, you have the new problem of how to actually USE the things you are pinning. Today I am going to discuss how to use style posts in particular.

 I have now separated my own personal style posts into 4 separate categories, and I may add more if I find that I need it. Currently I have makeup, hair, my style (which is just a dress, piece of jewelry, or pair of shoes) and complete outfits.

I have an actual binder that I keep for these items. I printed the mystyle pages first making sure to select minimal margins so it wouldn't cut off part of the pages. I then needed to print the hair, makeup, and outfits one picture at a time so that it was big enough to copy. How you do this is you go to "edit picture" then just hit "save" it will now put the picture big on your page alone and you can select print and it will only put that picture in the print without cutting it off. I printed all of my outfits, hair, and makeup, I went to the actual blogs and printed makeup or hair tips if they were on a blog and not complete on the pinterest site.

I then put all of this information in my binder and used dividers for the sections. I put notebook paper behind the outfits and made notes on what wardrobe pieces I would need to complete the outfits. I looked for common threads (for instance for me I have several outfits that I need red shoes and a red cardigan for) and added a piece of paper to the front of my binder that says "Top fashion wants"

I am hoping this will help me to be more purposeful in my shopping and buy things that will make the outfits I am admiring. Also, the use of accessories in the pictures are motivational. My outfits have been much more accessorized and colorful the last few days. Thank you, pinterest!

Here are my current top fashion wants to look for on sale or when I have some extra money, what are yours?:

Red flats
Black belt (wide, front clasp)
Red belt (wide)
red cardigan
mint cardigan
Kelly green tank (spaghetti strap, dressy)
canary yellow shirt
canary yellow and grey scarf
canary yellow purse

Privacy Please!

We have a problem in our house. Alex, age 4, has asperger's and does not want anyone to be away from him. Ever. He will shove his hands under the door while you pee, storm into the bedrooms while you are dressing, and he even was shoving a block under the door from the waiting room while Bella tried to talk to her doctor about how she needed more privacy!!! (Ironic much?)

Alex in his sensory swing not harassing anyone...for the moment.

When talking about things that bothered her this week, one very legitimate concern Bella brought up is her lack of alone time. Her brother is always begging her to play with him, asking if they can take turns should she try to use the lap top for her screen time, and following her around crying should she want to read a book or do some other activity that does not include him. The more we try to discourage these actions, the louder the fits got. I plan on bringing this up with his behavioral therapist, so we can work on strategies to put an end to some of these behaviors, but we don't have an appointment for a couple of weeks due to scheduling issues, and I felt we needed a fix to this problem now.

So, I started thinking. I had a book about 1001 great ideas for Autism and it suggested implementing a sibling knock so that the child has to use the special knock and knock before entering the sibling's room. This makes it fun and special as well so that he wouldn't get so upset. Also, Bella had been asking to be allowed to stay up 30 minutes later and we decided to go ahead and allow that so she can have 30 minutes of reading time uninterrupted every evening before bed. The third strategy I came up with was to discuss "quiet areas." I talked to Alex about how there is a quiet area at his school where you cannot bother whoever is in it. He said that he likes that area and goes in it for a little while every day. We gave each kid a door hanger and made a new rule that when one of them has the door hanger on their door their room is now a quiet area and they are wanting to be alone. NO ONE, not even mom or dad, is allowed to bother them for 30 minutes unless it is time to eat or leave for an appointment. We made the 30 minute rule so Bella will still spend time with the family and not be tempted to hide in her room all day every day. Not that she would do that. It has been two days now and so far everyone is happy. Which, when dealing with siblings, is quite the blessing.