Pintastic! The New Google

Well it feels good to know that I'm using Pinterest the way really smart people think I'm using it (or should be using it). It's CRAZY to think that Pinterest is driving more traffic than Google, YouTube and LinkedIn combined. Like, crazy crazy.

But I totally get why it is.

By way of (just one) example, I have literally changed the way I search for recipes online. Of course I used to go to the standard cooking websites to look for a new recipe. Over the past few months I've been going to Pinterest and searching there, with overall better results, both in terms of how inspiring the ideas are that come up in the search queue, as well as how easy and tasty the dishes end up being.

When I had a Costco size bag of kale to use up, I did a little test and searched "kale" on allrecipes, epicurious and Pinterest. The cooking sites were fairly consistent: out of date, less appealing food photography, less descriptive recipe titles, more intricate culinary skills needed and more obscure ingredients.

The cooking site search netted Mediterannean Kale, Garlic Kale, Kale Salata and Kale Soup. By these titles I wasn't entirely sure what the recipe was for, or what was in the soup or salad besides kale.

Pinterest however brought me to a very appetizing looking Kale & Quinoa Quiche and Kale & Feta Baked Eggs. Two recipes that not only looked good, but were nice and specific so I knew what I'd be getting if I clicked through to the recipe!

OK. 'Nough about Pinterest for a little while. But go ahead and give it a try as your new Google. You might love what you find!

Unbaked Eggs & Kale

Baked Eggs & Kale

Kale & Quinoa Quiche

Publish Post

Pintastic! Pinfalls of Pinterest

Given Pinterest has made it's way into the subject of a Harvard Business Review post, it's safe to say that it's now ubiquitous. And while the platform clearly has its benefits, as with everything, there are some massive drawbacks too. As much as I continue to be enamored with Pinterest, there are a few pitfalls I've had to come to terms with over the past few months.

Take Everything With a Grain of Salt

Just like all things in life, use a discerning lens when you're being bombarded by messages. I don't know how many pins the average person on Pinterest sees in a day, but it's got to be hundreds. Make sure you know what you're getting if you're going to re-pin something. It amazes me how many recipes or fitness pins I see swirling around with comments of praise that are just reposted over and over again. "Best chicken casserole EVER. Made it yesterday!" is suddenly pinned and repined by a couple dozen people in my feed. Really? Did you all make this yesterday and decide it's that good? Or "Lose 10lbs in a week. It really works!" I just don't want Pinterest to become a late night infomercial, so I am trying to hold myself to not repinning superlatives and empty promises when I can't confirm them.

Pin the Original Sources

I'll admit, this one is often a bit challenging, but when pinning something that requires further information or a tutorial (i.e, recipe, craft, etc), please try to pin it from the original source. A lot of times I'll come across something that I am interested in replicating, and I'll find myself needing to "click thru" a half dozen blogger's re-posts before I actually get to the original post that provides the background of the pin and explains how to do it.

There is no Originality only Authenticity

Most likely this is just a result of the ever connected world we live in, but now, more than I've ever seen before, Pinterest is proving there is absolutely no originality left in the world. The same ideas now swirl over and over and over. It will be important to customize an idea and put your own special "stamp" on it. Whether this is crafts, home decor, party themes, etc., there is an even bigger hurdle to now think of something unique and unseen before. The first few weeks I spent on Pinterest I thought how awesome it would have been had it been around when planning my wedding. A few weeks passed and with it I saw the same cute ideas begin to lose their sparkle because they'd been passed around so much. When hosting a party I'd much prefer to surprise and delight my guests with ideas they hadn't seen a couple dozen times on the internet.

Personally, I think where this platform is evolving and will continue to grow is in "following" keenly curated people or brand's boards. Of course individuals will continue to organically post as well as re-post Pins, but the real sweet spot will be finding those leaders who truly excel in one area and are the "go-to" Pinners on their specialty. Not unlike the "race" to be a leading food website (i.e, AllRecipes, Pillsbury, Epicurious, etc), all these brands are now in a race to define who they are on Pinterest and how to interact in a new way with their consumers. Actually, it sounds like a really fun challenge that I'd like to have at the office right now...but am sure hoping it's already figured out once I return in April or we'll really be behind the times.

Pintastic! Pancake Possibilities

It's Sunday morning and I can practically smell the pancakes we aren't cooking. Maybe it's because our pancake creations from last weekend were more memorable than usual.

We tried two different variations:

Bacon Strip Pancakes

These ones were good, but nothing great. They reminded Joe of bacon donuts. I prefer my bacon crispy, and after pouring pancake batter over the bacon and griddling, the bacon got soft and chewy. Max, however, enjoyed them.

Apple Ring Pancakes

Core an apple and then cut into thin slices. Dip them in pancake batter and griddle. These are a delicious new pancake find. In fact, they really taste like apple fritters - and are so easy to make. Stack them up, toss some syrup on them and it's like you're eating something much fancier and more time consuming than they actually are.

Happy Sunday Everyone!! Make some pancakes!

Pintastic! Authenticity vs. Originality

"It's not where you take things from, it's where you take them to." - Jean-Luc Godard

That there is something I saw on Pinterest. And so is this...

Authenticity is invaluable, originality is non-existent.

I now present to you where I've taken the Pinterest version of Apple Smiles:

You'll have to look close as the photos are grainy, but you might notice there is a slight difference between Max and Otto's apple smiles. Max's has one black tooth, just like him!

When I was buying the mini marshmallows for this snack, I also noticed some chocolate mini marshmallows. Immediately a little light bulb went off in my head and I had to make sure Max's apple smile had a black tooth just like him.