My life’s not Pinterest perfect..but that’s OK.

We live in an age where the internet is King. Us mere humans have been sucked in and have all, somehow, become loyal servants of the World Wide Web. I, of course, am no exception.

In 2016, if you need to know something, anything at all, you simply ask Google and the answers are all there for you, received seconds after they were requested. The internet really is an amazing thing and most of us would feel completely lost without it. However, thanks to the internet, this little thing called social media has wriggled its way into our daily lives and is setting its sights on world domination

I have a love/hate relationship with social media. Without it, hardly anyone would read my blog, it’s a great way to network and keep in touch with friends and family. On the other hand, it can steal so much of your time. I could spend hours on Facebook alone, scrolling but never really seeing, reading statuses from people I haven’t seen in the actual, physical world for years. The things the bothers me most about social media though is how most of the things people post on there go through a filter first. No, InstaGram lovers, I am not talking about Valencia or Amaro. I simply mean this, people are very selective about what they choose to share in the online world.

This is totally up to each individual person of course and I myself am guilty of only sharing the good parts of my life on Facebook or taking 5 photos of the same thing and choosing the best one to post on InstaGram. I don’t do this to make my life seem perfect, I just don’t think people would like reading about the fact the cat just threw up (again) or all the other things that go wrong on a daily basis. I doubt a blurred picture of Leo’s face would get much attention amongst the thousands of perfectly framed ones on InstaGram,

There is one social media platform in particular that always succeeds in making me feel inadequate, and that is Pinterest. As a blogger and generally quite creative person, I love Pinterest. I go there for inspiration and ideas on loads of different things but I always come away from it feeling slightly useless. Everything on Pinterest is so perfect, don’t you think? The recipes and pictures of cakes on there are enough to turn Mary Berry green with envy and all the craft ideas! How do these people come up with all of these ideas and then their children execute them all so perfectly? I am pretty sure most of the ‘100 toddler craft ideas’ are all secretly done by the parents, there is no way a 2 year old can make bunting, there is just no way.

Our romantic homemade pizza, not quite as heart shaped as we were hoping for. It tasted good though so who cares?!

My feelings of jealousy and inadequacy don’t stop me pinning away like someone possessed though. I have boards full of projects and activities, most of which will probably never be attempted.  There are several things I have tried to make using guides I have found on Pinterest and they never look like they are supposed to. The instructions are easy, I have all the required equipment and yet Autumnal crafts end up a sticky, leafy mess and what should be beautifully decorated cupcakes end up slightly sad looking with buttercream icing dripping all over the place.

What I am saying is, my life is not Pinterest perfect. If I wrote up posts on the crafts Leo and I make or some of my kitchen experiments, no one would pin them. Rarely do I make anything so beautiful it can produce an attractive, pinnable image. No one will share a recipe when the end result really does look like a 2 year old made it.

I am OK with that though. I don’t mind that my life isn’t Pinterest perfect. The food I bake may not look amazing but it always tastes yummy. The little things Leo and I make may look rubbish in comparison but at least we have fun making them. It is a shame taste and enjoyment can not be portrayed easily in an image.

While I am still going to pick and choose what I share on my social media channels, I am not going to feel disheartened that my life is not as visually perfect as those of the Pinterest greats. After all, I would much prefer a life that is full of fun and messy crafts and dodgy looking cakes than one spent stressing about creating photos so perfect my blog goes viral.

I will continue to pin toddler distraction techniques!

What do you think of social media? Do you filter what you put on there? Does Pinterest make you feel a bit crap sometimes too? I would love to know what you think.

This post is linked to..

A Cornish Mum
My Random Musings

Cuddle Fairy

Mummuddlingthrough

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26 Comments

  1. February 24, 2016 / 7:57 am

    Such a valid post. I must admit I love instagram and do use filters and I enjoy pinterest but I understand the point that all the perfect pictures you see can put unecessary pressure on yourself to present a perfect life. But hey, a bit of imperfection is far more endearing and interesting xx #BloggerClubUK

  2. Baby Isabella
    February 24, 2016 / 12:51 pm

    We don't have a Pinterest perfect life either, Infact we have had a couple of crafting and baking fails! No one every sees those though! 😉 maybe we should have an epic fail board!! #BloggerClubUK

  3. February 24, 2016 / 7:20 pm

    An epic fail board sounds like a great idea!!Glad I'm not the only one who has baking and craft disasters xx

  4. February 24, 2016 / 7:21 pm

    I totally agree. I love instagram and pinterest too, it's just all the beautiful images can be a bit much sometimes 🙂 xx

  5. February 24, 2016 / 9:52 pm

    I love all the perfect photos on Instagram and Pinterest but then I know that its not the full story. Just out of shot if that perfect cake is a massive sink full of washing up and a toddler with icing all over their face, they don't fool me! #bloggerclubuk

  6. February 25, 2016 / 10:59 am

    I try and post only positive things if i do post anything negative i usually change my mild and soon delete it. I like the idea of being able to look back either myself or my son or family and have memories through posts/pictures.

    There will always be those that appear perfect but they too have probably posted the "perfect" pic that took them a few attempts. The fact you have done something and pleased with what you have done is enough. I love pinterest some fab ideas!

  7. February 25, 2016 / 11:54 am

    I agree with all of the above! Our eyes do love the aesthetically pleasing photo's plastered on social media, however I love to read about the things that went wrong and what really happened when someone tried a Pinterest post. I like to think when you are aware of life not being Pinterest perfect then you truly are winning 😀 and your family will too! #coolmumclub

  8. Talya Stone
    February 25, 2016 / 1:43 pm

    Lol my life is less Pinterest, more WTF-terest, but I prefer to keep it real rather than pretend it's some shiny version of itself! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely x

  9. Silly Mummy
    February 25, 2016 / 9:19 pm

    I agree with you. I think a lot of people are quite bad for rose tinting on fb & I tend to take it with a pinch of salt. But I have never been one for sharing anything personal on fb really, & I don't put the kids on there. I just do the odd humorous or political status, read other people's things & now mostly do blog stuff (so presumably annoy everyone!). I've never been into pinterest. I have it now because of the blog, but have no idea how it is meant to help with the blog! I spend no time whatsoever attempting to achieve things I see on pinterest, as I know how that would end! #coolmumclub

  10. February 26, 2016 / 6:44 am

    I do love Pinterest too, I guess I am just bitter because I would never be able to make anything so pretty haha. I definitely think Facebook/Instagram is a great way of storing photos/memories too xxx

  11. February 26, 2016 / 6:45 am

    Haha, that is probably very true!xx

  12. February 26, 2016 / 6:46 am

    Yes, I do love the pictures don't get me wrong, just make me a grumpy because I could never pull them off haha. I think posts about things going wrong would be much more entertaining!xx

  13. February 26, 2016 / 6:47 am

    Totally agree with you Talya!xx

  14. February 26, 2016 / 6:49 am

    Yes, people definitely only put the best version of their lives out there on social media. I think taking it all with a pinch of salt is the best idea. Haha, to be honest I don't know how Pinterest is supposed to help the blog either, I am still a bit clueless there. I am sure your FB statuses are very entertaining if they are anything like your blog!xx

  15. February 26, 2016 / 7:44 am

    I have to confess, I don't really know how to use Pinterest well although I do like to dabble in pinning pretty and inspiring things. I've never been great at crafty things so feeling a bit useless in that department is nothing new for me, it predates social media haha! I like your attitude toward it, real life is for living, not perfecting 🙂

  16. A Cornish Mum Blog
    February 27, 2016 / 10:35 am

    I love Pinterest and instagram. I think the key is to remember it's not the full story, everyone is more likely to share things they are proud of and that they think may inspire others.
    For me Pinterest has been a saviour for finding crafts to do with the boys when they were younger, recipes and emergency last minute dress up costume ideas. Do my versions look perfect? He'll no but they look a lot better than they would have with the 'perfect' inspiration 😉
    Thanks for linking up to #Picknmix
    Stevie x

  17. February 28, 2016 / 4:13 pm

    I have a board on Pinterest called "I Actually Made it"…I think it has 3 things on it. Enough said. It is a bittersweet relationship we have with social media…and yes, sometimes, if we're not careful, it can make us feel like crap. Here's to our non-pinterest worthy lives! 😉 #KCACOLS

  18. Claire Hall
    February 29, 2016 / 3:45 pm

    It always makes me wonder how people make their craft and baking activities with kids look so tidy. Ours are always a shambles. The answer is that it's not real life and you have to accept that they did that activity on their own or tidied it up when the kids had gone to bed. The sad fact is I'm much less likely to pin something that looks messy so the pin pros are just playing to their audience. I also edit our life on social media. I share the good bits and crop images. I don't do it to make anyone feel bad. I do it because I want to share good times. I really hope that doesn't make anyone feel bad. It's such an interesting and complicated topic! #coolmumclub

  19. Mudpie Fridays
    February 29, 2016 / 9:00 pm

    I am also pintrest obsessed and in some ways thats one of the reasons that I started blogging. However my projects never look as good and I struggle with images that would attract others and have resorted to just putting a title on everything to cover it up!! So your not alone, won't stop me pinning though 🙂 thanks for joining us at #BloggerClubUK hope to see you again this week x

  20. Eilidh Gallagher
    March 2, 2016 / 7:49 pm

    I love social media but it annoys me at the same time. Pinterest ideas always look so good but they never turn out like that for me either. I love Instagram too but then sometimes I wish my photos looked like that. Thanks for linking up to #PickNMix

  21. March 5, 2016 / 10:15 am

    Thanks :). I do love pinning pretty things too (even though it makes me feel useless sometimes!).xx

  22. March 5, 2016 / 10:17 am

    Haha, yes that's very true. Pinterest is great for inspiration, I've found loads of baking ideas on there. Just wish I could pull them off though haha x

  23. March 5, 2016 / 10:18 am

    Here here!!I love that you have an I actually made it board xx

  24. March 5, 2016 / 10:20 am

    It is very complicated!I am like you and want to share the good tines/pretty things but then is that giving my followers/friends a distorted look in to my life?I don't know.Thise perfect crafts have definitely been made once the kids are in bed!xx

  25. March 5, 2016 / 10:21 am

    Haha, it won't stop me pinning either! Putting text Iver the image is a great idea. Thanks for hosting xx

  26. March 5, 2016 / 10:22 am

    You feel exactly the same as me. Glad I'm not the only one xx