If you know me even the slightest bit, you know the following about my life:

• I have eight kids between the ages of six and eighteen.
• My OB/GYN and his wife are two of my favorite people and yes, my husband and I actually go out to dinner with them!
• I very rarely get upset or depressed unless the vineyards experience a damaging drought.
• Speaking of which, you also know I am partial to Pinot Grigio.
• I only just started pumping my own gas this past year. (Don’t ask!)
• I have an “uncanny” knack for unclogging toilets! (Remember — eight kids!)
• I’m still not sold on the Brazilian.
• I’ve no fear of the different uses for the lampshade.
• I love to hug my friends. (And an occasional tree now and again.)
• I am not a “Holy Roller,” but my faith and being involved in our parish, CTK, is something I never take for granted.
• It’s never okay to blame the dog.  (Blame one of your kids instead!)
• I spend a wee bit (okay a lot a bit) more time than the average bear when it comes to playing on Facebook.

That said, I don’t have many secrets (if you read my Facebook posts you’d surely know that), and up until recently, I felt like I had complete control over my very, very busy life.

What changed my firm grasp on how I managed my time?  Discovering Pinterest, that’s what!

You mean you haven’t been sucked in like I have yet?  Well, before you get lost in cyberspace looking at a plethora of eye candy for your mind, body, and spirit let me get right to the point.

As explained on www.pinterest.com, Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, share their favorite recipes, quotes and hobbies, oh, and if not careful to fritter away hour upon hour of the most precious commodity they own—their time!

I first learned of this new phenomenon last month when I read about it in a woman’s magazine.  This now comes as no surprise seeing that recent studies show that Pinterest appears to be especially strong among women 18 to 34 living in households with incomes between $25,000 and $75,000 per year.  

Believe me when I tell you I fought the temptation of requesting an invitation to join, ah yes, you must be formally invited before you can pin that first dreamy photo of the Abercrombie stud posing in this spring’s latest jockey shorts to one of your boards.  However, once I was accepted (a very proud moment!) I couldn’t click my mouse fast enough to see what incredible ideas I would be inspired to repin.

Truthfully, the entire process is not complicated in the least and if you need a little escape from the doldrums of loading the dishwasher, filing your taxes (right around the corner my friends) and watching Nick Jr. with your preschooler, this could be just what the doctor ordered. 

Best of all, you really can let your imagination go wild, and just about nothing is off limits when it comes to a pin!  In about six weeks, I’ve gone gangbusters and created 39 boards from easy home makeover ideas (I have discovered a whole new respect for velcro and duct tape) to the most flattering hairstyles that can trim five pounds off of my naturally round face. 

It’s basically like window shopping for all that interests you, and you will also have the opportunity to interact with fellow pinners who share your taste.

Since I’ve discovered Pinterest, my loyalty to Facebook has started to taper off.  I gave it my best shot trying to multitask between both playgrounds, I mean sites, but it was just exhausting.  Before I knew it, I was paying too high a price for such a luxury — my time.

Thankfully, I’ve regained control and am able to limit myself to 10 minutes of pinning per hour!  No, just kidding — 10 minutes per day, and that little indulgence is something I think I can stick to!