Everything I Need to Know I Learned...On Pinterest

Ruining a productive work day. One "pin" at a time.

If you're anything like me, you've probably become very familiar with the term "pinning". 

No, it's not a derivation on Charlie Sheen's obnoxious denial of a mid-life crisis or a newfangled way to play a childhood birthday game. 

"Pinning", in this day and age is a sensation sweeping the masses; a new social media outlet for people who have countless hours to tag pictures and videos of things that intrigue them. 

The first step is acceptance.
For all you members of "Pinners Anonymous" out there, this  page is all too familiar...

A few months ago when a then-newly engaged friend of mine had posted some of her wedding ideas on Facebook, I remember thinking, "what a pointless yet interesting way to create a wish list!" and so the journey began. I applied for an account and within a few days was exploring the site and the catalog of images that were included. But that was a few months ago. Now, Pinterest has everything from pictures of dream destinations to inspirational quotes to funny e-cards. My sister, who is a social media hermit (with the exception of a fairly witty Twitter account), has been receiving a daily text message including a snapshot of a funny thing I find on the site. She doesn't seem to be enjoying it as much as the rest of the female population but if one thing's for certain, Pinterest is growing in fans with or without her.

Just one of the many fun ideas you can use when (and if) Mr. Right pops the question.

Aside from all the useless things on Pinterest, I've found that I can create "boards" of ideas that interest me that are simultaneously informative. To prove this, I will share some of the things my pins have taught me (organized by their corresponding board titles). Maybe it will inspire you to get an account, follow me and spend an unnecessary amount of time "re-pinning" what you see.

Aesthet-tips: To create wavy hair- Mix a teaspoon of salts, a few drops of olive (or jojoba) oil and 1/4 cup of water in a spritz bottle and mist on damp hair.

a girl can dream: Wedding wish jar- Have guests slip small handwritten notes and thoughts for the bride and groom in a large glass jar. Newlyweds can read the notes post nuptials!

Barbie mansion: Organization ideas- Use empty Altoid tins to store small items by name in your junk drawer.

"Cool" Box: Laundry Cheat Sheet-To remove antiperspirant/ deodorant marks from clothes, combine half a teaspoon of dish detergent (or castile soap), a few drops of white vinegar and a half cup of water. Press into the stain with a rag. Flush with water and blot. 

Entertain me: Fun fact-Part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

Fab&fit: Reasons why you should drink green tea; It is an excellent source of antioxidants, it helps protect your liver from alcohol and it burns fat and enables you to exercise longer. 

inspiration: "For what it's worth, it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you are proud of. And if you find that you're not, I hope that you have the strength to start all over again."

sweets&treats: Cloud Parfait- Blue Jell-O + Cool-Whip

And there's plenty more where that came from! Sign-up for Pinterest using your Facebook account and follow me, NESSessCITY, for more housewares inspiration, wish list ideas, and much more!

Are you already on Pinterest? Still trying to understand the hype? Comment here, chat and 'like' us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@citygrlthoughts)!

Happy pinning!

What to Wear: In Your Concrete Jungle

The fashionable woman wears clothes. The clothes don't wear her. (Mary Quant)

In light of the reason fashionable favorites (and faux pas) as awards season begins, we thought we'd explore our wild side as 2012 gives us a new year to explore with our favorite kind of print: Animal!

Taking another tip from the beloved Ms. Nina Garcia, today's focus is on the necessity and future of animal print in 2012. While it makes the cut for Ms. Garcia's list of the most important pieces every woman should have in her closet, its certainly a daring choice for those who are not as likely to take fashion risks. However, as Nina says, "the truly fashionable are always daring and never dull. They are willing to run with the leopards, the cheetahs, the zebras" and willing we are. 

But how do we celebrate the concrete jungles we inhabit without making our fashion credibility extinct? Start small. Animal print accessories are bold and slightly dangerous while still looking chic.

We loved the examples we saw on Fashion Binge but we're sure you can be trusted with the mission of finding your own favorites as long as you follow the card-NINA-l rules as you shop:

• Buying a print with pedigree. This is the best way to avoid looking garish. There are items that you can save money on. This should not be one of them.
• Wear only one piece at a time. Any more than that and you will look like fashion roadkill.
• Keep everything else simple, even severe. Pair the print with neutral colors. If you keep everything else classic, the print will carry itself.
• Keep the colors muted. Less is more, but none gets you nowhere!

Michael Kors 2012.

Are you a fashion wild child? How do you rock animal print in the workplace? At a lounge? Send us pics! We'd love to see what you come up with!

And tell us all about your fashion predictions for 2012 on our Facebook page or on Twitter by following @COSMOpolitique. Can't wait to see you in your natural habitat!

Fashionably yours, COSMOpolitique

Headliners: 2011

2011. Ah, what a year. From newsworthy arrests to downgraded stocks, it's been a wild ride and not one we're likely to forget. Although it's not over yet, we thought we'd recognize the few news articles and hot topics that really made our year memorable.

• MOST WANTED- James 'Whitey' Bulger: After 16 years on the F.B.I.'s "Most Wanted list", "Whitey" was captured this year along with his girlfriend in Santa Monica, California. Wanted for several charges (including racketeering, murder, conspiracy and narcotics distribution), the 82 year old former mobster is spending his days awaiting trial in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

• MOST CHANGED SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR THEIR CAREER TOOK OFF- Lindsay Lohan: If there's one thing that Lindsay Lohan never learned, it's that life is supposed to get better after high school. Maybe if she'd had the experience of facing mean girls instead of becoming one, everything from her minor car crashes in 2004 to her "accidental" jewelry theft earlier this year would be but a mere figment of the imagination. However, money can't buy you happiness and Lindsay has sure seen her fair share of unhappy moments this year from her brief stints in jail to community service hours and court dates.

• BEST SMILE- Lea Michele: She's the actress that puts the "glee" into the FOX channel sensation and wows the red carpet on a regular basis. Since 2009, Lea Michele has become a  Hollywood sweetheart with her warm smile and advocacy for gay and animal rights. As good as 2011 was for Lea, we have a feeling that 2012 has already had an early and sparkly beginning with her role in the "New Year's Eve" motion picture.

• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS WEDDING PARTY MEMBER- 'The grumpy flower girl': It may have been Duchess Kate Middleton's sister Pippa who "ruled" as most glamorous royal sister on April 29th but 3-year-old Lady Grace van Cutsem stole the show with her flower-framed pout atop Buckingham Palace's balcony. Not a fan of military fly-bys or her godfather's romantic moments with his new bride, its hard to not think of the royal nuptials without remembering Lady Grace's little face peering over the balcony.

• MOST INFLUENTIAL- The Arab Spring: While the world credits the United States with taking down one of the most evil men in history this year, its the Arab Spring movement that sparked a revolution around the world. December 2010 marked the beginning of what would be a new order for the Arab world from Algeria to Yemen and since that time, the world has kept a watchful eye on the shift of power in the Middle East.

• CLASS CLOWN- Charlie Sheen: Remember that kid in class who always made the jokes but took them just far enough that it made you uneasy? We're guessing that Charlie Sheen was that kid minus  the strong-willed (or -handed) adult to steer him clear of the wildness that would later set in. Gone are the days when we might follow the words of Jewel and "learn love from Charlie Sheen" but at least we're a year from his 2011 fall from grace. According to IMDb, there are a few projects in post-production featuring Mr. Sheen that might just "Catchfire"and aren't "Rated X".

• BEST DRESSED- Fashion's Night Out: In 2011, 18 countries participated in what was the biggest international exchange in the fashion industry. Cities from Australia to the United States hosted fashion shows and other gala events that were sponsored by industry businesses and designers such as VOGUE International. The informational website boasts "with stores in more than 250 cities across the country and more than 1,000 retailers in NYC alone, FNO was bigger and better than ever before". (Want to get ahead so as not to miss the festivities and year-round promotions? Visit here! )

• MOST OUTSPOKEN- London riots: Another national movement that took the media by storm this year was the rioting in London. Stemming from a police reaction to a peaceful protest march on August 6th, widespread looting and arson plagued the borough of Tottenham for four straight days and led to the 3,100 arrests, five deaths and over a dozen injuries. Those who heeded the travel warnings of the several countries that issued them, and explored the riots through the media would discover riots described by one journalist as "the worst disturbances of their kind since the 1995 Brixton riots". If nothing else, this year was a lively one and we think that the London riots, while possibly "shameful", brought awareness to social issues that otherwise might have gone unnoticed.

• MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED- Beyonce: Just when it seems that things can't get any better for the "Queen Bee", Ms. Sasha Fierce acquired new management (herself), recorded and released a new album ("4") and announced that she and husband, Jay-Z, are expecting their first child this year. Additionally, Ms. Knowles was identified by Forbes as the eighth "Best Paid Celebrity Under 30" in June. With all that under her belt, the hard-working, soon-to-be mama has set herself up for a very comfortable 2012.

• LIFE OF THE PARTY- Rebecca Black: Okay, we kid, but seriously, we give this girl props. Who knew that a song so bad could be such a sensation? With 167 million hits, the (un)popular party tune inspired everything from hashtags to video spoofs (and unfortunately a few death threats). Thanks to YouTube and various social media outlets, 'Friday' took off like a 14 year old after last period on, well, a 'Friday'...

• MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED POSTHUMOUSLY- Amy Winehouse: On July 26th the world bid farewell to possibly one of the last true soul crooners of the modern era. After her struggle with relationships, substance abuse, mental health issues, violence, legal troubles and respiratory problems, Amy Winehouse succumbed to the demons that had plagued her career and personal life. However, as fans across the world saw their "Tears Dry", a charitable organization was assembled in her memory "to support charitable activities [around the world]...that provide help... to young people...who are in need by reason of ill health, disability, financial disadvantage or addiction". This organization helps to heal the "Body and Soul" of those in need and helps the spirit of Amy live on with one of the most honorable claims to fame there is.

What made your year? Comment, friend or tweet us (@COSMOpolitique) with your favorite 2011 memories!

Oh, and Happy New Year!

Love,
COSMOpolitique

Be Scene!

Another weekend is on the way and you're in need of a new watering hole. You'd try something hip but you don't know where to start. Lucky for you Boston.com does!

Meet "Spotted", your new go-to archive for "the faces and places that make up Boston's vibrant nightlife scene". Since August, Boston.com has been tracking the whereabouts of night owls all over the city from swanky South End hot spots to bootlegger parties in Jamaica Plain. Whether you're the type that prefers a concert at a venue like the MFA courtyard or a themed party at a stylish club like Royale, there's something for everyone who wants to venture out.

Ranked 11th in 2009 by Forbes for best nightlife (coming in just behind Miami!), Boston's culture, "coolness" and celebrity fan base (like actor Anthony Michael Hall, model Cameron Russell and comedian Dane Cook) has sky-rocketed it to fame on the silver screen as well as the party scene. But it not always a party here. A quick glance though the Spotted archive proves that being more casual is what some Bostonians do best. (And they look good doing it too!)

But wanna know the best part? Spotted takes suggestions from readers in search of the best places to be and be seen! Offer up your favorite spots and you might just make it into the gallery. Plus, you never know who you'll end up rubbing elbows with!