Mom and Lifestyle Bloggers, Pinterest is your friend! Here are my top 5 reasons you should use Pinterest if you’re not already.
Today Buffer did a webinar on Pinterest with Leon Lin and Aaron Ru hosted by Brian Peters. This was a very informative webinar that all bloggers in the mom and lifestyle niches can learn a lot from.
I never really intended to write a blog on blogging but, I found this information so helpful today, I felt I just had to share. I learned so much but these are my top 5 reasons mom and lifestyle bloggers should use Pinterest.
Below are the main principles I took away from that interview.
1) Pinterest is FOR creatives! I knew this in the back of my mind before I ever became a blogger. How did I know this you may ask? Well, I have been using Pinterest for personal use for years! What did I use it for? IDEAS. Pinterest is the perfect platform for a mom looking for inspiration. I went there to have my creative juices stimulated by other creatives.
2) Pinterest doesn’t use your friends or relatives likes to guide their recommendations for you. INSTEAD, Pinterest uses YOUR boards and likes to base recommendations for you. Wow! What a concept! I got to thinking about this and Face Book is a little more like peer pressure. They are usually giving you things like, “Hey, your friend Crystal likes this, maybe you should too.” This is not necessarily a bad thing since I am also interested in a lot of things my friends are interested in. However, Pinterest is more for individualism and personalizing to your actual tastes. Both media platforms have their place for sure but, Pinterest has a more personal feel.
3) Moms use Pinterest! Before I began blogging, that’s exactly who I was.; a mom using Pinterest for creative ideas! In fact, the interview alluded to almost 80% of Pinterest users being moms! First time moms, home school moms, working moms, veteran moms, all types of moms us Pinterest. If mom blogging is your niche, THIS IS WHERE YOUR AUDIENCE IS!
4) Another thing the interview brought up was, 1 in 2, (50%) of Pinterest users come there with an intent to purchase. Fashion and lifestyle bloggers as well as mom bloggers can use this to their benefit. Views and clicks are great encouragement to continue making great content. However, conversions that help earn the income needed to spend all your time creating is also very important.
5) Evergreen content is truly evergreen on Pinterest. I know from using Facebook myself, after just a few hours, anything posted on the feed is bumped way down. On Pinterest people often save your creative works AND return to it several times. They may even share with their friends and family who will in turn save and return. The life of content feeling “fresh” on Pinterest can be 6 months or more! Other platforms may give you only 3 days of traffic.
Buffer is a great resource! Especially for those bloggers who are just getting started. I highly recommend that you follow Buffer and see if you can get the replay of this webinar. It was amazing.
Pinterest Best Practices
The new guide to best practices on Pinterest was also released. Leon Lin and Aaron Ru both expressed that Pinterest is for the creator. They also recommend you pin daily but definitely not less than once a week. Go ahead and get a business account and use the analytics tool to help you. Do use the group boards for collaborations with other bloggers or social media influencers.
Pinterest No No’s
Don’t be spammy. No one likes a person that is self centered and only cares about themselves. Not only does Pinterest respect you as a creator, they also respect you as a curator. Help them find the good stuff and pin that too! As a Christian, I like the idea of a tithe, for 10 pins you pin, make 9 other peoples and yours the one. Don’t over pin though, 20 pins a day may cause you to look like a robot.
The biggie for me on group boards was, don’t expect these to help your traffic. The guys at Pinterest will start docking for non collaborative group board pinning! Use it as intended Leon Lin stressed, for collaboration!
No Giraffe pins! Users don’t like these they said. They take up too much space and make it difficult to browse on the phones.
Conclusion
Pinterest has success when you have success. Their goal is give creative content to their users. Pinterest wants great creators! Let them help you by using their tools as intended.
So, let’s take this knowledge, apply it, help each other, and get creating!
Thanks so much for reading!
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my top 5 reasons to use Pinterest? Leave a comment below and let me know if this helped you.
Pensacola Symphony Orchestra performed a great family event Saturday May 19, 2018. I’m so glad we were able to go! Music for families was an amazing event!
The event was held at the Saenger Theater in downtown Pensacola. We had never been to this theater before. The details of the inside were beautiful.
Blue’s Angels music store was one of the sponsors for the event. I really love the Blue’s Angels music store. They have a really awesome guard parrot that lives in the store. They also have fish tanks that look like drums.
The atmosphere at Blue’s Angels is really relaxed and enjoyable. The staff there make it a great store! Blue’s Angels has a lot of teachers available for all types of instruments as well. There is also a nice selection of pianos in their show room.
Cox and Wendy’s were also sponsors. I’m glad these two businesses teamed up with Pensacola Symphony Orchestra to bring this entertainment to us.
The “Petting Zoo” For Instruments
We absolutely loved this idea! The petting zoo was a place the children could visit nearly every instrument in the orchestra and learn a little about how it makes sound and give it a try on their own. Each instrument was accompanied by a member of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.
Piano
My DD went straight for the piano! She’s been playing for years and she’ll play it any time she has a chance. They had a nice black babygrand piano on display for all of the children to use.
Cello
Sneetch 2 went for the cello. He was recently given a cello by a nearby church to learn on. YoYo Ma is one of Sneetch 2’s favorite musicians. The man at the cello station gave Sneetch 2 a little mini lesson on the cello and we watched him play a few notes.
Violin/Viola
Violin and Viola were also on display. Viola is my personal favorite! It plays the alto and has a warmer more homey sound. It’s like the violin’s mom. Sneetch 1 didn’t go with us but he prefers the Violin. Violin is just so stereotypical though! Hahaha. You know you love someone if you let them practice those high E string notes on violin in your house.
The Bass
We had to take a look at the Bass. I’m not sure if some of the kids were just done looking at it or perhaps intimidated by it’s large size. We have a Great Dane and the bass is bigger than he is! We really enjoyed talking to the man giving the demonstration. He let all of us play it and then he even played us a little song, Mary Had A Little Lamb.
Winds and Brass
They had an entire room of winds as well. We went there and saw the Tuba, Basson, Flute, and Trumpet. The lines in this room were also long. They did clean the mouth piece after each use but, my kiddos just couldn’t bring themselves to blow on a mouth piece that had been used by 15 kids while we waited. Perhaps my days of nursing school rubbed off on them!
Percussion
One of our favorite attractions was the percussion demonstration that the Blue’s Angels music store staff put on in the “instrument petting zoo”. There were several different types of drums set up, maracas, and tambourines. The girl that lead the demo taught us different beats. The big drums got to bang “ham and cheese”, the smaller drums beat a “run for-est run” beat, and those of us with tambourines and maracas shook to a beat of “pea-nut but-ter”. Once we had it down they played the song “Happy” and we tried to stay on beat! This was absolutely hilarious with about 30 kids in the room!
The Concert!
After all the time in the petting zoo was over, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra played a concert for us. The maestro, Peter Rubardt and a woman named Nicole talked to the audience about how instruments produced sound. The concert had a “music train” that the conductor (Peter Rubardt) drove Nicole around on. They pretended to look for all the members of the Orchestra. Those of us in the crowd had to help “start” up the train. On the floor level half of the people stomped feet to a beat. The other half of the floor level audience chanted “chugga chugga”. Those of us up in the balcony made the whistle sound of “woo woo”. It may have been a little corny but, I loved it!
Drumland
When they got to Drumland, Nicole and the conductor introduced us to the “mayor” of Drumland. He gave us an overview of all the instruments in the percussion section of the Orchestra. Lots of people enjoy the drums but I think my favorite has to be the triangle. The triangle reminds me of the ‘wild west’ where I’m from (west Texas that is).
Once we were all familiar with the instruments that fell under the percussion umbrella, the three guys playing percussion played a short little song. I had no idea that composers even wrote songs for only percussion! It was neat to see.
Brassburg
Nicole acted as though she thought only the drum section was the entire orchestra. The conductor told her that he felt there were a few more people in an orchestra. They hopped on the train again and found Brassburg. Brassburg was home to the tubas, trumpets, and all those horns.
The mayor from Brassburg was a tuba player and he told everyone about the brass section. One interesting thing this mayor mentioned was that the sound for these horns first starts with the way you buzz your lips! I did not realize that the lips had to buzz to make the correct sound. I’ve always thought it was like a flute or something and you just blow on it.
Once again we were treated to another song. This song was brass plus percussion.
Woodwindville
The next stop on the “music train” was Woodwindville. This section of the orchestra had bassoons, flutes, and oboes in it. This little town had our first female mayor! She played the bassoon.
Once we were educated on this section of the orchestra, you guessed it!, we got another song!
The flutes really added to the music. I enjoyed those a lot.
String City
The last stop on the “music train” was the string city. This is my favorite! Our family really gravitates toward the strings. I’ve got a small YouTube channel showing my progress as I learn both violin and piano.
The mayor of String City played the bass but he said he got elected mayor due to his vow to bring the viola back! I don’t have a viola yet (hence learning violin instead) but I cheered loudly while the four violists held up their violas!
At last we had the entire Pensacola Symphony Orchestra assembled. It was time for the full effect!
Finale
The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra played a mash up of all the songs in the Disney Beauty and the Beast film. Nicole had picked this song for everyone. Once this song was over she asked the crowd what song they would like to hear next. Everyone luckily shouted Star Wars, which was already on the program!
Conclusion
This was a great program for kids and their families! People were excited to hear the wonderful live music and everyone was polite and courteous no matter how loud the babies were. We had such a great time we will definitely be back next year!
The best part was, the tickets were a mere $5 each. You can’t go to a movie theater for that folks! Your brain is certainly not going to be as engaged during a film either. Lastly, your kids may never get to see and touch that many instruments in a single day!
Sheet Music
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They have 4 levels of sheet music to choose from for virtually any instrument you can think of. It’s not purely classical either, they have all types of music.
I haven’t tried these yet but, I’m so looking forward to getting a trial set. I last purchased these picks from Amazon.
These are okay but the thin ones broke over time and they are slippery if your hands get sweaty while playing. I can’t wait to see how the chicken picks compare!
Thanks so much for stopping in today! If you’re planning a vacation to Pensacola or live within driving distance, I hope you’ll consider watching the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra!
I enjoy hosting Mother’s Day Tea parties just as much as I do attending them. Are you looking forward to this Mother’s Day? Have you thought about making memories with your loved ones with a tea party?
Hosting a Tea Party can be a wonderful way to make memories with your friends and family. If you’ve never hosted a Tea Party, don’t be intimidated, it can be a lot of fun once you a few parameters set.
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Picking a Theme!
A Mother’s Day Tea Party can be informal and simple or it can be a grande affair, also known as a “High Tea.” Some Mother’s Day Tea’s are a mix of the two with an informal or whimsical theme with a fancy dress. I personally LOVE big hats so I like to go with either a formal theme or a whimsical mix. What can I say, I’m a Texan, bigger is better right? Hahaha.
When considering a theme I like to think about weather conditions we are likely to have. Since I live in Florida it’s often humid but I’m really partial to a garden theme anytime the weather is good! Perhaps the fact that we often eat indoors daily makes the idea of a garden theme that much more alluring. I do suggest selecting a location that has some sort of shelter to offer a back up plan if you select an outdoor garden theme.
Song of Solomon offers a great garden theme if many of the guests to be invited are single. Song of Solomon is one of my favorite books of the Bible and I really love this theme for a formal affair. Gardenias are a particular favorite for me when I choose this theme. Since Song of Solomon also speaks about riding in the chariot with the King, I really like to embellish the decorations as much as possible and over emphasize the flowers.
An Alice In Wonderland theme is great for mothers with smaller children that would like to attend a special event with mom. This theme is excellent for both indoor and outdoor facilities and offers a wide array of dress to guests. Hats can big and tall or short and small. This theme also allows for mix matched tea cups and saucers, napkins, tables, chairs etc. I really enjoy hosting this type of tea party as well since the sky is truly the limit!
Another theme I like is the Proverbs 31 woman. I usually read over this passage and select a few features that tie in with it. For example, I use the color red in the decorations since verse 10 mentions her price is far above rubies and verse 21 says that her clothing is scarlet. Since this passage really demonstrates the high value of the famous Proverbs 31 Woman, I like to use this theme for a formal “High Tea” to honor a special lady such as a pastor’s wife, a very special grandmother, or another lady considered to be a “pillar” in the church. Fine tapestries are also mentioned so I like to use all cloth table cloths, napkins, and make a nice drapery area for photos.
Themes can be easy and simple too. My daughter and I once did a small little tea party for just the two of us during nap time of the boys. We had cucumber sandwhiches and pecan sandies with her princess tea party set. We made good use of her Disney Cinderella costume as well. Since normally I’m a huge stickler for food being only in our kitchen, we broke the rules and took the food up to her room!
When planning your theme don’t force an idea you can’t get excited about. If the stress takes the joy out of planning your mother’s day tea party, go simple and small. Afterall, the main purpose of the tea is to build and strengthen relationships and memories! Perfection is not required.
Guest List
Choosing who to invite is pretty important! I’ve had a tea party as small as my daughter and myself and as large as 30 or so ladies. Your tea party can be any size.
Would you like to have some quality time with just your own children? Would you like to have a generational tea party with your granmother, mother, and daughter? Is honoring a lady in your community or church on your mind? Answering these questions will help you to determine how large your guest list will be.
When making your guest list you will also need to keep a date in mind. If your guests work outside the home on weekdays, you’ll need to keep this in mind for the best attendance. In my circle of friends, quite a few of us work from home or outside the home on Saturdays so, weekends are not always the best option for a tea party.
It’s also important to think about Mother’s Day traditions in other families as well. Perhaps many of your friends go out to eat on that day at the mother’s favorite resturant or maybe they take a weekend trip to hike at the national park. Whatever the case may be, you’ll need to try and anticipate as much as possible from your guests to get the best attendance.
Location
Your location should match up with your theme and guest list. Some locations may require a large purchase of catered food or rent for the location. If your location will require a deposit or food purchase, you’ll need to make sure your budget allows for it.
Try to select a location your guests will be excited to visit such as a tea cottage, a beach house, or a country cabin. Take time to talk to friends that may be property owners or realtors that can help you find a hidden gem.
Also consider the distance from where your guests live to the location. See if you can find a central location that will make the drive time as equal as possible. If you do find a perfect place tucked out in noman’s land, consider offering a car pool! At least this way if they get lost, they are still all together. Hahaha. (It’s taken me a long time to develop what little sense of direction I do have! Thank the Lord there is now GPS)
Tight budgets may find a nice little church will offer a room for a tea party. Even a nicely kept public park can make a nice area for a tea party, especially with the Alice in Wonderland theme! If you do choose to go with a public park be considerate of music selections and clean up well before leaving. Some of my most fond memories come from parties we have done at a local park.
The Food
Planning the food can be the biggest challenge for the do it yourselfer! However, I find this part to be very enjoyable despite the challenges. Pinterest can be a great tool for ideas but, I’ve taken the time to round up some great ideas from my fellow bloggers for you as well. If you’ve choosen a location that provides catered food you may still get to make some decisions about what exactly is served. I hope these ideas help you to decide even if working with a caterer.
A formal or High Tea should be a full meal. Here are a few ideas!
When selecting teas, you want to be able to offer a variety of flavors. I always serve a black, white, and herbal blend of tea at a mother’s day tea. I usually also pick a really out of the ordinary tea such as a chocolate. My personal favorite teas are the fruity blends such as blueberry anything. Ask your friends if they have a favorite or if there is a type they’ve wanted to try!
My favorite local tea shop is K & G Blended Teas. They have wonderful hand blended teas. My favorites from them are the African Honeybush Sangria and the Wild Card tea. Their Chia teas are wonderful too!
Budget
When possible I really like to cover the entire tea party cost myself however, that’s not always feasible. If you’ve got money set aside for a tea party, look at your theme, guest list, location, and available decorations and see what you will need to plan for. A tea party for six in your grandmother’s back yard may not require the same expense as a luxury hotel conference room for 80 ladies.
A few years ago there was the sweetest and most adorable little tea cottage in our local area that could seat about 28-30 people at one time. Several ladies from our church felt this would be a great venue however it required a minium purchase agreement in order to rent the entire space. We had a meeting with all the ladies in our church and discussed doing a dutch treat tea party that year. The service was so wonderful that we did it another year as well! Sometimes the perfect venue is worth guests paying their way.
If you’ve decided to use a location that will require you to service both the food and decorations you will need to consider the costs of these in your budget as well. When my friend and I hosted a tea party at our church, we looked for decorations at thrift stores, yard sales, and craft fairs. Another good idea is to see if anyone you know has tea pots, linens, flowers, tea cups, or other decorations you can borrow. Several older ladies in our church has tea sets that had been boxed up in the attic for years! Asking for the use of these items really thrilled these ladies.
There is also the potential of teaming up with a local women’s shelter and donating some or all of the proceeds to them. Many businesses will be willing to sponser your event to help the community. You could have monetary donations, decorations, and even food donated for the use of a non profit mother’s day tea to benefit a women’s shelter.
The Dress! Big Hat or Small Town?
Personally, I’m a tradionalist and absolutely love to wear a cute dress to a Mother’s Day Tea Party. Something about a dress just makes me feel classy and boosts my self esteem. Just add a touch of lipstick and a matching pair of shoes and you can conquer the day in a beautiful dress!
I love these spring florals in sizes all the way to 5X!These “mommy and me” stripes and floral combos are perfect for a spring tea.This is my favorite “mommy and me” combo! I’m in love with the blue.
My top picks from Cents of Style!This is the lowest price I’ve found anywhere on this cute flowing skirt.
Adding a big hat is, as you already know, my personal icing on the cake. I love to make my own hats! Of course you can always buy your own Kentucky Derby style hat and even enjoy the hunt for it. However, I’ve found it much more economical to purchase summer hats like these here from Jane.com and then embelish them myself to match my dress. If there is a Peacock owner in your area you may be able to find your own feathers there much cheaper than hobby stores.
Summer hats from Jane.com to embelish for your mother’s day tea.
Time To Ivite Your Guests
Well, now that you’ve got some great ideas on food, teas, decorations, themes, it’s time to get that guest list down on paper. Once you’ve got your list made up create some invitations to match your theme. There are several places to choose from, Etsy, Canva (this is what I use), and old fashion card stock. If you don’t have time to press or decorate the old fashioned card stock, Canva may be your best bet. Etsy also has awesome options if you’ve got room in your budget.
It’s a good idea to put out a feeler or save the date by word of mouth to your guests so they will know to expect an invite. Many families are very busy in the spring and they appreciate a little heads up to reserve the day. I like to send out my physical invitations at least 7 days in advance but not more than 2 weeks or they may get lost.
Happy Mother’s Day Tea
I really hope that you’ve enjoyed this post and have some great ideas for your next Mother’s Day Tea Party! Have you hosted a Mother’s Day Tea of your own? Do you have any great ideas to share? Please comment below and let us know! If you’ve found this helpful save it to Pinterest.
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