I Like It, I Like It Not

Image from here

The other day, I sent Ryan a funny email. He replied, "*Like*."

That really cracked me up. Because, you know, "Like" is what we do on Facebook when we read a post and think it's funny or worthwhile, but instead of taking the time to compose a comment (or lift your finger from the trackpad, even) you just say, "Like."

You can "like" things on Pinterest too. And I've found that kind of electronic "liking" is pretty self-fulfilling. Generally speaking, if I see something on Pinterest enough, I start actually liking it. Even if I probably wouldn't like it in real life.

It's genius marketing, and people are trying to capitalize on it. In many cases, it works. But I read a blog post a while ago (I've searched for it and now I can't find it, but if any of you know what I'm talking about, let me know and I'll link it here) that asked us to decide what we really like. Pinterest has become a place where people go not to bookmark the things they like but to actually find out what they should like. We pin photos of recipes we'd never cook, sewing projects we'd never finish, parties we'd never throw, furniture we could never afford. The blogger asked herself, "Do people really love chevron prints this much, or is it just that everyone on Pinterest says we should like it?"

Don't get me wrong. I have found a few recipes on Pinterest that I know I will make over and over again. I've found some really inspiring blog posts and ideas for baby quilts. But the question remains: Do I really like chevron prints? Really?

I've done some soul-searching. And I have decided:

I do like:
Writing (mostly nonfiction)
Reading (but not Jane Austen)
Baking, if the recipe calls for ingredients I have on hand
Cooking in the crock pot, usually with cream of something soups
Quilting
Sewing simple things for Lyla to wear
Colored pants
Clever things (but only if they're punctuated correctly)

I don't like:
The word "crafting"
Decorating with vinyl, or decorations that look too homemade
Floral printed pants
Complicated makeup
Putting giant bows on my baby
Couponing
Complicated DIYs
Cooking that requires lots of pans
Having long hair

The jury is still out on beach cruisers, Ryan Gosling saying stuff, and half marathons.

And chevron.