Missing links belong on the Internet; not life

The first step is admitting you have a problem. Since I consider my readers some of my closest friends, I feel as though I should share my addiction with all of you. That’s right, I Justy Bullington, have an addiction (sigh) to Pinterest.

There are two kinds of women: women that have Pinterest addictions, and women that lie. The way I see it, Pinterest is like my very own magical place where my clothes are better, I’m more crafty, I’m an interior designer, and my eyeliner looks the same on both eyes. Who doesn’t need a little escape from the real world, right?

Either my addiction is growing or the self-help books I’ve been reading on relationships are starting to kick in, but lately I’ve noticed that Pinterest applies to our lives more than we might like to admit.

Although my real closet is far from my fashion board, my DIY projects look like kindergarten art, the horrific piles of clean and dirty clothes take away from the room decor, and let’s face it, one eye’s liner always turns out better than the other the Pinterest—life similarity lies in the searching..

Naturally, I spend a lot of my pinning time in the Women’s Fashion board. However, every time I find exactly what I was looking for I also found myself double clicking my way into a missing link. I continue to spend time sorting through items that just didn’t trigger a “pin” worthy response until I find “the one.”

As I continue to pursue “the one” it always ends with an unfound web page. I began to think maybe these beautifully patterned, well put together threads didn’t even exist. Even more sadly, I continue to search, click, and try again even though I know that the chance of being led astray was not only possible – but probable.

With a New Year still in the dressing room the timing to update the closet you call life couldn’t be more fitting. My advice? Get rid of all the missing links. Set expectations and even more importantly stick to them. You want to be taken out on a date? Demand it. In order to be treated like a lady you have to start acting like one. When “Prince Charming” pulls up to your house and honks the horn don’t go running outside. No. You sit your little fashionista self back down on the couch and let him either turn back into a frog, drive away, or get out of the car and come to the door. Honestly, if he didn’t know to come to door in the first place I’m going to go ahead and label him a missing link. And no, ladies, getting a text at 10:30 p.m. to “come watch a movie” is not an acceptable date.

As women we constantly complain about how chivalry has died. Although that may be true, it is equally true that women have stopped demanding chivalris behavior. In easier terms: “why buy the cow when you’re getting the milk for free?” You might be pleasantly surprised with the men you start to attract.

Will removing the missing links end with you at home eating dinner alone? It’s possible. Will you have to keep your “Wedding Board” on Pinterest private a little longer? Yes. Will it prevent you of wasting your time and damaging your feelings? Absolutely. I’ve always been told to dress for the job you want; I recently decided to look at relationships the same way. Date for the way you want your marriage to be. If he doesn’t open the door for you now, he’s not going to open the door for you 25 years down the road. If you wouldn’t settle for a new pair of shoes, you most certainly should not settle on a man. When the links finally match up, so will you.