Virtual ---> Reality

I have spent a lot of time recently thinking about the internet and all of the time I find myself spending there (here).  There is definitive value that the internet has to offer...connection to old friends via facebook and email, inspiration and ideas via Pinterest, community and shared space through blogs, entrepreneurship via Etsy,  education via online courses.  The lists can go on and on...

In addition, after much debate, I recently upgraded my very old cell phone and purchased an iPhone, which has propelled me squarely into the online world pretty much at all times (constant access to emails, facebook, games, Twitter and Instagram)...holy hell.  I'm still unsure how I feel about it all and am newly experimenting with some of it (I'm beegirl76 on Instagram and Twitter if you're interested in that sort of thing), but I do have to admit, most of it is incredibly convenient.

Instagram photos look great on my iPhone,
but I'm not sure how people get them to look equally as great
in an online format, such as this one.  Ideas???

However, while I find myself stimulated by this virtual reality pretty much all the time, I also find myself longing to find an appropriate balance between virtual ideas and the reality of life itself.  I mean, really, how many Pins can one have and what good do they do anyone if you don't actually use that inspiration to try new things in actual reality.  If we are always connected, always online, how will we ever get anything done?  Right.

Enter Virtual ---> Reality, a new challenge I am setting for myself on an as often as possible basis.  The challenge is simply to take some of the inspiration I am finding in Internet Land, practice it in real life, then post about it here, completing the circle...and accomplishing a few thing in the process.

So, let's start!

My first intentional attempt at completing the circle happened two weekends ago with the pickling of 12 pints of cherry tomatoes.  While I have never eaten a pickled cherry tomato, I couldn't think of a better way to deal with part of our massive harvest then to try something brand new.  Apparently, pickled tomatoes are good to use on anything you would normally use relish on.  Who knew?  Well, I guess Garden Betty did :-)

My second project, Pumpkin French Toast came from the Minimalist Baker.  I found this late on a Sunday night and had grand plans to have this waiting for my family on Monday morning.  But it was already late, so I decided to just get up a little earlier than normal, prep it, let it sit for a bit and then pop it in the oven.  Then, I didn't set my alarm.  Ugh...the best laid plans...

Despite a bit of a rush, I threw it all together, got it in the oven and was able to pull it our just in time for Fish Girl to grab some on her way to school :-)  Breakfast success!  Whew!

And so continues my new challenge!  Care to join along?  Oh, please do!  What have you found online recently that has inspired you to create in real life?  Please feel free to share your stories and links in the comments below!  

xoxo,

M