How to Color, Create, Relax at Summers End
Summer's March to Finale
Is it okay to relax? Why yes - it is imperative!
The crazy days of summer are winding down with a drop of rain here or there or once blue skies suddenly filled with more pillowy clouds floating down yonder. With efforts to squeeze in last minute vacations, camping, swimming, gardening or driving madly comes a time to state "enough" and unwind and relax. In an age, where chaos and activities reign supreme it is forgotten how to find ways of filling the soul with simple pleasures. There is a movement in the land to stop and smell the roses, to stop running around like a chicken and to stop catering to everyone dancing around with agendas and instead take a minute, look back towards childhood and play a bit. Turn off the cell phone, let children entertain each other or let the last minute piece of work wait until tomorrow. Here are the top five ways to relax for the end of summer and the coming months.
1. Cell Phone: Put on vibrate and leave in another room. No texting and no calls. Seriously, put the phone down!
Doodling Dreams for Grown-Ups
I. Coloring Books: Yes, coloring books for adults are the "in" way to relax and soothe the mind after a day of insanity. Think back to childhood where rooms were filled with toys, mess everywhere with lots of colors and freedom to do as pleased. Today, there are coloring books that flash back to a simpler time where the rain pounded, the wind blew and imagination was set free all with a box of crayons and paper.
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| Secret Garden - An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book |
"Secret Garden - An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book" by Johanna Basford - Sold over 1.4M copies. Filled with intricate designs that delight the mind when adding a bloom of colors across the pages.
“Colouring can be a form of self-care, dedicating some time to yourself to do something you enjoy. For some people that might be exercise, reading, or doing something else they enjoy. But for a lot of people, turning to art is a wonderful form of self-care and self-expression.”
The Crayon - Better to Color With!
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| Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils 72 |
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| Faber-Castell 'Art Grip' Colored Pencils (Set of 12) |
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| Ellepi 'Duroplast' Double Pencil Sharpener |
The Reader - Better to See With!
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| Lily Pultizer - Sandpiper '52' Reading Glasses |
"Actually, all education is self-education. A teacher is only a guide, to point out the way, and no school, no matter how excellent, can give you education. What you receive is like the outlines in a child’s coloring book. You must fill in the colors yourself." ~Louis L’Amour
2. Peace: Find a quiet place to relax. No television, cell phone, computer or technical gadget. Listen to the quiet around.
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Summer Camp - Or Just Camping
Believe it or not adult summer camps are the hottest trend of the moment. Perhaps adults have run the gauntlet of getting into the right college, creating the right resume's, doing the right community service gambit, landing the right jobs and the list continues on of being so perfect and so right with every move. Yet, after all the studious and enlightening prep of becoming the best at anything and everything maybe a crack of wisdom comes pouring forth of what does it take to "relax", turn it down and play again? Thus, adults from all industries and walks of life are putting the cell phone down and heading off to summer camp. Just maybe the youth are on to something! Check out the internet and find the nearest adult summer camp. Or call friends, take a tent, sleeping bag, camping utensils and head on out into the wilderness or chose a local lodge and relax under a Camp Ivanhoe atmosphere. Of course, leave the cell phone and outside distractions at the bottom of a purse or in the room or tent. After all, picture taking, Instagraming, Facebooking, Tweeting, Texting and taking calls leads to missing out on the beauty of the world around.
What to Wear?
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| Patagonia 'Nano Puff' Vest |
Cover Up Princess
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| Erik Javits 'Hampton' Straw Sun Hat |
Shades Please!
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| Warby Parker 'Crossfield' 59mm Polarized Titanium Aviator Sunglasses |
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein
3. Play Yourself: Stop watching others at play! Instead step up to the plate, pick up a sport, join a team and enjoy the benefit of play with others rather than be a forever spectator.
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Let's Start Playing!
Playing a sport is becoming a national obsession with adults. After watching kids or others participate in activities for years, the time has come to also participate and enjoy the aftermath of getting in shape, meeting people and having good ole fun. Sitting on the sidelines is the way of the past. Take up a sport but remember the goal of a new endeavor is not try to compete with a 20 year old. Many injuries happen to adults 40 and up when trying to keep in pace with a 20 something. Seriously, take a sport slowly and build up expertise. Most importantly, grasp the sport and have fun with others around the same age. Of course, a latte afterwards seals the venture!
Looking Good!
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| Nike 'Pure' Stripe Dri-FIT Tennis Tank |
"It's not whether you get knocked down; its whether you get up" - Vince Lombardi
4. Read: Take time to read a book. Yes, a book. Not a text, nor a blurb here or there. Learn something, share something and understand something to broaden the intellectual scope of understanding the universe and humanity.
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Women Who Read are Dangerous!
In the land of technology and gadgets galore, reading is
available to all willing to take a moment and begin absorbing words, thoughts,
stories and opinions. However, often the technical gadgets disrupt the "art
of reading and enjoying the moment". Perhaps pick up a book,
put the cell phone away, gadgets etc., aside and enjoy the freedom and wisdom
of imagination combined with learning through reading. Open a hardcover
book and flip joyously through the pages free of interruptions!
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| The Nightingale |
"There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favorite book" - Marcel Proust
5: Paint: Pick out a favorite hue and paint nails.
Pick out a favorite hue and paint lips. It is an action that results in a
polished and pretty effect.
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Painting is a Pleasure - Nails & Lips
Add sparkling hues to nails and lips. The end result will feel fabulous and look stunning. Enjoy the beauty of color against skin and enhanced with apparel and accessories!
Dior, Dior, Dior
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| Dior 'Vernis' Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer |
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| Dior 'Rouge Dior' Lipstick |
Yes, stop and relax during the last days of summer. Pick up a colored pencil and draw, go camping, start a sport, read a few more books, paint nails or buy a new lipstick and basically enjoy and embrace the last days of the golden summer. Going forward - take a moment everyday to hear the quiet, watch the world, notice the wildlife and ignore the cell phone now and then while making every day count. The world is ever changing and learning to evolve and accept is important for mental health and well being. However, remember to feed the soul and grasp the joys of creativity and play as an adult. The reward is worth the effort.
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