3 Things Tuesday

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First thing first – I’m going to see my friend’s new baby today!  So excited to shower that baby with love – and momma with food.  My personal rule is to never show up to a new mom’s house without a dish, and I always bring Santa Fe Casserole.  It’s always a hit.

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I made a few modifications.  I have made this recipe so many times that I can just eyeball it and mix it up.  This time around, I added spinach.  Yum.

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Second thing… My workout for yesterday was hauling this cutie around the neighborhood.  OOF.  He is getting heavy in the backpack!!!  Talk about strength training, huh?

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Favorite part – when he kept screaming in my ear, “GO FASTER MOMMY!”  Hahaha.  Thanks, dearie.

 

And last, but not last, COLORS.

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I read an article recently about how coloring can be a form of stress relief and figured that I would give it a whirl.  I keep trying to practice meditation and mindfulness and epically failing – I’m driven to distraction no matter how I try to focus – so I thought coloring may be up to my speed.  Here’s why it works:

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“The practice generates wellness, quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses and creativity… When coloring, we activate different areas of our two cerebral hemispheres, says psychologist Gloria Martínez Ayala. “The action involves both logic, by which we color forms, and creativity, when mixing and matching colors. This incorporates the areas of the cerebral cortex involved in vision and fine motor skills [coordination necessary to make small, precise movements]. The relaxation that it provides lowers the activity of the amygdala, a basic part of our brain involved in controlling emotion that is affected by stress.””  (Source)

 

I bought this book and have been loving it!  It’s crazy how I lose sense of time as I color… I actually have to set a timer on my phone to ensure that I don’t color too long and miss bedtime.  It’s really relaxing, too. 

 

Tell me three fun things about your day! 

{ 23 comments }

 

  • Julia@yogawinehappiness.com August 25, 2015, 6:29 am

    I definitely think coloring is a stress reliever!

  • Marci August 25, 2015, 7:10 am

    a local Houston mom friend wrote a book called “hot mess to mindful mom.” I think you’d like it! It’s a quick read.

  • Chelsey August 25, 2015, 7:10 am

    i love to color too – I might just have to buy one of those books! Whenever I have to make an example of something for my students, I get so excited to bust out my colored pencils. It definitely has a calmin effect on one of my girls too. Tantrums? Time to pull out the crayons!

  • Karien @ Running the Race August 25, 2015, 7:15 am

    I love your new mama rule – and that dish looks amazing!

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed August 25, 2015, 8:33 am

    Perhaps I need a coloring book to pass the time on our long flight to Italy next month 😀

  • Laura August 25, 2015, 8:37 am

    I have been wanting to try an adult coloring book! Did you buy fancy colored pencils or markers to use or do you just use cheap ones?

  • Beks August 25, 2015, 8:52 am

    I think one of my good friends from college has that coloring book. She has some emotional issues, and has said coloring and painting have been helping her a lot, which is fantastic. When did we decide coloring was too childish? I should get that book for my mom. She loves coloring!
    Fun things about my day: Get to go watch Ink Masters at DJ’s Dugout in Omaha with my dad, cousin, and friends, as one of the contestants is from Omaha, and there’s a big party for him every week, The last week of the month, so I’m super busy at work, and I just started Kelsey Byers 12 Weeks to Skinny Jeans Challenge, and the workouts can be done at home or in the gym. I’ve done both, and they’re both crazy hard. I’m hoping to see great results. 🙂

  • Grace @ Diary of a Running Snail August 25, 2015, 8:54 am

    I just bought my sister a “grown up” colouring book for her 17th birthday this weekend. We spent a good 2 hours colouring together on Saturday and it was so calming, like going back to the basics. Enjoy your colouring book!:)

  • Abby August 25, 2015, 10:50 am

    1. First day back with my in home daycare kids! (All teachers kiddos)
    2. Off to the children’s museum by the city bus
    3. Watch the husband ref soccer games tonight!

  • Amanda August 25, 2015, 11:00 am

    What a great idea- I would love using coloring as a meditation activity!

  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul August 25, 2015, 11:07 am

    I love adult coloring! That book is new to me and looks really cool!

  • Meg @ Anderstons in the Andes August 25, 2015, 11:13 am

    1. I am also visiting a new mama friend today! I’m not bringing food, but I am bringing a couple of items I found life-saving with my little guy.
    2. Today is my last day at home with my 3.5 month old before I go back to work, so we are going to have lots of cuddles and make it count.
    3. I can’t think of a third, because I haven’t finished my coffee. ;o)

  • a August 25, 2015, 11:14 am

    Making that recipe for a meatless Monday!

  • Sammi August 25, 2015, 11:53 am

    I love, love, love to colour and and definitely going to check out adult colouring books now that I know they exist! Thanks!

  • Kelly August 25, 2015, 12:15 pm

    Love Henry’s shades! He’s so cool. 🙂 I’ve been thinking about getting a coloring book for myself ever since I saw one at a local store a couple months ago. I’m not very artistic/creative on my own but I love craft projects when someone gives me all the instructions. There’s something soothing about making things with your hands.

  • Lyndsey August 25, 2015, 12:45 pm

    Wow, that coloring book is AWESOME (I literally just went on Amazon and bought it after this post). I’m going on my first trip to Europe and i’m a horrible flyer (re: terrified.) I’m hoping this book will keep me relaxed and focused ( on not dying) 🙂

  • Kate B August 25, 2015, 1:22 pm

    I love to color. Anytime I watch my niece I suggest we do it together.
    3 fun things: I start my 2nd year of grad school classes today, I have a ton of cut up watermelon waiting for me at home, and everyone who has called my work has been in a good mood- score!

  • Emily August 25, 2015, 1:44 pm

    I have heard so many people in the last few months mention coloring as an adult stress reliever. This was the final push I needed and finally ordered one for myself!

  • Natalie @ The Ravenous Mommy August 25, 2015, 2:02 pm

    The casserole looks yummy! I think I might have to make it soon 🙂

  • Tiffany August 25, 2015, 2:30 pm

    I just bought an adult coloring book too! One for me and one for my husband (his was cities!). I can’t wait to try it out. I loooved coloring as a kid so excited that it’s a legit adult thing now. 😉

  • janine August 25, 2015, 7:26 pm

    I can totally understand the coloring because the best way for me to relax and anti-stress is to paint my nails 🙂 I HATE getting manicures because it just feels like a waste of time and it isn’t relaxing to me, but painting my own is the best!

  • Samantha August 26, 2015, 9:33 am

    I love your blog. It’s really the only blog I check daily, and I enjoy every post.

    3 fun things about my day – my husband made me breakfast, I was on time to work (with 3 kiddos in tow that is no small feat), and my students are testing today so I have time to settle down and wrap my mind around curriculum!

  • Ashley N August 26, 2015, 10:37 am

    After reading your post I immediately jumped onto Amazon and bought the same coloring book and some metallic colored pencils! They should arrive tomorrow (love Prime!) and I’m oddly excited. I can relate to the challenge of meditating and trying to calm down the mind. My mind just doesn’t want to shut off so I’m looking forward to coloring, despite being 26 🙂

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