First Time Aromatherapy Puzzle!

🧩Aromatherapy 500 Piece Puzzle with Lavender Scented Candle

After helping to declutter and organize a home (one of my favourite things to do!) , this puzzle was given to us.

I thought it would be relaxing to do since it is only 500 pieces. Definitely challenging because the puzzle pieces are so uniquely shaped. It took quite a bit of time to figure out.

The puzzle overall though is good quality, no complaints at all. The lavender scented candle smells nice, I could smell it when we opened up the puzzle box. Thankfully, not headache inducing or too strong. I don't light candles inside the house though, so I'll give the candle to someone who does.

I absolutely love all the beautiful colours and this tranquil scene.

💜Take a look at all the fun puzzles at Puzzles Canada

Challenging New Puzzles

Well I am sharing our finished Ceaco puzzles from this set of 8 and some thoughts on each one!

🧩300 pieces

The rounded puzzle had a learning curve. For some reason just looking at it completed, reminded me of the lyrics from the iconic musical, The Sound of Music.

🎵Follow every rainbow Till you find your dream 🎵

This one was pretty easy to do!

🧩500 pieces

So many itty bitty details on each cupcake! I was struggling on this one especially the purple - my fav colour. Still fun to work on together and turned out great.

Another challenging one especially the blues!

This one took several days to complete.Some of the different patterns and coloured pieces helped to navigate where each balloon would be placed. Definitely another challenging one but turned out lovely.

A stunning pose. So many little details and to figure out the right pieces to match the pattern and colours, especially around the head.

🧩750 pieces

We finished this 750 piece puzzle. It was extremely difficult and to our surprise, these particular pieces were definitely poor quality compared to the other puzzles. Beautiful scene but quite a disappointment. 

🧩1000-pieces!

Sorting puzzle pieces into containers has become really helpful. Although this one had SO many colour combos that I needed to get more. Also, as you can see, it took up our entire dining room table. lol

Finished!

Our first time working on a 1000 piece puzzle. This was unbelievably difficult at times. Hours could go by and there would be rejoice with "I found A piece!" Glasses on, glasses off... trying different ways to see if a piece fit together or not. Then also wondering sometimes, "is there an actual piece missing?" We get into the groove and then boom, a standstill.

This puzzle really taught us such levels of patience, which is always a great virtue to have in life.

Very happy with our accomplishment.

A Colourful Adult Life: Adult Colouring Books

I remember back when...  Oh why do we always start sentences like that? As we write those four words, there is an immediate wave of emotion that hits us, well, it does for me. I sigh, get a little weepy and then realize it's OK to long for the past, especially when these moments were really pleasant. I just know that I cannot dwell on them because no matter what Zoltar fortune teller machine (remember the movie BIG?)  I wish actually existed (obviously in the opposite way to stay young!) or the countless times I could chant what age I want to be again, like in 13 Going On 30, reality sets in and I cannot turn back the hands of time.

It's refreshing that in adulthood a lot of us can enjoy the simple pleasures of colouring, drawing, and even playing with Legos! There's no "right" age for anything, although it's funny when suggested ages on toys or colouring books state "ages 5 and up" and here I am tickled pink that i'm enjoying them too at age...37! 

I realize that for a while and still today in 2018, the adult colouring book is a very "trendy" hobby. I dislike some trends to be honest because they can be so disposable. Once it becomes "uncool" to do something, to wear a certain style or to eat a particular food, there is this sudden amount of guilt that you need to change and not like these things anymore. Why? Who made those rules? Oh ya, society. If i'm into something, why do I have to just pretend it doesn't exist or add value to my life?  Well hate to break the news to ya, but i'm not going to wear triple high-waisted jeans, i'm not going to brush my teeth with activated charcoal, nor am I going to start drinking kombucha with every meal.  Now in case you are starting to get offended or already feel offended, try to step away from that frame of thinking for a moment. These are current "trends" i'm mentioning, so if you love your triple high waisted jeans, wear them with pride! 

Back to colouring.  Recently while going for a trip to Dollarama with Bill, we were walking around and just needed to pick up "a snack." This of course usually turns into a walk-about throughout the store.  I didn't buy the colouring book on the basis that "everyone is doing it, so I should too," but for the simple reason of trying to add more self-care into my life. The last few months have been difficult. February was quite a bit of a sh!t storm to say the least, and sadly I am dealing with some pretty persistent nerve discomfort/damage along my spine and neck, which has come with an array of symptoms, so managing my stress has been paramount.

Adult colouring does have some scientific evidence. As always, not one hobby fits all. If you recall, when my dad got sick, adult-colouring was recommended to help in his recovery. He tried it a few times, but I honestly don't think it meshed with his interests. Here are a few benefits that have been noted though:

• Helps to relieve anxiety and stress (who couldn't use a bit of that?) 
• Promotes concentration
• Allows you to be "present" in the moment, similar to meditation 
• Relaxes the amygdala  due to the repetitive motion

I've been setting aside time away to do a little Colour Therapy. I find it quite enjoyable and it does help to a certain extent for me to get out panic mode and be in a calmer state. This is the first book I'm working on:

Book and coloured pencils

All finished

Working on this one now

You can  find hundreds of different books online at Amazon and other retailers. Also, just Google "adult colouring sheets" and if you prefer, you can print them out as well.

Feel free to e-mail me some of your lovely colouring creations, or just leave me a note on my blog, letting me know what kinds of hobbies you enjoy to tackle stress and how you find a bit more peace in your everyday life.

Happy colouring!