I’ve come to the realization that “adult” coloring books are a total scam.
They’re supposed to be for stress relief, and I love the amazing intricate artwork. I have a couple of them, but after YEARS I’ve yet to finish a single picture. Not one.
Mostly, it’s because I can never decide what colors to use in the tiny shapes. Like, if I commit to coloring one small triangle in the spokes of this bike wheel with a dark forest green, it basically sets the tone for the rest of the picture. I’m obsessed with committed to coloring all of the similar triangles the exact same shade of green, and then all of shapes around the triangles need to be complementary tones… It isn’t particularly relaxing for a person who tends to overly complicate most things (*cough* me).
Children’s coloring books, though, are a totally different story! I love ’em. Children’s coloring books are where it’s at, girlfriend.
I color a lot with Connor in her books, which are more my speed than the adult ones. The shapes are easier to color-coordinate and don’t take a lot of brain power. Plus, when your toddler art director has very strong feelings about unicorns having rainbow manes, you have to listen.
Onward to this week’s stories…
- If I were a rare book collector (and had cash to burn), I’d put in a bid for this copy of the first Western book on makeup and perfume. It dates back to 1555! If you’re interested, it goes up for auction next week in Paris.
- Fave read of the week: What does it mean when a beauty product is labeled clean, green or natural? Apparently, not much. As more companies label themselves and their products as “clean,” or made without harsh chemicals and therefore better for you than unclean (?) products, there’s still no official oversight dictating what these statements mean, and it’s causing upheaval in the beauty business.
- I feel like you need to blast I Got 5 On It when you’re using the new Hello, Calm mask from Origins, since the key ingredient is a non-intoxicating cannabis sativa oil derived from hemp seeds.
- Look what the cat dragged in!
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Cult fragrance brand Byredo has a new freestanding store in London, and it’s g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s.
(They also sell bags there.)
- Because I know you were dying of curiosity, here’s what’s involved when Nick Jonas gets ready for photoshoots or the red carpet. According to men’s groomer Marissa Machado, his process involves bronzing, chest hair cleanup and the occasional abdominal contour.
- Wet ‘n’ Wild has a new “zombie” blush that goes from black in the pan to pink on the skin, WHA?! Color me confused, because if I were a zombie, I’d actually want a black blush to go with my gray skin tone… But hey, that’s just me.
- Videos of cats hiking. (It’s a thing.)
- Talk about the best gift ever! — now you can buy the original old-school Sweet Valley High books from the ’80s.
This dad talkin’ about his 23-year old daughter’s brows cracks me up!
Anyone wanna go grocery shopping with me to this store?
Special girl, real good girl
Am I really gonna watch this 20-minute video of this cat swimming? Yes, yes, I am. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I had to order the Zombie Blush from Wet n Wild, and the Black highlighter. I’ll let you know what I think of them when they get here.
I am so with you on the whole adult coloring book thing. The ones I’ve bought have pretty designs, but the spaces to color are so small and intricate that it’s frustrating staying in the lines and I have to switch colors too often. AND they’re usually printed on high quality, hot press paper that is so smooth it doesn’t grab any of the color from my colored pencils. I find crayons to be too fat and stubby to color some of those intricate designs. Give me a kids’ coloring book any day. Cheap newsprint paper with a good tooth for grabbing the color from my pencils and crayons, so I get deep saturated colors. And I love the big blocks that take forever to fill. As much as I love the intricate, sophisticated designs in the adult coloring books, the images in kids’ coloring books are usually so joyful. Unicorns, beach balls, puppies and kittens! Not to mention, they’re usually less expensive, too.
YES! I highly recommend the Melissa and Doug ones. They’re HUGE and the themes in the pics are fun and different.
Whatcha guys up to this weekend? Have you heard yet from dear daughter?
Just got back from hiking (and gasping) up Windy Hill here on the peninsula. I think we’re just gonna kick back and relax this weekend. Have not heard a peep from Dear Daughter, so that’s a good thing, as we’re her emergency contacts. So I’m hoping all is going well on her adventure. The weather in Utah ended up being warmer than she was expecting and I know in her mind that’s a good thing. I can’t wait to hear all the details of this adventure.
In the mean time, despite my asthma acting up, I’m enjoying her cat. It took her almost a week, but she got in my lap purring and head butting the other night. Gonna be hard to give this cat back when the time comes.
I’m sure she’s learning a lot! I’m calling you guys in the zombie apocalypse, LOL!
What if your daughter’s cat conveniently decided that your home was her new home? There’s nothing wrong with inviting a family member’s feline for an extended stay.
Karen I am w you on the adult coloring books . I color w my granddaughter and she thinks I’m a genius!
But , I did look st the bags .
And I just ordered a Tory Burch backpack ?
Have a great Saturday,
Eyebrow man is my new hero. I canto adult coloring books, afraid to commit to a color, lol
That’s so cool that you are coloring with Connor. Way before they had adult coloring books, I remember my Mom and I each buying a coloring book and we used to color together in the afternoon. I wasn’t one to take naps, so that was a quiet time that we spent together. Sometimes it’s the little things that create the memories.
So glad someone else feels the same about adult coloring books. They are way too intricate for me to relax and enjoy the sound of my crayon going back and forth. Next time I’m at target I’ll be looking through the kid section for some good ‘old fashioned books!
Sweet Valley High was everything to me growing up!! I still have all mine at my parents house! Such an exciting day going to the mall to get the next months book! Now I’m lazy and order from Amazon?
Relieved I ‘m not the only one with coloring ocd. The colors do set the tone, totally get that! This is not a stress reliever for me lol
I have watched Nathan the swimming cat from Australia, will check out Siberian cat. I can’t get Kitty Face near running water maybe he will watch with me.
Right? It’s so much pressure. BTW Tabs, like Kitty Face, isn’t a water kitty. 🙂
Wow, all the adult coloring book negativity! I love them. I color while my girls are doing art or craft projects when I have them on the weekends or vacations. It’s very relaxing; but then, I usually do the mandala books which are supposed to be relaxing, lol.
Sweet Valley High books! That is all.
I love Connor’s views on unicorns with rainbow manes. There’s a store here called Unicorn Feed and Supply that sells lots of unicorn stuff, mermaid stuff, rainbows, glitter, etc. I love it, sounds like it’d be up Connor’s alley.
And LOL at the cat bringing in drugs! Bad kitty.
Ok, I haven’t laughed that hard at a youtube vid in a while. OMG that was priceless. I love him already. That was fucking fantastic. Thumper wants his feet back! Haha. And the boys all want a sneak grab of your brows. Bahahahahahahaha. Frik I’m dying. I shared that EVERYWHERE I could haha.
2nd this! I’m still shaky from all the giggling to write properly. His accent tskes the rant to another level.
I have coloring indecision issues too! I downloaded an app called Happy Color and I can color by tapping the parts of the picture but it’s color by number so the color decisions have been made for me.