This Mommy Colors: How I relax with coloring pencils and my adult coloring books, a therapeutic pastime for busy moms

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Baby Phil loves to color our walls, tables, chairs, clothes, and his teeth as he chews on Crayola Washable crayons. His mommy, me, on the other hand, likes to color up the pages of her new adult coloring book. A sense of peace and tranquility washes over me as I fill the pages with splashes of vibrant color. It's such a lovely and therapeutic pastime for a busy mom. Plus, after I'm done coloring the pages, I can frame up my finished masterpieces!

This new adventure of mine began shortly after I read articles on New York Times spotlighting this trendy adult pastime. Adults are grabbing coloring pencils, crayons, Copic markers, and other coloring medium and buying books like (#4 in the photograph above) Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Johanna Basford. Adult coloring books are topping the best-sellers' list in Amazon. Ms. Basford's book is currently number two, right behind Marie Kondo's book. Gone are the days that erotic books top the best sellers' list. Nowadays, adults want to relax, destress, declutter, and fill their lives with beautiful rainbows and creativity.  

(So if you're a talented illustrator and blessed with the ability to create line-art, hurry up and publish your own adult coloring book. You might be able to make millions, just like Ms. Basford!)

My work in progress with Coloring Pencils, Secret Garden: an inky treasure hunt and coloring book by Johanna basford

To begin this new hobby, choose an adult coloring book that appeals to you. I picked up Secret Garden from a local arts and craft store. There are plenty more that you can find from Amazon (cats, cities, owls to name a few). Also choose a coloring medium that you are comfortable or familiar with. I chose coloring pencils because sharpened pencils can fill in tinier spaces better than crayons, and the colors blend beautifully. It's difficult to blend colors using markers, unless you buy the very good and expensive kind, like Copic Markers.

I also recommend buying better quality coloring pencils, like Prismacolor, as they transfer color easier without you having to use much force. 

You can definitely use watercolor coloring pencils, like Derwent Intense, on Secret Garden, but I do not recommend overloading the pages with water. The pages in Secret Garden are not made like watercolor paper. 

1. Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips: Use these with watercolor coloring pencils
2. Coloring Pencils Pick: Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
3. Watercolor Coloring Pencils Pick: Derwent Inktense 
4. Adult Coloring Book Pick: Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book by Johanna Basford
Don't forget pencil sharpeners! Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencil Sharpener

While coloring, release your inner child. Color outside of the lines. Be as creativity and child-like as you want to be. With each stroke and pop of color, let stress dissipate. Color out your anger and frustrations. Bring color, joy, and relaxation into your stressful and busy lives. 

Mommies and daddies out there, are you coloring? You can also color adult coloring books with your children. What are your therapeutic hobbies and pastimes? I would love to see some of your colorings! Let's compare on Pinterest!