What is Rose Meditation?

Meditating with a rose will help you focus and feel calm. You do not have to be in a garden to do this type of meditation. All you will need is a rose without thorns to hold onto while you focus. The more you focus on the rose, the more alert you will be. You will be able to concentrate more.

This meditation not only helps you focus but it also helps you to forgive others. Meditating with a rose helps you be aware of your inner emotions. It will help you let go of negative emotions and worries. In addition, you will be able to sit down and focus on your breathing. Eventually, your body will relax, and your deep thoughts will be clearer.

Smell the rose and feel the rose petals while you do deep breathe exercises. Also, you can do this meditation with the rose essential oil. Additionally, you can listen to the visual guided meditation from Insight Timer. Insight Timer has several rose meditations and other visual meditations online.  Here are more resources about meditating with a rose.

Blossoming Rose Guided Visualization:

https://insighttimer.com/garretbrandon/guided-meditations/blossoming-rose-guided-visualization

The Rose-Bud-Thorn Meditation-Melli O'Brien:

https://mrsmindfulness.com/rose-bud-thorn-meditation/

Rose Meditation-Institute of PsychoSynthesis: 

https://www.psychosynthesis.org/resources/rose-meditation/

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Free Mother's Day Coloring Cards 2021

 

Today, I have created three coloring cards for Mother’s Day. One coloring card has a flower on the center with a geometric design. The second coloring card is a tote bag with a butterfly. The third coloring card is a watering can with flowers. Each coloring card is hand drawn. These coloring cards are free and for your personal use. Happy Mother’s Day in advance. 

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DIY Hand-Painted Hand Sanitizer Keychain

There are many ways to paint your key chain hand sanitizer bottles. Painting your hand sanitizer bottle makes it easier to find your hand sanitizer at work or at home. It is a quick and easy painting tutorial to do. This project will take you about thirty or forty minutes to do at home. Here is the tutorial for painting this key chain hand sanitizer bottle. 

Materials:

Empty Hand Sanitizer Bottles for keychains

3 different Acrylic paint colors

Topcoat paint

Paintbrushes

Stencil with different shapes

Sharpie

 

First, remove the labels of an empty hand sanitizer bottle. Second, wash the hand sanitizer bottle. Third, dry the hand sanitizer bottle. Next, use a sharpie and a stencil to draw one star on the front and back of the bottle. After that paint, the star with a paint brush dipped in acrylic paint.

Then, paint smaller stars by hand onto the bottle. Wait for the paint to dry. Continue painting the stars on the back of the bottle with the acrylic paint. Wait for the paint to dry. Add the topcoat of paint on the front and back of the hand sanitizer bottle. Then, wait for it to get dry. Once everything is dry, add the keychain on top of the hand sanitizer bottle. Refill the bottle with hand sanitizer. Now, you can use your hand-painted hand sanitizer bottle.

 

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Applesauce Fruit Cup

Making fruit cups at home is a quick way to make dessert or as a sweet snack for the family. This fruit cup only has three ingredients which can be made thirty minutes before having lunch or dinner. The main ingredient is applesauce. Applesauce is good for your digestion and blood pressure. Here is the recipe for making this applesauce fruit cup. 

Ingredients:

4 oz Unsweetened Applesauce 

Sliced Pineapples

1 small box of raspberries

In one glass cup, add the sliced pineapples. Next, add a few raspberries. Then, remove the applesauce from the plastic cup with a spoon. Add a few spoons of applesauce inside the glass cup. Last, add a few more raspberries and pineapples on top of the applesauce. Refrigerate it or serve immediately after your meal. 

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How to Celebrate National Tea Day?

On April 21^st of every year, you can celebrate National Tea Day. You can make a tearoom or a cozy area for drinking tea at home. All you will need is a tea pitcher for iced tea or for hot tea. The pitcher does not have to match the teacups. Set up your dining table with a tea pitcher, eight-ounce creamer pitcher and sugar, a small plate with lemon slices, and teacups.

Make sure you have the right temperature for the tea. Different teas require heat temperatures. Generally, for black and herbal teas it is 208 degrees-212 degrees. However, for green tea it is between 170-185 degrees. Therefore, if you only have one tea pitcher, pick one tea that your entire family likes.

If you or a family member has a hard time choosing the right tea. You can take an online quiz at Art of Tea. After you take the online quiz, you will get two choices of two different teas that you can try at home. You can purchase the tea bags or loose-leaf teas online or at your supermarket. If you do make loose leaf tea, do not forget to purchase a stainless-steel tea ball infuser, loose leaf drawstring tea bags, or a tea filter basket. 

Your family members can make tea sandwiches while you wait for the hot tea. Also, you can serve lemon bars, scones, or something sweet as an afternoon snack to go with the hot tea. Yet, the tea sandwiches are optional. You can purchase tea biscuits or make tea biscuits. Nevertheless, make it a special occasion by drinking tea with your family. Here are more resources about celebrating National Tea Day. 

Tea Day:

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tea-day/

Tea Quiz:

https://www.artoftea.com/pages/tea-quiz

National Tea Day:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-tea-day/

The Tea Temperature Trick:

https://www.health.com/food/the-tea-temperature-trick-that-will-give-you-a-perfect-cup-every-time

Homemade English Tea Biscuits:

https://www.plumdeluxe.com/english-tea-biscuits-recipe

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Free Amaryllis Coloring Bookmarks

Did you know that Amaryllis flowers are native plants of South America? Amaryllis flowers are harvested in the summer. Each wide bookmark has one hand drawn Amaryllis flower with other design elements. These Amaryllis coloring bookmarks are free and for your personal use. Enjoy!

Facts about Amaryllis Flowers:

https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/amaryllis

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Alcohol Awareness Month

 

Binge drinking has incremented over the years in teenagers and in adults. More people have been drinking alcohol more these days to reduce the anxiety, nervousness, and other issues the pandemic has caused. Many people do not know what binge drinking is and how to deal with the situation within their families. Binge drinking is when a man consumes five drinks or more within a two-hour time frame. While binge drinking for a woman is when she consumes four drinks or more in two hours. 

Courtesy Image from Partners in Prevention

Binge drinking effects the throat, liver, brain, and the immune system. Eventually binge drinking leads to difficulties in sleeping, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Partners in Prevention is a nonprofit organization that has resources for Alcohol Awareness Month which takes place every year in April. Also, there is a free toolkit to download that includes a pledge for the youth and other activities to bring awareness. Using the hashtag Alcohol Awareness Month and the free images from Partners in Prevention on social media will also educate and inform people about alcoholism. Here are more resources about Alcohol Awareness Month.  

Partners in Prevention:

https://pipnj.org/

WebMD-Binge Drinking:

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/binge-drinking

How to Stop Binge Drinking-Understanding Binge Drinking:

https://www.recovery.org/alcohol-treatment/binge-drinking/

* Free clip art: 

https://www.cleanpng.com/png-champagne-glass-png-10746/

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DIY Embroidered Biker Shorts

Converting leggings to biker shorts is a fun way to upcycle your clothes. Now, that the summer season is almost here, this would be a good project to do and to save your old, ripped leggings too! Additionally, adding some embroidery to your biker shorts enhances your biker shorts. In this example, two hearts were embroidered onto the biker shorts. Here is the tutorial for making these leggings into embroidered biker shorts.

Materials:

Scissors

Old pair of leggings

Embroidery Hoop

Thread

Embroidery Floss Thread

Embroidery needles

Regular sewing needles

Fabric Marker

Stencil with small to medium shapes

First, wash a pair of old leggings by hand. Second, hang dry the leggings. Once the leggings are dry, lay the leggings flat. Third, follow the instructions from the YouTube video link that I have provided below the tutorial. Fourth, cut the leggings to the desired length that you want your biker shorts to be. Fifth, make sure both sides are even before hemming the shorts.

Use a sewing machine or sew by hand to hem the bottom portion of the shorts. In this example, the hem was sewn by hand. After that is done, you can begin embroidering your biker shorts. Insert an embroidery hoop inside your biker shorts. Then, insert embroidery thread inside the embroidery needle. Use a fabric marker and a stencil to make the heart shape onto the biker shorts or make the heart shape without the stencil.

Insert the embroidery needle inside the fabric of the biker shorts. Continue embroidering until you have the heart shape or until all the lines of the marker are covered. Then, repeat the same steps for the second embroidered heart. Do not embroider near the elastic of the biker shorts. Have fun making your embroidered biker shorts. Here are the links for making your biker shorts and more ideas for decorating your biker shorts.

 

Re-purpose Ruined Leggings-Sew Them into Bike Shorts:

http://www.threadridinghood.com/wordpress/re-purpose-ruined-leggings-sew-them-into-bike-shorts-tutorial/

Cut Leggings into Shorts-DIY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAFUFX9KI7Y

Upcycle Old Leggings into New Shorts:

https://www.pennypinchinmom.com/upcycle-old-leggings-into-new-shorts/

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Celebrate National Poetry Month in April 2021

Today, I have written a nature poem for National Poetry Month. This year on April 29^th, there will be a free virtual reading of poems commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Academy of American Poets. However, there are more ways to celebrate National Poetry Month at home. You can have your poetry reading with your cell phone or in Zoom with your family. Pick a poem that you like to read or read your written poem to your family members in a recording. 

Reading and writing poetry can be a fun way to pass the time at home. The possibilities are endless for writing poetry with the family. Every day in April, your family members can write, read, or discuss poetry for thirty minutes. Also, your family can learn about the vocabulary words that are used through the Poetry Foundation website. The website has tips to learn different types of poetry and how to write your poems.

It also teaches you how to read a poem. Also, you can subscribe to their poetry magazine. Another great website is the Poets Organization which has thirty ways to celebrate National poetry at home. It recommends writing poetry while being outside whether it is a park, your backyard, or any place that will inspire you to write poems. Additionally, you can subscribe to a poem a Day podcast. Here are more resources about celebrating National Poetry Month at home. 

Celebrating National Poetry Month From Home-The Classroom:

https://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/2020/04/celebrating-national-poetry-month-from-home/#:~:text=April%20is%20National%20Poetry%20Month,challenges%20and%20waves%20of%20uncertainty.

30 Ways to Celebrate the 25th Annual National Poetry Month at Home:

https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/30-ways-celebrate-25th-annual-national-poetry-month-home-or-online

Learn-Poetry Foundation:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn

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How to Feel Confident with Your Body?

Feeling confident with your body might be a daily struggle no matter how old you are. Sometimes, you feel good about yourself until someone at work or in your family makes negative comments about your body. You can simply ignore their comments at work and distance yourself. Go to Human Resources if needed or if the negativity is unbearable. If the negativity is from your partner or other relative discuss with them how it makes you feel. 

Avoiding the subject will make it worse. Instead, communicate with them why they think that way. Also, practice gratitude, meditation, or exercise to take care of your body. Do not do the exercise routine for losing weight unless it is for a health issue. Give yourself compliments in the mornings or when you wake up. 

Compliment your partner too. In this way, both of you will feel positive about your bodies. Feeling less confident with your body is not a female dilemma. Sometimes, men do not feel good about how their bodies look. First, look at yourself in the mirror by yourself or with your partner and think positively about your bodies. Here are more resources about having confidence in your body.

What is Body Positivity: 

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-body-positivity-4773402

30 Body Positivity Quotes-Empowering Body Image Sayings:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/g35182990/body-positivity-quotes/

7 Steps to Body Confidence-Psychology Today:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/calmer-you/202004/7-steps-body-confidence

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Online Tips for Children and Parents

Once again, it is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Protecting children online is a difficult task for a parent to do. However, there are tips for protecting your child online. Knowing how to use filters and blocking websites before your child uses the internet is one way to safeguard them. Yet do not let your older child to play with the internet computer settings without the permission of an adult. Another way is by making a poster with rules about what is allowed and what is not allowed when using the internet.

As a parent, get familiar with the apps that your child uses frequently on their tablets, computers, or cell phones. Create a schedule for when they can use their electronics for homework and for socializing online. Observe them when they are online. Ask them questions in a way where they will not get upset with you.  Here are more resources about online safety for your children. 

Protecting Children Online:

https://www.unicef.org/protection/violence-against-children-online

Child Abuse and Neglect Online Abuse: 

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/online-abuse

Keeping Children Safe Online:

https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/keeping-children-safe-online

10 Internet Safety Tips for Kids:

https://www.mcgruff-safe-kids.com/2014/08/10-internet-safety-tips-for-kids/

Child Safety-Internet:

https://www.nstlaw.com/child-safety/internet/

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Free Orchid Coloring Pages

Did you know that orchids symbolize thoughtfulness, charm, and beauty? There are thirty thousand different types of orchids and one type of orchid was named after moths. Orchids come in several colors such as blue, red, pink, orange, and green. Each color has a special meaning. For example, red orchids mean strength, courage, or desire.

The Moth Orchid got its name from Peter Osbeck who saw a cluster of orchids that looked like moths. Therefore, I have created three coloring pages inspired by the Moth Orchid. Each coloring page is free and for your personal use. Below the coloring pages, are links about taking care of orchids and more information about its symbolism. Have fun coloring these coloring pages of orchids. 

Moth Orchids-Growing Guide:

https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/moth-orchids

Orchid Flower Meaning:

https://www.flowermeaning.com/orchid-flower-meaning/

Species Profile-Orchid-Rainforest Alliance:

https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/species/orchid#:~:text=Popular%20around%20the%20globe%20for,be%20found%20in%20the%20tropics.

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DIY Painted Plastic Soap Storage Box

Storing bar soaps are easy with these small mini storage plastic boxes with a snap lock lid. Also, you can paint the words soap and decorate the box with a simple design. Painting these mini storage boxes take a few minutes to do with acrylic paint. The best part about the boxes is that these boxes are reusable, sturdy, and wide enough to fit a dry bar of soap. These storage containers can be found at your dollar store or in Amazon. Here is the tutorial for painting your own soap storage container. 

Materials:

Greenbrier Plastic Small Mini Storage Container with a Snap Lock Lid (any color)

Acrylic Paint (any color)

Paint brushes

Clear Topcoat paint for Acrylic Paint

1 Letter Stencil

1 Sharpie

Begin washing the plastic mini storage container with soap and water. Next, dry off the plastic container. After that use one sharpie and a letter stencil to write the word “Soap” on top of the snap lock lid. Then, use one paint brush and one acrylic paint color to paint the lock lid. Paint each letter and wait for the paint to dry.

After that paint dots around the letters. Then, wait for the paint to dry. After everything is dry, paint one clear topcoat on top of the letters and the dots. Wait for the paint to get dry. Then, you can insert one bar of soap inside the mini plastic storage container. Have fun painting your plastic mini storage containers. Below is the Amazon link to purchase these storage containers. 

Greenbrier Plastic Storage Containers with Snap Lock:

https://www.amazon.com/Greenbrier-Plastic-Storage-Containers-Snap-lock/dp/B01A7HF8DO/ref=asc_df_B01A7HF8DO/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198077890298&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5550418120878564288&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031203&hvtargid=pla-350719035783&psc=1

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Stress Awareness Month (April 2021)

 

Courtesy Image from The Stress Management Society

It has been one year since the pandemic and it is still a stressful time for everyone. Today is the beginning of Stress Awareness Month. The Stress Management Society has resources for handling your stress. It has a thirty-day challenge that supports the physical, mental, and emotional health that stress intensifies in the brain and body. Besides doing the thirty-day challenge, it has videos, a coloring book, and a checklist to monitor the stress that makes you feel tired and overwhelmed.

Courtesy Image from The Stress Management Society

Also, there is a survey to know your wellbeing. Also, you can take a free stress test. It is an individual stress test where you can answer questions. At the end of the test, you will get recommendations to cope with your stress. Last, there are resources about stress at work. Below is a link to the Stress Management resources for Stress Awareness Month. 

Stress Organization (The Stress Management Society):

https://www.stress.org.uk/

* Images from The Stress Management Society