Good morning! I hope this post finds you well. In this post I am writing about women’s rights and my personal commitments towards gender equality. I catch up with March in Nature and offer two visual reflections for your digital wellbeing.
Winter has fully arrived. At this time of year, nature all around us slows down, and animals begin their hibernation period. In the past, people would sleep for longer periods of the day with their animals in an attempt to keep warm during the colder months. Scientifically, your muscles move slower in cooler temperatures (based on the principles of thermodynamics, which is the branch of physics dealing with how energy relates to heat, work and temperature) and, according to the Met Office, the end of ‘the growing season’ for lawns is marked by five consecutive days below 5oC. So slowing down, resting and sleeping more in cold temperatures is normal for humans, plants and animals. Yet, in today’s society, we hardly ever slow down at any time of the year and being busy seems to be the default response to “How are you?”
What are the benefits of slowing down, and how can we do it?
Until recently, I had no real idea of what Forest bathing was. I had heard of it in passing, and that was about it. I started thinking about it more when I was looking up at the underside of trees and thinking about how happy it made me. This led to wanting to find out more about Forest bathing, what it was and how I could do it!
Creating geometric wood wall art can be a fun and creative project. Just like full-size wood home décor made out of reclaimed wood planks, this one has a similar pattern, but it is much smaller, easier to make, more affordable and suitable for small spaces. It uses wooden coffee stirrers, which you can collect over time after having your coffee, or you can get a bag of them in a craft store.
Google Lens brings up information relevant to your original images, identified by visual analysis. Google explains it as ‘a set of vision-based computing capabilities that can understand what you’re looking at and use that information to copy or translate text, identify plants and animals, explore locales or menus, discover products, find visually similar images, and take other useful actions’. Using google lens allows you to search using an image and gathers similar images and content from the internet.
Brigadeiros are traditional and super delicious Brazilian chocolate truffles that are usually served at parties and all kinds of celebrations. Here’s a classic Brigadeiro recipe plus its coconut variation – Brigadeiros de Coco also called Beijinhos (little kisses).
How are you doing? I am sitting softly in July, carefully balancing the systemic need to slow down for summer (a privilege for many, but not all and usually not for me), and the business needs to move forward with new ideas.
Stamping fabrics can be not only a very relaxing activity but also extremely rewarding since you can admire your creation for years to come. Previously I have stamped our sofa covers using rubber stamps and a couple of tote bags and kitchen towels using potato stamps. This time I decided to stamp a t-shirt using everyday objects.
This drink not only looks beautiful, it has a tangy taste similar to cranberry juice with a floral and fruity aroma, and it is packed with antioxidants and vitamin C.
Rock painting can be a great way to practice mindfulness as it allows you to focus your attention on the present moment while engaging in a creative activity. Remember, the goal is to relax, reduce stress and anxiety and enjoy the process of creating, not to produce a perfect piece of art. So, have fun and let your creativity flow!