Adult coloring books are all the rage these days. They are a great way to de-stress and take a quiet moment for yourself -- and who needs that more than a parent?
Kathy Shimmield was checking out the adult coloring book options one day when she had an idea: "The sarcastic side of me thought, 'Gee, I'd be more interested in this if it was more humorous, if it made me laugh ... ideally at myself and my experiences.'"
So Shimmield worked with illustrator Joshua Lagman to create "A Day In The Life Of Mom." It's an adult coloring book for moms, complete with hilarious (and typical) scenes from a parent's life, paired with funny captions. "It just popped into my mind how funny it would be to combine a satirical but honest view of what parents go through, only have it done with nice illustrations to make it into an adult coloring book," she said.
And Shimmield hopes the coloring book will give moms "a really well-deserved good laugh, and some much-needed stress relief." And if you're already finished coloring your copy in, she has a second version of the book coming out in a couple of weeks. Grab your markers and enjoy.
"Wouldn't it be great if with every new child you grew another arm?"
"You no longer have to worry about food stains while feeding your baby! Now you can color in your outfit to match!!
No one will know; it's our secret!"
"This is what you'd like your child to eat. The other plate is the pasta plate that they actually eat."
"You remember your 8th grade Algebra right? What about Common Core Math with your younger child? Yes, you guessed it ... it's homework time!
"Here's a familiar sight. Dishes in the kitchen sink. Oh look, there are multiple glasses because your kid didn't wash the glass they had just used ... again!"
"Congratulations! You made it to bedtime. Now all you have to do is stay awake through the bedtime story. Good luck!"
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For the manic pixie dream girl
This lovely illustrated storybook by acclaimed South Korean artist Daria Song will capture the imagination of any loved one who adores delicate beauty, a hint of magic, and a timeless story. And coloring.
If you know someone who's passionate about human rights in every aspect of her life, or maybe someone who could stand to learn a little more about intersectional feminism, this bold book from writer Ijeoma Oluo will allow your loved one to meditate on the nature of equality while coloring inside -- and outside -- the lines.
Does your sister love her flat-ironed, highlighted bangs? Does your niece adore her corkscrewed curls? Does your friend take any opportunity to check out her locks? Well, who can blame them -- but give their front-facing cameras and mirrors a break and let them relax with a coloring book just as obsessed with pretty hair. No matter your loved one's 'do, there's a mesmerizing illustration in Andrea Pippins' book to celebrate her style.
You may want to keep this one bookmarked for the next bachelorette party you attend, but for your most irreverent, hedonistic friends, this coloring book can pass for a holiday gift, as well. They'll laugh, they'll color, they'll learn something new from the surprisingly detailed illustrations as they wield their crayons.
One of the illustrators who's hit it big with the adult coloring book trend, Millie Marotta creates images with lovely, clean patterns with tiny segments just begging for a freshly sharped pencil. This book includes page after page of wild-eyed birds and creatures wrapped in riotous foliage.
As HuffPost has reported, coloring can help adults reduce stress. But for your friend who spends every morning in yoga and every evening in meditation class, any old coloring book won't do. Free of any distracting themes, full of soothing waves and geometric patterns, this mindfulness-oriented coloring book will pack an extra punch of calm.
Not everyone uses meditation to unwind. If your loved one prefers something a little more pharmaceutical in nature to promote relaxation, this psychedelic coloring book is now available following a successful Kickstarter. It features bold, imaginative designs specifically for the marijuana enthusiast by a variety of artists, and -- bonus -- comes with a pack of rolling papers.
Johanna Basford's lush pen-and-ink designs have taken the adult coloring world by storm, and they're available in a variety of formats. This little booklet of illustrations are well-suited to that friend who always seems to be changing her address or moving to Argentina with that girl he just met. They don't take up much space; each card takes relatively little time to complete; and when it's all colored in, it's the perfect way to drop you a line to say hello.
If coloring for adults seems a little ridiculous to you, or to your friends, this book totally agrees. In fact, there are many aspects of adulthood today that Coloring for Grown-Ups finds tragically absurd, like trying to date and health insurance. Both laughter and coloring are great for stress reduction, so give the most anxious comedy fan you know the gift of lower blood pressure this holiday.
Did you hear there's a new "Star Wars" movie coming out soon? At least that's a rumor that's been going around. For the person in your life who just can't calm down about "The Force Awakens," consider pairing tickets to the movie with this relaxing coloring book. A couple hours coloring in a hypnotic pattern of R2D2s should take that excessive enthusiasm down to normal levels.
Remember Johanna Basford? Yes, this is the artist's edition of one of her coloring books. If you have a friend so gifted at pairing color palettes and staying inside the lines that he may actually want to show people the final results of his work, give him the good stuff. Unlike most adult coloring books, these pages are one-sided and designed to be removed, so that ultimately the user can frame the results and hang them all over her apartment.
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