Importance of Self Care

Further to my post on Anxiety and Depression, you may remember I mentioned the book 'Potatoes not Prozac'? this is the way to go..  One of the things I am learning is to improve my eating habits - for 30 years my opinion was potatoes were bad and carbohydrates were evil, well I was wrong!  No wonder my mental health suffered so..  There is such a thing as 'good' carbohydrates and one of the healthiest things we can do is start the day with Porridge!  I havent eaten Porridge since I was about 12 when Mum could no longer 'force' me to have breakfast before school.  So vague on the subject was I , I had to 'google' to find out how to cook it.  So, as you see above this is my starter each day, its organic porridge oats and I have honey and nutmeg with mine, it is delicious and really does start off my day well.  Also prevents the 10am craving for cake, or biccies with my tea - added bonus.

Next of course is regular exercise.  See above menacephyconutjobdog I mentioned yesterday, this is taken today on walk number 1, not quite as busy today as the weather is cloudy and its first day back at school for the small people - therefore I managed to take my 'eye of the ball' for a quick second and take his photo to show you.  I do let him off for a run 'sometimes' but not quiet enough today, he has an off lead time at weekend with the husband who is braver than I.  Walk number 2 was good as usual with the other two dogs, had a bit of a nature walk today .. alas, not so many wild flowers around as there can be..

but still the 'odd' wild rose about.  These gave me a great method of aromatherapy during the summer months, not only are they beautiful but also have a fabulous fragrance.

I have also learnt the importance of extra supplements too and have taken Omega 3 for over a month now.  The 'proper' ones from the health shop - I was lucky enough to meet with a nutritionist while I was there who taught me a lot, the one a day I was taking was not enough. neither was the EDA content in the jar I had.  Today I have taken delivery of Vitamin B Complex.  Improved my diet to contain more fish, veg and potatoes.  All important stuff for self care - as if you dont care for yourself, who else is going too?

Of course creativity and Art are vital too - this makes me very happy.

Here is another exercise from the Tracy Vedergo book I am enjoying.  A bit of a messy collage but I am still learning, I cant become the best collage artist in the UK just yet - still needs a bit of work.  Still looking forward to making my own papers, and again my postie has not brought my new supplies.  Tomorrow is not a good art day for me as too many other commitments going on, also not a day for blogging........... or at least it wasnt going to be............ till I was reminded by Rita from the 'Artful Tribe' that I am meant to be taking part in a blog hop......... so that is now on today's list of 'must do' ready to go live tomorrow.

This is my first page of 'faces' to be used in future collage work - great way of doing a little art at a time too, and improving the sketching skills.  I never knew how this was done before in collage work I admired, its all to do with using as much of your own work as possible.  Having said that, my next 'task' after this is off out to local shops for dog food and milk and call in at the charity shop on the way to my parents to pick up some old magazines and maybe books and frames too depending on what they have today.

Until tomorrows blog hop thats me done - have a good day and remember the importance of self care.  Thank you to those who visited yesterday and left comments.. much appreciated x

Too hot for art?

It has taken me days to achieve this one.  Heavy Weight watercolour paper with an abundance of collage and paint.  I did enjoy this, and for once was happy with the results.

Its soooooo hot in the UK just now though.  We are simply not prepared for it - let alone used to it, and the humidity some days is in the 90's.  I went food shopping today, something I usually hate, I was in there for nearly 2 hours as it is the only place with air conditioning, total bliss.  The hot weather causes a real battle of opinions too, those who love it call those of us who dont 'killjoys' and 'miseries' which I find very unkind, we cannot all enjoy the same things, can we?
My theory is that due to us all having such different metabolisms we react to extreme heat in different ways, so there are some who love it and it makes them and their body feel good, while others really cannot stand it and it makes them feel rotten. I am in the latter section, and maybe also being a 'woman of a certain age' does not help matters either.
So, as usual till this weather stops there will not be a great deal of art (or much else) happening here.  The forecast does say it will break on Sunday, but not for how long.

Those who follow me on instagram will have seen the stages (@simjata) but here it is finally finished off.

The face was a sketch from my sketchbook, which I should have covered in clear gesso first and it would have taken the paint better, but I forgot as usual.  As collage goes I am happy with this one and hope to do more in the future.

Once it cools down a bit:)