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Cottagecore is a nostalgic aesthetic that embraces countryside living, nature, and old fashioned styles and hobbies. When I think of cottagecore I picture Anne of Green Gables sipping raspberry cordial, gingham dresses, and picnicking in a field of flowers.

If you’re wondering how to embrace cottagecore this spring, look no further than trying a new cottagecore-inspired hobby! These spring hobby ideas can help you embrace nature, romanticize country living, and embrace the simple life (not the Paris Hilton version).

This post shares my favorite spring cottagecore hobbies to help you fully enjoy the spring season!

11 Spring Cottagecore Hobbies to Try

Let’s get into the spirit of spring with these hobby ideas!

Under each hobby I share more thoughts and ideas to help you get started. There may be affiliate links to related products if relevant. These are to help you easily get into these spring cottagecore hobbies.

However, you can also enjoy these hobbies on your own, most of them without purchasing anything at all. Enjoy!

1. Try baking or cooking

What’s more cottagecore than baking your own loaf of bread or making your own jam? The cottagecore lifestyle is all about getting back to basics. The perfect spring hobby to help you embrace the cottagecore aesthetic is baking or enjoying more home cooked meals! You could even look for locally grown ingredients or grow your own in a garden.

If you love the Anne of Green Gables series, you can try recipes from the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook! Or join me on YouTube as I try making my own jam.

Whether you’re interest in trying to bake bread or explore other cottagecore inspired recipes, this hobby is perfect for spring. So throw open the windows, enjoy a delicious meal or treat, and savor the smells of home cooking.

2. Read cottagecore books set in spring

There are so many great cottagecore books for spring. Reading is the best way to fully embrace the magic of cottagecore. You can transport yourself into cottage living with just the turn of a page!

To make this hobby even more charming, you can enjoy reading while enjoying a picnic at the park or in a homey reading nook.

I’ve suggested my top cottagecore spring books below! Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic read, a modern take on cottagecore, or a cozy memoir, you’ll be sure to find a spring read to put you in a cottagecore mood.

3. Craft with flowers

A key aspect of the cottagecore aesthetic is flowers and traditional crafts. So crafting with flowers is a charming way to try a new hobby for spring that embodies cottagecore.

Try your hand at flower pressing, flower arrangements, or other floral crafts!

Here are some cottagecore flower craft ideas:

• Make potpourri, a natural air freshener made from flower petals and other ingredients
• Learn flower arranging to create flowers for displaying or gifting
• Press your favorite flowers (try it in a book or journal!)
• Build a Lego botanicals set
• Craft paper flowers for an allergy free floral craft
• Create daisy chains or flower crowns

4. Plant a garden

If you’d rather grow than craft, planting a garden is the ideal spring cottagecore hobby for you! You might be wondering what are the most cottagecore flowers? Think pastel colors and classic flowers like lavender and peonies, as suggested by this guide to cottage garden flowers.

You can also check out these essential tips for creating a cottagecore garden. I love the idea to add climbing vines for more whimsy among other plants and flowers. And don’t forget you can always focus on attracting butterflies in your cottagecore garden too!

5. Illustrate with spring coloring books

Art and drawing is a great way to enjoy a cottagecore aesthetic. And there are so many great coloring books for spring and with cottagecore vibes!

I’ve been enjoying gardening themed coloring books as the last days of winter linger on to get me in the mood for spring. Coloring is also the perfect rainy day spring hobby when you can’t get outside but still want to enjoy nature.

Check out some of my spring & cottagecore coloring book recommendations below!

6. Go on nature walks & picnics

If you asked me before writing this list of cottagecore hobbies if picnicking was a hobby, I might have given a different answer. But going on a picnic to enjoy fresh air, listen to birds, and take in nature is one of my favorite ways to enjoy spring! If there’s something you enjoy doing, whether you try it once or do it regularly, I say it absolutely counts as a hobby!

Cottagecore is inspired by nature & the outdoors. Taking nature walks or planning a picnic (solo or with friends) are both delightful outdoor hobbies for spring!

7. Learn a new instrument

I love music to boost my mood or to transport me to another time or place. Learning an instrument will help you romanticize spring while learning a new skill!

If your interest in cottagecore stems from Taylor Swift’s Folklore album, you might enjoy piano or guitar. If you’re looking for a simple aesthetic instrument to pick up, try the ukulele. (This is what I play and with just four strings, it’s easy to pick up and start playing your first songs with little practice!)

You could also try more vintage inspired instruments like the ocarina or banjo!

8. Play cottagecore inspired cozy games

You didn’t think I would forget my favorite hobby from this cottagecore hobby list, did you? There is a video game for everything and SO many adorable cozy games with a spring or cottagecore aesthetic!

Of course, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect game to fully embrace the cottagecore aesthetic! You can decorate your island with quaint cottagecore ACNH items. And don’t forget to invite cottagecore ACNH villagers to add some charm to your island! (Pro tip: I like to look up what their house exterior and interior will look like to see if it will be a good fit.)

But there are so many other great cottagecore cozy games perfect for spring! I share some of my recommendations below (and make sure to pin these game recommendations so you remember to play your favorites!)

9. Start a nature or birdwatching journal

If you are looking for a cottagecore hobby that is creative AND can give you a good reason for taking outdoor adventures, try nature journaling! You don’t have to be a pro at journaling – just thrift or find a notebook of your choice to get started.

Here are some ideas for a nature or birdwatching journal:

• Try bullet journaling about a hiking trip
• Include photos in your nature journal
• Start simply by documenting what you see
• Write or sketch seasonal changes as winter changes to spring
• Add poetry or quotes to your journal
• Create a “perpetual nature journal” you can come back to each year as the seasons change

Even if you don’t feel artistically inclined, this outdoor spring hobby is a great excuse to enjoy nature. And you don’t have to show your journal to anyone! Just have fun and be creative.

10. Complete cottagecore themed puzzles

You might want a spring cottagecore hobby that is indoors and hands on in a different way than getting your hands dirt covered in a garden. If so, you will enjoy getting inspired with cottagecore puzzles!

You can still enjoy all the aesthetic of cottagecore with a puzzle. Think floral scenes, open windows in spring, and biking through a meadow. You could visit thrift stores to find a cottagecore inspired puzzle or shop on Amazon. Either way, building puzzles is the perfect spring hobby to embrace nature from the comfort of your own home.

11. Embroider clothes or decorations

Cottagecore is a beautiful aesthetic, but it’s also meant to be practical! Take up embroidery as a new hobby to embrace the slow living and handmade aspects of cottagecore.

You can embellish your clothes with embroidered designs, or use embroidery to fix holes in your garments. You could also experiment with a cottagecore embroidery kit to create a rustic decoration for your home!

Hopefully you now have one or more spring cottagecore hobbies on your list to try! Spring is such a beautiful season perfect for enjoying the outdoors or getting crafty inside. Whether you choose to try and indoor or outdoor cottagecore hobby, let yourself take in the magic of the season and romanticize your spring.

If you have a favorite hobby from this list or tried one of these spring hobby ideas, please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear!

This post was all about spring cottagecore hobbies to try this season!

The post 11 Charming Spring Cottagecore Hobbies to Try This Season appeared first on The Honey Side.

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Poetry is a seriously underrated genre of literature. I feel like The Iliad and The Odyssey being on high school reading lists is partially to blame. Honestly, if that was the first poetry I was ever introduced to, I would really hate poetry!

Audre Lorde, a Black lesbian poet, wrote “Poetry is the way we help give name to the nameless so it can be thought.” Poetry tells the story of things that are big and true, and that can’t be described with everyday language. We need poetry to help us understand the world.

It makes sense if you find poetry boring or intimidating, because there are a lot of academic people who gatekeep poetry, in my opinion. I once attended a talk where a bunch of poetry professors argued that “Instagram poetry” isn’t real poetry. I hated hearing that because poetry is beautiful and should be for everyone.

Too many people think they just “don’t like poetry” because they’ve been introduced it in ways that are dry, boring, or told there is a right or a wrong way to interpret it.

I’m excited to share a list of poetry audiobooks that can help you have a new and positive experience with poems. Maybe you’ll love it, maybe you’ll hate it! But poetry is the underdog of literature, and doesn’t make it onto enough reading lists. So I hope you find a poetry audiobook on this list that you are excited to try.

This post shares a variety of Audible poetry books you can add to your reading list and enjoy.

I’m going to answer a few questions about Audible and poetry audiobooks first, so feel free to jump ahead if you want to go straight to the Audible poetry book recommendations.

Poetry Audiobooks

About Audiobooks

Where can I listen to poetry audiobooks?

In this list of reading recommendations, I’m sharing links to Audible poetry audiobooks, because I currently use Audible. However, you can look for audiobooks at your local library with tools like Libby. There are also other audiobook listening platforms like Libro.fm you can look for audiobooks on.

Is listening to an audiobook the same as reading?

Absolutely, listening to audiobooks counts as reading! I actually prefer listening to audiobooks over reading books. I really enjoy hearing a good narrator, especially if it’s the author narrating their own book. Your brain also functions the same way when reading printed words and listening to words being spoken, which you can read more about on Science Daily, if you’re interested.

Why should I listen to poetry on audiobook?

I love listening to poetry audiobooks! While I enjoy reading too, there’s something special about hearing poetry read out loud. A lot of poetry audiobooks are also narrated by the author. This is great because an author knows their work the best, and hearing them narrate a book helps me understand and feel more connected to their writing.

Getting Audiobooks Through Audible

You can purchase an Audible audiobook directly, or use an Audible membership to listen to audiobooks. You don’t have to have a monthly membership though to get audiobooks from Audible!

Does it cost to listen to Audible books?

There are a few books that are free for anyone to listen to on Audible, but you will typically either have to purchase an audiobook or have an Audible membership to listen.

If you want, you can get an Audible free trial for your first month of listening on Audible. You can also gift an Audible membership!

Personally, I like subscribing to an audiobook membership like Audible because I like pausing and coming back to books when I feel like it. I have ADHD, so when I check out audiobooks from the library, and re-check them out, it doesn’t save my place. Then I usually give up on reading that book because it feels overwhelming to figure out where I was in the book. Of course, it’s up to you if you want to listen to your audiobooks on Audible, another audiobook platform, or through your library!

Best Audible Poetry Books

Here are my poetry audiobook recommendations! I included mostly contemporary poetry audiobooks because that’s what I find new poetry readers can connect to and enjoy. I also tried to select books that were at least 1 hour long for this list, because if you’re going to purchase an audiobook or use an Audible credit, I want it to be worth it. Happy reading!

If you’ve read any of these poetry audiobooks or give one a try after reading my recommendations, I’d love for you to leave a comment!

1. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

milk and honey

You’ve probably seen Rupi Kaur’s poetry around Instagram! If you haven’t, she wrotes short but meaningful poems about heartache and healing and everything in between.

She also has a poetry special on Prime Video!

Rupi narrates her own audiobook, milk and honey, and her voice is smooth and peaceful. I love her poetry because it’s both deeply powerful and easy to read or listen to.

2. Invisible Strings: 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift

Invisible Strings: 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift

This poetry audiobook is for the Swifties! I didn’t start listening to a lot of Taylor Swift music until The Tortured Poets Department came out, and then became obsessed with her album Reputation and some of her other music. Actually, it’s really fitting for a poetry book to come out after TTPD!

Invisible Strings features 113 poems from different poets all about different Taylor Swift songs. This would be such a fun poetry audiobook to listen to, especially if you are super familiar with her music, to see what connections you can make from the poems to her songs.

3. Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman

Call Us What We Carry: Poems

You may remember Amanda Gorman reading her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at Joe Biden’s inauguration.

“Our scars are the brightest parts of us”
– Amanda Gorman, Call Us What We Carry

In this book of poems, she shares her feelings about climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and white supremacy.

4. All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living by Morgan Harper Nichols

All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living

I LOVE Morgan Harper Nichols! Her words and art are so beautiful and touching. I’ve followed her on Instagram for a while and love that she has also published poetry books like this one.

This book can lean more spiritual so keep that in mind if you’re considering reading it. Even if you’re not spiritual, I think anyone can take inspiration and feel hopeful listening to her poetry.

5. The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal

The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal

Want to explore a poetry collection instead of a book of poems all by one individual author? If you are new to poetry, I recommend trying some anthologies like this one to help you get introduced to different poets and styles of poetry.

The Wonder of Small Things is a poetry anthology with poems from a diverse range of writers. Themes include mindful living and finding joy in the little things.

I love how this poetry collection has moments of “reflective pause” in between some of the poems that encourages you to think and reflect on what you are reading.

6. Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson

Lord of the Butterflies

Andrew Gibson is a queer poet who uses they/them pronouns. They often perform their poems with Button Poetry.

“Do you ever feel like the best of you is something you’re still hoping to grow into?”
– Andrea Gibson, Lord of the Butterflies

In this poetry book, they write about love, loss, mental health, identity, and more.

7. Nikki Giovanni: Love Poems and A Good Cry

Nikki Giovanni: Love Poems and A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter

The writer of this audiobook, Nikki Giovanni, passed away in December 2024. She was a beloved poet and author. She won many awards during her life and was even nominated for a Grammy Award for her poetry in the spoken word category.

This poetry collection spans a range of emotion. If you want to hear poetry from a much loved American poet, give this book a try.

8. Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver

Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver

I absolutely adore Mary Oliver! (Actually my cat Oliver is named after her too!) I highly recommend Mary Oliver poems for anyone who feels like the language of poetry is too intimidating.

She writes about life and nature, and anyone could pick up her poems and connect with them.

If you are looking for simple poems that are easy to understand but have deep meaning, this is the poetry audiobook for you.

9. When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities

When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities

This poetry audiobook made me feel things. I love the rhythm of these poems and the way Chen Chen sounds both calm and full of momentum and energy when narrating them.

In these poems, the author talks about life and family from an Asian American, immigrant, and queer lens.

If you are someone who listens to music for the rhythm and how it sounds, I recommend adding this poetry audiobook to your reading list! The words are meaningful too, although more poetic and full of metaphor. But this audiobook really shines with the flow and rhythm of the words.

10. Inward by Yung Pueblo

Inward

The poetry of Yung Pueblo can change your life. Inward is a book full of deep thoughts and wisdom that will bring you closer to loving yourself.

One of my greatest mistakes was believing that another person could hold together all the pieces of me.
– Yung Pueblo, Inward

With short poems about self love, healing and personal growth, this is a transformative book of poetry worth checking out.

11. Danger on Peaks by Gary Snyder

Danger on Peaks

Gary Snyder is a poet from the Beat Generation. The Beat Poets wrote in the 1950s and 60s and were known for poetry with a rhythm that sounds like jazz.

The poems in this book are full of adventure and history and visual imagery of nature. Listening to Danger on Peaks makes me feel like I’m in the mountains.

Gary Snyder is also known for being a Zen Buddhist and his poems feel mediative at times as well.

12. Femme in Public: Poetry by ALOK

Femme in Public: Poetry by ALOK

Alok Vaid-Menon is really an icon to me. They are a gender non-conforming poet and comedian who has spoken loudly about being trans and nonbinary in powerful ways.

This is a short collection of poems about their experience presenting femme in public, as the title suggests. It is also a bit nontraditional of an audiobook due to the unique use of sound.

13. Bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward

Bone

Ysra Daley-Ward is a model turned poet, and poetry was how she started speaking the truth about her life – you can read more about her journey into poetry in The Guardian.

This book of poetry is about identity, trauma, mental health, life, growing up Black and British, and more.

It’s not the type of poetry book that is easily quotable, but it is very raw and real. It tells personal stories and experiences in poems with powerful emotion that brings you into her world.

14. An American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo

An American Sunrise: Poems

Joy Harjo was the first Native American to be United States Poet Laureate!

In An American Sunrise, she shares about her own family’s history and also about the forcible removal of Indigenous peoples from their homelands.

“We cannot own anyone else, people, the lands, or resources. We are here to care for each other.”
– Joy Harjo, An American Sunrise

15. Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life

Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life

While this book is technically poetic wisdom as opposed to straight poetry, I think it’s close enough to count.

Heart Talk is such a beautiful, hopeful book. It covers topics like accepting change, self care, and believing in yourself. I have the physical book and it’s nice to flip through to random pages. But I think the audiobook would be the perfect dose of encouragement to listen to on tough days.

Now you’ve got 15 Audible poetry books to add to your reading list! I hope you give at least one of them a try, because I think everyone can use a little more poetry in their life.

This post was all about the best poetry books you can find on Audible!

The post 15 Inspiring Audible Poetry Books to Transform Your Reading List appeared first on The Honey Side.

Now that I’m sober and in my thirties, I love cozy hobbies that help me relax and unwind. Coloring is a new favorite hobby of mine, and helps me feel calm and peaceful, as long as I accept that I will most definitely color outside the lines.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

As adults, I feel like we don’t get to enjoy genuine moments of play enough. I know my to do list is never complete, and in fact, it’s always growing! It can be easy to get caught up in the momentum of getting things done, and always moving onto the next task.

I know with my ADHD and how I can get caught up hyperfocusing on a project, I have to be especially mindful that I take breaks and make sure I’m not always working. As someone who does creative work, I find that rest is a key piece of my creative process. I need downtime where I don’t feel any pressure to come up with new ideas or be posting on social media, or else I get creatively burnt out and become uninspired.

Making intentional time for relaxation and hobbies is SO important, especially if you want to prevent yourself from getting burnt out. You have to make time to rest and enjoy yourself if you want to take care of yourself in the long term.

Coloring is such an easy hobby to pick up, all it takes is printing out a coloring page. You can even watch your favorite YouTube videos or listen to a podcast or audio while coloring! I’m excited to share some especially cozy coloring pages that can help you explore coloring as a hobby or connect with your creativity.

This post is all about coloring and where you can find free cozy coloring pages to print and color!

You might have some questions about coloring pages, in which case, just keep reading! But if you want to, you can jump ahead to find the Cozy Coloring Pages to download.

Why coloring pages (instead of books)?

There are a lot of reasons you might choose coloring pages instead of a coloring book. For example, if you want to test out a sample page from a coloring book illustrator before purchasing a book. Or maybe you want something to color right now and you don’t have a coloring book in your house.

I thought this perspective on coloring pages from Anna Grunduls, a Polish illustrator, was interesting.

Here are some reasons you might choose a coloring page instead of a book right now:

• To test out an art style from a coloring book illustrator to see if their art style is right for you.
• You are left handed and coloring is easier on a flat surface.
• You are on a budget and want something that is free (there are always coloring pages available for purchase, but this blog post shares free printable coloring pages).
• You want to color right now, and don’t have a coloring book around.

I enjoy both coloring pages and coloring books! For me, coloring books are more portable and durable. Because I have ADHD and tend to naturally destroy paper coupled with my cat’s love of destroying paper, coloring books tend to be safer for me.

But I also enjoy coloring pages because I can color something specific I am in the mood to color or find something I don’t have in a coloring book!

What to print coloring pages on?

What you print coloring pages on is up to your personal preference! Personally, I have a lot of leftover cardstock from craft projects so if I want to color with marker, I might print pages on white cardstock. However, any printer paper works.

You can also color printable pages digitally! Check out this guide on how to color in procreate from Yay! Coloring Pages.

RELATED POST | 11 Unique Adult Coloring Books: Amazon Finds for Your Inner Child

Best Free Printable Cozy Coloring Pages

Below are 11 places to find cozy coloring pages of all kinds! All free for your personal use at the time of publishing this blog post. Tap the image to take you through to each coloring page. I hope you enjoy them, and I’d love for you to leave a comment if you end up using any of these coloring printables!

1. Kawaii Coloring Pages

I love these Kawaii Coloring Pages from Yay Coloring Pages. Yay Coloring Pages was started by Joana, a illustrator with a passion for bringing joy into coloring. With over 30 downloadable cozy kawaii coloring pages to choose from, I love them all. And my favorite is this coloring page of these adorable bear pancakes.

2. Monday Mandala Cozy Coloring Pages

The 24 cozy coloring pages from Monday Mandala range from cozy holiday coloring pages to general homey coloring scenes. My favorite is the page called Jar With A Cozy Nook Inside! Monday Mandala is a great website with lots of printable coloring pages on a variety of topics.

3. Bookish Cat Coloring

This cozy cat coloring page is downloadable on the New York Public Library website! I can’t think of anything cozier than cats curled up in stacks of library books.

This is a free downloadable coloring page, although it’s listed in the NYPL shop as $0.00. So just keep in mind you will have to give your email address and some other info, and the Cat in the Stacks coloring page will be emailed to you.

4. Cozy Christmas Coloring Pages

If you’re in the holiday spirit, Scentsy offers cozy Christmas coloring pages. Make sure to check out the other links on their blog post about their Christmas coloring pages because they also link to holiday coloring pages from previous years!

I actually was gifted a Scentsy from a coworker a few years ago! Tragically, I have anosmia, so I can’t actually smell anything. So these coloring pages make me feel included in the world of smells.

5. Johanna Basford Coloring Pages

Check out these cute & cozy coloring pages by Johanna Basford. You may recognize Johanna’s name as the illustrator of popular adult coloring books like Enchanted Forest and Magical Worlds.

Johanna Basford’s hand drawn art style is warm and detail oriented. I love how magical her illustrations are and how much of a story they tell.

6. Cozy Teacups Illustration

Enjoy this teacups coloring page from Easy Peasy and Fun’s website. There is also a lighthouse coloring page, but nothing says cozy afternoon to me more than a stack of cute teacups!

7. Cozy Winter Coloring Pages

Try these cozy winter coloring pages from Castle Arts! If you’re inside on a snow day (like I am while writing this post!) or just dreaming of snow, these hand drawn coloring pages will get you in a cozy winter mood.

I love the homey Gingerbread Cottage coloring page and all the whimsical winter scenes illustrated in all these coloring pages. Make sure to check out their other categories of coloring pages too!

8. Homey Coloring Pages from Jen Racine

Jen Racine offers a variety of cozy coloring pages on her website. She is a coloring book illustrator and these pages are samples from her beautiful collection of adult coloring books! I love how cozy this hygge coloring page and English Breakfast Tea page are.

The cozy coloring page pictured above with the rabbit is from her A Very Scandi Christmas Coloring Book!

9. Cozy Corner & Stress Relief Coloring Pages

Anne & Lisa have free coloring pages on their website, all samples from their adult coloring books!

With coloring books called Stress Relief and Cozy Corner, there are plenty of coloring pages to help you relax. Their designs range from slightly detailed to pages that are simpler and easy to color, if that is something you are looking for.

10. Crochet Coloring Pages

If you love to crochet, these yarn coloring pages are right up your…hook? I sadly don’t know enough about knitting to make a good play on words there.

But you can download two cozy crochet themed coloring pages created by Daisy Cottage Designs!

11. Cuddly Puppies Coloring Page

Try this cuddly puppies coloring page from illustrator Lulu Mayo! Scroll to the bottom of the page to find it.

This puppy themed coloring page is a sample from her A Million Puppies Coloring Book. Lulu Mayo has such a fun and whimsical art style, so print this to color and hopefully cuddle with your own adorable pet while coloring it!

How To Make Coloring More Fun

I hope you enjoy this selection of cozy coloring pages! I think coloring can be so fun for adults, but I usually pair it with another activity. For example, I will color in bed while listening to LoFi music on YouTube or with Spirit City: Lofi Sessions on my laptop in the background to make things extra cozy.

You can also make coloring more fun by having a coloring hang out with friends! Even if you don’t have time to plan a friend date, you can always decide to both color the same page, and send photos to each other to compare.

I will also color while listening to an audiobook! I love audiobooks, but can’t just sit and listen to them on their own. Since I don’t drive a lot, I will do another activity like coloring while I listen.

There is also a great community online of people who love coloring books! The subreddits for Coloring and Adult Coloring both have flair for completed work, meaning you can share your finished coloring pages. There are also a lot of accounts on Instagram that share their coloring diaries and latest colored in pages!

Happy coloring!

This post shared free printable cozy coloring pages to inspire your creative spirit and sense of calm!

The post Free Printable Cozy Coloring Pages for Calm & Creativity appeared first on The Honey Side.

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There is no character more embedded in my psyche than Nancy Drew. I grew up reading the classic yellow hardcover books thanks to the complete collection in my elementary school library.

But what really unlocked my inner detective (and scarred me for a few decades thanks to the first game called Secrets Can Kill) was playing the Nancy Drew computer games. While I may have needed the walkthroughs to help me solve puzzles while playing the classic games as a kid, the Nancy Drew PC Games taught me to be relentless asking questions and that I am more than capable of accomplishing whatever I put my mind to.

Thanks to Her Interactive, the publisher of the Nancy Drew computer game series, fans of Nancy get to relive the magic and nostalgia of Nancy Drew with their annual Cookie Contest!

This post shares my experience entering the 2024 Nancy Drew cookie contest & how I attempted to level up my cookie decorating skills to rise to the challenge.

What is the Nancy Drew Cookie Contest?

The Nancy Drew Holiday Cookie Contest has been hosted by Her Interactive, the publisher of the Nancy Drew point & click games, for the past few years! You can check out the Her Interactive contest page for information about the most recent and past contests, including their holiday cookie contests and other seasonal events.

Most years of the Nancy Drew contest, they have had winners in two categories: general cookies & 3D building/gingerbread cookies. This year, however, they added a third category to celebrate the release of the 34th Nancy Drew game, Mystery of the Seven Keys!

Here are the winners from the 2019 Nancy Drew Cookie Contest! As you can see, Nancy fans get involved and create intricate and detailed cookies I could only dream of creating.

My 2023 Cookie Contest Attempt

2023 was my first time entering the Nancy Drew Cookie Contest.

I cannot tell a lie, my sole motivation for entering was that one of the prizes was a really cute pair of cookie contest socks! Not the KitchenAid mixer nor the other, some might call nicer, prizes also given to the winner. The socks were too cute, and I knew I had to give this contest my best.

As I almost never bake, I tried to get creative. My hope was to image a cookie I could bake that didn’t involve a lot of actual baking skills, and preferably no decorating.

The inspiration was from one of the most iconic moments in one of the first Nancy Drew games, Treasure in the Royal Tower. Professor Hotchkiss is a scholar staying in the Wickford Manor hotel (the setting for this iconic Nancy Drew game). While Nancy is trying to speak to her to investigate the mystery, Professor Hotchkiss orders 50 chicken drummies from room service by asking Nancy to bring them to her.

“Ah yes, I can make gingerbread cookies look like drumsticks!” A genius idea I thought, and no decoration needed, other than a little icing in the center acting as ranch dressing.

You can see every entry from the 2023 Cookie Contest on the @NancyDrewPCGames Instagram page!

While I didn’t win, I had a lot of fun struggling to bake even a simple cookie. I also learned that yes, baking is as hard as I thought.

Leveling Up My Nancy Drew Cookie Contest Game in 2024

This year, I was less invested in winning, and more determined to actually decorate a cookie. (Although winning would be nice, of course.)

I’ve been playing the newest Nancy Drew game, the Mystery of the Seven Keys, with friends. My goal this year was to bake something inspired by the latest game in the series.

Of course, we have only found one key (out of what I’m assuming will be seven). Since we are still in the early stages of the new Nancy game, I had to get creative with my cookie choices.

Mystery of the Seven Keys takes place in Prague, and Nancy finds herself being asked to help out in a cafe, make lattes, and even create some latte art.

I felt making coffee themed cookies would be a really great way to capture a really engaging part of the game. And latte art themed cookies wouldn’t be too difficult to decorate, right?

From Inspiration to Creation…Time to Bake!

Did I mention I never bake? Honestly, baking usually fills me with dread. I mainly view it as something that leads to my least favorite thing…doing dishes.

But the Cookie Contest is a great reason to overcome my baking stress! Since I was decorating the cookies, I decided to go with this recipe for cut out sugar cookies.

If you’re wondering about the magnifying glass, I bought it as a prop for a Nancy Drew costume a few years ago. I’ve never regretted it! If you are a fellow Nancy Drew fan, I highly recommend getting yourself a magnifying glass. It’s such a fun prop to have for photos and for dramatic flair.

As someone who almost never bakes, the cookies came out great! Perfectly round and with no spread, which is apparently ideal for decorating according to my last minute google research on baking.

Latte Art: Decorating with Royal Icing

Decorating was going to be the hard part. After trying to find an easier way, I decided to attempt to make flood consistency royal icing using this recipe. I replaced meringue powder with egg whites because it seemed simpler.

Here’s a reel I created to show the decorating process:

Yes, I did get creative trying to color the icing brown. There are a lot of guides online about mixing the regular colors of food coloring to make the color brown. But of course the only thing in stock at my grocery store was neon gel food coloring.

I think my green, orange, and purple coloring mixture turned out a nice shade of creamy brown. Perfect for latte inspired cookies!

The Finished Nancy Drew Latte Art Cookies

Here are the fully decorated cookies – latte art, as if designed by Nancy herself. They are not perfect, but I’m proud of them!

I tried to incorporate some of the designs from the game, and of course Ned Nickerson needed his own latte art too.

It was cool to see how flood consistency royal icing actually worked. Because of how “watery” the icing was, the white icing did melt, or flow into the brown icing. The result is flat icing across the top, just how latte art would be in coffee!

A lot of the latte art in the game was shapes, like a key or a clock, as opposed to more fluid latte art. This did make the cookies difficult to decorate. I think the icing I made would be easier to work with if the designs were more flexible.

However, I would love to try again in the future. and get more creative with my latte art designs!

Have you ever entered the Nancy Drew Cookie Contest, or is this something you’d like to try in the future? Please leave a comment and let me know – I’d love to hear!

For now, I’ll put away my baking supplies for a while. I’m happy not to do so many dishes again for at least a few months.

But the Cookie Contest was a great way to share my love for the Nancy Drew PC games & my creativity. And it has made me change my tune on baking, just a little. Baking can be creative and fun! I guess most people probably already think this, I’ve just had my “I hate doing dishes” goggles on for too long.

Make sure to check out the Her Interactive contest page for future contest info & results! And good luck to all who entered! I can’t wait to see what the next contest brings.

This post was all about my process for baking latte art inspired cookies for the Nancy Drew Cookie Contest hosted by Her Interactive.

The post Nancy Drew Cookie Contest: Creative Baking Inspired by Nancy’s Newest Game appeared first on The Honey Side.

So if you’re looking for your next cozy hobby or want to nurture your inner child with some coloring, check out my favorite adult coloring books on Amazon.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Coloring is the #1 most underrated hobby, according to must adults. It’s me, I am most adults.

Seriously though, we spend so much time adulting and paying bills that coloring is such a fun way to relax at the end of the day! I love thinking of my inner child when choosing hobbies, and coloring feels so playful and whimsical. I also try to do a non-screentime activity before bed, and winding down while coloring and listening to an audiobook is so relaxing.

When buying a coloring book, consider if you prefer to color with markers, colored pencils or crayons. You might want to think about how much details the pictures have when choosing a coloring book to buy. Personally, I have ADHD and tend to get bored easily, so I prefer bigger designs instead of more intricately detailed illustrations. But this is completely up to you!

If you aren’t sure what you prefer – that’s okay too. Many of my coloring book recommendations are under $10 so it’s a pretty inexpensive activity to try, and you can always regift a coloring book if you aren’t a fan. I hope these coloring book ideas help you feel inspired.

This post is all about Amazon adult coloring books you will enjoy!

Unique Adult Coloring Books on Amazon

1. Uplifting Coloring Book

I absolutely ADORE this bright and playful coloring book. I am all about positive self talk, so the title speaks to me. Every page is filled with inspirational messages and doodles to color in. This coloring book genuinely makes my heart happy and is one of my personal favorite adult coloring books.

If you like to be encouraged and or need a coloring book that will spark joy, definitely check out You Are Wonderful: A Coloring Book That Thinks You Are Pretty Darn Cool. The illustrator Eliza Todd also offers a digital download of some of the pages on her website, although for just a few dollars more you can order the full book on Amazon.

2. Cottagecore Coloring Book

Photo by Jen Racine, Coloring Book Illustrator

I love all things cottagecore, and the Modern Cottage coloring book is full of cute and cozy cottage style coloring pages! This would be the perfect adult coloring book to imagine you are sitting by the fire in a cute little cottage with woodland creatures outside your window.

I love the variety of designs on each page and how the illustrations aren’t too difficult or overly complicated. But each page still is full of whimsy and imagination!

Jen Racine is the illustrator and you can really see her creativity come through in these illustrations. Make sure to check out the free coloring book pages available on her website if you want to see if her art style is a good fit for you!

3. Affirmation Coloring Book

This affirmation filled coloring book is another favorite of mine! I love the nature inspired art work and positive messages throughout. “You Are Made of Magic” is my go to coloring book when I need a little pick me up because you can’t help but feel inspired filling in each page.

This adult coloring book would also be a great addition to a therapist’s office or lovely to give as a gift. It really is magical!

4. Cat Coloring Book for Adults

Cats are ALREADY stress relieving so a coloring book about cats? Meow you’re talking! Meet the Stress Relief Cat Coloring Book with Calming and Adorable Designs for Adults.

The paw-some thing about this calming coloring book is that the designs fill the WHOLE page. Many coloring books have a lot of white space around the designs. I love how the illustrations in this coloring book extend to the edges of the page and feature cute cats and also lots of patterns to color in.

RELATED POST | Free Printable Cozy Coloring Pages for Calm & Creativity

5. Adorable Town Coloring Book

Did you read the Borrowers growing up or love tiny things – who else remembers MiniBrands? If so, you will love The Adorable Town coloring book. Each page features a different unique and imaginative home or building. Think “The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe” but with 10 times more whimsy!

Each setting is so detailed and really paints a picture of a different cute creature who could live or work there. Coloring in this book is like bringing your own town to life, and I can just imagine all these characters wandering through this teeny tiny town and chatting with each other.

6. Plant Coloring Book for Grown Ups

Photo by Jen Racine, Coloring Book Illustrator

We all have that one friend whose house or apartment is full of gorgeous potted plants – maybe you are that plant loving friend! Then the Plant Parent Coloring Book by Jen Racine is for you. This coloring book is full of different houseplants, all in unique pots!

You might think coloring plants over and over could get boring but this book is far from it. I love the different designs of the pots and getting to learn about different plants with facts and helpful plant parent tips on each page. Also I can’t have any real houseplants because my cat will knock them over so this plant coloring book is my window into actually being a plant parent.

7. Magical Adventure Coloring Book

This coloring book is one you could spend a long time with because of the storyline which makes it very unique! Each page is very detailed. I love seeing the journey of the girl in the story unfold and how the paper planes are incorporated on different pages.

The illustrations are so beautiful I could honestly just look at them and not even need to color them, which makes this even more amazing that it’s a coloring book!

8. Cute & Groovy Easy Coloring Book

Coco Wyo coloring books are super popular and offer a bold & easy series of coloring books which is great if you love coloring with marker or want larger designs. I like easy coloring books like this because I find them relaxing to color in – sometimes crowded designs can stress me out! Most pages feature a single large image to color.

The Cute & Groovy coloring book by Coco Wyo is especially cute because it feels very nostalgic. Definitely a coloring book for your inner child especially if you were an 80s or 90s kid!

9. Knitted Creatures Coloring Book

A friend gave me this book for my birthday and I’m so happy to have it! I might not have picked it up on my own because I don’t knit or crochet but after coloring in it, I would recommend it to anyone who loves stuffed animals or being cozy.

It’s called “The Cutest of Cute Amigurumi Critters” – as I learned after getting this coloring book, amigurumi is knitted or crocheted stuffed toys.

This coloring book is more detailed than I would usually pick up, which is another reason I’m glad I was gifted it! The details are so fun to color in and all about the textures of the crocheted baby animals – knitted bows, cutesy buttons, and more. And every critter in this adult coloring book from Amazon feels like it has such a cute and adorable personality.

10. Kawaii Tarot Coloring Book

I love tarot and I especially love reinterpretations of the classic tarot symbols. This Kawaii Tarot adult coloring book is great, even if you are a beginner to tarot or want to learn more!

What better way to learn more about the different tarot cards there are than spending time coloring them in a coloring book? I love how this cutesy coloring book includes tidbits of information about different tarot cards too, so anyone can color and enjoy.

My sister has and enjoys the Kawaii Tarot deck, so it is cool to see the images in coloring book form. Lulu Mayo is the illustrator and author of both the tarot deck and coloring book. You can also try a sample coloring page of The Magician tarot card on the illustrator’s website!

11. Rainbow Coloring Book

Photo by Jen Racine, Coloring Book Illustrator

The Encouraging Rainbow Coloring Book – everything about this one from the cover to the title just makes me smile. I love the simple bold designs and how each page has an encouraging message! I really love rainbows and bright colors and think we can all use reminders like this more often.

What types of coloring books do you usually like? I’d love to hear if you’ve tried any of these too. Feel free to leave a comment and share!

This post was all about different unique adult coloring books Amazon has to offer!

The post 11 Unique Adult Coloring Books: Amazon Finds for Your Inner Child appeared first on The Honey Side.