Can You Spot The Woman In This Painting? Art Is Really Amazing!

German artist Jörg Düsterwald paints nude women into natural backgrounds. That is, he camouflages models with body paint using the female body as the medium for his creative expression. In addition to disseminating his work through photography, Düsterwald exhibits his work live at various events.

Can you find the woman in painting?

Artist: Jörg Düsterwald; Photographer: Tschiponnique Skupin

Artist: Jörg Düsterwald; Photographer: Tschiponnique Skupin

Artist: Jörg Düsterwald; Photographer: Tschiponnique Skupin

Featured photo credit: Tree via upsocl.com

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You’re Exceptionally Creative If You See The Correct Image (Only 1/100 People Can Do This!)

What do you see in this drawing that baffled so many people?

Only 1/100 guessed right, but for the rest it was completely mind-boggling.

Try again. The trick that helped some was to cover the darker side of the image with their hand.

Here comes the spoiler…

It’s actually a man with a cowboy hat!

It took some people an entire hour to figure this one out, while the lucky few were able to see it right away. If you belong to the latter group, you can consider yourself a highly creative person as studies show.

Creative processes have been considered highly abstract and unquantifiable practices, often considered as bursts of sudden inspiration that came out of nowhere. However, scientists have been able to conduct certain researches to catch the creative process in order to analyze the distinctive features that creative people have. What they came to realize was that creative people tend to use much bigger parts of their brain during the thought process. This gives them the opportunity to use more associations and memory when trying to decode something.

In the case of image deconstruction, creative people have more to work with when looking at an unknown image which means they would much more quickly collect the previously known parts to build ideas.

Therefore, it is no wonder that to some people this puzzle was way too easy making them wonder what the catch was. However, you shouldn’t think something is wrong with you if no matter how long you looked at the drawing, all you could see was the distorted image of a bat or a rat. It just means that you process new information in a different way, usually in a slightly more formal way, following certain known rules and associations, whereas for creative people, this process includes more “outside the box” kind of thinking with more options to choose from.

This drawing wasn’t the first one to spur up the conversation about the effect our thinking process has on the way we perceive the world. The famous duck-rabbit dilemma presented by American psychologist Joseph Jastrow in 1899, provided starting point for the research on the topic.

Before reading any further, stop and look at the drawing.

What do you see? A duck or a rabbit? Can you easily find the other animal? Can you switch from one perspective to the other with ease, or does it take some effort?

For this drawing, there is not a wrong or right guess, (even though most people guess duck first) it is rather a question of the ability to quickly switch from one perception to the other.

All of these features count when determining if you are a highly or average creative person. According to the research Richard Wiseman did with a group of fellow psychologists at the University of Edinburgh, creative people actually perceive the world differently, as they are more able to see things from many different angles.

Using the duck-rabbit drawing, the participants had to answer questions not much different than the ones above. Additionally, they were asked to list as many unusual usages for given every-day objects in a short amount of time. The results were clear: people who could effortlessly switch from one perception to another, also did much better in assigning new purpose to known objects.

It is a much known trait of creative people to easily think of alternative ways and to find connection between two apparently unrelated concepts. Their brains are just that much faster when working on interpreting different aspects of a concept. Therefore, the results prove that there is a difference to how highly creative people perceive the world as opposed to average creative ones.

Finally, if it wasn’t for creative geniuses and their ability to see things from many different perspectives, we would have been deprived of the many discoveries and innovations that helped shape the world as we know it.

Featured photo credit: http://www.wimp.com/ via facebook.com

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People Who Enjoy Alone Time All Have These 5 Things In Common

There is a common thread that ties together many different types of people that enjoy their time alone more than the average. Just because you like being alone doesn’t mean that you don’t have thoughts that flow through your mind and stimulate you. Perhaps you gain greater stimulus from the thoughts you have in solitude. Could it be possible that it’s easier for you to work towards your goals or your thoughts are clearer when you’re alone?

Their happiness stems from internal stimuli

Sometimes it can be difficult for others to understand that you don’t equate attention with validation. You don’t need anyone to give you the inside scoop on what you’re feeling. This doesn’t mean that you don’t require stimulation. In fact, at times you feel that you process stimuli more deeply than your cohorts.

Everyone has some sort of energy wellspring that they feed from. Taking the time to connect with the inner you is not so you can appear well adjusted. You do this to access  where your happiness truly lives. If you looked to an outside source for your happiness, as a creature of habit where would you be?

They always seek growth

You don’t mean to be a snob about your activities. You simply want to make the best use of your time possible. Therefore, the conversations you find interesting are the ones that fuel growth. A large part of you is always looking deep inside to make yourself become more. You’re not much for chit chat and that’s okay.

It’s as if you feel it’s a part of the duty of mankind to have deeper thoughts. There are enough people concerned with small talk right? Big ideas are sexy conversation for you. People who enjoy growth frequently look for growth opportunities. You use conversation as an opportunity for you to see how much other people have grown, as well as show your growth to others.

They form deep connections with others

Because you’ve taken the time to get to know yourself so well, it’s easy for you to get to know other people. Not just get to know them, you may be interested in getting to know them better than they know themselves. You get excited about delving deeply into the mind of another person to see what treasures you can uncover.

Introverts explore themselves at fascinating depths and others may be surprised when they learn that introverts view them the same way. Take pleasure in clarifying that you’re not antisocial, your time alone allows you to bring more stimulating conversations to the table.

Self-reflection gives them clarity on what they want

People who intentionally spend a great deal of time alone are likely to be introverts. These people naturally know themselves really well. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to place such importance on their own subjective views. You have these views because you’re able to go inside and listen carefully to what you want.

This kind of self-reflection is bound to bring a certain level of clarity and peace. You take pleasure in handpicking the activities and conversations you’re going to be involved in. In your world, there’s only room for what fulfills you. It’s a good thing that you don’t need any kind of incessant activity to stimulate yourself. If there is a void, you recognize it and fill it yourself.

They are simply smarter

Why do you always go off on your own? Why would you rather be by yourself than even with your best friend? An intelligent mind encourages intelligent actions. Research has shown that intelligent people tend to spend less time socializing because they are busy working on a long-term objective.

A study conducted on 15,000 people aged 18-28 concluded that those who live in areas with less people are more satisfied with life than those who live in dense populations. The study also showed that people who are intelligent become less happy after spending time with friends. Researcher Carol Graham came to the conclusion that intelligent people are so enthused with intellectual goals, that anything that diminishes that is viewed negatively.
All of the time that you’ve spent by yourself is actually an indication that you have some traits that are quite positive. You know yourself, you know how to connect with others, and most importantly you place emphasis on growth. You’re able to prevent yourself from engaging in pointless activities that don’t lead to the results you truly want. Consider yourself fortunate, as many people are not sure what they want to create in life and their focus is scattered, rendering their power less effective than yours.

Featured photo credit: Allef V. via unsplash.com

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16 Intimate Things Every Couple Should Do At Least Once

No flame burns forever, and the same goes for love. The busyness of modern life has deprived many couples of time together, let alone moments for extra intimacy. Passion and sexual tension need to be reignited regularly to keep love strong and growing. See the following 16 things you can do as a couple to increase intimacy and your desire for each other.

1. Shower together

A shower in itself is a very personal act. It is a daily routine that is undergone in one’s own privacy. To shower together is to break down this barrier of private space and get closer to each other. As you lather each other with foam, you re-learn about each other’s body—the curves, the shapes and where it tickles. A shower together can be very intimate and relaxing, or full of sexual tension, or both.

2. Have sex in a public place

It could be in a secluded corner in a park, in your own backyard, or anywhere where you won’t get caught easily. Make it a shared adventure, but do be smart about it. This could either be the most exciting thing ever, or the worst disaster!

Risk level: High

3. Go ice skating together

Holding hands, slipping on ice, and falling down together can be pretty romantic, too. Make some silly moves, race each other, show off some swirling skills or your ability to skate backwards. Go back to being like young teenagers in love. Have great fun helping each other up, pulling each other down and sharing in laughter.

4. Involve food in foreplay

The trick is to try something new while keeping it clean and manageable. Use fruits, such as strawberry, banana, mango, pomegranate, peach, etc., and syrups such as chocolate fudge, maple syrup and honey. And of course, whipped cream. Just remember to lay down some towels beforehand so that the sheets don’t get dirty.

5. Watch porn together

Don’t be shy about it! Use porn to teach each other what you’d like to have done to you, and what you’ll like to do to your partner. It’s a chance to get to know more about each other’s secret fantasies and previously unknown preferences or fetishes. Also, you don’t need to go to the book store for a copy of the Kama Sutra now. You’re welcome!

6. Have a beach getaway together

The beach, the sun, the sand, and the clear waters. Help each other with the sunblock lotion. Have a nice little picnic under the trees. Get a beautiful tan together. Go frolic in the blue sea when it gets too hot. Roll around in the powdery white sand. You can rekindle a lot of love by spending alone time in a natural setting, enjoying each other’s company.

7. Give each other a massage

Massage helps to relax the body by relieving tension in the muscles. It is best to do this for your partner after he or she has had a hard day at work. Giving a massage is a loving act that shows that you are understanding and giving towards your partner.

Light some scented candles or use some aromatherapy oil. Play some soft music in the background. It doesn’t have to take a long time. A 10 to 20 minute session will be able to win every bit of your partner’s heart.

8. Help each other shave

This requires a great amount of trust, but it can help to build trust between two people, too. Let your partner teach you if you don’t already know. Be patient with each other.

9. Cook a meal together

Enjoy the process of planning a meal and cooking it together. It takes cooperation and communication. Both of you share the labor and also the fruits of it. Share your family stories while you cook.

If you want to spice things up a bit, you could try cooking naked—by wearing just aprons with nothing else underneath.

10. Shop for underwear and lingerie for each other

Who doesn’t love presents? Surprise your partner with a new pair of undies today. You don’t even have to go to an actual store. Shop online! You’ll be surprised by the huge range of choices. But before that, ask your partner what he or she likes—the colors, the designs, the brands, etc.—so you won’t have too difficult a time deciding what to purchase. You could also try something extra kinky like lacy tops, thongs or certain sexy accessories

11. Bondage

It doesn’t have to be complicated. For starters, a blindfold and whatever works to bind the hands, such as a men’s tie or women’s leggings, will suffice. For the more “advanced” or more adventurous couples, you can buy real handcuffs and other locks or straps from adult toy stores. In any case, safety first! (You can also add #4 to this.)

12. Go camping together

Camping can provide a really good way to increase intimacy for couples who both love nature. It is a sweet escape for those who are tired of the city life and all its hustle and bustle. Being closer to nature allows the rejuvenation of the mind. Think of the cool, fresh air, the silence and calmness, and the endless amount of space that nature offers.

Find yourselves a safe and adequate camping site. Learn to work together to set up a good, sturdy tent for yourselves. And what’s more romantic than melting marshmallows over campfire and star gazing side by side? You could end your night with an intimate time inside your tent or out in the open. With this, you check off #2 of this list, too!

Again, safety first: notify your family or one or two of your good friends of your whereabouts. Choose a campsite or an area that is well visited by other travelers and does not have a huge track record of animal attacks. It is best that the place is not so secluded that you can’t get internet or reception on your cell phones.

13. Book a room at a hotel (or a motel)

Many of us are too tied down by our work commitments or school schedules to be able to go on multiple holidays throughout the year. Most of us only have the year end to travel and go for a vacation with our loved ones.

But you could change things up a bit. Book a nice hotel room as a surprise for your partner. It can be just be a random Friday night out, a celebration for a promotion, a birthday or an anniversary, or a simple gesture of love for your partner. He or she will definitely appreciate your move.

For the more adventurous couples, you can try going to a motel for the night for an extra sense of spontaneity and risk.

14. Take a long, hot bath together (with champagne of course!)

Because it is sexy, and you know you want to. (You can combine it with #13.)

15. Roleplay

Especially convenient when it’s Halloween season.

16. Pen erotic writings for each other

Move over, sexting! Erotic writing could be the next big thing for couples in love. Seeing how the Fifty Shades Of Grey series has become such a bestseller worldwide, it comes to us as no surprise how personal erotic writings could be a good way of communicating to your partner in a subtle but still sexy manner. Reveal to each other your secret fantasies and yearnings. This could work really well for couples who are in a long distance relationship. Use secret pet names for each other. Be unreserved with your imagination.

Here are 10 things every couple needs to stop doing before they damage their relationship. 10 Things Every Couple Needs To Stop Doing

Featured photo credit: Young beautiful couple in love staying and kissing on the beach on sunset. Soft sunny colors.via Shutterstock

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6 Natural Aphrodisiacs For Women

Lowered libido happens from time to time, especially in today’s fast-paced, rat race world. We are our own worst enemies doing too much, eating too poorly, and failing to take care of ourselves. The best advice I have for my female friends who experience diminished sex drive is to slow down, take time to meditate and rest, get regular exercise, and improve nutrition by eating a diet rich in plant-based whole foods.

Some considerations for dietary changes that directly affect a woman’s flagging sexual energy include natural supplements. Many are in your pantry right now. It is really a blessing that pharmaceutical companies have not cracked the case for boosting women’s sexual performance. While pharmaceuticals such as Viagra provide relief for men, they also bring potential harm. Natural supplements are a safer and often more effective solution!

Natural Aphrodisiacs for Your Female Libido

Aphrodisiacs are defined as “foods, drinks or drugs that stimulate sexual desire.” These six natural aphrodisiacs have been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda practices. Ayurveda is the traditional medicine of India that focuses on making the right choices for your body and mind. Try these Ayurvedic recommendations in your daily regimen to bring the heat back!

1. Cacao. Raw cacao nibs are a tasty super food with many benefits, including aphrodisiac properties. Cacao contains anandamide, which is known as the “bliss molecule.” It is packed with healthful magnesium, phosphorous, antioxidants, and libido-enhancing arginines and methylxanthines. If that is not enough to make your swap your semi-sweet chocolate chips for cacao in your favorite recipes, it also contains phenylethylamine, known as the “love chemical,” that releases dopamine in your brain during sex!
2. Fenugreek. Another tasty way to boost libido is the seed of this plant. Fenugreek was used as an aphrodisiac by ancient peoples in Rome, Egypt, and Greece. Its taste is a bit like maple syrup or butterscotch and is used to flavor foods such as imitation maple syrup and in spice blends such as Ethiopian berbere. In India, its leaves are eaten as a vegetable. Used for centuries by women and men to increase sex drive, it also promotes healthy breast tissue and improves milk production in lactating women. The key is its phytoestrogens. Some say this natural supplement can increase breast size. Whether or not it can give you fuller breasts, it’s an easy safe way to try to boost libido or bra size.
3. Warming Spices. Many Ayurveda practices for boosting libido and metabolism are about increasing the heat of your diet. Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg are warming herbs that increase blood flow in the abdominal and pelvic regions. They are said to stimulate your appetite for both food and sex. You can take these in capsule form, but they are easy to add to many recipes, especially hot drinks like tea. Or try pickled ginger. The blood-pumping effects of these delicious spices increase vaginal moisture and intensify sexual pleasure.
4. Shatavari. Also called Shatavri, Satavar or Shatamull, it is an adaptogenic herb that has been used as a female rejuvenation tonic in India for centuries. It strengthens and tones the reproductive system, provides relief from menstrual and menopausal imbalances, and is an effective remedy for PMS. Shatavari is traditionally called “she who has 1,000 husbands” and is thought to increase a woman’s libido to give her the strength and desire to have 1,000 husbands!
5. Dates. This exotic, moist fruit adds sweetness and richness to many recipes and to your love life. In Arabic cultures, a traditional aphrodisiac is concocted by mixing dates with milk and cinnamon This super fruit contains fiber and many essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for overall well-being. And the healthier you are, the more energy and interest you will have for romance.
6. Shilajit. During warmer summer months in the high altitudes of the Himalayas, this tar-like mineral compound seeps from the rocks. Ayurvedic practitioners have used shilajit as a natural supplement for millennia. As with many ancient things, it is known by many names and spellings including shilajeet, silajit, mumio, mumiyo, mumijo, mineral pitch, asphaltum, and more. Users of shilajit claim increased stamina for both exercise and sexual activity. It has been used as an aphrodisiac and a fertility treatment for both women and men. While this mineral is harder to come by than other natural supplements, it is available. Look for the highest grade shilajit from the Himalayas because only it has the desired properties. Avoid extracts, powders and liquids—look for it in its resin form.

Give these a try for spicing up your meals and your love life. Remember to slow down to devote time to yourself and to making these small changes to add natural aphrodisiacs to your diet. Savor the moments of your life and you will find a greater sense of fulfillment in everything you do. Now, where is my cacao coconut ball recipe?!

Actively engaging in sex is a necessity to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 8 Unexpected Health Benefits of Sex You Didn’t Know About

Featured photo credit: Beautiful blonde and the sun's rays through the lacevia Shutterstock

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