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Finding Joy

Words that uplift and empower | Hand-made Lettering Art & Blog by Joy Adan

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I solemnly swear I am up to no good (an update on life)

6 July, 2017 By Joy Adan Leave a Comment

Bullet journal lettering: "I solemnly swear I am up to no good" from Harry Potter

I’ve been thinking about this post for a few weeks now… which is my problem, you see, I am really bad at sticking my scheduled time to write for Finding Joy. Sure, I’ve spent time writing for a bunch of other blogs or publications (the ones that *cough* pay me), but I am constantly breaking the cardinal rule of blogging by not posting regularly enough. Sorry guys. So, uh, as

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The forgetful parent’s guide to going out with your baby

7 June, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: mum life, parent guide Leave a Comment

This post was brought to you by Curash, who have been providing expert skin care for over 35 years. Using local expertise and in consultation with Australian mums, Curash has continued to develop the range from nappy rash treatments to shampoo, soap free bath washes, baby wipes and more. You’ll find plenty of useful things to keep in your baby bag – check out their range in baby stores, major

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The curse of the working mum

16 May, 2017 By Joy Adan 15 Comments

Being a working mum is shit. Something always has to give. There are only so many hours in a day, and if you’re spending them with your kids, then you’re not working, and if you’re working then you’re not spending them with your kids and if you’re like me and a million other mums out there and you’re hustling hard to do both, then it means you’re definitely not spending enough of those hours sleeping, and the likelihood is you’re stretched so thin that you always feel like you’re not doing either of these things particularly well. So it seems that the curse of the working mum is if your heart isn’t breaking, your sense of ambition and accomplishment is, and if those two aren’t breaking, then your body probably is.

Hi there. Just thought I’d pop in and write something, lest you think I’d fallen off the face of the earth. This blog always seems like the first ball I drop once life starts getting a bit busy… and well… I’ve been juggling a lot. Serves me right for writing a post about how to stay organised. The Universe read that post about bullet journaling and laughed and laughed. Today, I’m not laughing.

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A sneak peak at this mum’s journal | Free Bullet Journal Printables

1 April, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: bujo, goals, working smarter 8 Comments

Here's the first page of my bullet journal

Before you get too excited, I just want to clarify this isn’t a sneak peak into the private thoughts and ramblings in my journal. Trust me, you don’t want to get lost inside my head like that. 😜 No, this post is about how I started bullet journaling this year and has some handy, free printables for you to download in case you want to give it a shot too. What is

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Juggling when you don’t know how to juggle

30 March, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: lettering, mum life, qotd Leave a Comment

"I didn't come this far to only come this far." - hand-lettered quote using water colour and paint brush. #freestylecalligraphy

I’m having one of those weeks where my to-do list is growing at a rate that I can’t keep up, and right now I’m feeling completely under-accomplished and the voices of doubt keep telling me that I’ve bitten off way more than I can chew. I am juggling so many things at the moment, and fear that I’ll drop them all any second. I called hubby on the way home

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3 simple, iron-rich baby food recipes you can cook and freeze in bulk

28 March, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: dairy free, eating healthy, kid friendly Leave a Comment

3 iron-rich baby-food recipes that are family-friendly and can be made in advance

Preparing nutritious food for the whole family every day is no easy task, especially when the newest member is just starting their journey into the wonderful (and messy!) world of solids. Introducing solids is a big adjustment for everyone involved; often it means tweaking the menu and culling salt from recipes, that baby food equipment overtakes a significant part of the kitchen, and that suddenly there’s a lot more cleanup to contend with

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Easy Peasy Pizza | Recipe

8 March, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: allergy friendly, dairy free, eating healthy, kid friendly Leave a Comment

This is a super easy pizza recipe that takes about 15 minutes to prepare - the same time as a frozen pizza but WITHOUT all the nasty preservatives!

Here’s a super simple pizza recipe that you can knock up as dinner for the whole family in less than 15 minutes. That’s the same time it takes to prep a frozen pizza, but this doesn’t contain any of the nasty preservatives and random ingredients most frozen, boxed foods contain. For this reason, wholegrain or wholemeal pita bread is a staple on my grocery shopping list, and there always tomato paste in our pantry. I

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Brush Lettering Art | Words that uplift and inspire

7 March, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: brush lettering Leave a Comment

Brush Lettering Art | Words that uplift and inspire | Quotes that empower and motivate every day and look gorgeous in your nursery, kid's room or office

As many of you know, I started brush lettering several months ago, and have quickly fallen in love with it. It’s been my creative outlet during the short bursts of free time that being a mother of two small boys has afforded me. When I’m in the car or on the train and Mr Z is fast asleep, I’ll whip out some paper and a Tombow or Pentelle brush pen and start doing drills

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How to manage multiple Google accounts on one computer

28 February, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: working smarter Leave a Comment

Title: Managing Multiple Google Accounts | Background image of girl working at a desk.

Most people I know have a personal Google account and the vast majority of clients I’ve worked with use Google for Business. This means throughout any given day, I need to manage multiple Google accounts and access inboxes, calendars, analytics, YouTube channels and Drives using different logins. I also use a different set of bookmarks and Chrome extensions depending on the job I’m doing. So how does someone manage all these different Google accounts without

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The “Big School” Hustle

9 February, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: motherhood, mum life, school Leave a Comment

"First I drink the coffee. Then I do the things."

Mr 4 started school last week. I’m still in denial about the whole thing. As it turns out, so was he, because he hated saying goodbye in the morning and burst into tears during several drop-offs last week. I know that it takes time for kids to get used to the whole idea of “big school” and I absolutely expected there to be tears. But knowing this didn’t make tearing

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Hello 2017

4 January, 2017 By Joy Adan Tagged With: mum life 12 Comments

"It's Show Time" big 3D block letters displayed in the foyer of the ICCS

Welcome to 2017! We’re 4 days in and I’m already exhausted. We’re 4 days in and my four year old has already surpassed his screen-time quota for the whole month of January. What can I say? When your toddler has a high temperature, snuggling in bed and watching reruns of Paw Patrol and Voltron is the best cure (and possibly the only way to stay sane while also caring for

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Smoky chorizo and chicken pasta | Recipe

30 November, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: allergy friendly, dairy free, kid friendly Leave a Comment

This smoky chorizo and chicken pasta recipe is so easy it’s become one of my top 5 go-to recipes whenever I have less than 30 minutes to cook dinner. I can literally walk in the door at 7pm and have this plated and ready to go by 7:30, while still having time get changed out of my work clothes and get Mr 4’s hands washed. Smoky chorizo and chicken pasta

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Hi

Joy Adan

I'm Joy. I'm a 30-something, storytelling, coffee-drinking, book-devouring, ocean-obsessed freelance writer, brush lettering enthusiast, speaker and content producer. You'll find some of my stories and art here, along with my advice about attempt at balancing the creative career + family life hustle.

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At the end of each year I go through our memory ja At the end of each year I go through our memory jar with a grateful heart and reminisce and reflect... and though this year had many twists and turns we weren't prepared for, I know there are lots of things to be thankful for... perhaps even moreso. Many of the best things can't and wont ever be captured on camera or in words.

But my thanks goes to all who rode the highs and lows with me and my family, to the many unseen heroes who kept us safe and kept our community strong and healthy. To those who gave what little they could and those who have sacrificed a lot... thank you. From the bottom of this very full, undeserving but entirely grateful heart... thank you. ❤❤

#2020 #thanksforthememories #perfectlyimperfect
Words to take into 2021. ❤ Words to take into 2021. ❤
Merry Christmas friends and family! May your heart Merry Christmas friends and family! May your hearts be fuller than your bellies, even though our guest lists are shorter this year. ❤
A post for all the teachers celebrating the end of A post for all the teachers celebrating the end of term and end of what has probably been the craziest year of your career. 

Thank you for the love  and dedication you've shown for kids under your care, for giving our kids your many, many extra hours and late nights, your creative out-of-the-box solutions for virtual lesson plans, and your bottomless patience and incredible courage. 

May you enjoy a well deserved break and the peace of knowing your legacy grows in the hearts and minds of those you've taught, guided, counseled and nurtured this year. 

Thank you. ❤
Day 1 of our Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass) Novena: Mr 8 Day 1 of our Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass) Novena: Mr 8 joined me for 5am Mass this morning. I got really emotional driving into the car park and seeing it was almost full. And as we walked through the doors, I heard singing in the church. Singing!! It seemed that almost every X in the church pews had someone standing by it... the church looked FULL. It's been so long since I've experienced Mass like this - it felt like coming home. 😭😭😭 

If you are looking for a way to prepare your heart for Christmas and turn your focus from buying presents to a experiencing a heavenly presence, then I highly recommend finding a place that celebrates simbang gabi. Last year, I wrote a bit about what this Filipino tradition means to me and my family (check it out at findingjoy.com.au/simbang-gabi). When I wrote that, I had no idea what 2020 would have in store. But even after this truly crazy year, I feel God's hand in all of it. If there's anything 2020 has taught me it's that love transcends distance. We have the capacity to show love and be loved even when those we wish for dearly can't be seen, felt and touched. 

My peace comes from knowing even when I don't see Him, feel Him or understand what's going on... God will always be my Father, and I am forever His child. This is what I celebrate at Christmas. The divine entering the human world.. and changing what we know of love forever. 💜

Image: A square Christmas card propped against a Christmas tree. The card has a midnight blue sky and purple hills. In the sky the words “Peace on Earth” are written in white lettering. 

#FilipinoTraditions #ChristmasTraditions #ChristmasPreparations
I think custom calligraphy orders have been my fav I think custom calligraphy orders have been my favourite thing to make this year - especially when the person commissioning gives me creative license. It was an honour to create this for a very special couple. 💙

Image: The Prayer of St Michael brush lettered in blue ink on a white A3 sheet, with a blue border and painted blue and silver leaves on the top right and bottom left corners.
Friday festivities courtesy of a lovely delivery f Friday festivities courtesy of a lovely delivery from @boomforrgpeople and @missnoblemelbourne
It felt a little bit like I was in Santa's worksho It felt a little bit like I was in Santa's workshop when I was making these Christmas gift bags last weekend. ❤

Order yours now at findingjoy.com.au 
Final date for Christmas orders is 15 Dec (Express Post only). Marsden Park pick up orders must be placed by 20 Dec. 

#shopsmallbusiness #smallbusinessaustralia #loveaustralianhandmade
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Words that uplift and empower

Decorate your home or celebrate a special occasion with words that uplift, inspire and empower. Buy an original, hand-painted brush lettering print or order your own custom-made piece. SHOP NOW.

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