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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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Hamilton themed anniversary card for the man who r Hamilton themed anniversary card for the man who raps, sings, strums and drums his way through 11 years of putting up with me. ❤

#customcard #happyanniversary #hamiltonmusical
Feeling really weary today. Not sure if it's just Feeling really weary today. Not sure if it's just the virus lingering (I've been coughing through March 🥴), playing nurse to a brave little boy with a broken (but healing) elbow, hormones, or just a head clouded with all that's happening around the country and around the world and the fact women have to fight so hard to exist - let alone thrive - in a world that seems hell bent on destroying us. 

So here's a photo of nice things that make me happy. Full bookshelves, coffee cups, and plants... things that remind me that if we are open to learning, conversation, and blooming amongst even the shittiest of shit, we can still flourish. ❤
A reminder for anyone who needs to hear/read this A reminder for anyone who needs to hear/read this today. I've been so inspired, so honoured to experience the strength of the women who are at the @wearethemainstream's event today. It seems our strength is often forged and fortified through pain... but to be able to share it, to bear it together, to transform it and alchemise it... to turn into a sisterhood that rebuilds this world. 

#IWD2021 #iwdaiaw
Throwback to a year ago... The perfectly timed hol Throwback to a year ago... The perfectly timed holiday that ended days before the words “global pandemic” became a regular part of my vocabulary. I've been on the weirdest roller coaster ride of a year since this photo was taken. Even the past few weeks have seen so many highs and lows. What is this craziness? And where is the pause button?

#midnightreflections #IShouldSleep 

Image: Photo of the sun rising amidst grey clouds over the ocean on the east coast of Bali. A man is walking on the sand, in the distance along edge of the water.
Today, we celebrate the women of the world. I th Today, we celebrate the women of the world. 

I think of my mother and my sisters - the women who have always inspired and encouraged me to up my game. To be respectful of self so I am fully able to respect others. To be unapologetic in my faith and my fight for the underdog. The women who have shown me time and time again that heroines are forged in the fire of love. 

I think of the women in my life who are a beacon of strength, hope, compassion, charity, healing, life, power, humility, leadership and service. The dear friends, teachers, mentors, bosses and colleagues who have paved their own path and helped me lay my own. The world needs more of you. I hope to be one of you.

And for the women in the world who need healing (who, let's face it, is all of us at some point or another). I celebrate you today. Your brokenness can be a beacon too. The world needs WHO you are: cracks, fears, mistakes, insecurities and all. Because deep beneath those cracks, fears, mistakes and insecurities lie desire,  dreams, redemption and a hope that there is better out there. 

We will create better, together. 

Image: Close-up of a hand-made sticker with the words: “The nation doesn't simply need whay we have. It needs who we are. Edith Stein (St Teresia Benedicta a Cruce)” in black ink.

#IWD2021 #InternationalWomensDay
Don't mind me - I'll just be sitting there with te Don't mind me - I'll just be sitting there with tea and treats in hand while the other three women on this panel wow us with their words of wisdom. Join me? 

#westernsydneyartists
***

Posted @withregram • @blacktownarts Hear from award-winning women writers and artists of diverse backgrounds – including Evelyn Araluen (@evelynaraluen), Maryam Azam, Sarah Malik (@sarah_b_malik) and artist Joy Adan (@joyadanwrites) – about their experiences of living in Blacktown, and what makes the area a potent source of artistic inspiration and the hottest rising arts scene in Sydney. Then relax and mingle with a cup of traditional tea and savoury or sweet treats from Afghan Women on the Move (@_awotm).

Stories from 2148 
Saturday 17 April 
12pm – 2pm
Free
Link in bio to book 

@sweatshop.ws #sweatshopws #storiesfrom2148 #women_artists #women_writers #inspiration #blacktownarts #blacktown #ThisIsHowWeMakeArt #fromthehoodtothepage #writing #westernsydney #culture #diversity #community
It doesn't matter how old I get, it doesn't hurt t It doesn't matter how old I get, it doesn't hurt to be reminded... 😜

Image: A quote from the Dr Seuss book “Oh, the Places You'll Go!” hand-lettered in rainbow watercolour ink. The text reads “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Had one of those “pinch me, I must be dreaming” moments today. I finally opened this book set from @philipjamolin & @simmyyyy and Mr Z asked me to read him the one about Maya Angelou. Then Mr 8 joined us and read his little bro the other two books. 🥰

These books remind me of the ones I used to read in primary school. There was a collection of illustrated books about different historical figures in our school library and I was obsessed with them! That's where I first discovered Helen Keller and a bunch of other inspiring, everyday heroes. Now... to collect the rest! 

#littlepeoplebigdreams #raisingreaders
Follow @joyadanwrites

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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