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Finding Joy

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

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The Grounds Keeper Cafe, Blacktown | Kid-Friendly Cafes

29 November, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: kid friendly, kid-friendly cafes, places to eat in Sydney, restaurant reviews 2 Comments

The Groundskeeper Cafe, Blacktown

Confession: I’ve been to The Grounds Keeper Cafe a lot in the last four months. So much so that the owners, Hadi and Sam know my face and laugh whenever I turn up and ask me where I’ve been if I haven’t visited for a while. Lucky for them, I normally bring someone new every time. Up until six months ago, the options for food at the Blacktown Showground Precinct were pretty average;

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It’s In The Bag – It’s time to share the dignity this Christmas

16 November, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: faith in action, itsinthebag 2 Comments

Today marks the first day of Share the Dignity’s “It’s In the Bag” campaign. From 19 November to 3 December, Australians are invited to fill an unused handbag with items that will make a woman feel special, and drop it off at any of Share the Dignity’s nominated collection points so they can be distributed to women in need. I don’t know if my son is old enough to imagine what it’s like to go without, or to have

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The 5 things I’m telling my kids after the US election

10 November, 2016 By Joy Adan 12 Comments

when it looks like the world is going to shit, the good guys yell “No!” and we fight back with everything that makes the world good. Not division, not hate, not violence; but unity, love and compassion.

Last night, Donald Trump was elected as the 45th President of the United States of America. Like the rest of the world, I’m still unable to process this news. I thought 24 hours would be sufficient time for me to be able to overcome the disbelief and fear of having a man so incompetent, divisive, predatory, and unstable be the leader of anything, let alone one of the most powerful nations in

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Introducing a different type of writing

30 October, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: lettering, qotd 1 Comment

Lettering is my new go-to creative outlet. Here's why.

There’s always been a soft spot in my heart for beautiful lettering and type. Long before I had my pen licence*, I would admire the pages of my sisters’ font book and spent way too much time tracing words letter by letter for title pages and headings of my school projects. I remember that font book – it had an orange cover and pages full of the coolest bubble and block

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There’s a traffic jam in my head

19 October, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: motherhood, mum life 8 Comments

Sometimes it feels like there's a million thoughts zooming through my head... sometimes there's a traffic jam.

It’s early. Eddoes is already on his way to work but the rest of the house is fast asleep. Well… I can hear Mr Z stirring in his room. I need to drink this coffee and eat this bacon and egg roll quickly or else it’s going to stay here abandoned on the kitchen bench for the rest of the day. Mr 4 has already woken once and I managed

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Blacktown Showground Precinct (Francis Park)

3 October, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: kid friendly, school holidays, things to do in Sydney 1 Comment

The Blacktown Showground Precinct is a great place for the family to enjoy time out in the sun - with picnic, sporting and water play facilities and a great cafe and kiosk all 5 mins away from the station.

Blacktown Showground Precinct (Francis Park) is one of our favourite places in Sydney’s west for the family to enjoy the sunshine and burn some energy without spending a cent. It has a dedicated water play area, shaded playground, over 20 picnic tables (most of them under cover), electric BBQs, basketball courts and an outdoor gym, two sporting fields, a community garden and – should you want to buy lunch or

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The postpartum conversation that should have happened

24 September, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: motherhood, mum life 22 Comments

Last week I went to visit a female GP for my 6 week postpartum check-up. It was weird. Even though she wasn’t my regular GP (ours is a dude and I wanted to talk female to female), I went in thinking I’d at last get a chance to talk to her about how I’m going physically and emotionally after labour. Either I have warped memories or things have changed drastically since

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Drink more water during the day with Ulla’s hydration reminder | Product Review

19 September, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: product review 13 Comments

I’m not sure about you, but I’ve always struggled to find a way to drink enough water during the day. I’m supposed to drink more water since I’m breastfeeding but found I was even worse now – what with mummy brain, being exhausted, and having a bub that keeps me occupied at all hours of the day and night. And even though the breastfeeding leaves me parched and I take a drink

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Dealing with doubt

14 September, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: inspiration, motherhood, motivation, mum life, reflection 6 Comments

Do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

I’ve spent a fair bit of time over the last couple of days wallowing in self-doubt. Up until Thursday I was ok (in fact, better than ok) but the precarious walls of my “confidence” came tumbling down over something really dumb. The embarrassing part about this is what triggered the self-doubt. It was a LinkedIn request from someone who had a really impressive profile and about a gazillion articles and publications to their

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Chocolate banana bread | Recipe

10 September, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: allergy friendly, dairy free, kid friendly, party food Leave a Comment

Chocolate chia banana bread recipe

This chocolate and chia seed banana bread recipe is something I’ve been wanting to try for weeks. I looove banana bread and have been snacking on it in between my midnight feeds. The store-bought stuff is crammed with sugar and generally doesn’t contain anything that good for you. I’m not going to pretend this version is healthy, but it does contain goodies to make it less naughty than your average slice. I

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The Tuckshop, Glenhaven | Kid-Friendly Cafes

6 September, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: kid-friendly cafes, places to eat in Sydney, things to do in Sydney 3 Comments

In the heart of Sydney’s Hills district is The Tuckshop – a hip little cafe with great coffee, kick-ass burgers, delicious salads and a perfect little picnic spot and playground for kids.

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Versatile, nursing-friendly clothes from Rockmans

5 September, 2016 By Joy Adan Tagged With: OOTD, style Leave a Comment

Was gifted this gorgeous blue striped linen shirt. Versatile (could pair it with tailores black pants and heels for work, or throw it over a swim suit and denim cut-offs for a trip to the beach. Perfect for the coming warmer months AND the button-up front makes for easy nursing.

Don’t let the image above fool you; since giving birth 5 weeks ago I spend about 90% of the time in tracksuit pants, one of three of my long-sleeve grandpa shirts (the ones with buttons down the middle that end about mid-torso) and those nursing singlets with the built-in bras. Being mother of a newborn is far from glamorous, and when it comes down to breastfeeding, everything you wear is about comfort

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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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As seen in

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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
Ummm... where did February go? What a whirlwind of Ummm... where did February go? What a whirlwind of afew weeks it's been. Feeling this passage right in the gut - I haven't had a proper night's sleep since we got back from the hospital last Tuesday. Mr 8 has his arm in a cast after an unlucky fall led to a broken arm. He's doing well and mostly back to his silly and stoic self, but understandably gets uncomfortable at night and needs a lot of love. Mr 4 finally went to daycare for the first time in 3 weeks. Caring for unwell little people + work + all the other typical adulty demands = being pulled in 20,000 different directions all at once. 

So it's been such a roller coaster of emotions. I am 100% running on grace (and coffee).
Not exactly where I was expecting to spend my Vale Not exactly where I was expecting to spend my Valentine's evening, but I tell you what, I had an incredibly brave, sweet and honourable young man for company the entire night. 

Mr 8, the courage and patience you've shown over the last 24 hours is a gift this simpering romantic could never have known to ask for. I know you got all that and more from your Dad... I just hope after this episode you also go on to inherit his skills on the tennis court... and not your Mother's tendency to end up at the ED after playing ball sports. 😝 

Can't wait to be able to squeeze you silly again. 😘

Side note: Big love and gratitude to all the beautiful, tireless souls working at @westmeadkids. I've been wandering the hallways to pass the time and there is always a kind smile or a stunning piece of art that greet me every time I turn the corner. ❤ so, so grateful. Thank you.
So... it's February. It feels a bit like no matter So... it's February. It feels a bit like no matter how I try to slow things down, I blink and the day is done! I think that's just the nature if #mumlife hey? Ah well. 

Still grateful for the moments I've been able to pause and soak in all the joys of watching my little people grow. And for a summer month full of catch-ups, sunshine, rain, of easing back into the work year (who am I kidding... we hit the ground running) and for the things I know I can look forward to. 

Trying to live these words as we make our way through another year of uncertainties. ❤
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. ❤
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Words that uplift and empower

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