52 Week Project - be kinder on myself!

WEEK 3

I have missed a few weeks of linking up with Fiona at Mummydaze for the 52 week project...It was not the best time of year to start really.. things in my life were getting rather hectic and I lost track of time (and my mind!!)  But in my usual style I don't give up easily when I commit to something so I am back online and posting!!! I suppose one of the reasons I have been quiet is due to not  taking  a photo that I have liked of myself.. Always seeing the negative in my reflection... my nose looks too big.. my double chin too obvious.. my face too chubby... my hands too wrinkly and child like... my hair not pretty or blonde or healthy enough... then I realised I need to try and overcome these foibles and embrace what   mother nature (or genetics) gave me.. life is way to short to be focusing on all of these negatives (although it somehow unfairly is easier than looking at the positives)... So my resolution for 2012 is to be kinder on myself.. I am what I am... and I need to be proud of it !! Lets see how I go!! Ill start by saying I like my eyes.. they are blue and change color often.. and I kick ass a bright colored lipstick... baby steps to loving what I have got.. but a start...

So this week the picture I have chosen is taken at my most exposed - asleep (again by my gorgeous Darby).. on Xmas eve.. I was trying to sneak in a quick power nap before another round of festivities ... eating... drinking ..and present giving! He must have grabbed my phone and snapped away!! I don't mind this picture actually.. I look at peace and quite content... especially as I was feeling manic and out of control at the time (yearning for a good coffee probably!)

My goal for this week is to take a picture I love of myself! Will see how I go!

Until next time

Wordless Wednesday.... 99 not out!!

Another week has rolled around and I have been quiet on the blog front... busy prepping and recovering from Xmas (as we all probably are!). I logged in today and realised this will be post 99 since February.. so Ill aim to hit 100 before New Year!! At least I will have achieved 100 in some way! My coffee 100 is at a standstill at 95... so close....alas I will get to those pesky 5 after the holidays!!!Hope everyone had a lovely Xmas and Santa was kind!!
Until next time.. Life is too short to drink crappy coffee! xxxx

Xmas Day!!!

Grandpa and Darbs (spider man!) on the steam train!!

Darby (I mean Spider man!!) on the Steam train!!

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday at My Little Drummer Boys

Wordless Wednesday... more change... this time with a haircut!!

Ok.. so it was a week of big changes... including a big big haircut !!!! It was "medically necessary " declared my hairdresser (my hair was in horrible condition oh oh!!) so I took a deep breath and "chop" 6 or more inches on the hairdressers floor !! I am all zen with change at the moment so this did not phase me one bit!!! Plus its hair and it will grow back (fast I hope... fingers crossed!) 
(and here are a few other cheeky shots!) 

Before the big chop (taken by Darby!)

Santa letters... written by my dad... so cute
(and on a napkin by the way!!!) Here is Darby's

And my almost 30 year old sisters!!!!

About as close as Darby would get to Santa!!!

The new do!!

striking a pose with the bob!!!

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday at My Little Drummer Boys

Wonderful weekend... Xmas celebrations... and 9 coffees to go!!!

Tonight I am having writers block... I seriously cannot think of a word to say or write !! I have had a ridiculously busy weekend, but I really think my brain has checked into a hotel and does not want to be bothered until 2012. I'm sure its sitting by a pool somewhere drinking cocktails and trying to get a tan!! So if this does not make sense ... please forgive me... I am writing this without a brain!!!!! 

As  I am thinking about what to write I am loudly humming away to some Christmas carols (Michael Buble of course!) I am trying to inject some Xmas spirit into my day... I don't seem to be feeling it this year.. Looking back last year I immersed myself in everything Xmas.. my house looked like Xmas lights and tinsel had thrown up all over it... and I was getting out the carols as soon as December 1 clicked over...This was mainly to forget about the rest of the crappy year I had just gone through... I do seem to  have blocked out the fact that I cried my way through  almost every Xmas Carol .... (probably subconsciously why I have been avoiding playing them!!) 

So this weekend I injected a little more Xmas happiness into our lives and I feel pretty good because of it!

On my first weekend as a free woman... (well not really .. I am starting a new job on Monday!) I had a very busy weekend!!  First of all Darby and I had a 3 year old birthday to go to on the other side of the city..Our first pit stop was for a cappuccino for me!! We stopped at Batch Espresso in Carlisle St Balaclava... Yippee..  Another place ticked off my list! It was only 10.30 in the morning  and 30 degrees so we grabbed a takeaway and sat in the comfort of our  air-conditioned car.......The coffee was great but it really was too hot outside to be drinking it!....  We  then made another pit spot on the way, to a big shopping centre.. I wasn't sure this was the best idea 7 days before the big day ... but it was refreshingly ok.. busy ... not manic crazy as I had thought it would be.. and there were a lot of sales happening so I managed to score a few last minute stocking fillers!! Even a new dress for my 1st day of my new job!! 

Humpty Dumpty Biscuits!! Yum!!


Then onto the party... this was a play school themed party and Darby was the oldest kid there.. and by far the most enthusiastic about the birthday.. he broke out in renditions of Happy Birthday every 5 minutes.. he was gorgeous.. It was adorable watching him play with the younger kids, he really is a people person! He also stuffed his face full of sugar.. so needless to say he had a lot of spare energy to burn! 

Not feeling the love with the reindeer ears! 

This definitely was beneficial because as soon as we got home we were off to our local Christmas carols in the park!! No understatement with the  meaning of local.. they were across the road from our place.. which was very very handy! Darby's dad came along with us too.. Its weird to do something as a family again... especially around this time of year.. but it was OK... we managed to enjoy a glass of champagne together and it was generally a happy time - (except sitting on the uncomfortable grass...) I realise I am very lucky to be able to have such a good relationship with him.. it hasn't (and isn't ) always smooth sailing, but for the most part we get along just fine.  Darby knows we are just friends... so in a way I suppose he is lucky. It may not always be like this, but for the time being it works for us... 

At the Carols by Candlelight!

After the carols I sent a letter straight to Santa asking for some outdoor chairs and a picnic rug! Lets hope he can fit them on his sleigh! 

On Sunday....I started the day with a coffee.... we headed to St Kilda and I knocked another one off the list!! Galleon cafe,  again in Carlisle St (the other end from Saturdays choice!) I grabbed a takeaway, and we walked over to Luna Park!! It wasn't open but we stood at the gates, and Darby dreamed of going in!! 

 I was too busy thinking that maybe my goal is achievable by the weeks end.. only 9 more places to go.. its a tough ask.. but certainly not impossible! I have faced bigger challenges in life.. so this one should be easy!! Ill keep you posted!!  (The rest of the weekend was a lovely catch up with my dads side of the family... it was a gorgeous day...loads of laughs... and Darby was superb and a real charmer...just how I like him best!) 

I am heading to bed  now .. exhausted and I'm going to see if my brain wants to come back for the rest of the week... I might have to make a deal with it or just drink more coffee!! 

Until next time 

Life is too short to drink crappy coffee.....

Today I am linking up with the gorgeous Sonia at Life Love and Hiccups

Darby is standing at the gate!!

My list..... 

Woodstock Espresso Bar  - Armadale

Batch Espresso - Balaclava

Midali - Balaclava

Espresso 3121 - Cremorne

Mixed Business Cafe - Fitzroy North

Globe Cafe - Prahran

Richmond Rush Cafe - Richmond

Dimattina Coffee - South Melbourne

Crue Coffee Lounge - South Yarra

Cafe Racer - St Kilda

Galleon Cafe - St Kilda

Home Barista Institute - West Melbourne

Orange  - Windsor

Friday Freedom.......

OK so I had a crazy last day at work.. it was surreal... in a blur of hugs... goodbyes... a lot of "keep in touches" and luckily not too many tears on my behalf!! All of this hoopla was quickly followed by quite a few champagnes at the Xmas party and my favourite drink of all time.. Bulmers  Cider with raspberry cordial and ice.. (don't knock it till you try it!!) 

So needless to say I woke up this morning with quite a sore head.. thumping in fact...  I also woke up very very early and it  took all my might to tell myself I could go back to sleep ... hard to get it through my foggy brain that there was no work for me today!!

What a nice feeling to sleep in (eventually) and be in no rush to go anywhere, no crazy childcare drop-offs, no rushed breakfasts, no grumpy 4 year old.... no bossy and frazzled mum .... It was so satisfying to just sit on the couch with Darb's and chill out, spend an hour or so lounging over breakfast and staying in our PJ's till 10am! How divine!! 

Fruit Salad.. Yummy Yummy

It was also nice that I could spend some time with my mum.. she normally comes down and I am flying out the door, and vice versa at the end of the day.. it was lovely to be able to go out for lunch (and cross another coffee place off my list) and generally spend a couple of hours together....and with Darby of course! This is a rarity and I forget how much I enjoy it and miss it! 

We went to South Melbourne  which is one of my favourite destinations for coffee.. there are numerous wonderful  places to get an amazing caffeine hit around here.. so its always hard to pick a place! Although today it was all about knocking a place off my list! So we went to Dimmattina's and it was really good.. the coffee was lovely and lunch was great too... 
As the day progressed, so did my headache....so after I dropped mum up I went to Kmart to pick up some last minute Xmas pressies, whilst there I realised I needed to go to the supermarket next door... so in we went and I had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction.... I was carrying a large bag.. and thought it was pulling at the back of my dress, so I asked Darb's to pull my dress down, but he did the opposite, flashing my old black undies and bum for everyone to see... nice.. I think I may have used the lords name in vain a few times... very embarrassed indeed.. Will avoid that supermarket for a little while.. and I won't ask Darb's to fix anything for me.. unless I want to have my rear end paraded to everyone.. Oh well... (I hope those damn squats I have been doing have been paying off and it wasn't horrifying for the 5 people that were in the aisle at the time!) Oh and the headache I had seemed to disappear, probably replaced with my feelings of embarrassment!

Aww.... Darby love!

Mum and I 

So before I go, here is the "list".... 12 more coffees 's go... I'm cutting it fine with only 15 days of the year to go!!! I'm going to try and get to 2 or 3 places tomorrow if my body can handle the caffeine overload!!

Woodstock Espresso Bar  - Armadale

Gattica - Balaclava

Midali - Balaclava

Espresso 3121 - Cremorne

Mixed Business Cafe - Fitzroy North

Globe Cafe - Prahran

Richmond Rush Cafe - Richmond

Dimattina Coffee - South Melbourne

Crue Coffee Lounge - South Yarra

Cafe Racer - St Kilda

Galleon Cafe - St Kilda

Home Barista Institute - West Melbourne

Orange  - Windsor


Until next time.. life is too short to drink crappy coffee......

Thankful for the unknown.....

Source:  Pinterest

OK so today I am walking into  unknown territory... and I can't believe how exhilarated I feel... I thought I would be feeling sad and lost... but those feelings, although there, are no where near as strong as I imagined them to be!

Recently as part of my redundancy I was given career counselling, and it has been the most valuable tool I have experienced in a long, long time.. It really made me think about what I want to do when "I grow up!!" and boy have I been thinking!

This is what I looked like 11 years ago....

 One of the tools used to assess how you think and work is called the Birkman report, an online assessment that determines how "you tick"mainly in the workplace, but also what your passions and interests are.. even the hidden ones! Mine was spot on. I'm a Planner, looking at things in the future which makes sense to why I am so excited about whats around the corner.. I haven't had this feeling before so maybe I'm finally tapping into the real me! .. At times when it was being explained to me, I got all teary. It was like being given a mirror and looking at myself... it painted the good, the bad and the ugly.. and at the end of it, my consultant told me, whatever I do I need to explore writing.  This assessment rated areas of interest out 100 and Literary rated 95!!!! (although Music rated 88 and there is no way I'm taking up a musical instrument any time soon and if you heard me sing you would swear it was a drowning cat!! ) 

 Now I don't think I am the greatest writer, sometimes not even a good one..  I'm never going to write a novel, (although I have learnt recently never say never) but I love it.. It  makes me happy, It gives me goosebumps, it allows me to put how I feel onto "paper" as I sometimes have trouble explaining how I feel, or saying important, sad and happy information to someone, anyone about anything.... I always tend to hold it in.. so this is the perfect outlet! 
So this is all very exciting.. so I have to say I am very thankful for being made redundant, it has given me an opportunity to make change without having to make the decision myself (apparently another skill I am not very good at!!)..... So goodbye workplace of almost 11 years and hello next chapter ... its exciting, scary and I can't wait to see whats around the corner.. 
Until Next time... Ill talk about coffee then!! 

Linking up with Kate at Kate Says Stuff for Thankful Thursday. What are you thankful for today?

Wordless Wednesday...Lets Bake a biscuit...

Darby and I have been baking and boy have we baked ... 98 Gingerbreads and counting (plus some Xmas tree Brownies) !! Ill never want to see a happy ginger face again!!! It may have broken my Ginger obsession.... although I must admit they tasted amazing - its the recipe from a favourite cafe of mine.. so I can't take all the credit!!!! Ill share it soon....

Good on the Camera timer.. our  beloved photographer!

Guess which one Darbs decorated...  

You can never have enough icing!!

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday at My Little Drummer Boys

Wonderful Weekends... On a countdown....

So I'm on a count down now to finishing work... 4 days left... yay!! Can't believe the day has come!! Thursday will be very very weird... I am not thinking about it at all...  will just try and hold it together for most of the week... tears are ok.. but I don't want them to be in front of 50 or so people at my morning tea.. that would be my worst fear ... public speaking (and crying)... eeekkkk! 

Ok so back to my weekend.... I started it on a  fantastic (or maybe thats cruel note) by spending an hour with my personal trainer - this may also explain why I battled with the heat   so much(yuk). When I am there it is hell, but I do feel much better when I am done.. and I can now run around my block (1km) without stopping which is a big achievement for me with the legs I have been given  ... that would have been unimaginable a year ago! 

Cheese... that pained look again!!

On Sunday, my sis and I went to the movies... This is one of my favourite activities... love the pure escapism of it.... after a crappy year, I tend to stick to romantic, happy sappy  movies. Anything, sad, scary, or action packed is off the agenda (for now).. So we managed to see a pretty good chick flick in "New Years Eve". My  expectations were pretty low , other than for it to fill a few hours with loads of celebs..  it aint going to win any oscars, but it was not horribly bad (which I thought it may be!) actually I quite enjoyed its sappiness...even through I'm a News Years eve hater myself! The only problem I had  whilst there was  I saw such a sad preview before it began that rocked me to the core... because I wasn't expecting it I was quite shaken..... don't think I have ever cried that much in a movie trailer, tears were rolling down my face.. makes me think the tears are close to the surface and are  just needing an outlet.. this movie might just be it (check it out below and see if it does the same -The big screen and surround sound does help with the emotion lifting!!) .. not sure Ill be able to see it without coming become a blubbering mess, but I will add it to my must see for 2012....

After our movie trip we managed to pick up some Xmas pressies for our mum and dad! Tick they are off the list now!! I just need to focus on getting Darby's stuff, which I have made a good start!!  Thank god I'm finishing work this week with a week to dedicate to Xmas shopping eek!!
When I picked up Darby from his dad's.. we came home and started some cooking... of course all the good stuff.. full of butter and sugar and chocolate! First up came the chocolate Xmas tree shaped Brownies... I tasted them and they are pretty yum!! Then next was the Gingerbreads... The dough is now all ready to go in my fridge for the baking tonight!! Mmmmm I love a good Ginger.. Will let you know how it goes!!!

Now off to survive this week!! Its going to be a big one!!!! Wish me luck!

Movember is over Darbs... but you have a killer
mo there with that gingerbread mix!!

At home doing some xmas baking!!Darbs was the
chief bowl licker!

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook for more updates on Java Jane and my adventures!!
Until Next time.. life is too show to drink crappy coffee

Today I am linking up with the gorgeous Sonia at Life Love and Hiccups

Crikey its hot out there.....

Source: healthymeanshappy.tumblr.com via JavaJane on Pinterest

Not sure if its because I'm still recovering from my food poisoning... but I am finding it so damn stinking hot! Well more to the point.. ridiculously humid... I can't stand it!! I'm not denying I love the warmer weather but this kind of tropical weather is cramping my style, it belongs north of the Victorian border and thats where it should stay! 
I think it may have a lot to do with the stuffiness of my 2nd floor apartment!!!  With only a tiny fan trying to cool the place down, the only thing it achieves is moving the hot air from one side of the room to the other... Urgghh its stifling!


Its in this kind of weather that I find it hard to drink coffee.. I am more inclined to reach for an ice cold water .. or a nearby pina colada than my favourite drink.. I managed to get through my challenge earlier in the year because we had the most lack lustre summer that I can remember, so it was no biggie to be sipping my cappuccino on a 30 degree day! I have a feeling this summer is going to be different.. and its going to be the humidity that kills me!
My golden rule though and I need to remember this is to  hydrate hydrate hydrate.... I often neglect this... and pay for it later with a killer headache! 

So it was a Saturday and I felt as though if I didn't go out I would have dozed all afternoon (and got crankier)  with the heat.... and what a waste that would be, plus I needed to get out of my heat box of an apartment ... so I headed to a coffee shop nearby - Beatrix... in North Melbourne.. 
They have the most amazing ginger breads, so I knew Darbs would be happy!! I was undecided whether to have coffee.. but the smell of the beans when I was there made the  descison easy for me... plus they were well air conditioned so I didn't notice the heat! 
The staff are so friendly and Darby loves it ... playing right into the palms of their hands!! He is such a little  charmer.. Whilst I was chatting to them about their ginerbreads (they were also selling Xmas shaped ones as well) I was saying that Darby and I were going home to bake some, and they were happy to share with me their "recipe" ... I was quite flattered and didn't hesitate long to say yes! Thats when my iPhone camera comes in handy!!! 
(the said dough is now in the fridge nearly ready for baking time!! Will let you know how it goes!) 

Week 2 of my 52  week challenge over with Fiona at Mummydaze 
Darby again seems to capture me at my most natural (he will be getting a camera from Santa this year so he can keep on snapping away!) In an unposed moment of mine.. doing the one of the things I love... although I hate being caught putting sugar in my coffee (when Im on a no sugar diet!!) oops!! Oh well... I do like this pic... although I may look a little dazed.. but this is how I felt in my heat induced state!!!! 

Until Next time
Life is too short to drink Crappy coffee......