52 Week Project - Im getting naked!

Week 4
So lets get this straight... I'm not doing the unthinkable and disrobing... that would be a sight to see and although I don't hate my body (that much) I'm certainly not ready to get naked and photograph it for all to see here .... what I am referring to in my week 4 of the 52 week project, linking up with the gorgeous Son at  Life Love and Hiccups is a picture taken of me without make up on... sans anything but a bit of moisturiser... which really to me is horrifying... not many people have seen me in this au naturel state!!! 

Now I'm not one to cake it on, so I don't look that different, but it is a very weird state of affairs if I don't at least have some lip gloss or mascara on... Even the day after Darby was born, I had my makeup on...

Sans Makeup.... I can't believe it!!!
No one ever sees me like this!!!

Makeup has been a huge part of my life.. My granny introduced me to it in the 80's when I would go to her place for dinner every Friday night and I would always come home with a face all primped up (mind you she lived in a granny flat literally metres from my house!) 

Then my auntie began selling nutrimetics and I just fell in love with all of the products.. I remember the day she handed me a massive palette filled with lipsticks, blush and eyeshadow all in the colours of the eighties (pinks purples, lilacs, corals etc ) I was in heaven!!!! Now hand in hand with my makeup obsession, was my obsession with looking after my skin.. now this is something I am very very grateful for as it may delay the inevitable botox I'll need for a few more years! I remember getting my first skincare set of a cleanser, toner and moisturiser for my 12th birthday... and 20 years later I am still going strong, doing that routine twice a day... I have rarely missed a day!! One day if I have a daughter I hope to pass this habit on to her... if not I'm sure I can get Darby in the habit... nothing wrong with a metro sexual guy who cleanses , tones and moisturisers!!! 

Makeup also tapped into my creative soul was an expression of art,  I never saw it as a mask ... it was a way of bringing out the best in me ... there would have been times where my makeup was less than perfect, the wrong colours,  that's all part of the learning process,  but as I have gotten older I have reduced the amount I need to use as I know which features to highlight and which to hide! 

Half hour later... with my makeup and of course coffee

My love of makeup even includes doing other people... I have completed a couple of courses and have been lucky enough to be makeup artist at around 15 weddings... I love doing this.. it makes me feel amazing making someone else look amazing, being part of someones special day..and being able to see the bride before she leaves looking happy, nervous and beautiful...  Most of the weddings have been people  I have known so I this has been really special to me.. I have 3 coming up soon...and I can't wait!

Me as a baby.... just kidding!!!!!

So I will leave it there... its been a big deal to show me exposed, but that's all part of this process, acceptance and self love... we are all so critical of ourselves and have nuances that no one else sees.... so there you go... I'm stripping back the layers.. one layer at a time.... 

Is there anything you wouldn't let anyone see??? 

Life is too short for crappy coffee 

Piquing for Pinterest - Coffee and a bit of Drama.. nothing better!

As 2012 has begun..  and my coffee list is over ... I have wanted to take on some other challenges to keep me motivated..... until I find my mojo and get my spark back again... I have been getting a lot of inspiration from Pinterest so thought it only timely that I participate in Piquing my Pinterest over with Tina at her blog..

So for my first go at this I thought I'd keep it predictable.. and blog my about one of my favourite things - my addiction to coffee.. I have found a lot of wonderful  pics this week that sum up my relationship with the little brown bean .. plus I have included a couple on the flip side of my personality "The Drama Queen".. I am going to explore that a little more this year.. why not embrace the drama in life.. it makes it so much better.. and it seems I am bringing up my own little Drama Queen at home too .. soon he will be referred to as DQD (Drama Queen Darby) ... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree there!! He has lots of my traits.. and its just unfortunate that he has acquired this one.. ok enough with the ramblings.. hope you enjoy the pics!!

Until next time, Life is way way too short to drink crappy coffee

Source: popartuk.com via JavaJane on Pinterest

Source: classy-in-the-city.tumblr.com via JavaJane on Pinterest

Source: madebygirl.com via JavaJane on Pinterest

Source: meggielynne.tumblr.com via JavaJane on Pinterest

Source: ramblingsofadiva.com via JavaJane on Pinterest

Source: popartuk.com via JavaJane on Pinterest

Source: amazon.com via JavaJane on Pinterest

Grateful for my family !

As 2012 begins.. my family is going through some pretty rough stuff... life changing stuff.. gut wrenching stuff..  the kind of thing we haven't had to deal with before.. its hard and its gruelling, but it only makes me more grateful that my family is so close knit. They stick together like glue when times are tough.. this is something instilled from my Granny, a single mum to 4 kids bringing them up in a country town.... things would have been tough for her, and in a way I wish I could speak to her now about how she did it, to bring up such well adapted and caring children... They have always been like this, growing up with just two older cousins and lots of Aunties and Uncles we built very strong bonds.. and these will continue... Things are going to get harder I can imagine over the next few weeks.. but I am so grateful that as a family we will be hand in hand together.

Ok I think its time for a very very  strong Saturday morning coffee....

Until next time

Today I am linking up for the first time with at Maxabella... I am going to try and commit to 52 weeks of Grateful!!! A goal for 2012

My Mums gorgeous family.. my mum is far right!

My immediate family... about 28 years ago!!!
Nice 80's glasses!!

Wordless Wednesday - Beach Holiday.. with a cherry on top!

I  have been on two glorious weeks of holidays.. firstly for a week at my mum and dads for Xmas , soaking up the country air.. It was peaceful and allowed for lots of R and R which I was in desperate need of.. Darby could also run around like craze, mostly chasing after Millie the dog!!

I then saw in the new year at the beach, spending time with friends at Mount Martha.. where I was glad I could spend the heat wave relaxing in the pool.. then I went further down the coast to my in laws place soaking up the last of the blaring hot sun at the beach, followed by some cherry picking!

It has been marvellous and I truly feel so relaxed, I really don't want to head back home and face up to reality of a messy house and work next week.... 

Sorry that their are far too many words for Wordless Wednesday!! Here are some pics of my beach adventure!!

Darby building Sand Castles at Mount Martha

Water Pistol Fun in the pool!!!

Getting a nap in the car.. Darby that is!!

At the beach.. I did get in and managed to go in up
to my neck... a big deal for me!!! I hate Bathers

Darby with his socks and shoes... he won't wear anything
else!! Its the Polish in him!!

Running Around....

Cherry Picking fun!!

I found one mum!!

Cherry Picking!!  Eat as you go!

I am Linking up with Trish for my first Wordless Wednesday  for 2012 at My Little Drummer Boys

Eyeing off a new challenge for 2012

Goodbye 2011 .......You have been the year of great challenges... It has been by far my most rewarding year to date.. the year I rediscovered myself - and reinvented myself,  as Java Jane the coffee connoisseur!!!


Although I posed myself with a lighthearted challenge which  has been a joyful and spirited.. It hasn't however  been without its pain and hard times.... with all great challenges there are battles to be fought in the real world... sometimes I won.. and other times I lost...felt lost...was lost... These moments just reminded me it was ok to feel like this, normal even.
 What I was dealing with  in my world was a major life change, so sometimes it would have been easier to surrender, where giving up seemed like the easier option...but that's not my style, the fighter in me wanted to keep going, knowing these challenges were just minor bumps in the road! 

This year I knew I had to grapple with my situation head on...Single motherhood, I hated saying it out loud, or telling people, let alone think about how it was going to impact my life forever.... However  my way of dealing with it head on probably wasn't the conventional route! I had a brilliant idea for grappling with this lousy situation by immersing myself in something that I enjoy, love to do, my daily pleasure... my soy cappuccino.
 Somehow I thought this could help me get through the year in one piece... or at least feeling a bit more me and a lot less fragile.. and you know what, it really did work!! I did immerse myself in everything coffee.. 

2011 will forever be the year that coffee defined me and shaped my life.. It was the oxygen for me to breath.. it was the Valium to keep me relaxed and happy... it was the morphine for when I was in pain... it was my source of energy..... it was my adventure, my journey.my addiction.. it motivated me in ways nothing else has ever done.. I thrived on the discovery of the new, new people, new places, new feelings.. Deciding to document this in my blog helped to really bring out the best in me... I discovered that I loved to write.. loved to take pictures..  (I knew this already, but it became heightened in the experience!) I loved sharing my story... I didn't care if it was only my mum and close friends that read it.. the point was I got to tell my story through coffee.. and that was the best therapy I could ever ask for.. and a heck of a lot cheaper...... 

So when December 31 came around and I had reached 96 cafes (almost to my goal of 100!!) I started pondering what challenge would await me when the clock struck midnight and 2012 arrived.... Was I going to keep on going, do the 2012 coffee list... or was  I ready for a new challenge, new adventure???  I still haven't worked out the answer to this question... maybe I will just keep writing and exploring how I can make my blog my place to document bits and pieces of my life. I have enjoyed meeting like minded people and sharing loves and lives...  I still have an urge to include coffee as it has helped me heal so much! I'm just not too sure what will bring out the best in me... so for the moment I will keep on searching... I may set myself small challenges throughout the year, but for now I will just keep sharing my story....... 
If anyone has an idea.. feel free to share... I am looking for inspiration!!!  

Today I am Linking up with Jess over at  Diary of a SAHM for 

I did her quiz... and I realised I am a wannabe groupie... I have to check it out more often than I do!!!
Until next time 
Life is too short to drink crappy coffee...

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