As a teenager I just couldn’t understand the lure of coffee.  The smell was vaguely appealing, the taste was truly disgusting and at the time the only benefit I could see was its ability to keep you awake.  This was enough to get me to try it.. and years later I can well and truly say I am a convert.

 Words like crema, roast and bean get my taste buds tingling and my senses stirred.

That feeling of walking into a cafe, you look across at the Barista and clearly by the signs of his dreads and piercings knowing it’s gonna be great! You glance at the trendy decor which screams…we are the new breed of hipster.

The seats are few because the place is jammed with twenty-somethings spending their hard earned cash on a weekend breakfast out. There are gluten free offerings in the cabinet and ‘raw’ brownies…when did they need to be raw I ask myself? I glance at the price…$5 for a regular coffee….ah well it’s not just the coffee after all is it…we are paying for the experience.

The first few sips are glorious and the drive was all worth it.  We are emerged in the coffee culture and thankfully for us it doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.

From a coffee lover xo

As the last days of Summer move on by in the Southern Hemisphere it’s time to begin the layering process. Coats, quilts, scarves and beanie’s will all take up permanent residence in my house very soon. So I’ve put together a little list of cosy additions to make their way out of storage to your home.

 Pull out the extra bedding. My lovely summer quilt has just not been keeping up with the chill that drifts through the windows in the early hours of the morning. Get that winter weight quilt out now and give it a good airing. All ready for snuggling up on those chilled mornings.

One of the best things about Winter I think are the hot drinks. Coffee is my jam but why not change things up mid-afternoon and try that hot chocolate with a cookie. Embrace the cosy culture and order the hot drink.

Put on the woolly socks and beanie. There is nothing that robs your body of heat fast than losing it from your head and your feet! So buy those cute fluffy socks and grab an inexpensive beanie…just think one more day to not have to wash your hair!  

No better time to read. Winter means early nights in the warm covers and dark mornings. Why not this winter grab yourself a copy of the latest bestseller or even that biography you’ve had in mind for months. Despite the age of Netflix and YouTube clips sometimes you just gotta get old school and grab a book.

Whilst researching a number of ideas for this blog post I happened upon that famous line ‘The power of positive thinking’. First made famous by author Norman Vincent Peale, this has long been a topic of discussion.

I wanted to break this down a little and talk about my thoughts on the power of positive thinking. I feel like this year, 2017 has meant a major life shift for me. Mindsets have changed and thought patterns shifted.

What is positive thinking? Simply it’s replacing that negative thought ‘I would be hopeless at rock climbing’ to ‘I’m going to give it a go and I bet I will be awesome’. I feel positive thinking is speaking good stuff over your life before it’s even happened.

Professor Barbara Fredrickson a psychologist from the University of North Carolina, USA suggests that positivity is a mindset and helps to produce emotions such as amusement, joy, happiness, well-being, inspiration and gratitude. 

You and I both know that negative emotions can lead to all sorts of things…ulcers, inadvertent weight gain or loss and anxiety. Professor Fredrickson says ‘I think of positive emotions as nutrients. In the same way that we need to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to be healthy, we need a variety of positive emotions in our daily experience to help us become more resourceful versions of ourselves’.

Training our minds to focus on positive thoughts and not let yourself be drowned out by negativity can be tough. This requires discipline and a constant replacing that negative thought and in its place putting a positive one. I often tell my children that sometimes you need to ‘fake it till you make it’. The same is true for positive thinking. The mind is fickle and can be lazy too! The more you keep replacing those negative thoughts with positive ones, the more natural this process becomes. It may be a lot of effort to start but keep going it gets easier!  

The Mayo Clinic reports some of the benefits of positive thinking may provide an increased life span, lower rates of depression and stress, being able to withstand the common cold even! Better heart health and coping skills in times of worry and pressure. These are huge benefits!

Positive thinking is definitely something I want to work better at. I suggest a couple of resources to start you on this process of a positive lifestyle. Grab a copy of ‘The Power of Positive thinking’ by Norman Vincent Peale and even a gratitude journal, which will help you to focus on the good things in your life. Just because we are almost into March doesn’t mean you can’t make this your best year yet!

1. Warm Lemon Water: I have heard this one talked about for years and never really been keen until recently. The New Year brings a 'new me' and I am embracing it with open arms. Warm lemon water every morning has helped with my digestion and also gives your body a boost of Vitamin C.
   
   
2. Start a journal: Whether it’s a gratitude journal, a prayer book or simply a place to scribble down thoughts, a journal is a great way to help align your mind. I’ve found when I get all my thoughts down I feel more centered and ready to face current issues that are going on in my life. I feel grateful for all I have and open to new opportunities. 
   
   
3. Hydrate! We have had this drummed into us for so long and there is truth in the drumming. There are so many benefits that outweigh the constant trips to the bathroom. Clear skin, less snacking, excess hunger, the overall health benefits are too numerous to list! I like to carry my favourite water bottle around with me and also on occasion add fun flavours like lime and berries. 
   
   
   
   
4. Get some sun! Getting enough vitamin D is essential for strong bones and a good mood. Get out of the office or study chair at least once each day to take a walk and get some vitamin D. 10 minutes a day is all you need.
   
   
5. Sleep More. I know what your saying…ok, this is a habit I could get behind. Getting enough sleep of a night is essential for your overall health. I have recently found an awesome function on my iphone called the Bedtime function, which alerts me when I need to head off to bed to get my 8 eight hours in. Although I usually ignore it, I am trying to train my body to obey. 
   
   

The New Year is a magical time where all that has passed in the previous year can be forgotten. People can be redeemed. New habits can be started. Slates are wiped clean and all your dreams are achievable! 

The New Year is a chance. A chance where you can write down a new set of goals and dreams and actually feel like anything is possible! 

Some tips on goal setting and nutting out those New Years resolutions. 

1. Stay Balanced - have different categories for different areas of growth in your life. For example: Have a goal for your Health, and then another for your Mental Growth and then another for your Financial Area. 
   
   
2. Keep them achievable. All too often I have set myself lofty goals, I will read 20 books…I will loose 30kg. Making goals too lofty to achieve can also be a great discourager. Make sure you can achieve whatever you set yourself, even if it’s small increments at a time.
   
   
3. Put them somewhere you can see them. Such a simple thing but so effective. I make sure my goals are in my planner and also put up somewhere I can see them daily, the fridge is a great location.
   
   
   Let’s make 2017 the year we believe, achieve and succeed! 

As 2016 rapidly accelerates to a close, it’s a great time to grab your favourite cocktail and take some time to reflect on the upcoming year.

I would say 99% of people I talk to say how fast 2016 has flown. I often ask them did they achieve all they wanted to? And most often the answer is absolutely not! I’m first to put my hand up of someone who has lists upon lists of things I wanted to achieve.

When I think about this further I am struck by my how many of my decisions are career/ money based. However, when I think about what truly matters in life I believe experiences will be what I take with me as times marches on.

 Let’s make 2017 our year to say YES to new adventures! Let’s finally start that hobby…let’s go on that road trip! Let’s make that tricky cocktail we have been longing to try but didn’t want to splurge on the $50 spirits. Let’s book that trip to Europe!

I guess this is all easy to talk about, specially heading into the New Year’s resolution zone...but hey let’s take some practical steps too. First make a list…yes I hear what you’re saying, another list but unless it’s down on paper it’s unlikely it will ever happen.

Tell your significant other, a partner, a sibling, a parent…make it official and declare ‘I’m going to Paris’…even more fun burst into their room at 6am to do it.

Make an attempt to put your money where your mouth is...start saving even if it’s a small amount every pay packet.

Let’s say YES to new adventures! If you have an adventure that you are moving towards let the JT Team know all about it! Tag us in your pictures using #myjtstory…come on team let’s do this!

Now that you’ve DEFINITELY waited until the first of December to put up your tree and brushed the cobwebs off those decorations, it’s time to finally let the holiday season catch up with you. Every department store has been pushing Christmas since the beginning of October, but you’ve stayed strong and ignored the mounting stress wrapped in twinkling Christmas lights and smelling of candy canes.

But not until you’re pressing play on that Michael Bublé Christmas album and penciling in the third work Christmas party does it finally hit you – you’re not quite ready for December to be here. Not only when it comes to your savings account, but mentally as well.

In our rush to buy the perfect gift for our besties or for that special someone, we can so easily forget to love ourselves. But this year, the thing at the top of our lists should be to find a healthy balance these holidays (and I don’t just mean balancing those fruit mince pies with green smoothies)!

When you’re filling up your planner with commitments and family get-togethers, don’t forget to schedule a little quality time for yourself. There’s nothing like a deadly case of F.O.M.O to leave you exhausted and craving a cozy night in with Netflix.

Take some time out to go for a coffee date with your favourite book and say yes to that extra slice of cake. Watch Bridget Jones’s Diary for the thirteenth time and Love Actually with a cheeky glass of wine…or two!

After you’ve indulged in some alone time, don’t be afraid to add a few treats for yourself to your shopping list (for when you’re brave enough to venture into the outside world again). After all, what better time to pick up a few presents for the most important person in your life – YOU! 

With the year drawing to a close and your tolerance for reindeer-based songs skyrocketing, make it a priority to reflect on how far you’ve come this year. You’ve achieved so much and deserve a bit of praise, or at the very least, a celebratory nap for all your efforts this year.

Besides, you need to save your energy for that last minute dash to K-Mart on Christmas Eve. Tis the season after all!

Bek K

The temperature is starting to rise ……. Summer is here!

One of my favourite times of year is Summer. Packing up the car, towels, sunscreen and BBQ’s. Good vibes are all round. Beach cricket and relaxing in the sun. Let’s face it Summer rocks! Below are some essentials to make Summer and your trip to the beach the best yet!

Eyewear. That morning sun can be deceiving and often we can underestimate the power of those rays. If you don’t want to have premature ageing around those eyes, grab your favourite pair of sunglasses. Preferably for a day at the beach you would go for a polarised pair which cuts the glare off the water. Not only do you look chic but you’re protecting your eyes.

Snacks and Drinks. The last you want to do is to finally have your beach set up, lie down and hunger strikes…but I don't wanna move and where is the closest shop? Perfect solution is to bring your snacks and drinks down onto the sand with you. Consider bringing an esky or cooler down to keep your drinks cool. Cutting up fruit and snacks in containers will save you the mess and inconvenience of preparing on the sand.  Get rid of the guilt and choose healthy options.

Shade. It may seem boring and practical but trust me, when it’s 35 degrees on a hot Australian beach you will be grateful for carting down that gazebo or umbrella.

A cute cover-up. We put a lot of focus on the best pair of swimmers or bikini, but when it’s time for a break from swimming a cute cover-up is what makes our beach fashion perfect. Whether it’s a crochet dress or cotton playsuit, comfort and style go hand in hand.

Ultimate Playlist. Beach tunes are the perfect companion for a great beach experience. Creating the right vibes and putting you in the mood for relaxing, fun and beach awesomeness. See below our Summer Playlist!

Spotify Playsuit for Summer

You are walking along the boardwalk, early in the morning, not before sunrise, not at sunrise, but just after. There are people around. Bikers, runners, people checking out the first waves of the day. Not far from here, people are still rolling out of the bars and clubs and slinking into their hotels. There is personality here, something to be proud of, something to think about, something to revel in. There is style here. Of course, it is not home. No, it is not that.

Home is something else. It is a place inside you. You carry it without everywhere you go, but that is the funny thing: it stays elsewhere too. It comes with you, but only in part, never in whole. With the John Taylor collection, you can make this part of your home a little bigger. You can express yourself a little more fully and tell the world a little more clearly just who you are.

You are not someone who wears what everyone else is wearing. You are not someone who is pulled in by every trend or who looks only to labels as your means of discerning the fashion from the fakes. You are passionate. You care about your life, and we do too. Blending city living with that experience of living on the coast, we are offering an unmatched chance to be fully you, unadulterated, unfiltered, unhinged, uncensored.

We have set a lofty goal for ourselves: to capture the essence of serenity and to complement it with top-quality craftsmanship. Are we up to it? Sure, we like to think we are. We like to think that our timepieces are the perfect addition to your life. Carefully tailoring our timepieces to embody sophistication, cool, and the uniqueness that is you, we are proud of the lifestyle brand we have created.

 Go beyond that boardwalk, and there is an even bigger world out there. It lies beyond the crash of the waves. It is bigger than any street. It encompasses everyone you have ever known and will ever know, and it reflects the whole of your life. There is time to enjoy it, too, if only you will take it. That is what John Taylor is really about: taking the time. It does belong to you, after all.

Forget the ordinary. Escape the mundane. Accept only the thrilling, the exciting, the real, the true. Welcome to John Taylor.