My Iced Caramel Macchiato, Bringing Sweet to the Bitter Bite of Life

Writing in general I have for the most part found solace in, because I have the ability to put my emotions to paper. Blogging was not something I had truly considered. However, here I am pouring out my business, thoughts, and ideas to strangers, because I recently celebrated a 20-year wedding anniversary and I'm feeling nostalgic, still financially broke, and motivated if we are keeping it honest. Through 20 years I've had three children, multiple pets, lived in multiple "homes" surrounded by multiple personalities, done an astronomical amount of laundry, dishes, and maintaining mess cleaner upper status on multiple fronts. Now don't get me wrong I wouldn't change a thing.........Just kidding, honey I would change a lot. This blog marks my new journey, my big hope so. We joyfully chuckle at all the happy moments and cry or get angry when times show their rearends and so on and so on. Many state "not to worry, you will laugh at it later." Well, here it is, 20 years of laughing at it later......well a tiny sip, don't be greedy!

Blonde, I am. Dumb, I am not! Gullible, definitely. During my first pregnancy, at 18 years old I might add, my husband told me that if I wanted to know where the baby was inside my belly, that I could use two fingers to tap on my rib cage just under my arm pit. Well, I did it and then proceeded to roll my eyes as I watched him fall over bellowing.

Since this whole blog is partly inspired by my coffee drinking habits, let me share a delicious recipe with you. It's quite organic! First, you must be residing in someone else's home; which now looking back that someone else was not people. Place a coffee filter in the coffee maker, add ground coffee, water and brew. Pour the "fresh" coffee over cream and sugar, then enjoy. Sounds like a standard cup of joe, but this is the cockroach special. The house which we gratefully lived in was also home to a very substantial and sophisticated roach community who decided to take up residence in the water reservoir of the coffee maker. Do not worry, I didn't die, obviously I lived to write this. But ewwww. That's one of those things I would change.

My little sister-in-law would never be alright if I didn't allow ya'll to somewhat experience my greatest fail. Look, we all want to be that cool mom that jumps right into every fun thing, but I was NOT a cool mom, though I tried so hard. Let me paint the picture. It's my daughter's birthday and she was so excited. We didn't have much money to dedicate to the event, so we chose to go old school and threw a wet and wild backyard party with water balloons, water toys, and of course a Slip N' Slide. One kid out of her entire class of 19 showed up which naturally broke my heart. Inevitably, inside the house I went to squeeze my sexy mom body, fupa, saggy boobs, and all into a bathing suit at least two sizes to small in order for me to "join in" on the fun. Seriously though, I was so excited to try that Slip N' Slide. My husband, sister-in-law, and a couple of neighborhood kids all watched with anticipation as I stood far back to get a running start. "Shauna, don't you want to wait for it to be a little wetter?" My husband asked. "No it's good," I insisted. I ran and I............stuck and stopped. My legs swung upward over my back towards my head, curling my body into a literal letter C. My uncoolness became very apparent as I looked up and over at everyone uncontrollably laughing at my haphazard attempt at the Slip N' Slide. Side note, this has been known as the "Slip N' Stop" for years now.

Those are just a few stories, however, the evidence that we have lived a poorly rich life thus far is clear in all of them. Be still and allow your mind to quiet, meditating on your past with the sole purpose of potentially fracturing a rib laughing into your future. My hope through this blog is to grow a following of likeminded people who wish to taste the sweetness of the bitter moments that life brews.