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Meet AJ

When I first started this blog, I thought, “Yup… my life could be a book.” But not the kind of Oprah recommends- more like a sitcom that accidentally turned into a drama, sprinkled with a few bad decision, good intentions and WAY too much caffeine.

Not the kind of polished story with the “happily-ever-after” more like the kind where you’re rooting for the character even when she’s eating cookie dough for dinner.

Either way — you can’t make this crap up.

I’m AJ. Single mom to more kids than anyone can ever imagine (and no I didn’t birth them all). I juggle chaos, drop the balls and somehow show up – most of the time late. I’m also known as the woman Googling “is this normal” at 2 a.m..

I’ve got a sense of humor that keeps me sane, and a coffee cup (sometimes not filled with coffee) that mysteriously empties itself. OFTEN.

This isn’t the sugar-coated, highlight reel version of life. This is where the messy stuff lives. The midnight breakdowns, the wins that no one sees, the coffee-fueled resilience, and yes — the moments that make you say,

“Did that seriously just happen?”

You won’t find Pinterest- perfect here. But you will find

Truth. Laughter. and

Maybe. Just maybe healing… and knowing you’re not alone.

This space is for the beautifully chaotic souls who are tired of pretending everything’s fine. The ones trying to just hold it all together while falling apart. Who want to laugh a little, cry when they need to.

I don’t have all the answers, but I do have stories that will make you feel less alone. And maybe a few one-liners that’ll make you spit out your drink. So whether you’re here for solidarity, sarcasm, or soul work — welcome.

Grab your coffee, (or wine /beer/or ?) get comfy, and stay awhile.
This is your space too.

No filters. No fluff. Just beautifully messy real life- one moment at a time.

BECAUSE LIFE DOESN’T COME WITH FILTERS

This is where life meets coffee, tea… or let’s be honest, sometimes wine – and when it really hits the fan, maybe even a shot or two. Welcome to the beautifully chaotic space where real talk lives. No Willy Wonka sugarcoating, no highlight reels- just the raw unfiltered journey of some stuff.

Because if you’ve been through it-you know…. you can’t make this crap up.

But you can write through it. Laugh through it. Cry at times and rise anyway.

Some mornings I wake up ready to conquer the world.   YES!!!  “Oh crap! It’s her again” the Devil says!  
Other mornings… I’m already mentally done before my feet hit the floor.  You know the quick pretend you’re sick and pull the covers over your head, no one will know.. mornings.

This isn’t one of those curated “rise and grind” stories.

This is more like:

I rose,

 I spilled my coffee,

said a few choice words… not necessarily in my head…

I stepped on a Lego,

 AND NOW

 I’m questioning my entire life while I’m brushing someone else’s hair with a fork? 

Real Life.

You know those days where the dog throws up, the 9-year-old is arguing like he’s a Supreme Court Justice, ( yup I got one too!) Your bank app has a warning flag, and the laundry is eyeballing you like it has something to say…

Yeah. That was just this morning.

I used to think I had to pretend it was all fine.

SMILE. (insert eye roll)…  Keep the peace.

But peace doesn’t live in pretending.  Peace lives in honesty. In chaos.  In admitting, “Actually, I’m not okay today-but I’m trying anyway.”

And trying is enough.

Trying is brave.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but if you’re reading this while hiding in your bathroom with a mug of something hot (or strong), just know-you’re not alone.

This space-this little corner of the internet-isn’t here to impress anyone.  It’s here to say, “Same. Me too. Let’s figure it out one meltdown at a time.”

No Willy Wonka sugarcoating. 

No fake positivity.

Just real stories, real messes, and the sacred magic of showing up anyway.

Even if the only thing you checked off today was surviving- I’m proud of you.  That counts.

Are you a travel cleaner?

IF you’re a mom, a single parent, or someone like me with ADHD and ADHD-who can’t sit still AND just goes all day long… you’ll get it.

Sometimes I wonder if I was born this way or if it developed over time. I start in one room and, within minutes, I’m in another… yeah. That.

Travel cleaner.

It happens *quick.*

One second I’m scrubbing the kitchen, the next I’m standing in the entryway…. And then I’m like “WAIT! What am I doing? How in the HELL did I get in here?

Yeah.

The travel cleaner.

I even set a timer for each room. Not that it helps-I end up ignoring it so I can slide across the floor with the mop like I’m in an episode of TOP Gun. (Hey, don’t judge)

I’ve tried putting boxes down to trip over… yup, fell flat on my face. Cue rough somersault, a sigh, a look around, and a laugh (without peeing myself- mom bladder) because THANK GOD— I’m home alone.

My kids would’ve had a field day with that:

1. Thought I fell with grace.
2. They caught it on their phones
3. Crossed their legs laughing so hard they almost peed too.
4. all while we shuffling to the bathroom, legs crossed

Don’t tell me YOU haven’t been there.

I blame the kids… they caused me MOM BRAIN (and bladder).

Hey it’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

So yeah… I’m a travel cleaner.

One room to the next. No memory of how I got there. A “cleaning strategy” that looks more like a low-budget action film than anything remotely productive.

But hey- something always gets cleaned.

Eventually.

Probablly.

Even though I clean like that, I still know exactly where everything is. I’m high-functioning in the chaos.

Like…I know where the scissors are.

(In the freezer. Next to the ice cream)

AJ, just a woman trying to clean one room without ending up in a different zip code.