After eight years of teaching high school Spanish while juggling the needs of her growing family, Shana decided it was time for a change. Her energies were then channeled into creating a network of fun and supportive friends with whom to share the joys (think unbridled laughter, spontaneous declarations of love, play dates that didn't end in carnage), horrors (think unexplainable fevers, rigor mortis tantrums in toy stores, and play dates that did end with blood and screams) and general chaos of feeding, wiping and nurturing her cherished children.

At the coaxing of friends and family, Shana was inspired to pursue writing as a career after several editions of her spunky and irreverent Christmas letter were met with glowing (though certainly not unbiased) praise. Since then, she is proud to say that she is a columnist for The Almaden Times. Shana has also had her essays published in The San Jose Mercury News and on numerous Web sites, including Parenthood, Sanity Central and Silicon Mom.

Whether you have a slight addiction to caffeine, an irrational hatred of supermodels, or enough training in domestic peacekeeping to secure federal employment, she knows the antidote to your pain. She's sure you'll find it at the bottom of a hot cup of coffee, savored while taking a few minutes out of your selfless day to indulge in some of her caffeinated ponderings.

Her musings about life, laughter and lattes will leave you feeling tickled, validated and ready for a second cup…especially since the first one might just have escaped through your nose!

Be sure to sign up for your free subscription to her Fresh Brew so you'll be guaranteed to smile during your next coffee break!