Category: Five Thangs Friday

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Five Thangs Friday Life Lately

Five Thangs Friday

Wowwee! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted on this corner of the internet, but I’ve been itching to write/create/speak so cheers to me bringing PseudoMidlifeCrisis back! The last year I’ve learned so much and one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how therapeutic words can be. SO even if no one reads this, I know I’m healing myself a lil with each post.

Enough of that. I want to start light so here are five things this week that humored/amused me.

#1 This Kid

Real talk – she will probably always and forever be my #1 for any list, even 5 thangs Friday. But let me explain this picture. This here is my daughter, the thief. You see that chocolate on her face? She stole that out of my purse. This was her face when she got caught. Cutest thief ever.

#2 Goghing on a Date Night

Pun TOTALLY intended. My husband and I finally got out of the house after what felt like five million years to go on a date. We had tickets to see the immersive Van Gogh exhibit. Overall, it was super fun! The music and the animation of the paintings were beautifully done. Of course, the creme de la creme was the abundance of “Gogh” puns scattered throughout.

#3 A Potential New Hobby

School is officially out for the summer so that means I have more time for hobbies, like crafting. A girl I know posted an instagram photo of yarn art and I was immediately enthralled. *cue trip to Michaels* I tried my hand at it the other day, but it didn’t come out to my liking. I’ll be playing around with it more and hopefully, by next Friday, I have results to share.

#4 Good Ole Thrift Shopping

Nothing puts me in a better mood than a good deal! Today, I found I had some spare time so I hit up a Salvation Army. I recently got rid of the majority of my clothes because they didn’t bring me joy (or more likely they didn’t fit as I would have liked) so I have space in my closet that obviously must be filled. I found a few super cute pieces today! Score of the day was deffo the brand new Lululemon windbreaker that I scored for $4.

#5 My New Job!

Last but not least, I found out I secured my dream teaching job this week. Starting in August, I’ll be starting a new cluster program for students with moderate disabilities. It is my dream to start from scratch and to have complete autonomy over the program and I AM FLIPPING JAZZED!

So that rounds out my five thangs for Friday. After writing it all out, I have to say I had a pretty great week. On the downside, I am on my final taper of Lexapro so my brain feels like mush and my face is number, but things could be worse! I’m excited to be back in this space and hopefully you cannot wait for more word vomit from yours truly. XOXO.

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Five Thangs Friday

Five Thangs Friday #7

Anyone else exhausted? I can taste spring break on my tongue, but it’s not quite here yet. My patience is running slim, and my student’s are antsy to be out for the summer. It’s been a rough week in my classroom. On the bright side – three more Fridays until break! Lets get on with the post – here are the five thangs that have humored/amused me in the past week!

#1. This podcast!

This podcast is gold ya’ll! I am not an entrepreneur but this makes me want to be one. It’s quite interesting how prominent the “side hustle” is amongst millennials. There’s a good amount of people who do something on the side. Recently, I started working part time on an analyst position, and it’s felt really good to be so productive. The extra cash doesn’t hurt either!

The woman behind it is a local Chicago photographer, and she talks all things freelance! She’s covered anything from fear, starting a business, to tax advice! Definitely give it a listen, if you’re a hustler or if you’re thinking about doing some freelance work!

#2. This book!

I fell off the reading wagon for awhile. Okay, honestly, I didn’t just fall off. I got on the opposite going wagon. I didn’t pick up a book pretty much for the entirety of February and it did not feel good guys! I love reading. As cliche as it sounds, it’s such an amazing escape from real life. I did manage to finish this book and it was spectacular. I did not think I would like it as much as I did, but it was the perfect blend of romance, history, and plot line. If you’re at all interested in the Holocaust, you’ll love this one!

#3. What this kid said!

On the subject of reading… let’s flashback to Tuesday afternoon. We’re in eighth period, which is typically where kids can either finish up work or have some chill time. Anywho, I find myself reading a story to a kid (real talk – I was reading Harry Potter to him in a British accent – I am that teacher guys!). I hear a gasp from the other side of the room, and see a kid with his jaw dropped. “Ms. Maydan – YOU KNOW HOW TO READ?!?!”

Guys. I’m a teacher. I have a bachelors and a masters degree, and this child thought I did not know how to read. I’ll just leave this here to sink in.

#4. The fact that Philz is coming to CHICAGO!

I. AM. SO. EXCITED. I somehow missed this story and found out this week. This summer, they will be opening two locations – one in Hyde Park and one on the North Side! GUYSSSSSSSSS. Have you ever had mint in your coffee? It is taaaa die for! I am jazzed, to see the least!

#5. My new EMF reader!

Okay guys – lets nerd out for a second. I read a lot of the Wellness Mama blog and she’s talked about EMF before. That sent me down a large rabbit hole and here I am today, the owner of an EMF reader. For those who aren’t hypochondriacs like me, an EMF reader reads the signals that electronics give off, such as phones and computers. There also tends to be EMF “hotspots” in homes due to wiring, wifi and all the other comforts of the modern world. These EMF’s are known to disrupt our bodies – some studies suggest higher risk of cancer, and others suggest ADD and other behavior issues. I’m pretty jazzed to see what types of signals we have in our home because there are ways to mediate it! I’m sure I’ll be posting in the future about this! In the meantime, if you’d like to know more, this book is a great starting point!

So there ya have it folks – my week in four photos and an anecdote! I hope ya’ll have a gr8 weekend, filled with sunshine, sleep and all the nice things in life!

XO,

J

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Five Thangs Friday

Five Thangs Friday #6

I’ve begun to really look forward to Five Thangs Friday. It makes me really take a step back and think about five things that truly made my week better – which can help me when I’m stuck in a rut, as I have been.

I haven’t posted much lately. I’ve lacked thoughts, which is a strange thing to say, but I don’t know how else to describe it. I’ve been preoccupied with other things. This post makes me take a step back though, which is why I’m continuing to do it. What do you do when you’re in a rut? How do you get your thoughts and creativity back? Let me know ya’ll!

Enough digression – here’s my week in iPhone photos. I hope everyone had a great first week of “spring”! The fact that the sun isn’t setting until 7 is giving me lifeeee!

#1. Deep Conditioner

I colored my hair about two years ago and I deeply regret it. The first 8 inches of my hair are a deep brown, but now, the remaining 6 inches of colored hair are a rusty orange from all the bleach. Needless to say, my hair is dry AF. I’ve switched to clean shampoos and conditioners, which aren’t really helping the case either. This weekend, I picked up a few deep conditioners at Target to see if they could work some magic, and ya’ll, THEY DID! I’ve only used the one on the left so far (Shea Moisture) and it has made me hair feel so much better this week. I’m planning on using another this weekend and ya know I’ll let ya’ll know how it goes!

#2. Paleo Muesli

I found this as Aldi this week, and to say I was geeked would be an understatement! While I love granola, it’s difficult to find a good quality clean one at a decent price. These were $4 a box, and each had a pound of paleo deliciousness inside! I’m not one to eat a bowl of muesli, but I did enjoy it drizzle over a smoothie bowl! Highly recommend ya’ll!

This beauty was an avocado kale banana smoothie with some sprouts! Delish!

#3. Workin’ Moms!

OMG. Go to Netflix, now. WATCH THIS SHOW! It is hilarious, and honest, and while I’m not a mother, I assume, pretty dang realistic. Canadian TV has been on fire lately! Between this and Kim’s Convenience (also found on Netflix), I’ve been impressed! I binge watched this show in a week, and tried extremely hard to get access to Canadian Netflix so I could watch the other seasons. (Update: I did not find access)

#4. This Episode of This American Life!

I listen to at least one podcast a day, on my way to work. This one was the best of the week! As a special educator, and a sibling of someone with mental disabilities, this episode resonated with me. It gave insight into what parenting someone with special needs is like, and had me bawling on my way to work. Side note: this podcast has a show on Amazon that you can watch the first 2 seasons of! Very interesting stuff guys!

#5. Oversized Coffee

We buy most things on bulk on Amazon. 20 pound buckets of salt. 5 pound bags of coffee. 1000 pens. We get it all! I amused myself on Wednesday night with this larger than life bag of coffee. (PS: this coffee is actually delicious if you’re looking for a good quality, inexpensive organic dark roast)

Other highlights of my week include teaching my students about riverdancing and square dancing, which many are now obsessed with! It’s adorable! I’ve also been loooooving this window down weather (when you’re a Chicagoan, anything over 40 is windows down). The countdown to spring break has also officially begun – LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY!

I hope ya’ll have a relaxing weekend! Please, please, please – let me know how you get creative!

XO, J

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Five Thangs Friday

Five Thangs Friday #4

It’s Five Thangs Friday #4 – which means its a habit ya’ll! Happy Friyay! I hope your week is going swimmingly and you have some time for rest this weekend. This week has been smoother for me – we’re finally getting more settled in and into a routine, and I’ve figured out timing for my drive in to work (which is key in Chicago). It’s crazy that if I leave at 6:45 my commute is 30 minutes, but lord forbid I wait til 6:50… then I have to drive for 45. Math isn’t my strong point but that shizz does not make sense. I digress. Let’s get to my five thangggggs for the week!

1.THIS vest

A couple months ago, my husband surprised me with a beautiful Patagonia sweatshirt. I’ve been going through a Patagonia phase. Basically, I am convinced that because they often have collars, they can pass as business casual. I know that that’s not true, but let me live!

Anyways, he bought me this sweatshirt but got it in an XS. This was a flattering gesture, but I’m a small in good ole Patty. I ended up exchanging it for two things on the website and only liked one, so returned the other (Side note: did anyone else think that the Los Gatos fit super strangely?)

So this week, I exchanged the other item for a dad vest. My husband got an e-mail when I purchased it and I received this text:

SO ANYWAYS – the dad vest came in the mail yesterday and I am loving it.

I may live in this thing you guys. It’s so cozy and has three pockets. THREE! I can keep so many snacks on me! #noragrets For anyone who is wondering, this is the retro pile women’s vest. Patagonia lists it as a slim fit, but it’s not. I could have work an XS in it no problem.

My husband said I look like Mr. Rogers – on a good day. I’ll take it!

2.My blood test results came in!

A few months back, we purchased an EveryWell blood test to test female hormones for fertility. I had an eating disorder in high school, had been on birth control for nearly a decade and lost an ovary in 2016, so I was not sure what my hormone levels would be like. I submitted the test in January, only to have them say that there was not enough blood on them. So I redid it last cycle (you need to take blood on the third and nineteenth day of your menstrual cycle so timing is everything) and got my results yesterday! I’ll be doing a whole post on what I learned but short story: I am pleased with my results!



3.Smoooooothies

I usually have breakfast every morning before work, but because I’ve been getting home later than usual this week, I’ve been eating dinner late. This is making me not want to eat at 5am as I usually do. SO I’ve been making these smoothies in the morning which are a) nutritious AF and b) fun to drink on my drive! I get frozen organic berries at Costco, throw in a small banana, some broccoli sprouts and some coconut water and I’m good to go!

Side note: check out how millennial my mason jar is!

4.This episode of This American Life

What podcasts do ya’ll listen to? I’ve been listening to a podcast in the morning and then allow myself to listen to music if there’s time left. I’ve been really digging This American Life this week, especially this episode! It was fun and amusing and exactly what I need in the morning. Also, who doesn’t love a good rom-com?!

5.Mobility

Last week, I was sick with some type of cold or flu for two days. Friday rolled around and I was finally beginning to feel better. This was true, until Friday night. My husband and I sat down to eat dinner and I realized I had a strange pinching feeling in my hand. I brushed it aside and went along with my night. I was able to fall asleep for an hour, but woke up with the worst pain in my hand. It felt numb from my shoulder to my fingertips, and hurt so much I couldn’t go back to bed. I spent that night nursing my hand with some ice broccoli, which did not work.

By 4am, my husband was awakened by the sound of the rustling bag of broccoli I had brought to bed. Hubby is mad into mobility training and taking care of his body. He promptly massaged my arm and back and GUESS WHAT?! The pain disappeared. Basically, I am learning that I am growing older and that I need to be proactive (begrudgingly). So foam rolling and stretching has been a highlight of my week. I need to go the gym, but because this week had so many events after work, I’ll have to begin next week!

This is me, chilling with some broc!

So there’s my week, in iPhone photo form! Plans for this weekend include a real estate class, and hopefully putting my clothes away so I can stop living out of a box and running out of underwear! Happy Friyay lovelies!

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Five Thangs Friday Sparking Joy

Five Thangs Friday #3

They say it takes a month to make a habit, so does that mean I’m one week away from Five Thang Friday being a habit?!?! This week has been pretty good to me. We’re continuing to settle into our new home and I’m adjusting to this commute (as discussed in a previous post). Read on for five things that have sparked joy/amused/humored me this week!

#1. The honesty of children

I teach 9th and 10th graders in a cluster classroom, which means that we focus more on life skills than academics. Instead of typical homework, I give a sheet out once a week that asks them to read for twenty minutes a day, have a conversation with someone and complete a household chore. When it comes time to collect their homework, I always prepare myself for a chuckle. Last weeks chore was for them to wipe down counters. As you can see from the photo above, they did not enjoy it and they’re not shy about telling you that.

I think the honesty my students have is one of my favorite things about the classroom I teach. Have you ever noticed that when you ask someone how they’re doing they don’t even pause to think before saying “I’m fine”? My students pause, and then let you know EXACTLY how they’re doing and I flipping love it. Side note: proud teacher moment because homegirl above used a complete sentence (we’ll work on punctuation later).

#2. Costco ERRYTHANG

I’m from a Costco family. What on earth does that mean?! My mom has worked for Costco for about fifteen years now, and we are HUGE advocates for Costco. When I was in college, I worked for them as well. 80% of my house has come from Costco, and a good 15% of my conversations are about my latest Costco finds.

Our new home has a pantry (!!!) and we got excited and bought all the clean goodies we could find at Costco. I used to go to Costco about once a week, but now that we have the space to store dry goods, I’m trying out going once a month instead. I’ll let ya’ll know how this goes.

On another note, I’m pretty dang impressed with the amount of goods I can purchase at Costco that fit our dietary needs. We loosely follow the Paleo diet, meaning no dairy (except for goat) and no artificial bull crap. We try to stay away from grains and added sugar as well. It’s so great that I can go to Costco and not only get the basics, but also fun goodies as well – like nut mixes and three brands of kombucha.

#3. This instant bone broth

I’ve been pretty sick this week – which I attribute to poor sleep (I’m that gal who needs a solid 9 hours) and self-induced stress. We found this gem at Costco earlier this week and it has been a lifesaver. It tastes delicious and is clean AF. All you do is mix with hot water and boom – you have yourself a great mug of broth. This is great for work, and I’ll probably be keeping a few in my suitcase for when I travel!

#4. My pseudo work fridge

On the note of being sick, I’ve been trying to keep myself hydrated with all the liquids. At work, I don’t have a fridge in my room but I discovered that my window is wide enough to store my drinks in! I’ve been able to have cold beverages all week and it’s been amazing! I guess this is one perk of cold Chicago winters! Maybe when it’s warm out, I can cook some eggs in the window sill. (If anyone is watching from Shark Tank, feel free to reach out to me for some equity in this brilliant idea).

#5. Early morning breakfasts with a friend

Egg Harbor is a breakfast chain in the Chicagoland area. In high school, when we would get late starts, we would gather there for breakfast. I met one of my best friends from college there this past Friday and had a blast. We met up for a 7:30 breakfast (which my husband thought was a strange hour) and it was glorious. There’s something special about getting up with the sun and meeting a friend for some quality conversation.

So that’s my week in iPhone photos. Hopefully next week has fewer germs! Happy Fridays homies!

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Five Thangs Friday

Five Thangs Friday #2

It’s been a crazy week! We packed up our old house, closed on our new house and moved. I’ve also been working on my new part time job and learning the ropes, which has been taking a good amount of my time. Despite all of the life changes, I’ve been trying to stay true to my goal of being more mindful and more present. Without further ado, I present my FIVE THANGS FRIDAY!

#1. Books on books on books on books

One of the fun (or maybe not so fun) parts of moving is remembering what you have. My husband and I are huge bibliophiles. We dream of the day we have a library in our house, filled with walls of books and dark leather chairs. We were packing up our house this week, and realized we had 20 boxes of books. 20 boxes guys! I am so excited to find a home for all these books in our new home. Stay tuned to see what it all looks like!

#2. Green juice!

Eating healthily is a bit more difficult when moving, with limited food and all of our utensils in boxes. I was at Costco this past week and saw that they were offering these Suja green juices again! They tend to sell them during the spring, when people are getting ready for their summer bodies. These were delectable and much needed, after having eaten a diet consisting of falafel for a few days! If you see them, check them out! It’s hard to find true green juices that aren’t loaded up with fillers like apple juice!

#3. This podcast!

My hell yes/hell no mentality applies to my relationships as well. If I feel like a relationship is not giving me energy, I don’t want anything to do with it. As of lately, I’ve been thinking even more about what friendships are, and their cycles. I found this podcast last week and it was great! This episode in particular, really spoke to me and confirmed the decisions I’ve made for myself in regards to friendship. The women who host it are real and raw, and the topics are all so interesting. I can’t wait to listen to more of these!

#4. Valentine’s Day notes

Guys – how freaking adorable is this note? (Side note: he wrote identical ones for all the staff who work in our classroom). Valentine’s Day is special when you’re a teacher. I still see all the students nervously hand Valentine’s cards to their crushes, and we still have fun passing candy out in class. One student gave me some chocolate covered strawberries, and it absolutely made my day.

#5. This man (:

While we don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, I do appreciate and love this man a little more each day. We got married when we were crazy young (I was 21 and he was 23) and have grown so much since then, both together and as individuals. I couldn’t imagine life without him – my adventure buddy, my support system and the love of my life. Moving this week made me reflect further on how much our lives have changed since we got married, and I appreciate and recognize all of the amazing, selfless things he does for me, and for our relationship.

So there it is folks – my five thangs Friday! I hope ya’ll have a spectacular weekend! Peace out, girl scouts!

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Five Thangs Friday Sparking Joy

Five Thangs Friday

It’s Friday… I mean, Friyay! Here’s a rundown of how my weeks been, courtesy of iPhone snaps! Happy weekend, pals!

#1. NOLA


If you read my post earlier this week, or you stalk my Instagram, you’ll know I was in NOLA this past weekend and had the best time! One of the highlights for me was all the art, especially meeting this Banksy piece. It was amazing to see the sun for a bit and to not wear pants.

#2. THIS gym shirt

You know those girls who look cute AF when they go to the gym? Yeah, that’s not me. I’ve been loving this shirt lately – which happens to be my husband’s shirt from high school. Who doesn’t love tie dye? I swear it works like pre-workout. I push harder when I wear more colors to the gym.

#3. These punny towels

I am THE queen of puns, or at least I think so. This was a sweet gift from a sweet friend of mine. These towels speak to me, ya’ll.

#4. These broken headphones

I pulled up to the gym Wednesday afternoon, pumped to get a pump in (see? told ya I was the pun queen)! I opened my bag… and found this. Guys. Why do they make things so poorly? The hinge was completely supported by plastic, so obviously it was going to break. I looked on the internet for a bit, and found that many people had had this issue with Sony headphones. Insert sad face.

#5. This magnificent dinner

I am so grateful for my husband you guys. While this may not be the prettiest photo (I told ya it was all shot on my phone), it was delicious. I am lucky to have a husband who isn’t just hot, but cooks too!

#6 (BONUS). This petty song

No words needed. This song is so petty and I love it!

So there ya have it! My week in photos. Lets get the weekend started pals!