Meet the Chaos Behind the Curtain: Why I Started This Blog Without Permission

This is Penny.

I didn’t even ask Hannah if starting a blog was a good idea, because she would’ve been logical, analytical, and professional about it - and probably said no. She’s the one who does things the right way. She’s the brain of this whole operation.

I, on the other hand, am the chaos. The one who YOLO's out of a full-time job with no backup plan and no idea what being a business owner actually means. Some might say that's brave. Others might say that's reckless. I say... same thing.

But the value I bring to the table, besides my lightning-fast turnaround time and years of design experience, is something I’ve come to call my "quirky and eccentric authenticity." After several online tests, interrogating my friends and family, and doing some deep (and slightly unhinged) soul-and-Google searching, I realized: oh hey, this is autism.

Turns out, being a 34-year-old adult discovering you're AuDHD (autistic + ADHD) explains a LOT.

Like:

• Why my leg bounces 24/7

• Why my brain is loud even when I’m sitting in silence

• Why I can never remember anything in my fridge until it turns into a science experiment

I’ve always known about the ADHD. The autism piece just made the rest of me make sense. I still don’t know how Hannah puts up with me.

But here’s the thing: even with this weird brain, I want to be honest about who I am and what this business really looks like behind the scenes. Because:

A. You might be relieved to know you’re not the only one navigating life and business with quirks.

B. You might find it easier to trust your brand with someone who is real, weird, and actually kinda fun.

C. You might connect with our company on a deeper level when you see that we’re human too—just trying our best, and willing to give grace the same way we hope to receive it.

Connection is one of our core values. And since I'm procrastinating something I was actually supposed to be doing (ADHD strikes again), I decided this was the perfect time to launch a blog.

So by the power vested in me, by me, I officially declare: this blog is now a thing.

I'll be telling stories from my journey as a business owner, designer, marketer, and full-time weirdo. I promise not to exaggerate. (Except when I do.) But even then, you still won't believe half the things that happen.

Maybe I’ll even get someone else to write a post or two. Hannah's would likely be so good it gets cited in academic marketing journals. So, yeah... that’ll be neat.

If you're interested in behind-the-scenes truth, a little laughter, and the occasional heartfelt spiral, stay tuned.

Welcome to the 5x2 blog.

(Also known as Penny's brain, lightly edited.)