motherhood - growth - living
You might have heard of Blogtober, where bloggers post every day of October. It’s a fun autumn writing challenge. You might also wonder if Blogtober hurts SEO? There is a lot of debate whether posting on your blog every day will lead to more website traffic.
If you’re also a lifestyle blogger looking to grow your audience, stick around to see if you should participate in #Blogtober23
Read moreWelcome, fellow parenting bloggers and burnt out writers! Are you feeling stumped on what to write about on your motherhood lifestyle blog? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with 101 creative and exciting blog post ideas that will have your readers coming back for more. From meal planning and self-care tips to parenting hacks and product reviews, our list is chock-full of inspiration to help you create engaging content that resonates with your audience. So sit back, relax, and get ready to take your motherhood lifestyle blog to the next level!
Read moreToday we’re rounding up 30 fall themed lifestyle blog ideas to bring more traffic this autumn!
Fall is a big deal here on Long Island. The weather is beautiful, the leaves change in waves, pumpkin patches and corn mazes cover the North Fork. After some unbearably humid and hot summers, fall feels like a gift.
I love creating fall-themed posts for my blog that match my love for fall! I really wanted to creat this post prior to #blogtober, so that I would have something to reference for ideas.
I’ve written before about how much I got out of #blogtober21 and writing consistently. Writing challenges are an excellent way to become a consistent blogger. Whether you blog for money or treat it as a labor of love, fall is the perfect time to start writing.
Every wonder why your favorite blogger/influencer/YouTuber puts out seemingly infinite amounts of content or videos at the end of the year?
The answer is obvious and the answer is always the same!
Money.
Ad networks and brand deals typically pay more at the end of the year. Brands want to use up their marketing budgets in preparation for the next year.
More content = more clicks = more money.
I remember when I spent more time on YouTube and would see #Vlogmas and think that it sounded absolutely exhausting, it didn’t make sense. Wouldn’t you want to take December off? That’s where the money makes it worth it, of course.
I personally don’t want to spend my favorite time of year (October-December) in front of a computer screen, which is why I schedule a lot of my posts!
Before we get to the list of 30 fall-themed lifestyle blog ideas, let’s look at some tips for creating fall content.
Get up and go outside! Enjoy the weather while it lasts. Being out in the world is a surefire way for my brain to start firing off ideas for blog topics.
Do you do anything different now that it’s fall? Do you change up the vegetables you eat or drive the long way home so that you can see the changing leaves? Your daily routine may hold more subject matter than you know.
I know I have a special candle that I bring out for fall (I feel like such a loser typing that out but my people know what I mean). I love changing out my wreath and drinking out of pumpkin cups. We also do a lot more chilis and savory meals when the humidity tapers off.
If you’ve completed this list or are looking for more inspiration, why not scroll back to your old blog posts?
Maybe last year you wrote about autumn date ideas, and this year your single. You could write about solo date ideas or fall activities for groups. Maybe this year you had a major life chage, like a new work opportunity or had a child, which changed your perspective on an ideal autumn day.
Fresh perspectives on old topics is nothing new, but it’s a great place to start when you run out of ideas.
What is blogtober? According to Tea & Cake for the Soul, “Blogtober is where bloggers from all over the world publish a post every day during the month of October. They also link up with other bloggers who are also taking part to share the love.”
You can see my post How to Prepare for Blogtober 2022 for more information about how to get started! I highly recommend blogging challenges if you’re a beginner or you’re stuck in a “writing rut”.
I believe writing is a muscle and by exercising it everyday, we get faster and our writing grows stronger.
I also have a post Why You Should Try Blogtober, which shares my results from last year.
So, those are the 30 fall-themed blog topics to keep you inspired and writing this season. I know I plan on writing a post for each and every one this year!
What do you like to write about this time of year? Have you ever written about one of the topics on this list?
What would you add to this list?
Let me know below!
O.
If you are interested in guest posting on Leaf and Steel, please check out our Guest Post page for guidelines!
In this post I’m going to talk all about Blogtober! Blogtober is a writing challenge guaranteed to leave you feeling a sense of accomplishment and a collection of published posts.
I did #Blogtober2021 and I am definitely doing #Blogtober2022!
If you’re looking for a way to improve your writing and get consistent blogging, Blogtober is your ticket!
There are endless amounts of writing challenges out there. Seriously, there is a challenge to fit any niche or bloggers “needs”.
Blogtober is very, very simple. All you have to do is publish a post a day for a month.
See this explanation from Tea and Cake for the Soul,
Blogtober is where bloggers from all over the world publish a post every day during the month of October. They also link up with other bloggers who are also taking part to share the love.
If you have a blog, a little extra time, and a calendar, then you’re all set for Blogtober! Add a little enthusiasm and discipline and you’re good to go!
The only rule for Blogtober is to hit ‘publish’ every day during the month of October.
It’s the internet – there are no rules. Maybe your way of participating in this challenge means you take weekends “off” or try to post every other day in October. Adjust it to what’s realistic for your schedule. I have found that much like waking up early or meditating, the best effects are felt when writing is practiced every day.
Listen, adding 31 blog posts to my repertoire was no small feat. To date, it’s my best month for views and for added posts. Of course, this meant that I had an uptick in ad and affiliate revenue, which is an added bonus!
If you are looking at making a profit from your blog than Blogtober can be a helpful tool – consumers spend the most money at the end of the year!
The biggest benefit I got from Blogtober 2021 was discipline. I woke up early and stayed up late and I got the job done. Up until I got super sick in January and lost my momentum, I was very consistent with posting on my blog.
You want to know why?
I had built habits that made writing every day a no-brainer. I had my routine: wake up early, make coffee, change, brush teeth, drink coffee, light a candle, write. I wrote until my daughter woke up and then would usually write again at nap time or after she went to bed.
It had become as natural as drinking a cup of coffee or brushing my teeth.
Looking back, it was one of the most peaceful times in my recent life. I was spending time everyday doing something that I loved.
It apparently takes an average of 66 days for a new habit to become automatic. While that may be true, after 31 days I felt like daily writing was an instinctive part of my day.
Find a calendar you like. Be it pen and paper, an app, or your phone. I like Google Calendar the best. I have different color labels for posts in different stages, like “published”, “scheduled” and “hope to post”. I like that I can pull it up on any computer and there aren’t any bells and whistles.
Brainstorm ideas. You don’t have to wait until October to let inspiration come to you. Start collecting ideas now! A great place to look for inspiration is Pinterest. Another thing I do is I’ll look back at posts from this time last year and see if I can make an updated version or if I’ve changed my view on a subject.
Connect with other bloggers doing Blogtober. This is a great way to keep up your momentum and get some encouragement.
Turn to your favorite blogs. If you have a blog, chances are you love to read blogs too. Head over to your favorite blogs for inspiration and motivation.
Set themes for different days of the week. 31 posts is a lot. If you didn’t plan posts beforehand, you can feel burned out pretty quickly. Last year I did “Fall Friday Favorites” where I did a weekly roundup of my favorite things. I actually really enjoyed the series and it gave me an “anchor” throughout the week where I had a set format and I could just plug in information.
Schedule posts. Okay, maybe this bends the “rules” a little bit, as it doesn’t lend itself to building the habit of writing every day. However, I know I will be saving some scheduled posts in my “back pocket”. I’m human and I take care of a tiny human (and a very needy puppy) and I know that there will be at least 1 out of 31 days that taking care of them and taking care of myself will come before my blog. That’s why I have no qualms about pre-writing a little content!
Stock photos. If you use stock photos, find a bunch of them now. Save them in a little folder on your desktop. Future you will thank me. I like to use Pexels.
Set good habits now. You don’t have to wait until the first of October to become someone who blogs everyday. Start waking up early or finding the time today to work towards your goals!
Have you done Blogtober before? If so, what were your results?
Are you planning on participating in Blogtober this year?
Let me know below!
O.
Today I’m sharing 30 writing prompts for mom blogs! If you’re feeling stuck and in need of inspiration when you sit down to write, make sure you check out the ideas below!
Have you ever heard the idea that “willpower is a finite resource”? If you haven’t, then listen up.
You will run out of willpower.
You will not feel motivated every day.
You will procrastinate because it feels good in the moment.
If you’ve ever tried to do anything consistently (work out, get up early, WRITE), then you know what I’m talking about.
See this quote from Verywell:
Willpower is a limited resource.The idea behind this theory is that willpower is like a muscle in that it can be both strengthened and fatigued. For example, if you exhaust yourself doing sprints, you will be less able to perform other physical tasks.
Kendra Cherry, Verywell, “What is Ego Depletion?”
So, it’s not just you.
It can be frustrating to have a goal but be unable to reach it due to a lack of willpower or energy.
The good news is there’s a way to hack it.
The answer lies in habits.
Creating small, daily habits will improve your blog. There’s no doubt that writing every day will add more content to your site. Creating a number of Pins for Pinterest or connecting with a few other bloggers on Instagram will bring in more traffic.
There’s no better way to build up your blog than to practice consistency.
In 2021, I found myself in a place with lots of time to blog and not a lot of direction. In the beginning of the year I was sporadically posting and I didn’t feel like I was getting anything out of it.
I created some new habits.
I started getting up early so that I could write, uninterrupted.
I learned how to shut out distractions and how to do writing sprints.
I stopped waiting for inspiration to hit.
I stopped waiting for the motivation to come.
I leaned into my habits and the results that I got were invaluable. Not only did I add dozens of articles to my site, but I got into a writing rhythm. Writing every single day made me a better writer.
I got better at transferring my thoughts and formatting my articles.
Having those habits made me more efficient and creative.
Now, writing and working on my blog is as natural as making my bed or feeding the cat.
Here’s my favorite way to build new habits. The Harvard Business Review refers to it as “Piggybacking on a daily task”.
The benefit of micro habits is that you should be able to perform it with minimal effort every day. It’s important to execute on a new ritual daily so it becomes second nature, and if it’s small enough, you won’t be as tempted to defer your task from one day to the next. However, no matter the size of the task, it’s easy to get distracted, make excuses, or forget. Perform your new action at the same time as (or right before) an action you do without thinking. Need to read a paragraph each night? You can do that while brushing your teeth. Meditating for 30 seconds each day? Check that off your list while waiting for your coffee to brew.
Sabrina Nawaz, Harvard Business Review, “To Achieve Big Goals, Start with Small Habits”
A blogging challenge is an excellent way to create a writing rhythm.
In my experience, writing every day is what works best for me. Whether it’s an hour or just ten minutes, writing everyday enforces that habit.
Blogtober was my first writing challenge. To this day, October 2021 serves as my statistical inspiration for blogging. I added 31 new posts and I saw my traffic almost double. I loved having a challenge to keep me consistent, with a finish line in sight.
You can choose an online blogging challenge or create your own! I love using prompts when I’m feeling “stuck” or uninspired.
I compiled 30 writing prompts for motherhood/early childhood blogs. If writing a whole post every day is too much right now, try keeping the posts short or spread them out over two months.
Another way to do this challenge is to set a word count objective and to tailor each post to meet that goal.
You can move these around or alter them to fit your blog’s niche.
These prompts are also excellent for Instagram pages, if you aren’t a fan of long form content.
Have you ever done a blogging challenge? Have you written about any of the topics on this list?
Let me know below!
O.
If you are interested in guest posting on Leaf and Steel, please check out our Guest Post page for guidelines!
Do you accept guest posts on your blog? If not, you seriously might want to start.
Guest posting is a tried-and-true way to elevate your blog. I started accepting guest posts in 2022 and I can’t believe that I waited this long to try it! I honestly didn’t even think of it as an option for my style of blog. I also didn’t realize how many people out there would want to post on my blog!
Keep reading to see why you need to start including guest posts today.
A guest post is exactly what it sounds like – it’s a post on your blog written by a “guest”, typically another blogger. It’s different from an article written by a freelancer or ghost writer because it usually serves as a mutual promotion for both parties.
The simplest way to find people to guest post on your blog is to ask your readers!
Ask them in a blog post or on social media! I was surprised when I posted a call for writers on my Instagram (with a very meager following). There were so many people wanting to write for my blog in exchange for promotion or just to exercise their freelance skills.
Be sure to include a Guest Post FAQ page on your blog with details on what kind of posts you’re looking for.
Here are some examples of what you might want to include in a guest post FAQ:
Some blogs charge to feature guest posts. This is fine if you’re willing to provide stats to prove that the price is worth it.
It’s important that you aren’t just slapping up any old post from any old writer.
I ALWAYS check out the writer’s blog, social media, and I’m not afraid to give them a quick Google to make sure nothing controversial shows up. It’s my due diligence as a blog owner to make sure that the content I’m putting out is responsible, inclusive, and safe.
A social media search and hashtag scan can tell you a lot about someone’s beliefs. Make sure you know who’s writing for you and their reputation.
Start with your favorite blogs that are in line with your niche! Check to see if they have guest posting information on their contact or about page. If not, there is no harm in asking! Sending a friendly email with a request to send over your work might lead somewhere.
You can also simply do a Google search for guest posting opportunities in your selected niche. I would check out a few of the site’s articles to make sure that it’s somewhere you would be proud to be associated with.
You get to set the rules here.
It also largely depends on how often you post.
Experiment and find what works for you!
The benefits of guest posts are endless, but here are some of my favorites:
I have connected with so many interesting and insightful women through guest posting. It’s allowed me to “meet” people from different cultures and at so many different stages of life.
Unless this is your full time job, you probably have other things you need to be doing during the day.
I know I have many days where I don’t even open my laptop, let alone write. That’s where guest posting can be helpful. I can post those articles on the days or weeks where I know I won’t be able to put my own work up.
This helps me stay consistent with my posting schedule and keeps my readers engaged.
If you also have annual word count goals or a posting schedule, this can be really helpful.
Well written guest posts drive traffic, plain and simple.
Think of it like gaining a temporary second audience. Your post will (hopefully) be shared on different social media accounts or reposted to the guest posters blog. This will lead to an increased amount of eyes on your posts- and some of those readers might stick around for more.
Guest posting is an excellent way to support other long form content creators. Both sites get extra sets of eyes on their posts and it’s always good to give a little love to other bloggers!
It’s true! You might learn a new skill, recipe, or way of thinking. This is one of my favorite reasons to feature guest posts.
This is why guest posting is so great – you can get an expert to write on a topic that you do not fully understand or have the desire to research.
How to Be a More Self-Confident Mother and Enhance Your Life
Do you currently accept guest posts? Have you ever guest posted on another site?
Would you be interested in guest posting on Leaf and Steel?
Let me know below!
O.
I haven’t posted consistently in quite a long time.
I have the time.
I have the tools.
I have the ideas.
And I have writer’s block.
When I’m on a roll with creating posts here, working on my WIP, or journaling, I can’t even remember what it feels like to have writer’s block.
These days, it is hard to imagine a time when I was pumping out a blog post every day, or writing 1000+ words on my WIP before I went to bed. I know I’ll get back to that place eventually!.
For right now, I need to use some of my old tricks to keep things moving in my writing life.
Writing has always been an outlet for me. Taking time each day to write makes me happy. Plain and simple. That makes me a better mom, wife, friend and member of society. Waking up early or staying up late to prioritize that half hour/hours to write is very important to me.
It all started a few weeks ago, when everyone in my house got sick. I was (obviously) prioritizing sleep to recover, grabbing an extra twenty minutes of shut eye anywhere I could. I stopped writing every day.
Another big change was we decided to make a major change in our life (soon to be revealed), so I have spent many of my daughter’s nap times researching that.
I miss writing! I miss the flow of it. I can’t wait to use some of these tricks to get back into the swing of things.
Here are the ways I try to get over writer’s block!
Pinterest is my favorite place to go for inspiration! It’s a great place to find ideas for blog posts and writing topics. I have several boards that I used to save inspiration for my personal life, too.
You can find me on Pinterest here.
Setting a clear goal can be extremely helpful if you set your own schedule and deadlines. I use Google Calendar to set my writing goals for the month. This helps keep on a posting schedule and gets all of my ideas out of my head and into a condensed, easy-to-access space.
When you’re struggling with a goal as broad as “work on my novel” or “write a blog post”, it can be beneficial to break that down even further. It’s much more conducive to set small goals like “write 500 words” or “write just one page”. Another great way to do this is writing sprints…
A writing sprint is when you set a timer and just pound the keyboard for a set amount of time. 15 minute writing sprints work best for me. There is no editing, no wasting time trying to find the perfect word, no distractions – just writing!
Sometimes you just need to change the scenery! Going to the local library or coffee shop can inspire a newfound level of productivity. There’s something about being in a semi-public space that keeps me focused. I guess I don’t want someone to look over at my screen and think “that lady came to the library just to scroll on Zillow”.
I always write on my computer. Actually, I always write in a Google Drive document, Comic Sans font, size 11 pt.
Writing on paper, using talk-to-text in my Notes app, or recording myself gets the creative juices flowing. There’s something magical that happens when I walk around my kitchen, talking into my talk-to-text app. I can speak much faster than I can type, right?
It allows me to be more fluid with my ideas, and I’m temporarily relieved of the burden of typos and formatting.
Those are the ways I can ease writer’s block!
Do you get writer’s block? Do any of these tips work for you?
Let me know below!
O.
2021 – you were so good to me! I learned so many blogging lessons this year and I’m here to report that the following 5 things are my biggest takeaways.
The more work I do here, the more my blog grows. There’s nothing more satisfying than working hard and having it pay off – literally and figuratively!
I’ve been blogging here since 2017. The difference between 2017 and 2021 was that I wrote 96 posts in 2021. I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote and it paid off!
I finally started seeing my first payouts and worked with some amazing, wholesome brands.
And so it must be practiced consistently!
Last year, I sat down every day and wrote. Whether it was a blog post, a long-term project I’m working on, or just plain personal journaling, I wrote.
I created a habit.
I saw dramatic changes in my speed of writing.
I don’t just mean my typing ability, something that has improved considerably.
The way that my brain connects thoughts and transfers them to the page has quickened.
I took most of December off, so even now, in January, I feel a little “rusty” writing this post. Even if I don’t publish every single day, carving out some time to write has been extremely beneficial for my blog as well as my mental state.
Writing has always been an outlet for me, so putting my thoughts down on (virtual) paper always eases my mind.
If you have any type of blogging schedule or deadlines to hit, scheduled posts are your friend. Having a few posts in my queue that could be posted anytime was a game changer as a busy mom.
I had a goal of hitting “post” every day of the week in October – a goal I happily met!
As much as I wanted to maintain my habit of writing every single day, pumping out a neatly finished blog post with all the fixings wasn’t feasible.
I had to plan ahead. Something I am not known for.
I took some blocks of time here and there to work on evergreen pieces that I could publish on the days when I really needed to be present for my kid or sleep when she was sleeping.
Scheduled posts helped me reach my blogging goals in 2021, which brings me to my next point…
Setting goals will help you reach your goals.
It sounds idiotically stupid. Because it is.
Setting goals will help you reach your goals.
The caveat is setting attainable goals. Jotting down “write a novel” on your to-do list isn’t helpful. “Write 1,000 words” is.
Bite sized objectives that can be completed in a reasonable (I’ll let you interpret that as you will) amount of time will increase your confidence that you can attain your goals.
I keep a long and short list of goals in the notes section of my phone so they are easy to find.
This one seems obvious, but I found it difficult in 2021 to practice this one.
First off, there’s the big distractions. I waited until my daughter was asleep (parents who get work done while their kids are awake, I praise you). I put my phone on silent. Closed all other tabs.
Then, there are mid-level distractions, like stopping to change a song or check the time. I found long YouTube compilations of classical music and the like so I didn’t have to stop. Setting a timer eliminated the need to constantly check the time.
Lastly, there are pesky little time thieves that are sneaky because they feel productive. My biggest one is the thesaurus. I noticed that I was disrupting my “flow” of writing by needing to find the perfect word. I would simply write a word in ALL CAPS if I didn’t feel like it was the right fit, that way I could clearly tell that it needed to be replaced once I was editing. This made me a faster writer, instantly.
My other tip is to write in Comic Sans in Google Drive document. I saw this online. I don’t know who thought of this, but it works. It takes the pressure out of it, and I’ve discovered that the Google doc interface is much faster than the WordPress editor – just my two cents!
I wish someone told me this sooner!
There are plenty of brands out there who are looking to work with smaller bloggers.
I had read time and time again that if you’re producing quality content, the brands will just come to you. And maybe that is true.
But, there are a lot of blogs out there. And then there’s Instagram. And TikTok. And YouTube. I felt there was so much competition.
Then, I read about an abundance mindset, something I heard mentioned by Amber Fillerup Clark (check out my post on 10 Mom Influencers to Follow for Inspiration)
There are so many creators and there are SO MANY opportunities out there! More than enough to go around. With the change from a competitive attitude to an abundance mindset, I had a newfound confidence around working with companies.
I reached out to some of my favorite brands, or ones that I hoped to work with. Some said no, some didn’t answer, and some said yes. We were able to work together on content and I felt good about promoting products that I actually used and would recommend anyways.
If you’re small, reach out!
What blogging lessons did you learn in 2021? Do any on this list resonate with you?
Let me know below!
O.
Last year I wrote a post called “If Not Now, When?”. It’s about how the years have passed on and I haven’t changed. It’s about how I wanted to do more with this blog and the only thing standing in my way was me.
Well, I wrote 96 posts this year. I had brand deals. I made some affiliate and ad income. I feel really proud about where I’ve taken this blog. The only difference between this year and the last was that I sat down and wrote.
I feel good about 2021 as a whole. I’m proud of myself. I feel like I did more than just get through it. If you just got through it, that’s more than enough.
I’m 27 and I have a new lease on life. Something inside me changed this year.
I’ve been thinking about big bangs.
I watched a family member go through a breakup and move across the country. A big bang.
I watched my friend lose her brother, and leave her job to pursue her art. A big bang.
I was always waiting for these little things to change the fiber of who I was. I thought if I drank more water or had more money or exercised more I would become who I wanted to be.
I was always waiting on more.
I just needed my own big bang.
I was monkey-barring my way through life. I had settled into this mindset that certain things I wanted were out of reach.
And then I had my daughter. My big bang.
She made me feel good enough. She made me feel worthy of all things good. I never want her to feel limited. That’s how I’ve felt as an adult, limited.
I’m going into 2022 with infinite opportunity. I hope you do the same.
Humbly,
O.
