Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

Moms in May

Today’s post is a guest post by Sheenia Denae. Find her on Instagram or on her website!

We are always accepting guest posts on Leaf and Steel. You can find more information on submitting your post here.

The birds are chirping, the flowers are budding, and the wind is blowing at just the right speed! As nature prepares itself for summer, I think of all the fun things that are underway. Family vacations, backyard barbecues, and picnic lunches are just around the corner!

But there’s something else I love about May. Something that makes me look forward to this month more than all the others. This is the time of year when we’re celebrated for being moms!

I look forward to that special day where I’m pampered with gifts, showered with balloons, and recognized for my hard work and efforts toward raising my little munchkin! But as sweet as it is to be celebrated by others, I mostly look forward to the opportunities to celebrate myself.

As moms, we know that every day is Mother’s Day! That is why prioritizing our self-care is essential.

In this article, we will highlight a few ways for us to sneak in a little fun and add a little spice to our lives throughout the month of May!

Take a Class

The beautiful weather and pleasant temperatures this month brings makes it a perfect time for taking indoor or outdoor classes that spark our interest.

If you enjoy painting, cooking, or arranging flowers in your spare time, taking a class could be a great way to perfect your craft in either of those areas.

If you want to explore something totally new, on the other hand, such as music, dancing, or flying… taking a class could be a great way to change things up in your life.

Here’s a short list of just a few perks you can gain by taking a class:

  • Mental relaxation
  • Fun and enjoyment
  • Learning a new skill
  • Connecting with other great people

I’m not sure about you, but I was SOLD at “mental relaxation.” So think about it!  If anything piques your interest that you haven’t had the chance to explore… now is the time!

Whatever direction you decide to take, taking a class would be a great way to carve out some quality time for yourself!

Dress to Impress

There’s an old saying that goes, “When we look good, we feel good.”

When was the last time you dressed up and felt good about yourself?  I mean really good!

As moms, we tend to get so busy prioritizing everyone else’s needs that we neglect ourselves at times… especially when it comes to our wardrobes.

May presents the perfect time for us to ditch the yoga pants and sweatshirts, and pull out those gorgeous sundresses that we haven’t worn in a while.

Dressing up has been proven to increase energy and confidence, encourage creative thinking, and foster self-expression… which all sounds like self-care to me!

So for the month of May, try giving your sweatpants and t-shirts a break. They deserve it!

Explore the Great Outdoors

We can’t celebrate Moms in May without honoring the mother of all mothers… Our beautiful Mother Nature is a sight to behold!

Since we spend so much of our time indoors (cooking, cleaning, and tending to household tasks), May is a great time for us to commit to more outdoor activities.

If you’ve been looking for new ways to keep your Vitamin D levels up, here’s a list of some fun activities you can enjoy.

  • Biking
  • Hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Bird watching
  • Outdoor photography

The way you connect with nature doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated. A simple morning walk can help clear your mind, increase your energy, and make you feel better throughout your day.

Take a minute to think about the ways you’d like to explore, and let the May adventures begin!

I’m a devoted wife, girl mom, and educator turned homemaker.  After teaching for over 11 years, I decided to care for my family full time.  I’m now a part time freelance writer, creating blog posts and articles for businesses and individuals in my spare time.  My hobbies include cooking, reading recipes, and hiking with my family.

Find me on Instagram @made_to_be_marvelous or check out my website at sheeniadenae.wixsite.com/iwrite/

Lets Connect!

Thank you Sheenia for guest posting!

What did you think of the post?

Let us know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:

March in Review

Goodbye March! You were insane.

March was a crazy month.

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

I got a Vizsla puppy! I feel like I have two toddlers. He is full of energy and curiosity.

5 Reasons We Chose a Vizsla as Our Family Dog

The Not-Great:

  • This puppy is killing me. We paid for a Vizsla and got a piranha. This dog BITES. He is constantly nipping. We redirect with toys, yelp loudly, do time outs- you name it, we’ve tried it. This wackadoo just wants human flesh. Also, there’s nothing like living on a 20 minute timer to make sure he doesn’t have an accident in the house. He’s lucky he’s so cute.
  • I usually feel better this time of year. This year, I don’t. And I think sleep is the answer! This is typically the time of year when I feel “lighter” and “happier”. I think the sleep deprivation from the puppy and baby is preventing this! Hoping to feel “spring-ier” soon!

The Good:

  • I started an Instagram. I know, I know, I was all about kicking Instagram earlier in the year. I still am, for my own personal account. I did start an official Leaf and Steel account that is just centered around this blog! I had been putting it off for awhile.
  • The dog is learning a few commands. Let me tell you, “leave it” is the most underrated command. “Sit” isn’t really that helpful. “Paw” is adorable. We are working so hard at training, and I think he’s starting to get the hang of it.
  • Calendar. I finally got a calendar for my fridge. Now, coordinating child care and dinner is so much simpler! My husband and I both know what nights we need to be out or keep free. I can’t believe I’ve managed to stay married for 3+ years without a shared calendar. It even has a little notes section so I can list things we need to talk about. Not bad for under $10!

April Hopes

  • Creative writing. I desperately want to set aside some time to do more creative writing. My goal is to participate in a Reedsy prompt competition this month. I have a lot of stories in my drafts that could use some attention!
  • Build up the blog. I mean, this has been my goal for the past 5-6 years, right? I have some posts planned that I’m pretty excited about. I hope I can get back to posting a few times a week!

How was your March?

Did you check anything big off your list? Learn anything new?

What are your hopes for April?

Let me know below!

O

More from Leaf and Steel:

5 Blogging Lessons I Learned in 2021

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!

What was different about 2021?

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. 

1. Writing is a habit

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.

2. …and scheduled posts are your friend

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…

3. Set goals

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.

4. Eliminate what slows you down (interface, distractions, thesaurus)

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!

5. If you’re small, you need to reach out

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.

More from Leaf and Steel:

2022’s Word of the Year

2022’s word of the year is…drumroll please….COURAGE!

You may have heard of the idea of choosing a word of the year instead of or in addition to a New Year’s resolution.

Each year, my friends and I select a word for the New Year. We share them with each other and then check in throughout the year to see how much progress we’ve made with it!

This year, I’m going with courage.

I have so much that I want to accomplish in 2022, and I can’t do it without f

I remember being a preschool teacher and being SO anxious to talk to this, ahem, intense parent about their child’s behavior.

Right before I had to meet with them, I was discussing my fears with my boss, terrified.

“Don’t be scared,” she told me, before doubling back.

“Or be scared, and do it anyway”.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s being scared and doing it anyway.

That’s the kind of energy that I want to bring into 2022.

Why choose a word?

Choosing a word of the year can be a less stressful alternative to a New Year’s resolution. Resolutions are easily broken or difficult to maintain for a full year.

Picking a word that you’d like to bring into the New Year offers infinite opportunities for practice and growth with that principle.

How do I pick a word?

There are plenty of lists out there online. Taking a few moments to meditate on what you are leaving behind in 2021 and what you want to cultivate in 2022 can be helpful. 

I noticed that in 2021 I was holding myself back in a lot of areas of my life because the logistics of getting what I wanted seemed too complicated or scary. Part of why I chose my word was because I felt myself turning away from opportunities because I wasn’t willing to practice courage.

I wanted to leave all the self-doubt and fear in 2021.

Ironically, the word courage scares me. That’s how I know it’s something I need.

How do I use my word of the year?

You practice it!

My word last year was discipline. I practiced discipline in my day to day life by exercising, writing consistently, and working hard to keep my house clean. 

It’s cool to sit back at the end of the year and see how that principle has altered your life.

There have been a few years where I can’t even remember what mine was by the time the next ball drops, and that’s okay.

I think the important thing about New Year’s resolutions and choosing words is really about acknowledging that we still have room to grow and we are capable of change.

Do you choose a word for the New Year?

If so, what’s your word?

What do you want to bring into 2022?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:

Reflecting and Moving On: Goodbye 2021

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.

Back to School Chaos? 5 Ways to Simplify Your Life

As the fall approaches and summer comes to a close, it’s clear that my life has lost all sense of routine! I thought I would list a few of my favorite things for beating the August laziness and getting back on track!

Autumn is my absolute favorite season. I want to be able to fully enjoy it with my baby this year, and not be caught up in the effects of my own scattered brain. For example, the past few weeks I’ve been going to the grocery store several times a week, instead of sitting down an meal planning so I only have to go once.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that I may make a small commission off of products that are purchased through these links, at no cost to you. You can read more about this process here.

I want to make sure my schedule is clear so I can do all the fall things.

Here are 5 things I use to help me reset and get on top of my life:

1. Freezer Bags

I know it sounds simple, right? I started getting into freezing when I was researching things to make postpartum life easier. I’m quickly became obsessed with the concept of taking one day to cook for a whole week (or two!). I make a huge batch of healthy turkey chili and freeze it once it cools. I have lunch for at least 7 days. Having my meals prepped like this gives me one less thing to think about during the day. I also will pre-chop vegetables that I commonly use, like carrots or onions. When I’m cooking dinner I can just throw in the bag and it saves time and makes it easier to cook on nights when I just don’t feel like it. 10/10 recommend freezing everything. Ziploc bags work best. I’ve found that store brands can be a bit more flimsy.

2. Slow Cooker

The best way to cook those meals for the freezer bag? A slow cooker. My crock pot is my best friend once the weather cools down. I love how the smell of bread, tomato sauce, stew, or whatever I’m cooking fills my home. There’s something so comforting about having a home cooked meal, and something so convenient about not having to actually cook it. This is the crock pot I’ve had for over 7 years, and it’s still working so well!

3. Online Coupons with Honey

The next item on the list isn’t exactly a thing – it’s virtual couponing! Using sites like Honey save you time by finding the best coupon code automatically. I love a good bargain and use to spend time searching online for a discount code. Honey makes life easier by doing this work for you – and it’s free!

4. Acrylic Organizers

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably wasted hours of your life just looking for things. I have a lot of trouble keeping things clean and putting things away when I’m done with them. I’m in the process of changing this, because it’s something I really don’t like about myself. When everything has a designated spot in my home I save so much time. When I’m done using an item, I know where it goes and where to find it. So does my husband. I’ve started collecting acrylic bins and they’ve helped me immensely. I can see what’s in them and they are easy to clean – win-win.

I have them in every area of my house. The place they have helped the most is in my snack drawers and fridge! I used this set.

5. Daily Planner

What routine/organization list would be complete without a daily planner? This daily planner is beautiful and has not only calendars but plenty of space to write down multiple events for each day. It comes with labels to help with the planning process. I’ve tried using apps on my phone, but pen and paper is my preferred way of staying organized.

So, this fall you won’t see me stressing out about managing my day-to-day responsibilities.

I will be contently walking through a pile of fallen leaves with my PSL and organized life in tact!

What do you need to help you get organize? Do you do a reset when the seasons change?

Let me know below.

O.