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Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

February in Review

March 2, 2022

Can you believe that February is over? I know, I know, it’s the shortest month, of course it went by fast. Maybe it’s the whole getting older thing, but time really does seem to be flying by.

We have almost made it to spring! I can’t wait until the birds start chirping and I can bring Baby M out onto the lawn to explore. We’ve had a few 60 degree days here, so I feel like I missed out on winter. I love the promise of March. It’s never quite “spring”, but we do get a few teases here and there.

So long, February.

Here’s a wrap up of my month.

The Not-Great:

  • I fell off of the early morning train. Oh, how I’m looking for the willingness to be willing to wake up at 5:30am again. I miss my quiet mornings!
  • I didn’t write as much as I wanted to. I would love to say that this is a direct result of missing my early morning writing window, but the truth is that I have numerous pockets of free time during the day. Writing consistently was a habit. Like most habits, once I stopped for a week it was difficult to get back into it. Restarting now!

The Good:

  • I’m continuing my Instagram break. It really does feel pointless once you step away. I check now and again, but I’m not interested in posting anything or seeing what’s going on in the lives of peers I haven’t spoken to in 10 years. Pass.
  • I read a book. I stuck with my girl Liane Moriarty and read The Husband’s Secret. Highly recommend if you like mysteries stuck in suburbia.
  • I lost weight. I started using My Fitness Pal and was in shock to see how many calories I needed (like, double the amount my body needs, triple on the weekends). By simply making better choices, my pre-pregnancy pants began to fit!
  • I went into puppy prep mode. I feel like I’m having a baby! All month I’ve been getting ready for our little guy’s arrival. We have the huge crate, the harness, the Chuck It, etc. Knowing that we’re pretty much going to have another toddler running around here has given me motivation to wrap up some home projects that I may have started when I was pregnant (like, 2 years ago…).

March Hopes

  • Survival mode. Freezer meals, takeout, paper plates, babysitters, and Netflix. That’s my March plan. House training a puppy is pretty close to breastfeeding. Let me tell you, I am not looking forward to dragging myself out of bed every 3 hours to wander into the depths of my dark backyard with a puppy. At least with the baby, I never had to leave my warm room or put on pants…
  • Turn the lights off. I want to get into the habit of turning out the light when I leave a room. I also want to be more conscious of how many lights I keep on when I leave the house.

How was your February?

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

What are your hopes for March?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • 5 Blogging Lessons I Learned in 2021
  • How I Get Over Writer’s Block
  • 27 Lessons in 27 Years
  • January in Review

Filed in: Personal, Uncategorized • by Olivia • 1 Comment

January in Review

February 4, 2022

What a month! January flew by. I wish I knew how to slow down time. There’s so much I want to do and so much I want to be. And so much that gets in the way.

Here’s a little wrap of the month!

The Not-Great:

  • I did NOT prioritize self-care. And it bit me in the you-know-what. By January 30th I realized that I had left my daughter a whopping 4 times that month, one of those times was just to run down the road to pick up takeout. I began to feel all the effects of burnout: I was tired but couldn’t sleep, irritability, weepiness, forgetfulness…you know the deal. Taking time away from my daughter the first week of February has renewed my spiritual peace and refreshed my patience level.
  • We all got sick. After 7 tests between the 3 of us, we apparently did not have the ‘vid. We all got some nasty virus and it took 3 months to move through the house.

The Good:

  • I took an Instagram break. I stayed off Instagram for the month of January and oh my goodness it was so hard at first, it was mind-boggling. I had no idea I was so (dare I say it) addicted to the app. After a few days I stopped reaching for my phone to check it or post a picture of my daughter. I saved hours of my time in January by not having Instagram. Now, I can only access it on my computer, and I’m considering staying off for the rest of the year.
  • I read two books. I don’t read, so this was a big deal for me. I read Nine Perfect Strangers and What Alice forgot, both by Liane Moriarty. Not exactly thought provoking stuff, but I will say that Moriarty knows how to keep the story going. I found myself staying up way past my bedtime to read.
  • We are getting a puppy! That’s the big news! We are getting a Vizsla puppy in March and I am so nervous and excited! I know it’s insane to have a toddler and a baby, so please start praying for me now.

February Hopes

  • Make time for reselling. I have a big pile of items I need to list on eBay!
  • Prioritize my health. This month, I want to stay consistent in healthy routines, including drinking more water, sticking with my yoga, and starting up intermittent fasting again.
  • Be present for my daughter. I need to put my phone away!

How was your January?

What are you goals for February?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:

Filed in: Personal • by Olivia • 1 Comment

The Best Winter Doormats

December 1, 2021

I always feel a bit sad putting away my Christmas decorations. I never know what to put in their place! I have fall decor, Halloween decor, Thanksgiving decor, Christmas decor – but nothing for winter!

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.

One area I love to focus on is my front stoop. I have a wreath for each season as well as a doormat for the holidays and seasons. I’ve rounded up some cool doormats for winter that aren’t Christmas or holiday themed!

Here, I’ve collected the best doormats for winter!

1’6″x2’6″ Come In and Cozy Up Doormat Black – Threshold

Briarwood Lane Winter Snowmen Coir Doormat Welcome Natural Fiber Outdoor 18″x30″

1’6″x2’6″ Snowflakes Holiday Layering Doormat Red – Wondershop

DII Natural Coir Doormat, Checkers Mat, Checkers Welcome, 18X30″

Ninamar Door Mat Winter Snowflakes Natural Coir – 29.5 x 17.5 inch

1’4″x2’4″ Trees Holiday Doormat – Wondershop

Calloway Mills 121041729R Holiday Snowman Doormat

DII Indoor/Outdoor Natural Coir Holiday Season Doormat, 18×30, Snowplace Like Home

Briarwood Lane Cardinal Winter Coir Doormat Natural Fiber Welcome Bird 18″ x 30″

1’6″x2’6″ Hello Winter Holiday Layering Doormat – Wondershop


Do you use a doormat? Do you have seasonal doormats?

Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:
  • Simple Autumn Pumpkin Pancakes
  • Sunday Night Routine for a Successful Week
  • 10 Cozy Christmas Decor Items Under $10
  • Cloth Diapering with Charlie Banana

Filed in: Home, Living • by Olivia • 1 Comment

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