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30 Fall-Themed Lifestyle Blog Ideas

September 22, 2022

Today 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.

Why do content creators produce more content at the end of the year?

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!

5 Blogging Lessons I Learned in 2021

Fall Writing Challenge Tips

Before we get to the list of 30 fall-themed lifestyle blog ideas, let’s look at some tips for creating fall content.

Get outside of the house and get inspired.

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.

Go through your current daily routine.

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.

Revamp your own favorite blog posts.

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.

Try a new blogging challenge like #Blogtober.

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.

Fall Graphic Printed Tops for Cozy Autumn Days

Below is the list of the autumn blog post ideas!

Your essential fall playlist
Describe your favorite Thanksgiving memory
Your favorite fall baking recipe list
Fall reading list
Best places to see the leaves changing
Best pumpkin patches near you
Fall bucket list
Your sweetest fall memory
Autumn movie list
Halloween costume ideas
Fall fashion finds (see my favorite sweaters here)
Autumn soup recipes
Favorite fall decor (I’m loving velvet pumpkins)
Fall photo dump with stories
Ways to use different fall produce (apples, pumpkins, etc.)
Favorite fall drinks (sweet fall mugs here)
How to plant and take care of mums
TV series to start this fall (HBO, Netflix, Hulu, etc.)
Plan a fall date night
How to roast pumpkin seeds
Fall photo challenge
Describe the process of helping at a food bank or donating school supplies
Unique s’more recipes
Pumpkin carving how-to
Rank cafe’s pumpkin spice lattes
The best fall nature hikes
Rank the best fall scented candles
Describe your ideal fall day
Fall bonfire party planning checklist
Take family Christmas card pictures

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!

More from Leaf and Steel:

If you are interested in guest posting on Leaf and Steel, please check out our Guest Post page for guidelines!

March in Review

April 5, 2022

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!

More from Leaf and Steel:

5 Blogging Lessons I Learned in 2021

January 4, 2022

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!

More from Leaf and Steel:

Why You Should Try Blogtober

November 18, 2021

It might be November, but I wanted to share my experience with this years Blogtober tag!

What is Blogtober?

Blogtober is an online “event” where bloggers publish a post on their blog every single day in October.

Why I Tried Blogtober

I didn’t set out to participate in Blogtober21, it just sort of happened. As someone who reads a lot of blogs, I started to see the tag everywhere! Seeing such high volume of posts under #Blogtober21 and my love of a good portmanteau got me curious.

What I Did

Okay, so I didn’t post every day in October. I published 29 posts, which was just 1 short of my 30 posts goal for that month. You can blame my child’s 12 month sleep regression for that, ha!

I did sit down to write just about every week day. Like so many writers, I tend to focus on selecting images, contacting sponsors, analyzing stats, and doing just about everything I can besides publishing content. Getting in that daily habit of writing has changed the way I look at producing content.

What I Learned

Having a daily schedule of writing during my baby’s first nap and hitting publish (just about) every day made writing easier. I have my systems in place now. It’s just gotten easier. It used to take me days to research, write, format and edit an article. Now, I have streamlined that system down to a few hours at most.

It’s also showed me that “writing what you know” is some of the most accurate advice out there. Because I’m writing about things I’m genuinely either interested in, actively researching, or truly love, the writing is just a natural part of that.

I was consistent with my writing and pinning on Pinterest. I essentially doubled my traffic. I started to see more and more results from Google, Yahoo and Bing. I even was able to pick up a few partnerships and got to engage with so many of my readers.

More traffic led to more Amazon Affiliate sales and more ad revenue.

I was super pleased to see my hard work paying off.

Posting every week day, working with sponsors, and making a measly income did something incredible. It finally made me feel like a blogger. I can fall into some major bouts of imposter syndrome in most areas of my life. This month I really felt like I was reaping the emotional benefits of putting in the foot work.

Why YOU Should Try Blogtober22

Put me down in the calendar for Blogtober22!

I will definitely be doing Blogtober22. Just based on how it raised my stats alone, I’m in. But, I also was so impressed by the discipline and passion it takes to complete a challenge like this.

Next year, I plan on publishing 31 posts in October, to get the full effect.

You should try Blogtober because it can grow your audience, inspire diligence, and can help you get out of that writing rut!

Did you participate in #Blogtober? If you did, what did you learn? Would you do it again? Let me know below!

References:

Tea & Cake for the Soul, “What is Blogtober? What to Expect and How to Take Part”

PinArtwork, Blogtober 2021 Grow your Blog’s traffic with a Blogtober Challenge

More from Leaf and Steel:

Is November too Early to Decorate for Christmas?

November 8, 2021

Is November too early to decorate for Christmas?

It’s a very contentious debate in this house.

Traditionally, I would wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas. In my mind, that’s the official start to the holiday season.

But, if you’re out in the world, you know that Christmas now starts in October, at least for retailers. The Christmas Creep has been pushed farther than ever this year. I know I noticed holiday decor in stores as early as September.

It’s crazy that it’s early November and I feel late to the party! Christmas is undoubtedly my favorite holiday and favorite time of year. I love how strangers can become cheery and kind. I love the music. I love the lights and decorations. I love the focus on gratitude and family and being together.

Is it too early to decorate for Christmas?

This is a very personal question.

Here are some things to think about when asking yourself whether or not it’s time to bust out the lights and snowglobes.

Let’s Talk Christmas Season Layers

There are many layers to the Christmas season. Maybe you prefer to do it all at once, making a day of it. Or, maybe you like to slowly integrate in your decor and music.

Let’s dive into the layers of Christmas below.

Layer I: Christmas Music

This one is pretty innocuous. Personally, I believe that Christmas music doesn’t have to be reserved for the season.

Silent Night? A great lullaby. Winter Wonderland? Works in February too.

I love listening to Christmas mixes on YouTube to get in the holiday mood.

Layer II: Light Indoor Christmas Decor

The next layer is to me, a true signal that we’re getting started. Maybe it starts with a little reindeer, maybe some mistletoe? We’re just flirting with Christmas here – we’re not taking Christmas out to dinner yet.

Layer III: Deep Indoor Christmas Decor

Here we go, now it’s really begun. This is what I would usually wait until Black Friday to start, but heck it I’m going to start in November. Deep indoor decor would be pulling out the big box from the attic that’s labeled XMAS and going ham.

I’m talking garlands.

I’m talking needlepoint North Pole pillows.

I’m talking fir tree scented candles.

I’m talking obscure santa memorabilia.

At this stage, you’ve gone full Christmas, baby!

Layer IV: Outdoor Decor

This is to show the neighbors that you’re not messing around and waiting until December. This is when you get out the gloves, the boots, the lights, and you find a tall person. Anyone tall will work.

You hang those lights and you show that neighborhood that you are ready for Christmas and you’re not messing around.

Layer V: Live Christmas Tree

If you have a fake tree, please fight me in the comments. Live trees are superior. I don’t care if it’s 4 feet tall. Get a real tree. Forget to water it. Spend a good portion of December trying to figure out if it’s going to hold out until Christmas. Find pine needles in places you didn’t know pine needles could go for years to come.

If you have your tree up, Christmas is a comin’. There’s nothing better than a lit Christmas tree with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on in the background.

Layer VI : Presents Under the Tree

This is the last and final layer. Putting presents under the tree is the ultimate sign that Christmas is near. If you have kids or a pets, this might be a no-no until Christmas Eve.

When I was growing up, “Santa” put all the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve night. We would leave out cookies, milk, and carrots for the reindeer. The living room doors closed and the house would fill with a quiet excitement. We could hardly fall asleep.

My siblings and I would wait at the top of the stairs together and then rush into the living room all at once while our parents watched.

It was always inexplicably magical.

There are very few things in my life that compare to the excitement and enchantment of Christmas morning.

Now, I have a kid, so I’m more than excited to share that magic with her.

Do you do layers? Or go all at once? There’s no right way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Where do you stand on this? Is November too early to decorate for Christmas? Let me know below!

More from Leaf and Steel:

I Started a Sister Blog

October 11, 2021

I started a sister blog at gratefulgrowingmama.com!

I love blogging here at Leaf & Steel.

I really do.

There have been two changes in my blogging life in the past year, one being the birth of my daughter. I know that my content has shifted further into the motherhood niche.

The other big change is I’ve started to treat this blog like a business! And I’m actually starting to make money.

So, I wanted a space that would focus on motherhood and making money as a stay-at-home-mom.

This will always be my first home!

Please follow along if you would like.

Best,

Pinterest Strategy to Drive Traffic in 2021

June 1, 2021

Did you know that Pinterest can still be one of the biggest traffic sources in 2021?

Finding a Pinterest strategy in 2021 that works can be tricky.

If you lookup “Pinterest strategy” you’re bound to find the following suggestions:

Join group boards
Post infographics
“Use this color, not that color”

The list goes on. These aren’t bad ideas, and they still work. But, social media is ever changing. And while Pinterest might not feel as “social” as Instagram or Twitter, its algorithm also goes through major shifts.

And so, the advice has CHANGED.

In 2021, Pinterest can still be a driving source of traffic for your blog.

Why should you still use Pinterest in 2021?

It’s free.
It’s very user friendly.
You don’t need fresh content to post.
You can link to as many sources as you want (your blog, Instagram, or shop).

Pinterest provides evergreen traffic, so you can see results even YEARS after posting. I get thousands of monthly impressions off a pin from 2018.

Shop Family Organizers at Calendars.com Today!

Which numbers matter on Pinterest?

First, let’s go over what all these terms mean:

Impressions: the number of times your Pins or ads were on screen.

Outbound Clicks: the number of times someone clicked on your pin and was brought to it’s destination (presumably your blog or social media).

Saves: the number of times your pins were saved to a board.

Followers: how many accounts follow you (duh).

Impressions, saves and followers are great.

The secret to Pinterest is NOT followers or saves. It’s outbound clicks.

More outbound clicks = more traffic.

More outbound clicks = higher ranking on Pinterest.

More organic traffic = higher ranking on Google = gold!

How to use Pinterest in 2021 to grow your blog traffic:

Repin old content. You don’t need a new blog post to make new pins! You can create new pins for old or updated articles.
Consistency. As with most social media sites, you now need to post just about every day to see consistent results. Tailwind can help you schedule pins.
Idea pins. This is the most important key to growth in 2021. Think of them like Instagram stories. They’re pins in a multi-page format. They are stickied to the top of your Pinterest profile. Launched in May 2021, they’re just something you have to do to keep impressions up.

About the Algorithm

If you follow any content creators or influencers on Instagram, you may have heard them mention if they’re not on “stories” every day, their posts don’t get shown to as many people.

I know that my numbers were slashed in the past year.

This is becoming true for Pinterest as well. Idea pins are the way to go as far as boosting traffic and getting those clicks. They’re controversial because they aren’t able to be linked to your content. The hope is that someone views it and goes to your profile, and then clicks through to your site.

As annoying as this detail is, the algorithm loves idea pins.

Re-pinning old posts, being consistent and creating idea pins is what has gotten my numbers back in the green!