self care Archives - Leaf and Steel

Gift Guide for the Tired Mama in Your Life

April 27, 2022

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! I’ve gathered some of the most sought-after and special gifts to celebrate. These would also make excellent baby shower gifts, as well as amazing sip-and-see gifts! Hey, they’d even be easy new-mom presents.

If you’re a mom or have spent more than four minutes around a mom then you know that we are perpetually tired. Always. It does not matter if the baby slept through the night or not. it doesn’t matter how much sleep we get. There’s just something about mothering that is infallibly exhausting.

I didn’t realize what a currency sleep was until I had a child. There’s an endless list of things I would trade for a solid 8 hours of sleep. Sleep is everything.

These days, my little one is usually sleeping through the night. But, I still have to deal with my own revenge bedtime procrastination, the mental load, and my own hobbies and needs.

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission, at no cost to you.

I’ve gathered a few of the best Mother’s Day gifts for the tired mom in your life!

10 Quotes about Motherhood

Ice Roller Face Massager

This one is my personal favorite. It felt so good on my face after being up all night with my baby. It’s never too cold and the large size makes it quick and easy to glide across the entire face as often as you need. – $17.99 from Walmart

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Ultra Lite Long Robe

Ah yes, the obligatory Mother’s Day robe suggestion. There’s a reason you’ll always see robes on Mother’s Day gift guides: they’re practical, they’re comfortable, and they always fit.

This one from Barefoot Dreams is incredibly soft, lightweight, and machine washable. – $148 from Nordstrom

Vegan 24K Gold Eye Patches

A great way to restore tired eyes! These patches improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Store them in the fridge for extra relief. They can be used before bed or in the morning. Pair with the ice roller above for a refreshed and relaxed face. – $29.38 on Walmart

Stanley 24 oz Insulated Mug (in the color Blush)

This Stanley insulated mug has a cult following for a reason! “The double-wall insulation keeps your favorite beverage cold for up to 12 hours or iced for up to 40 hours. Unlike normal mugs, this is manufactured using 18/8 stainless steel, meaning it can take a beating.” The bottle is BPA free and has a wide mouth. – $19.82 from Walmart

CozyChic Throw Blanket from Barefoot Dreams

This ultra soft Barefoot Dreams blanket is nothing but dreamy. It’ll be easy for the tired mama in your life to sleep when the baby sleeps with this darling blanket. We share everything with our kids – a luxurious, mama-only blanket is a special treat for a tired mom. 54″x72″ and machine washable. – $147 from Nordstrom

Aromascape Asleep (Lavender & Eucalyptus) 3 Wick Scented Candle

A wonderful way to relax on Mother’s Day is with calming scents and warm light. This 3 wick lavender and eucalyptus candle is sure to help everyone wind down at the end of a long day. Pair with the pajamas below for the start of a relaxing bedtime routine. – $11.99 from Walmart

Essenza Mini Pure White Bundle from Nespresso

The most compact and affordable luxury espresso maker yet! This small Nespresso machine fits onto any counter and is sure to delight any coffee lover. Pair with a mom themed mug and premium coffee! – $219 from Nespresso

SKIMS Rib Pajamas (shown in Heather Gray)

Every mom needs a set of remarkably comfortable pajamas. SKIMS pajamas are high-rise with the perfect amount of stretch. I love the button down front and simple silhouette. They have so many fun colors to chose from! – $118 from Nordstrom

HATCH Rest Mini Sound Machine

Now, hear me out: I know sound machines are usually for the baby – but did you know they can help adults too? This Mother’s Day, let mom sleep in without the chaos on the other side of her bedroom door sounding through…It comes with eight different sounds: white noise, heartbeat, water, dryer, ocean, wind, rain, and birds. Control it all from your iPhone or Android. You can control the timer, dimer, sounds, volume, etc. – $40 from Saks Fifth Avenue

Are you celebrated on Mother’s Day?

Are you a tired mom who would love to receive something on this list?

Let me know below!

Guest Post: Keeping the Focus on You

April 25, 2022

Today’s post is a Guest Post by Ashley Lopez of Ashley Spills! Be sure to check her out on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook later!

Hello Leaf and Steel readers! My name is Ashley and my blog is Ashley Spills. I am 27 years old and I am from San Diego, California. I connected with Olivia on WordPress and have been following her blog for a few months now. Though I am not a mother, I find myself attracted to her posts about motherhood because I hope to be one soon(ish).

In my blog, I write about all things self. So, self-awareness, self-love, self-care, self-improvement, self-discipline, and more. I write reflective pieces that at times may seem random, but all of them lead to a deeper connection to self and introspection—something we should all strive for. While I’m unpacking the essentials of me and my life by writing thoughtful think pieces, I encourage my audience to do the same.

I used to float through life unaware and the journey was daunting. Over the past two years, I have come to realize and understand so many things about myself. At times, we live life without taking a second to sit back and reflect on our day because we are so busy. As we get older, we feel as if time is going by so much faster than it was when we were younger. That is not the case. As adults, our lives tend to be a bit more repetitive, so it feels like we are checking things off of a list all the time. Work, check. Dinner, check. Clean, check. Wash my face, check.

Where is the fun in all of that? Well, that’s what I’m on a mission to find. A way to make life feel fulfilled while understanding the small corks that make me me.

Some of my beliefs

I believe reflecting on your day, week, month, and year is a great way to slow down to see what you can improve on and recognize what is working for you. For example, noticing things that give you a positive attitude and make you feel empowered (exercise, self-care activities, reading, hobbies, etc.) are things you should aim to do at least 15 minutes a day.

I also think it’s possible to reach self-discovery by spending time alone; Expressing yourself through art; Finding your triggers that lead to negative behavior; And appreciating what makes you mad, happy, sad, excited, or scared. Acknowledging, doing, and understanding all these things will lead to self-awareness.

Why I think self-awareness is important for motherhood

As mentioned previously, I am not a mother, but I do hope to be one. I long for the feeling of pregnancy, giving birth, and parenting. I want to feel a love that’s so pure, it can’t be broken—or explained. My journey toward self-awareness hasn’t been easy, but I am proud to say I know (mostly) what I like, what I don’t like, what triggers me, and more and the why behind it. I know that motherhood is going to be a whole new world. Everything that comes with it is going to be bizarre and probably weird at first. I also probably won’t know anything about myself at all when I become a mother and I’ll have to start this ride to self-awareness all over again.

Everything I am learning now will most likely be thrown out the window, but that’s okay. I am hoping that I will still have pieces of me and some mental clarity in my life. When I am a mother, I want to know how to take care of myself, mentally and physically, so I can transfer some of my energy to the little human I will be molding.

The more you know about yourself

The more you get to know yourself, the better you’ll be able to handle your reactions, accept what is, and move forward. If you’re interested in unraveling your thoughts and better understanding yourself, check out my blog and we’ll face our truest-selves together. The journey to self-awareness is one you don’t want to miss because every day gives you a chance to learn more about yourself. I promise: You are worth it.

Thanks for reading, xo.

Below are links to my blog, my Facebook page, my Instagram, and my Pinterest:

Ashley Spills Blog

Ashley Spills Facebook

Ashley Spills Instagram

Ashley Spills Pinterest

Thank you Ashley!

If you would like to guest post on Leaf and Steel, head to our Guest Post page!

What did you think of this post?

How do you keep the focus on yourself?

Let us know below!

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!