Welcome to Blogtober: A Month of Creativity, Inspiration, and Fun!

Happy October! 🍁 As the leaves turn vibrant shades of orange and the crisp autumn air fills our lungs, many of us begin to embrace the cozy vibes and the excitement that this season brings. But for bloggers, October has another exciting tradition—Blogtober! Whether you’re new to this or a seasoned pro, Blogtober is an amazing opportunity to connect with readers, boost creativity, and most importantly, have fun.

 What is Blogtober?

Simply put, Blogtober is a month-long blogging challenge where creators aim to post new content every single day throughout October. Yes, that’s 31 days of fresh blog posts! It’s an opportunity to push creative boundaries, plan content around autumnal themes, and engage with a vibrant blogging community that’s equally motivated to create.

The beauty of Blogtober is that it’s incredibly flexible. Whether you focus on a specific niche like planning, organization, lifestyle, or family, or you branch out into seasonal content, you can tailor this challenge to fit your unique voice and goals.

Why Participate in Blogtober? 

Boost Your Creativity: Posting every day might sound daunting, but it’s a great way to get your creative juices flowing. It encourages you to brainstorm new ideas and think outside the box.

Build a Blogging Habit: Consistency is key in blogging. Participating in Blogtober helps you build a daily writing habit, which can carry over into the months ahead.

Grow Your Audience: Posting daily gives readers more reasons to visit your blog and share your content. Plus, Blogtober is a community event, so it's a great opportunity to collaborate with other bloggers and gain new followers.

Seasonal Fun: Fall is filled with so much inspiration—from cozy home decor to Halloween fun, there’s no shortage of seasonal topics to explore.

How to Succeed at Blogtober

If the idea of posting every day sounds overwhelming, don’t worry! Here are a few tips to help you stay on track:

Plan Ahead: Take some time before October starts to brainstorm blog post ideas and create a content calendar. Having topics lined up will make the month go much smoother.

Batch Your Work: Write several posts in one sitting and schedule them out. This is especially helpful if you have busy days when writing daily just isn’t feasible.

Stay Authentic: While it’s tempting to churn out content for the sake of keeping up, remember that quality always beats quantity. Focus on creating posts that reflect your voice and offer value to your readers.

Join the Community: Blogtober is all about engagement! Comment on other bloggers' posts, join social media discussions, and build connections with others who are taking part in the challenge.

What to Expect from My Blog This Blogtober

This Blogtober, I’ll be sharing a mix of tips, ideas, and inspiration centered around planning, organizing, and embracing the season. From fun fall bucket lists to productivity hacks for staying on top of your goals, there’s something for everyone!

So grab your favorite pumpkin-spiced beverage, cozy up with a blanket, and get ready to dive into a month full of creativity, productivity, and fall vibes. Let’s make this Blogtober one to remember!

Happy Blogtober! 🍂

 

8 Things To Do Before 8Am

We're always talking about how it would be great to have just one more hour in the day. We wonder how the uber-successful people in our lives find time to fit it all in, how they get as much accomplished as they do, and why they always seem to be one step ahead of everyone else.

Their secret might be simpler than you think, and with a little shift in how you lay out your day, you might be able to take advantage of the benefits of a well-orchestrated, intentional morning. So, get ready to feel energized, motivated and totally on top of your game. Here are the top eight things you can do to set yourself up for success in the morning:

8 Things To Do Before 8AM

1. Move your body.

Before the many priorities of the day creep in, commit to moving your body. We're more likely to exercise—and commit to doing it regularly—if we fit it in before we're overwhelmed by to-do's. Even if it's just for 20 minutes, take advantage of this part of the day where there are fewer interruptions and kickstart your productivity with a big hit of endorphins.

 

2. Meditate.

No worries if your morning won't allow for sitting on a pillow and chanting for an hour. You can reap similar benefits with just a few minutes of quiet, mindful breathing. Focus on inhaling for four counts and exhaling for four counts as your mind settles and your body releases any panic about the day ahead. This isn't supposed to be an opportunity to solve problems; Rather, it's meant to reset the mind and create space for open thought and creativity later on.

 

3. Eat something and hydrate.

It seems simple, but eating and hydrating within the first hour of waking is a great way to set up your body and mind for success. A nourished, hydrated physical self will be less stressed, less tense and more focused throughout the day. Plus, you can avoid distracting hunger later on by pre-fueling. Aim to have at least three glasses of water before you leave the house, and power up with ample protein and fats to keep your cells running strong until lunch.

 

4. Stay positive, set goals, and speak intentions.

Starting the day on a positive note by checking in with goals you've set for yourself and giving yourself kudos for a job well done can set the tone for more successes and more goals realized. Set an intention for the day (“I intend to be focused”) and reflect on your goals (“Today I will eat well to nourish myself”) to keep your priorities in line. You can also jot down a few lines of gratitude. The more attention we pay to this, the more likely we are to continue to notice these moments all day long. This leads to more gratitude, more openness, and more satisfaction with the little things, which means less stress and feeling overwhelmed.

 

5. Strategize.

When we're clear on what we intend to accomplish in the day, and we craft a plan to realize it, we're more likely to make it happen. Using your morning hours to map out your day will help you stay on track and well prioritized. You can visualize or write these out, whichever works best for your mind. Consider your must-do's, where you need to be, how you'll get there, and who you plan to speak with that day. Factoring in things like travel time and anticipating challenges can also be helpful first thing. If you foresee them happening, you can preemptively develop a solution to work through them if they arise.

 

6. Tackle the tough task first.

While it can be tempting to procrastinate and tick off the 700 smaller tasks on your to-do list first, that larger more challenging one will loom over you all day (or all week). Email is often the biggest offender for tiny task takeover. Instead, scan your inbox quickly for anything urgent that could derail your day's trajectory, then close your inbox until you get to work. Focusing instead on the largest task at hand, and committing to getting it done early, will free up mental bandwidth and improve your mood.

 

7. Create a ritual.

Having something consistent and predictable to look forward to in the morning—a walk with the dog, a pot of tea and a gratitude journal, or a few minutes of stretching—is tremendously calming. Knowing you have something pleasurable to look forward to will get you out of bed and into an I've-got-this mindset early in the day. Particularly if this includes something creative, like coloring or music, you'll start your problem solving, artistic neurons firing first thing, priming them for easy use later on.

 

 8. Get up an hour earlier.

The biggest hindrance to a productive morning is the snooze button. Even more so, leaving yourself just enough to time to get the essentials done isn't conducive to spacious, calm time to yourself (and without that, fitting in any or all of the above will likely just cause you more stress). Plan ahead for when you intend to get out of bed, set an alarm and rise when that alarm goes off, even if that's an hour earlier than you would usually get out of bed. How, you ask? Go to bed earlier. The quality and quantity of sleep will also play heavily into the next day's success!

 

April 2024 Goals

Happy April everyone! March was a good month for us, with my oldest having a birthday and then spring break and we had another zoom birthday party for my oldest. We also had a fun and relaxing Easter, eating good food, watching movies, and having egg hunts.

 

Here's a recap of my March 2024 goals and what I accomplished last month:

 

March 2024 Goals

 

1. Read two books book (finish reading (If There Be Thorns and Seeds of Yesterday).

2. Drink 100oz of water daily.

3. Start using my habit tracker in my bullet journal every day.

4. Eat more fruits and veggies (I have been lagging on this and I really need to fix it).

5. Walk 6 days a week and strength train 3x per week.

6. Have at least two at home date nights with the Husband. 

7. Organize the girls' bedrooms (purge old toys and outgrown clothes).

 

8. Complete one bible study this month. 

9. Add more resources to my Teachers Pay Teachers store (have a total of 50 products by the end of the month).

 

April 2024 Goals

 

 

 

Here are the goals that I have set for myself this month (some are the same as last because I want to develop them into habits):

 

1. Read two books

2. Drink 120oz of water daily.

3. Complete one bible study this month.

4. Eat more fruits and veggie

5. Walk 6 days a week and strength train 3x per week.

6. Have at least two at home date nights with the Husband. 

7.Add more resources to my TPT store.

What are some of your April 2024 goals? 

 

 

 

4 Simple Ways to Clear Counters

We have all seen them, those neat and tidy kitchens without a stray spoon or spatula in sight. Here are 4 simple steps to clean counters that I swear by:

4 Simple Ways to Clear Counters

1. Completely clear your counters. Remove everything and place it on your kitchen or dining room table.

2. Wipe your counters with your favorite cleaner ( I use a solution of 1 cup vinegar to one cup water with a 5-6 drops of Dawn dish soap), or you can use a sponge with warm, soapy water.

3. Look at your appliances that you placed on the table-- is there anything that you don't use daily that can be put in a different place, or in a cabinet or pantry? Is there anything you can donate or give away? Before you move everything back, take stock of your counters for a few minutes. If you only use your toaster or blender once or twice a week and if you have limited counter space (like I do) maybe it would be better stored someplace else. A little space on the counter is a good things, there is no need to clutter it up!

4. Now, put the remaining items back on your counters and think about zones as you are returning the items. For example, it you keep your baking goods (like flour and sugar)  on the counter, put them where you store your mixer and measuring cups. Put your coffee maker by the mugs and so on.

Once you have returned all of your items to the counters, make a conscience effort to keep them clean. After every meal put things back where they belong, don't pile dishes on the counters and empty your sink and/or dishwasher (if you have one). My number one suggestion to keeping your kitchen clean and your counters clear, is to develop a kitchen cleaning routine. This will help immensely and you will feel much better in the morning when you wake up to clean counters.

 

 

5 Things I Do at Night to Set Up My Morning for Success

I am a creature of habit. I could easily eat the same thing for lunch every day (a tuna salad sandwich, Doritos, and grapes) and I would be completely satisfied.  In addition to being a creature of habit, I can get completely overwhelmed at the length of my to do list. Because of these two characteristics, I tend to rely on my routines. My routines tend to make me feel safe and they give me a sense of security. They also help me know what to do next so that I do not get overwhelmed. The routines that I follow are: my morning routine, my afternoon routine, and evening routine. I also have my Sunday routine or my GYST day routine.

However, my evening routine is the most important routine that I follow every night. Without my evening routine my mornings would be chaotic. Without my evening routine I would be lost and behind all day long.

So, here are........

5 Things I Do at Night to Set Up My Morning for Success

Clean the Kitchen. There is nothing that makes me feel behind in the morning than walking into a dirty kitchen.  Just taking a few minutes in the evening to do the dishes, clean the counters, and sweep the floor can make a world of difference in my attitude and my productivity.  I try to clean up right after supper each night and empty the drainer before I go to bed (I don't have a dishwasher).

Plan your day. This is an important one for me. I plan my day the night before so I don't forget an appointment or an activity that one of the kids has to go to. I even plan the most mundane things like laundry, brushing teeth every morning and every night.


Declutter the living spaces. I cannot go to bed with a messy house, it causes too much stress for me.  It's the one habit from my childhood that I cannot break.  I take 30 minutes to declutter the living room, the kids bedrooms, and to do a quick swipe in both bathrooms. It's alot less stressful (at least for me) to wake to a clean house then to wake up to a messy one. Am I right?


Read. I try to take the last hour or so before bed to read a chapter in the book that I am currently reading. This helps me to relax and actually helps me sleep better at night.


Go to bed early. Finally, I try to go to bed early every night. There are times that this just does not happen, but most nights I am in bed by 930pm.

What things do you do at night to have a successful morning. I would live to hear in the comments below!

 

10 Daily Sanity Saving Habits for Moms

Hi Friends and welcome back to the blog. Today's post is all about daily sanity saving habits for moms. Now, some of these I took directly from my mom and some I figured out on my own. Either way all these habits are helpful in saving a mom's sanity.

So, let me share,

10 Daily Sanity Saving Habits for Moms

1. Have quiet time. For me, this is about an hour before my kids wake up. I sit and work on my bible study, answer emails, or just sit and enjoy the quiet.

2. Prepare the night before. What part of the morning is the most stressful for you? Take that one thing you dread and do a little prep for it the night before. Lay out the kids clothes, shower, prepare breakfast, do baths, or just preset the coffee pot. 

3. Do one load of laundry every day. This really helps in keeping "Mount Washmore" at bay. Just remember to fold and put away. Let's be honest, sometimes I forget that step. Don't we all?

4. Clean as you go. Giving yourself plenty of grace, clean up as you go. If you make dinner, wash those dishes right then. If you see a million crumbs under the high chair, grab a broom and do a two-second sweep.

5. Play with your kids. Slow down and enjoy your little people. Offer to play a game or build blocks. Do something that you know will bring a smile to their face.

6. Do one large chore. Knock out one of the bigger chores everyday. Clean a bathroom, vacuum the floors, organize a drawer,..etc.

7. Have kid clean up time. Instead of the house being a tornado throughout the entire day, choose a couple times a day for them to clean up their messes. A good schedule might be everyday before lunch and then again before bedtime.

8. Meal plan. Save yourself the stress of picking meals every few hours and plan them out. Not only will this be a time saver but a money saver as well.

9. Be thankful. There is always something to be thankful for. Let gratitude drive your attitude and actions throughout your day.

10. Have a regular bedtime for your kids. Kids love routine, even if they fight it sometimes. Make your routine as lengthy and as fun as you want, but get the munchkins to bed so you can recoup and have some quality time to yourself or with your spouse in the evenings.

What is an essential daily habit for you?

 

Welcome to Blogtober 2023

Hello and welcome to Blogtober where we begin the first of 31 back to back posts in October! I am so excited to be participating again this year.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I have been blogging off and on for a few years now as a hobby, but I am hoping to turn it into a full time job (which I know will take awhile to accomplish. I am married to my college sweetheart and we have known each other since elementary school (that's a story for another day). We have two beautiful girls, our oldest is in the 8th grade and our youngest is in the 3rd grade. We also homeschool them. My husband is a Psychology professor while I am a stay at home mom. We are in the process of launching our new businesses soon (more details soon).

I love to read (Stephen King and Mary Higgins Clark are my favorites) and I love being in the kitchen creating delicious meals for my family.

I am looking forward to the rest of Blogtober and to see what other bloggers post this month.

Tomorrow's post will be all about overcoming the Sunday Scaries!

Are you participating in Blogotber?