Aleka Smith
Aleka, born and raised in Pennsylvania, is a mother, full-time Social Worker, animal rescue advocate, and lover of all things thrifty. When she’s not working or caring for her daughter, she can be found reading, working out, walking her dogs, or trying to persuade others to love the earth as much as she does. Coffee and carbs keep her going. She resides in Kettering with her husband, a Neurology resident with Kettering Health Network; daughter; two dogs; and three cats.
The Guilt of One {And Done?}
Before my daughter was born, my husband and I were regularly asked when we were starting a family. She arrived one month before our 5-year anniversary, and we have been on cloud nine ever...
September Dayton Dozen {2021}
Fall Fun is right around the corner! We have your guide to all things Fall here in this September edition of the Dayton Dozen for Family-Friendly Events around town.
1) Tot Shop Consignment Sale
September 18,...
Speechless {Adjusting to a Post-COVID World}
As a relatively outgoing person who has an opinion 99.9% of the time, it is a struggle for me to not have anything to say. I have tried thinking of a topic that interests...
The Weight of Too Many Hats
I never felt hats looked good on me. Either they were too big, too small, or simply accentuated features that didn’t need to be seen. Sunglasses have always been more my cup of tea.
Enter...
Dear Diary
I am not really sure where I’m going with this entry. Is it the therapy I so desperately need or am I writing in hopes to find others who have been here and can...
April Dayton Dozen
April brings warmer weather and the beginning signs of Spring. Get out and enjoy the activities that will be offered in and around Dayton, which include many beyond this short list. There are some...
Five Hacks to Make Your Busy Days Just a Little Bit Lighter
We have all been there. You wake up with good intentions of getting things done and then before you know it, it’s 8 p.m. and you want nothing more than to go to bed....
January Dayton Dozen
January, a month filled with short days, cold nights, and a letdown from the excitement of the holiday season, will look different in 2021. We will still be wearing masks, and likely many of...
International Day of Persons with Disabilities {Recognized on Dec. 3}
Disability, according to Webster, is a:
"physical, cognitive, or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with, or limits a person's ability to engage in certain tasks or actions or participate in typical daily life or interactions."
These...
Finding the Good Among the Bad: Things to Be Grateful for in 2020
2020, the year where memes depict images of exhaustion and joke about 2021 not coming fast enough. There hasn't been much of which to be grateful. News outlets seem to report one bad thing...
Lessons From Year One {A Mother’s Perspective}
When my daughter woke up on Sept. 18, she was 1 year old. She didn't know how the past year had changed her parents’ lives for the better or how seeing her grow was...
Meals with Mom {Embracing Messy Mealtimes}
Mealtimes look different these days. Gone are the times of grabbing a quick bite and heading out to the door to work. If I had 10 minutes instead of 5, I’d make a smoothie...
A Word So Powerful It Gives Me Chills: Motherhood
Motherhood.
It is a word so powerful that just typing it gives me the chills. A word that encompasses responsibility, love, and sacrifice, and while I always have been grateful for and appreciated my...