My name is Tiffany, I am the founder of Maylay Co., and this is my story.  Hi, my name is Tiffany. I am the founder of Maylay Co. I create greeting cards, stationery, and gifts that inspire gratitude, connection, and intentional living. Everything started back in 2020. We all know what happened then. It was just a really chaotic and dark time. But even so, people were still out there trying to spread positive things; everyone was still spreading the love. And I felt like I wanted to do something more, and I wanted to contribute. I've always loved stationery and cards my whole life. That has always been a part of me. At the time, I was also licensing my artwork and my pattern designs, and I come from a family of printers. My parents own a printing business. And so naturally, I sort of just combined everything, and the gratitude card came to life. A gratitude card is a greeting card, but it has a special purpose. They all say "I'm grateful" on the front, and there's an extra card that is included. And the purpose of that is for the recipient of the first card to pay it forward and give gratitude to somebody else. I really just wanted to spread joy and kindness in a more meaningful way. That year, in 2020, I launched twelve gratitude cards as part of my Gratitude Collection. About a month and a half after launching the gratitude cards, I found out I was pregnant. So I spent the rest of the year really just focusing on building my business and preparing for motherhood. My daughter was born, and I just went straight into mom mode and autopilot. I don't think I stopped. I went through all the highs and lows of motherhood, all the emotional and physical changes that were happening. I think I was just trying to hold everything together all by myself. I think I was just really struggling. There was a moment in my life where I really felt like I needed change. And that was when I was having a discussion with my husband, and I just said the words out loud: "I am not happy." I started talking to a therapist, and I realized that I had spent those first two years of motherhood in postpartum depression without ever realizing it. I just kept going and continuing on, and I never named it, I never acknowledged it, so I never dealt with it. And I didn't realize that I needed to take care of myself first in order to take care of other people. I started journaling. I listened to podcasts, I read books. I built myself a community of women, moms, and business owners who really understood how I was feeling and understood my struggles. And I started doing more things that just genuinely brought me joy. And slowly, I started to become a healthier version of myself. Maylay Co. is really an extension of me today. I create products that really help to foster these new habits that I've developed: connecting with others, practicing gratitude, and being more intentional about my time and energy — all of these have become tools for my everyday life. My daughter is a really big part of Maylay Co. She inspires me to do more and help others. And she even inspired me to create gratitude cards for kids. Because as a mom, I want to instill these habits and practices in her life. And I know I'm not alone. I know other moms would want the same for their kids. I am so passionate about helping others, especially women and moms. I want them to know that if there's a struggle they're going through, or if there is a new chapter they want to start in their life, change is possible. And it doesn't have to be hard. It doesn't have to be complicated. It's really just about starting with small steps, being consistent, and being more intentional about what you're doing and how you're spending your time. When somebody uses one of my products, I want them to feel calm, I want them to feel joy, and I want them to feel like they can slow down for a little bit and really focus on what matters. So I definitely see myself developing lots more of these tools to offer other women, and just expanding Maylay Co. as a brand. But what I'm really excited about is being able to help women in person on a deeper level. And organizing in-person events helps me to do just that. This is a chance for women to be together in person, learn, be inspired, and work on themselves — and not feel like they have to do it alone. I want to make one thing clear: I in no way claim to be an expert on these things. I am just somebody who was struggling at a time in my life, and I found ways to get through it and put myself on a better path. And I genuinely believe that I can help others, too, through my products and events. I really hope to do that.

In my previous post, I shared how creating a morning routine became a total game changer for me. Today, I want to talk about the small but meaningful habits I’ve built into my mornings that now feel like essential acts of self-care. The key for me: doing things that help me feel energized and grounded, so I can start the day with a full battery. These habits might not work for everyone, but they’ve made a huge difference for me—and maybe you’ll find something here that resonates with you, too. My biggest struggle used to be time—how to fit in the important things. So I focused on keeping everything simple, easy, and effective. Morning Skincare Routine I start by cleansing my face—just the water alone helps wake me up! I follow this with a gentle serum and moisturizer. Using natural products is a must for me, especially since I have sensitive skin. Hydrate with Water Before I have anything else, I drink a cup of water. It helps rehydrate me after a night’s sleep and gets my body ready before coffee (which, as we all know, can be dehydrating). Plus, don't we all just wake up thirsty? Protein Before Sugar I try to get in a bit of protein early—usually a handful of nuts, or pumpkin seeds, or a hard-boiled egg. It’s quick, easy, and helps balance my energy before I enjoy my morning coffee or do a quick workout. A Quick Workout And when I say quick—I mean 8 minutes of Pilates. Movement was always the hardest part of my routine to stick with because I didn’t enjoy it. But now I keep it short and manageable, with the intention to build it up over time. Cold Plunge Okay, maybe this is a bigger habit to some, but it’s quick and incredibly effective. I spend 2–4 minutes in a cold plunge tub, and it’s become one of my favorite parts of the morning. I use this time to also do some deep breathing and visualization—it’s a total reset for my mind and body. (I could write a whole post about this alone!) Honey Over Sugar Coffee is a must. I’m not even sure if the caffeine actually gives me a boost, but I love coffee and it makes me happy and feel good - especially to warm up after a nice cold plunge. I love using a spoonful of Bee Local Honey from here in Toronto where they extract small batch honey from specific neighbourhoods. I find this local honey so helpful for my allergies. Journaling, Affirmations & Gratitude I never considered myself much of a journaler, but that changed when I discovered the Courage to Change Journal by Jessica Fraser. This guided journal helps me stay aligned with my goals, reflect with gratitude, set affirmations, and plan for what I’m looking forward to next. It’s become such a powerful motivator and part of my mindset work. Do Something I Enjoy (or Work on a Project) I carve out a bit of time each morning to do something I enjoy—sometimes it's reading, immersing myself in funny videos, or doing something crafty. If I’m working on a special project (like I am right now!), I’ll dedicate this time to that. My current passion project is Bloom: A Day for Self-Care & Self-Love, an event I’m hosting this October. (Yes, shameless plug—but it’s worth it! 😉) Starting my day with something I love fuels me. Morning routines don’t have to be long or complicated to be meaningful. Ultimately, you make it work for your own needs and schedule. Being consistent and intentional can have a big impact on your energy, mindset, and joy. This routine is my way of saying “yes” to myself each morning, and it has helped me approach the day with more clarity, calm, and purpose. What are some of your small habits?

Morning Routine For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a night owl. I’d regularly stay up past midnight—sometimes not even starting my evening until 10PM. One day, I discovered how much joy waking up early could bring me. Now?6AM is sleeping in.And I choose this—and I love it. When Being a Night Owl Was a Good Thing When I first became a mom, my night owl tendencies came in handy. Those middle-of-the-night feedings? No problem. I’d stay up late, take care of my baby, and sleep in the next morning. For the first 18 months or so, everything felt manageable. But then the toddler stage hit. The Turn of the Night Owl Suddenly, my daughter’s sleep schedule became unpredictable. Every night, she needed me to help her fall asleep. If she was out by 8PM, that was a win—but more often, it was 9 or 10PM. Once she was finally asleep, the rest of the evening became “me time.” I’d work, binge a bit of Netflix, or just do anything that I wanted. My husband would already be asleep, and I cherished those solo hours. But over time, those hours decreased. I had less and less energy to stay up, and even when I did, I’d go to bed irritated or exhausted—especially on the nights I didn’t get any time to myself at all. I would end the day frustrated, then waking up to the sound of my daughter crying… tired, frazzled, and anxious before the day even started. Being a night owl worked—until it didn’t. The 5AM Idea That Changed Everything One day, I was chatting with my cousin, and she told me about the 5AM Club—a concept where you wake up early and dedicate your first hour to wellness: journaling, meditating, moving your body, or simply reflecting—setting the tone for a positive day. I was intrigued. So, one morning, I tried it.I woke up at 5:30AM (couldn't quite make it to 5AM yet)I brushed my teeth, washed my face, did a short meditation, made a hot cup of coffee (and actually got to drink it while it was hot), and even had time to make myself breakfast. I spent the rest of the hour doing something I enjoyed—painting a paint-by-number kit I had just started. It felt like such a treat. By the time my daughter woke up, I felt ready. I was calm, energized, happy. And, I felt excited to greet the day—and her. That was the beginning of my new morning routine, and it’s been one of the best changes I’ve ever made. It was the self-care I didn’t know I needed. This was wellness. This was me, choosing intention. The Value of Time Motherhood taught me the value of time.Every extra minute in the shower counts.Every hour before daycare pickup needs to be used productively.Evenings are unpredictable, but mornings are mine. Now, I use my mornings to intentionally make time for: myself movement and exercise gratitude and mindfulness intention setting hobbies and joy slowing down before the rush nourishing my body and mind being fully present with my family Waking up early is how I get to start my day on my terms. To pour into myself before I pour into others. Becoming a morning person wasn’t just a shift in routine—it was a shift in mindset, in identity, in self-worth.