Moms and Dads

Motherhood in Full Bloom: Dani Ledesma on Calm Living and Creative Parenting

by The Modern Parenting Team
June 9, 2025

Motherhood is rarely a smooth, linear journey. It’s a beautiful blend of mess, magic, and a million little moments. For content creator and hands-on mom Dani Ledesma, this joyful chaos is something she embraces with calmness, creativity, and a strong sense of style. Whether planning a picnic or creating quiet me-time rituals, Dani shows that motherhood isn’t about losing yourself; it’s about rediscovering who you are in new and empowering ways.

Dani Ledesma on Calm Living and Creative Parenting

Embracing the Beautiful Chaos

Like many first-time moms, Dani stepped into motherhood facing the unknown. But in navigating sleepless nights and countless diaper changes, she also discovered a quiet, enduring strength.

“There are no rest days indeed when you become a mom,” she shares. “Even on my bad days, I still show up for my daughter and try my best, and I have to remind myself that it’s enough to simply be present.”

With her daughter Millie now in her toddler years—curious, energetic, and always on the move—Dani has leaned into creating a safe, stimulating home environment to support her daughter’s emotional and physical development.

“Being a toddler mom, I learned that providing a stimulating, nurturing, and safe environment is key. From serving her different healthy tasty meals, to planning fun learning activities, and to creating routines that work best both for me and my Millie,” she says.

That nurturing environment isn’t just about what Millie sees and touches, it’s also about keeping the home in order amid the daily whirlwind. To help manage the chaos, Dani turns to smart storage solutions that make life more efficient and clutter-free, like Anko.

“When you’re juggling so many roles, even small things like knowing exactly where toys, books, or diapers are stored can make a huge difference,” she says. “That’s why I love Anko’s organizers and storage bins. They’re stylish enough to match our space, but practical enough to actually keep things under control.”

Dani has thoughtfully integrated Anko’s organizing tools to keep their space beautiful and functional. One of her standout favorites? The Anko wooden boucle bassinet–a new addition to their home that instantly elevated Millie’s play area. With its soft texture and minimalist design, it blends seamlessly into their calming, neutral aesthetic while offering a cozy and stylish spot for rest or quiet time.

Still, Dani is the first to admit that parenting can feel like a constant balancing act, rewarding but often overwhelming.

“I have to constantly remind myself, kids will be kids,” Dani says. “Despite how overstimulating and overwhelming things will get, these truly are the funnest years of my life – them being this small, so I should soak it all in, both the good and the bad.”

Self-Care as a Daily Reset

Balancing the roles of mom, homemaker, and content creator is no small feat. To avoid burnout, Dani carves out quiet moments to recharge and reconnect with herself. “Once Millie is asleep, I have my sacred little me time where I sneak into my bathroom, light a candle, take a nice shower, do my skincare, and watch one of my favorite shows,” she says.

Her not-so-secret weapon for keeping things fresh and feeling new? A good shower! “A good shower can turn things around for me, that’s why I have an extra special place in my heart for Anko’s shower products and beauty tools like their dry brush, shower cap, and nail care essentials.”

Her Sunday shower routine is more special: “It can last from 15 minutes to 1 hour, where I do all the work to make me feel like a woman again and not just ‘someone’s mom’,” she candidly shares.

Even her wellness journey has evolved—shifting from high-impact workouts to gentle, energizing yoga and streamlining her skincare routine to fit her pace.

“My wellness journey since becoming a mom took a major shift. I had to find workouts that energized me rather than drained me, and I luckily found my yoga place,” she explains. “For my beauty regimen, I had to learn to move quickly and shorten the steps to fit my busy, overstimulating schedule.”

As night falls and the world quiets, Dani’s nighttime routine sets the tone for a full reset. Within her thoughtfully curated bedroom sanctuary are soft sheets, fluffy blankets, and ambient touches from Anko. “My night table, candles, beddings, pillows, fluffy blankets – these all add to my ideal ambiance that allows me to have my much-needed beauty sleep,” she says.

Through it all, Dani proves that nurturing a child and nurturing herself as a woman beyond motherhood can exist in harmony, not as opposing forces, but as acts of love for both herself and her child. It is in these quiet me-time rituals that she refuels, waking up empowered and ready to pour that same care back into her daughter.

The Home That Love Built

For moms like Dani, beauty isn’t just found in skincare rituals or me-time routines – it is also found in everyday moments of creating a safe space full of warmth where her toddler can feel loved and free to explore her growing imagination. At the heart of this all? Thoughtful moments and creative activity curated to spark joy and happiness for her and her daughter.

“It was my goal to create a home where Millie can safely play around in, while keeping the aesthetic that really comforts me,” Dani shares.

She creates a space that not only makes her family feel the warmth of her love and sparks joy in her daughter but also reflects her style. She has built a haven for her family that feels warm, aesthetic, while keeping it intentional. “I absolutely love Anko’s throw pillows, blankets, and candles that add that touch of style and hominess.”

But her magic doesn’t stop inside their home. Dani also enjoys planning creative adventures for her little one outdoors. “I recently planned an outdoor picnic and painting session using Anko’s canvas, stand, paint brushes, and paint! Definitely a core memory,” she says.

Whether it’s the quiet moment they spent on the couch or the messy afternoon outdoors, these simple details and shared experiences add beauty to their mom and child moments.

To the Mothers Still Becoming

The transition into being a mom brings a deep, and unmatched kind of joy – but also, at times, a quiet longing for the old ways. Surely, there were moments she missed her old self and former lifestyle, but for Dani, the new chapters of being a mom also bring her new sources of joy – that sense of loss evolved into something more beautiful.

“I struggled with missing my old self, my old lifestyle,” she reflects. “But I found beauty in this transformation, now I live with so much purpose, clarity, and joy.”

But the chapter of her life as a mother ignited that unique joy that makes her choose to stay strong and keep everything together. To her pre-baby self, Danil would say: “Soak it all in,” because even the hardest days will become moments she will long to relive.

And to the moms still learning how to mother themselves while mothering their children? She offers a gentle reminder:

“Recognizing that being able to stay home with our kids is a privilege, but it doesn’t mean you have to enjoy every minute of it. Make sure to reward yourself and recognize how amazing you are. Never forget that this isn’t just their childhood – it’s also your motherhood.”

From beauty rituals to playful moments with her toddler, Dani shows that motherhood can be both nurturing and stylish.

Explore more of Dani’s favorite finds by visiting the Anko Philippines website, following Anko Philippines’ Facebook and Instagram pages, and joining the Anko Club for inspiration on parenting, play, and everyday living.