You’ve got sports-viewing parties and tailgates, barbecues and brunches, happy hours and birthdays. Sure, fun lies ahead, but first, there comes the stress of what to bring. Regifting that bottle of wine or weird ice cube tray won’t do. Instead, impress your host with any of these stellar gifts. From canned cocktails to top-of-the-line cookware, with some blankets, bags, and BBQ swag thrown in the mix, you’re sure to find the best hosting gifts for every event on your calendar.
The Best Hosting Gifts for Birthdays, Barbecues, and Everything in Between
1. Tip Top Proper Cocktails
Your pitmaster for the evening already spent the whole day prepping the feast. Give ‘em the night off bartending duties with any of these six canned renditions of classic low-ball cocktails. In the “stirred” category, they’ve got the negroni, Manhattan, and old fashioned, while the “shaken” offerings give you mouth-watering takes on the margarita, daiquiri, and Bee’s Knees.
Treat the Chef de Cuisine to an engraved Great Jones best-seller, like the Big Deal Pot or Deep Cut Sauté Pan. You can add their name, monogram, or that signature dish they love making on the lid. When the night’s over, they’ll be glad they can pop these pots and pans in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Your buddy loves beer. He loves being a barbecue wizard. Here’s the best of both worlds in one amazing marinade, that also doubles as a sauce. Flavors on offer are Japanese Miso BBQ, Mexican Tres Chiles, and Szechuan Black Vinegar. As the name implies, you simply add your favorite beer when cooking up your next marinade, stir fry, or snack dip. Ingredients like kombu (a type of seaweed), tomatoes, and miso give the condiment depth of flavor. Just Add Beer works just as well on a grilled steak as it does on roasted veggies.
A practical gift that anyone who invites you into their home will surely appreciate, these cozy blankets come in an array of patterns and neutral colors, and all are machine washable to boot. We recommend the Cape and Islands Ocean Blue Blanket ($135), with maps designed on the exterior, to evoke the bliss of summer all year round.
Enhance your host’s cheeseboard spread with these lip-smacking jams that also work atop sandwiches, burgers, or mixed into marinades. The set includes the original Tommy Jam, Hot Tommy (made with fresh habaneros for some heat), and Tommy en Provence (which offers herbaceous notes).
Keep drinks and snacks cold all day long with this best-in-class soft cooler, now available in new fall colors. Or, spring for an MLB hard cooler for the baseball superfan in your life with the logo of their favorite sports team emblazoned on top. Either way, bottoms up to a good, good time with this over-the-top splurge people wouldn’t likely buy for themselves, but will be so happy to own.
For the home-cooking aficionado, this lineup of seven olive oils and vinegar will be their new partner in crime in the kitchen, and a design-forward ode to accouterments they can proudly display. The set also includes a spout made with brush gold and stainless steel for drizzly perfection with each flip of the bottle. For something easier on the wallet, try The Mini Essentials ($70)—a collection of the brand’s best-selling products.
What better way to celebrate the purchase of a new home than with this charming personalized portrait of their digs? We’re also fans of Minted’s custom map art (from $65, framed) to transform a special map of their former stomping grounds or new environs into visually pleasing wall art.
Help anoint your buddy’s new backyard with this beautiful hammock, perfect for post-game power naps or evening reading sessions. What’s more, by purchasing a handwoven hammock through Yellow Leaf, you’re helping Thai craftspeople and their families build a better future for themselves. For $299, you can design your own pattern.
You know sauce is serious business when it was meticulously created by acclaimed chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi. The tomato-based sauce set includes two jars of marinara, and a jar each of Arrabbiata and tomato basil. With sauces made in small batches and featuring a medley of fresh ingredients like Italian-grown tomatoes and whole onions and garlic, expect a quality product that elevates any pasta dish. Bring it to your next family dinner to jazz up Dad’s famous eggplant parm. P.S. A roasted garlic version of the sauce launches soon.
Oenophiles will rejoice in this curated selection of natural wines delivered to their door on a monthly basis (choose a three-, six-, or 12-month membership). Red, white, mixed, rosé, and sparkling wines are up for the choosing, and all vinos are organically grown and independently tested for purity, so you can ensure they live up to the “natural” moniker, meaning they’re made following strict criteria and free of a long list of FDA-approved additives.
Help your host upgrade their tablescape with a delivery of potted plants or flowers. You can either do a one-off order or, if you have a subscription and know you have an event that month, you can have your delivery shipped directly to the recipient. Some current favorites are Monstera Magic ($99), the Farmer’s Market Gift Trio ($114), and Gold Rush ($49).
[From $38 à la carte or memberships from $36; bouqs.com]
This grilling apron was designed for ‘cue enthusiasts to practice their craft with ease, featuring 10 pockets, a carabiner, and five D-ring clips to keep accessories at the ready. It’s made of a durable, washable fabric, and crafted under the guidance of barbecue pitmasters and chefs to ensure it’s the applewood of anyone’s eye.
Speaking of grilling aficionados, up the ante on a BBQ with these chips sourced from 100 percent Minnesota white oak barrels used to age Tattersall Whiskey for more than two years. Flavor-wise, the whiskey-ed white oak provides notes of mild sweetness and vanilla to coax nuanced layers of sapor from every dish on the grill. These suckers are sublime for smoking.
Home team driving the crew crazy or just pull off an epic play? Time for a shot. Gathering to celebrate someone’s birthday? Ditto. Six thick, textured glass shooters arrive in this attractive, mission-style wrought iron stand with a garnish tray for victuals like salt, limes, lemons, and perhaps some electrolyte powder packets for all the damage you’re about to do.
Bring wine or other small items like napkin rings, a framed photo, and the like for a party or birthday in this elegant leather tote, then gift the bag as part of the plunder. Available in brown, black, and olive, every purchase of this bag creates two hours of employment to the brand’s Ethiopian team.
Eat, sip an apéritif, and be merry with this delightful assortment of beverages available in flavors like Lemon Lavender, Grapefruit Jalapeño, Citrus Flower, and more. You can add to spirits and wine (grape brandy and Chardonnay grapes play nice in all the flavor profiles), or imbibe it straight on the rocks, We’re partial to Ginger Yuzu with its namesake ingredients: lemongrass, orange peel, dried cherries, rooibos tea, ginger tea, and organic cane sugar.
Help your pal set the mood with this handsome candle, fragranced with notes of bergamot, vetiver, leather, and spices. Crafted with a soy-coconut wax blend, the candles are hand-poured by refugee women in Western Massachusetts, so you can feel good about empowering these talented makers with every purchase.
Got a beer trade on the horizon? The organizer will be thrilled to be on the receiving end of this trio of two pint glasses and a 64-ounce growler. Choose the colors for each in the bundle, and rest assured the lifetime warranty means these products are engineered for the long haul. For wine clubs, opt for the wine gift set.
20. Claude Dozorme Thiers Mixed Wood Handle Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set
Steak night made better. Made in France, this set includes knives made with wood grips from different trees (ebony, olive, tulip, rose, juniper, and boxwood), all presented in a beechwood box. FYI: They’re easy to re-sharpen and last for years. If you’re in the market for some steak knives, too, go ahead and treat yourself.
Every good get-together deserves a fun card game. Wow your amigos with this quick-to-learn game that lasts for around 30 minutes and works with four to 12+ players. Expect a lot of laughs—and to learn a thing or two about your friends’ creativity.
The hottest new show on Netflix is a laugh-track laden sitcom about nothing that aired its last episode in 1998. You guessed it: Seinfeld is making its debut on the streaming platform, confirming its status as one of the most successful TV series ever. Starting this October, all 180 episodes of the beloved ’90s sitcom (spanning nine seasons) will be available to watch on Netflix.
Netflix announced the move with a short, tongue-in-cheek trailer and a sly press release that teased “2021’s hottest new show” created by “rising stars Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.”
“This is the first time we’ve taken a risk of this nature, going all in on 9 seasons at the jump,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in a statement quoted by the Los Angeles Times.
Rest assured, there’s nothing new about this show—you’ll still get the same antics from Elaine, George, Jerry, and Kramer and all of the “adventures” they get themselves into, including getting lost in a parking garage, having heated conversations in Tom’s Restaurant, and generally dealing with the ups and downs of living in New York City in the ’90s. Even on TV, it seems, some things never change.
It’s also a clear confirmation that creators Seinfeld and David struck gold with their first series—an unlikely success story in a tough industry. In a joking statement, Seinfeld downplayed making one of the most well-known shows ever to grace a TV screen.
“Larry and I are enormously grateful to Netflix for taking this chance on us. It takes a lot of guts to trust two schmucks who literally had zero experience in television when we made this thing,” Seinfeld said. “We really got carried away, I guess. I didn’t realize we made so many of them. Hope to recoup god knows how many millions it must have taken to do. But worth all the work if people like it. Crazy project.”
Whether you’re a die-hard Seinfeld fan or haven’t yet learned who the Soup Nazi is, now’s your chance to dive in—all the episodes will be available to watch on Netflix on Oct. 1.
I set a goal to read at least 3 books per month and am still going strong. Sharing a recap of what I read in August and if I’d recommend these!
Hi friends! How’s the day going? I hope you’re having a lovely morning so far. I’m heading to the kiddos’ school for a bit and then taking content photos with Kristi later today.
For today’s post, I’m sharing a recap of the books I read in August! I set a goal at the beginning of this year to read at least 3 books per month, and without having this solid, super-specific goal, there’s no way it would have happened. (I think having accountability through the blog has made a huge difference, too!) I feel like I’m juggling more than ever right now work-wise (Fit Team, blog, podcast, videos, nutrition clients, personal training clients, Beautycounter) but reading is something I truly enjoy as a hobby. This goal has really encouraged me to stick with it and carve out time, even though it would be a convenient thing to delete from my routine.
I received this one in my Book of the Month subscription and was wondering if I was going to like it. The author is one hit (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo) and one miss (Daisy Jones and the Six) for me. I had no clue what I was getting into, but decided to give it a whirl, and absolutely enjoyed it. I ended up reading it in two days because I was so immersed in the characters. I don’t feel like a lot *happens* in this book, but the character development and backstory, alternating between two eras, made it worthwhile to me. 8/10 would recommend.
Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.
The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.
Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.
And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.
By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.
Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.
I love love LOVE Jenny Lawson, and remember listening to her book “Let’s Pretend this Never Happened” and laughing so hard I was crying. I listened to this one on Audible, too, and ended up feeling a little bit meh about it. I just didn’t laugh at the funny parts, and the sad, more profound parts, made me simply feel sad instead of finding comfort in relating to her. Some of the portions about her experience with depression were triggering for me (and I’m so thankful she’s sharing her story with others to remove the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses), but I think it was compounded by everything going on in the world. Perhaps I would enjoy more in another time, but it was a bit too much for me right now. 5/10 would recommend.
As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In Broken (in the Best Possible Way), Jenny brings listeners along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way.
With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor – the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball – is present throughout.
A treat for Jenny Lawson’s already existing fans, and destined to convert new ones, Broken is a beacon of hope and a wellspring of laughter when we all need it most.
I received this book from Katy Bowman’s publicist (I still can’t believe Katy was on my podcast!!!!!!!!) and was so excited to dive in. This book gives real-life examples of how to cultivate a family lifestyle centered on movement. Kids are moving so much less these days, and I’m always looking for ways to add more movement into our lives and make it fun.
This insightful book (with beautiful color photos!) includes tips for movement stacking, spending time in nature, proper footwear, gardening, cooking activities, seasonal activities, furniture and home additions to promote less sitting and more movement, learning, etc. I feel like it’s easy to be overwhelmed when you’re looking to change up your lifestyle in any capacity, but this book includes so many easy habits and tips that you can continue to build. 10/10 would recommend.
From biomechanist and bestselling author Katy Bowman comes her eagerly anticipated guide to getting kids―from babies to preteens―and their families moving more, together, outside.
Our kids are moving less than any other generation in human history; indoor time and screen time have skyrocketed. As adults and kids turn more to “convenient,” tech-based solutions, tasks that once required head-to-toe use of our muscles and bones can be done with a click and a swipe. Without realizing it, we’ve traded convenience for the movement-rich environment that our physical, mental, and environmental health depends on.
Parents don’t know what to do!
But there’s good news: While the problem feels massive, the solution is simple…and fun!
Grow Wild not only breaks down the ‘big ideas’ behind movement as a nutrient, it serves as a field guide―how to spot all the movement opportunities we’re currently missing.
Learn to “stack your life” for richer experiences that don’t take more time:
Set up your home to promote more movement, naturally
Dress for (movement) success
Add snacktivities to your meals
Plan dynamic celebrations
Create a dynamic homework space
Bring nature into your home and play
And much more!
Bowman, a leader in the Movement movement, has written Grow Wild to show where movement used to fit into the activities of daily life and more importantly, how it can again.
The perfect companion to Bowman’s bestseller Move Your DNA, Grow Wild provides practical, everyday, nature-rich ideas on how to let kids move their DNA while doing things they’ll love.
So tell me, friends: what did you read in August? Any showstoppers? What should I add to the list for September?
I’m rounding up what y’all having been loving and shopping this August. Here are the top 15 products Fitnessista readers purchased this month.
I thought it would be fun to do a monthly roundup of some of your favorite products each month that I’ve shared on the blog. Sounds fun, yeah? I love sharing my favorites with you – whether it’s something for the girls, a staple in the Pilot’s closet, or my newest activewear finds – I enjoy sharing what we are using and loving, and love when you love them too!
Here are the top 15 products Fitnessista readers purchased this month:
This crop tank is really cute with high-waisted leggings or shorts – I love the square neck detail. The fabric is SO soft and the cut is very flattering. I already want another color.
I couldn’t help ordering this for P and it’s even better in real life. It’s great quality and little ear hoodies are just the most adorable thing ever.
Enough said. This is my go-to everyday bra – so comfortable! It’s wireless (I haaaaate underwire), gives ya a little shape and smoothness, and comes in a variety of colors. It’s not the *sexiest* bra, but is the perfect everyday t-shirt bra.
If he’s not in uniform, the Pilot is wearing one of these Lululemon polos. I love that they look a little bit dressed-up but still casual enough for any activity.
This track jacket is the perfect thing to throw on after a workout or for running errands – it’s very slimming & flattering. I’ve been wearing this jacket to train clients (it’s cold in the gym!) and LOVE it.
These are the bowls I use to every giant salad I eat, or any bowl type meal. They’re perfect for chili and cornbread, pasta, veggies and chicken, buddha bowls, shrimp stir fry, anything.
Have you been wanting to get a glimpse of Fit Team and what it’s like? Now is the chance! Get a workout and video tutorial delivered to your inbox for the next 4 weeks. Read below for the details!
Hi friends! Happy Monday! How was the weekend? Ours was a good one. We went to my dad’s house to celebrate his bday, Liv had a friend over for s’mores and swimming, and I did some virtual and in-person training sessions, in addition to teaching dance cardio. It was an action-packed weekend and now we’re back in to the school thing.
So if you’ve been feeling kind of blah on the fitness front and want to shake up your workout routine and get inspired, join us as a beta tester for Fit Team!
My signature group coaching program, #FitTeam launches in October, and over the next several weeks I’m going to be sending out FREE workouts for you to try out, and then offer feedback if you’d like. There’s zero obligation, but I’d love to get your feedback as you try each one: what you liked, what you didn’t love, how you felt, etc.
Each Monday (starting this Monday, September 6th), I’ll be sending out a workout for you to try
All workouts are 20-30 minutes in duration, and can be done with dumbbells
I’ll be asking you a few quick questions (literally it will take you 1 minute) and you can give me your feedback after you try the workout. When you submit your feedback, I’ll enter ya to win a free nutrition guide as a thank you! (I’ll give away 1-5, deepening on how many friends are enrolled)
Beta testers will also have the opportunity to enroll for our next round of Fit Team for a sweet discount.
It’s free of course, since it’s going to be a huge favor to me to get your amazing feedback, and it will help me deliver an even better product in October. When you receive your workouts, you can also send them to friends and family members who may need a bit of workout motivation or some new ideas.
If you’ve been curious to see what the Fit Team workouts are like, this is the perfect time to try it out!
This is a customized plan and nutrition guide taking into consideration your unique goals (fat loss, athletic performance, muscle gain, etc), diet history, activity level, personal preferences and more! You’ll also receive a virtual movement assessment live with me to help you move better, reduce injury risk and finally achieve the physique you want.
The Movement + Macros bundle is a brand new program designed as an accessible, quick roadmap to help you reach your health and fitness goals. I normally work with clients for months (and sometimes years!) and know not everyone needs a long-term coaching commitment. Sometimes you need someone to just give you a plan and support you in a more affordable way.
This is my signature offer to help you access the strategies you need to make your workouts safe AND effective, while also eating for your goals and being confident to have the nutrition solution that will work FOR YOU.
What’s included:
Thorough intake form including body composition, health history, medications, current activity level, and anything else I need to know about your unique lifestyle
An initial 30-minute in-depth coaching call to discuss the intake form and complete a movement assessment live with me
Detailed report explaining your specific muscle imbalances and movement patterns, and an exact prescription for how to remedy each one to keep you safe and getting physique results
Complete customized nutrition guide, including macro guidelines and meal ideas (based on the diet YOU like to follow!)
Follow-up coaching with me to answer questions and support you
A 7-day follow-up to make sure you’re able to implement and have everything you need to be successful ongoing
When you sign up today, you’ll automatically get a free gift from me to you – a download with 52 High Protein Recipes (plus shopping lists and sample meal plans)
I’m so pumped to share this method of macro tracking with you because it’s something that’s super easy to follow and sustainable. I HATED weighing and measuring my food when I tracked macros in the past, and this method uses the size of our hand to gauge portions. No weighing, no measuring, no feeling like you can’t eat at friends’ houses or restaurants without straying from your goals. This is meant to be a sustainable method for LIFE that is easily adjusted for a variety of eating styles.
Spaces are SUPER limited – only 10 women max to start – so if you’re interested, snag your spot ASAP! When the 10 spots are filled, I’ll add a waitlist option to this page. Sign up for the waitlist if you’re interested (it’s no obligation) and I’ll work through everyone in order. If you get a waitlist spot, it may be 2-4 weeks until we can schedule our initial call.
So pumped about this and so excited to get to know more of you better and share these ideas and strategies with you! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below!
It’s tempting to view a backyard swimming pool solely as a place to float with a beer in hand (might we suggest one of these stellar summer brews), but even the smallest backyard varieties can provide challenging pool workouts for both serious and recreational swimmers.
A lot of exercises you do on land can be performed in the water. The movements become more challenging because the water resistance—while being less stressful on the joints—puts more force against your body to work against.
Competitive swimmers often turn to dryland training—traditional conditioning and weight room work performed out of the water to complement their swim training. That provides a change of pace and a respite from the water. But for athletes who don’t swim for training purposes, the water can provide similar benefits in terms of breaking the monotony of the gym and complementing traditional strength and cardio training.
Here are five pool workouts perfect for a heat wave.
How to do it: Repeat until you reach 20 minutes total for the workout.
A. Knee Hug x 10 each side
How to do it: Standing in chest-deep water, lift your right knee to your chest and grab below your knee with both hands. Pull your right knee as close to your chest as you can as you squeeze your left glute. Return to standing and repeat on the other side, alternating each rep.
B. Lateral Lunge x 10 each side
How to do it: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Step out to the right, keeping your toes pointed straight ahead and feet flat. Squat by sitting back and down onto your right leg. Squat as low as possible, keeping your left leg straight and holding the position for two seconds.
C. Wall Kicks x 30 sec.-5 min.
How to do it: These might produce a flashback to childhood swim lessons, Grab the gutter or wall with both hands, your body flat against the surface of the water. Begin with 30 seconds of moderate kicking. Be sure to point your toes and flex the ankles. The kick should be at the surface of the water. Alternate between 30 seconds of moderate kicking and 30 seconds of sprinting, building up to 5 minutes. For a greater challenge, place your face in the water for 10-second intervals.
D. Bobs x 20 or as many reps as possible in 1 minute
How to do it: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart in the shallow end (water should be 3- to 4-feet deep). The taller you are, the deeper you’ll need to wade. Lower your hips back and down until your thighs are parallel to the bottom of the pool—back straight, core engaged. Jump, exploding from the ankles and quads. Land in the starting position. This is the same mechanics as a squat jump on land.
E. Pool Pushups
How to do it: Stand facing the edge of the pool with your hands on the wall with hands shoulder-width apart. The water should be deep enough that your feet are not touching the ground. If you’re in a shallow pool, bend your knees so you’re not touching. Push off the wall and ascend vertically out of the pool for a set of 20 or as many reps as possible in one minute.
How to do it: Repeat until you reach 20 minutes total for the workout.
Swim x 100 yards
Pillar March x 30 seconds, work up to 1 minute: From standing, lift the knee and foot of one leg as you lift the opposite arm. Drive your foot to the bottom of the pool as you lift your opposite foot and knee and the other arm. You can remain in the same standing position or move across the pool.
Lateral Lunge x 10 each side
Bobs x 20
Swim x 100 yards
Pool pushups x 20 or as many reps as possible in one minute
Submerge to cool off for a 30-second break.
Workout No.3
How to do it: Repeat until you reach 20 minutes total for the workout.
Knee Hug x 10 each side
Pool Pushups x 20 or as many reps as possible in one minute
Lateral Lunge x 10 each side
Dips x 20: Position yourself with your back to the wall, gripping the edge. Lower yourself slowly and push back up in a controlled manner.
Bobs x 20
Split Squats x 10 each side: Step out into a lunge. Lower your hips by squatting back and down. Without letting your back knee touch the bottom of the pool, drive your weight back up with the front leg.
How to do it: If you’re a more advanced athlete, extend the distances of both the swim and run. Be sure not to run on the pool deck. This workout will build cardio endurance. Plus, even though running does not typically follow swimming in a triathlon (other than running to the transition area), such back-to-back training and transition work is good preparation for multisport competition.
Swim 100 yards, then exit pool
Put on sneakers and run half a mile
Kick off your shoes and get back in the water to repeat the next round
Repeat three times
Pete Williams is a NASM certified personal trainer and the author or co-author of several books on performance and training.
About 38 weeks pregnant with Alfie. Better abs here than I have now.
When I was pregnant with my first babe I had pregnancy advice coming at me left, right and centre; all of it well-intentioned, some of it contradictory, and most of it going in one ear and out the other because #pregnancybrain followed by #sleepdeprivation. With some of the advice, my well-intentioned friends might as well have been speaking another language. Now that I have two babies, and the benefit of hindsight, I thought I’d put pen to paper in case it may be useful to someone else out there.
1. There is no ‘right’ cot/bassinet/pram/car seat/insert other high value baby goods here.
I am not an efficient person. My usual modus operandi is to over-research in a haphazard way, second-guess my decision, third-guess my decision and then return to my original decision, having achieved nothing that I couldn’t have achieved in 1/17th the time I actually spent. But beyond choosing something that meets safety standards there really isn’t a ‘right’ and a ‘wrong’ decision. And even if there was, your baby probably wouldn’t realise it.
2. Use the time before baby is born to rest.
Oh lord, I really really REALLY wish I’d taken this pregnancy advice. Instead, I ran around like a woman who’d had her first taste of freedom from the 9-5 in about 15 years… catching up with friends, not resting, going for long walks, not resting, buying random baby things I’d never use, not resting etc. etc. etc. until labour. And let me tell you, I have not rested since.
3. Don’t stress about having the nursery set up before bub arrives.
I was hell-bent on having Alfie’s nursery perfectly set up in time for my baby shower, which was about two months before he was even due… talk about unnecessary pressure! And given we didn’t move him out of our room and into said nursery until he was around 10 weeks (when his strange grunting sleep noises finally got the better of us), there was about 4.5 months that the nursery was useful to exactly zero people. I learned from my mistakes with Charlie, whose cot was madly hammered together the day that we moved him into it.
4. Have an idea of how you’d like your baby’s birth to go, but be flexible and listen to the experts.
OK to be fair I did listen to this pregnancy advice. I’d had dreams of a drug-free birth, picturing myself relaxing in a warm bath as the contractions washed over me like waves on a beach… hahahaha good lord I was naive. At 36 weeks we found out that there were some issues with Alfie’s growth, and so we made a plan for induction right on term (assuming I didn’t go into labour naturally beforehand). If you aren’t aware, induction speeds up the process of labour so your body doesn’t have enough time to produce the oxytocin to help counteract the pain, and it comes on F A S T. These factors, among others that are too far above my pay grade to understand, mean that you’re more likely to need an epidural with an induced labour. And need I did. Was it the way I dreamt things would go? No. But did that matter, when I held a healthy (albiet scrawny) baby in my arms? Also no.
After the trauma of Alfie’s birth, I became quite anxious as Charlie’s due date drew nearer. Particularly as he was shaping up to be almost a kilo heavier than Alfie was. At around 38 weeks we made the decision to have an elective caesarean. It was an emotional decision for me, but the right one. My physical and mental recovery was tens of times better than it was with Alfie.
About 37 weeks pregnant with Charlie, ft. my regrettable mum-bob.
5. Don’t get carried away with cutesie newborn clothes… onesies all the way for the first few months
Baby clothes are probably the sweetest little things on earth, and it’s possible that I went a little overboard on some of the less practical items. Sure, some people are all about dressing their tiny tot up for every outing they make, but it turns out that I am not one of those people. All my boys wore for the first few months of their lives were zip-up onesies and I cannot recommend this approach highly enough. Spending half your life re-adjusting your little one’s clothing is not a good time.
6. Don’t feel uncomfortable asking unvaccinated friends and family not to visit until after your babe has ben vaccinated
I don’t know why this is such an uncomfortable conversation, but even though I knew it was my family, and my choice, I never quite knew how to approach the conversation with friends and family. But if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that there are still a lot of people out there who don’t take risks seriously, and that means my family’s health is my responsibility and my decision (and I don’t need to feel weird about it!).
7. You may not feel like exercising again straight away
This piece of pregnancy advice was possibly the most shocking for me. I remember having a conversation with my Pilates teacher a few weeks before Alfie was due, and telling her quite confidently that I’d be back on deck before my six-week post-natal check. LOL. Nearly three years later and I’m still navigating a bumpy return to training.
and on that…
8. Be proud of your new body
You’ve just grown a human, carried him for nine months, then birthed him… that’s kind of a big deal. And whether you had an easy or difficult pregnancy, whether you gave birth vaginally or via a caesarean section, whether you developed stretch marks, have loose skin, pelvic floor issues, or whether you have all or none of the above, I’ll say it again… you grew, carried and birthed a baby!
I have spent most of my adult life priding myself on my strength and fitness and – on a more subconscious level – the aesthetic benefits of being strong and fit, so it was quite a humbling experience to realise that there were many things my body could no longer do particularly well. From the physical (like running) to the vanity-driven (like filling out the butt of a pair of jeans). But as I continue to work through these changes, as I will be doing for quite some time, I have a growing sense of pride of all the things my body CAN do. Like make a toddler feel safe in the middle of the night and nourish a baby with milk produced by my own body.
Phew. There you have it. If little of it makes sense to you yet, bookmark this page and come back to it a little further down the track. Motherhood is a riiiiiiiiiiiide and until you actually jump on, it’s hard to imagine what it’s going to be like.
ps. Obviously this is all based on my pregnancy and birth stories, so take it as sharing based on personal experiences only… because every mum is different, and so is every baby.
Is there any pregnancy advice you wish you’d taken? Share it in the comments below!
Yeah mate I’d really love to re-pack this drawer for the 867th time this week.
OK so lack of movement isn’t usually a struggle when you’ve got young kids (in my experience, sitting still is approximately 833 times harder) BUT with gyms closed and stay-at-home orders in place across Sydney, it doesn’t hurt to have a few extra ways to burn energy up your sleeve. So with that in mind, here are 10 ways to burn more energy during lockdown. Just for you, my fellow parents of toddlers.
Build an obstacle course. Try not to make it too difficult… if you notice your toddler climbing the downpipes, you’ve likely over-played things.
Running races up and down the hallway (I suggest letting your babe win occasionally or you’ll look like a bad sport).
Let your baby loose in the plastics drawers. You’ll bend, squat, stand and pack away at least 745 times each day. #functionalfitness
Put on your favourite song, grab your babe and dance like it’s 2003 and you’re five vodka, lime and sodas down at the uni bar.
Two squats before throwing each piece of washing into the machine. 43 onesies + 19 pairs of tiny pants x 97 loads of washing = an arse like a peach in no time.
Play hide and seek. Note that if you’re parenting a toddler, they absolutely will hide in the same place every single time.
… haha just kidding, that washing isn’t going to fold itself. Do it while you’re watching Schitt’s Creek though and you’re officially multi-tasking.
Grab a yoga mat or towel and sneak in a few basic movements (squats, push ups, lunges and high knees are great) while your kids are playing. 12/10 likelihood at least one of them will insist on being picked up, or will use you like a climbing wall. Congratulations, now you’re weight training.
Got a yard? A balcony? A windowsill? Get your babe a little planter box and plant some seedlings *together*. Do 10 push ups every time he yells ‘no, I want to do it!’. Tell him to water the seedlings each day. Realise you should have been more specific about the amount of water. Buy more seedlings. Repeat until you have a mental breakdown.
Hang in there Team, this lockdown has to end someday!
Liked these 10 ways to burn more energy during lockdown, but looking for something a little more practical? Check out my 15-minute lockdown workout.
Far out, it’s been quite a week. I planned to post this workout last Wednesday, but life disintegrated into a total sh*tshow. We spent Sunday night in Emergency after Alfie tripped and hit his head on our coffee table. Thank goodness there was no head injury beyond the superficial, but he needed an operation with a plastic surgeon to fix it.
I am wracked with guilt; he, meanwhile, has taken it all in his stride. He barely complained through 5 hours in Emergency, 24 hours without food (do not underestimate how impressive this is for a toddler!), and 12 hours in the hospital waiting room with no nap before his operation. What an incredible little human he is. I am now in the market for a round coffee table and/or a padded house, so hit me up if you’ve got any suggestions.
Somehow, life has already returned to normal, and Sydney’s lockdown has been extended. And let’s be honest, whether you’ve got young kids, older kids or no kids, lockdown is not a good time (although it seems plenty of idiots people in Sydney seem to be totally ignoring the lockdown and having a reallllllly good time anyway?!). Now I don’t know about you guys, but when I’m feeling physically and mentally drained (#lockdownlife), I find it really difficult to focus on long workouts. Instead, I’m finding that short, sharp, 10-15 minute workouts are easier to wrap my head around (plus, it’s pretty well all I’ve got time for at the moment).
This is a super simple 15-minute no-equipment lockdown workout I like to do when the stars align and both of my children decide to sleep at the same time. Remember I’m just getting back into it after a looooong time away from regular exercise, so I’m still taking it easy and keeping things really controlled for my pelvic floor, abdominal separation and just as a mark of respect to my poor body, which grew and birthed two babies in a very short space of time!
15-minute no-equipment lockdown workout
Choose either45 seconds work – 15 seconds restOR50 seconds work – 10 seconds rest
Squats
Knee push ups
Lunge to high knee (right)
Lunge to high knee (left)
Modified plank row
2-leg glute bridge
Modified burpee
REPEAT
To finish:
60 second plank
Something is better than nothing (it really is true!) so I’m going to attempt to put aside 15 minutes for myself every day this week and see how I’m feeling by Friday.
Looking for a bodyweight workout with higher intensity? Try this one.
