I love supporting momma-treprenuers! I mean have you ever tried to sit on a conference call with a screaming toddler in the background?! Yeah – working from home is not easy. So I truly love supporting mamas who make it work. Savannah is a prime example of that! Read on to learn more about her new endeavor + #momlife.
Who is TRENDY HIPPEE MAMA?!
Savannah: Oh man, what a loaded question! To break it down most simply, I am a wife, mother, daughter & friend living out this human experience; continually learning & growing, striving to find more joy in the everyday and cultivate meaningful connections.Little about me- Midwest born and raised… currently live outside of Milwaukee, WI. Married my college sweetheart and we have an amazing (when this gets posted) 14 month old, Jade, and 2 rescue pups, Mitzy & Coconut. I have always loved creating and wanted to go to school for fashion, but ended up choosing the “safer” route of business. I worked in corporate retail for the last decade and left a couple months ago to focus on family and spend more time pursuing other passions in the health & wellness arena, specifically pregnancy and motherhood!
What is your product?
Savannah: INWARD Affirmation Card Decks. Right now I have one deck for Birth and another for Postpartum Mama’s
What inspired you to create these decks?
Savannah: I was inspired to develop these decks (specifically the postpartum one) after giving birth to my daughter. The fourth trimester for me was BY far the most difficult, I was not ready for all of the changes (physical and emotional) and the lack of control. That paired with extreme fatigue from blood loss during birth and sleep deprivation made me question why I thought I could ever handle motherhood. What helped me the most was reaching out to a trusted group of likeminded woman and their words assuring me that I was not alone. I feel that too much of the time we see the good snippets of motherhood on social media, but not many address the hardships (something that I think is beginning to change), which sets new mama’s up with unrealistic expectations. As I was making my birth plan, I found it difficult to find affirmations specific to birthing, which is where that idea came from. I created these cards to help other mama’s navigate this transitional time in their lives, provide inspiration, encouragement and find a sense of community. Affirmations can physically alter the makeup of the brain. Positive affirmations work by reprogramming old thought patterns, changing feelings associated with certain events, and replacing limiting or negative beliefs with a new truths. Over time, these effects will lead to natural positive change. From a scientific perspective, when affirmations are practiced regularly and mindfully, they can slowly reinforce pathways in the brain and strengthen connections between neurons. The deeper the pathways and connections, the higher likelihood you have of transmitting the same positive message you want your brain to process, thus, releasing negative self talk and thoughts that are not serving your highest good.
What was the process like to create these decks?
Savannah: It was slow, haha! But, a testament to how strongly I feel that products like these are important. Like with any new idea, I was really excited in the beginning, but then the doubt began to creep in. Along the excuses as to WHY I couldn’t make this happen. Coming up with the phrases were the easy part for me. I remember sitting in my living room, 5 weeks postpartum, writing down in my planner helpful words that others were sharing with me. I kept adding to the list when I’d come across a theme or concept that was inspiring. I worked on this well past the fourth trimester, so, by about 6 months out I was able to (more objectively) look back on that time, list out my personal hardships and then come up with affirmations to address each one. For the beautiful images on the cards I used photos from my own travels along with stunning shots taken by some very talented friends… I love the strong feminine energy radiating from the decks. What is kind of funny is that having to go back to work after my maternity leave really gave me the motivation to finish this project. I would use my pumping breaks to work on the cards!
What does self care look like for you?
Savannah: I know it is cliche to say, but I really try to stick to the mantra of “filling my own cup first.” I don’t think it is selfish because you cannot pour from an empty cup. Jade can pick up on vibes very easily and I try my best to stay as present, loving and engaged with her as possible. With that said, the biggest learning I’ve had so far is that I can’t do it all and that it is ok to ask for help. My mother and stepfather live close by so Jade sees them for a few hours almost every weekday, which allows me to run errands, go to yoga or a massage, get things done around the house or work on some of my projects. I know that is a privilege that not everyone has, but I am so grateful for them!! A simple practice that really sets the tone for my day is showering in the morning. Revolutionary, I know. But, taking those 10-15 minutes before I get Jade out of bed and the day started is a game changer (I’ve started to take cold showers, but that may be a story for another time). I also eat whole nourishing foods, try to hydrate, sleep as much as possible (which now includes afternoon naps with Jade – no apologies!). I’ve changed my meditation practice from the morning to after Jade goes to bed. Maybe one day I will wake up earlier, but that’s not in the cards right now. I teach yoga, so 1-2 nights a week I do get out of the house to do something I love, which always leaves me rejuvenated and I also move my body at home, whether its just light stretching or streaming a full class. Our 1940’s house has lots of little projects, too, which I find oddly satisfying to complete!
How has the transition to motherhood changed you?
Savannah: There are so many things that have changed! But, I think the most important is that being a mother has given me more courage. That may seem unusual, but throughout pregnancy and birth I found the strength to stand by my beliefs and choose how I wanted my experience. After Jade was born, I, eventually, was able to tap into my intuition and have the courage to navigate though all the advise and find what worked for US. But, most importantly (so far) Jade has inspired me to live by example. If I raise her telling her that she can do whatever she wants and go after her dreams, but I don’t, then what kind of example am I setting? I have done so many things that I never thought possible in this last year!
What piece of advice would you give to new mama?
Savannah: Most of my advice is in the cards! Its hard to pick a favorite, but I am constantly drawn to the card that says, “Its ok to not be ok.” Just saying it out loud is so powerful. You are allowed to not be happy all the time. To feel sad/mad/frustrated. To JUST. FEEL. So much of the time, as empathetic beings, we try to make others feel better when they are upset instead of just holding space for them to process and share how they are feeling without the judgement of a response. Another helpful thought was that everything is a phase… good or bad! It won’t be like this forever, so if you keep that mindset the tasks ahead seem less daunting.
Any future products in the works?
Savannah: As always, I have a bunch of ideas… New Mama Gift Boxes, Natural Teethers, Pacifier Clips, Naturally Dyed Headbands, Meditation Cushions, Malas… I even have the components to make most of them! (facepalm) But prototypes have not turned out exactly as I envisioned, so I have gotten stuck. I try to practice the idea of creating in flow state versus forcing myself to sit down and create, so there may be some delays, but I believe in divine timing. So, in short – yes – more to come to the TrendyhippieMama shop!
