Things I actually own
Everything here is something I use, have used, or would buy again. If I didn't like it, it's not on the list — there's no version of this where I recommend something I wouldn't hand to a friend.
Dumbbells, bands, and the few things worth the money when you're building a setup in a room that already has other jobs.
ProteinPowders, bars, and shelf-stable things that actually hit protein without tasting like a punishment.
SnacksGrab-and-go snacks that hold up in a bag, a car, or a diaper bag that's seen things.
SupplementsThe supplements and staples I actually keep in the house, and why each one earns its spot.
Tools that make meal prep faster instead of adding a step. Nothing that needs assembling, cleaning in four parts, and storing in a cabinet you can't reach.
Meal prepContainers that stack, freezer bags that hold up, and the labeling that means you know what's in there in March. Pairs with the postpartum freezer meal plan.
HomeThe unglamorous things that quietly make a house run, mid-remodel or otherwise.
Supplements, tracking, and the groundwork worth laying in the months before. Pairs with the 30-day preconception meal plan in the shop.
Pregnancy & birthWhat genuinely helped through pregnancy and delivery — and what I'd skip if I did it again.
RecoveryWhat helped in the weeks after — recovery basics, support, and the things that make rebuilding strength easier. Pairs with Core Rebuild and Built Back.
Fourth trimesterThe early-days list — the things for you, not just the baby, that nobody puts on a registry.
RegistryThe gear that actually got used, minus the expensive things that sat in a corner.
FeedingBottles, bibs, high chair bits, and the specific things that made feeding time less of a disaster zone.
ToddlerWhat's survived a toddler in our house — toys, gear, and things that buy you ten minutes.
Kid snacksSnacks that pass with a toddler and still have something in them. A short list, because most don't.
A short routine that works on four hours of sleep. Nothing here takes more than a few minutes.
FashionClothes that work for school pickup, the gym, and getting spit up on, ideally all in one day.
ReadingWhat I've actually finished, which is a meaningfully shorter list than what I've started.
How I pick things
I don't recommend things I haven't used, and I don't list something just because a brand sent it. If something breaks, disappoints, or turns out to be a worse version of a cheaper thing, it comes off the list.
Most of what's here is unglamorous. That's on purpose — the gear that actually gets used tends to be boring, and the exciting stuff is usually sitting in a closet.