maybe we should totally just stab Caesar

life skills according to Gretchen Wieners

If there’s one thing that pregnancy has taught me (apart from the value of being able to sleep in any position you like), it’s that, sometimes, you just need to be gentle with yourself.

I’ve spent the last six months trying to compete with my pre-pregnancy self. Whether that’s running a 5k in less than 25 minutes, managing rehearsals, or even just getting out of bed before 9am, it feels like I’m failing at everything.

Rice is overcooked? My fault.

Train is delayed? Down to me.

TikTok gets banned by the US government? Must be because I dropped a box of Fruit’n’Fibre this morning.

It’s taken almost two whole trimesters, but I’ve had to take a new approach to things. I’m calling it the ‘Stab Caesar’ approach.

1. If you have the energy, stab Caesar.

2. If you don’t have the energy, do what you need to do for your body and your mind. Then stab Caesar later.

   
   

Sometimes Caesar gets to walk out of the Theatre of Pompey unharmed - there are crumbs on the kitchen floor, that Canva graphic isn’t quite what you or your client want, or you just don’t manage to swap your leggings out for real clothes.

And sometimes, that’s not the important thing.

Maybe there’s something else you need. Whether it’s a hot girl walk, an iced latte, or a two-hour pregnancy nap (whoops), it’s all about balance. Sometimes Caesar only gets stabbed once in a day, and that’s still a win, and sometimes he gets stabbed all twenty-three times.

And sometimes Caesar gets stabbed tomorrow.

He’ll get stabbed. I believe in you.

dum vivimus, vivamus.

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highlights

I did a gig in Carlisle last week, and the friends we were staying with always manage to rise to the occasion when it comes to managing dietary requirements. For the vegan and dairy-averse among us, there’s no better dessert than a plant-based brownie - this wacky cake recipe from the Great Depression is a fabulous and free-from-friendly way of catering for a crowd. It’s a little more crumbly than a traditional brownie, so don’t eat it in the car (sorry, Maddie).

The third trimester hits next week, and my pregnancy style has evolved into what I call ‘Miss-Honey-core’. I’ve been wearing these dungarees from Jojo Maman Bebe a lot recently (thanks, Vinted), and it’s giving the adorable 90s mom vibe I’ve always found especially cosy. They do seem to run a little big*, so you might want to size down.

(*or my bump is just running a little small?)

Nothing gets me in the mood for work better than a focus playlist, and the right lofi can really give the perfect coffeeshop vibes to any space. And sometimes that coffeeshop is in Disneyland. When it’s really miserable outside, this Disney Lofi playlist adds a little bit of sparkle to those greyer days.

So my sub-25-minute 5km might be a thing of the pre-pregnancy past, but I do love a home workout for those mornings I can’t face the walk down to the gym. For those of us who are a bit more uppercut than downward dog, this workout from Pregnancy and Postpartum TV is a great 25-minute cardio boost.