What does celebration look like, really?

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Every aspect of life deserves its own party, doesn’t it? And lately, we’ve been thinking about how to romanticize our (sometimes boring, often not-noteworthy) routines. How do you turn the mundane into something special, particularly during those early transition moments into motherhood when there’s spit up on your pajamas and maybe in your hair, too? 

The truth is, celebration doesn’t require bodycon dresses or going out. Celebration can happen from the comfort of your couch as you stream yet another reality TV show, a binge interrupted only by the sound of your newborn stirring from their slumber. 

Societally, celebration is often tied to the clink of extra dirty martini glasses, and that can feel limiting when you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or simply curious about exploring a sober lifestyle. (Our go-to mocktail is Ghia’s Original Apéritif with soda water, a splash of lemon juice, and a candied lemon peel.) Still, we wanted to ask members of the Spread the Jelly community to weigh in: What moments of the motherhood journey have been worth toasting to, and what does a booze-free version of that joy look like?

What has been a win worth celebrating during your fertility, pregnancy or postpartum journey? 

“Witnessing the relationship blossoming between my five-year-old and my 18 month old. As an only child, I never experienced the nuances of sibling dynamics firsthand—the quiet generosity, the instinctive protectiveness, the effortless companionship. I’ve been granted a glimpse into a world I once only imagined.” —Allison Beer, interior designer and NYC-based mom of three

“While I’d love to say I found a ton of joy in the process, it wasn’t as linear as I’d hoped. True to form, I was a ball of anxiety through the entire thing, something that became a lighthearted point of connection for my partner and my doctor as they both volleyed the responsibility of being vessels for my nervous energy. My most joy-filled moment was when I woke up from my retrieval to find my partner smiling ear-to-ear. Maybe it was the drugs, but a sense of calm washed over me for the first time in months. My doctor said she usually waits until her patients are fully alert to give the status report, but she told us immediately: I had an impressive pull of 42 eggs. 31 were later deemed viable. Of course, there’s no guarantees from here, but I felt so impressed with my body and modern science. Definitely a win for us.” —Lauren Caruso, freelance writer and editorial consultant 

“I think both me and the baby just being healthy (so far), all things considered, is a win worth celebrating!” —Jordan Santos, mom-to-be and founder of Seen Library 

“I’m 30 and just had my first child. Something I’ve struggled with in the past few years is how much my body has changed, i.e. my metabolism is not what it once was, which means that clothes fit me a bit differently now than they did when I was, say, 21. And what I’m realizing after having my son is that the human body is a fucking miracle. I’m in awe of what it was able to do. What do you mean I grew my son’s arms? And what do you mean I should criticize my body, the body that grew said arms, because I’m not a size 0? It’s ridiculous. I’m never doing that to myself ever again. I also had a pretty stressful delivery that has put a lot of things into perspective for me. I’m no longer sweating the small stuff. It’s been profound, actually, to stop being anxious about stupid shit anymore.” AnaMaria Glavan, Co-founder of GAAN Creative and Editorial Director at Spread the Jelly

“How do I choose?? Pregnancy and postpartum have held the most joyous moments of my life. My 6 month old daughter's personality and sense of humor have really started to come through lately and interacting with her has cracked my heart open wider than I thought possible.” —Alyssa Rara, brand marketing consultant 

How have you been pampering or spoiling yourself during this process?  

“Through rest! With my previous two pregnancies, I committed to intense daily workouts. This time, with a spirited 18 month old keeping me constantly on my feet, I’ve come to recognize that simply keeping up with her is its own form of exertion.” —Allison 

“I replaced my raging sweet tooth and twice-daily caffeine addiction with thrifting and Dawson’s Creek marathons.” —Lauren

“I am a staunch cappuccino drinker but in my last three months of pregnancy I needed an iced latte, like, every single day. I could not start my day without one. Pedicures were another non-negotiable. My feet were so swollen that I couldn’t fit into my shoes toward the end (thank you, eventual preeclampsia diagnosis).” —AnaMaria

“Ice cream and massages; either professional ones or from my husband.” —Alyssa

“This question is making me realize I didn't treat myself enough during pregnancy…” —Jordan 

What’s been surprisingly fun about going booze-free?

“Around the time I started the egg retrieval process, my partner had coincidentally repotted a few herb plants on our deck that had suffered over the winter. Within weeks, our basil, mint, and rosemary plants were thriving so we started playing around with new recipes that we'd debut during game nights with our neighbors. We’d usually go through a bottle of wine or three, but they all abstained from alcohol on my behalf. It was all very wholesome.” —Lauren

“Being fully present in every moment, and remembering the little moments with so much more clarity.” —Alyssa

“I’ve always had debilitating hangover anxiety; I would wake up every morning after a night out thinking that I embarrassed myself in some way and that all my friends hated me (I can confirm they don’t hate me, I don’t think, friends reading this: please send me a text to confirm). I’d been flirting with the idea of going booze-free for a while and pregnancy sort of catapulted me into that process. Honestly, at the end of the nine months, I realized I hadn’t missed it all that much save for the occasional glass of fizzy orange wine. What I loved about the experience was going out to dinner and realizing that I didn’t need a buzz as a social crutch. I found nights out to be a lot more meaningful. And it was extremely nice to take my morning walks without a pounding headache.”—AnaMaria 

“While out to dinner, it’s fun to ask bartenders to whip up non-alcoholic cocktails, giving them a few loose guidelines, and then letting them work their magic.”  —Allison 

“I'm normally booze-free regardless of being pregnant or not, so I would say the fact that I don't miss alcohol is a plus!” —Jordan

Speaking of mocktails: what’s been your go-to? 

“Anything with lime juice, ginger, cucumber, mint, crushed ice! Refreshing and a little sweet.” —Allison

“Ghia Le Fizz!!! I had it for the first time at my baby shower (which was the hottest day in LA since 2022) and have been hooked since.” —Alyssa

“Hot take is that I hate ordering mocktails at NYC restaurants because they (usually) taste way too sweet. Fruit juice from Concentrate dumped into a fancy glass and then they charge you $14 for it if you’re at a semi-decent lounge in Brooklyn. I got into the habit of making myself a pre-dinner mocktail instead while I got ready. A chaser sans my usual tequila. Ditto to Alyssa: My go-to is Ghia’s Le Fizz which is like a fizzy orange seltzer situation that I would put in a fancy glass and then top with a slice of dried orange. Simple and impossible to mess up.” —AnaMaria

"I prefer Ghia’s Original Apéritif with soda water, a splash of lemon juice, and a candied lemon peel. They’re well worth the labor.” —Lauren

How have your tastes and habits shifted? 

“I now eat five-year-old leftovers with a side of prenatals. Turns out, being short on time makes you a lot less picky. It’s a welcome change for someone who used to be a pretty restrictive eater.” —Allison 

“I am super sensitive to sugar post-pregnancy, taste-wise. My favorite treat drink at Starbucks (brown sugar shaken espresso that I always order with half the sweetness) now feels like 150 packets of sugar have been dumped inside.” —AnaMaria

“I’ve always known that what I put in my body dictates what I get out of it—especially as I get older—but this whole process made me feel more aligned with myself, as well as less dictated by things like social norms and dopamine hits disguised as cravings. I’m not someone who considers alcohol or coffee or Sour Punch Straws to be poison, but my body’s newfound sensitivity to each is reason enough to put them down. I’ll probably find that I don’t want a tequila soda, but rather, quality time spent with friends and family.” —Lauren

“I'm a lot more thoughtful with what I eat and drink. Pre-baby it was all extra spicy, convenient frozen everything and lots of tequila. I still like to have fun and am not restrictive, but both my physical and mental health are even more of a priority so I can be at my absolute best for my family.” —Alyssa

“Oh god, my tastes have changed for the worst. I was so excited to eat and indulge while pregnant but if anything I've had more food aversions than cravings. Not a lot sounds yummy to me except for cold drinks and cold fruit really!” —Jordan