A Dose of Steph Jolly, Founder of Wonderfully Made

Introducing this issue's "A Dose of...", where we feature beauty enthusiasts on how they seek pleasure and build their own pleasure ritual. For this season on "A Dose of..." we're featuring Steph Jolly, Founder of Wonderfully Made.

It’s often said that raising a child requires a village, but what if that village is still inadvertently stuck in outdated ways? We shouldn’t blame our loved ones, as it’s not their fault; rather, it’s a result of the patriarchy teaching everyone that birth and postpartum experiences are easy and joyful.

The reality? Mothers go through various physical, emotional, and spiritual changes when creating literal life, and, as with most changes, it can be uncomfortable at times. Steph Jolly knows this all to well—despite always knowing she wanted to be a mother, she faced postpartum challenges like breastfeeding, recovering from birth, and managing sleep deprivation.

Jolly felt that there weren’t enough resources out there for new and expecting mothers, so she created her book, Wonderfully Made, to help new moms understand the real deal of motherhood. Wonderfully Made is full of nourishing and simple recipes to support both mother and child, plus tips on navigating the (ultimately) beautiful ups and downs of creating life.

One of the more important parts of motherhood is taking the time to rest and dip into your pleasures; after all, you can only care for others after you’ve cared for yourself. So, we tapped Steph to learn her best-kept secrets for prioritizing self-care while being a mama—here’s a dose of Steph Jolly.

What is your cocktail of the moment?
As a toddler mom, holistic nutrition student and content creator, I’m all about functional mocktails -- the “adrenal cocktail” is a delicious way to replenish your electrolytes. It has key minerals: potassium, sodium and magnesium, supporting my hormones and energy levels.

How do you seek pleasure for yourself?
An “everything shower” or hot bath to decompress. Warmth is healing.

What is your daily skincare + beauty routine?
I am currently using Fresh’s soy face cleanser and then follow with Annemarie Borlind 2-Phase Hyaluronan Shake serum, day and night. I get cosmetic acupuncture once a month and keep the rest simple. I also focus on my gut/liver health as part of my beauty routine.

Why did you write Wonderfully Made?
I noticed in my own postpartum journey that there was a lack of resources that were accessible and attainable. I wanted to support new mamas with easy, foundational recipes that would support their healing and give them strength for this new role. I believe when we are physically, mentally and spiritually nourished mothers, we can show up empowered in all areas of life.

What is your definition of self-care?
Self-care to me are the foundations: nourishment, movement and prioritizing sleep. Giving myself space and time to nail the foundations is how I self-care.

What’s the best thing about being a mother?
The gift itself, to co-create with God. My daughter has taught me everything and gave me brand new eyes. I’m forever grateful.