Consider this both a greeting from my newborn bubble and a heartfelt apology to every mother I've ever met. It has been 21 days into motherhood and I've come to a rather humbling realization: I had absolutely no idea what it truly takes to be a mother. Before now, I definitely appreciated motherhood as an observer, but the experience firsthand is something entirely different. Somewhere between breastfeeding sessions, wake windows, and becoming an amateur newborn-soothing specialist, I've found myself in awe of the profound evolution from being a woman to becoming a mother.
These past few weeks have changed me in ways I can’t fully articulate yet. One of the best decisions I made before giving birth was to take a deliberate step back from my phone and social media, allowing myself the rare gift of being fully present for this chapter. Without the pressure to document every moment, I've been able to immerse myself in the beautiful, exhausting, life-altering experience of new motherhood alongside my family and a lot of support. And while this may not be my most profound piece of writing, sleep deprivation, hormones, and living what feels like a constant learning curve, I am here to let you know that the MERCH GIRLY is alive, well, and loving every moment of this adventure. There is so much to unpack, and trust me, I have plenty of stories, lessons, and tea to share once my brain chemistry settles a bit more.
New Mom’s Don’t Want Your Onesie
The most obvious gift to give a new or expecting mom is a branded baby onesie. It's practically a rite of passage in the world of corporate gifting. But after spending time in the newborn trenches myself, I can confidently say that while a logo-covered onesie may be the low hanging fruit, it is actually just about the least practical gift a new mother receives. Babies grow out of them in record time, they're quickly buried beneath an avalanche of laundry, and those endless snaps somehow become a puzzle no parent is equipped to solve at 3 a.m.
The reality is that most baby gifts are designed with the baby in mind, while the person doing the feeding, soothing, changing, and surviving on broken sleep is often overlooked. New mothers are navigating one of the biggest transitions of their lives, yet many of the gifts they receive do little to make that transition easier. A thoughtful gift is either coming directly off their registry, or should do more than look good on LinkedIn. It should solve a problem, provide comfort, create convenience, or offer a small moment of relief during a season when those things are in short supply.
When choosing a gift for a new mom getting humbled on the daily, it's worth asking a simple question: is this something she actually needs? Because while the branded onesie may earn a polite smile, a gift that acknowledges and supports the mother herself will be remembered and appreciated long after the newborn stage has passed. After all, behind every adorable baby is a GIRLY doing her best in her most selfless season of her life.
Mantra of the Month: We Remain Present While We Evolve
As someone currently navigating what feels like the biggest evolution a woman can experience, the closest comparison I can make is that feeling of drinking from a firehose, while starting the most incredible job of your career. Each day there are exciting wins and highs, but there are also daily challenges that deeply humble you as you learn an entirely new role and version of yourself. And in any growth journey it's easy to focus on everything you haven't figured out yet, especially when the internet offers endless advice and highlight reels that make everyone else look like they figured it all out in a day’s work.
What I’ve learned in my career and have taken into the evolution to motherhood is that although this might be the most natural thing a woman can do, it also isn’t something that happens overnight. The key isn't consuming more information or comparing your journey to someone else's. It's about being present, trusting your instincts, and taking things one step at a time. There are so many variables that come into play during an evolution, which makes comparison extremely unproductive. So, we need to choose to focus less on the mountain ahead and more on embracing the beautiful moments of becoming who we need to be, one day at a time, because we remain present while we evolve.
XX,
MERCH GIRLY
Savannah Dmytriw — better known as MERCH GIRLY — didn’t exactly plan on joining the promotional products industry. (Thank you, pandemic layoffs.) Thrown into unprecedented times with even more unprecedented circumstances, Savannah built a thriving book of business while marketing budgets everywhere were frozen solid. Armed with creativity and sheer determination, she landed a $3.5M client in her first calendar year and continues to hunt whales as the VP of Marketing at TEAM SCG. Her approach isn’t to just “sell swag”, rather she sees herself as a brand connoisseur — someone who dives deep into a brand’s essence before suggesting a single product. When she’s not crafting fabulous campaigns, you’ll find her chronicling merch moments on her Instagram @MERCHGIRLY, pulling inspiration from the wellness, live event, hospitality, and luxury retail worlds. Her fresh perspective has earned her a spot as a Top 10 Influencer on PPAI’s Online 18 and a feature in The Marketing Millennials newsletter and podcast, cementing her status as the girly twirly authority in the merch game.