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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Benefits of Taking a Birth Class

We crossed off a major item on my pre-baby to-do list over the weekend: the birth class! When I signed up for the Preparation for Childbirth workshop a couple of months ago, I wasn’t sure if it was necessary or worth the money. But now that we’ve completed the class I can safely say it was a worthy investment. I wanted to share some reasons I found it to be helpful to take advantage of the education classes offered at your hospital or in your area.

Reasons to take a birth class:

  • Receive clarification on your hospital’s philosophy and policies: It was nice to know that our hospital already plans to do skin-to-skin contact and delayed cord clamping, which I was already planning to request. You can also find out the hospital’s rates for such things as C-sections. We also learned about how the hospital’s security.
  • Go on a hospital tour: Getting to labor and delivery can be a source of stress if you don’t know where to park, where to check-in, what your room will look like, etc. Now that we know where to go, what to expect from our stay and the services that are offered we feel more comfortable and relieved.
  • Know your pain management options: We learned exactly what medication options are available and the hospital’s philosophy and policies surrounding them. If you’re considering an epidural you watch a video and hear about how they are given so you know what you expect. If you’re considering an unmedicated birth you can learn techniques for coping with pain as well. In fact, the entire first day of the workshop focused on unmedicated birth coping mechanisms.
  • Practice massage techniques and breathing exercises: Part of learning about your pain management options is learning specific massage and support techniques your partner can do to help you during labor. The hip squeeze I found especially helpful! You also do breathing exercises that help not only in labor and delivery but in everyday life.
  • Get support from other couples: You meet couples from diverse backgrounds and of different ages, but you all share many of the same fears. Talking about those concerns helps alleviate some of the stress and helps you find solutions. You are not alone! Many of the men, for example, shared the feeling of helplessness and fear of not knowing how to help their partners, but they walked away with specific ways to be an active part of the labor process.
  • Ask questions and get suggestions on outside resources: You are getting information from an expert rather than friends and family who may not be as informed or who may exaggerate their stories. The class debunked popular myths people can sometimes fill your head with. The class was a safe space to ask all the questions you had about giving birth. The instructor also had handouts with contact information for lactation consultants, support groups for postpartum depression, and other classes that may be helpful. (There’s even a class on how to get your dog to adjust to a new baby!)
  • Taste the hospital food: You will likely be staying int he hospital for two or three days, so it’s not a bad idea to try out the food. Of course, you don’t have to, but we enjoyed checking out the cafeteria options and seeing what we would have available.
  • Gain reassurance: Overall I felt more confident in myself. The biggest takeaway: I learned to keep an open mind and not set my heart on a given plan. I now have tools I can use, but I don’t need to commit to anything. If I adjust my expectations I can avoid feeling disappointed. At the end of the day the best outcome if a healthy and happy baby, not matter how that happens.

If you plan to have children in the future, will you take one? If you already have kiddos, what did you learn about giving birth?

Related posts:

Safari Animal Baby Shower

Becoming a Mermaid With AquaMermaid Chicago

 

** Thank you AquaMermaid Chicago for hosting me for a mermaid class. All thoughts are always my own.

Mermaid Class with AquaMermaid Chicago
Photo taken with a GoPro, so quality of image differs from my other posts.

Note: Airbnb did a feature on the class I attended. Read it here.


I’ve always been a mermaid at heart. Haven’t we all dreamed of being a mermaid? AquaMermaid helped me make that dream a reality at its mermaid class over the weekend at the UIC Sports and Fitness Center. What a Sunday Funday!

I was a little nervous before the class on Sunday, but I’m not sure why. A fellow student quickly put me at ease with her kindness. I didn’t know anyone else in class, but by the end we were all chatting and having fun together.

We began by getting outfitted with our fins and tails. You first put your feet in the fins and then zip up (in my case, Velcro) your tail up. Then you pull the tail up the rest of the way. That was the trickiest part, but I found that if you lie down it’s a lot easier. If you’re wondering about the fit of the mermaid tails, AquaMermaid has a size chart on its website.

First, what to bring to the mermaid class:

  • Towel
  • Waterproof camera (I bought my GoPro in its new Super Suit.)
  • Googles
  • Swimsuit
  • Moisturizer and lip balm for after class (I wish I had brought these because I found that my skin felt so dry after class.)
  • Lock, if you plan to use a locker
  • Friends!
Once you get in the water, you learn the basic mermaid moves, which we practiced in groups of three. One of them was the mermaid hello, which meant bringing your knees to your chest and waving your tail. The class I attended was for teens and adults, but classes for children 7 and older are also available. Our class had people in their teens to their 30s and 40s. (By the way, AquaMermaid Chicago classes are also available in Ottawa, yPhoenix/Scottsdale, Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, Kitchener-Waterloo and Norfolk County.)
Among the tricks we learned: swimming sideways, swimming in groups holding each other’s shoulders, handstands, etc. It was a bit difficult to swim with the tail on at first, but by the end I was getting the hang of it.

After we learned and practiced the basics, we could move on to the deeper end of the pool to learn more tricks. We also at one point did ab work: Placing our elbows at the pool’s edge, keep our bodies and legs straight and lifting our tails up to the water’s surface, then back down slowly and with straight legs (as in a leg lift). I found it difficult to get the tail up to the surface. We also participated in a relay race, but by then I was beat. (This is when you will need your goggles. You also need them if you prefer to swim underwater.) The class is definitely a workout!

Mermaid Class With AquaMermaid Chicago
Photo by Airbnb

 

The class ends with enough time (about 10 minutes) to take photos, so don’t worry. The instructor knows just what poses to do, too, in case you’re stuck. It’s also a fairly Instagrammable event, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Also, if you find that you fall in love with the class, you can become a member and buy a mermaid tail of your own!

A mermaid class would make a great outing for a group of friends, especially for a birthday. I could see doing this with a few friends and then going to brunch afterward, because you most certainly work up an appetite. A gift card to AquaMermaid would also make a unique gift for an adventurous person in your life. I’d love one! My biggest tip for mermaid class is to have fun and enjoy the laughs!

Questions I received when I shared a post about my mermaid class:

  • Is it hard? In the beginning it can be a bit difficult, but it gets easier. I felt it the next day.
  • Am I too old for this? NOPE! We had teens up to middle-age students in my class.
  • Are men allowed? Guys can certainly attend. Mermen are welcome, too!
  • Can I actually become a mermaid? If you’d like to become a professional mermaid, you can take training via AquaMermaid! How cool is that?!
Also: Parking for the Chicago class was easy to find on Taylor Street, just a short walk from the center. (And it’s free on Sundays, when these classes were held!)

Have you ever considered taking a mermaid class? Doesn’t it sound like fun?



Video: my mermaid class experience:

Let’s Dabble: Make & Sip Vertical Air Plant Garden

** As a Super Dabbler, I received a Dabble credit for this class. I was a fan of Dabble before becoming an ambassador, and all opinions are always my own.

 

My latest Dabble adventure was creating an air plant garden at a LeeLee’s Garden pop-up class at Hotel Lincoln. I was intrigued by the idea of working with air plants and I love anything garden-related, so this class was calling my name when I saw it on Dabble’s calendar.

I loved the venue as soon as I walked into the Hotel Lincoln lobby. It has such quirky decor and a fun vibe. The class was held in the Grant Suite on the second floor.

 

The instructor was lovely and a pleasure to chat with. We started by talking about air plants and where they are typically found (humid climates like Florida and some parts of California in the U.S.). I was able to select my own piece of cork bark, and I loved my choice! We added fish link to the back for easy hanging on a wall at home. Then it was time to pick four or five air plants, depending on the size of your bark and the size of the air plants. I played around with the placement of the air plants and even switched out some of my choices before it was time to glue them to the bark. Because the glue times some time to fully dry, it’s best to keep the air plant garden flat overnight before hanging, as was suggested by the instructor.

 

Now came the fun part of decorating with moss. I chose purple and a bright green to add in strategic little nooks on the bark. You can bring little items to add if you want, or use what is provided in class. Oh, and I almost forgot: You can bring a beverage to sip on as you create a beautiful air plant garden!
It makes a fun night out for friends or could be a date night for plant-loving couples. It also occurred to me during class that the air plant garden could be a great Father’s Day gift for Graham because he loves anything that has to do with flora.
The value of the $45 class is pretty darn good considering you get a large piece of homemade living art to take home and you have two hours to create your masterpiece.

Considering this air plant garden class or another Dabble class? Remember that you can use code MARETTE10 at checkout to save some cash. Dabble classes are available in Chicago, Austin, St. Louis, Seattle and many other cities. (The list is growing!) Also, if you have ever considered teaching your skill to others, you can sign up to host your own classes.

Reasons to Take A Photography Class

 

** This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission for purchases through these links.
Reasons to Take Photography Class

I’ve wanted to take a photography class for more than a year, but I kept putting it off. What would I do with this skill? Was it worth the money? Last month finally taught me that it’s worth investing in myself. The fact that taking photos makes me happy is reason enough to enroll in a class and practice photography. Monday was the first night of my class, which has only one other student. This makes the class more relaxed and we each get more one-on-one time with the instructor. I asked him about a thousand questions in our first session, which ran longer than scheduled. We walked around a quaint Chicago neighborhood to practice shooting, find areas of light, switch up our angles, play around with our camera settings and ask questions. Today I’m sharing what I learned and the reasons to take a photography class.

What I learned in my first class:

  • It doesn’t matter what camera you have (Nikon vs. Canon vs. Sony vs. whatever). We all had different cameras in class, and they each had great features. You can take neat photographs with what you have.
  • In addition to different cameras, each photographer has a unique eye and preferences. What I think looks good might not align with what you like, and that’s OK.
  • I apparently have not been using my camera to its full potential. My instructor showed me how to adjust aperture on my camera in a way that is different than what I’ve been doing. I also learned to measure the white balance, something I don’t think I’ve ever done! (Maybe during photojournalism in college, but that was so long ago … )
  • I learned a bit more about why I am getting some blurring with my newest lens. I’ll have to work on reducing camera shake as I practice more.
If you’re thinking about taking a photography class and need a little boost to do so, here are some reasons to consider enrolling:
  • You want to improve the quality of your blog or social media posts.
  • You want to learn to use natural and/or artificial lighting.
  • Your photos don’t turn out as well as you wanted, and you don’t know why.
  • You want to eventually pursue it as a side or full-time hustle.
  • You want to turn on auto mode and learn how to actually use your camera.
  • You want to know which camera equipment to invest in.
  • You think photography is fun!
I’m so excited for next week!
Have you considered taking a photography course? What other goals are you working on right now?
 
Reasons to Take Photography Class

The lens I am learning to use**:

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Modern Lettering Class with Dabble.co!

 

 

Have you ever wanted to try something but felt unsure of where to start? Dabble.co has helped me with several of those situations. I recently wanted to buy a sign during vacation, but I couldn’t bring myself to spend that kind of cash on it. It seemed like I could just do it myself if I practice lettering.

Modern Lettering class, which I found via Dabble, quickly showed me that lettering is much more difficult than it looks. It piqued an interest that I plan to pursue further.

The class is taught by Tamasin Ford in a classroom at Power Up Tech Academy. She has a workspace waiting for you with your own workbook, which she created, and a pen that you choose and take home. (I chose classic black, but red, blue, green and other colors were available.) Tamasin also offers coffee, tea and water during class, though you are free to bring your own beverage, as you are in many Dabble classes.

 

 

Rachael (of Tea for Two blog) and I went to a Monday night class on a snowy March day in Chicago. I was nervous about finding parking outside the building on Clybourn Avenue, but it was easy to find. Surprisingly, most people were on time despite the snow!

The class begins with Tamasin discussing the basics for about 20 minutes or so. She goes over the workbook and suggests working at your own pace. Some people get through the entire workbook throughout class, while others, like me, only get to about the third page because it takes them more practice. After the talk, Tamasin walks around to each person around the table to offer feedback and tips on ways to improve. It seemed that every student thought she was terrible at lettering, but Tamasin often pointed out how we were much tougher on ourselves than we needed to be. I thought my overturns and underturns were awful, but she didn’t seem to think they were at all. The first lesson I learned about lettering is to slow down and be patient. I also took a lot of breaks in between practicing. The two-hour class inspired me to keep practicing. If nothing else, scribbling on pages is good meditation!

The class is $32, but you can get a discount on this and other Dabble classes by using my ambassador link.  Dabble is also available in cities such as Seattle, St. Louis, Denver, Atlanta and Austin. You can use code MARETTE10 to get 10 percent off your class.

** I received a Dabble credit to pay for this class. I was a Dabble.co fan long before becoming an ambassador. I may receive incentives for using my code and links.

Previous Dabble experiences:

Fused-Glass Dish Class
Photography
SUP Yoga
Holiday Ornament Making
Sushi-Making
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