starting your own sober meetup: a step-by-step guide

As the San Diego Recovering Women's Social Club grows and grows (over 400 members strong!), I am met with questions from other women (local and non-local alike) on how they can start their own meetup and ensure its success. Over the last 18 months of facilitating the meetup, I have had so many lessons learned …

a week of media deprivation

I have been working through The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, a 12-week program to re-discover your inner creative. The program consists of lots of journalling prompts and weekly "tasks" to get in touch with your playful side in an effort to un-block the spiritual flow of creativity. One of the mainstays of the program …

What are bitters, and are they safe to use in sobriety?

I recently posted a photo on my instagram story depicting a local bar’s awesome selection of bitters, with the caption: “Sober date tip: if the bar has a beautiful collection of bitters, order a bitters and soda!” I fancied myself quite clever and adultlike with my club soda and chamomile and citrus infused bitters, but …

does ending a bad relationship solve my drinking problem? (and why it doesn’t really matter).

I spent the last year of my failing three-year marriage convinced that once it was over, I could return to my pre-nuptial levels of “moderate” drinking. I could not wait to shake this rock out of my shoe so that I could finally be free to resume my amicable, mature friendship with red wine and …

i’ve healed my body – now what?

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have re-started Gabrielle Bernstein's 42-day course, May Cause Miracles. And I am, like, really trying to commit this time around! I even set aside a "meditation spot" (AKA a meditation pillow and candle in the corner of Steve's office, wedged between his surfboard, 7,000 computer cables and an …

1 year alcohol-free: a week in review

On December 17, 2018 I celebrated one full year alcohol-free. From barely being able to make it to 5pm without a drink somedays.. to an entire 365 days?! Who am I?! And that's not even taking into account everything "else" that I was able to accomplish this last year...you know, little things, like buying a house and …

how a gym franchise saved my life

When running, I often find myself building motivation by imaging myself running from something. For you this might be a bear, a mugger, the police, your mom. For me, its often my past life. The old me. Everything I have overcome. Corny, yeah, but try it..you might surprise yourself. Have you ever run so fast …

PSA: Euphoric The Podcast is a thing, and it’s OUR thing!

We did it! We really did it. Karolina and I finally got our podcast up and running, and you can listen directly here, or search for us on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and TuneIn. I will also be posting the most recent episode here on my blog (in the top right corner, above Recovery Bookshelf). So what …

split screen: vacation remorse

I recently returned from a lush vacay in Cabo - my VERY FIRST experience at an all-inclusive resort. We spent 3 nights/4 days in paradise for our friends' wedding, which was absolutely perfect and gorgeous. We had a wonderful time, but one thing I always do on trips is play this mantra of vacation-remorse - …

when insta-strangers trigger you

I don't usually get so worked up over something that it drives me to write. My posts are thought out for days, weeks, usually following some small, inciting event. And they are pretty neutral. But today I just felt so uneasy about something that I  saw on instagram of all fucking places that I had …