THE BLOG

(TMI TBH -Too Much Information Too Be Honest)

Welcome! Whether youโ€™re taking your first steps toward sobriety, celebrating years of alcohol-free living, or simply seeking inspiration and support, you'll find genuine stories, practical advice, and compassionate support to help you on your journey.

JOMO - The Difference Between Short Term Pleasure and Long Term Happiness alcoholfree jomo soberlife soberminded Sep 08, 2020

I have had nothing but JOMO this Labor Day.

The Joy Of Missing Out. 

JOMO is new to me and I am still a bit shocked at just how much JOMO I have. 

This makes me question my past decisions, but anyway...I am here now. 

Please do not confuse me with being a bore, or a prude, or a...

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Dear Big Alcohol, Shame on You, Little Eyes are Watching Me alcohol free ditchedthedrink empowerment mommy wine culture sober mom Sep 06, 2020

Shame on you Big Alcohol.

How dare you market your poison to Mothers.

You are selling us a carefree afternoon with a crisp chardonnay in the sun.

You are selling us a sip to take the edge off a long day.

You are selling us relief from the high stress of parenting.

You are selling us deeper...

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5 Reasons Why September is the Best Time to Take a Break from Booze alcohol free alcohol free challenge ditchedthedrink no drinking experiment sober curious Sep 03, 2020

Change of Season

The cooler weather and shorter days are calling to wrap yourself in cozy solitude. This sweater weather reminds us to tuck in early, be introspective, and self soothe with quiet comforts. One main concern for people taking a break from alcohol is their social life. As the...

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Will I Lose Weight if I Quit Drinking? alcohol free body image grayareadrinking sober curious sobriety Aug 29, 2020

 

Will I lose weight if I quit drinking?

This is one of my most asked questions.

I can’t guarantee anything about the scale, but I can share my experience.

When I quit drinking, I let myself eat whatever I wanted, with abandon.

I didn’t have a sweet tooth until I gave up alcohol....

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Not a Picture of An Alcoholic alcohol free ditchedthedrink mommywineculture soberissexy thedrylife Aug 28, 2020

Growing up in Wisconsin, alcohol was omnipresent. 

My parents met in a beer tent. 

I met my husband in a bar. 

I had a lot of fun drinking days with just a few embarrassing moments and a couple of painstaking hangovers sprinkled in between. 

Just like everyone else.

When I...

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The Most Important Lesson to Learn This School Year Aug 24, 2020

Kudos to all you parents who got a first day of school picture of your kids at 7 am, all dressed and sitting on your doorstep with their laptops ready for e-learning. 

 

I commend you. I really do. 

 

My perfectionist and competitive nature wants that picture, so I am a bit...

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Mom Burnout and Self Care alcoholfree anxiety mom mom burnout sobercurious Aug 19, 2020

Mama’s, I know you are stressed out. 

School is starting and the kids aren’t going anywhere.

In addition to your job at home, as carpooler, housekeeper, chef, and CEO of family scheduling, you are now expected to also act as teacher’s support, tech support, early...

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Client Stories - Katie alcohol free coach perfectionism sober mom Jul 26, 2020

For a long while, I've struggled with drinking to have fun and drinking to relieve and escape some of the monotony and fatigue of the day-in, day-out routine of working full time as a database developer while also trying to be "everything" for my three young children.

Sometimes a glass of wine...

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Happy Birthday Ditched the Drink From #1 Boss Babe alcohol free career corporate wellness sober sober life Jul 23, 2020

A year ago I was between jobs. 

I was interviewing at a few companies. 

I was rising as the top candidate for a few positions. 

The openings were for jobs that I was qualified for and that I had done before.

I was good enough at these jobs.

I visualized myself making a...

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How Quitting Drinking Taught me to Experience Joy alcohol free joy sober curious sober is sexy sober movement Jul 18, 2020

One of the greatest gifts of sobriety, for me, has been the ability to feel joy.

This may sound silly, as alcohol is sold as a rip roaring good time.

I had some good times in my drinking days.

The good times, however, were often clouded by my own shame and fear. 

Now that I am sober,  I...

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Taking Shots alcoholfree sober soberissexy soberliving vacation Jul 14, 2020

Along with another chaperone, I took my 15 year old daughter and 5 of her girlfriends, to a lake house in Michigan, for a long weekend.

The weekend away was like a mini vacay.

A sober, alcohol free, rated PG, delightful vacation.

 Is it possible to have fun without drinking?

When I was...

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5 Tips to Thrive Booze Free on a Holiday Weekend alcoholfree holiday sobercurious Jul 02, 2020

If you are newly sober, or giving alcohol a break, the upcoming holiday weekend can bring on anxiety. How will you party sober? How will you turn down a drink? 

 

I understand these fears. In fact, I was sober for months and feeling good until I found myself completely unprepared for a...

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How to Live a Big, Juicy Life, Without Alcohol alcohol free mocktails sober curious soberliving Jun 26, 2020

You can live a big, juicy life without alcohol. 

I am 900 days sober and living a brave, and adventurous life. 

Day 1 and Day 900 look completely different. 

On Day 900, I still drink.

I still like to over indulge. 

I love going out and having a good time. 

I don’t...

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The Thin Line Between Normal and Heavy Drinking alcohol anxiety depression grief health Jun 23, 2020

My friend, Becky died a year ago today from alcohol. 

It is so sad and it is not fair.

Becky and I were just casual friends, but we had a lot in common. 

We both come from the same small town in Wisconsin. 

We were both on the Poms squad in high school.

We married good, steady guys...

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Client Stories - Amber clientstories Jun 21, 2020

How did I get to mid-June of 2020 already?!

I feel like I had myself pretty motivated and put together walking in to the New Year.... Boy was I wrong! I KNEW I needed to face my relationship with alcohol and I knew I needed to address some healing, but if I'm honest now I can see that my vision...

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The Magic Elixir alcoholfree alcoholfreeexperiment benefits sober challenge sober curious soberforthehealthofit sobernotboring Jun 17, 2020

Want to level up your life? I can help.

What if I told you that you could have all this just by giving up one thing. 

Would you be willing to do it? 

Giving up this one thing will save you money. 

You will look better. 

The results are proven, 

Your skin will become clear...

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Alcoholics Need Love, Not Punishment Jun 10, 2020

In our society we've got addiction all wrong.

I saw this picture of Carson Pickett, an Orlando Pride Soccer player, who was born without a left forearm.
When 2 year old Joseph Tidd, also born without a left forearm, came to her game, they did a high five with their elbows.
Carson became the role...

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Dear Black Friends antiracism Jun 08, 2020

Dear Black Friends,

I am so sorry. 

I didn’t know you were screaming for help. 

You’ve been living with knees on your necks.

It was urgent that I do something to stop it. 

I thought I was helping. 

I thought I was doing my part to help. 

I thought my votes and...

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Silver Linings of Grief anxiety death grief Jun 04, 2020

At 44 years old, I might be at the halfway point of my life. 

My Grandma just passed away at 88 last week. 

No one is getting any younger.

My kids are teenagers and I am middle aged. 

I am not sure how this all happened so quickly. 

Just yesterday I was in high school, and...

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Asking for Help, I am Racist anxiety blacklivesmatter equality grief May 31, 2020

Black Lives Matter. 

I want to openly admit how racist I am, and what I am doing about it.

This might surprise you to hear that I am racist, because I am, without a doubt, also anti-racism. 

I am a kind, accepting, open, loving white woman. 

I believe and vote for equal...

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My Grandma Alvina May 29, 2020

My Grandma died just before her 89th birthday in her home yesterday.

I am 44 years old and until yesterday, both my Grandma’s were still living, so I am one incredibly lucky Granddaughter.

I have two good Grandma’s.

In my experience most people get one good Grandma, that they like,...

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I Can't Have Fun Without Drinking alcohol alcoholfree fun sobernotboring May 26, 2020

If you think you can’t have fun without drinking. 

You are right. 

I couldn’t either. 

That is because as much as I hated to admit it, I had become dependent on alcohol.

I needed alcohol for a good time. 

So much that I didn’t feel good without it. 

As a...

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Lessons from Michael Jordan's Last Dance community leadership lessons sobriety May 18, 2020

I am loving my new routine of snuggling up on the couch on Sunday night’s with my family.

We are enthralled with Michael Jordan’s Documentary, The Last Dance.

It’s an incredible show that has me on the edge of my seat every week. 

The show has me laughing, crying, and...

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I'm Afraid if I Quit Drinking I Won't Be Fun Anymore alcoholfree fun sober sober fun travel May 14, 2020

Almost everyone I know has the same fear when they quit drinking.

Fear of not being fun anymore. 

I had the same fear. 

My identity was wrapped up in being a party girl. A class clown. A drinker. 

I had never met anyone sober and I certainly would never want to hang out with anyone...

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