The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. Unfortunately, for many people, the holiday season is also a time for drinking alcohol. If you want an alcohol-free holiday season this year, this post will give you tips and tricks for having a great time without drinking.
We’ll also provide information on how to deal with situations where alcohol is present. So whether you’re abstaining from alcohol or just trying to drink less this year, read on for helpful tips and advice.
This blog post does not constitute medical advice. Please see your medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
This post includes affiliate links, and I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link at no cost to you. Read my disclaimer here.
Tips To Enjoy a Booze-Free Holiday
Have a plan
The first step to having a sober holiday season is to have a plan. If you know you’ll be in situations where alcohol is present, decide ahead of time how you’ll handle them. Will you avoid drinking altogether, or will you allow yourself to have one drink? What will you say if someone offers you a drink? Having a plan will help you stay on track and make better choices when faced with temptation.
Know the risky scenarios
Certain situations are more likely to lead to drinking, especially during holidays. If you know what these are, you can be better prepared to avoid them or healthily deal with them. For example, holiday parties are often full of alcohol, so it may be best to avoid them altogether. Bring a non-alcoholic drink with you if you attend a party (trust me, it’s okay), and don’t be afraid to say no if someone offers you a drink.
Find a support system
It can be helpful to have friends or family members understand that you are going to have an alcohol-free holiday or overall just trying to drink less. Having somebody to lean on for support can make it easier to stay on track. If you don’t have anyone in your life who is in the same boat, plenty of online support groups can offer advice and encouragement.
Find an alternative activity
If you’re used to drinking alcohol at holiday parties, finding an alternative activity to do instead can be helpful. This way, you won’t be tempted to drink and can still enjoy yourself. Consider playing games, dancing, or chatting with friends instead of drinking. If you’re attending a holiday dinner party, offer to help the host prepare or serve food, and let them know that you’re going alcohol-free this holiday season.
Bring your own drinks
If you’re worried about being tempted to drink alcohol at a holiday party, bring your own non-alcoholic drinks. This way, you’ll have something to sip on throughout the night and won’t be as likely to indulge in alcoholic beverages. Plus, your fellow partygoers will appreciate having a designated driver! Here are some great booze-free cocktails if you’re looking for ideas on where to start.
Have fun without alcohol
Just because alcohol is often present during the holidays doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time without it. There are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself without drinking. So whether you’re abstaining from alcohol or just trying to drink less, don’t let it ruin your holiday fun. With a little planning and preparation, you can still have a great time without booze. Cheers!
I’ve been shopping on Etsy for years, mainly for KPOP Pins, random gifts, or crystals for my collection, but these unique gifts are better than store-bought items when it comes to the holidays.
This post includes affiliate links, and I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link at no cost to you. Read my disclaimer here.
Unique Etsy Finds For This Holiday Season:
CeeBee’s Cases LLC
CeeBee’s Cases LLC is based out of Chicago, Illinois. They created awesome iPhone Adapter Cases and Android Adapter Cases. If you’re anything like me, you’re always losing cords and adapters! This solution to that problem is excellent, and it was even featured in a Buzzfeed article!
RiyahSpeaksDesigns is based out of New York and has the cutest items! This Best Mom Mug would be great for any mom who needs coffee to refuel! They even have items you can buy, like this Be Yourself Hoodie. Who says you need to only buy other people gifts during the holidays? Treat yourself.
FlexiCraft
FlexiCraft is based in Indonesia, making embroidered jewelry, initial necklaces, earrings, and more. If you’re looking for unique embroidered jewelry, check out this Triangle Embroidered Necklace Pendant. It’s so colorful, unique, and simply beautiful. These Embroidered Metal Bookmarks are great for those who love reading, too!
Whimsymadness
Whimsymadness is a shop based out of Springfield, Missouri, making handmade jewelry and accessories. These items are perfect for you if you’re on the hunt for some unique jewelry. This Tri-Stand Necklace is beautiful, and it’s made out of glass beads. I also love this Druzy Necklace.
Kurlowecz Designs
KurloweczDesigns is based out of Savannah, Georgia, and creates handmade collections of contemporary fine metal and found object jewelry. These Hour-hand Clockwork Drop Earrings are one of the most unique earrings I have found in a while, and the ear wires are made out of Sterling Silver.
Have you found a great Etsy shop item you love? Add them to the comments below, and I’ll check them out. Maybe I’ll even add them to this gift guide post!
This post includes affiliate links, and I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link at no cost to you. Please read my full disclaimer here.
BloomsyBox flowers are some of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen, and I am excited to bring you this collaboration. They are a brand whose flowers are sustainably grown with less water pollution, less soil erosion, and less waste!
I am #bloominghappy to be collaborating with BloomsyBox on this review. I received a free bouquet of roses in exchange for this post, and I couldn’t be happier with what I received.
This post was made possible through a partnership with BloomsyBox. It includes items that I received for free in exchange for promotion and a review. All thoughts and views are my own. This post also includes affiliate links. I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link. Read my disclaimer here.
BloomsyBox is not your typical flower delivery service. They are changing the floral delivery game by bringing many varieties of flowers from all over the world to your doorstep while supporting farms that make responsible choices for their people and the planet.
On their website, BloomsyBox states, “You can trust that our flowers are free of the toxic chemicals that harm the earth, and you can trust that the people who grow and harvest those flowers are treated with respect.”
Beautiful Flowers by Subscription
I chose the Free-Spirited bouquet of roses, and they did not disappoint. These hand-tied rose bouquets are available in an 18-stem size and absolutely breathtaking in person.
These orange and peach-colored roses came packaged in a brown box with a flower food packet. They came perfectly wrapped up and arranged so that they could be taken out one by one and placed in a vase. Lucky for me, I had two vases on hand, one small and one long. I was able to keep a vase in each room of my apartment and enjoyed the bright light pink, orange, and golden yellow colors.
These show-stopping roses are only $59.99, but they take about a week to be delivered. While it’s not same-day delivery ready, these flowers are perfect for a loved one’s birthday, wedding anniversary, or more!
Flower Subscriptions:
If you’re looking for a monthly subscription, you’re in luck. BloomsyBox has three tiers to choose from:
Bloomsy Original: Get 22-24 stems every month for only $44.99 every month and enjoy next-day, expedited delivery when you order Monday-Thursday before 1:00 PM.
Bloomsy Deluxe: Get 25-27 stems for $49.99 a month for Farm Fresh flowers that are full and lush. You can get next-day, expedited delivery when you order Monday-Thursday before 1:00 PM.
Bloomsy Premium: Get 27-32 stems for $54.99 a month and enjoy the largest selection of ultra-premium flowers. Of course, you can get next-day, expedited delivery when you order Monday-Thursday before 1:00 PM for this subscription.
If you want to send yourself or someone else flowers every week or bi-weekly, you can do that too! The weekly subscription is only $44.99 and comes with 25-27 stems. The bi-weekly subscription is $49.99 and includes the same amount of stems.
Some of my other favorite flower bouquets on the site include: The Mulled Wine, White Peony Tulips, Bloomsy Roses, and of course, Splendid Red Roses.
I have always ordered flowers through the typical delivery services you’re familiar with. Now, I want to use BloomsyBox for all my flower needs. Thank you so much for collaborating with me, and I look forward to placing an order with you in the future!
What are your favorite BloomsyBox bouquets? Tell me in the comments!
This post was made possible through a partnership with BloomsyBox. It includes items that I received for free in exchange for promotion and a review. All thoughts and views are my own. This post also includes affiliate links. I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link. Read my disclaimer here.
Have you ever just wanted to escape life for a while and play some card games online or on your phone? I do that regularly in between reading, watching my favorite shows, and relaxing when I’m at home. It’s truly a part of my self-care routine.
Playing games like solitaire, blackjack, and gin rummy also brings me back to my childhood because I used to play them all with my grandfather while using an actual card deck. Nowadays, it’s easier to play online card games anywhere with your computer or phone.
In my quest to find a new website for card games, I came across many new card game websites, but one wasn’t full of ads. Even though it does give you a super old-school vibe in terms of graphics, there weren’t any ads that could interrupt you. I appreciated that. Playing online games like solitaire gives me a nostalgic feeling of playing the games I grew up with. It also reminded me of the older games in the casinos. Looking for a few games to start off with? Check out five of my favorites.
5 Fun Card Games To Play By Yourself
Solitaire
Solitaire is a super easy game to play and you have to combine each of the suits in number order until all of the cards in each suit are in a pile at the top. There are different ways to play and my favorite is only using one flipped card at a time from the deck.
Blackjack
The object of Blackjack is to make sure your cards add up to 21. You compete with the dealer and try to beat their cards. You play with a full 52-card deck and keep playing as long as you have money to bet.
Mahjong
While Mahjong doesn’t necessarily have cards, I still consider it to be a part of the “card gaming” category. I love playing Mahjong when I have time to kill. It’s a tile-based game that was created in the 19th century in China. You simply have to match the same tiles until all the tiles have been cleared.
Texas Hold ‘Em Poker
This type of poker is the most common version you see played in casinos. It starts with the dealer dealing two cards that you keep to yourself while they pace three cards face up. Each game is played in stages called the flop, the turn, and the river.
Crazy Eights
I used to play this game when I was younger with my grandfather. You start with a handful of cards and the aim is to be the first to discard them all. Since it’s called Crazy Eights, the 8’s are wild.
Do you have a favorite gaming website? If so, tell me in the comments. I’d love to hear all about it.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’d know I’m a huge advocate for getting a great night’s sleep. That includes everything from bedding to pillows and more. I’ve also gone through so many pillows over the years that it’s become frustrating, especially when my favorite one gets discontinued or I can’t find it anymore. This is why I am thrilled to bring you another collaboration, this time, it’s with ECOSA.
This post was made possible through a partnership with ECOSA. It includes items that I received for free in exchange for promotion and a review. All thoughts and views are my own. This post also includes affiliate links. I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link. Read my disclaimer here.
Who is ECOSA?
Their website states, “At Ecosa, we value sleep – and we know you do too. We’ve been designing luxury sleep solutions since 2015, using intelligent ergonomic designs that work for your body. From our one-for-all memory foam pillow to our premium silk pillowcase, simple but beautiful sleep experiences are what we do best. We’re committed to using only the highest quality materials that are good for you and good for the environment. From Australia to the world, we’re transforming the lives of millions by saving them from bad sleep.”
ECOSA is also making a difference in the lives of others through a partnership with the Salvation Army and making sustainable choices for its product materials. They pride themselves on using Tencel ™ and Oeko-Tex 100 Certified materials, which means they produce pillows in environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. Also, if an Ecosa pillow is returned, it’s donated to families in need through the Salvation Army.
The ECOSA Pillow
Through this collaboration, I received two comfortable, ergonomic pillows with two height-adjustable pads in each box. Each box included a compression and travel bag so you can easily travel with it. It didn’t seem possible to fit in the travel bag, but it did.
Each pillow is guaranteed to be everyone’s perfect fit, and they also infuse activated charcoal into the memory foam to promote odor control and antibacterial protection.
I’ve used similar ergonomic pillows in the past, but they don’t even come close to the quality and softness of the ECOSA Pillow. I was blown away at how soft the outer fabric was, how comfortable it was to lay on, and the ability to adjust the size was perfect. I didn’t even need a pillowcase when I was sleeping on it.
This pillow was easily used on my couch while watching football games, a backrest against my headboard when I worked from bed, and a pillow to sleep on. It’s one of my favorite pillows now, and you can’t change my mind. I have it right behind me as I’m writing this post. These ECOSA pillows are worth every penny and can be used in many areas of your home.
Why The ECOSA Pillow Worked For Me
Living with neck problems due to shoulder tension and many years of playing sports, I need a pillow with support. Ergonomic pillows help because they allow me to lie on my side without contorting my neck or spine. This pillow is fantastic for that. Since it’s adjustable, I could ensure it’s the right size for me and adjust depending on if I wanted more or less support.
The other pillows I’ve used in the past didn’t have the option of being adjustable, so what you saw was what you got. And I am pleased with these pillows, which have dramatically reduced my neck pain over the past couple of weeks.
These products are well worth the money you would pay (they range from $85 to $100 each, depending on how many you buy) and will last a long time. They offer a 100-night trial and will issue a full refund if it’s not working for you. ECOSA also ships every item for free (USA-wide) and accepts free returns within 100 days. Save $15 on select pillows when you buy 2 or more!
ECOSA In The Press…
Ecosa was also Voted Best Contoured Memory-Foam Pillow 2020/21 by The New York Times, Wirecutter. They stated, “Height-adjustable and curved to provide targeted neck support, the Ecosa was the best-contoured pillow we tested. It’s pricier than others we recommend, but it’s the favorite of our back- and side-sleepers who struggle with pain.” The Ecosa Pillow has over 11783 five-star reviews! Click here to see why customers are raving!
This post was made possible through a partnership with ECOSA. It includes items that I received for free in exchange for promotion and a review. All thoughts and views are my own. This post also includes affiliate links. I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link. Read my disclaimer here.
Of course, I’ll need to add this disclaimer, but gemstones are not supposed to replace actual medical care. Please contact your medical professional for any medical treatment or support.
This post was made possible through a partnership with VitaJuwel. It includes items that I received for free in exchange for promotion and a review. All thoughts and views are my own. This post also includes affiliate links. I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link. Read my disclaimer here.
Who is VitaJuwel?
VitaJuwel’s mission is something that I felt drawn to before agreeing to a collaboration. Its mission is “To raise global consciousness of the value in drinking healthy, living water daily. In everyone. All around the world.”
They have two teams in Germany and California to help reach more customers worldwide! Currently, they ship to more than 60 countries in the world. To learn more about them, click here.
VIA Happiness
According to the VitaJuwel Website, this ViA is a luxurious glass bottle with a hand-made pod full of special gems, including jade (nephrite), carnelian, orange calcite, and clear quartz. The combination of these stones is great for optimism, eloquence, and good luck.
I am always looking for the irony in things, and receiving this water bottle came at the perfect time with everything going on in my life. That’s a story for a different day, though. Just know, it came to me for a reason – Universe, I see you.
The price point is a little more expensive at $128, but if you typically purchase a bunch of crystals and know how expensive they could get, this isn’t that bad when you account for the bottle’s construction. It’s made of some really good materials and contributes to great causes.
I loved the VIA Loop I received with the bottle to protect the stainless steel top and bottom from scratches and bumps. It’s made of silicone and made from soft neoprene. I feel safer bringing the bottle wherever I go because I have it on my ViA Happiness bottle.
VitaJuwel Crystal Straw Aventurine
VitaJuwel’s website states that their plastic-free, extra sturdy glass straw gives you positive gemstone vibes. The Aventurine stone stands for abundance, luck & prosperity. It is the perfect crystal for the heart chakra.
Again, coming through with the PERFECT crystals for me right now. It’s like VitaJuwel was in my head when they intuitively chose these items for me to review.
This beautiful glass straw came in a bamboo carry case with a plastic-free cleaning brush and a small bag with the fairly-sourced aventurine stone. The packing is my favorite, and it keeps everything safe! Also, One Tree Planted will plant a tree for every Crystal Straw sold. One Tree Planted is a nonprofit dedicated to global reforestation and awareness about the importance of trees.
The only quirk with this stone was that it was too wide to put in through the top hole, so I had to turn the bottle upside down to fit the stone inside the glass bottle on the straw. It was a beautiful stone and one of my favorites, so I’m not worried about having to do this each time.
ViA Ice Mold
The ViA Ice Mold only fits on the straw because it has a hole in the middle, and it froze water in the freezer in a short amount of time. But I couldn’t fit it inside the round water bottle because it’s a square [it’s truly the only negative], but I’m going to use the straw and this ice mold together in other drinks!
Go to their website and share what’s on your wish list in the comments below! I’d love to hear which products are your favorites.
If you want to check out my other articles about crystals, click here.
This post was made possible through a partnership with VitaJuwel. It includes items that I received for free in exchange for promotion and a review. All thoughts and views are my own. This post also includes affiliate links. I will receive compensation for any purchases made through my link. Read my disclaimer here.
I am a 30-something lifestyle blogger who loves sweatpants, shopping, and self-care.
I created this blog to find my voice, share my knowledge, and help other women find the balance that they’ve been looking for and craving all their life.
Throughout this blog, you will find some affiliate links. If you click on one of those links, I will receive compensation (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase.
