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!
If you’re looking for a luxurious sleep experience that helps you naturally protect your hair, reduce acne and skin irritation, and avoid creases and wrinkles, the Silk & Silver pillow by Juvea is for you.
Through a collaboration with Juvea, I was lucky enough to try out this wonderful King Size Silk and Silver Pillow for the past month. They gave me this pillow for free in exchange for an honest review.
This post was made possible through a partnership with JUVEA. 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 Juvea?
Talalay Global (Juvea’s parent company) was founded in 1975 and has “a mission of bringing superior manufacturing processes and materials to the bedding industry.” The business and its manufacturing headquarters are based in Shelton, Connecticut.
Juvea is deeply committed to “making your morning better by creating 100% natural latex products and focuses on providing high-quality natural latex pillows and mattress toppers for you to achieve quality rest and relaxation every night.”
Quality sleep starts from the environment in your bedroom, and a supportive pillow is a must. You need to find the correct height, softness, and level of support that you need. This pillow has all three. The Silk and Silver pillow is natural and eco-friendly, with effortless airflow.
The Silk and Silver by Juvea pillows are also great if you’re looking for a comfortable, cooling, and breathable option for your bed. Over the past month, I’ve used Silk and Silver as a body pillow during the day and a regular pillow at night.
These pillows are made with a unique combination of natural elements like Mulberry Silk, Natural Silver, and Talalay Latex. With the health and beauty benefits that this pillow has, it’s definitely a game changer.
When I took the pillow out of the box (which is somewhat small), it poofed out and is so big. But, I had to let it sit for at least 2-3 hours before the slight latex odor was gone. The silk pillowcase is so dreamy, too! I put that right on after I let it air out for a bit.
Closeup of the pillow before and with the pillowcase on it.
Health & Beauty Benefits
Silk and Silver is the Juvea pillow that provides a luxurious sleep experience and health and beauty benefits. This pillow not only protects your hair but also helps to reduce acne and skin irritation. It also acts as a natural immune system booster and has a built-in resistance to dust mites, mold, and other allergens.
I will say that I’m obsessed with the pillowcase. As someone who’s never actually used a silk pillowcase before, I really do love how it feels. It’s not scratchy like regular cotton and feels super high-end.
The pillow is very good for side, back, and stomach sleepers. It allows for the support of a regular pillow but also conforms to your body while still gaining its shape.
The verdict…
With the amazing technology that goes into making this product, I’m not surprised by the price point. The pillow is a bit on the expensive side ($199). I probably wouldn’t buy one based on my current salary (real talk), but I might purchase another in the future.
It’s definitely a great pillow to have in your home; if you have the money, buy one. The Silk and Silver Pillow by Juvea is great for your body and your health.
This post was made possible through a partnership with JUVEA. 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.
As you get older, skin care is so important. You can take care of your skin at home every day with just a few simple steps! Skin care is so important for everyone as they age. I’ve learned that the hard way. Here are 10 skin care tips you can use every day!
If you’ve ever heard that rest can replenish your skin, it’s true! When you are overly tired, those wrinkles and lack of sleep lines will make their appearance. Losing sleep consistently can result in those wrinkles’ lines never going away!
Eat healthy food.
Putting junk in your body will cause those funky toxins to come out of your pores—the cleaner foods you eat, the cleaner and clear your skin will be.
Girl, wash your face.
Washing your face is a huge part of taking care of your skin. Make sure you develop a healthy skincare routine, so you can rest assured knowing that you are cleaning your skin without putting any harsh chemicals on it. I love washing my face with Tula Skin Care products!
Apply sunscreen when outdoors.
The feeling of the sun on our skin is simply amazing, but just like anything in life, too much of a good thing can turn into something not so good. If you plan on being outdoors quite a bit, make sure that you apply natural and safe sunscreen to keep your skin safe and unburnt. Not only does this sunscreen help protect you from those rays, but it’s also gentle for your skin.
Drink a ton of water.
Staying hydrated is critical in keeping your skin healthy and happy. If you’ve ever been told that you’ve got a good “glow” about you, you can thank your water intake for that! Lay off the excess caffeine and say hello to the H2O.
Exfoliate your skin to give it a fresh look.
So many of us are guilty of not correctly exfoliating our skin it’s not commonly done. Scrub away that dry and old skin to let the new skin shine through. After a couple of exfoliations, you’ll be amazed at how “fresh” your skin will look!
Don’t let stress bog you down.
Stress causes so many adverse reactions to your body, and affecting your skin is one of them! Processing stress can be a challenge, but try to find a way to alleviate your stress, so it doesn’t affect you or your skin.
Say goodbye to alcohol, sweets, and smoking.
While you may not do all three of those items, all three affect the look and feel of your skin. Alcohol can give your skin a unique color and bloat; sweets and smoking can also cause physical changes. Think twice about putting those chemicals into your body!
Remember always to use products that are natural and good for your skin. Too many harsh chemicals on your skin can result in an adverse effect that won’t be a pleasant experience. Invest your time and money into companies that produce great products that are natural and easy on your body.
Skin care is an important job!
Don’t allow the outside influences of the world to cause an adverse reaction to your skin looks. Instead, try these suggested tips above and see if they help you and your skin.
After a few minor changes, you may find that you and your skin look several years younger and healthier!
Every night, you should have a routine before you go to sleep. And creating a sleep environment that keeps you comfortable is almost just as important.
Ultimately, your sleeping environment should work for you and include things that will help you sleep soundly. This also includes whenever and wherever you’re traveling.
I wanted to share my experience in creating a sleep environment that works. Even though this is what worked for me, things will be different for you. I just wanted to give you some information to consider if you’re trying to find different ways to sleep better.
4 Easy Tips For Creating The Best Sleeping Environment:
Choose The Best Mattress For Your Body
Before moving into my new apartment, I had a 13-year-old mattress that was not working for my body. It was saggy on the side I slept on and didn’t give my back the support it needed.
When I went mattress shopping, I was somewhat focused on the budget. Still, I mainly wanted a mattress that wouldn’t make too much noise. I decided on a memory foam mattress, and I have been so happy since!
Sleeping well is one of the best things you can do for your health, so be sure you know what you want in a mattress. Test several of them out before deciding. Don’t choose one because it’s cheaper than the others.
Understand How You Sleep
As a side and stomach sleeper, I needed something to conform to my body while I slept. And I didn’t want to wake my husband up from tossing and turning every night. So, I knew that something like a memory foam mattress would be the best for us.
I also need to sleep with a slightly firmer pillow for my neck and shoulders. Since I have had neck and shoulder issues and migraines, I have tried out my fair share of pillows. Typically I sleep with 2-3 pillows, but that will be different for everyone. I know people with at least ten pillows on their bed, which works for them. (girl, you do you.)
If you sleep in the same bed with a partner, make sure you consider their sleeping habits so you both can be comfortable.
Control The Temperature Where You Sleep
Know what temperature you need the room to be while you sleep. This is another area where everyone’s preference will be different, and that’s okay.
I may be crazy, but I even sleep with a fan running in the middle of winter. Having air on my face helps my body stay cool since I tend to run a little hot when I sleep. It helps me regulate my body temperature while still being comfortable.
Know What You Need When You Travel
When I travel, I have a few things I bring with me. I always bring a travel pillow, a mini fan, and several different types of pajama bottoms. I want to have different options to utilize if needed to make my stay more comfortable. Disclaimer: I also stay in good hotels with great beds and pillows.
If you’re backpacking, chances are you’re trying to save money, so hostels are usually your ideal place to stay. And I have friends who swear by them. However, you don’t know what kind of mattresses you will be sleeping on until you get there. This would honestly concern me because I typically stay in hotels.
If you’re traveling the country with an RV, Camper, or Trailer, things can be tailored to your needs. For example, there are mattresses that you can buy, like the short queen size RV mattress, which can fit anywhere without sacrificing comfort. Also, having your own RV, Camper, or Trailer means that you’re in charge of what you put there! It’s a great way to travel on the cheap, too!
How do you create the best sleeping environment for yourself? Do you have any tips that you swear by? Comment below and let me know!
Did you know that getting artsy is a fun and beneficial way to reduce anxiety and stress symptoms?
According to Healthline.com, “Art therapy refers to any use of art for a therapeutic purpose, including relief from anxiety and stress. The theory behind art therapy suggests drawing, coloring, painting, and sculpting can help you tune into and express painful or difficult feelings you have trouble putting into words.”
This blog post does not constitute medical advice. Please see your medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Creative expression has always been beneficial to humans, but art therapy is more helpful than most realize. It’s a studied and proven treatment that has been known to help hundreds of thousands of patients from all races, backgrounds, and ages soothe their symptoms.
I am a fan of art therapy in any format because it helps me, even though I use an app on my iPad. I always try to color if I’m stressed out, so I know this brings down my stress levels on a personal level. Since I do suffer from anxiety myself, I believe that sharing this information is important and it helps you regain your focus from whatever is going on at the moment.
Art Therapy Ideas For Anxiety:
Draw Inside a Heart
Draw a heart on paper and fill the outline up with the emotions you’re feeling right now. You can color this in with pens, pencils, markers, crayons… you name it. Write words that you’re feeling and that you want to feel. It’s also a fun way to journal without actually writing in a notebook.
Paint Your Stress Away
Pick the colors that you associate with anxiety and paint away. It can be as simple as brush strokes or splattering the colors all over the canvas. This can be very therapeutic because you’re channeling energy from whatever is going on in your head and putting it onto a canvas. Be super creative with it and don’t think.
Put Together An Art or Creative Journal
I talk a lot about the fantastic effects journaling can have on our mental health on pretty much all of my posts, so it naturally had to make it to the list. If writing isn’t your jam, or you want to turn your journaling session into art therapy, you can also get creative and make an art journal to visually express your emotions (think collages, drawings, line art, etc.).
Create a Collage of Your Safe Place
Take a trip down memory lane and remember the times when you felt safe and happy. Then, go through old magazines, cut out images representing those memories and places, and create a collage of your safe place. You can also do this online if you’re familiar with creative apps.
Take Photographs of Things You Love or Find Beautiful
Going out to get fresh air is a beautiful thing for your mental health. This time, though, you’ll bring your camera along to take pictures of the things that you find beautiful (a tree, a butterfly, a leaf on the ground – whatever you pick!). Then, put together a collage of those photos or print them out and hang them on the wall to remind yourself of the beautiful things in your life.
Paint To Calming Music
Get a paintbrush and paint whatever you feel like to calming music. You can create your playlist, but you can also find beautiful collections of soothing music on Spotify.
Paint a Beautiful Landscape
It’s no secret that spending time in nature can be a wonderful thing to do for our mental health. Imagine your favorite place to be in (be it the beach, a cottage in the mountains, or a sunflower field), and trace it on a Canvas. While painting, you can imagine that every object you paint represents something more significant. For example, if you’re painting a cottage in the mountains, the mountain can represent happy times, and a cottage can be your safe place.
Let Your Anxiety or Stress Express Itself
Grab a plain piece of paper and your favorite drawing or painting utensils. Close your eyes and notice how anxiety feels in your body and where. Open your eyes and start drawing a continuous fiddle without lifting the utensil from the paper. Stop when it feels proper to after you’re done, free-write about the process for 5-10 minutes and what you felt while drawing your anxiety.
And that’s a list of some of my favorite art therapy activities. Remember that it’s vital to combine art therapy with psychotherapy for the best results. A professional can not only make your journey to healing anxiety a lot smoother, but they can also guide you to help you make the most out of your art therapy sessions in a way that works best for YOU.
Have you ever given art therapy a go? What are other art therapy ideas that have helped you soothe anxiety? I’d love to know, so feel free to share them in the comment section below!
An important note on Art Therapy
Art therapy is not a substitute for any therapy. Instead, it’s sometimes recommended to treat anxiety as part of a larger plan. If you suffer from anxiety, I encourage you to seek a therapist combined with your art therapy of choice.
Not only will a professional make your journey towards healing anxiety easier, but they can also guide and advise you on how to make art therapy work best for your symptoms.
This blog post does not constitute medical advice. Please see your medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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.
