Author: Alysse Bryson

At Badass Balloon Co., they are in the business of taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. Born in New Orleans in 2016, Badass Balloon Co. has modernized childhood party staples, delivering stylish party accessories with elevated graphics. Badass Piñatas, Balloons, and Confetti turn the most basic affairs into social media gold. Their newest addition? Soberversaries, and I am here for it! Badass Balloon Co. is a WOC-owned and operated company. Founded by a former fashion publicist and stylist, Desiree spent over a decade building brands in the fashion and luxury market in London, NYC, and LA. Headquartered in New Orleans, LA,…

There has been increased alcohol use during the pandemic, particularly for women. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found alcohol consumption increased 14% compared to before the pandemic, with women increasing their heavy drinking days by 41%. This week on the Mindful Headlines podcast, Roberta Romero, a KING 5 journalist in Seattle, Washington reveals her own battle with alcoholism and shares her story of recovery. Mindful Headlines on APPLE Podcasts Sober Curator Pro Tip: Read the full article on king5.com Mindful Headlines on Spotify: “Mindful Headlines” is a news podcast about the Pacific Northwest that explores…

Blake Lively doesn’t drink. This may come as a surprise to you, considering the cocktails she slurped down on her Gossip Girl days and the fact her dreamy, superhero husband Ryan Reynolds has his brand Aviation American Gin. Lively explains, “Over the past many years of mixing but not drinking cocktails, it became clear mixers are the unsung heroes of the drink world and deserve just as much love as alcohol.” Should I ever cross paths with this famous blonde bombshell, I will greet her with an enthusiastic high five and thank her for shining a light on the fact…

The modern-day sober virtual community has given me access to meet people from around the world in recovery that I likely wouldn’t have crossed paths with. I have always found benefit in connecting with people in recovery with approximately the same amount of time or more than I currently have. With this two-year-old new access card, I’m finding new ways to connect with like-minded people in recovery that also have shared interests and long-term recovery. Finding long-term women in recovery who share multiple things in common is like being granted access to a lush valley in the mountains full of…

The Eyes of Tammy Faye is based on and inspired by a documentary from back in 2000. It depicts the real-life scandals and collapse of the multi-million-dollar ministry empire Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker built. Directed by Michael Showalter, this film stars Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, and Cherry Jones. If you watch this film for no reason other than to see how Jessica Chastain portrays aging with Tammy Faye’s character, it will be worth your time. Who Was Tammy Faye? Tammy Faye was considered the First Lady of Religious Broadcasting. Married to Jim Bakker, they built a Christian-themed television act…

RIP Martin Lapid. You were one in 400 Trillion.

Sober A.F. is building a culture of sober fun, and we are here for it! They facilitate and oversee fun tailgating opportunities at events like concerts and sporting events for individuals, couples, families, young adults, kids, etc., to connect and build community in a sober and inclusive environment. If you are in Colorado’s great state and love football, basketball, hockey, music festivals, and meet-ups, this is the post for you! Upcoming SOBER AF Entertainment Events: Sober AF Entertainment is Creating Sober Spaces in Fun Places and Will Help YOU Host One For Your Community Too!

Yes, I know everyone is talking about the Sex and the City reboot, including all of the curve balls that were lobbed our way last Thursday when the stylish ladies of Manhattan resumed their rightful HBO home on our big screens. There is already so much to unpack, and we’re only two episodes in. If you haven’t heard what happens to BIG, I’ll assume you live in the middle of nowhere where Wi-Fi doesn’t exist. I want to talk about Miranda’s “my hair color no longer defines me” Hobbs. Raise your hand if your sober radar went off not once,…

Sober Spotlight Q&A with Robert Pidde What’s your Sobriety Date? May 19th, 2019 Favorite Non-Alcoholic Beverage of Choice? Shirley Temple with as many cherries as possible What’s your favorite #QUITLIT Book? Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. This book talks about how the mind works when making decisions regularly. It applies to all kinds of decisions, not just decisions surrounding drinking. The mind is very manipulative. It’s imperative to do what you can to put the proper framework around yourself to be successful. What advice do you have for someone new to recovery? If you can, start exercising and…

Peggi Cooney, Author of This Side of Alcohol, is a Social Work Instructor/Coach with a Master’s in Social Work. She’s spent 16+ years in Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services as a social worker. Since getting sober, she has become an active sobriety advocate. Married for over 35 years to her husband Paul; they have five children and 12 (yes, you read that correctly!) grandchildren! About This Side of Alcohol This Side of Alcohol was borne out of Peggi’s cathartic journaling during the first two years following her break-up with booze. As the story unfolds, she shares what she did…

After 15+ years of sober travel to and from Seattle to Las Vegas multiple times, I can finally enjoy a trip with minimal triggers and have a blast! But, when it’s time to go, I’m always ready to return to the Emerald City I love because that’s home. But first, let me tell you what happened to me at SeaTac airport… Click HERE to watch the IG Reel. Share Joy! ICYMI (or don’t want to watch a video right now) – While waiting for my flight to Vegas, I naturally hit up Starbucks before finding a stand-up desk to get…

This week I am thrilled to be shining the sober spotlight on Cameron Greene. As a person in long-term recovery. I strive to be of maximum service to others, and one of the places I serve is as a board member for Ninety 90 Pictures. Their mission is to help people in recovery achieve long-term stability through gainful employment in the film industry. They provide jobs and peer support to people in recovery through their projects. And this is how I came to know Cameron Greene. Cameron recently worked on the first project, Die Pretty, produced by Ninety 90 Pictures,…

Risky Drinking, from HBO and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, takes a case-study look at the hazards of alcohol use and details the ways the medical community views and treats “risky drinkers.” Nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. engage in problem drinking at some point in their lives. Health professionals assess drinkers at risk on a spectrum ranging from low-risk to an alcohol use disorder ranging from mild to severe. Risky Drinking challenges viewers to recognize when their drinking may be putting them at risk and offers information to help millions of Americans lead healthier lives. Risky Drinking was directed…

Celebrating life’s special moments, big and small, should be inclusive for all. Don’t you agree? Everyone can participate with Jøyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé and Jøyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine. Whether celebrating the holidays, a special occasion, or just a Me Party and movie night, you’ll feel extra fancy without any consequences. Meet the Founder and Washington State Native, Jessica Selander Jessica’s mission has been simple. As a sober woman for the last 15+ years, she aims to help people everywhere on their sober journey. Maybe that’s for a night, nine months, or the rest of your life. It doesn’t matter. There’s…

The marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. SPENCER is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days. Director by Pablo Larrain and Written by Steven Knight. Starring Kristen Stewart, Jack Farthing, Sally Hawkins, Timothy Pall, and Sean Harris. Spencer – The Review Ask anyone in my inner circle, and they will…

In this deeply personal and illuminating memoir about her fifteen-year struggle with heroin, Khar sheds profound light on the opioid crisis and gives a voice to the over two million people in America currently battling with this addiction. Growing up Growing up in LA, Erin Khar hid behind a picture-perfect childhood filled with excellent grades, a popular group of friends, and horseback riding. After first experimenting with her grandmother’s expired painkillers, Khar started using heroin when she was thirteen. The drug allowed her to escape from the pressures to be perfect and suppress all the heavy feelings she couldn’t understand.…

Melanie Vesey is an accomplished comedian, actress, writer/director, and owner of Promotional Rescue. Her comedy special/album Wild Animal is available to watch on Amazon and listen to all major streaming platforms. Melanie’s career has been seen in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Paper Magazine, Playboy, Time Out, and Vanity Fair. In addition to her recent TV spot as TAZ on DAVE (FX), she’s been seen on Laugh After Dark on Amazon, opened for Marc Maron and Maria Bamford, Tweeted for Tig Notaro, WON round 4 of the U.S. Comedy Contest, and been a comedian of the week on…

Surely is on a mission to provide an alternative wine option for those choosing not to drink – whatever the reason. From the beginning they’ve set out to craft innovative, great tasting, and healthier wines that allow everyone to be part of the moment. They source high quality California grapes and work with a talented team of winemakers. Their promise is to deliver a sophisticated experience that doesn’t force you to compromise on taste or your health. Why Try Surely? Surely Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé This sparkling non-alcoholic rosé is perfect for late night drinks and hangover-free mornings. Unlike other non-alcoholic…

Hey, you Sober Elves! Tis the season to flex your fingertips online shopping and #ADDTOCART for all those sober-someone’s in your life. Recovery gifts have come a long way from the limited (and ugly versions) some of us once knew. Hint to all you sober newbies with five years or under, recovery gifts of the past were not something I usually wanted to receive or gift during the holiday season. Thank you, NEXT! And while there are still some pretty questionable items out there, the good news is there are also many great options now, including ways to support sober-owned…

Are you looking for a new signature drink to celebrate the day with? How about the upcoming holiday? Experience the refreshing comfort found in the traditional Cork Hill Sorrel family recipe. Coming in three flavors, you’ll be delighted with their reliable taste that always delivers with simple ingredients and less sugar. So toss out that bland cranberry juice this holiday season and try their Sorrel instead. You’ll be supporting a family-owned business and treating your taste buds. Cork Hill Sorrel flavors can be enjoyed straight-up over ice, warm in a mug, or used as a mixer for your favorite mocktail…

Dopesick examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Big Pharma to a distressed Virginia mining community to the hallways of the DEA. Defying all the odds, heroes will emerge in an intense and thrilling ride to take down the craven corporate forces behind this national crisis and their allies. This limited-time series is inspired by Beth Macy’s New York Times bestselling book. Sober Curator Prop Tip: Dear Readers…Grab your Kleenex and your stress ball before settling in. After…

Sarah Alaimo is a Career Happiness Coach, Healthcare Recruiter, Addiction Recovery Advocate, and Published Author. She’s also a Southern California native who is massively deprived of sunshine due to living in the Pacific Northwest. Sarah loves her black Pomeranian, Baron Von Pom, ice cream, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team, travel adventures, and her husband, John. While she would love to say that she’s learned moderation since getting sober in 2015, the fact that she listed ice cream before her husband says it all. Don’t let this pretty face fool you; this sober gal has a heart of…

Maid is the new 10-episode Netflix series you are going to want to binge…mindfully.

From an early age, Amber van de Bunt knew she wasn’t like the other girls in town. From childhood struggles with depression and eating disorders, her years as a topless dancer in Florida, and an eventual abortion and suicide attempt, to her rebirth in Los Angeles as a porn star named Karmen Karma, overcoming her relationship with her abusive mother, and her struggle to maintain a clean and sober lifestyle—van de Bunt’s life has been a wild rollercoaster. With humor, alacrity, and profound insight, she reveals her deepest, darkest secrets and pulls no punches—least of all with herself. Overcome: A…

The “Currently Not Drinking” Story YELLOW co-founders Ian Mirmelstein and Darren Marble have been “Currently Not Drinking” for 15+ years collectively and reaping the benefits in every area of their lives. Ian met Darren Marble, an entrepreneur who credits “not drinking” as a key to his success. Together they imagined what the world might look like if anyone who was “Currently Not Drinking” had a way to easily connect out in the real world in everyday life. The idea for YELLOW was born. Why “YELLOW?” The color yellow has a rich history of identifying and unifying non-drinking communities. At Grateful Dead concerts dating back…

Dave and Chris, the Founders and Hosts of the Dopey Podcast, had collectively been through dozens of rehabs, spent years in jail, and overdosed 500 million times. The fact is they loved to laugh about it. That is until Chris tragically overdosed and died during the summer of 2018.

Have you been thinking about leveling up on your recovery journey? Do you feel inspired and called to help other women find out what life is like once putting the bottle down? Are you passionate about helping others with personal growth? Is the timing right for you to start a successful side hustle or even find a new career path entirely?

Arla LaserWorks is a Los Angeles-based laser engraving and print shop that specializes in personalized gifts. This is the place to go when you really want to say something meaningful and give something beautiful. 

The mission of Ninety 90 Pictures, a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Film and Television Production Company, is to help people in addiction recovery achieve long-term stability through gainful employment in the film industry. The organization will create connections with new people going through recovery to those who have been through it. They will be providing a safe, alcohol and substance-free, work environment. Their first project is taking place in October 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with an incredibly powerful Pilot script called “Die Pretty”. Die Pretty is produced by Ninety 90 Pictures, a non-profit organization that wants to de-stigmatize addiction…

For National Recovery Month in September 2021, we explored an incredible new online bottle shop called The Dry Good Beverage Company and some of their select high-end product vendors. These include Free Spirits Whiskey, Gin, and Tequila Alternatives, For Bitter For Worse, and Sovi, a sparkling rosé wine alternative. About The Dry Good Beverage Co. Jake and Adrienne are the co-founders of The Dry Goods Beverage Co. They created this space because they believe that whether you’re having alcohol or not, everyone deserves a good drink. Can we get an AMEN?!?!? As a 2nd generation vintner in Napa Valley (Jake) and published…