Author: Contributor to The Sober Curator

We all have goals, desires, and responsibilities that we need to take ownership of and be accountable for in life to thrive. However, sometimes we get so caught up in daily routines or what others think of us that we force our desires to take a back seat because they don’t seem as important as our other responsibilities. The things that you desire are on the other side of what is blocking your path. Whether it’s fear, lack of motivation, comparison, or procrastination, the way to get there is to get out of the window, stop looking at other people…

Leave no one behind is a phrase I heard hundreds of times during my days in the Army. I served from 1996 to 2016 in some of the best units around—storied units, the 10th Mountain Division, 1st Armored, and finally the 1st Special Forces group. For the most part, we lived that mantra. Never left a fellow soldier on the battlefield. We searched for almost two years for Fouty and Jimenez in Iraq. We made sure that they were not left behind and returned home. But something happened as America’s longest war dragged on. When a person experiences trauma and…

From Macklemore to Blondie. Sober songs from this edition of Play It Again is how you can add holiday cheer to your sober playlist.

Shatterproof Rise Up Against Addiction fundraising walks and volunteer opportunities help reduce stigma, transform treatment and change laws.

A while back, I was sitting at my monthly sober babe’s brunch, holding the audience of my girlfriend’s captive. I was discussing the casting process for runway fashion shows and some of the nuances of the modeling world. We laughed hysterically, and like always, I was using humor to get some things off my chest. In today’s climate, while the feminist march to fight the objectifying of a woman’s body, I am standing on a platform begging to be judged. Never would I imagine asking a judge of strangers to critique my physical features and decide whether I am worthy.…

7 ways to spend your sober days in Santa Fe. Exploring art, cuisine, spirituality and nature for a memorable getaway.

JUST GO NUTS For Recovery and #ADDTOCART!

“I intended to go back to drinking after the medications were finished,” Harley told me, “But I was so happy with my life. By then, I had made so much progress that I decided to stay sober.” Meet Harley from @styledandstressed, a 28-year-old career professional whose resume is as packed full as her closet. She quit drinking on 4/21/21 and has not looked back. Since that day, she has hit some significant milestones. She married her partner and finished grad school. Harley also came out as sober on social media to confirm her stance on living booze-free. Styled and stressed…

Breaking the Cycle We can talk about being better, creating change, or doing things differently, but if we don’t put actions behind our words, we will not make any difference in our lives. Change starts with action and sticking to the process. It may be as simple as changing your mindset, believing in yourself, and doing your best, but you have to be consistent to manifest. The biggest challenge in personal development is talking the talk and walking the walk. Sometimes this triggers imposter syndrome and the feeling that you are not doing what you said you would, which can…

Producer and DJ are just a couple of Tommie Sunshine’s passions that lead his life. Also, count on him being involved in activism, teaching at NYU, being a husband, and sober for the last 16 years! Tommie takes us through some of his journeys as a world-traveling DJ, what convinced him to get sober, and what he is doing to contribute to making a difference for the greater good. Tommie Sunshine Official Bio: Tastemaker to tastemakers, curator, and shapeshifter, Tommie Sunshine is renowned for his reputation of being consistently ahead of the curve bridging the worlds of Rave, Disco, House,…

When I first got approached to write a fashion column and merge it with my recovery process, I was lost for words. I did not know how to make sense of my wardrobe, much less anyone else’s. I had never worked with Word Press or editing and fumbled a lot. I didn’t even know how to use Instagram. As a career nurse, fashion journalism was not on the agenda. Also, I didn’t have a model standing around to wear the clothes I wanted to display, and I wouldn’t have known how to photograph them even if I did. So, the…

Laura Silverman has been a booze-free babe since July of 2007. Founder of sober lifestyle blog The Sobriety Collective, wellness travel site Booze-Free in DC, and Zero Proof Nation, a community celebrating nonalcoholic beverages and the people who drink/create them, Laura is passionate about #thesoberlife. When not tasting delicious new booze-free BEVs, she’s a karaoke rockstar, roller derby girl, nature lover, #mentalhealth advocate, and treasures spending time with her close friends and family. Follow along with Mei McIntosh in all of the digital spaces and places Support + Follow The Creative Sober – Hosted by Mei McIntosh Join The Creative Sober Community The Creative Sober Podcast – Authentic conversations about…

Breaking the Cycle A Little Faith and A Little Footwork Do you feel like you can’t stop or start something because it’s too late? You are not alone. There are many people who are feeling the same way or even worse and don’t know where to start. Whether you want to quit drinking, achieve new goals, learn new passions, or start living your purpose, there is a better way out. It’s never too late to make that change. Yesterday was the best time, but the next best time is today. Time is a very important asset when it comes to…

Radio Personality and DJ Dan Amsden, aka Huggie, thrived on boldness, charisma, and intensity on and off the mic when it came to his radio career of 10 years to DJing as ‘TVTV.’ To keep up the momentum and party life, he turned to cocaine, eventually leading him to rehab. After a year of being clean and sober, Huggie is grounding his creative passions by leaning into music, producing, and keeping an open mind towards what makes him grow into ‘the artist way’ of living while inspiring others around him to recover out loud. Follow HUGGIE on Instagram: @itsmehuggie Follow…

Josh James, a career bartender, took a year off drinking to see what would happen. His result was realizing his full potential and reviewing NA Beverages as Josh the Non-Alcoholic on YouTube and Instagram. After creating 30 videos, he walked into a deli establishment that happened to be closing in 1 week. 3 months later and 11 months into being a non-drinker, Josh opened Ocean Beach Cafe to build the largest non-alcoholic beverage selection in the country! The response has been massive in the booming industry as he continues to take this ride to the moon! Instagram: @joshthenonalcoholic Website: oceanbeachcafe.com…

Are you alcohol-free? You’re in the right spot! Subscribe to Relatable AF for FREE and you’ll get the goods delivered directly to your inbox on the first Monday of each month with: AF Tips (alcohol-free)Updates from meResources and RecommendationsAnd discounts on my favorite brands! But wait…There’s more! For only $8 per month, you get emails every single Monday filled with all the goodies that come in the monthly subscription and so. much. more. You’ll get BONUS resources, tips, and advice….and you’ll get them more often. AND – Weekly in-depth Q&As and my personal essays exclusive to Relatable AF subscribers. PLUS – Get involved! Join the community discussion threads to…

Philip Speer is the Chef and Owner of Comedor, an award-winning Mexican restaurant in downtown Austin. Starting his culinary career at 17 as a baker, Philip moved swiftly into esteemed Pastry Chef positions at Austin’s most innovative restaurants. After struggling through years of addiction, Philip made a profound recovery. He found a renewed motivation by changing his life habits to focus on running, healthy eating, sobriety, and honest dialogue in the restaurant community. Philip now works as a change advocate in the culinary sphere, offering resources and opportunities for peers and employees to engage in a healthier lifestyle. Philip heads…

From his humble beginnings in rural North Carolina to eventually touring the world as a tech and his recent work as a producer for Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, Gregory Dwane has first-hand seen many facets of the music industry. Add to his impressive pedigree a bit of alcoholism, burnout, and fatherhood, and you’ve got life experience in spades, all informing the songs on his self-titled debut record, which establishes him as the alt-country songwriter. Gregory takes us through his history, from finding his sobriety to becoming a painter and art gallery owner, only to find himself back into…

Chelsie Cahoon aka The Sober Raver is an entrepreneur, business owner, published model, singer/songwriter, and content creator who travels all over the country with her work. She is the founder and owner of the company Music Is The Drug which is a non-judgmental company that aims to show the world that whether you use substances or not, music is the ultimate drug that unites us all. She chose to live a sober life from a very young age and has been completely drug and alcohol-free her entire life. Her mission is to show people that you can literally get high…

The 2022 Couture and Cars show featured the collections of eight fashion designers around the PNW area. The venue was Lemay’s Car Museum, adjacent to the Tacoma Dome. The producers created a runway in between the rows of rare antique automobiles. Models walked down a polished concrete path in step with curated music to display the attire. The full line-up of designers is included at the end of the article; however, I narrowed my focus to three collections that caught my attention. Overall, the show was brilliant. #1 Chance Watt Takes his Art from Canvas to Couture To know me…

I didn’t plan to be an alcoholic. I didn’t plan to live a life of recovery. But here I am, seven years in, leading a pretty kick-ass life. A better life than the one I contemplated over most nights after a glass or two (Rather, bottle or two) of wine. I thought all of my problems would be solved when… When I got a pay raise. When I got a promotion and found the love of my life, you see the pattern. Once one or all of those conditions were met, I would not have to drink so much. Problem…

The word Marikit is a Tagalog term demonstrating superlatives such as gorgeous, splendid, beautiful or magnificent. So, it goes without saying the Seattle Marikit fashion show was all of those things. After weeks of organization by the production team it was held on June 25th, 2022 at the Muckleshoot Casino events center in Auburn, WA. A shockingly gorgeous and expansive venue with all the bells and whistles necessary to put on a good show. The main feature was designer Edwin Uy @edwinfuy who is worldrenowned for men’s and women’s formal wear. The show began with an impressive cast upwards of…

Arlina Allen, Host of the One Day at a Time Podcast and Founder of the Sober Life School brings you the ultimate resource guide that is perfect for the first 100 days in recovery. Sober Curator Pro Tip: Even if you’ve been sober longer, you are still going to love this list! About Arlina Allen There was a time when I thought I was just a fun party girl. To say I was proud of the fact that I could drink men twice my size under the table was an understatement. For a long time, I had A LOT of fun.…

A story about how falling in love made me feel like I had relapsed katie MACK Seven years ago I was sitting in AA because I was in trouble with my boyfriend, or I guess, he was my ex-boyfriend? I was always in trouble with one ex-boyfriend/boyfriend/ex-girlfriend/girlfriend or another (being queer has increased my chances for more failure opportunities). This was why I was always drying out for one to two months for my third (or fourth?) time in this relationship, and why I was sitting in my fifth AA meeting of the week. Sponsor-less and step-less, I was still well…

Non-alcoholic beverages seem to be all the rage, so I was pumped to try Nashi Orchards Korean Giant Non-Alcoholic Perry which just so happens to be LOCAL!???? (to the Pacific Northwest) Welcome to Nashi Orchards on Vashon Island, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary! I got to meet the owners (husband and wife duo) Cheryl Lubbert and perry maker Jim Gerlach, for the launch of their first non-alcoholic line coined the “Hana” series. The first release is a sparkling perry made from 100% Korean Giant Asian pear juice, with no added flavoring. It seriously tastes like Asian pear in a…

A couple of weeks ago I walked out of a medical spa and slumped down in my car and cried. I had images taken of my face as I was contemplating Botox. The evidence was all there. At forty-three years old I have done some hard living in active addiction. Sunspots, crow’s feet, puffy bags under my eyes, heavy creases in my forehead, and nasolabial folds. And while I fully recognize this is part of the natural aging process, I also know my own lifestyle choices are to blame. I looked in my rear-view mirror and was overcome with shame.…

It has been 5 years since I drank alcohol. It has been 5 years since I woke up in that jail cell. It has been 5 years of battling and trying to navigate life. It has been 5 years since I made a 5-year plan. In this episode, I want to share with you the five things I have learned in the past five years of being sober. I hope my lessons will help you, whether in your life journey, or the battle to sobriety. SOBER SPOTLIGHT: Jay Chase, Founder of Don’t Touch My Mindset Podcast and Mindset Coach SOBER…

Richard Gallardo Ozuna has one of those looks that stops you dead in your tracks. There is an element of mystery yet warmth behind his eyes. Leading to a person to contemplate if is he the scariest person in the room or the most welcoming? The latter is quickly evident after a few moments with Ozuna. His booming voice is inviting and full of hope. Its immediately evident he is comfortable in his own skin and aims to put you at ease. When we talked on the phone a few weeks back he cut right to the chase. As a…

It’s not hard to be content in the lap of luxury in Miami when seated poolside at the luxurious Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. The venue for the spring 2022 She Recovers convention, was housed on a golf course/country club for the many elite retirees in sunny Florida. The hotel/resort is spectacular with Versace-esq motif and plenty of gilded corners to discover. Yet there is too much art, culture and cuisine offered up by Miami to indulge in vs. sitting still on idle sober hands. Between the art and culture, cuisine, and shopping, Miami is a literal hotspot for foodies,…

A few months ago, I stumbled on a coffee table book that is quite possibly one of my favorite purchases this year. It tells the story in glossy pictures of a world I already lived in. Beige is Not a Color by Carlos Mota, a Venezuelan-born interior decorator, stylist, and artist. Mota describes the importance of vibrant colors in his life and how they infiltrate his home décor, personal style, and overall aesthetic. When flipping through the pages of the book (edge-painted in crimson red) I am thoroughly inspired. Selections for my home and my closet are confirmed as I am…