Life & Culture

For one whole excruciating month, I went device-free. Did the playdates even happen if I didn’t get to post about them? Did I wear a cute outfit on date night with my husband? What about that family dinner with the grandparents where there is no proof? Was I, like the tree that falls in the forest with no one to hear it, still living my best life? Yes, yes, I was. In vibrant color. While modern society deems it impossible to truly live device-free, I found a few ways to “glow up” my lifestyle, communication, and relationships by creating clear, healthy boundaries between myself and screens. I realized my coping mechanisms. During my month spent device-free, I went through a detox. A

A few years ago, my husband and I decided to make our new year’s resolutions much simpler by consolidating them into one, easy-to-remember word: declutter. We made a verbal agreement to focus our efforts on removing the unnecessary from our physical living space, our daily schedules, and overall mental state. The strategy to achieve this consists of focusing on goals, individually and jointly, that line up specifically with this one theme. And, we plan to keep ourselves accountable by making a date once a month to take stock on where we are in the process. Decluttering—Room by Room As part of the initiative to declutter our physical space, I have loosely planned to focus on one room a month. I figure this

The holidays can be stressful, especially for those of us in recovery. Whether that is recovery from substance use, food addiction, co-dependent relationships, or pretty much anything at all (I believe that we are all in recovery from something), the holidays can put a stress on our recovery journeys. Even good stress can be challenging. Because of this, I wanted to create a resource that can help guide your journey in recovery through the holiday season—or any season—you might find yourself in. In these pages, you will find a quick sober holiday survival guide that will walk with you through the challenges of the season. In this guide, you will learn to: Understand your holiday triggers  Respond in 4 healthy ways Support

When I was 6, the country was going through a recession that put my dad out of work.  My mom, an oncology nurse, went back to work—and on night shift—for the shift differential that kept my brother and I happily going about our little lives. My dad found odd jobs that included selling vacuum cleaners at the local Price Club (think vintage Costco) and truck driving while he looked for “real” work. For my mom, this meant meeting up with her in the evenings in the nurse’s lounge for a quick dinner and recap of my day while she ran in and out between patients.  I remember going into her room during the day to find her sleeping, with dark towels my