Summer Soirée (sober)

Creating the environment you desire

The Sober Glow Studio is an extension of what was started on social media circa 2016. As I have evolved, the topics I cover have naturally evolved. Here, I provide stories, recommendations, and resources on the art of living an alcohol-free lifestyle, navigating midlife, and anything that simply feels good.

THE FEELING

This is for when you have a heart that longs to be in the Mediterranean and your brain (aka social media) tricks you into thinking you are the only person who isn’t in Europe this summer. Do as a friend of mine does - if you can’t be in the environment you long for, create the energy of that environment for yourself. You do this by playing around with all the senses. Sight, smell, sound, taste and touch.

I do this often during the summer months. The heat rolls in, and my daydreams take off. If it were up to me, we would be living seaside on the island of Mallorca or the coast of France somewhere year-round. But alas, for now, I must accept my daydreams as just that —a dream.

But it doesn’t mean I have to give up the energy of the dream. I can bring that straight into my lifestyle, and one of the ways I love to do this is by hosting friends in the created environment I crave. There is nothing better than a lingering hour after hour dinner party outside, surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature at dusk.

It should also be noted that if you are sober, alcohol-free, or just curious about what it looks and feels like to not drink at every celebration, you will always be centered here. This newsletter, my messages, and anything I share online and in person are always for the women who want a different kind of life and may not know how to achieve it, or even for the women who think that this celebratory sober lifestyle isn’t even possible for themselves.

I am here to share all that is possible when alcohol is not the center of the universe.

THE INSPIRATION

The south of France, the Balearic Islands, the coastlines of Spain, Morocco, and, of course, all of Italy.

Think summertime beaches, backyards surrounded by olive trees, flowy white gauze on and off our bodies, cateye sunnies, woven baskets, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, figs, and truckloads of varying cheeses, breads, and olives.

And, of course, we may also crave crisp, cold drinks that linger in a beautifully designed glass with hints of condensation kisses.

Let’s take a moment to romance all these summery feels.

We can bring all this to our front steps with a few things that can transport us to the exact location and energy of our desires.

We can easily be transported by:

BOOKS: Of course, any Assouline coffee table book. The thousands of Mediterranean cookbooks, my favorite of which are all mentioned in this post. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle (next up in my Kindle), The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza, Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

MUSIC: All the European summer feels playlist from me to you.

MOVIES: Vicky Christina Barcelona, Priceless (Hors de Prix), Sex and Lucia, By the Sea (visually stunning), Stealing Beauty (of course my fav, and most shared), The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Below are vision boards for your sober summer soirée.