Today I’m joined by Payal Desai, the wonderful influencer behind @PayalForStyle! 

As a South Asian woman and a teacher, Payal doesn’t believe she fits the ‘mold’ that people would expect when they think of a person with alcohol dependency. So, she’s gone public with her sobriety journey to make sure that other women know that they aren’t alone! 

In today’s episode Payal generously shares how alcohol became central to her life, the single sentence a therapist said that made her quit overnight, and the changes that her personal life and social life have gone through post-sobriety. 

She wants you to know that sobriety is an option for you! All you have to do is choose it. It can be that simple. 

Check out Payal’s wonderful style Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/payalforstyle/


Come and join us in the Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $15/month, join other sober moms inside the cafe for weekly meetings, bonus episodes, a Discord chat, a monthly book club, the option to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and so much more! Learn all about it here: https://mykindofsweet.com/sober-mom-life-cafe/


If you’re looking for a community of wonderful sober moms to support you while you build your own sober life, join us inside The Sober Mom Life Facebook group! 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542852942745657

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram

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You Can Choose Sobriety with Payal Desai of @PayalForStyle

Have you wondered if that wine might actually be making motherhood…harder? Maybe you’ve questioned your relationship with alcohol, but you don’t want to go to AA and spend time in dark church basements. The Sober Mom Life is for YOU. Suzanne of My Kind Of Sweet and The Sober Mom Life is sharing all about her sobriety and what she’s learned in the 4+ years since saying farewell to alcohol. She’ll also have funny, open, honest conversations with other moms who have chosen to live an alcohol-free life.

Kids & Family

Parenting

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Karen grew up in a home without alcohol, but that didn’t stop it from finding her in high school. Binge drinking quickly became a part of her life, and she chose not to go to college because she knew she would party it away. After making her way through beauty school, Karen became a mom, and drinking ended up slipping pretty easily into the backseat of her life. She was able to moderate her drinking for years. 

Then, Karen’s children got older, and more space appeared in her days. She consistently began to fill that new free time with alcohol. Like so many moms, the pandemic pushed alcohol to the center stage of her life, and in a full resurgence of her drinking, Karen struggled to show up for her family and experienced her first blackout - at age 53.

It seemed like something was wrong, and Karen committed to Dry January to see if alcohol was the problem. On Day 18 something incredible happened. She ‘woke up’. The lights were brighter, the colors were more vivid, and Karen started to wonder - what had she been missing while numbing out with alcohol? That experience led Karen to dive deep into quit lit, podcasts and meetings in the Sober Mom Life Cafe. All the while, though, she kept drinking. But over the months she found courage to ask herself a big question: What was she getting from alcohol? And, was it making her experience better in any way? 

Karen committed to 90 days of sobriety to find out. By Day 40 it was clear to her - alcohol was making her life harder and was robbing her of experiences. She was not going back. 


Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 


My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/

Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram
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The Real Sober Moms with Karen

Summer has arrived! The days are long, the weather is gorgeous, and the pool party invites are starting to arrive. If the idea of not drinking this summer is causing you anxiety, this episode is for you. 

Today we’re going to prepare you for your first sober summer, so you can experience the magic that can be found in these long, beautiful, alcohol-free days. We’ll talk about making the decision to stay sober, reconnecting with your younger self who loved summer before alcohol, and how to manage the social challenges that might arise in a sober summer. 

If you’re looking for more resources for your sober summer, check out my latest blog post:
How to Navigate Your First Sober Summer with Ease! 

My mocktail recipe e-book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is here to help you through the summer! Grab your $7 copy here.  

How to Socialize Sober 

Join us in The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! Your First week is free! 


We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your Guide to a Sober Summer

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobrieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo TV! This week we’re talking about the season finale of Vanderpump Rules, Brittany’s frustration at Jax’s drinking, the problematic drinking culture on Summer House, and Carl and Lindsay’s fight. 

Plus - PK and Dorit, Why budgets are being slashed in reality TV, and the bizarre behavior of the guests on Below Deck Down Under. 

Do you have topics you’d like us to cover on the next SobrieTEA? Send Katie a note at @soberlivingct on Instagram! 

Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 


My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/



Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SobrieTEA: The Season Finale of Vanderpump Rules, Plus Brittany and Jax + Carl and Lindsay

Today, Kristen Beckett of @mocktailsandmarathons joins me for a great conversation about the false promise of moderation, the challenges of navigating drinking and sobriety with a partner, and the beauty of the online sober community. 

A fellow Wisconsite, Kristen grew up in a home where drinking was seen as a normal part of everyday life. After the traumatic birth of her daughter, however, she began to lean on alcohol for more than just a way to unwind. The progressive nature of the substance then took hold, and during Covid she began drinking in the mornings to stave off the hangover from the night before. What followed were multiple rock bottoms, a trip to the ER, many Day 1’s, and ultimately the moment when it just clicked… and she was done. 

Kristen began @mocktailsandmarathons as a way to unpack her experiences during early sobriety, and she found so much healing and growth in the community she has built there! 

Kristen wants to encourage you to stick with it! You will find your groove. 


Are you new to sobriety? Read How to Navigate Your First Sober Summer with Ease! 


My mocktail recipe e-book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ here to help you through the summer! Grab your copy here.  


Join us in The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! Your First week is free! 


We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Escaping the Mind Game of Moderation with Kristen Beckett of @mocktailsandmarathons

As a younger child in her family, Kelsi always looked forward to having her first drink. Her older siblings made alcohol seem like the centerpiece of belonging, connection and fun. This perspective stayed with Kelsi throughout high school and college, and since she was still able to stay on top of life while rocking a hangover, she never saw it as a problem. 

As Kelsi moved into adulthood, fitness goals and parenthood made her feel ready to slow down. Yet, alcohol stayed present in her life. Ready for a change, Kelsi began the moderation game. Though she could successfully moderate most of the time, every once in a while a slip would occur, and a sense of failure would erupt within her, chipping away at her self esteem.

Two such slips resulted in actions that put her children in danger - and at that point Kelsi had a major wakeup call: She really didn’t like who she was when she was drinking. The only way for her to change was to stop drinking entirely. 

Kelsi feels so much freedom in her sobriety, and she credits her sober community for helping her thrive! 

Are you new to sobriety? Grab our 5 Tips to Help you Through your First 30 Days of Sobriety! 


My mocktail recipe e-book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ here to help you through the summer! Grab your copy here.  


Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! 

We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You Can Choose Sobriety with Payal Desai of @PayalForStyle

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