Mocktails and Marathons - Live your best life, alcohol free

Hi, I’m Kristen, and I’m so glad you’re here!

I’m just a girl documenting her sobriety journey. I’ve come a long way from the morning vodka drinker that I used to be. I’m here to be your sober mom friend, the one that cheers you on, picks you up, is brutally honest, and shows that life really is better without alcohol. If you are questioning your relationship with alcohol, looking to cut back or cut it out completely, you’ll find stories that are relatable, tips that are practical, and how I’m living my best life without alcohol getting in the way.

Read my story here.

A sober woman and her family

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Somewhere along the way alcohol lost its luster. I

Somewhere along the way alcohol lost its luster. I’ve leaned too much, I’ve seen the other side and I know how good I can feel.

I wasn’t an overnight success story. I’ve put years into this journey and there are still bumps along the way. But the thing that kept me going was a knowing that I didn’t want to live the rest of my life the way I was.

I educated myself, I read the books, listened to the podcasts and looked deep into the bad parts of alcohol. I looked past the glossy ads, the commercials and the promises of alcohol that I had believed for so long and was finally able to see the side of alcohol that aren’t talked about. Its links to cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, terrible gut health, and mental health, damage to the nervous and immune system. The list goes on and on.

Alcohol was wreaking havoc on all things good. It was destroying my health and happiness, family and self-respect. It was making me look old, contributing to weight gain, sucking my energy and overall just making me feel like crap.

Once I knew how I could feel without it and saw it for what it was. Little by little, day by day, it became easier to NO.

What’s one thing that’s helped you see alcohol differently? Was it a book, a podcast, or your own personal experience? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear your story! 👇

Save this, share it, and follow @mocktailsandmarathons for more tips on sober living and alcohol-free inspiration.

#sober #alcoholfree #mysoberjourney
#hangoverfree #sobercurious #sobercommunity #soberup #sobriety #recovery #sobersisters #iamsober #sobermom #onedayatatime #notdrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberwomen #soberglow #soberaf #aflife #alcoholic #alcoholusedisorder #sobermotivation #sobermovement #mocktails #notdrinking #greyareadrinking #newlysober #earlysobriety

I’ll go first… PLAY THE TAPE FORWARD Imagine

I’ll go first…

PLAY THE TAPE FORWARD
Imagine the entire event playing out if you decide to have that first drink. Where will the drink lead? How will you feel waking up tomorrow? Remember those times when you’ve drank too much in the past and how you promised yourself you’d never do again.
Keep that visual in mind and commit to making a choice you’ll feel proud of later.

What the best advice you’ve gotten or you would share for those going into their first sober holiday season. Comment below. 👇

Save this, share it, and follow @mocktailsandmarathons for more tips on sober living and alcohol-free inspiration.

#sober #alcoholfree #soberjourney
#hangoverfree #sobercurious #sobercommunity #soberup #sobriety #recovery #sobersisters #iamsober #sobermom #soberparenting #notdrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberwomen #zeroproof #soberaf #aflife #alcoholic #alcoholusedisorder #sobermotivation #sobermovement #mocktails #soberinspiration #soberholidays #greyareadrinking #newlysober #earlysobriety

We celebrated my daughter’s 10th birthday this p

We celebrated my daughter’s 10th birthday this past weekend. I spend the majority of her childhood drinking and there are often times I wonder how much of that she will remember.

Those times of chaos, those time of me not getting of the couch, the times of me being ‘too tired’ to play so I let the tablet take on the parenting. There were days when I couldn’t take care of myself, let along be the mom that she deserves.

I have moments that I don’t remember from her childhood. I have times I’m not proud of and times when getting to my next drink took precedence over laying with her a little longer.

There are many things I hope she doesn’t remember about my past. I hope the good memories we’re making now take up more room in her childhood than the bad ones. And I hope that one day when someone asks how she got to be so strong, so confident, and accepting of who she is as a person, I hope she thinks of me and the example I set for her.

Save this, share it, and follow @mocktailsandmarathons for more tips on sober living and alcohol-free inspiration.

#sober #alcoholfree #soberjourney
#hangoverfree #sobercurious #sobercommunity #soberup #sobriety #recovery #sobersisters #iamsober #sobermom #soberparenting #notdrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberwomen #zeroproof #soberaf #aflife #alcoholic #alcoholusedisorder #sobermotivation #sobermovement #mocktails #nodrinking #notdrinking #happybirthday #newlysober #earlysobriety #greyareadrinking

Who’s been there? Waking up with a sinking feeli

Who’s been there? Waking up with a sinking feeling, bruises on your body, and no memory of how you got home. The fear of not knowing what you said or did, and that terrifying uncertainty of when it might happen again.

So what’s really happening to our brains during a blackout? When we drink alcohol too fast or in high amounts, it interferes with the brain’s ability to form memories by impacting the hippocampus, the part responsible for recording experiences. So, even if you’re talking and interacting, your brain isn’t actually “recording” anything.

There are two types of blackouts: fragmentary (where you recall bits and pieces) and complete blackouts (where nothing can be remembered). Blackouts aren’t just about the amount of alcohol—it’s how quickly alcohol enters your bloodstream. Drinking on an empty stomach or having high-proof drinks increases the chances because the brain becomes overwhelmed faster.

The scariest part? During a blackout, you might still make decisions, talk to people, and even seem “fine” to others. But the next day, it’s all blank. Some people are more prone to blackouts due to factors like genetics or stress, but anyone’s risk increases with rapid drinking.

Blackouts are a warning sign from your body. When your memory starts to “shut off,” it’s a serious sign that your system is overloaded, even to the point of toxicity. Repeated blackouts can point to deeper issues with alcohol—and a reminder to rethink our habits.

Leave a ♥️ if you’re ready to leave blackouts behind.

Save this, share it, and follow @mocktailsandmarathons for more tips on sober living and alcohol-free inspiration.

#sober #alcoholfree #mysoberjourney #hangoverfree #sobercurious #sobercommunity #soberup #sobriety #recovery #drinkless #iamsober #sobermom #sobersister #soberjourney #breakthecycle #notdrinking #notdrunk #greyareadrinking #nodrinking #blackout #brainhealth
#alcoholusedisorder #mocktails #alcoholic #soberinstagram #soberinspiration #soberliving #sobermotivation

Why is it that we never blame the alcohol? Instead

Why is it that we never blame the alcohol? Instead, we blame the person who becomes addicted. Society is quick to label and judge those struggling with addiction, but we often overlook the fact that alcohol itself is an addictive substance. We need to shift the narrative—addiction isn’t a moral failing; it’s a complex struggle with a powerful substance.

Let’s break the stigma around addiction and recovery. Recognizing alcohol’s impact allows us to support each other with compassion, not judgment.

👉👉 What do you think needs to change for society to better understand addiction? Comment below.👇👇

Don’t forget to save, share it with a friend or follow @mocktailsandmarathons for more sober tips and alcohol free inspiration.

I was able to make it through most of the week wit

I was able to make it through most of the week without a drink. I hadn’t lost a job, a house, my family or had legal troubles. I wasn’t what most pictured an alcoholic to be. But if I had one, I needed another, and another and I couldn’t stop.

The justification that I built up in my head of not really having a problem because I wasn’t drinking everyday lead me down a dark path. It allowed me to give myself the freedom to drink to excess when I did drink because I could prove that I didn’t need it throughout the week. I was not drinking more days than I was drinking so that seemed like a win in my head.

The truth is though is that even when I wasn’t physically drinking, I was thinking about it. I was scheming, figuring out when to hide it, where to buy it, how to get more in my system, it was constant, and that was just leading up to the drink. After drinking, I’d wallow in self pity and anxiety over how much I’d drank, what I’d done, who I’d disappointed and the cycle never stopped.

I didn’t drink everyday, but I thought about it everyday and that was exhausting. Take it from me, even if you aren’t physically dependent on alcohol or don’t consume it on a daily basis, it’s okay to cut ties with something that isn’t bringing peace to your life. Alcohol was all consuming for years and finally cutting it out brought so much more to my life than I could have imagined.

👉👉comment below: what helped you realize it was time for a change with your drinking?

Don’t forget to follow @mocktailsandmarathons for sober inspiration and alcohol free lifestyle tips

#sober #alcoholfree #mysoberjourney #hangoverfree #sobercurious #sobercommunity #soberup #sobriety #recovery #sobersisters #iamsober #health #sobermom #sobersister #soberjourney #mentalhealth #alcoholusedisorder #mocktails #alcoholic #onedayatatime #soberinstagram #soberinspiration #soberliving #sobermotivation #justified #notdrinking #notdrunk #wedorecover

Swipe through for 3 questions to reflect on. Reme

Swipe through for 3 questions to reflect on.

Remember, whether you stay alcohol-free, practice moderation, or choose another path, this journey is yours. Own it. 💪

#sober #soberoctober #alcoholfreelife #alcoholfree #sobercurious #nodrinknovember #reflection

First off, give yourself a pat on the back, whethe

First off, give yourself a pat on the back, whether you completed the month with zero drink or you had more than intended, you still took the first step. Now that the challenge is over though, what’s next? Here are 3 questions to help evaluate your next steps to examine your relationship with alcohol.

1️⃣ How did you feel? Notice how your body, mind, and emotions responded during this past month. Did you feel more energized, clear-headed, or less anxious? Understanding these changes is key to appreciating how sobriety positively impacts your overall well-being.

2️⃣ What did you gain or learn? Did you discover new ways to cope with stress, find healthier habits, or enjoy social activities without alcohol? These insights can reveal your strengths and highlight what you can carry forward to support an alcohol-free lifestyle.

3️⃣ What does your relationship with alcohol look like moving forward? This question invites you to decide on your next steps. Do you want to continue this journey of sobriety, redefine moderation, or implement boundaries for special occasions? Getting clear on your relationship with alcohol sets the tone for the weeks and months ahead.

Why are these questions so important? 🤔 Because reflection is what turns a short-term challenge into lasting growth. Without it, it’s easy to slip back into old habits without fully realizing how much progress you made. By considering how you felt, what you learned, and your future path, you empower yourself to make conscious, informed choices.

So, before November sweeps you up in its holiday buzz, pause. Reflect. Journal your answers, share them with a friend, or drop them in the comments below. You’ve come this far—now it’s time to decide how you want your story to continue. 🌟

Remember, whether you stay alcohol-free, practice moderation, or choose another path, this journey is yours. Own it. 💪

Don’t forget to save this to refer back to, share it with a friend or follow
@mocktailsandmarathons for more sober tips and alcohol free inspiration.

#sober #alcoholfree #hangoverfree #sobercurious #quitdrinking

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