Happy Merry New Year!
How’s it all going? I hope brilliantly.
The holidays x NYE mash up is my favorite type of too much. The parties, the outfits, the gift giving, the visits, the meal planning, the groceries, the emergency brain surgeries.
Yes. You read that correctly.
We had an out of the blue, holy heck, what do we do?, five-alarm with my dear Dad – right before Christmas.
He was fine one morning, completely not fine the next, declined rapidly and lost mobility. After 13 hours in emerg, the doctors said my 79-year-old Dad needed urgent brain surgery.
My sister grabbed the first flight here from Berlin because we didn’t know if he was going to make it.
I’m condensing into a few lines the most harrowing, fraught, emotional time of our lives. But I’m also trumpeting good news. My Dad pulled through!
We have a long road ahead, but we're going day by blessed day. Dad gave us the most precious gift – more time with him. So, this holiday has been extra special for us.
My sister, @karina_griffith_ and I. So glad she came.
I wasn’t expecting this scary episode to dovetail with the journey I’ve been on this December, a.k.a. DO-cember.
Will that term catch on? Probably not!
Read this post in your browser for the best experience. Away we go!
- I’m almost through Dry December - here’s what I’m noticing
- My winter warmer – Ethiopian Spice Tea
- My NYE YES-ESSENTIALS
I’m almost through Dry December - here’s what I’m noticing
I’ve navigated the tough parts, holiday parties and dinners where the FREE booze was FREE flowing, and I successfully abstained.
Why? Because I’m doing Dry December.
Why? Because I decided to start earlier.
Yescessary came into being because saying “yes” to the activities and rituals that keep me shored up is my modus operandi as a producer.
I learned that if I go too hard, my body will yell at me. Now I prioritize my health and wellbeing to keep the volume down.
Another of my producing principles is starting earlier. If I wanted to break up with booze for a bit, why wait?
My goal here is not to convert you! Too late for that.
I thought it would be fun to share what I’m experiencing as some of you may be planning a Dry January.
Big question - why in tarnation I would get off the booze train just as the parties start in December?
Well, when everyone zigs, I zag. I have a streak of rebel in me and I’m always questioning why we do the things we do. Why not December?
Plus, there’s so much else to drink (and eat) this time of year. I’m trying new non-alcoholic bevvies, drinking me coconut water, minding my business, and not missing out.
Thirdly, December is a blast for me, but it’s also a stress pile on. I ideate the gifts, find said gifts, wrap said gifts. There’s the joyful but tiring trifecta of entertaining, cooking, and cleaning.
Subtracting booze has so many pluses for stress reduction.
I’m not a huge drinker, but I love a tipple - bubbles and beer specifically. When I take alcohol out of the equation for a spell, I notice a difference.
I’ve read other articles about going dry or damp, but I haven’t seen anyone share what they are observing about themselves on a personal level.
What I’m noticing is kinda hilarious…here goes!
1. I’m cracking more jokes than usual.
I love a good chuckle and I’m generally jovial. But for some reason in the last few weeks, I think everyone is my audience.
That poor cashier. God help you if you catch me in an elevator. Work meetings? Riddled with laughter.
I’m on fyah. Working on my routine, peeps. Second City, here I come.
2. I can run like the wind.
I said I’d meet Step, my daughter and her besties on the walk to the school holiday concert. They had a head start, so I ran - in the freezing cold.
FYI - I don’t run because of an old soccer injury. My left knee is attached to my leg by the equivalent of dental floss.
But I ran, way fast, all the way down our street. I was not winded, and my knee stayed intact. I’ve never done that. It was extraordinary, inexplicable and I’m down for it.
I’m hoping this bonus ability sticks so I can finally add Florence and Joyner to my name.
3. My sense of smell is superhuman.
I already ended up with a heightened sense of smell after becoming a mama, but now my whiffer is off the charts.
If one of the detection dogs goes down at the airport, I’m up. I could sniff out those drugs and hidden sausages – no problem.
That said, I’m ready to give this hyper sense back. I can’t control the intake and it’s not always fun to smell other people.
4. My sleep is meh.
Am I the only one that thought booze and snooze rhyme for a reason? When you reduce one, you increase the other?
My zzz’s are decent, but I still wake up in the middle of the night. Every night.
My bedtime routine is solid – no screens an hour before, nighty night warm bath with candles. I put myself down.
I wasn’t expecting to cure my lifelong insomnia by not drinking, but my sleep quality is certainly better. I’ll take it.
5. I’m surfing.
Metaphor! I call it surfing when a ton is flying at me and I’m able to feel balanced and maintain calm. When I’m surfing, I feel enveloped in serenity even when it’s a choppy ride.
I know I was cruising and carving when we were in the thick of it with my Dad.
The early morning and late night drives were manageable because I dry-erased the morning groggies and holiday hangovers this month and I fortified with good stuff.
Pulling a hang loose when my stress is ten outta ten feels incredible.
6. I still go to bars.
I met up with a friend at a pub a few Fridays ago. I didn’t mention beforehand that I was taking a break. When I got there, I ordered my non, she had a beer, and we got to gabbing. No questions.
Not drinking is finally ok. It’s understood that we can take a break just ‘cause. No one has asked me why. It’s da best.
7. I’m using my Mom Whisperer voice – on other people.
My kids are delights. They are thoughtful, kind-hearted, talented, sporty, and funny - but these children will try ah sister.
I have a few tricks in my parent toolkit, one being my Mom Whisperer voice - one pitch lower, slow and measured. I use it to get their attention and to convince them to do what I’m asking – nicely.
I’m not sure when I started branching out, but I’ve been experimenting with using this voice on other people.
I’m speaking much more slowly and pitching down when I need to get someone’s attention. It’s working.
Did I hypnotize the cashier to get those extra gift boxes? We’ll never know.
If you’re thinking about breaking up with booze this Jan or some other month this year, I wish you a smooth and delicious ride with a few interesting observations of your own!
My winter warmer – Ethiopian Spice Tea
My new fave tea. Cinnamon stick optional!
I had Ethiopian Spice Tea for the first time earlier this year at a little vegan resto in my ‘hood and luvved it.
I asked the waitress where to buy the tea bags. She said there were no tea bags, they get it from the guy across the street. I ventured over, and the owner led me to the aisle with clam shells filled with spices.
Score!
What I bought to deconstruct this tea. There are so many versions of this tea. You can add black or green peppercorns or dried turmeric. You could ditch the star anise. You could add sliced fresh ginger, which I highly recommend. You can also add a black tea bag for caffeine.
There are health benefits to this combo, but I’m no doc. Please consult your health providers to check if this will interact with medication.
Cinnamon: For sweetness and general winter yum-factor. Good for the heart, anti-inflammatory and helps circulation.
Cloves: For depth and more festive yums. Also good for ya in moderation.
Cardamom: Intense aroma and regulates blood pressure.
Star anise:Licorice-like flava. Supports digestion and heart health.
The ratio. Added Star anise to my version.
ETHIOPIAN SPICE TEA
½ cup cinnamon bark (broken into inch long pieces)
3 tbsp whole cloves
40 green cardamon pods
10 Star anise (whole)
Instructions:
Grab a handful of the above mix. Add two cups of water. Bring to a boil on the stove.
Leave at a rolling boil for 4-5 minutes. Strain and drink. C’est tout!
Just prior to boil. You can reuse the spices one more time. Just add water. Boil again.
It’s super yummy and your place will smell DIVINE.
I do errands with this tea in hand and people always ask what I’m drinking - mulled heaven.
My NYE YES-ESSENTIALS!
Only recently have our kids been staying up until midnight, so we create joy and novelty at home.
If you’re an inside cat or an outside cat for NYE, here are my tops:DA ‘FIT – Love these inspos to mix it up and shop my closet. CBC Life.
COLOUR CODE – I’m superstitious on NYE and follow this guide for my skivvies. Obviously Apparel.
REVIEW – I love the action of karma cleaning at the end of the year. Yoga Journal.
LUCKY CHARMS – Why chance it? I follow this list of what not to eat on NYE. Delish.
TREAT – We always have chocolate fondue on Christmas Eve and NYE because Step's family is Swiss. Had no idea of its origins! Harsh Chocolates.
WORD UP – There’s been much hype around choosing a “word for the year” lately. Guess what? Not new. There are probably other religions that do this, but it’s called a “star” word in Christianity for Epiphany on Jan 6. I found this PDF for ideas.
DO IT RITE – Digging this round up of rituals. If you see me at midnight with an empty suitcase and a mouth full of grapes, do not judge. EVERYGIRL.I’m so grateful for this space to muse and play. Thank you so much for your support this year.
Wishing you health, prosperity, adventure, safety, love and splendid dreams in 2025! Hug your people.
Let me leave you with the Soca song that captures my everything right now.
I will be whining my waist to Kes at midnight.
Dancing my way in 2025. Hope you're ready for me!
