Before we get into that, both of us wanted to say, “Thank you.” A bunch of you have been checking in on us and DMing us to ask where we have been. That means the world to us that you see when we aren’t posting or aren’t as active and that you have the concern to reach out. The short and on brand answer is “changing the kegs.” The long answer is that we have been going through some internal changes and restructuring of The NA Happy Hour. Since mid-December, Tyler and I have been working on changing around the happy hour to be able to bring you better content, more relatable stories, and re ..read more

We made it! Another year in the books, and what a year it was. Take a minute to reflect on the triumphs and challenges you faced this year, and reflect on the fact that you are here now ready to start another year. Chris and Tyler are already hard at work planning for next year to bring you incredible content, reviews, and new opportunities to get involved in the community!  The first and biggest sober event of the new year is Dry January! Every year people kick off the new year with incredible and inspirational health based goals from wanting to lose weight and tone up to get that beac ..read more

Apple cider. Aside from pumpkin spiced lattes, what says fall more than a warm cup of spiced cider? I remember doing yard work years ago then heading inside for some cider. It was not a tradition by any means, but it was a little something that warmed me from the inside. Once I got out of college I went through a really nostalgic phase and as a result, this cider kept coming back into my head. I am never disappointed when drinking warm cider on a cool fall day. This cider is sure to keep a house warm and cozy and will appeal to everyone’s sense of fall in New England. Tyler’s review: IT’S CO ..read more

To the Point-settia From the first day I had the idea for this book I KNEW this had to be in it. The poinsettia. Every year in the Riley house, we serve these on Christmas Eve. It is a simple cocktail but when you mix everything perfectly, it shines and twinkles in the lights of the tree and almost becomes an ornament itself. When we serve these on Christmas Eve, I know it is Christmas, I know everyone is happy, and I know there is cheer in the air without a care. Next stop on that Polar Express is the living room for ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Tyler’s review: Simple yet one of my favo ..read more

Lump Of Coal For those of you who have been feeling naughty, this is the drink for you. The Lump of Coal. And yes, there is coal in it to filter out the toxins so your heart can grow three sizes this season. This gin old fashioned came to me from a wonderful bartender here in Baltimore where I asked for a gin drink of her own creation. Once made, I took a sniff and guessed it was a gin old fashioned. She then added some charcoal dust in it to give it the signature look. I swear it is just for looks, you will not taste the charcoal. Stay on the nice list. Tyler’s review. This is the most uniqu ..read more

By Patrick Holbrook, The Columbus Dispatch An alert reader wrote me and raised a great point: When going for long-haul football watching, it makes perfect sense to intersperse nonalcoholic beers along with the “real thing” for general health as well as for safety, especially when curtailing alcohol intake because driving is involved. And you’ll feel much better the next day to boot. My one reader and I agreed that NA beers have come a long way since the days when there was O’Doul’s and not much else, and he pointed me toward WellBeing NA beers. WellBeing is one of many, many options these day ..read more

Fashioned with Maple: This had to be the first recipe of the book. One of my own creations that came to me in a wave of pure autumnal inspiration. This seasonal take on my personal favorite cocktail will get anyone in the mood for fall. This maple old fashioned uses real maple syrup from the very trees at my high school in New Hampshire. Sipping this old fashioned reminds me what it means to sit back and relax. I have never been unhappy while drinking one! It is one of the first things I will share with friends when they ask me to make them a cocktail. This comes right from my heart and speaks ..read more

Holiday Spiced Coffee If you know me, you know I love coffee. This recipe for homemade spiced hard coffee is my own creation. I had been working on finding a way to spice up my morning coffee which lead me to think of a nice flavor pairing by adding spices to the roast I was using at the time to see what would happen. Turns out it was REALLY good. After more thought, I added whipped cream and some whiskey to the mix to make it a little more “naughty naughty” as one of my old professors would say. Coffee has always been something to enjoy after STUFFING yourself with food on the holidays. Enjoy ..read more

The Cranfizz Ahh the gin fizz. A wonderfully bright cocktail that, in my mind, is the definition of effervescence. It is light, crisp, bubbly, chilled, and happy. The gin fizz is something I recently got into, along with my gin obsession. What turned me onto this was the added sparkling water. Gin by itself is fresh and light on the pallet but the added texture and feel of the bubbles from the soda water really make this one almost sparkle. To add some holiday festiveness to this mocktail, I turned it into a cranberry gin fizz. While there are many flavors and garnishes you can add to the drin ..read more

This past weekend Chris and I participated in the Tuna 200, which is a 200 mile relay race from Garner, NC to Atlantic Beach, NC. Yes… 200 miles. Well technically it was 203 Miles but who is counting…. This might sound like a daunting task but our team shredded the road with our sneakers! Our team name was The Challenge to Conquer Cancer, which is a non-profit I am a part of that does cross country bike rides for cancer research. The lovely Tricia Severa (my second mother <3) put together a wide variety of runners. From Ironman participants and ultramarathon runners to athletes like me wh ..read more