Welcome December and Cheers to a Festive Season that Truly Sparkles!

“Cheers to a festive season filled with real joy, true connection, and moments we’ll remember—because life sparkles brighter without alcohol. ✨🍋”  

This quote captures everything I’m carrying into my first alcohol-free holiday season. For so many years, I thought the sparkle of the holidays came from the bubbles in a glass of champagne or the warmth of mulled wine. But now I see it differently. The real magic of the festive season isn’t found in a drink—it’s in the laughter, the connection, and the clarity of being fully present for it all.  

Joy, I’m discovering, isn’t something you pour into a glass. It’s something that comes alive when you’re fully engaged in life. This season, I’m finding joy in the unfiltered laughter of being with loved ones, savoring every bite of festive meals, and pausing to soak in the beauty of twinkling lights and crisp winter air (or sweet Summer air depending on where you are). These are the moments that truly shine, moments that alcohol once dulled but now feel brighter than ever.  

The holidays are about connection, but alcohol often got in the way of that for me. I remember times when I’d zone out after a drink or two, the warmth of a conversation slipping away as I focused on my next glass. Now, I’m present. I’m able to listen, laugh, and truly love the people around me. Whether my drink is a soda water with lemon or a festive mocktail, it doesn’t matter. What matters is who I’m with and the memories we’re creating together.  

And then there are the mornings. They’ve become my favourite part of this alcohol-free life. In the past, they were filled with headaches, regrets, and blurry memories. I’d miss the little moments because I wasn’t fully there to begin with. But now, I wake up clear-headed, refreshed, and ready to embrace the day. I remember every laugh, every story, every shared look from the night before, and it’s the most incredible gift.  

This festive season, I’ve discovered a new kind of sparkle. It’s not the fleeting shimmer of alcohol; it’s the lasting brilliance of being fully present, deeply connected, and authentically joyful. Sobriety has shown me that life doesn’t need to be filtered or numbed to shine—it sparkles on its own, brighter and more beautiful than I ever imagined.  

So this year, I’m raising my glass of Bare Bubbly to you, to me, and to the magic of a festive season lived fully. Here’s to real joy, true connection, and moments we’ll remember. Cheers to a life that truly sparkles brighter without alcohol. ✨🍋  

~BB 🎄❤️