Hola Sober Sunday

The joy of words of fabulous women from our community.

SUNDAY FOR THE ADVENTUROUS SOBER SOUL

AUGUST 2022

i YOU ARE VERY WELCOME

Consistent Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success.

editor's note We as a team are days away from Pledge 100 kicking off on September 1st and we are excited to deliver a FREE 100-Day Program for women to find their way out of the darkness that is daily drinking. I don't talk about data points, wobbles, or slips - I give it to you right between the eye- balls as in my experience that's exactly where it needs to freaking land . Bang. slap in the middle of your life so that you can finally take control of it once and for all. Addiction is a beast and destroys lives and families for generations and we at Hola Sober are DETERMINED (yes capital letters are required) DETERMINED to share our knowledge FREELY because women ARE DYING out there (again capital letters are required) DYING out there . On my sober adventure, I have learned some stuff, and I want to share that stuff FREELY . I can do stuff on computers and know a good photo when I see one, I can string a few words together and I enjoy doing this sober stuff and I have a FABULOUS (yes capitals again..) A FABULOUS coalition of powerful women with me, because women are DYING out there and people are trying to fluff it up in words that are acceptable and not too dire. The bottom line is that wine o clock is addiction o'clock, grey drinking is on a one-way-train to Rehab or premature death, take your pick. I hope the Sunday magazine gives you some tim e for reflection over a nice cup of coffee chilling hangover-free as the day breaks. Please join me in the sober dawn chorus as we say not today lady, not today. Susan Christina Creamer

Susan Christina Creamer EDITOR + PUBLISHER

DYING WOMEN ARE OUT THERE

before you

HOLA SOBER PLEDGE

Today we dare not forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution; let the word go forth that the torch has been passed to a new generation of women. Let all who hear us speak know we will bear any burden to support our Hola Sober sisters on this journey. To all sisters on high, know we are here fighting a new fight as a new set of revolutionaries who will oppose all who stand in our path, to assure the survival and the success of our sobriety, at our very core this much we pledge.

HOLA SOBER PLEDGE

WOMEN ONLY

ONLINE LEARNING FOR FREE Pledge 100 is the new Hola Sober HOLA SOBER SOBER EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

Empowerment Program within a closed group with online kick-ass learning. Modules include science, myths, time management, and personal development. This program is designed to create sustained sobriety and a permanent upgrade to your life. It is suitable as a refresher for those in sobriety or a kick-start for those beginning their adventure. Don't bother signing up unless you are going to show up for yourself as we don't hustle at Hola Sober, we share our knowledge and support systems freely and it's up to YOU to commit and do the work. Our program includes a morning video from Susan our Founder, daily lessons, weekly closed support meetings, a chat group, and our new Tribe Online Community Platform.

Our next Pledge 100 Sober Empowerment Program will kick off on September 1st, 2022.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR PLEDGE 100

JOIN NOW

"I am fueled by happy thoughts and coffee."

“People who are hurting don't need Avoiders, Protectors, or Fixers. What we need are patient, loving witness. People to sit quietly and hold space for us. People to stand in helpful vigil to our pain.”

Glennon Doyle

BEAUTY + FASHION

AUGUST 2022

sunday

NATURAL MEDICINE + MOOD BOOSTER + ANTI AGING SERUM

SOBRIETY

Clunky clogs are happening — simply a fact. While these shoes were basically unavoidable in the ‘70s and ‘90s, clogs eventually lost their “cool” factor. Now, an array of maximalist variations from the likes of Simon Miller and Lisa Says Gah! have been popping up left and right.

CLICK here

(Image taken from website)

Big Boyfriend Shirt from the Banana Republic Click here

Faux leather is big this Autumn and can be found all over the High Street. Don't be afraid to embrace the trend. It's fun and chic! Click here

Cargo Pants are comfortable and fabulously fashionable this season. Who didn't have a pair of baggy, utility-style pants — a staple in the ‘90s and early aughts? They have had a big- time resurgence as of late. And come in wide-legged and elastic end finishes.

Click here

LIQUID BLUSH Selena Gomez really snapped when she created Rare Beauty, especially the liquid blushes. A little goes a long way with this product and it will blend seamlessly into your skin. It also comes in two beautiful finishes, radiant and matte. We stan! SHOP HERE ➤

SKIN BARRIER

You can't be on SkinTok without hearing how to keep your skin barrier happy. The one product that always pops up is SoonJung's 2x Barrier Intensive Cream. With its hypoallergenic and fragrance-free formula, it's the ideal moisturizer to hydrate sensitive skin.

SHOP HERE ➤

CONCEALER

FACE MASK

This $11 concealer serum from NYX is one of the latest beauty products to go viral on TikTok. The product is described as a “medium coverage concealer in a skin-care serum” with “easy, mess-free application.”

From what TikTok shows, it seems the oils and gunk that live in your pores are no match for this Caudalie Detox Clay mask. Made from clean ingredients, you can count on this mask to remove impurities from your skin without irritating it. If you don't believe the TikTok hype though, it also has great reviews on Amazon and Sephora.

SHOP HERE ➤

TIKTOK SENSATIONS

SHOP NOW ➤ SHOP NOW ➤

SHOP NOW ➤

Hola Sober

AUGUST 2022 VILLAGE VOICES

I continue to be so grateful for the hosting team ( Linda, Maria, Ann, Peggi, and Lyn n ) who give their precious time each week holding space for women, in meetings (9-PER-WEEK) listening to and guiding them in their recovery journey. Please follow HOLA SOBER on social media which is being managed by Beth MT - she is doing a terrific job so I would appreciate all of you giving her a follow ❤️

CONSTANT vigilance IS the name of the game! If I think back to the moderation decisions I made 4 years ago I can see clearly the quick and inevitable slide back into addiction. Linda’s relapse shares resonate with me loud and clear. I know the clarity of AF living of the previous 14 years! It was fecking hard to get back here and I can’t risk going back…EVER! No question.

-K.H.-

I would like to thank all these AMAZING SOBER WARRIORS who daily show up for themselves and Hola Sober ❤️

The more I do this the more I learn that keeping it simple works for me. I do not need to figure it all out this week or next week. I need to figure out today, just that. That for me is progress. Accepting I need to keep my sober world simple. I get up, read my daily email, go to work, check into a meeting if I can and NEVER miss Sunday church with Susan. I Marco Polo my sober girlfriends daily. And that is me sorted and that is what works for me. -L. B.-

Read here

The biggest risk point for me, is running out of steam. I’ve been told in the past that I’m like a little spark plug. Good at lighting the fire, coming in hot, getting things moving. But despite being a very determined person, I have in past situations lost energy, given up, or died out. I’m starting to see that this could be a result of taking on too much at the beginning out of excitement. This work is creating a lot of clarity for me and giving me a lot to think about going forward. I will need to think more about what I really want and why. I am making a list of work to continue doing when P100’is over: habit tracker, what I want and why, vision board, vision statement. I have settled on a mission statement for now — to take a breath and focus on what’s in front of me. As simple as it gets, and not too lofty. -H.M.- Susan told me to never get tired of being hangover-free and to never stop being curious about my life. Those two things have helped me to continue being grateful and learning. Keeping it simple works for me. -B.S.-

"Move forward. Good things are up ahead."

Self-Love is not an acceptable practice in the UK. Or at least that is what we were taught as children. Or at least that's how I understood it. Or maybe I was totally misunderstanding it, but this is what I believed. It's a tough one to break free from. I offer help, and compassion to other people all the time. What am I offering myself? Time, the pause, reaching out to my sober sisters. (I would never ask for the help of people in the way I can here). Trusting my feelings. Trusting you all. Being open and open-minded to learning new facts and tools. Baths and long hot soaks have always been my thing. That continues with candles, bubbles, and music the works. I also think I practice self-love by reading and taking on board other people's experiences, stories, and advice. Taking the time to read and respond is an act of respect for others but also of self-love by being willing to learn and act on what may be another's mistake or another's wisdom. All is precious and valuable. Being here daily - sober - is an act of self-love -A.G.-

"Move forward. Good things are up ahead."

I broke the habit loop of the 4 pm cue. My cravings would start at that time and I knew I would be drinking my 6:30 pm. I stopped drinking at the same time, having the same drink, at the same location. I made it hard (no alcohol in my home), and I worked on my identity change: I am a person that doesn’t drink and so on. I have learned that repetition is key to forming a new habit. I thought I would NEVER be able to consistently wake up at 4:30 am, do my ritual, my routines. etc. Now, I am more confident I can in fact create new habits. I trust myself more. I started small. Like drinking water for example. I make a plan: I will drink water at xx location, at xx time. I get the 8- 10 glasses a day now. By repetition and with an implementation plan, I created the habit. I know with this method, I can change the habits I want to change. It is incredibly motivating to know that I can do it. To believe in me. To gradually change my identity. For now, I want to maintain the habits I have created to stay sober. I am committed to continuing to improve the new pathways in my brain by not drinking alcohol, by repeating my new habits every single day -A.C-

"Move forward. Good things are up ahead."

DAILY EMAIL

LOST TIME ' SUSAN

Dearest Sober Queens, This image by the artist Adolf really struck me and I felt it was a strong potent kick- start to your Monday as you make the decision whether you spend the day in the City of Lost Time; or maybe you do not…. Mondays for me, became a moment in my drinking career where I was INTENT on changing my habits because it was the day I MOST felt an abject failure because I had lost another weekend sandwiching my life, my boys, my world somewhere between the wine rack and the glass. Frantic Saturdays to get everything done on the to-do-list trying to look super-efficient and on my game but actually parched with a Friday night hangover…code words for DRUNK on a Friday night in a kitchen ALONE when everyone had gone to bed……Terrible word so bloody early on a Monday morning. Factual though. I lived in the City of Lost Time whilst drunk. Not looking drunk. But I was. Drunk. We probably all didn't look drunk, but were drunk In the wine years, I lost all hope. I lost the ability to see, to hear and to know my inner voice for she no longer existed as she was pretty much drunk most nights in the shadows of a kitchen running her dark universe. I lost time. No matter what your Monday or week looks like, choose to spend time living being present, find your hopes and dreams which may be buried beneath a raft of pain from the wine addiction years but it’s there just waiting to be re-ignited with new ideas, a new freshness that only sobriety gives – a clear head, growing self-respect and self- acceptance that frees us up to imagine a full, healthy, happy, content life enjoying the simple things in life.

The perfect cup of tea with the crunchiest digestive biscuit, the sunrise, this morning rejoice in the fact you lost NO TIME over the weekend to wine addiction, and if indeed you fell prey to the bullshit and nonsense - may you choose to click on freedom not Lost city for kicks this morning.

Come to the Edge. Come to the edge. We might fall. Come to the edge. It's too high! COME TO THE EDGE! And they came, And he pushed, And they flew. -By Christopher Logue-

I am not in your inbox giving out lemon meringue recipes - remember that. I am a gentle but definite Times New Roman sober invasion of sorts. Please join me in the sober dawn chorus as we say not today lady, not today. Lots of love Susan x

Daily email

Dearest Sober Queens,

I am sharing these little family memories in a bid for you to see what I saw in January 2019 setting out to crack this issue I had around wine. In my depths of despair, I called on every dead relative I could think of asking their spirit to guide me as I knew in my heart and soul I needed as much help as the universe could provide. I found myself very reflective in the opening months of my sobriety looking back at so very many lost moments and just when I felt as though I would drown in shame and guilt, my granny would come into my memory reel. On my desperate Day#1 I somehow grasped I had to turn her few pence on the butcher shop counter into slots of my time. I needed to have all of these sober time slots recorded in a ledger of sorts, documenting my progress so that at the end of the year, I too could withdraw a giant prize in a learning or a knowing. I had to follow my grannie's basic principle of keeping my eye on the prize investing daily wholly committing to that investment in myself to ensure the glory of the gift would come to pass. She taught me the law of practice and habit. We now know that habits are represented in our brains by collections of neurons linking together to create a pattern of thinking or behaviour that we fall into automatically and, habits are a cluster of mental maps that are built gradually over time and are strengthened by repetition - none of which my grandmother knew or understood…… but what she did know was, a repeated good behaviour has POWER. She also taught me, was the art of smiling at the butcher's counter, she didn't begrudge the sacrifices she made to ensure our gala Christmas, she saved with joy with her eyes only focused on the outcome. So, I began smiling doing my sober work knowing that if neural connections are accompanied by pleasure, they form much faster and more strongly and so to enforce my new habits I did so with love to myself smiling as I learnt how to be my best self thus creating a new default setting in my life.

"The hopes we had were much too high Way out of reach, but we have to try No need to hide, no need to run 'Cause all the answers come one by one The game will never be over Because we're keeping the dream alive." -Freiheit- (great song and great lyrics)

My grandmother could barely read or write raised in an Ireland where education was not always possible for working-class families and when it was, it was usually the preserve of sons not daughters. Her command of the spoken word was unblemished and free flowing but a book or a pen and paper defeated her. Without schooling, she didn't speak a word of Gaelic, and as small children, we used to teach her words which she then threw into her daily conversation. Some of her favorites were ‘Leaba’ meaning bed and ‘maith an cailín’ meaning 'good girl.' She was a whizz with money saved her pennies in jars and a member of both the ‘Christmas Club’ and ‘The Lourdes Club.' A ‘Club’ at that time in Irish working- class communities was when a private citizen or a small business ran a book taking in small amounts of money lodged and recorded for those who did not have a bank account. My granny and her sister Annie were part of the Club which operated at the back of her local butcher shop. At the end of her weekly order of sausages, rashers, ham, and a large chicken she would leave the change (coins) with Maria at the counter to put in the ledger around the back. She made these deposits weekly without fail. The results of these little savings culminated in an annual fund that we as children believed made our granny the richest woman on God’s green earth. With great aplomb every Christmas she would present each of her twelve grandchildren with 25 pounds and to her four children, one of whom was my Mum she presented 100 pounds. I recall very clearly how as a child I marveled at how such small amounts of money lodged with Maria could somehow within one year become such a lavish fund of gold.

‘

I am Maith an cailín,’ I think she would have said. . I turned up every single day and made some sort of investment into my sober goals and in time all those daily investments became my new life, my new self-confidence, my new security, my new habits, my new default setting, my new self-acceptance, love, connection, gratitude and sober gold dust spinning rings around my day. To you this morning I wish for you to see that the investment of time spent on your sober journey has the power to become a life beyond your wildest dreams that for some of you in this moment may seem dull and distant, too difficult and too hard but I promise you, peaceful joyful sobriety is only around the corner. I wish for you to say ‘Maith an Cailin’ to yourself this evening ❤️ Because we're keeping the dream alive ❤️ Please join me in the sober dawn chorus as we say not today lady, not today. Susan xxxxx

Keeping The Dream Alive Listen here

Daily email

Dear Sober Queens,

And it goes on. And on. Another day lost, another week lost, another year sacrificed waiting for the right moment to stop drinking when deep inside, we know we have to end the madness yet unsure as to when exactly to end it… Today is a B.F.D. kind of day. A BIG f*cking deal. BIG fecking deal. BIG freakin' deal. Every day sober and empowered is a B.F.D. Alicia at Soberish describes her drinking days as “I used to be made of glass. It didn’t take much to make me shatter into bits. And when that happened, I wanted to drink and smoke. To not feel anything, and be comforted by my “friends”.There were no “brushing” things off my shoulder. I just let them pile on and tried to make a martyr of myself by carrying them around. I couldn’t handle anything. Not criticism, a remotely bad day, an unreturned call or message – nothing. Looking back, I wonder if on some level I let myself be fragile because it made for an excellent excuse to drink.” Being sober is a B.F.D. kind of day. B.F.D. BIG f*cking deal. BIG fecking deal. BIG freakin' deal. Every day sober and empowered is a B.F.D. Every single morning that I awake and DO NOT live in that noisy place of early morning guilt and self-recrimination, it is a B.F.D. and I know that within minutes of waking. Tired? Yes. Feeling good? No, a little ropey to be honest but I have no hangover and I am a sober powerhouse so it is a B.F.D.

This morning was one of those black coffee kind of days. A slow sluggish start for me with little sleep but here I am and to me, it's a B.F.D. kind of day. B.F.D. BIG f*cking deal. BIG fecking deal. BIG freakin' deal. Every day sober and empowered is a B.F.D. Whichever way you write or say B.F.D., PLEASE KNOW the moment you truly surrender into your power of not drinking is a BIG f*cking deal. Waiting. We seem to spend our lives waiting for the right moment to deal with things that need our full attention. We wait for the kettle to boil, the burger to be flipped, the oven to heat up, the house to warm-up, the house to cool down, seeking the ‘right’ moment to have that difficult conversation or deal with that issue that is lurking, we wait and sadly we so often wait too long... Today is a B.F.D. kind of day. A BIG f*cking deal. BIG fecking deal. BIG freakin' deal. Every day sober and empowered is a B.F.D. Back in the wine years, I thought, - It’s Wednesday - the sun is shining, today is NOT the day to deal with my hazardous kitchen drinking. It’s Tuesday, there is traffic, and today is NOT the day to deal with my hazardous kitchen drinking. It’s Thursday, it’s been a hell of a day, today is NOT the day to deal with my hazardous kitchen drinking.

“Never forget that. It's a B.F.D. and we are so much better than before, no matter what is spinning in our universe. I don't drink alcohol and that is a B.F.D. BIG. FECKING. DEAL. REJOICE in that.

And yes it's in CAPITALS. IT'S a BIG FECKING DEAL.

Please don't forget that or underestimate that. Never forget to say thank you to yourself for showing up for yourself today. That ladies is a BIG. FECKING. DEAL . “When there is a hill to climb, don't think waiting makes it any smaller. Take the first step in faith, you do not need to see the full staircase, today just take the first step." Please join me in the sober dawn chorus as we look skyward and say not today lady, not today. Susan xxxxx

The message that I bought into was that I should be able to “do it all”. -Bring home the bacon; -Fry it up in a pan -And never ever let you forget you’re a man -‘Cause I’m a Woman- Yup. And when I couldn’t meet those ridiculous expectations the shame and unworthiness set in. And alcohol was right there to help me de-stress, feel better, and relax. And forget. Hide. Disconnect. All the while thinking that I was alone in thinking that I couldn’t do it all. Didn’t WANT to do it all. I resented feeling like I had to do it all. Because that’s what a woman SHOULD be. So here’s a big F*ck You to societal expectations of women to be and do “it all”. Superwoman is dead. The stress killed her. I’ll take the freedom that comes with not giving a living crap about what other people think of me. I LOVE myself. I do my best every day to do good on this earth. And that is all that really matters. And here’s a big F*ck YOU to Big Alcohol for intentionally sacrificing my health and mental and emotional well-being for a profit. I fell for it. But if I am being truly honest, I fell for it because I wanted to. It was easier to buy into the pretty story they sold rather than do the hard work of living life fully with all of the highs and lows that come with it, feeling all the feels, and being truly honest with myself. So yes. The penny has dropped HARD. G.

"Move forward. Good things are up ahead."

LI tend to think of myself as self- aware, but I’m beginning to see that I really have confused awareness with self- consciousness or confidence. Because I can give a million reasons why I drank doesn’t actually make me self-aware. Asking myself why did I drink every hungover morning lead me to ruminate on emotions or situations that I believed led to drinking. There’s a simple answer to that that I didn’t see before- I was addicted and going to drink whether I was happy, mad, or sad. Everything changed once I had “The Revelation” that I could no longer drink if I wanted to be alive for my family. It was turning the question from “Damnit, why did you drink again?” to “What do you truly want in your life?”. The self-criticism and second-guessing of everything I’ve done could be paralyzing. But, I will try to focus on today and simply ask “what” can I do to support people in my life today. I know one thing for sure, whatever the “what” is, I will be able to do it because I won’t be drunk or hungover. H.A.

NOT TODAY LADY, NOT TODAY

My biggest takeaway is that I’m realizing my purpose has always been here and I excel at it. I don’t need my name on a marquis on Broadway to live a big life. What I’ve always wanted is right here. I’ve got the Premium Upgrade. I need these reminders to keep me here. I’ve been struggling with what’s next? I need to embrace that is enough, this moment. This day. This simple life is premium. I’ve been striving to meet some ubiquitous expectations of how things “should” be when how they are is all I need today. I’m grateful to be a part of this journey, this group on a path to awareness. It’s a feckin miracle ladies! K.H. I find the explanation of what happens in the brain with alcohol (dopamine hit) followed by the low and the attempt to balance again (adrenaline and cortisol) very disturbing. I read Annie Grace and all these physical consequences she refers to with all her research and it made me really think about what I was doing to myself. Also, the fact that it remains in the body from 7 to 10 days, is incredible. Being someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I think the hope of feeling better and calmer was a great incentive to stop drinking, yet I now know alcohol increases anxiety. That for me was another discovery I found shocking. I thought it helped calm me down so I could function better. And yes, I did buy into all the sophistication bullshit at the beginning of my drinking but when it got so bad and I decided I had to stop, I realized to what degree I was self- medicating and using alcohol as a coping mechanism for EVERYTHING in my life. -A.C.-

"Move forward. Good things are up ahead."

SELF LOVE Self love to me is not giving up.

It is having patience with myself while I heal a lot of wounds. Self love is believing in myself and making changes, altering those changes and forgiving myself when I fail. Self love is sitting with myself trying to figure out the best way to be comfortable in my skin... writing notes, speaking to myself in videos. I've come a really long way from the days of hating myself. I'm learning to be my own friend and doing what is best for me and holding and hugging myself when I need it.

-B.H.-

NOT TODAY LADY, NOT TODAY

Check out from your world at 4.00 p.m. every day wherever you are in the world, to check in with yourself. Make a tea or a coffee and have a moment of gratitude for the gift of sobriety knowing your Hola Sober Sisters are doing it with you. We hold our own gift of sobriety and all women on this journey, in our hearts daily at 4.00 p.m. Join us in this simple ritual and take a brief pause in your day. Link to artist LUCY CRICK (image) here

Sobriety has made me fall in love with the quiet, the gentleness and the simplicity of routine and ritual, of authenticity and rip raw emotions. I have learned I love laughter, music and silliness but I also love the quiet. The quiet walks in nature, the gentle snap of branches underfoot or the sound of the clock ticking in my kitchen. Bless - the kitchen clock - there is something I never heard while drinking and yet I should have as I sat and drank under it…yet it took sobriety for me to EVEN HEAR the humming of the twisting hands of time….It's a powerful sound to sit in gentle reflection and the only hum is the chime of the clock in tune with life as it spins past me. The upside? As an alcohol-free woman I am aware of the passing of time and appreciate each and every second of hangover-free living. To me that's power. Real power. It's is the living illustration of "You have two lives. The second begins when you realise you only have one." - Confucius. Real power isn't something we always need to shout about, it's often something tangible we feel within, unseen by the naked eye masquerading as that peaceful zen like feeling that we sought so often down the neck of a bottle that is now staring us right in the face through sobriety. Susan Christina-

"Move forward. Good things are up ahead."

“You are not supposed to be happy all the time. Life hurts and it's hard. Not because you're doing it wrong, but because it hurts for everybody. Don't avoid the pain. You need it. It's meant for you. Be still with it, let it come, let it go, let it leave you with the fuel you'll burn to get your work done on this earth.”

NOT TODAY LADY, NOT TODAY

A Quick Note:

YOUR DIRECTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN Your Speed

NOT TODAY LADY, NOT TODAY

SUNDAY KITCHEN HOLA SOBER

late summer salad

250g/9oz baby broad beans, pods removed 300g/10½oz baby carrots, scrubbed, green bases left on 1 bunch radishes, trimmed, cut in half 100g/3½oz fresh peas, pods removed Small handful fresh mint leaves, torn 6 lemon balm leaves, torn (optional) Small bunch fresh chives Large handful fresh, young curly-leaved parsley leaves, chopped 1 Little Gem lettuce, or similar crisp lettuce, core removed, leaves separated

For the vinaigrette

2 tbsp white wine vinegar 2 tsp Dijon mustard 1 heaped tsp caster sugar

Pinch sea salt flakes 3½ tbsp sunflower oil 3½ tbsp olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Summer Salad from Good Food BBC Full write up here IMAGE from BBC FOOD SITE

METHOD

Cook the beans in a pan of salted, boiling water for 2-3 minutes, or until tender. Drain well, then refresh in cold water and peel away the outer membranes. Cook the carrots in a pan of boiling water for 3-4 minutes, or until just tender. Drain well, then refresh in cold water. Place the cooked beans and carrots, radishes, peas, mint leaves, lemon balm leaves (if using), chives, chopped parsley, and lettuce leaves, into a bowl and mix well to combine. Set aside. For the vinaigrette, whisk together the white wine vinegar, mustard, sugar and salt in a bowl until smooth and well combined. Gradually whisk in the sunflower oil and olive oil until the mixture has thickened and is glossy. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve with vinaigrette drizzled over tossed salad leaves.

goat cheese quenelles

ingredients

vegetable oil, for deep-frying 500g/1lb 2oz goats’ cheese plain flour, for dusting 1 free-range egg, beaten 100g/3½oz breadcrumbs

400g/14oz fresh peas 50g/1¾oz pea shoots 3 breakfast radishes, thinly sliced on a mandoline a handful of mint leaves, chopped 2 lemons, zest, and juice olive oil salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 180C/350F, or heat the oil in a deep, heavy- based pan until a breadcrumb sizzles and goes brown when dropped into the oil. (Caution: Hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Soften the goats’ cheese a little by beating it with a spoon. Shape it into quenelles using two tablespoons and roll them in flour. Dip them in the beaten egg and then roll them in breadcrumbs to coat. Deep fry for a few minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden-brown. Remove from the oil using a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on kitchen paper. For the salad, cook the peas in a pan of boiling water for about 30 seconds, just enough to blanch them. (You can include a few whole pods too if you like.) Drain and put into a bowl of ice-cold water. Refresh the pea shoots by dipping them in cold water. Drain them and put them in a bowl along with the drained peas, radish, mint, and lemon zest. In a jug, mix a little olive oil with a big squeeze of lemon juice and whisk together with salt and pepper to make a dressing. To serve, dress the salad and place the goats’ cheese quenelles on top.

Summer Salad from Good Food BBC Full write-up here IMAGE from BBC FOOD SITE

BOOKS

The People on Platform 5 (UK Version) Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting (US Edition) by Clare Pooley

Every day at 8:05, Iona Iverson boards the train to go to work. Every day, she sees the same people and makes assumptions about them, even giving them nicknames. But they never speak. Obviously. Then, one morning, Smart-but-Sexist-Surbiton chokes on a grape right in front of Iona. Suspiciously-Nice-New Malden steps up to help and saves his life, and this one event sparks a chain reaction. With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don't match reality. But when Iona's life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most? From the New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project comes an escapist read that will transport you, cheer you, and make you smile—and make you, too, wish you had Iona’s gift for bringing out the best in everyone. “A not-to-be-missed read in the mode of Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.” “Sunny, funny and full of heart.” —Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid

Pre-Order Clare's new book here

Colette Louise

card of the week

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The Nine of Pentacles is our card for the last week of August going into September. The figure in this card stands alone in a beautiful garden. Her pentacles are stacked up around her and the grapes on the vine are ripe for picking, indicating the rewards for her hard work. On her arm is a hooded falcon, the hood keeps the laser-sharp eye and attention at rest. Remove the hood and that bird is ready for action. I love this card for the week ahead! Pamper yourself a little, hair colour and cut, mani/pedi, a new tube of lipstick, and a nice new fall sweater or pair of jeans or both! How much calmer and less hurried do you feel after a summer sans alcohol (alcohol-free). You slept better, you caught some glorious sun rises and moon rises too. You listened to the quiet breeze in the leaves or maybe actually noticed the beauty of these simple things for the first time. You also sat with some uncomfortable acknowledgments about yourself and put some things in order so it wasn’t all a cakewalk. The woman in the nine of wands didn’t get there by resting on her laurels, that hawk she holds it no toy. She and her hawk are ready and willing to use their laser-sharp focus to achieve their goals (and of course, it’s a girl hawk in case you wondered). They did, and continue to do, the work and can take a moment to enjoy the fruits of their labour. This week take a moment to acknowledge your hard work no matter where you are on that road, be generous and recognize the hard work and achievements of others, oh and buy a new tube of lipstick that goes for everyone!

Nobody is Perfect but we never fail at not today lady, not today.

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JANE STEVENSON

HANDMADE SILVER JEWELLERY

I make handcrafted, unique, silver and gemstone jewellery designed for each individual customer in my small bespoke silver studio based in South East England. I want you to love wearing your finished jewellery as much as I love making it. Talk to me about how I can help you create jewellery that is perfect for you. Please visit my website and reach out so we can work on your next self-care silver treat together!

GLOBAL SHIPPING Japanese word with a deep significance. From years of travel, work and art ESEKA Designs was born. Welcome to Eseka Designs, your online source of amazing gifts, clothing and accessories for your home! Each piece of artwork was named after a

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If you wish to submit for our HOLA SOBER MONTHLY MAGAZINE; please email: submissions@holasober.com

To all ladies who give permission to publish your words -thank you, Lisa Wilde for all your support, words, and help - thank you. Note: I am not a professional designer, writer, or creator; I am a woman who drank wine and now talks about not drinking creating this platform and magazine in a moment of pure madness offering EVERYTHING for FREE. NO ADVERTISER PAYS ONE CENT. THIS IS FUNDED IN FULL BY THE FAMILY. If there are spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, cut me some slack as this is a FREE MAGAZINE made with love. The HOLA SOBER PLATFORM (Magazine, Meetings, Emails, Platform) would not be possible without the financial and loving support of my husband, and three sons whose help means that I can do this all the hours the universe sends. Shout out, as always, to Deb + Judith, Gee + Colette ❤️ www.holasober.com

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