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If you are ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day sans a trip to the bar, what better way to enjoy the day than grilling out with family and friends? Spring is just around the corner, so get your grill warmed up. You could ask others to bring Irish-inspired side dishes such as potato salad, colcannon (a combination of potatoes, bacon, onion, and cabbage), or Irish soda bread.

In the meantime, start prepping the corned beef and cabbage. You may be used to putting corned beef in the oven or crockpot, but it can be grilled as well. You want to make sure you let it soak for a few hours to get some of the salt out, then season it to your liking with black pepper, coriander, onion and garlic power, cayenne pepper, paprika, and thyme. You will want to grill it low and slow. At 250 degrees Fahrenheit, an average sized corned beef will take around an hour or two. You do not want to grill it too long or at too high of a temperature or it will dry out.

To go along with your corned beef, you could throw some cabbage on the grill as well, or foil packets with red potatoes, carrots and onions to add as a side.

Not feeling the corned beef? How about grilling Irish flank steak instead? It is another meaty, simple dish to throw on the grill. You could also grill up some bratwursts as well. There are plenty of possibilities for your meat course. Once the corned beef has finished cooking, you can use leftovers to make paninis on the grill to get that seared crust.

Finally, to quench everyone’s thirst, bypass the green beer and whip up some non-alcoholic drinks such as minty Shamrock shakes, green punch or St. Patrick-tinis! You could also get creative with fruit juices, soda water, sparkling cider and food coloring to make your own delicious creation.

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday traditionally known for drinking, but you can start your own sober traditions and make it a fun-filled day you are sure to remember.

[cta]Share with us some of your favorite recipes for grilling or non-alcoholic drinks for St. Patrick’s Day.[/cta]

Leap years only come around every four years, and 2016 is one of them. That means you have a full 24 hours more than you had last year and more than you’ll have next year. Instead of wasting this time away, put it to use supporting your recovery from addiction. Here are some great ways you can use this extra day for your benefit:

1. Attend a support group meeting. Whether you’re providing support to others or getting support for yourself, you’ll be in good company and can stay motivated to keep moving forward.
2. Volunteer. Give yourself a greater sense of purpose by giving back and helping others. Whether you participate in a one day project or sign up for something ongoing, you can feel good knowing you’re making a difference.
3. Treat yourself. Get a manicure or pedicure, play a round of golf, or have that cupcake for dessert. Do something that makes you happy and boosts your mood!
4. Reflect. Think about how far you’ve come and how far you have yet to go. Remind yourself of your goals and keep working toward them.
5. Connect with nature. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Take a walk, work in the yard, or do something else outside to de-stress and clear your mind.
6. Re-evaluate your relapse prevention plan. Review what you’ve been doing and take stock of what’s working well and what isn’t. Make small changes and add to your list of strategies and resources for supporting your recovery.
7. Spend time with new friends. Make time for friends who support your recovery and are a positive influence in your life. Continue building these relationships.
8. Go for a run. Burn off excess energy or stress, clear your head, and boost your mood. Regular exercise is a great way to stay in shape and promote better health in recovery.
9. Get a massage. Relax your mind and body while treating yourself to a soothing massage. You deserve it.
10. Try something new. Is there a class or activity you’ve been wanting to try? Somewhere you’ve been planning to check out? Use leap day to do it! What are you waiting for?

These are just a few ideas for how to make the most of leap day and keep your recovery from addiction moving in the right direction.

[cta]Join the conversation on Facebook and tell us how you’ll use the extra time to support your recovery.[/cta]

Valentine’s Day is about more than champagne, roses, and boxes of chocolate, especially if you’re focused on maintaining your sobriety and building relationships. If you’re new to the dating scene, you don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself, whereas if you’ve been together for a while, you want to make it something meaningful. It can be a fine balance and will really depend on your individual situation and what you feel comfortable with.

Just because you’re not drinking doesn’t mean Valentine’s Day can’t be fun and enjoyable. Here are a few sober date ideas to get you started:

• Go out for dinner and a movie. It may seem old-school, but there’s something comforting about sitting in the dark watching the big screen and sharing conversation over a nice meal.
• Create a scavenger hunt that leads your date to places that have been memorable throughout your relationship. Maybe the location of your first date, first kiss, or the store where you accidentally knocked over that display while you were shopping together. The end might be your apartment for a home-cooked meal.
• Take a day trip and explore the sights around you. Finally go to that museum you’ve been thinking about, or on a zip-lining adventure over the treetops. Or maybe you’re content just walking through a quaint town, talking and enjoying the scenery.
• Pack your own picnic dinner and go for a hike or to the beach. Find a cozy spot to cuddle up and get lost in conversation. If the weather’s not cooperating, set up your own picnic inside and have a movie marathon of your favorite flicks.
• Check out events in your community. See if there is live music happening, a poetry slam, a festival, or a comedian. Choose something you’d both enjoy where alcohol is not the focus.

Make Valentine’s Day special while not losing sight of all of the progress you’ve made in addiction recovery. It’s not worth it to risk your sobriety for one day when there are plenty of sober date ideas to put your own romantic twist on.

[cta]Share with us your sober date ideas for Valentine’s Day this year on Facebook.[/cta]

Football season is almost over, and that means the big game is coming up. Whether your favorite team is playing or not, it’s still fun to host a get-together and cheer along as the teams battle it out. While a sober tailgate may seem contradictory to the usual hoopla that surrounds the big game, it can become a great tradition and be an enjoyable experience for all.

Sober Tailgate Party Tips

Before the big day arrives, it’s important to plan ahead. Think through potential situations that may arise and how you’ll handle them. Put plans in place to reduce temptation and create a safe, fun environment. You may want to attend a support group meeting beforehand just to give yourself some extra motivation and encouragement in your recovery.

• Ask friends to bring food, but leave the alcohol at home. You can whip up some mocktails or have an assortment of other non-alcoholic beverages available. You could even hold a contest to see who can come up with the best alcohol-free drink concoction.
• Have games available to keep people entertained and take their mind off of drinking. Corn hole and card games are always fun and young and old alike can play.
• Invite sober friends, or those who support your recovery. It’s okay to be selective about who you choose to spend your time with, so think carefully before creating the guest list. If you know Joe has a tendency to get drunk at every game, he’ll probably have more fun at a different party anyway.
• Hold friendly competitions such as a cook-off to see who makes the best chili or burgers.

Don’t get yourself too worked up over what others will think about a sober tailgate. Focus on having fun with friends and getting hyped up for the big game and it will be here before you know it. Prove to everyone that alcohol isn’t a requirement to have good time.

[cta]Leave a comment on Facebook letting us know what you’ll be doing at your sober tailgate party.[/cta]