Happy Holidays! ❤️ ✨

Hi everyone!

I hope this message finds you well amidst the busy holiday season! I recently went to Chicago with some friends and it was so nice connecting with them and exploring the city while doing some holiday and ‘touristy’ things. Chicago really knows how to embrace this time of the year and I tried my best to be present and soak it all in. It’s hard to believe that this year is almost over— it has flown by! This past year has been truly amazing and I’m so grateful that I get to connect with you all in this space.

Thank you for being here; I appreciate you all so much!

All the best,

Mandy

FROM THE GG BLOG
Exploring Your Relationship With Alcohol

With the increase of the sober curious culture, more people are questioning their relationship with alcohol and thinking about trying sobriety. It can feel like an intimidating and scary process and you might not be sure where to start or if a problem even exists. If you’re open to exploring your relationship with alcohol, here are some strategies to support the process. 

READ
Everything You Need to Know to Make a Vision Board That Actually Works

WATCH
What we can learn from the Family Stone

📺🎥🎞🍿

This past week, I watched one of my favorite holiday movies, The Family Stone (feel free to keep scrolling if you don’t want any spoilers). It has everything you would want in a film — romance, comedy, drama and an all-star cast. The 2005 film follows Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) as she visits her boyfriend Everett’s (Dermot Mulroney) large family for the holidays. Despite Meredith’s best intentions, the family doesn’t exactly welcome her with open arms and drama ensues. Aside from the hilarious interactions and jokes, this movie does a great job showing family dynamics and how they can be complicated, especially during the holidays. Here are some main themes I picked up from the movie that many families can relate to:

1. Bringing new significant others to meet the family can be overwhelming and stressful

2. Birth order can play a major role in family dynamics

3. Families tend to maintain patterns of communication that get passed down from generation to generation

4. It’s okay to mess up a family recipe

5. Thoughtful gifts can bring people together

6. Although a family might seem “perfect” there is no such thing as a perfect family

7. Laughter is one of the greatest healing devices

8. There’s always room for new traditions while acknowledging older ones

   

   Meredith’s toughest critic!

If you want to watch The Family Stone it’s currently streaming on Hulu.

Listen
🎙 Strategies for Effective Goal Setting, Vision Boards and Healthy Habits for the New Year 2024

On this episode of Life with Marianna, host Marianna Hewitt, discusses beneficial strategies for setting goals and maintaining momentum for the new year. Listen here.

Today’s Affirmation

LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEAS
Wellness Gifts Anyone Can Appreciate

• Mindfulness Cards

• Affirmation Cards

• The Daily Stoic Book

• Atomic Habits Book

• The Five Minute Journal

• Stanley Cup

• Bala Bangles

• Facial Spa Set

• Ice Roller

• Canopy Diffuser

If you're in Maryland and looking to discuss therapy options, you can find me at Mindful Therapy Collective.