What to bring that's not wine.

Wine is nice, but these ideas are better (and healthier)

I don’t know if it’s just my circle (or age), but it seems like a lot of us are drinking considerably less. I enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail, but I try to keep it to 2-3 drinks a week. There are occasionally weeks where I go over that, and I can really feel it—anxiety, fatigue, a case of the meh’s. Capping myself at a couple of drinks per week allows me to enjoy a drink socially without the negative side effects. This, of course, might not work for everyone, but it works for me. We all have our line—that point where having a drink changes from a fun to a negative experience. Understanding where your line lies is something I work on with a lot of my private clients who want to cut back, but not cut out, alcohol.

The summer months feel more challenging because it’s peak hanging out season—warm weather makes me want to be outside and social in evenings. So whether, it’s a spontaneous afternoon hang or a weekend with friends, I thought it might be fun to explore some non-alcoholic gifting ideas to share and enjoy when someone invites you over.

Don’t get me wrong, bringing wine isn’t a bad thing if you will be having a glass, but the thrill of offering something thoughtful and unexpected, especially if you’re doing an overnight stay, is unmatched. And, of course, I love to inject a little wellness into our everyday activities and share the feel-good vibes. Here are some ideas:

A beautiful cooking oil:
This could be an anti-oxidant-rich olive oil, like Flamingo Estate, or my favorite nutty avocado oil from Westbourne.

A book you love:
Maybe it’s a cookbook, I’m loving Kismet’s new book or a coffee table book, like An Illustrated Catalog of American Fruits and Nuts (I want this one!).

A fun game to play:
Add some zest to the hang with a good old game. Cards Against Humanity or a little Heads Up never disappoints. I also love these superlative place cards from Dear Annabelle—such a fun way to personalize a party.

Something cute for their kitchen:
Maybe this marble butter dish, these very chic napkin rings, or acrylic salad servers.

A little something extra:
If your friend is fancy and you feel like going overboard, you could bring a summer truffle to garnish the meal or a tin of caviar (which is *full* of anti-inflammatory omega 3s) for them to add to their eggs in the morning.

A really good NA drink option:
Instead of a glass of wine at home, I often will pour myself a Ghia (use the code MIA15 for a discount if you want to try it). If you’re not drinking or cutting back, it’s great to bring something you can enjoy that feels special without the booze.

Something wellness-y:
I have a supplement bin at home and have been known to gift boxes of LivOn Lab’s Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C and Moon Juice’s Magnesi-Om. In my experience, these gifts are way more exciting than a Pinot Noir. They also make great adult party favors. Just saying.