About Us
Caren and Leah are writers living in the New York area.
Caren Osten Gerszberg writes about women’s issues, education and travel for a variety of publications.
Her bi-weekly column, “Mom U”, ran for two 
years on the New York Times blog, The Choice. Caren’s work has been published in the New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Town & Country,Cosmopolitan, National Geographic Traveler, Child, Parents, Time Out NY, the International Herald Tribune and others. She also blogs for the Huffington Post and Psychology Today. To read more of Caren’s work, visit www.carenosten.com or email her at: caren@carenosten.com
Leah Odze Epstein writes fiction and poetry. She recently completed her first middle grade novel, featuring a 7th grader who is the daughter of a recovered alcoholic. She is currently working on a young adult novel, about the continuing adventures of her alter ego, Carolena Gold. Her poems can be found on the website Literary Mama. In her past life, she reviewed books for BookPage and Publisher’s Weekly, among other publications. An excerpt from her adult novel-in-progress, Glen Echo, was a finalist in Glimmer Train’s Family Matters competition. Email Leah at leaheps@verizon.net
Ummm, where have you been all my life? Just stumbled on you via Aunt Becky. I am a “mommy blogger” and I have a wine blog, and I love drinking without shame. Sort of. Will be sharing a story with you very soon, I have a’plenty.
Great–glad to meet you RhoRho–please do share!
Hi, will try to share some stories soon, I am so happy that I have found drinking diaries, I thought I was alone. I want to try not drinking on my own without going to AA too embarressed…
Hi,
I run a platform called Hello Sunday Morning. The intention of HSM and your blog are very much aligned and we might be able to share ideas. Would love to Skype with you guys at some point.
Warm regards,
Chris.
Hello!
I’m so thankful for running into your site! It’s so informative and I can’t stop reading all your articles!
I am so happy to have found you! These are issues I’ve been thinking about for the longest time and I finally got around to sharing some of my thoughts on the subject about two months ago. I look forward to exploring your wonderful site. Thank you!
Dear Caren and Leah
I am working on behalf of Drinkaware.co.uk, a charity which promotes responsible drinking and aims to reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm. I have just come across your site and was wondering if we could possibly work together and would like to sponsor an article. We are particularly wanting to direct users to our ‘alcohol and health’ page: http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/factsheets/alcohol-and-your-health .
Let me know your thoughts on the above, along with any other ideas you may have. I look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks,
Hanna
Hey Caren and Leah,
My name is Maria Henderson and I am a college student getting ready to graduate. I can already relate to some of the articles on here like “missing the drinking days” ha ha even now I feel like I’m getting to old to party like I once had.
But since I do still party pretty frequently, I have found a product that has helped me to wake up refreshed and feel good after a few sips. Its called Zaca it’s an organic recovery topical patch, which has a blend of antioxidants, amino acids, and vitamins to help replinish your body’s lost nutrients.
I would love for you ladies to try them and tell me what you think. Who knows maybe you’ll be able to drink like you once did. Email me with your shipping address I’ll send you some samples. maria.henderson@zacalife.com
Cheers and happy drinking!
Sincerely,
Maria Henderson
The “submit your story’ page is closed to comments. How can I post an article?
Hi M,
I too was embarrassed to be seen at AA so I decided to go to a meeting in another town. That was 15 years ago this past September 28th. Going it alone is HARD. What AA gave me was tremendous encouragement that kept up my hope for easier times ahead. And it worked. Alcoholism is the great equalizer; it spares no gender, class or race. To be surrounded by, and talk openly with, others who know the pain and shame of the disease – without feeling judged – has a truly calming effect. I’m not a regular meeting attendee anymore, but I know it’s there if I need it. Good luck to you and know that your days will be clearer and brighter if you stick with it.
Feel that I should stop by and thank you for all your hard work keeping up this blog – I’m a regular reader and appreciate the wide variety of stories and solid recommendations you put out there. Especially the books – Jody Lamb recently for example. Cheers!
Thanks 5inabus! We are really grateful your kind words and support!
Just came across your blog while doing some Sunday evening googling. Just want to say: do understand where you are coming from but: there is so much stuff on the internet about folk who have seen the light and think booze is evil etc etc. Would like to put forward a contrary view. We are not immortal. This is something I think people are unable to comprehend. This is a fact, so how then how do we live our lives? Personally, as a spiritual person, i feel no compunction whatsover in enjoying a glass of wine or beer. For goodness sake, let’s lighten up and enjoy what we have been given, the time we have available to us. So much of life these days is a miserable kill-joy experience. I am near retirement now. I can only tell you that we need to live life to the full, enjoy whatever is important to you in the here and now. If you constantly deny yourself, then you diminish yourself. So, what to do? Well, from after 40 years experience with the demon drink I would say the following. Alcohol is an art form, so treat it as such, with the utmost respect. Educate yourself, learn all about it. Wine, beer, spirits. Become a coinnoissuer then you will be in no danger because you will appreciate the value of this art form. Thats all I have to say.
Hello. I work for Bensur – a marketing company – and one of our clients – an alcohol beverage – is looking to advertise on some popular alcohol blogs. If you are interested, please email wbradley@bensur.com. Thank you.