Holiday Hacks from the ABG Community
With only 13 days until we can officially turn the page on 2020, you all deserve an enormous hug for getting through one hell of a year.
With traditional gatherings limited in size, our restaurant industry again in a critical state, and many of our friends and family at their wits end, we turn to our ABG community to see what they are looking for to find some reprieve and sanity during the closing days that is to survive the sh*t show of 2020.
Here are ways they are planning to 'hack' the holidays:
“For our family, this season with COVID-19 means that there will be no special trips out on Christmas Eve and no guests over for Christmas dinner. While this makes us a little sad, I’m embracing this stripped-down version of the holiday and opting to keep it simple. No fancy side dishes and spending hours in the kitchen, just some good wine, and a few of our favorite, easy-to-make foods so that the days are spent quietly with each other.”
Alisha Sommer, Marketing Director, Trois Noix Wine.
“I suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), so December and January can be rough. I adjust my sleep cycle to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier to see the sunrise. I use Circadian Optics light therapy designed by a young girl named Amber Leong. I also enjoyed the calming process of hand writing cards and notes during the holidays, although this year I seem to be mailing more condolence cards than anything. And I try to call one friend every day to say Hello and exchange a few laughs. People are isolated, and email or social media post does not replace a phone call to say "I am thinking about you.”
Melanie Young, Radio Host & Certified Health Coach.
"With the holidays looking completely different this year, it was important to me to find a way to uphold certain traditions to stay connected to my family (who are scattered from Dubai to Singapore, New York and Hong Kong), and to get into the holiday spirit that I look forward to year-round. I realized that different doesn’t have to be bad, and just because we aren’t able to be together doesn’t mean that new memories can’t be created. So, I am hosting a virtual cook-along with my family where we will all gather on Zoom to cook our favorite dishes and cocktails. This will surely be one to remember!”
Krisna Bharvani, Food and Beverage PR Consultant at krisp.
As much as we like to think work stops over the Holidays, it doesn’t! So a simple hack I use is to simply turn my phone to silent so I can be with my family fully and get to it when I can set time aside to focus. Even the absence of the “ping” of a new notification is enough to give me some space to remind me of what’s important - my kids and my wife! This is my first Holiday season sober, so ask me for another hack in 2021!”
Cara Bertone, co-founder of “Be the Change" Virtual Job Fair.
Closer to ABG home, for the past few months Cathy has been experimenting with the Wim Hof method of breath work and cold exposure, and it has unexpectedly developed into a hack for her this holiday season.
"Concentrated periods of time focusing on the breath (in this case, an extended sequence of the technique my yoga teacher calls Bhastrika breath) is always a helpful practice. In addition Wim Hof advocates for a physical practice of cold exposure whose benefit is reduced inflammation in the joints, which means I can run again for exercise without negative impact on knees or ankles. Above all though, this “hack” is about recognizing the amazing capabilities of our physical bodies, and the full extent of what is humanly possible. We are so much more capable than we ever thought we were. This season that translates, for me, not into pushing myself to the physical limit but instead, celebrating our amazing physical and psychological bodies.”
Finally, on a personal note, being away from family at the holidays is very (very) difficult, so this season it’s all about connecting with my extended hospitality family. From spending what I can afford on take out, and food deliveries, to gift cards and donations, while I love to cook at this time of year, supporting our industry is the most important contribution I can make.
Wishing you all a safe and healthy Holiday season, and a little moment of respite in these closing days of 2020.
Namaste,
Beck
PS – 2020 don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
What We're Reading:
Here's what has piqued our interest this week in the world of wine and mindfulness.
3 Types of Time Critical to Mindful Leadership Success – Mindful.org
These leaders have identified three types of time that are most critical to their success and growth: Recovery Time, Learning Time, and Celebration. Here is a brief introduction to them.
The Warrior and the Caregiver – Jeff Warren for TenPercent Happier.com
The Warrior is where we expand our natural capacities in the face of challenge, just as our chests expand on the inhale. The Caregiver is where we accept our limitations, back away from intensity, and take care of ourselves.
This is Why Alcohol Will Make Anxiety Worse - Gillian May for medium.com
If you drink to “de-stress,” this information will be valuable to you.
Dos and don’ts of working with influencers – Helena Nicklin for The Buyer.net
‘Getting Heard in the Digital Noise’ has become a challenge for any drinks or wine business, as the recent Bordeaux Means Business webinar looked to tackle.
"The Restorative Power of Secret Food Rituals," by Virginia Sole-Smith for the New York Times
For parents like me, it's sushi in my car for 15 blissful minutes -- and here's why that's OK.
Meet the Community!
Here we meet some of the talented folks who make our community and profession so dynamic.
Lydia Richards, Founder, Vino Concierge and Co-Founder, Hispanics in Wine (New York, USA)
Years In Industry:
I have been working in the wine industry for five years and have lived in New York for about ten (time flies!). I am originally from Panama and since early on, I remember having an interesting appreciation for wine thanks to my mom and my aunts, and how it brought them together around the table. The real OG wine lovers in my book, they would chat for hours on end, their interactions always revolving around a bottle of wine.
My true passion for wine began after graduating from university in London and living in Paris for a few months to learn the language. Living with one of my closest friends, who was French and a real wine connoisseur, really opened my eyes to the different French wine regions, styles and the culture behind it, from then on I was hooked. After moving to New York, I worked in Marketing and PR in the fashion industry, but always kept coming back to wine. I took wine and food pairing classes after work, and slowly but surely, it started taking over my life. In 2015, I decided to fully commit, take sommelier and WSET lessons and make the official career change. I created my private wine education and events company, Vino Concierge, in 2017; I am also a Senior Account Executive at Colangelo & Partners, working with their Spanish and South American accounts.
In September 2020, I launched an exciting passion project alongside my wine colleagues Maria Calvert and Ivonne Nill called Hispanics in Wine, a social space dedicated to showcasing Hispanic/Latinx roots in the beverage and hospitality industries. Whether it's a producer, sommelier, retail store, restaurant, or farmer, we are committed to empowering, amplifying and supporting the great work and business ventures our community is doing within the industry!
My Biggest Challenge To Wellness:
My biggest challenge to wellness has really been, well, myself! As with most of us, this year certainly took a toll. Being away from my family in Panama and living in isolation, dealing and confronting personal issues relating to BLM and the overall social justice conversation (that still continues), and of course, balancing the demanding work of being a PR professional and my own personal projects with Vino Concierge, took me to a dark headspace. After a few nervous breakdown close calls and honestly, drinking a bit too much wine as a coping mechanism, I decided enough was enough and I made the conscious decision to start taking care of myself, my health and my wellbeing.
How I Keep It Together To Stay Well:
It's been a journey, but I started exercising regularly. In the past, I had never been good at keeping up a regular exercise routine, but now, it is an essential part of my day. Even if I have a crazy one ahead (happens often!), I try to at least do 15-30 minutes of cardio or yoga, and it truly has done wonders for my well being. Additionally, I have also adopted a more balanced and healthy diet, lowered my alcohol intake and incorporated daily green smoothies with superfoods like acai, spirulina, turmeric, moringa, etc. While I definitely see the physical changes (my skin has improved, weight, and more), the most important thing has been my mental health - I feel more productive, sharp and with energy to take on the day. It is a constant work in progress and while I do not limit myself extensively (I still love my wine and my yummy, fatty foods), I've realized it's all about balance!
You can connect with Lydia on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, her website for Vino Concierge and its Instagram.
The ABG Shop is OPEN!
Just in time for the Holiday season, our inaugural ABG merchandise shop is now online.
The offerings are a small list of high quality items that we have road-tested and reviewed, and hope they help support your self-care, while staying hydrated, safe, and stylish! << Check it out here >>
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