Looking for the best non alcoholic bottled drinks to sip on while you take a break from booze (for now or forever)? Here are my faves.

To drink or not to drink? That is the question.

For you it might just be a question you ask yourself on January 1st when you wake up hungover from way too many glasses of champagne. For me, it’s a question I ask myself nearly every time I go out.

I took a month off of drinking in December of 2016, and I ended up keeping my “Dry December” going for about three years. It was just this past summer that I really started getting a lil tipsy again—but now I only drink champagne and I skip the tequila shots.

Needless to say, I like to think I know a bit about the non-alcoholic beverage options you need in your life if you’re taking a break from your beloved vodka-sodas or French 75s.

Here are the best non alcoholic bottled drinks.

1. TÖST

TÖST, $17.99

Out of this entire list, TÖST is definitely the one you want to bring to your classy (and instagrammable) summer soiree.

The bottles are super cute and will blend in perfectly with all your friends’ rosé drinks, and the look of TÖST when poured into a glass is similar to that of Champagne or Prosecco.

The taste of TÖST is a bit sweeter than your standard dry brut, but this is still definitely a great option for those who are sober and longing for a glass of bubbly.

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2. Honeydrop

Honeydrop Cayenne Honey Lemonade, $25 for a 6-pack

Certain flavors of Honeydrop lemonade are kind of like a classy cocktail, minus the booze. My personal favorite is the cayenne honey flavor for a little kick.

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3. Wild Tonic

Wild Tonic Jun Kombucha, Mango Ginger, $2.96

As far as kombuchas go (and I am a big fan of kombucha), Wild Tonic might have the prettiest bottles I’ve ever seen. Their flavors all sound equally fabulous—from mango ginger to raspberry goji rose to blueberry basil.

If I’m honest, the flavors don’t taste quite as exciting as they sound, but the bottles are so pretty and these jun kombuchas are not as potent as standard kombuchas, which means they’re a good option even for your friend who isn’t a fan of the ‘booch.

Oh, and if when February 1st runs around you’re back to boozin’, they have hard kombuchas in the same exact flavors!

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4. Ginger Beer

Fever Tree Premium Ginger Beer, 4 Count, $4.99

As soon as I quit drinking, ginger beer became my go-to. Not only because I love all things ginger, but because most bars (even really shitty, dive-y ones) have ginger beer behind the bar.

In fact, a lot of people (even some servers I’ve had at restaurants) don’t even realize ginger beer is non-alcoholic. I’ve totally had random guys buy me a ginger beer at the bar, and they probably thought they were getting me one step closer to getting tipsy and accepting their invitation to dance.

I like Fever Tree’s Ginger Beer because it comes in a bottle like a real beer and sort of reminds me of champagne because it’s light and bubbly, but I like Gosling’s too and that’s usually what they have behind the bar at most spots.

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5. Fre Wines

Fre Non Alcoholic Wine Premium Blend, $18.74

If you’re desperately missing the flavor and body of a red wine but are off the booze, Fre Alcohol-Removed Wines are probably your best bet.

You might be thinking, “isn’t that just glorified grape juice with a steeper price tag?” But it’s not. Fre wines are made the same way that regular wines are made (fermentation and all that jazz), but they use a “state of the art spinning technology” to remove the alcohol post-fermentation. It really does taste pretty dang close to red wine, but of course it’s missing the warmth and flavor of the alcohol (mostly in the aftertaste).

And also, regarding the price tag, it’s $18 on Amazon where I linked it. But, if you go to their website and find a store near you, you can probably find it cheaper. I bought mine at a local liquor store for about $7.99.

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6. Frassers

Frassers Hemp-Infused Peach Green Tea, $42/pack of 6

If you’ve sworn off alcohol but are down with CBD (not to be confused with THC), you might want to try Frassers’ iced teas.

Think of them like your traditional Arizona Iced Teas, but with a super flavorful twist. I prefer the peach green tea because I’m not a big fan of hibiscus, but I can get down with their hibiscus tea too.

As for the CBD, I’m not really sure if it actually does anything, which is how I feel about all CBD products. But, they do donate a percentage of their profits to local social justice organizations in Venice Beach, which is rad.

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7. Spirity Cocktails

Spirity Cocktails Margarita, $14.99 for a 4-pack

Want a quick margarita, negroni, or mule that won’t leave you stalking your ex’s new girlfriend on Instagram? Spirity Cocktails has the solution.

They launched their three non alcoholic beverage options in September of 2020 and are sold exclusively on Amazon.

While again, they don’t really taste exactly like the real thing, they’re a fun and easy option. Plus, chances are your drunk friends won’t even realize that what you’re sipping on is zero-proof.

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8. Liquid Death

Liquid Death Sparkling Water 12 Pack, $15.99

Okay, so this isn’t exactly a “drink,” but this is the coolest looking water (still or sparkling) you’ll ever find, IMO. And really, if I brought this to a bar or a party and was chugging it, I know for sure that all the tipsy people there would think it was a beer.

Their branding is fucking sick. They’re all about saying “F U” to plastic with aluminum cans and by donating 10% of profits to nonprofits that fight our plastic problem.

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Looking for size xxs clothing for the gym? I gotchu covered.

If you’re working out your booty at the gym (or even just running to Whole Foods for an overpriced juice), you wanna be like Bubba Sparxxx on Ms. New Booty and “get it right, get it tight.”

Unfortunately, it’s hard to get it right + tight if you can’t find leggings that hug your waist, booty, and suck everything in for that compression effect that leggings are supposed to give you. As someone who typically wears a size XXS, or 00, I noticed that it was more difficult than it should be to find leggings that really fit me as tight as I wanted them to. So, I’m compiling a list of brands that sell XXS clothing that I can personally recommend based on experience.

1. Ultracor

Not only does Ultracor offer size XXS clothing, they also offer the cutest damn prints in their workout gear. I just about died when I saw this cherry workout set. Unfortunately, they don’t offer it anymore, but they have tons of other fun, but still sleek prints + styles. 

These leggings are definitely a true XXS. They honestly feels a wee bit tight on me, especially when I first am putting them on. They also include built-in undies which sort of adds to the tightness of it all. 

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1. Women’s Best

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A post shared by Ashley (@ashleygiov)

This is probably my favorite brand from this list. A friend of mine, Vicky Justiz, partnered with this brand when they launched their activewear. When I saw that they had a bright red matching set, I knew I had to have it. I DMed Vicky about sizing, and she assured me that their sizes were super tight and form-fitting on her, and I know our sizes are similar. 

Their shipping does take some time because they’re based in Austria. I ordered my first package on Black Friday and I think it legit took over a month to arrive, but it was worth it when I received it. My leggings from Women’s Best are probably one of the most flattering pairs I own IMO, I also like their bike shorts and long-sleeve crop tops.

You can see me in their apparel in this booty workout video I made. I’m wearing a size XS, and it fits similar to an XXS would in other brands that run larger (EG: Alo, Bandier). 

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3. Bo and Tee

Speed Seamless High Waisted Shorts in Orange, on sale for $19

If you’ve shopped at Oh Polly before (read my review here), you might guess that their activewear brand, Bo and Tee, probably also runs small. I should have known this, but I was so scarred from activewear running large that I ordered an XXS anyway, and woo-wee is this set tight on me!

It’s still wearable, and it looks cute in photos (please confirm below), but sometimes I feel a bit like a sausage in it. I ordered another set from them last month and got it in an XS instead, it fit way more flattering on me! 

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4. Daniel Patrick

While Daniel Patrick doesn’t technically offer size XXS clothing, their size XS definitely fits like a size XXS as their products run small. I got an adorable neon orange set from them and it barely fits over my boobs and also gives me a bit of a camel toe, but it gets the job done. If I was to order again I’d probably size up. 

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5. Girlfriend Collective

Black Compressive High Rise Leggings, $68

Gotta love some ethically made activewear, especially when it comes in size XXS. These leggings are made from water bottles, they’re super soft and comfy, and they fit snug without being too tight to be worn for non-active activities like jet-setting or working from home. 

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6. Terez 

Torch’d x Terez Tie Dye Bike Short, $78

Terez is another brand that not only offers size xxs clothing, but also offers super fun prints. I got these adorable neon flame print shorts from their collab with Torch’d, and a size XS actually worked fine on me because they didn’t offer XXS in this collab. However, if you need a true XXS, they offer neon snakeskin, paint splatters, shooting stars, lots of leopard, and tons of other fun prints in their leggings. 

Use my code ASHLEYG15 for 15% off your order! 

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7. Halara

Cloud 9 Super High Rise ⅞ Seamless Camo Leggings, $39.95

Halara is like Terez in that they offer size XXS clothing (or 2XS on their site), but a size XS worked for me just fine. Their fabrication is a bit similar to Women’s Best in that it’s super thin and seamless-feeling, so it doesn’t cut into your waist and give you that muffin-top look. Their tops are also definitely on the small side. An XS was very boobalicious on me, and a Medium would have almost worked on me if it was slightly smaller in the band/bust.

Use my code FFGVNN for 30% off your order! 

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8. LuLuLemon

Wunder Train High-Rise Tight 25″, $98

I’m going to be honest, LuLuLemon never lived up to the hype for me. BUT, I will admit that their sizing runs super small and their compression leggings really do suck it all in. I grabbed a size zero in their compression leggings (above) when I finally was gifted a pair, but to be honest I probably could have gone up a size and worn a 2 for a comfier/less muffin-toppy look. In their more “casual” leggings (the “Align”), a 0 worked great for me though. Sports bra wise, they also run small, the saleswoman recommended that I wear a 6.

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I hope this post helped you! And let me know if there are any activewear brands I should check out in the comments section below!

Check out my other post for XXS shopping:

I know, I know, going on a first date during Covid sounds a bit like an oxymoron.

“But Ashley, the governor said we’re not supposed to leave our houses, why would we be dating?”

Well, you’re clearly following instructions, but many people aren’t. And for those of us who have been single during the entire COVID crisis, shit has probably been really damn lonely (or at least really damn horny). 

Regardless of where you live or what the rules are, people are clearly still dating. Tinder and Hinge have seen an uptick in users and activity. In fact, Hinge saw a 17% increase in dates over the summer, which is pretty significant. For those who aren’t on Hinge, the reason they can track this is because the app asks you if you’ve met your matches, and if you respond “yes” then it knows you went on a date. 

Just because people are still dating doesn’t mean people are dating in the same way they were pre-COVID. Dating activities are severely limited in certain states (including California, where we can’t even do outdoor dining anymore). And people seem much slower to meet someone IRL and much faster to “get serious” once they do meet someone they like. 

If you’re still on the hunt for a Corona bae and haven’t had much luck, it might be the way you’re handling the first date during Covid. Here are 7 common mistakes I’ve seen people make when trying to date during our trying times, and how to do things better. 

7 Common Mistakes To Avoid On a First Date During Covid:

1. Not making a plan

First off, this is a mistake that I’ve seen men make pre-Covid, but it holds even more true in our current times. 

If you’re asking someone out on a date, ask them out on a date. Don’t ask them to “hang,” don’t say “let’s grab dinner” and then not make a reservation somewhere. Fully plan out the date, let the person you’re asking out know the plan (so they can let you know if they’re comfortable with it), and then proceed.

Of course, when you’ve been dating someone for months you can totally just meet up and see where the day takes you. But, on a first date during Covid (or during any time tbh), you have to realize that your date wants to make sure they’re not going to end up in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation (and keep in mind that uncomfortable and unsafe are based on their feelings, not yours). 

You might feel totally comfortable at a busy restaurant, but your date might not feel safe being around big crowds right now. You also probably feel super comfortable in your apartment, but chances are your date will not. 

If you want to up the chances that someone says yes to a date with you (or actually shows up), make sure to take the time and effort to make a plan and communicate that plan. If you don’t like assuming such a dominant role, give your date a few options (bitches love options). 

Speaking from personal experience, a guy who doesn’t make a plan for a first date (or worse, make a half-assed plan and expects me to do the grunt work of finding a place, making a call, etc.), comes off as lazy, incompetent, or someone who just doesn’t give a fuck. And that’s not really the type of guy I’m looking to go out with at this point in my life. 

2. Not setting a date

A funny thing that I’ve noticed happening during Covid is that we’re all suddenly so free that it becomes harder to set a time/date for a plan, and then things just never come together. 

In P.C. (pre-Covid times), if a guy said “Want to do dinner one night this week?” I’d say, “Sure! I’m free Thursday night” because that would be the only night of the week I was free. Now, I’m basically free every night and every day (an exaggeration, but still), and so are lots of other people. 

An unfortunate mistake I’ve personally made is that a guy will ask me out, tell me he’s free “literally whenever” and I’ll say “literally, same.” And then nothing happens because neither of us take the initiative to be like, “Oh we’re both free at all times? Great, let’s do something tomorrow at 3 PM.” 

It’s possible that this flopped for me because I hate taking initiative in my dating life, and the guy assumed that me not taking his bait of saying “I’m down to hang at any time,” was a sign I’m not that interested. Regardless, you should take this as a warning to not let this happen to you! 

Even though most of us have pretty free schedules, stuff comes up and most women (including myself) like to plan in advance if they’re going on a date (hello? We may have not showered in days?). So even if you both are “super flexible,” at least try to nail down a tentative date and time so that shit gets moving in the right direction, and so your date can make time to get cute. 

3. Suggesting your house as a date location (even jokingly)

If you’re trying to get a girl to come over for straight-up sex and cuddles, just say that. Don’t try to play it off as, “Well, since there’s literally nothing else to do, I guess you could just come over to drink wine!”

First off, Brad, is there really “literally nothing” else to do? Or do you literally just want to get your D wet? Because chances are the girl you’re asking out has a few better ideas for a first date during Covid (and so do the rest of her Hinge matches). 

I get that options are limited, and a take-out + Netflix date seems more reasonable during our stay-home times, but inviting a stranger to a house on the first date is kind of sketch, regardless of your gender. 

To quote a Tweet I saw on my timeline the other day, “All these dudes inviting me over to their house on the first date…how do you know I don’t steal?”

Seriously, don’t even suggest your house/apartment as a joke because we all know you’re saying it half-seriously in case your date actually says “yes.” 

4. Acting like it’s weird that a girl isn’t comfortable going to your house (even jokingly)

If you’re going to invite a girl over to your house anyway, fine. Hell, she might even go for it! I know girls who would be down, I just know that I’m not and this is my blog, so tough luck. 

If you’re going to try to seduce a girl into showing up at your apartment during a national pandemic, don’t get weird if she rejects the idea. 

Speaking from experience, the only thing weirder than a guy inviting me over to his place way too soon is him acting like I’m crazy for not being down. 

“What? You think I’m going to murder you?” They’ll say, as if that isn’t exactly what a murderer would say…

Just kidding, I actually rarely think a guy is going to murder me. I just have been on enough dates to know that I’m not comfortable at a guy’s place on a first date because I always feel like they’re going to try to pull a move on me at the wrong time and I’m going to end up in an uncomfy situation. I’d rather reject a guy’s date idea over text than have to reject him when he’s forcefully trying to shove his tongue down my throat  

Regardless of my personal preferences, if you’re a dude and you’re reading this, please remember that dating as a girl is legit kinda scary. We share our locations with our friends before going on dates, we have someone on speed dial in case you get too handsy, our guard has to be up at all times. Your goal is to make your date feel like she can let her guard down around you, and that’s not going to happen if you’re making serial killer jokes about her coming to your house. Respect her boundaries!

Oh, and one more thing, if you’re going to invite a girl over to your place, at least make some sort of “plan” so she feels like you’re putting the bare-minimum of effort in and knows what to expect. 

Saying, “wanna come over, order sushi, and play Jenga?” sounds way better than, “wanna come over?” I get that you could have ordered sushi and played Jenga without saying it, but I can also guarantee your date is way more likely to say yes to the former question than the latter. 

5. Trying to meet up too soon

Everyone has their own mental timeline as to when they think it’s appropriate to meet someone IRL from a dating app. 

If you’re a straight, cis dude, yours is probably shorter than the girl you’re asking out. COVID has made these timelines longer for most people, because if we’re going to potentially expose ourselves to COVID, we want to make sure it’s worth it. Again, respect people’s boundaries and don’t be pushy. Send a few courtesy get-to-know you texts before getting all gung-ho on your socially-distanced date idea. 

If you’re not a big texter, it’s become pretty common to do a Facetime date before the first date during COVID IRL. Which brings me to my next point… 

6. Facetiming without warning

Listen, we’ve all seen Catfish and nobody wants to show up to a date with someone who looks totally different from their photos, but anyone who Facetimes without warning is a psychopath. 

Most millennials don’t even make a regular phone call without texting “is now a good time?” beforehand because first off, we’re busy. Second off, we all have social anxiety. Third off, if a cute dude from Raya is about to see me on video for the first time, I would at least like to change out of my pajamas and brush my hair. 

Just like a regular date, you should schedule a date and time for a Facetime date. Of course, you don’t have to stick to it exactly, but I think most women would at least like to make sure they have a little makeup on for their first time chatting with a potential boo. 

7. Not clarifying your COVID-safety levels beforehand

I touched on this before, but I just want to reiterate that everyone has their own hypocritical COVID-safety standards. Just because someone is down to meet you for a first date during Covid, doesn’t mean they want you to take your mask off. But obviously, if you’re already on said date and you take your mask off, they’re probably going to feel too awk to tell you to put that shit back on. 

My recommendation would be to discuss safety expectations beforehand so that things run smoothly and your date isn’t secretly judging you for wearing your mask under your nose the whole time. 

That’s all for now, folks! If you find your prince or princess Charming during COVID, I applaud you. I’ll be over here having dirty dreams about the bald judge from MasterChef. 

Photos by @moreirashots_