Enjoy Dry January with Twang’s Miche-Nada Recipe. Photo: Twang, used with permission.
Dry January has gained popularity as a way for individuals to reduce their alcohol consumption, often for health reasons. By committing to a month of sobriety, participants can experience immediate benefits, such as improved sleep, increased energy, and better hydration. It provides an opportunity to reset habits, assess personal drinking patterns, and evaluate how alcohol affects overall well-being. Many people find the challenge empowering, with the support of a growing community engaging in the same commitment. Dry January also offers a break from the pressures of social drinking, promoting mindfulness and a healthier approach to alcohol consumption in the long term.
With the Dry January movement gaining popularity on social media, I want to share a refreshing, non-alcoholic recipe from Twang, a sensational Tex-Mex-inspired, family-driven company infamous for its bold blends of flavored salts, sugars, and spices since 1986. (Twang, 2025)
To celebrate Dry January, Twang offers a twist on the classic Michelada —the Miche-Nada. Made with Twang’s Reserve Michelada Mix in flavors like classic, spicy, or pickle; this drink packs a punch with all-natural ingredients, including real lime juice, ancho chiles, and organic Worcestershire sauce. For the ultimate experience, top it off with Twang’s zesty Drink Rimmers in varieties like chile lime, grapefruit, dill pickle, and more.
The 16oz Michelada Mix is just $7, conveniently packaged for easy shipping, while Drink Rimmers are $5 for 4oz of unbeatable flavor. Twang is available in-store in all 50 states and ships nationwide, ensuring every abstemious friend or family member can easily enjoy.
Twang Miche-Nada
Ingredients: • Twang Reserve Michelada Cocktail Mix (classic, spicy, or pickle flavors) • Twang Rimming Salt (chile lime, grapefruit, dill pickle & more flavors) • Ice • Sparkling water • Lime wedge
Directions:
Rim your glass with your choice of Twang’s Rimming Salt
‘Nature’s Antidepressant: Harnessing Earth’s Gifts for Wellness’ is the new wellness guide by Drake Wells. Photo: Amazon
The new year is upon us with promises of new and better beginnings. For many people, their New Year’s resolutions include physical and mental wellness. I can attest to the restorative powers of spending time in nature and I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Just a simple walk outdoors can do wonders for your overall mood. Today’s new book release by Drake Wells touches on this important topic. “Nature’s Antidepressant: Harnessing Earth’s Gifts for Wellness” embraces the healing power of getting back to nature to cure our mental ills. So if you are looking for a resource guide to mental wellbeing, consider this new book. It is available now on Amazon.
Drake Wells is a Division I runner, Eagle Scout, and outdoor enthusiast living in Houston, TX. He has written descriptive poetry connecting themes in nature to mental clarity, including his published work, “Embers,” which won the Scholastic Gold Key award in 2020. Drake’s experiences with the outdoor world, from sailing the Florida Keys, to surviving the wilderness, have equipped him to illuminate the transformative impact of nature on human well-being, seen through the eyes of someone who has lived it. His new book “Nature’s Antidepressant: Harnessing Earth’s Gifts for Wellness” offers not just insight but a holistic remedy for societal ailments. (Drake Wells, 2023)
“Nature’s Antidepressant: Harnessing Earth’s Gifts for Wellness” – In the chaotic modern world, yearning for simplicity and clarity is a common sentiment. Imagine a time when our ancestors thrived, deeply connected to nature’s rhythm. Could the remedy for today’s mental malaise lie not in medicine cabinets but in rekindling our ancestral bond with nature?
Join Drake Wells on a transformative journey through “Nature’s Antidepressant,” where he explores the contrast between ancient roots and contemporary lives. In vivid detail, Wells portrays our ancestors harmonizing with the environment, highlighting the stark contrast to our comfort-driven present. As modernization escalates, so does depression and anxiety.
Wells delves into the therapeutic power of nature, presenting scientific and psychological evidence of its profound impact on well-being. This book is more than a critique; it’s a call for a paradigm shift, a return to our natural roots. Envision a world where emotional struggles find resolution not in synthetic medications but in embracing the raw, rejuvenating power of our surroundings.
‘Fitness Planner: for beginners’ is an essential guide to reaching your fitness goals. Photo: Amazon
The year is winding down and it is time to start making resolutions for the new year. If your goal for the coming year is to get in shape and live a healthier life, it is always best to consider where you are in your journey, what your goals are, and how you want to achieve them. Fitness planners are an excellent way to do this. One such planner is Stefan Bercea’s “Fitness Planner: for beginners.” It is designed to give support and guidance for three types of people: beginners, those who want to return to the gym, and people who are recovering from an accident and planning to return to the gym soon. Start the year right and pick up your copy today; it is available on Amazon UK and Amazon US.
Stefan Bercea has a Master’s degree in Criminology, specializing in Crime and Victimization which brings a unique perspective to his writing. The threads of his academic journey are woven into the narratives, adding depth and insight to the stories he shares. Beyond the pages, his driving force is a genuine passion for helping others. Each tale is a vessel for empathy, understanding, and a shared journey through the tapestry of human experiences. His books are a reflection of his diverse interests—whether it’s exploring the realms of comics, delving into the world of sports, pondering the intricacies of philosophy, or unraveling social sciences. His new book “Fitness Planner: for beginners” offers support and guidance for beginners, people wanting to return to training in the gym, and people recovering from an accident.” (Stefan Bercea, 2023)
“Fitness Planner: for beginners”– This planner focuses specifically on the motivation/reason for which an individual should train and defines it as a goal to be achieved. It then progresses into offering information and recommendations on how training should be approached, depending on the chosen goal, by giving examples and beginner training routines. The planner then discusses the idea of “dieting” and prompts readers towards a healthy challenge encouraging them to adopt a lifestyle and abandon the idea of dieting. It then concludes by prompting readers to create a visual representation of their goal, training, and eating lifestyle as a motivational tool for their fitness journey.
If you are looking into starting or restarting your fitness journey and need a little bit of support in organizing it, then this planner will provide you with some serious advice which you should consider through your journey. It includes three beginner workouts and teaches you how to train, even with only one day available from the entire week. It also teaches you to optimize your training sets and repetitions according to your output. This planner offers you a health challenge in order for you to learn about your body and discover a healthy lifestyle.
The main sections are Find Your Motivation, How to Train, and What to Eat.
Find Your Motivation – this section helps you decide what your fitness goals are: building Muscle, being Athletic, or becoming more Powerful; in other words: M.A.P. Of course, you don’t have to choose just one, but you will achieve your goal faster by focusing on just one. Everyone’s journey is unique and should be personalized. The author does an excellent job of giving detailed steps to help readers narrow down what their goal should be.
How to Train – This section focuses on finding a training split, the right amount of sets and repetitions for each exercise, finding the best exercise, and the different types of exercise (arms, legs, abdomen).
What to Eat – Far from dictating specifically what to eat, he proposes that you test yourself by eliminating certain foods to find out what works best for your body. This includes sugar, milk, gluten, and processed foods. His biggest advice is to stay away from fad diets and instead create an eating plan to get the most out of the foods you eat.
At the end, he provides a layout for readers to use as a visual board to create their fitness goal plans. Overall, it may be a small book, but “Fitness Planner: for beginners” is an extremely useful reference guide for optimizing your fitness goals. The best part is that he emphasizes the need to personalize your training plan to suit your needs and according to what works best for your body. It is recommended for readers interested in fitness, exercise, and healthy living.
Thompson San Antonio Spa has several packages perfect for Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or a personal pampering day for you or a loved one. Photo: Thompson San Antonio Spa, used with permission.
The new year is well into February, but if your New Year’s resolution included more ‘me time,’ the Thompson San Antonio Spa has several packages to choose from. These are also perfect for Valentine’s Day gifts for even a day out with girlfriends for Galentine’s Day. Below are some of the latest news and upcoming events from the Thompson San Antonio Spa. (Thompson San Antonio Spa, 2023)
Launch of AIRO Skincare Thompson Spa is the exclusive spa to recently debut Texas based travel and lifestyle brand, AIRO Skincare, the latest luxury and travel friendly product on the market. Drawn from the power of healing desert plants and marine extracts sourced from land and sea, Airo is a clean and uniquely effective skincare line that features lightweight but deeply penetrating treatment products. Thompson Spa’s very own esthetician, Daphne Chapman, is the founder of Airo and her love of beauty and travel inspired her to create the product.
CBD & Chill Wanting to totally mellow out? Look no further than the CBD & Chill experience which includes the Thompson Tailored Deep Tissue Massage with upgraded CBD Massage Oil, then go into full relaxation mode with our Ani-Aging CBD Facial for $410.
Therapeutic Tranquility This is for anyone looking for the ultimate day of relaxation. This package includes Relax & Recharge 50 min massage and Jetsetter Hydrating Facial to leave you with an undeniable glow.
Yoga Membership Monthly membership for 8 yoga classes hosted by Thompson Spa each month. Members have access to fitness center, spa amenities, and 20% off any service booked. $80.00.
Valentine’s Day Promo The Spa will be offering a Valentine’s Day Promo, the Cabana Cuddle up, from February 10-19. The package includes an 80min massage for two followed by lunch or dinner in one of the Cenote Cabanas at the hotel’s show stopping pool deck for 2 hours, complete with a bottle of bubbly. $710 (Cost of food not included).
Superbowl Sunday Ditch the Dudes Spa Brunch Visit the Spa on February 12 for one 50-minute service valued at $175 followed by Thompson’s Sunday Spa Brunch from 10-1 pm.
Galantine’s Wine Down Package Treat yourself to day of relaxation with one 50-minute service valued at $175 and a ticket to Thompson’s exclusive spa wine tasting from 6-8 pm on February 16.
Spring Into a New You Event Clear the body and mind with Saturday yoga/sound bowl meditation classes on March 11 and journal your way to a new you. $40.00.
SA Examiner 