Stop Over-drinking with Angela

This podcast is sweet little reminder that change follows the exact path it does. It's the beginning of a new season for a lot of us.. kids back to school, perhaps cooler weather settling in.. maybe a slight color change to the leaves, if you really slow down and notice.

What if you allowed the change you are working on to take the time it takes?

What would happen if you stopped comparing yourself to others?

What would happen if you tried to ENJOY this process more?

Tune it and see where you can allow yourself to notice the changes that have already occurred and appreciate yourself as you enter into this next season.

"I know all the things."
I hear this constantly. On calls, in my membership. She's read all the quit-lit. She's listened to hundreds of podcast episodes. She's done therapy, maybe twice. She can name her triggers and explain her own drinking patterns better than most professionals could.
And she is still pouring a glass at five o'clock.

Here's the thing about that.. at the moment, nobody is reflecting anything back to you. Nobody is helping you see what you can't see by yourself.

That's what this episode is about.

You have never seen your own face. Not once, not directly. And the same thing is true about your patterns, your language, the story you've told so many times you've stopped hearing it.
Which means whatever is keeping you stuck is sitting in the part you can't see.

You're a capable woman who has solved enormous problems. If you could see this one, you would have handled it years ago.

In this episode I'm talking about why reading more books won't get you there, what a real person can do for you that a book never will, and why "I know all the things" might be the most effective way to keep help out that I've ever come across.

This episode is for you if:
* You've read every book about drinking and you're still drinking
* You can explain exactly why you drink and it hasn't changed a thing
* You've tried therapy before and decided it doesn't work for you
* You're the capable one, the strong one, the one everybody calls
* You've never said the words out loud to another human being
* You're exhausted from working on this by yourself

Please give it a listen!

We FINALLY figured out what Jackie Pooh is…..




He’s a Snugglehopper!!! That’s right a snuggle-hopper. He snuggle hops all day from person to person, pillow to pillow. We love our little snugglehopper and are so glad we finally figured it out. We kept thinking a baby bear, a stuffed animal that’s alive, a scoundrel, a bunny, a baby, a baby boy… but none of those are it.

SNUGGLEHOPPER IS IT!!!

I’m highlighting 2 artists today because I have their work together for a reason!
Image 1 is by Fernando Muñoz Fernando Munoz, a local Portuguese artist who created this piece using linocut. And he only made 2 prints from it. It reminds me of The Magic House, especially since I will host mostly women, I look at it and I feel a sense of loving motherly calmness and a little magic.. which is how about this place. He called it ‘The Waiting.’ She’s always waiting for you to come home. 🏡

Image 2 is by Beatriz Leonardo Beatriz Leonardo another local Portuguese artist. This piece is a small sampling of her talents. This one was created digitally and I LOVE it because it’s called Self-Love. And obviously very feminine and beautiful next to The Waiting.

Together they adorn a VERY important place in The Magic House… THE COFFEE STATION!! ☕️

Lots of coffee gets made and drank here.. don’t worry we also have lovely teas, mocktails and other fun non-alcoholic drinkie poohs for your taste buds!

Coach Steph and I co-created the plate and swallow wall and bought everything from a local shop in the neighborhood called Outlet do Bairro

The Portuguese cherish the swallow (Andorinha) because it symbolizes family, loyalty, love and the deep emotional pull of returning home.

Every piece of art has been curated with intention for every room and every corner. When you walk into any of The Magic House rooms you will see and feel this.

I felt into every color, placement, and purchased with my whole body. It had to feel good. I had to slow down and notice if it was a yes or no, and none of it was because I followed some protocol or map. It was my own magic intuition that has been fined tuned and listened to throughout the years.

And because of that, The Magic House is truly one of its kind. Nothing like it exists. And when you come here and experience the art in person and experience the excursions and soul activating practices you will understand. And you won’t leave the same.

ONE SPOT REMAINS April 2027, kink in bio, get yourself here. The Magic House Retreat Center, Lisbon

Today’s artist highlight is ……..……………..

ME! Angela Mascenik, founder of The Magic House Retreat Center, the Stop Over-drinking and Start Living Podcast, Alive AF! Membership, and many more programs that help women stop over drinking and feel more aliveness in their lives!

I took these photos 2 years ago while hiking in the Pacific Northwest in the Olympic National Park with my friends Josh and Dan. The forest is one of my absolute favorite places to be.. hence being a a certified forest therapy guide as well as a coach. I wanted a whole room in the Magic House to feel like you were in the forest so it made sense that I had these beauties framed and mounted. This is one of my favorite rooms.

Can you imagine sleeping here?

While this specific room is booked, you can come see it in the April 2027 Embody Your Senses Retreat where we will go to the only certified therapeutic forest in Portugal and I will lead a beautiful forest bathing session for the group. You don’t want to miss. We will also have my favorite local hiking guide with us to share the history of this magical place.

DM me, or email!

Another art highlight from The Magic House Retreat Center, Lisbon this art adorns the Acro-iris room aka The rainbow room. I LOVE rainbows 🌈 they are a natural beautiful miracle that have always made me feel joyous and awe.

This piece was lovingly painted by Marina Kalenova Diachkova | Portugal watercolors from a photo I took while I was here retreating myself BEFORE The Magic House was even an idea in my brain. I came to Lisbon to give myself and my friend a business retreat where we wanted to get clear on what we wanted to create in 2026. And oh boy did we ever.. as I was leaving that week… the idea came to me…. What if I created my own retreat space HERE in the best neighborhood in Lisbon near the best yoga studio and the best park and the best restaurants and with the best host ;). So that little rainbow packs a magical punch. And she continues to inspire whoever gets to view her in The Rainbow Room. A shared room with 2 full size beds and luxurious Portuguese local linens, slippers and robes.

This is the room that has the last spot available for the April 2027 Embody Your Senses retreat! Who’s coming??

Link in bio or message me!!

Today’s art highlight is from Mirzoyan a traveling artist from Estonia. I was drawn into her pieces because they captured Lisbon so perfectly, the airplanes in the sky, the street art, the dog in a purse, the coffee kiosks.. and it’s a little funky and just@like Lisbon. These adorn a sweet little nook in the living room. You can easily curl up with a lovely cup of tea with local Portuguese honey and a cozy blanket and get lost in the story of them.

Who wants to come have tea with me here? 1 spot left for the April 2027 Embody Your Senses Retreat, grab it while you can. Prices going up as soon as she’s gone…

Art highlight day 3 The Magic House Retreat Center, Lisbon
This beautiful trio is a gorgeous watercolor by the immensely talented Marina Kalenova Diachkova | Portugal watercolors . I started following artists in Portugal long before The Magic House was even an idea. But as soon as it was, I started thinking about art. She shared a video with the first piece, the sail boat with the word BELIEVE on the side of the boat. I knew I had to have it. So I met her at the Sunday Arte na Praça / Lisboa market and bought that one then 2 others to complete the series. I knew that it would make the Ocean room feel like you were seaside. And it does!

This room is also available to have as a private room! It’s a sanctuary for peace for sure!

Marina ended up doing many more pieces for me.. and I can’t wait to share them later!

Also - 1 spot remains for the April 2027 Embody Your Senses retreat! Snag that bad boy up and come see for yourself!!! Link in bio!

Today in Jardim de Estrela some flowers were in full bloom. Some were still unfurling.

The ones still opening looked fragile. Light green against the dark green of the mature plants. Still becoming what they were meant to be.

That stage needs protection. Water, sunlight, not too much wind.

If you’re unfurling right now, becoming who you are without alcohol, you need the same thing.

Boundaries. Rest. Sunlight. Fewer rooms full of people who only knew the old you.

What are you doing TODAY to protect the version of you that’s still forming?

This is a beautiful state. The flower knows what to do, witnesses see the unfurling and stop in awe. You are becoming a beautiful version of yourself in the unfurling.. slow down and watch it and appreciate it because you won’t be here forever!

The 2nd art highlight The Magic House Retreat Center, Lisbon are the custom Azulejos (Portuguese tiles).
Atelier and I worked hand in hand creating these beautiful tiles for each bedroom and main sign for The Magic House, with the custom logo that Vivid Thistle Studio | BRANDING | STRATEGY | WEBSITES created for my brand.
I love co-creating with people. I love when I see my vision and what I saw in my head come to life by talented artists. It was important to me to incorporate Portuguese traditional elements in The Magic House because the place lives inside a century old building with a lot of traditional elements. I want to honor the history and invite in new possibilities at the same time.
💫
We do that with my guests too. We all have a history but we can also create something magical and new with what already exists. These azulejos do just that!

4-themed bedrooms
Mar - Ocean 🌊
Acro-iris - Rainbow 🌈
Floresta - Forest 🌳
Nascer do Sol - Sunrise 🌅

Which one do you want to sleep in?