by Lauren Kruchten | Feb 26, 2024 | Eat, March 2024
Does the viral “sleepy girl mocktail” actually work? We tested it out.
I’m one of those people who’s notoriously tired. … That is until I actually get in bed and find myself up for hour(s) watching TikToks, stressing about all the things I need to do tomorrow and wondering where I put my passport.
I don’t have insomnia, but you will almost never find me going to sleep just like *that*. I even take melatonin every night—and, at this point, I probably couldn’t slumber without it—but it still takes me ~30 minutes to actually doze off post-dosage.
So, naturally, when I stumbled on the viral “sleepy girl mocktail,” I was intrigued. The power (nap) potion has taken over the internet—and from CNN to social media, everyone wants to know if it actually works. So I put it to the test.
First off, the drink—made with magnesium powder, pure tart cherry juice and soda water—is absolutely delicious. Fruity, bubbly and refreshing, it’s everything you’d want in a mocktail. I’d honestly just drink it on its own solely for the taste.
And living up to its popularity, the berry-forward bev definitely does make me sleepy. While sipping, it is almost like a drowsiness that slowly creeps in over about an hour or so until I have no choice but to snooze. Instead of my typical tossing and turning, I am indeed a sleepy girl and fall asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow—which almost never happens, even with melatonin.
Bonus: I’m also no longer restless throughout the night. And while the soothing sipper doesn’t necessarily induce a “waking up feeling super refreshed” feeling, there’s another miracle bev (ahem, coffee) for that.
Now, before you chalk this up to placebo effect, these ingredients are actually backed by science. Tart cherry juice contains some melatonin, and magnesium produces a calming effect. And, obviously, trading a cocktail for a mocktail has its own set of benefits over its spirited sib, as alcohol is a known sleep-cycle disruptor.
While I can’t guarantee this fruity elixir is going to downright knock you out, I can vouch for its sleepy properties. But don’t just take my word for it. Try it out for yourself via the recipe below.
Sleepy Girl Mocktail
⚫ 2 tsp. Moon Juice Magnesi-Om supplement (I rec the berry flavor!)
⚫ 1/2 cup pure tart cherry juice (be sure to get the all-natural, no-sugar-added version.
I used Lakewood Organic)
⚫ Soda water to taste
Mix all ingredients in a glass with ice.
by Anna Beth Adcock | Nov 21, 2022 | Do, November 2022
Legendary comedian George Wallace makes his way to the City of Oaks for three nights of side-splitting stand-up.
“If you can’t laugh in Raleigh, you can’t laugh anywhere.” So says “world-renowned funny guy” George Wallace of most cities he stops in… but we’re convinced he really means it re: Raleigh.
Raleigh Magazine got the chance to chat up Wallace—and laugh, natch (!) in front of his three-day stint in Raleigh this week (Nov. 25–27) for his Triple Threat Comedy tour at Raleigh Improv (along with Myra J. and J. Anthony Brown). And flashing that comedic flair that appeals to all ages, he’s willing to talk trash about everyone, especially youngsters. “I love talking about you young kids and the things that you do, like your music and all your hip-hop and rappers,” he jokes. Spoiler alert: Waka Flocka Flame is his curse word of choice.
You’ve no doubt seen Wallace on the screen—from features on major networks to recent appearances on hit shows like Bob’s Burgers to his own Amazon Freevee comedy series, Clean Slate. Add to that his mention in Rolling Stone’s top 25 funniest Twitters in the world (!), and there’s no question Wallace is a comedy king.
Without further ado, the comedic rebel who “doesn’t give a damn” and is “willing to eat cupcakes out of a pan and pancakes out of a cup”—aka funnyman George Wallace.
What excites you about bringing your stand-up back to Raleigh?
I’ve been to Raleigh many years ago when Charlie Goodnights first opened. I haven’t been in a long time because I’ve been in Vegas for 15 years, but it’s gonna be great to get back to that crazy city so we can laugh. There’s so many crazy things in Raleigh, and I hear there’s some good BBQ, so I’m coming for that. I’m a BBQ connoisseur, and people tell me the best BBQ is in North Carolina.
Give us the scoop on your stand-up sets—what’s in the works for your shows?
J. Anthony Brown, Myra J. and I were all on the Tom Joyner Morning Show years ago, and now we’re together and we’re coming to Raleigh to have some fun. We’re always writing and getting our jokes together. I’m gonna talk about the city and whatever is going on in Raleigh because there’s gotta be some crazy stuff going on there. I never know what direction my show is going to go in—I just get up there… and, after 40 minutes, I say, ‘goodnight!’
What got you into the funny business?
I knew from the age of 6 that I wanted to become a comedian, watching other comedians like Redd Foxx, Johnny Carson, Milton Berle, Richard Pryor and Joan Rivers. I just love to make people laugh—and comedians make people laugh. Anytime you hear people laughing it’s the greatest thing in the world. I have the greatest job in the world, and I thank God every day for what I do.
Give us the lowdown on your comedic chops.
I just love to lie and just make stuff up. I don’t lie as much as the weather person, but I do lie. And a lot of my jokes come from observing what goes on in the world today—from watching television to people saying stupid things, like hearing someone say they’re comfortable in their own skin. I think I’d be a lot more comfortable in Jeff Bezos’ skin or Oprah’s skin. I might even feel better in Al Sharpton’s skin, even if it’s gonna be a little tight. … So if you say anything to me, I’m gonna try to turn it into a joke.
Give us the tea on the Twitterverse!
Twitter is something I thought I’d never do because I’m an older African American man, but I thought, wait a minute… there’s over 500 million tweets per day, and some of these people I’d never get to see. Now I’ve got friends and Twitter followers all over the world, almost a million right now, and that’s a lot of people who would never get a chance to see or hear George Wallace talk trash. I don’t know why people think my tweets are funny, but the answers I get, the replies—ooh. I love that. Give me a follow, @mrgeorgewallace.
Why should locals come out for a laugh?
It’s Thanksgiving weekend. You’re gonna be tired of your momma, you’re gonna be tired of your family and you’re definitely gonna be tired of turkey, so come on out and laugh. We are gonna have nothing but fun, fun, fun. Laughter is medicine. We encourage people to overdose on laughter, so come on out and get a dose.
*Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
