PT 360 - December 2021

PT 360 - December 2021

Getting you back to the life you want to live.

360

DECEMBER 2021

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'TIS THE SEASON FOR FINDING DELIGHT IN THE LITTLE THINGS

‘Tis the season for fruitcake, peppermint mochas, supply chain interruption, and rain anxiety. For myself, I like to think of December akin to applying the brakes on a wet rainy day. I like to be careful, drive slow, anticipate the other crazy drivers, and give myself a wide berth. I do that while driving in our now gray, dark, wet weather, and I also do that simply to navigate throughout the holidays, avoiding any holiday disasters. With my daughter now 11, I am delighted that she still believes in Santa (or at least wills herself to believe). She loves the magic of all things make-believe, and I dread the day when she stops. I know this is probably the last year she’s willing to believe and set up a trap for Santa with our Nest cam (I am searching for a Santa suit to foil her plan). I also see that she is choosing to believe despite evidence to the contrary (I am waiting for her to figure out that the tooth fairy, Santa, and Mom all have the same handwriting). For now, it’s a continued delight to live with someone who believes in magic. I despise shopping, however, and am definitely on board with online purchasing. Not having to leave my warm, dry house and navigate crazed folks helps my December feel way more sane. That, and I start shopping in October. This is where my daughter’s planning nature and my planning nature (and, as she would say, she has my “planning cells”) merge nicely. Come early December, I’ve already been sneakily investigating present interests, things purchased and stashed away. I’ve picked out the first possible weekend we can go get our Santa pictures, excited to see Santa in person again, after our web chat last year. I’ve gotten any holiday crafty projects lined up and cookie-making ingredients bought. And lastly, I try to plan almost nothing else, to leave time for the unplanned. I never had tons of presents as a kid, as it would have bankrupted my parents of five children. And I, of course, never felt lacking. We went to Disneyland every Christmas Eve, came home tuckered out, and had some cool stuff to open in the mornings. I always looked forward to opening my stocking the most. It was the one thing I could open

before my parents were awake. I want my daughter to feel the same, to value the magic over stuff. We limit present spending and, instead, choose to spend time, a much more valuable commodity. This holiday season, I wish you the slowdown to find delight in the little things we are being gifted back, warmth and connection in the day to day, and magic to find you when you’re not looking. WAY better than fruitcake and even delicious peppermint mochas.

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Meet Your New Favorite Winter Sport

Snowshoeing Is a Fun, Easy Option for All Ages

2. Speaking of aerobics, snowshoeing is also a great workout. When you strap on

When celebrities jet off to Aspen, Colorado, for their winter vacations, they might not all be going to ski. According to Forbes, Aspen is also a top snowshoeing destination — and that’s a sport that celebrities and ordinary people of all ages can enjoy. Snowshoeing is a simple activity that dates back at least 6,000 years. It involves strapping large flipper- like attachments called snowshoes to your boots. The attachments distribute your weight and let you walk over banks of powder without sinking. You can use them to navigate flat plains, rolling hills, or steep mountains depending on the type of shoe you invest in.

your snowshoes, you can burn up to 50% more calories than you would

while hiking (depending on your pace and the type of terrain). Athletes who want to really amp up the exercise can even invest in jogging snowshoes! 3. Last but not least, snowshoeing is scenic! When you’re whizzing down a mountain on a snowboard or skis, you don’t have time to take in the view. But on snowshoes, you can soak up all of the winter beauty around you. You can even bring your camera along on your trek to capture pictures of any flora and fauna you see. If you want to try snowshoeing this winter, make sure you start with an easy trail and consult your doctor and/or physical therapist before you go. Always bring along a backpack of emergency supplies like a blanket and first aid kit, too, and consider purchasing or renting hiking poles along with your snowshoes to boost your stability. For more insider tips, visit SnowshoeMag.com.

On top of its unique history, these three major perks to snowshoeing just might make it your favorite winter sport.

1. If you can walk, you can snowshoe! Unlike other energy-intensive sports like skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing is safe and relatively easy for folks of all ages. Some outdoorsmen and women snowshoe into their 70s and beyond, so a snowshoe outing is a great way for grandparents and grandkids to bond while getting some aerobics in.

QUICK GUT HEALTH TIPS FOR TRAVELERS WHY DOES YOUR STOMACH HURT WHILE TRAVELING?

Picture this: You’re flying for a holiday reunion with your family. By the time you leave the airport after arriving at your destination, your stomach is already doing flips, and you haven’t even dug into your favorite family dishes yet. If this situation sounds familiar, here’s how you can keep your gut healthy, no matter where you are this winter. Traveling is stressful — even for your gut. Dr. Shilpa Ravella, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center, told Healthline, “Travel can be a hectic time … You may be eating out more and eating new foods in new locations, including

with lots of sugar, caffeine, or alcohol can irritate your GI system, especially if you already have a sensitive stomach.

Instead, drink plenty of water, which can also help alleviate the risk of constipation. If that’s your main concern, keep in mind that Dr. Ravella says a lack of fiber is the main reason for constipation while traveling. An easy way to avoid this is to eat whole-plant foods, even at restaurants.

Follow these tips when you need help fast. Dr. Ravella says that over-the-counter medications, such as antacids, can help your heartburn. If you struggle with mild traveler’s diarrhea, try to keep bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) and loperamide (Imodium) in your carry-on, ready at all times. If your symptoms worsen into fever, bloody diarrhea, bloody vomiting, or severe abdominal pain, see a health care provider right away. Lastly, if you really want to be comfortable while traveling, it might be worth trying a magnesium (magnesium bisglycinate chelate) supplement, which has been shown to improve jet lag and promote relaxation and sleep while traveling. Best of luck!

more processed foods, and it’s easy to overeat in this setting, placing more stress on your digestive system than at home.” The best solution is to take things slow to avoid overeating. Not only does overeating stretch your stomach, but also, “research has found that people who overeat are 10 times more likely to need emergency medical attention for food obstruction,” Dr. Ravella says. Also, even if you wake up at 4 a.m. for your first flight, don’t gulp down coffee all morning. Overconsumption of beverages

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Rudolph, You'll Go Down in History BEHIND THE EVERGREEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

You know Dasher and Dancer, and you definitely know Rudolph. Everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer was first born as a 1939 short story, but he truly shot to

about his homeless friends. The backlash was swift, and viewers wrote in to express displeasure at the heartless resolution. GE decided the special had to be corrected and played again with the proper ending in 1965. And so, a tradition of annual airings was born. Today, “Rudolph” is the longest-running Christmas special in history, and our favorite misfit deer shows no signs of slowing down after 57 years. The movie has transformed into a marketing bonanza, with new Christmas decorations, figurines, and toys being produced each year. Though it’s somewhat shocking to our modern sensibilities to see Santa bullying his reindeer employees and their children, fond childhood memories mean that parents continue to pass the special down to their kids. Even as we recognize its flaws, the dazzling animation and famous songs continue to bring joy and Christmas spirit to households around the country. Just as sure as Santa comes every year, so does Rudolph.

fame when his tale was adapted into a song by Gene Autry in 1949. Rivaling even the song’s fame is the Rankin/Bass stop-motion special that airs like clockwork every year around Christmas. Generations have now grown up with Rudolph, so it may be surprising to learn that his journey to the small screen started as a General Electric promotion. The company had a running television special on NBC called the “GE Fantasy Hour,” which they used to market their products directly to viewers. The better the story they told, the more viewers they got — and the more toasters they could sell. The script introduced crucial new characters like Hermey the elf, Yukon Cornelius the prospector, and of course, Bumble the abominable snowman. GE hired innovative Japanese animators to create the film using stop-motion techniques that were highly advanced for the time. GE invested the modern equivalent of $4.5 million into the production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and the special first aired in 1964. Those who are familiar with the film know that it ends with Rudolph enlisting Santa to save the Misfit Toys from earlier in the movie — but it didn’t originally. The version that aired in 1964 concludes with Rudolph leading Santa’s sleigh but forgetting all

Inspired by DreenaBurton.com

Set out these vegan cookies for Santa!

• 1/3 cup maple syrup • 1/4 tsp molasses • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp baking soda • 1/4 cup sugar • 1/4 tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. 3. In a smaller bowl, combine maple syrup, molasses, vanilla, and oil. 4. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry mixture. Mix in chocolate chips. 5. Place large spoonfuls of dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 11 minutes.

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'Tis the Season for Finding Delight in the Little Things Page 1 Meet Your New Favorite Winter Sport Worried About Your Gut Health While Traveling? Page 2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

How Rudolph Became a TV Institution Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Page 3 Decorate Your Gingerbread House Like a Pro Page 4

Creating a Holiday Masterpiece HOW TO DECORATE YOUR GINGERBREAD HOUSE LIKE A PRO

One of the most popular holiday traditions has become making and decorating gingerbread houses. The tradition began in Germany in the early 1800s and originated from Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel.” Some shy away from the idea of making their own gingerbread house, but have no fear — if the Germans did it in the early 1800s, so can you! To simplify things, many gingerbread houses come with baked pieces and a full decorating kit. This helps you have more time for the best part: the actual decorating! Each kit usually comes with fun candy and icing, so you can make something really kick-butt for the holidays!

Icing will be your best friend. Think of it as the yummy glue that holds everything together while also acting as a colorful trim for your gingerbread house. However, because it’ll keep the house from falling, be sure to use a lot! Spice drops also make for a great trim and “roofing,” just use icing to hold them in place. Alternate between colors or use a variety to make your house really pop. M&Ms are certainly a must-have for anyone decorating their gingerbread house. Not only are they delicious, they make for cute, little accents all over the house and yard. Mini cookies of your choice may also make a deliciously good- looking roof. Try layering them up for a dimensional look! And, for extra pizazz, strategically place mini candy canes throughout the yard and on either side of the front doors and windows. If you want to get really detailed, try using actual candy bars as fire logs in the fireplace. Just be sure to store your gingerbread house in a cool area so nothing will melt! Whether you prefer a simple gingerbread house or a flashy one, any and ALL candy can be used! Get decorating and be sure to have a bite of candy along the way!

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