West Coast Chiropractic Experts - December 2021

West Coast Chiropractic Experts - December 2021

THE TIME WE BROKE FAMILY HEIRLOOMS (BUT NOT REALLY) December 2021

If you celebrate Christmas, you may have a few tree ornaments that have special meanings. We often buy ornaments for babies, as newlyweds, and when we celebrate special milestones. Sometimes, we may even pass ornaments down through generations or simply find quirky reasons to hang these mementos on our tree. This is not a story about those ornaments — and that’s what I love about it. When I grew up, for Christmas, my mom would take my siblings and me to Lake Arrowhead, California, where my grandfather had a cabin. Every year, we would hang these porcelain, clay-looking ornaments on the tree. They were said to be a family heirloom, and everyone marveled at their beauty. I distinctly remember a golden rim along their edges — and, admittedly, I always thought they were ugly! Still, my brother and I took tremendous care transporting these ornaments from storage, balancing each one as if it were a Fabergé egg in our hands before gently placing them on the branches of our tree. Anyway, one year, on Christmas Eve, we were all sleeping soundly — visions of sugar plums and such — when we heard a loud crash. It woke up the entire cabin and sent my brother and I flying down the stairs. When we saw our mother, I was shocked to find her wearing day clothes at 1 a.m. Then, I saw the damage. Our tree laid on its side in a cascade of broken ornaments. Clay pieces were strewn about the cabin floor as the tree, which happened to miss both the couch and the end table, remained perfectly on its side. The only explanation seemed to be that “Santa Claus” had gotten a little reckless that year. As my brother and I prepared to piece together the ornaments like some preteen archaeologists, my mom simply asked us to sweep up the mess and toss it into the trash. We froze, stunned by her nonchalance. Not only were these

ornaments heirlooms, but my mother was also the most sentimental person I ever knew. We thought she would be devastated by the events of that early Christmas morning. Instead, we swept up the pieces, tossed them in the trash, and went back to bed. The next morning, my brother and I walked on eggshells (or broken porcelain ornament pieces, if you will). We kept waiting for my mom to break down, be upset, or do anything that matched the emotion of this moment. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I asked my mom what we were going to do about the sentimental ornaments that had broken. I’ll never forget what happened next. Mom went on to tell us that the ornaments were only 12 years old. She had actually made them from a salt-dough kit she bought before we were born, and the gold, sparkly rim was just nail polish. My brother and I were stunned. We had been careful all these years, thinking we handled ornaments passed through our family for generations — when it was just my mother’s art project. Today, my family does have a couple ornaments we love to hang on the tree. Our son’s preschool made these cute Santa ornaments out of his handprints one year. I’ve never been one to “treasure” my children’s artwork, but I am really happy to have that ornament on the tree every year. We also like to play “Hide the Pickle” for a week or two, wherein, we hide a pickle ornament in the tree, and whoever finds it gets a small prize. We learned it from a friend in chiropractic school and have since learned that it’s a tradition in some families. Whether your tree is adorned with pickles or time-treasured ornaments, our family’s cabin misadventure often reminds me that it isn’t what decorates your tree that makes it stand out. It’s the memories you make along the way.

Happy holidays!

–Dr. Josh Satterlee 1 www.westcoastchiroexperts.com

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CUT THE STRESS FROM DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE MERRY AND BRIGHT

Decorating your Christmas tree should be fun, but the process often turns into anything but. Between finding decorations, untangling lights, and trying to get the tree picture-perfect, the happy event can quickly become stressful. Even if you love decorating the tree, you can likely make the experience (and the end product) even better. Here are the most common sources of frustration and how to fix them with minimal fuss. Bare Spots Whether your tree is natural or artificial, you need to fluff the branches. However, as important as this step is, you don’t need to spend more than 10 minutes on it because let’s face it: There are some bare spots no amount of fluffing will fix.

them in the bare spots to fill out your tree, then save them for the next year.

Lights If you use an artificial Christmas tree, we strongly recommend buying one that is pre-lit. If your holiday just doesn’t feel complete without a real tree in the house, hanging the lights can be one of the most frustrating parts of the tree-decorating process. Get on the right track by setting yourself up for success. Instead of shoving your lights in a box or bag at the end of the season, wrap them around the outside of the box or around a clothing hanger instead. Getting your lights hung properly around the tree can be a pain, too. This year, try hanging them vertically on your tree, from base to top and back again, until the tree is covered. It’s easier to do and helps camouflage the cord. Beaded Garland Beaded garland always looks so much better in the store than it does on your own tree. No matter how much you fiddle with it, it just doesn’t lay right or have the even, dramatic swoops you see in display windows. The true problem is probably that you’ve been hanging your beaded garland incorrectly. You may think there can’t be too many ways to drape beads over branches, but draping itself is the entirely wrong approach. Instead of simply wrapping the beads around the tree and hoping they fall into place, you should attach ornament hooks to the garland along the string. Use the hooks to gracefully hang your garland from the branches and marvel at the simplicity. When your Christmas tree goes up this year, these tips should make the experience faster, easier, and more joyful. You can now use all that time you would have spent wrapping garland to wrap presents instead.

Luckily, tinsel garland hides a wide variety of flaws and might be the easiest solution. If you don’t care for tinsel, tying large gift bows to the tree is festive and covers a lot of space. You can also buy fake twigs that have berries, look like real tree branches, or are covered in glitter. Stick

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SMOOTHIES AREN'T JUST FOR SUMMER ANYMORE! 5 HOLIDAY INGREDIENTS TO TOSS INTO YOUR BLENDER

The drinks of choice for winter are usually warm and cozy — apple cider, hot

evaporate. But if you’re in your warm, cozy home, why not go for a cold drink like a smoothie? You can even add some holiday cheer to your healthy(ish) treat with one of these five seasonal ingredients. 1. Peppermint — For a protein-rich smoothie that tastes like a candy cane, blitz together almond milk, yogurt, almond butter, mint leaves, ground cinnamon, and a few drops of peppermint extract. 2. Cinnamon — If you love chocolate chip cinnamon rolls, you need to try the smoothie version! Frozen bananas, coconut milk, vanilla yogurt, cacao powder (which is packed with antioxidants), vanilla extract, and cinnamon are the secrets to a healthy version of your favorite Christmas breakfast. 3. Cranberries — Cranberries are both festive and packed with vitamins and antioxidants that may help fight heart disease and cancer. To cash in on those benefits, whip up a smoothie with frozen cranberries, pear slices, goji berries, orange juice, coconut milk, and flax seeds. 4. Ginger — What screams Christmas more than gingerbread? You can make a delicious smoothie version of the cookie with rolled oats, chia seeds, yogurt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, vanilla extract, and molasses to reap the anti-inflammatory and nausea-fighting benefits of ginger. 5. Eggnog — Eggnog is far from a healthy drink, but it’s a holiday favorite! To enjoy it in a new way, blend it up with a scoop of vanilla protein powder and ice after your workout.

chocolate, and wassail all have their place on the table. But no rule says you

have to drink something hot when it’s snowy outside. In fact, a cold beverage might keep you warmer! A study from the Thermal Ergonomics Lab at the University of Ottawa found that when you drink something hot, it can cause you to sweat more and, as a result, will actually cool you off more than a cold drink! Crazy, right? Of course, you could probably reverse the heat loss by bundling up in a sweater so your sweat doesn't

DIY HOLIDAY EGGNOG Inspired by TastesBetterFromScratch.com

TAKE A BREAK!

INGREDIENTS

• 6 egg yolks • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 2 cups milk • 1/2 tsp nutmeg

• 1 pinch salt • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract • Cinnamon and whipped cream, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Set aside. 2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a simmer. 3. Add a spoonful of the milk mixture to the egg mixture. Whisk vigorously and repeat, one spoonful at a time. 4. When most of the milk is whisked in, add the egg mixture to the saucepan. 5. Whisk until the liquid thickens slightly or reaches 160 F. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. 6. Pour the eggnog into a glass container and cover. Refrigerate. 7. When the eggnog has thickened, pour it into glasses, garnish, and enjoy!

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-991 Henderson, NV 89052 702-472-8278 www.westcoastchiroexperts.com

1. LESSONS FROM BROKEN ‘FAMILY HEIRLOOMS’ 2. MAKE DECORATING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE LESS STRESSFUL 3. 5 KEY INGREDIENTS FOR DELICIOUS HOLIDAY SMOOTHIES DIY HOLIDAY EGGNOG 4. MEET YOUR NEW FAVORITE WINTER SPORT INSIDE THIS ISSUE

MEET YOUR NEW FAVORITE WINTER SPORT SNOWSHOEING IS A FUN, EASY OPTION FOR ALL AGES

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.

way for grandparents and grandkids to bond while getting some aerobics in. 2. Speaking of aerobics, snowshoeing is also a great workout. When you strap on 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

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

your snowshoes to boost your stability. For more insider tips, visit SnowshoeMag.com.

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