It is COLD outside!!!! What better time to make a nice big pot of soup.  One of my favorite winter-time soups is Split Pea Soup.  It is hearty, warming, inexpensive, and very tasty.  Most recipes have ham, sausage, or some other icky pig parts in it.  (The vegetarian in me speaks out here)

Here is a very yummy vegetarian version of pea soup.  Start it about 6 hours before you want to eat.

In a large soup pot, bring to an-almost-boil, and then turn down to the lowest possible setting, skimming off any foam that may have formed, simmering for 3-1/2 hours:

• 3 cups dry split peas
• 8 cups water
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons salt

At the 3-1/2 hour mark, in a separate pot on medium heat, place 2 tablespoons of oil, and add, in this order:

• 2 descent-sized onions, minced
• 4 cloves chopped garlic
• 4 large stocks celery, diced
• 6 large carrots, diced
• 2 large potatoes, quartered and sliced thinly (I like red potatoes, scrubbed, with the skins on)

After the onions begin to soften, add 1/2 cup water, cover, and simmer until all vegetables are tender (about 20 minutes), then add to the pot of peas.  Continue to simmer for another hour.

 About 15 minutes before serving, add:

• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme

***This soup will thicken when it refridgerated, so if you have leftovers, add a little water to the pot when you reheat it to desired consistency.

There is a lovely little business very close to my office called Triangle Nutrition, located on Lead Mine Road near Baileywick.  A locally-owned and operated establishment, they offer a wide variety of nutritional supplements, healthy food for pets, gluten-free products, reference books, and more.  (I especially like their section of my favorite brand, of incense Aura Cacia) 

Their staff is very knowledgable on herbs and vitamins.  If they don’t carry an item you need, they are more than happy to order it for you, or they will find another local business that carries it and refer you to them.  I have found their prices on supplements to be very reasonable, in fact some things are cheaper than what you would find at Whole Foods or Earth Fare!

When my clients are looking for a product, I always send them to Triangle Nutrition.  I highly recommend you stop in for a visit.

I cannot count the number of times I heard my mother (and others) say “you’re going to catch cold going outside dressed like that”, or something along those lines.  Many people still believe that more people get sick in the winter because it is cold outside, and the colder temperatures are what causes us to catch a cold.  In a sense, that is the reason.  But the reality of the situation is this:  When it is colder outside, people spend more time inside, with the windows shut. 

When more people are spending time inside, the germs that are spreading around are concentrated in a smaller area.  We touch the same objects and breathe the same air.  When the windows are closed all the time, it does not give opportunity for fresh air to flush out germs that may be lingering.  So, the air we breathe and the objects we touch are full of cold-causing germs.

Think about how many times you’ve been in an environment with sick people…at work, at home, or the grocery store. People coughing and sneezing.  It’s great when they think about covering their mouths with their hands when they cough.  But then, watch what they touch….thereby spreading their germs to doorknobs, shopping carts, office phones, the buttons on the copy machine,  or the pens the cashier in the checkout line gives them to sign their credit slip with, just to name a few. 

Call me crazy, if you wish.  I am the one you see turning the water on and off at the public sink with her elbow, using her forearm to push the lever to get the paper towel from the dispenser, and using that towel to open the door of the public restroom.  I use my own pen when I am in a store checkout line.  I wash the grocery cart handle.  I also carry antibacterial wipes in my car, and wash my hands when I get out of the store.  And I rarely get sick.   I’m also the one who notices how often people leave the restroom without washing their hands. 

One of the best things you can do to prevent getting sick in the winter is to wash your hands frequently, using plenty of soap and hot water.  If you find the skin on your hands is dry from frequent washing, then use a moisturizer afterwards. 

It is also a great idea to not touch your face…your mouth, eyes, or nose..when you are in a public space.  The germs that you may have picked up on your hands can easily infect you when you touch these mucous membranes.

Drinking lots of water is also beneficial during the cold season.  If we are dehydrated, our systems are more susceptible to illness.  Many of us tend to drink less in the winter because we are not as thirsty.  We still need the same amount of fluids regardless of what the temperature is outside.  Try drinking a nice cup of herbal tea…its warming, and will help keep you properly hydrated. 

Getting proper sleep also helps keep the immune system strong.  When your immune system is functioning properly, you are less likely to catch everything that goes around.  And, as always, eat a well-balalnced diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables.  The vitamins and minerals in these choices help keep your body functioning properly.

Develop these healthy habits now, and you might just make it through the winter without catching the colds and flus that everyone else seems to come down with.

I’ve recently added a new service to the menu at Metamorphic Massage For Women, a Body Polish, using a salt scrub made with all natural ingredients, including shealoe butter, jojoba oil, and essential oils of grapefruit and bergamot. 

Our skin takes alot of abuse, with exposure to the sun and wind, toxins in the air and the products we use, perhaps use of tanning beds, and improper water intake. Dry skin can make us feel years older than we are.  A Body Polish helps slough off dry, dead skin cells, and leaves your skin feeling softer, healthier, and much younger.  It also helps to improve circulation.

 A 30-minute scrub is $45.00.   It can also be combined with a 30- or 60-minute massage with products that leave your skin feeling ultra-hydrated.

 Remember—your skin is the largest organ of your body, and is the first defense system in staying healthy. Take care of yourself in every way possible.   

Recently, my husband and I were adopted by a stray cat.  She showed up one day, and never left.  We welcomed her into our home, and I have been reminded of certain things from having her here.  Cats really know how to manage stress.  Think about it….have you ever seen a cat that was perpetually stressed out?  They have certain routines that help keep their stress to a minimum.

Take Time to Play Every Day:  Cats have fun while exercising their bodies when they run, jump, chase after leaves, and pounce on our feet underneath a blanket.  Spending time doing something we enjoy is an excellent way to manage stress levels, especially if that activity provides us with some exercise.

Stretch regularly:  Have you noticed that when a cat first wakes up, she stretches before she moves on?  Cats are the most flexible beings I have ever encountered.  I know that when I am taking part in a stretching routine on a consistent basis, I feel a lot better, both physically and emotionally.

Spend Time in The Sun: Do you ever notice how cats will find even the tiniest patch of sun to take a nap in?  Sitting in the sun can be extremely relaxing.  The sun’s rays can warm your muscles and calm your mind.  It also has the added benefit of Vitamin D, which is not readily available through food sources. Recent studies suggest that Vitamin D helps protect our cells from stress that can cause cancer.  Of course, you don’t want to spend too much time in the sun without adequate sunscreen.

 Adequate sleep:  When you get the amount of sleep you need, it makes everything else in life a little bit easier.  Lack of sleep can contribute to high blood pressure.   Cats spend a lot of time sleeping.  Do you know many cats with high blood pressure?

Receive Massage:  Cats are all about getting petted.  After all, that is one of the main reasons they allow us humans into their lives.  Cats  enjoy giving and receiving affection.  For humans, petting an animal can reduce blood pressure, and has a calming affect on both us and our pets.  And, like cats, when we get regular massage, our levels of stress decrease immensely.

Bathe Regularly:  While cats might not necessarily like being immersed in a tub of water, they do bathe regularly.  For us humans, soaking in a bath can help reduce stress.  Immersing yourself in a tub of warm water can help pull tension from your muscles.  Add some bath salts, essential oils,  or Epsom Salts for an added benefit. 

Cats are very wise animals. If we all took a little bit of advice from them, we would all be  better off.

The holiday season is a time of giving…we give to our friends, family, and to those in need.  At Metamorphic Massage For Women, we’ve come up with a way for you to give to both those you know and those in need at the same time.

Throughout the months of November and December, Metamorphic Massage For Women will donate 10% of all gift certificate sales to The Women’s Center of Wake County.  By purchasing a gift certificate for someone you love, you will be spreading the love and helping the Women’s Center of Wake County provide  for basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter; counseling, education, legal advice, and more to homelsee women and their children.

To purchase gift certificactes online, go to http://www.metamorphicmassageforwomen.com/services/gift-certificates/ 

For more information on the Women’s Center of Wake County, go to www.wcwc.org

I am not a fancy kitchen gadget person.  I like to cook the old-fashioned way.  I chop all my vegetables with a knife, mix a lot by hand, I even have a manual can opener.  The fanciest thing I have in my kitchen at home is a food processor, which I finally broke down and purchased after I burned out my blender while making huge amounts of pesto with an overabundance of basil from my garden last summer.

But, I have to admit, I am having a blast in my sister’s kitchen while I am visiting her.  She is the kitchen-gadget queen.  I just made an apple pie with one of her tools, an apple peeler, also known as the  Back To Basics Apple and Potato Peeler.  It was the most fun I’ve ever had (Okay, maybe that is a slight exaggeration).  I think I could even make a few art-projects with it.  It not only peels and cores the apple, it also turns it into an accordian (without the music, of course).

It made a project that would normally take nearly an hour, what with all the peeling and slicing of the apples, take about 15 minutes.  I’d probably make pie every day if I had one of these things at home.

So if you like apple pie, but don’t make it as often as you would like to because peeling the apples takes so long, get one of these things.  It makes the process so simple, you can make pies for everyone you know and still have time left over in your day.

If nothing else, it can entertain the children…

I just read an article in the newspaper that suggested making banana bread to help reduce stress.  The author’s reasons included the meditative, calming process of cooking, as well as the fact that bananas contain potassium, which helps to reduce stress.

This may work for some folks, if they like to cook.  I can say that some people I know would be taking the batter half way through the recipe and chucking it in the waste basket, because they hate cooking and they find the process stressful in itself.

A better idea might be to eat a banana a day for potassium.  It is said that potassium can help lower blood pressure, prevent and treat heart disease, and regulate the heartrate.  Potassium also works as an anti-stressor by enhancing adrenal function, so increasing potassium intake in anticipation of unusual physical or emotional stress is often recommended.

Some other sources of potassium include potatoes, winter squash, tomatoes, avocadoes, celery, carrots, sunflower seeds, oranges, and yogurt. 

Looking for that perfect gift for a special woman in your life? Why not consider giving her a gift certificate for a massage?  Even if you waited until last-minute to get her something special, you can still purchase gift certificates online for massage.

Metamorphic Massage For Women in Raleigh now offers instant gift certificates online.  Simply go to http://www.metamorphicmassageforwomen.com/services/gift-certificates/ You can purchase a gift certificate and print it up instantly if you need it right away, or you can have a glossy postcard-type gift certificate mailed to either you or the recipient, if you have more time.

Whether you are a procrastinator and need last-minute gift certificates, or a planner and would like a glossy gift certificate to be sent via the mail, you can find the right gift for the special woman in your life.  Show her how much you care for her health and well-being, and give her a gift she will truly appreciate…massage!  You can purchase a gift certificate for a 30-, 60-, or 90- minute session, or a package of six 60- or 90-minute ssessions if you want to give her something that she can savor for a longer time.  We also offer couples massage (60-minute sessions), and gift certificates are available for these, as well.

I am not a huge restaurant person.  Being a vegetarian, and a darn good cook, I find very few restaurants  that meet my standards.  There is one such place near my office, Zest Cafe and Home Art, located in the shopping plaza at Six Forks and Strickland in Raleigh.  From the moment you arrive, it is a delightful experience.  The Cafe is marked by a fence in the shape of forks, knives, and spoons.  Their menu changes with the seasons, and there is always something delightful to choose from, whether you are a vegetarian or a meat-eater. 

Their salads are delicious, and their Mediterranian “pizzesta” is an experience every mouth should have at least once in their life.  I can almost guarantee that you will want to go back.

And if you’re looking for something to add a little zest to your home for a special party, check out their little store…there are some truly unique items.