I'm not sure where the rest of summer went, but I'm pretty sure we're at the peak of Autumn right now. After all, we've already had Termination Dust on the mountains. o.O Winter's right around the corner, and then everything goes haywire.
In the meantime, lots of stuff to do! Anytime Fitness chamber mixer, Team Zombie Apocalypse, our open house, and a yummy recipe for autumn. Onward!
Chamber mixer
I'll be at the Anytime Fitness chamber mixer on Wednesday, doing a little bit of chair massage and some meet-and-greet. If you've got somebody you're dying to have meet me or get a massage from me, this is a good time to make introductions! For people new to massage, a session on a table can be a little scary; in comparison, chair massage is done in a sitting position and with the client fully clothed, which can help relieve a lot of anxiety for first-timers.
Heck, even if it's just you, swing by and say hi! This'll be my first chamber mixer, and it's always nice to see friendly faces. Bonus: fun swag!
What: Anytime Fitness chamber mixer

Where: Central Park Plaza
When: Wednesday, October, 3rd, 5-7 pm

In the spirit of fun and fitness, I've gone ahead and created a Team Zombie Apocalypse at Weigh and Win. I need a minimum of three other people to join in order for us to become An Official Team. I don't care so much about Officialness, but it'd be nice to have some other folks with me. Also! The Weight and Win kiosk will be at Yampa Valley Medical Center through October, so now's a good time to get your baseline and get started.
(For those of you just joining us, Weigh and Win is a program with LiveWell Colorado to help folks who need a little motivation and assistance with their weight loss and healthy living plans. Meal plans, email/text support, an online coach, exercise plans, the whole works! You can earn money via your weight loss, or you can choose to pay it forward. Check it out!)
Save the date!

I will be hosting a joint open house/client appreciation party on Thursday, Nov 8, from 5-8 pm.
Alicia Wright from Bella Sol Spa will be co-hosting, possibly along with some of the other fabulous ladies on our floor. Noshies, perhaps some Adult Beverages, and door prizes will all be available, along with some screamin' deals for you guys. So swing on by and give me a chance to say THANK YOU for all your support! More info as the date gets closer, but mark your calendars now!
Yummy soup to help your immune system
Fall is a time of transition, a time of slowing down and becoming more instrospective. The days get cooler, the nights get longer, and we start to prepare for the winter. Unfortunately, something else that has a tendency to slow down around this time of year is our immune system, leaving us more vulnerable to colds and sniffles.
Shameless plug: did you know that massage can help boost your immune system?
Following Hippocrates' idea of "let thy food be thy medicine," there's a lot of good stuff you can eat to help you ward off those icky bugs. Ginger, garlic, and carrots combine in this delicious, healthy soup. Serve with a dollop of yoghurt for garnish and a side of crusty bread for dipping, and you've a perfect autumn meal!
Carrot-ginger soup

Ingredients:
2-3 cups of broth (vegetable or chicken works great)
1 large onion, diced
2.5 lbs carrots, cut into coins
1 Tbs butter or olive oil
1 Tbs minced garlic (you can substitute a couple of chopped cloves or 2 tsp of powdered garlic)
2 Tbs grated fresh ginger root (or 1Tbs powdered)
2 tsp ground cardamom
optional: 1 package silken tofu (drained), 1/2-1 cup heavy whipping cream, or 1 cup milk (coconut, almond, or hazelnut recommended)
Preparation:
Heat the butter or olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan or stockpot. Once butter is melted, throw in cardamom and sautee for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add ginger and garlic and sautee for another 2-3 minutes. Add diced onion, sprinkle with a little salt, and sautee for about 5-6 minutes. Add carrots and broth, increase the heat to high until soup is boiling. Once a boil is reached, reduce temperature to medium-low, cover, and simmer until carrots are soft (20 minutes or so). Remove from heat. Working in batches, puree mix in a blender to reach a smooth consistency (alternatively, leave everything in the pot and just use a stick blender). If the soup is too thick, return to heat and add 1/2 cup of stock at a time until preferred consistency is reached.
For a richer, heartier soup, add tofu, cream, or milk during puree process. Return to heat until soup is warmed through before serving.

Last newsletter, the question was "where is the calcaneous?" Basically, it's the heel bone. As for this month's question . . .
Now that we've got that squared away . . .
I think it's time to head to the kitchen. I hear some soup calling my name.