December 2025
Winter is coming… (is it here already? Hard to tell on the central coast.)
But first, let’s revisit Halloween.
This was one of the best and most successful Halloweens we’ve ever had at this office!
Congratulations to our costume contest winners Driving Miss Daisy and Super Granny, who won all kinds of cool stuff like free massages, gift certificates to Dorn’s and High Tide, and other fun gifts. And thank you to everyone else who participated for making the day so memorable!
Updates and Specials
New Faces (and Farewells That Make Us Cry a Little)
First things first: everyone say hello to Emily, our new front desk coordinator and the calm presence you've been seeing since September. Emily moved down from the Bay Area, where she spent 17 years wrangling school administration—which, if you think about it, is excellent training for wrangling our schedule and my perpetual stream of "one more thing" requests.
She's quietly hilarious (you'll catch it if you pay attention), genuinely loves talking to people, and crochets things that put the rest of us to shame. Also, she has a dog, which automatically makes her a good human. We're lucky to have her.
And now for the bittersweet part...
After almost three years of controlled chaos—and I do mean controlled, because without Devyn it would've just been chaos—we said goodbye to our beloved clinic manager last week. She stuck with me through the practice takeover, learned an entirely new software system without murdering me, did two jobs when I couldn't bring myself to hire yet another person, executed every wild idea I threw at her, and basically became my right hand person while I figured out how to run this place.
She's off preparing for the grand arrival of a tiny human (any day now!), and while we're thrilled for her, we're also... well, we miss her already. The office feels a little quieter. A little less Devyn.
But here's the thing about Mesa Natural Health: people leave, people arrive, life keeps moving forward—and somehow, we all figure it out together. That's the beauty of it, really. Circle of life and all that.
We can’t wait to snuggle that squishy little baby! (And will, of course, include photos on social media and the next newsletter.)
There's an App for That (Because Of Course There Is)
Our practice software finally joined the 21st century and created a patient app. Revolutionary, I know.
Search "Jane for Clients" in your app store and you can schedule, reschedule, and manage your appointments without the whole "send me a link, check your email, click the thing, sign in again" dance we've all been doing.
Is it required? Nope. Will it make your life easier? According to the patients already using it—yes. They love it. So there's that.
December Special: Cold Laser Therapy Package
Okay, so this was supposed to be a November-only thing, but you all went wild for it and we're not monsters—so we're running it through December 22nd (then we're closing for the holidays and eating our weight in cookies).
Here's the deal: 6 laser sessions for $50.
Most people are doing three sessions a week for two weeks, and the results have been honestly amazing. We're talking:
Post-knee-replacement swelling that actually goes down
Arthritic hands that can open jars again
Neck and shoulder tension that finally releases
Vertigo that decreases (or disappears entirely)
Hip flexor pain: gone
Plantar fasciitis pain that's been hanging around for months: significantly reduced
Cold laser works on pain and inflammation—which means it works on basically everything. Chronic issues you thought you'd just have to live with forever. Post-surgery swelling. Acute injuries. Headaches. If it hurts or it's inflamed, we can probably help.
And here's the thing: several patients have already bought multiple packages while the sale is running. Some for themselves (smart), some as gifts for family members dealing with chronic pain (even smarter).
What's better than giving someone the gift of actually feeling better? We'll have gift certificates available at the front desk through December 22nd. Perfect for that person on your list who has everything except relief.
'Tis the Season... for Sniffles? 🎄
Not on our watch! While you're decking the halls and hugging relatives you only see once a year, your immune system is working overtime. Between cold central coast mornings, holiday gatherings, and that one cousin who "definitely doesn't feel sick," now's the perfect time to show your body some love.
This December, we're making it easier to stay healthy through all the festivities—15% off Vitamin D3 and Vitamin C! Think of it as giving your immune system the backup singers it deserves while you're out there being the star of every holiday party.
Stock up now and sleigh the season feeling your best! 🎅
Your Favorite Soap is BACK! 🧼✨
Good news—our all-natural, plastic-free soap has returned to the office (and it's bringing a friend)! Made with nothing weird, nothing synthetic, just the good stuff your skin actually wants.
NEW this year: Lemongrass + CBD—because who says soap can't multitask? Perfect for soothing those achy, arthritic joints while treating yourself to a fresh, zesty citrus scent. It's like a spa day in bar form.
These make amazing stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, or a little "treat yourself" moment. But fair warning: we sold out by mid-December last year, so don't snooze on this one!
Grab yours while supplies last—your hands (and everyone on your gift list) will thank you. 💚
Fun Stuff
Fun Stuff
This year we wanted to share some of our favorite holiday memories and traditions. Feels cozy, right? We thought so.
Jessica:
Favorite Holiday Tradition: Watching Polar Express and/or The Grinch every Christmas eve.
Favorite Holiday Food: Deviled eggs
Favorite Holiday Drink: Cold apple Cider
Favorite Holiday Memory: Waking up early and seeing a new backpack under my tree.
Heather:
Favorite Holiday Tradition: Stockings on Christmas morning!
Favorite Holiday Food: Bourbon Balls! Secret family cookie recipe, I’d be erased if I shared it. They’re mainly chocolate, bourbon, and chopped nuts, rolled in sugar. So, so good.
Favorite Holiday drink: Hot Toddies with a real cinnamon stick.
Favorite Holiday Memory: One year we had way more people than we’d planned for RSVP at the last minute to Christmas Day. We were thrilled but after digging through the garage we realized we had nowhere near enough stockings to go around. My mom broke out a bag of towels she was going to donate and her odds and ends box from the sewing room: lace, faux fur, strands of Mardi Gras beads, fabric paints, puff balls and sequins in every color and size. It took hours on Christmas Eve but we made stockings for every single person that was going to be there. Those that were there already got to pick out their towel and decorations, and a few of us took turns on the sewing machine and glue guns until they were all done! They were hideous and lopsided and gaudy and perfect. Several people asked to take theirs home. I still have mine!
Dr. Silveira:
Favorite Holiday Tradition: Dancing while decorating the tree. Waiting until the kid is asleep and then quietly sneaking out, retrieving all the hidden presents, and setting them up under the tree while trying to keep silent.
Favorite Holiday Food: All of it. But mostly any type of potato dish, and sugar cookies with the sugar crystal sprinkles!
Favorite Holiday Drink: Hot chocolate, Constant Comment tea.
Favorite Holiday Memory: All the Watson Chiropractic holiday parties, but specifically 2016 with just the core long-time employees. We wore pajamas, we laughed harder than was reasonable, I harassed Katie, Dr. Watson put me in a wrist lock. Pretty standard.
Dr. Watson:
Favorite Holiday Tradition: Putting up the tree and decorating when the kids were little.
Favorite Holiday Food: Pumpkin Pie, obviously.
Favorite Holiday Drink: Gin and Tonic. (“Does it only have to be for the holidays?”)
Favorite Holiday Memory: When I finally got my new bicycle when I was 10 or 11. My dad didn’t want me to have one because he thought I would run away from home.
Davide:
Favorite Holiday Tradition: Recording Rhiannon coming out to see the presents under the tree in the morning.
Favorite Holiday Food: Christmas cookies (preferably snickerdoodle).
Favorite Holiday Drink: Eggnog
Favorite Holiday Memory: First Christmas with Carrie. <3
Emily:
Favorite Holiday Tradition: Watching old Christmas movies.
Favorite Holiday Food: Fudge
Favorite Holiday Drink: Eggnog
Favorite Holiday Memory: Driving around to look at lights!
Kerry:
Favorite Holiday Tradition: Opening stockings
Favorite Holiday Food: See’s Candy
Favorite Holiday Drink: Eggnog
Favorite Holiday Memory: The Christmas my entire family spent at a cabin in Lake Tahoe.
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Claustrophobic. 🥁
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Snowballs.
🥁🥁
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Nothing, it was on the house.
🥁🥁🥁
Yummies
Yummies
Heather’s Winter Recipe: Brown buttercream Frosting
• ¾ cup browned + cooled unsalted butter
• ¼ cup softened salted butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
• 5–6 tbsp cold heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ¼ tsp salt
Melt & brown the unsalted butter to your liking. Cool until solid. If cooled in the fridge, bring back to room temp before using. Whip it with softened salted butter. Mix in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Whip in heavy cream 1 Tbsp at a time until fluffy. Use it right away or store in the fridge for up to one week.
Bonus Round: Heather’s Secret Family Recipe (We Won’t Tell if You Won’t): No-Bake Chocolate Bourbon Cookies (AKA “Bourbon Balls”
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (just under 1 cup)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp light corn syrup
1/3 cup good-quality bourbon
2 1/2 cups crushed Nilla Wafers
1 cup finely crushed walnuts or pecans
Extra granulated sugar for rolling
Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or glass bowl over a pot of simmering water. You can add 1/2 tsp oil to make chocolate easier to work with if need be. Once chocolate is smooth, add sugar and corn syrup. Stir to combine.
Extinguish heat under the chocolate. Add bourbon, walnuts/pecans, stir well until smooth. Add crushed Nilla Watfers, stir until evenly combined.
Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of cookie mixture and compress into round balls. Place into a pie plate with 1/2” granulated sugar in it and coat cookies in sugar.
Store in airtight containers. (Alcohol will evaporate over time.)
*Sub good espresso for bourbon for a non-alcoholic twist, and rolling those in powdered sugar vs granulated can help tell them apart if you want to make both.
