The Hormone Debates are back, Spa Retreats, Alligator Skin and more...
The Three Tomatoes have lots to talk about this week. If you're so darn tired of winter you can't stand it another second, we have a great getaway deal for a spa and golf resort in Mexico. And closer to home, there's always our
Intimate Conversations Event next week, featuring singer
Phoebe Snow to get you out of the winter doldrums. And if your skin is looking like an alligator's right about now, we've found three great inexpensive drug store products we're loving. And we've got some general ramblings too, lots of new updates at our web site, and on a more serious note, we thought it's high time to bring that "is it hot in here" topic to the surface too.
But first, on a sad note, we extend our sympathies to tomato Marian Levine and her family, who lost their family patriarch this week, Milton Parker, the owner of the most famous deli in America, the
Carnegie Deli. He was 90 years old, and was loved by not only his family, and his beautiful wife of 62 years, Millie, but his Carnegie family which includes the staff, celebrities, tourists from all over the world, and New Yorkers alike.
Ramblings Does anyone besides
The Three Tomatoes find it amusing that
Miley Cyrus, is writing her autobiography at the tender age of 16? And if you don't know who Miley is (aka Hannah Montana) then you don't know any little girls under the age of 12, who are sure to make the book a best seller.
And could the press stop picking on
Jessica Simpson because she's gained some weight?, Especially the
New York Post which happens to be our favorite NYC newspaper, but enough's enough. They pick on these celebrities when they get stick thin and then jump all over them when they gain a few extra pounds. What a terrible message to send to young girls. Stop right now! Yikes, maybe we need that spa, right now.
A Mexican resort that won't break the bank 
Our travel expert,
Phyllis Stoller, has a great deal for tomatoes looking for a February or March getaway -- 10% discount off February and March packages at the all inclusive
Ixtapan Spa Hotel and Golf Resort, less than two hours from Mexico City. Known for its great value with quality for over 60 years, Ixtapan Spa Hotel and Golf Resort was just voted one of the most affordable spa resorts in the world by readers of SpaFinders. You'll find all the details in Phyllis' column this week, "
Why Most Travel Deals Aren't Deals."
Packages begin at $735 for a 4 night spa classic and $675 for a 4 night golf/spa classic. But the 4 day package includes all meals, bottled water, 3 massages, 2 facials, 2 reflexology, 1 loofah, 1 fango, 1 hair treatment, 1 hair styling, 1 manicure, 1 pedicure, and multiple fitness classes. Or, for even more savings you can join Phyllis and a group of friends on March 22-29 and get 10% off regular rates for the 7 night spa/classic package: $1120 double and $1325 single (excludes taxes and gratuities.) And if she can get more than 10 tomatoes (families and friends too), you'll get a fabulous group rate for $955 double and $1085 single. Can you say triple aromatherapy and hot stone massage? Get more details, contact info, and the
discount code now.
Is it hot in here? The new hormone debate. Well leave it to
Oprah to finally get women talking and more importantly thinking again, about hormone replacement therapy now that most of us got scared into going "cold turkey" after the Women's Health Initiative study in 2002 and their findings that taking estrogen with progestin could increase breast cancer and heart disease. (The same study also concluded that it didn't seem to help much with sleep, depression, energy, or sexual satisfaction when compared with a placebo, although we think you'd find lots of tomatoes who would disagree with that one.) However, there has been a lot of ongoing research since then and a growing group of supporters in the medical community, for bio-identical hormones. Sadly, and unfortunately for tomatoes, is the fact that many doctors are still woefully ignorant on the topic.
The Three Tomatoes recently returned to the world of hormones, with a bio-identical drug that is produced by a pharmaceutical firm, not a compounding pharmacist. We didn't even know they existed until we went to a new doctor, and are we glad we did. We're sharing
our story in a new web section of our web site called "
Tomato Soup", where we hope other tomatoes will join in on this discussion and any other topics that you'd like to discuss too. But we think the bottom line is that it is so important to get informed, get educated, and get prepared to talk to your doctor (and find the right one too) about critical issues that affect your body and your life. Cause believe this, 'aint nobody else gonna do it for you, not even Oprah.
Alligator skin cures, wine, looking great, and recession coping strategies Well in addition to the great
spa package deal, and
our hormone story, and of course our celebrity columnists (see side bar), we've got three inexpensive products we're loving for our dry winter skin right now at
3T Reviews.
And to cheer our spirits, our 
Dr. Nancy Synderman 
