As you move through this issue, you will also notice a unique connection behind the scenes. Cristi Kaido, whose work blends wellness coaching, nutrition guidance, and mindful mocktail experiences, has been collaborating closely with Lisa Briggs at Fit Body Boot Camp as they explore new ways to support personal wellness through movement, mindset, and intentional daily habits. Mohawk Valley Living is proud to support their efforts. This collaboration will begin with the Mohawk Valley Dry January Challenge, a community-centered wellness initiative designed by Cristi Kaido, founder of The Mindful Mixer, to encourage mindful choices throughout the month.
Fit Body Boot Camp, with locations in Clinton and Whitesboro, will serve as the founding gym partner, and restaurant partners, including Vine & Fig in Rome, are being brought on to support the challenge. Participants will receive a challenge T-shirt (designed by local wellness branding expert, Vanessa Colangelo of LifeWellBranded, Co), weekly mocktail recipes, simple wellness guidance, and access to a private Facebook community for accountability and encouragement. Each partnering restaurant will feature a “Mindful Mixer Mocktail of the Week,” with a portion of sales donated to Center For Family Life & Recovery. At the end of the month, a celebration event will be held with mocktails and the announcement of the total funds raised for the community.
We extend our sincere thanks to each of this month’s experts: Lisa Briggs, Doug Walters, Dr. Juleen Qandah, Alyce Short, Stephen Turnbull, Laura Weimer, and Cristi Kaido. Their insight brings depth and purpose to this issue and offers guidance for beginning the year with clarity and intention. Each reminds us that meaningful change does not come from dramatic reinvention but from deliberate choices, steady habits, and a willingness to care for ourselves in new ways.
Here is to a year of growth, balance, and possibility. May each intentional step, no matter how small, move you closer to the life you want to create.
