Text by Hayley Leray  |  Photo by Rhonda Adkins

What would winter be without the warmth of a crackling fire and a festive libation to toast the beginning of another fabulous year!  Whether lingering on the couch curled up in a cozy blanket or mingling with friends at a dinner party, Signature MT suggests this lively winter cocktail guaranteed to warm your cockles and spice up a frost-filled night.  Cheers to a warm up that is packed with deep spicy flavor and a comforting effervescent twist.

Text by Amy Dardis

We live in a world where everyone is constantly connected yet struggling to connect. We’re overwhelmed with emails, texts, news feeds, notifications, likes, comments, pins, tweets, shares, updates, and alerts. Day to day life is noisy, automated, streamed, and synced. Checking our phone while having coffee with a friend is considered socially acceptable and most people would rather communicate through email, text, or social media rather than over the phone or in person.

Technology is advancing all the time and affects the way we do business, the way we communicate, and the way we live. But one thing that has not changed and never will is our deep rooted desire to connect with others. We need connection, crave connection, and seek out connection. Technology offers a facade of authentic connection but fails to deliver the real thing. A typed email just doesn’t have the same effect as a hand written letter. A text filled with emojis lacks the same level of emotion that you can hear in someone’s voice over the phone, chatting over messenger isn’t anywhere near as intimate as meeting for coffee, and applications like Skype or Facetime can never replace real physical connection like holding hands or hugging someone you care about.

Text by Mary Ellen Hendrickson  |  Photography by Jim Wells

Some moments are frozen in time.

Brenda Carpenter says she, “shouldn’t have been out driving,” the icy night she skidded off the road and rolled into power lines that would burn her limbs until she was discovered the next morning.

Kelly Lenington says he, “almost died,” after freeing his left leg from the fierce rotations of a grain auger.

Matt Paton only recalls pulling onto a road to take a motorcycle for a test ride.  Observers told him later that he and the bike were struck first by a young driver running a stop sign, then again by another driver unable to stop, severing his right leg.

Tim Chaffin adapted to the loss of his right leg following cancer at age 12, and became so intent on being able to, “walk smooth,” that he later became a prosthetist.   Kristi Chaffin met Tim and first fell in love with his knack for, “getting the right fit,” for her right leg, amputated following a blood clot, then fell in love with him.

Text by Kelsie McKenzie, Health Coach at the Benefis Weight Loss Center

Each year, people all over the world make New Year’s resolutions to “give up” eating junk food or sweets and find little success. This year, the Benefis Weight Loss Center wants to challenge you to “take up” a healthy habit, rather than give one up. Here are four healthy habits that you can take up in 2016 to help you on the journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Take up: Positive Affirmations

Instead of feeling guilty for skipping the gym or eating a donut the day before, start every day with a positive affirmation. You can make up something specific to your goals and personality, such as “Today is going to be great. You are awesome, and you are going to make awesome choices to fuel your body.” If that particular sentence doesn’t fit your fancy, there are plenty of books and apps that will give you a new positive affirmation every day. Focus on being positive, and you will be surprised how unsatisfying that donut starts to look.

Text by Stephanie Frick  •  Photography by Jim Wells

The “Pilates” Method as created by Joseph Pilates, is described as the “complete coordination of mind, body, and spirit.” It is a body balancing form of exercise which strengthens from the center, outward. Each motion is so precise that only 4-6 repetitions are required. As a full body workout, it merges mind and body into unity. The results of Pilates are incredible! You become more connected to your body through a clear mind. Re-alignment of your muscle, brings you automatic balance into every day functions. Most amazing to me is how you feel after Pilates! 55-60 minutes and you feel refreshed, alert, and charged with energy! One less cup of coffee needed!

        There are five foundational elements of Pilates. Breathing, Centering, Concentration, Control, Fluidity, and Precision. BREATHING cleanses the lungs and clears the mind, creating direct concentration. CENTERING is disciplining your mind to listen to your body as you advance individually at your own pace. CONCENTRATION is essential to activate each motion in the correct way, combining breath patterns and focus. To be in CONTROL of each motion is essential for preventing injuries, both in everyday living and most importantly during exercise. FLUIDITY, a smooth flowing motion encourages the body to safely extend into gentle progression. Sharp Jerky movements may cause cramping or injury. PRECISION; for each focus point as explained above, when activated, creates and targets precise training!  Why treat your body any other way than with care? You only have one body, treat it beautifully.

Text and photography by Phil Procopio

If you’re like me, you love trying the latest products to hit the market.  Here is a sampling of the products I’ve been trying on myself, on guests in the salon and on photo shoot sets as well. Enjoy!