From ideas and thoughts to completed designs, Russell Landscaping Inc. delivers creativity, individuality, and satisfaction. We are passionate about the potential of a project and are committed to the great execution of a design that fits best for our clients. Our team concentrates on making it easier for you to achieve all of your project’s intention and ideas.
As the morning frost fades and the golden light of May settles over Grosse Pointe, there is a collective exhale across the community. There is something about the sun reflecting off the lake that sparks a renewed desire to empower ourselves— to shed the heavy layers of winter and step into the warmth with a fresh sense of confidence. This month, we celebrate the Women’s Issue, a tribute to the vibrant spirit and entrepreneurial energy that makes our city a destination for living well.
We begin our journey into the season with a look at the curated fashion defining Grosse Pointe style. This spring, we turned to the experts at Pearl to navigate the latest trends. Manager Gigi Badalamenti and buyer Cheryl DiMauro have meticulously selected pieces that balance sophistication with the effortless ease required for summer days. To showcase these looks, we staged a stunning fashion shoot just across the street at The Doghouse. The cocktail bar’s intimate, speakeasy atmosphere provided the perfect contrast to the season’s bright palettes, proving that true style is at home in any setting.
Building upon that external glow, we dive into the internal confidence that comes from feeling your absolute best. We are thrilled to highlight Haven Dental Spa and Wellness Medspa, where owner Dr. Elizabeth Kossack has partnered with her friend Courtney Nason to redefine the boutique care experience. Their collaboration is a masterclass in entrepreneurial synergy. By offering comprehensive dental services alongside premium medspa treatments, they have created a space where health and beauty complement one another. It is a unique approach that prioritizes comfort and care, ensuring every client walks out standing a little taller.
Finally, we expand on our April introduction of Grosse Pointe City Lifestyle presents: “Pointes of View.” This month, we sit down with host Rachel Adenaas to uncover the story behind the voice. Rachel’s infectious energy and life experiences have made her a vital link between local businesses and the wider Southeastern Michigan community. Through her lens, we see Grosse Pointe not just as a place we live, but as a premier destination for shopping, dining, and exploring.
May is about more than just a change in the weather; it is about the women who drive our community forward. We hope this issue inspires you to embrace the season with pride and poise.
Follow us @grossepointecitylifestyle to view “Pointes of View” throughout the year. DAVID MATTALIANO,
PUBLISHER
David Mattaliano | david.mattaliano@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Paige Peabody | paige.peabody@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Lisa Gindi | lisa.gindi@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sue Baldani, Margaret Carroll
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kim Rensburg, Eric Novak, Marta Girwood
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick
ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”
She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s, she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.
Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?
A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.
Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?
A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.
Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?
A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.
Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?
A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?
A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.
This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle Podcast.
“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”
— Becky Hillyard
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM RENSBURG
The spring collection at Pearl is here, and the boutique has never felt more alive. At the heart of this season’s transformation is a simple but powerful idea: that the right brand, discovered in the right environment, by the right guide, can change how a woman sees herself.
Joining the team is buyer Cheryl DiMauro, whose long career in luxury retail has been defined by exactly that philosophy. She and owner Molly Valade focused on curating an intriguing matrix of brands — Kulson, La Double J, and Slvrlake among them — while preserving the customer favorites that have built Pearl’s loyal following, like Frank & Eileen and White+Warren.
Cheryl shares, “Corporate retail has changed. I have always carried a specialty retail mentality, from my early days as a buyer through the executive level. It’s about personalized client experiences while connecting guests to fabulous brands with interesting heritage and design. It really should feel like an exciting discovery when a client enters Pearl. There is nothing like an in-store experience.”
That word — discovery — is exactly what manager Gigi Badalamenti wants clients to feel. “We have brands that people cannot easily get elsewhere,” she explains. “Cheryl is shopping New
York, Paris, Milan, and Copenhagen, to name a few fashion hubs.” These aren’t labels pulled from a trend report; they’re finds with stories, and Pearl’s team exists to tell those stories to the right person at the right moment.
“Our team is here to help you interpret what would be perfect for your event, or as an addition to your seasonal wardrobe,” says Gigi. “Our philosophy is about buying investment pieces that can play many roles within your closet.” It’s a conversation, not a transaction — and that’s what sets Pearl as an independent retailer apart.
This season’s palette — creams, blues, terracotta, and olives moving toward chartreuse — gives clients plenty to work with across occasions. Cheryl notes that brown is the new black, threading through spring all the way into fall as designers consciously extend the life of each purchase beyond a single season.
“It sounds cliché, but it’s all about making women feel empowered in what they wear and how they present themselves,” says Cheryl. At Pearl, skilled stylists are always on hand to help clients build looks that feel like them — and a talented new alterations specialist ensures that when a client finds something she loves, it fits her perfectly.
Those in-store experiences extend well beyond the everyday visit. Pearl recently hosted a styling event for 40 women with Grosse Pointe-based stylist Kelley Muzingo, turning the boutique into an evening of discovery, conversation, and connection. Thursday evenings now run until 7:00, giving clients time after their day to explore what’s new over a glass of wine — a reminder that shopping at Pearl is meant to feel like a pleasure, not an errand.
That welcome extends to every kind of woman, from professionals preparing for important meetings to mothers who
simply want to feel good running errands. The client base is expanding generationally, too. “More and more mothers are coming in with their daughters, and we’re now wardrobing all ages,” says Gigi.
Pearl is also broadening the experience beyond fashion. New to the boutique is Santa Maria Novella, the storied Florentine apothecary brand founded in the 1500s — an exclusive find that no other Michigan retailer carries.
Word is spreading, drawing clients from well beyond Grosse Pointe. “We have an enormous opportunity to grow something truly special – a destination boutique,” says Cheryl. At Pearl, that destination is already taking shape — one client, one brand, one discovery at a time.
ShopPearl.com
Bus: 313-881-8100
ARTICLE BY MARGARET CARROLL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC NOVAK
Every little girl has a vision of what she wants to do when she grows up.
Rachel Adenaas, a Grosse Pointe wife and mother (winner of both “Mrs. Michigan” and “Mrs. Grosse Pointe” titles in 2019), always placed a high priority on forming connections with others.
“I grew up surrounded by people from all walks of life,” Rachel explains.
Rachel’s passion fuels a genuine talent for bringing people together. That, along with a deep commitment to family values, is shared by husband Christian, and made Grosse Pointe a natural choice when the couple returned to Rachel’s Michigan roots after a stint living in Christian’s native Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We searched for the best place to raise our children (son Winston, now 12, and daughter Whitney, now nine) and realized we were comparing everything we saw to Grosse Pointe,” Rachel reports. “What we have here is so special. We can give our kids freedom here. It is such a blessing, such a precious gift.”
Counting her blessings and finding ways to give back to her community led Rachel to partner with Grosse Pointe City Lifestyle Magazine on a just-launched video campaign designed to increase the publication’s impact throughout southeast Michigan.
Rachel Adenaas is host of the new “Pointes of View” video blog that will showcase the shops, dining, entertainment and lifestyle of the Grosse Pointe communities. The social media
campaign builds on the trusted Grosse Pointe City Lifestyle Magazine brand, taking it to the next level, with fresh content and new videos posting monthly on all social media platforms: @ grossepointecitylifestyle.
“We are delighted to welcome Rachel to the team as the face of our new ‘Pointes of View’ venture,” says David Mattaliano, publisher. “Rachel brings a wealth of experience, including her fantastic ability to connect with people, plus beauty, intelligence and energy that will assist us in expanding our core mission of promoting Grosse Pointe throughout southeast Michigan.
“Rachel is a great asset in showcasing the unique charm of this community that is the perfect blend of old-time Americana and the very best of upscale modern lifestyle.”
The videos, produced by Grosse Pointe City Lifestyle Magazine digital coordinator Eric Novak for maximum visual impact, will showcase Grosse Pointe businesses and their owners, as narrated by Rachel, who brings her love of community plus her sense of vibrancy and flair.
“What we have here in Grosse Pointe is so special. I feel incredibly grateful to be able to share some of my favorite places to go and things to do,” says Rachel.
The initial videos debut in April, showcasing the Village of Grosse Pointe with a focus on fashion, home goods, and unique gifts. The Hill will be featured in May, with different themes and shopping districts highlighted throughout the year.
Rachel’s goal is to reach viewers in other affluent metro Detroit communities, attracting visitors to come and shop and dine in the Grosse Pointes, and experience for themselves what makes the community so special.
“‘Pointes of View’ will serve as a great reminder to Shop Local,” Rachel points out. “I am very excited to share stories of Grosse Pointe, in the form of a strong fresh visuals each month that hopefully convey who we are and all we have to offer.”
She brings experience and a focus honed by her lifelong involvement with the America Pageant organization. The organization promotes community service, which attracted Rachel early on. She competed in the Miss Anaheim 2005 Pageant and won, then went on to compete in Miss California and won the title of Miss Congeniality.
“I learned a lot and made many lifelong friends,” Rachel says. After major life changes (earning her Bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University, getting married and giving birth to two children), she returned to competition in 2019, winning the titles of both Mrs. Grosse Pointe and Mrs. Michigan.
She admits she was nervous at first. “I knew that once I was awarded the titles, it would put me out there in the community in a big way.”
The response was overwhelming. “It was an incredible year,” Rachel reports, starting with a sendoff dinner hosted by fellow members of the Grosse Pointe Runner’s Club to a Welcome Home & Congratulations dinner at the former Marais restaurant on Kercheval. “I was truly honored to represent Grosse Pointe and Michigan,” Rachel reports.
More importantly, the win provided a new means for Rachel to give back. As Mrs. Grosse Pointe, she was able to choose a project to support for the year. She chose The Birthday Party Project, a nonprofit that hosts birthday parties for displaced children. Once a month, Rachel organized a birthday party at a regional homeless shelter for displaced children.
“I was also a member of Moms of Preschoolers in Grosse Pointe at that time, and they responded with the highest level of generosity I could have imagined when I
“I am very excited to share stories of Grosse Pointe, in the form of strong fresh visuals every month.”
asked for donations. They provided balloons, decorations, arts and craft supplies, cupcakes, pre-wrapped gifts each and every month. We always had more than enough donations over and above what was needed.
“It was a beautiful experience,” Rachel says. “We were able to celebrate their special day with so many children.” She was able to bring her own children to the parties each month, and share firsthand her passion for community connection with them. “It was a great opportunity for our whole family, thanks in large part to the support we have from our neighbors and friends here in Grosse Pointe.”
From there, Rachel went on to compete at the national level in the Mrs. America Pageant in Las Vegas. She won National Costume for her homage to Motown Records and the Motor City. One of the benefits was being able to welcome Jennifer Lopez to her Detroit concert venue for the singer’s 50th birthday tour. Rachel took great pride in representing her hometown on stage.
Check our Rachel’s latest “Pointes of View” videos on Instagram and Facebook, and follow her at:
@grossepointecitylifestyle @racheladenaas
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI
Going to the dentist can be an anxiety-provoking experience, while going to a spa has the totally opposite feel. That’s why Dr. Elizabeth Kossak founded a wellness-centered practice that combines state-of-the-art dental care with the soothing atmosphere of a spa.
Haven Dental Spa and Wellness Medspa opened in September 2025 in Grosse Pointe Woods. During dental procedures, patients may be offered paraffin hand wax treatments, cozy blankets, under-eye patches, and other calming amenities to help them feel more comfortable. “We want people to feel relaxed and not like they’re at a stuffy dental appointment,” says Dr. Kossak.
Afterwards, patients can easily go from their dental treatments to the connected med spa. Her friend, Courtney Nason, is a nurse practitioner and co-owner of the med spa. “Courtney is amazing and so knowledgeable, and since we’re both moms of three boys, we know how busy life gets. We really want to support others who are juggling a lot, too.”
Courtney offers many services from a whole-body perspective, including wellness injections that include an amino blend, B12, Glutathione, a triple immunity booster, and zinc. “These can really help support overall health,” says Dr. Kossak.
Patients can receive facial fillers, SkinPen® microneedling, neuromodulator treatments, and much more. Dr. Kossak specializes in facial injections that improve the smile or the function of the mouth muscles, such as lip fillers for aesthetics or neurotoxin (Dysport® or Xeomin®) for TMJ discomfort.
She loves how she and Courtney, as well as the dental and spa services, complement each other for overall health. While neuromodulators like Dysport® can help patients look better, they can also help those who clench and grind their teeth. “They can receive tox injections in their jaw muscles, masseter muscles and temporalis muscles to help with that,” she says.
On the aesthetic side, a great smile is key, but so is the rest of the face when it comes to feeling beautiful and happy. “If we harmonize
those, it makes a huge difference in people’s lives and in their confidence,” says Dr. Kossak. “People feel more confident when they look better. Personally, when I look refreshed, I feel more refreshed. I think that it’s super important for overall mental health.”
Both women are passionate about skincare and its role in overall health. “We offer VAMP™, which is a mixture of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and PDRN – it is a topical that we place on after microneedling,” says Dr. Kossak. “We also have Epicutis® products, an all-natural skincare line. It’s amazing for anybody who has easily irritated skin and wants to use a natural product.”
Haven welcomes men, women and children of all ages. “I feel like women are the leaders in their households, so usually they come in first, and then they bring their husbands and kids. It’s nice to form that initial connection, and then that spreads to the rest of the family, who soon realize how much they love us too.”
She adds, “I’ve always been in love with dentistry. It’s the best job in the world because I get to combine artistry with meeting new people, making them feel comfortable and look great. This is our passion, and Courtney and I are so lucky to be able to do this.”
HavenDentalSpa.com HavenWellnessMedSpa.com
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