Lee's Summit, MO May 2026

Celebrating Women

Lee’s Summit’s Premier Aesthetic Center

Where aging is OPTIONAL

The Right Move for Bone and Joint Care

You can’t plan for pain— but you can plan where to turn.

Rockhill Orthopaedic Specialists has served the Kansas City region for more than 80 years. Our experts have advanced training in every part of the body, so you get the highest level of care wherever it hurts.

Because when it comes to pain— the right move makes all the difference.

Cheers to the ladies who inspire us everyday!

There’s something truly special about taking a moment to recognize the women in our lives who make the world more vibrant and beautiful. Whether it's our mothers, daughters, friends, or colleagues, these women are often the silent forces that shape our days and make life richer.

With Mother’s Day this month, our thoughts naturally turn to all those incredible women—biological mothers and mother figures alike—who have made an unforgettable impact on us. It’s the teachers, the friends, the neighbors, and the family members who offer their love, wisdom, and support in countless ways.

Now that I am a grandmother and spending time with my daughter, I realize more and more how easy my mother and mother-in-law made it look helping me to clean and pick up the house and assist with all of my babies when they were growing up.  They were always offering to help in my home, or to watch the kids, or to help in any way. I never realized how physically exhausting the work was at their age and how much they were sacrificing for us until now. It keeps me motivated to work harder when I feel exhausted and I push through knowing that it is such an important role, with a lifetime effect.

This month, as we celebrate these remarkable women, I also want to encourage you to support local businesses owned by women in our community. One of my favorite parts of this job is connecting with and championing the incredible women here in Lee’s Summit. From movers and shakers to makers and builders, these women bring so much to the table, both seen and unseen. Their contributions, often behind the scenes, create beauty and impact that cannot be replicated.

Take a moment this month to recognize the women in your life. Send a text, make a phone call, or send flowers, or mail a simple handwritten thank you card with the women who have made a difference for you. It’s a simple but powerful way to brighten someone’s day and remind them how much they’re loved.

Here’s to celebrating the women who make life so much more meaningful. Happy Mother’s Day and cheers to the ladies who inspire us every day!

LAURA PASZKIEWICZ, PUBLISHER

May 2026

PUBLISHER

Laura Paszkiewicz | laura@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Stephanie Williams | stephanie.williams@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Angela Broockerd, Lauren Powers, Jamie Segall

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Janie Jones

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Mary Albers

LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick

ARTICLE BY JAMIE SEGALL

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

INSIGHT Wealth

A More Human Approach to Financial Planning

For Samantha Compton, financial planning has always been about more than numbers. As the founder of Insight Wealth, she approaches her work through the lens of real life, helping clients navigate transitions, relationships, and the personal decisions that shape their futures.

“My path into financial planning wasn’t a straight line. It was shaped by real life,” Compton shares. “I came to this work understanding firsthand how much the financial dimension of life intersects with everything else. Relationships, identity, transitions, and purpose.”

That perspective is the foundation of Insight Wealth, a boutique practice designed to meet clients where they are, not just financially but personally. Before building portfolios, Compton focuses on understanding the full picture of a client’s life.

“The numbers are necessary, but they’re never the starting place,” she explains. “You can build a technically perfect financial plan for someone and have it completely miss the mark because it wasn’t built around what actually matters to them.”

A VISION BORN FROM EXPERIENCE

Early in her career, Compton noticed a pattern that would shape her mission. Many women, regardless of professional success, felt overlooked or underserved in financial conversations.

“Capable, smart, accomplished women kept coming through my office and I kept hearing the same things,” she says. “They felt relieved to be somewhere they could ask any question without feeling judged.”

This insight, paired with her own experience of seeking connection after moving to Lee’s Summit, led to the creation of Wise Women in 2017, a community resource designed to educate and empower women in all areas of life, including finances.

“I knew firsthand how much that absence costs a woman, in confidence, in direction, in joy,” Compton recalls. “What if there were a place where women could come together, build real community, and learn about intimidating topics in a space that felt warm and completely safe?”

The response was immediate, “At its peak we were welcoming 80 to 130 women every month,” she says. “Women came for the content but stayed for the connection.”

After eight impactful years, Compton made the intentional decision to close the group in 2025, not because it was fading, but because the season had naturally come to an end.

“I’ve come to believe that knowing when and how to close a chapter with grace sometimes takes just as much courage as opening one,” she reflects.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Compton’s work today continues to reflect those same principles of empathy, education, and intentional listening. Her approach centers on helping clients feel understood before any financial strategy is introduced.

“The first thing I do is slow down,” she says. “I want to understand the full picture. What keeps them up at night, and what they’re most excited about.”

This philosophy is especially meaningful for women, who she believes have often been overlooked in traditional financial settings.

“Financial services has historically spoken past women rather than to them,” Compton explains. “When women feel genuinely safe to ask questions, confidence grows. Decisions get made.”

Compton emphasizes education as a tool for empowerment, helping clients become active participants in their financial lives.

When Life Changes in an Instant

In the quiet and routine moments of life, we often find ourselves caught up in the small things, from the laundry to carpools, to daily schedules. For Brie Bauer, a nurse and mother of two, life was exactly that. However, as she has now learned, life can change in a second.

“I was going through life like everyone else, you know, just the same old things we complain about that aren’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things,” Brie reflects. “Then all of a sudden it just changes in a second. That happens to everyone.”

At 27 weeks pregnant with her third son, Brie felt a familiar spell of pregnancy fatigue. Assuming it was a routine bug caught from her toddlers, she almost dismissed it. However, a persistent stiffness and her own medical intuition led her to visit urgent care just to be sure. Within hours, Brie was in the fight of her life. A silent Strep A infection had triggered sepsis, sending her body into distress. To save her life and the life of her son, Beau, doctors performed an emergency C-section. Beau arrived at just 2.6 pounds. He was a tiny fighter who, as Brie notes, likely saved her life by signaling his own distress.

ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

While Beau stabilized, Brie’s journey took a harrowing turn. Her body tried to protect itself, but the cost of survival was high: the loss of all four limbs. Yet, as she woke from a ten-day coma, her first thoughts were not of what she had lost, but of those she loved. There was relief in knowing her mind was still sharp and her family was waiting for her. “I’m blessed with a new life, a new way of life, and a new view of life,” she says. “And not a lot of people get that.”

Brie’s time in the hospital was a grueling marathon that stretched from the initial crisis in February through her eventual release from inpatient rehab in June. Even after she emerged from her coma, her recovery remained a delicate, touch and go process marked by unexpected setbacks and nearly thirty surgeries. Yet, through the

months spent at both AdventHealth and the University of Kansas Health System, Brie was sustained by what she describes as incredible care. She speaks with deep gratitude of the providers, nurses and therapists who became her lifelines, from the ICU nurse manager who moved mountains to get her the care she needed to the therapist whose simple, daily greeting of “Hey girl” became a vital sensory anchor. This compassionate support, combined with her own relentless spirit, turned a monthslong hospital stay into a foundation for the new life she is building today.

Brie’s survival was not just a matter of clinical intervention, but of her own willingness to speak up when her internal warning signals did not align with the charts. Her story highlights that while medical professionals bring years of essential training to the table, the patient is the only lifelong expert on their own body.

“As a patient and as a provider, you’ve got to be aggressive and you’ve got to be annoying to get things done,” Brie says, reflecting on the moments she had to push for her own care. “If you don’t feel right, if you just simply say that, that should spark providers to do something else.”

This level of self-advocacy is not about challenging the expertise of a medical team; it is about acting as a necessary partner in a high-stakes environment where details can move quickly. Brie recognized that even the best systems have limitations, noting that the doctors and nurses are doing their best, but they are in charge of hundreds of patients. By trusting her intuition and her survival instinct, she bridged the gap between being a passive recipient of care and an active participant in her recovery. “I knew something was wrong,” she recalls of the moment she called her own rapid response. “I looked at the nurse and said, ‘I’m calling it. If you don’t call it in five minutes, I’m calling them

right now.’” Her journey serves as a reminder that advocating for yourself is a collaborative, lifesaving act that ensures the person behind the symptoms is never lost in the process.

The transition from being a nurse, which is a career defined by doing, to a patient needing constant care was a profound identity shift. Brie reflects that you build your identity through being a parent, and while she lost the physical part of that role, she is finding a new way now. For a long time, the physical limitations were a source of grief. The inability to pick up a crying baby or drive her older sons, Brooks and Barrett, to school felt like a barrier to motherhood. But Brie discovered that the doing is only a fraction of the role.

“You don’t have to have a more physical approach to it,” Brie explains. “The hugging, the picking up, the drawing the tears. You don’t have to do that in order to be a mother or to be a parent.” She realized that being a mother is truly about being the emotional north star. “I tell myself I have to be present. If I’m in bed depressed, I’m not present there. If they don’t see me, then they won’t know me.” Today, she and her toddler, Beau, are learning together. Recently, she achieved a milestone that felt like a mountain when she picked up Beau by herself for the first time. “I picked him up for the very first time by myself just the other day. That’s all I want, is to be able to do that.”

Brie is candid about the fact that hope is not always a constant. During her darkest days in the hospital, she relied on borrowed hope from her family. A fellow survivor once shared a mantra that sustained her: “I’ll hold on to hope for you until you are able to recognize it.” By her side throughout has been her husband, Reid. Though they eloped years ago without traditional vows, he has lived out the promise of sickness and health to a heroic

degree. While he handles the morning routines and the heavy lifting, Brie provides the happy thoughts at bedtime and the educational guidance that keeps their household thriving.

Brie’s journey has given her a new calling. As the founder of Brie’s Hope (Brieshope.org), she is turning her trauma into a blueprint for others. Her mission is focused on educating pregnant women about the dangers of sepsis and providing grants to families navigating the life-altering costs of limb loss. Using a stylus wrapped to her arm, she manages her foundation and connects with a global community of survivors.

“Adapt is such a simple word, but that’s how I am still here,” Brie says. “It’s just adapting and not letting that trauma win.” She is no longer the nurse she used to be, but she is a healer in a different sense. By sharing her story, she is teaching her sons and all of us that while we cannot always control what life hands us, we can always choose how we hold it. To support sepsis survivors and limb-loss advocacy, you can visit  brieshope.org or follow her journey on Instagram at @briebauer.

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EFFORTLESS STYLE, ELEVATED FOR SUMMER

ANCHORA BELLA BOUTIQUE BRINGS CONFIDENCE-DRIVEN FASHION, VERSATILE TRENDS, AND A PERSONAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE TO LEE’S SUMMIT THIS SEASON.

ARTICLE BY LAUREN POWERS | PHOTOGRAPHY

Late spring and summer fashion is all about ease this year, but don’t confuse “easy” with boring. At Anchora Bella Boutique in Lee’s Summit, the season is shaping up to be a mix of effortless staples, playful trends, and confidence-driven style that works for real life.

Founded out of a love for fashion and a desire to create something meaningful, Anchora Bella was designed to be more than just a place to shop. Owner Alexa envisioned a space where women could find pieces that feel unique, on-trend, and most importantly, confidence-boosting. That mindset shows up in every rack, every outfit, and every interaction inside the boutique.

The overall vibe? Feminine, elevated, and approachable. Think pieces you can throw on quickly but still feel completely put-together in. The boutique intentionally blends everyday staples with standout items, making it a go-to for women of all ages, whether you’re refreshing your closet or looking for something a little outside your usual rotation.

CONTINUED >

This season, fashion is leaning into versatility in the best way. Lightweight fabrics, soft color palettes, and “throw-onand-go” outfits are taking center stage. Easy dresses, matching sets, and elevated basics are dominating closets, giving women options that can seamlessly transition from daytime errands to dinner plans without a full outfit change.

But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of room to have fun.

Prints and patterns are everywhere right now, from classic florals to polka dots and stripes. Even better? Mixing those prints is officially in. It might sound intimidating, but it’s one of the easiest ways to make an outfit feel styled and intentional without overthinking it. For those who prefer a softer look, pastels like blush pink, butter yellow, and light blue are having a major moment. On the flip side, bold shades like red, coral, and vibrant blue are perfect for anyone wanting to stand out.

Texture is also playing a big role this season. Details like fringe, tassels, embroidery, and appliqué are popping up across collections, adding dimension to even the simplest pieces. Paired with breathable fabrics like cotton and linen, these details create outfits that feel both comfortable and elevated, exactly what summer style should be.

When it comes to building a wardrobe, Anchora Bella keeps it simple: start with versatile staples. A great everyday dress, a well-fitting pair of denim, and a classic white top go a long way. From there, layering in trend-forward pieces, like a statement accessory or a printed top, keeps your look current without feeling overwhelming.

That balance is something Anchora Bella does especially well. Rather than pushing trends, the team focuses on helping

customers incorporate them in a way that feels natural. It’s less about reinventing your style and more about enhancing what you already love.

And that’s really what sets the boutique apart.

Shopping at Anchora Bella feels personal. The team takes the time to get to know each customer's style, their lifestyle, even the moments they’re shopping for, from everyday wear to special events. It’s a relationship-driven experience that feels more like shopping with friends than walking into a store.

For first-time visitors, expect a warm, welcoming environment where there’s no pressure, just thoughtful guidance, honest feedback, and a genuine focus on helping you feel your best.

Because at the end of the day, trends will come and go. But confidence? That’s always in style.

Financial plans will always require numbers, but thoughtful planning starts with something deeper.

At Insight Wealth, we seek to understand the people behind the plans. By getting to know you and uncovering what brings your life meaning, we help bring greater clarity and intention to your financial planning.

If you’re looking to have a thoughtful conversation around an upcoming life transition, we invite you to book a call with Samantha today!

Samantha Compton Senior Financial Advisor

Caring for What Matters Most:

A CONVERSATION WITH HOME INSTEAD

ARTICLE BY LAUREN POWERS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

When it comes to caring for aging loved ones, trust, experience, and compassion matter more than ever. For over two decades, Home Instead in Eastern Jackson County has been a steady presence for families navigating this important stage of life. Led by co-owners Michelle Brunell and Kristine Wright, the team is deeply rooted in the Lee’s Summit community, offering personalized in-home care that allows seniors to remain safe, comfortable, and independent. We sat down with Michelle and Kristine to learn more about their passion for senior care and what sets Home Instead apart.

CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SHARE YOUR ROLE WITH HOME INSTEAD?

We’re Michelle Brunell and Kristine Wright, and we’re the co-owners of Home Instead serving Eastern Jackson County. Together, we lead a team that’s dedicated to supporting seniors and their families in our community. Our mission is to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families through in-home care.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH HOME INSTEAD, AND WHAT FIRST BROUGHT YOU TO THIS WORK?

Home Instead started in Omaha and opened in Kansas City back in 1994, and Kristine and I have owned our office since 2004. For Kristine, this work came naturally, she was the primary caregiver for her grandmother, which sparked her passion for supporting seniors. My path

looked a little different. My father was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at just 56. I was 26 at the time, and it completely changed my life. That experience shaped why I do this work today.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT CARING FOR SENIORS?

Honestly, the best part is matching our Care Professionals with our clients. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing that perfect match come together and knowing we’ve helped enrich the lives of both the senior and the Care Pro. Those moments remind us why this work matters so much.

WHAT KEEPS YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS WORK YEAR AFTER YEAR?

Helping aging adults stay safe and independent in their own homes is truly at the heart of what we do. It’s part of our mission, and it’s what keeps us going day after day, year after year. We honestly can’t imagine doing anything else—this work is incredibly meaningful to us.

INVITING SOMEONE INTO YOUR HOME IS A BIG DECISION—HOW DO YOU HELP FAMILIES FEEL COMFORTABLE AND BUILD TRUST?

Reputation really matters in this line of work, and we venture to say we’ve been part of this community longer than anyone else doing private duty care exclusively. Most of our new clients come through word of mouth, which means a lot to us. We also have a strong Quality Assurance program led by Sandy, who started as a Care Pro and has been with us for almost 14 years. She connects beautifully with families and plays a huge role in helping them feel supported and confident in their care.

“We honestly can’t imagine doing anything else— this work is incredibly meaningful to us.”

“One of the most meaningful moments happens during a care consultation. As we sit with families and walk through their options, you can actually see the stress lift from their faces. There’s a sense of relief knowing that help is available and their loved one can remain safe at home.”

WHAT SETS HOME INSTEAD APART WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEVEL OF CARE YOU PROVIDE?

We’ve been doing this for more than 22 years, and we’ve continued to grow and improve every step of the way. We are locally owned and operated and have built the largest team of care givers in Jackson County. It’s really the best of both worlds—strong resources paired with a personal, local approach.

WHY IS IN-HOME CARE SO VALUABLE FOR SENIORS WHO WANT TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE?

Sometimes just a little bit of help can make all the difference. With support during high-risk moments—like getting in and out of the shower—we can help prevent falls and keep seniors safe. When they’re safe, they’re able to stay in their homes longer, sometimes indefinitely. That independence is incredibly important.

CAN YOU SHARE A MOMENT THAT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPACT OF WHAT YOU DO?

One of the most meaningful moments happens during a care consultation. As we sit with families and walk through their options, you can actually see the stress lift from their faces. There’s a sense of relief knowing that help is available and their loved one can

remain safe at home. We also often meet couples who worry they may be separated if care is needed. Being able to tell them we can support both of them at home—together—is incredibly rewarding.

For Michelle, Kristine, and their team, senior care is more than a service, it’s a calling shaped by personal experience, deep compassion, and a commitment to the community they call home. With decades of experience and a focus on building meaningful relationships, Home Instead continues to provide families in Lee’s Summit with something truly invaluable: peace of mind.

To learn more or explore care options, contact Home Instead at 816-554-6166 or email michelle.brunell@homeinstead.com. Their team is available 24/7 to help guide families every step of the way.

“With decades of experience and a focus on building meaningful relationships, Home Instead continues to provide families in Lee’s Summit with something truly invaluable: peace of mind .”

ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

BECKY HILLYARD

From Side Hustle to Style Empire

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

P R E S E N T A T I O N P R E S E N T A T I O N

HOW TO SET A SPRING TABLE THAT FEELS EFFORTLESS AND ELEVATED

GATHER

IN STYLE

For a spring gathering, the table becomes more than a place to dine. It sets the tone for the entire experience. This season, a thoughtfully layered tablescape brings together color, tex ture, and personality in a way that feels both effortless and elevated.

At the center of this approach is Rebecca Wood, whose eye for detail and love of layering transforms every day pieces into something memorable. Her process begins with a single point of inspiration. “I typically pick either a tablecloth or centerpiece item to build my table setting,” she says. “In this case, I used the flowers and berries from the tablecloth to build my menu and other table décor.” By echoing those patterns with fresh berries and blooms, the table feels cohesive with out being overly styled.

Entertaining beautifully does not have to be expensive. Rebecca encourages hosts to use what they have, incorporate seasonal foods, and shop local markets for fresh flowers. “A little creativity goes a long way,” she notes.

Balancing trends with timeless design is key to creating a look that lasts beyond one season. Rebecca leans on vintage and antique pieces as her foundation, then refreshes them with seasonal elements. “I love vintage and antique items, so those pieces are the base. Then I bring in touches of spring to make it feel new,” she explains. A simple change in linens or the addition of a vase filled with spring flowers can completely transform the same core pieces from winter to spring.

Natural elements play a starring role. “If I am hosting a meal or event, I always like to add fresh flowers,” she says. Whether it is a few stems in bud vases or a full arrangement of hydrangeas, the effect is immediate. Bulb flowers and peonies, in particular, offer an easy way to capture the essence of spring.

Texture is another essential layer. At Diebolt's of Kansas City, where Rebecca works alongside owner Mary Carol Garrity, the philosophy centers on mixing rather than matching. “Linens are so key,” Rebecca says. “We don’t like to be too matchy, but layering different fabrics and adding a ribbon or napkin ring brings in more texture and color.”

Her design process is both creative and intentional. For this table, a bird-patterned tablecloth set the stage, but its central design required a lighter touch. Instead of a large centerpiece,

she chose candlesticks with slender vases to preserve the pattern. Layered place settings combined vintage china with floral plates, while small footed dishes added height and interest. Fresh strawberries appeared not only in the décor but also in the menu and garnishes, tying everything together.

Small details make a lasting impression. “Personalization is always a nice touch,” Rebecca says. A simple place card or a single flower tucked into a napkin ring creates a moment that feels special for each guest.

Entertaining beautifully does not have to be expensive. Rebecca encourages hosts to use what they have, incorporate seasonal foods, and shop local markets for fresh flowers. “A little creativity goes a long way,” she notes.

Above all, a well-designed table should feel as good as it looks. Planning for space, comfort, and functionality ensures guests can relax and enjoy the moment. “Know how many people you can host comfortably,” Rebecca advises. “It makes all the difference.” With a thoughtful mix of timeless pieces, seasonal accents, and meaningful details, a spring table becomes more than décor. It becomes an invitation to gather, connect, and celebrate the beauty of the season.

— Chuck F.

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realty report

A SAMPLE OF RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES IN LEE’S SUMMIT.

This data is a sampling of sold properties from March 2026. Source: IRES MLS system.

BERRY BRUSCHETTA

A RECIPE FROM A CUP FULL OF SASS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY TINNIN

This Berry Bruschetta is a delightful twist on the classic bruschetta that we all love. This version uses fruit, bringing a sweet element to the traditionally savory dish. With the use of fresh berries, cream cheese, delicious fruit spread, crumbled cheese, and fresh rosemary, it is the perfect addition to your next spring event. This simple, yet beautiful appetizer could be enjoyed at your next brunch, shower or Mother’s Day celebration. But let’s be honest—you don’t need an excuse to enjoy this delectable dish!

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 baguette slices

• Extra virgin olive oil (for brushing)

• 4 oz cream cheese

• 1/4 cup Fruit and Honey Triple Berry Spread (or any fruit spread of your choice)

• 1/3 cup fresh strawberries, sliced

• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries

• 2 oz fruit cheese (such as Wensleydale with Autumn Fruit), crumbled

• Fresh rosemary for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Lightly brush the front and back of the baguette slices with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

3. Toast baguette slices in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted.

4. Once the baguette slices are cool, spread a generous layer of cream cheese over each slice.

5. Add the fruit spread on top of the cream cheese.

6. Add sliced strawberries and a few blueberries, allowing the vibrant colors to pop. (A great place to find fresh fruit is our local staple, Crystal & Rich’s Produce.)

7. Crumble the fruit cheese over the top for an added layer of richness and depth.

8. Garnish with fresh Rosemary if desired.

9. Serve and enjoy!

What does it mean to be rich?

Having a million stories to share, or more time to give. Keeping your loved ones close, or living life on your terms. Count on us for financial strategies that help support a life you love.

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