Mission Hills, KS May 2026

AUDIOLOGY & VESTIBULAR CENTER

Under the leadership of Dr. Kelly Spiller, President of Ascentist Audiology & Vestibular Center, our team has built one of the region’s most comprehensive, physician-integrated audiology and vestibular programs. We operate within a collaborative physician network, with seamless coordination between audiology, ENT, and specialty provider. Dizziness and imbalance are often misdiagnosed or under-evaluated. Our team performs comprehensive vestibular testing and interpretation. We utilize real-ear measurements and best-practice verification protocols for every hearing aid fitting. From early childhood diagnostics to agerelated hearing changes, we provide lifelong hearing healthcare.

• DIAGNOSTIC HEARING EVALUATIONS

• PEDIATRIC AUDIOLOGY

• ADVANCED VESTIBULAR & BALANCE TESTING

• CUSTOM HEARING AID TECHNOLOGY & PROGRAMMING

• OSSEOINTEGRATED & IMPLANTABLE HEARING SOLUTIONS

• TINNITUS EVALUATION & MANAGEMENT

• ONGOING DEVICE OPTIMIZATION & LONGTERM FOLLOW-UP

ascentistaudiology.com/request-appointment/ (913) 322-3005 | V Ascentist_Audiology

B Ascentist Audiology & Vestibular Center

D Ascentist Audiology & Vestibular Center

DR. KELLY SPILLER President of Ascentist Audiology & Vestibular Center

The Strength of a Woman

Being a woman is not defined by a single role, but by depth and dimension. Women can love, create, nurture, build, evolve, and lead with both strength and softness, all at the same time. We shape and impact the world around us,  every single day.

Women also have an extraordinary ability to show up with intention, navigate challenges with grace, and continue forward with resilience, even when life becomes uncertain. There is something very powerful and beautiful about being a woman. No two journeys look the same, yet each one carries meaning, and I believe that the transformative power and beauty we are meant to carry is often discovered in the quiet, unseen moments.

One of the greatest privileges I have as the publisher of  Mission Hills City Lifestyle is to connect and champion women in our community! This month, as we celebrate our May, Ladies issue, we are honored to highlight women whose impact extends beyond what is seen. From United Way of Greater Kansas City’s Purses for Promise event to women leading with purpose, each story speaks to connection and intention. We celebrate Chanel Jezek of  Dear Society, who creates a space where women feel confident and seen, and Hailee Bland-Walsh of  City Gym, who inspires women to trust their unique strengths. Through Elaina Paige’s  A Seat at the Table and insights from Kim Losik of Horizon Medical Spa , we are reminded of the power of community, self-awareness, and women supporting women. Their work, both seen and unseen, impacts, elevates and transforms our city.

This month, I invite you to reach out to the women who have inspired you and share the impact they’ve had. Your words carry life! I also encourage you to take a moment to pause and reflect on your own journey. Your strength, your growth, what you’ve carried, how far you’ve come, and the beauty of who you are continuing to become.

Cheers to you and the women who impact and inspire us every day!

With gratitude,

SARAH JOHNS, PUBLISHER

May 2026

PUBLISHER

Sarah Johns | sarah.johns@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Victoria Moore | victoria.moore@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Rebecca Spears | rebecca.spears@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Katie Bode | katie.bode@citylifestyle.com

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich

LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick

3:5-6

inside the issue

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY HOSTS THEIR ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION

PURSES FOR PROMISE

“WE KNOW WHEN OUR FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED, OUR KIDS WILL BE SUPPORTED.”

Walking through displays full of dazzling designer handbags, custom local artisanal jewelry, and fresh spring florals, you might expect to be in a highend boutique. But this is United Way of Greater Kansas City’s Purses for Promise event, hosted by Women United and presented by Black & Veatch. Women United’s mission is to advance early learning across the greater Kansas City community through fundraising, advocacy and volunteerism. There are 635 members, each of whom pledge at least $1000 to United Way annually. Purses for Promise is its annual signature event: a purse-based silent auction, wine pull and social affair. Each year, it selects a United Way nonprofit partner as its beneficiary. Funds raised during the 2026 event supported Growing Futures Early Education Center in Overland Park, Kansas.

“Collective giving makes a meaningful difference. It brings different voices to the table and builds a sense of community. It shows philanthropy can be for all, not just a few,” said event chair, Nikki Meek, who is also Senior Director of Brand Experiences for Hallmark. “That is the heart of Women United—a group of women in our city with the same passions, who want to give back and make an impact.”

“COLLECTIVE GIVING MAKES A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. IT BRINGS DIFFERENT VOICES TO THE TABLE AND BUILDS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. IT SHOWS PHILANTHROPY CAN BE FOR ALL, NOT JUST A FEW.”

From pregnancy through preschool, Growing Futures partners with families to build strong foundations. Nearly 90% of a child’s brain development happens before the age of five, making the early years critical for shaping their future. Growing Futures provides home-based family education programming, a Head Start Center, and wrap-around supports.

“We know when our families are supported, our kids will be supported. They will be happy. They will be well-fed. They can learn when they are supported at home,” said Tanesha Thompson, Growing Futures Early Education Center Program Director.

Quentella Neal has been receiving services from Growing Futures since she was pregnant with her now nine-month-old daughter, Evangeline.

“While she wasn’t something I planned for, my daughter has been a blessing to me and my family,” Quentella said. “I knew this was not going to be an easy journey. I didn’t know how I was going to become a mother—let alone a single mom.”

A friend told her about Growing Futures. She’s been receiving home-based services ever since. From planning for her daughter’s arrival, to navigating postpartum depression and anxiety,

to understanding critical milestone’s in Evangeline’s development, Growing Futures has been there every step of the way.

“Growing Futures has been nothing but supportive and nonjudgmental about my situation,” Neal shared. “Whether it’s diapers, wipes, or an emergency pump delivery---any time I need support, they are there for me.”

Over the past five years, Women United, through Purses for Promise, has invested more than $500,000 into early childhood learning and literacy programming in the Kansas City region.

“Being a mother is hard. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s the toughest and best job I’ve had in my entire life. I love my daughter so much,” Quentella said. “I’m so grateful for support from my family, and that includes my Growing Futures family, and by extension, my United Way family, for genuinely caring.”

Women United hosts its annual Refresh a Classroom event to support early learning centers in the Kansas City, Mo. Public School District this August. To learn more about its mission, membership and volunteerism, visit unitedwaygkc.org or contact Amanda.Swanson@uwgkc.org.

Kansas City women’s clothing store celebrates 10 years

DEAR SOCIETY

ARTICLE BY VICTORIA MOORE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA LEVI PHOTOGRAPHY, CHANEL JEZEK

“It’s cool to see how far we’ve come–from this little idea to ten years later reaching people around the world.”

Walking into Dear Society is like a breath of fresh air. An oasis in the midst of the downtown hustle and bustle, this women’s clothing store along Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City provides a sense of calm and belonging like no other.

This kind of guest experience is not only important to owner and founder Chanel Jezek, but it is central to the way she operates as the store’s creative director. While pretty things draw people in, it is the experience that keeps them satisfied.

“It’s all of us creating a space that feels so welcoming and loving. I always say it’s something you can feel. It’s the community. It’s the people. It’s the energy. It’s the environment. The welcoming environment is a crucial part of Dear Society,” she said.

With a name like “Chanel,” Jezek knew she was destined to work in fashion. In a career that has been full of both risk and reward, she admits that her proudest moment so far was earlier this year, when The New York Times recognized Dear Society as one of the 50 best clothing stores in America.

“I can’t even handle it,” she exclaimed. “It’s very cool to see how far we’ve come–from this little idea and little shop, to ten years later reaching people around the world. I love what I do.”

Drawing much inspiration from her visits to New York City, Jezek has been developing a guest-centric model for many years, adding amenities to Dear Society like a matcha bar, lounge seating, Saturday morning pilates under the skylight and a soon-to-open spa. The criteria for being nominated for this list was simple: “If you walk in, could you have an incredible experience and walk out with nothing?”

BECOME A DEAR SOCIETY INSIDER

Jezek expanded the reach of Dear Society across the globe when she began offering an Insiders membership. Joining this inner circle of shoppers for just ten dollars a month gets you:

• Early access to new arrivals

• 10% off every order

• 15% off the matcha bar

• Exclusive invite to member only events

• Discounts during styling sessions and more!

Sign up online: dearsocietyshop.com/ pages/insider

“I feel that deeply here,” she said. “I don’t think you necessarily have to buy something to feel like you’re a part of this, and to feel like you’ve got something out of it. I think that’s what makes Dear Society so special.”

Receiving the validation that she is doing something right, Jezek has never been more inspired to keep going and growing, all the while, doing what she loves.

“We appreciate it so much. This is for my team of 10 years–every single person, every model and every creative that has brought us to this point,” she said. “It’s so fulfilling to have a woman come in and leave feeling more confident, more beautiful, more secure in something that they’re wearing, or maybe just uplifting their energy. It means I’ve done my job.”

Therapy is a space where the women who hold everything together can finally feel held.

High-Functioning Anxiety | Late Diagnosed ADHD Body Image & Disordered Eating | Burnout www.reimaginementalhealthcollective.com

storied-interiors com @storied interiors

T h e r a py th a t

S u p p o r t s th e

W h o l e Fa m i l y

Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy for children birth through adolescence.

Ask the Expert

There are three hormones that affect metabolism: Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. And yes, women also need testosterone. Estrogen and Progesterone drop significantly in what we all know as menopause which is a hallmark of change in metabolism. Testosterone, however, has a very gradual decline which begins as young as 30. The decline is so gradual that women often don’t notice and attribute the symptoms of low testosterone to getting older and having a busy life with raising kids, careers, etc.

There are four ways in which low testosterone in women contributes to increased belly fat.

LOWER ENERGY

Testosterone gives us energy every day, if you don’t have energy you are less likely to be active and less likely to participate in various activities like exercise and meal prep.

POOR BODY COMPOSITION

Low testosterone is directly linked to lower muscle mass and higher fat mass, including belly fat! A common sign of low testosterone is increased fat mass in specifically the abdominal area.

SLOWER METABOLISM

As testosterone declines, so does your metabolism resulting in more difficulty in losing weight even when making significant lifestyle changes with diet and exercise. Women with low testosterone will often report applying the same diet and exercise plan they used in the past but without the same results.

INSOMNIA

Testosterone helps us stay asleep through the night. Low testosterone results in insufficient sleep which increases cortisol levels resulting in increased abdominal fat.

SOLUTION: BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Naturally increasing your hormone levels is an option for some people, however the overall result of this is very minimal. If you are lucky, you may see up to a 10% increase which is not significant enough for most people to see and feel a change. If the body doesn’t have the capacity to make the hormone, then all the supplements in the world can’t make that happen.

The best and most productive solution is to simply replace your hormones with Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). If you are interested in looking into this (highly recommend) you should book a Wellness Consult at Horizon with one of our qualified nurse practitioners.

How Testosterone Affects Fat Storage and Belly Fat

ARTICLE BY KIMBERLY LOSIK

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

RITA CLARK

ARTICLE BY VICTORIA MOORE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY REBECCA SPEARS AND PROVIDED

WHAT’S YOUR SUPERPOWER?

CITY GYM OWNER HAILEE BLAND-WALSH ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO LEAN ON THEIR OWN UNIQUE GIFTS AS THEY NAVIGATE BUSINESS

Every woman possesses a skill that is uniquely her own. In a world where influencers are wild and comparison is a thief, one of the quickest ways to kill a superpower is by copying someone else.

This is a lesson City Gym owner Hailee Bland-Walsh has been cultivating within herself over the last fifteen years. The way she operates her business is unique, not only as a woman in a male-dominated industry, but also from the perspective of wanting the gym to be an inclusive environment for everyone.

“The biggest compliment I can get is when someone walks in the front door and says, ‘It feels different here.’ Even for people, like me, who are former professional athletes and personal trainers, the gym can just be a place where you don’t feel totally comfortable. If you’re feeling unsafe in some way, it’s going to be a lot harder for you to work on the stuff that you need to work on. Safety is the most basic tenet of what we do,” Bland-Walsh said.

The core values of City Gym have not changed in fifteen years. Back then, Bland-Walsh had a successful career managing some of the largest gyms in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, after a trip back home to visit family in 2011, she was convinced her next move was opening her own gym in Kansas City.

“I still have the notes that I took on the legal pad of paper about what our slogan would be, the color, how it would look, and what the focus would be. It just poured out of me,” Bland-Walsh said.

“Within six months, I had packed up everything I owned in San Francisco, drove myself home, and moved into my parents’ basement while I looked for a place to open a gym and buy a house. I just took the leap.”

When Bland-Walsh began making radically different decisions than other gyms in the area, she was told her business would not last. One of those pivots from the normal was not requiring membership contracts. She wanted to retain people, not through intimidation, but through excellent customer service.

“You give us thirty days, you can cancel at any time. Fitness is a journey, and with our operating model, we make it easy and fun and happy,” Bland-Walsh said. “People will be gone for years and come back and say it feels like coming home. That’s how I know this approach is working after fifteen years.”

The culture of community is also central to the way BlandWalsh leads. As City Gym has grown, she made it her goal not to be its face, but to promote a sense of ownership throughout the community.

“One of my favorite things is walking in the door with a hat on and people don’t know that I’m the owner. For me, that’s a success,” she said. “I’ve created a community that relies on itself rather than on me. One person can only take it so far, but a community can have a real ripple effect.”

From the start, risk has played a major role in BlandWalsh’s success as a female business owner. She would be the first to encourage anyone that just because failure is a possibility, it should not keep you from taking the first step toward your calling.

“One of the things that I hear over and over again when I meet with women who are thinking about owning their own business is ‘Am I qualified’?” she said. “You’ve got to be good at what you’re going to do, but if you have an overwhelming excitement about doing something, you should do it. That is your cue. You will only learn by doing it.”

After years of following other leadership styles, Bland-Walsh has come to realize that her strengths do not mimic those of other successful leaders. During the 2020 pandemic when gyms were rapidly changing their business models, she stayed true to what made City Gym great, exercising discernment and relying on strong community. Now, City Gyms numbers are even greater than they were pre-pandemic.

“Don’t be the influencer down the street. Don’t be the business owner next door. Be the best version of you.”

“My superpower is my intuition,” Bland-Walsh said. “I’ve learned that true discernment requires that I slow down. The most important decisions require my thoughtfulness, not just responding quickly for the sake of expediency. The more I lean into what my own talents and skill sets are, the more successful City Gym has become. Don’t try to be the influencer down the street. Don’t try to be the business owner next door. Be the best version of you.”

A SEAT AT THE TABLE

ARTICLE BY VICTORIA MOORE PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAOMI HILL PHOTOGRAPHY

AN INTIMATE EVENING TO CELEBRATE AND UPLIFT WOMEN IN THE MIDST OF THEIR MANY ROLES

“Healthy conversation and hard conversations are had at the table, but most importantly, the table is a safe space for people to lay it all out.”

Throughout time, a table has been considered a symbol of closeness and intentionality. It facilitates conversations that most do not slow down long enough to start, and it creates space for genuine connection in the midst of chaos.

A scenario that many women crave, but cannot always find.

Elaina Paige, former professional dancer and founder of the Next Paige Foundation in Kansas City, saw this need and decided to create that space in her dance studio.

“Women can be so competitive sometimes. Let’s stop that. Let’s collaborate, and let’s really cheer each other on in a meaningful way that’s not fake,” she said.

Paige desired to keep the group small to preserve the intimacy of the moment. Each woman who received an invitation was asked to wear white and given no details about what the evening would hold.

“Let’s stop caring about what we are wearing and see the beauty inside of who we are,” she said. “The room was so beautiful, and the ladies added to those enhancements with their knowledge, wisdom, beauty and expertise. Everybody in the room did something different, but we all found common ground with being a woman.”

Every corner of the room was beaming with vibrant color–the flowers, the tablecloths and even the desserts. Experiences were positioned throughout the room, including a perfume bar, drink bar and live singing. The ladies responsible for helping Paige plan the event also had a seat at the table.

“It was so powerful to be able to connect and be vulnerable. We don’t get a lot of those spaces as entrepreneurs and as women,” Avion Wallace, owner of Naomi Lee Events and close friend of Paige’s added.

Also at the table were Paige’s mother and 82-year-old grandmother, who recently overcame a battle with breast cancer. Both have been incredible influences and pillars of strength in Paige’s life and career.

“I was so elated to see their faces just gleam when they walked through the door,” she said. “They’ve done so much for so many others unselfishly.”

Paige asked each woman to introduce the woman sitting to her right. Once dinner was served, topics that had been written down at the beginning of the event were read aloud and discussed around the table.

“Healthy conversation and hard conversations are had at the table, but most importantly, the table is a safe space for people to lay it all out.”

“It felt like a big Italian family. We’re all seated at the table, eating our dinner and telling our life stories. We all have these roles, but we never know what our stories are,” Bertha ?? said.

Paige wanted women to leave this event in a better place than when they arrived. Instead of hosting just to host, she succeeded in creating an experience filled with lasting substance that filled every seat at the table.

“Some invitations are not about including you. They’re about using your presence to make the room look better. I wanted to keep it very intimate for every woman to feel seen and loved and safe,” Paige said.

THIS BEAUTIFUL EVENT AND STYLED SHOOT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THESE INCREDIBLE VENDORS:

Venue: The Next Paige Agency

Planning & Design: Naomi Lee Events

Photographers: Smiles by Whitney, Long Mile Love, Naomi Hill, Visuals by Taina

Content Creators: Content by Herr, Bunny Studios

Stationery & Signage: Evoke Happy Design Studio

Rentals: Supply Event

Florist: Good Earth Floral

DJ: KC Event Company

Entertainment: Cocoa

Experience: Noire Luxe KC

Desserts: Prestoss Sweets

Catering: Keyta’s Jive Stuffed Turkeys & Catering

Bartending: Bars & More Hospitality

YoungHeart at Forever

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

realty report

A SAMPLE OF RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES AROUND MISSION HILLS.

data is a sampling of sold properties from April 2026. Source: Heartland MLS system.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup warm water

• 1/2 cup warm milk (I used 2%)

• 1 packet active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 1/2 tsp salt dissolved in 3 Tbs. warm water

Homemade English

Follow Bev’s blog for more energetic recipes that you can make in a snap:  @bevcooks bevcooks.com

Homemade ENGLISH MUFFINS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEV WEIDNER

Look at them! This was a total experiment, but I wanted to document anyway in case they worked out. And they worked out!

You should try making them! The stirring of the dough (100 times in the same direction) sounds like a lot, but it goes by in about a minute. It’s captivating to watch the gluten form and stretch and get webby right in the bowl. It’s a slight project recipe, but jot this down for your chilly weekend and you’ll be amazed. I’m serious.

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large mixing bowl, add the water, milk and yeast. Stir together, then add the flour. With a wooden spoon, slowly mix the dough 100 times in the same direction. It doesn’t take long at all and it’s so fascinating to watch! The gluten activates and your jaw drops. Cover with plastic wrap and let this sit for an hour and a half. Warm spot preferred.

2. At this point the dough has risen dramatically. You’ll sprinkle the dissolved salty water over the dough and stir 25 more times in the same direction. The dough collapses and mixes with the water. Cover again and let it sit about an hour. It will rise again and the bubbles will deliver that texture you want.

3. Tip the dough onto a floured work surface, and use your wet hands to form a large mound. Use a bench scraper to divide the dough into 8 or 9 muffin-size pieces. It will be very wet, so adding a little flour may help. Use your hands to form each dough round into the shape of a muffin, pressing down a little. Then sprinkle semolina or cornmeal over the top for that grainy texture.

4. Preheat a large wide skillet over medium low. Add a Tbs. Butter to the pan. Once melted, add three or four muffin rounds to the pan and cook for 6 minutes. Check for browning underneath. Once golden brown, flip and cook another six minutes. Let the muffins rest while you cook the remaining.

Take your Mother’s Day brunch to the next level of homemade

5. Fork open and toast before adding any toppings you desire!

6. Makes about 8 or 9 muffins.

Do You Dread Walking Your Dog?