Home Services

Protection That Lasts Generations

How a family and veteran owned company protects Mid Missouri homes through prevention, education, and long term pest and lawn care solutions. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography For more than 50 years, Wingate Pest & Lawn has proudly protected homes across Mid‑Missouri. What began as a one‑truck local service has grown into a multigeneration family company built on reliability, education, and trust. Bryan joined the business in 1994 after graduating from the...

Education

Wealth Needs Wisdom

The investment most families avoid is costing them everything. Article by Julia Myers Most successful families are building wealth and losing it at the same time. Just not in the way they expect. Retirement accounts are funded. College savings plans are open. Real estate and business ventures are growing. But very few families talk about money in a way that builds maturity. We tend to focus on external investments. These matter. They build financial independence. Yet there is another category...

Home Services

Your Best ROI: A Paint Job Done Right

Smart prep and lasting results from AI Painting Plus Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography Homeowners often pick painters by lowest price, then wonder why the paint peels, flashes, or needs redoing a few years later. AI Painting Plus flips that approach: a quality paint job isn't an expense. It's an investment that protects and boosts your home's value long-term. What most don't realize is paint is only as strong as the surface it sticks to. Their team invests...

Home Services

Columbia’s Trusted Team

A boutique real estate brokerage built on relationships, results, and a deep love for Columbia. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography Founded in Columbia, North Star Real Estate is a locally owned boutique brokerage built on trust, thoughtful strategy, and genuine community leadership. Led by brokers Adam Curtis and Billy Dexheimer, the firm champions a people-first approach, delivering strong negotiation and clear guidance to homebuyers and sellers across...

Home + Design

The Women Behind the Build

How Hemme Homes & Remodeling design trio turns family visions into 3D reality Article by Shea Sullivan It’s easy to dream about a home that fits your family’s life, but picturing it before it’s built can feel impossible. That hesitation is one of the biggest challenges families face when taking on a new construction or remodeling project.  Hemme Homes and Remodeling meets that moment with a collaborative, client-first approach guided by Brooke, Emalee, and Grace. Brooke partners with...

Home Services

The Woodland Living Project

A modern mountain-inspired home that feels like a walk through the woods. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Matthew Anderson @matthewaphoto It started with a photo: a shed in the woods glowing with firelight. That single image sparked a design journey that led to Woodland Living: a home layered with meaning, soul, and storytelling. Every texture, tone, and turn of the hallway invites you to settle in. At Bodine White, design isn’t about building a recognizable “look.” It’s about...

Style + Beauty

Poised. Driven. Missouri Proud

A Golden Girl’s journey from Missouri to the Miss USA stage Article by Shea Sullivan Winning the Miss Missouri USA title marked a moment Shae Smith had worked toward for years. Stepping into the role meant more than wearing a crown. It meant representing her home state on one of the biggest stages in pageantry. “The moments after crowning with my family stand out the most,” Shae says. “My mom has been my biggest supporter throughout pageants, and it felt like a win for both of us.” Sharing...

Life + Culture

From Pasture to Plate

How Sullivan Farms is feeding families today while shaping a lasting local food tradition Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sullivan Farms The story of Sullivan Farms began with a simple question Brittany Sullivan asked herself after welcoming her daughter, Kay. What was she feeding her family, and where was that food coming from? At the same time, her husband Bill was deeply connected to the land, the soil, and the idea of working alongside nature rather than against it. Together...

Health + Wellness

Strength Made Simple

Real strength results with private, personalized training sessions. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography At The Exercise Coach, the philosophy is simple: muscle quality matters more than movement quantity. For owner and personal trainer Jeff Walker , that approach isn’t just a slogan—it’s the driving force behind why he brought this research-backed system to Columbia. As many Columbia residents reevaluate their health routines in the new year, The Exercise Coach...

Health + Wellness

Hydration Therapy Designed for You

Nurse-guided IV treatments that improve immunity, boost energy, support recovery, and elevate everyday health Article by Shea Sullivan The first thing most clients notice at Prime IV Hydration & Wellness isn’t the science—it’s the serenity. Soft lighting, quiet music, and zero-gravity massage chairs create an atmosphere that feels more like a high-end spa than a medical clinic. Warm neck pillows, cozy blankets, and optional oxygen therapy set the tone for what many describe as “a one-hour...