Category: Advertorial Feature

Posted in Advertorial Feature, News and Features

Step Into an Oasis of Calm at Essence Salon & Spa in Union

Posted on by Amanda

Nestled in the bustling Heartland Plaza located on a busy stretch of US-50 in Union is Essence Salon & Spa, a local woman-owned business that provides clients with an opportunity to experience a bit of tranquility through its variety of salon and spa services. The business features a salon, located at the back of the space, along with rooms dedicated to massage and other spa treatments. The services include massage, esthetics like facials and waxing, as well as salon services including haircuts, color, style, and beard trims. 

Inside the space, guests are greeted by the pastel hues and soft seating in the waiting area. For clients wishing to receive spa treatments, the private rooms are inviting, with warm lighting, calming music, and neutral toned decor to help keep guests relaxed during their visit, while the salon space features lots of colorful accent pieces. 

The waiting area at Essence Salon & Spa. Photo credit: Ashley Wycoff

Owner Ashley Wycoff opened Essence Salon & Spa seven years ago, and previously worked in the ER and Mercy Physical Therapy department and for some time as a first responder. Ashley’s a licensed esthetician, and has been a licensed massage therapist for almost twenty years. Throughout her time in the industry she’s used the skills gained through continued education to add to the ways she can use massage to help others. 

Some of the massage methods she’s focused on since starting her journey include lymphatic drainage massage, psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) massage, and her most recent modality is hospice massage, to aid in decreasing pain levels and increasing peace and relaxation during this time. 

The private massage rooms feature massage tables, warm lighting, and calming music that plays softly in the background, to help clients relax throughout the experience. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Since massage treatments can often be looked upon as a way to relax, Ashley’s goal is to remind people that massages, and even facials, can be right for everyone and it’s about more than unwinding, although that can be a significant side effect. 

“Some people think it’s just pampering or relaxation, but it’s also for job related muscle stress, mental stress, and physical ailments,” Ashley says of the massage treatments. 

A client can add to those experiences by adding on various elements like warm towels and aromatherapy, or adding hot stones or warm bamboo sticks that are rolled over various points of the body during a massage session. 

Clients have the option to add warm bamboo sticks, which are rolled over various points of the body to enhance their massage experience. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

A mission to provide services for all

Getting a massage, facial, or even a new hairstyle can seem like simple ways to reduce your stress, help alleviate pain, and improve your confidence, but these services can often come at price points that not everyone can afford. Although they provide different services to their respective clientele, Ashley and Essence salon stylist Magan Matthews operate with a shared mission in mind.

“We have both dug ourselves out of hard times, and neither of us thought we would have come this far as we are now,” Ashley explains. Since she and Magan have experienced tough times first hand, they believe in keeping their prices low, yet quality high. 

Stylist Magan Matthews providing a client with a haircut. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

But that commitment to providing quality experiences extends beyond making services available to people from as many financial backgrounds as possible. Guests may take note of pieces in the business that share details about Ashley’s Christian faith. Whether that’s the hand painted nativity scene that adorns the storefront windows during the Christmas season, or the large painting depicting Jesus in one of the massage rooms, providing a welcoming, judgement free space to all is a way she feels she can live out her beliefs everyday. 

And, by building a rapport with clients, she can modify the massage experience for clients who don’t wish to fully undress when receiving a massage due to religious beliefs or modesty reasons, or by providing a space that’s welcoming to any couple that comes in for a couples massage or couples facial sessions at Essence Salon & Spa. 

Giving back 

The team also believes in giving back to the community in both big and small ways. With her background in the medical field, during the height of the pandemic, Ashley and her lead massage therapist Amber Camp preformed massages for staff at Mercy Hospital in Washington, as well as the staff at Mercy Hospital in Jefferson County. They have previously offered massages for the Union School District Staff and Magan annually does free hair cuts during the back to school fair for the Union School District.

The salon and spa team also helps raise money for St. Jude’s Research Hospital, through volunteering their hours and offering their services at a discounted price for one day, with all proceeds from that day going to the non-profit organization. 

Essence Salon & Spa is located at 709 US-50 in Union. To learn more about the business, follow its Facebook page, visit it on the web, or reach out by phone at 636-744-1770. Or drop by the Health Fair happening at The Ridge Church in Villa Ridge Sunday, May 4, where Ashley and her team will have a vendor booth. 

Posted in Advertorial Feature

Goddess Gowns in Union Offers its Clientele an Exceptional Experience

Posted on by Amanda

Finding the perfect wedding gown that makes you feel radiant and ready to celebrate your big day is a process. Often when brides are looking for a shop, they want to patronize a bridal store that’s clean, customer focused, that has a large selection, and that will leave them feeling great about their important purchase. Luckily, our area is home to a store that makes the bride-to-be feel like a goddess. 

“It’s such a privilege to be trusted by someone, and to empower them to feel beautiful and confident. That’s why I love being here,” says Autumn Underberg, owner of Goddess Gowns in Union. Located at 33 S. Oak St., in the heart of downtown Union, the location has long been a dress shop, but Autumn purchased it in late 2020 and rebranded it to its current name. The store has two floors, each coming in at over 2,000-square-feet of space, with the main level focusing on bridal gowns, while the lower level contains prom and formal wear.   

Prior to owning Goddess Gowns, Autumn spent a decade working at Union High School and worked part-time in the dress shop on Saturdays under its previous owner. Although she loved what she was doing at the school, she couldn’t resist the pull of becoming a small business owner when the previous owner decided to retire.

“I wanted to change what I was doing in the world,” she says of the decision to open Goddess Gowns.

Bridal gowns and bridal party attire on display at a bridal show. Photo credit: Goddess Gowns.

Ensuring her clientele has the best experience possible is at the center of all that she does. In an ideal world, selecting a wedding gown should be a completely joyful experience free from overwhelm or uncertainty. Autumn says that many times a bride-to-be will enter her shop without a clear idea of what type of gown will work for her body type, or even uncertain she’ll find the dress of her dreams within her budget. 

It’s those moments that Autumn gets most excited about, since it’s an opportunity to help the customer find the perfect wedding gown. Throughout her years in the business, she’s discovered that consulting with brides and helping them into the dress of their dreams has become her passion.

“The happiness is so addicting,” Autumn explains of the process of helping brides. 

Small town charm meets city style selection

As the owner of an independent dress shop, along with having strong ties to the community she serves, Autumn offers bridal and prom selections at a lower price than the larger boutiques and chain stores one might find in the city. Although the majority of her clientele are from the Union and Franklin County area, some customers make the drive in from St. Louis and even Illinois. 

No matter where her customers call home, the ultimate goal is helping them into a dress that makes them feel beautiful and that they can afford. And with her knowledgeable, yet approachable, down-to-earth personality and focus on staying true to her community, Autumn has her finger on the pulse of who her local customers are. So much so, that she often repeats a sentence that sums up the hardworking folks that come into her shop.

“My customers wear boots and work for a living,” Autumn shares about the local clientele. And everything from the price tags to the interaction with the shop staff, to the sophisticated without being pretentious store vibe, reflects that truth.

Assisting her with the day to day operations and meeting the needs of both bridal and prom customers is Annalise Sullivan, who Autumn says has “been the greatest gift,” to her business. While Annalise is the only full-time employee, on weekends, much of the prom sales area is staffed by young ladies who are still in high school, since they’re in tune with the current dress trends for teens. 

When it comes to bridal trends and fashion, the team stays up to date by attending bridal shows both locally in the St. Louis Metro area, as well as further away in cities like Chicago. Although trends and tastes can vary, Autumn sees many of today’s brides choosing dresses that buck tradition. 

“Brides are daring and there are no rules. They’re wearing what they want to wear and often it has nothing to do with white.”  

Some of the dresses brides have selected in recent years have been in off-white colors, along with hues like sand, mocha, pink, and even black. For the women who want to make a unique statement with black bridal gowns, the shop also carries black veils to complete the look. In addition to color variety, the size selections at Goddess Gowns range from 8 to 30, and styles can range from elegant ballgowns to trendy, edgier cuts, lace embellishments, or lots of bling. 

Wedding gowns can range from the classic white, to ivory, sand, and even black. Photo credit: Goddess Gowns.

Similarly, the prom dresses and formal wear available can fit a variety of tastes from traditional tuxes to pink suits and prom gowns in the latest cuts, colors, and fabrics. In addition to prom and homecoming attire, the shop also carries items to dress the entire wedding party, from bridesmaids, mother of the bride, flower girl dresses, and more. 

Additionally, the shop sells press on nails, a variety of accessories, hairpieces, and shapewear to ensure everyone looks their best in their gowns. And there’s also a selection of scented wax melts and jewelry, both of which can make great bridesmaid gifts. 

Find out more about Goddess Gowns by visiting its website, following the shop on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or calling the store directly at 636-364-2555.

Posted in Advertorial Feature, Events

Support Ladies, Littles, and Lattes at the Garden Gala Fundraiser on March 8

Posted on by Amanda

Imagine a place in Franklin County where parents can take their children to play in a safe, clean, and indoor play environment that’s available throughout the four seasons. And, picture parents and caregivers getting the chance to engage with each other over a cup of coffee while the little ones play nearby. If this scenario sounds like a dream come true, you should know that there’s a group of local moms working diligently to turn that dream into a reality. 

What started as a way to connect with other parents and form playgroups has shifted into creating a space where families from around the community can meet, engage, and learn. Just over two years after its founding, the private Facebook group called Ladies, Littles, and Lattes + GRPC is 1,400 members strong, and growing. It was co-founded by Sarah Walsh and Emily Tyler and is based on an idea that was inspired by the playgroups Sarah was a part of when she lived in Illinois. 

“When my family moved to Union in August 2022, I noticed a lack of engaging opportunities for parents and children to connect with others in the community,” Sarah explains. 

The rapid growth of the Facebook group shows there is a clear need for the meetups. Currently the group hosts in person meetups at the Franklin County Resource Center—Monday mornings for moms or female caregivers and their children, and Saturdays for the whole family. These gatherings offer a space for parents to share life experiences and challenges, as well as connect, support, and encourage one another while their kids play, learn, and grow together.

“We regularly host 10 to 25 moms and their children at each two-hour playdate meetup. This success has inspired us to take the next step: creating a permanent space of our own for families in our community,” Sarah says.

The next step towards bringing the play space to life

Last March, Ladies, Littles, and Lattes officially received its 501(c)(3) status, which allows for fundraising for its newest project called Growing Roots Play Cafe. The indoor play space will offer a variety of interactive play areas for children, including a climbing structure, soft play area, sensory section, and imagination houses. In addition to play spaces, the cafe will provide resources and classes for families and a comfortable space for caregivers to relax and connect.

Since forming its non-profit status, the organization has received support from the community sharing the mission and vision of the organization in a grassroots effort, along with some local media coverage, and lots of support and hard work from its board members.

“This dream wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of our incredible board members, who have worked tirelessly to help bring this vision closer to reality. Together, our team is committed to making Growing Roots Play Cafe a place where all families feel accepted, encouraged, and connected,” Sarah shares.

To bring Growing Roots Play Cafe to life, the group will be applying for grants, seeking sponsorships, and hosting various fundraising events. On Saturday, March 8, Ladies, Littles, & Lattes + GRPC is hosting a Garden Gala at Triple 3 Vineyard in Washington to help raise funds to propel the organization forward in its mission.

The March 8 event is from 5 to 9 p.m. and attendees can expect dinner, an open bar, music by Eagle Entertainment, plus a silent auction, and guest speakers. Tickets for the Garden Gala are available online. 

For anyone unable to attend the event, there are a few different ways to donate to the organization online to help support its mission. 

Find out more about Ladies, Littles, and Lattes + GRPC by following it on Facebook.

Posted in Advertorial Feature, Events

Support the Legacy Leadership Foundation at the Legacy Gala Masquerade on March 1

Posted on by Amanda

Editorial note: On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Legacy Leadership Foundation announced on Facebook that due to circumstances beyond its control, the Gala has been canceled.

On Saturday, March 1, The Historic John B. Busch Brewery Event Center will be the site of the Legacy Leadership Foundation’s 2025 fundraising event the Legacy Gala Masquerade. 

The event will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. and the evening will be filled with mingling, dining, and dancing. In what Legacy Leadership Foundation founder Kari Klenke promises will be a family-friendly evening, attendees can opt to embrace the masquerade theme and dress in a costume complete with an elegant, Venetian-style mask, or in business-dress attire. 

Photo via Legacy Leadership Foundation’s Facebook

About the Legacy Leadership Foundation

Kari is an experienced educator who also operates Heart & Heritage Academy, a homeschool hybrid learning center in Franklin County. With Legacy Leadership Foundation, Kari’s vision is to be a resource for local families by providing educational options that extend beyond the public school system. 

A major component of the Foundation includes providing financial support for educational needs like homeschool curriculum or supplies, as well as money to pay for specialized testing, providing student accommodations, or access to various therapy programs, such as speech therapy. Although those programs and tests are often necessary to help students further their education, in instances such as when speech therapy is necessary for learning, it may not be covered by medical insurance because it’s deemed an educational expense and that means families are left to pay for it out-of-pocket. 

Now in its third year, the fundraiser not only provides support for testing, therapy, and other student accommodations, the funds also help sponsor fun social events for homeschooled teens in the Franklin County area. Those events include homecoming and prom dances, and a graduation ceremony, so that homeschooled teenagers have the same opportunity to attend events that are often looked at as a “teenage milestone,” but are typically only attended by students in the public school system. 

Planning for the future

“Another long-term goal we’re working toward is offering a curriculum and homeschool library and curriculum resale shop here in Franklin County,” Kari shares. 

Currently, there’s a similar concept in St. Charles County, a non-profit organization called Family Vision Library, located in St. Peters, that offers books and videos for Christian families who homeschool. Kari hopes to replicate that concept in our area, since it works a lot like a public library, in that materials are on loan for free and are available for in-person pick up or can be sent by mail. However, the homeschool library concept differs from a public library, since the materials are focused on homeschool curriculum needs, rather than the broader base of materials one finds in a public library. 

One of the best ways to support the vision of Legacy Leadership Foundation is by attending the gala. Tickets for the gala are $50 per person, or $375 for a table of eight and can be bought online until Wednesday, Feb. 26. Purchase tickets here.

If you’re unable to attend the event, another way to support the organization is by purchasing a sponsorship, or making a donation. Find out more about sponsorship opportunities online. 

Learn more about Legacy Leadership Foundation on its website, and by following it on Facebook or Instagram.