I hope you enjoy my interview with the sisters behind @amazingfinders!
Where are you from and how long have you lived in town? What brought you to the area?
Jackie- Four years (Libertyville) My husband took a job in the area.
Katie- Two years (Libertyville) My sister and her family lived here, and we wanted to be close to them.
Andrea- Glenview for two years
Do you have child(ren)? Age(s)
Jackie- 9 year old boy, 7 year old girl and 5 year old boy
Katie- 3 year old girl
Andrea- no kids
What are your favorite things to do in the area with and without your kids? Family friendly restaurant? Date night?
We often have cookouts/BBQs with family/friends. We really enjoy the local festivals like Libertyville Days and the Christmas tree lighting in previous years. The downtown restaurants and Cook Library are also part of the appeal of living here.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor or in the corporate world? Please share!
@amazingfinders is our primary local business and hobby. We try to tailor the account with outfits, accessories and home decor that go with the local change in the seasons.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
When we first started @amazingfinders our local friends were super supportive in getting our page out there. Libertyville also serves at the backdrop for many of our pictures. If you look close enough you might recognize some of the backgrounds or discover a new picturesque local spot.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
We are a tight knit group. We grew up in Bloomington, Illinois, which many people know as a college town. After college we all moved to Chicago for a few years before we moved to the Northern burbs to be by each other.
What might be most surprising about us is that other than this account we rarely spend time on social media.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another Mom?
When we first started our account last February, we got a lot of advice from other mom’s on best practices for Instagram that were very helpful in getting our account to grow. One thing that helped was partnerships with more established accounts. Moms helping each other has really assisted in our success with @amazingfinders. That and suggestions from our followers has made creating this account a rewarding experience.
What are your favorite places to travel near and far and why?
Our favorite place to visit is Longboat Key, FL. Our parents live there part-time, and we love spending time on the beach. We also like to visit the Lake Michigan beaches in the summer or take walks on local parks and trails.
Which podcasts and/or TED Talks inspire you the most?
We are all country music fans, and we enjoy listening to the Bobby Bones podcast. He has a segment that features only positive news called “Tell Me Something Good”. We like to focus on positivity and the small victories in life.