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LIFESTYLE & ARTS #HASHTAG

Wilmette resident and small business owner Adriane McKnight shares what’s currently trending in her life as we welcome 2023.

EDITED BY DUSTIN O’REGAN

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

After many years working in investment management, Adriane McKnight of Wilmette felt the urge to step away from her desk and get her hands dirty doing something creative. She did just that, founding Green With Ivy in 2019, a custom four-season container gardening service for clients on the North Shore. Opening her own business allowed her to combine her enjoyment of working with clients with losing herself in designing unique arrangements for containers, a skill she honed working under her mentor, Bridget Schroeder, of the Contained Garden. A busy wife and mother of two teens, Adriane particularly enjoys the flexibility the seasonal work provides. Along with family time, Adriane devotes her energy to the community. She and her faithful golden, Ollie, are certified volunteers with Paws for Patrick, an organization dedicated to helping kids and teens with depression and anxiety. Whether it’s visiting schools and therapy centers with Ollie, or designing one-of-a-kind arrangements for her delighted clients, nothing gives Adriane greater happiness than bringing others joy.

You can follow Adriane on Instagram @green.with.ivy.

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND I prefer something light during the busy planting seasons. The new book by Clare Pooley, Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting, is fun and endearing. Iona, the protagonist, demonstrates how talking to strangers on a morning commute might be what we all need to do. It’s a quick and sometimes cheesy read is the best way possible—a perfect escape to enjoy in front of a crackling fire. When I was contemplating starting Green With Ivy, a friend recommended Creative Confidence by Tom and David Kelley. It’s a terrific guide for those who haven’t quite unearthed their creative force.

#IN MY EARBUDS I’m a fan of many music genres, but a sucker for pop. No, my daughter Madelyn and I didn’t score tickets to Taylor Swift, but we certainly tried! While doing winter installs this year, I found myself singing Meghan Trainor’s “Made You Look.” Not only did the off-key singing drive my employees nuts, it also was ironic since we were all wearing snow pants, winter caps, neck warmers, and kneehigh wool socks—a far cry from Gucci or Louis Vuitton! We switched to more nostalgic Christmas music like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby and instantly felt inspired by the warmth of the holiday season.

#ON MY MOBILE No matter how busy I am, I don’t get out of bed in the mornings without first reading the Daily Skimm, which keeps me up to date on the happenings in the world. I always sneak a quick peak at Instagram to see what’s trending with my fellow gardeners. My favorite locals: @thecontainedgarden (of course!), @plantparenting, @ urbanoasiscontainers, and @homegrowncontianerco. I love this talented and supportive community of gardeners, who never fail to inspire!