KRISTIN MAGGIO grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the very Irish-Catholic neighborhood of Beverly. Living on the same block as her entire family kept everyone very close with Sunday dinners at her Grandparents house creating cherished memories. After elementary school, Kristin attended Culver Academies, a boarding school in Indiana, where she found a love of reading and her dearest friends. College in Iowa followed. Kristin majored in Elementary Education and served as a 4th grade teacher before becoming a paralegal at an intellectual property law firm.

Kristin met her husband, J, on a blind date set up by her cousin in 2007. The couple married and started their family shortly thereafter. The Maggio family includes four children: Maddie (12), Jasper (9), and twins Rocco and Duke (6), plus two Bernedoodles named Oreo and Marty McFly. This power couple experienced the privilege of being part of the Burr Ridge and Clarendon Hills communities before settling in Hinsdale in 2018. When Kristin is not at home, she works in the sales office of a steel manufacturing plant. Work life balance is important to her, and she likes having the best of both worlds with a job that allows her to still be at events for her kids during the day when needed. Kristin enjoys volunteering with various organizations, including past stints with Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club and Union Church Early Childhood Program and lots of time currently with Monroe School. Life with four kids and two dogs can be busy, but when not moonlighting as an Uber driver for the four Maggio kids, she and J love to cook and host friends for dinner.

Mantra? Always be kind. You never know how a small interaction can change your life or someone else’s life. On your reading stack? James Patterson is always a go to for me. I also enjoy Laine Moriarty, Shari Lapena and anything in the murder mystery genre. Podcast? I am a podcast junkie! My Favorite Murder, Criminal, This is Actually Happening Favorite workout? Pilates at Energie. Best grooming tip? There are too many… but dermaplaning is a must and you will rarely find me without a fresh manicure. Guilty pleasure? Dateline, Unsolved Mysteries, pretty much any true crime show. Have you noticed a theme? All the Real Housewives shows, which my husband pretends he doesn’t like. Music you love? David Gray, Lil’ Wayne, and whatever new music my husband has discovered. Advice you would give to your younger self? No child has ever died from crying.

WHEN IN THE COUNTRY

Your style is? Preppy, comfy, trying to look good while working, schlepping kids to and from activities ain’t easy. Favorite walk? Taking the dogs through Downtown Hinsdale, stopping at Café La Fortuna for coffee. Favorite sounds or soundtrack? Silence. Did I mention we have 4 kids and 2 dogs? Place to celebrate? Gibson’s Oakbrook. Best quick bite or hidden gem? Frankie’s Deli. Favorite festival or special event? Hinsdale’s Independence Day Parade. Best thing about the country? The friends and tightknit community. Worst thing about the country? Two-way stop signs. The perfect day is? Dropping off the kids at school, going for a walk and grabbing a coffee, get a no-chip manicure and pedicure at Nail Time, hair done by Matthew at Salon Lofts, then going to Nabuki for dinner.

WHEN IN TOWN

Your style is? Sleek, and a little edgier. Favorite walk? In and out of an Uber Black. Favorite sounds or soundtrack? Whatever J is playing on Spotify. Place to celebrate? Joe’s Stone Crab. Best quick bite or hidden gem? Tufano’s. Favorite festival or special event? Bull’s Games at the United Center. Shop? I love stopping in boutiques in all the different neighborhoods. Best thing about town? The energy. Worst thing about town? Traffic. The perfect day is? We don’t go downtown that much, but when we do, I love a quick staycation that typically involves some shopping, dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab, breakfast in bed, spa and then head back home.