Born and raised in Mexico, Glencoe’s Lilia Barba is bringing fun to the North Shore. The mother of three has opened everyone’s favorite party store, Balloons & Paper. Located in Winnetka, the bountiful boutique is brimming with unique items created by female artisans. For anything from small helium bouquets to large-scale balloon installations for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Year’s – Balloons & Paper is your party go-to. Barba takes a break from selling celebratory goods to share her city and shore faves with Sheridan Road.

What’s on the horizon? Growth. We are in the works to open our new location but are also working on our “menu”—new ideas and things to offer our clients Mantra? If whatever you are doing is turning out to be very hard, you are doing it wrong. Try different ways. I live by this Best grooming tip? Every day I sleep with my silk bonnet and put Gisou Oil on the ends of my hair Guilty pleasure? Glazed donuts Favorite foods? Thai food Music you love? My favorite music group is Muse Best advice ever given to you? Your words have power. How you talk to yourself matters Best advice you’ve given? What is the worst that can happen? That is my question to anyone who is doubting themselves When you wake up, you? I have the bad habit of grabbing my phone first thing. I give myself around ten minutes and then the morning craziness begins Before bed, you? Our routine is to have tea and watch a show. Right now we are loving Surface and House of the Dragon What’s on your bookshelf? I am obsessed with entrepreneur podcasts—Dear FoundHer from Lindsay Pinchuk but a book that I love is Nemesis: The True Story of Aristotle Onassis, Jackie O, and the Love Triangle That Brought Down the Kennedys by Peter Evans You can’t live without? Coffee Love to escape to? Paddle. It’s the only thing I can do that actually makes me relax Advice you would give to your younger self? You don’t have to work in a company to be successful, and you don’t have to be an expert to be an entrepreneur

ON THE SHORE

Your style is? Romantic. I love dresses, and not-so-comfortable shoes Can’t leave the house without? Sunblock Transportation? Car Driving music? The Killers and Muse Place to eat? Clucker’s and Fujiyama are our go-to spots with the family Best thing about the Shore? The space, the calm, no traffic, and the freedom of letting our kids walk to town Worst thing about the Shore? By 9:30 p.m. the lights are out The perfect day is? On Sunday, wake up to pick up pastries from That Little French Guy in Highland Park. Watching my kids’ soccer games, coming back home to grill steak for dinner, and playing a game of UNO

IN THE CITY

Your style is? Modern. I want to look elegant but comfortable at the same time Transportation? Train Place to eat? Not a fancy place, we love Thai Thank You in Lincoln Park and Bittersweet Pastry Shop in Belmont Best thing about the City? Restaurants. Love finishing dinner and walking until we find the perfect place to have a drink Worst thing about the City? Parking, parking, parking The perfect day is? Taking the train with the kids, having lunch, going to the art museum, getting takeout from our favorite Thai place, and heading home