Big news we’ve been keeping under wraps…
We’re thrilled to share that our founder has been featured in the May issue of @forestandbluffmag — and we couldn’t be more honored!
What began as a creative outlet while traveling the world for her corporate job has grown into a full-time business that’s changing the digital marketing game.
Just 371 days ago, she took the leap — and in less than a year, she’s built a strategy-first marketing company that’s helped brands increase visibility, drive revenue, and connect authentically with their audiences.
With a background in global change management and experience across both male- and female-dominated industries, she brings a unique perspective to storytelling — one that resonates deeply with consumers.
This is just the beginning for Jay & Emee, and we’re so grateful for the recognition.
Thank you, Forest & Bluff!
Want to read the full article? It’s linked in our bio.
Article photos by the amazing @katrinawittkamp
#chicagonorthshore #chicagonorthshoremoms #chicagosocialmedia #lakeforestillinois #socialmediatipsandtricks #forestandbluff #lakebluffillinois #lakebluffmoms #glencoeillinois #womenownedbiz #socialmediatransformation
This case study was one we had to share - not because it benefited us, but because it mattered.
From day one, we knew our role: use our strategy and storytelling to help raise critical funds for @iwsfamilyhealth . It wasn’t about recognition or return—it was about doing our part for an organization that provides life-changing care to those who need it most.
The work began long before construction on the Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens even started. We partnered with designers, landscapers, contractors, photographers, @co_op_pr , the IWS Lake Forest chapter board, and so many others to share our vision, and what we needed from them to make it successful. It was true collaboration every step of the way.
We’re incredibly grateful to the @lakeforestiws for trusting us to lead the marketing and for allowing us to donate our services as part of our annual pro bono commitment to nonprofits. Giving back isn’t a side note in our company - it’s a core value.
And this effort? It worked. The reach from this campaign was powerful…so powerful, it could fill almost every major sports stadium in Chicago.
That’s the kind of impact we show up for. 💕
Cover photo photographed by @heathertalbert
We’re starting a new series to introduce the people behind Jay & Emee, and there’s no better place to start than with Olivia.
She’s been part of the team for almost a year and a half, and at this point, she’s woven into so much of what we do, especially on the content side. Olivia helps us create content for many of our clients, from on-location shoots in Chicago to behind-the-scenes coverage at events. Last year, she joined us for the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse to capture content for that project. This past March, she came along to Paris Fashion Week, where she helped us bring back the kind of footage that makes a client experience feel one of a kind.
Running a boutique social media agency really comes down to building a team that genuinely works well together, and we don’t take that for granted.
Olivia is an integral how we collaborate, plan, and show up for clients, and we feel really lucky to have her as part of the team.
A few fun things to know about Olivia:
- She’s a sushi devotee, and Momotaro is the reigning champion on her Chicago list.
- She grew up as a competitive dancer, so yes, she has rhythm and she will out-choreograph you.
- A proud UIUC grad who shot sports for The Daily Illini, which is probably why she always finds the perfect angle.
- Huge basketball fan. Do not schedule a meeting during a big game.
- A traveler at heart with two Dubai trips on the books and a long list of where’s next.
- She once rode Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi, the fastest rollercoaster in the world at 149 mph, which tells you most of what you need to know about her appetite for adventure.
- Currently learning French, conveniently in time for return trips to Paris.
Something new is coming.
In just a few days, Jay and Emee turns two.
Two years ago, we started with one belief. That great brands deserve marketing with clarity, confidence, and direction.
Since then, we’ve grown into something we’re deeply proud of. And with year two comes a new chapter. A refined creative direction. A sharper vision. And a few very exciting things on the horizon.
A small taste of what’s ahead:
A full brand refresh you’ll see very soon. Expanded services across web design, email, and paid social.
And one of the most meaningful milestones in our journey so far. We’ve officially been accepted to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this year. For a boutique agency just turning two, a seat at the most respected gathering in our industry is not something we take lightly. We’ll be learning directly from the people shaping the future of marketing, including the Head of Instagram, Oprah, and the most influential voices in creative and strategy today.
Every insight, every conversation, every idea we bring back will go straight into the work we do for our clients. Because the brands that trust us deserve the very best thinking in the industry. And we intend to deliver exactly that.
Growth, for us, has never been about getting bigger for the sake of it. It’s about becoming a more strategic, more creative, more intentional partner for the brands that believe in us.
More to come. Stay close.
PSA: the impromptu dancing that occurs in our shop is highly contagious!
So if you’re in need of a feel good moment, stop by and we’ll share our “bug” with you. 😉
#blufftonflorist #lowcountryliving #dancingthroughlife #palmettobluff #dancingisfun
Six years ago today, the Chicago chapter of The Dragonfly Foundation opened its doors with one simple mission: to make an impossibly hard time a little brighter for families facing childhood cancer.
What has happened since then is something we could have only dreamed of.
Together, this incredible community has helped us raise $1.3 million and support more than 1,000 families navigating a childhood cancer diagnosis. From the moment a family hears the words no one ever wants to hear, through treatment and beyond, you’ve helped make sure they never have to face it alone.
And the most amazing part? More than 1,500 donors and sponsors have stepped forward to make this possible.
Every donation. Every event. Every act of kindness.
It all adds up to moments of comfort, strength, and even joy for families who need it most.
We truly could not have done this without you.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in this mission and for helping us bring light into some of the darkest moments a family can face.
Here’s to the families we’ve walked beside, and to the many more we will continue to support together.
#chicagonorthshoremoms #childhoodcancerawareness #dragonflyfoundation #chicagonorthshore #pediatriccancerawareness
PARIS FASHION WEEK LOOK 1:
For look one, we created hair that feels lived in, wet, and a little disheveled, as if it was shaped by the elements instead of carefully styled. The focus was on natural movement and texture, not a polished finish.
Creative direction by Authentic Roz, whose vision was all about embracing the beauty of undone hair and letting the elements tell the story.
Team Jay Marie: @jaymarie808
Hair: @karenenze@hair_by_sarahoefert
Designer: @authentic.roz
Content: @jayandemee@mcafoosphotos
Models: @iam_kamk@wenyi_xivin
Team Sponsors: @refstockholmuk@pravana
#ParisFashionWeek #Behindthescenes #AmethystSkyeSalon #AuthenticRoz #PFW
Our boutique marketing company isn’t even two years old… and we just got back from Paris Fashion Week with our client.
April 26, 2024 is the day Jay & Emee officially became a real business. Fast forward to now and we’re flying home from Paris after capturing content for Paris Fashion Week with @amethystskyesalon . Still feels like a bit of a pinch-us moment.
Not only did our founder get to experience this, but one of our incredible team members, Olivia @oliviamcafoos , was there alongside us capturing it all.
To everyone who has supported us near and far and trusted us to tell your story and build strategies that truly help grow your businesses online…thank you. It means more than you know.
And a special thank you to @amethystskyesalon for being with us for almost two years now. Your talent is incredible and your trust in us means everything.
Just know this… we will always travel across oceans, near or far, to capture the amazing work you do.
And honestly, we’re just getting started.
#chicagonorthshore #chicagosocialmedia #womeninbusiness #parisfashionweek2026 #chicagomarketing
No two days look the same around here… and somehow that’s exactly how she likes it.
Founder life means early mornings (4am alarms are very real), coffee on repeat, and juggling all the things before most people hit snooze.
Glamorous? Not always.
Worth it? Every single time.
Do you wake up at 4am too or is it just a her thing?
#chicagonorthshore #femalebusinessowners #lakeforestillinois #chicagosocialmedia #chicagomarketing
A week in South Carolina with our clients? Yes, please especially when Chicago was sub-zero.
If you know us, you know this: creating content should actually be fun.
Yes, we take our clients’ businesses seriously. They trust us to tell their story, grow their brand, and show up in a way that truly connects. That responsibility matters to us…deeply.
But we also believe laughter builds trust. And trust is where the magic happens. When brands loosen the reins, show up authentically, and let us do what we do best, the results show up in the metrics every single time.
When brands try to control every detail, the content starts to feel stiff, and audiences notice. People online are intuitive. They can tell when something feels forced instead of real.
So when we’re laughing behind the scenes, it’s not just for fun (okay… maybe a little). It’s because relaxed, real energy is what people connect with, and that connection is what drives growth.
Ps. One week of onsite shooting for 2 clients resulted in over 2 months worth of content captured…for EACH of them! 🥳
#chicagonorthshore #chicagosocialmedia #blufftonsc #socialmediatipsandtricks lakeforestillinois
When you accidentally time a work trip perfectly…
67 degrees, sunshine, and meanwhile my family is back home battling -34° like absolute champs.
Sometimes you just need to find the sun wherever it happens to be, and stay there a little longer.
#chicagonorthshoremoms #chicagonorthshore #entrepreneurlife #blufftonsc #femalebusinessowners
Taking a rare pause to get everyone in the same room.
We don’t often see each other in person, so when we do, we make it count by celebrating our small but mighty team with dinner at Rose Mary, a night at The Phantom of the Opera, and somehow surviving torrential downpours along the way.
Grateful for this team, the work we do together, and the moments that remind us why we love it all.
