Time flies when you are having fun. Or will it fly anyway? It’s hard to believe I met Kelly more than a year ago. It felt like we were friends forever. I was introduced to Kelley through my neighbor and friend Kristen (Kelley details). When I met Kelley, we hit it off. She has been writing for the blog since last January and I am so glad I decided to make her a contributor. I love her enthusiasm, interesting ideas, writing style and willingness to show vulnerability. Somehow it’s been a year and I haven’t really given you all a proper introduction, so today’s a chance to get to know Kelly better (in her own words).
In case you missed it, here are some of Kelley’s popular posts from last year: Tips for Starting Your Morning Ritual, Grieving for my past life when I became a mom, In Friendships, Why Breaking Up Is So Difficult, 10 places to visit in New England, These Life Hacks Are Totally Game-Changing, Assess your relationship with alcohol.
Meet Kelly Bomer
I grew up in Woodstock, Vermont and have always been a lover of the Green Mountain State. I had a typical Vermont upbringing – raising goats, playing imaginary games and hockey in the woods, building snow forts, and swimming in ponds and lakes. I love Vermont for its beautiful and unique 4 seasons – each season offers something unique and rich. I love mountains and rivers, valleys and streams. I love the authenticity of the people and how the community loves and cares about each other in a small town.
I always knew I was going back to Vermont to raise my family, but I didn’t realize I would be back so soon. After studying journalism at the University of Rhode Island, I traveled to Australia and New Zealand for a year before returning to Vermont, thinking it was only temporary. I eventually got a job at Woodstock Elementary and fell in love with teaching. I had a wonderful 6 years teaching 3rd and 4th grade. I learned a lot from those kids and colleagues and had the opportunity to explore a career I am so passionate about. When I was pregnant with my now almost 2-year-old child, I decided to change career paths and prioritize myself and my family. The pressure and burden of teaching is unbelievable, and I know that if I continue, I will not be able to be the best version of myself for my family.
About 6 months postpartum, my sister told me that one of her favorite bloggers had moved to Woodstock. I follow Jess on Instagram, love her style, content, and feel connected to her overall message and aesthetic. I mentioned Jesse to some of my friends and we all started following her. Our friend Christine did some research and found out she was Jessie’s neighbor. Kristen sends Jesse a private message and they plan to go for a walk together. Kristen connects us and it feels like destiny. Jess and I discovered that we both participate in News URI and share similar writing styles and interests. Everything you know and love about Jesse from her blog is exactly what she looks like in real life. She’s always there to help in a fashion crisis, sharing the latest products she loves, delivering them when you need them, and listening and offering advice no matter what you’re going through.
I am so grateful to you all for welcoming me into this community. I’ve learned so much about being an entrepreneur and starting a business from Jess, and I’m so lucky to be a part of it!
Q&A with Kelly
What are your favorite and least favorite things about living in Vermont?
I love Vermont. I love natural beauty and a deep connection with nature. Do I like season four or is it season 6 now? It’s hard to keep track! Although I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with winter. Too fucking long. But I think my favorite thing about Vermont is the people. They are genuine, tough, loving, and always willing to support and care for each other. Whether you’re stranded on the side of the road or dealing with a toddler’s tantrum at the grocery store, there’s always someone who will stop by to check in and help. I think it’s a rare and special thing. My least favorite thing has to be the inconvenience of driving 30 minutes to the grocery store and running errands.
What pets do you have?
Yes! i love my pets. Jesse and I actually bonded over our very similar soulless dogs. Our Chocolate Lab Gus passed away unexpectedly in 2020 at the age of 2. That was incredibly devastating and traumatic, but then Spruce came to us through a true Christmas miracle. Our breeder has a 1 year old yellow labrador that she wants to put into a good home. She gave us Spruce and she was definitely our little boy’s best playmate. She is gentle, lovely and sweet. The spruce is 3 years old now and it’s super cold, which is great for a toddler. We also have a cat named Moana who is also 3 years old and loves our son Willis. They are so sweet together.
Dream resort?
It’s hard because I want to walk around and see everything! I would love to go to Costa Rica for the combination of rainforest, sand, ocean, warmth and adventure! It feels like a place to rejuvenate and inspire.
Favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love spending time with family and friends! It would be even better if we could incorporate activities like yoga, hiking, dancing, watching a movie or eating out. I love traveling and exploring new places. I also really enjoy journaling, reading, or taking a bath by myself.
What is your favorite season?
I think I like summer best. Although fall in Vermont is also magical. I just love the energy and spirit of summer. I love the way people come together to enjoy the great outdoors, fresh locally grown food, markets, live music, dancing and adventure. I love being able to swim and keep my feet in the dirt. I also really enjoy gardening and seeing the world through my son’s eyes.
likes and dislikes…
like: Yoga, Hiking, Swimming, Ice Hockey, Beach, Ocean, River, Mountains, Reading, Horror Movies, Laughter, Margaritas, Mexican Food, Ice Cream, All Baked Goods, Skiing, Rafting, Surfing, Writing/Journaling, Day sunrises and sunsets, purple, silly, flowers and herbs, friends and family, birthdays, holidays, organizing, baking, cooking, matcha, dried mangoes, sunshine, animals and gardens
dislike: mountain biking, loose change, travel part of a trip, large crowd, surprise party, mayhem/chaos, smell of the city, secrecy, preparing for a big event, decisions, whiskey, onions
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