Kelsey's Profile

Goals - August 2019

The end of July and beginning of August has been a flurry of activity at the Wharton household. I'm just now having time to catch my breath! Summer ended for us on July 31 and school started August 1. I do appreciate starting new things on the first of the month! We celebrated the end of the summer with a family date to Culinary Dropout, one of Chris's and my favorites restaurants, and introduced the boys to dipping fresh baked pretzels in cheese sauce. The first day of school was great and both boys were excited to head to pre-K... Continue reading

Posted Aug 14, 2019 at RISING*SHINING

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Working Out & Yucca Slaps Back

Join us as we work up a sweat chatting about working out! We chat about what we wear, strategies for getting ourselves to the gym, feelings about home workouts, and more. In obsessions Erica gives an update on her lovely "stable" and Kelsey is putting her name on everything. In... Continue reading

Posted Aug 14, 2019 at Girl Next Door Podcast

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Book Club: A Hundred Summers

Our summer book club pick – A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams – will put you in a beachy mood even if the ocean is nowhere near. Connect with us on Instagram at @higirlsnextdoor and on Facebook. Sign up for our newsletter and see show notes on our website: girlnextdoorpodcast.com... Continue reading

Posted Jul 31, 2019 at Girl Next Door Podcast

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Hi Alissa! This makes me SO happy!! It's such a better system I just want everyone to know about it. Honestly they should make it the default. Thanks so much for reading. Glad you found my blog :)

Commented Jul 27, 2019 on How I Tamed My Gmail Inbox at RISING*SHINING

Thank you so much! It is life changing. Sadly I did not have anything similar in my Outlook when I was using it. But maybe it exists or you could hack it in a way to set up something similar. I think I mostly had lots of folders that I tried to keep tidy but would have to leave active emails just in one long list. Maybe assigning different color codes to them? Not sure if you could get those to show up different places, hmmmmmm. Give it a good go -- good luck!

Commented Jul 26, 2019 on How I Tamed My Gmail Inbox at RISING*SHINING

Thank you so much, Melissa! That warms my heart. I'm enjoying writing more and want to keep it up.

Commented Jul 26, 2019 on How I Tamed My Gmail Inbox at RISING*SHINING

This makes me so happy to hear Julie!! I hope you love it. And thank you for the kind comments on the blog and podcast! :) I really appreciate that.

Commented Jul 26, 2019 on How I Tamed My Gmail Inbox at RISING*SHINING

Awesome! There is something very motivating about a tidy inbox. I hope this time it's a sustainable system for you. I hate all the promotions and updates that Gmail tries to categorize for me. I'm also diligent about unsubscribing to EVERYTHING that I don't really want.

Commented Jul 26, 2019 on How I Tamed My Gmail Inbox at RISING*SHINING

How I Tamed My Gmail Inbox

Places I don't like clutter: kitchen counters, bathroom counters, on my desk, on the dining room table...okay fine, I really don't like clutter anywhere. Including my email inbox! Even though I don't have a full time job and I diligently unsubscribe to unwanted ads and newsletters my inbox can feel out of control pretty quickly. But not any more! I've been using a Gmail organization system for over a year that has tidied up my inbox and keeps it tidy. Are your ears perking up? The way email inboxes are set up, with one long list of emails and maybe... Continue reading

Posted Jul 24, 2019 at RISING*SHINING

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Hi Kerriann! Thank you so much! I've seen other bloggers do similar posts (probably originally Soule Mama, the first blog I ever read!) and it's a great format for putting together a quick post but also touching on lots of aspects of life. I love reflecting and putting it together for myself, and love to hear that readers enjoy it too! I'll check out your blog!

Commented Jul 23, 2019 on Currently: July at RISING*SHINING

My Packing List For Family Camping Trips

camping at Christopher Creek campground outside of Payson Did you go camping when you were growing up? As a kid there's no better adventure than spending all day outside exploring the woods followed by roasting a hot dog, eating s'mores, and then snuggling into your sleeping bag in a tent. When I was growing up my family went on one or two camping trips each year. I also went camping with my Girl Scout troop. I have such fond memories of those trips with my family and friends. I loved being outside, helping to lay a fire, taking notice of... Continue reading

Posted Jul 22, 2019 at RISING*SHINING

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Currently: July

Swimming with the boys most afternoons. Temperatures have been over 110 degrees (!!!) most days and the pool is the only place to be. A few friends have invited us over to swim in their pools and I've found a local public pool that we love. As soon as I get in the water life instantly feels 100% better even if we've been having a great day. Ahhhhhhhh. Plus there's the bonus of wearing out the boys. Scrambling to read all the books that I have out from the library, eeep! I've been doing a bad job managing my holds... Continue reading

Posted Jul 21, 2019 at RISING*SHINING

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Goals Check-In & Swampy Shorts

We're half-way through the year! So we check in on our 2019 goals to see how we're doing: we evaluate where we need to make progress, if there's anything we want to let go of, and celebrate unexpected accomplishments. In Obsessions we have summer on the mind. Erica is loving... Continue reading

Posted Jul 17, 2019 at Girl Next Door Podcast

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So far we have reached out to a local attorney who was recommended by my in-laws. It will cost about $550 for a will and trust to be set up but for us this feels worth it to know it's done well and right. I can share more when it's finished but if you are looking to start you might ask local friends or colleagues if they have worked with someone they'd recommend.

Commented Jul 16, 2019 on Goals - July 2019 at RISING*SHINING

Yes, totally! I think that has really dawned on me over time. If you're facing a tough parenting moment/day and imagining that everyone else has perfectly behaved children then it makes it even worse. Now I picture friends that I know and how they've told me their kids act similarly. It normalizes hard behaviors which helps!

Commented Jul 16, 2019 on 8 Tips For Parenting Energetic Kids at RISING*SHINING

I'm so glad this was helpful and relevant, Laura! It sounds like we have similar energy and noise levels! Another point I meant to add is that one day I know our house will be quiet and stay clean. And then I'll miss these days when there was mess and noise and the boys were little. Sometimes reminding myself of that helps in the moment too. :)

Commented Jul 16, 2019 on 8 Tips For Parenting Energetic Kids at RISING*SHINING

Thanks Jenny! I love to hear that – you got this!

Commented Jul 11, 2019 on 8 Tips For Parenting Energetic Kids at RISING*SHINING

8 Tips For Parenting Energetic Kids

This picture is my favorite of our family right now because it captures us just as we are: a lot of energy, a healthy measure of silly, and a lot of love. Perhaps you can tell from the photo that my boys have a lot of energy? Even as well-behaved kids (which I consider them to be) they wrestle, are fond of being loud, and make a lot of messes. While writing part of this my boys were having a pillow fight in front of me with our throw pillows. They're kids! It's just their nature and it's how they... Continue reading

Posted Jul 11, 2019 at RISING*SHINING

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I haven't heard of any of your recommendations so thank you! I will add them to my (ever growing) list. :)

Commented Jul 11, 2019 on Reading lately catch up at RISING*SHINING

Yes! I am really looking forward to it and getting a feel for the city. Beauty in the grit - I love it.

Commented Jul 11, 2019 on Things to look forward to at RISING*SHINING

I love these, and the aspect of cultivating ALL parts of your life and not just motherhood. I think that is something to be proud of! And your mention of it makes me reflect that it's something I value and feel proud of too. So thank you!

Commented Jul 11, 2019 on What are you most proud of as a mother? at RISING*SHINING

I love this.

Commented Jul 11, 2019 on What are you most proud of as a mother? at RISING*SHINING

Things to look forward to

The boys and I are heading home today after three wonderful weeks in Austin. Like I always do, I'll have a little heartache at the airport and when the plane leaves the Texas soil. It's hard to leave the people, house, and city that are so deeply familiar and comforting to me. But I'm so thankful we could start the tradition of visiting Austin for several weeks. We'll do it again next year! On this trip I felt like I was able to take a break from some of the routine parts of life that can be demanding: cooking, cleaning,... Continue reading

Posted Jul 7, 2019 at RISING*SHINING

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I looooved that book! (As you know, ha!) I hope you enjoy it.

Commented Jul 7, 2019 on Reading lately catch up at RISING*SHINING

That should be a future blog post! I would have to really think about it. But I do have a favorites list in Goodreads - all my 5 star ratings. So check that out for some great ones!

Commented Jul 7, 2019 on Reading lately catch up at RISING*SHINING