COUNTRY VS. TOWN: NATALIE KELLY

Growing up in nearby McHenry, Natalie Kelly’s mom’s love of Barrington resulted in frequent visits to our charming town. After meeting her future husband in the 7th grade and becoming high school sweethearts, the couple attended the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, married in 2016 at Saint Anne’s, and moved to Chicago. The Kellys now live near the Biltmore Country Club (the site of their wedding reception), and while Kelly started her career as an early intervention speech language pathologist, she is now a stay-at-home mom to Grayson (3.5), Harper (2), and Kendall (4 months).

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Mantra? “Touch it once.” For example, don’t put something on the counter, put it away where it belongs Best grooming tips?Ice your face to decrease puffiness and sleep Guilty pleasure? Watching Real Housewives or Traitors Favorite foods? Green smoothie. And a beer Music you love? Country. Playing the D.J. during summertime boating on Pistakee Bay Best advice ever given to you? Mel Robbins’ “Let them”—focus on your own life, stop trying to control others Best advice you’ve given? Grocery delivery is a game changer Earliest memory? My twin brother, Bobby, and I meeting my sister, Courtney, for the first time Before bed, you? Clean up the house What’s on your bookshelf? Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros You can’t live without?My Apple watch; I’m not sure how anyone finds their iPhone without being able to ping it from their watch Love to escape to?Door County, Wisconsin. My husband and I started going there when we first started dating at 18, and now carry on the family tradition. Advice you would give to your younger self? Run cross-country in high school. Through training for the Chicago Marathon in college I learned to love running and wish I’d discovered that earlier

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WHEN IN THE COUNTRY

Your style is? Athletic Can’t leave the house without? Diaper bag. Do you need a snack, change of clothes, or a book to read? I have it all Transportation? Tesla. Once you don’t need to stop for gas or bring car keys anywhere, it is hard to go back Driving music? “Dinosaur Stomp” or “The Excavator Song” Place to eat? Southern Belles for breakfast, Nekter for lunch, and Bowlful of Korea for dinner takeout Shop? Amazing Gracie’s is the spot to buy a baby gift. Suburban Stitches by Claire Mullen does custom embroidery on everything, even  my son’s backpack Best thing about country?I have loved being a member of Barrington Junior Women’s Club and meeting some of my best friends there Worst thing about country? Coyotes in our backyard are a daily occurrence, which is very stressful when our 30-pound dog thinks she can scare them away The perfect day is? When we lived in Fort Collins, Colorado we would wake up before the sunrise, stop at Taco Bell for breakfast, drive to Breckenridge to ski, and drink a cold beer at the top of the mountain

WHEN IN TOWN

Your style is? Jeans and black top Can’t leave the house without? Aquaphor healing stick as lip balm Transportation? Walking when possible Driving music? Heather McDonald’s Juicy Scoop Place to eat? Bacino’s Italian Grill for a casual lunch with kids Shop? Southport  Avenue  Best thing about town? Lincoln Park Zoo Worst thing about town? Traffic The perfect day is? Going to visit my sister with my mom and kids. We get coffee and walk to the Lincoln Park Zoo and grab lunch. Then dinner in the West Loop with my husband and friends and bar hopping afterwards