Who is Kelley?

Solo backpacker. Entrepreneur. Cat mom. Occasionally on tiktok.

Hey I’m Kelley. I grew up in South Dakota chasing sunsets, side hustles, and small-town magic. I’ve built my dream life one weird idea at a time. From starting my own web design business to thrifting a shipping container home and traveling solo around the world with just a backpack and a plan (okay, and snacks).

I’m the kind of girl who’ll go from leading a business meeting to sleeping in an airport to bottle-feeding kittens at 2 a.m. I don’t take myself too seriously... but I do believe in building a life that feels like your own. One that’s bold, a little messy, and full of great stories.

Whether you’re here for the travel guides, curious about Colony Connections, or just accidentally clicked the wrong link, welcome.

I’m glad you’re here.

My Life:

I grew up on a sheep farm in South Dakota in a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of town. I was bottle feeding lambs and running barefoot down gravel roads long before I ever booked a oneway ticket to Mexico City or taught a watercolor class on a Tuesday night.

I’m the founder of three businesses, including Colony Connections, a design agency I built from scratch to help small-town businesses thrive online. I also sell travel guides for people who want real advice from someone who's actually been there,

My VIbe

I speak Spanish, Arabic, and ein biiiiisen Deutsch. I’ve solo backpacked across 42 countries. I’ve lived out of a carry-on, thrifted a house, and built a home out of shipping containers. I’ve worked with farmers, CEOs, and a lot of strangers who quickly turned into friends.

At my core, I’m a fun-loving, light-chasing kind of human who believes in spreading joy, creating beautiful things, and building other people up. I’m also not someone who takes crap from anybody. (Small-town girls know how to stand their ground.)

I’m really glad you’re here.

You’ll usually find me somewhere between chaos and calm coffee in one hand, cat in the other, probably singing a nonsense tiktok song, and definitely dreaming up the next big thing.