As 2012 ends...

 Merry Christmas to all! I hope everyone had as wonderful a day as I did! I worked the few days leading up to Christmas, Christmas Eve included, but I made it home just before midnight and in time to wake up to Christmas morning with my family. Our tree magically went from barren of any presents (due to our concern that my family's many animals would...well, eat some of them) to the sight you see to the left overnight. Yes, my family is generous and ridiculous all at once. But would you believe many of the presents were for our pets? If you know us well, you probably would. We had a leisurely morning full of family bonding, coffee cake devouring, and present opening, promptly followed by a few naps and Christmas dinner later in the afternoon. 

I am excited to announce that a few of 

the gifts I received will help me cross some things off my 30 Before 30 list. I have two more Disney movies to put towards my collection, books 3 and 4 in the Song of Fire and Ice (aka Game of Thrones) series, and a very funny how-to knitting book! I'm very excited to put these to good use. Also, I've decided 2013 is going to be my year to donate monthly to 12 different charities or causes. Some I have already selected because I have donated or been involved with them in the past, but I definitely don't have all 12 picked out, so I'm taking suggestions for causes you feel strongly about. I will say for sure that in January my donation is going to World Wildlife Fund. I wasn't going to post too much about my donations, but I think I might post a little blurb about who I'm donating to each month in case anyone wants to get involved with me!

New Years Eve (my favorite holiday) is coming up on Monday and I can't wait to go out and celebrate with some friends. I may also be particularly excited about a pair of gold glitter Fergilicious (no joke) peep-toe pumps I bought for the occasion. But one of the reasons I love NYE so much is I feel like its all about starting fresh and getting a new beginning. January this year is going to start a whole new chapter in my life as I go back to school and begin training for a new (well, advanced) career as an ARNP. I also like to make at least one new years resolution and see if I can stick with it. Any advice for me? Suggestions? I've only got a couple of days to decide this!!

Well, I am off to bed to prepare for my last day of work of 2012. I'll leave you with a few pictures of my sweet family and I on Christmas.

Love,

KayCee

 

(C'mon, you didn't think you'd make it out of this post without at least one Christmas picture of my boys, did you??)

1. Get my last tattoo

I finally did it!! After talking about it and debating it for going on 4 years now, I finally bit the bullet and got my last tattoo. Yes, it is my last one - I promised my mom I would put that in writing if she wanted me to! When my first cat passed, the vet gave me a mold of his paw print when they returned his ashes to me. Animals have always been a huge passion of mine and I'd long considered getting a paw print tattoo, but now that I had his mold, I was able to give my tattoo a personal twist. I took the mold into the artist and he was able to make a copy of the print and we based the sketch off Prancer's actual print. I didn't want his name on my foot because, to me, the tattoo represents all my pets past, current, and future, and just my passion for animals in general, but having a little something of Prancer on my foot makes me love the final product that much more. 

Thank goodness I didn't have to do this alone (I've never gotten a tattoo without someone there getting one as well). My friend Denyse from work came with me and got her first ever tattoo! She was much braver than I was, but in my defense, foot tattoos are really painful!! Hers is a red lotus flower with the word "love" written in Thai.

Besides working on my 30 Before 30 list, there's been a lot going on this month! I've been hard at work finishing my Christmas shopping. I'm happy to say I was done shopping and completely wrapped by Dec 16th this year. Not too shabby. And of course Meagan and I brought back our annual pink and silver Christmas tree in classic Apt 302 tradition. Obnoxiousness is our specialty. I'm pretty excited about my Christmas presents this year. I started out the season with zero ideas for anyone, but while I was out, I feel like I was really able find something perfect for everyone. Its a good feeling when the thing you're most excited about this season is giving. That's what its supposed to be all about, right?

I also got to attend the wedding of an amazing new friend from work earlier this month. It was such a beautiful, special moment for her and I was blessed to be in attendance. I am so thankful for the close friendships that are developing with some of my coworkers. I would not enjoy my job anywhere near as much as I do if I didn't look forward to seeing those girls everyday when I get to work. And I know I would definitely not be able to get through most of my shifts without their help. Here's some of us at Kiersten's wedding and at a mini sushi/Christmas get together we had last night. 

Now the rest of the year is just one big countdown... 1 day until the world ends! Well, at least if you believe the Mayans. And assuming we all live through that... 3 work shifts until I leave for Tally, 5 days until Christmas/family-fun time, 11 days until my favorite holiday. Oh yeah...and 18 days until I start my master's program!! When did time start moving so fast? 

If I don't see everyone before then... I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year!!

Love, KayCee

TRUTH.

27. Participate in a charity event

I'm excited to announce I accomplished my first task off my 30 Before 30 list! Number 27 was "Participate in a Charity Event" and this past Saturday I, along with a number of my coworkers, walked in the American Heart Association's Tampa Bay Heart Walk 2012!

The mission of the American Heart Association (AHA) states "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke" which are the #1 and #4 causes of death in the United States. As Neuro nurses, my floor sees the immediate effects of stroke (often secondary to cardiovascular disease) every day and we definitely wanted to step up and help out. We participated as part of the overall TGH team, as well as forming our own mini team, The Brain Trotters.

AHA's goal was to raise more than $1.7 million dollars, and I'm excited to say that the end result of their fundraising efforts was just shy of $2 million dollars! This money will be devoted to education and preventative measures for patients who may not have their own resources.

9A Neuroscience Nurses representing TGH...

...before turning into the Brain Trotters!

Some of my girls before taking our 3 mile walk..Emily, Tiff, Kiersten, and Bridget

We kept it at a leisurely pace with the crowd and finished in about an hour. Not exactly a competitive pace but hey, you know I was participating in a walk not a run, right? Haha. I'm very excited to have crossed something off my list and can't wait to see what my next thing to accomplish will be!!

For more information on the American Heart Association and how you can participate in future events, visit the website here!

Love,
KayCee

Rock the Vote!

(While my political preferences will become quite clear in this post, I promise there will be no preaching or lecturing!)

While creating my 30 Before 30 list, one idea that I considered and then discarding was seeing/meeting the President. I thought it would be a really cool experience but I didn't really know how to make it happen and depending on how this election goes I figure I may or may not really want to hear the President speak. 

To my surprise, a couple weeks ago I heard that President Obama was coming to Tampa to campaign at a grassroots event. I rushed over to my local campaign office and picked up a ticket and prepared to wake up at 5am on my day off to be in line by 6am for a 9am speech. Hey - if I was going to get up early to see the President, I might as well go all out!

My friend Destiny met me and we waited in line for about an hour, surrounded my other like-minded liberals, which was invigorating enough by itself. Eventually we were allowed through the metal-detectors and into an Ybor park where the rally was being held. Around 8 the speakers started which included Florida Governor Charlie Christ and finally around 9, President Obama took the stage. 

His speech was short and to the point. It was not intended to sway undecided voters, but to speak to those of us who had already put our faith in the President and were hoping to continue to do so. He was sincere, charming, educated, persuasive, and surprisingly, very funny. I believe in the President and his policies and today, when I exercised my right to vote, I voted for four more years. Regardless of your political views, I hope everyone put a lot of thought into what they want for our country and who they think the right leader for us is. I am praying for the country's progress to continue in the direction it has in the last four years, but regardless of the outcome, I am thankful to live in a democratic nation that has blessed me beyond words. So please, everyone...get out and vote!!

Love,
KayCee

I voted - And so should you!!!

30 Before 30

So excited to finally have this completed and put it out there! This blog started as a way to record my list of 25 things I wanted to do while I was 25. Well, I completed probably about 85% of them but I didn't record nearly as much as I wanted to while I was accomplishing them. So now that I have 2 years and 9 months before I turn 30 I thought it would be great to think of a list of 30 things I wanted to do before then. Hell, it makes me feel productive and it feels great to cross things off a list okay! 

There are, however, a few things I had to keep in mind while making this list. Well, mainly one. For the next 2.5 - 3 years, starting in January, I will not only be working full time, but I will also be returning to school for my Master's in Nursing, studying to be an Adult Nurse Practitioner. So with this said, I didn't want to put anything on my list that I couldn't accomplish with both of those things happening in my life. I am going to be a busy, busy girl! So unfortunately, there is no international traveling on my list, or things that take an extended period of time to finish. I want this list to be full of things I want to do but also things I can conceivably do within in this time period.

So here it is: My 30 Before 30 list!

1. Get my last tattoo. Yes, this is a carry over from my 25 While 25 list. Well, I've finally decided its definitely happening and I know where. I've researched a few studios to get it done at. So now I just need to find someone to hold my hand and make the appointment!

2. Learn conversational/medical Spanish. I don't have any unrealistic expectations of becoming fluent in another language at my age without being completely immersed in it for years. But in my line of work, I frequently have patients who speak limited or zero English and most of the time speak Spanish instead. I want to be able to ask them the basic questions I need to know to do my job, introduce myself, make them feel comfortable and heard. I don't think this is an unrealistic expectation. But I guess we'll find out!

3. Kiss in the rain. Another carry over from my previous list. I'll probably hate it and be concerned about my hair, but its that movie moment I want anyway.

4. Get SCUBA certified (with Tiffany - as requested by her husband Brent). Always wanted to, just need to make time management a priority so I can find the time to do it. 

5. Lose 3 inches from my stomach/hipline. I'm not concerned about weight at this point. I just want to feel in shape and have my clothes fit me the way I want them to. I've always loved having a classic hourglass figure, and I want to make sure it stays that way and doesn't slip more into the pear shape!

6. Go ziplining. Credit to my sister Katie for giving me this idea, and probably going with me when I decide to do it! I'm not a skydiving or bungee jumping kind of girl, so this is my adventurous feat to accomplish.

7. Finish/almost finish my MSN. Not sure if I will accomplish this before I'm 30 or immediately after, but if I'm still succeeding in the program when I turn 30, then I'll consider it done!

8. Take a pole dancing class. C'mon, it just looks like fun! And a good work out.

9. Visit California (with Tiffany - at Tiffany's request). Never been, would love to go, and its a piece of traveling I think is realistic to do even with work and school.

10. Start journaling again. My blog is great but even with how open I usually am about some things, there are some topics that are just not appropriate for a public forum. I used to have a personal journal and I want to get back into doing that again.

11. Complete my Disney DVD collection. Okay, I know this one is a little silly, but I don't care. My parents have every Disney VHS ever made and I want to make my own collection in DVD and Bluray so my kids can watch quality entertainment and not this crap they're coming out with nowadays. I already have Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Pocahontas, Oliver and Company, The Lion King as well as most of the new Disney Pixar movies of the last few years like Finding Nemo, Up, Wall-E, etc. But theres still many classics I'm missing, not the least of which are Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. So I'd like to be able to find most of these in the next few years assuming Disney continues to release them out of their stupid "vault." (Why can't they all just be available all the time??)

12. Go whale watching. During my trip to California maybe??

13. Try vegetarianism for 2 weeks. Both my parents were vegetarians while I was growing up. My mom still is, but my dad now eats some meat. I'd originally had this on my list as 1 week, but then my mom challenged me to do it for a month, so I'm compromising at 2 weeks and see how I feel at that point. But I don't want to just not eat meat, I'm going to try a lot of the meat substitutes and other things like that too. Oh, and I'm still planning on eating eggs - I need my protein, plus eggs are unfertilized. Haven't decided how I feel about fish for those two weeks yet. (I say all this because I've often toyed with trying to go vegetarian, but always said I would continue to eat eggs and seafood)

14. Learn to knit. I know how to crochet (even if all I can make is scarves) and I used to know how to do one knitting stitch, but I'd like to relearn it. 

15. Do something that scares me. Not sure what this is going to be yet...

16. Donate $50 a month to 12 different causes I feel strongly about for one year. 

17. Swim with the manatees.

18. Make a budget. Lets be honest, I don't really pay much attention to my finances right now because I make enough to pay all my bills, put $400 into savings each month, and still do pretty much whatever I want in terms of shopping, entertainment, etc. But I'd like to have a better idea of where my money goes and be smarter about it.

19. Make a detailed plan for my trip to Africa. I really, really want this to be my next international trip but I won't be able to do it in the next three years so I want to really spend some time researching the animal sanctuaries I want to volunteer at, the sites I want to see, and where I want to stay.

20. Learn how to change a tire. Thank you Emily P. for pointing out that every girl should know this!

21. Get a facial. Gotta start that skin care plan before I get too old!

22. Go wine tasting. I'm a total wino, how has this never happened before?? Also, hopefully another thing I can do in California!

23. Learn how to curl my hair. I am curling iron retarded.

24. Go horseback riding on the beach. Another left over from my 25 While 25 list. 

25. Go to my 10 Year high school reunion. It's this upcoming summer! I can't believe its already here. Go Timberwolves!

26. Try Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I like that this only requires a one month commitment as opposed to p90x's three months, lol.

27. Participate in a charity event.

28. See a Broadway show. I would love to actually make it to New York and see one there, but I'm counting the off-Broadway ones that come through Tampa in case I can't make a NY trip happen.

29. Finish the Game of Thrones book series. I love the series but I'm not used to having a book take this much time to get through. I'm on page 575 out of 960 on book two. There are five (of the speculated total of 7 or 8) out right now. So I want to finish all five plus the sixth which should be out by the time I'm 30.

30. CELEBRATE MY 30TH IN STYLE! I'll probably have a few low-key birthdays until then but I am going all out for my 30th for sure!!

I can't wait to get started!!

Love,
KayCee

Picture-Heavy July and August Recap!

I've been a busy busy bee lately and haven't had much time to update, so lets recap whats been going on for the last month in my world!

During the last week of July I made my inaugural trip to Las Vegas, Nevada! The main purpose of the trip was to see the beautiful Tiffany Sloss compete in her first National Figure Fitness Competition, but of course there was lots of additional fun to be had as well! We stayed two nights at the Encore and three nights at the Venetian, both of which were a blast. We hit up a few night clubs, did a ton of sightseeing, saw Zumanity (the "sexual side of Cirque du Soleil"), ate tons of amazing food, laid by some beautiful pools, and got to see Tiffany place in the top 5 at her first National show. Overall, it was an amazing trip! 

Me, Tiffany, and Laurin on our first night!

Carissa, Tiff, me, and Laurin in the Encore pool

 Brent was either a really lucky or really unlucky guy this trip for putting up with all of us!

 Laurin and I at Tryst Nightclub VIP

 In the Palazzo, on our way to see Zumanity

 visiting Sigfried and Roy's Secret Gardens to see the tigers, lions, and dolphins

 Our beautiful competitor!!

 So proud of my best friend!!

 Bellagio Gardens on our last night

Bellagio Fountains at night, a la Ocean's Eleven

So after the success that was Vegas, I got to spend a relaxing 5 days in Tallahassee, visiting my family, catching up on my sleep, and seeing some friends. Definitely much needed! Then it was back to Tampa to celebrate my 27th birthday Tampa style! Birthdays have always been a big deal to me. I love celebrating mine and I love making a big deal out of other peoples. I'd gone all out for my 25th birthday, but had a really low key 26th birthday because even though I'd been in Tampa a year, I felt like I was still settling in. This year, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do, but Tiffany took it upon herself to make it an amazingly special day for me. I love that girl more than words! We just did the basic dinner and drinks outing, but everyone I wanted to be there showed up and it was just one of those all around fun evenings. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who helped make my night!

 the most amazing cake EVER with all my favorite things: books, tiger stripes, and Seminole colors!!

 my sister Katie came down to celebrate!!

 Alison, Tania, Tiffany, and Christy at dinner

 some of my favorite 9A Neuro RNs!

Diana, Alison, Tiffany, Ashton, and me

 with two of my FAVORITE girls in VIP at Martini Republic

 with the sissy <3

 Marlene, Bridget, and Laurin

 besties for 13 years and counting!

 Katherine, me, and LeAnne

 obligatory birthday SHOT picture

 me, Tiffy, and Dawn

 Katie, me, Laurin, and Emily

beach day with Tiff and Katie on my actual birthday

27 is going to be a GREAT year, I can feel it. I'm even going to bring back the reason this blog was originally created. But instead of doing a year bucket list, I'm going to make a bucket list of everything I want to accomplish by the time I'm 30. I'm currently researching and planning the list, so stay tuned for that!

This upcoming weekend is Labor Day and I've got a busy weekend planned. I will be out celebrating Diana's 28th birthday on Friday and I'm super stoked about that. Then Saturday and Sunday I'm off to Orlando to see some friends I haven't seen in awhile. And Monday I'll be picking up Tiffany from the airport after she completes her final figure fitness competition ever (!) and we're having a 'Kris and Tiffy' day. I'll also be trying to work a lot on my room. I'm finally ready to have a more 'grown-up' room and have bought all new furniture, will be painting the walls, and just giving myself a fresh start. The furniture was officially ordered yesterday and will be coming in next week! I can't wait to see it all. And next weekend my parents are coming into town to spend a few days catching up and helping me put everything together. I'm really excited to spend time with them and see it all come together. I'll definitely be posting before and after pictures once everything is put together! I hope everyone has a great Labor Day planned too!

Love,

KayCee

TGH Lovin'

Just wanted to give a shout out to my place of employment, Tampa General Hospital, and to all my amazing coworkers on the Neuro floor!