Good Things

In this post at the beginning of the year I wrote that one of my new years resolutions was going to be to work on my friendships. I'm happy to say that a few months in, I do feel as though some of my friendships have grown stronger than they were at the beginning of the year. The one highlighted in that post particularly. It really took some time to step away and reflect and then the deliberate act of setting aside time to spend just with that person but I think the relationship we're currently (re)developing is solid. Friendships and relationships are work and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying or naive. But as Ben Affleck said at the Oscars they're "the best kind of work" and the rewards can be endless. 

On the note of friendships, I am excited to see the development of two more that I know are going to be very valuable to me over the next few years. My best friend Tiffany and I created a small study group with two other girls in our masters program and this group (or the "Core Four" as one of the girls has dubbed us) has been such a blessing in my life. When Percy died, I was met at study group with flowers and cards and chapstick (my favorite thing!), not to mention hugs and kind words, and I had barely known these girls a couple weeks! Since then, we've each had hard moments and there's been a few breakdowns, but somehow we've had the sense of security to be able to open up and bare parts of ourselves to each other that not many other people in our lives have seen. We all come from very different paths and are drastically different, yet share many of the same fears and values and anxieties. I am so so thankful for my Core Four and know they are going to enrich my life beyond words in the next few years.

And as for school...I am 3 weeks away from completing my first semester in grad school! One class is 100% done and once the extra credit points are factored in, I should pull off a solid A. As for the second...all quizzes and assignments are done, I just need to keep up with a few more weeks of lecture and kick some booty on the final! Getting back to school has been an adjustment (though, considering this is degree #3 it kind of feels like I've never left) but I am really excited for what its going to mean for my life in a few years. 

And one last Good Thing that I know will make everyone smile. Remember how I wrote that Florida Little Dog Rescue was going to name one of their recent rescues after me in honor of Percy? Well I have some pictures of her and am happy to announce that her adoption to a new home is currently pending! Some of the things her foster mom said about her on the website: "Kristen is well behaved and poses beautifully for the camera. She is very shy at first but once she gets to know you, she will be your best friend. She loves toys, cuddling, and giving lots of kisses!" There should be a picture of her with her new family on the FLDR website shortly and I will be sure to share that with you, but for now look at these pictures of how well she cleaned up after a good bath and some grooming!

I love those ears in the first picture and her smile in the second one. What happy girl she is! Percy and her would've been fast friends, I'm sure of it. 

Love,

KayCee

Favorite Things

I've been MIA from the blog world lately because I've felt a bit daunted when trying to come up with something interesting/entertaining/inspiring to write about. I don't want to get on and babble just for the sake of typing something. But one thing I'm always excited to share with you is my favorite things of the moment. Since I've decided to make this a reoccurring topic, here are my favorite things for June 2012...

Channing Tatum comes as close to physical perfection as any male could hope to come and the fact that he can DANCE just adds to his attractiveness. Well on June 29th we will get 2 whole hours of him dancing and stripping just for our female enjoyment. And if Channing doesn't do enough for you, feel free to also enjoy Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, and Matthew McConaughey. If you're not sexually frustrated after watching this preview, we may no longer be friends.

This girl, and getting back to the gym. I know, this statement may surprise many of you (the second part of the statement, I mean!) But ever since I've met Tiffany, a fellow nurse on my Neuroscience floor, we've been fast friends. She is constantly smiling, happy, and optimistic which balances out my realism and occasional pessimism. She has become my constant cheerleader and has been a great motivator in terms of gaining control of some parts of my life. As you can see, she's pretty close to physical perfection and will be competing in some national figure fitness competitions this year. Well, we now have a new goal together... since I will be accompanying her to Las Vegas at the end of July to cheer her on at one of her National competitions, we not only have to make sure she's ready to kick some butt, but we have to make sure I'm in shape enough to walk around a Vegas pool in a bathing suit as well! We've got about 8 weeks left and I've actually been excited about getting back in the gym. So far I've been going every day that I'm not at work and doing 30-45 minutes of cardio followed by a good hour of weights/further exercising. Yesterday she took me through a back weight training work out and today its painful to move my arms or shrug my shoulders. But I've missed the burn and I'm excited about toning up and slimming down a little bit over the next two months. Ready to get my confidence back! Want some of Tiffany's advice on getting in shape? She's starting a blog right here on blogspot soon! So stay tuned and I'll advertise the link when she gets it up and running!

Keira Knightley is engaged! I've had a bit of a crush on her for pretty much as long as I can remember...I don't know, I have a thing for quirky, atypical beauty. And I am so happy to hear that she's found some happiness! Her finace, James Righton, of a British rock band the Klaxons, proposed with a 2 carat solitaire diamond on a platinum band. So not only does he have good taste in women...he has good taste in diamonds! I love simple, classic engagement rings. I've always thought a single, beautiful stone with no extra adornments was the way to go. So congrats Keira and James!

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Onto the music front, I believe I have a new favorite song and possibly a new favorite artist. I know I'm a little late to the game in my discovery of Florence and the Machine, but I was actually introduced to her song 'Shake it Out' from an episode of Glee when they did a really cool rendition of it. I searched out the real version of the song and fell in love. Now I'm on a mission to hear more of her music and I hope I love it as much as I love 'Shake it Out.' My favorite music has always been quirky, off-beat, non-mainstream music and I think Florence will fit right in to that. Here's her video for 'Shake it Out':

And finally, my offerings in animal cuteness for the month of June. First we have Donna the 2 year old elephant of England's ZSL Whipsnade Zoo playing soccer:

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And finally, awhile back my sister sent me a link with pictures of dogs that look like Panda bears and I've basically become obsessed. So if anyone is wondering what to get me for my birthday in August... just a thought! :) I've posted a few here, but definitely go to the site and check out the others! The adorableness is pretty out of control.

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Love,

KayCee

Cream colored ponies and fresh apple streudels

I so enjoyed sharing some of my favorite things with you guys a couple weeks ago that I thought I might make it a bit of a regular post. Sort of a tribute to Oprah's Favorite Things but this is going to be KayCee's Favorite Things instead.

First is a song that has been on repeat on my iPod for the last couple weeks: Gotye's "Somebody that I Used to Know" feat Kimbra. I love the offbeat sound, the lyrics, and the tone that Kimbra's voice adds to the song. For once I'm actually grateful that I don't have a recent ex because I don't identify this song with anyone and therefore it won't be ruined by constantly causing someone to pop into my head when I hear it. (I have countless songs that I love but often don't want to listen to because it will bring particular people or situations to mind that I prefer to keep in dark corners of my memory) So here is the video for your enjoyment:

Another of my favorite things lately is planning my upcoming trip to Chicago with my roommate, one of my coworkers, and one of my roommates friends. We will have 4 full days and 3 nights there. I was in Chicago once when I was about 12 but I'm looking forward to experiencing it as an adult. So far we know we're going to a Cubs game, which is super exciting because my dad is a huge Cubs fan so I grew up watching games as a child. I can't wait to be back at Wrigley Field and cheering on the team against the Cincinnati Reds. We're also planning to go to Millennium Park and take pictures next to the big 'bean' and get some authentic Chicago pizza. If anyone has any further ideas of what we should do, I would love to hear them and add them to our list!

Every year I try to treat myself to a new bathing suit. Normally I get them towards the end of the summer while they are on sale and save them for the next year. But this year I broke my rule. First because I cleaned out a lot of my bathing suits during spring cleaning so I thought I deserved a replacement. And second because I've been trying to get in better shape and have officially gotten my first "have you lost weight?" comment so I thought I deserved a reward, haha. The numbers on the scale haven't changed yet but my scrub pants at work have been getting increasing looser so I'm going to call that progress. Now I just can't wait until I'm finally over this cold/flu funk I've had the last two weeks and I can start hitting the gym again. Hopefully I'll start seeing some even better results. But this bathing suit on the left is the one I decided to treat myself to. Whenever I get a new suit I try to pick a color that I don't currently have, so this year green is my go to color. I love the combination of stripes 

and polka dots. Plus I love the removable straps that make this a bandeau top because I despise tan lines so I always try to lay out in strapless tops. Otherwise I end up untying the top of my bathing suit and I'm always scared I'm going to sit up and forget that its untied! But because I don't like going to social outings (pool parties or beach) in strapless tops, I also got a second top in the same green polka dots that is a halter (see right) for more secure control over the girls. Hey, when you've got my curves its something you've always got to consider!

This last favorite thing is just a fun picture I came across yesterday during my daily People Mag Online stalking. Pictures of a baby pygmy hippo from South Africa named Prince Harry. I love pygmy hippos because they always look like they're smiling and are much less scary than their much larger cousins. So please allow Prince Harry to brighten your rainy Saturdays!

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Love,
KayCee

If only it were true!

DirecTV has these new commercials out about a Russian who has a pet mini giraffe and now they've gone so far as to make an actual website where you can "watch" Vladamir their bull giraffe on a live cam and get on a wait list to purchase your very own Petite Lap Giraffe. Oh, if I could only have my very own Russian-born lap giraffe who knows how to blow kisses at me!

To see the "live web-cam" and the commercials "starring" Vladamir go to:
http://www.petitelapgiraffe.com/