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