sure looks good to me

I wish I didn't have so many decisions to make. I have 2 jobs. NICU (YAY!) in both Calgary and Saskatoon. Boy do I wish Des had a job in Calgary, it would make the decision easy: Calgary, duh! However, not only does he not have a job in Calgary, he has a REALLY good one in Saskatoon. What to do, what to do? I'm just happy I'm going to be working my dream job.. did I say YAY?

Yesterday, I also had a minor passport scare. And, minor is putting it lightly. Aka, I lost my passport, and am going to Hawaii next week. I gave it to Des a while ago, to put with all of the other family passports, but at some point in time I must have taken it back, and forgot about doing it, because all I remember is giving it to him. It was in my last clinical placement. Weird, right? Anyways, panic now subsided, I get to go to Hawaii still. AND I got new Victoria's Secret Bathing suits. Now to ensure I workout and don't get lazy over the holidays before I leave! We'll see how that goes...

Only 3 more weeks until we get our baby girl! So excited! I'm also excited for noon today when Des is done school. I can't even describe how good it feels that we never have to live apart again! Man, did that year go by quick! Goodbye long distance, you sucked, and I am more than happy to see you go! It's so exciting that we finally get to live together, while having careers, and our puppy. Ah. So many good things happening next year. I hope this year doesn't go by as quick as the last... I really want to enjoy it for as long as possible.

This week we also decorated gingerbread houses. Correction. Homemade Gingerbread houses... like I baked them from scratch. None of the pre made kits for this girl. What a good little housewife I will be. However, it takes 2 full days because you have to let the dough set... Either I am getting a different recipe next year, or not making 'from scratch gingerbread houses again'. Even the frosting was from scratch (so hard to blend egg whites and icing sugar right? Still proud!). I even home made all the candy.. kidding, the candy was all from Bulk Barn. Wherever it was made, it's definitely not good for the Hawaii bod, but delicious for the tastebuds. Pretty sure I ate more than I made. When you have sticky frosting fingers, its hard not to eat! I felt like such a kid again, and so proud of our little village. Definitely a start to a family tradition. We even made maya a dog house (well turned out to be a teepee). Sunday funday!

"Life is what happens when you are busy making plans"

--- John Lennon

sleeping in

I'm sleeping in tomorrow (no job and no school = lazy Kaylee) so I decided to stay up late and do something I used to do in high school all of the time: a questionnaire about myself. However, this time I have decided to post it to my grown up blog - so much cooler, friends.

So here we go, let's hope you learn something new about me!

a. Age: 23 (ugh)
b. Bed size: queen? double? too big and cold for one small girl.
c. Chore that you hate: laundry, easy, next question!
d. Dogs: as of Jan 1st we will have Maya
e. Essential start to your day: Tea. It's usually the end to it as well.
f. Favorite color: purple or a light greeny-blue. Like the color of the sidebar on my blog.
g. Gold or silver: silver
h. Height: lets say ... 5'2.5" ... like little kids when you ask them their age, the half counts when its not much!
i. Instruments you play: none, i'm terrible at them. However, people seem to play imaginary tiny violins around me a lot....
j. Job title: Grad nurse... soon to be registered nurse (fingers crossed on feb 1)
k. Kids: one day!
l. Live: in a basement suite in Saskatoon
m. Mother's name: Karen
n. Nicknames: kay, kayl, kay kay, sparky (don't ask)
o. Overnight hospital stays: nope, only when I was born
p. Pet peeves: lots, I don't want to complain too much though ... that's when the violins come out
q. Quote from a movie: "Can we make bunkbeds?"
r. Right or left handed: right
s. Siblings: one brother and he's the best
t. travel: England, Scotland, Bahama's, Mexico, Hawaii this xmas
u. Underwear: really? Now I really feel like I'm in high school again
v. Vegetable you hate: mushrooms. I'm good without eating fungus, thanks.
w. What makes you run late: getting ready, or a bad hair day.
x. X-rays you've had: none?
y. Yummy food you make: Granola bars, I'm also really loving my sweet potato recipes right now
z. Zoo animal: Gorillas. They're like humans, and they fascinate me!

Well, I know I'm pretty much an open book, but maybe you learned a little bit more about me then you knew before!! I'm off to read a good book followed by a long sleep in! Yay for being unemployed?

"I don't go looking for trouble, trouble usually finds me"

--- Harry Potter 

highway to hell

I'm car-jinxed, I swear. Not sure if my avid readers (mom and Kevin) remember, but I blogged about me breaking Des's windshield wipers last winter. He says I didn't break them, but just happened to be in the car when they broke. Well, to prove that I really was the cause of the broken wipers, my car decided to just not heat. In -20 degree weather. Perfect. You don't realize how important heat in a car is until you don't have it. I was driving about 20 minutes to dinner and thought to myself, "well, realistically, it takes about 20 mins for the heat to actually work anyways in normal conditions, so I'll be fine." False, I almost died of hypothermia. Fact. So in short, yes, I am car-jinxed, and those darn things break around me. Now I remember why I didn't have one for 3 years. Fact #2.

I already knew I had the best sister and brother in law to be ever, yet tonight they came to my rescue and put themselves even one notch higher. Thanks guys, I look like a demon compared to you. But seriously, Colby went outside in the freezing weather (believe me, I know how cold it is ... try sitting in my icebox for 5 mins .. does NOT cut down on the wind chill) to see if he could fix my car. He couldn't. So instead we took my car to a shop, and they gave me Amanda's car to use for the weekend. Saints.

I hope they don't read this and figure out I'm car-jinxed... hers will probably be next. Stay tuned...

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple"

--- Dr. Suess

a thousand years

Is it weird that I happen to be a nurse, yet still feel like a student, meanwhile while I was a student I felt like a nurse? I hate this in between business, neither a student nor a nurse. I mean technically, I am a nurse, but without a job as a nurse, its hard to call yourself one. Waiting sucks; jobs should just come to your doorstep in a blanket from the stork. Really all things should come like that.. it would make having a baby so much easier.. but thats for another blog WAYYYY down the road! I would be the worst ghost. Neither alive, nor dead. I hate the in between. Period. I guess, at least, I get to look forward to what is to come? Staying positive ....

We also got our second round of pictures of our baby Maya from our breeder. Correction, our adorable baby Maya. I'm very pleased with how soon they have been getting back to me and responding to questions, and providing us with pictures. I can't wait to have her as a part of our little family.

Pretty sure nothing is cuter. Although, I like to think I'm pretty cute, so... no, still her.

Not sure if I have mentioned my upcoming trip to Hawaii. If I haven't, you should know that I have an upcoming trip to Hawaii. Victoria's Secret just took a lot of my money, and I better look decent in their bathing suits... in Hawaii, not sure if I mentioned I have an upcoming trip to Hawaii? Seriously though, I have never been there, and I can't wait to attempt to surf. I would say "learn to surf" like most normal people do, but my confidence in my ability to actually learn how, given my lack of any sort of coordination, is slim to none. I kind of have athletic ability, for a girl (cue cringing of feminists everywhere), however, still not enough to overcome the lack of balance to stand up on a moving board on water with waves. I have been assured that the waves are not that big. First of all, who classifies THAT, what does that even mean? Compared to what? A hurricane, a boat wave? What? Second, even taking the "that" into consideration, I'm sure I will still get my fair share of thrashing within them.

So, that sums up my life at the moment. Grad. Nurse. Maya. Job. Hawaii. Lack of coordination (Des calls it my lack of spatial awareness). Nice chatting with you.

"Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark"

--- author unknown

how to save a life

I haven't really been BUSY wedding planning, but plans have been made none-the-less. Well, ideas mostly, but those count as plans right? Centerpieces, bouquets, other decorations, etc. all thought through, with a general idea of what I want.

I want my wedding to be beautiful, but most importantly I want to have a beautiful marriage. I know I'm marrying my soulmate, and feel so incredibly lucky. That said, bridezilla will probably emerge at some point in the coming months. She hasn't poked her little head out yet, but I can feel her waiting in the shadows. I just hope she's cute (ish)!

In the midst of planning for our wedding, I have also been planning for our puppy. Crate training, house training, and more is on my mind 24/7. No wonder why I enjoy lists so much, I have way too much on my mind at once.

Apparently, in 6 sleeps, I graduate. Go figure. Where did the last 4 years go? Why am I suddenly forced to face the real world? I don't feel ready, but at the same time I have to be, don't I? No longer are fleeting part time jobs a part of my future; I now start my career, whether I like it or not. As of friday, I am no longer a student, but a nurse... Maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and realize it was all a dream, because it sure doesn't seem real.

Speaking of dreaming, I'm about to do the opposite. Sweet dreams. Tomorrow I get to wake up one day closer to all of mine coming true.

set fire to the rain

First things first. Maya. Our adorable baby! Here she is at 8 days old. Eyes not even open yet... (I can here the "awwwws" through my computer screen, and thanks. ha)

Yeah, she's probably cuter than your dog, sorry.

Sometimes, I feel like I need to something meaningful in this blog... not just blab on about my puppy, and wedding and things that are going on in my life. I'm all ME ME ME .. selfish. I wish I had a fashion-forward blog or I knew cool environmentally friendly things to talk about, or cool music... but no, it consists of my complaints and excitements I have at the time. Oh well, I'm not cool, musical, environmentally friendly, or fashion-forward. It is what it is.

Instead I chose to write about something even cooler than music.. me? I do love music, however, and am currently in the process of picking out our wedding music. I didn't realize how much there is to do in regards to deciding songs to play. It's not just your first dance, its the ceremony, recessional, processional, background music for the reception, all the first dances, and then the tough part... picking music that your guests will stay up and dance to. Nobody likes a boring dance party.

Well, thats all I feel like writing about myself.. goodnight

"stress is the trash of modern life ... we all generate it

but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life"

--- Danzae Pace

how soon is now

last blog entry was all about the things I have to look forward to in my what seems to be a never-ending-waiting-game of a life. Add to the list .... wait for it ... a PUPPY!

We decided to name her Maya (MY-YA .. incase u thought may-ya). She is a boxer puppy, and will be 8 weeks old on January 1st when we will pick her up in Leduc, Alberta on our way home! She is flashy fawn, which means light brown, with white on her face, collar, and paws. We are just so excited, we got to see her on skype when we picked her, and are waiting for pictures that will hopefully come today.. which of course I will post!

rumor has it..

Wedding dress, check. Bridesmaid dresses, check. And I love love love them both! It only took us one day, and we found the perfect dresses. Go team.

Since I've finished my rotation on the NICU, I am now at the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) office. I recommend stabbing your eyes out before you endeavour to work/have clinical/walk into the office. I am not the office type, obviously. It's not as though its that boring, wait yes it is, but its also sitting, all.day.long. and staring at a computer screen all.day.long. or being in meetings/workshops all.day.long. Pretty much everything is all.day.long. I am however, looking forward to our bargaining conference in November, where they are going to talk about the nurses next collective agreement and what they are going to bargain for for us. Just talking about this stuff is making me bored.. so onto the next.

There are so many things coming up in the next month that I can hardly handle it. First, lefsa is on november 11. I was just introduced to this Norwegian (?) tradition last year, and omg, I'm not sure how I even survived without it. It's basically a flatbread made out of potato's and deliciousness. Des's family gets together for a day and rolls, cooks and eats lefsa. It literally takes all day to make them... probably because there's quite a bit of eating afterwards, and we need to make a ridiculous amount so there is LOTS of extra for everyone to take home to eat later in the year (freezers are a godsend), or more realistically, the week.

The next day (the 12th for those bad at math) Des and I are registering at both the bay and home outfitters. Fun for me.. i'm guessing hell for him.

Then, on the 18th I am having my bridal shower(still in the works)! My beautiful future sister-in-law and bridesmaid is throwing me what I'm sure will be a great night, and I can't wait!

The 25th is my grad banquet, and my official LAST day of my Bachelor of science in Nursing. I have this overwhelming feeling in regards to me graduating, that I can't really quite put my finger on. It's not excitement (because im scared too), relief, nervousness, sadness and happiness are all mixed in there too. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to feel, but its a giant feeling (and occasion) none-the-less.

Finally I have my panel grad interview (at the end of November some time) for the Saskatoon Health Region, aka my future employer, to look forward to/dread. All I know, is its an hour long, and my whole future depends on it. No pressure right.

Well, the month of November better fly by, because I can't handle how much this rotation is dragging much longer. But with all of the events I have to look forward to, its sure to be a fun and exciting month. As of November 25, I am no longer a student, but a nurse. Look out world.

"The best way to  make your dreams come true is to wake up"

--- Paul Valery

so far away

4 more shifts. WOW. 4 more shifts of my second last FINAL practicum.. if that made sense? My FINAL final practicum is going to be boring, but it's the last one, then i'm a nurse. Holy cow. Time to start applying for jobs. AND i'm getting married. Not a kid anymore.

Next weekend I'm going wedding dress and bridesmaid dress shopping, and I CANNOT wait. Everyone is meeting in Calgary and having a weekend of shopping. Sounds like my kind of weekend! We are also visiting the venues for the wedding, so everyone can see!

What else is new in this boring little life I lead? 2 months until the fiance and I will never live apart again.. pretty neat huh? Haha. But really, nothing is new for me... my dad got a new job, so that's really exciting for him! He's the head of something for Alberta soccer now.. who knew he was so important? Except they DID spell his name wrong on the website... so obviously he can't be that important haha!

Des and I went to Kings of Leon this past monday night. Man were they good! And I have also discovered a love for the sheepdogs, they're pretty decent actually! Well, time to go workout, i've been procrastinating it all day, but I have to fit into a wedding dress.. so I should probably go do it!

"pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever"

--- Lance Armstrong

SO. We have decided on a few things we are going to be using for the wedding. Benches instead of chairs, grey suits, and purple bridesmaid dresses. As far as decorations go - we are going more rustic. Here are some ideas: 

this will be our cake/cupcake stand - all the wood we are getting from Des's farm

we will have purple ribbon and twine to the candles, with a lace runner underneath

We love the idea of wood, our wedding will definitely have a rustic theme, and we will be saving a lot of money since it's free!

again, we will be refurbishing wood from Des's farm for the signs leading to our ceremony

with the refurbished wood, and lace covered clothespins, this will be at our reception filled with pictures

something like this lining the aisle, maybe with a little lace? Crystals?

Des's dad Kevin, picked some wheat this summer for us to use.. I want to put it in the boutonnieres and corsages 

I want to incorporate hanging crystals somewhere in the mix. I can't wait for my december month off, so I can get to more actual planning!! If anyone has any tips on how to decorate an old gazebo and garden (maybe with crystals?) then feel free to leave a comment!

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody,

you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible

--- Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally

love love love

Why is it that every time I write a post on my blog, I happen to start the entry with, its been a while... sounds vaguely like my diary when I was in elementary school.. except instead of talking to the entire world on the internet I simply wrote "dear diary I am so sorry I haven't written to you in a long time, I lost you under my bed and completely forgot to tell you stuff" like it was an actual person. But thats besides the point. World wide web of family and friends I am deeply sorry I have been so neglectful as of late. I am, what's the word people use as an excuse when they get lazy?, oh... busy. That's it. I was busy.

Well, to be honest I am busy. Most of my spare seconds are spent wedding planning, school work doing, and traveling to see the fiance. Oh, and sleeping.. that is a must these days. Wow 12 hour shifts drain you. Maybe I'm just a princess.. but I'm glad that I won't have to do them for the rest of my life. Ha, MAYBE I'm a princess.. okay I'm a big one, but I'm still glad! 

So in the order of new things that have happened in my life since I got engaged.. I'll just hit the highlights, so as not to bore you with trivial things like going to the washroom, and doing my hair each day and such. We had our engagement photo's this summer at Des's dad's farm in Moose Jaw. They are gorgeous, as is my fiance. However, I'm not too convinced of my "photogenicity" in them. Is that a word? It is now! I only seem to like the ones where you can't really see my face.. oh well, they're beautiful none-the-less. Here are a few of my favorites!

The second thing that has happened in my life since my engagement is the start of my final practicum in the NICU! I absolutely love it. It kind of sucks right now, because I'm on 2 different nurses' schedules, therefore they don't really go very well together. Having a night shift on monday, then a day shift on wednesday is not going to be fun! But I really do love it while I'm there. 

Lastly, something that just happened yesterday was the marriage of Jesse Hogg and Brenna Jones (or Janet Brenna Jones.. but we don't need to mention that!) and it was absolutely beautiful. I basically cried the entire day, ha. I also got to see an old and dear friend Michelle Dawley who I miss tonnes! It was a really fun day! And it makes me so excited for mine!

My wedding. Still can't believe its so soon. October 14th I'm going wedding dress shopping with my bridesmaids and mom and dad and future mother in law! Can't wait! Sorry, but no pictures will be posted of the dress I choose, as I know that my handsome fiance likes to keep tabs on my adventures while he's away from me in moose jaw. Too bad I never write on here! oops. 

I also want to start posting wedding ideas and plans on here... but thats for another day. Promise I'll be back soon, dear diary! 

When they asked me what I love most about life, I smiled and said you

--- unknown author

man and wife

IM ENGAGED!

On August 4th, 2011 on the beach in Kelowna the love of my life asked me to marry him. And I said yes, obviously. Such an exciting time in our lives, and the date is already set! I will marry my best friend on June 30, 2012. Let the countdown begin.

So much planning, so little time. I have so many ideas, the hard part is ensuring they come to fruition. SO, this blog has officially (for the next 10 months) become a blog about school and planning a wedding (yay!)

"The best smell in the world is that man that you love"

--- Jennifer Aniston

best friend

so, this little old blog about a girl and her life has officially become a blog about a girl getting married! Updates will follow shortly. From the proposal to plans, the world will be informed!

lucky

not only is the title of this blog one of "our songs" but it meanwhile sums up my current thoughts on my life and everyone/everything in it. In times of stress it's hard to take the advice "everything will work out." I recite this tidbit to others a lot, but seem to scoff at the notion when faced with my own terrifying uncertainties. However cliche, I've started to realize the truth in it: it may not be what you want, but it will work out.

I recently went car shopping. I would not recommend it... Walk everywhere instead. I have to hand it to my UH-MAZING boyfriend however, I'm not sure how you put up with such a pain-in-the-arse for a girlfriend! Your love, patience and kindness with, let's face it, the "itch" (if you catch my drift) I can be astonishes me. So, formally, and in writing, snappy McGee over here, would like to both thank you for being so understanding, and apologize for the havoc her stress may have caused you. Third person aside: I love you. Always.

Back to feeling lucky... Punk. I have a car. It's still on the lot, but it is mine. A 2008 mazda 3 never looked so good. Nor did my bed.. Sleep has been my friend lately-one that has moved far away but finally returned for an ever needed reunion. So (LUCKY for you) I leave you with this quote.

it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live

--- Albus Dumbledore

summer lovin'

I wonder if (even just once) I could start off a new post without mentioning I have finally done something. Today, it is that I have finally remembered about this little ol' blog, and decided to spend some time out of my thoroughly packed day of lounging on the couch and playing with my iPhone. I just got back to Calgary from a vacay to Diefenbaker lake and Moose Jaw with Des's family and my friend Vicky. Unfortunately, Des had school all week, so he was MIA. Not only did I drive a boat and seadoo (look out lake!), I also learned how to wakesurf (kinda). However nerve wracking the absence of being able to control the surfboard is, and almost crashing into the back of the boat numerous times, I still managed to enjoy myself. I also managed to do one of the things I love the most: taking pictures. Here are some of my favourites!

So this is my summer so far.... Boats and sun. I'm so hard done by.

In honor of the recently (and fab I might add) release of the final Harry Potter I decided to pay tribute to the fantastic author in my blog quote...

"what's coming will come and we will meet it when it does" 

--- JK Rowling

marry me

finally received, edited, reedited, and now posting pictures of the most beautiful wedding I have been to. To be fair I've only been to 4, but still. It was beautiful. Here are some of the pictures I took. enjoy!

"Promise me you'll always be happy by my side

I promise to sing to you when all the music dies"

-- Marry me, Train