Royal Wedding.

Just a few tidbits of the royal wedding. People, this is HISTORY! Kate looked beautiful and I'm glad that the importance and sacredness of marriage was highly publicized.

Kate's beautiful dress.

Soooo regal!

I would be smiling that big too.

Mr. and Mrs. HRH

Perfect tiny little kiss.

Thanks Will and Kate for letting the entire WORLD participate in your wonderful and intimate day.

Let Them Eat Cake.

The worst exam for the worst class ever happened yesterday. I had been freaking out over it all day that I had made myself physically sick and a complete mess. It was so bad that I even asked Ben to meet me in a Shopping Plaza parking lot to get a blessing (he's awesome by the way and its even more awesome is that he's my home teacher too). I went in, I took the exam, blah blah blah. Nevertheless, I still let it effect me all the way to Publix where I needed to do some grocery shopping. I sulked all the way to the doors, drudged my way through self pity with my cart and ended up at the bakery. It was almost closing and there was this sweet old man there.

"What can the bakery do for you young lady?" he said. I asked him if I could pretty please have a free sugar cookie because I just took the worst exam of my life and I feel like crap. "One second. I can do one better for you." Then, that sweet old man presented me with this little treasure:

(Please excuse how horrible this picture's quality is. I usually sneak pictures with Ben's iPhone, but he wasn't there).

Sweet right? I heartily thanked the man and wondered around with a little more skip to my step. Cake helped. Thanks Publix for making shopping and post-exams a pleasure!

P.S. One more exam tonight and I'm free for a whole week! Now I just need to come up with $300 for books (the total cost AFTER half.com) within the next few weeks. Bight spot: I'm like 75% sure that I'm getting my 75% Bright Futures back. Sweet......

A Letter to King Benjamin.

I don't think Ben reads my blog that often, but just in case he does, this is to him:

My Amor,

You make me happiest. I really appreciate all that you do. You are the perfect example of selflessness and charity (well besides the ultimate example, and you know who that is). You are always sacrificing to make me happy and to make sure that I am taken care of. I am so grateful for that – you don’t eve know. Your smile makes me smile. Your jokes make me laugh. I think you are the most hysterically funny person I have ever met. Really. I mean that. You make my dreams come true. You are my dream. Thank you for being you and thank you for loving me so well. I love you my amor. I really do. I hope you know that.

Love always,

Your amor.

P.S. I love this picture of you. It reminds me of the face you make every time I do something ridiculous. I love that face.

Cheating.

I think it is a fair title considering it is finals week. I'm above cheating, but sometimes, like right now, I wish I weren't. Anyways, I really wanted to apologize to stumbleupon.

Ahem...

Dearest Stumbleupon,

I am so sorry I have not visited you in a while. Alas, I realize it has been at least a week or two and that normally I would see you on a daily basis. Can you find it down in your heart of hearts to forgive me? Where have I been you might ask. Actually, I am quite embarrassed to tell you. Not because its embarrassing of course, it tis not, but rather because of my infidelity that will arise from me telling you. If you must know, I have been visiting Pinterest on a daily basis. In fact, more like a twice daily basis. I know, I know. You never got that much attention from me. Lets just say its not you, its me. You are a great site for finding fascinating things on the internet. I am more drawn to the organization of Pinterest. That is all. I really hope that we can be friends and that you will allow me to frequent you in the near future, more specifically, when I am bored.

You loving stumbler,

jb0252

If you haven't heard of stumbleupon or pinterest, visit those links. You'll love me and then hate me for it later. Either way, you will find treasures from either one beyond measure. Pinterest is a little more elite and privileged though. You must be invited in to participate in its lovelies. Comment with your email if you'd like an invite.

P.S.

Pray for me this finals week. It's been a doozey so far and I've only taken one. Three more to go!

P.S.S.

While googling a picture for the finals week thing, I found a really funny, yet inappropriate for my classy blog picture. Best part, it was on a paralegal studies student's blog.

Staking Claim.

Okay, I've been making a list in my head of awesome names for my future kids. Mostly boys. I really only want boys. I'm starting to forget these epic names! finally, I shall immortalize them in writing. Warning: These names are mine. If I know you or my sons will ever have the possible chance into running into your sons, you CANNOT use these names, please :)

1. Urban

2. Bronco

3. Dakoda

4. Maksim

5. Axle

6. Steele (he'll sport a mowhawk)

7. Miles

8. Harrison

9. Paxton

10. Owen

For the girls so far:

1. Lily

2. Audrey

3. Stella

4. Peyson

5. Honor

Alright, now I have them written down somewhere so I won't forget these little gems. Hopefully they man that is most fortunate to marry me will be down with these little ones.

Tomorrow Is Another Day

I'm so obsessed with free movies from the library that I went and got a Maitland library card too. This library is across the street from my cottage and their fines are half as much as the Orange County public library System (not that I plan on getting fines, but you know, in preparation for those things you don't foresee). Every night for the past two weeks, I have fallen asleep to movies. Last Thursday and Friday I watch "Gone With the Wind." As far as I can remember, my mother would watch "Gone With the Wind" what would seem like every Sunday. I hated this movie. I hated it! It was so long and boring and I didn't get why the girl was so whinny. All of this was probably due to the fact that I was like 9 and had no clue what was going on. Therefore, how could I appreciate it. Now that I'm so much more mature and 21 I take back all of that whining I did on my own part. Its a classic. Its wonderful. Its romantic. I loved it!

Can't you imagine her saying, "Fiddle-dee-dee!"

When I was little, I didn't get the importance behind the whole smoldering glance thing. I get it now. I don't think Ben does though :)

If only we still got to live in houses like that and wear dresses like that and throw fits like that.

Oh well. All in all, I just wanted to apologize to my mother for always throwing Scarlett O'Hara type hissy fits over watching "Gone With the Wind" when I was little.

Also, this whole movie obsessed thing has made me realize a couple of other interesting facts about myself. Here they are, 5 Random facts About Kaylee You May or May Not Have Known About:

1. I like reading movies. Yes, you read right, read movies. This stems from the Hornsby Household. Our living room with the DVD player was right next to the kitchen. I would be watching a movie and mom would think it was the perfect time to clean the kitchen or the dishes, etc. One could never hear the movie over the water or clanking (it was a competition even when you would turn the volume up) so I started the habit or turning the subtitles on. Thus we have my love for reading all movies, English or not. Plus, you get the funny tidbits that people are saying in the background sometimes.

2. I love foreign movies especially French and Hindi ones. See No. 1.

3. I love to read in the bathroom. Not necessarily on the toilet or in the bath, but just the room. This also comes from the Hornsby household. Our house was always loud so if I wanted peace and quite I would go into the bathroom and turn the shower on, then sit on the counter and read. If I want to read, I still do this. I go into my bathroom, close myself in, turn the shower on, sit on the counter and read.

4. I am terrified of faucets and shower drains. I'm convinced that bugs will come out of them and hurt me. I go through painful efforts to avoid stepping on my shower drain because I know the second I do, a snake is going to bite me or something.

5. I think I am smarter than most of my professors. This, I think, stems from correcting almost all of them in class multiple times this semester. I really wish I could convince myself that they really were smarter than me so that I would take their classes more seriously, but alas, I cannot.

Okay, I'll end this rambling mess. Tomorrow is another day. A day I look forward to. Why? This girl:

She's coming to visit me! We're going to have a grand time with things including, but not limited to, macaroons, the temple, pools, volleyball and a picnic.

Oh and one last thing before I go...

I am totally in support of the Royal Wedding fanatics. You bet I'm going to be watching it next Friday. I've even signed their guestbook.

Jealous

Be jealous, unless you happen to live in Orange County. We have a legit library system. Being broke helps me appreciate it even more. Not only can you check books out there for a couple of weeks at a time, you can check out up to 20 movies at a time for a week at a time. It is legit. I'm not talking about old movies that no one has ever heard of, we're talking about movies that just came out and tons of movies that are popular. Also, this includes television series. Like I said, it's legit. One movie I checked out was "Away We Go." My kind of movie. An indie flick with a couple trying to figure their lives out. Best part.... this house:

When I was little I feel in love with this house. It's in Sunnyside, Leesburg, Florida. It is beautiful and houses so much history. A woman in my ward grew up in the house and owned it even into her adulthood. I always wanted to befriend this old woman so she would will the house to me. She was in her mid- 90s when I moved away, so I'm sure she is gone now and I've missed my opportunity. Regardless, I've never forgotten this house. In Leesburg, teeneagers would break into it and would spread rumors of it being haunted (totally not true and I might have done this a time or two). Imagine my surprise as I'm watching this movie and then decide to settle in hedr family's old home......

No worries. I looked it up to make sure. This is the same house! Proof: The Director at the fornt door. I know that front door. I've walked up to it many-a-time.

Basically, be jealous of me and my awesome library privilages. Also, I am so jealous that this ficticious couple got to settle down in my realistic dream house.

It's All Mine!

I have been wanting my own little place for a while and I honestly didn't think it would ever happen. As grateful as I was to my brother for letting me live rent free for a year, it got to the point where we both wanted out of that deal; he probably wanted me to start paying and I wanted something closer. Then I found this.....

Actually, I found a post on a bulletin board at the church. The description was perfect and I knew it would go fast, so I snatched it off the board so no one could take "my future place." I called and called everyday for about three weeks and left message after message for the people. No one ever answered. I knew it was too good to be true. About a month after that, I received a call from the lady wanting to know if I was still interested (heck yes!) and asked me to come check it out. That day I decided that I was moving (it was love at first sight) and within the next two weeks I had made it all happen. Its mine all mine and I LOVE it. The "cottage" is just perfect, plus it happens to be in a super nice area with great lakes to walk/jog around, a library right across the street AND a Jeremiah's Italian Ice in walking distance. I LOVE it.

P.S. I used Ben's phone to take the picture of my place. After I came back into the cottage, Ben showed me what he had been doing while I took it........

Creeper.... but a very very good looking creeper.

I want. I need. I will have.

I really want this. I think I might have to eat some more Ramen noodles for a couple of weeks to afford it, but it's worth it to me.

E's Gold Bird Necklace

It's saying in Latin, "semper ad meliora," means, "Always towards better things."

And look how cute it looks on!

I love it.

Cow Theory

There is the old saying:

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I know a few people who are giving their milk away for free. Maybe not in an extreme sense, but still, in a way where they will be jipping themselves or already have jipped themselves, in the long run. Most people shrug this notion off. This morning it hit me. It's not necessarily the problem of buying the cow when you get the milk for free. Most people buy the cow, use their milk and then what? They do what any normal person does with the cow. The kill it and eat it and then keep the milk and meat. I know, I know, this is kind of an extreme comparison, but still, its true.

Someone I care about very much got into the habit of giving out milk, but not for free at first. As they got more comfortable with their "farmer" they started to loan out the milk. Now, the great and long cow/farmer relationship has hit a road-bump, the cow is stuck with no more milk. The farmer hasn't killed off the cow yet, but once he realizes he can just get the cow for the meat and not have to deal with the cow anymore after that, well than, that's what he's going to do.

This is probably completely random, but it boils down to this:

1. Don't lower your standards (or the standards of those who are trying to teach you if they aren't your own standards yet) for anything.

2. The farmer WILL NOT keep the cow. He won't. The cow always get used for something.

3. Don't ever put yourself in a position to be the cow.

I'm so tired of seeing people I care about settling and thinking that they will be okay with their decisions when they have no clue what the real consequences will be. Save yourself the heartache and keep that milk for yourself!

Okay, I'm done rambling now. A post and the pictures from mine and Ben's NYC/Salt Lake Puerto Rico trip are soon to come. I think.

The Uncomplicated Life

I stumbled upon this little treasure and thought it was worth posting.

You see, when we’re born we see the world in an uncomplicated way. We know what we need, and we ask for it. We like nice people, and we don’t like mean people. We sleep when we’re tired, we eat when we’re hungry, and we stop eating when we’re full.

As we grow older, we eat and drink to console ourselves, rather than addressing what’s bothering us. We overwork to avoid close relationships, rather than finding people we can trust to form strong bonds with. We hold grudges, play games, spend more than we make, want things we don’t need, and we get too far away from our basic human needs. In other words, we complicate things.

Here are 100 ways to uncomplicate it...

{perfect inspiration for a Sunday!}

1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds

2. Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don’t rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you’re late/get fired

3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night so that you think more clearly

4. Stick to your budget

5. Start saving and investing every week, no matter how little you can spare

6. Balance your checkbook

7. Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people.

8. Don’t try to do business with everyone. Identify your target client and take very good care of them.

9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years

10. Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others

11. Stay home this Saturday, and finish off that nagging chore that you need to finish

12. Kiss and make up

13. Make a weekly menu, and shop for only those items at the market

14. Ask your grandparents the best way to uncomplicate life, and try it for a month

15. Fill up your gas tank when it’s half full

16. Don’t drink alcohol when you’re tired, sad or mad

17. Pay your bills on time

18. Get an annual physical examination

19. Say “I love you” to your significant other and to your children. Studies show that more marriages last, and fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day.

20. For just one day, imagine everyone’s intentions are good because most people’s are

21. Give away clothes that haven’t been worn in two years

22. Throw out clothes that are in disrepair, and can’t be mended

23. When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don’t let it turn into more than it is.

24. Know what your priorities are in life, and act as if they are your priorities

25. Tell the truth

26. Don’t cheat

27. Don’t steal

28. If you’re holding on to a ridiculous grudge, let it go

29. Clean your house weekly, so that it doesn’t become too large a chore

30. Do your best at work, or at school

31. Don’t eat when you aren’t hungry

32. Eat when you are hungry

33. Be yourself

34. Say no unapologetically

35. Cook simple meals

36. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses

37. Pay off your car before buying a new one

38. Organise your desk at the office

39. Change your smoke alarm batteries when the clocks spring forward, and again when they fall back

40. Organise your important paperwork

41. Take only half the clothes that you planned to take with you on holiday

42. Help your children with their homework every night, and have an open dialogue with their teachers

43. Have white sheets and white towels in children’s rooms/bathrooms, because they’re easily bleached

44. Spend your time with nice people

45. Avoid drama

46. Don’t text or talk on the phone while driving

47. Turn off the television/video games/computer; they’re time consumers

48. Don’t engage in office politics

49. Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people’s backs

50. Do the dishes right after dinner

51. Never go to sleep angry

52. Ask nicely for what you need and want

53. Walk 10,000 steps per day to help your heart

54. Do 20 push-ups before speaking in anger

55. Leave work at work

56. Don’t befriend anyone that isn’t trustworthy

57. Don’t envy others

58. Have your oil changed

59. Take vitamin C BEFORE you catch a cold

60. Don’t work more than 8 hours per day

61. Weed your garden weekly

62. Wash your car weekly

63. Have a spring cleaning month every year, and do one room at a time

64. You don’t need to be best friends with work colleagues, but build respectful partnerships

65. Don’t drink and drive

66. Don’t look for reasons to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You’ll always be able to find plenty of each.

67. Be friendly with your neighbours

68. Return emails and phone messages promptly

69. Schedule in free time

70. Don’t procrastinate

71. Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it

72. Be more flexible when you’re able to be

73. Forgive and forget. End of story.

74. Break the consumerism habit…put a three month moratorium in place on buying anything not deemed a necessity

75. Start your diet on September 1, rather than January 1, so that you won’t also have holiday pounds to lose

76. Take care of any health issues or concerns

77. Have your tires rotated

78. Have your brakes checked

79. Have your eyes checked

80. Don’t let your imagination run away with you

81. Let go of perfection in others

82. Let go of perfection in yourself

83. Don’t try to help those that refuse to help themselves

84. Find a way to reduce your commute to work

85. Have an alloted amount of worry time per day/week, that you strictly abide by

86. Drink more water

87. Eat more salmon

88. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill

89. Wear your hair in a classic, easy to care for style

90. Finish what you start

91. Wear classic clothes and shoes that never go out of style

92. Create a daily routine

93. Have a 1, 5, 10 and 20 year plan for your financial and life goals

94. Slow down

95. Eat out less often

96. When you ask your husband which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer and wear the one he liked rather than focusing on why he didn’t like the other one

97. Allow your children to grow up

98. Clean out your garage, and donate anything that hasn’t been used in the past year

99. Stretch every day

100. If a relationship is over, let it go