Porcelain God Gets a Facelift!

Today's post needs a little back story to bring you up to speed.  So around this time last year, hubs and I got a wild hair and wanted to move.  Like with most things, once we set our mind to do something - there is no turning back. And once we decide there is no turning back, we want things done - NOW!

However, those of you that have ever purchased a home know it doesn't always go so smoothly. Alas, we put our first home up for sale and went a searching.  Because our first home required a massive renovation our criteria for the new digs included the terms "MOVE IN READY." And, although our intentions were in the right place, the real estate gods were unfortunately not.  Every home we put an offer in on that was indeed move in ready, we didn't get. WAH.

But there was this fancy little place (I think I told you more about it here), that just so happened to be an estate sale (so we'd save some $$ on the purchase) that IF, WHEN, had to have TLC it would end up just what we wanted. So, against our better judgement .. we signed up for months of renovation, endless nights of painting, and too many decisions for an indecisive couple (okay that might not be completely fair - it might just be me who's indecisive).  We tackled a loong list of updates including but not limited to: new hardwood floors, new carpet, new paint, removing wall paper, gutting our kitchen and rebuilding from the ground up, finishing our basement, new tile in the laundry room, knocking out a wall in the living room - basically you name it - we probably did it.

The GOOD news is, we are literally SO close to being finished.  Ironic however, because I have never met a homeowner who is ever truly done making changes. But in regards to the renovation, we really are almost there.  If you remember, our Christmas gift to one another was a completed dining room (because in our best efforts to remove the original wallpaper, we actually removed nearly all of the the drywall - I so wish I would have taken a picture of the damage - it honestly became comical at how bad we screwed up)....

Before Renovations

During Renovations

After Renovations 

(ALMOST complete - decor isn't finished, I want a new chandelier, NEED a new rug, I'd like to add to the slipcover chairs with some accent, and I'm going to paint the buffet something different ... in due time ... for now it can sit in peace)

So, to conclude the year of renovations - the last MAJOR project is FINALLY underway.  The Master Bathroom and the porcelain god. To any of you folk who live, have lived, or gone to the bathroom in an older home - you probably are aware of one thing: Old Toilet Bowls are SMALL. This picture truthfully doesn't do it it justice ... it's teensy.

The hubs has a MAJOR issue with this and although we are getting a completely new shower, new vanity, removing the nasty old carpet and putting in tile in the bathroom (yes the master bath had carpet), he is most excited to go and pick out his fancy, upgraded, much larger toilet bowl.  I'll be sure to share his final picks as they come in. 

But for an update on where we currently are in the process ...

Before Renovations

During Renovations and After Renovation pictures will be coming soon. I think we agreed on our tile last night! EEEEkk!!!  We're getting so close.

Babe Salad.

Happy Tuesday Y'all (I could have come up with a better opening, but I actually wrote most of this yesterday and forgot to post it...so here's your bloggy post today).  I don't know about the rest of you, but my weekend was packed full of R&R and I am not complaining one bit.

We saw skyrocketing temps in Louisville over the weekend - capping out in the 60's here in Louisville, which was a nice break from the winter chill. However, with the sun and warmth came the soaking rain of the cold front, that I get ever so frustrated with, because I want it to be SNOW!  But, the nasty, wet weather led to the perfect lazy Sunday with some (yes I'm aware some indicates plural) naps, hot chocolate, games of Scrabble and ... it is award season after all -- The GOLDEN GLOBES!

Side note on the Scrabble game ... hubs taking advantage of double and triple word scores that I continually tee up for him; hit a hot spot with me and my competitive bone ... Due to this little nugget of information, the 2nd game did not reach its full potential and was not played to completion, but rather ended in a Scrabble brawl.  Therefore, the last 35 minutes of the Golden Globes were enjoyed in silence.  Hehehe.  Games or anything competitive for that matter, get intense at our house ... don't judge.

More importantly however, can we talk about the fashion at the Golden Globes.  Holy COW ... they were smokin'! So, not that anyone should follow my fashion advice, because although I claim to have some style ... I am by NO means at the top of the fashion trends game.  However, I'll leave you with the 60-second recap, Katie version of Fashion Police.

First, I feel it is only right to call out those in which I look at their dress and say to myself - "What were you thinking?!?!"

1. Jennifer Lawrence

• ugh I know, I know ... I HATE to do it. Because she is a fellow KY girl and representing Louisville well.  Not to mention she got to rub shoulders with Bradley Cooper all night (and even more than that in the movie from what I hear - YOWW). Buuuut, I just wasn't digging the style - it looks too petite or something and just wasn't working for me. HOWEVER - can we say NAILED her acceptance speech?! i mean KILLED it. Love that girl.
2. Taylor Swift

• I was TOTALLY feeling her People's Choice Awards - post breakup dress. And although this is definitely a step up from her normal old moo-moos, something about dark sultry Taylor just doesn't work for me.
3. Anne Hathaway

• OMG! I don't know if it's the actual outfit or her over the top 2nd round bust out acceptance speech. Couple with her cuddling Amanda Seyfried onstage but it was TOO much and therefore she's on the fashion no no list.

Okay, now to the fun stuff.  My, holy cow I am so jealous of how good you look rocking that dress - top babe salad awards go to:

1. Hayden Panettiere

• I have loved this cute little gal since she made her first appearance in Remember the Titans as the football crazed daughter (partially because I think I was that exact same little girl when it came to my dad's Floyd County Catholic football team). But, now that she is rockin that stage in Nashville - she continues to steal my heart with these fancy styles.  LOVE it.
2. Jessica Alba

• Alright, so the girl is probably never going to be nominated for an Oscar, but YOWZA is she smokin'.  Whew. The dress, the hair, the lipstick.  Jess my friend - you NAILED it.
3. Lea Michele

• I've been hearing she's getting some flack for looking too tan. And although her spray tan was severely evident in that white dress...WHO ARE YOU KIDDING? You mean to tell me if you had to get on stage, during a hot fashion night in Hollywood with the entire world watching ... You wouldn't want to spray on a little color to make sure your STUNNING white dress doesn't wash you out? That's what I thought. And girrrrrrrl - yes. You looked good!

And the ultimate BABE SALAD of the night goes to........DRUM ROLL please:

Kate Hudson

Holy Hottness.  I'm not sure this one needs much commentary.  Black is in. Plunge is in. How good she looks in that dress is in!  Way to go Kate, Way to go.  The ultimate BABE SALAD.

The Terrible Two's...

Someone once told me, owning a dog is like having a 2 year old ... only they remain 2 years old for like 10-15 years.  I never really understood it. Until well...I got a dog :)  You can find out more about our sweet Maggie here.

During winter months having a dog and taking it out is one of those "make you grumble and thrash in your sheets because you REALLY don't want to get out of bed" mornings... Every morning...and evening (when you're on the couch) for that matter. Okay, okay. So I make Shane do all the doggie dirty work when it's cold outside. but I'm cold for him too. Hehehe.

Or how about when you go to lay down at night, you find the EXACT perfectly comfortable spot and then the dog comes crawling into your bed.  You're all nestled for the best winter hibernation you can imagine and by the end of the night you have dog butt in your face; and you might as well move your pillow to the floor because the chances of you getting your side of the bed back is completely UNREALISTIC!

Nevertheless...cold mornings, cold walks, and losing patience over if I have to tell you "no you cannot chew on my beloved Ugg house slippers" ONE MORE TIME...my little Maggie Moo brings so much joy to our life. 

From dressing her up in ridiculous antics, giving us something to talk about when really whatever you are doing is not all that interesting, to being the best snuggle a gal could ask for, and last but not least for creating funny pictures with me to send to Hubs while he's gone. Here are a few of my favorites to depict just what I'm talking about...

And today Miss Maggie Mae -- is your BIRTHDAY! You're officially 2 years old! 

Can't wait to take her to Three Dog Bakery and get her a delicious birthday treat!  After your response to last year's cake, I'd say your pretty excited too.

So, Happy Birthday Mags, Love you and your terrible two's...forever!

naughty or NICE?! {LINK UP!}

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, I'm telling you why.  Santa Claus is comingggg...to TOWN! He's making a list, and checking it twice.  He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice!

Well kids ... the jolly old elf came and went.  So what's the verdict? Were you naughty or nice? Well I'd say after the Christmas I had this year ... Santa thought I was NICE! :) Yayyyy.  I was running around like Kevin in Home Alone when I opened my pretty packages.  (no but really, this is very close to my reaction...So much for a poker face...)

I wanted to share some of my favorite Christmas gifts with my favorite online pals .. and give you a chance to Link up and share too!  I'd love to see what goodies you raked in this Holiday.  Or just hear some great Holiday stories.

Alright...Katie's top 3 favorite gifts for this year include:

1. Marc Jacob's Classic Q Francesca Black Leather purse (I can't seem to find the exact replica image...but it looks similar to this...I might have the name wrong)
   
2. Burberry scarf (hubs picked this out all on his own...my very first one...ever! JUMPING for joy!)
   
3. Fireplace Screen (yea, go ahead and say it..."you know you're getting old when"...you're more excited about a fireplace screen for your living room than a pair of boots)
   
   Alright folks, lets hear it and see it!  Who or What was it this Holiday that had you dancing around your living room like a crazed Christmas fool?