Our Top 12 of 2012

Really quickly, before the clock strikes 12 I gotta squeeze in my top 12 of 2012! I'm an NYE junkie and am super superstitious  so I am running around the house like a mad woman trying to get everything in order. Writing my resolutions, making sure the house is spic and span, throwing away clutter, EVERYthing I can to feel like I am starting the year off right! Obviously I stubbed my toe a few times this year, but who wants to hear about that right?? So here are my top 12, come back tomorrow for my resolutions!

###12. Finding this book - more about it tomorrow, but it has been such an inspiration about how to live life happier in each and every moment, everyday.

###11. Getting a camera this Christmas! I've been known to kidnap a camera, and have wanted one for YEARS. Mucho thanks to my Hubby.

###10. Getting hooked on Homeland the TV show. Being part of the cult audience is equally as fun as watching the show.

#9. Goodbye facebook, helllooooo Instagram! Enough said!

###8. Watching William & Kate! From the Olympics to their baby announcement, I can not get enough of this couple!

###7. Falling in LURVEE with Nail polish - me loves a new hobby, and I def found it this year. 

#####6. Buying our first real Christmas tree, first tree ever actually! And spending our first Christmas as married couple. Sappy I know, but its true. Christmas was extra exciting this year even tho I am not a christmasaholic! (And if you're paying attention that's the back of Carrie Matheson's head on the TV ;)

###5. Watching the Texans this season, even tho we kinda suck at the moment. It's still been a blast to see them have a 12-4 season.

###4. Making new friends, and cherishing the old ones too. I seriously love these girls to the moon and back. Kristin & Rachie keeping me young, 

 

and a large handful of close friends expanding their families, getting married and prego! I'm so excited to meet all these babies and see my bestie get married! 

Emmy is getting married next year!

Jenn is having a girl! Can't wait to meet Molly!

My sister -n-law is having another boy!

Baby Avery should be here any minute!

 Erika is having boy/girl twins and couldn't be any cuter!


3. Building our first house. It was definitely a labor of love - and one of the biggest projects of my life! I had my personal interior designer, my sister, on speed dial. I know she loved every minute of it too (hehe). I am having a blast to decorating and making this house a home with my boo.
Home tours in 2013 are on the agenda! 

##2. Dolphins on our honeymoon! Swimming with them and huggin' and kissin' too! our whole honeymoon really! I've never been so high on life - truly. Matthew did a great job and kept me surprised about the destination until we got to the airport. 

####1. And number one, no guessing here, getting married to Matthew. In the church of our dreams and exactly how we wanted it:  Near the water, laid back with a huge dance party!  And That it was!

Good bye 2012! It's been a big year! to 2013 being even bigger!!

Salud and good wishes to everyone!
-Tessy

Are you addicted to Instagram?

Well then watch this video..I sure am, and this video made me laugh so hard I wanted to cry.

And rethink my instagram photos... lol.. enjoy!

It's ok ..

It’s OK to:

Lounge around in long PJ’s and avoid chores ..

To feel a little down when it gets dark at 6 p.m. ..

To buy tons of Christmas DIY project materials.. and then let just let them sit on the kitchen table

To buy too much nail polish.. my goodness when will my addiction stop!

To take us a whole week to drill in one towel rack ..and when I say Us I mean my husband. But I stand there for moral support so that counts right?

but mostly.. It's ok to count down the days til the next Homeland episode .. and to ask everyone I know if they watch it.... and to read message boards abouta above mentioned TV show .. I mean reading other people’s predictions about what will happen is the closest thing to finding out what really happens.. Seriously.. this show.. it’s a drug ya’ll. Go. Watch. Now!

Recipe round up... and some rambles

Merry Christmas Yall! Wait, its only thanksgiving. I could hardly tell because I’ve pretty much fast forwarded and already have Christmas brain. Apparently so has everyone else, so it must be all good in the hood.

So, I am just going to go ahead and throw it out there, I am the least domestic person on the planet. I am not kidding you. I used to tell my sister she was crazy for spending ungodly amounts of times on renovating and decorating her house {sidenote: I am now obessing over decorating ect.end sidenote.}. I can’t do laundry. The clothes just pile up and I just think Ha. Ha. Ha. Bc lets get real, I’ll never be good at sorting and folding clothes. Oh - and I just realized I need to mop my wood floors. Who knew?

Well this post has nothing to do with any of the above, it’s all about the recipes I’m going to take a stab at this thanksgiving.. and despite my lack of domestic godess-ness, I can actually sort of cook. I just make a huge mess and and then ask my husband to clean it up..Which he usually says later and then I just do it myself. Oh married life! Speaking of… yesterday was 6 good ol months. OH yes. Six months of wedded bliss.

OK .. where was I… why are you still reading?? Because I am about to pass on to you the best Paula Deen recipes your taste buds laid eyes on. Or laid tongues on. Uhhhh hmmmmmm. Pass da buttah please.

Check the link out here, is it Paula Deen Gooey Butter Cake – Seriously LEGIT. I tried them at a recent party, and knew I had to make them!

I will also try this {for myself}, and this {for Matthew}. Wish me luck! Toodles and happy Turkey Day.

Friday Faves - Furniture Edition

Happy Friday Y'all. First up on my Friday faves: going home to see my boo!

This work trip has been so cool, but I'm so excited to takkeee it to the houuuse!
 Hello two-hour flight I want to be on you.

After wrapping things up here, I will be headed to the house manana.

So speaking of the House - we have actually been decisive in buying our first furniture :) And decisiveness is pretty much impossible in our household, so I am super duper thrilled that this bad boy {but in gray} is finally arriving tomorrow!! 

[The Beckham Sectional from Basset]

Obviously this picture is not of my house, #Iwish. The couch was supposed to arrive last Saturday, but we got the  ol' delivery man fake-out. But Alas, our couch is finally coming! 

As my bestie Lynette says "you come home to sit" tee heeee. Bye, bye,bye to those ugly black couches!

What we loved about this piece is its modular, so we can shape it however we want. This is pretty helpful because our room is an awkward size, and we were having so muchhhh trouble finding a couch. 

#Progress folks!

And third, I've purchased my first and probably only Christmas present. 

 Best.Present.Ever. This table. my gosh. I just want to marry it :)

{The Emmerson from West Elm}

I compromised on the couch, but that table was all mine. #soinlove.

Its all finally coming together, and thank goodness because an empty white house was 

really testin' my patience!!Just need chairs, rugs and drapes! #thatsalmosteverything  LOL

annddd up fourth on this wonderful Friday?  We are kicking off the holiday season with some friends for their Thanksgiving gala. And hopefully buying a Christmas tree. I want a fake, and Matt wants real.. so we shall see who prevails on this one!  Muhahahaha.

This post was all kinds of inspired by Amber with her contagious Christmas spirit, go check out her wreaths!

Who else is getting their decorating  on this weekend?

-Tessy

Hello from Orlandoooo + My most favorite neighbor

Hi guys! popping in real quick from Orlando - it's been an interesting experience to say the least, and I can't wait to post a recap of this crazy amusement park tradeshow I've had the pleasure of working with over the past few weeks! Minus a crap hotel, everything has been pretty awesome.

Anywhoo.. here is my cute little neighbor Jessie... From Matthew's college buds to our neighbors at the end of the driveway! One of my favorite little families, with the cutest little 14 month old I've ever seen! Seriously, I tell no lies. Look at her?? Too precious!

Its always fun with the Daigles, enjoy!

****************************************************************************************************************

Hello there! I am guest blogging here for Miss Tess while she is soaking up the sun (its mostly overcast, but a solid 80 degrees) in Florida. Well, she's supposed to be working, but hopefully she at least gets to see the beach. I spend a little time each week documenting my life as a wife & mommy over here at Thedaigs.blogspot.com.

I am the lucky wife to the same guy I have crazy about since I was fifteen. I am the mommy to the funniest, sassiest, sweetest little girl. She is sure teaching us a lot about life and making us laugh {and sometimes cry} along the way.

Tess and I are actually new neighbors! Our husbands met and hit it off in college and have kept in touch since. It just so happened that we were house hunting at the same time & built houses just a couple steps away from each other. I love having Tess & Matthew for neighbors several reasons.

Here are just a few:
1.) They love to watch football and drink wine. {Clarification:} husbands watch football, we drink wine.
2.) I have an instant work out partner. Now if we would just {start} working out that would be great.
3.) They love to entertain my daughter and she adores them already.
4.) I love the security in knowing that I have the opportunity to borrow any nail polish color in the world, just a few steps away. Speaking of nail polish- I am taking a vacation from my usual shellac to give this 'painting your own nails' thing a try. So far so good. I found the prefect fall color for me. Not too gray, not too purple. It's Armed and Ready from Essie. Now I just have to figure out this topcoat that Tess raves about (chinaglaze is my go to!) so I can actually keep these babies from chipping after just 3 days.

I don't know why my hand is discolored in that picture. I swear I took it 9 times to get it to look like the ones Tess takes (usually natural light helps!). Focus on the color people not the chewed up cuticles. Enjoy the rest of your week! And stop by every now and then to see what I am up to.....always something going on!

-J.P.D. -- Jessi

is she just so cute?? go visit her here..now!

Leaving On a Jet Plaane + Giveaway Winner!

don't know if I'll be back again.....

But really.
I'm writing from the plane and en route to Orlando, Florida - Where it's 80 degrees all week!
Don't worry, I packed one measley sweater. Just in case. You never know these days.

Now I will be working, AND saying hey shamu hey! Maybe a little Disney, and Universal Studios action! Eeee! Maybe I can find some dolphins again!

Of course, I left all my packing to the last minute. AND I am a chronic over packer seriously I am that Girl shifting items between suitcases to get them under 50 lbs. I didn't toss in the usual 'if I get invited to the coolest party in the universe' outfits. I don't know why I always think that might happen lol, that most definitely never happens lol. I promised myself I wouldn't do that this time around, so at least I managed that!

Anywho enough about me! thank you to everyone who entered my giveway, the winner is Coley from Planned Spontaneity! Congrats coley! and check her out she's quite the polish connoisseur! Email me and shoot me your address so I can get these Goodies in the Mail Coley!

And that is it for now! I'll have a few guest posters popping in for your entertainment, and some updates on the house. We bought some big items and I can't wait for them to get here!!!

Im clearly into exclamation points today. Love you guys!

Where its AT

I've got two turn tables and a microphone!

Happy Election day lovies!

I totally voted, and then drove my bum to McDonald's to complete the American experience. Now we are off to our neighbors to grill out and watch the news!
and by the time you read this tomorrow, we'll know the outcome.

[that would be a snack size mcflurry, double oreo + m&m's what what]

I am so excited about so many things coming up and can't wait to share with you guys!
I missed the weekend update, but I'll have to fill you all in!

Andddd if you haven't entered my giveway yet, do so! I swear if I could afford more giveaways I would,
it was so fun on friday getting blogger email and tweets etc.
Felt a little like Santa if ya know what I mean ;)

Over and out, be back soon!

Family Friday! + Blue Nails + A giveway

It’s Friday and Im freaking stoked (started out a little bumpy) but my sister is coming from Austin to visit us this weekend, to see our new abode and to help us be more decisive about all this furniture biznazz. But most importantly, I can’t wait to see little nieces and nephewsssss all running around like the crazy big kids they are now. My 5-year-old nephew even insisted he bring his OWN pillows. Seriously how grown up is he??? “He insisted we pack our own pillows” were my sister's exact words. Sounds like an old man to me!

So back to the topic of the furniture buying process, I just have to give a shout out to Stephanie over at BEAUtifulmess. I think she really hit the nail on the head with this post… you want to buy so much at the beginning, and it can somewhat consume you. You have more space than you ever did, and your college furniture looks so small lol! I want a huge linen upholstered headboard, a bar piece, a table, a sectional, foyer pieces and the list goes on and on and on. And even worse, I want to wait til I get all these things to invite people over. Straight up bananas right? But that is not what having a home is all  about.  You really have to take a step back and say “this isn’t going to happen overnight,” and also learn how to say hey Craig hey!

Ok and that’s mushiness for the day. So excited to spend time con mi familia this weekend!! Hope everyone is having a great Friday!!! Oh and here is my giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will post more pictures of everything later, have some serious camera problems but here a few of the goodies: A paint your own nails start up kit, including the BEST top coat ever. A few buffers which I highly recommend!! Seriously I wouldn’t lie. And two of the hottest colors this winter!! Also a Zara Scarf,  and some cutie Kendra Scott earrings perfect for the holidays.

And here are my current nails for the nail files - totally swooning over glitter lately which is so unsual for me. It's one coat of Essie "Midnight Cami," glitter on the tips, then then top coat. If you don't seal the glitter with the top coat, it looks kinda funky.

Love you Guys!!

Tessy

It's my blogiversary.. and I'm running late as usual.

Hello my loves, it's my blogiversary! 1 full year of blogging, and while it did not make me rich I have met new friends and all kinds of other jazzy things have happened.

For one, I got a free blowdryer. Totally rad. Review coming soon, I promise Brian.

I was enabled to stalk lots of strangers. This was by far, one of my all-time favorite things. I knew there was life after facebook, so glad I found it!

I learned about all the fresh fashion trends, and bought into none of them. That's right friends, I bought a house instead (and 100 bottles of nail polish..). That equals 1,046 items of cute clothing. I'll try harder next year in the fashion department, I promise.

I found an outlet where my usual word vomit was actually semi-appreciated. This was in fact Priceless. Wouldn't trade this fo nothin'. 

But truly, in all seriousness, I met some great friends, discovered all kinds of things about others, and myself. This has been an outlet for me, and for that I am eternally grateful. Blog world, I love you. I really, really do.

and of course, I procrastinated, but I super duper pinky promise... I"m posting my first EVER giveaway tomorrow! As my way of saying thank you, I hope my ramblings helped pass the time
whenever you were watching TV, bored.
OR Standing in line at the grocery store, bored.
OR Sitting at some government office, renewing some government document, bored.
BUT most likely, you were sitting at your desk, at work, bored.

and PS. my hair isn't drastic enough,Going back in a week for the REAL transformation. I posted some pics on Insta, so follow me there. My name is modernsuburbaniiiite

and I'm out.

Welcome to our Home!

Helloooo Dearss! By the time this post publishes I'll be getting my hair did, most likely ombre on my tips or full on black.. but you never know...

EEEP. I'm already scared of the thought.

So I wanted to share a few more pictures of the house, since I started the House pics yesterday, with my kitchen! And as usual I am late, we actually closed on the house a month ago. But I am late mostly because I wanted to make collages (story of my life).
But alas there is no quick collage maker per the demise of that ill-fated google website that used to make collages which I can't even remember what it-was-called-right-now.
Wow, pathetic. But really, some before and after collages would be ideal.

Ok moving right a long, collageless... here are some before and after shots.. Welcome to our humble abode!

 

To our current look:

[from the street]

[driveway, hiii neighbors you're on a blog :) Just a tiny one tho, fret not!]

[the red door that I picked on accident. I never intended to have such a red door]

There she is!

Our blue house, on the corner, that we picked every door knob and paint color in..and still in need of blinds/shades/drapes or whatever we pick out (hopefully this weekend). I have more pictures of my kitchen, including some cool details that weren't captured in my post yesterday. But I shall return with them soon.

Things we hope to do:

• add something to the windows. Shutters, crown molding, flower baskets, just something to give it dimension and make it less boxy looking. (very long-term project)
• add vines and plants along the iron fence. We have the vine, just need to plant it! and we should buy the flowers soon.

Whatcha thank?? I will be hosting my first-ever giveway tomorrow, make sure to stop back by!!

Oh and happy halloween. DUH. Xoxoxox