We were all on Santa's nice list! We received the things we wanted & then some. Even Lulu was happy to see her stocking filled with the things she loves most(new collar & name tag)-and she loves a good b.o.n.e. Each one of us has cool new boots to sport-mine are so comfy! LaVaughn wore his all day in his pj's-it was a sight to see:-O. Lots of new clothes, iphones, ipod, and some beats. I loved spending Christmas morning with my family-in a mess...
[Christmas Eve]
It SNOWED!! I was so happy to be able to get photos of the girls & Lulu as the snow came down. In the end we had a couple of inches-not slick enough for the girls to slide down the hill in back(and they tried). We spent the evening with friends having Chinese food & games...and enjoying the fire.
[roller skating]
Whoa, it has been a LONGtime since I have been skating at a roller rink. I grown up at a local roller rink in Detroit-every Saturday night! It's nice to know we have a local rink here...I took the girls skating and I had to join in-I worked up a sweat. The girls were a bit shocked to see that I could even skate backwards. ha!!
[lunch date]
Mummm, Mexican food delights my soul! Sometimes LaVaughn & I like to sneak off on lunch dates-minus the girls. He wasn't happy about me taking pictures, I am not the one who has to live with the goofy faces shown on my blog-so ha!
[lulu, my model]
See how much she loves to have her picture taken(as long as I have a treat to dangle in front of her).
[Christmas 2012]
I will be trying to get the last of my Christmas photos in before I have to pack all the decorations away.
Keisha...girl, you keep inspiring me....but I have two questions for you...first, what do you do with all those tags you make? I know you must have tons by now...I also remember that you do frame some of them..but the rest?? also, how do you stamp and emboss so neatly? you have no messy glitter left over...I have tried and tried to make my stamping come out neat but it never does....love your pictures...always so neat to see what's next on the Keisha site ;)
Thanks Crumley....LOL, I have learned that I needed a glitter tray & that little pillow like thing to swipe over the area you plan to stamp-don't know the proper name, lol!! I will take some photos and post it in my next update. Right now I am trying to collect frames to be able to frame multiple tags in one frame-to frame my favorite tags. I do have a few framed and on my wall. Others I save for gifts!!
I love this post!! Thank you for sharing. We also have a highly active dog who sheds like MAD!!! So I love to hear how other dog owners cope with it. We just bought an air purifier so hopefully that'll help.. Merry Christmas!! :)
Thank you Keisha for posting this. I'm going to target today and will be buying my own janitor mop haha. Can I ask another question? How do you keep such an organized kitchen? I'm envious. Sorry if my questions are dumb. I'm newly married (military wife) and my hubby is a bit of a tyrant (in a good way) when it comes to a smooth organized kitchen. I'm trying but I thought you also being a military wife that you would be a bit of an expert. haha. thank you again.
Crystal, not a dumb question at all...I have learned that it is best to stick with one color-for me it is white dishes. Some of my dishes do have patterns on them-but the bottom & sides are all white-this helps to keep things uniformed=neat!! I keep like things together-plates with plates, etc. I keep all my glasses together-but I keep plastic cups that the kids use in a seperate cabinet-again, I try to buy white & clear plastic cups to keep that unity. I used to buy different colored cups & plates and found that it looked "messy". I say stick to one color-even if it is a pattern-stick to the colors in that pattern. And I often will go through my cabinets to get rid of old stuff(old tupperware, cups, picthers, etc) every few months. I am slowly trying to buy more of the glassware type of food savers-and I am cutting back on the plastic food savers-safer to microwave...less staining...less odor...and looks better!! Amira gets lazy and makes a mess of the food savers/tupperware cabinet-I'll have her reorganize it before she leaves for school...she still hasn't learned to keep it neat as she puts dishes away, argh!!!
I am lucky that we have tons of cabinet space, so I can have a pot/pan cabinet, glassware cabinet, plate/bowl cabinet, plastic cup cabinet, plastic tupperware cabinet, glass food saver cabinet, cassarole/corningware cabinet, and a few others! That makes it easier to put things away fast & keep organized. I also hate clutter on the counters-so there is a mail drawer(now moved to the office). A drawer for pens and paper-the "junk" drawer...but it have drawer organizers to keep it a neat "junk" drawer;-). I also have a drawer for coupons.
I keep very few things on my counters-a few pretty jars for sugar/cookies...my KitchenAid mixer...a roll of paper towel holder...a binder with recipes/2 cookbooks...dog treats in nice jars...and a charging station/key holder. Seems like a lot because we have lots of counter space-put as few as possible on your counters...less is MORE!!
Thanks, Angela!! I must share the same compliment with you!!! I love being able to see pictures of you all with your commments. It is not easy nor fun being on that side of the camera!!
Ok, so it has been asked a few times
recently-and in the past...how do I keep things so clean? I don't clean everyday;
I do make sure that stuff is in its place daily! The room that gets the
messiest is the kitchen-if you were to pop-up at my door unannounced the house
would look the way it does in my photos. BUT-you will find dust and dog hair,
lol. This house stays dusty and Lulu can't help that she sheds with each
step-both issues drive me batty.
I was really thrilled 2 months ago when I
finally bought a new dust mop. I could not wait to get home and use it. I had wanted
to buy this mop for a year; I was just being too cheap to spend the $24 for it!
It was the industrial types of dust mop-I tease and call it my "school
janitor's mop". Because that is what it makes me think of...in a good way.
I love it because it is wider than most dust mops, which means it covers more
in one swoop...and that means I get it done faster! Plus, I can throw it in the
wash with the rags when I am done. I am not ashamed to shake it out on the deck
in-between wash...that drives LaVaughn crazy. He calls me country. I also like
to use it damp-right out the washing machine. It picks up better & holds
the dust/ hair more. I try to dust mop every other day.
I love my $19 vacuum from Target-it's
a hand vac with a detachable handle & wheels. I use it EVERY day in the
bathroom(my hair sheds, the girls too). I like to use it in the kitchen when I
don't want to dust mop. It also comes in handy for sucking up the pile after I
dust mop-I always vacuum that mess up. I try to dust mop or vacuum in the
morning right after the girls are off to school-since I am up & might as
well get that out the way! I usually don't clean on the weekends.
I use the steam
mop for the bathrooms, I love that thing!
I swear by Swifter’s' duster 360, I have
about 5 or 6 handles. I keep one in my bathroom to clean the hair off my sink
every day. It is the only duster I will use to dust the whole house once a
week.
Bona is the best floor polish I have
tried-the best!! I polish the floors once a month and it takes 2 bottles for me
to do the entire main floor. Buy the kit with your 20% off coupon from Bed Bath
& Beyond. Home Depot carries just the polish, Target
too(smaller bottle than HD). The cleaner is for daily clean up-the polish is
for shine!! You have to work quickly and try not to go over it when it starts
to set-then it will smear or look dull.
Rags & water. I use one damp rag &
one dry rag to clean mirrors & glass after I dust.
I don't like to sweep-after I had heard on
the Discovery
channel(or something) that when you sweep the dust that is kicked up
stays in the air for 10 mins-that was it for me!! I do sweep down the steps
because it is the best way to get in the corners-and I am thinking about that
dust lingering in the air the whole time.
Febreze-to
keep the house from smelling like a DOG!! I spray Lulus' beds and her usual lay
spots once a week with Febreze-which keeps her smelling good in return.
I make my bed EVERYday as soon as I get
out of it-so I don't have to think about it & it's done. LaVaughn makes it
up on weekends, yay. The girls clean their rooms & bathroom.
I don't have any new ideas; I just try to
clean once a week. It doesn't always happen! But the house stays neat so you
can't tell!!
ps,
I love to watch Hoarders-and LaVaughn hates that show. I spend the show saying "look honey, eeww"!!
Bea, here is my favorite cookie recipe I have counted on for the past 7yrs. I made these cookies(in the photos) Wednesday night and with my greedy gang-they're all gone! I made more yesterday for Kiela to take to class today. I feel better using organic ingredients, who knows these days if that is really better! The dough is really easy to roll out for cookie cutters-I skip the chilling and just roll with it;-). I thought this would be nice to share for you all to make for Santa!! Merry Christmas
I did these yesterday, it was nice to have a couple of ideas pop in my head! The card & tag with the red I did with Teresa Collins Design's Christmas Cottage line/stamps.
I am just realizing that I have yet to do any Christmas projects-and it's 12 or so days left until Christmas. Since I was home all day I spent a few hours in my studio making a few quick little projects. I hope to whip up a few more things over the weekend, I must also get some cookies made-time is just getting away from me!
Tammy, I am a total natural girl!! Just some lip gloss and I am done. Maybe I should take the time to do a bit more...I am just afraid of looking too made-up. I have seen some people going to far with makeup, wigs & lashes then looking a bit drag queenish...and that is my fear for me, yikes!! I am a big lip gloss hoarder-I love Lancome & Bobbi Brown glosses. Perhaps, you should share with me, lol!!
Keisha, As usual, I adore your decorating. You make it look so simple. Haven't commented in a long time but wanted to say how much I adore your kitchen! I understand not showing the girls anymore but its been fun watching them grow up. As long as I can see Lulu, I'll be fine! Happy Holidays! Kathy
Happy Holidays Kathy!! I am glad that you enjoy visiting my blog. Lulu will have to be the star of my photography on this blog for now...I hope that someday I can feel comfortable, not stalked, with sharing the girls again. Thank goodness I can keep you entertained with decorating!
OMG this blog is the best! Love coming here and seeing all your pretty everything. I would def love to read some of your cleaning ideas, especially keeping up with a shedding dog. Thank u keisha.
Long time lurker, first time poster. Miss Keisha you are uber talented. Is there anything you do badly? hehe I have a few questions if you don't mind. I'm a young, newly married woman, no kids yet. Hubby and I just bought a brand new house and I'm having such a hard time keeping it dust free and clean. Your house always looks so perfect that I thought maybe you could do a blog about some of your cleaning, and organizing tips. If it's a stupid question, I apologize. Thanks in advance. Love this blog, it's my top favorite. Crystal
Hi Nancy & Crystal(congrats to the newly wed;-))...this tickles me and excites me at the smae time!! I will work on a post about that this week. I think that this would be fun to share and shake things up here-it's nice to hear such a different request. Thanks so so so much for the compliments too:-D
Oh Keisha, wow is all I can say.. Just wow! You slay me with each new post LOL I adore the vintage ornaments. I picked up a few myself this year from Crate and Barrel. Do you still shop at Ikea? Not sure if you even have one nearby. Target rocks! Love the home decor. Question, where's all your awesome rosettes from last year? :)
Heaven...I do have 2 Ikea's-they are both a pain to get to during the week(traffic & construction). And I hate the Saturday crowd-so I have not been in a year. I wanted to switched things up this year, I am over the red/white(except in the kitchen). I wanted to go with a more natural & metallic theme-I am all over pinecones this year, lol!!
OMG!!! Can I still say OMG??? So gorg. Everything is classic Keisha. Just beautiful.... Your pics have put me in the holiday spirit. Missing the snow and cold. Not very Merry or Christmasy on Guam (90+ degree weather everyday). Please let me continue living vicarously through you. Love the freaky hand in the other clips. Keep me smiling.....
Shay, my love...you all must hurry back to the states! I can't imagine having such a warm Christmas, and I don't think I would complain(not that you are). Miss ya & Merry Christmas!!
The Saturday after Black Friday LaVaughn and I went tree shopping-there is nothing like a real tree! We have grown tired of the fake tree we have had for the past 4 years, and it was time to go back to buying real trees for Christmas. The smell is amazing-and they just look better. Yeah, I hate the mess and trying to keep them watered-argh(LaVaughn really keeps it watered)! Lulu keeps hitting the tree with her tail when she is looking out the window, and needles are constantly falling from that...and a few ornaments.
[around the house]
I can't stop adding to the decorations! I had to get this pine cone wreath and a few more vintage ornaments-which I love dripping from the mirror. I have been a bit obsessed with taking photos of everything over the past few days. It's a great way for me to polish up on my photography-I have been learning some new tips from some great photography pins. I struggle with sharpness & noise-but when I find a spot with perfect light I am truly excited. It has been driving me batty not being able to get a clear, sharp, and bright photo of the vase with the branches & hanging pine cones/icicles-I have taken HUNDREDS of photos of just that...and from every angle. I just don't get why I am not getting the results I want, lol!!
Hey Keisha, I was just up in NOVA on Sun. at Tysons, I didnt know there was a RH outlet! Where did you get the vases, I havent seen them at my Target, is that where theyre from? Love your decor!
Hello Caligirl...I love and hate Tyson's area...love the shopping, hate the traffic/construction!!! I was there 3x's last week doing some Christmas shopping. All that stuff was from Target! I was so shocked to see that there was still a few items left-they had marked it down a couple weeks before. I think what I found was probably backstock that was missed-lucky for me! Because it wasn't there a couple days before that-trust me...I am there way too often hoping for a deal!!
Kiesha, your home is so gorgeous! I just love it- should totally be on HGTV! And it makes me even more giddy to know that you are a bargain shopper, too! Love awesome clearance sales and sweet deals!!! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful home and great finds with us! --Nitasha
Nitasha...thank you so much!! I am a total bargin shopper-if it is not on sale I won't buy it(period). I love to clip coupons and keep a stash of them in my purse at all times. I have even created a monster-my husband...LaVaughn is always asking me if there is a coupon or code or sale. And he gets a bit put-off if I don't have any extra discounts, lol. I used to love the outlets-but now they have turned into cheap quality product made for outlet stores-so I don't buy the stuff that they have TONS of in stock. I believe the more I save the more I can buy;-)
I got a bit carried away with taking photos of some new vintage ornaments I just bought for decorating the mantel. Would you also guess that every photo was taken in the DARK?! I took all these photos at night without any lights on-just the snap of my speedlite giving just the right amount of light. My neighbors were probably wondering what the heck was going on with all the bright flashes from our windows. I kinda of like night time shooting-I never take photos at night. Oh, the photos with the red ornament was taken during the day-forgot about that!
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