A Bit East-coast

Smithsonian's National Zoo [pt.1]

.[national zoo {pt.1}].

Saturday was spent walking the National Zoo in DC. It was crowded, but at least not too hot and sunny-the weather was just right(until we left when it stormed)! Our first time at the zoo, I did my best to snapped a few photos. The lighting was the best in the bird areas-it was filtering through perfectly. I wish I had a better zoom lens for the tiger/lion enclosures...they were so far away(which is a good thing). It was such a beautiful zoo, the best I have seen...

 

sweet baby toes.

.[sweet baby toes].

Today I spent the day with little baby Noah, Ellie's baby brother-plus, Ellie too! My first time watching him while their mama went for an interview. He was super sweet and easy-unless I was slow in getting him his bottle! Once fed he fell right back to sleep-and I couldn't resist grabbing my camera for a few photos....

 

iphone/pad vacation photos.

.[iphone/pad vacation photos].

I snapped a few photos of us out and about in OBX...

4th year OBX vacation.

.[4th year Outer Banks North Carolina vacation].

Just came back from our beach vacation yesterday-this is why this blog has not been updated, sorry! We've done Corolla, Nags Head, Duck, and Kill Devil Hills. Now we feel like summer is OVER, lol. The first few days of our vacation were rained out, thank goodness the sun came out for the rest of our trip. Here are a few quick photos for now...

ellie & some locals.

.[ellie].

Sweet Ellie last Thursday. I had the pleasure of watching Ellie (my good friend Tracy’s' grand daughter, and Caitlyn’s sweet little girl) while her mommy went for her doctors checkup-baby no.2 is due any day now. This was my first one on one with Ellie-or any baby since Kiela, lol. Thank goodness Pipa the Pig (Ellie loves Pipa & pigs) was on TV and made her forgot mommy had left! We raided Kiela's room for toys, and she discovered Kiela's nail polish-Ellie LOVES nail polish too. Lulu just wanted to lick her...

.[some locals].

As I have mentioned a few times-we live in the country (today I can smell it slightly coming through the windows;-P)! I have to past a lot of working farms & wineries to get home. This past weekend Tracy & I went up the road to take a few photos of some of the local cows. I have been really wanting to get some photos of the local animals to frame around the house-finally I got a few photos! I wish that they were a little better, maybe next time.

on the mall.

.[a day in the district].

Sorry! For no new updates last week. I have just been spending time with the family. The weekend before last LaVaughn had been out of town for 3 weeks-really four...because he was gone for a week 2 weeks before that, lol. Plus, it's spring break for the girls. Kiela & I have been dying to spend the day in DC-I have frames that I want to fill with b&w architectural photos for around the house. LaVaughn is in DC everyday, so it's hard to talk him into going on the weekends. Kiela has not seen any of the monuments, nor has Amira(but she's a sour-puss TEEN). Mira wanted to stay home, so the rest of us had a nice time on the mall. There is still so much more for us to see and so many more photos to take...I was able to fill two of my four frames with my photos! And we finally had a chance to try Sprinkles-which was a perfect way to end the day.

 

thanks santa, etc.

 

[santa's nice list]

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.

Have a Happy & safe New Year!!!!

 

 

[Q & A]

 

Crumleyl said:

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 ;)

Reply | Edit | View | Dec 19, 2012 on merry cards & tags.

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!!

 

Heaven said:

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!! :)

Reply | Edit | View | Dec 21, 2012 on cleaning with keish…

Maybe we need a support group to deal the the frustration, lol!!

 

Crystal said:

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.

Reply | Edit | View | Dec 22, 2012 on cleaning with keish…

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!!

Angela M said:

Keisha, You are SO pretty! Thanks for sharing everything that you do. I hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas!! Angela

Reply | Edit | View | 5 days ago on cleaning with keish…

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!!

Related articles

merry & bright.

cleaning with keisha.

merry & bright.

[the story]

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!!

 

[lulu]

No, Lulu. You didn't hear Santa coming...yet!

[can you see us]

I was all in Lulus' bed to get this photo!




[Q & A]

 

Caligirlfrtx said:

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!

Reply | Edit | View | Nov 28, 2012 on deals or steals.

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!!

 

 

Ngj9600 said:

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

Reply | Edit | View | Nov 29, 2012 on deals or steals.

 

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;-)

 

 

Holly Sloat said:

Love the ornament but I'm not going to lie...that hand in kinda freakin' me out!

Reply | Edit | View | 2 days ago on an ornament.

 

LOL, Holly...you are not alone! My friend says the same thing-I think it's kinda of artsy!!

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vintage ornaments, love.

e g g H U N T

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We had a little Easter egg hunt this morning. I stashed eggs stuffed with sweets & makeup around the house for the girls to find. They loved it! Happy Easter!!

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o f f i c e

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Last Wednesday afternoon in the office...

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I want to paint the office, so I tried my sample out. This color is really for the family room, I am sick of the blue in there. I am thinking of painting the family room & the office the same color...they are both the brightest rooms in the house and can take this deeper grey...

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ginny said:

Keisha, these are beautiful! Do you mind if your layouts are pinned to Pinterest? I get so much inspiration from your layouts, but I do want to be respectful. Love the shipping tag flag! I think you are probably responsible for everyone buying tags today!

Reply | Edit | View | 9 hours ago on new teresa collins …

Hi Ginny...umm...I. Always. Love that!! LOL, thanks for asking. I love the pinners, thank you to all who have been pinning.

 

 

Holly S said:

LOVE!!! That colored metal rimmed tag...did you color it and if so what did you use? Love that soft yellow.

Reply | Edit | View | 7 hours ago on new teresa collins …

Hey Holly...that metal rimmed tag is from the Martha Stewart line at Staples!!!