A Bit East-coast

tis the season.

 

.[tis the season].

The Christmas decorations are done! I just need a TREE, which won't happened until next week. This year I am doing Advent with the girls, and they are loving it! I still have a few more boxes to make, like 12 more. I am having trouble finding the sizes I want, argh. Last night I made the NOEL garland-I used some glitter spray paint, that stuff is awesome! I am going to hunt down more stuff to spray this weekend. Not that I need more decorations! 

 

valentine decor.

.[potted hearts].

This year I wanted to make all of my Valentine decorations-and I did! These potted hearts I did last weekend-the larger hearts were meant to be a album...I had to find ways to cover the ring holes in them. They also came covered with canvas. I have been trying to use the red/pink ribbon for over a year-it's from a Loft shopping bag...and I have more!

.[new bow].

I made a pretty pink bow-tie for Lulu. I had to snap a photo of her wearing it, she is so chic. The next photo cracks me up-she LOVES peanut butter. Her tongue looks fake-but it's not...

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love signs.

5 days of Valentine's inspiration: day 1

cleaning with keisha.

• 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"!!

[cookies]

 

Bea said:

I too vote for cleaning ideas but I'd love to see some of your fav recipes.

Reply | Edit | View | 4 days ago on merry & bright.

 

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

 

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.

vintage ornaments, love.

 

[my thoughts]

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!

[Q & A]

deals or steals.

 

[my thoughts]

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, we sure did! I am getting over my guilt from making & deliciously enjoying the four sweet potato pies (and one apple pie) I made for dessert.

Today is cold & rainy(maybe even S N O W)-which means bad photos for me. I'll work with what I can get...all photos taken today. I tried to tackle the outlet mall at midnight on Black Friday-I've never done that before(and won't do it again). Restoration Hardware had a good offer I had to take advantage of-to get that new stool for my studio!! I didn't even make it into the parking lot of the outlet that night, it was that CRAZY! Instead, LaVaughn and I went back Saturday morning before we went tree shopping, not the same sale-but still a good deal.

[more thoughts]

I love it when I find really good deals, especially when it is stuff I really want. I have been a lucky girl scoring a lot of things I haven been eyeing-with multiple markdowns. Like these frames for $6 and $4 a couple months ago. And last month these vases/gold wire bowl (the gold, white, and flower)for $5 each-woohoo! I thought that these pieces were all gone and I happened to find them with extra markdowns;-D

[final thoughts]

I started the Christmas decorating and I still have a lot to do...tonight we shall start the tree...

fall decorating.

[Sorry for taking so long to do an update on this blog! I really meant to update last week and I just had a lot of stuff going on. Last week (or so) I jazzed up a couple of grapevine wreaths I have had for over a year-I just didn't know what I wanted to do with them. The Halloween stuff is gone...the pumpkins and pine cones are out!

Count down--I really can't wait to pull out the Christmas decorations this week!]

I am sad to say that I must step back from blogging about/posting photos of my girls for a while-or even for good. I am still in a situation that makes me really uneasy and uncomfortable. I have had to pull a few old post that include Kiela and some of Amira. This shouldn't be a big deal for most visitors-I will always blog my scrapbook projects & decor updates. 

so long halloween 2012.

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Oops, I totally forgot that I had this post scheduled to go live this morning! With the time change I fell asleep by 8(last night) and since the girls have today (& tomorrow) off from school-I slept in longer.

Today-I plan on packing up Fred and the gang-it will be so hard! I love having them hanging out on the sofa and seeing the crows here & there around the house. The house looks so empty when it is all put away, but I must move on to Thanksgiving...and then Christmas! It all comes and goes too fast...

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I made these butterflies & mask freehand with some sculpey, something I definitely want to do again next year.

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Heaven said:

Hope you came through the storm ok. Up here in Maine it got bad depending on where you live. The coast (where I am) took a beating, but we're fine. Hope you and yours are as well. Love the cards, gorgeous as always!

Reply | Edit | View | 6 days ago on three cards.

 

 

Hi Heaven, so glad to hear that you and your family are doing well after Sandy. It was sad to see how bad the storm had been for so many people on the east coast. We lost power for 24hrs-so we can't complain. I was stunned to see how bad it was in NY & NJ on Wednesday.

let the haunting begin.

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Last week I was thrilled to start pulling out all the crows, Fred the skeleton(I made him a sign), and his buddies for Halloween 2012! I am still working on placing things and need to stop at the local farmers stands for a few white pumpkins. I was so excited to see that this year two of the stands I pass have loads of white pumpkins-love the competition between the two farmers!

I also have ideas swirling around in my head of stuff I want to make-but where is the time? This weekend I felt like I was all over the place-drove to Cindy's house for her Thirty-One party on Saturday. Sunday I took Mira and a couple of her friends to the mall for Homecoming dress shopping-by the way, did I ever mention she now has her driver's permit...and she has a certain amount of driving hours to achieve before getting her license. The 20 mins we spent driving through the neighborhood was super fun;-)

Today-I am staying HOME! In my studio...I hope to finish a couple of layouts I started last week and doing some Halloween stuff. And maybe do some cleaning-Lulu's hair is everywhere!

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Q & A

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D said:

I have been wanting to leave a comment for the last month or two when I came across your blog through Making Memories. Quickly I added you to my "favorites". I simply love your blog and style. Everything you post from crafts to photography is chic, elegant, simple and beautiful. It not only shows in your craft but design, decorating and home. I LOVE popping in to see what other marvelous project has been posted. This is truely one sight I never get tired of looking through and spend sooo much time looking at photographs for ideas, inspiration or to simply look at pretty things like I would a favorite magazine. Your so blessed to be very talented. Thank you for taking the time to post all these pictures and share all the lovely things in your life. Looking forward to all your future post. -Jasmin : >

Reply | Edit | View | 2 days ago on halloween mini.

Hi Jasmin...well, I just don't know how to thank you enough for taking the time to leave such great compliments. It's always wonderful to hear what people think and I always hope that everyone enjoys each visit. I love it when I go to a site and it makes me want to make something right away...or makes me go rearrange the decorations in a better way somewhere in my house-a site that makes me feel inspired makes my day...and then makes me want to also inspire those who come here to my blog. I am thankful when I read a comment like yours(or any comment left)-thank you Jasmine & all others who may feel the same way!!

Melinda Wharton said:

Keisha, I love this - it's beautiful. Just love how your photography blends so nicely with the album. Good work! I have the same questionsas those above! Melinda Wharton at scrapkit studio

Reply | Edit | View | 4 days ago on halloween mini.

Melinda, I'll answer below for you!!!

Heaven said:

Awesome!! This is fabulous! How big is this album? :)

Reply | Edit | View | 5 days ago on halloween mini.

Hey Heaven...it's a 4x4-perfectly mini mini, lol!!

Tammie Eberhart said:

You are so darn creative!!! Patty said it best - "SPOOKTACULAR"! What adhesive do you prefer for adhering the pages of your mini album?

Reply | Edit | View | 6 days ago on halloween mini.

Tammie, I really like to stock up on Tombow permanent tape or Scotch double stick tape.

Joan Fowler said:

Keisha, I love this mini album. I recognise the skeleton stamp from My Mind's Eye but what company or companies is the paper from? Also those labels (Spider Fangs, Deadly morsels)are amazing but have no idea what line they are from either. I would love to use something similar for a mini album for my granddaughter if you could provide some company names for me.

Reply | Edit | View | 6 days ago on halloween mini.

Joan...Lots of old stash stuff with a bit of new stuff! Ok, the Deadly Morsels is Martha Stewart from 2 or 3 seasons ago-look on Ebay for those stickers. All the other stickers( SpiderFangs, Hemlock, Trick or Treat and Oct 31) are new K&Co sticker set I grabbed from Michaels-the witch sticker too. The papers are all from My Minds Eye-a mix of two lines. One is their Halloween line and a line of black & white papers called Meadow Lark...I love doing Halloween in blk/wht with bits of orange. Yep, the stamps are My Minds Eye...and the skeleton at the end(or the first photo on black cardstock) is a Michael's stamp. Lots of old Making Memories stickers(letters/numbers and word stickers) & some Jenni Bowlin bingo cards and journaling cards. Studio Calico stamps(2006)...te glittery spider might be Jolee's...some black sequence...OMGosh, I am just noticing that there are a couple pages missing, lol. 

 

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!!!