Hot off the presses: HGTV MAGAZINE

The other day while roaming my twitter time line (aka twit hustling, lol) I made a startling...yet exciting, discovery. HGTV is launching a magazine!! Now you all know that ever since I purchased my home I have become obsessed with home decor, especially DIY projects. Hence my fascination with HGTV and it's sister station DIY network. So you can imagine my elation when I found out that I can get a print version of one my fav television station.

Some of you may be wondering why all the excitement for the magazine when I can turn on the channel anytime. Well my excitement stems from a few things.

1- I can't carry my TV everywhere I go...but a magazine I can.
2- One of my ultimate methods of relaxation is flipping through a mag while laying on the couch...and why shouldn't my mag of choice (well one of them) be HGTV
3- With the magazine I can basically access all of HGTV programming all at once

I could go on, but I think I made my point.

Tips on real estate, renovations,home entertainment, and more all at your fingertips. If you ask me...it's a genius idea.

The Magazine is set to hit newsstands October 4th. If you are as excited as i am, head over to the HGTV magazine page and sign up for a free Trial offer and receive the inaugural issue absolutely free!! Of course I already signed up and I can't wait to get my hands on it.


 Ms. K

A WARM HOME

HELLO ALL!  I'MMMM BACKKKKKKK!!!! Please excuse the delay in posting...I was on Vacay! :-)

Without further delay...here is the post on my housewarming...

This is really a picture heavy post.  My housewarming was so much more than I could have asked for.  The outpouring of love made my home feel like the warmest place on earth (figuretively and literally, lol).  About 100 people came out throughout the evening and there was plenty of food, libations, and love to go around.  I got some really awesome gifts (almost everything on my registry and a whole lot of gift cards to get other stuff that I wanted...and then some).  ;-)

Here are some of the highlights of the evening and some other snapsots of the house (THANKS JAMES!!!!!!):

My Home!

The balloon wreath I made for the festivities.

The beautiful decorated tent that was too hot to occupy (lol).

These lanterns were the inspiration for my party decor.

My office.

Master Bedroom

Kabobs!!!! (This is the only food shot...I didn't want to make your mouth water anymore than it already is, lol.)

Ash's special touch...practical and pretty.

My nieces...my heart!!!

Who knows what this conversation was about, lol.

PEABODY...she made so much possible that day!

The fancy one making a fancy entrance (and the donkey punch bringing up the rear!

Presents!!! (yes that's Christmas wrapping paper...see below)

Hey ladies!

Jordan and Jaylen...such a cute pic!

Yes...that is Al and yes she wrapped her gift in Christmas paper. Gotta love her!

Napstars!!!!!!!

Me and the parental unit...I can honestly say without them...this day would not have been possible.  They worked so hard and I LOVE them for it.

Ms. K

GUEST POST: Operation 1135

Hello All!  I know it's been a while, but I've been uber busy readying the house for my house warming Saturday after next (amongst other things).  So I figured this would be a great opportunity to feature one of my fav bloggers in a get post.  I asked A (from the henna hair challenge with me to write a guest post on the blog...and she did exactly what I thought she would do...show up and show out.

Without further delay...Ms. A...

I was super excited when Ms. K asked me to do a post for Locs and Keys because this is my first guest post! Whoop whoop! I pondered what to write about since Ms. K’s blog has a very specific theme. Then it hit me!

I recently just purchased a home as well. Operation 1135, as I like to call it, was truly one of the most rewarding, blessed, scary, and amazing experiences of my young life.  I have been in my home for only 3 weeks now and I am in love. As much as I love purchasing a good bag, nice top, and earrings (they are my children and each and every single pair holds a special place in my heart) my wallet is totally a slave to furniture and home purchases right now.

After moving out from under mom’s wings, I notice that I moved into my fabulous new home and I need everything. The ongoing list that I have is quite daunting at times. I want to get pass all of the little items and needs and get to the fun stuff  -- DECORATING!!!  I am ready for the fun stuff – painting, reupholstering, etc.

My goal is to go room by room to achieve the look that I want. I have a modern flair with vintage appeal. I don’t know if that makes sense to you guys but it does to me. My first room to tackle would be my bedroom. I want it to be cozy, sexy, sophisticated, and comfortable all at the same time. I am shopping for the focal point now – THE BED! Of course I fall in love with a beauty from Ethan Allen that made my eyes drool and my wallet cry with a $2,000 price tag!

HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE BED: http://www.ethanallen.com/product?productId=3141818&categoryId=8028

Needless to say that I immediately put my BFF up to a search to find a cheaper option with the same appeal and she totally succedded with this beauty available at Macy’s.

HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE BED: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=514774&CategoryID=35420#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D586

After falling in love with my bed I instantly thought, wait…my hair! My precious and luscious curls will destroy this light color fabric in no time! Damn you Chaka (my hair’s name)! So now the hunt is back on for the same look in a leathered upholstered option…

Stay tuned for updates as I continue to decorate 1135…

DIY To-Do List

Mommy and I have an ever growing DIY To-Do List for the house.  So far we have the following on our list:

#1 Re-upholstering Chair

#2 Sanding and Staining Desk

#3 Painting Bookshelf

#4 Upholstered Headboard (for guest room)

#5 Making decor/throw pillows (for the couch)

We are adding things to the list, but not marking anything off.  So we took a vow to mark at least 1 of these items off the list this week.  It will likely be the Bookshelf or the Desk. 

So, I drafted this post over a week ago and sat on it for so long that we actually managed to mark a few things off the list.  The desk is done and so is the bookshelf.  I also started making the decor/throw pillows.  I will do a separate post for each project.


Stay tuned for pics...

Ms. K

Special Delivery

This week I recieved a very special delivery.  Since that time...I have had the best coma-like sleep of my life.  Keep in mind...the pictures don't do it justice.

When I first saw this bed it was truly love at first sight.  I already had (another) bed picked out and I was going to do the whole upholstered headboard thing (no worries, that plan is not completely out of the window...I am doing an upholstered headboard for the bed in my guest room), but I was so taken by this bed and the drama of it all, that I purchased it on the spot.

No buyer's remorse here.  It's just as fab as I thought it would be.  I will add more pics of it, once the room is completely decorated (including the re-painted walls)

Check it out here at Ashley Furniture.

As always stay tuned!!!!

PS - Ignore the fact that there is no comforter on the bed...I am still in search of one.  :-)

Ms. K

Sew Clever!

Yes...the title is a play on words.  And yes I know I am way overdue for a post.  I actually have a fab hair post coming soon.  It was a huge undertaking so its taking a little more time to get the post together (especially in the midst of my home/house matters) so stay tuned.

Anyway...back to this post..

During my weekly scan on my fav blogs, I came across a post about a genius idea...Sewing Closets.  I literally gasped with glee when I saw it.  I have maintained (up to this point) that I would use one of my spare rooms in the house as a sewing room.  My mother looks at me like I'm crazy every time I say it (partially because her vote was for the room to be an office, but we resolved that issue, and partially because she can't believe I'm devoting an entire room to sewing).

However, now after viewing this post over at Chic Little House.  I sew know what I'm going to do with the closet in the spare room upstairs!

Peep these pics of other sew closets I found over at one of my other fav blogs...Houzz:

Ms. K

Furniture Find

Remember the Carrie Bradshaw post I did including the to die for shagreen bed?  If you need a refresher you can find it here.  Well imagine my surprise when mommy and I walked in Nouveau (Belvedere Square, Baltimore City) earlier this week and I found myself standing face-to-face with this beauty:

Very similar to the Brian Watford bed...see:

The material of the nouveau bed is velvet and it is quite stunning in person.  Note:  The picture isn't the best because I didn't want the store clerks to think I was crazy, lol.

Now...seeing the bed wasn't the only surprise...the price tag was the real surprise.  A whopping $4095 (approximately, I think my eyes crossed when I saw the price in addition to some other bodily reactions, lol).

I don't know about ya'll...but that's just a little too rich for my blood.  Yeah that's right...just a little.

Ms. K

PS - T minus 36 days to locdown!!!!!!