Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone!  We hope that where ever you are, you are with family and friends.  May the coming year bring you peace and joy.  And a very special Merry Christmas to all our military men and women overseas.  We thank you for your service and hope that you are able to have a big holiday dinner and speak to your loved ones today.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

xoxo,
The Haus of Kendi

 

Santa Mail

A couple weeks ago, I was walking around Macy's and this caught my eye...

So, I sat down and wrote a letter.  I asked for two very important things.  I'm pretty sure one of the things is easier (and possible, for that matter) to get than the other.  I guess I'll just have to wait to found out if I've been a good girl this year...

Cheers!

A-Team

Found this gem at Scotts Antique Market last month for $2.  I'm going to put my crayons in it.  

I love it when a plan comes together.

Cheers!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope that you all had a great day filled with family, friends and food.  Kevin and I went to The Quirks house.  We had a great evening with Meg and Nick, her parents, her grandma and her brother.  The food was great.  Kevin made his mom's broccoli casserole and it was a big hit.   We also had two pies for dessert, pumpkin and chocolate.  We spent the day watching football, looking at clothes, talking and playing cards.  It was a great day with friends. 

My Gratitude List 2012
my health
my family
friends
a job
my dogs
a roof over my head
my freedom
new opportunities in 2013
the men and women of the US military

What are you thankful for?

Our Thanksgiving table

Me and Meg.  I always perch by the fire.

Me and my new friend Aubree

Thanksgiving makes everyone get along...

We also got up at 6:30 am to participate in Black Friday.  i have never gotten up early for Black Friday.  I have shopped on Black Friday, but on my schedule.  Last year I got the black leather boots i had been hunting for for a really good price, at 1pm.  This year, we were in need of a new vacuum.  You can't be in a house with two dogs and a cat and no vacuum for very long.  Sam's Club had a good deal so we decided to get there when they opened to see if we could get it.  It wasn't that bad!  They gave us coffee while we waited in line and we only had to wait 15 minutes.  There was barely a crowd and everyone seemed to know what they wanted.  We all walked to our items, loaded them up, paid and walked out.  We were in the store 30 minutes.  I had so much fun, I decided to try other stores.  We went to Walmart where I got some socks and a Christmas present.  Then we went to JCP where Kevin got a sport coat for $40 and jeans for $15.  I got a pair of leather booties for $20.  After a quick trip to Target we went home and watched some of the movies we got.  Then I passed out.  It was a good day.  :)

Cheers! 

The line

Reading the ads while waiting in line

Holiday Cakes

In my opinion, one of the biggest perks to living in the south is Publix.  It's a grocery store and they have the MOST FABULOUS bakery ever.  If I would have gotten married in ATL, my wedding cake would have come from Publix.  Hands down.

Check out these tasty gems sitting in the cake display...

Turkey cake and Ham cake

Is that not the cutest?!  I would love to show up to Thanksgiving with that turkey cake in tow...

Cheers!

Library Books - Week 3

Here is the round up for this weeks worth of library books.  Went a little overboard...

Still obsessing over interior design and fashion, but I'm gearing up for my "Pinterest Christmas" and got some DIY books too.  :)

Cheers!

Technical Difficulties Back

So, I thought I was good to go at work but I was wrong (as evidenced by this post).  Unfortunately, this means new posts will come in groups instead of on a regular basis.  I hope I can figure out a blogging schedule for home.  Stay tuned!

Cheers!

Happy 1st Birthday, Maddy!!

Happy belated (only by one day!) birthday to my sweet and lovable little goddaughter, Madilyn!  If you are keeping up, that makes her DOB 11/11/11.  How cool is that?!  

Maddy, your Aunt Mandi and Uncle Kevin can't wait to watch you grow into the wonderful person we know you will become.  I can't wait to be the aunt that teaches you all the fun stuff.  And I hope that if I start working on your mom now, she will let you spend a summer or two with us in the years to come.  :)

We love you!

xoxo,
Haus of Kendi

Very first taste of b-day cake!

Aaaanndd...We're Back!

Sorry for the lag time between posts.  Had some technical difficulties over here at the Kendi Haus.  And by technical difficulties, I mean I got a new computer at work which didn't allow me to post anything new.  I usually put together a quick post while eating my lunch or when the day is slow. 

But we're back to biz-nass as usual!  Lots of new recipes, deals and news to share with everyone.  Thanks for being patient. 

Cheers!  :)

W.T.F Blogspot?!

Ok Blogspot.  You're pissing me off.  Stop changing my fonts.  Stop showing me posts that look one way in a preview and another way when I go to my blog.  STOP!  I do not like it when technology thinks it knows more than me.  You are here to make life easier, not do life for us.  And if you were so smart, technology, I wouldn't be writing all this...

(reluctantly) Cheers.


2 minutes later... 


Update:  That is better.

17DD Cycle 1 Chili

Kevin and I have recently lost a combined total of 50 lbs by doing the 17 Day Diet.  I have never been successful dieting before but for some reason, this diet worked for both of us.  I HIGHLY recommend it. 

Not only did the diet help us lose weight (and keep it off), but it also taught us how to cook our own delicious meals.  We no longer crave eating out (unless it is cuisine that we can't make ourselves) and we are proud to have people over for dinner.

Here is a recipe that we learned early in the diet, from the 17DD board on The Doctors website, that we'll keep making for years.  A nice healthy chili.  Who doesn't love chili on those cold winter nights?  (I can't find this recipe on the boards any more so I'm typing it out for you here).

Cheers!

17DD Turkey Chili

1 lb  ground turkey
3  cloves garlic, diced  (we use 5)
1  onion, diced
1  can crushed tomatoes
1  tbsp each of cumin, chili powder, white pepper (or black.  Whatever you have.)

Brown turkey with onions over medium heat in deep skillet.  Add garlic.  Sir in seasonings and mix thoroughly.  Add can of tomatoes.  Cook over med-low heat for 20 minutes.  Serve with cheese sprinkled on top.

We like ours with good, old-fashioned Jiffy corn bread.

Kevin loves Jiffy with his chili!

       

Stats:

Servings: 4

Time: 40 minutes

Cost:  Chili >$5, bread $1

Leftovers: Yes

Cheers!

Happy Sweetest Day!

Happy Sweetest Day to all the romantics out there!  This "holiday" is a bigger deal in MI than it is down here in ATL, but I was able to find a pretty good selection of cards at my dollar store (you know I love a deal!).  I also just found out how Sweetest Day got started, which makes me like this day even more...

And I got this!

Kevin got this for me from a local bakery we found downtown a couple weeks ago.  I love supporting local business, especially tasty bakeries and dairies (more on that later...).  The frosting was fantastic!  Kevin totally nailed Sweetest Day this year.  I wonder if he knew he was secretly being tested...

Cheers!

A Kendi Friday Night...

Chesterfield Copperpot

Freemanator

So, you guy don't dress your dogs up in your old underwear?  Hmmm...weird....

Cheers!

Tiger Stripes

Just had to share my outfit today.  Everything is too big, except the shoes (which are my favorite part, I got them on clearance!).  I will definitely be ordering a cute Tigers tee for the World Series...  Holla at your girl!

Cheers!

Husband's shirt + jeans a size too big = sexy  :-P

Detroit WHAT!!!

THE DETROIT TIGERS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!

I love my home state and I love all things Detroit and couldn't be prouder right now.  We were able to watch game 1 and 2 in MI, which was so fun.  I love cheering with my fellow fans.  The games 3 and 4 (cuz we SWEPT them Yankees!!!) were watched like this:

Anxiously awaiting the last out to end the game...

Now I can bust out a box of these, which my dad got us while we were home.  :)

Take me out to the ball game

And this just makes me laugh.  It's funny cuz it's true.  :)

 

Way to go, Tigers!  See you at the World Series!

Cheers!

Missing Michigan...

Being from Michigan, we have this built in rivalry to all things Ohio.  U of M and OSU hate each other, we drive better than than do, etc. etc.  But when I saw this video of the latest performance by the OSU Marching Band, I had to give props.  It is amazing. 

Being a band person myself, I know first hand how difficult these forms were to perfect.  A lot could have gone wrong if band member didn't bring their A game.  It also makes me incredibly homesick for MI.  I happen to think that MI is at its best in the Fall.  The colors, the smells, the sports, the music, the apples!  Ahhh.  Makes me all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it...

I miss you, MI.  Here's to seeing you soon...

Cheers

Thrifty Tip #6 and 7 (Vinegar Edition)

If you have spent some time on Pinterest, you probably learned that there is pretty much nothing that plain old vinegar can't do.  It cleans, it cooks, it dissolves rust...the list is endless.  Here are my two favorite uses that have saved us the most money.

#6.  You can use white vinegar to get rid of toe fungus.  I did a lot of research when I got a weird looking big toe a year and a half ago.  There is a prescription drug that's supposed to clear it up, but the side effect is a possible damaged liver.  And from what people said, it didn't even work.  So, save your liver and your wallet and go get a $0.99 bottle of white vinegar from the grocery store, apply to the effected toe twice a day WITHOUT FAIL, until the toe nail grows out (about a year).  Its a long process, but it really works.  I promise.  You just need patience and determination.


#7.  If you ever get Pantry Moths, vinegar is going to be one of many weapons of choice to eliminate the little buggers.  I recommend going to your local hardware store and buying the traps (be warned, they are pricey).  These will kill the moths that are flying around.  But to get rid of the invisible eggs and the cocoons, wipe your whole pantry down with some diluted vinegar, let it sit for a couple minutes, then follow up with some water.  This should kill anything that might be wanting to show up in the coming months.

Cheers! 

Blast from the Past

This is for all the ladies of my generation...

Found this gem at a yard sale yesterday for $1.50.  There was no way I was going to leave it behind.

Tell me you remember this game!!  I loved playing it.  It's probably a big reason I have a leeeettle bit of a shopping problem to this day...   I was chasing clearances like it was my job!  And I'm sure you can still hear that voice taunting you, "Ooo, a long line!  Try again later!" (I hate him...)

Even got the Hubby hooked.  :) 

Baby's First Mall Madness game!  (Sorry about the hat hair pic, Honey)

Cheers!

DIY Saw Horses

Mandi discovered a bunch of DIY projects that use pallets, either whole or the pieces. She also found a perpetually refilled pile of pallets conveniently sitting across from her building at work, so we got to thinking about what we would use them for. We have a few projects lined up (one that might end up not using a pallet, more on that later). My first project was to build a couple of sawhorses. I've been on the lookout for free or cheap options without any luck. I decided to look up plans for building my own and found some good guidelines. My biggest challenge was trying to figure out the angles for the legs. The plans I found required cutting the ends of the legs at a 60 degree angle, but my circular saw can't do that. I finally figured out that I could use my speed square to mark the angle on the support piece and use my jigsaw to cut the angles. Once I realized that it was a breeze putting them together. Mandi was kind enough to document the process of building the second sawhorse. I'm pretty proud of how they turned out. Cost? Zero. The wood was free, I found the nails in the garage, and I already had the bottle of wood glue. The only source of cursing, other than trying to figure out the angles, was when I whacked my thumb with the hammer.

The pieces.

Marking the support placement on the legs.

Making sure the legs are flush with the top.

Applying the glue.

Ready for nails.

Leg fully assembled.

Final assembly.

Nailing the legs.

Final product.

Fruit Pizza

I've had this at many a potluck and have always enjoyed it.  But in my enjoyment, I've always forgotten to ask for the recipe.  Enter Pinterest.  Found this gem a couple months ago and was waiting for a reason to try it.  A last minute B-day celebration at work seemed like the perfect guinea pig.  Thanks for making it a hit, Betty!

Cheers!

Fruit Pizza via Betty Crocker

1  pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix

1/2  cup butter or margarine, melted
1  egg
1  cup whipping cream
1/2  cup Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting (from 1-lb container)
3 1/2  cups assorted fresh fruit (I used kiwi, strawberries and an orange)

Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly spray 14-inch pizza pan or 15x10-inch baking pan (I used a cookie sheet) with cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, melted butter and egg until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom of cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown (follow the recipe on the cookie package). Cool completely, about 45 minutes (this is really important).  In chilled medium bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gently stir frosting into whipped cream. Spread over cookie pizza. Arrange fruit on top. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Nutritional Info (for the health nuts):

1 Serving (1 Serving)  Calories 380 (Calories from Fat 190), Total Fat 22g (Saturated Fat 11g,Trans Fat 1/2g), Cholesterol 60mg; Sodium 190mg; Total Carbohydrate 44g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 28g), Protein 3g;

Stats:
Servings: 12
Time:  1hr 20min
Leftovers:  yes
Cost:  less than $11 (but this will allow you to make it a few times...)

Weekend Update

Well, it's Monday.  After a VERY busy two days of running around, tracking things down, we have some progress.  Here's what we managed to accomplish:


TO DO LIST:

 - library

- craft shopping  (but didn't find all the things I needed...)

- dog vaccinations

- Stone Mt

- build a coffee table  (STARTED the coffee table)

- reupholster dining chairs  (couldn't find the fabric I liked from the store, now I have to pick a new fabric...)

- jeans shopping for Kevin

- Old Navy

- work on some documents  (tried, but was really tired by Sunday night)

- make wood decor for bedroom (got the (free) wood on Friday, just need the paint)

- Farmer's Market

- inventory spices


I'm taking step-by-step pics of all my projects and will be sharing them as they are finished.  We found a LOT of good deals this weekend, thanks to sales, coupons and the kindness of strangers.  I can't wait to see how our house looks with all the stuff we've figured out how to DIY.

Cheers!

Weekend Plans

Lots to do this weekend!!  We'll see how much actually gets checked off the list on Monday...

Cheers to Friday!

TO DO LIST:

- library

- craft shopping

- dog vaccinations

- Stone Mt

- build a coffee table

- reupholster dining chairs

- jeans shopping for Kevin

- Old Navy

- work on some documents

- make wood decor for bedroom

- Farmer's Market

- inventory spices

Thrifty Tips #4 and 5 (Dog Edition)

Hey there dog lovers!  Our furry babies are part of the family, and when a family goes on a budget, they don't have to be excluded.  Everyone needs to pitch in, right?  :)

I was recently told that there are a lot of things that we buy for our pets that we can make ourselves.  My mom told me about a DIY flea spray and itchy skin bath that she learned about watching her favorite PBS show, Deals.  I haven't tried them yet, but they are on my radar...

Here are some of the things that work with our dogs.  Try them out and see if they work for yours.  Cheers!

#4.  Milkbones can be pricey.  Everyone likes a treat now and then and dogs are no different.  But since it IS a cookie, stretch the box even farther (and healthier for your dog) by breaking a milkbone in half.  Chances are, your dogs will just be happy with the treat, regardless of size.

#5.  We've recently discovered that "treat" has many meanings to a dog.  For training, you can use a piece of dog food as a treat.  Our dogs really like ice cubes.  Ices cubes have now become a inexhaustible treat source that is practically free and they can have as many as they want.  Ice cubes also help them get some water when they are too tired to go their bowl after a walk.

Rude

You would not believe how many times I see things like this.  Next time, I leave a note...

Cheers.

Weekend of Free

Labor Day weekend is also known as "Kevin's Birthday Weekend" here at the Haus of Kendi.  I wanted to do something special for him, but being on a tight budget ruled out all the trips I would have liked to take.  So, we decided to be tourists in our own town for the weekend.  And we managed to do it for (almost) free.  :)

We started with DragonCon.  I had been hearing about DragonCon for years but had never been.  Tickets to the convention were pretty pricey but the parade was free.  You go to comic book conventions for people watching and this one puts it all on display for nothing.  Kevin and I had a great time seeing all the costumes and celebrities, plus the trip down memory lane was fun.  Plus, were we ended up parking (for free) took us through a bunch of cool art I didn't even know was downtown!



The DragonCon parade starts with dragons.  :)



No comic book convention would be complete without superheroes





Back to the Future!!



Some of the random art on the street...

 





After the parade and taking pics with all the cool street art, we headed to Little 5 for some ice cream cones from Zesto.  With a Scout Mob offer, the cones were free.  I happen to think that free ice cream tastes better.  :)



For Kevin's actual birthday, we went on our first trip to the Atlanta Zoo.  Our new library cards came in handy for this one.  The Atlanta libraries have teamed up with the zoo for a promotion.  If you check out the zoo dvd, you get a free family pass for 4 upon return of the DVD.  That's right, the library sent us to the zoo for free!  It would have been a completely free day had we known that you can bring in your own food.  We bought some pizza slices for lunch.  We got to see the pandas eat and all the baby gorillas (my fav).  We even got to see them feed the male gorillas oranges, which was really cool.  Cheers!





Birthday boy at the zoo



We even stopped by the Cyclorama




Birthday dinner.  (I made the cake.  It was buy one get one free ;)







Thrifty Tips #1-3

New segment on Kendi Haus:  money-saving tips we have figured out, heard about, like, don't like, etc.  Hope this will be enlightening to all of you that work hard for your money, and hate to throw it away.

#1.  Most of the time, block cheese is cheaper than shredded cheese.  So, we just buy the block cheese and shred it ourselves.  It's visually more appealing than the shredded because it doesn't have that anti-caking chemical they add (WTH is that anyway?!).  Because of this, it clumps together.  But that's easy to work around.

#2.  When milk is close to its expiration date and we aren't going to use it all, we freeze it in an ice cube try.  Each cube is equivalent to one ounce.  This is really handy for buttermilk, which is pricey (we have a great pancake recipe that uses buttermilk).

#3.  We make great chicken noodle soup over here in the Haus of Kendi.  Recently, we did the math and found out that if you buy the jar of bouillon, it is significantly cheaper than buying the cans of chicken broth.  The jar makes about 10 cups for half the price.  And you can get it in the low sodium version (which we prefer) which really saves you moola.

Cheers!

Stone Mountain

This past Sunday, we decided to take a chance and go to Stone Mountain with the boys.  I want to get them used to hiking and being out in the woods because there are a TON of great camping spots near us.  And camping is the cheapest vacation that I know of.  I can remember camping with my parents when I was really little and I loved it.  Kevin's first camping experience was last year when my ATL friends all migrated up to Helen, GA for the annual fall camping trip.  I love Helen and I hope to be able to take Chester and Freeman soon.  They really well on the nature trail, it was the main path with all the people that was a struggle.  And they were pretty tired for the rest of the day (which is secretly why we take them ;).

Cheers! 


Car rides are our favorite!



We came prepared with doggy water bottles equipped with built in bowls

Freeman and me posing by the yellow daisies on Stone Mt

The boys