Merry Christmas!

I know it's a little late.  We struggled to get our Christmas cards out on this year (we sent them after New Year's) and I didn't order enough (sorry if you didn't get one, I'll do better next year).  I remember my friend Lauren saying that she went MIA with cards the first year after Liam was born.  I thought to myself, how hard could it be to send out a card?  Well, a baby really has no concept of etiquette like that so they throw obstacles in your way so you can't even stamp an envelope, let alone a dozen.  And good luck getting to the store to buy the card, if you even remember that you need a card because you're so sleep deprived. 

Anyway.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from the Haus of Kendi!

Cheers!


Here is the picture we used on our cards this year:

Not the original pose I was going for, but that one didn't work out so well. It's still funny though...

And here's one that was almost our card, but I wanted to see if I could get a family pic:

 

New Mommy Christmas List

Tis the season!  For all the new (and experienced) moms out there, here's my Christmas Wish List.  Maybe some of you want the same things...

1.  Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.  Whoever gets me this will own me.

2. Self-washing bottles.  Anything to get back our evening.

3. Odorless dirty diapers.  I know, I might as well ask for a miracle.

4. And endless supply of burp clothes.  Gunnar Bear goes through so many when he's spitting up.

5. Eye Cream that really gets, and I mean really, gets rid of dark circles.

6. A couple months of frozen meals.  So I don't have to decide between sleep, eating or personal hygiene.

7. Dog walker.  Cuz my boys are being neglected and I feel bad for them.

8. Daycare at work.

9.  My pre-pregnancy body back.

10. Peace of mind


And now for the gifts that can actually be purchased.  You're welcome sister-moms! :)

1. Teething Necklace - I've seen these for a while, but I wasn't sold until Gunnar started putting everything in his mouth; my hair, my shirt, his bib...

This one is Nixi by Bumkins.  You can get different styles and colors.  You can even get a bracelet if that works better.

Target

2. Mani/ Pedi - My favorite place to get one is at an Aveda Salon.  If you have a school near you, they let you keep the nail polish.

3. PJs that work for nursing - I'm not nursing any more, but when I was, this was a pain.  I love these pjs from Victoria Secret.  Soft, comfy cute and practical. What more could you ask for?

 

The Sleepover Pajama

 
4.  Gym Membership - for a couple months at least and the time to actually go to the gym.  We all want our pre-baby body back ASAP, but finding the time to actually work out is hard with a baby. 

5.  Just Dance ABBA - if you can't get to the gym, and you have a Wii, this game will have you sweating.  Its fun and learn some new moves too!

Amazon

6. Anything the baby "made" - Pinterest is full of ideas for hand prints and footprints.  Get some paint and slap those tootsies on something cute!

7.  Baby's Birthstone jewelry - something simple she can wear everyday to remind her of her little one.  It will put a smile on her face.  I like these... 

Bullet Birthstone Bracelet - Jewelmint  $30

Etsy $38

Etsy $34

8.  Baby's Name or Initial Jewelry - for an even more personal touch.

 

Etsy $29

Jewelmint  $52

Tiffany  $150

C Wonder $48

9.  Go the F*ck to Sleep or You Have to F*cking Eat Book - You know you've thought it once or twice.  Hell, you might have even said it, I don't know.  It was written for parents, by a parent.  Enjoy and relate.




Amazon $12

Amazon $12

10. Uggs - I know they're a big fashion faux pas, but I don't care.  They are warm, comfy and easy.  And I think they're cute.  I'm currently lusting after this pair...

Dillards $250

Cheers!

#tbt Post: MI Christmas 2012

I always spend Christmas in MI.  Always.  To me, Christmas means cold, snow, fires, getting bundled up and the Griswolds.  All of our family is in MI and almost all of our friends are too.  So, I have to go home ("home" for me will always be MI).  We managed to do a lot on our visit in 2012.  And we got snow.  Really pretty, fluffy white snow.  Just like it should be.  :)  Here are the highlights.

Cheers

Snowing before Christmas.  Its gonna stick!

 Putting on new Christmas presents

Miss Maddy loves her new marching band themed ride!

My Aunt Karen made us a polish lunch complete with kielbasa and pirogis

My Dad and I love coney

Kim getting her 8th? tattoo

My turn

Besties for life!

Then we went shopping :)

Hit the after Christmas sales hard

Good thing we don't have to get Maddy...

But my FAVORITE part of Christmas break was learning to shoot.  Lately, knowing how to shoot a gun has become very important to me.  I want to be able to protect my family.  My dad took us and I'm happy to say that Kevin and I are pretty good.  Sniper Schwemmin hit dead center his first shot.  Ever.  With a gun.  Insert eye roll here...  Take away message, don't mess with the Kendi Haus.

 

Pinterest Christmas 2012

So, I may have mentioned earlier that my goal for this past Christmas was to make it a Pinterest Christmas.  I was hoping to make everyone's presents.  I wanted to save some money and I personally think that handmade presents are better.  Well, I didn't take into account how long it takes to make things.  I was able to get a few things done, but not everything I had on my list.  Good thing there are always birthdays and pinterest parties!

Here's the run down of Pinterest Christmas 2012...

My most important pin, and most tedious, was for my mom.  Boot shapers.  I really liked these and I knew she would too.  I had really good instructions, I just needed to find all the stuff and make them.  I think they turned out really good for the first try!

Who doesn't love Christmas cookies?  Not the Haus of Kendi, that's for sure!  Kevin is really good in the kitchen and he wanted to bake all his family's traditions this year, included Peanut Blossoms, Sugar Cookies and Nuts & Bolts (Chex Mix).  I can't think of a better treat to hand out at Christmas, can you?  :)  I tried some new recipes I found on Pinterest.  Some worked, some didn't.  More on the pintatrophies later...

All dressed up and baking Peanut Blossoms

Crushing candy canes for cookies

Frosting sugar cookies

The baking pin successes were Puppy Chow (recipe here) and Peppermint Brownie Cookies (recipe here).  Both were really easy and straight forward.  My only change, I added a lot more powdered sugar to the Puppy Chow than what was in the recipe.  Two more winners!

Puppy Chow

Finished cookies

We also make some mixes for our family and friends too: Kevin's Pancake Mix and Instant Hot Cocoa Mix.

 

Instant hot chocolate packaged and ready to give!

And last but not least, I followed these instructions and the instructions on the package to make an etched monogram beer mug for Kevin's brother.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the finished product, but it turned out better than I thought it would!

Dad helping me cut out the "R" stencil

My mom also got in on the Pinterest Christmas, but she didn't realize that she had.  She made me a make-up brush travel roll!  She got the instructions from the PBS show "Deals", but I found some on pinterest here.  She made it out of a hand towel so it could be washed and picked brown so you wouldn't see make-up stains.  I totally love it!!

Final pin tally: 5

I hope this inspires you all to try some of the things you find on Pinterest.  This Christmas alone, I've added two new recipes and two new skills to my repertoire!  

Cheers!

Kendi Christmas

Christmas in the Haus of Kendi was a mix of hectic and festive.  We had a lot to do before we hit I-75N, home to MI.  We did decorate the house and put up a tree and Kevin took his mini tree to work for his desk.  I was very pleased with how everything came out and I have a bunch of ideas for next Christmas. 

The house all decorated.  It looked so pretty at night.

I'm very proud of the wreath that I made.  It was before Pinterest.  ;-)

Decorating the tree in my giant sweater and boots.  I'm wearing mistletoe on my head.  :)

Kevin made his grandpa's Nuts and Bolts.  They have it every year at Christmas time.  I'm so lucky I married a man that knows this recipe.

I even got us tickets to see a performance of The Nutcracker.  I love the music, but I always see Fantasia in my head even when I watch the ballet.

Waiting for the show to start.  We got good seats.

Kevin took his mini tree to work to sit on his desk for the holidays.  I wonder if it was a distraction...

And what would holidays be without hearing Linus tell us about the true meaning of Christmas...

Tradition

As it got closer to Christmas, it got more and more crowded under the tree.  Hope everyone liked their presents.  We worked really hard on making and picking good ones!

Spoiled

Needless to say, the boys were less than thrilled with all the holiday antics...

Cheers!  And here's to next Christmas!

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

 

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!