Kitty Deschanel | Food, Wine, and Travel Adventures Across the USA

Wondering " What's the best memory foam mattress ?" I did a little Amerisleep FAQs Googling the other day and was surprised when the following questions appeared in my search results: Inquiring minds want to know. As the happy, longtime owners of 4 Amerisleep mattresses, I am in a unique position to be able to answer all of your frequently asked memory foam mattress questions. With so many "bed in a box" options available, the choice can be overwhelming! You can read my detailed Amerisleep mattress reviews here on my site, plus take advantage of the exclusive $250 Amerisleep promo code , KITTY, just for my blog readers. What's the best memory foam mattress? Based on factors such as longevity, comfort, and warranty, Amerisleep has been rated the best memory foam mattress year after year. Technological advancements, including a plant-based, open-cell design, Celliant cover, and a HIVE support layer help you sleep cooler and better supported than ...

Almost as popular as my Amerisleep mattress reviews , the Jessner chemical peel post here on my blog has been a reader favorite for years. I'm still doing my own peels at home and still recommend this to anyone concerned about acne scars or wrinkles. However, last night I did have a Jessner peel scare. As written before, timing is everything with a chemical peel. You don't want pieces of dead skin (yuck, right?) flaking off at work or at important social events. I've wanted to do one for months but things kept getting in the way, like extra days spent at work and our recent trip to California. Finally, last night I was able to treat myself to an at-home Jessner peel. (Using this product  from Amazon, in case you want to try it for yourself.) I've done this so many times that the steps are automatic. I applied three layers of Jessner solution, brushed my teeth, and went to bed. Snuggled into our new mattress and a mountain of blankets, I fell into a deep sleep. I dre...

Fair warning - this is a rambling, depressing post. As mentioned a few days ago, SN and I recently visited California and had a great time, with the exception of one horrible, unexpected problem. I wrote the following shortly after it happened and the thought of re-reading it now is making my stomach turn, so hopefully it is fine as it is. It will have to be. There's so much more to this story. I can't talk about it without choking up and ever since it happened, stupid things render me unable to breathe, like seeing an ad in Coastal Living magazine referencing people in our lives who have passed away. Everyone tells me my friend is going to die. She's not just my friend. She is everything to me. I want to write our story so everyone can understand how special she is, but just typing this has me on the verge of a panic attack. I want to write a letter to her but don't know what to say. I want to encourage her and help her, but at the same time, I want to scream at her a...

This is one of the most popular articles in my Self Improvement series . Scroll to the bottom for an  Anti-Depression Snack Mix recipe that combines multiple foods that help depression into a healthy, easy to keep on hand treat. Foods That Help Depression Longtime readers of this blog (hello, bloggy friends!) know I've struggled with depression on and off since I was a teenager. Funny enough, people who know me in real life usually have no idea. Ah, the things we share online. One of my New Year's resolutions was to improve my diet. Sayonara, sugar! Bye bye, Burger King! The intention behind this goal was to lose weight, and I have, but there was also an unexpected benefit. Did you know there is a link between food and depression ?  Healthy Food = Healthy Mood (surprise, surprise). Food and Depression Since reducing (not eliminating - I'm only human) the junk food in my life, I've had more energy and have not had even one day where I've felt the slight...

Another rerun here on the ol' blog? Yeah. I was secretly on vacation before, gallivanting all over California (no exaggeration - we went from north to south and back again) and was too busy devouring all the free Marriott breakfasts (cinnamon raisin toast!) to buckle down and write a new blog post. And now that I'm back? There was a terrible, awful, worst-thing-ever traumatic incident that happened during my getaway and now whenever I sit down to write about it (or just sit down to read a magazine or just sit down), I'm overcome with sadness and tears. People you think will always be in your life will shatter your heart. (Not SN, by the way. I should probably clarify that. He has been great.) So, for now, I'm sharing a Valentine's Day rerun from 2013: This morning, I was startled awake by the sound of Pica and Biscuit barking. They bark at everyone, including us, but at just after 7am, I should have been home alone. Sexy Nerd would have been at work for almost an ...

I've been trying to be a good blogger lately and post at least once a week. Rather than continue to feel guilty about it being Tuesday with nothing new here (or, you know, actually investing the effort into creating a new blog post), here is a funny rerun from a few years ago: I went to get the mail the other afternoon, which in our neighborhood means going to the end of the street to a community mailbox. On my walk there, I passed a man who was going in and out of people's yards. He was maybe in his late 20s/early 30s and I just assumed he was checking the meters for the electric company. I thought nothing of seeing him walk up my driveway right before returning to my house, as I figured he'd walk to the meter and continue on his way. Nope. He was standing at my front door when I arrived and didn't look like he planned to leave any time soon. I'm not a social person by any stretch of the imagination, especially after a long day at my socially demanding job. ...

See this lovely Pinterest graphic? I'd appreciate your sharing it, partly because this Enchilada Rice recipe is amazing and partly because these Pinterest graphics don't just make themselves. Mostly because I am unable to share this recipe myself, as I seem to have locked myself out of my Pinterest account. (Oops!) I'm posting TWO Instant Pot recipes in a row? That should tell you just how yummy this Instant Pot enchilada rice recipe is. Also, both recipes contain quinoa. That should tell you just how much quinoa I bought when it was on clearance for 50 cents per pound. ( Last week's Instant Pot recipe for Cranberry Oatmeal can be found here.  It's my favorite breakfast, assuming chocolate cake is not an option. It usually isn't.) This recipe makes a big batch (6 cups), which is perfect because you're going to want to eat it for lunch and dinner, day after day. Ready to learn how to make my Creamy Enchilada Rice in your Instant Pot? I'll tell...