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

Here in the New Mexico mountains, we're been snowed in the last few days. Even our 4WD truck could barely make it down our street - it was spinning and sliding the entire way!  It was perfectly fine once it escaped our neighborhood, as someone had actually done their job and plowed the streets outside our neighborhood, rather than simply allowing the snow from multiple storms to keep piling up, like inside our neighborhood. Not that I'm bitter, of course. We are at the height of a wonderful culinary time of year - soup season! With the weather so frigidly ridiculous outside, you can't beat a hot bowl of flavorful soup to warm you up. How frigidly ridiculous? SN asked me the other day how cold I thought it had gotten overnight and I guessed 2 degrees. No , he insisted. It got down to 1.8 degrees. *rolls eyes* Lamb Soup with Noodles Guest Post from Amber at Le Meh Ingredients: 4 med. tomatoes 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 lb. lean lamb, cut into 1 inch st...

Remember all those years ago when Sexy Nerd started knocking down walls  in a surprise master bathroom remodel? The entire renovation project, including the adjoining master bedroom, only cost about $5,000.  Our goal was to go from builder-boring to spa-like. An unexpected, and gladly welcome, side effect was that the remodel more than paid for itself when we sold out house. In 2018,  we sold our home  quickly in a 4-way bidding war - unheard of in our cookie-cutter neighborhood where homes had always sold for much less after languishing forever on the market. Our realtor was stunned.  We're fairly certain this bathroom was a big part of our success. (Our much-complimented  red kitchen  certainly helped too.) It raised the average price for our entire neighborhood. You're welcome, neighbors! I'd hate to go to all the trouble of gutting a bathroom only to end up with a different style of yawn. You know how Iris Apfel says, "More is more. Less i...

What is Idiopathic Insomnia? Idiopathic insomnia - the reason you can never sleep? Hello there! I am Kitty Deschanel, blogger of sexy (nerd) adventures .  Here on my site,  I often write about all things sleep. It's the perfect topic for me because I never sleep well. No, not even as a baby. My family was understandably baffled! Oh, I've tried it all. Meditation, forgoing caffeine entirely, exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, herbal tea, prescription sleep aids, relaxing bedtime music, evening sauna sessions, and even funny-looking yellow goggles to block out slumber-disrupting blue light. I've consulted with the best sleep doctors in New Mexico. I've undergone an extensive overnight sleep study in a sleep lab, wired to the point of ridiculousness. Take a look for yourself. Sleep Study to Diagnose Idiopathic Insomnia   Behold, Kitty Deschanel, the human Christmas tree. The sleep study doesn't hurt, but the glue they use to hold the billion se...

*Update:  Construction on our dream house is finally finished! Sexy Nerd and I are planning to build a window seat beneath the windows in our dining room. Well, really Sexy Nerd is going to build it while I blog in my pajamas, but I'm still planning to take 98% of the credit. I love all the possibilities offered by a new window seat - extra storage, a reading nook, and even a place to stretch out and take a nap. Here are some photos I've gathered from various sites for the best window seat ideas . There's something for every style, from a traditional all-white farmhouse to a cozy mountain hideaway. Update: This post has been so popular that I've added more window seat ideas . Enjoy! Window Seat Ideas Which photo below is your favorite? My original  window seat ideas   post was written in February, 2011, when we were planning to add a window seat to our home. Two+ years later, how is that window seat coming along? To quote Christmas Vacation, I can picture it in my min...

Oh. My. Goodness. Forget what you were planning to make for dinner tonight. Pasta? Steak? This is better. Chicken and waffles?? THIS IS BETTER. We're taking "breakfast for dinner" to the next level. The savory level. Not only is this recipe scrumptious, these chili-covered cornmeal waffles seem like the kind of meal that you slaved over all day long, though they're actually quick and easy. Sexy Nerd is impressed whenever he comes home to this dinner. Sucker. Start by making the chili, which needs to simmer. Homemade, Easy Peasy Chili Recipe Serves 3 Ingredients: 1 can diced tomatoes with green chili (Do not drain.) 1 can white, black, or pinto beans (Do not drain.) 1/4 C creamed corn (Yes, creamed. This will add just the right touch of sweetness.) 1 C cooked ground meat 1 diced bell pepper 1 diced onion 1 diced garlic clove 1 bay leaf 1/2 Tbsp cumin 1/2 Tbsp chili powder 1/2 C water salt, black pepper, cilantro, and red chili flakes ...