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

A few years ago, Sexy Nerd decided he needed a boat, desert living be darned. Not just any boat, of course - he planned to create a homemade, folding boat! Google "How to Build a Folding Boat". Not many results, right? Only my husband is crazy enough to try such a thing. Here he is, attempting to paddle from the shore: When you're the captain of a folding boat, a lifejacket is a must. Who cares if the water is shallow?  Here, his dad tries to give him an unexpected, helpful push: Here is Sexy Nerd, caught off balance and falling (almost) overboard:  Whoops! So, did Sexy Nerd's folding boat sink or float? Take a look: For the record, I thought my music choice was mean and only played it to Sexy Nerd as a joke, but he loved it. He embraces his redneck ways. I'm still impressed...but have to point out that, many years later, the time above is still the only time this folding boat has ever been taken out of our garage. Thank goodnes...

My lovable, wacky boss finds it concerning that the internet knows so much about all of our lives. Google a product and suddenly ads for the exact same thing appear on every website you visit. If I search for something at work while logged into my boss's Gmail account, it affects my browsing when I go home, though I'm using a completely different account on a completely different computer. The internet even knows who-knows-who. Well, my boss is going to be FREAKED OUT by this one. I was browsing through old design magazines last night, trying to get ideas for the house we're building . I was reading an old issue of Country Living, from 2007 or so, and came across a photo of a kitchen with the most amazing wooden chandeliers. Where a typical chandelier would have dangling, sparkly crystals, this one had wood hanging from each light. They were perfect for our mountain home! The article detailed where to buy everything in the house, from the valences down to the throw rug...

A friend recently purchased a new mattress for her son, who is attending college in New York and relies solely on public transportation. I'd recommended Amerisleep to her, which was perfect because it could be shipped directly to his door, but after discussing it, we decided that investing in an Amerisleep twin mattress might not be the best choice. He would be leaving school in less than two years and needed a cheap, temporary solution. We spent some time comparison shopping online. Based on cost alone, our top choice was a Sleep Number bed, which was on sale for $399. My friend said, "Two hundred a year is nothing compared to tuition. Sold!" We'd read some iffy reviews online about Sleep Number mattresses not lasting, an opinion reinforced by their abysmally short warranty, but hoped it would at least make it two years. I helped her navigate the checkout process, entering all of her son's delivery information, and felt confident in our choice. Then, Sleep ...

Quick tip: When writing, how can you remember the difference between "desert" and "dessert"? With "dessert", you go back for seconds! Okay, I'm ready to be serious now. My trip to Washington DC last week was the coldest I've ever been in my life. It was so cold, in fact, that when we were inside the conservatory of the US Botanic Garden and the ice on the roof cracked and slid down the glass, the sound made made me envision what it would be like if the glass and snow suddenly collapsed, trapping me underneath and ending my life. It meant I wouldn't have to go back out in the cold again. It sounded wonderful. Yes, Sexy Nerd thinks I'm nuts. On a more optimistic note, I knew we'd soon be back in sunny Albuquerque, where the winter has been mild and we've even had several days above 60 lately. I think you know where I'm going with this... The view from my bedroom window this morning.  Look how deep the snow on...

We're just a few months away from breaking ground on our dream home...assuming we ever finalize our design!  Update: Construction has finally started - so exciting. Another update: Our dream home is finished and we stayed true to our Rustic Glam design style. Check out our home photos . Rustic Glam Decor Here are the things we know for certain:   Our dream home will be rustic and glam. Glamstic? Rustam? Our dream home will have charming doors leading to a private courtyard. The driveway will be lined with fragrant, drought-tolerant plants. Our dream home will have as much character as we can cram in! Reclaimed wood where the hallway turns the corner? Yes, please. Three of the living room walls will be stone, floor to (very high) ceiling. The fourth wall will be wood, matching the windows. There will be a wall of fire at the edge of our Endless Pool, visible as guests approach our house. In our dream home, all the floors will be brick,...

We've been making great progress on our custom floor plan. It's a bit better than the last one I shared, don't you think? In fact, there's a new feature I really love. Oh yes. Pica and Biscuit are getting their very own room! Almost 25 square feet all to themselves, with direct access to their own, private courtyard. Can you tell we don't have kids? We've nicknamed this the "Puppy Penthouse Room". Pica looks so happy in her new room. Or the "P.P. Room" for short. Kinda perfect, especially for a future puppy, wouldn't you agree?