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

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...

Happy nearly new year, bloggy friends! 2017 was the year we finally, finally got to move into our mountain dream home, 6 years after purchasing a 13-acre lot in foreclosure. Parts of the house are really coming together, like our hallway bathroom, kitchen, and guest bedroom. Other rooms may take another 6 years to complete. Theater? No, I'm pretty sure that giant space with the fancy ceiling and $1,000 of glass doors was always intended to be a storage space for boxes and miscellaneous junk. The plans must have been mislabeled. One of my favorite rooms in our new house so far is the small bathroom off our hallway. With a curved floor, it's a bit unusual. SN created the countertop himself out of a single piece of alligator juniper. The oversized mirror I ordered from Wayfair, called a Honey Mushroom mirror, really pulled everything together. The blue vessel sink was a $25 clearance find and the Emtek lead crystal doorknobs were marked down to even less. Plus, it happens to ...

With a post title like that, you know this is going to be a good one. SN and I recently enjoyed a weekend with his family in a Kansas farming town. We stayed with his aunt and uncle, visited the mayor (his grandpa), and marveled in all the small town activities...like...ummm...going for a stroll down a residential street. While we waited to cross that street, stopping to look both ways more out of habit than necessity, a homeowner ran out to us. He asked if we were lost. I thought he was excited to have someone new to talk to, even if it was only to give directions. SN said we'd better end our stroll, lest the sheriff come question the strangers in town. When we returned home, I decided to send a little thank you gift to SN's aunt for her hospitality. I found the cutest plate online and was sure she would love it. Look at this little piggy plate. Isn't it adorable? Wouldn't you be so surprised and happy to receive it in the mail? I liked the design so much...

Here is a mattress reviews repost from almost 3 years ago, updated for 2017. I was about to add "just in time for your holiday guests," but I'm probably a bit late for that, considering most overnight Christmas visitors will start arriving within the next week. I suppose there's still time to receive a mail-order mattress by then. Your New Year's guests are going to be so comfy!   Since publishing this blog post of the seemingly endless options and choices in the world of mattresses, SN and I have moved and have ordered two additional Amerisleep beds. Okay, on to the blog post and updated mattress reviews... 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...

Although it is a favorite of travelers, planning a visit to Europe can be overwhelming. There are simply so many countries in such a relatively small region that it can difficult to prioritize, especially with only a limited number of vacation days available. Throw in the fact that just about every capital and coastline is famous for one reason or another and things get even more difficult. One country that is often overlooked as a first class destination is the Czech Republic – a beautiful Central European nation known for charming towns, medieval castles, and a deep and fascinating history. Here are some of the best things you can do on a trip to the Czech Republic: Tour Cesky Krumlov Castle Ancient castles are among the attractions that make the Czech Republic such an interesting country, and the one in the town of Cesky Krumlov may be the best of the bunch. As a bonus to your castle visit, this entire town is wonderful to explore, full of history and less crowded with touri...