Kitty Deschanel

You know our powder room in the hallway? It has turned out perfectly, with glossy TileBar tile and the alligator juniper vanity Sexy Nerd built himself. Little by little, accessories are added and edited out. Currently, the bathroom has a cheerful, springtime vibe. Still, something is missing. Our decorating style is rustic...farmhouse...glam...? Eclectic! Since moving in, I've taped at least 30 wallpaper samples on the wall behind the mirror. It's such a tough decision ! What looks perfect in November (so warm and cozy) is all wrong in February (so heavy and dark).  If I ever win the lottery , I'm going to pay someone to redo my wallpapers with the seasons. Also, for this to happen, I'll probably need to start playing the lottery. Fun Powder Room Wallpaper This wallpaper from wallpaperdirect.com, called Tian, was love at first sight. It's textured and looks like it is illuminated from behind. However, Sexy Nerd hates it. (Clockwise from up

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. -Michael Pollan This salad recipe might make the second part of the above quote a bit tricky! Out of all the recipes I've made with Knorr Homestyle Stock, my favorite use for it is as a salad dressing. Specifically,  my  Homestyle Mayonnaise .  It's the perfect complement to an assortment of veggies, leaving even my carnivorous Sexy Nerd happy to have a salad for dinner. Best of all, it is 100% unique and unlike any dressing you've ever made or picked up at the store. It looks so healthy, right? That's because it is. This is boring potato salad's New York cousin. Potatoes...and sweet potatoes! Together forever. How hodgepodged is this salad? We're throwing in the celery leaves. We're peeling our cucumber with pretty stripes because we're fancy like that. And egg! And broccoli! Homestyle Salad with Homestyle Mayonnaise (Recipe Yield: 6 servings)(Total Time: 30 minutes, including prep)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday mattress sales are still going. If you've been waiting for a deal on a new bed, now is the best time to buy! With the days counting down, I will update this list of promo codes as more offers become available. Mattress Sale I'm featuring every coupon currently available for the Amerisleep Black Friday and Cyber Monday  mattress sale  (our personal favorite), as well as promo codes for the Layla Sleep, Brooklyn Bedding, Sleep & Beyond, Bear Mattress, and Zoma mattress Black Friday mattress sales.  There's also a Sleep & Beyond coupon, which can be used for accessories like mattress toppers, wool pillows, and organic bedding. All of the mattresses listed below are highly rated and include free shipping both ways. These are the best discounts available on these brands, including exclusive promos for my blog readers. If the coupon you're looking for isn't here, it doesn't exist.  Layla Sleep Try their weighted blanket Here is

Hey there, bloggy friends. In the interest of learning new things , I have a guest post today. Sexy Nerd and I have purchased homes, but still never knew what a reverse mortgage is and how it works . Is it like selling your home but still getting to live there?  Years ago, we had an elderly neighbor who refinanced her home with a reverse mortgage and we've always been curious about the details. Here's the answer: How Does a Reverse Mortgage Work? When retiring, lower income than what you are accustomed to can be a cause of stress. Just because you are retiring does not mean you need to compromise on the lifestyle that you have come to know. Although it is tempting to resort to drastic measures, such a remortgaging your house, or taking out a loan, both options come with major debt implications, and the monthly repayment expectations can be crippling. A reverse mortgage, however, is an excellent solution for those who are aged 62 and above, and can be a huge h

Souper Bowl Santa Fe That's SOUPer bowl, not Super Bowl. I was only in it for the snacks and funny commercials anyway. Does this cozy winter weather have you craving a hot, fragrant bowl of soup? How about TWENTY FOUR bowls of soup featuring every flavor imaginable, including Southwestern favorites?  (For you math nerds, 24 bowls of soup x more than 1,000 attendees = hundreds of gallons of soup. 😲) You won't want to miss the 26th  Souper Bowl in Santa Fe , NM. It's a culinary tradition locals and visitors look forward to all year. Yes, I'm dragging The Grump back to Santa Fe . It turns out he's quite agreeable when food is involved. There's a reason people, even grumps, travel from near and far for this foodie fun. Some of the most popular restaurants in the state compete for the coveted "Best Overall Soup" award, including Jambo Café, Terra Restaurant at The Four Seasons Rancho Encantado, and Rowley Farmhouse Ales. As a fan of the S

After experiencing it on a business trip, Sexy Nerd has wanted us to go to San Antonio, TX for almost 10 years. We've finally visited and we loved it! Don't tell New Mexico, but I think we might be Texans at heart. I researched the best places to eat in San Antonio and put together a little food tour for us. Here are details on the restaurants we made it to, including the best things to order at each. It's a walkable city, so no car is needed for this food tour. There are also plenty of weird, quirky stories because weird, quirky things seem to happen to us. Sadly, there was more to eat than humanly possible during our short trip. I've included a list of restaurants we still need to experience at the end of this post. Go enjoy them for us! Where to Eat in San Antonio San Antonio, TX = Foodie Paradise The riverwalk in San Antonio was gussied up for the holidays. Although there are many great restaurants lining this popular tourist area, be warned that it'

I have a hilariously disgusting puppy story to share. It isn't quite as dramatic as Biscuit's funny dog story , but comes close. In the photo below, 8-week old Olive was exploring the house and I was following her with my camera. She wandered into the pantry and became excited when she found a bin of plastic bags. Yipping and squirming, she pawed through them and knocked over a dustpan that was resting against the wall.  "What are you doing?" I cooed, thinking this was really adorable. I stopped taking photos. She was pooping. As gross as that was, you really can't beat the convenience of having it right in the dustpan. Such a good, smart puppy! Can you tell I'm a proud dog mama? Now that you've suffered through that TMI story, here are some Olive photos to enjoy. I promise she's not doing anything inappropriate in any of them! Cute Puppy Photos        Update: We'