Poor, poor Matt. He went and got a steroid shot at the dermatologist this morning, but he still looks [and feels] awful.
In case you forgot, here’s what he normally looks like:
And here he is today.
DO NOT TOUCH HAIRY VINES!!!!!!!!!! It was poison ivy for sure and he had no idea.
I went to the gym mid-morning via bicycle. It’s been a week since I was at my gym! I spent 30 minutes with Better Homes + Gardens and did a quick few reps of lifting and biked back.
I used the rest of my pre-lunch energy to clean our shower (and the rest of the bathroom). GAH it was sooo gross. I may be neat, but I am not clean! I need to plan in a weekly maintenance clean for it so it doesn’t get so gross. Does anyone have any shower cleaning recommendations!?
I had no idea what to eat for lunch. I was hungry but nothing was appealing. I finally settled on this mish-mosh of a bean salad with sweet potato and kale –
I steamed half a sweet potato in the microwave (5 minutes on high) and tossed with some kale leaves and about half a cup of black beans. Plus about 2 tbsp of TJ’s Euro yogurt, a drizzle of maple syrup and salt and pepper.
All shook up in this tupperware
The secret ingredient was these herbed nuts that BethT got me. They are awesome and the herbs went so well with the sweet dressing.
Served with a few of these crackers that Karen brought over.
And a POM + soda cocktail
Blogs + Books
KERF interview with Open Sky!!
And remember summer 2008 (wow, did I just use a year to reference the blog!?) when I cooked up all of those mystery recipes?
THE BOOK IS OUT!!!!!
Look closely for my name…
And here is one of my recipes photographed!
I developed 26 recipes (yes, I planned the number!!) I was just thumbing through though and a lot of my recipes don’t seem to be included?? 
It was so long ago and I’m not sure if they changed the titles, but I don’t even remember which ones I did! But if you’re interested in purchasing it, you can find it here.
Studying needs to happen ASAP!
{ 89 comments… read them below or add one }
Poor Matt! He must be feeling better after the shot? Hope that he is back to normal and more comfortable very soon.
Congrats on your recipes! Very cool!
Oh my heart just goes out to him! And congrats on the recipes in the book!
aww, he kind of looks like Quasimodo
Wow congrats on the cookbook!!
My shower cleaning happens so unfrequently too, but inbetween cleaning I use this scrubbing bubbles after shower spray that is supposed to ward off any mold or mildew. It makes cleaning easier.
Oh, your poor husband. I just got over a horrible bout of poison ivy, but mine was on my legs. It was horrendous, and I might have scars … but I guess that was better than my face/eye. I hope the shot works SOON.
Congratulations on publication!
Love random sweet potato combos! I had some baked sweet potato with lentils, mozzarella, and hot sauce last night. Yummo – perfect combo of carbs, fiber, protein, and fat.
Wow, poor Matt! Doesn’t look good.. I hope he feels better soon!
Congrats on the book! That’s awesome (it took a while to find your name
).
p.s. I sponge down the shower walls & curtain each time I’m in for a wash – it seems to help keep things sparkly!
your poor hubby – i hope he feels better fast!
what a neat honor to have your recipes in a cookbook! yay!
POOR MATT! Oh my goodness. I can’t believe the photos. Poor guy, I hope he gets better soon! Damn hairy vines!
poor guy, I hope he feels better soon. What a trooper, though, as he agreed to a photoshoot even while ill!
Cleaning the shower is one of my least favorite cleaning activities. However, I recenlty started using Arm & Hammer Clean Shower spray after each shower (I spray the walls, the clear shower curtin liner, the tub, the grout between the tub and the tile) and it is a miracle worker. The difference when you go to do your weekly (or ahem…bi-monthly) shower scrub is that your tub is a lot easier to clean and it doesn’t get all grimy inbetween cleanings. I highly recommend it!
I agree with Beth – I was just going to recommend the Clean Shower product too. We literally keep it in our shower and spray after each shower (no need to scrub, wipe, or anything!) It’s great!
Poor Matt! I hope you post tomorrow that he is much better! That lunch is very creative and looks delish!
How exciting that that book is out:D Kinda crappy they omitted some recipes, but exciting, nonetheless!
We’ve got “hard” water at our place, so the tub gets tinted blue (ew!) pretty easily and quickly! We use the Clean Shower spray after every shower, but more often than not, tend to forget to use it. I can’t really vouch for how well it works, but using toilet bowl cleaner (of all things!) to scrub up the blue tint really works…so does Scrubbing Bubbles
ahhh matt….FEEL BETTER SOON! and he is a trooper for letting you photograph him – i would be hiding under the covers
thats awesome that you have your own recipes in a WW book. Congrats. Quite the accomplishment!
I totally understand the whole neat not clean thing. I hate to clean, but I like things to look orderly. And it definitely catches up with you sooner or later.
I hope Matt has a speedy recovery!
Congrats on the recipe book!
Wow…your poor husband! I really do hope he is better soon!
Congratulations on the cookbook…that is so cool!
Aw poor Matt! That stinks.. As for your shower, I like Clorox wipes a lot for a quick job, or in the spray bottle.
Poor, poor Matt. At least he can be proud of his wifey with her published recipes!
Poor huband!
Way to go on the recipes Kath!
Congrats to you-that’s so awesome!!!!
Poor Matt-I feel so bad for him!
Poor Matt! I think you should set him up on the couch with a beer and some bread and maybe a bear or two.
wow congratulations on the recipe book! that’s awesome
I use scrubbing bubbles on our shower/tub. I shoot for once a week, but sometimes it’s every other. Just spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes and wipe it off with some water. sometimes I have to scrub a little if it’s pretty bad.
I remember that project! Wow, I totally had forgotten. Very cool – congrats!!!
aww poor matt! i hope he feels better soon. congrats on the recipes
great looking lunch!
jenna
Poor Matt! Allergies are the worst. I really hope he feels better soon.
Did they give him anything else? That’s a pretty bad reaction. I hope he’s feeling better soon!
Omg, haha, that’s certainly a face only a mother can love. Hope it clears up nicely
How COOL!!!! You’re a published recipe author!!
Poor Matt! I’m sure he feels awful. My husband got poison oak once at a military training mission and it was no fun. I think Matt looks kinda hot though, like he got in a fight defending your honor. lol
congrats on the cookbook! that is exiciting…will you be doing a book signing? i did one at the beginning of this year and it was one of the most fun experiences ever!
POOR MATT!! He looks like Rocky after a fight. Get him a robe and call him the Italian Stallion. He’ll love it
Yo Adrian! LOL
Oh goodness… Matt looks so uncomfortable. Hopefully the steriods help! Your lunch looks really yummy. And you have recipes published in a book! Congrats!
AHH, poor Matt! I had poison ivy once….not fun. WTG on the recipes!
Lunch looks yummy! I hope your husband feels better soon!
We use a squeegee on the shower after every use. It keeps water spots from forming on the glass. Gonna get on the Clean Shower train- it works well! Every week, we spray it with Scrubbing Bubbles and then wipe it down with a damp cloth. Presto!
Congratulations on your publication!!
I seriously want to cry and itch when I see Matt’s picture. Too bad he didn’t do it BEFORE Halloween. You guys could have gone as professional boxers.
Aww, your poor husband! I hope he feels better soon! Congratulations on your recipes and good luck with the shower. I am also guilty of letting it go too long and then being totally grossed out.
Your poor poor husband! I hope he feels better soon!
So exciting about your recipes!
Poor Matt! Omg that looks like it hurts!!! I hope he heals fast.
I totally remember those secret recipes. How fun!
I feel so bad for Matt! Hope it clears up soon!
Love the sound of that bean/kale/nut/potato mix!!! Wow, definitely a quick and simple recipe to remember.
LOL. My wife has said she thinks Matt is cute in the past, and just for fun, I sent her a link to this page asking if she still thinks so…
No offense Matt, I do feel for ya man. I got that stuff really bad about a year ago too. I hope it clears up soon!
Poor Matt! He looks miserable, but at least you can be there to take good care of him. I wanted to let you know I used to use Clean Shower everyday, and it was great, BUT then, I discovered handy-dandy 409 will do the same thing. Same results, cheaper price. I am by NO means a super-cleaner, so this little tip has saved me hours and hours of bath tup scrubbing. Good luck with the studying and congrats on the publication!
Awww Matt!!!
Poor guy.
It it’s any consolation to him: Two summer’s ago I got stung in the eye by a wasp and I looked JUST LIKE HIM! Seriously. I couldn’t open my left eye for a week and my whole face was swollen. I wore sunglasses the whole time because I was so embarrassed. It sucked, and it took a long time to go away. But it DID get better. Feel better soon Matt!
Congrats on the book. You always make the most interesting recipes that I would never think of!
Awww…hope that Matt feels better soon!
Can’t wait to check out the new WW cookbook.
Oh poor poor matt!! Hope he feels better soon. And congrats on your book entries!! That is awesome
Hey Kath! I just found my way over to your blog – congratulations on the cookbook!! That is awesome
But your poor husband, hope he feels better soon!!
wow I would have gone to the ER!!
Congratulations on the recipes in the new cookbook. I see my local library has it so I’ll be checking it out. Regarding Matt’s poison ivy, did the doctor also prescribe an oral steroid (i.e., Prednisone) in addition to the injection? With a case as severe as his, it seems warranted. The course is usually short, starting with 60 mg the first day and tapering off over a week. The drug is inexpensive, very effective, and a short course has no side effects.
Aww I hope Matt gets better soon. Congrats on the recipes and the future Great Harvest!. GH is my favorite! Its totally worth the money because I can freeze it and it will taste the same defrosted and baked. When I first read your blogs I used to whine to my hubby how jealous I was of all the bread and scuffins you get to eat.
Sending get better soon wishes to Matt…poor guy. Can’t wait to try some of the recipes, congrats!
Oh my gosh – poor Matt! I hope he feels better soon. How exciting to see your recipes published!
wow i hope matt gets better soon! im def gonna be more careful when im in my mom’s garden from now on..!
congrats on the recipes, so excitinggggg!
I hope that steroid shot kicks in soon!! Take good care of him, Kath! I’m so jealous of all the pretty colors in your casa…it’ll be sad when you move but I know your house in Charlottesville (!!!!!) will be just as pretty. I spotted your name…spotted GG style
Oh, poor Matt! I hate poison ivy! I had the same experience as a kid….I was out of school of a week because my eye was sealed shut. And then, wouldn’t you know…. at the end of that horrible, itchy week, I got the chicken pox! I hope he heals up quick!
kaboom is the best stuff I’ve used to clean the bathroom. it’s strong, but great.
Congrats on the cookbook!!
I use scrubbing bubbles spray in my shower for my bi-monthly cleaning, however I wish I could find a natural cleaner that works as well. Something about spraying that crap, then breathing in those fumes in such a small space…can’t be healthy!
Thanks for the well-wishes everyone.
P.S. She forgot to mention she cleaned the shower naked! Hee hee!!!
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser IS magic for any cleaning esp. showers. We also bought this attachment for the shower, you can screw/unscrew a little hose with a squirty end (like the ones in kitchen sinks) onto the shower head. We originally got it to clean the dogs, but found it also works great for cleaning the shower! I just screw it in when I want to rinse down the whole thing.
Hope Matt is feeling better…it looks so painful!!!!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
I hope your husband feels better soon. I use Shower Patrol disinfectant to clean my shower tubs and bathtubs. I wish I have found this a LONG time ago. This makes cleaning the bathroom not so painful anymore. In my opinion, it has a strong odor, so I usually wait to clean with this product when it’s nice outside and I can open my windows.
Shower patrol website
http://www.carrollco.com/restroom/index.htm
Oh my god I hope Matt is okay!!!!
Poor Matt! I hope he feels better!
Hope Matt feels better soon! That looks terrible!!
I too am guilty of having a neat house and gross shower/bathtub. It’s so easy just to pull the curtain shut and forget about it. Plus, I usually shower without my contacts in, and I can barely see my hand in front of my face, let alone all the shower scum. That said, I do have a couple suggestions (that I obv. don’t follow, but should!). You could get a squeegee and wipe the walls dry after each shower, no water = nothing for scum to grow in. Or, you could just wipe down one wall each time you shower with whatever soap. That way, you don’t have to use harsh cleaners.
A couple years ago I started following Flylady’s methods (www.flylady.com), and it drastically improved the state of my home. It’s all about routines and doing little things everyday to keep your home (and life, for that matter) neat, clean, and organized. It’s great for SHE’s (side-tracked home executives) like me, but even BO’s (born organized) like yourself might be able to pick up some tips from her program.
Plus, it’s 100% FREE!!
P.S. I clean the shower naked, too.
YIKES! That’s brutal! I hope he feels better soon!
Poor Matt. Hunni always wipes his face with his hands while doing yard work so I showed him the pic of Matt as a warning not to do so anymore.
So happy about your publication. My mom loves WW cookbooks so I might just buy her this one
Anyone who is looking for a cheap and effective cleaner that doesn’t include harsh chemicals – I mix 1/2 c. rubbing alcohol, 2 1/2 c. water and 1 tbsp. white vinegar in a spray bottle. It works great on glass and countertops (kitchen or bath). It would probably work for the shower/bathtub if you clean it more regularly than I do.
Poor Matt, hope he’s feeling better tonight. It’s tough to even look at those photos of him.
I’m like you, a super neat and organized person…but I have to drag myself to do the deep cleaning. I always think I will set-up a system but when I start making a list I realize there are just too many odd projects that I need to complete and it becomes depressing to look at.
PS. If you come up with a great cleaning system, please pass it on!
Your bean, kale, sweet potato, nut mixture looks so good. What a creative and healthy combination! And poor Matt! That looks awful! Hope he’s feeling better soon.
Poor Matt! Hope he gets better soon!
Congrats on having your recipes in the cookbook!
Oh my gosh, POOR MATT!!! My heart goes out to him!
Wow, what a great accomplishment Kath. You never cease to amaze me girl.
Oh man! Poor guy!! I hope that’s not as uncomfortable as it looks.
Poor Matt!!! That has happened to me before… steroid shot and all. It should clear right up after that! Good luck!
OH MY GOSH!! POOR MATT!! Kath! I feel so bad for him! I hope he’s taking Benadryl!! That poor guy! On a happier note – congrats on the recipe! I can’t believe it’s finally published! It feels like forever ago that you were creating it and keeping us in suspense
Time flies!
Wow, that is so neat! Congratulations, Kath! I hope Matt feels well soon — poor guy, that must be so uncomfortable.
You can get this spray for the shower that you spray every time after you use it, and it extends the cleaning time. I’ve found it does make a difference and I like it better than the scrubbing bubbles thing that actually stays in your shower. I HATE cleaning the bathroom.
Hope Matt feels better. That really sucks.
Thanks for all of the shower recs!!! One thing I do not do: spray/squeegie after every shower. That’s too much wasted time! Once a week is about all I can handle
Brie,
No beer with the steroid! I’m sure he would have been much happier with a brew though.
lynn,
Oh, no, it’s not that big of a deal
Donna,
He did not get any pills, but I imagine we could call back if it’s not better tomorrow.
Kath
How did you cook the kale that you ate with your lunch?
I microwaved it with the black beans for 1 minute to warm it up and slightly wilt.
Ktah
Poor Matt! I hope the swelling goes down soon.
Congrats on the recipes! I will have to check out that cookbook next time I’m at Borders
Aww, poor Matt! If it makes him feel any better I had a raging case of poison ivy on my face along with a sinus infection on my first day of 7th grade–way to make an impression, no?
In my opinion, kale and sweet potatoes were MADE to go together–your dish looks like heaven to me!
Oh my goodness! I hope Matt is feeling better and none of that puffiness extends to his throat/anywhere reallllly important!
aww poor matt! i hope that shot helps out!
Congrats on the WW cookbook, thats so awesome!
Don’t take this the wrong way AT ALL Kath, but Matt kind of…reminds me of Quasimodo with his swelling and slouching in those pictures! Hope he feels better soon!
I feel so sorry for Matt. My husband reacts really, really bad to poison ivy and oak. He is always miserable when he gets it. Hope it clears up fast!
Dad gave us a lesson on hairy vines when we were on a walk on Bald Head, but you weren’t with us!!!
I know it sounds strange, but I use car wax ( the paste kind) on my shower and tub. I wax it once or twice a month (faucets,too) and just wipe it down weekly with Method wipes.