Two walks in the sun today and my shoulders are mad at me. I always wear sunscreen on my face, but I didn’t think about my body….yet. Not very responsible! At least I remembered my water bottle this time out. And I’m going to need a second shower…
I met with a blog reader who is interviewing for jobs at both Davidson and UVA, so we had lots to discuss and we covered another 3 miles around town.
I really, really wanted a popsicle in that heat, but sadly Pantheon Pops does not have a storefront this year. Store-bought is the next best thing. Feet up, ice in mouth.
Miss Karen was over planting some flowers for us! She loves to garden and we like to plant green vegetables, so she offered to add a splash of color to our yard for us. I had these two big pots that my grandmother gave me that made perfect planting spots!
We now have a splash of color that we (and Karen!) can enjoy. Mint in the back!
I just love the view of them from the porch!
Pizza, it’s what’s for dinner.
We try to eat it once a week – because it’s so delicious!
Matt made a whole wheat crust and we topped it with some cooked lamb sausage (from Whole Foods), red pepper, shitake mushrooms and lots of cheese. I had only had a handful of almonds all afternoon in addition to my popsicle, so I was ready to EAT!
Sautéed bok choy on the side. Matt seasoned it simply with just olive oil, salt and pepper yet it had SO much flavor!
This evening’s activities included more gardening (his favorite post-dinner pastime!)
4x peppers, okra, big eggplant, Japanese eggplant, zucchini!
I went to clean up the kitchen and went overboard making it shine.
Have you ever heard of the cleaning cloth brand called Norwex? Becca, who lives in NC and sells Norwex for some extra dough, sent me one to test out given my love for a shiny clean house.
This is what she said about the Envirocloth:
Norwex’s flagship item is a microfiber cloth with silver micro-particles embedded in it so that with just water you can leave a surface clean and sanitized. With this cloth you can clean up after raw chicken with just water. The Enviro cloth (that’s its name) is based on a microfiber cloth that was designed by scientists in Europe to clean their labs. They wanted a way to clean without cross-contaminating but also without creating a super-bug (like MRSA).
It’s a great green product for the kitchen since there aren’t any chemicals involved like in some traditional household cleaners. After a few weeks of use, I’ve determined that it’s a pretty neat product. It did not replace my Shaklee + cotton cloth for cleaning up the spills in my kitchen each night. I didn’t like that I had to completely saturate the cloth with water and then had a sopping wet towel that needed to air dry out in my kitchen (the laundry room is too far away to use as a drying spot). But I DO use it for a weekly deeper clean around the kitchen after I’ve wiped up the messes with Shaklee. It really cuts the grease (on my stove) and it works fabulously on stainless steel. I love that I can breeze through nooks and crannies without using a spray. It’s my go-to for wipe-downs now. Check out the site and some of the You Tube videos if you’re interested (or if you’re like me and just enjoy watching cleaning before and after videos : ) )
I’d like another popsicle, but I think one is enough for the day. Perhaps a fresh strawberry instead!?
Lynn @ the actor's diet says
I need Karen to come water my plants! They are really mad at me right now.
Sana says
I love that both Matt and his mom like to garden. Cute.
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
That bok choy looks so good! I need to check out Trader Joe’s to see if they have any in right now… And I’m all about pizza once a week – I need to start a rotation like that!
Catalina @ Cake with Love says
Kath I love popsicles, this one look so tropical and refreshing, I didn’t have one in years, and I am going to buy them this weekend I crave one so bad!!
HRCK the Herald says
Yum dinner!
And I wish I enjoyed gardening as an after-dinner activity 🙂
Have a nice warm night!
Stephanie @ Legally Blinde says
Your garden beds look great! I’m excited to see how your vegetables do! I love the view of your deck and backyard – so pretty. That cloth sounds really interesting – it’s incredible that you can even clean up after raw chicken with just water!
Jeri says
I have seen many kitchens in magazines and on tv with knives up on a magnet. Do you ever get scared they will fall off? I like how it gives more counter space and helps keep the counters not cluttered, but I am worried about the magnet depolarizing or something weird
KathEats says
No, they are pretty tight on there
Caroline @ After Dinner Dance says
I just noticed you have the same magnetic knife rack that I do. I love it! I’ve never seen anyone else with it. It’s so convenient!
[email protected] says
You should try frozen strawberries. Like sorbet/popsicles but better! I was craving pizza big time yesterday and…now I am again.
mary @ minutespermile says
cool towel! i can tell i’m getting to be just like my mom by the amount of interest i express in cleaning. weird.
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Pizza it should be for dinner! 😉
Ashley @ Coffee, Cake and Cardio says
What cheese do y’all use on the pizzas? Looks so yummy!
KathEats says
Good ole cheddar!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
That pizza looks insanely delicious!!
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Yes, to pizza. Yes, to popsicles. Yes, to flower gardening. Yes, to veggie gardening. That may just be four of my favorite things! And if you’d like to give that cloth another test drive, my kitchen is available… 😉
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
YAY for plants! My garden seedlings are starting to really take off! 🙂
Andrea says
I had some homemade pizza for dinner tonight, too! Great minds think alike, I suppose 😉
Maura @ My Healthy 'Ohana says
That whole foods popsicle looks so refreshing right now! The flowers are so pretty too, we are starting to think about what to plant in our herb garden 🙂
Anne says
Your flowers and veggies look beautiful and delicious! I’m hoping to do some potting this weekend and plant some tomatoes 🙂
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner says
Oh, your flower pots make me ache for summer! What kind of flowers are those yellow ones? I don’t know if I’ve seen them before…
KathEats says
I’m not sure… Maybe Karen will chime in?
Karen says
Gazania New Day Mix
Mary B. says
Yummy! I heart bok choy!
Nur Rafiqah Supardi says
i want to live a life like yours! <3
Angel7 says
Pizza is usually on the menu once a week for us as well–YUM!
It is all about the “Color Splash” — just like the show 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Allie says
Is that a spice rack from Farmhouse Wares?
KathEats says
It’s Ikea
daphna says
Kath, how much loose tea do you put into your hot water for tea? I just got my Golden Moon teas. Thanks!!
KathEats says
I use a lot… About two heaping tsp per 12 oz
Angela says
I have a lot of Norwex! I also am in direct selling (Daisy Blue Naturals- 100% natural skin care!!) and I see Norwex reps at every expo I am at
J'lene says
Oh how I love Shaklee! I just got introduced to it about a month ago and we’ve completely switched everything over…no more chemicals in this house!! Love to hear that others love it as much as I do!
Sarah says
The girls LOVE those popsicles! Nice choice 😉
Katie @ Creature of Habit says
I’d say one can’t go overboard making the kitchen clean. Or maybe that’s just me. There always seems to be another crumb lurking just when I’m sure every last inch has been scrubbed.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Oh I love (baby) bok choy. When I first moved to CA about 8-9 years ago and got my very first CSA box, there were kumquats, baby bok choy, mustard greens, purple kale, and some other things that my midwestern eyes had never seen or surely cooked with. Fast forward now, I adore!! bok choy!
Kavi @ Lab to Fab! says
“We try to eat it once a week – because it’s so delicious!” haha love that! And I totally agree 🙂
Ann says
The garden beds looks great! What brand of veggies & herbs are you planting? Where did you buy them? Organic?
KathEats says
Matt / kanz? Can you answer?
Matt says
I’ve bought them whenever the time is convenient – some from the Farmer’s Market here, some from Southern States and couple from Lowes. The lettuces were all direct sow, originating from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
I am enjoying my forget me not flowers which are in full bloom now…love the pop of blue in the garden…can’t wait for the rest of my perrenials to wake up!
Molly @ RDexposed says
I think I’m going to have to suggest starting the garden this weekend. I may try pots like the ones your grandmother gave for added space!
Katie D. says
I LOVE Norwex!! Try wringing the cloth out so its not so wet! I also love the body clothes, no need to use ANY soap/wash products and my skin (acne, heat rash, ingrown hairs, chaffing, etc) has never been so clear!
I just bought the mattress spray, oven/grill/degreaser and the dust mitt. I also have the mop (dry and wet) that I earned through a party. I love that I only have to use water! I keep a spray bottle with water and a few drops of essential oil in it and go to town cleaning. No chemicals for me 🙂
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
I love the flowers and your garden! 🙂 When I own a house I am totally doing that! You dinner looks amazing. I love homemade pizza so much. I’ve never tried making bok choy at home before. Definitely going to try it!
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Karen did a great job with the flowers, they look lovely. That cleaning cloth looks pretty useful!
Cait's Plate says
We’re doing pizza night tonight – can’t wait! 🙂
The garden is looking incredible!
Mushrooms Canada says
Whole wheat pizza with Lamb sausage, red pepper and Shiitake mushrooms?! You’ve hit the spot! Can’t wait to try this one myself, I just hope it looks this good! Great post!
-Shannon
Susan @ Lawrence 785 says
Green with envy over your stove! And yard in which to have a garden! I have but a little (shared :[ ) balcony…
Gardens looking great though, its only a matter of time before everything will really start shooting up! Then you get to eat it 😀
Jasper {crunchylittlebites} says
key photo = too cute
Sandy says
I’m curious what your comparison of Davidson and Charlottesville are as lifestyle instead of academic or college comparisons. Which town do you like better and for what reasons? My daughter is coming home from college soon and homemade pizza on Dad’s new Big Green Egg is going to have to be a weekly menu item.
KathEats says
I would say they are actually very similar academically and small-town wise. Davidson of course is much smaller with maybe a tighter community. Nearly all of the students live on campus which is a big contrast with UVA. Cville is bigger than Davidson with more to offer, but Davidson has Charlotte so close…plus the traffic.
And I just re-read your comment that you were talking lifestyle. I think both towns have so much to offer!