Not too much going on today other than lots of rain, Body Pump, laundry and computer work. I’m catching up after being gone for 36 hours with no computer! Thankfully my phone rocks and I was able to respond to some emails while traveling, but one thing about this job is it never slows down…except for major holidays when everyone is out celebrating
Went to Chris’s pump class today and got my shoulders killed! My calves, biceps and abs are feelin’ it too – from my head down to my legs!
Lunch salad – the usual. Salads make me feel so good inside!
I “poached” this in the microwave (reason #1 I am glad we are back to having one upstairs) in a ramekin coated in some oil for 60 seconds on power level 5. The power level is important or you will find an eggplosion in your ‘wave!
I love eggs..
I love grapes. I don’t buy them often because I try to choose local fruits. But, like bananas, sometimes my love for them wins and this week they sounded go juicy. At the least I always choose USA grapes.
I’m stuck at home both today and tomorrow with home meetings. ADT is coming today to add one thing and tomorrow we have major couch delivery and IKEA installation excitement! Given that Matt is super busy 6 days a week and there’s no way I could install our massive storage combinations myself, we found a company through IKEA Woodbridge that will install them for a very reasonable price. They are experienced. They probably don’t even need to read the instructions. That makes me feel very relieved! We shall see tomorrow.
Back to work!
[One month till my birthday!!]
Emily@SavoryandSavage says
Ohh, new furniture is always exciting – and having someone else put it together for you? Even better 🙂
Cait @ Cait hates Cake says
That is fantastic you hired a company to do the installation!! Putting together furniture is the WORST!
Liz says
Actually, I enjoy it – one of my favorite parts about new furniture 🙂 However, with Matt so busy, I totally understand paying for installation!
Angie @ Musings of a Violet Monkey says
I’ve always shied away from cooking eggs in the microwave… but it WOULD be super-convenient for work lunches… Maybe I should rethink? Something about it icks me out. It looks delicious though!
~
Sweet and Savvy says
I make eggs in the microwave all the time.. but never thought of “poaching” one that way! 🙂 Such a neat idea!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Anyone who offers professional experience assembling Ikea stuff is definitely worth the price! Love that store, HATE putting it all together though!
Lindzjane115 says
Good choice on the furniture installers! I inevitably do something incorrectly and would much prefer an expert build it for me!
Quick question about your fruits and veggies: I have never used anything but water to clean mine, but lately I’ve been seeing fruit and veggies “rinses” for sale, or tips on using vinegar to make sure they are good and clean. What are your thoughts on this?
KathEats says
My dad says that water gets 99% of everything off and I believe 99% of what my dad says 🙂
Karen says
Ha 🙂
Mom says
Well that’s sweet. I believe about eighty-five percent of what he says. Opinion Larbs, Lillian, Matt, and Matt?
KathEats says
Haha
Samantha @ Bikini Birthday says
Building furniture sucks. I’m sure it worth it to hire people to do it for you.
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
That’s great you found a company to do the installation for you! Sometimes, it’s just easier to pay someone else to do it rather than go through the hassle and time of doing it yourself – and IKEA furniture is often one of those times! I don’t have the patience to deal with all the little allen keys and screws!
Kelly says
Kath – meant to ask you the other day. Where do you get your hair done? Could you tell me the price? I’m looking for a new place, but has to be reasonably priced.
KathEats says
I go to Salon Druknya downtown. Shannon’s haircuts are $25 and she is great
http://www.salondruknya.com/
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
YAY!! My Birthday is in October too!! Maybe that’s one of the reasons why we love October so much?!?
Cait's Plate says
Ahhh so exciting that your birthday is so close!
I love eggs and grapes as well. Grapes are a fruit that I often forget about but when I buy them I plow through them so quickly.
Also? I’m with you on salads. They really just make you feel wonderful!
Lauren says
Microwaved Poached eggs are probably so much easier…that may be dinner tonight. With a slice of popeye bread from your Great Harvest, it sounds perfect!
Yay for birthday excitement! Mine is a week from Thursday on Oct 6. 😀 Weeee!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
right now grapes are local, organic, and cheap! i’ve been freezing them like mad
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Hee hee! Bday’s are so exciting. Love salads for lunchy too 🙂
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
“but one thing about this job is it never slows down…except for major holidays when everyone is out celebrating ” = Isn’t that the truth!
Emails and computer stuff in general is never ending and if one let it, well for me at least, it could become a FT job just sitting at my desk. Need.to.push.back.chair are words I always have to remind myself of 🙂
And Ikea/assembly companies. We had one do my daughter’s bed, armoir, toy shelves and entire room for super cheap & they were done in under 2 hrs. Would have taken 2 weeks with mutilated furniture if hubs and i had tried on our own!
katie @KatieDid says
mmm yup eggs are my favorite quick form of protein! And made even quicker in the microwave, which I need to try sometime.
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
happy early birthday!
love microwaving eggs — makes clean up so beach easier!
Kath says
Kath,
I know how much you love biscoff, so when I saw this recipe I thought you might appreciate it:)
http://picky-palate.com/2011/09/26/biscoff-cupcakes-with-biscoff-buttercream/
KathEats says
Beautiful and delicious! I need to get on the “cooking with Biscoff” wagon soon!
Rebekah @ Medicine, Munchies and Movement says
One of my clearest childhood memories was actually when my mom stuck an egg in the microwave to cook my sister’s runny egg. We were all doing our own thing and then KABOOM! The egg exploded with no warning! Needless to say, that was the end of the egg…and the last time my mom microwaved them on full power!
Deva @ Deva by Definition says
I love eggs. They are so versatile! I cannot eat runny eggs, though – I am allergic to raw egg. It gives me hives and everything! I feel like I miss out on the joys of the dippy egg, but have learned how to make amazing scrambled ones!
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
The grapes have been goooood lately– I got a bunch that was so crunchy and sweet!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
OH BodyPUMP how I love thee 🙂 Glad you got in a good workout too <—I am still feelin' it from teaching this morning!
And yes, salad + an egg is the best for lunch! mmmm
Sarah R says
The power level is quite important. I haven’t tried the microwaved poached egg method since I had an egg-slposion a couple of months ago and wound up poaching on the stove.
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I love eggs and grapes, too! I buy grapes when they’re on sale. Otherwise, $10 for 2 lbs of grapes is insanity.
barefootgirl says
LOL!
my mouth watered when I saw that egg.. so I tried it myself.. POOF! my microwave must be stronger than yours :).. I’m off to try it again on an even lower power (I’m a determined Scorpio) ….. then scrub the whole thing done 😉
Betsy says
put it on “defrost” power setting, 2 minutes max. here’s my method:
Take a little dish and coat it with pam (really small bowl for just one egg)
crack the egg in the bowl, poke the yolk three times with a fork.
Cover the bowl with a lid and put in the micro for 2 minutes on “defrost power”
yum.
barefootgirl says
thanks. I ended up on power 3 for 1 min 30 seconds (uncovered). The yolk was bit bit more done than I would like ( yet nicely set if you like and over medium-ish egg)
Today I’m shooting for power 4 for 60 seconds.
I’ll try one your way as well ( but I will skip the poking of the yolk.. <3 runny yolks )
thanks!
KathEats says
If you like the yolk runny, try only 45 seconds!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Eggs are perfect for just about any meal! Looks great 🙂
RunEatRepeat says
I have never poached an egg in the microwave!!! This may change my life.
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
I
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
I absolutely love eggs too! They are perfect all day long. That’s great that you are having someone put together the furniture. It’s a lotta work!
Laura says
My birthday just two days before yours… very exciting 🙂 Particularly because this one is my twenty-first!!!!
The ramekin in the microwave idea is a great one… I live in a dorm room and healthy eating can be really difficult for me as my college likes to add too much fat, sugar, and salt to EVERYTHING. That’s the answer to making cheap food a crowd pleaser I guess. But anyway, I’ve had to become quite creative with the microwave!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Now that is my kind of lunch! You have all of my favorites…salad, eggs, bread and fruit! YUM!
Justin N says
Looks tasty – lively colors in the salad even make it more appetizing.
Hillary says
I never, ever think to cook eggs in the microwave—but this is so easy!
Lindsay @ bikingbeforebed says
I love the “subtle” birthday note at the bottom. I’m glad I’m not the only one who does birthday (and half birthday!) countdowns.
Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles says
Our local food coop has concord grapes this time of year. They are so off the hook. You must indulge if you can find them out your way. Incredibly delicious.
Emily says
We must have the same birthday! Happy 1 month ’till our big days!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
oooh cant wait to see all the new furniture! How exciting!
Molly @ RDexposed says
When in doubt in the kitchen, top with an egg!
Morgan @ moments of mmm says
I have never tried poaching an egg in the micro! What a neat idea! Those grapes do look super juicy..kind of craving some now! Have a great rest of the day 🙂
Karen says
HA!! Now YOU’RE eating poached eggs on toast!
Christin says
I have had more micro-eggsplosions than I can count…but finally got it right 😉 looks delicious!
Sarah@The Flying ONION says
I’m the same way. I try to buy locally as much as possible. Organic when I can. But sometimes I just have to break out and buy what I’m in the mood for, which usually includes bananas. 😀
Julia says
I am 4 days older than you! haha
Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries says
I love when my entire body is sore – I always feel so accomplished!
Lisa says
I thought Matt was going to get the occasional day off. I can’t help but feel bad for him when I read your blog… seems like you sleep in, make breakfast, blog, go to fitness classes. He looks tired in all of your photos. I would not feel good when someone I care about being worked into the ground. I know you say the bakery is his thing, but it seems you participate when it involves the nicer side of things (radio interviews or someone visiting to give you gifts etc).
KathEats says
Do you go to work with your husband?
I’ve explained this many times…
Kim @ Eat, Live, and Blog says
Your lunch looks delicious! I never poached eggs in the microwave before because I’m always afraid that it’d explode. Now, I know that I can prevent that by setting the microwave level. 🙂
Lisa says
We both work full time in separate jobs. He has two days off per weeks, and get vacations. I think you have had a few weeks away since the bakery opened? I have only read your blog a little while… I guess you assume everyone is a long time reader? Anyway, he looks tired, and you distributed of work from an outsider point of view, seems unbalanced from this viewpoint. His job seems much more physical that photographing, decorating your home and responding to a few emails. I wouldn’t feel right, but I guess it works for you.
jane says
haha way to judge someone else’s lifestyle…
crystal says
Well when they put it out there on the internet that tends to happen…
Erin says
Grapes are a staple in our house. My toddler can eat his weight in them. Most nights for dinner all he will eat is fruit.
Betsy says
what is all the fuss about frozen grapes? the thought of it makes me shutter (teeth on frozen grapes = fingernails on chalkboard!). I like my grapes crisp, not frozen. I make eggs in the micro DAILY!
can’t wait to see the new furniture put together! Can we get a street view of the new abode?
KathEats says
I agree – frozen grapes + sensitive teeth = fingernails on a chalkboard to me! Even from the fridge is too cold. I have to let them come to room temp 🙂
Matt says
Regarding our working lives, there are so many things that you don’t understand. I think it’s probably clear enough through what we’ve said that we feel the bakery is “mine” and the blog is “hers.” But I don’t think most readers really know what it’s like to run a business, and even more, I don’t think they know what it’s like to be a full-time blogger. There’s a reason why Kath’s pictures are great, her writing is thoughtful, her site is well-functioning, she has freelance opportunities, an online store, and 1.6 million pageviews per month – she works at the blog. But you don’t see that because you’re coming from the reader’s perspective. A reader sees the lifestyle we live because that’s what’s interesting to read about. There are many details left out.
Now on to the life of a bakery owner. Again, contrary to what you’re probably thinking, there’s a difference between being a bakery owner and a baker. For example, most people probably think I get up at 3am every day – not true. I usually arrive at the store around 6:30. Do I get on the kneading table and start flinging dough, hoisting bags of wheat, and carrying pans of steaming bread? Nope, I’m usually relaxed at the computer with a coffee, entering some items into Quickbooks. Then I take some inventory. Then I sit back down and place an order. I help customers, I give feedback to employees, and I coordinate. While I may work long hours, working for yourself is so liberating. Running 15 minutes behind in the morning? Who cares, you’re the boss!
That’s a common example I give to people about what’s it’s like to be an entrepreneur – you completely eliminate most of the stressful things that I hated about previous corporate-type jobs I had in the past. My work life is now up to my vision and drive. If I slack off, it’s not going to disappoint some boss at some department meeting – I just make less money. Luckily I also love my job, and that makes a huge difference in the perception of the “work.” Wouldn’t you find it easy to work twice as long if you loved every second of your job?
Blog readers make so many assumptions. But you probably only know half of what we actually do, and maybe a tenth of how we feel. Kath and I are very open with each other about how we feel about pretty much any topic. Nothing’s worse in a relationship when you can’t tell someone “I don’t like it when you do X.” Not a problem for us.
And want to know why I look tired? Because I keep staying up too late reading Harry Potter!
KathEats says
Love you!
Mom says
You need to tell them that you can read Harry in several languages, too!
jane says
really well said without a hint of snarkiness (to what I thought was a pretty snarky comment!) in my opinion-and I am first to admit that I am guilty of this-people make rude/mean comments and judgements when they are jealous of something!
Lisa says
Um @Jane, I am pretty sure my comment wasn’t mean or snarky. My number one complaint with these “healthy” living blogs is that anything other than “OMG I loveeee yourrrr dreessss” is considered snarky. On come a million minions to defend the “petty mean comment”. I guess blog comments are meant to be sweet and low in content. Would Kath have responded in a snarky manner “I thought I had already explained myself” if I had of complimented her oatmeal and asked her how she made it (even though she explained it a hundred times before!!!).
I doubt it.
Enter a “slighty” less than positive (actual REAL) comment and bring on the wall of defense.
Its nice Kath recruited her mom and Matt to defend her. Obviously they will or should. I made an observation. Obviously Matt feels fine in his position (good for him), but regardless, its hardly heathy to work six days per week even if it is as the “boss”.
I do thank you for taking the time to respond and not simply deleting. That at least, shows some sense of realism.
jane says
chill out-blogs are to be read for fun and inspiration 🙂
Lisa says
I think you need to chill out, blogs are for fun, why do you need to get involved in a comment that was directed at Kath and Matt, and not you? Smiles.
jane says
HAHAHA
Laura says
I think it’s important with blog comments to consider your goal in commenting. While all comments don’t necessarily have to be “nice” as you say Lisa, they should have some kind of purpose. Where is the purpose in accusing someone of not doing their share of work in a marriage? What was the goal of that comment? While it seems okay to me to ask Kath what their work days are like from week to week out of curiosity, it is another thing to say something like “I would not feel good when someone I care about being worked into the ground”. There is a difference between writing a comment that isn’t all together positive and writing one that is hurtful.
And why get involved with a comment not directed at me? Because you’re not the only voice around here! I share my opinions in a thoughtful manner. And that’s the purpose of my comment.
Lisa says
Well I shared mine in a thoughtful manner as well, just because its not sunshine and rainbows doesn’t mean its not thoughtful. I made an observation based on what Kath posts, and its true what I feel, I would not feel good about it… that is the truth. I don’t see how what I what I would feel would be hurtful to Kath seeing as I don’t know her.
Purpose of my comment (in case you missed it), was to get Kath to reconsider her definition of “busy”. Having time to body pump and photo food. email, and decorate her house…. thats awesome but it doesn’t equate to “busy” where I come from. I think what honestly irks me is that she seems to present that she is so much busier than the average person and her and Matt have equal workloads.
While that may be true, its not how its percieved from my end, so I commented on it. I don’t think it hurts Kath, I think she is mature enough to recieve feedback and respond to it, realizing it for what it is, an observation.
Laura says
I find it unbelievable that you said you don’t think what you said could have hurt her because you don’t know her. Because people have never been hurt by people they don’t know?? This is why I did not find your post to be very thoughtful. Words have very real effects on people, whether you know the person or not. I’m not going to say your words necessarily had any kind of negative effect on Kath, but I think it is important to think about the things we say on the internet, even if we don’t know the person in “real” life. The internet has far too much negativity because the idea of anonymity means that people are far more rude and judgmental in general. If I am reacting particularly harshly towards you at this time it is because I am sick of this kind of attitude across the board.
It’s fair to express the fact that you have a very busy life and think that she is lucky to have the time to do things for herself like exercising, yet I still find that criticizing her priorities so brashly without having full knowledge of the time she takes to blog and everything else is unfair.
I really do apologize for the lecture, I’m just sick of this kind of stuff.
jane says
agreed-exactly how i feel
April says
Matt, I hope you realize how condescending it sounds to say that most of Kath’s readers don’t know what it’s like to run a business. I’m sure the readers come from all walks of life and many probably are business owners. I bet you could even learn a thing or to from them.
Instead of blaming the readers for the perception of you, why don’t you take a look at what things may be in play that causes these perceptions. For every reader that comments, there are probably thousands thinking the same thing. Perception is reality, and it’s not fair to cry about how you’re perceived when you have full control of the edit. Obviously, no matter how clear you think you’ve been, there’s still confusion.
It will never be possible to share the whole story, but what you do share is all readers have to go by.
Lisa says
Thanks April, in fact I do have a good idea what its like to run a buisiness. My husband and I co-run a tutoring buisiness (in addition to both working full time), so I do understand the give and take involved. We both need to be hands on at this point, and although it is a labour of love, we both need breaks from it, so my observation didn’t come from “ignorance”.
April says
Also, as someone who also knows about being an entrepreneur:
1. People do care if the boss is late. They don’t respect you for it, and it sets a bad example.
2. Being a boss means you have a responsibility to your employees. If you slack off, not only do you make less money, but it could effect the livelihood of your employees.
Matt says
I definitely understand where the confusion comes from, and I’m definitely not complaining – it only irks me that as you said, it’s not possible to tell the whole story, and yet readersfind it so easy to jump to the worst conclusion.
And no condescension intended. I am still AMAZED at the difference between what I thought running a bakery would be like and the reality. And that’s after working at a GH for two years! It’s crazy how little my part was as a single employee compared to the whole working system of a bakery.
April says
See what I mean about how what you write can come across in a completely different manner than intended? A lot of people just blame text, but good writers have been getting their point across exactly as they want it for millennia. You know that saying in carpentry, measure twice, cut once? In writing, proofread twice, backtrack (hardly) ever. And wheny you proofread, it’s just not about catching grammatical and spelling errors. It’s about thinking outside your own experience and privilege about how your words will come across and if your message is clear.
Nancy says
To the readers saying the comments were “snarky” : How so? Can someone not criticize or comment on a public space? If something is slightly negative, does it make it snarky? The one who commented in no way attacked this particular blogger. They were merely trying to understand the situation better, likely because they themselves lead very hectic lives and feel hurt when someone (who they perceive to not be busy) states that they are so busy.
To the blogger: I have to agree. Having worked two jobs while attending grad school full time and still managing to walk my dog, clean my house, and put healthy food on the table, I can’t imagine how busy you really are.
robin says
that reallllly makes me want a salad.
April says
AND, they just listened to Bossypants in the car. Tina Fey has an entire section dedicated to talking about how no matter how stressful working on SNL was, it was nothing compared to really stressful jobs.
I think that neurosurgery may have been one of her examples of actual stressful jobs, but I’d have to check my copy to make sure. Go you!
April says
Well, this was in response to a comment that disappeared.
Kristen says
I think part of the reason we all like coming to this site is that it’s a nice break from the craziness of our own lives. I am a mom of three young boys, and the wife of a small business owner who works a whole lot of hours…. my meal times look NOTHING like Kath and Matt’s – nor should they! We see the final product of what I can only imagine is a whole-lotta-work behind the scenes. Kath chooses to put forth the most positive parts of her life – and I commend her for it. People chose to be positive or negative… and honestly, the reasoning behind judgemental blog commenting is just something I will never understand. Who really cares as long as it works for the Kath and Matt?
Lara @TresLaLa says
Wow – that really exploded. All I wanted to say was that now I really want grapes… But now I want to hop on the train: Come to Kath’s blog (or any blog) to get inspiration, some insight, and a bit of a distraction from your life. I keep coming back to KERF because her voice is scintillating and her photos beautiful. I appreciate that she & her husband have a bakery that they own together, but it’s really his job. I certainly wouldn’t go to work with my husband every day, and he wouldn’t do the same. Just amazed at the judginess (if that’s a word…) from the readers. Yes, making a critical comment is OK if it extends the discussion. But just to be snarky? It won’t provide any benefit…
Lisa says
Well seeing all the comments, I think the discussion was extended.
Perhaps a comment like ‘mmm I love grapes too! I will have to add that to my shopping list” will extend the discussion more?
What I find interesting is all the snarky comments from the posters opposed to “snarkiness”.
Anyway, done with this, feeding frenzy finished.
Khushboo says
I’m not a fan of microwaving foods but I love the texture it produces with eggs–> best way to make patties!
donna says
Gee, let’s talk about microwaving eggs, can we?
The key is to not over cook them, because they continue to cook once you remove them from the oven. That’s what is called “standing time.” So if you take them out of the oven when they’re still a little runny, let them stand (covered) for a few minutes, they will be perfect!
They’re much fluffier done in the microwave than in a skillet. Just don’t forget to spray the dish with Pam!
Roxee says
I found you on the website called “Best Vegan Blogs Directory”. Answer me (and others) this one question: How come you are eating eggs? I know that eggs are not a vegan food, but vegetarians sometimes eat them.
So if you are vegetarian, not vegan, why did this site let you to be in their directory?
I am just curious, that’s all.
KathEats says
Roxee,
I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian. I’m guessing I was added because I do cook a lot of vegetarian foods, but I’m sorry for the confusion
Angel7 says
I thought you were vegan as well, but wondered why you eat meat sometimes. Thanks for clarifying 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
KathEats says
You did!? I guess I just like veggies!
Angel7 says
Liking veggies is a good thing 🙂 Veggies are COOL 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Roxee says
No problem, I do love your blog though, so don’t worry, I am still going to read you 🙂
Hester says
@ Lisa… While you may consider your comments to be thought-provoking, I feel they are reaction-provoking. If you would like some attention of your own, start your own blog. Kath’s readers are here for inspiration on healthy, whole-food eating and active living. I came for the oatmeal, and stayed for her positive energy! If you don’t agree with the point of view expressed on a blog, there is no need to criticize. Simply don’t read it! There are many other blogs out there that may be more suited to your taste and opinion.