Self Portrait, 2006
Boy, what a week it’s been.
I had the best of intentions as I approached this blog post. It began as tips and ideas for the 14th but then the press releases and emails started flooding the inboxes of just about everyone. Eat This Chocolate! Try This Oyster! Shuck It Yourself! Paint It Red! Jump In A Bubble Bath With Rose Petals! It began to overwhelm me and I figured you’d know exactly what to do for Valentine’s Day. You need no help from me.
And then this week kicked my butt, pure and simple. I photographed a national ad campaign for a Very Big Brand (it went well!) while simultaneously juggling the normal responsibilities of home life while my significant other worked out of town again. What’s left of me today is a shell of my usual upbeat self.
And Friday is my birthday.
So as I crawl off into the sunset in search of sleep and quiet serenity this weekend I hope you manage to spend Valentine’s Day enjoying it exactly the way you want to. Cupcakes? Fried Chicken? Foie Gras? Red Themed Foods? Fancy Restaurant? Whatever. None of it matters as much as telling that special someone that you love them, cherish them, and that they make your life complete.
Oh, and never heed the advice of a grumpy lonely man with an inflatable doll.
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy early birthday, fellow Aquarian! I’m sorry we missed you last night – we had a blast! But I will be meeting you soon at T&D’s next big dinner sometime in the near future. Looking forward to it
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That pic is so adorable I printed it out and put it on my fridge for all to see
happy birthday tomorrow! same kind of busy week here and we are looking forward to a rainy lazy weekend of baking and sleeping in.
I’ll need to save this pic along with all those awesome Christmas cards you do
Happy Birthday Matt! That pic is hilarious
Love the photo! lol Happy early birthday. I hope it is wonderful!
Happy (early) Birthday, Matt! I hope you have an absolutely indulgent and high-spirited day!
Happy almost birthday! Mine was last Saturday – I recommend rye manhattans and flourless chocolate cake. Hope you have a great day!
what a well-done photo. ^^
happy birthday! and i can relate on the s.o. being away but we don’t celebrate valentine’s. next week mine goes to norway but i get to visit his parents to curb the loneliness. good luck and stay classy. (;
Happy birthday! Here’s to a perfect celebration. And just so you know, I’m more likely to forward this image than any of the dozens of Valentine’s Day emails you mentioned.
Happy, happy birthday.
Wishing you the very best of birthdays!
Happy Birthday! I love the photo!
Happy birthday, love.
Happy birthday, dearest Matt – the photo is really great!
happy birthday to my favouritest food blogger. {{{hugs!!!!}}}
Happy Birthday!
Thanks for not forcing “the perfect Valentine’s meal” down our throats!
sweet photo! yes… thanks for not giving advice for “special things you can do for your valentine”. maybe i’m alone in this, but anything “special” my husband and i try to do for vday ends up in a major fight, or just being disappointing.
ps. happy bday!
Happy Birthday Matt! I am still losing my shit over this photo!!! I love you (and your doll too)!
That photo had me laughing hysterically in my office and I couldn’t show my assistant because she just might not get it
Happy Birthday Matt!
Happy Birthday, Matt!
Happy Birthday, Matt!
I hope you still have that awesome tie of yours.
Happy Birthday Matt! Your photo is fabulous!!!
And, you rock!!!
XOXOXOX,
~ Paula
That has to be the naughtiest food blog photo I’ve ever seen. Figs, you’ve got some competition. Could you have superglued a cozy to keep a glass of sparkling Shiraz cool to her hand?
to my busy friend, another Happy Birthday wish. And a million thank yous for your photographic inspiration! Your photos always make me smile.
Roflmao! Wonderful hilarious picture. And happy belated birthday!
I love this self-portrait. Thanks for sharing.
I hope your birthday was happy and filled with fun things and lots of love. And I hope you celebrate your birthday for the entire month (I know I try to do that).
Happy belated birthday. Fried chicken is a good idea, maybe next year. We had a low key, but good V-day this year, spent with lots of family.
That picture is HI-larious.
Two questions:
1. Was this picture pre-Adam days?
2. Where can I get that awesome….neck tie?
Happy hilarious Valentines and Birthday!
Dear Matt—my favorite favorito blogger—have a happy happy birthday
Dammit, Matt! Crappity, crap, crap…(belated) “Happy Birthday!” Sorry I’m slow on the draw. Hope your entire weekend went well and was full of cake and love.
omg, your self-portrait rocks!!! i showed it to hubby and thought it was hilarious. i love it! happy belated birthday!! mine was monday. yay, go aquarians!
You seem to have gone into the Valentine’s weekend with exactly the same attitude that I did! I hope you enjoyed it, and happy birthday!
‘never heed the advice of a grumpy lonely man with an inflatable doll.’ Even if she’s hot? Happy belated birthday.
Congrats on making the London Times top 50 food bloggers (you were #7). Impressive international accomplishment. Just starting out myself – write/shoot picture book basics for new/non-cooks http://www.gotta-eat.com. Your blog has a great look, lots of fun – inspirational. Thanks.
I laughed out loud at your picture. Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
New to this, loving this, having the advice about the grumpy man and inflatable doll needlepointed onto a pillow.
Happy birthday from one aquarian to another! (2/11 was my big day.) Hope you celebrated in style…
Hey Matt! I’m a new fan of yours, really love your website
Belated Happy Birthday to you!
Just discovered your blog and I’m loving it . . . from this post, I found out that you and I share a birthday – yay for us