For the seventh week in a row I got together with Mrs. HB to do some grocery shopping and prepare some meals for the upcoming week. Those are the pictures you’ll see when you scroll through this post as well a few Mrs. HB sent that she took during the week.
So here we go…Week 7 in Mrs. HB’s own words:
Golly, what a wonderful week! Not only was it my birthday week and I received wonderful gifts and lunches from family and friends but I stayed well within budget! I spent $70 at Fred Meyer and per my goal did not go to Costco. Though I almost did… Mavis talked me down, it was just a short list so I thought no big deal. But I had set a goal not to go. When I revisited the list, it was all things that could wait til next week. So glad to have her keep me in check!
I also had $332 cash left in my wallet at the end of my week. WOW! Now that feels good! I then took $50 of that and took kids and their friends out to lunch. It wasn’t planned but it was nice. Not so easy come… easy go !
Do you remember my Pampered Chef indulgence several weeks back? I bought a “dutch oven.” Mavis had used one for her “crusty bread” that was delicious and I thought I just had to have one. Well, I didn’t advise her I bought one till after the fact and of course she wasn’t happy with me. Not only had I spend $103 on it but it had a glass top and was not cast iron. She said she could have done much better for me.
Well I finally received it in the mail and boy it wasn’t what I was expecting. It not only had the glass top, for which I’d been regretting, but it was way too shallow for what I wanted to use it for. So I am returning it! I will loose the initial shipping charge but they will refund me the cost of the thing and free shipping to return. Thank goodness!
But hold onto your horses….. HB Hubby surprised me with a beautiful red Lodge cast iron dutch oven for my b-day. Boy is it heavy! HB boy popped popcorn in it the first night we had it and it was delicious! I am looking through the recipe book that he got me as well for next week’s meal planning… Sooo excited! He also gave me glass storage containers for all that chicken broth I’ve been making!
As if that wasn’t enough, my in-laws gave me gift certificates to Panera and Costco!!!!! Talk about helping out the budget! I know I am truly blessed!
I cant believe that it’s only been 7 weeks . And though I am already dreading having to fly out of the nest and spread my wings from Ms. Mavis in a few weeks… I think I will be ready. I am looking for deals when I hadn’t even known they existed and sticking to my list. I have no desire to pop into TJMaxx, etc and I am trying to figure out ways to increase that savings nest egg. This week HB boy sold another item for $30 on our local Facebook buy and sell page. He gives me a $5 cut for posting and meeting up with the buyers. HB girl has one that is pending we just have to find a time to meet.
So with all this said, I have started to look even more closely at myself in other areas… I think I am going through a midlife crisis. I swear I am. I know I have “let myself go” I haven’t been exercising nor eating like I should. My muscle mass has really changed… I AM 51 years young, and I weigh more than I would like.
So I would like to reveal another personal challenge to get a little more healthy… I warn you I have tried to do this in the past. I have proclaimed to Mr. HB and HB kids that I am going to do this and that, just to have that proclamation fizzle out. So I thought “announcing my budget woes” via Ms. Mavis seemed to work, maybe if I announce this new healthy proclamation to you all it would make me stay the course.
Of course baby steps, so this is what I am going to do to start my transformation.
1. Exercise daily starting with walk/running our staircase 10 flights before I get in shower.. going to YMCA when can.
2. Drink more water
3. Drink less wine, only when invited out or with company over… let’s say weekends
4. Eat no rice, bread or pasta… I did this before and the weight just fell off.
Though this isn’t a weight reduction thing, it should be an added bonus! I didn’t know if I should weigh myself or not, I was scared. But talked myself into it just so I could see concrete progress… I WON’T divulge that number… YIKES! But I will tell you what happens with the scale next week. Good or bad.
Well, we shall see how this goes!
~Mrs. HB
Amy S says
I always check out the woo-hoos when I go Krogering. The item may not have been on my list, but if it’s a good price on something we will use by the expiration date, then I stock up.
UpstateNYer says
$332 left over from the week? Congratulations! I would suggest putting half of that into an untouched savings account and the other half into a vacation savings fund or a Christmas fund. It will help you get ahead without even missing the money. Keep up the good work!
Carrie says
Popcorn the Dutch oven? Do you have a recipe? Our pooper bit the dust free my little guys dropped it one to many times. I bought a new one that died the second time we used it (it got returned) but I am afraid to buy another one. The reviews n Amazon are terrible on all of them. I do have a nice blue Dutch oven just like yours that could see more us.
Leanna says
Try this: http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/easy-recipes-for-kids-popcorn-in-a-bag/
Mrs.HB says
Just a little olive oil and corn then cook shaking it a bit here and there so they don’t burn and tada, you have popcorn… so simple the old fashion way.
Debra Basquez says
HI Carrie. to pop the popcorn in a dutch oven or cast iron piece. Put 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite oil in the pan, add 1/3 to 1/2 cup kernals of bulk popcorn. (do not heat the oil first). put the lid on tight and heat the dutch oven or cast iron skillet. use medium high heat. when you start to hear the kernals popping in the pot, using oven mitts to protect your hands, you need to shake or slide the pot so the kernals don’t burn. if you have a glass top stove, be careful not to scratch your surface. when you hear very little popping, remove from heat. let it set just a minute before removing lid so that you don’t have kernals popping out at you. you can now put flavoring on as normal, butter, salt, etc. hope this helps.
Karin C says
Hi, I put a few table spoons of oil in Dutch oven and 3 kernels of popcorn, then heat on high with lid on, when the kernels have piped I put in 1/3 of a cu of popcorn kernels , put lid on and it should start very quickly to pop, I shake a bit when the popping in going crazy then remove from heat when it slows down , when finished top with your fav toppings.
Trace says
I’ve been reading your saga, and I just want to say how proud I am of you!! Admitting you need help is one thing, but listening to advice and utilizing it is a whole other ballgame. You may not know it, but you are really inspiring a lot of us to change those tiny (but not really) habits that can cause major leaks in our goal. Thank you for allowing us to share the journey with you!!!
Jeanie says
I think it is a life-truth that when you get control of one area..it spurs you on to want to change another. Good for you!
Mavis Butterfield says
I agree!
Marcia says
Great job Mrs HB! I love reading your updates.
Good luck on healthy eating. It’s often hard to remember to take care of yourself. I make an effort to schedule my workouts so that I *do* them. I get up at 4:40 am to swim 2 days a week (if it’s only 2 days, it’s do-able for me). I have lunch-date walks 2 days a week with a friend, and a running group on Sunday.
Those are the non-negotiables. I squeeze in weights/ pushups/ squats when I can and biking to work when weather permits!
I have the same wine rule, and it really works. I rarely open a bottle of wine at home. Because I’ll drink the whole thing myself, over the space of 4-5 days. It’s still a lot of calories!
Water is important but hard. I’m still working on it.
I cut my carbs (bread, rice, pasta) back to 2-3 servings (1/2 cup or 1 slice per serving) a day a few years ago and it really worked. What worked even better was giving up wheat. I still had 2 carbs a day, but they were corn tortillas, beans, potatoes, oatmeal, or rice. I just really love bread, and it’s a slippery slope from a slice of bread to bagels, buns, pizza, naan…for me anyway. I don’t have the same obsession with rice. Small serving and I can be done.
Leanna says
Mrs. HB good for you and your new goal. Cutting carbs will definitely help. Watch that sugar too. (That’s what gets me).
Rebecca in MD says
Congratulations on your progress and Happy Birthday Mrs. HB!
Good job on returning the Pampered Chef pan since it wasn’t what you really wanted. I save my enameled cast iron for soups, stews, and braises. I have a cast iron Dutch oven that is not enameled, and I use that one for my crusty bread. I found it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L8DD3-Double-Dutch-5-Quart/dp/B000LEXR0K/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1487621699&sr=1-5&keywords=cast+iron
Leslie says
Mrs HB! I have an idea!
Step on the scale when Mavis is over, and have her look at the number. Then, you can check in next month or some other time, and she can tell you how many pounds you lost.
KC says
You can do it! You will probably have times where it’s harder, and times when it just gets so boring/annoying/whatever, but keep on pushing through. If you trip, get on back up again and try again. If you look up one day and realize unwanted stuff has crept back in, then clear the decks again. You can do it! It may take some time to develop the perseverance, but you can keep trying and you can do it!
(This applies to both budgety things and exercise. For exercise, though, a set of checkboxes [or a sticker chart, for that matter!] may help keep you aware of how many days you’re getting exercise in [or getting enough water, or cutting down on carbs], and help keep you motivated – seeing the victories pile up is fun! Good luck!)
Tamara says
Happy Birthday, Mrs. HB! What wonderful gifts you are giving yourself- controlled spending and taking care of yourself. And then, of course, that enables you to better care for your family. I have that same red Lodge cast iron Dutch oven and I love using it! It is heavy! I so enjoy this post each week! Keep up the good work! And I like that you used a little of your “savings” to treat your children, and yourself, instead of being miserly with it all.
Carole says
Mrs HB your body needs carbs, complex carbs. I found this out the hard way. Just cut out refined carbs, refined sugar, white flour, white potatoes, white rice and white pasta. Go whole grain only. Its really easy to do and your body will be much healthier. You will feel better too esp if your running ten flights of stairs. You need those complex carbs for energy. My A1c got totally out of whack from cutting carbs and I was so tired all the time. My RD daughter added back in a set amount of complex carbs spread over my day and my A1c is back to normal, I feej better, more energy and I’m sleeping better. Give it a try.
Linda Bick says
I’ve so enjoyed reading these posts! Happy Birthday to you! Congratulations on all the great changes your making in your life! I too need to lose some weight so I’ll be watching for some good hints! I too am x-naying the wine, eating 5 small meals and cutting sugar and some carbs. Keeping whole grains and brown rice. Good luck! I think that telling us that your doing it will motivate you even more!
Jen Grim says
I love your series. They are always interesting and helpful.
Nancy says
Way to go, Ms. HB! I am a bit older (+10) and working on making positive changes in budgeting, saving and working toward a healthier me. I am eating small meals throughout the day, trying to work in more fresh, raw foods, etc. Best of luck Ms. HB and keep us posted.
Robyn says
Mrs HB-Congratulations on your progress and you’ve done it by really being thoughtful and reflective about your spending patterns. And of course Mavis!
I personally have found that with weight loss and overall health that excercise is key and smaller portions of things like carbs. I’ve found cutting out food groups completely doesn’t work well. Once I’ve lost the weight I go back to eating them because I really enjoy them. I’ve had way more success when I continue to eat the foods I love but limit portion size and cut out sugar especially.
You go girl! and carry on!
Laura Z says
Happy Birthday, Mrs. HB!! Congratulations on all your progress!
Sheri says
Just a suggestion for storing that broth. Hit some thrift stores and soon yard sales and look for original Pyroceram ( glass ceramic) Corning Ware pieces. If you get the ‘A Series” ( they will be marked A-1-B or A-2-B etc ..older ones are P series) you can buy rubber type plastic lids for freezer and fridge storage from the World Kitchen store. They are square shaped so they stack nicely. These are great as they are freezer, oven, stovetop burner, broiler, microwave safe. They can be picked up for a few dollars. If you want to learn more there are a few collector groups on Facebook, and a few websites one of the best is corningware411 dot com . I got on the kick and now have a hoard. Some pieces are around 2 cups size which is great for freezing single servings ..all the way up to a 5 quart for a whole big pot of soup you can pull from the freezer and literally sit right on your stove burner until it thaws.
Mrs HB says
Thank you I had no idea ! I will loom further ! Thank you
Em says
Sheri,
Thank you for posting this tip! I have some of these dishes (cornflower is my favorite). I have purchased replacement clear glass covers, but did not realize there was an alternative! This is great!
Emily says
I totally sympathize with you about hiding the chips from your husband. I had saved up all the friday freebie candy from the past couple months to surprise my husband when we were traveling at Christmas. Well, surprise! He found it and ate it all grading finals just before we left. I guess it still brought him joy, but wasn’t nearly so fun, and we had to buy new snacks for the plane.
Stephanie says
Good for you, Mrs HB! I, too, seem to lose excess weight effortlessly when I cut rice, bread, and pasta. You could put all that great broth to use making soups with starchy veggies like turnips, beets, celeriac, and rutabagas to get your needed carbs.
Thank you for sharing your journey. We are all learning so much from you!
Amber says
Doing great mrs. Hb! I have lost 24# in the last 10 wks and what has really helped has been the accountability of a tracker. I use my fitness pal app and log my daily exercise and food. You can even scan things and it will read it. I wegh once a week and put that in as well. It also counts your steps, but i frequently don’t keep my phone on me (especially if I don’t have pockets and don’t want to use my “bra-cket”…it’s so embarrassing when your bra rings!). I also have been seeing my dr monthly for the accountability. Keep up the great work.
Barbara says
Just wanted to tell Mrs. HB that she is doing an awesome job. Keep going Mrs. HB, you got this.