Yes, I may have whined a little about my new job the other day, but seriously, I am having a good time. I think a job is just what I needed. To say I was restless would have been the biggest understatement of the year. Working has filled a void and I LOVE the fact that my days are jam packed again and I’m sleeping like a log because I am totally exhausted at the end of each day. That probably sounds weird. But it’s true.
I like to be busy. It makes me HAPPY. Too much down time is not a good thing. At least for me anyway. Life is good.
Also, for the time being, I’ve decided not to share where I am working or what type of job I am performing. Partly for privacy reasons, but mostly because I am learning so much about people {and working outside of the home} that I am still trying to wrap my brain around everything.
There were several reasons why I took on this personal challenge and yes, this job is a temporary one. To everything there is a season reason. Sometimes we need to test the waters… to get our feet wet before we step into the pool. 😉
Yada yada yada.
Here’s what went down in my kitchen last week:
Did you let your Thanksgiving leftovers linger in the fridge for a few days? I didn’t! I froze {most of} ours to pull out on a busy weeknight.
Friday night is family night around here so we made a party platter and watched episode 2 of The Grand Tour.
Banana walnut bread and muffins. I sliced the bread, individually wrapped it and tucked it into the freezer for snacking.
Chocolate chip biscotti. Pretty much the bomb diggety!
The double chocolate brownies were pretty rad too.
Freezer meal enchiladas? Yes please!
2 pans of chicken stir fry? Coming right up!
Beef stew. It does a body good.
Date Day with The Girl. Because Mrs. HB was too tired from Black Friday shopping at the mall to go for a long walk. Booooooooooo! I told her that there was this new fangled thing called the internet but she wanted to go for the “experience.” 😉
Fred Meyer $18.33
Eggs $1.19 a dozen, Flour $1.99, Freezer Rolls $2.99, Cream cheese $1.25 each, 2 lbs Carrots $1.19, 30 Corn tortillas $1.29, Haagen Daz ice cream $3.49 {has anyone else noticed that most all other ice cream brands have gone downhill and taste like preservatives nowadays, or is it just me?}
How about YOU? Did you buy a bunch of groceries last week? Find any good deals?
~Mavis
Total Spent This Week $18.33
Total Spent Year to Date $1804.75
- Total Spent in November $118.42
- Total Spent in October $382.79
- Total Spent in September $195.98
- Total Spent in August $111.42
- Total Spent in July $121.97
- Total Spent in June $167.81
- Total Spent in May $299.74
- Total Spent in April $0
- Total Spent in March $136.58
- Total Spent in February $106.85
- Total Spent in Janaury $105.36
Freebies we’ve been gifted or were earned in 2016:  $200+
- $100 gift card to Whole Foods {Christmas gift from my parents}
- $100 gift card to Trader Joe’s {Christmas gift from my parents}
- 22 packets of vegetable seeds, meat from Zaycon
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories
Mandy Mascaro says
Mavis is it possible to get the recipes for the Chicken Stir-Fry and Beef Stew that you have in the pictures in this post? They both look so good. Thanks! Love your blog!
Jam says
I agree and have the same question about the chicken stir fry. It looks like you freeze it for use later. Does the rice and everything freeze ok? Would love to try this out as a freezer meal. Please share the recipe!
thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yep, just use your favorite stir fry recipe and freeze it for a busy weeknight.
Mavis Butterfield says
Here you go…
http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/a-lighter-version-of-general-tsaos-chicken/
http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/st-patricks-day-recipe-guinness-beef-stew/
Marcia says
Temp jobs are good. Get out there, but a time limit.
I got some good deals at the produce store. Carrots and onions 0.49/lb. Mushrooms from the discount rack – big bag for $1.77. My budget for the year is blown, my kids are just eating so much these days.
Laura Z says
Totally agree about keeping your privacy. You are right about the ice cream. Most of it tastes like fake crappity crap and leaves this weird fake oil slick in your mouth after you eat it. We tried a new HD flavor this week — tangerine, vanilla, and shortbread. So yummy!! I like Talenti gelato and sorbet, too. Had it?
Kim says
Would it be too nosy to ask how many hours per week you are working?
Pam says
I’m glad to hear your settling into your job. At least with a temp job there is an end in sight if that particular job isn’t a good fit.
The brownie’s and biscotti look yummy!!
Mel says
Yes, I’ve noticed that about ice cream lately. We don’t eat a ton of it, especially in winter, so I’ve been getting by on homemade, but I always spring for Haagen Dazs when I do buy it. I think you become more sensitive to preservatives and additives when you avoid them for a while. I’ve been making all our own bread (rolls, tortillas, sandwich bread, burger buns, etc.) for a little over a year now, and I can’t even walk down the bread aisle at the store anymore because of the overwhelming fake bread smell (for lack of a better term). I’m sure I could still eat store bought bread, but the smell from that volume of it is cloying when you haven’t come in contact with it for 12 months or so.
Brenda says
I’m so glad you are doing better with the job gig. Big adjustments sometimes take time and we can be so hard on ourselves. Kudos to you!
Nancy says
Yes, I did get some great deals this week. Doz. eggs 32 cents, Gal. Milk 76 cents, Cream Cheese 79 cents, 2 pound bag of carrots for 79 cents and a whole turkey for 6.75. Best deals I have gotten in a long time. Good luck with the job. I work from home but know what you mean about being exhausted at the end of the day!
Mavis Butterfield says
WOW! Those are some great deals!
Kathy G says
My Black Friday shopping consisted of 12 pints of Talenti, various flavors. 3/$6, 4 offers allowed. We will savor those for a while but Hagen Daz Swiss vanilla almond is the all time fav here.
Plus my store had purchase $100 worth of any gift cards
and get a $20 grocery coupon for this week. A great deal!
PS-first of the season enormous USA grown Meyer lemons available at Costco and bulbs 50/75% off at Lowes and Home Depot!
Mavis Butterfield says
Their coconut gelato is delicious. 🙂