A few weeks ago the nice folks at Progresso sent me an absolutely ginormous package of soup. They sent me the soup for free and asked me to let them know if/when I posted a review (good or bad) of the soup.
I typically stay away from canned soups because 1) they usually have a lot of sodium 2) homemade soup almost always tastes better and 3) that schloooop noise condensed soup makes when you dump it out of the can grosses me out. So I decided to give the Progresso stuff a shot but I didn’t have high expectations.
The verdict? It’s not bad. My favorite so far is the Garden Vegetable (Reduced Sodium). It tastes a lot like the veggie soup my mom makes (not quiet as good but I didn’t expect it to be) and isn’t bland. And you know those tiny grease spots that skim the surface of a lot of condensed soups? The stuff that cling to the side of your cup when you’re done? None of that nastiness here.
I’ve got a bad habit of accidentally forgetting my packed lunch at home so I’ve got a stockpile of Progresso soup in my desk at work now. Now on the days when I’m super busy or forget my lunch I can suck down some soup instead of skipping lunch or grabbing a combo meal from one of the many fast food joints nearby.
Giveaway!
The folks at Progresso (Hi Jessica!) are going to send one lucky reader a Progresso gift pack containing a soup mug (also awesome for oatmeal), a jump rope, and a couple cans of soup to try for yourself. All you have to do to enter is leave ONE comment between now and Friday telling me what your favorite kind of soup is. The winner will be announced on Thursday, so get crackin’.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: contests, eating habits, photos, reviews
A few weeks ago I watched Food, Inc., a documentary about the food supply and industry in the US. It’s not as shocking as Fast Food Nation but it made me take a step back and consider where my food comes from. I’m not giving up meat altogether but after seeing some chickens covered in resting sores that were too top-heavy to walk I reworked the grocery budget so I can buy organic meat. Because that was sad. And gross.
I wish I had the funds to buy everything organic, but I don’t. Eggs, poultry, beef? I’m there. Yogurt, milk, fruits and veggies? That’s a work in progress. I’m hitting the farmer’s market and trying to buy local but some of that organic stuff is just so damn expensive.
Do you shop organic? Do you only do organic or do you mix in “regular” food too? What organic foods are you willing to shell out for and what do you skip?
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: eating habits, organic, questions
I remember looking in the mirror last April before I headed to the gym and thinking, Damn. Look at my butt. It’s AWESOME! When I stretched out in bed I could feel my hip bones. My thighs were still jiggly but I could feel firm muscles underneath. Shortly afterwards I gained back twenty pounds during what I affectionately refer to as The 2009 Summer/Fall of Doom. Good-bye adorable bubble butt. So long hip bones and quasi-toned thighs…
That’s what I think about now when I don’t want to go to the gym. What a difference those twenty pounds made. And for now that’s all I’m thinking about as a goal. Losing those damn twenty pounds. I will still be fat when I hit that goal (290) but I don’t care. Do you hear me, Internet? I DO NOT CARE. I refuse to worry about what lies beyond those twenty pounds. Obsessing over more than a hundred pounds is overwhelming and counterproductive. I’ve never lost a hundred pounds before so I automatically convince myself I can’t do it. But I know I can lose twenty, and twenty more after that, and if that’s what it takes for me to keep making progress then so be it.
One small chunk of weight loss? Piece of cake.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: body image, chunk 1, dieting, goals, motivation
I was shocked when I saw that bunches of spray roses were only $8.99, just two weeks before Valentine’s Day. This particular variety are called supernova but I think the only way to accurately describe the color is FUSCHIA!
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: fresh flowers, photos
Lent is sixteen days away and just thinking about it is giving me a small anxiety attack. So I’m fighting the fear but locking down my plan.
THE RULES:
- I’m allowed to pay household bills. Mortgage, condo association, gas/electricity, internet/cable, Netflix, phone, and student loans. These are budgeted expenses that are necessary for my survival (and also my credit score). I can continue to pay down my credit cards but I can’t USE* my credit cards.
- I have money set aside for a planned expense — paying H&R Block to do my taxes. Sorry friends — I’m not waiting until April 4th to file my taxes.
- I’m allowed to use the remaining balance on any gift cards I have since that money has already been spent, but I cannot reload them or buy new ones. And pre-loading the cards with extra money? That’s cheating.
- I will adhere to strict budget for groceries ($50 per week) and fuel ($35 per week**). Any money left over each week goes in the kitty and gets donated to a charity. Included in my weekly budget for groceries is the cost of buying flowers each week — which is one of my New Year Resolutions. No skipping on those because of Lent.
- I can’t go out to eat unless someone else is footing the bill and since I don’t anticipate that happening I’m planning on eating at home. My only eating out option? Using a gift card.
- Since my gym membership is paid in-full I can workout as much as I want. Lucky me!
No shopping or eating out with my friends. Ugh. This is going to suuuuuuuuck.
*I’m going to continue to carry my credit card for emergencies only. Emergencies include but are not limited to: major car/home repairs, emergency trips to the doctor/ER or bail money for me or a family member (but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that). Sadly, it does not include door buster sales at Sephora or double-rewards days at DSW.
**This might get adjusted slightly. I’m willing to cut corners and not drive all over; I’m not willing to miss work because I don’t have enough gas to get to the office.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Lent
