Label Whore

Whenever you begin a weight loss journey and you start reading all the little helpful articles and such, you always, always, always run across these words: "Pay attention to labels."

And it's true. You have to pay attention. You have to count those calories and fat grams and look at dietery fiber and all that other good (or not so good) stuff. Oh, and serving sizes! Can't forget the good old serving sizes. You have to, have to, have to pay attention to what you're getting.

As a general rule, I'm pretty good at it. I know the calorie counts on my regular products so I don't hesitate to just toss them in the cart when I'm in the grocery store. If I am going to buy something I don't regularly purchase, I make sure to flip it over and read through all the nutritional info.

Like I said . . . as a general rule.

For whatever reason, I just totally spaced on my last grocery shopping trip.

I bought a package of stuffing to make for this recipe (and, by the way, it was phenominal. Hubs ate two helpings and Jaybird finished off the little bit of leftovers for lunch the next day). Lo and behold, I got home and it was low sodium stuffing. Um, ew. I know, I know, I know that I need to be watching the sodium counts but seriously. I had to add half a shaker of salt (how's that for healthy?) for the stuff to taste right.

I also picked up my standard Parkay calorie-free butter. Or so I thought. I usually buy the spray butter. Zero calories -- dudn't get no better. Right? Well, this time I noticed a bottle of squeeze butter right beside the spray butter. Same packaging, same everything, aaaand . . . same price for four ounces more. So, I bought it. Didn't check the label. Got home and, yup, 70 calories per tablespoon. Get it together, B!

Last example: yesterday the kiddos and I found a yardsale on our morning walk to the park. I approached with some apprehension because, in my snobby ass neighborhood, a yardsale means someone has five shirts and an old sofa they're trying to get rid of. This one, though, actually had clothes -- cute clothes -- and in MY NEW SIZE! Score! Dude, I have two kids and spend youdontevenwannaknowhowmuch a month on formula and diapers. I'm all about finding me some "gently worn" clothes at a yard sale. Hook me up!

I scooped up five or six shirts, a dress, a pair of shoes, pair of shorts, and two pair of jeans and only paid $12. Holla!

I got home and tried everything on. For the most part, everything fit. One pair of jeans was a teensy bit big (and they were a size 7/8! OMG!) but not so big they were unwearable. The other pair . . . um . . . it was interesting. I got them on. But if I wanted to, you know, do little things like - oh - breathe and sit down we'd have some issues. On closer inspection, I noticed the tag read "super low rise, skinny fit." In other words, "if you've had two c-sections there ain't no way in hell your ass is fitting in these."

Eh, oh well. I only "wasted" $2 on them. I can live with that . . .