Trader Joe's, How Do I Love Thee...

Let me count the ways. Ahem, as many of you already know, I am passionately in love with Trader Joe's. And if you ever utter the following phrase to me: "Trader Joe's? I've never been there...is it any good?" well, consider yourself warned. I will grab you, sit you down, and then proceed to share the gospel of Trader Joe's with you and tell you exactly how it has changed my life. So I thought it was about time to tell you exactly why Trader Joe's is not just an ordinary grocery store. Here goes,drumroll please, in no particular order:

1. You can purchase most of your basic grocery staples, plus, they carry ultra-unique products that you can't get at any of the major grocery chains. (example: Thai and Indian simmer sauces, imported Greek yogurt)

2. Most of TJ's products are organic and even if they're not organic, they're made without artificial ingredients.

3. The organic and "whole food" products are often cheaper than at the major grocery chains! And they are waaaaay cheaper than "Whole Foods" grocery stores!

4. Their return policy is out-of-this-world! You can return ANY product, even if you already ate it (bring back the empty container), for a FULL, cash refund...NO QUESTIONS ASKED! That's right folks, no little form to fill out, no showing your driver's license...you're in and out with cash in your pocket. Seriously! The first time I returned something, it took me a minute to catch my breath, that's how easy it was. And it encourages their customers to try new products, cause if you don't like it, you get you money back.

5. They help promote "living green" by offering a variety of reusable bags for purchase (ranging from $.99 to $2.99). And then, you're rewarded every time you bring in your own bags when you shop by being entered in a bi-monthly drawing for free groceries. One of these days, I'll actually win!

6. They have lots of fun stuff for the kiddos, including a "treasure hunt," which is a stuffed animal hidden on one the shelves in the store. If your child finds it, they get to pick out a prize from the treasure chest. Plus, their are child-sized carts for them to push, balloons and stickers, too.

7. TJ's customer service is also superb. Every employee who is working there genuinely seems to love their job. (And this isn't a store that's overrun with annoying, teenage employees. They're all adults.) They is no limit to how they will serve their customers. One time, I was in the check-out line right before the store was closing and as I reached into my purse, I suddenly realized that I had forgotten both my check book and my debit card. Any normal grocery store would've put my groceries back on the shelf and I would've had to come back and start over the next day. But not Trader Joe's...they bagged up all my stuff, labeled it, and put it in their storage refridgerator, ready for me to pick up and pay for at my convenience! I was so thankful that I nearly started crying. I can honestly say that I have never had a bad experience at Trader Joe's.

Man, I could go on and on about Trader Joe's (and if you know me, you've probably already heard me go on and on!). But I hope you get the drift that if you've never shopped there, you're missing out on a life-changing grocery shopping experience. And if this isn't enough to entice you, let me show you just a few of my family's favorite products:

Peanut Butter Pretzels

These pb-filled nuggets of joy are my husband's favorite snack from TJ's...the moment I get home from the store, he's breaking into the bag. Looking for a quick, pick-me-up in the afternoon? Late night snack? Anytime snack?? Look no further!

Chocolate Chip Meringues

This is my pick for an awesome, indulgent and healthy treat! Sarah, did you say healthy? That's right, my friends, they're actually healthy!! These bad boys have just the perfect balance of meringue and chocolate, without being overly sweet, and they will literally melt in your mouth. There are 3 different varieties of meringues at TJ's and I've tried all of them. But these are, by far, the BEST! You can eat 4 whole meringue cookies with only 120 calories total. Yes, 4 whole cookies, not 4 little tiny bites. The perfect treat for the healthy lifestyle.

This is only the beginning! I'll be posting my Trader Joe's "Pick 'O' the Week" product on a regular basis...so stay tuned. And I'd love to hear YOUR awesome Trader Joe's stories, too!

Oprah's Favorite Foodie Things!

As some of you may already know, I am not a huge Oprah fan. I go back and forth in a sort of "love-hate" relationship with her. Sometimes her shows intrigue and fascinate me (such as her shows about hoarders), and other times I just roll my eyes at her show and say, "Gimme a break, sistah," and then proceed to mutter obscenities at her. Suffice to say, though, that when I saw that Oprah's "My Favorite Things" show was going to be broadcast this afternoon, I was all over it. I'll put up with Oprah's annoying antics for 55 minutes just so I can drool over all the awesome products I'll probably never own, plus seeing her audience members go absolutely crazy is priceless. This year, she had some incredible products for the self-defined Foodie:

These delectable looking cupcakes can be hand-delivered to your door from Williams-Sonoma for a whopping $59!! Yikes...but oh man, do they look scrumptious.

I love bright colors of these melanine mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons. They all have pour spouts on them, plus the bowls have a non-skid, rubber rim on the bottom of them, too. Also from Williams-Sonoma.

I saved the absolute best for last...The Kitchenaid Artisan Standing Mixer! This my all-time dream kitchen appliance. Dave and I had one on our wedding registry and on the registry print-out, it said that it had been purchased. Yet, as we were cleaning up all the wrapping paper after opening our wedding gifts, we realized that none of the packages contained my beloved mixer. All I can figure is that some cruel individual purchased it for us, was then struck by the sheer magnitude of kitchen genius that lied in the mixer...and decided to keep it for themselves! Or maybe there was a computer error at Target and the mixer was never purchased at all. I like the first story better, it's way more dramatic. Either way, I'm still holding onto the hope that one day the Kitchenaid Mixer will be permanent resident in my kitchen.

Holiday Product Highlight

Elmer's Glue on your Christmas cookies?! While it is fun to reminisce of my kindergarten days when glue was accepted as a food group, I wouldn't suggest using it on your cookies. But what I am saying is that you should check out an awesome product that my Mom discovered recently: Wilton's Cookie Icing. Now this is not your usual "frosting in a can." Instead, it is a quick and simple way to replicate that lovely glaze known to the decorating gurus as "Royal Icing," which is made with meringue powder. Royal icing differs from standard buttercream because it harden somewhat as it dries. My Mom was quite pleased with the ease in using it: simply follow the directions to soften the icing in the microwave, squeeze on your cookies, and allow them to dry. (The results were pretty yummy, too, as both Calvin, Grandma's cookie helper, and I can both vouch for!!)

Mom found Wilton's Cookie Icing at Target, and I have heard it can be found at Michael's, too. If you see it anywhere else, let me know. Happy decorating!