Favorites from Trader Joes, Part 2

Back in February I did a post on my favorites from Trader Joes.  To look back on that post, click here.

I still keep everything from that TJ post in my fridge, freezer, or pantry.  Love all those items!

But lately I have found myself going back and consistently buying a few more items that I love and want to share with you..  So consider this post 2 of my TJ favorites!

1. Pecan Praline Granola

Many mornings, for breakfast, I will toss some of this granola into a bowl of yogurt.  It's delicious.

Ashlan will often ask for this granola in yogurt for an after school snack.

And of course, I find myself just grabbing a handful of granola out of this bag several times a day....it's just that good.

2. Port Salut Soft Cheese

I was shopping at TJ with a friend a couple months ago and she highly recommended I buy this cheese (she knows we love cheese in our household)  It has now become my favorite cheese.   I almost always serve this cheese with triscuit crackers.  So good!

3. Crunchy Curls Lentil Snack

31 of these curls is only 130 calories (if you're counting)

I love these.  And they are Lentils!  Much better for you than a potato chip, although I had Brent taste them and he still prefers a salty potato chip...LOL  Try them and see what you think.  I like them!

4.Wine Country Chicken Salad

 

The whole family loves this chicken salad.  We eat it on crackers or just by the spoonful.  Trader Joes has several chicken salad options - this one is our favorite!

5. Chicken Burrito Bowl

Okay, this was good!  I went back and bought a couple more to have on hand.  For a quick lunch at home, this hit the spot.  A friend of mine bought this too, and loved it!

6. Double Roasted Salsa

My favorite salsa.

So there you have it.  

6 more favorites of mine from Trader Joe's!

Favorites from Trader Joe's

I love that we have a Trader Joe's within a 10 minute drive from our home.  

I make it a point to shop there once every couple weeks.  

I thought I would share with you a small handful of our favorites and what will always end up in my shopping cart when I am there.

This trail mix of nuts and chocolate (I think it's dark chocolate) comes in small snack packs.  I always keep a pack in my car console, and a pack in my purse.  Often times the girls will come home from school and immediately grab a pack of this trail mix.  It's our favorite!

 Ashlan and I devour these!  

It's like an Almond Joy candy bar in small bite size balls.  They are addicting so watch out!

Potstickers.  

Easy, easy.  I serve these often as an afternoon snack for the girls. 

They have chicken and pork.  We like both so I just alternate when I buy.

I don't buy these, but my parents ask that I buy these for them each time I shop there.

Apparently, my parents snack on these throughout the day.

I should probably try them myself.

Kate will always request these frozen banana bites.

Brent and Kate will eat these like nobody's business.

I always have a couple bags on hand.  I'll toss them in the skillet with some olive oil until they "pop" and are soft/tender, and then sprinkle sea salt all over them.   It's always fun to eat these because you never know when you will bite into a HOT one!

This dip is my favorite.  And what's so odd about my like for this dip is that I can't stand Kale in any fashion or form.  But someone served me this dip awhile back and I have craved it ever since.  There is always a container of it in my fridge.  I'll use carrots and crackers to dip.

This quinoa with vegetable medley - YUM!

I'll serve this as a side at dinner sometimes.

It's so easy to make on the stove and the family eats it all!

Ashlan will always request this popcorn mix of caramel and cheddar.

Be careful - it's extremely addicting!

My friend introduced me to these frozen crushed garlic cubes months ago.

How did I cook so long without these?  Each cube equals a clove.

I just pop however many I need out, and toss them in the skillet if the recipe calls for minced garlic.

I just bought these this week and Brent has given them a thumbs up!

Typically, he enjoys a martini with a skewer of 2-3 olives stuffed with blue cheese or a jalapeno.

But I found these skewers this week that each hold a pickle, olive, carrot, pepper, and onion.  

It's something different for him and he is loving it!

Hope you have a Trader Joe's near you 

and that you can enjoy these products as much as our family does!

Sunday Favorites

Hope you had a great week!  

Our temperatures stayed a bit cool this week, so we spent several nights on the patio, wrapped in blankets around the fireplace, and watching movies.   Looking forward to doing more of that this week (as well as decorating for Christmas)

Here are our favorites from the week:

1. BlueBell Ice Cream

It's back.  actually it's been back a few weeks I think

I grabbed a tub at the store this week just so my girls would quit nagging me everyday with 

"Can we please have some bluebell ice cream!'

And what's the best way to eat it?  

Ashlan says "straight out of the carton, while sitting on the floor in my pjs, and listening to Daddy play his guitars"

2. in a dark, dark, wood

This book begins with a remote English country house and a motley group of 20-somethings gathered for a bachelorette party. Then the story shifts: A few days later, protagonist Nora Shaw wakes up in a hospital fearing she's done something terribly wrong.

I saw this book recommended by Reese Witherspoon.  

And somewhere else I read that it may be a made into a movie.

So I bought it on Amazon and plan to start the book today.

It's so different than anything I ever read, so I'm excited to see how I like it.

3. Sweet & Creamy Maple Cream

K-Cups

My 15 year old is obsessed with this medium roast coffee.  So I thought I'd share it with y'all.  To me, it's like having your coffee served to you with the cream/sugar already mixed in.

It's not the K-cup I immediately go for in the pantry when I make my coffee (because I prefer my own creamer which is simply milk if I use any creamer at all)  but Kate thinks everyone should know how great this coffee is.  So try it, and see if you agree with her!

4. Veteran's Day

I hope you took the time to thank a Veteran this week.  Really, we shouldn't save our thanks for one day a year....we need to be thanking our veterans and local law enforcement officers daily.

Our school district does an amazing job of celebrating our veterans each year.  From banquets, to assemblies, to BBQ's....our community appreciates our veterans.  

Even our town has a neat program where each homeowner can donate $40/year to the 

town fire department and in return they will place a flag in your 

front yard for every flag holiday that year (7 total)

It's so cool to drive through town and see so many flags in front yards.

5. Trader Joe's Mini Gingerbread Men

with white fudge icing

Hello, perfectly delicious!

And while you are at Trader Joe's buying the gingerbread men, 

pass over the crunchy, crispy Broccoli Florets.  

Gross.  A friend recommended them to me, so I bought a bag.

Ashlan and I sampled them as soon as we got in the car...

I texted my friend "You owe me $2.39"

LOL

6. Swiss Miss DARK Chocolate Cocoa

Oh, yes.  It's new on the shelves.  Yum!

*you mix the powder only with MILK, not water*

7.  Dark Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

I bought these at Kroger.

Dark chocolate - check

Peppermint - check

Salty pretzel - check

 

Wishing you a great week!

I will not be posting any Favorites next Sunday, but I will be back with it after Thanksgiving!

Sunday Favorites

Time for my favorites from the week:

1. Welcome Gift

One of my precious friends from childhood came by for lunch and a visit this week to see our new home.  She and her mother arrived with a housewarming gift that literally made my week.  It was full of Fall decor items from candles, to kitchen towels, to blanket throws, and more.  It was wrapped so nicely that I left the gift basket intact on my fireplace hearth for two days before I even opened it.  It was that pretty!  But being in the midst of the Fall season and me not having too many Fall decorations set out, I needed to open it and utilize all the fun inside of the gift basket.

Sharing this time with my friend, her mom, (and my mom, too) was definitely the highlight of my week.

 check out that cute turkey in the middle of the bow

2. Sugared Cinnamon Candle
Pier 1

I found this candle at Pier 1 this week.
My new favorite scent.
 I only bought one and it's in my bedroom.  I'm going back next week for another one.

3. Christmas Shopping

I've got a goal this year: to have all my Christmas shopping DONE by Dec. 1st.
In-store AND Online shopping.  Done by Dec 1st.
So far, I'm 50% done.  I think I can make this goal.

not my picture.  stolen off internet for your enjoyment

4. Matisse Byron Bootie
Click here to find the booties online

I love booties.  I have several pair.  But I didn't have a casual pair that had a flat heel. My casual pairs all give me extra height.  So I've been on the look-out for a casual bootie with a flat heel - something I could wear with jeans.
This week I walked into DSW on the hunt for a tan colored cross-body purse.
and I found one
And while I was there, I felt obligated to walk the aisles of shoes
because what girl wouldn't
And to my surprise, I walked past a bootie that fits all the criteria I've been wanting
Casual, flat heel, comfortable, brown
I bought the booties and have worn them every day since I bought them.
#LiterallyEveryDay

I consider these flat heel compared to what I have in my closet

5. Angry Orchard CRISP APPLE Hard Cider

I've been trying various ciders this season.  This is my favorite...so far.
It's not too sweet which is a huge plus!  No sugar pit in the stomach.
Buy it!  Then come over and drink one with me....

6.  Maybelline Stay Long 14Hr Lipstick

Do you feel like those lipsticks that claim they 'stay on longer' just have an uncomfortable feeling/texture to them?  Or is it just me?
I've tried numerous "long stay" lipsticks throughout the years, and I have always been disappointed.  Sure, they stay on forever, but my lips felt odd the entire time.  It's hard to explain.
But I saw this lipstick in Walgreen's this week, and I figured 'heck, why not?'
Friends, I found my long stay lipstick.  And they have over 20 colors to chose from.
I bought this color 'Till Mauve Do Us Part'.....I want to go back and get the plum color too.
My lips feel normal and the lipstick fulfills it's promise of 14 hours more time than i need 

Enjoy your week!

Sunday Favorites

This whole week I've felt like this....

Productive cough, can't breath, achy, tired.....just plain blah.

If you know anything about our family, it's that we don't go to the doctor unless we are dying!!

Seriously.  

But I know I'm not dying....yet.  So I've been taking OTC cough medicine (nastiest medicine ever), ibuprofen, and drinking lots of apple cider.

Though, I did manage to enjoy some favorites things and moments from this week that I can share.

1. Essie Lady-Like

This is my nail polish for the week.  It's neutral.  

And I like it.

(Again, excuse the short nails.  There is no hope.  They will never grow)

2. Timehop App

Do you have the Timehop App on your phone?  It's an app that brings together your old posts and pictures from your iphone, facebook, instagram, twitter, etc...and replays your past a day at a time.

I love it and look forward to checking it every day.

This week this picture popped up from 3 years ago.  Some of my favorite moments spent with the girls are in the kitchen together.  This was one of those moments.

3. Pink Out

This week was Pink Out week for our school district.  I decided to make some special cookies for Kate ,and also for Jenny, her big sister on the dance team.  Here are Jenny's cookies. 

And just for kicks, a friend sent me this picture of the Sophmore Majestics

(Kate is on the top row, center left)

4. Rain, and lots of it

The rain rolled in this week and the dogs and I sat under the porte cache and waited for it to fall.

Thankful for the rain which we so desperately needed!

5. The Island

This is what I'm currently reading.  It was referred to me by a friend.

I can't really give you a review on it yet, because I'm only one chapter into it.

But my friend recommended it, and the online reviews are good....so I am betting I'll like it.

You may have already read it.  It's been out 2-3 years, I think.

Wishing you a great upcoming week of Halloween festivities and fun!!!!!

Sunday Favorites

Another busy, but fun week!

We are well into the middle of October, and I'm still just as giddy as ever. 

Pumpkin patches, pumpkin recipes, chilly evenings, football, and we even turned on our patio fireplace for the first time this week!

  Hooray for Fall, and Hooray for October!

I've got several things to share with you from this week that quickly became my favorites....

1. You've Been Booz'ed

I mean, come on....how genius is this!  We've already boo'd multiple families this month and have been boo'd ourselves a few times, as well.....

But this was on our porch early last week.

The kids were boo'ed and there was candy for them..

But best of all....

Brent and I were Booz'ed and there were a few beers there for us.

GENIUS!  I fell in love with this idea!

Thank you to whoever Boo'ed/Booz'ed us!  You rock!

 

2. Biotin and Collagen Shampoo/Conditioner

My hair has been thinning for the past 3 years.  And when I say thinning, I mean falling out like crazy, all the time, everywhere.  I've had my blood tested, thyroid tested - all normal.  I take every vitamin you can think of - no luck.  It's all due to stress, people.

Between the 2 years we spent building this house,  raising 3 kids, carpooling to activities every.single.day,  keeping a college kid sane when he's 6 hours from home,  etc...  my body has taken the blunt of it.  

But I came across this stuff last week and it makes my hair look so much fuller and healthier.

Now if I could only get this constant stress under control, I may be headed in the right direction

3. The Good Girl

My friend came into town from New York this past weekend.  She had just finished this book and gave it to me to read next.  I usually stick with the chic flick book, self-help, love story type books....but this one isn't any of those.  It's suspenseful and unexpecting, and I'm loving it.

I'm 3/4 of the way through the book and I plan to finish it today.  Can't wait to see how it ends!

4. Pumpkin Butter (Trader Joes)

My sweet Mother-in-Law texted me a few weeks ago about this pumpkin butter and how good it was.

If you know my mother in law, she has excellent taste and is the best cook that I know.  If she recommends a food/spice/recipe, you know it's going to be good.  I've had the pumpkin butter on my list of items to buy for weeks, but I just couldn't fit the trip to Trader Joe's into my schedule....until this week.  

Hello, Pumpkin Butter!!!!  

I've enjoyed it on toast every single morning this week and so has my husband 

( in fact, he just ate 2 pieces of toast with pumpkin butter about 3 minutes ago)

If you have plans to visit Trader Joe's soon, toss this in your basket.  And while you're at it, you know that Cookie Butter that's so popular there.....they now have Pumpkin Spice Cookie Butter

(we have been eating that by the spoonful this week)

5. Cheetos Bag of Bones

I love Cheetos....Toss them in white cheddar instead....even better!

I found this bag of Cheetos and thought it would be a fun addition to the pantry for the month of October - Bag of Bones.  Cute, huh?

I love the Bag of Bones, and I love the white cheddar flavor.  Double thumbs up!

6.  Essie - Fishnet Stockings

Essie - Clear Top Coat

My color for the week.  

It's not a true red, it's not burnt red, it's not mauve....it's just a color that I really like.

And the Essie clear top coat is a must have!  It adds a coat of protection to your polish, and it makes my nails have that professional shine.

(Excuse my short, stubby nails)

 

7. Exterior Lighting

When we built the house, our builder (as a gift to us) provided our front exterior lighting.

That was such a thoughtful thing for him to do. Love our builder

But after being in the house for 4 months, we thought it needed more front lighting. This week we had that additional lighting installed, as well as lighting up our back yard around the pool area.  We used The Perfect Light for this installation and couldn't be more pleased with the way it looks.  

Wishing you a fantastic week ahead!

Sunday Favorites

Hope you had a wonderful week!

Being well into the month of October and I'm a happy girl.

October may just be my most favorite month of the year!

That being said, my favorites this week started with hitting up the local Pumpkin Patch

It's not uncommon for me to stop at every pumpkin patch I see and buy at least one pumpkin.

1. Pumpkins

 We hit up our local patch first this week and bought several pumpkins.  Several meaning ~17 

I scattered them around the back patio, around the pool, and placed several on the front porch.

Again, one of the main reasons I am in love with October - Pumpkins! 

2. A Moment

I love to experience unexpected moments that take you by surprise, a happy surprise that is.

I was messing with the dining room fireplace early one morning before school, when Ashlan walks in, sits down on the chair next to the fireplace, and starts playing her flute.  It was probably around 6:45am, still dark outside, the glow of the fireplace, and a sweet girl in her pjs softly playing her flute.

It was a moment....And one I quickly snapped a picture of.

3. Animal Print Canvas Slip Ons

My best friend and I met up this week to spend some time shopping and chatting over lunch.  She needed to grab some things inside Old Navy so I joined her.  We both found these canvas animal print shoes and fell in love.  SOLD!

Extremely comfortable and they go with everything.  Really, they do.

4.  Woodchuck Hard Cider - Gumption

My friend is here this weekend visiting from New York, and she brought with her a 6-pack of this stuff.  Have I never had hard cider before?  This was heavenly on my taste buds ignore the fact it was also a sugar pit heaven in the pit of my stomach 

The 6-pack is gone and I plan to restock my outdoor fridge with it. 

I feel like this is a lady's drink.  So ladies, go get a 6-pack of this.

You won't be disappointed!  And you can thank me later!

Have a great week!