Family Alive

I’m glad you asked!  🙂  If you’ve read our blog for long, you’ll know that I fell in love with Trader Joe’s grocery store while we were in California.  I only discovered it a month or so before we moved away, but I stocked up on good things before we moved, specially wine:)  Then my dad was in California, and so I’d send him a shopping list, and he sent me my favorite things.  Now my dad is in Minneapolis, and there’s a TJ’s not too far away, so I can visit when we see him.  But the closest TJ’s to me is in Atlanta, so everytime we’re traveling in that direction, it’s on the agenda.  I even gave up a trip to IKEA so that I could have more time at TJ’s this week! 

First off, if you don’t get excited about grocery stores, maybe you wouldn’t be impressed.  But if you enjoy shopping at nice grocery stores, with interesting products, Trader Joe’s is definitely the best.  Here’s what they say on their website:

Just what is this thing we call Trader Joe’s? Well, we’re a grocery store, sure, but really so much more. Our shelves are stocked full of delicious foods and beverages from the basics like milk, bread and butter to more exotic fare like imported cheeses, organic produce and hand-tossed pizza from Italy. We taste every product before we decide to sell it, and we guarantee you’ll like it.

You might expect indulgences like these to come with unbecoming prices. But at Trader Joe’s, we’re as much about value as we are about great food. In other words, we keep our costs low, cut out the middleman whenever possible and pass our savings on to you in the form of terrific everyday prices. So you can afford to be adventurous without breaking the bank.

They largely carry their own brand of products, most are natural and un-genetically modified.  Their produce and flower section is wonderful.  But best of all, their prices are completely reasonable.  Along the line of normal prices at your everyday store.  They’re always highlighting products with samples in the corner of the store.  In fact, that’s how I found one of my new favorite products! 

So, back to what I bought… This isn’t an exhaustive list, just my notable favorites:

• 4 reusasble shopping bags (99cents each)
• Cranberry Walnut Gorgonzola Vinagrette Salad Dressing – It was being sampled over a yummy salad this week, and I took one bite and was hooked.  Delicious – on the menu at our house tonight:)
• Pineapple Salsa ($2) – one of my absolute favorites.  I buy a couple jars everytime I’m there. 
• Spinach Dip – for snacking on our trip home.
• Everything Crackers – These were new to me, but they’re yummy, specially with the spinach dip.  Multigrain with onion and garlic powder on top, and sesame, poppy and carraway seeds. 
• Chocolate Cat Cookies – A favorite snack for my sweeties.
• Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans ($4) – Brian *LOVES* these.
• Triple Espresso Mocha – ($1.29)  Three shots of espresso with milk and chocolate in a can.  Brian loves these, too.  Chilled and served over ice. 
• Granola and the 3 Berries – ($2.69)  Great price for tasty granola.
• Country Pumkin Spice Granola
• Pecan Praline Granola
• Assorted other cereal… you can’t beat all natural cereal for less than $3 a box!
• This Strawberry Walks into a Bar – strawberry cereal bars
• Tomato Bruchetta ($3) – Delicious blend of tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and basil in a jar.  Yes, I could and should make it myself, but it’s nice to have a jar in the cupboard for a last minute treat.
• Fruit leather – I’ve never been a fan, but I’m hoping that maybe it’s soft enough Josiah will like it.  He loves Gerber Fruit Strips, and they’re pricey. 
• Wine – Trader Joe’s is famous for the Charles Shaw brand of wine, or Two Buck Chuck.  It’s actually $3 now.  But I got one bottle of that and another bottle of white zinfandel that looked good.  Oh, and if you’re at TJ’s on a Sunday in Georgia, you can’t buy wine.  I tried last time we were there.  Thankfully, this trip was on a Tuesday:)
• Wisconsin Cheese Curds!!!!!!  WOOHOO!  It’s like a little taste of home. 

Ok, that’s all the important stuff.  My cashier was from Minnesota, so that made me smile even more:)  I love you, Trader Joe’s.  When are you coming to Birmingham?!?