Awhile back I wrote a post about Winco. I realize that this is my second post dedicated soley to a grocery store. And I realize that that might seem a little weird to some of you, but this is my life. I’m a stay at home mom. Grocery shopping is one of my big outings for the week. I put a lot of thought into it. Okay? Get off my back. Geez.
And while I loved Winco for their low, low prices and they’re bulk bins (my God, the bulk bins!) my love for Trader Joe’s far surpasses anything that ever went on between Winco and I. It’s over. We broke up. And to be completely honest, I don’t really miss WInco, or it’s sketchy produce. (Sorry, you always got to do a little smack talking about an ex, right?)
So, back to Trader Joe’s, or TJ’s as I so affectionately call it. I love the smallness of the store. It feels like a Mom and Pop shop. I love the weird little items they carry. I love the employees that small talk with you in the check out line, and are so nice to my kids. I love that our TJ’s hides a stuffed animal Nemo in the store and if the kids find it they get an organic lollipop. I just love it there!
We all have our favorite item that I wanted to shre with you in case you still haven’t felt enticed to shop at TJ’s.
I already told you Elijah’s. He loves the apple carrot fruit crushers. They come in apple banana and plain apple, which he also enjoys, but apple carrot goes down the hatch in one minute flat.
Jacob would pick the honey. He wants to buy some every week (even if we’re not out) for his peanut butter and honey sandwich that he eats every single day for lunch. Every. Single. Day.
Caden’s favorite are the cereal bars. He always stands in front of the different varieties for a few minutes choosing the flavor of the week. This week apple won.
Geric’s favorite would definitely be the oatmeal raisin cookies. He’s also partial to the sparking water, sweet tea and rainbow’s end trail mix, but oatmeal raisin cookies win by a landslide.
I actually chose four favorites… because this is my blog and I can.
First up are the pita chips and roasted red pepper hummus. Mmmmmmm! It’s the hummus that’s so, so, so yummy!
They have every coffee in the world, but right now I’m loving the Peaberry. Bonus: It’s from Kenya, so I always think of my friend Carrie who was raised in Kenya. (She’s an amazing writer, by the way, and is going to start writing a blog all about her childhood there… so excited to start reading it!)
Now for the sweets. (Please, don’t comment, “Erin stop complaining that you’re chubby if you’re eating these sweets!” I know. Lay off. I just like them. Okay? Geez.) My weakness, by far are the All Natural Joe Joe’s. They’re like vanilla oreos, but only a million times better. It doesn’t feel like you’re eating crisco straight out of the can. Smooth, soft, oh so yummy!
And the Coffee Bean Blast ice cream is a great substitute for iced coffee in the middle of the day. I learned the hard way not to eat it after dinner. Who knew coffee ice cream was caffeinated?
I wish TJ’s was paying me for all this advertising. If you’re out there Mr. Trader Joe’s CEO, how about a flat $100 and we call it even.
Do you have a Trader Joe’s? Tell me your favorite so I can try it out!