Have you heard the saying "dress for the job you want"? Well, I took that to heart for my Halloween costume this year and for a party on Saturday night I dressed up as... Read more →

From now through the new year, going to Trader Joe's is not just a trip to the grocery store – it's a seasonal excursion. Pumpkin products are hitting their peak and soon Thanksgiving and Christmas/winter holiday items will start rolling in. It's the most wonderful time of the year! Speaking of seasonal shopping, are you listening to the Inside Trader Joe's podcast?? The most recent episode is all about holiday items and they mention a few new ones heading to stores this year! I am very excited for a bûche de Noël ice cream and an apple brandy cheese. There... Read more →

Fall is arriving at Trader Joe's and I don't think I can overstate the happiness that aisles festooned in leaf garland, with orange and yellow products peeping out, bring me. Every week new goodies are arriving. Some are old friends and quite a few are newcomers to the party that is autumn at TJ's. I will definitely be piling lots of these into my red cart this season and sharing what I try but for today I am sharing two simple fall snacks with a common ingredient. One is an annual favorite. The other one I just discovered and –... Read more →

Friday is my Trader Joe's day and I love starting the weekend with a full pantry and fridge. I used to go on Friday afternoons on my way to pick up the boys from daycare but now I try to go as early as possible after school drop-off. Nowadays I have a sidekick shopper to boot. Luckily Cedric is a helpful and fairly courteous shopper. Although he did accidentally ram my heels with his little cart today, ouch! The seasonal fall items are starting to arrive at Trader Joe's which is verrrry exciting. Especially since we have little weather indication... Read more →

I'm having so much fun putting together these blog and Instagram posts. Thank you for following along and for sending your own recommendations. I have a running list of things to try and am definitely up for the job! Now, let's hit the aisles at TJ's, and don't forget your reusable bags! Here's what's in my cart at Trader Joe's this week: Mango Tangerine Scented Candle. I love a seasonal candle (obviously) and grabbed a few of these as soon as they hit the shelves at my store this summer. Seasonal candles have a habit of going fast and not... Read more →

It's time for another jaunt down the friendly aisles of Trader Joe's. Side note: If you shop at Trader Joe's and have kids, do you know about the stuffed animal hiding in the store that kids can find and earn a prize? I learned recently that each store has a different mascot; ours is Iggy the Iguana. I would love to know what yours is! And also, where is the social media account just for these creatures hiding among the pasta sauce and cereals? In my cart at Trader Joe's this week I tried... Organic Sweet Bread and Butter Pickles.... Read more →

Grab your modestly sized red cart, swing by the sample station for a tiny coffee, and join me for a little shopping trip at Trader Joe's! This is the first post in my new series In my cart at Trader Joe's. In each post I'll share four items I purchased at Trader Joe's recently. Some will be standby favorites. Others I will be trying for the first time. In each post I'll tell you a little bit about the product, what I liked or didn't, and give you the bottom line of love it, like it, or pass. I will... Read more →

If you've listened to The Girl Next Door Podcast or know me in person then you've probably heard me talk about ... TRADER JOE'S! I started shopping at Trader Joe's about six years ago after a good friend kept mentioning all the great things she bought there, especially as she made us delicious meals. Conveniently, it turned out there was a Trader Joe's just a few miles from our house. (Thank goodness!) After being used to the big grocery stores, it took me a few shopping trips to "get" Trader Joe's . But then I saw the magic. Instead of... Read more →