I'm cheating on Rick with Trader Joe

Ha! Got you again! Yes, I’ve now exposed my three true loves:

1. Best friend hubby.
2. Travel love Rick.
3. Food love Trader Joe.    

The sweet whispers of TJ definitely call to me as a foodie, yet I also love his cousins: Trader Giotto, Trader Ming, Trader Jose, Trader Joe-San, Trader Jacques, Baker Josef, Arabian Joe, Trader Johann, and Pilgrim Joe…all who offer their ethnic cuisines alongside TJ’s. I do say they all serve me well, and that says a lot, you know, since a girl has needs.

We’ve been shopping at Trader Joe’s many years now. I got hooked at a store near work and loved the offerings so much that I did my shopping almost an hour from home for many years! And every time they asked my zip code at the register, I secretly hoped they would realize that this loyal customer deserves to have a store opened in her own neighborhood. And yes, that dream came true a few years ago! Alas, I was very loyal to the first store I frequented and didn’t think I could bear to two-time with the new store.

Your neighborhood store with good stuff.

Well, I’ve overcome that worry and I’m now a regular at the TJ‘s store in my neighborhood. I usually visit once a week after my exercise class (and hubby goes in during the week just 'cause he can't stay away either). It’s always fun to stroll the aisles to see what’s new, and I never walk out without finding good stuff. The changing seasons bring delicious offerings from all over the world, all at reasonable prices. And I’m usually hungry when I shop after a workout, so I look forward to TJ’s high-spirited, friendly staff offering free tastes, coffee, and advice on recipes. Smart marketing since I almost always purchase the items they showcase.

At first when I started shopping at TJ’s, I continued to stop by two other supermarkets to pick up stuff here and there that I thought I had to have. Little by little, I’ve been weaned off the major chains. Who’d a thunk that I could do all my food shopping at one relatively small neighborhood store? It’s obvious now that all I need is my Trader Joe.

You know what they say about shopping the perimeter of the supermarket. That’s where all the fresh foods are. The less you find yourself in the center aisles, the less processed and healthier the food in your cart will be. Well, that’s why TJ’s is a smaller store! They’ve done away with the middle! Ha! Anything with a Trader Joe's logo contains no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, MSG, trans fats or genetically modified ingredients. May not sound fun to some, but the food is all satisfyingly delicious, so my new philosophy is why eat the fake stuff? I want and crave the real thing.

The produce is fresher and tastier than any supermarket offerings.

There are so many delicious and healthy pre-made, easy meals to make on a busy work night.

The seafood and other frozen items are just awesome.

So, yes, this foodie is obsessed with her food love, Trader Joe. When friends and family like something I’ve made and ask me where I got the ingredients, like a broken record, I have to say Trader Joe’s. Now they answer for me, but their stomachs are full, so they don’t tease too much. 

My food love Trader Joe does it good. And when I leave the store, rain or shine, I feel good.

Until next time, yours in fun and food…Therese

i live. i ride. i am. Jeep ®

Not really, but I do drive a Jeep. What a silly 2009 campaign that never quite took off! Not sure what that tagline or this commercial had to do with Jeep branding, which has always been about independence and rugged adventure. The new 2011 Grand Cherokee ad does a better job illustrating the brand, but falls short ending with yet another goofy tagline: The Things We Make, Make Us. What are these guys on Madison Avenue smoking?

My interest in cars started young. I’m sure it’s inherited. My dad always loved cars and drove a bright blue Fiat, and then an orange Chevy Nova. Always in the forefront, he was. So at 16, when I was an exchange student in Germany, I was attracted to the Mercedes-Benz the father of one of the German students drove us around in to sightsee. I thought it was the coolest car in the world and so I made it a life goal to own one. I promised myself that I would own one before I was 40 and my incentive was that it would be a sign of my success.

Time passed. As a young mother of three children, I drove a few different wood-sided station wagons─a yellow, and two different brown ones. And in 1995, at the age of 34, I graduated to the latest in a Plymouth Grand Voyager two-tone minivan, green with silver trim. All the cool people had one.

As forty approached, I revisited the promise I had made to myself and Mercedes-Benz. I pondered if any of it meant anything to me at that point in my life. And it didn’t. I made a statement and continued to drive my minivan. It made me happy. I could cart my kids and their friends everywhere, I could stow any purchases I wanted in the cavernous back, and our family of five could be joined by my parents for Sunday rides with plenty of room for everyone. And nights out with friends, we could transport three couples. You know, the more the merrier. Most importantly, the minivan served us quite well through many family road trips, camping, and vacations.

We were happy with our track record of making cars last and getting the most out of them. When I was 43, though, we decided to disregard the “uncool” minivan image propagated by the SUV industry (we knew we were cool and we were comfortable with our decision that a minivan would do the job we needed it to do) and we purchased a 2004 Chrysler Town and Country in bright silver metallic for me. We decided to get into the SUV craze anyway and also purchased for hubby a 2004 Grand Cherokee Jeep in slate. I was very happy with my luxury minivan and drove hubby's Jeep here and there when the van was in the shop. I liked the Jeep, but didn’t think too much about it.

Long story short, when the three kids began to drive, we slowly but surely added to our fleet, and eventually broke down and bought a 2008 Chrysler Grand Cherokee Jeep Rocky Mountain Laredo 4x4 in red rock crystal pearl (hint: I loved the color)…for hubby. Or so that was the plan.

Hubby enticed me to drive the new Jeep for a few weeks before he broke it in. Mistake on his part. He never got it back! Now mind you he had never been enthusiastic about the differences between the new 2008 and his 2004 Jeep, so I don’t think he ever really wanted it back. Worked for me! And happy hubby still drives both the 2004 luxury minivan and the older Jeep. He gets two cars and is always sure to give them equal attention.

And so as I’m driving the 2008 Jeep a few years now, I think here and there about how that car is my home away from home. I have a lengthy commute each day and I really do live in my Jeep. There’s everything I need in there. Briefcase, laptop, smartphone, Bluetooth, gym bag, numerous pairs of sneakers, hiking boots, yoga and exercise mats, weights, a bin with all my “green” shopping bags, travel pillows, a blanket, slippers, driving shoes, a basket with everything I could ever need...the list goes on. Sounds full and messy, but those who get in my car for work lunches always remark how clean and neat the car is. Is it new, they say?

So, yes, we take pride in our cars. They say something about us. Although it wasn’t a conscious choice to drive the Jeep I’m in now, I really love it. I’ve recognized that it says a lot about this stage in my life, representing fun, rugged adventure, road trips, and most of all, independence. Makes me feel all shiny and new. Maybe i am. Jeep.

Until next time, yours in fun…Therese