Trader Joe's Goes Greek

As much as I try to stay on schedule, there are mornings when I am running late or don't feel like making something, so I need something quick. What's my go to? Trader Joe's Greek yogurt. I have had other brands of Greek yogurt, but the Trader Joe's version seems to have more choices in the flavor department. The consistency is a bit thicker, creamier, and not as runny. It also seems that on a calorie comparison basis you get to eat more of the Greek yogurt than in the regular yogurt. Though I am not a medical professional (nor am I offering medical advice), I have heard that it is better for you than regular yogurt. I have never seen it in flavors other than some kind of fruit, plain, or with honey. I decided that I would give some of them and try. I ended up with blueberry, honey, pumpkin, and apricot mango. The honey was light and not overly sweet, with just a subtle honey note. (The traditional way is to eat it with honey.) The blueberry had real fruit in it and the pumpkin had a surprise spice flavor to it, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. The apricot mango (was sadly not nonfat) also had fruit pieces and it definitely had a richer texture. The great thing about all these is that they don't taste at all artificial and make a great snack as well. So on your next trip to Trader Joe's make sure that you pick up some of their delicious Greek yogurt.

Stella

I fell in love with Italy when I went to visit and since then I seem to be drawn to all things Italian. While wandering around the wine aisles of Spec's, I happened to stumble on this Pinot Grigio called Stella and had to try it. I do enjoy Pinot Grigio, it had a precious name, and there were stars on the label...how could I nor try it? Luckily for me, this was a screw top wine, so I didn't have to mess with my wine opener. This wine was citrusy, crisp, and slightly acidic. There was a slight herbal aroma to it, and it was a surprisingly long finish for a white wine. Priced under $15, this is a great sipping wine that would go great with chicken, turkey, or salad. If you are looking for a great wine to try tonight, be sure to give this one a try.

Roots Juice

Growing up, I remember a time when meeting and hanging out with friends at Starbucks was the cool thing to do. Then all of a sudden Jamba Juice became really popular and that was the new hangout. However, soon I no longer had a favorite out of the two and instead made my decision between juice and coffee based on how I was feeling. When my friend told me about this great juice bar she knew of, I figured that it was worth a trip. We have been talking about it for a while, but finally made the trip to Roots Juice. This juice bar, which also offers smoothies, uses only fresh, local, and organic ingredients in their beverages. Be warned that these are not the traditional strawberry-banana type smoothies, but they are delicious. I tried the "Tangled Up in Blue", which was blueberries, bananas, dates, and almond milk. It had that fresh fruit sweetness to it, but there was also a bit of tartness. I have never had a date before (and though it wasn't the same thing as eating a date by itself), I found it to be pretty delicious. In conjunction with the juice bar, there is also an cute little cafe. We just went for smoothies, but while we were waiting they brought out a sample of their Bollywood pizza. It was absolutely delicious! It had spicy pepperoni, pineapple, onions, and a fantastic curry sauce. All I know is that I will be going back to try some more juices and food, so you should stop by and check it out for yourself.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Nothing says the holidays like the smell of peppermint wafting through the air. However, I am not really a big fan of eating just plain peppermint things, but when you combine it with chocolate, count me in! During one of my (now routine) visits to Trader Joe's, I found this peppermint hot chocolate. I mean even though its still about 80 degrees here, how could I pass up hot chocolate? I decided that some hot chocolate would be the perfect way to kick off my Christmas decorating. I patiently waited for the water to heat up and then added it to the mix. There was this magical aroma that began to fill the air and even though the weather wasn't at all festive for the holidays, the hot chocolate most definitely was. The peppermint hot chocolate had a nice peppermint note in the background. The chocolate wasn't too sweet and the two were like a heavenly match. If you are a fan of peppermint and hot chocolate, you need to give this a try. It's so much better than the hot chocolate packets. So if your like me and don't have appropriate hot chocolate weather, just have some anyways!

Peacock Perfection

This year I decided to do something completely different from the usual red and green theme for my wreath. I saw this absolutely gorgeous peacock tablescape and have been inspired to do something peacock themed. I went for it and decided to do a peacock themed wreath, so I headed to my go to craft store Hobby Lobby. I started with a plain green wreath and then found some glittery peacock feathers, sprays in bright cyan, electric blue, and greenish blue colors, and electric blue ornaments. So the challenge was making it all come together because it was touch and go at the beginning. The thing about wreaths is that you just have to start somewhere and just go for. For me, it will never turn out how I am expecting it to and that's okay.

I created a layer over the greenery with the electric blue glittery sprays I had. I filled in the gaps with the greenish blue sprays and added two of the peacock feathers at the top. For the finishing touches, I added three ornaments randomly and then filled in with the smaller sprays I had. It definitely was a little scary because when I first started it looked like a disaster. Fortunately, everything came together and I love it. It's unusual and I am proud that I got it to come together. This season don't be afraid to do something different and be inspired by the things you see. 

Pep in Your Step

There have been numerous times that I have walked into my closet and thought I have nothing to wear, but did have more than a few shoe options. The beauty of shoes is that you can change the entire look of an outfit just by changing the shoes. I am all about the shoes that pop and don't blend in with the crowd. However, there are certain times where it is not appropriate to wear wild shoes so please be sure to observe those situations. While browsing the DSW website looking for some festive party shoes, I stumbled on these hot pink beauties. They are eye catching but not too over the top. The bows on the front make them girly and playful with some added sparkle from the rhinestones. These are definitely the perfect holiday party shoe and I can't wait to wear them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for those of you who keep up with my blog and appreciate your support. I hope that today you take a moment to remind yourself how fortunate you are and how many things you have to be thankful for. Make sure that you enjoy some super yummy food, fun times with your friends and family, great football, sparkling Christmas decorations, and the general splendor of the holiday season.

S'more Ice Cream Please!

There is something about ice cream sandwiches and s'mores that just takes me back to my childhood days and reminds me to enjoy the little things in life. However, I was not smart enough to think about combining these two yummy treats into one. Good thing Trader Joe's did when they created the S'more ice cream sandwich. What's even better is that they made it with gelato! Between two graham cracker cookies, there is a chocolate-marshmallow swirl gelato with tiny chocolate chunks nestled inside. The gelato is very light, but so very delicious. The chocolate chunks add a nice texture difference and completes the s'more. The only thing I would say though is that the outside cookie did stick to my fingers, however I was not that upset since it was pretty yummy. The whole thing really did taste like you were eating a cold s'more. I am not one of those people that will only eat ice cream in the summer, so I would recommend grabbing a box (or two) and enjoying this yummy treat. Thanks Trader Joe's for once again finding a way for me to fall in love with my childhood once again.

Blue FIn Chardonnay

Trader Joe's has yet to disappoint me...which only happens when they are out of something. While perusing the store, I walked through the wine and beer section. I was really surprised to see that they had quite the selection of half bottles of wine. Usually stores don't carry them because they aren't all that popular and they aren't the big money makers in the store. Personally, I like them because then I don't have to worry about the wine going bad once I open it because I can drink it in time and I also get to try more. It is also helpful if for some reason you purchase something that isn't your favorite because then you don't have to waste a whole bottle. Trader Joe's doesn't carry any of the main stream wine brands you see in other stores, but they are super cheap and actually pretty good. Granted, these are probably not the wines you should be buying for a wine connoisseur or for a fancy dinner party, but they are great everyday wines. I chose the Blue Fin Chardonnay and it was surprisingly good. There was a hint of acidity with herbal, citrus notes. It was a light wine that had a good finish. For $5, you should try it... there's not really a downside because you aren't throwing away tons of money and if you don't like it there's only about two glasses in the bottle. Take a walk on the wild side and pick up a bottle next time you are at Trader Joe's.

Nothing Bundt Cake

If you haven't heard, the hot new dessert is individual bundt cakes. There is a great place called Nothing Bundt Cakes that I found via the Nutcracker Market. This little bakery is located on Westheimer and is definitely some where you need to check out. They were sampling the red velvet cakes and it was the most moist (least crumbly cake) I have ever had. It melts in your mouth. It had a great flavor and just a drizzle of super delicious, rich, cream cheese icing. Some of their other flavors include chocolate chocolate chip, marble, and lemon. Don't be fooled by their size though. These are very filling cakes and can be shared with plenty to spare. After sampling this cake, we of course had to take one home. Wanting to try something a little less ordinary, we tried the seasonal pumpkin spice cake. It tasted a bit like a carrot cake, but without the carrots of course. It also had the cream cheese icing drizzle on it which complimented the nutmeg and cinnamon flavors in the cake. A tiny bundt cake is a great alternative to a cupcake and a unique birthday dessert. You know that I will for sure be making my way to the bakery, now that I know the perfect bundt cake exists!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Tea

I love chocolate covered strawberries so when I got this tea strawberry chocolate flavor from The Republic of Tea I was very intrigued. I mean this isn't a usual flavor that you see and it could taste overly sweet and artificial. A chilly morning seemed like the perfect time to try this out. When I popped in the tea bag, a delicious aroma soon began rising out of the cup. This tea steeps for quite a while and it suggested to be served with a splash of milk. I didn't have that, so I tried it just as is. There was a fair amount of natural sweetness from the strawberry and it most definitely had a chocolate note in the background. It was surprising at how similar it tasted to the real thing. If you are looking for a different tea flavor or for something new, this is a great tea to try. It was a pleasant surprise for a chilly Monday morning.

Pumpkin Perfection

I have gradually moved away from ice cream and become an avid gelato lover. However, the pumpkin ice cream from Trader Joe's made me stop and think. It is silky smooth, creamy, rich, and dreamy. The pumpkin flavor isn't artificial tasting and is complimented perfectly with cinnamon and nutmeg. It is tastes exactly like the pumpkin pie, but doesn't make you feel super full afterward. The pumpkin is present, but not overwhelming and the spices make you feel warm and cozy. This is definitely a decadent ice cream, but so yummy and definitely something you don't want to miss out on! Make sure you stock up on this seasonal flavor. Plus, it would be perfect to serve at Thanksgiving and who doesn't love a super easy dessert?! Be sure to pick some up today!

Holiday Heaven

There is just something about a candle that makes an ordinary moment become extraordinary. I don't know if it is just taking a moment to stop and appreciate the scent or if it's the flickering glow of the flame, but either way it's pure magic for me. There are no words to describe my excitement when the holidays roll around and out comes the spiced chestnut candle from Williams Sonoma. Before you even open the box, you can smell the wonderfulness through the box. It comes in this beautiful frosted cocoa colored holder and the candle is a beautiful cream color. The scent of this candle is a tiny bit woodsy and spicy, but light. The best part is that even when you blow out the candle the scent lingers. It doesn't smell super manly and is actually a nice break from the usual super sweet scents. I know that Williams Sonoma does kitchen things right, but they sure know how to do holiday candles as well! If you haven't had the chance to experience this candle, you need to pick one up immediately. They don't last long and you will never want to blow this candle out.

"Bogle"ing My Mind

Sauvignon blancs tend to be more acidic and spicy. They have more of a zippy herbal taste, instead of the fruit flavors. I found this one from Bogle vineyards in Sacramento at Whole Foods. It's pretty acidic and has lots of herbal, earthy flavors, making it a perfect pair with fish and cheese. As a wine to drink by itself, I prefer something with a bit more fruit to it. However, I am sure that with the right foods, it would be much better. That's the great thing about wine...some are meant to enjoy with food and some are better by themselves, but either way there is something for everyone and everything. If you prefer less fruity wines, then this is a great option. No matter what it is, give it a try and take a walk on the wild side.

Holy Enchilada!

Frozen meals are convenient, but most of the time they aren't very filling. Most seem to make me even hungrier, so I have just kind of given up on them. However, a trip down the frozen food aisle at Trader Joe's changed my mind. I saw these black bean and corn enchiladas (which are also dairy and wheat free) and they looked surprisingly good. There are two in the package, but one was filling enough for me. If you eat both of them, that would be a meal or you can serve it with rice or a salad for a complete meal. They were filled with chopped zucchini, black beans, and corn and topped with a mild mole type sauce. Don't worry, they aren't spicy, but they do have a ton of flavor.  Next time you are in Trader Joe's, be sure to pick these up for a quick and easy meal.

Wine of the Week

Wine is something that always intrigues me because you can never know all about it and there is always something new. I am very new to the wine world and still don't know what my favorite grape is or have a favorite brand. I don't know how to creatively pair wines with food, but I am definitely working on it. Every time I go to the grocery store, I always browse the wine aisles, even if I am not buying (I like to see what's out there). I was walking through the wines at Whole Foods and decided that it was the time to buy. This bottle immediately caught my eye because it had two of my favorite things on it...pink and high heels! How could I not try this?! Allegro is a moscato wine that is basically like drinking sparkling grape juice with alcohol. It's super sweet and beyond easy to drink. It's a great dessert wine or if you are just getting into wine. It's just a fun, playful, and great for girls night wine. It was reasonably priced and perfect for a relaxing night at home.