This weekend was AMAZING.
I was able to de-stress, relax, and get amped up mentally for O-Chem 2…oh and something freakin awesome happened on Saturday….
To celebrate being finished with o-chem 1, my parents decided that we should take the 1.5 hour drive over to Ft. Worth to check out the new Trader Joe’s (aka the first in Texas WOOOO!!!!!)
Needless to say, this child was STOKED with a huge capital S.
After going to one in San Francisco while we were on vacation back in May, I immediately became their #1 fan. I mean, all that fresh produce, nut butters up the wazoo, and random awesome items like cookie butter all for dirt cheap???? WHO COULD NOT BE A FAN?!?!
We arrived around 11 am and it was JAMMED. So many people! But everything still managed to be fresh, clean, and organized despite the crowds.
My mom and I got out our lists, my dad manned the cart, and we set out into the jungle of awesomeness. 
Here’s collage pics of SOME of the loot. We LOADED up since we figured we wouldn’t be back for a long time.
We got over 60 items and only spent like $160 for it all. The prices just had me gasping, I mean almond flour for $3, four avocados for $2, and four Mahi Mahi fillets for $8?! Ummmm YEAHHHH sorry Whole Paycheck Foods, but you just don’t compare
We also got some rad stickers that I plopped on my workout log.
you never know, I could get a mini pizza attack while I’m working out haha
We have one coming in September about 15 minutes from my town, but I’ll be down in Corpus Christi when it opens BOOOOOOOO. My mom is just as obsessed with the store as me, so I have a feeling she’ll be going like every day haha I guess I’ll just have to stock up when I visit for Thanksgiving and Christmas 
red velvet cupcakes
I’m still reeling from how cool it was– all of you guys out there who have them near you are SO lucky! I’d be in there 24/7!! I think it is safe to say that I have a new boyfriend and his name is Joe
What’s your favorite grocery store? What’s one essential you have to buy every time you go to the grocery?
If I get some free time in the midst of studying, I hope to be back to participate in What I Ate Wednesday! WOO!
**Also I keep trying to comment on your blogs, but I keep going to spam 
Any tips how to fix that?**
Hope you guys have a great start to your week!!!!
YESSSS TRADER JOE’S!!!!! Omg I love that place so much. The one near me opened about 2 years ago, I actually first disovered TJ’s when I was at college! You’re right, the prices amaze me. and all the loot you got looks amaaaaing! so many things from TJ’s that I’ve never even tried! oh gosh now I need to make a trip out there haha!
I never found a Trader Joe’s when I was in the states in May, but I have always wanted to check out there products because everyones loot from there always looks so great! All of a sudden I really want to buy scallops!
Bahahaha I love this!! YAYAYA for Texas finally opening their stores!! We don’t sell that cupcake mix at the one I work at..BOOOO!!! I randomly find items that Washington doesn’t sell that the east cost or middle of the US sells..its not fair!! They look delicious though. I love all your loot!! Hooray for TJ’s!
Alex. Trader Joe’s and I go together like peanut butter and jelly. The nearest one to me is about 30-45 minutes away.
And the Whole Foods is about an hour away. But every two weeks or so we go up to TJ’s to stock up because that place is MAGICAL. Get their sunflower seed butter, you will NOT be disappointed!!! TJ’s is my main man! Every time I go I NEED their sunflower seed butter and unsweetened vanilla almond milk. I’m happy that you Texans got some TJ’s love in your life!!!
I was about to get some of that sunflower butter, but I still have 2 jars I gotta get through, so I passed
Next time though!! And we got some of that unsweetened vanilla almond milk too! It’s so GOOOOODDDD 
i loveee trader joes! like you there are NONE close to me which is really upsetting. i could probably spend hours in that place too. i love all their fun stuff! they have a really good peanut vinaigrette that i love!
Ahh that’s so exciting! You got such a great haul – I can’t believe how cheap that almond flour is! I had my first TJ’s experience this summer too and loved it! Unfortunately I was on a road trip, so I couldn’t buy anything perishable.
My favourite grocery store is definitely Whole Foods. I don’t go too often though, so I’m always super pumped to shop there.
I am SO jealous! I’ve never been to trader joes, but all that for that cheap? WTF I need to go to one asap!
oooh man, every southerner loves red velvet and I am a drooling over your pictures! we don’t have a Trader Joe’s in Mississippi but we do have a Fresh Market that is very good and we’re supposed to be getting a Whole Foods this year!!
I need to go there, I haven’t been there in over a year. that is just crazy. I think I want to stock up like that.
Go go go go!
I love TJ’s so much! There is one in my city and after many years of living far away from them, it’s great to have one in the neighborhood! My favorite item to get there are their ice cream treats and chocolate covered treats!
Oh boy, I see you got 21 Salute! I use that on almost every grain dish! Did you get any of their cereals (and did you get any Joe-Joe cookies)?
My mom was about to get some Joe-Joe’s cookies, but we figured we had enough stuff already haha But I have tried the vanilla ones before when we visited San Francisco– they were DELICIOUS!!!
(and I like the little toucan guy on the box haha 
)
Ooooh my god,TJ’s must be AMAAAAZING! I so wish there was one in Germany,even if I would have to drive 5 hours to get there… I’m so jealous!
P.S. I found tuna jerky today,isn’t that cool?! Can’t wait to try it!
Sweet!!! You know my love of jerky
I’m sooo jealous! I’ve only been to TJ’s once before when I was on vacation in San Diego last year. I wish there were one close to me b/c the whole foods is bad on the bank account
Glad you had fun!
It IS bad on the bank account haha My wallet has a love-hate relationship with Whole Foods
i might just pay you to send me stuff now. haha.
Trader Joe’s is the best and I’m glad you are able to experience it’s awesome-ness!
Whole Foods for me is like Trader Joe’s for you in that I’ve gotta travel at least half an hour/45 minutes to get to the nearest one. But luckily, one is opening up near my campus this year!
Ah I love TJ’s! Our’s is kinda a hike away, but my mom and I are overdue for a trip. I almost peed my pants the last time I went there because everything was so cheap. Great haul girl!
Ahhh sooo much Trader Joe’s awesomeness going on here! I am psyched for you and that it’s finally in Texas, it’s about dang time that’s for sure! That is fantastic that your mom loves it too, I am sure you will be there way too often, which is just completely fine if you ask me
While the TJs closest to me is about 25 minutes away, the Whole Foods near me is only 8 or so… sooo yes, I go there QUITE often!
And about the commenting issue…. it has been happening to me too! I have been using my twitter account to comment, otherwise it goes right to spam
LOVE the trader joe’s loot!!! my go-to is always spinach (need to keep making those green smoothies!)
have a great monday!!!
I’m so happy for you I could just explode.
Hahaha this just made my day
YAY for your shopping trip!!! Trader joe’s is great
. I don’t really have a favorite grocery store, but I definitely realized that I like our stores way better here than I did the ones in Boston! They were so much smaller and didn’t have nearly as much!
Ahhh I am so jealous!! We don’t have TJs in Canada so I never get to go. I’ve only been once when I was in NYC and was in absolute heaven. I would say my favourite here is Whole Foods…not for the prices, but for the selection. It is so expensive though.
Hmm I would say an essential would be APPLES. I just love them!
Oh and I just went to my spam and you were there!! I approved your comment so there shouldn’t be anymore problems now
Yay! Thanks for saving me haha!
Oh man, I wish I had a TJ’s close to me! It looks so cheap with such awesome finds!!! I’ve never been and I think I need to change that fact asap. Is it sad that I’m pretty excited for you about this haha
Contact Askimet about the commenting thing!!!!!!!!!!!! I was wondering where your have been!?
They will fix it up 
I have never been to TJ’s
So do not think you are unlucky being 1.5 hours away from one missy 
You could have it muuuuch worse 
HA
Trader Joesss! As much as I think Whole Foods is awesome, I still think Trader Joes is #1 in my eyes. Can’t beat those prices and amazing products
Amen sista!!
I love Trader Joes… Whole Foods might tie it though! The great thing about the 2 stores is that that products are quiet different- TJ’s brand has some gems
Some grocery store essentials:
- berries. NOM.
- a nut butter… I spend way too long in that aisle.
- a drink! I feel like I always like to get a cold drink when I’m at WF or TJ’s, but more specifically WF. Depending on the amount I’m spending versus the amount I predicted to spend, I’ll either get a kombucha or zevia or coconut water… I’m thirsty now, crap.
I think I need to admit to someone that I’ve already been there (TJ’s) three times since it opened and.. that I’m going there later today. Lol
I’m so glad we can both get our Trader Joe’s fix now
I tried the mandarin orange chicken last night. Maybe it’s because I eat relatively healthy, but it wasn’t too awesome (too much oil & breading, not enough chicken!)
NICE!!!! Hey, I would be goin there all the time too haha
I haven’t tried the chicken yet, my dad mainly got it for himself haha
Loot looks amazing. If I had to pick one item off that list I couldn’t make the choice
.
A current staple of mine has been banana’s – I seem to be buying one every time I go to the store
Hope all the studying goes well. See you WIAW
Hey, I just came across your blog and what a post to stumble upon! I. Am. Obsessed. With Trader Joe’s! I’m originally from Massachusetts where they have store locations everywhere, but here in Florida the closest one is about an hour away. But I heard they have plans to put on in only about 40 minutes away which is good! Looks like you got some AWESOME treats there, I’d go simply for the endless variety of nut butters (like you mentioned). Jealous! I need to make a trip soon
Yay for a fellow addict!!! DUDE I bet when you lived in Mass you went 24/7, I would be in there like a psycho stalker lady haha
Thanks for stopping by my blog, friend!
TJ’s is my favorite grocery store as well! And to think…I used to live WALKING DISTANCE from one. It was both a great thing and a terrible thing… Their almond flour is the thing that gets me, too–the next cheapest option is Bob’s at OVER $12. Not even CLOSE in price. And I can’t walk out of a grocery store with bananas and some sort of nut butter. And a good really dark chocolate bar.
I know right?! Bob is outlandish compared to TJ’s
There’s a TJs in Houston!! You could always make the drive up from galvy
I’m actually gonna be in corpus
POOP! BUTTTT it would be a fun road trip! 
OMG, you’re parents are awesome!
All the organic stores we have here are tiny and hella expensive, i’m SO happy for iherb though – anndddd i can’t wait to LIVE in whole foods when i visit london.
There’s a 3 story WF 6 minutes from my hotel – coincidence? i think not
What do i always get at the grocery store? Salad and meat!
I went to Trader Joe’s for the first time too in Sacramento last week!! I live in Canada and we don’t have one here. Everything was sooo cheap… I was sooo happy!
Isn’t it epic?!?!
I love TJs, and the closest one to me is like 1.5 hours, booooo!
Eee!! I’m so excited that Trader Joe’s has finally invaded Texas. Let the conquering begin! I grew up in Southern California (where it started), so Joe was in my life from day one. Then my family was uprooted to Idaho, so our relationship went long distance (so sad!). When I moved to DC for undergrad, we rekindled our lust…and I haven’t looked back. I’ve always said that a man who can cook–really cook–is the man who will win my heart. Haha!
It looks like you snagged some pretty fab items! Next time you go, definitely pick up a package (or five) of the Chile Lime Chicken Burgers. They’re clean, and SUPER delicious! I love to eat mine on top of a salad, smothered in guacamole and salsa. SO good!
Love ya, girl! I hope O-Chem 2 is going okay–keep truckin! xoxo <3
What a love story! Haha Joe is a great guy
And I’ll definitely have to find those burgers, they sound delicious!!!