while in chicago last week i spent (just got my statement online), hold your breath…$550 at trader joe’s!! the good news is that i was shopping for six other families besides my own. that makes it sound a little better.

my favorite new finds:

dark chocolate almonds. $4.99 for 12 oz. they have something else going on the outside, like some coarse salt or something. they are oh, so good. (actually this one was a request on someone else’s list, but i got a taste)

pumpkin spice granola. since i am trying to eat yogurt every morning, i love to have something new to put in it. and this stuff just tastes like fall. cardamom…mmm.

i bought several items from the cleaning shelves. all green, non-toxic, etc. laundry soap. all purpose cleaner and tea tree bar soap. i really like this soap. it’s like showering in a forest or something. i even have trader joe’s toothpaste.

then the usual…lots of almonds and other nuts and dried fruits. a case of olive oil. jam. wine. several gingersnaps. breads.

i didn’t go to the grocery store the whole week before we went because i wanted to stock up on even the normal things at trader joe’s. pasta and sauce. cereals. we have joe’s O’s and joe’s honey O’s in our cupboard. you would think from the labels at my house that there was a trader joe’s a wee bit closer than chicago. there is one in st. louis, but i don’t have a sister there.

alas, my affair with joe is doomed to continue only as a long distance relationship.

we did have a good run this weekend though.