Trader Joe's Favorites

Life/pregnancy has gotten the best of me.

I've been on vacation.

I've been sick.

I've been trying to get 4 kids ready for back-to-school.  

I've been on bed rest.

I've been upgraded to modified bed rest.

I'm just plain tired, uncomfortable, overwhelmed, and ornery as I come up on my third trimester.

Anyway, I've been dying to do a post on one of my favorite stores, Trader Joe's.

They are FINALLY coming to Utah.

Best. News. Ever!!!!!

 While on vacation a few weeks ago in Southern California, I made not one, but two gigantic shopping trips to Trader Joe's.

I have had several people email, message, or text me telling me that they are headed to Joe's for the first time and wondering what they should buy.

Well, here it is.

A list of some of my favorites.

*Note:  All of these items are non-perishable.  I have to be able to transport them back to Utah.

I have a whole new world to discover of perishable items once they come to Utah late this year.  

First thing in my basket this year:  one pound of belgium milk chocolate!  AND it was only $4.99!

Granola bars: high quality, huge variety.

Lucy's favorite

(I accidentally got reduced fat--couldn't really tell the difference)

These corn puffs are so much better than the Pirate Booty you find at Costco.

Huge variety of cereal and granola.  I had a hard time narrowing it down to four.

Hundreds and hundreds of cookies to choose from.  These are a couple of my favorites.

Once again, a huge selection of "different" candy.  I especially love their licorice.

I always try to find something new.

These weren't my favorite--but I don't usually like Salt Water Taffy anyway.

Around the Holidays these Joe-Joe's come in peppermint.  Divine!

More cookies.

Dried fruit in Utah stores does not even compare to the selection and quality of Trader Joe's dried fruit.

Better than Ritz

Not pictured:  There were two favorites that I couldn't find this time.

Chili Spiced Dried Mangoes

and 

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels

I also bought two Tea Tree Tingle body washes.  Finally a body wash with a smell that doesn't make me gag.

Week in iPhotos 12 and Pregnancy Update

Half way done with the pregnancy!!!

Woohoo!!!

I'm still taking a Zofran every night for nausea.  Even so, I've been extra sick the last two weeks--pretty much all day except the first 2-3 hours in the mornings.

I think it's because I'm overly tired.  I started teaching ballet again a couple weeks ago.  After 6 weeks off, my body isn't used to the extra exercise.  I'm walking 3-4 times a week but that is NOT the same as  demonstrating exercises, bending down and up to give corrections, and talking. (oh, the talking!)  I forget how much energy is expended while talking/counting loudly over the music for 2 hours.  After two weeks, however, I'm feeling more conditioned.  Good thing, because I plan to teach until I go into labor.

I'm feeling the baby move everyday.

I've really lost my appetite lately (all the extra nausea?).  The only things that sound good to eat are fruit, raw vegetables, cold cereal, and toast.

I have MAJOR food aversions.  Anything strong tasting or smelling just kills me--garlic, onions, BBQ sauce.  I hate anything with marinara sauce.  And chicken is the worst!  

I dry heave just thinking about it.

I tried to make chicken for dinner for my kids the other night.  I couldn't walk back in the kitchen until Jeff came home and cleaned up dinner.  

Why in the world, you ask, is Sam hanging on the door frame at the Ken Garff Honda dealership?

I'll tell you why.

Because Jeff and I are SO impulsive:  We decided to stop there after dinner out one night "just to see" what our trade-in value was of our 2010 Odyssey.  Well, 2 1/2 hours later, at 11:00 at night (we were the only ones there--except the nighttime cleaning crew), we drove away with a new 2012 Odyssey.  

 Isn't it beautiful?!?!

I love the new body style and the silver color.

I was kinda sad to say goodbye to my last Odyssey.  It changed my life.  ;)

You will be missed 2010 gray Odyssey.  You helped me see the light of convenience and spaciousness with my large (and growing) family.

*Sniff*

But on to a better minivan with even more bells and whistles, so I was over it in about 10 seconds.

(It's still a minivan, I know.  I've forever said goodbye to cool, but who cares?)

We had a late night party with some of the Droubay cousins this week.

We made S'mores over the fire pit and played night games.  Well, I watched the night games.

When Sam was grocery shopping with me last week he saw a toy wheelbarrow that he wanted in the worst way.  I wouldn't get it for him, but I told him he could do some extra jobs around the house to earn money to help buy it.

He's been doing odds and ends for me all week long.

Here he is vacuuming up the sand that was tracked in from outside.

He earned it!  

Look how proud he is.

Oh my goodness!  I just think he is the cutest thing ever!

More exciting news:  My sister is in the hospital as I type this having her 2nd baby--a boy!

It is the first in a string of a LOT of babies being born in my family.

I'm so excited and can't wait to see pictures.

Week in iPhotos 10

A couple more of Lucy's baptism pictures.

Hulk hands!

A few things I've been craving lately.

And lastly, it's pretty clear what I've NOT been doing around the house lately.

When your kids can write their names in the dust on your furniture it's gotten pretty bad.

Week(s) in iPhotos 8 - A Big Announcement

The weather has been fantastic lately.

I've been going on lots of walks.

Almost everyday.

(I'm determined to stay active this time around, no matter how sick I am.)

I've been trying to finish lots of projects around the house before the sickness hits.

Jeff and I planted about 50 shrubs and trees in our yard.

I have been so hungry lately and have gone absolutely nuts in the kitchen.

Fast food makes me gag now and I want home cooked meals with lots of vegetables.

(I mean, come on!  Look at this meal.  I am so proud of myself.)

Homemade peanut butter granola bars.

I did something I've never, EVER done before:

bought, cut up, and used jicama in a salad.

Be amazed.

More vegetables.

Can't get enough.

Man!  I love this kid.  We spend a LOT of time together while the kids are in school all day.

This is his favorite hat and he wears it everywhere.

He's recently outgrown his afternoon naps and frequently falls asleep in the late afternoon.

In fact, so do I.  I need a nap every afternoon these days.  I'm sooooo tired.

I am dog sitting my sister's dog while she is in Chicago.

Here she is sleeping on my bed.  She's a good little doggy except when I accidentally overfeed her (I had no idea that she won't stop eating even when she's full) and she had diarrhea the whole first night.  

Lesson learned.

I came home from one of my walks to find this.

All the walking,

finishing up projects,

cooking, cravings, and exhaustion because........

I am 6 weeks pregnant!!!!

Morning sickness will hit sometime this week.

It lasts all. day. long.

Last pregnancy it lasted the entire 9 months--and that was the least of my problems.

I am praying and praying that it will be somewhat easier this time around.

We are all very excited at our house, especially Lucy.

Baby will be here in December.

Our Easter Weekend

Saturday Easter egg hunt with the Droubay cousins

Lucy and Maddy

Jake, Josh, and Cooper

 Jeff and I decided a few years ago that, since our kids already get TWO Easter egg hunts with each side of the family, that we would not do Easter baskets, or eggs, or candy.  We would focus more on Christ's atonement, crucifixion, and resurrection.

We have a traditional Passover Seder meal on Saturday night.  The kids honestly love this more than anything.

After the meal, we watch the Ten Commandments on TV.

Sunday Easter egg hunt with the Holland cousins.

I wish I had pictures but one of the highlights of my year

(It may be second only to our Disneyland trip),

is the ADULT EASTER EGG HUNT that my mom does.

Why do kids get all the fun?

This is the one time where we get to run around as fast as we can and shriek at the tops of our lungs just like the kids.

The best part is that my mom puts money and gift cards into some of the eggs.

I hit the jackpot this year with $27.00 in cash and $80.00 in gift cards to the Disney Store and Target.

Nicole found this egg from last year's egg hunt.

If you look closely you can see the mold forming on the chocolate.

P.S.

Jeff pretty much got nuthin'

Hahahahaha!