Why I love Trader Joe's (MOM files)

Trader Joe's is an amazing place. I DETEST grocery shopping. I really do. I am not sure why, but I would rather clean toilets or scrub vinyl blinds.  I hate it that much. My dislike for the necessary chore reached new heights when I got into that crazy extreme coupon-ing. With me, it got compulsive. I used the rules online, but like most things, I found other ways to make it work, like doubling close outs and clearance items with double and triple coupons. By the end of a month, I had a closet full of toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent and cleaners, all of which I either got for free or literally pennies. I spent HOURS cutting coupons, shopping and stategizing . I thought it would be a fun game, but it stressed me OUT. And made me hate grocery shopping even more.

Although, my natural instinct is to let my pantry dwindle to practically nothing,and to survive on take out and dried beans,  I have found a better way.  It is Trader Joe's.  Here are some reasons why I love it.

1.   They have Greek Pomegranate yogurt! I LOVE Greek Yogurt, it is so creamy and yummy. Pomegranate is not my favorite flavor, but I actually get to eat it.  If I buy 20 strawberry yogurts, they will be gone the next day.  Not so with pomegranate, or honey flavored treats.

2.  Their music is awesome.   You can dance to it, and who wouldn't have all that excess energy to dance with all the free coffee samples.

3. THEY DON'T HAVE COUPONS!!!   Possibly, this concept is un-American.   Everyone paying the same price, that is almost socialism.  But it is liberating for me.  I don't have to feel guilty for not spending hours cutting coupons, or for forgetting them when I leave the house.

4. Being a mostly Italian-American girl, I am quite happy with the selection of foods overall.  I can cook a different shape pasta with a different flavored sauce every night of the week, and not ever have to go to any other grocery store.  Their italian cheeses, sausage, frozen pizza, and especially asiago cheese is better than anywhere in the area.  OH. I almost forgot that the mini almond biscotti tastes almost exactly like my Great  Grandma Lucy use to make.  I have them with my tea every afternoon.

5. All of the milk products and the eggs are from animals which are not given hormones for growth or antibiotics.  This means my adolescent children will not grow into some mutant specimen of humanity with super-hero powers. While super mutant powers may sound cool,  if you know anything about superheros, you know the side effects of mutancy are often rather nasty.  In addition, you can't always choose your superhero powers.  If you have ever heard of  villains named Sylar or Magneto, you may understand why mutant sons may not be a good thing.

6. Another advantage is that my children love me more.  It is because of the Jo-Jo cookies.  They may look like oreos, but they are even better.  They don't even care if there is no strawberry yogurt.

There are so many other reasons that I could add, because for some reason, everything is soooo yummy there.  But my favorite reason of all is that my husband will go with me there.  He doesn't mind going shopping with me when the food is so fresh, good, and inexpensive.  Quite possibly, it is a marriage builder as well.  Just see how happy we are together, right after a Trader Joe's excursion.  The white walls may be boring, but we had an adventure that day, anyway.