Trader Joe's Must Haves

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored or affiliated with Trader Joe's.  This is a pure reflection of personal preference as to what I keep in my house and products I have purchased with my money and enjoyed and am sharing with you because I love them.  

     Trader Joe's intimidated me for so long.  I assumed it was a super healthy, strange foods, sugar free/gluten free/dairy free/taste free, expensive zone.  I stayed away.  There wasn't one close to where I grew up or even lived during and after college.  In fact there isn't one particularly close to my home now.  But a few friends shopped at TJ's and were discussing how it was their happy place or just a go to for some particular products.  I checked the Google to find one just five minutes from my work! So being the Type A planner that I am I read articles for a week with reviews of Trader Joe's and their products before finally adventuring over on my lunch break.

     Let's just say I have moved to my own must have list and am now a weekly shopper.  I have my favorite products and ones to try still... even a few I was not a fan of.  But it's now a staple in my house.  So this is what I love keeping on hand and that I buy exclusively from Trader Joe's.

Mandarin Chicken- I read once this is their best selling product of all time and I can certainly see why! Super easy to make and even better tasting than Panda Express (yes, I said that... fight me).

Fried Rice- this goes with my orange chicken! Just grab straight from the freezer and cook stove top with some oil. Super easy and I would say restaurant quality.  We use this as a side and get a solid two meals out of one bag.

PB&J Bars- I love a good old pb&j sammich.  They are delicious and simple and fill my love of peanut butter and bread with a little sweet.  However in my never ending quest to fill my body with nutrients they are not as ideal as I would like.  So I love these little bars for a treat when I am looking for a snack bar.

Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate- I have come a long way in my coffee drinking.  I love this concentrate because I can make it as strong or as weak as I need to.  Add in ice and a splash of coconut creamer and I am set for my afternoon pick me up.

Greek Yogurt with Honey- So I try and limit my dairy intake due to a slight intolerance.  However I love a good Greek yogurt and this is so think and just sweet enough! It is a great base for smoothies but I honestly eat it solo as a snack.

Crushed Ginger/Garlic/Basil- .These are just little time savers! They look like super mini ice cubes and you keep them in the freezer.  Then when you need to add garlic/ginger/basil to your dish and don't want to peel or chop it all up... you just drop one of these little guys in. I also save money on these guys because of how infrequently I am using basil and ginger (garlic is daily and kept in 3 forms at my house!) Yay for less food waste!

Black Bean & Cheese Taquitos- If after school snacks were a thing for adults these are it. I microwave 2-4 at a time (depending on how hungry I am and if these are more snack or meal) for 30 seconds to a minute and we are good to go.  I like to dip mine in salsa as well.

Organic Coconut Aminos- I try to avoid soy sauce but I love Asian food and honestly let's be real... I am not skipping it.  So coconut aminos are a great sub filled with healthy vitamins!

Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend- Are you eating this? No? Go buy it.  This is a great seasoning that I love for eggs and avocado toast, plus a variety of other foods that need a little extra love.  Everything bagels are my true love... but when I am trying to eat more green things and less breads this makes a great sub.

Go Bananas! - These are in my freezer right now. And I may shed a tear whenever I pop into TJ's and see them sold out.  These are just little chocolate covered frozen banana slices.  I just grab a bite or two when I need something sweet but don't want a full dish of treats.  It satisfies me before I can get to Dairy Queen.

What are your Trader Joe's must haves? What am I missing out on? Do you love Trader Joe's or have you never stepped foot in one?

Goal Getter

     My Instagram feed is always littered with #motivationalmonday or #goaldigger tagged pictures and I love it! I love seeing my friends reach their goals and work hard and stay positive.  I love following inspirational accounts that seem to pop in with a story or quote just when I have had a really rough day

     We all have goals, or at least we all should have goals.  And while I certainly have big goals (travel to Thailand, become a yoga teacher, start a podcast) I have some tiny goals as well.  Things I work for monthly, weekly, or even daily.  To keep me on track to those bigger goals.  Things to help with my self-care in a busy world.

     A few things I strive for:

• Save $$ every paycheck & don't touch my savings
• Have a "Sam Day" once a month
• Meditate daily
• Be an adult and go to the dentist, get a passport, and organize tax receipts 
• Finish Anna Victoria's Fit Body Guide (12 weeks)
• Drink a gallon of water a day
• Reduce screen time

     So I know some of these seem really small but honestly, this is what I need to improve my life. I may excel at things you struggle with or I may be driving the struggle bus while you slay it.  Either way, I need to set goals for me.  Break down the big goals of "Be Fit" or "Save Money" into things I can do.

     I also have to shout out my new planner, the Commit 30.  I don't use a planner to track events but rather budgeting, workouts, and goals.  So having a planner set up for that is gold.  If I write it down I feel way more committed than just thinking I should do something.

What kind of goals are you setting? How do you track them? What do you consider success?

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday!

That is what Frosty The Snowman said whenever those kids put that old straw hat on him. I never got it as a kid, but somewhere in my late teens or early 20's during a Christmas season rewatch it clicked.

It was Frosty's birthday.

So my first words to you, Happy Birthday little baby blog.

Today is also my real life birthday.  It is the first day of my 30's.  And I know so many jokes are made about women staying 29 forever or using question marks instead of numbers for their birthday cake candles, but I am actually looking forward to my thirties.

My childhood, teens, and my twenties were all about surviving.  They were about getting here.  I was in such a rush to check those little boxes of societal expected lists, that I did not stop.

I did it, I graduated from college (with honors, humblebrag intended).

I did it, I completed two unpaid internships that lead me to my first paid (admittedly poorly) job.

I did it, I met and married my soulmate.

I did it, I finally found more of a career.

So now what?

Over the last year, I spent a lot of time reflecting.  What did I want? Did I want to have a baby like so many of my friends? Did I want to buy a nice starter home in the suburbs because it just made long term financial sense? Did I want to keep my tattoos covered up and take out my piercings and get a mom cut?

I did not.  I like living in my small apartment where someone comes to fix anything that breaks and sets a pool up for me.  I love all my honorary nephews, but being a mom just doesn't seem like something I am ready for yet.  And I like my hair and tattoos.

So what does it all mean? What do I want?

Turning 30 means a fresh start.  It's a new decade.  A new beginning.  I hear your 30's are the most fun after all.  But it mostly means making peace.

I am declaring a truce. I am extending the olive branch.  To me.

I don't have to fight and struggle.  I am at peace with the work I've done.  I'm at peace with my childhood and teens.  I am proud of my twenties.  I hustled, hard.  It's brought me to this place where I am able to really self reflect and figure out what will make me happy.  What are my passions? What do I want? I still have youth on my side and time to start figuring these things out.  I am able to start trying new hobbies or activities to really set my soul on fire.

But to do that I need to really make peace with me.

Because I won't fulfill what we have all been conditioned to think I should.  I will be doing what is best for me.

Part of that is saying goodbye to old insecurities of trying to please everyone and the inevitable disappointment that comes when they are just not proud enough.  It's putting my faith in me to know I am enough.  It's saying goodbye to diet culture and translating "nutrition" into "losing weight".  It's loving my mental and physical self, for the first time in my life.

The other part is opening myself up to what is next.  To stop waiting until I feel like I am ready or good enough or in the right place.  It's doing something as scary as putting myself out there on the internet for friends, family, and strangers to judge.  It's no longer being held back by what everyone may say about it.  Because there are people with half my potential but double my confidence doing what I should be.  All because they didn't let a few snickers or comments hold them back.

Welcome to my blog.  Let's see if I can balance having it all.