Things I'm Loving: Trader Joe's Edition

First and foremost...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY INCREDIBLE/TALENTED/GENIUS/BEAUTIFUL/INSPIRING SISTER (also known as "Ma Soeur")!!!

If you're one of the unlucky who does not have a Trader Joe's in your area, then I apologize in advance.  Because it's pretty much one of the best things that's happened to me since moving to New York.  If you do have one in your area, then read on!  I discover something new at TJ's almost every week so I hope you find something new and delicious here. 

[NOTE: Not all these things are particularly healthy.  I focus on the packaged goods b/c that's what is Trader Joe's-specific, not because I think processed food is good for you!)

Jalapeno-Cilantro Hummus

I know it sounds weird, but it's creamy, spicy deliciousness and goes perfectly with pita, crackers, crudite, and your fingers.  I LOVE this stuff.

Wintry Blend

Only the best winter coffee blend ever.  Unfortunately it's seasonal, so your TJ's may have already stopped carrying it.  But DO NOT FEAR, it will be back!  I do not exaggerate when I say I've been drinking this stuff for the last 2-3 months every. single. morning.  Also?  I may or may not be hoarding them in our pantry.  (There are currently 6 canisters left.  I'm getting nervous.)  My favorite?  Mixing it with TJ's special Gingerbread blend.  HOLIDAY JAVA GOODNESS!

Mini Mint Ice Cream Mouthfuls
 
Little bites of heaven!  Seriously, they are minty, chocolatey goodness and end up not being that awful calorically b/c of its small size.  (Of course that's assuming that you don't eat 3 at a time.)

Organic Shells and White Cheddar

I know I know... it's boxed macaroni and cheese.  But unlike the blue box, this stuff is organic and every ingredient in the ingredient list is readable and recognizable.  I don't eat this stuff a lot, but I try to always keep a box on my shelf for emergency meals (like the other night).  I always add broccoli (frozen works great), LOTS of black peppers and a little parmigiano reggiano.  I try not to eat the entire box in one sitting.

Vegetable Masala Burgers

 

 

I've already waxed poetic about these.  Bottom line?  Get them.  I know 2 people in my NYC life who bought them after reading my blog, and they are huge fans.

Frozen Organic Brown Rice

It's much cheaper than the Whole Foods version.  It's organic (there's also a non-organic version that's a tiny bit cheaper, but come on...).  It's fast, easy, and tasty, and I always have a box in my freezer.  (I cannot say the same for the organic frozen jasmine rice - it doesn't taste like jasmine rice at all.  It tastes like very mediocre white rice.)


Barbara's Peanut Butter Puffins

These aren't TJ's brand, but they sell them at mine, and they are most definitely cheaper there than any other grocery store in the city.  I used to be a cereal-a-holic.  You know, the kind who eats multiple bowls a day, and not the one serving bullshit kind of bowl (I mean, 3/4 cup is NOT a serving), but like the really big bowl with lots of milk kind.  Because of these tendencies, I tend to not buy it.  But I bought a box the other day and have really been enjoying it as a light breakfast or snack.  The puffins are individually sized so perfectly that I only need one for a good bite, and that's how I eat.  One puffin in a spoonful of milk per bite.  Delicious.

Other things I buy regularly that are way cheaper than they are at Whole Foods:

• fruits and veggies (I hate how TJ's packages some of their produce b/c the packaging is so wasteful and excessive, BUT, I like how cheap the organic options are)
• organic peanut butter
• organic raw honey (comes in a jar and is as raw as it gets)
• maple syrup
• organic olive oil
• salt, pepper and spices (limited selection, but CHEAP)
• Almond Breeze
• greek yogurt w/ honey (my store carries the TJ brand and Fage - the TJ brand is way cheaper and just as good!)
• frozen veggies of every variety
• frozen fruit (for smooooothies)
• nuts & dried fruit (actually I don't buy these much b/c I don't eat them that often, but this is a great place to get them - huge selection, well-priced)
• ground flax (they have a version with dried blueberries - it's delicious)
• pita bread, sliced bread, pizza dough (the dough is fresh, comes in a big mound, and is 99 CENTS, y'all...)
• pasta sauce (my sister and roomie adore the Organic Vodka Sauce)
• fresh ravioli (found in the refrigerated section - I like the portobello mushroom one, but am eager to try the others)

I'm sure there are plenty more things I could add, but I think that will suffice for now.  Seriously, I do 99% of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's and then go to Whole Foods to supplement.  My grocery bills have literally been cut in half since my TJ's opened.  Me and TJ?  We are in the middle of a mah-jor love affair, and I hope it never ends...

Things I'm Loving: Hump Day Edition

It's Hump Day, so I thought, what is more appropriate than a completely random Things I'm Loving list? Makes sense, no? Enjoy! ;)

1. Party Pink Lips

{image: knightcat}

2. Learn a New Language Shower Curtain (i'm partial to the French version, but Spanish is probably more appropriate considering i know zero espanol, and i live in TX)



3. Kell On Earth - As Crystal commented, it's no RZP, but it definitely satiates my appetite for behind-the-scenes fashion reality tv.



4. Sultry Bangs - Everytime I think I want to grow out my bangs, I see a pic like this and completely change my mind.


{image: nicolerichie.celebuzz.com}

5. The amazing feedback I'm getting from this post. I'm learning so much, and I *so* appreciate the support - you have no idea. Also? I'm loving guacamole. Because last night I realized it is vegan-friendly, and that made me really happy (especially after I heartbreakingly realized that queso is definitely not.)

Things I'm Loving: LUSH Edition

I know for a fact that many of you are avid LUSH fans, as I see tweets about your fabulous LUSH baths all the time! I'm relatively new to LUSH, but have been immensely enjoying bath time since I snagged a few of their fab products. Voila a list of my current faves:

1. DREAMTIME BATH MELT



Made of cocoa butter and infused with lavender and chamomile, this is the perfect pre-bed bath treat. I like it because it's uber moisturizing, smells good, and can be broken into 2 pieces for twice the relaxation!

dreamtime bath melt - $5.65


2. THE COMFORTER BUBBLE BAR

How can I not love this product? It is hot pink and white swirled goodness! And it's HUGE compared to most LUSH bath products. Bubble bars bring out the inner kid in all of us. To use, simply crumble under running bath water and VOILA - bubbles galore! This fun treat leaves your bathwater a funtabulous candy pink, AND because of its size, one bar could probably last you 5 baths (which is good b/c it's kinda pricey!).

the comforter bubble bar - $8.75


3. CERIDWEN'S CAULDRON BATH MELT



Described as a "magical mélange of skin-softening butters, soothing oatmeal and the bewitchingly clean fragrance of tangerine, sandalwood, lavender and frankincense," I couldn't help but pick up this bath melt on my last trip to LUSH. Oatmeal is particularly known for soothing dry, itchy skin, and so I knew we'd be a perfect fit. It's kind of pricey (as most LUSH items are), but you can always break it into 2 pieces (notice a trend...?).

ceridwen's cauldron bath melt - $7.95


4. BUTTERBALL BATH BOMB



I'm probably going to get shot for what I'm about to say, but I'm not the biggest fan of LUSH's bath bombs. Don't get me wrong, the idea of them is fun. Fizzy delights that you throw into the tub? Sounds great! But most of them come with lots of other STUFF like flowers and confetti and glitter, and while that sounds fun, it's not so pleasant post-bath when you have to clean the tub. Also, most bath bombs I've tried have irritated and dried out my skin. ALSO? They are expensive and can only be used once. That being said, I have found one that I rather enjoy. The butterball contains cocoa butter, smells of vanilla musk and ylang-ylang, and doesn't have any other annoying particles that could clog up your drain.

butterball bath bomb - $4.85


5. OATIFIX FRESH FACE MASK



Last but not least, I thought I'd throw in a non-bath related item. I picked up the Oatifix Fresh face mask on my last trip to Dallas (we don't have LUSH in Austin - le sad) and finally got around to using it last week. HEAVEN! First, it smells like a cookie, and it took all my strength not to lick my face. It's meant to clean and soften dry and sensitive skin (aka moi) and contains yummies like oatmeal, ground almonds, vanilla bean and bananas. YUM.

(for some reason, i couldn't find it on the US website, so here's the link to the UK website)

Oatifix Fresh Face Mask - 6.45 British Pounds (Note: I got it for about $5 - $6)

LUSH has oodles of other great products including, but not limited to, moisturizers (face and body), soaps (face and body), toners, shampoos, deodorants, etc. I have yet to try any of them, but when I do, I'll let you know how they fare. For now, enjoy bath time, lovelies!!

Things I'm Loving: Book Edition

Admittedly, I have not been the best reader lately. Usually I consume books (and magazines) like they're going out of style,(I also purchase them that way, too...), but with the Holidays and the general hustle bustle of my life lately (and my latest obsession with youtube), my books (and journal, for that matter) have been tres ignored. That all changed, however, on my recent trip to DC, and I'm back in business, baby.

1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

This book was recommended to me by my boy bestie J (see DC pics below). He said it was "dark, but really good." I'm always intrigued by "dark" books as they are not typically found in my regular rotation. I brought this book with me to DC, started reading it on my departure day and finished it in a matter of hours. Yes, it was that good (and easy to read). Apparently it's going to be a movie with that hot bad boy Lord of the Rings guy. I bet the movie is going to be sad and scary. I can't wait to see it!

(How weird! My fab friend Nina just blogged about The Road, too!)

2. The Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin

I only recommend this book to those of you who enjoy the occasional "chick lit" and who liked The Nanny Diaries (TERRIBLE MOVIE). Because it's not really that good, but it's good if you want to know what happens next, ya know what i mean? I bought it as a book on CD for my drive to Dallas over the Holidays. Admittedly it took a little while for me to get into it, but once I was in, I was in. There is, after all, nothing I enjoy more than learning about the crazy lives of the Manhatten elite. Why do you think I'm so obsessed with Gossip Girl? (Also - if you like books on CD, I would listen to the original Nanny Diaries on CD b/c Julia Roberts narrates, and she's surprisingly hilarious.)

3. Living etc.

I guess this doesn't technically count as a "book", BUT if you're missing Domino as much as I am, then you're going to like #3. Living etc is a British interior design magazine that is, dare I say, better than Domino. It's chock full of insane interiors, both realistic and somewhat achievable to pure, amazing and completely unattainable fantasy. It's good. Really, really good. (And bonus: its website is awesome, too!) The only thing that sucks is that it's British and therefore includes lots of British-only home goods (augh how I miss them...) AND it costs an arm and a leg to get it in the States. What I do when I'm feeling tres pauvre is visit Borders, grab a latte, and leisurely flip through it. Putting it back on the shelves is always painful, but at least I've gotten my daily dose of design inspiration. (Psst - you can still get Domino inspiration from this fabulous flickr pool!)

4. Cleaving by Julie Powell

I debated whether I should include this one in... I adored Julie & Julia (both the book and the movie), and so it was no question that I would read Powell's latest memoir, despite its tagline, "A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession." (It also got pretty awful reviews.) But when I saw that I could get the book on cd, unabridged AND read by the author herself, for about $5, I couldn't help myself. I popped in the first CD a couple days ago, and well, let me say this. I don't LOVE the book, but it is without a doubt very interesting (in a bad train wreck/Jersey Shore kind of way), and I find myself wanting more. For that reason, Cleaving has made the list. I'll let you know how I feel once I'm done.

(and yes... I am now a fan of the Jersey Shore. le sigh.)

5. Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran

Okay so technically I can't be "loving" this book because I haven't yet read it. BUT, I know I'm going to read it, and that the likelihood of me loving is high. So it's made the list. (I also need a kick-in-the-butt because my vegetarian eating has gotten a bit too lax lately, and I'm not proud of it.) Have any of y'all read it? What did you think? Want to book swap??

Things I'm Loving: Office Supplies

The New Year often brings about resolutions of being more organized, and so I thought it appropo to select "office supplies" as the next installment in my "Things I Love" series. Enjoy!

1. PaPaYa Legal Pad

Seeing as I am a lawyer, it's only appropriate that I have a cute legal pad at my disposal, n'est-ce pas? When I stumbled across these gorgeous legal pads from PaPaYa, I died (RZ - style). Far too beautiful for any actual legal work, I keep them on my desktop at home to jot to do's, grocery lists, packing lists, etc. I have one in Simple PK and Lotus Yellow and can't wait to get my hands on more!

PaPaYa legal pad - $4

2. Pink Hanging File Folders
I admit that my record-keeping is far from perfect (I have a stack of papers marked "to be filed"), but I do have some sort of system in place at home to ensure that I don't lose really important stuff. Seeing as your typical file folder is a hideous shade of beigey yellow grossness, I highly suggest the lovely PINK alternative found at The Container Store (and if you're not a pink person, they have other fab colors & patterns as well!). Yay pink!!!

Pink Hanging File Folders - $6.99 for package of six

3. Gelly Roll Pens

One thing I love about my firm is that we don't just have black and blue ink pens (per your typical stuffy, boring law firm), we have fun colors like bright green and purple. You will rarely, if ever, find me writing in a black pen (unless it's a fun calligraphy pen or Sharpie) because... well... it's boring! And thanks to the Japanese, there are TONS of fabulous colored pens at our disposal. I love the Gelly Roll pens by Sakura. They come in a multitude of colors and types, and you can get them pretty much anywhere. My recommendation, however, is to find an art supply store. They have the best selection, you can test them out, AND you can buy them individually. (In other words, you can buy all the different varieties of pink and ignore the rest!)

4. Cavallini & Co Sticky Notes

If you're a fan of Papersource and other fab paper shops, then I'm sure you've seen all the gorgeous products made by Cavallini & Co. One of my fave products of theirs are the Sticky Notes. They are freaking adorable and come in several variations (including a fun baking one that I MUST find!). I have the Paris set (le duh!) and love it. It's perfect for adding petit reminders on my Planner Pad. I think they retail for about $15, but don't quote me! You can also buy all 4 sets from amazon for $49.99... tempting.

5. Stockholm Office Storage Boxes

When I get around to doing my apartment tour vlog (which I WILL do, I promise!), you will see that nestled in my pink bookshelves in the living room, I have loads of white boxes with cute pink labels. Most of them are the Stockholm boxes from The Container Store - fantastic for storing papers, labels, magazine clippings, letters, journals, stickers, etc. I love these boxes (esp. the white and orange) because they keep all the clutter at bay, and you can label them for quick finding. Now, they are a bit on the expensive side, and I'm going to let you in on a little secret - I've found an alternative! They are photo storage boxes!! I get them in white (as I do the Container Store ones), and I get them for 50% off at Hobby Lobby (Hobby Lobby always has a sale). You can find them there or at places like Tarjay and Michael's. They are SO much cheaper and blend right in. The only downside, of course, is that they only come in one size. Still, they are the perfect size for storing rubber stamps & stamp pads, glitter glue, stationary, small electronic gadgets and chargers, etc. The possibilities are endless... :)

Hope you enjoyed! Happy organizing!!!

Things I'm Loving: Beauty Edition

Hello, my beautiful friends!! I've decided to start a fun new series on Hang On Little Tomato entitled "Things I'm Loving." As the title would suggest, these posts will focus on items, products, etc. that I'm particularly enjoying, and there will be different "editions," including but not limited to, beauty, food, books, home, music, etc. As I've been uber into beauty & makeup lately, it only made sense that it'd be the first edition! Hope you enjoy. :)

1. Bobbi Brown Corrector & Concealer

Odd that I'd start with a not-so-glamorous product, but I figure many of you gals wear concealer (or maybe not... honestly I JUST started myself), and finding the perfect concealer is tantamount to finding the perfect hairdresser. It involves beaucoup de trial and error. I never used to wear concealer, but have noticed these lovely blue-grey half moons appearing under my eyes as of late. These beauties are only accentuated when I wear my glasses, which btw is at least 5 days out of the week. So I've been on the hunt for the perfect concealer.

I'd heard good things about Bobbi Brown's creamy concealer so during my stay in Dallas, I visited the Northpark Nordstrom to try it out. The concealer alone wasn't doing it for me, but layering the "concealer" over the "corrector" achieves maximum results and a tres noticeably brighter undereye. It's also not thick or cakey, which most concealers can be. I highly recommend! (I know the two products together cost a lot, but I think it's worth it. Then again if your circles aren't bad, I bet you could get away with just one or the other. AND if you purchase at Nordstrom, you can return it if it doesn't work for you.)

PROS: creamy not cakey, works miracles on moi

CONS: pricey

Bobbi Brown Corrector - $22
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer - $22

2. Tarte Cheek Stain

I have a big face. No need to deny it, I know it to be FACT. But I've come to peace with it and have discovered that wearing blush really helps distract the vast surface area that is my face. The problem is, my blush always comes off after, like, an hour. (My Sephora guru says it's because my skin is so smooth, it literally just falls off. Yay for smoothness?) He told me that I needed something creamy that would stick and also help the powder blush stick. Voila Tarte's cheek stain! I ADORE this stuff. First off, it contains tons of product so will last forever. Second, I can put it on in the morning before work and still have a lovely natural flush by the time I go to bed. Amazing!! Layering powder blush on top only helps.

PROS: Lasts FOREVER, natural

CONS: Tricky to blend at first, pricey

Tarte Cheek Stain - $30

3. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil

At $3.50 each, this product is a steal! If you are familiar with MAC shadesticks, these jumbo eye pencils essentially do the same thing... except better and for a lot cheaper. (MAC shadesticks retail for $16.50!) Luckily, I got a handful for FREE b/c my Mom carries some NYX products at her beauty supplystore, BUT I've heard you can find them at ULTA or a variety of online retailers. I like to use them as eyeshadow, eyeshadow base, highlighter, and in the corners of my eyes. They are uber creamy and highly pigmented. And tres frugalista! Love!

PROS: cheap, highly pigmented, multi-purpose
CONS: harder to find

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - $3.50

4. Rosebud Salve

Along with my dry skin, I have uber dry lips. If I don't regularly moisturize and exfoliate, wearing lipstick can be a nightmare (and I love me some lipstick!). I've tried just about every lip balm on the planet, and the only one I've stuck with is Rosebud Perfume Co.'s Rosebud Salve (the original). You can pick this baby up at Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and a host of other boutiques/beauty stores. I. Love. It. I live for it. I have about 5 scattered about my apartment, my office, and my purses.

PROS: cheap, amazing, perfect, love it

CONS: more $$ than chapstick (but worth it)

Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve - $6

5. Sugar

Sugar? Yep you read that correctly! Sugar is the cheapest and best lip exfoliant out there. Combine with honey, jojoba oil, or olive oil, and you've got yourself a natural, do-it-at-home, dirt cheap product that works way better than using a washcloth or toothbrush (trust me). Bonus - it tastes good if you use honey!! I mix mine in a small travel size container and keep it by my bathroom sink. I try to exfoliate my lips before bed (few times a week) and then slather on my rosebud salve. Result: smooth, baby soft, and delicious supple lips.

PROS: cheap, natural, IN YOUR PANTRY

CONS: requires a bit more effort on your part