I have been waiting for a moment like this…

When I could enter the words: Trader Joe’s into my GPS and it would come up saying there is one within 1.1 miles of where I live.  This means the world to a girl that hasn’t lived within 800 miles of one her whole life.  

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Please note the cashier is looking at me wondering why in the world I am having my picture taken.  Hello, I had to document Brooke’s first trip to TJs, we will probably go thousands of times together over the next 30 years (we changed the rules and she won’t be able to move out until she is 30) so today was a big day. 

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We loaded up on produce, chocolate for billy and most importantly kettle corn and raisin walnut apple bread bars.  They are like bagels but 48 times better,  I think these will be my new pre-race or long run food. 

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Lunch was salad topped with California salad leftovers, yogurt and a pear.  For those of you wanting the recipe it is really simple.  Cook penne noodles and let them cool, cook corn (fresh) and let cool and mix it with cut up ham, cut up raw baby carrots, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic salt to taste.   My weird taste buds made me add in grapes too.

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Because I am hungrier than I have ever been in my entire life I needed a cereal suicide after my salad.  

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This morning my MIL and I made our way over to the gym again to walk (she ran) and do some weights. I think Brooke loves the sound of the treadmill because it reminds her of being in the womb and all of our great times running together.

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Brooke fell asleep a little while ago so I typed this up and I am on my way to my bed (air mattress) to take a glorious nap.

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Favorite find at Trader Joe’s or any other grocery store lately?

Do you have a favorite cereal suicide combination?

When you are tired during the day would you rather take a nap, watch some tv, read a book or just sit and stare at the wall?


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99 comments

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Yay for TJs!!! I just got a greek yogurt kale and spinach dip from there today that is AMAZING!!!

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OMG I sampled this and it was incredible!!!

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I love that dip!!!!

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I’m pretty sure that used to be “my” Trader Joe’s… I miss it! Hope you’re enjoying Santa Clara!

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You are so cute!! I lourves me some trader joes!! So excited for you! And Brooke is just too cute!!

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I’m so jealous that you’re near a TJ’s – can’t wait to hear about all the fun stuff you find there!!

Ohhhh I’m so opposed to the cereal suicide – one type only for this girl!!

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I really like their fruit leather and they have the best prices on milk, eggs and potatoes!!!

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First off you and Brooke are the cutest things ever!!! Secondly, I LOVE TRADER JOES!!!! They have amazing trail mixes, which are addicting and I could probably eat an entire bag in one day, so I try not to buy them :) Everything there is amazing though, I love their greek yogurt and their goat cheese medallions!!! Hope you are enjoying CA!!

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Congrats on Brooke. I love that you are able to have her next to you on the treadmill. I love having a TJ’s close by. Not as close as 1.1 miles, but close enough to make a once a month trip out there.

I haven’t had a cereal suicide in awhile.

I start to read a book with the TV on, then some how end up staring at the wall and then fall asleep. I usually take naps every day. I love sleep.

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Have you ever had trader joe’s kettle corn cookies? if not then YOU NEED TO TRY THEm! they may just change your life :)

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Favorite TJ’s: power berries, everything crackers, gummy tummies, veggie corn dogs, the tuscan white bean and the Mediterranean hummus, their steamed lentils, the steamed and peeled beets, WINE.
I do oatmeal suicides of oats, almond milk, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, peanut butter, a banana, and berries of some sort.
I usually lie down and read when I’m tired, fully knowing it will turn into a nap within 5 pages.

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Oh I suppose I misunderstood cereal suicide. I do more of an oatmeal kitchen sink, where literally every thing in my kitchen has potential to end up in my bowl of oatmeal, especially the coconut flakes and chocolate chips.

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Gah!!! Lucky….I wish a TJs was near me!

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I LOVE TJ’s. I was so happy there was one within a mile of us after moving to California from Utah. I truly understand your joy (although I did have them growing up). I love the greek yogurt with spinach and kale dip and the sea salt and dark chocolate covered almonds. And pretty much everything else there.

When I’m tired I prefer to just stare at the computer or TV and let my mind zone out. If I take a nap I have a hard time falling asleep that night.

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That is hilarious that you took a picture at trader joe’s in the checkout.

I generally don’t nap because I’ll sleep for like 4 hours and wake up a giant grouch. Sometimes, I’ll do it after seriously long runs, though, because otherwise I won’t be able to function.

When do you guys get a real bed???

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WOO HOO for TJ’s!! I’m so jealous of you. ;) Glad you and little Brooke are doing well!

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I visited my friend who had her baby girl the same day you had Brooke and I was in heaven. I held her baby the whole time and unwrapped her from her cozy burrito so I could get a better look. I know if you lived here she and Brooke would be BFFs.
There is a Trader Joe’s opening less than 15 minutes from my house. I am so excited to see what all the fuss is about (See, you would have been perfectly happy going to law school in Texas ;)
Naps always win. Always.

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JANAE!! I am loving these posts! So cute how you bring Brooke to the gym with you!

No TJs in Canada :( It is terrible. I’ve only been once in NYC and it was heavenly.
Multigrain Cheerios and Corn Pops is amazing together. Try it.
Tired = NAP. No questions asked.

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LOVE Trader Joe’s! There’s one very close to where I live and I’m there a lot. I try to stock up so I do not have to brave the lines too often. I just stopped buying cookie butter because it usually lasted about one day in our house. So delicious! I also love Cinnamon Roll bread (the last slice is the most delicious and we’d fight over it!) and they have great frozen pasta/polenta dishes that we add fresh veggies and chicken to to try to make them a bit healthier…could be a good idea for you guys since you probably don’t feel like cooking much!

You just look like me after I had my son…walked a ton at first but forced myself to wait a solid 4 weeks to do a ‘real’ workout. I started with the elliptical and then slowly got back to running. I’d bring him to the gym in my apartment comple and park his stroller by the treadmill and bust out a few miles, all while willing him to keep sleeping just a bit longer! I hope this isn’t too much, but I would advise doing your Kegels before you start running again…I got a bit of a surprise on my first longer run… :)

I’m always tired now so I just push through it and do what I need to do…whether it’s cleaning or checking blogs or watching junk reality TV. All are necessities at one time or another! :)

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Glad we aren’t the only ones on the cookie butter from TJ’s!! That stuff is addicting.

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oh and their kettle corn is my favorite. I have to limit myself on how many bags to buy at one time.

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So excited you finally have a TJ’s. I don’t know what I would do without one- there are 3 in Manhattan and I like to rotate the ones I go to ;) Each one has different things that I love.
The greek yogurt spinach and kale dip is soooooooo good!

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I’m so happy your near a trader joes!!! Aren’t they the best??!!
When I’m tired I love to read a trashy gossip magazine or catch up on TV! Enjoy your nap!!

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It seems like you have transitioned to motherhood really well. Good for you. I was a wreck after I had my first. I didn’t know what to do, why he was crying, why my body felt so weird, etc. You are superwoman! Only, what, a week out from having a baby and you are already on the treadmill. Amazing!

Brooke is gorgeous! I love when babies have lots of hair on their heads. My kids are bald as can be. Maybe I’ll get lucky someday :)

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I am an extreme napper. Probably from years of night shift work and napping when I’m on for 24 hours. I love it!
Luckily my husband is in San Francisco a lot and he brings home a suitcase of goodies from Trader Joes whenever we run low! I’ll be in Cali to run the Napa Ragnar and our hotel in Santa Rosa is right by the Trader Joes – we are going to need especially good eats for the run!
I love reading your blog – it reminds me of when my kids were first born. My first one was adopted and I remember the first night we had him and we bathed him and layed him down and then starred at him. For hours. Now he is 24 and I still love to smooch his face! All my kids faces!! Start now and never stop, my kids have accepted it and I secretly think they love it now they are older.

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I am so impressed with how you have transitioned to motherhood! Seeing your photos and how happy you are, how beautiful baby B is, makes me smile. Keep up the great job!

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Bran flakes + Cinnamon toast crunch + ice cold milk = lethal combo!

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My favorite cereal mash up is Kix and Corn Pops. Glad to see that you are moving around so well less than a week after giving birth. :)

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Seriously! Did you just have a baby? I would still be on the couch having people wait on me. Ha!! Love tj’s jams and the peanut utter with flax seeds! So good.

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TJ’s must are: cat cookies, kettle corn popcorn, mushroom tomato sauce, bbq baked chips, spicy guacamole,frozen “bird’s nest”, frozen “roasted vegetable pizza (cheeseless), they have something called cookie butter but I had no control and finished it in two days so I dont buy it anymore lolll

Brooke is adorable and I agree that right now she loooks like Billy :)

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So not fair that you are that close to TJ’s! All your pictures make me want to move to CA, pronto. My brother moved there (we live in NH) about 1.5 years ago and he makes it sound like heaven! LOL! Your daughter is adorable and I love the picture of her sleeping next to the treadmill!

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When I’m beat I love to just sit and watch tv. Nothing better!

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I’m so sad that there isn’t a Trader Joe’s in Canada. On my first trip there, I might have to get the cashier to take a picture of me too!

LOVE cereal suicide! Lately it’s raisin bran, corn flakes, and kashi.

As if Brooke goes to the gym with you! Too cute!

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I seriously can’t get over how great you look!
Sadly I’ve never been to a TJ’s…the sheltered life I lead in canada!
I like reading when I’m tired, but that usually leads to sleeping!

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I want to partake of these aformentioned apple bars! They sound glorious!

I wish that the one they are opening here was closer, but you better believe I will be there anyway. I love that store so much it hurts. My mom curses me for introducing it to her several years ago every time she goes out of state and spends butt loads of money there. And each time she does, she gives me some of what she buys and I remind myself how awesome I am for showing it to her ;)

When my kids were babies and they were being fussy, I would set them buy the treadmill while I ran or walked – it honestly calmed them. Forget womb sounds, that is the sound they probably heard most while inside me. lol.

And I want to take a nap when I am tired. Your posts make me tired. I swear after I had Anna, my husband would get home and I would have done NOTHING for the day, but I felt like I was SO busy and the day flew by.When I had Evan, there was no choice but to get right back at it. Still. You amaze me.

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I have heard that you need to eat even MORE than when you were pregnant if you are breast feeding..so I can only imagine how hungry you must be!! (I’m assuming you are breast feeding…I could be wrong…but I think you may have said that)
I’m SO jealous of TJ’s- we don’t have ANY in FL :( Guess I’ll have to come & visit you ASAP ;)
I LOVE that you bring Brooke to the gym & put her next to the treadmill. I always tell Craig that one of the reasons I love my runs so much lately is because I get to have Mommy + daughter time each morning as I run. Even though she isn’t physically HERE yet, it’s still cool knowing she is running with me :)

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I, too, dream about living close to a TJ’s someday. (The closest one to me is about 45 minutes away.) I was there last Saturday and found some pre-made Tikka Masala sauce in a jar, which I was super excited about. I love their microwave Paneer Tikka Masala.

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Nap, not even a question.

Cereal suicide to me is what having a beer is to other people I think. Nothing like a CS after a long, hard day. Favorite: Life, Frosted Mini Wheats, Frosted Flakes.

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I am a nap girl 100%. I’m jealous about the TJ. Our local co-op is good, but TJ is better.

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LOVE the fact that Brooke is already hitting up the gym! ;) Enjoy your nap Janae!! :)

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You have to try the red licorice from Trader Joes. Its Australian and sweeter than normal licorice. It comes in a small little tub by the cookies and sweets!

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I love her black and white blanket. Thats the pattern i have in my room.

Are you going to do a ‘body after baby’ post? Or talk about how pregnancy affected/changed your body? And what you plan to do (if any) to get back? Pregnancies fascinate me so im curious about yours <3

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TJ’s “Joe Joes” (fake oreos) are the best! In the wintertime, they have peppermint flavor (and orange and black ones in Halloween) and I love them. You seem like you have so much energy already– that’s fantastic!

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Don’t know HOW you were able to live without a TJ’s!!!

And I don’t know if this would be a “TMI” post for you or not, but I’m just wondering how breastfeeding is going for you and little B!

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I don’t have a TJ near me :-(
I’ve never even been to one. Sad, I know. I’m deprived.
I hear it’s amazing. I did have some of their dried fruit once, and OMGosh, it was so good. I might have to check their on-line store….

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Yay for Trader Joes and yay for California! Funny, I was actually at the Costo in Santa Clara this afternoon and half expected to see you there ;-p

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So jealous that you live near a Trader Joe’s! When I visited my in-laws in San Diego, I pretty much set up camp in the TJ parking lot. The stuff that dreams are made of…
I love their chocolate/almond/toffee treats (they look like cookies, but I don’t think they contain flour or anything remotely healthy).

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Oh Brooke is sooo beautiful!!!I remember putting my kids in a “moses basket” thing when they were teeny and putting it next to my treadmill-I swear they loved the sound of it.
I have TJ’s up here in Marin too and it’s the best!!I like everything there but especially the sweet and salty peanuts,the frozen sweet potato french fries,hummus,guacamole….I could go on and on…

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Jealous!!!! There are no TJs in the deep south, but I have been to one once. Good products! That’s great the Brooke will let you have your t-mill time. The sound probably does lull her to sleep. I pray the same will happen with my child one day!

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If you haven’t tried the pb or almond butter with flax seeds, you are missing out. It is incredibly addictive. The carrot cake in the freezer is also insane but I haven’t got it for about 5 years because I am not to be trusted with it.

My current favorite cereal suicide is kamut puffs, high fiber cereal (TJ’s!), almond milk, vanilla extract, couple drops of stevia, cinnamon, and a spoon full of the flax pb described above. PARTY in my mouth and so many different textures.

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Little babe Brooke is a doll!!! So happy for u guys. When u come visit Utah I want to meet her!! You make having a baby/recovery seem like a breeze. Man alive I feel like I didn’t get out of bed for the first 6 weeks! You’re inspiring me to do better the next time around.

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You NEED to try the cookie butter! It’s amazing! Their macaroons, spinach articoke dip and orange chicken from the freezer section are so good as well! We also love their guac! Basically we love everything from TJs!

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Trader Joes is pretty amazing. There’s one not too far from me, but I usually just go to Whole Foods because its a lot closer. However… you MUST MUST MUST try Trader Joes packaged butternut squash raviolis . They are amazing cold.

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What a special moment, her first trip to TJ’s! You have got to buy the Cali white nectarines from TJ’s. Their roasted red peppers and green salsa are really good too!

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Congratulations on living near a Trader Joe’s! You looked so happy and I believed it! Brooke looks super cute sleeping next to the treadmill :)

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I moved to a city that has a Trader Joe’s just earlier this summer and I absolutely LOVE it. Their organic unsweetened applesauce is like my crack. I honestly go through a jar a week!

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I found chèvre goat cheese (I think that’s what it’s called) from trader joe’s to spread on bagels and toast!

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This is totally random m, but I found this recipe on pinterest and thought of you!

http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/2011/04/salad-thats-not-on-your-diet.html?m=1

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You poor thing, sleeping on an air mattress! When does your furniture arrive?

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Do I spy frosted mini wheats + honey bunches of oats?!

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I love tjs (and seeing picture of you and your daughter). Check out this site before your next trip.
http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/

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Ohhh I am excited for you (and slightly jealous) that TJ’s is so nearby!!!! That is awesome! I’m two hours from the nearest one, but I still manage to get there about once a month. Lately my most favorite thing is the toasted coconut cookie thins. They are awesome!

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Still have not been to trader joes even though they built one 30 mins away. I really need to go! A fresh market is really close to me and they have amazing things as well.

I love taking naps. I would take them all day long. If I am tired and I read a book I will end up napping!

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YAY for a trader Joe’s nearby!!!

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Haha, I never heard the “cereal suicide” expression before.

At TJ’s I always go for the Strawberry Kefir. It’s not glamorous, but I love it. I also just tried the frozen chocolate croissants for the first time. Not enough chocolate for my taste, but still delicious!

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You MUST get Trader Joe’s French Truffles. They’re insanely good. Like…you’ll be wondering how you ever lived before them.

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I love TJ”s but the line is SO LONG in NYC that I end up paying the Whole Foods Premium because I get out of there faster. I LOVE all of TJ’s carbs, haha, especially their lowfat muffins (the regular fat ones are too heavy for my stomach before a run). I’m also OBSESSED with trail mix.

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Yay! Is this the Trader Joe’s across the street from Safeway? We go there all the time! Favorites include: Champagne Pear Salad Dressing (obsessed!), Cilantro something dressing- both of these in the refrigerated section, the (not refrigerated) bruschetta that I can/do eat straight from the jar, the flour tortillas (YUM!), their “light ” string cheese (2nd obsession), TJ pizza dough (the herb one), frozen pizzas esp. tarte alsace, chocolate croissants (frozen aisle), lentil wrap and eggplant wrap (refrigerated section- makes for great & easy lunches!), Joe’s O’s, speculos cookie butter, chocolate chip cookies from the bakery section.. and the just really pretty fresh orchids. Have fun shopping!

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YAY for being near TJ’s!! you will have SO many new favorites!
I can’t wait to meet beautiful Brooke…she is beyond adorable! and I love her name!
I am sleeping on an air-matress tonight too! hehe!
xoxo!

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We are getting a TJ’s near me in Dallas and this will be my first time going to one ever! I can’t wait :) and I am late saying it (computer died so I missed the last week and a half of your blog!), but Brooke is adorable and you look fantastic! I’m glad you have had folks coming and helping!

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No trader joes here :(.

Favorite cereal combo is raisin bran, multigrain Cheerios and a cut up banana. It’s got the perfect amount of sweetness! Love me some mini wheats though :)

I love to just read to relax but being pregnant right now I choose naps 99 percent of the time.
I love that u walk on the treadmill with brooke at your feet. I hope my baby sleeps enough that I can get a work out in :)

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i am literally so excited for you that you’re so close to a Trader Joe’s!!! i think it’s one of my favorite places on earth..sad but true:) ps Brooke is getting cuter everyday!

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I’ve never been to a TJs but I was so excited when Whole Foods started opening up branches across London :) Just their being here still makes me so, so happy.

When I get tired I go sit someplace I can see the sky. Somehow it gives me more energy to carry on with my day and refreshes me. Taking a nap on any day but the weekend would just make me feel guilty :/

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dangnubbit
AUSTIN STILL DOESNT HAVE ONE :-)

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I spy an NYC marathon finisher bag! : )

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Carrot Cake granola was the best thing I’ve found recently!

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I may need to visit so I can go to a Trader Joe’s, too! I don’t live anywhere near one and have never been :-( The sadness of it nearly kills me every time I think of it.

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You must try the TJ’s COOKIE BUTTER.

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Brooke sleeping next to the treadmill is the sweetest, she must remember the “safe sounds”. Enjoy your TJ`s! I`m living a few thousand miles away from the next one ;)

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Love TJ’s. AMAZING! They have the best hummus – try it in all different flavors!

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Try the Trader Joe’s chicken curry salad. I think it’s heaven. You can add grapes to it too! You’ll find it in the prepared section where they have all the wraps and salads and stuff.
TJ’s is addicting…there is so much good stuff to try for cheap, and you never have to cook again! My husband loves the frozen chicken enchiladas especially. I could go on, but I’m sure that eventually you will try every product in the store and give it a full review on here. :)

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I second the spinach/kale dip…delicious….
-the peanut butter filled pretzels are fabulous!!
-The Asian Peanut vinagrette is sooo good…we make a cheap, we are poor version of chicken pad thai with noodles, chicken and the sauce and it is delicious! tastes just like PB!

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I love TJs!! I have 2 within a 10 mile radius!! We also have a store called Nugget and of course Whole Foods. I love living in Cali!!

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I don’t live near a Trader Joe’s either. :( Never have. I heard my city might be getting one soon. We shall see.

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Their packaged indian food is so good and cheap… best for last minute meal and camping! I love their European style yogurt (most of ppl I know don’t like it tho, so proceed with caution :P) Chocolate covered espresso beans are the bomb!

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I love TJs….try their organic mayo, the full fat version. It’s amazing. When we move back to the UK it will be the thing we ask American visitors to bring us in bulk!!!And their flowers are fantastic value!!

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I love TJ’s kettle corn. I buy it before every roadtrip. I also really like the sweet and salty trailmix.

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That kettle corn is a godsend. Literally one of the best things in the world. I used to have to portion it into ziploc bags immediately so that I wouldn’t eat the entire thing the first day I brought it home and be left with no delicious snacks. I just moved AWAY from TJ’s and it’s a sad, sad thing. I hear there is a TJ’s coming to southern Louisiana soon though, so my fingers are crossed.

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Trader Joe’s kettle corn is my favorite snack in the whole world. I get it every. single. time. we go to TJ’s, and I get depressed if it isn’t always in the house. Yeah, really.

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Janae, I was due 3 days ago and am still waiting for my baby to make its debut…but you’ve been my inspiration with how much you’re going out with Brooke! I’ve had quite a few friends who are really nervous to go out with their newborn and wait weeks before they venture out. I hope to have the same confidence as you!

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I like that you also use your bright orange NYC finisher bag from last year to take things to the gym, too :-)

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We are not lucky enough to have a tj’s down here in the south but my mostest wonderfulest find as of late would be pretzel crips. They come in about a million and one flavors and O.SO.GOOD. Fav cereal suicde combo would have to be Smart Start & Cascadian Farms granola…YUM!!!!! I love love loooove to curl up on the sofa and read a book until I fall asleep…zzzz.

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Ah! I know the TJ’s! I shop there! And the chasier with the mustache makes me laugh :)

I need to catch up on some book reading and TV watching.

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I long for the day that a Trader Joe’s or a Whole Foods opens up within 100 miles of me. There will be a grocery store road trip every weekend!

NAP. ALWAYS A NAP.

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I just got a Trader Joe’s 1 hr away. It opened up last Sat…so I went!! I’m going every Saturday. :) I’d love a postcabout what you’ve tried and favorites. I did get the kettle corn. Its good!

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That is so exciting!!! You guys wil be able to walk (or bike) there. I love TJ’s. I”m there at least 1xweek. Did you find the cookie butter yet? It is incredible! Or the cookie butter chocolate bars….even better!

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Your post inspired me to stop at TJ’s last night on my way home from work. I saw COOKIE BUTTER in a previous post you did and decided I had to try it. WOW!! I ate a spoon full right from the jar! That stuff is AWESOME – I can’t wait to put it on toast…pancakes..mmMmmmm

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Love love love Trader Joes! I even have a post with all my favs! One of my more recent finds is the edamame hummus & the frozen yogurt! Delicious!!

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Ugh I actually got to go to a Trader Joe’s yesterday but I could not find those raisin walnut apple bars you got. But I did find some really good blueberry oatmeal and of course had to stock up on the Two Buck Chuck wine!

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