All posts by Beth Berger

About Beth Berger

Hi there! Finding Delight is a lifestyle and lifelong learning blog written and curated by me in Alabama. Along the way, I attempt to tackle the rough real world with books, budget-livin', brainpower and all the beautiful stuff you can find when you really look. Won't you join me? The true delight is in the finding out. View all posts by Beth Berger →

mid-week round-up

December 2, 2015Wednesday Linksarticles, DIY, grocery shopping, just for fun, links, literature, news, quiz, recipe, round-upBeth Berger

Happy December, everyone! While Miami looks nothing like the picture above (in December or ANY month), after decorating our apartment for Christmas and doing a bit of holiday shopping, I’m feeling in quite the seasonal mood. This week, I’m counting down the minutes until Friday evening when my best friend’s plane lands and we can spend a weekend catching up and having a blast. Can’t wait!!! Hope you have a great week, and don’t forget to check out my 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. Alright, link time…

The farmer-philosopher who supplies halal meat to Muslims in the American South.

Make your own marquee Christmas tree.

Stamps to create custom pieces of porcelain.

A recipe for wedding disaster.

A trip through Costco with Mom.

Hoping all the college teachers I know get equally hilarious drunk emails.

All hail the Chipotle burrito bowl! #hacked

Want to test your rationality? Take this three question quiz.

A kick-ass public transportation story.

10 must-haves for the French kitchen.

Creating a home office with minimal extraneous space.

Books about Miami.

Gift Guide 2015: Sisters, girlfriends, best friends, wives and any other lady loves!

December 1, 2015Style and Designgift guide, gifts for gals, holiday gift ideasBeth Berger

Christmas is just around the corner! Today, I’d like to kick-off a 2015 Holiday Gift Guide with the first of four installments. I tried to find items that would suit lots of different folk all at moderate price points. Each gift is something I love or would love giving! I hope you find some inspiration. Happy Holidays!

A show with a kick-ass female lead to binge watch (with or without boys present), glass of wine in hand. Think: Homeland, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Daria, The Killing, The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie, The Americans. ($10 – $80, Amazon)

A kitchen accessory which broadcasts her two greatest loves: hot tea and kitten cuddles. ($45, Urban Outfitters)

This versatile v-neck sweater in grey because everyone needs a few go-to wardrobe staples in their closet and you know she’ll reach for this piece again and again. ($90, J. Crew)

To help her achieve peaceful evenings and commune with her inner child, a new coloring book and a set of high quality colored pencils. ($32, Amazon)

You wouldn’t want her to misplace her checked luggage on all those business trips and (hopefully…some day…) exotic vacations. ($28, Anthropologie)

If she dreams of turning her house into a home and spends evening hours perusing Apartment Therapy home tours like her life depends on it, this book might be just right. ($20, Amazon)

If she’s constantly figuring out new takes on fajitas and lasagnas, she might need a new piece of beautiful cookware to go along with all those recipe updates. ($30, Macy’s)

Turn her favorite memories from the past year into something physical she can touch and see every day instead of leaving them in the nebulous ether of her Instagram app. ($20 for 4, Coastergram) P.S. These books are cute too, especially to document a specific event or trip.

geometric print

Order a poster-sized file of something pretty to print. Frame it for her home office so she has a pop of lovely shapes and colors to gaze upon each day. ($15, Etsy)

A beautifully written novel to remind her that sometimes our family chooses us. ($18, Amazon)

A dozen half-pint mason jars because she’ll no doubt find a thousand adorable uses for them. ($8, Target)

If her iPhone is going to be surgically attached to her hand at all times it may as well look cute. ($28, Society 6)

P.S. Check back Thursday for more gift ideas!

Recipe: Tropical Chia Pudding

November 30, 2015Food, How to'sball jars, batch cooking, breakfast, chia seeds, detox recipe, hot weather foodsBeth Berger

For the last several years my breakfasts have consisted of one of two options. Hot outside? Yogurt. Cold outside? Oatmeal. I love both options a whole bunch and find them incredibly versatile. So many possible toppings!

But, don’t let that blurred Christmas tree in the background of the shot above fool you. Christmas may be fast approaching but it is still in the 80’s down here in South Florida. Meaning, I’ve been on the yogurt train for a few too many days straight. Time to mix it up!

Since it IS the week after Thanksgiving, my focus is on light & healthy eating…just for a quick recharge before I start gorging myself again in honor of the next holiday. With that in mind, I cast my focus on the nifty lil chia seed. These guys pack more Omega 3 fatty acids then salmon, contain more fiber than flax, pack a serious protein punch, are calcium rich, AND have a whole bunch of helpful vitamins and minerals. So, in an effort to fully lean in to the weird weather juxtaposition of a tropical holiday season, I give you the Tropical Chia Pudding. And my yogurt can happily take the week off.

What you’ll need…

– 1 1/2 cups of coconut milk

– 1/4 cup of chia seeds

– 1 Tbsp of your preferred sweetener (I used Stevia but you could use honey, agave syrup, sugar or whatever you like.)

– 1 Tbsp of coconut flakes + more to top

– chopped fruit to top (I used mango but you could use pineapple, papaya, kiwi, etc.)

and how it all comes together…

– Put everything but your chopped fruit into a pot, combine, and bring to a boil.

– Lower the temperature and allow the mixture to simmer for about 18 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the seeds aren’t sticking to the bottom of your pot. It should reach a pudding/porridge consistency.

– Take your pot off the heat and allow to cool for several minutes.

– Divide the mixture evenly between 4 containers.

– Top each jar with chopped fruit and a sprinkling of more coconut flakes.

– Store in the refrigerator (for no more than a week) and pull out a jar to enjoy for breakfast, snack time, or a healthy dessert!

What do you normally eat for breakfast? Have you ever tried chia seeds? I love making chocolate puddings with chia, almond milk, and cocoa powder if you’re looking for another way to enjoy this healthful ingredient!

mid-week round-up

November 25, 2015Wednesday Linksarticles, Christmas shopping, family life, feminism, links, made me laugh, made me think, music, news, rhetorical choicesBeth Berger

How’s everyone enjoying their Thanksgiving week? We’ll be dining with one of Chet’s colleague’s family tomorrow, and the rest of the week I’m hoping to avoid the holiday shopping crazed crowds! We’re planning to get out of dodge completely on Black Friday and relax by Biscayne Bay. The weather in South Florida is perfect right now for just chilling outside for hours at a time. I can imagine the breeze by the water is going to be bliss. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of friends, family and food! And here are some links to celebrate this short week…

Don’t you just love this pair? #GirlPower

Cute gift ideas in case you’re gearing up for a weekend of Christmas shopping.

I used to love perusing video rental stores; sad to think of doing so as a thing of the past.

The only Adele is Adele. (Bonus: Graham Norton!)

Deciding to quit sobriety.

These undercover nuns pose as prostitutes to rescue victims of human trafficking.

Kitchen inspiration.

Does this ring true of your family?

Brainstorming over brews has led to some pretty clutch ideas.

Gluten-Free versions of famous art.

Remember, not all media is created equal…The language used to describe terrorism.

12 inexpensive meal ideas for quick lunches or lazy-day dinners.

Dollar Tree DIY: Simple Thanksgiving Centerpiece

November 24, 2015DIY, How to'scraft, dollar tree, Shabby-Chic, simple table, thanksgiving, tiny home livingBeth Berger

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought I’d share a super simple way to make your table a little more special on the big day! On Saturday I had a poke around our local Dollar Tree for craft supplies. (If you love crafting, scrapbooking, DIY home decor, etc my biggest money saving tip is to check out dollar stores BEFORE shelling out beau coups cash at places like Michael’s.) With my materials in hand I couldn’t wait to get home and start throwing them together! If you’d like to dress up your table for Thanksgiving, check out what you have on hand. You may be able to use this tutorial as a guide to put together something similar. Then, when Turkey Day rolls around you can lay out some place-mats and cloth napkins, put on some sweet sounding music, and start serving up your favorite dishes. The perfect, classy aesthetic for an intimate and simple Thanksgiving feast!

Bonus: I fully plan on switching out the more autumnal looking flowers for Christmas-y ones (poinsettias maybe?) and rolling this little set-up straight through December!

Ok, enough chatting! Here’s how you can get a similar look for your Thanksgiving table…

What you’ll need:

a bag of clear glass gems
a couple fake flowers (Typically the fake flowers from Dollar Tree come all connected in a bunch of three. I cut these two off…and probably ruined a pair of scissors in the process since the stems are plastic covered wire. C’est la vie!)
tea light or small votive candle
glass vase
scissors
gold jingle bells (I picked up a bag of tiny ones and a bag or normal sized ones because I thought it would be more visually interesting. Not necessary.)
postal twine
coordinating ribbon (I used a roll of white with gold polka dots that I had on hand from a previous project.)

Not pictured because I was just making this up as I went–

E6000 glue
2 jars (Mine used to hold pickles! You could use mason jars or whatever you have.)
3 cups of dried lentils

And how it all comes together:

Pour the glass gems and jingle bells into the bottom of the large vase and make sure they’re all mixed up.

Create a little hole in the center and nestle the candle down in all those shiny baubles!

Measure out some pretty ribbon and two lengths of postal twine, all the same length.

Lay these three pieces together and tie them all around the top of the vase in a bow. I liked the layering look of combining the ribbon and twine together but you could use one or the other. OR include more lengths of both to bulk it up a bit. Up to you!

I love how the glass stones and gold bells reflect off each other…and the more rustic bow balances out all that bling. I can’t wait to see how it looks when the candle is lit!

Because I ended up liking this vase as is (without including the flowers), I started grabbing elements from my kitchen to make a couple side jars. I glued the same ribbon around the middle of two pickle jars (They were well washed out. Don’t worry!) and poured some dried lentils inside to give the flowers something to stand up in.

I thought the burlap flowers went nicely with the brown postal twine. There’s also a light dusting of gold glitter on these flowers that the camera didn’t quite pick up. So coordinated!

I placed the large vase in the center of my (smallllll) dining room table flanked by the two smaller jars. If I had a larger table, I would extend this tablescape out by picking up two of these glass taper candleholders from the Dollar Tree (which, side-note: LOTS of people were buying when I was at DT on Saturday. Thanksgiving preparedness, perhaps? Yes, I am a basket peeper.)and this 2-pack of white taper candles. Then I would scootch the little jars down and stick the candles in between. Voila! You could also wrap some fake greenery amongst the five pieces or sprinkle fake leaves.

For my tiny table, however, I’m loving this simple look.

Do you plan on doing anything special for your Thanksgiving table? Have you ever found great craft supplies from an unlikely place? Would you consider creating a centerpiece like this one? Let me know in the comments below!

Ballin’ on a Budget–Ditch the Coffee Shop Habit

November 20, 2015budgetcaffeine addict, coffee and tea, frugal drinks, iced coffee, money saving tips, pinching pennies, schedule breaks, Starbucks hacks, workplaceBeth Berger

Today, I’d like to continue a new series on the blog! One that highlights easy strategies for BALLIN’ ON A BUDGET. Each month, I’m going to propose something for all of us to ditch in order to free up some line items on our budgets with values that can go to more practical expenditures like paying down on debt and saving for special occasions. (You can catch up on last month’s suggestions HERE.) Whether you’re actively pinching pennies or simply want to re-direct some of those pennies to better serve you, this series is for you! So, let’s get started…

Listen, I’ve been there. You’re on your way to work and swing by Starbucks for a quick jolt of caffeine. The afternoon doldrums sink in so you scamper out to the street and into the warm glow of the closest Dunkin’ Donuts. A major deadline is looming and rather than sit in your house for one. more. second. you decide to save your sanity, pack up your laptop and head to your favorite independent cafe.

But all those iced coffees and caramel macchiatos can add up. Before you know it you’re having more conversations with your barista than your own mother. So, the next elimination you can make in your journey towards getting financially fit is to ditch the coffee shop habit. I am by no means proposing cutting coffee (or caffeine. or even your super specific bougie drink of choice). I myself LOVE coffee…and frankly don’t want to live in a world without it. But I WOULD encourage you to have a quick perusal of your bank accounts to see how much of your hard-earned cash you’re parting with at coffee shops. Often just for the sake of convenience or a need to break up your day or free wi-fi.

Here are four easy steps you can take over the next four weeks to help you kick this habit to the curb…

Week 1. Invest in some equipment.

Now I know it feels counter-intuitive to SPEND money when you’re trying to stay on the money saving path. But trust me on this one. I once went a whole year without owning a coffee pot. I convinced myself that I didn’t have the money for one and that my office brewed up a big pot every morning anyways. Unfortunately my trade-off didn’t account for those mornings I didn’t go in until later, days when our secretary was sick (and the coffee equipment stayed locked up in her office), and…well….THE WEEKENDS. *slaps forehead* Suffice it to say I ended up going out for coffee way more than I anticipated. If you want to start saving, take this week to go purchase some coffee shop equipment. If you don’t already have one, buy a coffee maker. If you always find yourself picking up coffee on the go because you’re running late in the morning, buy a coffee maker you can set the night before. More of an espresso drinker? You can get an espresso maker for cheaper than you might think. If you’re more tempted by tea at coffee shops, pick yourself up an electric kettle. Any of the above can be purchased to live in your office or break room at work if that’s more your speed and your work doesn’t supply them. Looking for some convenience factor? Order your favorite coffee through Amazon and subscribe to have it sent monthly. Basically, there’s tons of stuff out there to help you re-create coffee shop faves. Need a milk frother, an espresso stovetop version, or a pourover? Invest now and save money later.

Week 2. Learn to barista with the best of ’em.

This is the week for recipe and how-to researching. My favorite!!! Hop on Pinterest, do a little Googling, and ask all your former-barista besties how to make a great cup of joe. My coffee shop guilty pleasure is definitely iced coffee. Are you the same? Learn how to whip up enough for the whole week. I also love caramel frapuccinos, iced caramel macchiatos, vanilla iced lattes, and my other all time favorite behind plain ol’ iced coffee….dirty chai lattes. Whatever you fancy, you can bet your bottom dollar someone on the internet has a tutorial about how to make it.

Week 3. Schedule breaks throughout your day and STICK TO THEM.

One big reason folks fall into the coffee shop habit is because it’s a great excuse to stop working, stretch your legs, and take a bit of a break. Suddenly you realize you’ve been plowing away at some task for the past 5 hours and the afternoon slump hits HARD. For me, this can be curbed by scheduling small breaks throughout my day. This week, keep notes on when the coffee shop urge arises. This is probably a pretty clear indicator of one such time you need to schedule a break. And I don’t mean an “open a new tab and scroll through Twitter” break, I mean a complete change of scenery break. They might pop up at different times every day but are so important for your self-care and productivity…and they won’t cost you! I try to make time for at least 2 during my work day (not counting lunch).

Example of a work break I love: Take a walk around the block. Come back inside and put an electric kettle on to boil. Munch on a few almonds while waiting for the water to boil. Reply to a text or two. Pour tea. Do some neck and upper back stretches while it steeps. Return to desk.

Figure out what works for you and REPEAT.

Week 4. Organize a coffee club!

Maybe your coffee shop visits are more about being social! I think we can address that as well. If you meet up with friends for chats at coffee shops, perhaps you can take turns meeting at each other’s homes instead. You could try to recreate new drinks each time! Perhaps you can set up a workplace coffee club and alternate who brings and brews the coffee. Maybe once the pot is ready you can dole out warm cups and all head outside for a quick breather.

Or you can schedule and budget for special trips to the coffee shop with your crew once a month. In moderation, your coffee shop visits aren’t a habit. They’re a celebration!

Bonus Tip: When people ask for hints about what to get you for Christmas or birthdays, let them know you love coffee (or tea)! Asking for consumables you actually love and will use is a great way to save money.

Do you have your own tips or resources for kicking the coffee shop habit? Is this an area of your “spending diet” that you struggle with? Do you think following these weekly steps could help? Let’s chat in the comments below!

And tune in next month when we tackle BARE CUPBOARDS AND EMPTY REFRIGERATORS!

P.S. Buying coffee? Make it Fair Trade!

mid-week round-up

November 18, 2015Wednesday Linksarticles, cumputers, gardening, just for fun, links, movie stars, music, news, recipes, refugee crisis, round-up, television, West ElmBeth Berger

How’s your week faring so far? We got back from a lovely trip to New Orleans on Monday (you can read details HERE), and I’m already missing my sweet friends and the lovely Autumn breeze. It was so much fun! Now it’s back to the grind. I’ve got a hefty work assignment to conquer and I need to eat ALL of the vegetables to balance out the rich foods I indulged in. Haha! Enjoy your week, bundle up if it’s chilly where you are, and have a look at this week’s internet goodies…

Make your way to the nearest Trader Joe’s and cook up this easy, hearty soup.

Improve your well-being with positive affirmations.

Victims of domestic violence find healing from gardening.

You’ll never hear Reese Witherspoon uttering this question.

An updated version of Alanis Morisette’s Ironic.

Dinner this week?

Sometimes your couch neighbor is more entertaining than what’s on the TV screen.

The real reason for Windows games.

Would you dumpster dive?

Four families struggling to stay together.

A touching story about sisters.

This would look so pretty sprouting a lovely, green plant on my balcony.

Delightful New Orleans Wedding

November 17, 2015Personal, Travelbesties, Cafe NOMA, destination wedding, DIY nuptials, favorites, gumbo, Louisiana, Magazine Street, polaroids, road trip, Sur la Lune gets married, vacation rentalBeth Berger

My dear friends Carrie and Ganer got married in New Orleans on Saturday and had such a thoughtful, dynamic wedding. I was beyond grateful to be present for the magical few days they lovingly created for their friends and family. The entire trip was fantastic. I laughed until my belly ached until the wee hours each day. I cried fat, happy tears when the bride and groom exchanged vows. The whole experience, piling a bunch of lovely friends into a house for a few days and capping off the stay with a wedding ceremony out on the front lawn, reminded me of Ernest Hemingway’s words, “We ate well and cheaply and drank well and cheaply and slept well and warm together and loved each other.” It seemed so fitting that as they became husband and wife, the word HOME glowed brightly just behind them. Because that’s what Ganer and Carrie create wherever they go.

Here are a few highlights from the trip…

Roadtrippin.

Chet and I split up the drive from Miami to NOLA (and back again). We aren’t gluttons for punishment and…he did all the driving (#blessed, #copilot). We stopped in beautiful St. Pete both ways to enjoy some sister time at Starbucks. I LOVE that my lil sis is so much closer now. She agreed to take care of her nephew-kitty while we were away and it was so nice knowing he was in good hands. We also enjoyed our stopover in Gainesville, which supplied us with a delicious dinner of Japanese food and 4 hours of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Bless you hotel cable. In the car we listened to a ton of NPR, many episodes of the podcast Criminal (highly recommend), and Hotline Bling on repeat. On our journey home we stopped at one of those quintessential-Florida “Citrus Centers” to cash in on a free cup of fresh squeezed OJ and a tank full of baby gators on full view.

The Mansion.

We rolled up to this house and our jaws dropped. I can’t believe we got to stay in such a beautiful mansion. Massive Southern porch, grand dining room, landscaped grounds, billiards room, gorgeous kitchen, cozy basement den. It had everything and MORE. And it served as the perfect backdrop for Carrie and Ganer’s nuptials.

Louisiana touches.

More than just an amazing wedding, this trip felt like a real New Orleans vacation. I was scarfing down a catfish poboy pretty much as soon as I arrived! We enjoyed the night life on Frenchmen Street on Thursday. Friday, Chet and I explored the shops and sites on Magazine Street. Ganer’s mom made a massive pot of delicious gumbo for the rehearsal dinner and after the wedding I cut myself a big ol’ square of bread pudding. Suffice it to say my Cajun (and slightly home-sick) fiancee was in heaven…while I just enjoyed the awesome excuse for a vacation!

Sweet friends.

I spent our time in NOLA relishing in the presence of so many sweet friends. I told Chet as we drove away from the city that I had felt so blissfully unplugged during our whole stay. I wasn’t on my laptop once, my phone remained tucked away in our bedroom for hours at a time, social media was an afterthought. This means my digital coverage of our adventures was pretty lacking but the sweet memories definitely outweigh. (Plus, there was a super talented photographer staying with us and I can’t wait to see everything she captured!) I loved having so many of my favorite people in one place! After moving all the way down to the tip of the U.S., I do not take this occurrence for granted. Our social interactions have been lacking this Fall but now my love tank feels so full.

Lovely love.

I’ve long admired and found inspiration from Carrie and Ganer’s relationship. Seeing them showcase their love for each other in such a meaningful and grand way was so special. Their vows, and the ceremony itself, embodied the passionate, warm, giving and creative human beings these two are. I also enjoyed listening to our friend Ben officiate, the readings fit for a truly forensics wedding (Black books! Spliced!), and all the lovely toasts spoken in the couple’s honor. All the little details of the day and all the thoughtful words shared amongst loved ones made me so excited for my own wedding!!! Eeps! Time to get plannin’!

A wild and wonderful party.

Dancing and laughing with your friends never gets old. I remember dancing and laughing with friends when Ganer first showed up in Bowling Green. He ended up at a little house party in my very first apartment and immediately started making eyes at Carrie. I remember dancing and laughing with friends the night Ganer introduced me to Chet at a local dive bar. How thankful I am for those nights, and now this one too.

When you’ve got such a delightful crew by your side, so many wild nights lead to wonderful consequences.

Congratulations Carrie & Ganer!!! Thanks for letting me be a part of your magical wedding. I’ll never forget it. Chet and I love you to the moon and back!

P.S. Want a behind the scenes look? Check out Chet’s vlogs. The Trip and Wedding Celebration Part 1 are up now…and more to come!

10 Trader Joe’s Favorites Every Vegan Should Try

November 12, 2015Food, Guest postgrocery store, Mom post, products I love, staples, Trader Joe's haul, vegan food, vegan friendly shoppingBeth Berger

Recently, I challenged my Mom (expert of all things vegan-related as well as a STRONG believer in the joys of grocery shopping) to share her favorite items from Trader Joe’s with all of us. Here’s what she had to say…

I’m not going to lie, I’m one of those strange birds who loves to grocery shop. At the same time, I pretty much hate all other shopping. But give me a store full of food and I am salivating at the prospect of shopping for all of the goodies. I could literally go to the grocery store every day, and just about do. And so when Trader Joe’s opened a store in Lexington, KY, I was like a kid on Christmas morning.

It didn’t take long for TJ’s to become one of my favorite stores and here is why. Every time I go, there’s a new adventure waiting. The thing that Trader Joe’s does really well is to provide lots of interesting, unique seasonal products while maintaining a great array of staple products that one always needs. And TJ’s knows how to market all these specialty products really well. The Fearless Flyer shows up in my mailbox, I study it like I’m preparing for the biggest exam of my life, I make a list of all the things I must try, and then off I go to the store. The most recent Fearless Flyer was titled “We have a thing for pumpkin” and, believe me, they do! Pumpkin tortilla chips, pumpkin spice granola, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin butter, pumpkin Joe-Joes (wondering what a Joe-Joe might be? Stay tuned for an explanation later in this post.) and, hey, even plain ol’ pumpkin. Yummo! And we won’t talk about how many boxes of Pumpkin Joe-Joes I bought, Shhh!

Needless to say, when Beth challenged me to name my 10 favorite TJ products and then write about them for you guys, I was on this project in a hot minute. Now let me forewarn, these aren’t the pumpkin products that I was just talking about. Pumpkin goodies are just for October and November. Come December and I will be onto other treats. What I am about to share are my 10 faves for year round purchasing and consumption. And these are 10 things that are vegan (because I’m vegan) so those of you who want plant-based cuisine, TJ’s has you covered. So, here goes, my top 10 Trader Joe’s products:

#10) Green Fin California Red Table Wine. I generally like to match my wine to the season (thanks Beth for putting me onto seasonal wine drinking) but I like having this wine, made from organic grapes, on hand for whenever I feel the need for a nice glass of red that goes with pretty much anything.

#9) Cookie Butter. I was introduced to cookie butter when my younger daughter, Katie, lived in Minnesota. This stuff is addictive, great on toast or whatever, and fills in nicely for dessert when no other dessert options are available.

#8) Vegan Tikka Masala. I keep one of these in the freezer at all times. Then when I have one of those 10-hour work days and don’t feel like preparing food, I pop this bad boy in the microwave and voila!

#7) Beef-less Ground Beef. A staple and, while there are a number of companies that produce soy crumbles, this one is particularly good. Ask me about the killer meat-less loaf I made last week. Meat-less loaf sammies for days!

#6) Organic Garbanzo Beans. Another staple not to ever be without. Again, organic chickpeas are available everywhere but not for the price at TJ’s. And check out The I Love Trader Joe’s Vegetarian Cookbook and make this BBQ Bowl. Delicious!

#5) Super Spinach Salad. I just love this salad! And have it about once per week. Spinach, quinoa, carrots, dried cranberries, edamame, pumpkin seeds and a carrot ginger miso dressing. What’s not to love?

#4) Goddess Dressing. OMG! This is so good! Honestly, I make most of my own salads even though I succumb to the Super Spinach Salad from time to time. I even make my own dressings a lot of the time. But when I don’t make my own, this is my go-to dressing time and time again.

#3) Hummus. No self-respecting vegan or vegetarian can be without hummus, right? I’m right. I ALWAYS have some on hand to pair with my pita chips, tortilla chips, veggies, etc. I love the TJ Quartet most of all because then I don’t have to decide which flavor to get. Heck, just get them all!

#2) Cereal. I LOVE cereal but only for breakfast. I’m not one of those people who eats cereal for supper. However, I’m pretty particular about my breakfast cereal. It needs to be organic, there needs to be at least 2 kinds in the bowl (usually 3), there needs to be berries &/or banana slices on top and there needs to be cold soy milk poured over it (I’m definitely Team Soy for this delight). All that being said, I can’t name just one cereal that I purchase at Trader Joe’s. I almost always have 2 or 3 or 4 boxes at check out. But make no mistake, there will be cereal.

#1) Drum roll, please! Joe-Joes. Think TJ’s take on an Oreo. I happen to like Joe-Joe’s better, though. These are my little chocolate sandwich cookie guilty pleasures. I don’t eat them every day or in large numbers – that wouldn’t be very healthy, now would it? – but when I need a chocolate fix, nothing satisfies quite like a Joe-Joe. The chocolate Joe-Joes are getting a little jealous here lately as I’ve been experiencing more pumpkin cravings and resorting to pumpkin Joe-Joes. Don’t worry chocolate Joe-Joes, you’ll always be my true love!!

And there you have it. My Top 10 TJ Products. What are your top 10? While you’re thinking about that I’m just going to make a quick run to my Trader Joe’s for some more yum-yums.

Thanks, Beth, for the challenge. You know, I love a project – especially one that involves food!

P.S. Check out this book…

…if you’re looking for some TJ’s inspiration!

P.P.S. The super adorable vegan avocado cross-stitch is from SickBeetStitch.

mid-week round-up

November 11, 2015Wednesday LinksAirbnb, articles, gift ideas, jewelry, news, nursing, recipe, road trip, round-upBeth Berger

Hello! How’s your week going? This morning, Chet and I are departing on a road trip! We’re making stops today in St. Petersburg, to see my sister, and Gainesville. Then on to New Orleans tomorrow! On Saturday we are attending the wedding of our sweet, sweet friends Carrie and Ganer. I can’t wait to spend the next few days celebrating their love with the loveliest people on earth! And hopefully soak up a bit of NOLA, too! Have a good one, and take a look through my list o’ links…

Scientists prove what my speech memorizin’ self already knew to be true.

Why the U.S. hasn’t had enough nurses for the past half a century.

Gift ideas for the bookworm in your life.

A place to play!

Astronaut secrets revealed.

A story about online bullying in five podcasts.

This salad looks right up my street.

Accurate.

Obsessed with this ring. (Opal!)

Special high-five to this rad barber.

An important comic.

On Airbnb: “The irony is that amateur innkeepers who couldn’t be trusted with the banal task of photographing and marketing their properties are expected to excel at hospitality’s most important rule: keeping guests safe and alive.”