If there are two things I've been curious about, the are: What in the world is this IKEA that everyone seems to love, and why is everyone so excited that a Trader Joe's has come to Omaha?
I'm still not certain about the IKEA thing (although I do believe it is a home goods/decorating store?), but when I visited Bre in Lincoln last, we decided to visit the Trader Joe's there, since we were both so darned curious about it.
Since visiting this most happy place (the employees were so friendly!), full of food samples and coffee canisters and organic goodness – and chocolate! They literally cover everything in chocolate! – I now know why it's not uncommon to see people all over the city carrying around their Trader Joe's tote bags. Bre and I had a lot of fun, and when I told her, "I'm going to take a picture of all these crazy chocolate things!" she didn't even balk. Well, okay, she balked a little, reminding me that I'd look like a freak, but I told her, "Who cares!? Look at all these crazy chocolate things!" So I pulled my camera out of my bag, got it in focus, and… CRUD-IT (as my niece, Natalie, would say)… I had left my memory card at home in Omaha.
We filled our shopping cart with a variety of completely senseless-but-cool things (we blame it on the caramelized butter toffee walnuts we'd just sampled), and headed to the checkout.
Here are some of the fun things we brought home… I'll post the best thing first.
It's no understatement to say I was very excited in the coffee bean aisle. I've always been a sucker for good packaging, so even if this can said "Our beans are harvested from the finest dunghills in America!" I would have brought it home with me.
Here's the back of the can, which I thought was exceptionally artistic:
Btw, if you like Dunkin' Donuts coffee, then you may like this. It had sort of a nutty flavor to it (and for those Austin Powers fans out there, I don't want to hear any "It's a bit nutty!" comments out of you. You know the part I mean.).
Here are a few of the chocolate-covered things we decided to try… first up are these "Powerberries," which Bre claims have made her the skinny fitness freak that she is:
If you follow me on Twitter, you may remember that I consumed almost the entire bag of these things recently, and never transformed into a skinny fitness freak. I did, however, gain quite a stomach ache.
(Btw, I would have said "If you've read my tweets lately," but Mom can't stand that word. Tweet. For some reason, it just rubs her the wrong way. Tweet. I guess we all have words we don't like the sound of, but hers is tweet. Tweet.)
We LOVE edamame in our house (okay, we'll call it what it is: soybeans), so who tweet wouldn't love it covered in rich, dark chocolate?
Me, that's who. I'm giving these to Bre when she tweet comes home. But I'm not so sure I'm giving up the espresso beans, cuz they make me stitch reallyreallyreally fast.
I can't wait to go back to TJ's to try some more things tweet. There were some lemon cookies I wanted so badly bc they were in the most luscious yellow Victorian packaging, and of course there were more fabulous coffee canisters to be had.
If an IKEA ever opens up here in Omaha, I'll make sure to remember my memory card so I won't have another CRUD-IT moment. And I'll also put it on my Twitter, so my mom knows about it. 😉
16 Comments
Beth
Trader Joe’s is my favorite place to shop! I believe their first store opened in Pasadena, CA and I used to shop at that one, I’m dating myself. I just love how reasonable their prices are and the interesting variety of things they sell. We have IKEA here too. My husband and I occasionally go there just to browse, you can spend hours in that place and not even see everything.
Sheryl
we don’t have a Trader Joe’s but it sure does sound like fun. When you go back, you will have to take more pictures. I’m living through your pictures since WV doesn’t have much.
Pals,
Sheryl
Erica
You have to try TJ’s organic popcorn with olive oil!
Absolutely the best popcorn ever!
Margaret
Looks like fun! I have to admit never going to Trader Joe’s. I suppose I should. IKEA, on the other hand. Definitely worth the trip. 😀 (I don’t like it when people say Tweet either. It sounds silly. Plain and simple.)
Jacki
Trader Joe’s is great 🙂 I like that they have a variety of organic and gluten-free things, since I’m gluten intolerant. IKEA is a fabulous furniture and decorating store. They’re self-serve, and you put the furniture together yourself at home. Check out their website – they have some fun stuff 🙂
Debbie
I love, love Trader Joe’s. I was so jealous that they were in California when I visited my sister, but when I moved to where I am now, there was a Trader’s Joes on the corner. Be still my heart! I was just there a couple days ago and dumped $50.00. It’s my favorite place to buy frozen vegetables when the produce is bad this time of the year. And is you ever need some cheap wine – try the Two Buck Chuck – although I think it’s about three bucks now and try……I could go on and on. I love that store.
Love Ikea for that matter too!!
Natasha
Oh yes TJ’s is the greatest place on earth, IMHO 🙂 Are’nt those Power Berries the BEST!! SO darn addictive, I also consumed an entire bag, reason why I have not bought more LOL
The Freeze dried blueberries are a tasty snack as is the Pumkin granola with flax seed and soy nuts, perfect on yougurt or oatmeal…
I <3 Trader Joes 🙂 IKEA mmeeehh I could do without that store except they do have cute curtains and rugs It's to big I feel very overwhelmed when I go in there
Robin Hager
Paulette, you are so FUNNY! Tweet. I bet you drove your mom crazy when you were a kid. Tweet. I really admire and respect a true smarty pants! Tweet.
Melissa
I email Trader Joe’s every week begging for a store in Destin.
A friend of ours had to drive to Atlanta to purchase his Ikea furniture. We are in the middle of no where! Tweet, tweet, tweet!
karren hubrich
I love your photos. You really should be in photography for advertising….you can make everything look it’s finest. I also like your funny explanations. I had to laugh over the dung hill comment!! Ha ha. Thanks for sharing what your mom did for you, on your kids birthdays. Awesome.
Jackie
I don’t think there is a powerberry on this earth that would transform me to a skinny fitness freak. I think your Bre just rolls that way!
Linen Stitcher
Perhaps you don’t need to know this, but IKEA has a catalog. It’s almost as good as visiting the store. Haven’t been to Trader Joe’s, but if they cover everything in chocolate there, then I’d certainly be more than willing to visit. 🙂
Lynn
Hmmmm, I’ll have to try those espresso beans to help with my stitching speed!
We haven’t got a Trader Joe’s here in Canada but we do have Ikea! It’s an incredible store. Ours is expanding and I can’t wait!
Teri
Oh how I could relate to your post. I have to go to another state to visit an IKEA and Trader Joe’s. And, yep, the coffee I’ve bought at Trader Joe’s has been good, but the choice had always been all about the packaging. Thanks for the lovely pictures; ’cause that’s another coffee can I’d like to have!
Marsha
Love the Trader Joes. Try their maple leaf cream filled cookies. I won’t buy them anymore ’cause they’re too good and I eat them all. Sigh. Their wine selection is always excellent too.
Ikea has been here a few years but I still haven’t made it there yet. Like I need another place to shop. (Love the tweeting bit) Tweet!
Debbie Martin
I just love your blog! You have such a funny sense of humor and the way you pair it with pics, is really funny. What a nice way to start the day. Thanks!
Love your cross stitch patterns, AND your nature photos.