Trader Joe’s. A place many of us may have a love/hate relationship with. However, there's a very simple reason as to why this place is so irresistible. Let me explain...

I LOVE that they are constantly releasing new and interesting products all throughout the year, but REALLY go hard during the holidays. I have never seen a store own pumpkin flavored anything as hard as TJ’s does. I mean honestly, who REALLY needs pumpkin flavored tortilla chips, nobody. On the flip-side though, Pumpkin O’s cereal, bomb. More on that later.

It’s like walking into a foodmusement park (yup, just made that up, BAM!) every week where you don’t know what kind of ride you’re gonna on… will it be salty, sweet, sassy!? Mine are usually a mix of all three, especially when I shop hungry. I also like to buy myself some of their gorgeous flowers to set the mood, so it’s a win-win all around!

Now, let’s talk my latest haul.

These crunchy little circles have the delightful texture of Apple Jacks (remember those?) which tend to be more airy versus a Cheerio which are more dense. The pumpkin flavor isn’t overpowering which is why I like them. I’m not HUGE on pumpkin flavored foods, but do enjoy foods that have a hint of pumpkin flavor. That make sense? I usually pour myself a bowl of these cuties, slice a banana on top and finish with oat milk! It is delish!

EVERYTHING BUT THE BAGEL GREEK STYLE YOGURT DIP

This dip ya’ll - I buy it in multiples! If you’re an everything bagel fan (minus fennel, GA-ROSS!), and love dips, then this is a match made in heaven! It’s truly a perfect dip! I put it on my eggs, I eat it with chips or crackers, I mean, the options are honestly endless! My one complaint is that the container isn’t big enough!

HARVEST CHILI

Black Beans, Butternut Squash, Cauliflower & Sweet Potato Simmered with Pumpkin Puree & Chili Spices

When the colder months start to set in, chili is one of my favorite meals to have! If I’m not making it myself, I love finding quick, delicious soups or chilis that I can just pop in a bowl, jazz up with some toppings and call it a night! This Harvest Chili is so delicious and tastes exactly like a big bowl of Fall. After warming it up, I like to top with shredded cheese, diced red onion, diced avocado and some sour cream. It is so yummy and cozy and EASY!

Ooooo this tea is FRESH!! Let me give you a quick backstory - I was a Pieology a couple weeks back and they have this watermelon black tea there whcih I decided to try and I LOVED it. I kept thinking about it and wondered where the heck I could find watermelon black tea. Fast forward to my TJ’s trip and there it was… this pink and green tin of Mint Watermelon Black Tea! The first thing I did was check to make sure they gave instructions for making iced tea, and sure enough, THEY DID! Done and done. I bought it, went home and immediately made a pitcher of this delicious tea and it tasted pretty darn close to the tea I had at Pieology! Also, bonus points, every time I opened my fridge, it gave off this amazing aroma of mint and watermelon. SOLD.

Trader-Joes-Vanilla-Bean-Infused-Vermont-Maple-Syrup-689x1024.jpg — VANILLA BEAN INFUSED VERMONT MAPLE SYRUP

I LOVE Vanilla bean. I love adding vanilla bean paste into my baking, vanilla bean ice cream, you name it, so when I saw this syrup I was so excited! When I TRIED it, I was even more excited because it is delightful! It’s not overpowering, the maple and the vanilla compliment each other so well and it’s the perfect consistency - not too thick and not to thin. So far, I’ve used it on pancakes (and eggs), yes I’m a weirdo, but I think I’m going to need to stock up because I’m pretty sure this is a seasonal item! Go get it now!

JOE-JOE’S COOKIES & CREAM LIGHT ICE CREAM

Cookie & Cream is my absolute favorite ice cream, so when I saw a light version at TJ’s, I was ALL over it! I gotta say, it actually tastes good and doesn’t tastes diety. Of course, I like to be extra, so I top mine with chocolate magic hard shell and fat free whipped cream which kinda sorta defeats the whole purpose of me eating light ice cream, but it’s baby steps people. To me, it’s better than devouring a full pint of Ben & Jerry’s Boom Chocolatta Cookie Core! Just sayin…

What items at Trader Joe’s are ya’ll loving right now? I just LOVE this store so much and am so giddy when I shop there! I could spend all day in there, but I’m pretty I’d get kicked out. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Happy Shopping!