Not Your Average Joe

Post image for Not Your Average Joe

by admin on July 14, 2011

I know it' s been such a long time since I wrote a blog post, and frankly I am pretty embarrassed since my sweet husband created this awesome blog which I have neglected to keep updated.  So, what better time to kick start my writing then with an entry about something I have waited for, for FIFTEEN years.

Since moving from Los Angeles to Kansas City in 1996,  I have missed many things.  My family, my lifelong friends, the beach, the mountains, the amazing restaurants, and my beloved Trader Joe's.  For 15 years, with the help of my mom, I have shipped boxes of their products several times a year.  At first, I would ship their frozen foods in ice packs, but after 9/11, it was easier to stick to the dry goods.  I also got pretty tired of the skycap at LAX opening my perfectly packed box, rummaging through my goods, and then chuckling "You don't have a Trader Joe's where you live?"

So what's the fuss about you say. It's just a market right? Nope. For me not only is it a piece of California, but it is a market filled with great products, great prices and cooking inspiration.  Their coffee, nuts, cheeses, cereals, wines, pasta, sauce, oils, chocolate treats, pizza dough, frozen foods, flowers, crackers and dog food (to name just a few items), are like nothing we have here.  Sure we can get what we need, but you have to wander the aisles to truly get the Trader Joe's philosophy. Which, if you don't know it, here it  is - http://www.traderjoes.com/about/our-story.asp

I do worry that some of you may not "get it."  Some of you may scoff that parking is often a hassle (I expect the Leawood store will be a challenge), some of you may not understand that you still may need to go to your big market to fill in with some produce ((but as my friend in California says "If it's not at Trader Joe's, I'm not getting it), but I  have faith in you Kansas City that you will embrace my beloved Trader Joe's with open arms.  If you still need convincing on why I am slightly obsessed, check  out this youtube video made by another fan -

If you want to know what to get, meet me at 6:00am this Friday morning for the grand opening (which is 8:00am) and get ready to load up your cart. I have been cleaning my frig, freezer and pantry to prepare for this day, and I already see an amazing party in my future.

{ 3 comments }

The Cleanse – Day 3. A Piece Of Cake

Post image for The Cleanse – Day 3. A Piece Of Cake

by Felice on August 14, 2010

Don't let my title fool - I did not have a piece a cake, or even wanted one, but Day 3 was super easy. I felt like we were in the groove, I wasn't hungry or cranky (and it's still 115 degrees here), and the BBQ was no big deal.  There was a huge buffet of burgers, salads, chips, brownies, plus beer and wine, and Bryan and I just drank water. I know it sounds awful, but we were one juice away from finishing, so we weren't going to ruin it over a gloppy macaroni salad.

I suppose that is what I want to take away from this cleanse - an "is it worth it" attitude.  If I am at a BBQ, do I need the chips or potato salad. Is there any redeeming value in them?  And, more importantly, if I do feel like something salty, sweet or processed, I want to have some, and move on.  I did lose 4 lbs this weeks, but we will see if it stays off. I am fully aware it may come back on.

Our juices for Day 3

Spinach, Carrot, Pineapple, Cilantro, Lime - we had this twice, and it was great.
Banana Vanilla - the closet thing to having food for two days. Sweet, creamy and dreamy.
Watermelon Lime Mint  - super refreshing.
Apple Carrot Ginger - I love this one because it is so clean tasting.
Nut Milk - The nirvana of juices.

For the next few days we have to ease back into eating. The book says to have some fruit (yes real fruit I can bite into) and juice throughout the day, and each day add back a few items. My initial reaction was that sounded awful. I have been drinking 16 oz every 2-3 hours and now I get a couple of apples? So I emalied BluePrintCleanse, and they got back to me right away (which I love,) and told me I could add some salad and maybe fish, but to go slow.

Let me know if you decide to cleanse,  what cleanse you follow, and if you have questions about our experience. I thought BluePrintCleanse was great because you still get a lot of vitamins, nutrients, and calories. Next time I would start on a weekend, because making the juice does take time. A friend of mine has done BluePrintCleanse twice - once she bought the juice, once she made the juice, and this time is buying the green juice at a local juice place, and then making the fruit juices at home. There are lots of options. The BluePrintCleanse suggests you can cleanse once a month, or they have a cleanse until dinner program. I can see us doing either.  I would do the 3 Day Cleanse again, but not every month.  The point for us is to kick start healthier eating; we had become lazy, so hopefully we are on our way.

I'll let you know how the next few days go, and if you see me eating chips and dip, don't think I've fallen off the wagon, just assume I am doing it in moderation, or drank juice all day (yeah right!)

{ 1 comment }

Cleanse – Day 2. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Thumbnail image for Cleanse – Day 2. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Day 2 – Today was a little more challenging, but it wasn’t the juices’ fault. There were many extenuating circumstances, which you can read about below.
Our juices for the Day 2:
Blueberry, Spinach, Lemon, Apple – Not my favorite. It tasted great, but it had a weird consistency.
Frozen Cherry Lime with Banana – Loved it. Like [...]

Read the full article →

The Cleanse – Day 1

Thumbnail image for The Cleanse – Day 1

Day 1 -  Well, I didn’t chew my arm off.
I have to say, it went really well.  The juices tasted great, and I only got a little hungry. Very do-able.
Here is what I ate; I mean drank.
2 Green juices made from kale, spinach, cucumber, lemon, apple and parsley
3 Fruit Juices – watermelon lime mint, carrot [...]

Read the full article →

To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse, that is the question….

Thumbnail image for To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse, that is the question….

Long time no blog..
My poor husband. Sets me up with a beautiful blog, and I haven’t been using it.  Life has a way of getting in the way, so here I go again.
For the past few years I have been reading a lot about cleansing.  I am quite leery of anything that denies me food, [...]

Read the full article →

All we are saying is…Give Cheeks a Chance!

Thumbnail image for All we are saying is…Give Cheeks a Chance!

My newest blog post is on behalf of a great cause, www.HappyBottoms.org,  but before I explain, I need to tell you how we met. As I teeter on the edge of social media, I am amazed everyday at its power. Whether I notice that two friends know each other on Facebook that I had no [...]

Read the full article →

BRGR Kitchen+Bar – a new hangout!

Thumbnail image for BRGR Kitchen+Bar – a new hangout!

FINALLY!!! A restaurant in my neighborhood that I can to with adults, with kids, on a GNO, or a date night.  We live in the cutest neighborhood, but one thing it lacks is restaurants.  This week we welcomed, and I mean with open arms,  BRGR Kitchen+Bar  into the hood, and let me tell you something….it’s [...]

Read the full article →

The Bachelor Finale – Or lessons shared with a 14 year old

Thumbnail image for The Bachelor Finale – Or lessons shared with a 14 year old

Oh “The Bachelor” finale -did you watch? Did you care? Am I the worst mom on the planet for making it a date night with my 14 year old daughter.
You know I love reality tv, and I haven’t watched the “The Bachelor” since Trista and Ryan, and I am not sure what propelled me to [...]

Read the full article →

Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignone Demystified

Thumbnail image for Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignone Demystified

I finally did it – I channeled my inner Julia Child and made Boeuf Bourguignon.  I have been wanting to do this since I saw “Julie & Julia,”  and with 2 more inches of snow coming, it seemed like the perfect time.
The recipe takes about 4-5 hours, but don’t let that scare you.  I am [...]

Read the full article →

Butternut Squash Potstickers

Thumbnail image for Butternut Squash Potstickers

Hello and Happy New Year.  One of my resolutions is to cook more. Of course, that makes the other resolution, lose weight, a little harder,  but cook more doesn’t have to mean eat more, right?
I saw Michael Pollan  (“In Defense of Food”, ” The Omnivore’s Dilemma”) speak last year, and one of the things he [...]

Read the full article →