Trader Joe's

Trader Joe’s Hack! A Waldorf-y Tuna Salad With Their Mediterranean Style Salad Kit (5-Minute Meal)

June 19th, 2018 by Karen 3 Comments

trader joes hacks waldorf tuna salad — Got 5 minutes and a rumbly tummy?

Had this for lunch today for, oh, I dunno…the second time this week! 🙂 It’s savory, sweet, flavorful, fast, and there’s hardly any chopping involved. It’s my healthy twist on a Waldorf salad, which usually has apple, grapes and mayo. And sometimes chicken.

I usually eat the whole thing in one sitting, but it could serve two as a side salad.

How do I make it?

I’m glad you asked! 🙂

I start with a bag of Trader Joe’s Organic Mediterranean Style Salad (you might remember it from this gnocchi hack), then I set aside the red wine vinaigrette, and add half the greens to a bowl, along with the other accouterments it comes with — the roasted chickpeas, flatbread, dried tomatoes and feta cheese.

(Bag up the rest of the greens, and save for another meal.)

After that, I wash and dry some grapes and cut them in half. Or, sometimes I’ll just leave them whole when I feel super lazy/hungry. Totally up to you!

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Trader Joe’s Hack! Cauliflower Gnocchi with Basil and Parmesan, and Mediterranean Style Salad with Crunchy Ranch Chickpeas and Corn (A 20-Minute Meal)

June 1st, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

trader joes cauliflower gnocchi top — A yummy vegetarian meal, ready in less than 20 minutes, thanks to Trader Joe’s!

I mean, you could tear into bags of these pre-made yums from Trader Joe’s and devour them as they are, but why do that when it’s so easy to make ’em even better?

For the record, I love hacking TJ’s products and making them my own. I did it this week to make a delicious veggie meal. I made cauliflower gnocchi with Parmesan and basil, then added it to a salad with crunchy ranch-flavored chickpeas and corn, all using stuff from TJ’s.

It was really easy, too. I started making it right as El Hub took Connor out to play, and it was completely done and plated when they got back 30 minutes later. All we had to do was sit down and eat.

I loved it, El Hub loved it, and the baby loved it, too. She gobbled down every last bite.

If you want to give it a try, you’ll need a few things…

The Trader Joe’s Organic Mediterranean Style Salad Kit, which you can get in the bagged salad section
Cauliflower Gnocchi, which is in the frozen foods section
Also, not pictured here, Trader Joe’s Ranch Seasoned Crispy Chickpeas (you’ll find them by the chips)
Grated Parmesan
Basil
Olive oil
Butter
Corn! (Can’t forget the corn.)

trader joes cauliflower gnocchi and mediterranean style salad kit — Start here!

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IT’S BACK, BABY! Trader Joe’s Rose Oil Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream Is Back!

May 8th, 2018 by Karen 21 Comments

trader-joes-rose oil hand cream on shelf — Time to stockpile!

When it comes to rumors, generally I take the advice I got from Timex Social Club when I was in sixth grade.

I choose to ignore them.

Started by the jealous people…

BUUUUUT when a friend told me that she asked a clerk who told her that TJ’s famous Rose Oil Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream (which sold out at our store in, like, two seconds) would be back in time for Mother’s Day, I told myself that it was probably just a rumor started by a bored TJ’s employee who messes with the hearts and minds of skin care enthusiasts.

Still, I always checked the shelf in the beauty aisle, just in case, hoping and against hope that I’d see my beloved hand cream again.

Lo and behold, I did! It’s baaaaaaack! 🙏

If I’d had a portable fainting couch with me, I would’ve whipped it it out in the store.

I grabbed two boxes like I was grabbing bottled water for the apocalypse, and yet I’m already kicking myself for not getting more.

I’m serious, this cream is the only thing keeping my hands from going full-on T. rex 🦖 claw. Look for it every time you go to TJ’s. It’s marvelous!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask Was a Kick-@ss Consolation Prize

March 26th, 2018 by Karen 15 Comments

I got myself this Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask as a consolation prize last weekend because I went up and down every single aisle and scanned every shelf, but I couldn’t find my beloved Rose Oil Hand Cream, boo-hoo! So I got this thinking, “Yay! This will tide me over, and whatevs — it’s only $3.99, so it’s not the end of the world if I don’t like it.”

Girlfriend.

This mask is just as good as the fancy-schmancy Oribe one I used a couple months ago at the salon. It’s actually great, and it costs less than a latte!

I’ve used it twice, but I’m already dreading the day I walk into the shower and find it empty…

It’s a deep-conditioning mask for dry and/or damaged hair, but I think anyone looking for serious moisture or frizz control can use it. Overall, my hair is pretty healthy right now, but I can always use extra moisturize, which is why I wanted to try it.

I use it when I shower in the evenings, leaving it on for five minutes (it smells lightly of coconuts), and let my hair air dry overnight. The next morning, my hair looks GOOD, like I’m living in a hair commercial. I can even see light reflecting off the strands! It has lots of bounce and shine, and it isn’t out-of-control frizzy. It doesn’t feel like I’m wearing a heavy hair helmet, either.

It looks so good that I even skip using any additional smoothing or shine styling products.

And did I mention that it’s only $4??

The ingredient list reads like a recipe for a homemade hair mask. There’s shea butter and coconut oil (obvs), along with a whole host of other hydrating helpers, like argan oil and vitamin E, and plant extracts, too, like blackberry, sunflower seed, black current and mulberry, among others.

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