September 6, 2011

Whole Latte Good

1.  After a fun-filled weekend in the mountains my sweet man stopped to buy a coffee for me. Much to my delighted surprise, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back.  The heavens parted and the angels sang.... fall must be on the way.

2.  On the rain-drenched trip home, I opened this book:
I was smitten.
Its new take on the act of thankfulness brought me to my knees.  I rarely recommend a book, especially when I am only half way through it, but this is worth its weight in gold.


3.  Last week we made a trip to the local Trader Joes.  It had been months since our last visit.  It's just far enough that we have to make a special effort to go.  I stocked up on all my favorites and when I got home I decided to take a picture to share with you.  These are just a few of the things we love:
The kiddos love the mini tacos.  Me?  Not so much..  The Island Soyaki sauce is good on anything.  Except ice cream.  We like to marinate chicken in it and then grill up a storm.  Good stuff.  I'm a pimiento cheese snob and theirs is worth mentioning for the prepackaged variety.  Do you have a good recipe for pimiento cheese?  Do share!  I've shared my other TJ favorites here, here, and here.  Hello, my name is Gretchen and I'm addicted to Trader Joes.

4.  This gorgeous, huge bouquet came from Trader Joes for only $5.99.  They are almost a week old and still this fresh!  It was a little tiny gift to myself.  Those are okay, once in a while, right?  :)

5. We came home to an upstairs broken air conditioner.  With only a few weeks of summer-like weather it was a hard pill to swallow.  However, since I had just spent the last 2 hours reading about the act of thankfulness, my heart-response was much different than it would have normally been.  The good news?  We were able to get it fixed today!

9 comments:

Karen said...

Gretchen, I've read it three times since it first hit the bookshelves. Yes, it changes one's whole perspective on things. Have a great week.

Laura Robinson said...

I have a wonderful recipe for a warm pimento cheese dip...I am a bit of a p.c. snob too and this is a great dip for parties and showers. I am far too lazy and nauseous to get my bottom off the sofa now to get it though, but I will def. send it to you soon! (Gotta love first trimester's right?)

Nancy's Notes said...

Pumpkin Spice Latte is back, I'm thrilled, love it! Oh, does that really mean it's closer to being fall? You have a sweetie in your life, for sure! Love all your goodies you brought home and so sorry your AC is on the outs! Yes, it's a must to have it fixed! Loving your beautiful flowers Gretchen!!

Nancy

Anonymous said...

8oz sharp cheddar
3/4 c mayo (dukes) ;)
1 jar pimiento
1 tsp sugar
Black pepper

Leslie P

Little Oak Table said...

You are my twin!

Last night I had my first Pumpkin Latte and oh! So good!

I'm on #463.

It has been a blessing to go on the journey of searching for the blessings of God to be thankful for.

One of my recent favorites-the sound of tiny feet running across the tile floor.

whimzie said...

I started the book in the waiting room one day and quickly realized that this isn't a book I can read with one eye on the book and the other on the million other things going on around me. I'm looking forward to chiseling out some quiet time by myself to savor every word.

Sus makes a mean pimento cheese. She's told me the recipe several times but I never write it down. I wish she would just always make it for me and I wouldn't ever have to know the recipe.

The Corbett Family said...

Did you see they are opening a drive-thru Starbucks on Strickland near Six Forks in the old KFC? That may or may not be good.
I might have to make that book my 2nd book to finish in 8 years :)
I love the Edamame at TJ's. We probably eat so much of it, that Stacy said she met a friend named Edamame the other day at school. It was hilarious.

Anonymous said...

i've seen references to that book lately & wondered about it, checked out the web site, etc. so apparently it's as good as it sounds, huh? the one i have my eye on right now is Jesus Calling. i get their posts on FB, & they're constantly drenched w/ such refreshing truths! (i love having more books on my list than i can work through! well, sort of.) ;)

LOVE the flowers!! (and yes, this week was nat'l "do a little something that's a big pick-me-up" week, so you're good.) ;)

thx, as always, for the window into your warm world. or "journey." ;)

- TZ

p.s. do i win the prize, btw, for the most winks in one post?? apparently a paragraph isn't complete w/o one!




;)

Amy said...

Love the flowers! I haven't thought about TJ's for bouquets. Needed something from a real florist recently and couldn't believe the prices on their arrangements, so this is a great alternative for a special treat! Going to take a look at your book now. . .