My Inner Shakti | A mind, body, soul approach to healthy living

10 Awesome Trader Joe’s Products

February 26, 2014 6:00 am , 22 Comments , myinnershakti

It is no secret that I absolutely love Trader Joe’s. I wish y’all could see me walking up and down the aisles. Kid in a candy store I tell you.

South Florida was introduced to TJ’s in October 2013. Can we say behind the times? Anyways, I meant to go around the opening but never made it for one reason or another. My first real visit was a few weeks ago, and I’ve been back twice since. Addddddicted!

I can now say that I have a few favorite products that always seem to make their way into my shopping cart. It’s pretty much a given that I will come home with most of these. And since I know so many people shop at TJ’s, I thought I would share what they are. And I’m hoping that you’ll share some of your favorites in the comments (re: PLEASE share your favorites in the comments)!

1. Refried Black Beans. Love love love! Both Vishnu and I love these beans. They taste great on their own and even better with some chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin mixed in. We usually eat them alongside eggs and potatoes. Yum!

2. Organic Diced Fire Roasted Tomatoes. These canned tomatoes pack a lot of flavor and are perfect in everything. I’ve made tomato sauce with them as well as Indian curry.

3. Speculoos Cookie Butter. No words needed. If you haven’t yet tried this deliciousness, get your butt to TJ’s ASAP! This stuff is amazing in bowl of hot oatmeal (with a few chocolate chips of course)!

4. Organic Brown Rice Penne Pasta. For anyone doubting how good this pasta is let me tell you one thing. Vishnu loved it. Shocking, as he strongly prefers “normal” pasta. Personally, I loved the texture – it was smooth and slightly chewy.

5. Cilantro and Jalapeno Hummus. The fact that this even made my list should shock some of my long time readers. I HATE cilantro, but I LOVE this stuff. The only reason I ever bought it in the first place was because I knew Vishnu would devour it. And now? I think I love it more than he does!

6. Organic Tuscan Kale. Love using this in my green smoothies. AND it’s $1.99/bag! What a deal!

7 and 8. Crushed Garlic and Chopped Basil Cubes. These little packets are frozen gems. I love having them handy to throw into…everything! Convenience is key.

9 and 10. Frozen Pineapple Tidbits and Mango Chunks. I love TJ’s frozen fruits, and these two are my favorites. They are perfect additions to my green smoothie drinks. Sometimes Vishnu and I eat the mango all on it’s own. It’s so sweet – love it!

Your turn to share! What are some of your favorite food products (TJ’s or not)?

Posted in: Food, Grocery shopping , Tagged: favorite TJ's products, Trader Joe's

Did I Do What I Said I Was Going To Do?

February 24, 2014 6:00 am , 14 Comments , myinnershakti

. Not having concrete plans this weekend was a little weird…and VERY awesome! There is something magical about knowing you have two days to do whatever makes your heart happy.

In this week’s Par’s Picks post, I mentioned that I had big plans to do absolutely nothing. Well, almost nothing. I listed a few things that I wanted to accomplish, and I really thought that by the end of Sunday I would be able to cross each one off my list. Let’s see how I did.

The first thing on my list was sleep. And I think I can safely say that I slept a lot this weekend. In fact, at one point, Vishnu looked at me (quite seriously) and said, “Par, I think you have a sleeping problem.” I looked at him (also quite seriously) and said, “I don’t have a sleeping problem, I had a sleep deficit problem and am working on fixing that.”

And anyway, this picture tells quite a different story…

Next on my list was a long run. Well, I did go for a run, but it wasn’t as long as I had planned. Instead of running 5 miles, I completed 4 before heading home. I didn’t make it out until about 9 am, and by that time, it was WAY too hot outside. It’s definitely summertime in Miami again! With that being said, I may move my long run day to Tuesday instead of Saturday. If I have to get up super early to fit it in, I’d rather do it during the week.

I also wanted to fit in some serious reading time this weekend. And I am happy to report that I was able to do that! I’m currently reading Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. My friend and former colleague Allison recommend it, and since I trust her taste in books, I decided to download it onto my Kindle. I am 100% engrossed in the book and have had a hard time putting it down.

Also on my list was a major closet cleanout. Sadly, this just didn’t happen. And I have nothing to blame but my laziness. That and the fact that our bedroom also serves as Vishnu’s study space. And with a big exam coming up next week, he really needed some quiet time. I figured the closet cleanout could wait until next weekend. That way Vishnu can help without any distractions (you’re welcome, Vishnu!).

And the last thing on my list was a trip to Trader Joe’s. You better believe this happened! I woke up at 7:30 am on Sunday morning, brushed my teeth, made myself look presentable, and drove 20 minutes to the grocery store. The whole process is a little time consuming but well worth the effort. TJ’s is so much cheaper than Publix. And I love that I don’t have to compromise on quality. I’m going to share some of my favorite TJ’s products in an upcoming post. We have quite a few!

Making delicious food wasn’t on my list but it happened! On Saturday night I made eggplant/veggie parm. We invited Andy over for dinner since Robin is out of town. I think it’s safe to say that we were all satisfied!

I also spent a good portion of Sunday afternoon baking up a storm. I made honey maple granola, sweet and spicy nuts (I used a mix of cashews and almonds), and banana bread muffin tops. Everything turned out so well. Excited for the week ahead!

Well, that was my weekend. I’m happy with how much I was able to accomplish. Let’s hope the work week is just as productive!

Happy Monday!

What were some of your weekend highlights?

Posted in: Weekend , Tagged: closet cleanout, jojo moyes, long run, me before you, sleeping in, Trader Joe's

Par’s Picks – 14

February 22, 2014 6:00 am , 4 Comments , myinnershakti

You guys, I have big plans this weekend. NOT! My only plans are to sleep, fit in a long run, read, clean out our closet, and make a trip out to Trader Joe’s. That. Is. It. I could not be more excited about my weekend, one that some would call boring.

I am also excited to share this week’s Par’s Picks. It’s been a while. I hope you enjoy this eclectic mix of articles/blog posts.

LIFE/SELF:

If You Wait Until You’re Ready, You’ll Be Waiting Forever – This…

Nobody has ever looked around at their circumstances, thought to themselves, “Yes, I am ready for this,” and had a life-changing thing plop into their lap. It doesn’t work like that. Life doesn’t work like that. It never has, and it never will. The things that change you and stay with you are not the things that casually happen when you are ready for them, and when you want them to. There would be nothing spectacular about them.

This Is Your Life, Are You Who You Want to Be? – One of the best “tips on how to live life” lists I’ve read.

I Finally Figured Out Why I Procrastinate – While I’m not a procrastinator, at least not an extreme one, I could totally relate to aspects of this article.

16 Rules For A Long Lasting Marriage – This pretty much nails it.

HEALTHY LIVING:

The Reaction You’d Never Expect After These 4 Women’s Professional Photo Shoot – Watch this. It’s powerful and sends a message that everyone needs to see and hear.

My Favorite Green Products – I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to be more green, especially at home. I even made my own air freshner a few weeks ago! This is a great list of everyday products that if used instead of their not-so-green counterparts could make a huge difference, both in terms of the environment and cost savings.

Chocolate Lover? Ban Words Like Indulge and Treat – I never considered the implication of words like indulge and treat since guilt is the last thing on my mind when eating chocolate, but the author makes a good point.

6 Easy Ways to Detox Every Day – I’m not a huge fan of the detox mentality, but this simple, lifestyle oriented list actually makes sense.

Top 10 Foods for Sunday Food Prep – So much good stuff in one post! Lindsay is THE queen of food prep, so if you’re looking for ideas to make mealtime easier, read this.

FUN:

13 Hacks to Improve Your Google Search – At the very least, a few of these will blow your mind.

FOOD/RECIPES:

Which cooking oil is right for you? – A great breakdown of when to use different oils.

Lightened Up Red Velvet Cupcakes – How good do these look?!

10 Grown-Up Grilled Cheeses — Comfort Food Feast – And now I’m craving a grilled cheese or five.

7 INGREDIENT VEGAN CHEESECAKES – After trying Robin’s raw cheesecake last weekend, I am ready to make my own! Don’t these look amazing!?

INSPIRATION: