My Latest Finds From The Grocery Outlet...

Like everybody else out there I prefer to eat well - even on a budget. Many of you know one of my favorite stores is the Grocery Outlet. Here are just a few of my recent finds there...
POM iced coffee - just .99! They normally go for $3.49
Paul Newman's spaghetti sauce for $1.99 (my favorite to use as a pizza sauce) - usually $2.99
Seeds of Change orrganic chocolate bars for .99!
Hagen Daazs Butter Toffee Pudding icecream for .99
You just can't beat that. If you haven't checked it out, I highly reccomend that you do. GO, I LOVE you! :-)
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Living the Good Life On A Budget: Trader Joe's

I've always loved Trader Joe's, but as prices rise even at bargain places like Winco, I'm appreciating TJ's even more. All of their products are organic, healthy, fair trade - and delicious. They have a new product called a "Take Home Thali For Two," which is basically an Indian dinner for $3.99! It includes rice, yellow lentils, and a potato & pea curry. Pair it with their classic or masala style naan (flat bread) and tomato chutney and you'd swear it came from a restaurant. I never have high hopes from Indian food in a box, but I was totally impressed! It cooked up so well in the microwave it seemed like it came off the stove top. Their multi grain vegetable lasagna is absolutely fabulous, as are their fish tacos with cilantro sauce (both found in the freezer section). Their breaded eggplant cutlets are perfect for making your own Eggplant Parmesan (just bake the cutlets as directed, add cheese and marinara sauce - I love Paul Newman's, but I'm willing to bet TJ's makes a good one, too). Their artisan cheeses are top notch and nearly half what you'd pay elsewhere. My three favorites are their blue cheese, brie, and cambrazola - which is like brie and blue cheese in one. They also happen to make the best tortillas and salsa verde. This salsa is so good it's hard to believe it's fat free, low calorie, and good for you. I use it for salad dressing, too - and it would be great with eggs (juevos rancheros). They also carry a huge selection of reasonably priced beer and wine, so you can really make dinner in feel like dinner out. If you haven't checked out Trader Joe's yet, put it on your To Do list. I guarantee you'll love it...
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Living the Good Life On A Budget: The Grocery Outlet; My New Favorite Store...

OK - I admit it - I'm a bit of a wine snob and "gourmand," but my pay and hours have been cut by almost 1/3 due to the struggling economy. I have to have my wine and brie. What to do, what to do??? Fret no more - Grocery Outlet to the rescue! First of all, they carry wine and beer. How cool is that? I just had a glass of Glory Days Voignier that I picked up there for a mere $3.99 a bottle. I bought a few other brands for $2.99! Some of my other recent finds have been an Oreo cheesecake for $1.99 with real name-brand Oreos, not the cheap knock-off stuff, frozen Indian food microwave dinners for $1.99 (the same brand others carry for a whopping $5), and the most Delicious Greek yogurt with honey for .50! I even got a HUGE bag of fresh red and yellow bell peppers for $1.99 that I cut up in slices and threw in the freezer for fajitas later in the week. This place is freaking AWESOME!!! You simply have to check it out - especially as prices are even rising at bargain grocers such as Winco. And remember - the items are always changing, giving you a great variety. Hopefully there's one near you. If so - what are your favorite finds?
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Yet another great blog to bookmark

I just stumbled upon another great style and party blog - Lotus Haus by Joanna Dyckoff. Like Celebrate With Style, it features stories on chicparties, fashion, home decor, and more. Every photo is gorgeously photographed, every tip a do-it-yourselfers dream. Please check it out: http://lotushaus.typepad.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Discovered another great blog...

For all those out there that love hand made - and are style oriented - there's a great blog called Celebrate With Style. It details parties, food, weddings, fashion - you name it, and this blog has a beautifully photographed and expertly written story on it - and it's all handmade by artists from around the world (or illustrates how you can make your own). Please check it out: http://www.celebratewithstyle.com/site/DisplayIndex

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com