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Best Trader Joes Products: Fall Haul

Best Trader Joes Products Fall Haul

Can you believe up until last month I was a Trader Joe’s virgin?! For someone who talks about trends all day, every day, I felt left out of the Fall frenzy that seemed to be happening at Trader Joe’s according to literally every single blogger. So my basic self had to go investigate what all the madness was about. In addition to my long list of all things pumpkin and Fall flavored, I asked all of you for your recommendations and y’all did not disappoint!

What did disappoint was honestly a lot of the fall flavored items. See below for my full grocery list that I picked up and which items I would buy again or not.

GROCERY LIST


Pumpkin O’s

Pecan Pumpkin Instant Oatmeal

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Pumpkin Spice Almond Beverage

Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Almonds

Autumnal Harvest Soup

Goat Cheese & Sundried Tomato Raviolis 

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Gorgonzola Gnocchi

Chicken Fried Rice

Coconut Shrimp

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

Chili Limi Seasoning

Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberry Bites

Dark Chocolate Covered Banana Bites

Kung Pao Tempura Cauliflower 

Green Goddess Salad Dressing

I’D BUY AGAIN


Pecan Pumpkin Instant Oatmeal

I was pleasantly surprised by this! If you are a fan of on-the-go breakfast meals, this one has a great flavor and I love the pecan pieces in it.

Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Almonds

I’d go back to TJ’s just for these. I demolished these in a few days. So good!! The perfect snack or after dinner small dessert.

Autumnal Harvest Soup

While TJ’s also has a Harvest pasta sauce (which I didn’t see) I used this chunky soup as a pasta and pizza sauce. The flavor is amazing and I love that it has small chunks of veggies. I highly recommend using it on the goat cheese & sundried tomato raviolis or as a pizza sauce on the cauliflower crust.

Goat Cheese & Sundried Tomato Raviolis 

100% my favorite purchase from TJ’s. if you are a goat cheese lover, grab these! They are located in the produce section and pair nicely with the Autumnal Harvest Soup used as a pasta sauce.

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

These are all the rage right now! I suggest putting a little olive oil on the crust and baking it for 5 minutes before actually putting your sauce and toppings on so that it doesn’t fall apart. It tasted just like a normal pizza crust with less calories!

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Flavored with sage and butter this was actually pretty good. I added chicken and goat cheese and loved every bite! I will say it is a little mushy.

Gorgonzola Gnocchi

This honestly didn’t have a ton of flavor. I added spiced apples, walnuts and fresh rosemary to give it some flavor and it was amazing!

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

This seasoning was probably the most nominated item by all of you. It is pretty darn good on avocado toast.

Green Goddess Salad Dressing

This one came highly recommended by all of you and I see why! It is a good one!

HARD PASS


Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Ew. So much ew. I’m not sure if it’s because I microwaved this instead of heating it up in the oven (both were listed as options), but it was dry and did not have a great flavor either. I know a ton of people liked this but I personally did not.

Pumpkin O’s

These tasted like sweet cardboard to me.

Pumpkin Spice Almond Beverage

I tried to love this, i really did. It definitely does NOT work in coffee and to be honest I didn’t 100% love it in anything else that I tried either. While it has a decent flavor, I don’t like that whatever you add it to gets this film on the top of it. Makes me wonder what I’m actually drinking!


For everything else, I did not have a love or a hate relationship with it. If I didn’t list it under “I’d buy again” or “hard pass” then it fell somewhere inbetween the two. Meaning I didn’t dislike but I also didn’t love it. If it sounds good to you, try it! If not, you can probably live without it:) If there are any must have Trader Joe’s items that I did not pick up in my initial haul, please let me know since I’ll be returning very soon!

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Adams’ Family Fall Recipes

POPCORN BALLS

Adams' Family Fall Recipes: Pumpkin Popcorn Balls

 

10 cups popcorn (popped)
2, 10 ounce bags of Mini Marshmallows
1/2 cup unsalted butter
Orange food dye

2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 roll of clear or orange Cellophane                12 green pipe cleaners                             Serving Size: 24 Popcorn balls

 

Step 1: Pop the popcorn, remove any leftover kernels and place all 5 cups of popcorn in a large bowl.

Step 2: Use the stove to melt the Mini Marshmallows and butter in a pan on low heat. Continuously stir until the mixture is completely melted.

Step 3: Add 10 drops of orange food dye and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the marshmallow mixture and stir until fully mixed.

Step 4: Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and stir until the popcorn is evenly coated.

Step 5: At this point you can use a scooper or your hands to scoop up the popcorn balls. I suggest spray your hands or scooper with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place each ball on a piece of parchment paper to dry.

Step 6: Cut 24 squares of cellophane large enough to place the popcorn ball in the middle, wrap it up, and still have enough material for the “stem”. You will also want to cut your 12 pipe cleaners in half.

Step 7: Tie up all of your popcorn balls in their cellophane wrapper and tie it off with a pipe cleaner. For add effect: twist the pipe cleaner to make the “stem” curly!


CHICKEN TORTELLINI SOUP

8 cups chicken broth
3 carrots (chopped)
4 stalks celery (chopped)
1 large onion (chopped)
1 sprig rosemary

2 sprigs thyme                                                        1 Rotisserie Chicken                                            1 package (9 ounces) Tortellini .             Serving Size: 8 servings

 

Step 1: In a large pot, bring broth to a broil. Reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes.

Step 2: Add veggies, tortellini and spices and cook covered till soft (about 10-15 minutes)

Step 3: Add chicken and let simmer covered for another 30 minutes.

Step 4: Salt and Pepper to taste.


HOMEMADE TEXAS CHILI & TRUFFLE MAC ‘n CHEESE

Adams' Family Fall Recipes: Homemade Texas Chili

 

2 tablespoons cumin seeds
8 ounces bacon (chopped)
3 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1⁄4-inch cubes
2 onions (chopped)
1⁄4 cup Homemade Chili Powder
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme

1⁄2 teaspoon salt
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 3⁄4 cups beef broth
1 (28-ounce) can pureed tomatoes
2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
1 box Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese
1 package of HEB’s truffle butter (found in the dairy section)

Step 1: Toast the cumin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 1 to 2 minutes. Using a metal or wooden tool with a flat surface, crush the seeds coarsely. Set aside.

Step 2: Cook the bacon in the skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove the bacon and reserve.

Step 3: Over high heat, brown the beef in the bacon drippings left in the skillet and set the meat aside.

Step 4: Over medium heat, sauté the onions in the remaining drippings until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 5: Add the toasted cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, black pepper, thyme, salt, and garlic to the cooked onions and sauté for 1 minute. Crumble in the bacon, add the beef broth, 1 cup of water, the tomatoes, ancho chiles, and the beef.

Step 6: Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover partially, and simmer until the meat is very tender, about 2 hours, adding water as needed to maintain desired consistency. Alternatively, transfer to a slow-cooker set on low and cook for at least 6 hours and up to 8 hours, until the meat is very tender.

Step 7: Remove the anchos, puree in a blender, and return to the pot. Serve in a bowl with chopped onions and shredded cheese, with saltines, over tamales, rice or potatoes, in a Frito Pie, combined with beans or our personal favorite, over truffle mac ‘n cheese.

Step 8: Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese: follow the directions on the back of the Kraft box. Once fully cooked, add one spoonful of the truffle butter and mix thoroughly until dissolved. Serve with chili.

Pumpkin Popcorn Ball Recipe
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Let’s Talk Lashes

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

*Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Avon*

Although I don’t wear make up every day, when I do the first question you ladies ask me is “Are your eyelashes real?!”. Talk about a confidence booster! I’ve always had decently long eyelashes which made me hesitant to try lash extensions or any sort of lash boost serum because I didn’t want to risk damaging my natural lashes. But with bold eyelashes having such a moment right now, my moto quickly became the longer and more voluminous looking, the better! So I set out in hunt of a natural remedy to get my eyelashes to visibly grow.

I looked into several lash serums but the price tag would quickly talk me out of it. It wasn’t until I found Avon’s Anew Clinical Unlimited Lashes Lash and Brow Activating Serum that I decided to take the plunge. Normally $60, currently on sale for $40 (use code LASH at checkout), it was the best price I had seen so I figured if it didn’t work I was only out $40 instead of $100+ like all of the others I had seen. I also recently started using Avon True Color Love at 1st Lash True Color Mascara and to say that the lash serum and mascara are a “perfect pair” is all too true! Grab the duo here.

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

Let’s Talk Lash Serum


WHAT IS A LASH BOOST SERUM?

Think of it as a daily vitamin for your eyelashes! Just like your body should be getting daily vitamins to grow big and strong, your eyelashes can be too. Anew Clinical Unlimited Lashes Lash and Brow Activating Serum is made with a blend of the peptide technology Capixyl, which promotes thicker, fuller, healthier-looking lashes. Not to mention, it’s Paraben, Sulfate, and Phthalate free plus it is dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested!

HOW DO YOU APPLY IT?

I apply it every night after I have washed my make up off and cleansed my face. Just swipe it on your eyelids at the base of the lash line where you would put liquid eyeliner. I just use one dip for both lash applications.

DOES IT IRRITATE YOUR EYES?

Personally, I never had any itching, redness or burning from the serum although I have read that can be a side effect. If you look at the reviews on this product, you will see that there are very few people that have had any of those side effects either:)

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS?

Patience is key which is so hard! I have been using the serum (almost) every night for about 5 weeks now and I would say I just started seeing noticeable results last week (week 4). For best results, you are encouraged to use it for 12 weeks. I plan on using the whole tube and will keep you gals updated!

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

Let’s Talk Mascara


WHY USE THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SERUM?

For me personally it was important for me to use a quality mascara so as to take the best care of my lashes during my lash transformation. The Avon True Color Love at 1st Lash True Color Mascara is great because it contains vitamins A, C and E to condition your lashes, and olive oil & Lycopene to strengthen your lashes.

WHAT MAKES THIS MASCARA STAND OUT?

For one the price tag, which is always a selling factor for me. But more than that, I love it because it is thick without clumping. Other mascaras that I have used required upwards of 5-6 applications before seeing the desired effects. On fast days I only need one swipe of this one and on days I want a little extra “oomph”, I still only need 2-3 applications. It does not transfer onto my eyelids at all throughout the day and it is very easy to take off at the end of the day. I hate mascaras that refuse to come off when I want them to!

WHAT IS THE PRICE?

$12 or you can buy the lash serum and mascara bundle for $45 + free shipping!

WHERE CAN I FIND IT?

You can find both the Avon True Color Love at 1st Lash True Color Mascara and Anew Clinical Unlimited Lashes Lash and Brow Activating Serum on Avon’s website.

HOW DO YOU APPLY IT?

The same you would any mascara! There are short and long bristles on the applicator brush making it very easy to comb through your lashes. I usually do one swipe on the top of my lashes (side closest to my lid) and then 2-3 on the underside always making sure to evenly spread out my lashes from the base all the way to the ends. I usually do one application all over and then the after that I will work from the inside of my eye to the outside. Just like a pair of false eyelashes, you want the outside (furthest away from your eye) to look the longest and fullest!

 

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

*Left Photo: Left eye has one application of mascara, right has none. Right photo: one application of mascara on each.*

Avon Lashes

Left eye has one application of mascara and the right has none. This is the length after 5 weeks of use.

Avon Lashes

Lashes with one application of mascara.

General Lash Questions


HAVE YOU HAD LASH EXTENSIONS?

I’ve worn false lashes but I’ve never had lash extensions. I usually wear false lashes for big events and photo shoots. Even with longer lashes, I will probably always do this just because it makes them stand out more for photos. I’ve heard way too many horror stories from friends about lash extensions ruining your natural lashes so I haven’t tried them. I’ve heard once you start you really can’t stop because it makes your natural lashes shorter and more sparse.

HAVE YOU HAD A LASH LIFT?

No but I want to! Lash Lifts will give the illusion of longer lashes without actually addressing the “problem”. Just like lash extensions, it is a temporary fix and a bit of an investment. For me personally, I wanted to try out a more natural remedy before investing in something like this. I’ve done some research and Lash Lifts are upwards of $150 and usually last about 6-8 weeks.

HOW DO YOU WEAR EXTENSIONS AND WASH YOUR FACE?

Since I only wear false lashes, I remove them before washing my face. For lash extensions, since you technically aren’t supposed to wear mascara, I’ve heard you wash your face the same way you would without extensions, just be extra careful around your eyes as not to rub, scrub or wash too intensely. I would recommend hitting up your good friend YouTube for this one:)

Avon Lash Serum and Mascara

Photos by: BanAvenue

To locate an Avon Representative, visit Avon.com. If looking for more information on the lash serum visit HERE.

Shop the $40 Avon Anew Clinical Unlimited Lashes Lash and Brow Activating Serum HERE (use code LASH for discount)

Shop the $12 Avon True Color Love at 1st Lash Mascara HERE

Shop the $45 Unlimited Lash Duo (serum + Mascara) HERE

Shop the

*Thank you Avon for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Evening of Design Recap

Evening of Design Robbins Brothers

Last week I had the pleasure of hosting some of Houston’s top influencers for an Evening of Design. This special event was to celebrate the upcoming engagement season (November-February) with a first look at the release of some of Robbins Brothers featured designers’ newest pieces. Even coming from someone as single as they come, trying on some of the prettiest, biggest diamonds you’ve ever seen all while surrounded by your best girls and bottomless wine, is just about the best girl’s night ever. What made it even more special is that not only was it a fun event for everyone in attendance, we were also able to raise money for a very special cause!

The event benefited Wish Upon A Wedding, a non-profit that grants weddings and vow renewals to couples facing serious illness or life-altering circumstances. Robbins Brothers graciously donated $50 to the organization for every guest’s social media post using the hashtag #SelfieForAWish.

Evening of Design Robbins Brothers

Evening of Design Robbins Brothers

Evening of Design Robbins Brothers

I know I’d be a bad friend if I didn’t share these gorgeous pieces with all of my lady friends! No matter your relationship status, a girl can dream right 😉 Below are the seven featured designers and some of the exclusive pieces that were brought in for the event! Feast your eyes ladies!

Tacori – Always one of my favorite brands as their style is very modern and glamorous. With a line from chandelier earrings to engagement rings, this designer has the most gorgeous, clean cut pieces I’ve ever seen!

Robbins Brothers Evening of Design

Henri Daussi – Every single piece from this collection was a total showstopper in every way. If you are a fan of classic, elegant designs with a dramatic center diamond, Daussi is for you!

Robbins Brothers Evening of Design

Karl Lagerfeld – Inspired by Parisian architecture, this collection has some very intricate and geometric designs that you can’t miss. The fashion icon himself designed this line and I think it’s that background that brings something different to the table than any other collection out there.

Robbins Brothers Evening of Design

Coast Diamond – Designed by Jay Gilbert, this line is by far the most elegant one of them all, yet still incredibly timeless. Several of these pieces are paired with gorgeous gemstones, though not pictured here, that bring the rings to life and make them stand out from the rest!

Robbins Brothers Evening of Design

Michael M – Michael M’s collection is bold and brilliant. His European background definitely plays a role in the charm that each piece brings as seen through his unique, sophisticated approach to each ring.

Kirk Kara – One of my personal favorites because of the intricacy in each band detail and romantic appeal of each setting. These rings are truly one of a kind and are perfect for a more sophisticated, daintier style.

Robbins Brothers Evening of Design

Simon G. – With bold pops of color, this collection has something for every occasion whether it be an engagement, anniversary, graduation or birthday!

Visit Robbins Brothers’ website for more information on these designer collections and if you missed my previous blog post about diamonds, check out Mama Adams’ and I’s taste in engagement rings here.

*Thank you Robbins Brothers for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!*

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Labor Day Weekend Sales

 Pajama Top: Target | Pajama Bottoms: Target

ABERCROMBIE | 40% off entire store // top selling items from the blog below

AMAZON

AMERICAN EAGLE | Up to 60% off EVERYTHING online only // top selling items from the blog below

ANN TAYLOR | 40% off full price items + 50% off sale

ANTRHOPOLOGIE | extra 40% off of sale clothing/furniture + 20% off full price furniture

ASOS | 20% off new items + extra 10% off already marked down items

BANANA REPUBLIC | 40% off everything + an additional 10% off online only

BAUBLEBAR | up to 80% off

DSW | up to 65% off clearance + free shipping over $35 + $5 reward for every $50 spent

EXPRESS | 40% off everything + 50% off jeans

FOREVER21 | extra 50% off of sale with code EXTRA50

FRANCESCAS | 30% off everything

GAP | 40% off everything with code YES + additional 10% off with code MORE

HUNTER BOOTS | 20% off of sale

J.CREW | 40% off everything  with code BIGSALE

J.CREW FACTORY | 50% off everything + an extra 20% off clearance with code SALEAWAY

KOHL’S | $10 off when you spend $25 or more with code LABORDAY

LEVI’S | 30% off + FREE SHIPPING with code SAVE30

LOFT | 40% off everything with code LABORDAY

LORD & TAYLOR | 20% off everything with code LABORDAY + BOGO 50% off jeans and shoes

MACY’S | up to 70% off + extra 20% off with code WKND

MADEWELL | lots of new items added to sale

NASTYGAL | 50% off everything + free shipping over $100

NORDSTROM | Select styles are up to 40% off + FREE shipping

OLD NAVY | 50% off storewide + extra 20% off your order with code NEEDED

SEPHORA | beauty insider event // check out my must haves here and below

SHOPBOP | up to 70% off sale + 2 day Amazon Prime shipping

STEVE MADDEN | 25% off + free shipping with code BYESUMMER

TARGET | BOGO 50% off swimwear + shoes

T3 MICRO | (I love this wand)

ULTA Beauty | 21 Days of Beauty giveaways = daily deals!

URBAN OUTFITTERS | take an additional 30% off all sale

WAYFAIR | up to 70% off everything

 

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