Happy Tuesday, friends!
Holy cow, I have a lot to cover today!
First of all, it’s PODCAST TUESDAY…
…and to celebrate the season of Friendsgiving (which we know many of you do!), Erika and I are playing a Best of the Besties episode by sharing one more time Season 2 Episode 4: Breaking Down Friendship. This episode was a HUGE hit after it aired and honestly, I’m not sure one has been more popular. As we enjoy our family time this week, we thought you could either enjoy listening to this episode on friendships again or, if you missed it the first time, you should totally take a listen now! You can listen HERE on whatever podcast platform you prefer.
Also today, I have so many festive goodies from Trader Joe’s to share with you. 😉
I was going to wait and share these the first week of December, but when I went pack to last year’s holiday post, I saw that many of you asked me to share them earlier because they do sell out quickly. I went last Thursday for my weekly Trader Joe’s trip and was so excited to see that SO MANY OF THEIR HOLIDAY ITEMS WERE ALREADY IN STORE (I’m talking to you Jingle Jangle!). I snapped pics of my new finds and am including them here today as well as my finds from last year so that you have one complete holiday shopping list for your season.
As a reminder, we have a g-free house, so I was very limited to what I could put in my cart (and ended up adding a few things to it with gluten just so I could try it and share it with you), but I feel like I left behind 4 billion other delicious looking (glutenous!) things that most of you need to add to your cart. I snapped some pics of a few of those finds too to share with you.
Okay, make a list, check it twice and go grocery shopping. Here are my newest finds just in time for the holidays as well as my finds from last year too…
Just a bite of this after dinner is the perfect dessert! If you like the Williams-Sonoma version, you will love this too (and the price!). It’s also in a really cute tin so it makes an excellent holiday gift.
Yes, yes! You need these to stir your…
…hot cocoa! The directions say to add with water, but we’ve been adding it with warm milk.
Nothing goes better with cocoa than…
…these chocolate covered minty marshmallows! Again, one little bite is decadent enough to be the perfect after dinner treat!
Sheaffer told me to…and I did!! She suggested putting it on a cracker with some cheese. Let me say, a cracker with cheese, some of this amazing goodness and a bit of chopped green onion will make you SO HAPPY!!! It really could do a billion things for you this holiday season!
STOCK. UP. This is a seasonal mix and my VERY FAVORITE Trader Joe’s sells! It’s the perfect little afternoon treat and/or bar mix for happy hour. You’ll love it!
Perfect on your Christmas charcuterie board or with dip!
Well, they swapped out the leaf chips for festive stockings and trees. If you buy these chips, make sure you make this…
…my Sausage Migas Breakfast Casserole 🙂 . Yours will be fun because it will be all Christmas-y!
This right here, in my opinion,…
…is their BEST holiday item. Jingle Jangle. So, this is not gluten-free and therefore, for years, I didn’t buy it. But I promise you when I say, IT’S THE MOST SUGGESTED TRADER JOE’S ITEM FROM YOU TO ME EVER. Seriously, I’ll post on here or Instagram in like July and say “what should I buy from Trader Joe’s” and a dozen of you will comment back and say “well, it’s not in season, but when it is, make sure you buy Jingle Jangle”. Bahahaha! I mean to tell you, you ladies set my expectations high. Well, last year, Kensington had a scoring clinic at volleyball and then volleyball practice, so I knew she would be gone about four hours, so I bought it for us to try without her…and we ate it all. Andrew and I don’t even really like sweet things, but we were picking through the tin going “what is this, who cares, I’m eating it”. It’s like they took every cookie, popcorn, cracker, candy they make all year long, poured chocolate over it and stuck it in the tin. It surpassed our expectations. Not only would this be delicious to have in your home with a Christmas movie, but it’s cute enough that this year, I bought FIVE TINS to gift. I’m telling you, this stuff is GOLD!
Get it. Get it now. Put this on everything. Buy a second bottle. I think this bottle was $7, but it was equally as delicious (or maybe even more!) then some of those gourmet bottles other stores sell for $25 or $30.
It has their Unexpected Cheddar in it. YUM!!!!
You should buy both the Black Pepper Toscano Cheese and…
…the Toscano dusted with cinnamon. YUM! We also bought this to go on our board…
…the White Truffle Popcorn! We’ve already enjoyed the entire bag!
These Candy Cane Chocolate Covered Almonds! They’re so delish!! They would be super cute as a little gift or easy just to put out and make any evening a little more festive.
Just do it. Trust me. Do. It.
So festive, right?! AND GLUTEN-FREE!! It’s an individual portion size too, so if you’re looking for just one g-free dessert/breakfast to have on hand for someone, here you go! Speaking of which…
Whether you buy the g-free version or the “normal” version, buy them. Just buy them. I bought two boxes last week, and we’ve already gone through one!
Last year, Kensington said these tasted like “eating the North Pole”. We all loved these so much, but our g-free girl especially loved them!! She even gave them as gifts to a few friends!
Okay, a few holiday finds I saw but didn’t buy…
…tons of holiday inspired beverages, both with and without alcohol.
Yummy cookie mixes! They even have jars to gift of pre-poured ingredients in adorable mason jars!
YUM!!
English toffee…my absolute favorite candy!!
How cute are these tins of Danish butter cookies?!
Dark chocolate covered Peppermint Joe Joes?! Yes, please!
These little cookie mug hangers are ADORABLE!!! I so wish they had been g-free! My kids would have loved these!
Speaking of which, their gingerbread houses are so cute too!!!
They have cookie kits for decorating…
…and mini dark chocolate stars too.
My happy place 🙂 .
Look at these cute mini gingerbread people!
And seasonal baked goods galore!
Needless to say, friends, get yourselves to Trader Joe’s. STAT!!
If you want to see even more of my favorite Trader Joe’s finds, you can below…
FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE (including shopping list!)
Trader Joe’s Faves PART 1 (from February last year, so most of these items are currently in store!!)
Trader Joe’s Faves PART 2 (from May!)
Trader Joe’s Faves PART 3 (from August!)
Trader Joe’s FALL FAVES
Trader Joe’s Faves PART 4
Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free
Trader Joe’s Lately from July 2020
Trader Joe’s FALL FAVES Part 2
Trader Joe’s November 2020
Trader Joe’s December 2020
Trader Joe’s February 2021
Trader Joe’s March 2021
Trader Joe’s April 2021
Trader Joe’s May 2021
Trader Joe’s June 2021
Trader Joe’s Fall Faves PART 3
Trader Joe’s November 2021
Happy Trader Joe’s shopping, friends!!! I’ll see you back here tomorrow for What’s Up Wednesday! xx
Elspeth says
So many fun treats! I need to make a return soon!! Yum!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Maria says
Next trip, grab the Toscano Chardonnay cheese. It’s new this season and just as delicious as the others!
I don’t know if it’s g-free, but the Organic Veggie Bites are delicious. 5 mins in the air fryer crispy little veggie nuggets. The family devoured the entire bag!
Colleen says
We just got a Trader Joe’s so I’m excited to try some of this out. We have dietary restrictions here too as my youngest has a long list of life- threatening allergies. Just noticed that there were several gingerbread items above that you didn’t buy (not g free) and wanted to mention a bakery that sells safe gingerbread: Sensitive Sweets. It’s in CA but they ship. For us it’s worth the $$ to have something safe (and yummy). Happy Thanksgiving!
Erika Slaughter says
What time will the charcuterie be ready? I’ll be over then! Did you see Sheaffer found some sort of truffle dip? Have u had that? That would be delicious on our board! And by that I mean the one I show up for. ??
Sheaffer says
Okay, so I have an update…. The regular cranberry relish is even better than the cranberry orange. I bought it yesterday and OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHMYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYWORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD. Now, I will say, for a cracker with cheese you might still prefer the cranberry orange……but for Thanksgiving Day, the regular is going to be amazing. I love your addition of the green onion on top!
Mix and Match Mama says
And now, I’m going to have to head back ASAP! Like today. THANK YOUUUUUUUU!
Jennifer says
A bit off topic, but I just did day 2 of Candace Cameron Bure’s new Christmas devo called Bring on the Merry, and I think you would love it to supplement your other one. It seems to be a perfect basic level for Kensington too, actually…to go along with everyone’s fav Hallmark Christmas movie actress! Just had to share!
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Jodie Kingsbury says
Thank you for all the GF options. I was just told by my doc to try going GF. He thought it would take down my stomach pains and inflammation.
I love bread so not sure how it’s going to go.
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m sorry, Jodie! I really think you’ll love all of the g-free bread and buns at TJ. Make sure you try their cupcakes too!!!
Jennifer says
I always look forward to your TJ’s hauls!! I’m not sure if you have tried the butter toffee pretzels but they are SO yummy!! I hope they aren’t seasonal!
Sandy M says
I know for you it isn’t gluten free but for others, those gingerbread sandwich cookies are so good! I agreed with a lot of your other finds too and your suggestion of putting cranberry relish on a cracker with cheese is so smart! I’m going to try that.
Kathy says
The Honeycrisp Apple candle is amazing! Wish I knew they sell out quickly in our area because now I have to wait until next year.
Lori Aikman says
I finally moved to a city that has a Trader Joe’s and I’m having so much fun discovering new things! I have to recommend the Rosemary Sfogliette crackers (I may have bought 6 bags to get us through the holidays) and the Pub Cheese with jalapenos. Yum!
Krista says
Thank you for all the great recommendations! I took the afternoon off work to go get some goodies. Sheaffer thank you so much for the cranberry rec! Luckily I bought both, and I’m using the orange one to make Shay’s little phyllo dough/brie/cranberry cups for an appetizer. Hope y’all have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Nicole says
Have you tried the Spicy Snack Bar Mix?! It’s so yummy!!
Mix and Match Mama says
I have!! I love those easy little snack mixes!!
Beck says
We love the gingerbread mug hangers! World Market has a couple of cookie cutters for the mug hangers that would be fun to use if you have a good g-free cutout cookie recipe!