Yesterday

Trader Joe's Shiraz, $2.99; Trader Joe's Roses, $3.99; Voila...True Romance for seven bucks.

Last night my husband, the child, and I went on our monthly Trader Joe's run. It's the only grocery store where I can wear a smile from the time I enter until the moment I leave, and here's why: exquisite gourmet, organic, delicious food and wine on the cheap. Their signature chardonnay, "Two Buck Chuck," upset many-a-snotty-wine-snobs when they won the Double Gold Award in a blind taste test. Some examples of my other great finds: Blue Agave Nectar, Wild Sockeye Salmon, Turkish dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), Fage Greek Yogurt, Colossal Olives stuffed with garlic cloves, chocolate croissants, hand-stretched Indian naan, raspberry and brie phyllo rolls, vegetable samosas, steel-cut oatmeal, and one of the best balsamic viniagrettes that ever graced a lettuce leaf. There's so much more, but I think you get the idea... P.S. Yes, Gretchen I picked up a few things, including the low-fat vanilla granola with almonds, for your next package...