Well I don’t know about you but I’ve been waiting for Raleigh Trader Joe’s to come to town for a long time. Long before it was in the news. The one in Cary is just too far of a hike for me.

I discovered Trader Joe’s in Northern Virginia back in 2000 and thought it was just some small gourmet store. There weren’t many people shopping there then and slowly over time I noticed more and more shoppers in the thin aisles with the small carts. People aren’t dumb. They know a good thing when they see it. The concept is great. Healthy foods with great prices. That’s what cutting out the middle man does. That’s how Walmart became a success.

Some things I remember about my first experiences with Trader Joe’s is that it’s where I bought my nuts and trail mixes. And where I bought my first Clif Bars. You know the healthy bars you eat to crave your hunger or when you’re working out. It’s better than junk food on the road.

What did you do over the Raleigh tax free weekend?  I stopped in Revolver Consignment Store in the Glenwood South area of downtown Raleigh. Revolver is a neat women’s consignment clothing store. When I was growing up, they didn’t have designer-like clothing consignment places. Revolver carries new to slightly worn designer clothing. People make appointments to have pieces of clothing considered. I think I was told that people who bring in new clothing with tags that they accept get 50% of what they paid.  But many pieces of clothing aren’t approved, which is understandable. I imagine they only want stuff others want, in good condition, and the style of clothing they want…like designer clothing mostly.

Do you like chocolate?…if so, what’s your favorite chocolate store? I used to love Godiva, and See’s. But now in Raleigh, it’s chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory if I need a chocolate fix. There are a few stores in the Triangle at the big malls.

I like chocolate in small quantities.  I’m not a chocaholic though.  I’ve heard of people who go to these spas and get lathered in chocolate.  That’s just kinda weird to me.  Well…maybe it wouldn’t be so strange if someone told me what the experience was really like.  But for now, I think it just sounds over-the-top ’cause I don’t like the smell of chocolate…just the taste…  

One of my favorite things to shop for are plants. But not just any plants. The ones specifically at Logan’s at Raleigh’s Seaboard Station. Why do I say so? ‘Cause I think they’ve got the best selection I’ve ever seen. There are so many options. I can easily spend over an hour at that place. They’re also very helpful with hints and how to take care of plants. I’m a house plant girl but come spring or summer, I like to find outdoor plants.

Here’s Super Friendly and Helpful Bob.

He suggested these Calathea plants for me in my office that gets northern light exposure. The one he’s holding is actually the one I bought. It’s got some pink lines running through each leaf. He made a funny about how it reminded him of that elementary school art project where you take the carbon paper and with another piece of paper rub and draw with a writing tool over it. That took me back for a second. I chuckled ‘cause I remember carving out a giraffe once. I think it was in fourth grade or so.

Everything beads is what I think of when I think of this Raleigh store called Ornamentea. It’s not a big store but you could make a lot of jewelry and arts and crafts stuff with what they carry. It’s like a small Michael’s store specializing in beads. You can make your own felted wool creations too if you have time on your hands.

Raleigh has several consignment stores but one downtown is filled with low priced designer clothing. You may not be able to see the “Get Dressed” sign but you’ll see this mannequin posing outside on West Street (the one in the yellow dress…the other one is me). Sometimes you can see the train go by above across the street. It’s a neat part of downtown Raleigh.

But unlike a boutique, Get Dressed is a very large warehouse with more than just a few articles of clothing. Normally I’m not a fan to look at previously worn clothing, but some of the stuff there is really cute and designer branded. And a lot of vintage stuff – you know what’s out is in.

I felt very nostalgic as they were playing 80’s music (probably on a record player…are u old enough to remember those?). As I walked past the dolled up mannequin at the entrance, I turned left to the open entrance and saw a couch and lots of vintage clothing…

And they were playing Talking Heads “Psycho Killer”. I had a quick flashback of Annie Potts from the record store scene from “Pretty in Pink” movie… and her outrageous dramatic clothing. If you can ignore the lyrics, title, and video that are super morose, ironically the music is upbeat and catchy. It puts me in a bob-my-head-around good mood… like that new Pink song, “Please Don’t Leave Me”…da da da da! …

Apollo meets a Great Dane

Want to get some gourmet treats for your pooch? Raleigh is a super dog friendly town with all the dog parks and all kinds of outdoor places where dogs can go. Lucky for my Apollo!

There used to be a free standing Just Dogs! Barkery that looked like a dog house (how cute)…

Here in the Triangle we do have gourmet shops. My favorites are located in Chapel Hill. And one that stands out is A Southern Season. It’s a large grocery store that has the neatest stuff. Right now they have a big inventory clearance sale where everything is 15-75% off. That includes coffees, teas, seasonings, pastas, sauces, mixes and anything else you see. They have a lot of gift, entertaining, and housewares stuff also. And pre-made gift baskets. I like pushing around their little grocery carts. Those are the ones you usually see in a city since the aisles and stores are smaller.

The sweets section is my fav’rite! That shouldn’t come as a shock…

Raleigh's Apple Store

On any given Saturday, the Apple store in Raleigh is full of people young and old. Where do they all come from??  It’s amazing… for so many of the past years, the store is still buzzing! I mean you wonder what more is there that these people don’t have? (Don’t the Apple fans have everything they could possibly need at this point?) Apparently not but there’s more it to it I’m sure. Perhaps that’s you and you can help me answer that… I haven’t turned myself onto the iPhone yet. I guess I’m just happy without complicating my life at this point. But I guess, it’s suppose to make life easier. 

I am, though, a big IPOD fan. I carry my IPOD (“Poddy”) with me everywhere. She needs a new pink paint job. And maybe a trip to the spa! And she’s an older model but still slim and sleek. In fact she’s an old retired “mini” but she’s far from small in my eyes as she carries all my tunes. And she’s classy and well dressed with all the accessories! Now that’s my kind of girl!

If you like eclectic contemporary and vintage clothing, Anthropologie could be your place. The one in the Raleigh area at the outdoor section of Southpoint opened this past spring. When you first enter, you kinda get the sense that you’re in a very big store that winds around. It’s the type of place that is visually stimulating to browse and shop around at. For some reason I always start on the left hand side…