WORKOUT -
Ran on TM -
8.1 miles/1:10
1.0 incline
relaxed pace
Surprising no one, I ran a few early am miles this morning while watching the news at the gym. Gotta start the day off right or the whole world might tilt off its’ axis.
Yesterday I went to Costco to pick up ONE thing (Brita water filters) and price ONE thing (some sort of saw for the man). Yeah, we all know how that turned out…
Oh, hi friends.
Perrier-Jouet is my favorite pricey champagne (the man bought it for my birthday last year). It’s $37 right now at Costco and last year it was $29.99 with two glasses. I almost bought a bottle to celebrate tonight but then remembered we don’t have anything to celebrate.
Instead I won the game of “spend the most amount of money for the least amount of things” –$193. winning!
At least I remembered the water filters this time.
And the Christmas cards.
By the way, Costco is really affordable for photo cards: $14.99 for 50 with envelopes and they’re ready in less than 24 hours. Just make sure to double check the size of the card: I didn’t and ours are so big, they look like a 9×13 close up headshot of us. oops.
Bought my man an early Christmas gift – these soft pretzel rolls are so good they should be in everyone’s stockings, even the naughty kids. Heated up with a little salt and butter, they taste just like a pretzel. My sister-in-law introduced me to them and she will most definitely be getting an autographed headshot as a thank you.
Also picked up a little protein…
Here’s your health tip of the day: try to eat wild salmon when you can. “Atlantic salmon” is farm raised; Pacific salmon is wild.
Notice the color difference between the wild salmon on the left and the farmed on the right? Wild salmon get their red color from the shellfish and certain insects in their diet, but farmed salmon is naturally a grey hue so it’s dyed to give it color because their diet doesn’t include the same things.
Although it’s more expensive, wild salmon has more omega-3 fatty acids, less total fat, no antibiotics, pesticides or food colorings.
And that ends my PSA for commercial fishermen.
*Have you been checking out my friend Sarah’s 5 days of taper giveaways? She’s giving out some sweet stuff and running CIM this weekend so go check it out.
What’s one thing you always buy at Costco or another warehouse store? One thing you never buy there?
I always buy feta cheese, Greek yogurt and apples at Costco; they’re a great price and I can go through them before they expire.
I usually don’t buy hummus there because I like the Trader Joe’s brand better.
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{ 78 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t shop at Cosco (there isn’t one near me), however, I do shop at Sam’s Club. I always buy chocolate chips, butter, and eggs (I think that maybe I bake too much!!).
Costco has the most amazing chocolate covered pomegranate seeds. Exactly the thing that should be bought in bulk. Explains a lot about the size of my thighs.
You crack me up with your, “winning!” Thanks for the salmon tip!
WOW…I just went to Sam’s Club last night..(only spent $56 though)
I always buy softener salt, waffles (the kids are so demanding), Gogurt (yep, favorite sweet treat the boy will eat), kitty litter and fruit.
How did you get out of there for under $100? That place is worse than Target! It is like everything in the world suddenly look delicious.
One thing that I always buy when shopping at the wholesale club are baby carrots & Simply Delicious orange juice. I NEVER buy cucumbers because they sell them in packs of three and I never get through them all.
I love Costco! The biggest reason we got a membership was for the reasonably priced, awesome dog food but let’s be honest we end up buying a lot more than just the dog food. Our most recent favorite are some jalapeno chicken meatballs…so good!
I shop at Sam’s Club because the nearest Costco is a good 30 minute drive and Sam’s is only 5 minutes away. I always buy lean fresh ground turkey (93/7), peanut butter (because I eat it daily), protein powder, diapers, toilet paper and various spices (garlic pepper, minced onion, etc…)
I have a salmon question, lady. I always get the wild caught salmon at either Sam’s or Costco. Sam’s carries a wild caught salmon (Morey’s) that is just over half the price of the stuff at Costco. It confuses me how it could be so cheap, but it tastes good and so I keep getting it. Am I getting bamboozled? Can you clarify how this wacky price discrepancy could exist? HELP!
first id check where the salmon is from. chances are it says norwegian or atlantic and that means its farm raised. if it does say “wild” then its probably been frozen before which causes it to be cheaper. or it could be a more afforable species of salmon – there’s 5 different ones, King being the most expensive and chum/dog salmon being a lot cheaper.
You should do an entire post just on salmon info. I know I get overwhelmed sometime at the seafood counter and a chart with yay/nays would be awesome.
The pretzel rolls look and sound delicious!
I don’t shop at either Sam’s Club or Costco; I let my Sam’s membership lapse because I spent entirely too much money there on stuff I didn’t need. It did come in handy when throwing a birthday party for my mom, though!
Wow, that’s a great deal, I love that champagne! I went to the Champagne region in France last year and it was so fun seeing where it all comes from and walking around the famous champagne houses. Sadly we don’t have many good large warehouse stores here in the UK, although apparently there is a Costco so I need to find it and investigate!
i would LOVE to do that!
Always:
La Jolla Sourdough bread
Cheese
Watermelon (in season)
Toilet paper
Never:
Ground beef
Breakfast cereal
Toiletries
Gotta try those rolls!
Apparently Costco has grass fed, free range ground beef that is a really good deal. My super picky Whole Foods meat eating friends tell me it’s worth giving a shot.
Costco essentials: Veuve Clicquot, beer, avocados, tomatoes, Thomas English Muffins (24 for 6.something)
Fact: I always leave Costco with booze.
AMEN, SISTA!
We don’t usually shop at Costco — don’t have a membership. But whenever we’ve gone with friends, we usually end up getting 5 hour energy drinks, or protein powder.
I wish I could buy multiple containers of their brie cheese, make a bed of it and sleep in it for the rest of my life. So yeah, I kinda like their brie.
I freaking LOVE those pretzel rolls!!!
We buy everthing we an at Costco. My husband is a body-builder so meat is huge staple in our diets. We buy all meats – frozen chicken, tri-tip sirloin, turkey, etc., ad all the cheeses (very good prices). We buy a lot of fruit – raspberries, blackberries, apples; vegetables – carrots, lettuce heads, and avocados. Dog food and bones are a staple here too. We buy milk and eggs at Costco also. We can almost skip the regular store because of our Costco runs – we only go to the regular store for diet soda and the few items we can’t buy in bulk. Love Costco!!
We have a Sams Club in our area and we always by Eco brand laundry detergent for $14 for 240 loads, trash bags, and bathroom cups…we by laudrey detergent every 4 months and that is washing for a toddler, trash bags once a year, and we have had the bathroom cups going on 2 years.
Thanks for the salmon info, I agree with you Wild Salmon is much better. Have you tried the Costco Hot smoked peppered salmon? It is super yummy. It’s my go-to Christmas gift for dads (dads are so hard to buy for). And full disclosure–gosh, doesn’t that sound official?–I work at one of the places the provides some of the salmon to Costco so I know it won major tasty fish awards last year. Oscars for Fish!
Thanks for all the lovely run motivation this year. You are my go-to blog for the blah run days. The ‘ I don’t want to but if SR ran today I suppose I can get my bum off the couch and get outside’ days.
I always buy my sweet potatoes and almond butter at Costco. It’s SO much cheaper than the grocery store!
You can always have champagne even if you don’t have anything to celebrate! That is so funny because I posted a pic on my blog today about having champagne randomly on Tuesday night.
I know this is horrible, but we do not have a Costco card…yes..bad..and it’s literally like 1 mile from my house. I also don’t go to Trader Joe’s because it’s always crazy packed and I hate that! All my friends think I’m crazy because of it!
I don’t have a Costco card either, though I am always tempted because everyone loves it so much. I do most of my shopping at the military commissary so I’m not sure I’d get my money’s worth. And Trader Joe’s…I so hear you on that one.
Imagine a Costco where you can’t buy alcohol! I know; the horror. We are deprived. Virginia and Delaware: yes; Maryland , PA, and NY: no! So I get the four pound tub of cottage cheese. And I’m the only one in the house who eats it. Yum.
I love pretzel rolls! Never knew that about salmon! Thanks for the info.!
The WILD smoked salmon, feta, avocados, and a big box of salad- that’s what my husband takes for lunch every day of every week. Creature of habit.
I LOVE Trader Joe’s hummus, too! It is delicious – I just get the plain stuff and go to town with veggies. Thanks for the salmon info! I don’t go to Costco because it’s just me and I would be too tempted to buy the crate of jumbo cupcakes.
Thanks for the salmon lesson Ms. Fisherman!
Our #1 Costco item is movie tickets. I also always buy the frozen chicken breasts, cheese, eggs, vitamins, tampons, and Cover Girl mascara. Oh, and my husband is obsessed with the salt & pepper pistachios.
Carrots. Turkey Burgers. All of our meat. Beer. One thing I won’t buy there, flour. No room for it.
The Kidless Kronicles
Costco AND Sam’s Club are a black hole of deals and doom! Love em!
I love Costco! I always get Greek yogurt, Salmon Burgers, cottage cheese, and bananas.
I don’t buy much at warehouse stores cause I live alone. Every once in a while I tag along with my mom to Costco and end up with some rolls, dried fruit chips and maybe some italian sausage.
Speaking of CIM – do you think you’ll skip Vegas and do that one instead one of these years?
I’d love to run CIM one day. Who knows when it will be though.
Cim will be my very first marathon, it makes me excited that its one you would like to do!
When it’s that time of year we fill our freezer with Costco’s Cooper River Salmon; the best!!!
I can never get out of costco without at least 1 pizza and a whole farm’s worth of chicken or tilapia. I always go on Sundays since that is when all the sample ladies are out
and let’s be honest- that’s one of the most important things in Sams/Costco.
I’m going to pass on the salmon tips to my parents!
I love salmon, had no idea about all that.
Ohh, I keep trying and trying to like it..but I’ve never found a champagne or wine that I like!
Have a great day!
OMG fish can have lice???
Thanks for the shout – have fun in Vegas say hi to Carrot Top for me.
I really like the way you put the salmon next to each other-what a shocking color difference!
I ALWAYS spend way more than I want to at Costco…just can’t help it!
Off topic question here!! Is there a reason why you stopped referring to your husband as Jay-mo, or JJ?
I wanna give him his privacy. Plus I like calling him MY man… I get a little possessive obsessive with the boy.
Love LOVE costco! Its my happy place lol. I always get soy/almond milk, cereal, and yogurt.
I never get those ridiculously sized bakery items, like the chocolate cake, and giant packs of muffins. It’s for my own good.
Jeez, thanks a lot…now I’m gonna have those pretzel rolls on my mind all weekend!! They’re r so delish. I also really like the chipotle raspberry sauce, have u tried it? So good!
I’ve never heard of it but will have to try it.
What do you like to do with your smoked salmon? Do you just add to a salad? I love salmon but have not bought the smoked yet.
I either eat it animal style straight out of the packet or on a salad. It’s also good on a cracker with cream cheese and fresh dill.
I love this post! Informative, yet fun.
And I am trying to befriend someone with a Costco membership so that I can start spending oodles of money on awesome things.
Damn that Costco. Time and money suck of my life. Notice at Costco they never ask, “Did you find everything you were looking for?” like they do at the grocery store because they damn well know you found it…and more. I was also pricing the champagne because I wanted to know how much people spent on my birthday gifts
and then I bought the usual Greek yogurt, mandarins, contact lens solution, huge bag o pears, and random other stuff. I NEVER buy their blueberries or strawberries because they always have mold on them and don’t buy their bananas either since they get skanky in those plastic bags. I don’t buy the milk either because no-one can pour out of those containers without spilling. Have fun in Vegas and remember what happens in Vegas…ends up on someone’s blog.
I honestly don’t shop at any warehouse stores. I prefer to shop at my local grocer. No chains.
I recently saw a few minutes of a documentary on Costco and they said something about it being the biggest wine buyer in the world?!?
Thanks for the tips on the wild vs. farm salmon! Since you said the red color of the wild salmon comes from shellfish, is there any issue if someone has a shellfish allergy and eats wild-caught? Or is the amount so minimal that it’s not an issue?
I love getting gum at costco. Gum chewing is like smoking for me so I can through a pack in two days lol. Buying it in bulk keeps me stocked for long then going to the store everyday.
I always buy grape tomatoes, sugar snap peas and wine at Costco.
I never buy anything sweet or anything I shouldn’t be trusted with (the wine is fine since it is a normal-sized bottle).
Trader Joes and Costco are our two go-to places. Just went to Costco today actually. Always get:
Organic: Chicken, Beef, hummus (when they have organic), soy milk, granola, Dave’s Killer Bread, Gala Apples (my kids eat these like freaking candy), spinach, carrots (again, candy), chips, salsa, Z-Bars and bunny crackers (similar to goldfish).
Love Costco. Love TJ’s.
Oh, and nice run! 7 miles 56:30 min for me today so our workouts are close.
But I got off the treadmill today which was nice.
Oooh, I’m gonna have to try those pretzel rolls! I’ve seen them, and wondered…
I was just at Costco today myself and dropped $143 lickety split. Ouchie. As for things I always buy: avocados, English cucumbers and red bell peppers. Practically every trip. Other things that are exclusive Costco purchases: cheddar, mozzarella, feta, dog & cat food, TP, laundry detergent, coffee, frozen chicken breasts.
Will really need to get my bro and SIL to take me grocery shopping (Costco, TJ etc) when I visit them next year!
Hey- good salmon info. I had no clue. I always buy bananas, spinach, eggs, bread and Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches from Costco.
Oh and a rotisserie chicken- I can’t seem to pass those up. I can NOT buy candy from there- DANGEROUS!! 
Good luck this weekend!
Our Costco is far away and I’ve gotten too lazy to go there, so I haven’t bought anything there in months. I usually buy all of my cleaning supplies/tp/etc. there.
Very interesting about the differences between wild and farm-raised salmon. I had no idea!! Thanks for the tip – I will give the wild salmon a try!
We always buy our almonds and apples at Costco…..and of course whatever else jumps out at us!
Thanks for the great salmon tip! I love salmon, but never know how to cook it right. Do you have a go-to recipe to cook wild salmon? And how long do you usually let it cook?
Love your blog!
Well, since I used to live alone, I would usually only get toilet paper, paper towels, salad, and sometimes fruit. But now that I’m married and have part-time kids, we’ll definitely be taking advantage of Costco more often…
Our Costco doesn’t have a great selection of frozen vegetarian foods, which is a bummer because that stuff is expensive and I go through a lot of it. It also doesn’t have alcohol which is a real tragedy. I buy Greek yogurt in bulk there (they have at least three brands now) and my husband buys all of his fish there. We don’t usually buy perishables there because we don’t go through it fast enough.
Winning the costco lottery would equal getting a ton of those tank tops……..
YES!
Those pretzel rolls look fab. Have fun in costume this weekend!
Um we are soul mates. If all there is to your soul is champagne. PJ is my absolute fave mid-range brand. My local wine shop had a 20% off all stock sale this week and I bought 5 bottles for $26. I also may have bought a couple of the Belle Epoques (the high end vintage) as well because they were a good deal.
ill be at your house glass in hand tonight promptly at 5:00pm.
Are you going to sneak in and use my glasses or bring your own. If mine, in the bar on the left.
I always buy meat, water, snacks, allergy meds, and contacts at Costco. I never buy veggies there. We can’t eat them before they go bad.
I always buy apples and broccoli from sams. I never buy bread because you have to buy two loafs at a time and I can barely get through a 1/2 loaf before there is mold growing on it.
About 6 months ago we were hopelessly addicted to those pretzel buns at Costco. We went one time and tragically they were OUT! The nerve. That is exactly how we eat them, with a little butter and salt. Love love love.
i knew you were a smart one, girly.
We buy pretty much everything at Costco. And by everything, I mean EVERYTHING – food, vitamins, electronics, our garage doors, our new kitchen counters, and those killer pretzel rolls you speak of. We are a family of two (me and hub) yet we spend thousands and thousands at Costco annually. Love it.