8 Things I can't get enough of from Whole Foods! {Birthday cake and other secrets revealed}

I was at a meeting last week when the subject of Whole Foods came up.  Turns out that most of my lunchmates had never shopped there, or maybe once.  They felt unsure about what to expect.  So, much like the masked magician, I decided to share my secrets in this blog.  Here are the 8 items that you may not be able to get enough of either:

1.  ORCHIDS : My "go-to" gift for every occasion.  Why buy cut flowers when orchids last for a couple months?  Only $19.99 or $14.99 on sale. 

2.   VEGAN VEGGIE RAVIOLI:  Trust me!  Sometimes I mix with other ravioli, sometimes NOT!  A family favorite and my secret weapon for impromptu dinner parties.  Serve with a sprinkle of cheese.  I learned to stock up at $5.99 a dozen, since they have been sold out a few times.

3.  HARVEST BREAD:  Slathered with hummus or PB&J :-) 

4.  ALMOND BUTTER:   My husband ONLY eats the fresh grind nut butters from Whole Foods.  He is a #nutterbuttersnob.  Can’t beat the price…really we tried!  Plus it's fun to DIY.

5:  PIZZA:  They are running what I call the "his & hers deal" 2 Lg Pies for $20.  Hers: Mediterranean vegan with mushrooms instead of sundried tomatoes; His: Regular with hot peppers & onions.  The ingredients are so high quality that it’s easy to forgive the wimpy crust.  I freeze the leftovers for a mood-lifting lunch.

6:  BIRTHDAY CAKE:  [AKA: fancy dessert]  I used to bake, but now I spend my time crafting cocktails and playlists thanks to the incredibly sumptuous bakery options.  ***** reviews on the  pistachio chocolate torte, organic carrot cake and mini cheesecakes (Buy 5 @$1.99 get 1 free.)  They are all so beautiful!  Did you know that they personalize for free?  If they cannot write on the cake itself, then they add a white chocolate banner.  Write something clever like “#That’swhatshesaid!? xo 

7:  SHAMPOO: They had me at “free samples” when I was passing through the aisle.  Now I only buy my shampoo | conditioner here, and usually purchase soaps, lotions and potions, too.  At Christmas time, they had candy cane sugar scrub.  I scooped a little into small deli containers and gave them out to my friends with a giant piece of peppermint bark (from the bakery section) as gifts.  Fun gift for about six bucks! 

8:  EXOTIC BEANS:  Truth- my kitchen is more like a lab, then a snack shack.  I like to experiment with recipes and new ingredients.  I find inspiration in the WF's bulk section.  Care for some Christmas limas or black chick peas? *Tip: buy a small amount to test, before you go bulk-wild.  

 8:  OLIVES: [Okay, I decided 8 was not enough.]  The olive selection is CrAzY:-)  See for yourself, if you decide to take my suggestion to try Whole Foods.  Have a beer while your there (oops... that's #9!)