In the end it's all about community.

From this week's LA Times, Food Section

But regardless of the challenges, new markets open every year. Pompea Smith, whose Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles runs the Atwater Village market (among others), which is coming up on its first birthday, says, "The community is very supportive of the concept, a way of bringing the community together. We have activities, storytelling almost every Sunday, local musicians for the children. We encourage local people, like a local man who makes mozzarella. One lady started a little business selling herbs from her backyard."

In the end, it's about community.

Jimmy Hoffa Cupcakes

Insert Evil Mob Boss Laugh...

Things Worth Buying- Tazlab Collars

Friends of our friends, who are too cool not to just claim them as OUR friends have started this great little company making dog collars. Tazlab. Not just any dog collars. We've all seen the Jimmy Buffet tropical print collar (blech), the flowers, the spikes, the Paris Hilton charms and crystals. But you haven't seen this collar. It's ingenius design will protect your dog from being caught on a fence or some other awful place and doing themselves real harm. I just ordered a gunk green one and purple one for our lovely girls and will post pictures when they arrive. They also carry tag silencers. Who would want to live with that jingle? Not even the Zsa Zsa of dogs digs that all the time. And they carry cool lights and leashes. Buy them for your furry friends, buy them for your friend's furry friends.

Fearless Flyer

I heart Trader Joes. I loved them before I had a kid and now that my time is sucked into a vortex of diapers and baths and hours lost lovingly gazing at little toes, I espcially love them. I love that they don't buy into GMO's. I love the fact that I can buy organic. I love that I can make dinner in half an hour (or less) with products like Indian naan bread (warm bread in five minutes) and diced onions in a zipper bag. And I love the Fearless Flyer. The one that landed in my mailbox today is 100 (plus four) of their greatest hits. Great food writing (Carrot Ginger Soup, "It's made with fresh vegetables and herbs and simmered to achieve the idea marriage of vibrant flavor and creamy texture."), great recipe ideas (Fresh cut mango? Mango salsa! Brie? Toasted with ham on a sandwich!) and great ideas about how to do business (work with local and little guys, little advertising, and good food sense). And it's more entertaining to read than the back of a cereal box. And if you know me, this won't surprise you... I love to find new things. I love to try the new items. I love to see what treasure the corporate joes have uncovered. I have to stop myself from tearing open packages on the way home from the store.

Here's my list of top ten items I couldn't live without.
1. Prenatal vitamins. There are wildly expensive versions of these, but I trusted TJ's the whole way. They're around 8 bucks a bottle.
2. Tzatziki. Feeling snacky? How about a little protein? It's Greek baby.
3. Trader Joes French Market Lemonade
4. Dark chocolate. Every form. Very cheap.
5. Fresh veggies (green beans, broccolli, cauliflower and snap peas) in a bag. I'd have scurvy without these.
6. Organic non-fat milk. I drank so much milk when I was pregnant, the cow should come for free.
7. Goat cheese. There is almost a two dollar difference between buying it at TJ's and anywhere else. Especially Whole Paycheck!
8. Ginger Jo Jos.
9. Greek yogurt with honey.
10. Organic Olive Oil