let's go krogering......OR NOT

have you heard that commercial? well, let me just say that i will forever end it "or not" b/c of last night. i've never been a huge fan of kroger. the produce is never as good as meijers, the floor is always stickier than meijers, and the prices are not always as good as meijers...especially if you forgot your "we're watching what you buy card".

when i was old enough to drive, my mom would occasionally send me to grocery shop. i loved it b/c i could get anything i wanted. she always sent me to the woodhaven meijers. for a few reasons, 1) i don't remember if krogers was on the corner of dix/southfield then but if it was we weren't fans, and 2) the taylor meijers didn't always host the best consumers. kinda creepy if you asked me.
so i grew to love that woodhaven meijers.

after i got married though, i didn't want to drive all the way out there b/c it was quite a trek for groceries (at least 20 freeway minutes), and the gas money was coming out of my pocket. my aunt claudia turned me on the the krogers on eureka. good produce, closer than woodhaven, nice setup, no stick to the floor, and double coupons up to $1.00!! so i went there until they took their coupons down to $0.50. then i figured i would just go back to woodhaven meijers, but i would always plan to go when i went out to my parents. two birds, one stone. i know, i'm genius.

and then, it happened. they built a meijers just a few miles from my house. i was a little concerned at first, b/c previously this location was a shady super k. a shopper i know (who shall remain nameless for his/her own sake, and for my own safety) used to say that every pervert known to mankind shopped there.

it has to be close to a year for this new meijers and so far so good. it has surpassed my expectations.

so getting back to last night.....
i had to go grocery shopping and i was already exhausted from our very busy day. i figured i would just go to the close gross krogers and get the few things i needed, take back the pop cans, and call it a night. i walked into the cesspool, my feet peeling off the floor with every step, and i found it was completely packed. lines were backed up to the aisles. i knew this was trouble. i made my way to the pop can return and saw that every station was busy. i walked around the corner to hop in line, and i found the line stacked to the lunchmeat cooler. every shopper in that line had a cart (or two) full of garbage bags stuffed with cans and bottles. i said (outloud if i'm not mistaken), "no thank you, sir!" and i marched my cart right back out to the car. i was not about to cram my way through that store just to end my day on a sour note.

so i got back in the car and i called nathan. "babe, i've got a favor to ask. i'm either going to meijers or to the good krogers. can you look up the meijers sale page online and tell me what's on sale?" so nathan gave me the scoop, and i said, "ok, i'm headed to meijers. there's no way i'm ever going back to that krogers."

i pulled into the meijers parking lot and even though it was full-ish it just felt so much nicer. i walked into the store greeted by a kindly old woman who offered me a sale paper. i took it to double check a few of the fine print details from nathan's excellent report. i circled my add-ons and headed through the spacious aisles. i saw a few peeps from church, and helped a man find just the right steak seasoning.

as i rounded the corner to buy plastic silverware for connor's party, i spotted them. the one allusive item that i hadn't been able to find. sword shaped tooth picks. i have called bunches of places and gone all around town looking for these little devils. eureka!! i was pumped. then on top of that silverware was on sale for a dollar! i got way more than i would've gotten at party city for about a third of the price. what a treat.

and even though the trip through the checkout took a bit longer than expected, i still stood there patiently appreciating meijers all the while.

then i came home to a cleaned up kitchen, cleaned up office, one fed baby, and a date night with my hubby watching the stars. it was perfect. even nathan said, "it feels like we're dating again.....except we don't have to say goodbye, just goodnight." we sat outside until about 10:15 just talking. watching the stars, and the planes overhead. we drew up plans for our "dream house". stunning. it will be stunning. we talked about vacations we want to take when connor is old enough to enjoy them. we just chatted like old friends. the best of friends.

i am blessed. even in the little things.