I Didn’t Know There Was Going To Be A Test!

I was at the check-out counter at Brambles yesterday when Angeline asked why I shopped there. Ummmmm. I hadn't realized there was going to be a test. I hadn't studied, so I gave her the first lame answer that popped into my head. I've thought about it a bit more since then. I hope I can redeem myself with the list below.

 Why do I shop at Brambles?

1. James and Angeline have kindly done all the thinking for me. I don't have to wonder where the food came from, or what went into the raising of the food. They've done the homework for me.
   
2. I get good value for my money.
   
3. The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.
   
4. They have such sexy produce.
   
5. Because of the sausages. No, wait, because of the bacon. No, scratch that. It's really because of the sausages. Or maybe it's because chicken legs are sexy too. Actually, we don't really eat that much meat, but when we do it's nice to be able to buy it reasonable amounts. I like that I can go in and buy 2 slices of bacon or one chicken breast if that's all I need.
   
6. The store is always tidy, clean and bright. It's also conveniently located and has parking.
   
7. You can get things there you just can't get anywhere else in town.
   
8. It's locally owned and operated.
   
9. They're involved in the community.
   
10. My lack of a schedule means I can't always get to the Farmer's Market. (And sometimes I just don't want to get out of bed on Saturday morning.) Brambles has much better hours.
    
11. They keep their customers up-to-date on food and related issues through facebook and Twitter.
    
12. Shopping at Brambles gives me the opportunity support smaller BC food producers.
    
13. They have lovely, local lemons in December. That's a seriously huge accomplishment for a small Canadian shop.
    

Did I pass? I hope so. I'd hate to flunk out and have to resort to shopping at the Mega-Mart.

 

Note:  If you're a Brambles shopper, please feel free to add your reasons for shopping there in the comments.  I'd love to hear from you!
 

Goal!!

Late post today, as I spent several hours shopping for new clothes. I finally got tired of wearing clothes that were too big. Yep, that’s right. I’m several sizes smaller than I was at this time last year. I couldn’t believe how many sizes smaller. I would have thought that I was a victim of vanity sizing if I hadn’t been shopping with a slender friend. We were trying on the same clothes. OK, often the clothes were too big for her, but they weren't that big.


So, what does this have to do with how I’m eating? Well, one of my goals when I started this blog was to change my eating habits without getting fat. At that time I had lost 22 pounds with Weight Watchers' online program, and I really didn't want to find them again. By September I was tired of counting points, and I had been inspired by what I had read in Michael Pollen’s In Defense of Food. (I will mention his book often in this blog. After reading the library’s copy, I was so impressed I bought my own. In hardcover. Gotta get my money’s worth.) I wanted to “eat food, not too much, mostly plants” and maintain my new weight. I’m pleased to say that I have. Thus my new wardrobe, and this brief , late and boastful post.


Oh, and I will tell you if the weight reappears, but between the new clothes and today’s admissions, I’m going to my best to avoid having that kind of news to share.