After a little over an hour of shopping this afternoon, I drove home with a bunch of little gifts to give Ryan for Valentine’s Day tonight. I stopped into four different stores to find his treats, but it didn’t take me too long since I knew what I wanted to buy.
I spent the most time in TJMaxx, but that’s to be expected since I cannot help but browse the clothing racks when I am there. I ended up buying a black cut-out dress for $25!
(The cut outs don’t look quite as big when the dress is on.)
I’ve been on the lookout for another cut out dress ever since I wore a cut out maxi dress when we were in Hawaii. I think they’re so much fun!
I justified the purchase saying it is my Valentine’s Day date dress (to be worn at a later date since we’re having a dinner party for two in our pajamas tonight). I also have four bachelorette parties to attend this year and figured it would be great to wear for some party time with my girlfriends!
Lunch
Since I was driving through downtown Ocala on my way home around lunchtime and had my laptop in the car, I decided to pop into Earth Origins to take advantage of their salad bar and free wifi.
I also snacked on some hummus chips on the side.
While I was enjoying my lunch, I saw someone walk up to the silverware and seasoning station and spray their salad with something. My curiosity got the best of me and when I went over to check out the spray bottle, I saw that it was Bragg Liquid Aminos.
I’ve read about liquid aminos on a bunch of different blogs before and have always wanted to try it since it supposedly tastes like soy sauce. I sprayed a piece of tuna in my salad with the liquid aminos to try it out and it really did taste like soy sauce. Fancy that! Just in case you’d like to read more about liquid aminos, I found this article that might interest you: What’s the Deal With Liquid Aminos? Michelle also published an interesting blog post comparing liquid aminos, tamari and coconut aminos that you can find here.
Now I’m off to get a little more work done before it’s time to break out the markers for my homemade Valentine’s Day surprise. This should be interesting!
Question of the Afternoon
- Have you ever tried liquid aminos?
- Have you ever been inspired to try something because you read about it on a blog? What did you think?
Last weekend I bought a bottle of kombucha to try after seeing it on a billion blogs. I know some people love it, but I thought it tasted like butt. Ryan actually took a big swig of it without realizing it was effervescent and hilarity ensued. Let’s just say the Fagans will not be hopping on the kombucha train.
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I did a fun post comparing liquid aminos, tamari and coconut aminos if you’re interested. 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day!
http://eatmovebalance.com/coconut-aminos-braggs-and-tamari-oh-my/
awesome! i’ll edit the post to include this link!
Thanks, Julie! 🙂
I recently tried chia seeds and coconut oil since I was too lazy to order online after seeing everyoneee use it. I try lots of foods I see on blogs, but usually if it’s convenient (and no shopping cost!). The only thing I’ve every ordered online was PB2, and wasn’t a fan. Gimme the real stuff!
Yup! I totally tried chia seeds after seeing them on most of the blogs I read. Fortunately the end result was positive and I now frequently enjoy overnight oats with chia seeds mixed in 🙂
I always use liquid aminos instead of soy – a great whole food with lots of minerals still lurking in their and it’s got heaps of flavour!
I’ve also been curious about liquid aminos… so would you recommend it??
I tried PB2 (or peanut butter flour) because of some blogs. And to be honest, it just doesn’t do it for me. I like the real stuff!
Try GTs Kombucha in Synergy Trilogy. It is refreshing and good!
I’ve never tried liquid aminos before but I’ve heard so many good things about it. I would like to try it! 🙂
I’ve tried overnight oats, and brussels sprouts because of blogs. I’m glad I did because they are two things I absolutely love.
I’ve used coconut aminos. Its like a healthy soy sauce. I love the flavor. I
I’ve never tried the aminos. That’s weird that it tastes just like soy sauce! I guess I would say that the biggest “new thing” for me that I’ve tried because of blogs is smoothies in general. I found one smoothie recipe once – a pumpkin one at that – and that’s all I needed to realize I NEED smoothies in my life. Your smoothie recipes are some of my faves 🙂
I’m glad to hear SOMEONE doesn’t like kombucha. We absolutely hated it.
I actually can’t drink kombucha, ACV or any of that because I get a slight allergic reaction to vinegar. It’s just awful. I learned the hard way that my body doesn’t tolerate that stuff!
The liquid aminos are weird, because they totally taste like soy sauce.
I really like avocados in smoothies, which I got from other bloggers! It’s so dang creamy.
I mostly use liquid aminos to replace soy sauce- I love that it’s in a spray bottle! After I press tofu, I’ll spray the slabs with aminos before cutting into cubes and baking, which is WAY easier than if I were to try and evenly disperse soy sauce over them out of a bottle.
I literally just saw the bragg liquid aminos in whole foods last night and was curious what it was and what you would use it for, I suppose now I know. I don’t think I will run out and grab it though since I am a huge soy sauce lover! I tried kombucha once and did not think it was worth the $5 I spent on it!
Interesting! I take fitmixer aminos before I workout but thats it. I don’t know if I am brae enough to wear a cut out dress but it’s super cute!
I’m with you on the kombucha thing. I hate it. I’ve tried to enjoy it, but I just can’t seem to. ESPECIALLY when it comes with a long string of cultures… that looks like a worm!
Love the dress!!
I went to a vegan cooking class where they used liquid aminos and it was pretty good, but have never used it myself yet.
I also tried the kombucha after seeing it pop up on blogs and I have to agree with your verdict- gross!
I haven’t tried the Braggs aminos but I did jump on the Braggs cider vinegar train. I’m already a big vinegar fan and I have to say, mixing up an ACV and lemon cocktail a few times a day seems to help the stomach issues I’ve struggled with for years!
Adorable dress btw! Looks very BCBG. I’m searching out one for my own bachelorette but our Tj Maxx never has dresses that cute!
I actually finally tried overnight oats last week because I keep seeing it in the blog world. Can’t say I was a fan!
Love the dress! And I’ve been curious about liquid aminos for a while.. Glad to hear that you like them!
That dress is really cute! I like date nights in way better than date nights out. It’s more cozy 🙂
I’ve never used liquid aminos–very interesting! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love shopping at TJMAXX for “others” too 😉 let’s be honest its a great excuse to get out & buy something for me too!
I tried kombucha awhile back (a cranberry flavored one) and almost gagged. I was so mad that I spent $4 on something I didn’t like. I tried a different kind later, which I preferred over the cranberry, but I’m not a fan, either. It’s a little vinegar-y for my tastes. Definitely acquired.
Kombusha is the worst. I have a friend who is a raw vegan foodie and at her bday party she was giving everyone shots of kombusha… blargh! It really is quite good for the digestive system though, so if I had issues in that, hum, area, I might be convinced to use it as medicine.
Liquid Aminos are a favorite!
Never tried liquid aminos, but now my curiosity is perked. I drink kombucha and only started drinking it because I saw other bloggers drinking it. My first taste I nearly spat it out in my car. But then. . . it grew on me. And I have ended up loving it 🙂 The husband….well… one whiff and he scoots to the far end of the couch. He tried it once and the look of horror on his face had me laughing for a good while 😉
I love the new dress you bought!! I actually tried kombucha because of the blogging hype and I agree…it tastes like vinegar…not for me! I have been wanting to try liquid aminos but was nervous after my kombucha experience!! Glad to hear that it actually tastes like soy sauce 🙂
I love your blog! I noticed you love overnight oats so I decided to give them a try. I am not sure if I did something wrong or I need to try again, but I #failed miserably. If at first you don’t succeed, try again!
I’m with you on the kombucha thing. Not every craze that goes around works for everyone. To each their own 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day! I love your dress. Totally acceptable to buy something new for Valentine’s Day even if you’ll be wearing it later. 😉 TJ Maxx is the best! I’m totally a maxinista!
I feel the same way about Kombucha. I just do not understand the hype. I literally spit it into the sink as soon as I tasted it. Bleh!
I’ve heard such mixed reviews about Kombucha! If I had to guess, I’d say I probably wouldn’t like it either!
Cuuuuuuuute dress!! Cut outs AND pleated skirt?? Perfection!
I used to use liquid aminos but I can’t have soy, so now I use coconut aminos!
Exactly what I was going to say! Coconut aminos tastes even better and is thankfully (for me) soy-free!
My mom has always kept aminos in the house(I’m 17) for as long as I can remember. It’s definitely been a staple in my diet. I am Celiac and therefore can’t have soy sauce & honestly, this is so much better!
For some reason, I laughed aloud when I read the part about kombucha tasting like “butt.” I’ve tried it in the past and wasn’t a huge fan either…I actually tried it more than once, hoping that maybe I would enjoy it the second time around. Didn’t happen, of course. The dress is really cute! I’m not quite confident enough to wear a cut-out dress now, but maybe sometime in the future. : ) hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
LOVE that dress. I’ve never had any luck with TJMaxx though, and it seems that everyone else who shops there does! I have the same issue with Good Will and other thrift shops. I NEVER find anything, yet I know a ton of people who get all this awesome stuff there. It must be me.
Thanks for the tid but on your feelings toward Kombucha! I was beginning to think I was the red headed step child of the blog community. I have hated every variety I have tried. Props to people who love it but have mercy that stuff is AWFUL!
That dress is SUPER cute!!
I love that dress! I am sure that it looks great on you!
Liquid Aminos are great!! It is awesome to see them available at Earth Origins.
And Kombucha…yeah, I have heard SO much hype about it but have yet to try it. It kind of scares me a little bit, actually ;).
I thought the exact same thing about Kombucha!!! I had read everywhere how much people liked it, and when I finally tried it I couldn’t believe how bad it was! I’d like to think I tried the wrong flavor, but I highly doubt that is that case. I’m sure Ryan just loved it!
I tried the Kampucha train too. Jumped right off. And will never return.
I have been wanting to try kombucha for a while now but every time I look at it I get freaked out and don’t really want to spend $5 on something that I might not like. Glad to know you and some other commenters feel the same way
I haven’t tried liquid aminos but hope to the next time I need soy sauce, theres no reason to have both in the house. I have tried so many things i have seen on blogs! Reading about and trying new foods has been one of my favorite blogging experiencing. New foods I have tried and loved from blogs include: chia seeds, gogi berries, smashed avocado on toast, overnight oats, TJ’s yellow curry sauce, coconut butter, egg white oats, and wasabi crackers!
LOL! I finally jumped on the kombucha train and LOVE it!!! So funny about Ryan!!
We always use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos along with low sodium Worcestershire when we marinate our chicken breasts and beef. I love that it gives great flavor without a ton of salt or preservatives. 🙂
OMG, Julie! I don’t know why but I had a dream about you and Ryan last night! Maybe it was because I fell asleep thinking about my circuit for today. Who knows… But it was you, Ryan, me, and Dennis quad all working out in a studio in NY. (That would be awesome! haha)
Anyway, Happy V Day!
When I tried kombucha for the first time I totally said it tasted like butt too!! Hahaha! I would have loved to see Ryan’s reaction after taking a big swig of that stuff! “)
Love cut-out dresses! I want one. I tried chia seeds for the first time thanks to YOUR blog, and now I can’t go a day without them. Soooo, thank you, m’am. 🙂
i love the Bragg liquid aminos and use them on eggs (hard boiled esp) I got my boss hooked on it and she recently found out from her nutritionist that your body turns it to MSG- i want to find out more about that!!! i recently bought the PB2 and used it making ice cream. didn’t love it but will give it another chance. i love chia seeds and use them in smoothies and on my salad.
ooh! forgot about Kombucha! only love the gingerberry variety 🙂
Bragg’s liquid amino’s are great for us people with gluten allergies! 🙂 No wheat starch!