My love affair with PCC
A couple months ago i was talking with Tamara about shopping at PCC. She said. "you're not going to get smug, are you". I replied, "I'd love to be smug if i could afford it." But you know what? I can afford to be smug. In fact, if i play my cards right, shopping at PCC doesn't have to be THAT much more expensive than shopping at the regular old supermarket. Besides, when i go to PCC i know that i'm not just going to get pasta and chips and soda, i'm shopping for more specialty items like bulk quinoa, Dr. Bronners soaps, and Nancy's Organics kefir. You're just not gonna find that stuff at the Safeway.
I've found in the past few months that i really LOVE going to shop at PCC. First, they have the "Kids Pick" program where kids under 12 can grab a fruit of veggie to munch on while mom or dad shops. It's been a lifesaver to start out in the produce section, get Semra all excited about the possibility of an apple and then just give her one to nom while i cart her through the aisles. It's brilliant!
Second, they have an AMAZING hot food bar with all the free samples you could ever dream of. Take a little paper cup (or 10) and try everything they have to offer. I often load up a little cup with black beans for Semra and she loves it. But the best thing in the hot bar (so far), the tofu scramble. Delicious. I bought a container of it this morning to nosh before i headed to the gym.
Third, the staff is wonderful. Funny, helpful, not snooty and i can always count on the adorable 16 year old home-schooled (what? she works at 9am on a weekday, of course she's homeschooled) bagger girlie to compliment my hair, regardless of it's cleanliness or lack of style.
Fourth, the coupons! Every month i get the PCC Newsletter and tucked inside is at least one coupon for 10% off my entire purchase. This month they're being very generous and included two, hooray! But they also have coupons in the Chinook Book and take the manufacturers coupons found therein as well. Today i was able to double up my monthly memeber coupon and the $10 off one from the Chinook book and ended up saving something like $30. Totally sweet!
Fifth, the smug factor. I admit it, i like being smug. I like that i can buy organic food and stock my pantry with vegetarian-fed, low-sodium, cage-free, naturally-nested, happiness-tested, hyphenation-madness chicken broth. I love cooking with quinoa and that i can whip up a batch of falafel from the bulk foods bin. I like saying "I'm a PCC member", as if that actually makes me a better person than people who shop at Grocery Outlet. Though i DO shop at Grocery Outlet as well. Maybe that makes me a smug poser. I'm okay with that.
I've found in the past few months that i really LOVE going to shop at PCC. First, they have the "Kids Pick" program where kids under 12 can grab a fruit of veggie to munch on while mom or dad shops. It's been a lifesaver to start out in the produce section, get Semra all excited about the possibility of an apple and then just give her one to nom while i cart her through the aisles. It's brilliant!
Second, they have an AMAZING hot food bar with all the free samples you could ever dream of. Take a little paper cup (or 10) and try everything they have to offer. I often load up a little cup with black beans for Semra and she loves it. But the best thing in the hot bar (so far), the tofu scramble. Delicious. I bought a container of it this morning to nosh before i headed to the gym.
Third, the staff is wonderful. Funny, helpful, not snooty and i can always count on the adorable 16 year old home-schooled (what? she works at 9am on a weekday, of course she's homeschooled) bagger girlie to compliment my hair, regardless of it's cleanliness or lack of style.
Fourth, the coupons! Every month i get the PCC Newsletter and tucked inside is at least one coupon for 10% off my entire purchase. This month they're being very generous and included two, hooray! But they also have coupons in the Chinook Book and take the manufacturers coupons found therein as well. Today i was able to double up my monthly memeber coupon and the $10 off one from the Chinook book and ended up saving something like $30. Totally sweet!
Fifth, the smug factor. I admit it, i like being smug. I like that i can buy organic food and stock my pantry with vegetarian-fed, low-sodium, cage-free, naturally-nested, happiness-tested, hyphenation-madness chicken broth. I love cooking with quinoa and that i can whip up a batch of falafel from the bulk foods bin. I like saying "I'm a PCC member", as if that actually makes me a better person than people who shop at Grocery Outlet. Though i DO shop at Grocery Outlet as well. Maybe that makes me a smug poser. I'm okay with that.