Wholesale Clubs...

Today I had to go to one of those large wholesale clubs to order some flowers for a baby shower I am helping hostess next week....This is not my first time to go to "the club," but it certainly was the first time to go at it alone. When I arrived, I flashed my photo ID and walked right in. Immediately noticing the long line of shopping carts and the vast array of bulk packed items in the distance, I decide to grab a cart a.k.a army tank. These carts are huge! I guess my husband has always maneuvered the cart because this thing was a bus! (I digress.)

As I make my way to the floral area, I notice a woman standing behind a cute little table with some napkins and small bits of "queso fresco." She offers me a slice, I accept (only have eaten a small salad and 2 bites of pasta salad for the day). Wow! This is great cheese! I grab a pack and toss in my cart. I then notice another woman standing behind one of these cute tables- she has ademame samples in mini plastic cups. Fabulous! (And good for you!) I grab a box from the large freezer and make my way around the corner, abruptly colliding with a 40 something and child. As I make my way towards the floral section of the store, I am again intrigued by a table, not manned, where pieces of pineapple and grapefruit rest on small plates. Helping myself to the snack, I notice a huge table of fruit- I grab a bag of grapefruit and 1 large pineapple please, and hurry away. NO MORE impulse buying!

Finally- I arrive at the the floral counter, where Gina, a 4'6" woman greets me from behind a pile of greenery and white roses. (She's in the middle of re-doing a bouquet for an unhappy bride, whose mother is impatiently waiting by the mound of dinner rolls that sits on one of the many tables filled with carbs.) I wave at her and ask her about how long she'll be (15 minutes) and tell her I'll be back with my easy order.

Circling the warehouse, I find a bag of almonds so big, 9 cups to be exact, that in my rolodex of a brain, I am remembering an episode of Oprah where Bob Greene tells me to eat 10 unsalted almonds a day as a snack. I grab the bag. On the end cap of the almond isle is a huge display of FiberOne chocolate and granola bars. (My girlie doc told me last month to get more fiber...think this counts?) I heave the box into my tank- which at this point is filling up...

Making my way back to Gina, I see some Organic Salad Spring Mix. It's only $3.89 for a whole container! I circle back by the queso fresco table, snag another sample and meander down the snack isle where I spot a huge box of 100 Calorie snack packs. Chunking that into the cart, I make a beeline for Gina. I came here to order flowers, by God, I am ordering the flowers.

Gina and I walk in circles and pick out what I want used in the centerpiece. (That took all of 10 minutes!) Realizing that I have some frozen Skinny Cows (don't ask) in my cart, I race to check out- heaven forbid my food thaws! My items are being scanned and dropped into old fruit and Bic pen boxes for easy carryout. I flash my receipt to the bouncer-like dude at the door and am on my way. Two hours and $79.96 later, I am finally heading home.

What gives? Next time I go to "the club", I need to forgo the shopping tank and get only what's on the list. I'll make sure to hit the food samples though and remind myself that I am still fully stocked up at home from my previous shopping excursion.