Life Changer: Use Planters As Legs for Your Outdoor Patio Bench

One of the hardest changes when moving from the suburbs to the city is the tremendous loss of backyard space. One minute you have tons of room to run, do cartwheels, and spread out your DIYs, and the next you barely have room for a table. Today we decided to make an outdoor patio bench that provides some greenery while also providing seat-tery. And guess what?! Depending on the types of plants and wood you buy, this bench could cost you a total of $120. Not too shabby :) Follow along below for step-by-step instructions to create the perfect outdoor bench for small-space living.

Materials and Tools:

Instructions:

  1. Place your planters about seven feet apart and lay down your strips of wood on top. The two eight-foot pieces will go on either side of the plant and hang over the edge of the pot, and the two five-foot pieces will lay in the middle, resting on the edge of the pot.
  2. Starting at one end, measure and mark 3.5 inches plus the diameter of the pot on each of the eight-foot pieces. Next, place one 15-inch 2×4 perpendicularly on either side of the planter, lining up one with the edges of the two eight-foot pieces and the second with the marks you just created. This will create a rectangle with the two eight-foot 2x4s. Complete this step on both sides of the planter.
  3. Line up the 15-inch 2x4s underneath the eight-foot boards (in the rectangle shape discussed above). Drill two pilot holes in the center of each board. Only screw in the 15-inch 2×4 that is lined up with the mark you made in step one, not the one that is on the edge. Complete this step for both sides of the bench.
  4. Measure 18 inches from the edge of the eight-foot 2×4 — line up the five-foot boards with this mark. Space the two five-foot boards evenly between the two eight-foot boards. Drill and screw into place on each end of the bench.
  5. Drill and then screw into the 15-inch 2×4. Again, complete this for both sides of the bench.
  6. The last one (or two) 15-inch 2x4s will be support for the bench. This piece will be drilled in from the underside of the bench, so flip it over. Measure 48 inches from the edge of the bench and line up the 15-inch piece in the center. Drill and screw the support piece in place.
  7. Stain your wood!
  8. Slide the wood slats onto the planter and secure the last two 15-inch pieces on the ends of the bench with screws.

Place your planters about seven feet apart and lay down your strips of wood on top. The two eight-foot pieces will go on either side of the plant and hang over the edge of the pot, and the two five-foot pieces will lay in the middle, resting on the edge of the pot.

Starting at one end, measure and mark 3.5 inches plus the diameter of the pot on each of the eight-foot pieces. Next, place one 15-inch 2×4 perpendicularly on either side of the planter, lining up one with the edges of the two eight-foot pieces and the second with the marks you just created. This will create a rectangle with the two eight-foot 2x4s. Complete this step on both sides of the planter.

Line up the 15-inch 2x4s underneath the eight-foot boards (in the rectangle shape discussed above). Drill two pilot holes in the center of each board. Only screw in the 15-inch 2×4 that is lined up with the mark you made in step one, not the one that is on the edge. Complete this step for both sides of the bench.

Measure 18 inches from the edge of the eight-foot board and make a mark. Match up the two five-foot boards with this mark. Evenly space them out between the two eight-foot boards.

Drill and then screw into the 15-inch 2×4. Again, complete this for both sides of the bench.

The last one (or two) 15-inch 2x4s will be support for the bench. This piece will be drilled in from the underside of the bench, so flip it over. Measure 48 inches from the edge of the bench and line up the 15-inch piece in the center.

Drill and screw the support piece in place.

Time to stain this bad boy! No need to buy a whole can of stain — this was a free sample and was just the right amount. Dip a rag into the stain and rub it onto the wood.

Slide the wood slats onto the planter and secure the last two 15-inch pieces on the ends of the bench with screws.

Look at that sexy plant bench!

We slid this beauty into my backyard where all I have is a small little walkway to the garbage room and a teeny bit of space for a small patio table. This bench is the perfect way to add more plants to a space while providing seating.

Stay tuned for a full post on small ways to update your drab outdoor patio, including tips on an outdoor gallery wall and hanging chandelier.

This bench will forever be my morning breakfast spot :)

Show us your latest project by tagging us on Instagram + using hashtag #iamcreative!

DIY Production and Styling: Kelly Bryden
Photography: Brittany Griffin and Chris Andre

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

We can *almost* smell spring in the air. Spring fashion, Easter goodies, and outdoor decor are already popping up in shops, teasing our hopes for warmer, carefree days. We really just can't wait to be outside and not freezing! IKEA is tickling our plant fancy with their new DAKSJUS collection, featuring colorful planters, stands, pots, tools, and more. Our favorite decor go-to has always been known for their affordable and Swedish-modern gardening tools and decor, and this year's collection does not disappoint. Here are all our favorite IKEA plant finds from DAKSJUS!

Our Favorite New IKEA Plants & Garden Accessories

DAKSJUS designers have thought of everything to keep your plants alive and your gardening mess-free, from self-watering pots to easy-to-clean planting pads. Plants not only improve your decor, they improve your mood too so check out these unique planters, pots, and accessories for all your gardening needs this spring!

This self-watering plant pot is a dream for new and seasoned gardeners. The terra cotta holds excess water so your plants can drink up whenever they're thirsty. Refilling is a snap too with the handy side gap for your watering can.

These tiny plant pots are the perfect home for baby plants, cacti, and succulents. They make great gifts too!

Go mess-free indoors or out with this easy-to-rinse DAKSJUS potting mat, which holds soil, tools, pots, and seeds (and is just $5!).

Score gardening tools and your gardening "look": from an easy-to-clean DAKSJUS waist apron to gardening gloves.

Tight on space? Vertical gardening is perfect for small spaces and balconies. Grow herbs, tend to plants, and display your gardening gear with the bamboo plant stand. Find more space-saving hanging planters and stands, starting at $10!

The DAKSJUS tablecloth is easy to clean at the breakfast, craft, or worktable.

Score vases for plant propagation and a variety of planters and stands to make a corner of your room fresh and ready for spring.

The DAKSJUS collection is so affordable, you could host a plant party with trays, tools, pots and more. Everyone goes home with a tiny pot, a bit of soil, and seeds! Check out our refreshing spring cocktails to make it boozy too.

Everything in this new IKEA plants collection is simple, yet elegant. That helps you transition pieces from home to home, as your situation changes over the years!

Check out the whole DAKSJUS collection here, and get inspired to be creative at home with Brit + Co!

Lead image via IKEA

The most important detail about any romantic movie is chemistry between its leads. Even the worst movie can be rescued by two characters you believe actually love each other. But that's not a problem for A24's Babygirl (in theaters December 25) because Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson have chemistry in spades. The new A24 movie follows CEO Romy (Kidman), who begins a torrid affair with a young intern named Samuel (Dickinson). And AMC queen Nicole says she knew Harris was different the moment he walked in the room.

Here's what Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson had to say about their chemistry in our exclusive Babygirl featurette.

Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson connected the moment they met.

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"As soon as he walked in, I was like, 'Oh good, here's somebody who's gonna play with me," Nicole Kidman says in our exclusive Babygirl featurette. "We spent a lot of time in bed. Hours would go by, and it was like you would step out of there and you would say, 'What just happened?'"

"From the moment [Samuel] sees her, he's attracted to her. He realizes there's someone at the height of their power," Harris says. "There was an element of mystique that needed to be there for the exploration of the relationship."

Harris continues that "perhaps there's something unfulfilled going on," perhaps referencing Romy's fizzled-out marriage with Jacob, while Nicole adds that "she's searching for something else" as the movie examines "desires, wants, [and] needs."

"Drink it in and be transported," she says.

​And their chemistry in 'Babygirl' was so intense, Nicole Kidman had to take breaks from filming.

In addition to spending "hours" in bed (which, honestly sounds like a pretty good work day to me), Nicole told The Sun in October that filming those scenes with Harris Dickinson became so intense, she would need breaks. “There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more,'” she said. “Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life!”

But having a woman at the helm of the film (writer-director-producer Halina Reijn) both made Nicole feel more comfortable, and empowered her to tell this story. "Doing this subject matter in the hands of the woman that wrote the script, that's directing it and is a really great actress herself — we became one in a weird way, which I'd never had with a director before," she says in a statement. "When you're working with a woman on this subject matter, you can share everything with each other.”

"I really decided in the beginning, I want to make a sexual film, just as sexual as all these films that I've always admired so much," Halina says, "but now I'm going to do it completely through female eyes. What does that mean and what does that look like?” See Babygirl in theaters December 25 to find out.

Here are the 10 New December Movies You Need To Add To Your Calendar ASAP.

As much as we love diving into a spellbinding novel, there's something to be said for the instantaneous inspo that comes from flipping through a stunning art or design book. And let's be honest, sometimes our attention span isn't up for the challenge of conquering a verbose, 500-page tome.

With an explosion of new poetry, design, and coffee table reads on the scene, we thought we'd do the heavy lifting for you and curate our absolute faves. Ahead, see this spring's fresh book releases (plus some essential coffee table reads you may have missed) from the most inspiring and creative minds among us. Whether you're into interior design, poetry, travel or plants, there's a little something for everyone.

Image via Amazon

Great Women Artists

Discover artists you may have missed in your male-centric art history classes in this robust survey of over 400 leading female creatives spanning the last 500 years.

Image via Amazon

Directions: Really Good Advice For Getting From Here To There

Directions features hand-lettered affirmations and observations from artist Hallie Bateman that are equal parts uplifting, relatable, and humorous. Flipping through the collections feels like you're stumbling across a fortune cookie truth written just for you.

Image via Amazon

Ibiza Bohemia (Classics)

Ignite your wanderlust with this breathtaking photo series that captures why this Mediterranean locale has been such a hotspot for escapism.

Image via Amazon

Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants In Beautiful Spaces

Calling all plant people! Hilton Carter brings his trademark green thumb to a beautiful new coffee table read brimming with plant care tips and at-home styling advice for all your greenery.

Image via Amazon

Design The Home You Love: Practical Styling Advice To Make The Most Of Your Space

The co-founders behind the interior design service Havenly are publishing their first book this spring that aims to be a budget-friendly guide to identifying your unique style and designing your space accordingly.

Image via Amazon

Atlas Of Mid-Century Modern Houses

Nostalgia seekers will love scanning the pages of this visual stunner, which showcases the works of famed architects like Richard Neutra, Marcel Breuer, and hundreds of other design icons.

Image via Amazon

Radiant Human: Discovering The Connection Between Color, Identity, and Energy

If you're not already familiar with the rainbow portraiture style that is aura photography, let Lonsdale's new book teach you everything you need to know about this creative practice that captures your energy and disposition through a color-coded index.

The Apricot Memoirs

Guinery's book of poetic musings (printed across apricot-hued pages, of course) serves as an exploration of love, growth, motherhood, and vulnerability that invites the reader to unlock their own creativity.

Image via Amazon

Escape

This quintessential art book goes beyond Malin's iconic overhead beach shots and captures unbelievable vacation locales like Aspen, Namibia, Bora Bora, and more to fuel your ideal getaway.

Image via Amazon

Jungalow: Decorate Wild The Style Guide

Teach Me Something New guest Justina Blakeney's new book is an interior lovers dream. If you need a push to break free from your minimalist instincts and dive into the world of big, bold pattern, let this book serve as your guide to do it.

Image via Amazon

Film For Her

This visual diary features prose, poetry, short stories and photography from the well-known YouTube poet and achieves the feeling that you're sifting through someone's intimate DIY scrapbook. Forewarning, it may just inspire you to be in your feels.

Image via Amazon

Poolside with Slim Aarons

Featuring Slim Aarons' signature peek into the lives of wealthy jet-setters, this collection of photographs will be the star of your art book rotation.

Image via Amazon

Cherry Bombe: The Cookbook

This essential foodie read captures recipes from some of the most interesting and famous female chefs, bakers, and food stylists of our time.

Image via Amazon

Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power

Further your art education by discovering previously neglected histories of 20th-century Black artists during one of the most revolutionary eras in American history.

Humans

Humans of New York pioneer Brandon Stanton traveled to more than 40 countries to tell the resonate stories of what it means to be human.

Image via Amazon

Flower: Exploring The World In Bloom

Florals for spring? How groundbreaking. But in this new collection, see how floral motifs have been depicted throughout history across art, film, textiles, and more.

Image via Amazon

Virgil Abloh. Nike. ICONS.

Bring some color to your bookshelf in a major way with this innovative dive into Virgil Abloh's creative process during his collaboration with Nike. The end result is an ode to design true sneakerheads can't miss.

Image via Amazon

The Bright Book: A Creativity Workbook Designed to Help You Shine

Also known as EttaVee, Jessi Raulet brings her signature bold pattern play to life in this creative workbook. Once you're feeling sufficiently inspired by all of the amazing reads above, tap into your own creativity by following the prompts for collaging, journaling, painting, and more.

Image via Barnes & Noble

Architectural Digest at 100: A Century Of Style

This stunning and informative read is full of glorious designs from past and present. Featuring the homes of top celebrities and architects, it's an inspirational nod to the ever changing landscape of home decor.

Image via ThriftBooks

The New York Dog

Rachael Hale has managed to use her powerful photography skills to capture the quintessential nature of dogs in The New York Dog.

Image via Barnes & Noble

The Colors of Sies Marjan

The Colors of Sies Marjan is a beautiful recollection of the celestial brand of the same name. With memorable collections that wowed crowds during past NYFW seasons, Sander Lak's beautiful explosion of texture and color remain immortalized in this gorgeous coffee table book.

Image via Barnes & Noble

The New Black Vanguard

Get lost in the pages of The New Black Vanguard. Curated by Cultural Critic Antwaun Sargent, this coffee table is great for the fashion enthusiast who's interested in seeing the world of fashion, beauty and art through a more inclusive lens.

Image via ThriftBooks

Latin American Artists: From 1785 To Now

Allow yourself to be transported in time as you view the artwork of more than 300 Latin American artists.

Image via ThriftBooks

Glass Houses

Foray into the wondrous build of glass houses. You'll find yourself admiring designs that date back to the 1930s and will love learning how architects create stunning homes with sturdy foundations.

Which coffee table books are you thinking about adding to your collection? Let us know in the comments!

This post has been updated.

Header image via Amazon

The holidays are coming in quick, bringing an abundance of energy — and good fortune — along with them in your horoscope this week! From Capricorn season's grand entrance to Jupiter's major moves, there's a LOT to unpack! Here's everything you need to know about your weekly horoscope...including who's in for the best luck!

Scroll down to find your weekly horoscope for your sun & rising signs!

What's happening astrologically during the week of December 22-29, 2024?

Brit + Co

The freewheeling Sagittarius energy is past, and we enter the depths of Capricorn season. This week heralds several important transits that have far-reaching effects for the coming new year. On December 24, Venus, the planet of love and beauty, forms a beneficial sextile with Chiron, the wounded healer and shaman of the Zodiac. Don’t let this opportunity pass. We can gain access to an understanding of our own innate self-worth. If we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and honest, we can face our insecurities and move past any blockages to growth and evolution of our very essence. We all have insecurities that prevent us from living our best lives at times, but with Chiron moving forward on December 29 after months of retrograde motion, the momentum is building toward lasting healing. It won't come easily, however. Chiron wounds are buried deep. Still, the work we put into addressing our core issues will result in a sense of ultimate freedom. It's a great time to work with a therapist or astrologer to identify and heal our innate wounds.

Ioana Motoc

Also on December 24, Jupiter squares Saturn. This monumental transit will reflect tension in the zeitgeist for the next two years. We will be face-to-face with the reality of the decline in our societies, where injustice and immorality rise to the surface. There might be a sense of despair resulting in despondency and hopelessness. But no one will benefit from putting their head in the sand. We must face our problems head-on — growth requires hard work. On a personal level, it feels like we have one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake. It is a good time to take a pause from the indulgences of Sagittarius season, withdraw from society for a bit to gain a better perspective, and realize that a shift is required. As the frustration passes, we will be able to see that for growth and abundance, we must focus and systematically rework our approach. Patience and hard work are required, and Saturn provides the inspiration for that work. If we're successful and as we move from frustration to empowerment, we'll have the rewards we seek in the long term.

Brit + Co

Venus in Aquarius will square Uranus in Taurus this week, and we might be feeling irritable with our loved ones or personally restless. Realize this energy will pass, but it will need to be expressed in one way or another. Harness it and use it to infuse some excitement into your relationships. Do something new together. Experiences outside our normal routines will be a good way to let the energy manifest. If you don’t initiate something, be prepared for some unexpected display of this tension between the planet of love and the planet of disruption.

Read Your Weekly Horoscope For Your Sun & Rising Signs

Brit + Co

Aries (March 21 – April 20)

The tension of the week will require an adjustment in your daily habits. Focus on healthy eating, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep. It's a good time to break a bad habit or form a beneficial new one — just be sure to fully lean into whichever choice you make. If you don't put your passion into something, I know you'll struggle to fully commit, Aries...

Being of service to others is another way to ease any personal frustration you're dealing with this week. While we all suffer, helping others puts our own struggles into perspective. Buy some gifts for the people you love! Work at a soup kitchen! Get out there and share your infectious energy and love with the world around you.

Brit + Co

Taurus (April 21 – May 21)

You might be feeling a sense of personal scarcity. If you find yourself on an unstable foundation, pause and allow yourself to retreat for a bit. Use any solitary time you can manage to get creative and devise a solution to your dilemma. Use light and positive affirmations to overcome any tendency toward despair. It will feel difficult until you break free from the darkness. However, I know you can use your natural tenacity to pull you through.

Brit + Co

Gemini (May 22 – June 21)

Spend as much time with your family and at home as you can. Take time to nurture yourself and to let others nurture you. This week is a good time to recover and recuperate. You'll need to be strong and healthy in the coming weeks and months — the depths of winter can be totally brutal, so it's best to take care of yourself now. Cultivate and focus your heart on love, and let that love energy flow around you. Allow the feeling to permeate your cells and remember the healing energy of love when faced with challenges in the weeks ahead. This can help sustain you if things get tough!

Brit + Co

Cancer (June 22 – July 22)

Communicate as clearly as possible what you're experiencing. Instead of holding your feelings in, hiding them from the people around you, share your emotional landscape with your loved ones. The healing power of love is exponentially more powerful when you give it away freely — so share that love, and let others share their love with you. It's a good time to rise above and overcome any insecure feelings you have. If you are so inclined, poetry or music can be a great way to express yourself or as a source of inspiration. Whatever you choose, just let yourself feel all the feelings and express them!

Brit + Co

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

It's a good week to re-evaluate your resources. Do what it takes to create security, and clear out anything that is excessive or unnecessary and focus on what really matters for your stability. The space you create will soon be filled with more meaningful and appropriate activities, people and things. Be sure that whatever you do involves joy and lightheartedness. That energy and levity will propel you towards greatness, Leo, helping you create stronger foundations for your dream life.

Brit + Co

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Prioritize yourself and your needs this week — basically just go full 'treat yourself' mode. If you're rested, healthy, and organized, everything else will proceed more smoothly. Your natural inclination to be of service will only benefit you and others if you take care of yourself first. Set clear boundaries and communicate your needs so that there are minimal misunderstandings. This will give you the recipe for the best holiday season yet!

Brit + Co

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Your spiritual practice will give you much comfort this week. Be sure to devote adequate time to quiet contemplation and ritual. Listen to music, go to a museum, or practice your art form and spend time in nature for inspiration. Tap into anything that elevates and soothes your spirit. You deserve the peace and tranquility — even (and maybe especially) if you're craving something else. Let the peace wash over you.

Brit + Co

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)

Spending time with your community and engaging in social connections will help alleviate any tension you feel this week. It's important to allow others to be themselves and to relinquish any tendency to control those around you. The more you go with the flow, the easier it will be to maintain harmony and joy. You can enjoy things without having to hold so tightly to the reins — let go, release, and live.

Brit + Co

Sagittarius (November 21 – December 21)

Hopefully, you're fully sated with the holidays and can focus on any lingering responsibilities before the end of the year. Take time to get organized and set realistic goals to accomplish important tasks. I know that's not your favorite advice, but resist any tendency to procrastinate so that you can start the new year from a stable and productive position. You'll appreciate it so much more if you do!

Brit + Co

Capricorn (December 21 – January 19)

This first full week of Capricorn season will find you in a philosophical state of mind. A broad perspective will help you navigate any tension you feel — keeping an open mind and heart can help you adopt habits, rituals, choices, and more that you may have previously ignored at first glance. And if you're not in the market for big changes on your own, at least take a moment to realize that while you might know exactly what you need, you may not know what others need. Practice being more flexible.

Brit + Co

Aquarius (January 20 – February 19)

Tensions that may come up during the holidays — as always, these are best navigated from the perspective that all things are temporary, and all things change. Check your attitude and realize you might be too intense for productive exchanges with others. Spend time alone to understand what is going on within and try your best to let others experience life on their personal terms. It's more than okay to take a moment to reset and come back to the group when you're ready.

Brit + Co

Pisces (February 20 – March 21)

Experiencing harmony in your relationships will give you peace this week. It's important to balance your needs with the needs of others, though. Reciprocity and fairness can be achieved, so be sure to equally emphasize the needs of everyone. Resist the temptation to acquiesce your needs to keep the peace — that will only leave you feeling depleted and resentful. Relationships go both ways, and it's okay to demand that of them.

Looking for a more thorough reading? Reach out to Tina at SevenSistersAstrology.com!

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Some Trader Joe's items are absolutely worth grabbing every time you're at the store (ahem, Buffalo Chicken Dip and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups). But, with the good comes the bad, and there are surprisingly tons of Trader Joe’s picks that don’t live up to the hype at all.

I took to where the real Trader Joe’s fans hang out (AKAr/traderjoes on Reddit) to dig further into the worst Trader Joe’s products around. From texture issues to weird tastes (or lack thereof), TJ’s shoppers truly did not hold back in their discussions.

Find the worst of all time Trader Joe’s buys below, and please, avoid them at all costs.

Trader Joe's

Japchae Korean Glass Noodles & Vegetable Stir Fry

“I was excited to try the frozen japchae but it was disappointing," one Redditor wrote. "So bland and watery.”

TJ's still currently sells this item for $3.49. You'll find it in the freezer section. It's made with glass noodles and a medley of stir-fried veggies like onion, spinach, carrot, and bell peppers.

Reddit

Roasted Seasoned Brussels Sprouts

“Worst is the frozen parm Brussels," another Redditor brought up. "Those were horrible.”

The Brussels sprouts in question even inspired an entirely separate Reddit thread about how bad they were.

"Inedible," one person said. "Worst thing I’ve bought there."

"Maybe you got a bad bag?" another user suggested. "I make these all the time in my air fryer and I love them."

No matter where you stand with frozen veggies, I always stand by the fact that fresh ones will be way better than frozen ones, especially with an option as divisive as Brussels sprouts.

Trader Joe's

Calabrian Chili Spicy Pasta Sauce

“Calabrian chili sauce was like hot tomato soup,” someone noted.

The $5 sauce features a Calabrian chili hot sauce alongside a classic tomato base. TJ's also has it that this sauce includes a touch of honey to balance out the spice. TBH I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that...

Trader Joe's

Coconut Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate

“The coconut cold brew concentrate tastes like battery acid ✨️," one person said. "Yes, even when prepared as directed!”

Luckily, TJ's doesn't sell the coconut version of their cold brew concentrate anymore. If you dare to try it, you can find a bottle of the plain flavor for $9, which, according to Trader Joe's, makes 12 whole servings.

Reddit

Chunky Guacamole with Greek Yogurt

“Who approved that, JAIL!” someone said about this no-longer-sold guac made with Greek yogurt.

Some users in a separate thread actually called it an "abomination."

"Why tf did they add yogurt 😭," one person wrote.

"It’s not comparable to real guacamole, but I love it just as a dip," another noted.

Trader Joe's

Cacio E Pepe Pasta Sauce

“The jarred cacio [e] pepe sauce tasted like dirty feet," one Redditor called out.

I feel like cacio e pepe is definitely overused as a flavor at this point, so I kind of understand the hate towards this Trader Joe's product. This pick is crafted using Pecorino Romano cheese made from sheep’s milk and "bold" black pepper. TJ's recommends trying it over ravioli or gnocchi, in white lasagnas, or over some steamed broccoli.

Trader Joe's

Mandarin Orange Chicken

“Unpopular because everyone seems to love them but the orange chicken,🤮” someone responded to a thread asking about the grossest TJ's products. I honestly am sad to see that some shoppers really don't like this frozen meal – it's been one of my faves for years and I personally have no complaints!

“Agree, it’s very gristly," one Redditor said. "Also dark chicken meat (leg, thigh) makes me gag.”

Reddit

Shrimp Seafood Burgers

According to a Redditor, the TJ's Shrimp Seafood Burgers (no longer in stores) are “super fishy" and it can be hard to get over their "fishy smell.”

They also did not go over well with TJ's fans on this thread:

"I found these to be awful," someone said. "No amount of Old Bay and good butter could mask the fishy taste and aroma. The only good thing I can say about them is that they were cheap."

"They're not that great on their own, but do well enough in a shrimp taco or sushi roll in a bowl," one person offered.

"You have to doctor them because they seemingly have no flavor of their own," another user said. "I like them in the air fryer. Some people might find the texture weird though."

Reddit

Beef Pho Soup

“AVOID THE BEEF PHO,” one passionate user wrote. Based on my research, it's due to a major lack of flavor.

People were totally fired up about this item when it first dropped:

"This is a straight up scam," one person said. "How is it possible they made the broth FLAVORLESS??"

"It’s so bland, with no noodles," another wrote. "I was expecting a been sprout packets or something as well. Worse than any instant ramen 10/10 regret not making cup of noodles."

"Bought once, took one bite and trashed it," someone else commented. "Worst buy yet."

Trader Joe's

Spaghetti Carbonara

Trader Joe's calls this frozen pasta the queen of comfort foods, but some shoppers fully disagree.

“The only thing to stay away from is the new carbonara pasta," one Redditor wrote. "Literally tasteless!!!”

"Too soupy for carbonara," another said. "Way more like Olive Garden Alfredo than anything else."

"I just had this for the first time and it was sooooooo bland," someone else agreed. "I added so much pepper just to make it edible. Will not buy again."

Reddit

Cajun Style Alfredo Sauce

One Redditor wrote that this sauce was "one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten.”

Per this discussion, shoppers were left yearning for more flavor.

"I bought two jars thinking I would LOVE it. I ended up disliking it," one person commented. "There’s a spice that I can’t quite put my finger on that I didn’t enjoy. In my opinion, it’s not very spicy. In the future, I’d just get regular Alfredo and add my own spices."

"Just okay, I'd say," someone else agreed. "Less flavorful than I had hoped - I would def take the lemon Alfredo over this, I love that one."

Reddit

Frozen Chicken Taquitos

"Filled with chicken mush,” is how many people described these frozen Trader Joe's taquitos.

This thread talking about the product shed a lot of light on the intricacies of the texture:

"I bought some and they are nasty," one person said. "The filling is like eating a hot booger with fake lime juice. The chicken is not like any chicken but more like mystery meat. They need a dip for sure. You will taste more tortilla than the filling thankfully. Costco sells some that are tons better and you get more."

"They’re filled with bland chicken paste," another person chimed in. "They used to have good beef taquitos, don’t know happened to those. But these chicken ones were barely edible."

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