My Costco Travels: Frederick Maryland

A quick search using the warehouse locator in the Costco app shows that there are over a dozen different Costco warehouses in the greater DC metro area. I have been to nearly all of them but I rarely post about them because to me they are just part of my normal Costco rotation. But in keeping with my new "My Costco Travels" series I am going to try to post a little something about every warehouse I visit, even if it's not a "new to me warehouse" because its probably new to many of you :) 

Last weekend I ventured out to western Maryland to the Frederick Costco. The Frederick warehouse opened in late 2001 and has everything you'd expect to find at a Costco except they don't sell any alcohol, not even beer and wine thanks to archaic MD state laws.

Almost all of my athletic apparel is from Costco, whether it's a name brand item from Nike or Underarmour or Kirkland Signature, I've rarely been disappointed with my purchases. I picked up two of these Mondetta Ladies Full Zip Jackets w/ hood (item #1075018, $19.99) at the Frederick warehouse and I LOVE them! The jacket has a fitted shape, long sleeves with thumb holes at the cuff and an overall longer length that I'm crazy about. And it comes in four colors: a white/light grey, a black/dark grey, and blue/black and a purple/black. My blue & purple photos didn't come out well so I also copied some images from costco.com where this item is also available with free shipping. The purple and blue are not that bright in real life and it does run large so I recommend buying down a size.

How beautiful are these yellow Vintage Mums (item #250752, $10.99)!?

Versatile items that can be worn more than one way are awesome, like this Campion Lightweight Snap Scarf (item #1087414, $12.99). It snaps together and can be worn three different ways: as an infinity scarf, a drape or as a shrug. Made of Nylon & Spandex, the material is stretchy & soft. The scarf comes in three colors: Turquoise Green, Black and Pink. This item is also available on costco.com with free shipping.

I feel like you can never have too many basic layering pieces like this Felina Ladies Camisole 3-pack (item #1074554, $12.99). Made of Cotton, Modal and Spandex these basic tanks are soft and smooth. Available in two different color packs white, black & dark gray or navy blue, fuchsia, & light gray. This item is also available on costco.com with free shipping.

These Kirkland Signature Active Leggings (item #7987655, $16.99) are my favorite KS leggings yet. The full length wicking fabric hugs your legs without being too tight and most importantly they stay put - no pulling or tugging needed to keep these babies in place. The mid-rise waistband stays flat and has a hidden pocket and there is even an inner draw string to adjust the fit. Available in four different colors, blue dot, purple mercury, and two different black prints: charcoal heather marble and black fracture embossed. (I bought the two black prints.) These leggings are also available on costco.com with free shipping and plus sizes are available online only.

There is a Kirkland Signature Ladies Active Jacket (item #7987654, $29.99) that matches the leggings. It comes in four colors: blue, purple, black and gray. The long sleeves have a thumb hole at the cuff, there is a hidden hood in the back of the collar and my fave feature: the pockets have zippers. This item is also available on costco.com with free shipping and also in plus sizes.

The Fitbit Charge 2 is one of the highest rated fitness trackers according to Consumer Reports. My old Fitbit didn't have a heart rate monitor so when I saw Costco had the Charge 2 with a $20 off instant manufactures rebate I decided it was time to upgrade. The Fitbit Charge 2 bundle (item #1110234, $129.99) at Costco includes an extra wrist band, chose size small or large. I've been wearing my new fitbit for just over a week and I totally dig it!

Costco also has Fitbit Blaze bundle (item #1070528, $199.99).

And a Fitbit Alta bundle (item #1060231, $128.99).

T3 hair dryers are the BEST! This T3 Micro Featherweight 2 Hair Dryer with Tourmaline (item #978242, $89.99) at Costco is 55% LESS than the retail price! I have the white one. I don't know if it actual dries "60% faster" than my old hair dryer but it definitely dries my hair faster.  And for such a large hair dryer it is lightweight so my arms don't give out while drying my long hair. I highly recommend this hair dryer. Its also available on costco.com (in the black color only) with $4.99 shipping & handling.

I spotted the iconic Chi Original 1" Ceramic Flat Iron (item #1022917) marked down to an incredible $39.97which is 60% off the retail price. I bought mine years ago and it still works like new.

Did you know Costco has its own line of wine glasses!? I did not and was thrilled to discover this Kirkland Signature 8-piece All Purpose Wine Glasses (item #1040005, $17.99). These break resistant, lead-free crystal glasses hold 25 oz, are dishwasher safe and were made in Germany by the renowned German company Riedel Glassworks. At just $2.25 per glass these are a steal. If you are a Riedel fan, and want lead crystal glasses Costco sells an 8-pack of Riedel Vinum Cabernet Wine glasses on costco.com for $119.99. (Had I not already purchases a zillion wine & champagne classes at a Costco business center two summers ago I would have totally been all over these...)

Speaking of crystal, check out these beautiful Waterford pieces. This 10" Waterford Normandy Crystal Vase (item #1112222) is just $69.99 - thats 58% LESS than the price Nieman Marcus sells the same vase for.

This Waterford 10" Cassidy Bowl (item #5559999) is $69.99 - which is 69% LESS than the Bloomingdales sale price!

And this pair of Illuminology by Waterford Crystal Candlesticks (item #1114444) is only $49.99.

Radar detectors are illegal in Washington DC and Virginia so I rarely see these - but if you live anywhere else you might be able to get your hands on this Escort Passport Long Range Radar & Laser Beam Detector (item #1054421, $249.99).

Costco also sells dash cams. This Cobra Drive HD Dash Camera (item #1088622, $118.99) with 1080p HD wide angle view comes with an 8GB SD card, HDMI cord and mount.

The Frederick Costco had some cool exercise equipment like this, Cap Deluxe Utility Bench (item #1082183, $89.99).

And this Cap 200 lb Dumbbell Set with Rack (item #783500, $189.99).

Frederick also had a great selection of winter gear. I picked up a Subzero Polar Vortex Snow Brush & Ice Scraper (item #1080286) for $14.99. It's actually two pieces, you get the longer brush/scraper with the pivoting head and telescoping handle that extends to 50", and you get a smaller handheld ice scraper. Both have thick foam handles for an easy grip.

I picked up two pairs of these Brekka Down Ski Mittens (item #1074285, marked down to $19.97), one pair for me and one pair for mom. They are SO WARM!

I also got a Bula Convertible 4-in-1 Balaclava (item #1050983, marked down to $6.97) for my mom so she can run in the wee hours of the morning without her face freezing off.

I've never been snowshoeing but this Yukon Charlie Mountain Profile Snowshoe Kit (item #1061932, $69.99) looks pretty cool. It includes a gear back pack, telescoping poles and aluminum framed snowshoes.

Bolle Youth Ski Helmets (item #1061443) were marked down to $19.97.

Bolle Youth Ski Goggles (item #1061447) were marked down to $14.97.

And there were a few Bolle Adult Ski Goggles (item #1061444) left, marked down to $19.97.

If you follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter you know how much I love the Kirkland Signature Beef Chili with Beans (item #39508, $12.99 for approx 4lb contianer), an item that is readily available at Costcos throughout the Northwest Region but not something I have seen on the East Coast. Until now that is; I was ecstatic to discover it for the first time on the East Coast at the Frederick warehouse. If you come across it at your Costco you have to try it, it's SO good. One of the deli workers told me they are bringing the chili to the food court too!

Does your Costco have mobile hand washing stations?? I saw a few of these scattered throughout the deli and freezer section. And after sampling a delicious pot sticker and having the dipping sauce drip down my hand I was thankful for these little sinks.

It's not quite February yet but Costco has already brought back these Heart shaped Cheese Raviolis! Nuovo Pasta Four Cheese Heart Ravioli (item #383254) is $9.79 for 2 lbs.

I love how the Frederick Costco has a dedicated refrigerated case for Kosher foods!

Yum! Starbucks Cookie Straws (item #1112677, $9.6).

I sampled these GoGo Squeeze Organic Applesauces (item #887790)  and they were really good, but after getting them home and comparing them to my Kirkland Signature Organic Apple Sauce (item #897971) I felt a little cheated. Kirkland Signature Organic Apple Sauce is made from two ingredients: organic apples and ascorbic acid (to protect color). But a quick review of the ingredients of the GoGo Squeeze Apple Sauce showed that they contain purees and juice concentrates. I like that GoGo Squeeze uses lemon juice instead of ascorbic acid, but I don't like that all the juice & puree adds 33% more sugar compared to the KS organic apple sauce. I'm also not a fan of the "Apple Strawberry" flavor containing banana and black currant.

D you have a water softener in your house? You can get a 50lb bag of Morton Water Softener Pellets (item #48892) for only $5.99 at Costco.

Or a 40lb bag of Morton Rust Remover Super Pellets (item #200049) for only $4.99.

Is it just me or do we all wear more shoes in the winter months? With all the snow boots, Ugg boots, rain boots, tall boots, short boots, mud boots, work boots etc. this Organize It All 3-tier Metal Show Rack with Storage Bin (item #707812, $36.99) is sure to keep your mudroom or family entrance neat and tidy. The storage bins would be great to hold hats, mittens and gloves.

I really like this Manor House LED Coach Light (item #1015194, $28.99) with a dusk to dawn sensor.

January always bring a smorgasbord of furniture to Costco and I've been trying to avoid all the furniture aisles until we get the remodel finished but I have fallen in love with this 72" Whalen Industrial Metal & Wood Workbench (item # 707636, $299.99). Its supposed to be a workbench for a garage or workshop but I think it is way too nice for that. The solid rubberwood top and full extension drawers contrast so well with the industrial black metal, and along with the heavy duty casters give the whole piece a real steampunk vibe to me. I REALLY want this!! I think I could easily put it in the new dining room as a sideboard or server or you could use it for almost anything, a desk, a console underneath a TV or a table in your laundry room. I might actually have to borrow the hits truck and go back to pick this up... (This item is also available on costco.com, but with a steep $149.99 shipping & handling fee).

The Frederick Costco also has self checkout lanes.

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S.

Follow me on Twitter! @CostcoConoiseur

Follow me on Instagram! @theCostcoConnoisseur

Like my page on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Costco-Connoisseur/

Thanksgiving with Costco!

Hurry! Today, 25 Nov, is the LAST DAY to take advantage of warehouse only Pre-Thanksgiving Savings!

With one stop, Costco can help make sure you have everything you need to host out of town friends & family and to cook up and serve the perfect Thanksgiving meal :)

PREPARING FOR COMPANY:

A new Vacuum Cleaner makes cleaning fun and more efficient. Save $80 off the Dyson Ball Multi Floor Upright Bagless Vacuum and get your house whipped into shape for company.

Impress your guests with new luxurious Sateen Sheets on the guest beds, or treat yourself with a new set on the Master bed to help ensure a restful nights sleep for the host.

 Running out of room for those out of town guests? No problem, with the Aerobed Opticomfort Queen Air Mattress with Headboard you can have an extra bed in no time. It self inflates & deflates and folds up for easy storage.

I like to think you can never have too many bath towels on hand, especially when you have a house full of guests. Replace your old towels and wow your guests with new, hotel quality luxurious towels.

I always keep extra toothbrushes and toothpaste stocked in the guest bathrooms just in case.

Not enough room at the dining room table for everyone? With a few affordable Lifetime 6' tables you can make room for the whole gang. The durable tables are height adjustable, easy to set up and take down, and fold in half to store when not in use.

 

If you can't scrounge up enough chairs for everyone at the dinner table pick up a few of these Stackmore Folding Chairs. Made of solid hardwood frame and with padded upholstered seats for comfort these chairs take the cake when compared to basic plastic or old school metal folding chairs. 

Don't forget about the little people joining you for dinner! The affordable and durable Lifetime Kids Folding Table and Lifetime Kids Stacking chairs are perfectly sized for little guests. And when dinner is over they make great activity & game tables for kids too. 

With a house full of guests you're going to need a coffee maker that can handle brewing single cups as well as whole pots of fresh coffee. The Keurig K560 Single Serve Brewer with carafe is $25 off through today only! 

 Save $5 off a 54-count case of Starbucks beloved Holiday Blend K-cups. The medium roast has a smooth taste and finishes with a hint of sweetness.

Decorate the table with a beautiful fresh flower arrangement from Costco like this cornucopia.

COOKING:

Save $4 off this 4-piece Melamine Bowl Set with lids. The brightly colored bowls are perfect for mixing & preparing food and serving! And with the lids they make storing leftovers a breeze too.

The Pyrex Sculpted Glass 4-piece Mixing Bowl set with colorful lids can go from the kitchen, to the table, to the fridge in a snap!

Save $5 off the Sabatier 3-piece Bamboo Cutting & Serving Board set. Each board is made of durable and renewable bamboo that resists moisture. The non-slip edges on each corner help provide stability and limit movement while cutting. 

The acclaimed Lodge Cast Iron Skillets are available in a 2-pack at Costco! The skillet set includes one 12 inch skillet, one 10.25 inch skillet and 2 silicone handle holders. The Costco price of $36.99 for the set saves you over 50% off the retail price!

For beautiful bakeware that goes from the oven to the table you can't beat this Mikasa Italian Countryside 3 piece bakeware set.

Save $10 off the 6-quart stainless steel Crock-Pot Slower Cooker set that includes a Little Dipper Warmer.

Costco has upped the discount off of the Waring Professional quality Waffle Maker from $10 off to $15 off! Dazzle your family & guests with gourmet Belgian waffles for brunch.

And save $20 off the 9-cup Cuisinart Food Processor to help make prep work a breeze.

Save $15 off the Crock-Pot Hook Up connectable entertaining system 2-pack. You can connect up to 6 units (or 3-packs) to a single outlet. Setup an efficient buffet line for serving while keeping the food piping hot without having to worrying about flimsy chafing dishes or open flames.

Short on oven space? With the Oster 20-quart Self-Basting Electric Roaster you can roast a turkey up to 25lbs and keep your oven free for cooking side dishes and pies. 

If oven space isn't a problem to roast your Turkey you'll need a heavy duty roasting pan. This Extra Large Nordic Ware Roasting Pan & Rack can accommodate a turkey up to 25lbs. The nonstick pan makes clean up a breeze and the offset cast aluminum riveted handles allow you to lift with ease. 

Love fried turkey? With the Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer XL you can safely fry a turkey up to 20lbs indoors! The set includes Turkey Frying gloves, a Marinade Injector, Carving Prep Sheets, Cooking chart, Quick Start Guide, Meat Thermometer and a Recipe CD.

You can't fry without oil so don't forget to pick up the peanut oil! Get 4.5 gallons of Kirkland Signature Peanut Oil for only $29.99.

FOOD:

At Costco, Conventional Fresh Hen Turkeys are just $.99 per pound and USDA Organic Hens are just $2.99 per pound.

Not cooking for a huge crowd? Costco also carries a Turkey Breast with herbed stuffing and gravy for only $29.99. Pre-seasoned with cranberry peppercorn seasoning this ready to cook turkey breast can feed up to 6-8 people.

For homemade mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes you can't beat Costco's prices on potatoes!

If you prefer quick & easy mashed potatoes from a box the Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes are the way to go. 

If you need potatoes quick pick up a 5 lb. tray of Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes w/ butter (made with Organic Yukon Gold Potatoes), or a 5 lb. tray of Mashed Sweet Potatoes w/ butter (made with brown sugar). Both come in microwaveable trays and so they can be ready to serve in minutes.

Costco has everything you need to make delicious Stuffing!

You can't serve a turkey dinner without gravy! Whether you prefer Poultry Gravy or Brown Gravy don't forget to pick up a bottle of McCormick gravy mix before you head home.

Greens seem to take a back seat to the main event at Thanksgiving but I love vegetables so here are several different vegetables you can pick up at Costco.

Mashed potatoes & gravy always seem naked to me if they aren't topped with green peas. This 5 lb. bag of Organic Peas can be found in the freezer section.

Fresh Organic Green Beans are just $2.99 a pound at Costco! Sauté them in butter with shallots or use them in classic green bean casserole.

If you prefer to follow the traditional recipe for green bean casserole Costco has cans of Cut Green Beans and cans of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup.

Brussels Sprouts are a staple at our house in the Fall and Winter. I love roasting them or sautéing them with bacon! (However you cook them try to avoid steaming brussels sprouts which takes away their crunch and turns them into sad, soggy blobs.)

The Sweet Kale Chopped Salad kit comes with its own dressing and makes a huge fresh salad with kale and sliced and brussels sprouts.

Roasted Asparagus is another favorite around our house!

I LOVE Butternut Squash but peeling, cutting and de-seeding them is a time consuming pain, so I can't tell you how ecstatic I was to find ready to cook Organic peeled and copped Butternut Squash at Costco!

Costco has great prices on Mushrooms and Organic Carrots too. I love the mini peeled carrots because they are ready for cooking or snacking.

Whether you like the canned Jellied Cranberry Sauce from Ocean Spray or prefer to make your own homemade cranberry sauce from Fresh Cranberries Costco has just what you need!

 Don't forget the dinner rolls!

Or make your own warm Crescent rolls!

Costco is carrying more and more Organic produce like these Granny Smith Apples and Gala Apples.  Great for baking or snacking.

Pomegranates are a delicious Fall/Winter fruit in the US! They can be a frustrating mess to open though so check out YouTube.com for tips on cutting them and removing the arils.

Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is made from Grass-fed cows, this delicious butter is a staple in our house, and its perfect for making your own clarified butter if you're doing Whole30.  Stock up now while it's $2.30 off!

SERVING:

Serve up sides in style with this 4-piece set of Porcelain Serving Bowls by "What a Dish." Each bowl is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe.  Save $4 off each set through Sunday 29 Nov!

Make sure you have plenty of serving utensils on hand! If you need more you can save $5 off the Yamasaki 5-piece Hostess Set.  Choose from two different styles in the warehouse.

Perfect for soups, stews, chili or oatmeal this set of 6 double handled, stackable, white porcelain bowls each hold 20 oz. and are $4 off!

Not enough matching dishes for everyone? With the $25 coupon, this 36-piece Mikasa Swirl Bone China Dinnerware set is only $74.99! Each set includes service for 6 made up of a dinner plate, salad plate, bread plate, soup bowl, cereal bowl and a matching mug.  

Low on silverware too? (Those darn forks just seem to disappear!) Fear not, Costco has 3 different styles of Mikasa 65-piece flatware sets to choose from and all are $20 off! Each set includes service for 12 and a 5 piece hostess set for serving.

If you don't want to invest in new dishes but still want to make the meal fancier than usual, pick up a package of Masterpiece Plates. This premium heavyweight plastic plates resemble real china and can be hand washed for a second use or recycled for single use. Each pack includes 50 plates (25 10.25 inch dinner plates and 25 7.5 inch dessert plates). Save $3.50 off through today only!

To match your fancy plastic plates pick up a box of Reflections 160 piece heavyweight plastic cutlery and save yourself the hassle of washing even more dishes. Each box contains 80 forks, 40 spoons and 40 knives. Recommended for single use only.

If you want to go super low-key and low-stress break out the paper plates! These Dixie Ultra paper plates come in two sizes: 8.5 inch (276 count) or 10 inch (170 count) and both are $3.20 off through Sunday 29 Nov. Use them for Thanksgiving dinner or in place of everyday dishes while you have house guests so you spend more time visiting and less time cleaning.

Cloth napkins are wonderful but if you are not up for the washing and ironing make things easier for yourself by picking up some paper napkins. Vanity Fair Impressions dinner napkins and Everyday napkins are each on sale $2 off through Sunday 29 Nov.

For more casual napkins scoop up a pack of the Kirkland Signature napkins which are $2 off through today only!

If you need stemware check out these 24oz Crystal Wine Glasses from Sommelier by Waterford. Each glass is made of 24% lead crystal and a box of 6 is only $39.99.

For lead-free stemware, this 8 piece set of 22 oz glasses from Studio Collection by Schott Zwiesel is only $24.99 and the glasses are dishwasher safe.

BEVERAGES:

Non-alcoholic sparkling beverages for the whole family are all the rage at Thanksgiving. A 4-pack of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Pomegranate juice is $2.50 off through today only!  

If you prefer regular apple cider Costco also carries a 4-pack of Martinelli's Sparking Apple Cider.

For a little international flare try Galvania's Italian Blood Orange Organic Sparkling Fruit Beverage.

For those who don't care for the bubbles Costco also carries all natural Apple Cider and 100% Juice Cranberry Juice.

My all time favorite sparkling water, San Pellegrino, is $3 off each box of 12 through Sunday 29 Nov!

Celebrate Thanksgiving and getting together with family & friends with some bubbly. I prefer Brut champagne and one of my favorites is Kirkland Signature Champagne.

If you're going to someone else's house for Thanksgiving bringing a bottle of wine for the hostess is a kind gesture to thank them for their hospitality. Skip flimsy gift bags and present your gift in a beautiful wine tote. Pick up a 3-pack of these wine totes for only $9.99! Each set includes 1 fabric and 2 paper origami wine totes in different colors and patterns.

DESSERT:

Would it even be Thanksgiving if there wasn't Pumpkin Pie!? I love to cook & bake, and I learned from my mother & grandmother how to make just about everything from scratch. Whether it's because of the fresh ingredients or maybe it's just knowing you did it yourself homemade almost always tastes better to me. Almost. Costco Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie are two exceptions. (Sorry mom!) For their amazing homemade taste, their size and low price you just cannot beat a Costco Pumpkin or Pecan Pie. 

For pumpkin lovers Costco also makes a Pumpkin Cheesecake and Pumpkin Logs which are both delicious alternatives to plain pumpkin pie.

If you're not a pumpkin lover the Costco All American Chocolate Cake may be right up your alley, or perhaps the Costco Apple Pie. Costco sheet cakes are always in season and speaking of seasonal, the Kirkland Signature Traditional Fruitcake has been spotted!

Everything is better with whipped cream and ice cream! (Okay maybe just desserts are better.) But whether you prefer whipped cream or ice cream Costco has you covered with Land O'Lakes Heavy Whipping Cream to make your own homemade whipped cream, or if you're looking for quick & easy a 3-pack of Land O'Lakes pre-made whipped cream.

Kirkland Signature Vanilla Ice Cream is a Consumer Reports top rated ice cream for flavor & texture and of course price! It's perfect for turning any slice of pie into "a la mode" or for making milkshakes or floats!

LEFTOVERS:

Don't forget to think about how you are going to handle those inevitable leftovers. You can turn any plate into a take away plate with a little Glad Press'n Seal! And if you're using fancy plastic plates or paper plates you won't have to fret about getting your good dishes back.

Send leftovers home with guests in Glad plastic containers that you won't mind if they are not returned to you.

For larger quantities you may need a set of these Rubbermaid 14-cup Premier Food Storage containers. The bows are stain resistant and have red spill proof lids. 

Keep leftovers fresher longer or make your own frozen dinners with a little help from the FoodSaver 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealing System!

Save $30 now through Sunday 29 Nov and don't forget to pick up an extra package of FoodSaver pre-cut bags and rolls too.

All Costo Warehouses in the US will be closed tomorrow, 26 November, for Thanksgiving.

On Black Friday, even though Costco will not be giving out their The Costco Way cookbooks any more (sad face!), the Thanksgiving Weekend Coupon book starts Friday 27 Nov and Costco warehouses in the US will open at 9am!!

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S. - Selections and prices listed above will vary from different Costco locations.

P.P.S. Don't miss out on the latest roadshows and other Costco deals I spot in between blog posts- use the links below to follow me on Twitter and Instagram, and like my new page on Facebook!

Follow me on Twitter! @CostcoConoiseur

Follow me on Instagram! @theCostcoConnoisseur

Like my page on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Costco-Connoisseur/