I've been rather under the weather lately and it's my own fault. I was cocky and exclaimed on Facebook that I had not been sick in over a year. You'd think I would know better than that. One week after my mighty proclamation, I was struck down with a gnarly head cold. It could have been worse.

While I'm definitely on the mend, a friend suggested I visit Marlene's Market and Deli for a shot of wheatgrass. It would give me that push I need to get me back on the healthy wagon. I hadn't been there in ages and it occurred to me that I had never considered it for Grocery Stories. Bonus!

I am extremely sensitive to smell, so when I enter a space it's the first thing I notice, even before my surroundings. Marlene's hits you hard with a mixture of herbal nirvana that sent me into a slight state of euphoria. Why can't my house smell like this?

For a while now I've been on the hunt for a supplement that would help me with my lack of green vegetable consumption. I am horrible at eating fruits and vegetables, so I went for the next best thing: Vitamineral Green Version 4.8.  Yes, this brand continually updates the formula with hippest and most happenin' ingredients. What DOESN'T this stuff have in it? A 30-day supply is only $36.89.

This place is a supplement paradise and there is some sort of "fix" for everything. I grabbed some Rescue Sleep for my tossing and turning at night. It's supposed to help you turn your brain off. But what will turn it back on though? Caffeine I hope.

The supplements that really caught my eye were the Deva Flower Remedies line. These liquid life changers include (I kid you not): Doubt/Loss, Faith, Despair/Hopelessness, Self Esteem, and Frustration/Irritation to name a few. I quickly picked up the Anger/Resentment vile. I have a pretty bad case of it at the moment.

I also bought some rePETe reusable produce bags because those creepy plastic ones at the grocery store really irritate me. So much plastic is used in this world and I want to cut down on my use. Plus, they supposedly help prolong your produce shelf life. We shall see.

Looking for something to substitute for regular old refined sugar? I'm sure you can find something here, perhaps agave, date sugar, molasses, brown rice syrup, raw cane sugar, Sucanet (dried cane juice), coconut crystals, Xylitol, or Stevia? Oh, the possibilities.

Marlene's offers pretty much anything a regular grocery store does like fresh produce, dairy, meats, toiletries, and incense, but the catch here is that pretty much everything is organic and a bit expensive. But you pay for what you get. I found my two-pint size of Organic Valley Farms half-n-half for about the same price ($3.89) as I would pay at Fred Meyer. That's cool.

They sell awesome baked goods such as a variety of cakes, pies and breads. The deli offers lots of many pre-made meals, sandwiches and salads. Speaking of salad, Marlene's has one of the best salad bars I have ever seen. Lots of typical salad bar fixin's, but with items like tofu, blue cheese and edamame to liven things up.

So it was time to take my shot. I don't know if you have ever had a wheatgrass shot, but it's kind of like landing face first into your front lawn. It's not so much painful as it is startling. The key here is to also order a fresh juice chaser. I chose a carrot, apple, lemon and ginger blend. I think the ginger is the key to dissolving any residual "green" left in your mouth.

I would shop here for everything if I could, but since I walked out $112 poorer, with a small bag with only five items, I better not. Oh, and by the way it only took me only 10 minutes to write this. The power of wheatgrass baby.

Marlene's Market and Deli

2951 S 38th St. Tacoma
253.472.4080

2565 S Gateway Center Place, Federal Way
253.839.0933