Individually wrapped peppers? Really?

So, today I went to do my grocery shopping at Walmart.  I was astonished to find that the bell peppers were individually wrapped.  In a day and age when sustainability and the environment is of greatest concern, it is shocking that a company like Walmart, which says right on its corporate website that it seeks to create zero waste would sell a product that actually creates unnecessary waste.

In trying to teach Banana and Squish about environmental responsibility, I skipped the peppers and moved on to find other vegetables that are  not individually wrapped. 

I called the store to speak to the produce manager and asked why they are selling peppers individually wrapped.  Her response was "for less handling of the product.  The company who sells them to us sells them individually wrapped."  I asked how we could change that.  She agreed that individually wrapped peppers create extra, unnecessary waste and suggested I contact head office and suggest they move to a supplier who doesn't use individual wrapping.  I wrote an e-mail to the corporate head office asking how they could sell a product like this when they say they strive for environmental sustainability.

It sure does make a case for getting up early tomorrow and shopping at the farmer's market rather than going to the supermarkets or big box stores.  At least, I know those vegetables are grown locally at family farms.

Please help me by putting pressure on Walmart to stop selling individually wrapped peppers.   Email Walmart's Canadian Corporate Head Office at the email below and tell them you don't want your peppers individually wrapped.  Let's make a change for our environment!

cacustrel@wal-mart.com

Squish is Expander Free!!

Banana and Squish both had orthodontist appointments this morning.  We were up and out of the house by 8:10 - usually we're still fighting WTB to get up (WTB, for those not in the know is Warm Toasty Bed).  We made it to our appointments right on time and the girls signed themselves in - they have this computer sign in where the kids just touch their names on the computer screen and it signs them in.  Very cool.  My favourite feature of the office?  The Keurig.  They must know me.  Coffee. Available anytime.  LOL!

Anyway, Squish had a palate expander put in back in March.  I think.  Pretty sure she had it put in just before we went to Florida.

Well, today, she had it removed!!  YAY!!  Her first impression:  "It's weird". She'd gotten used to eating, singing and talking around it.  She's excited about being able to eat popcorn, toffee and gum again.  And not having to be careful about cheese on pizza.  Before with the expander, she had to watch for hot foods like the cheese on pizza because if it got caught, under the expander, it could burn her palate. Which could be pretty devastating. 

Next week, we go back for her to get a retainer that she'll only have to wear at night.   And my how things have changed!  When I was going through my orthodontia, you had one choice of colour for the elastic bands on your braces - grey - and one colour for your retainers - translucent pink.   Squish got to choose her colour for her retainer - and of course, she chose blue.  But not only did she choose blue - she had two blues to choose from.  Apparently she chose the darker of the two.

Banana on the other hand is still orthodontia free.  The orthodontist wants to wait until  more teeth come in - so she's not having to go back for nine months.

All in all, a good visit.  Encouraging. 

Happy Mother's Day

This is one of my Mother's Day gifts from Banana and Squish.

They symbolically adopted a snowy owl through the World Wildlife Fund. Of course, being that I am a huge Harry Potter geek, I've named it Hedwig.  

I also got breakfast in bed, a book from Squish, a "newsletter" from Banana with family photos on it, drawings and paintings and two cedar boxes for my soon to be planted vegetable garden.

Now, the girls and I are chilling, Hubs is cleaning for his family to come over for dinner while I will be taking my mother out for her first sushi dinner. I invited my dad to join us this year as it is his first without his mom.

Of Academic and Psychological Assessments

For years we have suspected that Banana may have ADD or ADHD.  Certainly, she's a very distractable child.  Her teachers have told me that she is NOT distracting - that she does not distract her classmates.   But she does sometimes have a short attention span.  To the point that she can easily go off task, right in the middle of the task, because something else has gotten her attention.

This may be typical of many almost 10 year olds, but there have been other marker's that have made us consider that ADD or ADHD may be playing a part.

Thursday I go for a meeting with the Special Education Resources teacher who will go over the results of the Academic Assessment with me (or us, if the Hubs is able to join). 

I've sent back the form for the Psych Assessment, but I don't know when that will be, or if it will even be before the end of the year.  If we have to wait until September, or early next year, so be it.  That's fine with me.

Banana is a bright kids, no doubt, but something that may help her get even better results at school would be nice.  And she's such a sweet kid with such a sweet disposition, that you just want to help her acheive everything.

On the flip side, Squish is coming up on the list for the SERT to do an academic assessment on.  I suspect we may find out there's some sort of learning disability at play with her.  It would not surprise me as both the Hubs and I have LDs of varying degrees.  Again, she's a bright kid.  Very artistic and dramatic.  It'll be interesting to see what everyting comes out to say.