Trader Joe's is back on the happy list, even without banana waffles.
First of all, my wonderful husband took the plain waffles that I had bought at TJ's (still gf/cf) and offered them to Micah this morning for breakfast calling them "new waffles." Now, if I had been the one who offered him something calling it "new," Micah would have thrown a fit. Daddy is another story. Daddy can offer him anything and it will automatically be cool. I think one of Daddy's jobs that will forever be his is breakfast.
Tony also sent an email to Trader Joe's, not a complaint, Tony just doesn't do that, but a letter telling them of our concern. This is his letter:
Comments: I was recently informed of the decision to discontinue the
banana flavored gluten/casein free waffles. This item has been a staple
in our family for the last 5 years when my son started his gluten
free/casein free diet to help control his autism. They really have been
a life saver.
When I heard they were discontinued, a point of stability in my son's
life was discontinued with it. It would not be uncommon for our outside
freezer to be filled with boxes of waffles.
I know as a corporate decision, probably based off of sales, it would be
near impossible to bring them back, so I would like to thank your
company for being there with some of the best products for my son for
the last 5 years and look forward to shopping with you in the future.
If the banana waffles return, there will be much rejoicing in my house
and if they do not, we will still be happy with the products you do sell
(like the regular gf/cf waffles.) Thank you for your time, Tony
Escarzaga
Their response was very quick. Tony sent them that message at about 4:30pm on Wednesday, and he received a response at 10:30 this morning. Very awesome. This was their response:
Hi Antonio,
We are sorry to hear that we have discontinued a favorite product of
yours.
At this time the Trader Joe's Banana Waffles have been discontinued due
to slow sales in all our stores. We will forward your comments and
request to bring this product back to our Buying Department and that
will be taken into future consideration.
Many thanks,
Nicki K.
Customer Relations
Trader Joe's
Obviously they get a number of the "bring it back!" letters, and this was probably pretty automated, but still I am happy about the quick response.
I probably wouldn't have been nearly as happy if Tony hadn't convinced Micah to eat the "new waffles" though.
I'm still not happy with the change in price that I have to pay for Micah's breakfast (the new waffles are a bit more pricey), but it's not the huge amount that I would have to pay for them elsewhere. Still, it is probably time for Micah to be a bit more open with his eating habits anyway. Once we are over this hurdle, I think we will work on his obsession with taquitos...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Waffles Part 2
This morning went well...
Micah didn't mind the substitute of gf/cf pancakes this morning for breakfast. Not too much of a surprise since he has had them before when I have run out of waffles and not had time to go to TJ's. He didn't get through day, however, without asking for waffles.
I know, it sounds odd, but he saw that I went to TJ's (he saw the bags) and he assumed that I would have waffles. Since he didn't have any this morning, he asked for another fave: peanut butter and jelly sandwich on banana waffles.
The meltdown began. It doesn't look like we will be getting any homework done this afternoon, and he had a minimum day at school today. So far he has screamed and thrown things and cried. I offered (before the fit really got into gear) the plain waffles and he said that they were Becca's. He wanted the banana smell. He knows that if they smell like bananas, they are on his diet (I haven't ever bought any regular banana flavored waffles). He doesn't like having things off his diet. I'm pretty sure he doesn't feel good when he accidentally gets gluten or casien. I had him read the box, but it didn't work.
I thought I had him calmed down after giving him a snack of a different kind, but then I decided to ask him to do his homework...apparently he wasn't all the way calmed down.
Now he is laying on the floor screaming. His life is disrupted. I blame Trader Joe's.
Micah didn't mind the substitute of gf/cf pancakes this morning for breakfast. Not too much of a surprise since he has had them before when I have run out of waffles and not had time to go to TJ's. He didn't get through day, however, without asking for waffles.
I know, it sounds odd, but he saw that I went to TJ's (he saw the bags) and he assumed that I would have waffles. Since he didn't have any this morning, he asked for another fave: peanut butter and jelly sandwich on banana waffles.
The meltdown began. It doesn't look like we will be getting any homework done this afternoon, and he had a minimum day at school today. So far he has screamed and thrown things and cried. I offered (before the fit really got into gear) the plain waffles and he said that they were Becca's. He wanted the banana smell. He knows that if they smell like bananas, they are on his diet (I haven't ever bought any regular banana flavored waffles). He doesn't like having things off his diet. I'm pretty sure he doesn't feel good when he accidentally gets gluten or casien. I had him read the box, but it didn't work.
I thought I had him calmed down after giving him a snack of a different kind, but then I decided to ask him to do his homework...apparently he wasn't all the way calmed down.
Now he is laying on the floor screaming. His life is disrupted. I blame Trader Joe's.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Waffles
For those of you who don't know, my son, Micah is on a special diet, and has been on this diet since he was 3. He is gluten-free and casien-free (huh?). This brings a calm to my family that just wouldn't exist without this diet. Micah used to have meltdowns (a tantrum x 10) that would last for 8 hours. Those 8 hours would be screaming fits of rage that he just wasn't able to control. Enter GF/CF diet: tantrums now last about an hour, and they only happen about once a week (unless something happens out of routine or just basically not Micah's way).
So you see why I do it. It's difficult, expensive, and time consuming. It's also totally worth it.
Still, that's not really why I am writing today.
Today I went grocery shopping. Trader Joe's is on my list of stores that I go to (because I can't find everything in one store). I love Trader Joe's. It's a store where I would shop for most of my grocery needs if I could afford it. The main reason why I go there once a month, though, is for the waffles.
Micah has always wanted waffles for breakfast. He used to eat Eggo's for breakfast every day before the diet. It was routine. So when I put him on the diet, I looked for a replacement waffle that would be a reasonable price. I looked and looked. I just couldn't justify paying 5 bucks for each box of waffles, so I tried making them myself. I discovered that I hate making waffles.
When I discovered Trader Joe's Banana Waffles, I was overjoyed. Two dollars a box. I could do that. I took them home and Micah loved them. Score! I could survive! I would be able to keep him on this diet and not lose my mind!
Today, however, something horrible happened. My life shifted. No more Banana Waffles? NOOOOO!
I was told that the product was discontinued. I wanted to cry. If I had known this last month I would have gone and bought every box in every store in my area. Now I dread tomorrow morning, when my son awakens to a day without his waffles.
So you see why I do it. It's difficult, expensive, and time consuming. It's also totally worth it.
Still, that's not really why I am writing today.
Today I went grocery shopping. Trader Joe's is on my list of stores that I go to (because I can't find everything in one store). I love Trader Joe's. It's a store where I would shop for most of my grocery needs if I could afford it. The main reason why I go there once a month, though, is for the waffles.
Micah has always wanted waffles for breakfast. He used to eat Eggo's for breakfast every day before the diet. It was routine. So when I put him on the diet, I looked for a replacement waffle that would be a reasonable price. I looked and looked. I just couldn't justify paying 5 bucks for each box of waffles, so I tried making them myself. I discovered that I hate making waffles.
When I discovered Trader Joe's Banana Waffles, I was overjoyed. Two dollars a box. I could do that. I took them home and Micah loved them. Score! I could survive! I would be able to keep him on this diet and not lose my mind!
Today, however, something horrible happened. My life shifted. No more Banana Waffles? NOOOOO!
I was told that the product was discontinued. I wanted to cry. If I had known this last month I would have gone and bought every box in every store in my area. Now I dread tomorrow morning, when my son awakens to a day without his waffles.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Birthday Party Plans
Since my kids are all born around the same time, I have decided that I am only going to plan one big party a year and they will take turns. That's the plan so far, anyway...we'll see what happens later.
This year belongs to Ali and Zoe. They are having a princess party and inviting friends.
So if you know me at all, you know that I am not the princess type. This causes some issues for my daughters when things like this come up. I just don't come up with pink and frilly ideas. I do, however, have pink and frilly friends! My friend Judith has been a lifesaver in this planning process!
While my mom and I were shopping one day we found these little favors for a princess party, and the girls just adored them. They have little tiaras and rings and wands...everything sparkly for all your princess needs.
I was so stressed out about all of the things that I normally do that I just couldn't do. I always make my kids' birthday cakes, but I really can't bake right now. I tried to get the right location, but the price wasn't right...and then it wasn't even available. I have had to move the date and time for this thing 4 times. I'm set now. I don't know anything that would make it move now.
My mom is a cake genius, and when she said that she would make the cake, I was so relieved. I don't know what her idea is yet, but I don't care, it will look great, I'm sure.
I had a not so original idea for food. I have always served hamburgers and hot dogs for parties, but for various reasons, that isn't going to be an option. I'm thinking of doing some little sandwiches and cutting them out with cookie cutters in a tiara shape (or another princessey shape, depending on what I find when I go to Michael's or wherever I end up shopping for the rest of this stuff) I saw something similar on the cover of a magazine one time, so I thought I would give it a try. That and fruit and maybe some chips and lemonade and we are set.
So what do you do with a bunch of 3ish year-olds for a party? Well, they want a pinata (how do you make that little mark over the n? I have no idea...whatever), so that is one thing for them to do. They will also be at a park where there is a playground, but Judith came up with another idea. She and our young friend, Bailey are going to paint faces and make all the girls into princesses for the party. Ribbons in hair, sparkles, and all kinds of fun. Other than that, I will have some princess coloring pages for just in case.
That's about it. I figure that will be plenty. The kids all play together and have fun.
The other thing that I am worried about is that they want to invite some boys...I'm not worried for the reason that I would be worried if they were turning 13 instead of 3, I just don't think that a boy would like this party...
The party is on a Sunday afternoon, and the Saturday before we are going to Disneyland. We have to go before the girls turn 3 one more time as a family because of the other kid's tickets, and that is the only day that we have available. The thing is, that will be a really busy weekend for me. I'm getting tired just thinking about it. Saturday Disneyland, Sunday morning church, that is the day of the ministry fair right after church, and then the party. I'm thanking God for my mom, because she will be a huge lifesaver for me. She will be baking the cake on Saturday, and then making sure things are ready while Tony and I are at the ministry fair. Oh, I am so thankful for her.
There you have it. Those are my plans. Are they going to survive? We shall see!
This year belongs to Ali and Zoe. They are having a princess party and inviting friends.
So if you know me at all, you know that I am not the princess type. This causes some issues for my daughters when things like this come up. I just don't come up with pink and frilly ideas. I do, however, have pink and frilly friends! My friend Judith has been a lifesaver in this planning process!
While my mom and I were shopping one day we found these little favors for a princess party, and the girls just adored them. They have little tiaras and rings and wands...everything sparkly for all your princess needs.
I was so stressed out about all of the things that I normally do that I just couldn't do. I always make my kids' birthday cakes, but I really can't bake right now. I tried to get the right location, but the price wasn't right...and then it wasn't even available. I have had to move the date and time for this thing 4 times. I'm set now. I don't know anything that would make it move now.
My mom is a cake genius, and when she said that she would make the cake, I was so relieved. I don't know what her idea is yet, but I don't care, it will look great, I'm sure.
I had a not so original idea for food. I have always served hamburgers and hot dogs for parties, but for various reasons, that isn't going to be an option. I'm thinking of doing some little sandwiches and cutting them out with cookie cutters in a tiara shape (or another princessey shape, depending on what I find when I go to Michael's or wherever I end up shopping for the rest of this stuff) I saw something similar on the cover of a magazine one time, so I thought I would give it a try. That and fruit and maybe some chips and lemonade and we are set.
So what do you do with a bunch of 3ish year-olds for a party? Well, they want a pinata (how do you make that little mark over the n? I have no idea...whatever), so that is one thing for them to do. They will also be at a park where there is a playground, but Judith came up with another idea. She and our young friend, Bailey are going to paint faces and make all the girls into princesses for the party. Ribbons in hair, sparkles, and all kinds of fun. Other than that, I will have some princess coloring pages for just in case.
That's about it. I figure that will be plenty. The kids all play together and have fun.
The other thing that I am worried about is that they want to invite some boys...I'm not worried for the reason that I would be worried if they were turning 13 instead of 3, I just don't think that a boy would like this party...
The party is on a Sunday afternoon, and the Saturday before we are going to Disneyland. We have to go before the girls turn 3 one more time as a family because of the other kid's tickets, and that is the only day that we have available. The thing is, that will be a really busy weekend for me. I'm getting tired just thinking about it. Saturday Disneyland, Sunday morning church, that is the day of the ministry fair right after church, and then the party. I'm thanking God for my mom, because she will be a huge lifesaver for me. She will be baking the cake on Saturday, and then making sure things are ready while Tony and I are at the ministry fair. Oh, I am so thankful for her.
There you have it. Those are my plans. Are they going to survive? We shall see!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Summer Pictures
Micah and Becca go back to school tomorrow. I thought I would take the time to post some summer pictures. They like to look through them with me.
So much fun. I am going to school with Micah tomorrow since I haven't met his teacher and it is a brand new school. I'm praying that all goes well and he enjoys his teacher and new school. Becca will be fine. Yesterday we went to the school to look at the teacher and room assignments that they had posted. She doesn't know the teacher, but she knows a couple of kids in the class with her. Her good friend from last year isn't in class with her, though. Unfortunately, her friend got into the class with the teacher Becca really wanted...I hope that doesn't cause drama on the playground...I'm sure I'll hear about it all.
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| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
So much fun. I am going to school with Micah tomorrow since I haven't met his teacher and it is a brand new school. I'm praying that all goes well and he enjoys his teacher and new school. Becca will be fine. Yesterday we went to the school to look at the teacher and room assignments that they had posted. She doesn't know the teacher, but she knows a couple of kids in the class with her. Her good friend from last year isn't in class with her, though. Unfortunately, her friend got into the class with the teacher Becca really wanted...I hope that doesn't cause drama on the playground...I'm sure I'll hear about it all.
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