Josie’s Wonderland is the name of my website AND my business. I would like you to know that I am an extremely passionate person. When I believe something I believe it fully and do my best to daily live what I believe. My blogs may touch upon personal topics and may even offend people. This is not my intention. My number one belief is that everyone has a right to believe what they want and no matter what I believe and choose to blog about, I also believe that everyone can co-exist if they choose to.
I am a writer in the making and these posts are my current way of beginning to build my writing style and are both fun and informational to write. I sincerely hope that you do not take offense with what I write. These are simply my words, my thoughts, my perceptions, and my opinions — and I am always open to change!
Jo =)
Everyone thinks paper is so much better than plastic because trees are a renewable resource. Well, did you know that the plants that produce paper bags pour toxins into the ocean, polluting our water and killing marine life? Not to mention, renewable or not, trees are what give us oxygen and they are a living thing. We treat paper and paper products like we do water – we take it for granted and pollute the earth with our wastefulness.
Being a checker and bagger at a grocery store, I have the privilege of seeing waste and excuses on a daily basis. Are you ready for this?!
People ask for bags for a Gallon of milk. ”I have to walk up stairs,” is the most common excuse. Um, can you not see the thick plastic handle firmly attached to this milk gallon? I think the handles on the paper bags might not be quite as sturdy. Plus, THERE’S A HANDLE ON THE MILK JUG — USE IT!
People ask for bags when they have 5 small items or less. You really can’t carry these items to the car or where ever you’re going? REALLY?!?
People want bags for those 2 big bags of tortilla chips or popcorn that won’t quite fit in the 1 double bag the rest of their groceries are in. These bags are light weight, not hard to carry, and are already IN BAGS!!!
At least where I work we no longer carry plastic bags. I will agree that plastic is the winner of the two evils for bad for the environment. Even bio-degradable plastic bags take up to 18 months to break down. Animals ingest the pieces of plastic. I HATE 6-pack soda plastic rings. I will never forget the time when I was 8 and my best friend Jenny and I were on the small lake we lived on in a row boat. We came across a duck who had one of these rings caught around its neck. We were able to corner it and remove the plastic ring. Two days later we were out on the boat again and saw the same duck lying dead in the water. CUT UP THE PLASTIC RINGS, but not so small that animals can eat them!
Water bottles. Talk about a waste! Again, you can recycle these plastic bottles, but how many bottles do you think actually get recycled verses how many bottles are put out there?
“Reusable” bags. I actually think these are worse than paper or plastic. Here’s why:
1. They are a pain to bag in (especially the cloth ones). Might as well use paper so your food gets home safe.
2. They are disgusting, especially when people bring them in and they have dirt, mold, old receipts, and who knows what else in them.
3. ”I left them at home” – let me buy 3 more to add to the 20+ I have at home.
4. ”I left them in the car.” Translation: I’m too lazy to walk to my car that’s sitting right there in the parking lot and instead am going to tell you how “guilty” I feel about it. Guess what, WE DON’T CARE!!! We prefer bagging in paper bags. They’re cleaner and easier to use!
5. What happens to “reusable” bags when they’re worn out: we throw them away, adding to the garbage. I’m pretty sure even plastic bags break down faster then these fashionable accessories we’ve turned into a national “feel good” fake-out. Use common sense!
The TRUE Reusable Bag: REUSE Did you know you can reuse a double paper bag for over a year? I’ve seen it done! Plastic bags can be woven into big, strong, sturdy reusable bags. You can reuse boxes or plastic storage containers for a long time. You can take no bag – if you can’t carry it, you shouldn’t buy it!
Now, I know people say, “if we take away all these paper and plastic bags then a lot of workers will be out of a job.” So, here’s the bottom line: Jobs versus Environment. If we kill where we live, then there won’t be any jobs for anyone. Ever.
REUSE REUSE REUSE then Recycle!
This movie shows us the TRUTH about what we eat! A lot of people these days are switching to vegetarian because of the way the animals are treated. Until last night, I was a serious meat eater and fast food junkie and I thought nothing could change that – I was wrong. I won’t say I’m a vegetarian, because I will still eat meat – that is all natural or organic and purchased from small local farms.
Anyone that can watch this movie and not be absolutely sickened, frightened, and angered by what’s going on with conventional food has no heart. Yet, it runs so much deeper than just how the animals are treated. Every time you purchase an item at a large corporation or fast food restaurant, you are supporting the brutality against these animals, the workers at the factory, and the monopoly that is the conventional food industry.
I currently work at Trader Joe’s and I am proud to tell people that every item in that store with a Trader Joe’s label is quality food that is 100% natural — NO preservatives, NO antibiotics, NO artificial colors — EVER! Before TJ’s, I worked at Whole Foods Market for a year. (Which, by the way, “Whole Paycheck” is so NOT a funny joke…) EVERY product Whole Foods sells is 100% natural or organic AND they do an excellent job of supporting local farms and small businesses. Now, I hear it all the time when I try to recommend Whole Foods to a guest looking for something we don’t carry, “Whole Foods is so expensive!”
Go to your local Fred Meyer, QFC, or Safeway “Natural/Organic” section. A bottle of Santa Cruz Organic juice at Safeway can be almost $7.00 where at Whole Foods it’s $4.00. Why? These conventional grocery stores have a tiny selection of natural/organic foods that cannot be mass produced and bought as cheap, where Whole Foods, PCC, Metropolitan Market, and Trader Joe’s specialize in these foods, making them less expensive to the buyer. Whole Foods is NOT all expensive. Their brand “365″ is fairly priced. Also, you are paying for quality food that can save you MAJOR health problems down the road. Sure, a burger off BK’s dollar menu is cheap now, but is it worth the price of the diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. that you are almost certain to have later on?
Why are children now being born gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant, and even diabetic more often these days? Maybe it’s because those highly processed foods we consume, those “cheap” quick meals, are not only slowly killing our bodies but are now being passed to the next generation. There are no studies proving genetically engineered food is bad, but HELLO – why would you want to put stuff in your body that can grow through mass chemical dumping? Why would you want to chance passing that on to your child?
I know that it costs more to buy healthy, quality natural/organic food, but that’s only because so few of us are doing it. WE CHOOSE WHAT COMPANIES SELL – THEY SELL WHAT WE CONSUME!!! The more people that decide to buy natural and organic food means one more store than has to carry it, one more section that needs to expand to meet our needs. If more people choose this road, if the demand goes up in this category, that means the nasty junk food and fast food will have to go away. You are getting what you pay for.
SUPPORT small, local businesses.
SUPPORT natural and organic stores.
DEMAND healthy food where animals are treated fairly and the ingredient list has ingredients we can actually understand.
WE ARE THE CHANGE!!!!
I’m not really a fan of cooking. I lack the most critical ingredient of all: patience. Unlike my husband, I’m the type of person who decides “I’m hungry NOW,” instead of thinking “well I think I’ll be hungry in 30 minutes or so…” Ironically, I’m also the person who would rather drive 8 minutes to the closest fast food establishment (usually Taco Bell) at one o’clock in the morning and have someone ELSE make my food then go through the effort of putting a frozen burrito in the microwave for 30 seconds. (Although I must admit that now it’s actually my husband that drives to Taco Bell at one in the morning for me… sometimes I wonder how I could be so lucky…)
Several months ago, I was approached at work to see if I’d be interested in working the sample station one day a week. Now, why would I be interested in this if I hate cooking? I can’t say why I love it, but I do! I love to multi-task, so maybe it’s the constant hustle and bustle of cooking the sample, preparing the sample, serving the sample, and all while making sure the coffee pot remains full… (People LOVE their coffee!)
A month ago I had no clue how to make a green bean casserole. Before yesterday I had no idea how to bake Sugar Cookies. Each week I learn how to bake, cook, or prepare something new, and I must say that I find it stimulating… though I still have no desire to cook in the kitchen at home.
Two days of making dough, baking it, frosting it, sprinkling it, cutting it, and serving it… let’s say that I’ve had my Sugar Cookie fix for the year… as have most of my team members (as I tend to bake separate batches for them!)
Happy holidays! Now, where’s my eggnog….
A new upscale flea market is being added to the Totem Lake mall located off exit 24 (on 405) in Kirkland, WA. They are shooting to open up to the public on December 18th! It will be open ever Saturday and Sunday from 9-5! I will be selling here, so come on by and check it out!!!
You should DEFINITELY come check out this slightly hidden by adorable holiday bazaar! Located on NE 24th Street in Bellevue, WA, this small 3-room building is filled with AMAZING hand made items from local artists! Come on out, there are still 2 days left! Friday from 10 – 6 and Saturday from 10 – 5!!!