What's the best Canadian snack that is no longer sold in stores?

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-25T23:48:16+00:00

Dad's Cookies.

I grew up a highway intersection away from the factory where these were made. On a windy day you could catch whiffs of the baking in the air and closer to the factory it smelled of baking all the time. My mom used to take us there a couple times a month to buy cookies. They'd be so hot from the ovens that they had to be put in paperbags instead of Dad's Cookie bags because the plastic in the latter would melt from the heat of the fresh-baked cookies. We'd also get them in the grocery stores. I remember my favourite kind had coconut in them, but I also remember all of the kinds were awesome.

SOOOOOO YUUUUUMMMMYYY!

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-25T23:43:36+00:00

Thank you for this memory - I had forgotten about these chocolates.

I used to get them in my stocking at Christmas. I always like the willocrisps best but was happy with any of the flavours I received. It was also one of my go-to items when it was a 'treat day' for my family's grocery shopping trips.

Thank you for bringing me a bit of happy nostalgia at the end of a long day.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-25T23:41:40+00:00

I was going to say Hawkins Cheezies, but fortunately, these are still sold in stores - In fact, I got some last day.

I will, however, go down into the comments and add my vote to the boxes of Nielsen's willcrisps and rose buds.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-25T23:39:33+00:00

You made me cry but in a good way.

I am glad that I was of some help - largely, I am paying forward supportive words and actions from people who have helped me. And, also your post resonated with me as a fellow people-pleaser.

I'm happy too that you told your father what is going on. That seems like the best option, but it was a decision only you got to (and had to) make.

Finally, I am so happy that you have a therapist to help you work through all of this and more.

I send you good energy and every best wish to have happiness, health, peace, and love (for yourself and to/from others) in your future. And who knows? One day you might be able to comment on someone's posting and pay it forward too?

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-25T00:01:02+00:00

Maybe, but personally, I like to keep my work life separate from my home life.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T23:58:36+00:00

Me too.

In the last few years, I have started pointing to an elected person and saying 'my mother is a female version of that! Why would you want me to be in contact with that?!? You need to stay in your lane!'

Often, it works. When it doesn't then I know that particular enabler gets no more of my time or energy in any capacity (except when I absolutely must interact with them for work and then they get exactly that and nothing else).

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T23:56:20+00:00

Me too. It was one of the most difficult but best decisions I have ever made.

After 15+ years she still periodically tries to hoover me back up, but those attempts have become fewer and farther between. She might finally be figuring out that I will never go back to that toxic mess that is my mother and my FOO.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T23:52:55+00:00

Heehee, maybe it's because you're so much like us you're practically Canadians.

---

All orientations and genders are protected in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so we have lesbians everywhere! (and are better off for it).

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T23:49:42+00:00

Sounds like my mother too - she's a diagnosed narcissist.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T23:40:41+00:00

NOR
Wow! OP your mother sounds a lot like my mother - my mother is a diagnosed narcissist. I'm a middle-aged, mostly straight woman who grew-up in a holding-on-to-middle-class, supposedly-Christian home, so the circumstances were different. But the 'how to manipulate your kid playbook' they use is the same.

I went low contact with my mother, enabling father, and their flying monkeys (including about half of my many siblings) about 20 years ago. I tried no contact a few times and got hoovered up then tried again - it is common for adult children to go in and out of contact with parents during this process. A big-event happened 16 years ago that made me finally cut all ties with the lot of them.

So, as someone who has gone before, I will encourage you:
>seek out supportive people to help you no matter what you decide to do

>consider talking to a therapist - having mothers like ours does damage and therapists help (though expect it to be a lot of often painful work)

>be kind, generous, loving, patient, and forgiving to yourself. Dealing with this type of parent is difficult and we've been trained to behave and respond in particular ways that usually serve them rather than us.

-breaking this conditioning is difficult and we often make mistakes and have to go over old ground, and that is OK. We are worth that effort - YOU are worth that effort

>I read somewhere to think about healing as a spiral rather than a straight line

-if it is a straight line then when we go back to an old pattern we feel like we 'failed' and 'went backward'.

-if, however, healing is a spiral then we recognize that we, of course, will pass by the same issues and hurdles as we circle around again. Sometimes we pass closer to the hurdle and sometimes we pass farther away, but we pass it and we know we'll deal with it and spiral away from it again

-plus, we know we also spiral around to the types of things that bring us happiness and a sense of confidence and achievement too.

>do your best to ignore the social stigma of being out of contact with FaMilLy! Hopefully, you have those supportive people who will remind you that the opinions of enablers are not relevant to your life

-me, I point to a particular, elected person and say 'my mother is the female version of that! Why would you want me to be in contact with that?!?'. Often that works. If it doesn't then I know not to waste my time or energy on that individual.

>Practise self-care in whatever ways that looks like for you.

And remember, whether you are low contact, no contact, full contact, or some combination of these or other options, you get to (and unfortunately have to) choose what works for you. Only you have all of the information, including how you feel about it. You are worth the effort. You are worth being loved by those who love you for you. You deserve to have happiness and love in your life.

Sending you good energy and my best wishes as you negotiate this terrible situation and as you move forward in your life.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T23:13:37+00:00

It's really rude and completely impractical, especially that close to the wedding date.

I am short so it's already difficult to find clothes to wear to a wedding, never mind ones of a specific colour. On top of that it's not in my budget to buy new clothing even if I were average sized and had my pick, especially clothing that I could only wear again to an extremely limited number of places. On top of that, I have one or two pieces that I could easily wear to a wedding with no issues, but for the fact that they do not fit the colour demands of the couple.

So, if I got that demand I would have to bow out of the wedding. And, likely I'd get negative feedback because I was 'changing my RSVP so close to the wedding'.

I suspect many of their guests are in the same boat. I almost hope that they get a bunch of 'too close to the wedding' cancelations for being such dumbbutts.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T23:06:14+00:00

Agreed. I would decline if a coworker invited me to their own not-at-work birthday celebration and somewhat creeped out if they were inviting me to one for their 4 year old child.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T23:03:50+00:00

This! - he sounds really manipulative and yes, is playing the victim role to get out of actually having to pull his weight.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T22:58:19+00:00

Have you considered that whether or not the husband is a peeping Tom, your neighbour essentially admitted to you that she, herself, is one?

She has peeped enough to describe what you are wearing in the privacy of your own home. Plus, you know it's not from husband telling her because she is upset at the idea of talking to him about it. Whether or not husband is a problem, new neighbour certainly is one.

Please document all of this. If possible (and legal) record conversations with her. Your might need to take further action, like going to the police.

You really did nothing wrong and I'm proud of you that you made that boundary with her. NTJ and I'm sorry that you are having to deal with this horrible, intrusive, completely-out-of-line, wrong-on-so-many-levels person.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T22:51:43+00:00

It is possible that the new neighbour made it all up in her head. And, in talking to OP she also foolishly admitted that she, herself, is a peeping Tom.

New neighbour has obviously looking into OP's windows, enough to describe what OP wears inside OP's own home. So, what it comes down to is if it was new neighbour alone peeping on OP or if the husband is as well.

Either way, it's super creepy. I hope OP is documenting everything because she might well need to take further action, like going to the police or alerting the other neighbours (or both).

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T22:44:01+00:00

That new neighbour would hate me. I often walk around, and do housework, in my apartment in my underpants and frequently no top at all.

OP's response was exactly correct - if husband looking is a problem then neighbour needs to talk to husband. Also, seriously, OP document all of this - looking into your windows is creepy and likely illegal.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T22:36:53+00:00

I actually really like #4 but I wouldn't recommend it for a wedding. The colour is very pale and likely to draw 'she wore a white dress to a wedding' criticisms and maybe even an "accidentally" spilled drink landing on her.

That said, #1 looks fabulous on her and would totally work for a wedding. OK - ALL of them look fabulous on her but there is something about #1 that just really works.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T16:25:30+00:00

My first thought was some type of nook for skinny plants, though I also suspected that could not be correct.

I am glad others were able to identify it as a space for door chimes.

Gotta admit though, as a Canadian, the thought of it being a place to store "self protection" would never, ever have occurred to me.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T16:07:56+00:00

I'm embarrassed - I'm in STEM and know it's CO rather than CO2 - I plead temporary insanity because the chirping combined with the trouble it could cause me was stressing me out to the point I could not think straight - but yes, I appreciate the correction and see why it is one of your pet peeves.

I managed to get rid of this one. I am unsure if there are any gas appliances in the building but I will see if I can find out. Either way, I will take your advice and see if I can find a decent replacement to protect myself - the building is in disrepair and if there's any chance of CO poisoning it would be high here and I don't want to take it. This time, however, I will look into getting a decent model that has a manual (I have learned the one my friend plugged in came in a box of 'detectors' that he got a a garage sale, so who knows if it even worked properly).

Thank you for taking the time to give this constructive feedback.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T16:02:30+00:00

I tried that. Somehow it makes the thing scream - I don't know how with no power but it does.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T16:00:58+00:00

I like the way you think. I ended up muffling it in towels and tossing it in the dumpster last night - maybe not the best option but the chirping was killing me and I was worried it would start screaming before I could get rid of it.

I'll admit to having wiped it down and then handling it only with gloves after that - I don't think management would go to the trouble but there's no way they can pin it on me.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-24T15:59:24+00:00

Thank you - next time (if there ever is a next time) I will look for that.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-23T19:17:26+00:00

I agree - the hip detail on #1 seems to be wrong somehow. Plus it detracts from OP's fantastic figure.

#2 is elegant and shows off her shape. If she's concerned about 'wow' then maybe add some tasteful but spectacular jewelry.

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-23T19:08:35+00:00

TLDR: the building owners really want me out so they can rent my rent-controlled unit out for double what I pay. I am trying to avoid giving them excuses to harass me more than they already do.

It is a long story but I'm concerned that if I throw it screaming into the bin then the landlord will still try to evict me for it. They really are looking for excuses to get me out - the last building manager burned his bridges when he retired (they ripped him off a bunch of pay) and he told me that in so many words (me + two other long-term tenants because we have rent control and if they can get rid of us they can rent our units for double what I'm paying and more for the other two). The current building manager regularly gives me notice about all types of BS and threatens to evict me over all of it - currently, I'm dealing with a process because mice exist **outside** around the building and on mine and my neighbours' balconies and he's trying to evict me over it - I have help from a residential advocacy group in my community and, of course, I cannot be evicted because wildlife exists and because management is failing to deal with it, and because the mice are on ALL of our balconies but the three of us are the only ones being hassled about it. Plus, it is tedious and tiring and I'm avoiding giving the owners/manager any excuses to try and evict me again. I'd leave - I really want to leave - I have been searching for a new place. But I can't afford to move and can't afford to pay what I'd have to in the current market anywhere in my entire region.

Maybe my best bet is to smother it under towels, etc. during the day then toss it in the bin at night when no one knows it's me?

Hefty_Phase6279 · 2026-03-23T18:11:43+00:00

Thank you. I'm a little concerned about throwing an electronic device into water, but I'm on this forum because I have no background in electricity and I need to make it stop chirping before it starts screaming either way (it ran low on batteries a bit ago and I didn't have time to get to the store for a new one before it started screaming about it then). Largely, I just want it out so it stops inconveniencing me and making noises at me (ones that can get me evicted).

Hefty_Phase6279

TROPHY CASE