Dessert...All Dressed Up

Day 73.

Dessert...All Dressed Up

New Year's Eve is a time for getting dressed up and celebrating the start of the year to come...I think my dessert should be all dressed up as well. How about some gelato wearing a tuxedo...seriously!

 

 

New year's is also a time for resolutions and one of mine is to make an effort to try more new things...no doubt that resolution will manifest itself here. While I love that I've been able to share some of my personal favorites that are made here in the USA, I am also enjoying finding many new things throughout this journey as well. My resolution is that this will continue and I hope that together we'll be able to explore a wealth of new ways to support American businesses in 2013 and beyond. Happy new year!

Chocolate...eaten, not stirred

Day 72.

Chocolate...eaten, not stirred

So you've probably encountered a martini that tastes like chocolate, but how about a reversal of that idea...chocolates that taste like martini flavors? Oh yes!

What a delicious way to enjoy a wonderful chocolate with a surprising additional flavor. Call them perfectini!

Beautiful Baskets and an Impressive Commitment

Day 71.

Beautiful Baskets and an Impressive Commitment

While discussing some of the awesome companies we've found that make great gift items here in America my aunt mentioned to me the beautiful baskets she has found that are made by Longaberger. I started looking for more info about their baskets and I found an article with some wonderful news about what this company is doing to bring their pottery manufacturing back to the USA. Read all about it here...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensweet/2012/07/27/longaberger-to-bring-manufacturing-back-to-us-adding-500-jobs/

After reading this and learning how this company is taking steps to produce more products in the states I was thoroughly impressed and heartened. This company makes some beautiful products and you can see them online at www.longaberger.com. I was also very impressed with the commitment made by the company's CEO and President, Tami Longaberger, to take steps to transition to a full line of U.S. made products. Watch her speak about the decision in this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRrgmurZWi4&feature=youtu.be

That being said, I am now wholeheartedly a fan of this company and give them great credit for making the commitment to bring jobs and manufacturing back to the USA. Best of luck to them as they proceed in making this happen!

A Hometown Treat

Day 70.

A Hometown Treat

My hometown of Rome, NY is known for plenty of cool things...Francis Bellamy, the man who authored the Pledge of Allegiance, lived in Rome. The Woodstock anniversary concert brought lots of attention to our city back in 1999. And one of my favorite things created in Rome would have to be...the world famous Turkey Joints...

As a proud Roman I'm glad to be able to share this favorite treat with you. You can find out more by visiting www.turkeyjoints.com. One more cool thing to come out of Rome, NY!

A Delicious Dip

Day 69.

A Delicious Dip

To extend the flavor of the holidays I'm going to be whipping up some fruit dip. What makes this dip special (besides having all the ingredients made here in the USA) is the flavoring added by using Torani flavored syrups. I was first introduced to these syrups at a local coffee house when they were incorporating some new flavors of smoothies into their menu. I think this company has a great story and a great product, which you can learn more about at http://www.torani.com/#/about/our-story. Here's how I like to incorporate their holiday flavors into my favorite dip recipe...

I also think that it's cool that I was able to work with a natural whipped topping like Truwhip (http://truwhip.com/aboutUs/index.php). All the way around this recipe is fantastic and I hope you love it too!

A Successful Result

Day 68.
A Successful Result

For me, part of writing this blog has been trying to make a difference in both my own and other people's shopping habits by showing that there are plenty of ways to buy great American made products and support businesses and people here in the USA. However, from this side of the computer it's not always easy to see what impact has been made. I have to just have faith and believe that by simply putting the ideas out there that I have a chance to possibly reach someone (maybe you, the person reading this now) and make a difference regardless of whether or not I ever know how, when or why the difference happens. This is very much the same way I was reached and inspired to start this after reading a blog written by artist Sharon Knettell encouraging her readers to take action, which is what got me writing here in the first place. However, sometimes you get a glimpse into what kind of impact has been made by the ripples in the water and yesterday during my family's Christmas celebration I saw first hand the impact that this idea had. Awhile back I shared part of an e-mail my father sent me in response to this blog. He supports the idea of shopping American as well and, unbeknownst to me, passed this message along to my aunt who took this idea and ran with it. As a result, my aunt announced on Christmas morning that every gift she had brought to give was an item she had specifically chosen because it was made in the USA. She shared the experiences she had shopping including the frustration of how few American made items she found in certain department stores and being excited about the really cool items she found along the way. We also took note of the gifts given by other family members that were also made in the USA (we all love locally made chocolate turkey joints!) and we were all pleased to receive certificates honoring a donation she made in our names to a local charity we all care about, which supports the effort on a whole extra level. Thanks to her and to anyone out there reading this who may be moved to continue making a difference. I am so pleased to see a tangible result of the impact from writing this and really appreciate you for reading it...I've written a lot this morning, but a picture is worth a thousand words, so please enjoy seeing some of the results of our American made Christmas.

A Christmas Tradition Continues

Day 67.
A Christmas Tradition Continues

Merry Christmas! I know many families who are celebrating today have wonderful holiday traditions of their own and I would love to share one of mine with you...and yes, it involves a gift that is made in America...

 

Today my gift to you is some holiday humor...enjoy this next video and may the blessings of the season be with you and yours.

 



Candy Covered Pretzels

Day 66.
Candy Covered Pretzels

It's Christmas Eve and for me that means the parade of yummy goodies begins with a family dinner tonight. One of my favorite sweet and salty combinations is a candy coated pretzel rod. Fortunately, these are fun and easy to make, so we'll be all set...

So now I'm officially ready to kick the holidays into gear! Hope this ideas helps to make your Christmas eve merry and bright...

P.S. If you're still needing a gift or two and you're worried about being in the final hours to get it ready, just stop...chill...review all the previous postings here with ideas for cool things you can make yourself. There's no need to rush the stores at the last minute and grab something "just because" when you can take a moment to put some heart into a great gift to give with love.

More Stuff for Your Stocking

Day 65.

More Stuff for Your Stocking

I already gave you a few suggestions, but you can never have too much stuff for your stocking, right? So here are a few more ideas just in time for the final days of holiday preparation...

Now you can really make that stocking sweet for someone special! 

Gorgeous Glass

Day 64.
Gorgeous Glass

How many American companies can say they've been around for over 100 years? There's a company in West Virginia that makes some absolutely GORGEOUS hand-blown glass pieces that would make a spectacular gift...the Blenko Glass Company has a beautiful assortment of vases, bowls, decanters and more. My personal favorites are from their Fire and Ice collection because of the really cool mix of colors within the glass...

http://shop.blenko.com/Fire-and-Ice-Collection_c9.htm

I think blown glass is absolutely beautiful to look at and knowing that these pieces are made by hand right here in America makes me appreciate them all the more.

Gifts in a Pinch

Day 63.
Gifts in a Pinch

We're getting to Christmas crunch time and as you're finishing your shopping and checking off your list you may find you need a last minute gift or two to have on hand. Here's an idea I love...

These chocolates are delicious and a perfect gift for just about any occasion or recipient...you can't go wrong!

Secret Santa Suggestions

Day 62.

Secret Santa Suggestions

If you work in an office there's probably a good chance you're getting ready for a secret santa exchange. This can be a fun tradition, but sometimes a challenge to find the right gift for someone you may or may not know particularly well, so I have some suggestions for gifts that will serve you well regardless of the name you draw.

My top five Secret Santa Suggestions made in the USA:

1. Yankee Candles here's a link

2. Whitman's Sampler here's a link

3. The Popcorn Factory flavored popcorn here's a link

4. A cool printed t-shirt by SOS from Texas here's a link

5. Fragranced lotions by San Francisco Soap Company here's a link

However, I have an idea for my secret santa which is more about the presentation of the gift. Here's an idea for dressing up a gift certificate...

I wish you luck finding the perfect gift...just don't shop in the supply closet!

Minding the Merchandise

 

 

Day 61.
Minding the Merchandise

While attending the Tuba Christmas concert last night (where, incidentally, the spice cake was very well received) I was asked to help mind the merchandise table where there were a few goodies for sale. Among them were some knit items including scarves and hats that I was thrilled to see were made in the USA, Minnesota to be specific, by Wear-A-Knit Custom Knitwear (www.wearaknit.com).

 

 

So, feeling good about the wares, I helped sell these items during the intermission. Several people bought the knit goods and I was glad to be helping the event and also being part of the  chain of sales that got these items from a cool company that offers their items custom made to order into the hands of appreciative consumers. I'm also glad to be a ble to share with you a little about what this company does because I think a custom gift of this nature shows care and thought and even commemorates nicely a group, activity or special event as you can see in this case. It's also nice for keeping you warm during the chilly days ahead.

A Cake and a Tuba...who could ask for anything more?

Day 60.

A Cake and a Tuba...who could ask for anything more?

Let me begin by explaining the reason that I have been baking a cake... For over ten years I was the co-director of a children's theater program for deaf and hearing students to be able to work together to present an original play in both spoken and sign language. I was actually with this program for fifteen years in total (three as a student and two as an assistant before stepping into a director's role). I had some amazing and very rewarding experiences working with the kids, learning sign language to communicate with the students that couldn't hear and helping to facilitate interaction with all students using a variety of facets of drama and music...yes, lots of music was incorporated into every show we presented. My co-director for this group is actually a music teacher at the state school for the deaf. She leads a group of students from her school (some of whom I've known for many years through our theater program) in a bell choir and they are absolutely PHENOMENAL. The students perform during the holiday season at community events including the annual Tuba Christmas where musicians playing all varieties of brass instruments essentially come together from all over to "jam" on an evening of Christmas carols. It's a very cool show to watch, especially to support the involvement of these kids who I have watched grow up over the years. Now, back to the cake...to support the students' involvement in the Tuba Christmas the local Grange (where I am a member) does an annual cake auction at the show. So I want to prepare a very cool cake to take with me tonight that will not only be tasty for whomever takes it home, but of course it will be made with ingredients from here in the USA. I found a great spice cake mix made by Namaste Foods (namastefoods.com) and baked it in the coolest bundt cake pan (also made in the USA by Nordic Ware...read about how they are keeping jobs in America at http://www.nordicware.com/about/made-in-america) that is shaped like a gingerbread house.

I'm excited to take the cake to the show tonight. I hope it goes over as well as the music is sure to. After all, with a cake and a tuba...who could ask for anything more?

There's one more thing I'd like to share with you. If you've been following along with this blog you'll notice that today is day 60 of our 60 gifts in 60 days made in the USA. What happens from here? Well, I still have lots of cool gift ideas to share with you, so I'm ready to start a second round of 60 days with a slight shift in focus. Of course we'll still look at gift ideas for the holidays right now, but then we'll segue into sweet gift ideas to treat yourself or your sweetie as we head into the new year and on towards Valentine's Day. So the 60 days blog will continue to go strong with another 60 gifts made right here in the USA. Thanks to everyone who has been checking out my blog over the last two months. I am so appreciative that you are here and hope you continue to stay with me for the next stretch of my journey. 60 more days...see you back here tomorrow! 

P.S. Totally random, but awhile back I put together "60 videos in 60 days" (to learn and get some hands-on practice with various video production techniques) and here's the culmination of that project. It seems fitting to revisit this today...enjoy!

Gifts for our Pets

Day 59.
Gifts for our Pets

Pets are part of the family too, so it seems perfectly natural to include them in the gift giving of the season. There are some cool products out there to get the animals into the spirit of the season too and I believe I've found a great one for our canine friends...

If you've got a dog in your life and want to check out more of these biscuits there's a great assortment to be found at http://www.wagathas.com/biscuits.html. It's cool that they are organic and made right in Vermont. I think Fido will love them!

A Sweet Holiday Mug

Day 58.

A Sweet Holiday Mug

I feel like any time of the year is a good time to enjoy Andes mint chocolate candies, but for the holidays they are all dressed up and just a perfect treat to share. That's what inspired me to make and decorate this sweet candy mug. I knew they would be a perfect filler for a festive mug, but to have just the right presentation I wanted to decorate the mug myself. Inspiration hit in an unlikely place...the wall covering store where I found some RoomMates peel and stick appliques. They were the perfect touch! Everything I used here is made in the USA. Here's how all the pieces of this project came together.    

I had more than enough candy to complete the project...and I must say, the best part of doing this blog is eating the leftovers!

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Day 57.

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Before anything else, I must send my deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers to the families of all who were involved in the tragedy yesterday at the elementary school in Connecticut where so many lives were lost. Words cannot express what we feel for our fellow Americans when an unthinkable situation like this occurs. At this moment all I can say is that our hearts go out to all who are suffering and we pray for you and your loved ones.

Today I'd like to tell you about some toys made here in the USA from recycled plastic and environmentally friendly materials. With a little consciousness and concern perhaps we can not only save the elephants, but find a way to save the planet as well. I am very impressed with the efforts being made by the Green Toys company to manufacture wonderful children's toys while also being environmentally responsible. Here you can learn more about what this company is doing towards saving energy in their toy making process...

http://www.greentoys.com/green.html

 

From building blocks to toy trucks, planes and boats, they have something cool for every child. I also see that they offer a tool set, a tea set and even a planting kit (so kids can think about giving something back to the environment) and to me these toys are even more impressive because of the care and the consciousness with which they are made.

 

http://www.greentoys.com/toys.html

Perhaps toys like these will start the next generation down a positive path towards respecting and protecting our planet. Every little bit helps and that's why I'm hoping (from an environmental standpoint) that many children will have a "green" Christmas this year.

Gingerbread Houses

Day 56.
Gingerbread Houses

I recently enjoyed walking through a holiday village with ENORMOUS gingerbread houses on display. For a size reference, here I am next to one of the amazing houses made with the candy components listed on the giant gingerbread man.

This inspired me to build my own gingerbread house using a kit made here in the USA by The Wild Baker and Candy Maker. This kit came with some decorations and everything I needed to assemble and decorate the house as you can see here.

Anyone want to guess how long this house will last?

Wooden Creations

Day 55.

Wooden Creations

There are lots of cool things that people make and sell in locally owned shops all over this country. I think handcrafted gifts that you know someone put their time into (as opposed to something mass produced) have a special character and are really unique. I know of a shop where everywhere you turn you find something like this...whether it's the jewelry, the baked goods or the woodworking, you always feel you've gotten something made with real heart.

There's something really wonderful about finding gifts that have local origins. I feel like there's a story behind pieces like the ones we just saw from Amish Country Commons in Palatine Bridge, NY (www.amishcountrycommons.com). Big thanks to Dave and Pam for showing me what you have made!

More Knitting (aka Don't Look, Mom!)

Day 54.

More Knitting (aka Don't Look, Mom!)

Remember a few weeks back when I was just trying my hand at knitting for the first time? Well, I'm pleased to report that I caught on quickly and have finished my very first project, a scarf which I will be giving to my mother for Christmas. I know she appreciates the effort that goes into hand crafted gifts like this because for my birthday last year she custom designed and hand latch-hooked the most amazing rug for me...it required over 36,000 individually hand latch hooked pieces of yarn and took her over 180 hours to complete. While this scarf didn't take nearly as much time, I'm proud of the fact that my first endeavor came out successfully...

Now that I've picked up on the skill of knitting, I think I'm ready to try another yarn craft...I'd like to learn to crochet. I have it on good authority that there is a company in Maine, Quince & Co. that makes wonderful yarn for crocheting. They can be found online at quinceandco.com. I enjoyed looking at their assortment of yarns (categorized by bird names, which I thought was quite clever) and patterns for creating beautiful projects. Before too long I hope to share my first crocheting with you as well.

Superheroes and Real Life Heroes

Day 53.
Superheroes and Real Life Heroes

My nephew is young, full of energy and totally enamored with superheroes. According to my brother the favorite right now is Spiderman. Spidey's a good guy, right? I understand his fascination because I remember vividly the characters and stories that I loved as a child that helped to shape my attitudes, morals and values in ways that still resonate with me today. Although I have to admit that I know very little about Spiderman, my hope is that my nephew takes away some positive lessons through following his stories and that Spiderman might whip a little positive message right along with his web. I want to be able to give him a gift that ties in with the superhero he is so into right now, but also one that is made in the USA. I think I've got it...

 



 

I'm glad that my nephew is able to enjoy the fantasy and whimsy of the superhero characters, but I also hope that he is absorbing a little bit about what makes for a real life hero. My brother is a police officer who serves and protects the community. Every time I see anything related to law enforcement I think of him and appreciate what he does. In the aftermath of the destruction of Hurricane Sandy we recently saw how police officers, firefighters and EMTs are some of the real life heroes who I hope my nephew will respect and admire as well. I'd like thank all those who came to the aid of people in need during a time that was (and in many ways still is) so difficult for so many. I'd also like to take a moment to say thank you to the men and women serving in our nation's armed forces. This time of year we have so many members of our military who cannot be with their families because they are deployed or otherwise serving our country away from home. They too are real life heroes and someday my nephew will know and understand what that really means. While I'm sure it is difficult to be away any time of the year, at the holidays I'm certain that feeling is magnified. So for any of our military personnel or their families who might happen upon this message, I just want to say thank you so much for all your service. My thoughts and prayers are with you for a merry Christmas, happy holidays and a safe return home to your loved ones. You are truly heroes and, again, I thank you.

 

Christmas Cards

Day 52.

Christmas Cards

I know in this age of electronic communication that a handwritten note is a rarity. Maybe that's why Christmas cards always seem to have such a personal touch. It's one of the few instances I can think of where you sit down and hand write a message to one individual at a time (as opposed to just hitting "send" to your e-mail contact list), which means that for the moments that you are writing out the card you are giving special thought to the person you are sending it to...and in a "somewhere out there" kind of way maybe they are writing a card and thinking of you too. I really enjoy sending cards every year and am particularly happy with the cards that will be going out to friends and family this year.

These cards are really special. I hope that receiving one of these cards brightens up someone's day so they know I am thinking about them.

Don't Look, Dad!

Day 51.
Don't Look, Dad!

One of the challenges in writing a blog that is all about gifts is that I run the risk of my recipients seeing their presents in advance. That's why I have put my immediate family on the honor system to not be looking at this until after Christmas. So I will trust that they are not reading this right now, but just to give one last warning...final chance to turn back...I'm about to reveal a gift I've prepared for my father...

I hope that this will be a special rememberance of wonderful times we all had and a way to keep good thoughts of the entire family with us during this season and always.

For the person who has everything...but not this!

Day 50.

For the person who has everything...but not this!

Are you stumped on what to get for that person who has everything? I'm betting they don't already have this...

http://www.ohsayusa.com/14K-Gold-Slinky-p/ps-slinky-gold.htm

How cool is that? I'm a big fan of all things from the 80s and this is one of those cool little pieces of nostalgia from your childhood that has a whole new sophistication to it. I like the idea of this as a fun item for an executive's desk or even just to have around for some stress relief. I work on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings in my city and can't help imagining sending one of these down all those stairs! Just finding this online made me smile and reminisce about the first Slinky I had as a child. I think it will elicit the same reaction from that hard to buy for person who may have almost everything...but not this!

Transforming Pretty Paper

Day 49.

Transforming Pretty Paper 

When I first learned about paper bead crafting I didn't know how beautiful the creations could be. Once I saw some gorgeous finished jewelry that was made from this paper technique I was astounded I wanted to try my hand at crafting some beads and using them to make gifts. So I learned how to do this simple and artsy craft to make a necklace that I was very pleased with. As with many things, I think the secret to ending up with a beautiful result is to start with quality materials from the beginning. I worked with some high quality scrapbooking papers in a color palette that I knew would be pretty. I also was particularly pleased with the outcome from the glaze I used, an American made product, Judikins Diamond Glaze from http://www.diamondglaze.com/. This gave the paper beads an elegant gloss and a durable finish. Here's how I crafted a gift of jewelry using this cool paper bead technique.

What's great about this craft is it can be a fun project for kids as well and you can use any kind of paper you want. You can teach them a little about recycling if you make some beads using magazines or newsprint. Or, this time of year we all have lots of wrapping paper...I bet that could be used to make a really cool holiday themed pieces. Very merry!

Movie Lovers Gift Pack

Day 48.

Movie Lovers Gift Pack

Each December I look forward to curling up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and making time to watch some of my favorite holiday movies. Topping the list for me are Miracle on 34th Street, It's A Wonderful Life and The Wizard of Oz (ok, not a holiday movie, but a favorite that always turns up this time of year). I also enjoy some of the more contemporary holiday films like Elf and Santa Baby and every year I find myself watching Santa Claus: The Movie, which was first released when I was a little girl...I have many fond memories of this movie, but also remember it caused my to be freaked out by candy canes for awhile! My husband has his favorites to watch too, such as A Christmas Story. With so many great movies to watch, a real movie buff might enjoy a few holiday treats to make the living room feel like a theater...

Now that the popcorn and snacks are all taken care of you can dim the lights and start the movies...just remember to turn off your cell phone and don't talk during the previews!

Holiday Stress? Relax...

Day 47.

Holiday Stress? Relax...

This time of year can cause undue stress for even the coolest cucumber. It's no wonder with all the rushing around trying to take care of a hundred little things to make the holidays "just right" that we occasionally lose sight of the true spirit of the season and start to make ourselves just a tiny bit crazy. Well, if you're finding yourself in that situation right now I have a couple of suggestions for products that are great for helping you to relax. They will also be appreciated gifts for someone else who is probably feeling a little stressed out as well. So here we can fix a problem and find another great gift...two birds with one stone!

Now here is one more tip to make the holidays a little less stressful...just take it a little bit at a time, but do something every day to move you towards your holiday goals. If you wait until the last minute to do your shopping, your wrapping, your baking, your... whatever, then you will feel the stress continue to build in anticipation of not having enough time to get everything done. However, if you tackle a little bit each day it will not seem so daunting, everything will get done and you will enjoy the experiences along the way so much more. Hope that helps!

Gourmet Hot Cocoa

Day 46.

Gourmet Hot Cocoa

As I am writing this I am enjoying a cup of Bellagio gourmet hot cocoa in the French Vanilla flavor. This is one of my favorite treats and I have stocked up on a variety for the winter season. I buy mine from a local retailer, but you can also find them online at www.caffedamore.com.You can see these are a great idea for a gift or to help you stay warm yourself...

I especially love to add some whipped cream and stir my cocoa with the end of a candy cane. Enjoy!

A Peppermint Pig for Christmas

Day 45.

A Peppermint Pig for Christmas

There's a delicious holiday tradition that people in my area look forward to every year...the breaking of the Peppermint Pig. This candy and this tradition started in upstate New York and involves a hard candy pig with a festive peppermint flavor. You are supposed to pass the pig around the dinner table and each person takes a turn tapping it with a small hammer and sharing a story of their good fortune in the past year with hopes of prosperity in the year to come. Then you share the delicious candy pieces. I got a tour of the Peppermint Pigs on display at a local shop that offers them for sale.

You can find out more about this tradition at www.saratogasweets.com/peppermint-pig-tale.cfm. I wish you plenty of good fortune and prosperity in the new year!

An Exquisite Elephant

Day 44.

An Exquisite Elephant

You will remember that a love of elephants and sadness over reading articles about their slaughter is what inspired me to start this blog in the first place (and let me say, if you run an internet search on this topic you will find photos that will absolutely bring you to tears). Therefore, finding gifts that honor elephants within our search to find gifts made in the USA is important to me and I have been on the lookout for a great stuffed elephant toy to share with you. Well, I have found one I think you will love. Made by Kathy's Kreations in Arizona, this is one of a wide variety of very lifelike looking stuffed animal toys that are absolutely exquisite and designed and made in the USA from all American made materials.

https://www.kathyskreations.com/stuffed%20animals%20exhibits/stuffed%20animals%20savannah/stuffed%20animals%20african%20elephant.html

There are so many choices for anyone with a favorite animal. Check them all out. These are so realistic looking and not just toys...to me they are fabric works of art! Absolutely beautiful!