Manicure in Minutes

Day 104.
Manicure in Minutes

If you're in a hurry and need to make your nails look great quickly, I've got a suggestion for one of my favorite nail polishes made here in the USA...

I'd tell you more, but as I mentioned, I'm in a rush!

Greeting Cards - Say Hello!

Day 103.
Greeting Cards - Say Hello!

We live in the age of electronic communication. From e-mails to texts, Facebook and Twitter (and even blogs), so often if there's something that needs to be said it's done from behind a backlit screen. It's really a shame that this has even replaced an actual phone call in many instances (and don't get me started about hearing major personal news via a post instead of a conversation), so today I'd like to offer up a cute way to keep communication a little more personal...the greeting card. Check out the adorable line I found from Jumping Cracker Beans (http://www.jumpingcrackerbeans.com/JCB_Site/Home.html).

These cards are so sweet and the process of putting them together is impressive as well...

http://www.jumpingcrackerbeans.com/JCB_Site/Goodwill.html

So now that we've found these wonderful cards, please take the time to send someone a handwritten note today and help keep the personal touch in your own communication.

Stamping in Elephant Style

Day 102.
Stamping in Elephant Style

I have loved crafting since...forever. I was creative as a child and have loved experimenting with new crafting techniques ever since. I've learned how to etch glass, to sew custom patches, to decoupage and to make a myriad of other things in my craft room. One hobby that has been especially enjoyable for me is scrapbooking and card making (I lump them together only because they use so many of the same materials and methods). I probably do more scrapbooking than anything else because of the variety of activities that I'm involved with where we end up taking fun photos. Therefore, I'm always on the lookout for cool supplies. In my search for new crafting tools that are also made in the USA I came across this company, Mama Elephant, that offers a selection of adorable clear stamps (and in my opinion clear stamps are the best way to go because you can see what you are doing). Here's a bit about the company...

http://mamaelephant.com/g/1180887/about-us.html

And here are some of the sweet stamps they offer!

http://mamaelephant.com/c/4420979/1/all-stamps.html

As a crafter I love to find new things and think this company has a lot to offer. Glad to pass it along!

Making a Charming Charm Bracelet

Day 101.
Making a Charming Charm Bracelet

Jewelry can be a great reflection of personality, style and meaning. Perhaps you've noticed the bracelets I always wear. The "Indivisible" wristband I explained in an earlier blog post. The purple wristband represents my brother's battle against pancreatic cancer (which he passed away from almost a year ago). Today I'm going to add another bracelet that will feature pewter beads all individually selected both for their personal significance to me an the fact that each was made in the USA. 

This charm bracelet is a reflection of things that mean something special to me. You can find similar beads at www.goodybeads.com and searching for "made in USA" if you'd like to make one with significance to you.

Getting Organized

Day 100.

Getting Organized

It's been weeks since I've done any sewing and I think part of that is a lack of organization in my craft room. Well, I'm ready to remedy that with a little all-American organization...

I was glad to see how neat and together everything looked once I spent a few minutes sorting through all the spools of thread I've acquired. Once I got a good look at what I had I realized I have plenty of variety in all the colors and probably don't need to buy any more...at least for awhile! 

Chocolate Treats

Day 99.

Chocolate Treats

I love chocolate (milk chocolate especially). I love Broadway (my favorite shows are Wicked, Legally Blonde The Musical and of course Phantom of the Opera, which is celebrating 25 years). And now I love some cool treats from Pennsylvania that sound like they should be a combination of those first two loves, but really they are something altogether different...a variety of sweet treats that are made in Bangor, PA on a road called Broadway!

Wherever they're made, whatever they're called...www.chocolatesonbroadway.com...delicious!

Another Great Hand Cream

Day 98.
Another Great Hand Cream

There's no question that winter has finally REALLY arrived in the northeast. It's bitter cold and my car starter is giving me grief...grrr. So on a day like today I'm glad to have another great hand cream tucked away to keep my hands feeling soft after battling the elements to get started. This one works wonders!

Thanks to my aunt for introducing me to http://www.udderlysmooth.com/. It's a winner!

Caramel Corn

Day 97.

Caramel Corn

Yesterday I shared that I love caramel, so it's not a huge leap to today's topic...caramel corn. I found an EXCEPTIONAL brand of caramel corn...Uncle Woody's Caramel Corn made by the Seattle Popcorn Company...

So I made my video and sampled the popcorn...then momentarily stepped away. That was just long enough for my husband to get his hands on the bag and before we knew it more than half the bag had disappeared. It was absolutely delicious! Now, I bought this at a local store, but wanted to find out more about the company that makes this delicious treat, so I went online and found a fantastic video about the popcorn, the process and the company on their website...

http://www.unclewoodys.com/

Let me end by saying I am definitely a fan and we will be stocking up on more of these popcorn flavors very soon!

Crazy for Caramel

Day 96.

Crazy for Caramel

While checking out at the register of a local hardware store I noticed some attractively displayed caramels. I have always been crazy for caramels, but this was my first time encountering Annie B's Caramels. There were a variety of flavors so I purchased a handful of a few that I wanted to try.

Absolutely delicious! Sweet, soft and yummy. The wrapper identified them as homemade, all natural and old fashioned. I had a guess that these were made in the USA. I went online and learned the story of this company and was all the more pleased with my purchase.

http://www.anniebscandy.com/aboutus.asp

They have quite a variety of caramel treats and I'm so glad I stumbled upon them. If you're crazy about caramel too I'm betting you 'll love these!

Finding Fabulous Furniture

Day 95.
Finding Fabulous Furniture

I am hesitant to replace my furniture because of all the memories attached to it. Save for a handful of pieces (like my husband's recliner) the majority of my furniture pieces have been with my family for years and were passed along to me which makes them particularly special...however every now and then I am tempted to look at what's out there and that led me to checking out the line of furniture made by Sauder here in the USA, specifically in Archbold, Ohio.

http://www.sauder.com/

When the time comes to add a new piece of furniture to our home I would definitely look to this company because they have quite a wide selection and I love that they are keeping industry strong in a neighboring state...plus their furniture is fabulous! Please check it out for yourself.

Gourmet Lollipops

Day 94.

Gourmet Lollipops

When life gets a little stressful I like to take comfort in things that remind me of a simpler time in my life. Recently I was remembering my junior high/high school days when every other week it seems we were supporting different activities with the purchase of delicious gourmet lollipops. They were a great fundraiser for lots of the school clubs and when I came across them again this week the taste took me right back to that time in my life...

I didn't realize it at the time, but these lollipops are made right here in the USA! 

https://ogfc.net/

The taste brought back lots of memories of enjoying these same treats years ago. So even though My days in school are far behind me, it's great to have something close at hand to remind me of that time in my life.

Cool Coasters

Day 93.

Cool Coasters

Today we'll take a moment for practicality...coasters! I found some really cool ones with a very clever coffee design that will be perfect for keeping rings off my furniture when serving my guests something to drink.

These stone coasters are weighty and solid and I really love the artistic element. Hmmm...speaking of coasters, that might not be a bad idea for my next knitting project...

Of course I used American made yarn for this project. So here are two ideas for cool coasters made in the USA.

A Unique Fruit Salad

Day 92.
A Unique Fruit Salad

I found some unique fruit - dried fruits covered in chocolate by Harvest Sweets (http://www.capecodprovisions.com/) - so I decided to use these to make an unusual and unique fruit salad...

This reminded me of another unique way to utilize fruit...

There you go...a unique fruit salad made in the USA!

Bird Feeders

Day 91.

Bird Feeders

As I looked out my window this morning I couldn't help wondering how many days are left until spring. I'm already getting a touch of the spring fever and it's only January! One of my favorite things about springtime is the return of the birds. We have several trees right around our front porch, so on a nice spring morning you can sit out there with a cup of coffee and enjoy the atmosphere and maybe watch a bird or two. If you love having birds around, you might want to pick up a bird feeder like one of these...

http://www.drollyankees.com/hproducts/american-hands.html?Itemid=157

When I found the Droll Yankee's website I was intrigued by their bird feeders (there's quite a variety, even including team sports themed feeders), but what was even more interesting to me is their story. Two friends who started making records found a natural transition to bird feeders!

http://www.drollyankees.com/about/history.html

This is an inspiring story of ingenuity and invention as well as great American spirit!

For the Man Cave

Day 90.

For the Man Cave

Like many men out there, my husband has a Man Cave...it's the one room in the house that is all his and it's filled with...I don't know what, I don't venture in! But to let anybody passing by know that this den is his space he has all sorts of "Man Cave" decor, from the decorative sign (made to look like it was carved in actual stone) to the welcome mat in front of the door. If there's a guy in your life who also has a man cave I've found a terrific addition. Check out this cool Man Cave designer pillow that is not only made in the USA, but better still is made entirely from materials from recycled sources...

http://www.ohsayusa.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=man+cave+pillow&Submit=

It's a total fit for a man cave (and will make the place a little more comfy too) so if you need a great gift for a hard to shop for guy, this looks like a winner to me!

The Money Tree and Big Bucks

Day 89.

The Money Tree and Big Bucks

I recently had a very unique experience...I actually got to pluck dollar bills off of a money tree! Now,  even though U.S. currency is printed in America (which I suppose would technically make it a gift made in the USA), that's not what I want to share with you. I'd rather show you how at the end of my money tree experience I got to enjoy a sweet treat that you can see is proudly made in the USA...

So regardless of whether you can find a money tree of your own, I hope you can at least use this for inspiration as another way to enjoy big bucks!

A Sensational Soap

Day 88.

A Sensational Soap

I've always appreciated scented soaps. A nicely made soap can last for quite awhile and you can enjoy the fragrance every time you use it. When I happened upon one of the shea butter soaps offered by the Greenwich Bay Trading Co. (www.gbsoaps.com) in an almond fragrance I knew it was for me!

This soap is ideal. Not only does it have a lovely scent thanks to the almond oil, but it also contains cocoa bean shell, so it's perfect for some light exfoliating. A sensational soap worthy of a spa!

Peanut Butter

Day 87.

Peanut Butter

Ah, Monday... I want to get my morning moving with something delicious for breakfast. A unique peanut butter might be the perfect way to start the day! 

Finding these peanut butters in a local store gave me a taste, but I found an even larger variety online at www.peanutprinciple.com. You could have a different flavor every day of the week! What a great way to start your morning.

Top it Off with a Tiara

Day 86.
Top it Off with a Tiara

Congratulations to Mallory Hagan representing my home state of New York...she was crowned Miss America 2013 last night.

As I shared before, we had a few people over to watch the show and to make it a little more interactive we played a game where each guest took turns selecting contestants for her "team" and as each was called out into each round we put them up on the board. At the end of each round of competition as the contestants moved forward we gave prizes for the person who had the most contestants "still in play" and at the end of the night the guest who had originally selected the eventual winner is named Miss "Had Her Picked" and wins a tiara, sash and bragging rights. The winner of our little contest happened to be my mother.
 

Lots of fun, but what does this have to do with gifts made in the USA, right? Well, the tiara we awarded at our party was made in the USA by Allen's Crowns in Mississippi.

http://www.acrowns.com/aboutus.asp

They have many tiaras that they manufacture themselves and I have ordered from them on numerous occasions. Whether you need a crown for a pageant, a prom, a homecoming or just a "princess" occasion, I give them high praise for their terrific tiaras.

Crowning Glory

Day 85.

Crowning Glory

A new Miss America will be crowned tonight and I am really looking forward to the show. Did you know that statistically a parent is more likely to have a son playing in the Superbowl than a daughter in the Miss America pageant? Tonight I'll have a small gathering of pageant fans over to my house to watch the pageant live on tv and everyone will have their favorites, but I'm going to go out on a limb with not only my predictions for the contestants I think will make the top 15 cut, but also a suggestion for a cool gift item made in their state. Needless to say these are only my own personal guesses, but it will be interesting to see later tonight how close I get to the actual top 15...regardless of how my predictions do or do not play out, at least I'll have pointed you towards some cool products made in America and also given a shout out to the contestants who I have been impressed with so far.

My personal predictions for the top 15 semi-finalists for Miss America 2013 (in no particular order):

1. New York, Mallory Hagan

2. District of Columbia, Allyn Rose

3. Texas, DaNae Couch

4. California, Leah Cecil

5. Kansas, Sloane Lewis

6. Minnesota, Siri Freeh

7. Missouri, Tippe Emmott

8. Colorado, Hannah Porter

9. Oklahoma, Alicia Clifton

10. Georgia, Leighton Jordan

11. Illinois, Megan Ervin

12. Maryland, Joanna Guy

13. South Carolina, Ali Rogers

14. Alabama, Anna Laura Bryan

15. Virginia, Rosemary Willis

And these are my top 15 suggestions for cool gifts made in each of their states:

Made in New York: Superior chocolates   http://www.supremechocolatier.com/

Made in D.C.: gourmet cupcakes   http://www.georgetowncupcake.com/

Made in Texas: The E-Z Hook barbeque tool   http://www.e-zhook.com/index.html

Made in Kansas: soy candles and more by Magnolia Health and Home   http://www.magnoliahealthandhome.com

Made in Minnesota: Dream Sak personalized pillowcases   http://www.dreamsak.com/

Made in Missouri: Blues Hog Barbeque Sauce   http://www.missourimercantile.com/blueshog.shtml

Made in Colorado: Aspen wood vases   http://www.madeincolorado.com/Aspen-Wood-Vases/View-all-products.html

Made in Oklahoma: Hand milled soaps by Peach Creek Boutique   http://www.peachcreekboutique.com/index.php?p=1_2_Products

Made in Georgia: gourmet chocolate jellies   http://www.georgiamadegeorgiagrown.com/channels/betty-lambert-chocolate-jelly-farms/

Made in Illinois: Perfect Pasta   http://www.perfectpastainc.com/http://www.perfectpastainc.com/

Made in Maryland: Corradetti glass    http://www.corradetti.com/AvailableGiftware.html

Made in South Carolina: clothing by Bamboosa   https://www.bamboosa.com/store/Women-s-Products-c4/

Made in Alabama: The Alabama Outdoors Kit   http://www.alabamagoods.com/alabama-outdoors-kit.html

Made in Virginia: State of Taste in Virginia   http://www.madeinva.com/product_p/state%20of%20taste%20in%20virginia.htm

Good luck to all the ladies representing their states on the Miss America stage!

A Perfect Cell Phone Purse

Day 84.

A Perfect Cell Phone Purse

Sometimes when you're traveling (or even when you're just out for a day's shopping trip) you may not want to take a big purse with you. I love to spend an afternoon going from store to store, stopping for lunch or maybe a movie and being free of both my purse and my obligations. However, I work in a job where I really must keep myself available to be reached even in my off hours, so a cell phone case is a must. I've found one that is ideal! Part of the Danny K collection of tapestry handbags, made in the USA of course, this was one of a wide variety of styles and you can see more at www.dannyktapestry.com. 

I loved learning about the care with which these bags are made...hand cut and sewn and put together with gorgeous quality fabrics...I also love that their website encourages you to try shopping for them at local retailers whenever possible. This company has the right idea and exactly the right products for me!

Lip Balm

Day 83.

Lip Balm

Brrr...it's cold outside! Snow is in the air, each time I leave the house I'm covering my face with my scarf (the second knitting project I have completed, thank you very much) and I'm starting to feel the effects of the weather resulting in dry lips. But don't worry about me because I have a new lip balm that will keep my lips soft and smooth in spite of the winter chill.

Here's where you can find this lip balm...

http://sallyeander.com/search.aspx?find=lip+balm

And here's a little bit about the company that makes it...

http://sallyeander.com/about-us.aspx

I'm also using this lip balm in the evenings before heading to bed and I've been waking up to softer feeling lips. Great product!

A Puzzle to Ponder

Day 82.

A Puzzle to Ponder

When I was young I was chosen to participate in a program that largely focused on challenging the mind, so I'm sure that contributed to my loving puzzles and brain teasers. That's why I was so fascinated by the Tavern Puzzle collection I saw displayed in one of my favorite local stores. There are different levels of difficulty and I selected one from the intermediate grouping, the Tinker's Bell, and the goal is to remove the ring piece. Will I be able to do this? I guess we'll find out...

This is definitely a gift that will challenge your mind and I think that it's also something that will be a fun parlor trick to show your friends (once you figure it out of course...solutions are offered, but don't peek!) and be a conversation piece as well. There are many of these puzzles available at www.tavernpuzzle.com. It's certainly a great gift idea for someone who enjoys a good challenge!

A Terrific Tea Pot

Day 81.

A Terrific Tea Pot

Remember awhile back we learned about the origins of Bigelow tea and other cool gift items from our friend Sue? I fondly refer to her as "the tea lady". While in her shop last week we got to talking about this blog, how it has extended way past the original goal of 60 gifts in 60 days and how in writing it I was finding all sorts of cool, unexpected things along the way. I shared with her that with many of the items I was searching for the exploration led me to stumble onto some surprises. This is how I came to find a terrific tea pot made in the USA. Sue was intrigued to hear about what I had found and I promised to share the link with her. Now I'll share it with you as well...

http://www.ladyabigails.com/item_54/Music-Notes-6-Cup-Porcelain-Tea-Pot-MADE-IN-USA-.htm

What a great gift for someone who loves both tea and music! I like this tea pot because it has some character to it and it is not too formal. There's a fun flair to the music note design...it's very sharp (pun intended). I also like that there are matching pieces to accompany the tea pot. When the world seems a little too stressful you can relax with a hot cup of tea and sometimes that makes all the difference. In fact, I think I'd like a cup of tea right now.

An Elephant Never Forgets

Day 80.

An Elephant Never Forgets

Elephants are majestic animals...and of course people say they never forget. Well, these elephants won't forget anything because their books can be kept right with them. I'm talking about these beautiful hand made to order bookends, made in the USA, in an elegant design featuring African elephants.

http://www.thebookendstore.com/africanelephantbookends.aspx

When you look at a gift like this made in the image of a beautiful animal you can appreciate both the inspiration and the craftsmanship...I certainly do. 

Lately I've been pondering the phrase "forgive and forget". If an elephant never forgets, do you think they are capable of forgiving? Can an elephant forgive something as terrible as slaughter for their tusks? Can humans make amends for the atrocities that have been done to so many of these beautiful animals? I don't know, but what I do know is that there is a way to pass forward some kindness for the good of the elephants. I want to share this site where you can help foster one of these magnificent creatures...

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp

I know that in my own life I try to take up for causes that matter to me. If you are an animal lover also, particularly one who cares about elephants, perhaps this will speak to you. 

A Shopping Spree with a Surprise

Day 79.

A Shopping Spree with a Surprise

 

For Christmas my husband gave me a gift card for Victoria's Secret. I'm sure you can guess which side of the store he was hoping I'd visit to do my shopping, but instead I prefer to gravitate to the side where they offer their fragrances, lotions and cosmetics. This is where I found a pleasant surprise. Unlike most of what I have found while shopping in department stores, when I perused this area of the store I discovered that nearly all the items I picked up were marked made in the USA! Now, I am not saying this was the case with absolutely every single item there and I am also not speaking about their apparel or lingerie selection, but at least when it comes to their fragrances and cosmetics I was impressed by how vast a variety I was able to find and be confident about buying because so many of the items were clearly identified as products made in the USA. Look at what I bought...
 

 

Every single item that you see in this bag is made here in the USA. I appreciate that I had a shopping experience where it was possible for me to select from among a wide range of American made products and go home with some cool new scents and cosmetics.

Interesting Combinations

Day 78.

Interesting Combinations

Feeling adventurous? It's a great day to try out some interesting flavor combinations. Sometimes the most unexpected flavors compliment each other beautifully. I never would have expected a touch of tobasco flavoring to taste wonderful with chocolate, but that's exactly what I found with these chili chocolate truffles I tasted for the very first time...

Yummy!!!!!!