A Game of Croquet?

Day 132.
A Game of Croquet?

We're going to have some videos again before too long, but during this very busy time when I have a few extra responsibilities on my plate I'm finding it easier to think about what I'd like to be doing rather than doing it. So today I'm thinking about just having some time to myself to enjoy some of the nice spring weather that is starting to develop. I have such spring fever right now! There are lots of things to do outside when the weather starts to get nice...one of them is croquet. I must admit I don't play myself, but I find it interesting (and it always reminds me of the scene in the live action Alice Through the Looking Glass movie with Ann Jillian playing croquet as the red queen). I also find it cool that North Meadow Croquet manufactures a wide variety of croquet sets right in Maine, a state I'm planning to travel to later this year.

http://northmeadowcroquet.com/

This looks like a great way to spend a day...is it spring yet?

A Lighting Concept

Day 131.
A Lighting Concept

Remember the scene in the movie Clueless where Cher is compelled to design a lighting concept? That came to mind as I was perusing these really cool floor lamps from the Lumalight collection by Roland Simmons.

http://www.lightinguniverse.com/collections/Roland-Simmons-Lumalight-Collection_c23400.html

I love the artistic style of the design and they are beautiful and functional at once. What a clever lighting concept!

Blankets

Day 130.
Blankets

I'm up and moving again today, but since I was home sick in bed all of yesterday it got me thinking about blankets. So on that note, check out these cool embroidered blankets made by the Vermont Fleece Company...

http://www.blanketsblankets.com/

I love the idea of embroidering a special blanket to commemorate a special occasion or memory. A great gift idea to treasure and as always, made here in the USA!

Ready to Feel Better

Day 129.
Ready to Feel Better

I woke up this morning "feeling like I'd been hit by a Mack Truck" as they say. I totally overworked myself this weekend and my body is paying the price. But that got me thinking...(I free associate sometimes) about Mack Trucks, a great American truck manufacturer...
http://www.macktrucks.com/default.aspx?pageid=7390

I also didn't have it in me to look too far for today's USA made item...I got as far as the medicine cabinet and found a bottle of echinacea.

 

 

So there you go. I am ready to feel better, but in the interim I am ready to go back to bed.

Just Jewelry

Day 128.
Just Jewelry

As I'm getting ready for a big event (or any day at the office), I think about my appearance, my attire and the frosting on the cake...my jewelry. So of course I love to shop for jewelry and even better, to find some made in the USA. I love the Victorian style gold slide bracelets made by Brooks Fine Jewelry. I also enjoyed watching the video on their website showing the hand carving of a wax ring model...

http://www.brooksfinejewelry.com/ 

It's a cool process to watch and I love to see such beautiful jewelry items!

Busy Day, Starting with Breakfast

Day 127.
Busy Day, Starting with Breakfast

This week is a blur as I'm organizing several big events. So needless to say, I need to keep up my energy and start the day with a good breakfast. Today that breakfast was cereal with some almond milk and...you guessed it...Silk PureAlmond milk is made here in the USA!
 

 

Delicious!

 



A Million Directions...Leading Me to Ohio

Day 126.
A Million Directions...Leading Me To Ohio

As I was being pulled in a million directions today I nearly missed the opportunity to share something with you...but the blog must go on! So this will be short and sweet with a nod to the products of Robert Rothschild Farm in Urbana, Ohio.

http://www.robertrothschild.com/

There's a great story about this company...

http://www.robertrothschild.com/about-robert-rothschild-farm/

And on that note, I'm being torn away again! However, I'm glad I was able to take a moment to share more great products made here in the USA.

More to Follow...

Day 125.
More to Follow...

I think I love the name of this company just as much as I love their clothing. I found an American made clothing line called "Three Dots". Get it? Three dots...as in...more to follow...too clever! And as I use three dots in my writing all the time...I love the name and I love what I found about this company...

http://www.shopthreedots.com/Sharon_Lebon_Pure_American_Luxury-Three-Dots-Online-ccid_80.aspx 

Now when I first started writing this blog it was in response to saving the elephants. This company also cares about animals and has taken steps towards helping Saving America's Mustangs. If you care about horses you may want to read more about this and see the video about the effort to develop an eco-preserve for these horses...

http://www.shopthreedots.com/Three-Dots--SavingAmericasMustangs-ccid_83.aspx

And if you've got a touch of spring fever and want to think ahead to some great warm weatehr style, I'm very impressed with the clothing made by Three Dots, especially these cute dresses...

http://www.shopthreedots.com/custompages/threedots/Three-Dots-Viscose-Rayon-Jersey-CID187.aspx

So that's my take on this company. We'll explore something new tomorrow...

Cool Cork to Carry

Day 124.
Cool Cork to Carry

I saw these adorable Chantler bags and thought they were very sweet. Then I looked a little closer and thought "wow!" They are made from cork!

Although the label says they are made from cork from Florence, Italy (from the bark of the cork tree) and recycled Japanese silk kimono fabric, it also clearly says that they are manufactured in the USA.

The design is beautiful and the styling of this bag is incredibly unique. So incredibly clever!

Symbolic and Inspiring

Day 123.
Symbolic and Inspiring

There are some beautiful symbolic designs with an influence from nature found in a collection I happened upon this week. While out and about I found a beautiful assortment of uniquely designed metal jewelry from the Symbols collection...
 

 

I love that they are made in the USA!

 

When I looked them up online I learned about some of the meaning and inspiration that went into these artistic designs.

http://www.mountainvistastudios.com/jewellery.html

But then I noticed that I hadn't actually landed on the home page of this website. Once I did I realized that they have so much more to offer!

http://www.mountainvistastudios.com/index.html

Seeing that this company has so many items handmade right here in America was an inspiration in itself, but I appreciated all the more that they were not just offering jewelry, but that they have a studio to share a wide variety of cool, meaningful gift items from stone, metal and glass. Very nice!

Dipping Oil...Delicious!

Day 122.
Dipping Oil...Delicious!

While passing through Syracuse I decided to check out what was going on at the mall. I found a booth where they were sampling some tomato garlic dipping oil by Cheeky Monkey Foods. I stopped for a taste...it was absolutely delicious! Best of all the booth had lots of signs that let me know this was a locally made product and Lacey was kind enough to tell me more...

This is great! If you want to see for yourself you can check them out at www.cheekymonkeyfoods.com. What a great taste of Syracuse!

Tea Time

Day 121.
Tea Time

This morning I am returning home after a wonderful trip that culminated with several deserving young women winning some scholarships for their education. Very rewarding night! I stayed overnight in a hotel and upon my arrival did a quick perusal of the room. Good news! This morning I will be enjoying a favorite, Bigelow tea that is blended and packaged here in the USA (remember we first learned about this tea from our friend Sue, the tea lady).

I'm certainly looking forward to enjoying my tea. As I continue to look around for some water to prepare my tea I find a bottle of Poland Springs Natural Spring Water.

 

 

Checking out the label I can see that this water is sourced from several springs in Maine. So I am all set to start my morning with a delicious cup of tea and know that no matter where I am I can always find wonderful things made in the USA.

Gratitude and Gravy Boats

Day 120.

Gratitude and Gravy Boats

In fairness, this post isn't really about gravy boats, but by the end it will all tie together anyhow. I am feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude today. First, I am grateful to those of you reading this now and I want to sincerely thank you for looking at this blog. Today is the 120th consecutive day I have been sharing ideas for gifts made in the USA. I appreciate very much that people have found this and have had interest enough to continue following my posts. Initially I intended to write for the 60 days leading up to Christmas with the hope that I could encourage people to modify their shopping habits and purchase more American made gifts in support of business and industry in this country. When I began my "second round of 60" I hoped I'd continue to have enough to say to carry me to Valentine's Day. Now I have found that this is part of my daily routine and I want to thank you all and pledge to continue writing even now that we are well past the original "60 days".

In the beginning this blog was my answer to a challenge extended by artist Sharon Knettell (http://sharonknettell.com/) who had expressed distress in her own blog over the slaughter of elephants. When I shared with her how successful this blog has been in reaching people (with 1678 blog views and 1373 video views) she was gracious enough to offer an amazing recognition for my efforts as a prize for her challenge...she will be creating an original piece of art featuring my image! As a longtime fan of her work I am overwhelmed and, again, filled with gratitude to her for initiating the challenge and offering this fabulous prize and also to those of you who have contributed to the success of this project. Without you this blog would not have grown the way it has.

I am also feeling gratitude for the people who have brought me to this point in my life (and we're close to getting to the gravy boat, I promise). Today I am traveling to Corning, NY to volunteer and run the sound equipment for a very special program that opened many doors for me. Over a decade ago I was the recipient of a scholarship and an amazing year of opportunities thanks to this program so I am reminiscing and feeling much gratitude for the people who helped and supported me. I'm also feeling a sense of happiness and optimism for the young women who are about to share in a similar experience. That being said...let's talk about Corning. 

Every time I visit Corning I think about the cool things that are made here. Corning is known for its glass works. You are probably familiar with CorningWare, a bakeware brand that originated in Corning, NY. While not all of the items manufactured under this brand are made in the United States, I was glad to learn that their SimplyLite line is a light bakeware that is in fact made in America. You can learn more about this line here...

http://www.corningware.com/index.asp?pageId=132

And while these products really fall more into the category of bakeware, I was desperate to find a gravy boat (because if I didn't I would have had to change my cute title), so I looked into some of the history of this brand and I found...low and behold...an American made gravy boat!

http://www.classickitchensandmore.com/corning-corelle-pyrex-woodland-brown-gravy-boat-under-plate-mib-p-6666.html

OK, it's vintage, but it is CorningWare and it's also made right here in the USA. See, I told you I could tie it all together! Now I'm off to Corning and still feeling full of appreciation and gratitude. Thank you for reading this and I'll see you back here tomorrow!

Organic Bedding

Day 119.
Organic Bedding

Do you ever find that while you're asleep at night you have dreams about being asleep? I don't know if that means anything, but I'm just waking up from a dream like that...and thinking about bedding. So I thought I'd share a bit about a cool company that manufactures organic bedding here in the USA, specifically in Norfolk, Virginia. The company is CozyPure (http://www.cozypure.com/) and they have a great story. A factory powered with renewable energy...products made from renewable resources...great quality and a great selection including mattresses, bedding, blankets and pillows. Plus there's a cool video that gives a little tour of this American company...check it out!

http://www.cozypure.com/about-us

So glad to learn a little about the organic bedding options available. Perhaps I will sleep easier knowing that this company is working so hard to make people, well...sleep easier!

Do you think that will that lead to less weird dreams?

Valentine's Day

Day 118.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Although this occasion was originally meant to observe the Feast of St. Valentine, Cupid entered the picture and now it is considered a day to celebrate love and romance...and greeting cards...and flowers and chocolate. Well, I think I can help you celebrate the day in American-made style with everything you will need to be sweet to your sweetie, starting with some American Greetings Valentine greeting cards. I've picked one out for my hubby!

Now to accompany your card you may want to consider a heart shaped box of chocolates. Please remember that there are some wonderful chocolate choices made in the USA by companies such as Russell Stover and Whitman's. They are easy to find, make a great gift and are a way to support American business. I know as you browse the aisles of the stores you'll find lots of (let's put it nicely) cute, but cheap novelty items that are likely manufactured outside this country and won't last past the day anyway. If it's a choice between something like this or a quality box of chocolates...well, the choice is easy. Let's support our American workforce and enjoy some delicious Valentine's treats in the process.

Coloring the World One Face at a Time

Day 117.
Coloring the World One Face at a Time

Let me first say, I have not yet tried this and (while I don't know for sure) I doubt this project is endorsed as an intended use for the crayons involved. However, I found what I thought was a clever and creative idea online, so I am sharing it simply as an FYI. The logic seems sound, but again, I can't say anything for sure or from any personal experience, so for that reason only I won't say it gets thumbs up from me, but I will say it gets "hmm...interesting".

I was looking into how you can make your own lipsticks at home when I stumbled onto this video with a woman who makes her own lipsticks using Crayola crayons. I thought this was a cool idea and since Crayola crayons are made right here in the USA (http://www.crayola.com/about-us/take-creativity-back-to-school.aspx) I thought it was worth passing along. Here is what I found...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwYibvVBDXs

So, for the crafty DIY set this looks like it could be a fun at-home project and if you have some crayons laying around it could be an additional use for a great American made product.

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend...Pre-Valentine's Day Gift

Day 116.
Diamonds are a Girl's Best...Pre-Valentine's Day Gift

Eight years ago today (two days before Valentine's) my husband proposed to me. We were watching a movie and he decided he couldn't wait any longer so he got up, went to get the ring, came back and popped the question...in the middle of watching Pretty in Pink! My engagement to him was the best Valentine's (or pre-Valentine's Day) gift ever...and the ring was a wonderful gift too!

 

So for those considering getting engaged in the near future, let me suggest a site you may want to visit when looking for your own special gift...
http://www.clevereve.com/madeinusa.html

Reading about their efforts to support the American workforce through manufacturing in the states is inspiring...and while diamonds are a girl's best friend, jewelry made in the USA is everyone's friend!

Gluten Free Brownies

Day 115.

Gluten Free Brownies

We recently had some concerns that my husband might have to avoid foods with gluten, so we started looking for delicious gluten free options. That led me to find this brownie mix made by Bob's Red Mill (http://www.bobsredmill.com/) that would prove to us that gluten free foods could be tasty too.

Beyond just the fact that this company makes delicious products, I was impressed to learn that this is an employee owned business. According to the company website, founder Bob Moore turned his business over to his employees on his 81st birthday through an Employee Share Ownership Program. What a boss! And what a great example of how to keep motivation and morale strong to perpetuate continuing great business here in the United States. Yea, Bob!!!

Art and Design, Function and Form, American Made and Amazing

Day 114.

Art and Design, Function and Form, American Made and Amazing

I happened upon a really cool website full of customizable, artistically designed pieces...there was an amazing assortment of gifts that are both visually stunning and serve a function. One corner of this site was entirely dedicated to items made in the USA, so of course I had to share, and I hope you find these pieces as interesting as I do...

http://www.module-r.com/shop/cool-sorts/made-in-usa.html

What's really fascinating to me is how many of these pieces incorporate striking geometrical designs that somehow are still able to make a very powerful impression. Plus there are lots of cool items that are just plain fun. Here are a few of my favorites...

I love the way the test tubes are being used as floral vases in this cool adaptation vase design that mixes a bit of science with creative freedom in a really unique style...

http://www.module-r.com/shop/cool-sorts/made-in-usa/adaptation-vase.html

I've always found magnetic jewelry to be fun. This Stix and Stones reconfigurable necklace is one of the most unique pieces I've seen to incorporate magnets into the design...

http://www.module-r.com/shop/cool-sorts/made-in-usa/stix-and-stones-reconfigurable-necklace.html

And really hammering home my point about incorporating geometric shapes into the designs, check out this cool cluster of Frame Lights...

http://www.module-r.com/shop/cool-sorts/made-in-usa/frame-lights-clusters.html

And perfect for the Valentine's holiday (or any holiday for that matter) I decided to pick up this grain utility card that has you covered for absolutely any occasion (especially cool if you love word searches like I do)...

I appreciate whenever a website is clear about identifying where the products are made, so you can feel great shopping from the made in the USA assortment you'll find here!

Chocolate and a Poem

Day 113.
Chocolate and a Poem

Let's talk chocolate. I was visiting a local natural foods store when a display of Chocolove chocolate bars caught my eye. Two things intrigued me (or three if you count that it was made in Boulder, Colorado, so I knew it would be great to share here)...first, it had lots more information than what I am accustomed to seeing on a candy bar. For example, it had an explanation of the cocoa content...kind of cool. Second, it included a poem...aww, so sweet! So I bought a bar and then looked into this a little more. There are lots of premium bar available (https://www.chocolove.com/) and a great story...

https://www.chocolove.com/chocolove-history/

And a great taste...

Valentine's Day is around the corner...here you've got delicious chocolate and a poem together...two birds with one stone. Can't beat that!

Fun Snacks

Day 112.
Fun Snacks

OK, I told you we were doing the healthier eating thing (last week)...but no reason we can't include a few fun snacks along the way. Especially when we've got some yummy choices made in the USA...

So I guess the message of the day...it's all about balance, but these fun snacks can be part of the mix and are all delicious! 

Some "Posh" Pampering

Day 111.
Some "Posh" Pampering

I first learned about the Perfectly Posh brand of cool pampering treats while reading another blog about products made in the USA...I figure I'll pass the word along because everything about these products just looks so fabulous and fun!

http://perfectlyposh.com/

Beyond the fact that it seems this company puts great care into the ingredients they use to make their products, they've also put a lot of thought and creativity into the clever names for their collection of goodies...

http://perfectlyposh.com/products.html

How fun are these? Very trendy in a style that will appeal to women of all ages, but also clearly conscientious as well. Gotta love that!

Making a Belt

Day 110.
Making a Belt

Today I'd like to share another recent project. This one is relatively quick to make...it's a belt! I'll show you the basics for putting this craft together, which includes knitting the length of the belt from a good quality yarn and adding a couple of USA made nickel plated keyrings to create the buckle (http://www.keyring.com/heavydutysplitkeyringnickelplated3diameterusa.aspx).

If you'd like to make this and want a refresher on how to do the knitting please check out the post from day 54 and you can revisit the basic steps. Enjoy!

A Basket Made to Last

Day 109.
A Basket Made to Last

Even though it is February, perhaps you'd like to take your sweetie on a picnic...and perhaps you'll need a picnic basket. Or some other style of basket. I am so impressed with what I have learned about the Peterboro Basket Company, American manufactureres of baskets in New Hampshire, and a company that has been operating in the Untied States since 1854. There is a beautiful assortment of baskets for all occasions, some very elaborately designed, some themed for the upcoming Valentine's holiday and some ideal for any household use. You can see them online at http://www.peterborobasket.com/default.aspx. However, while browsing through their site I saw their factory tour video that beautifully depicts the process of making baskets by hand. It was very impressive to see the process that has made this company an American success story. Please take a few minutes to watch this video, as it is really very interesting!

http://www.peterborobasket.com/t-factory-tour-video.aspx

It was emphasized several times in the video that these baskets really are made to last. Kudos to a great company continuing to make great products here in the USA for over 150 years!

A Hot Pink Jacket

Day 108.
A Hot Pink Jacket

There is no way to second guess the weather where I live, so you have to be ready for all occasions. That's why when a heavy winter coat is too much it's nice to have a lighter jacket like this one from American Fit. They have a nice assortment of American made outerwear at http://americanfitjackets.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=38 and this one is perfect!

This jacket will work perfectly for a little creative embellishing and I'm ready to start dressing it up!

Salsa and Chips

Day 107.
Salsa and Chips

It's safe to say that "Big Game Day" is not a day where most will find it easy to eat well. However, we're going to try with some delicious and more healthy snacks that are made here in the USA. Check out the salsa and chips I found locally that were made by Granny Blossom's in Vermont (http://grannyblossom.com/).

If you want to check out more about this company you can learn a little more here... http://grannyblossom.com/aboutus.php. All I need to know is where to get more...this is now officially my favorite salsa!

A Healthier Snack

Day 106.
A Healthier Snack

This weekend in preparation for "the big game" lots of people are looking for some great snacking options. Well, I'd like to help, although my husband and I are trying to keep some healthier snacks around the house, so I'm keeping my eyes open for snacks that taste delicious so we don't miss out on a thin. Here's a healthier snack I found as an alternative to fries...Smart Fries!

The advantages are touted on the package. This is one way we're going to be able to enjoy some munchies guilt free...and made in the USA!

Dressing in Style

Day 105.
Dressing in Style

In the middle of winter I start to get anxious for spring and itching to pull out some of the cute summer dresses that have been temporarily hidden away. So I like to do some window shopping and think about what I'll wear in the nicer weather. And shopping through the wide window of my computer screen is how I came to find a site with absolutely adorable clothing, stylsh and made in Los Angeles, California...

http://www.greendragongroupltd.com/green_dragon/about_us/

How totally cute are these dresses?!

http://www.greendragonstyle.com/dresses

I'm pleased to find a company that makes really stylish, trendy clothing and still cares about how it's made. Very cool!