Bookmark This!

Day 163.

Bookmark This!

Happy Easter! I decided I wanted to find and spotlight some Easter goodies made in the USA and in the process I found something wonderful. You have to check out this store (which has Easter, holiday, household items and more) that sells only American made goods. When you visit the Norton's USA site you will see that they have an amazing assortment and care about supporting American manufacturing with their "uniquely American general store" located in Barrington, IL.

http://home.nortonsusa.com/

Seriously, bookmark this!

Chillin' with Ice

Day 162.
Chillin' with Ice

Today I am home feeling sick and miserable. I've been lying on the couch watching re-runs of Wings since last night. I have a fever and a sore throat and have been trying to ice it down with popsicles, so you can imagine I wasn't searching much further than an arm's length to find something to post today. Thankfully, the answer was literally right in my hand. The yummy, cold Fla-Vor-Ice pops I've been eating to ease my sore throat...you guesssed it...made here in the USA...

  



So now I think I'll go get an orange one and go back to sleep.

More Stylish Jewelry

Day 161.
More Stylish Jewelry

On the next display over from where I found those clever guitar pick earrings there was yet another cool collection. These earrings by Silver Forest are handcrafted in the USA and have a cool, casual style that really appeals to me.

 

Designed in Vermont, they are another terrific find...
http://sfvt.com/

I love how often I'm noticing American made jewelry in some of my favorite stores. These are too cool!

Music to My Ears

Day 160.
Music to My Ears

Guitar pick jewelry...what a clever way to show some style and a love of music! Check out these cool earrings made from guitar picks...

 

 

These are absolutely adorable and an ideal gift for a musician...if you play the guitar you'll never be left searching for where you left your pick!

The Dance

Day 159.
The Dance

Last night I attended a memorial service for a friend from my junior high school years, Matthew J. Pitcher. He was an extraordinary dancer and we spent many Saturdays of our youth in the same community theater group that bonded and impacted so many young people from my local area. He was taken way too young and will be greatly missed.

Matt leaves behind a loving family including a wife and two small children. He also leaves an amazing legacy, which brings me to the gift he made in the USA every day of his life...a difference and a dance. At the memorial countless students from the dance school where he taught performed in tribute. Some of what they performed were dances that Matt choreographed himself. The memorial was so large it literally packed a theater. Anyone who knew Matt would agree his impact was felt far and wide by all who knew him. I count myself lucky to have known him in life and also fortunate to have been witness to his gift that will continue on...the impact he has made on all those people and his artistic legacy with his phenomenal gift of the dance. We miss you Matt.

Birthday Cards

Day 158.
Birthday Cards

I know lots of people with March birthdays, so I've been sending cards left and right. Here are a couple of my favorites that are printed here in the USA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHrdYQUB9EM&list=UUT1YM3wP3OHyE8b10Izq3Yw&index=1

Happy birthday everyone!

Put On A Happy Face

Day 157.
Put On A Happy Face

Checking out some bandana's made in the USA...this gives a different spin to "put on a happy face!"

http://www.outridersapparel.com/smfaba.html

So keep smiling!

Cat Statue

Day 156.
Cat Statue

The cat has been let out of the bag...or rather the box. Awhile back I shared some sweet clay statues made by Sue in Cherry Valley. Well, I was so impressed with her work that I asked her to do up a Siamese cat figurine for my mother. Unfortunately, I couldn't share that until after I gave it to her. It was a surprise up until yesterday, but now I can show you the beautiful creation that Sue made...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbsY7j5BmHE&list=UUT1YM3wP3OHyE8b10Izq3Yw&index=1

How adorable...and locally made!

Flour Power

Day 155.
Flour Power

After picking up more of my favorite dipping oil I needed to get some really delicious bread to enjoy it. The best I know is made locally at Heidelberg Bakery...

http://www.heidelbergbakingco.com/philosophy.htm

I picked up some Italian and some Sourdough bread and was very pleased to see a marking on the sourdough package that says it is made with locally grown and milled flour from New York State.

 

Excellent! One more reason to feel great about enjoying this delicious bread!

Finding Flatware

Day 154.
Finding Flatware

It's interesting what makes your mind think of the things it does. Last night I went out to dinner and was admiring the flatware in the restaurant. Then I got a reminder that Easter (and Easter dinner) is only about a week away. That's an occasion when my family pulls out the best dinnerware. So it's got me thinking about flatware today and I think I've found some options to share with you. Here is some flatware made by Liberty Tabletop that's made right here in the USA...

https://www.libertytabletop.com/

I love finding things like this.

FYI, while in the mall last night I picked up some more Cheeky Monkey dipping oil (delicious!) and I saw the woman who I interviewed about the products in a video I posted last month. Turns out her bosses were excited to see it and pleased with the mention on this blog. Thanks to them for continuing to make a great product!

Third Thursday

Day 153.

Third Thursday

I've found a great concept for supporting local businesses. Look what one community is doing by supporting Third Thursday, giving people an extra reason to shop at local businesses...

http://shoplittlefallsny.com/thursdays.php

It's important to remember that small local businesses are the heart of America's economy at the local level and supporting them means supporting your neighbors...and your neighborhood.

The Furniture I Promised

Day 152.
The Furniture I Promised

So I didn't write as much about furniture yesterday as I had planned, so let's try today. There was another brand of furniture I noticed when in the store and it is by Lancer of North Carolina.

http://www.lancerfurniture.com/

It appears they offer their furniture through independent retailers and they take pride in making handcrafted quality furniture. Good for them!

Getting Around

Day 151.
Getting Around

To be honest, I planned to write about furniture today. I was recently in a local furniture store and took note that they had an amazing assortment of American made furniture. I commented to the store owner about how I was pleased to see that and we had a discussion about how that is important to her as well and how she feels this is a way she can offer her customers high quality products. So as I perused I took note of a few of the brands that caught my eye. One of them was http://www.goldentech.com/. However when I went to their site I learned that they are a little different than just a furniture company. They make lift chairs (which is what I saw in the store, though to me it just looked like a nice recliner). They also make power chairs, scooters and adjustable beds. In short, this company makes products to help people with their mobility. Their website indicates that their products are proudly made in America from domestic and imported materials. Well, they are making them here and also helping people with getting around a little better, so I say kudos to them! And also to the stores like the one I was visiting for making an extra effort to support American manufacturing.

I Need a Pillow

Day 150.
I Need a Pillow

I love a busy pageant weekend, but at the end of it I need a pillow...

http://www.mypillow.com/about-mypillow.html

And a few more hours!

Sleeping In, Wake Me Up

Day 149.
Sleeping In, Wake Me Up

It's been a busy weekend and, as I mentioned a couple of days ago, definitely a time for coffee! I was awake for about 38 consecutive hours, so I slept in and slept hard today. But sometimes when my schedule gets thrown totally out of whack (like today...I'm writing this in the evening, way out of the norm) you need something to wake you up, so today I'm thinking about coffee made in the USA...

http://www.usacoffeecompany.com/

So hopefully coffee will do the trick and life will get back to normal tomorrow.

Scarves with Attitude

Day 148.
Scarves with Attitude

Today I wanted to post a reminder to the young women participating in this evening's production that attitude is everything and you need to keep your mood positive to realize your own personal success. So in that spirit, I found a made in the USA item to share with you that is all about attitude. Check out these scarves....

http://www.domicildesign.com/1/post/2012/11/attitude-scarves-made-in-the-usa.html

Very cool...keep the right attitude and add that to determination and hard work and you have the recipe for success!

On The Go

Day 147.
On The Go

It's the home stretch for a production that has been taking most of my time and attention for the last two months. I'm going to need some coffee today! So I started looking for an "on the go" travel mug made in the USA and came upon this...

http://www.coffeecakes.com/20-ounce-ceramic-travel-mug-red.html

I've found it somewhat challenging to find mugs made in America, so am happy to come across this one...now it's time to be on the go again!

What Is Wrong with People?

Day 146. 

What Is Wrong with People?

My local area was featured on the national news yesterday, maybe you saw it. Sadly, it was not for anything good. Our area is the latest to have another one of these now too frequent small town shooting incidents and this one left four people dead and two injured. It is devastating to see these incidents on tv and even more unbelievable to watch the events unfolding in my own backyard and happening on the roads that I travel daily. Our local schools were on lockdown all day and numerous businesses closed down. Police are still in a standoff with the suspected shooter this morning. Residents displaced by the day's events for safety have been given temporary shelter at a local college while law enforcement officials are trying to bring forth resolution and answers. Unfortunately, I don't think there will be any answers that make sense. I don't think the current "solutions" being implemented make much sense either. I'm not going to offer up my thoughts about gun control...I don't think that's at the heart of issues like this. Instead I'll just say that in my opinion I think people who commit crimes of this nature probably have issues and mental illness that contribute to their actions. Let me be clear...I do not believe that most people with mental illness are likely to commit crimes. I also have no specific knowledge of the individual in this particular case. However, I do think a common denominator for crimes like this that make no rational sense must be some type of (likely untreated) mental illness.  So rather than encourage you to buy an American made product today I would rather suggest a donation to an American organization, NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness http://www.nami.org). This isn't necessarily a "solution" either, but my hope is that if more people get the help they need perhaps we will have less of these devastating situations. My heart goes out to my neighbors in the community who were directly affected and our thoughts and prayers are with you.

A couple of years back I worked with a talented young woman to produce a music video for an original song she wrote to address feelings and attitudes about mental illness. This seems like a day to share it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIf1i5C6meE

The View From My Desk

Day 145.
 The View From My Desk

It's one thing to spotlight an item here or there that's made in the USA, but this morning I decided to just glance around my desk and see how many things I could identify as made in the USA that are regularly a part of my daily activities. The only problem is that many items in my desk have been removed from their packaging, so I couldn't tell with everything, but here are a few common items I had in my work area that are made in the USA.

 

There are plenty of items I use on a daily basis that are made in this country. And now you've had a chance to see my messy desk!



Cubes of Patience

Day 144.
Cubes of Patience

Yesterday I waited in a cash register line for 36 minutes...to reward my patience I bought myself a cinnamon cube pop.

http://www.espeezcandy.com/cinnamon-cube-pops.php

I don't know why, but somehow it helped...and was made in the USA.

A Service I Don't Want to Miss

Day 143.
A Service I Don't Want to Miss

Around the holidays we talked about how American-offered services make great gifts as well. While perhaps not exactly a gift,  there is one service I really do not want to go without... mail on Saturdays.  As someone who frequently uses the U.S. mail, I feel compelled to speak out on behalf of our nation's letter carriers. Please voice your support if you value this service as well.

http://deliveringforamerica.com/

Let's be vocal!

Wrap It Up!

Day 142.
Wrap It Up!

I find myself doing a lot of gift wrapping in the month of March. Since I have several friends and family members with birthdays this month, gifts for participants in a program I direct and any myriad of other occasions coming around the corner, I will be wrapping up a storm. So I began my search for American made wrapping and came across these offerings from Nashville Wraps.

http://www.nashvillewraps.com/pages/madeinusa/showpage.ww?page=madeinusa

The thing I appreciate most about their website is that they have a specialty page tab for American made products so you can quickly see at a glance what they offer that is made in the USA. That's something I love to see and I hope more websites will consider adding a similar tab for easy consumer reference. I love to see that!

An Interesting Article

Day 141.
An Interesting Article

I found an interesting article from USA Today that I wanted to share with you. This describes some information about the trend towards buying Made in the USA products and was well worth the read...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/01/21/made-in-usa-trend/1785539/

What I find most interesting (and heartening) are the statistics about many Americans being willing to pay a little more to purchase a product made in the United States. Supporting industry in this country is not difficult to do, however I think a lot of it does have to do with the consumer's state of mind.

My New Car Battery

Day 140.
My New Car Battery

Last night I had a dilemma. I am supposed to be driving our car in a parade tomorrow, however when we pulled it out of storage (this is a summer vehicle that has been put away since the fall)...you guessed it...dead battery. And not the kind you can revive with a couple of jumper cables. This battery was six feet under and not coming back to life. So, the challenge was to get this battery replaced...even though it wouldn't budge...and, incidentally, it was located in a very convenient spot (note the sarcasm) behind the tire!

Well, I ended up being helped by some great guys who got my battery swapped out for a new Autocraft battery. While chatting about the car drama I inquired about the origins of the battery...my after hours mechanic/vehicle rescuer made a call to look into this for me and returned with some great info. He told me that these batteries are manufactured in the United States. Wonderful to know and thankfully the car is back up and driving just in time for the parade!

Cool Cosmetics

Day 139.
Cool Cosmetics

I love great cosmetics, so I'm always on the lookout. I recently found a site that offers quite a few options with the majority of their cosmetics (with the exception of one cosmetic item and their brushes, which was noted on their site) made right her in the USA. So of course I want to share...

http://www.laminerals.com/

Personally, I'm a big fan of mineral foundations. In general I have found that they are so light and easy to use and amazingly more effective for coverage than you might think, so I hope to try these soon.

The Story of Happy

Day 138.
The Story of Happy
 
This is the story of happy...
 
It starts with a tub of American made chocolate fruit dip...
 

 

Then we add some strawberries...

 

 

Can you guess where this is going? 

 

 

Chocolate + strawberries = HAPPY!

Erase and Smile!

Day 137.
Erase and Smile!

Today I needed to share a smiley face...so I found one in the form of an eraselet...

https://www.eraselet.com/products/details/?id=11011

It's a cute little eraser bracelet made right here in the USA! Doesn't that make you smile?

Princess Hats

Day 136.

Princess Hats

 

So when I posted yesterday's photo, did you wonder what the connection was between all the ladies with whom I was standing? Here's a hint...

 

 

Which leads me to today's topic...princess hats. The opportunity to wear a crown has helped each of these women to become positive role models and each has been an inspiration to young girls who might also want to wear a "princess hat". Well, I found a site where young ones can feel like a princess too...

http://www.myprincesshats.com/

I thought these were cute, perfect for little girls who dream of being royalty and made here in the USA.

One of the things I'm most pleased about when watching what these ladies have accomplished is that they are all excellent role models for young girls and it has been an honor to know each of them over the course of the last ten years.

The Big Picture and the Little Details

 

Day 135.

The Big Picture and the Little Details

 

Yesterday I spent the day volunteering with an event that is part of the big picture of my life. I continue to help this organization because of what it did for me years ago and what it continues to offer to young women today. I was joined by a group of young women I am incredibly proud of.

 

 

 

So we took a group picture and here's where we'll get into the little details. In the morning while getting ready for the day I selected a pair of black tights to finish off my outfit. Why am I bringing that up? Of course...they were made here in the USA...

 

 

 



Sometimes the little details matter and in this case I'm glad to spotlight yet another brand that is American made...because that makes a big difference to me.

Cookies and Camping

Day 134.

Cookies and Camping

Years ago (a few more years than I prefer to admit) I was a Girl Scout. Being part of this group was very rewarding and gave me some wonderful experiences. I remember the feeling of self-esteem that came from earning a merit badge and also the feeling of accomplishment after braving my first overnight camping trip...although I must say camping was never something I gravitated to thereafter (I'm a person who likes to sleep in a real bed with a mattress and the luxury of electricity...and while s'mores are a delicious campfire treat I'd really rather have s'more of the comforts of home). I also remember the first taste of responsibility that came from selling the famous Girl Scout cookies that everyone looks forward to this time of year. I wholeheartedly support the idea of a program like this helping to give girls positive experiences to guide them towards becoming well-rounded, responsible young women. I also support the idea of being able to purchase yummy cookies that are...you guessed it...made in the USA.



 

 

 

 

The cookies I ordered came in this week and I was delighted to look on the package and see that my Thin Mints and Trefoils were in fact American made. All the more reason to buy cookies in support of these girls and their worthwhile efforts...as long as I can eat them in my kitchen instead of under a tent! I buy Girl Scout cookies every year and hope you will as well.

Clay Figures

Day 133.

Clay Figures

I saw an adorable clay elephant in the middle of being made into a beautiful gift figurine and wanted to learn more about the process. Sue Miller of the Plaide Palette in Cherry Valley, NY was kind enough to explain a bit about how she makes a variety of clay figures on site at her business and paints them herself.

These are beautiful creations and made right here in the USA!