Reflect Your Style: Dressing Room Inspiration

Lamp // Vevey Gold Mirror (Imported) // Oliver Gal Trebal Canvas Print // Greco Console Table // Necklace // Colonial Mills Basket // Telescope Casual Director's Chair // I Screen You Screen Pillow 

The next home improvement project on my list is something near and dear to my heart. Our house doesn't have a decent master closet and that left a situation where the hubs and me were going to have to fight over closet space. I took the high road, commandeered a guest room and made it an impromptu closet. But, it's a mess. And it's a short-term solution because at some point in time there will be a little mini human taking up residency in that room (NOT PREGNANT - just thinking long-term). 

My hubs, bless that man, casually mentioned the other day that I should redo our office and turn it into a dressing room. It has great built-ins to work with and there is plenty of room to keep our computer and a filing cabinet in there. Plus, added bonus, my hubs said, "decorate it as you want, it's your room."

Needless to say, a very feminine dressing room has been on my mind and when the kind folks over at One Kings Lane asked me to style a vanity around one of their new mirrors I was more than happy to come up with a mood board. And I love it! Since the space I'm re-doing is so white I'd love to stick to a black and white color palette with lots of metallic accents. The great thing about One Kings Lane, in addition to their fantastic curator selections, is you can search by product, category, and most importantly for me - if something is made in the USA. Head on over to their Home Decor Handbook for inspiration on your next project. 

If you were given free reign to decorate a vanity how would you decorate it? A big mirror and artwork would be high on my list of investment pieces. 

Made in USA Grilling Essentials

Weber Charcoal Grill // Super Skewers // Pops Q Tools Grilling Set // Nordic Ware Jalepeno Roaster //  Hickory Grilling Plank // Lodge Cast Iron Melting Pot // Nordic Ware Beer Can Chicken Roaster // Lodge Zizzle Grill Pan 

It's June and that means it is officially grilling season! Above you'll find my hubs go-to grilling essentials. I bought him a Weber charcoal grill for his birthday 4 years ago and not only has it survived two moves, but it has thrived while cooking a 20lb turkey for Thanksgiving, supplied brisket, hamburgers, hot dogs & wings for 3 pig roasts, countless cookouts, and it allowed us to enjoy a few home cooked meals during our kitchen renovation. That baby has been put through the ringer and it keeps on trucking. So much so that for the hubs 30th birthday I offered to get him a super duty massive grill and he flat out refused. I know, I was shocked too! Instead, he got almost every grilling accessory known to mankind and made in the USA. These above are his trusty favorites.

Honestly, I couldn't pick just one off the list. How can you say no to cooking a whole chicken on the grill and flavoring it with your favorite beer? And we like to use a grill pan, rather than a basket, for vegetables to keep the juices flowing. And you just can't cook fish on a grill without a solid wood plank. My personal favorite thing to eat off the grill are shrimp kabobs so you need skewers for that. While I'm not necessarily a wing person, I do appreciate a roasted pepper when I come across one so a pan that is dual purpose is A+ in my book. It would be impossible to omit the cast iron melting pot, because otherwise how could you keep the BBQ sauce warm and ready to re-apply during cooking?

Last, but certainly not least - the grilling tool set. That baby gets utilized every time the grill comes on!

Get ready for BBQ season by getting the essentials that are going to survive this year and for years to come. Except for the wood planks, because they do only survive a few uses!

What's your favorite grilling essential?

The bar is open!

Our little kitchen received a welcomed addition two weeks ago with new barstools.  This is one of the reasons I love social media because I put out a cry for help with a few wishlist details for new barstools and the world answered with American Tribute.  Except our new barstools are more than we could have imagined: American made, inspired by oak whiskey barrels, clean design, solid, rustic materials, and an impressive 600lb weight rating (most stools stop at 250lbs and that doesn't work for some of the guys we love to have over). And the tops spin so there's that as well. 

Even before the new stools arrived the hubs and I have been spending as much time possible in our breakfast and bar area. It's so nice to come home from work, take the pups for a walk, and then crack open an adult beverage (or if we're working out then we drink post-work out). The hubs has been making amazing martinis the past few weeks and next week we'll obviously be tossing back a few Mint Juleps. 

I know bar carts/trays are all the rage right now. The hubs isn't quite sold on "sparkly straws" just yet so here are our staples: 

Cheese Slate: unknown (Similar)  Concrete Coasters: Pop Chart Labs 32oz Growler: unknown (similar) Whiskey: Jack Daniels Bourbon: Bullet // Jim Bean Single Barrel // Vodka: Tito's 

Can anyone recommend their favorite gin? Part of me feels like I need to have one of those, but I don't yet.  Finally, if you don't have a 32oz growler yet please go get one. It's the perfect size for two people to enjoy a nice craft beer that is above five percent alcohol by volume. We have quite a few and my hubs usually keeps an empty one in his car just so he can stop on his way home for a fill-up if the mood strikes him. 

To read more about American Tribute check out the "Maker's Series" post on Modestics. 

Kitchen Renovation: Electrical is done!

Lights, camera, and more lights! A few of the recessed bulbs are missing in these photos, but they're hooked up now and fully functional.  It is BRIGHT in our kitchen. 

We elected to go with recessed lighting in the kitchen and we put in a few more lights than normal since we went with such dark wood cabinets. Those cabinets have the potential to be a black hole and suck all of the light out of the kitchen so we wanted to make sure we had plenty of light to balance with the cabinets. We did not install under cabinet lighting because our kitchen used to have it and we turned the lights on maybe twice in 2.5 years of living here. If we decide we need it we can always use the wireless lights that are now available at any big box store. 

But, one thing we weren't going to miss out on was adding a little bit of flair to the lights over our peninsula. Again, since we have low ceilings (89 inches I believe) we need to keep the lights short and relatively sparse in order to not cut off our newly open space. I found a few options at Rejuvenation and the hubs really like the Burnside pendant light. We each loved it for different reasons. He loved the burnished antique hardware and how that would add a tiny industrial touch to our kitchen. I love that we didn't have to pay extra for customizing the length and that this light is made in the USA! (Sadly, the antique-looking bulb is imported.)

We waited to purchase the pendants when there was a free shipping offer in order to save $25. That's another night of takeout! We ordered the lights on 12/17 and they arrived on 12/30. We both that was exceptionally fast given the holiday season and that everything about these lights is customized. I know in the first photo they look really short, but trust me we actually hung them a tad bit lower than standard height, but they're small enough that they aren't obstructing the hub's view. 

And it might not be the flashiest feature in our kitchen, but I'm very excited to have an outlet on the side of the peninsula. I just need to find a cool outlet cover for it. 

Up next - granite! And I'm very biased and it's absolutely gorgeous. I'm skipping the next of the drywall updates because let's be honest there isn't a whole lot of fun about seeing sanded down drywall. 

Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce

The secret ingredient in our third annual pig roast: Jack Daniels of course!  

I've made it known that the hubs is a massive fan of Jack Daniels here, here, and here. Plus, who can forget my go-to summer drink concoction - the Jack and Coke slushies.  For those keeping track I made two more batches of slushies during last weekend's pig roast. 

The hubs received such high praise on his BBQ sauces during last year's pig roast that he decided to make even more for this year's roast.  When he was putting together his plan for more sauces he told me that he needed more mason jars for storage. Little did he know I was way ahead of him and I had already come up with a plan for storing all the BBQ sauce he could make. 

While I might not be a fan of single barrel Jack, I do acknowledge that the bottle is gorgeous. Truth be told, I've been hoarding empty Jack Daniels bottles since the hubs and I moved into our house. I was hoping to throw the hubs an enormous Jack Daniels themed party for his 30th birthday this summer and I knew I needed to store bottles in advance.  The hubs threw me for a loop when he didn't want a party, but I wasn't about to let my hoarding go to waste! 

Prior to storing anything in an old Jack Daniels bottle you've got to get the label off (if you're so inclined) and make sure the bottle is squeaky clean.  I've stripped enough labels off of glass bottles in my day to give you this tip - wait until the paper label is COMPLETELY SOAKED prior to even trying to remove it.  The water logged adhesives are much easier to remove and more often than not you can peel off the entire label in one large piece. If you find a lot of additional glue residue on the outside of your bottle after you've gotten the label remove just gently use a steel pad to buff it off. Gently is the key, you don't want to scratch the glass. 

In addition, I bought a baby bottle brush to get the inside of the bottles squeaky clean. Honestly, wish I could have video taped the hubs facial expression when he saw a baby bottle brush on the counter :) Hilarious. 

Now, we used the larger 1.75 Liter bottles for ice tea and the every day 750ml Jack Daniels bottles for BBQ sauces.  Once the bottles were stripped, cleaned, re-cleaned, and dried the hubs filled up each bottle with its BBQ sauce.  A last minute funnel purchase made that process infinitely easier. On the day of the pig roast we pulled the bottles out of the fridge about an hour before the party started in order to apply the labels.  We dried the bottles off and applied these cool chalkboard sticker labels I picked up from Crate and Barrel.  I was beyond excited to find out that these labels are made in the USA.  It also meant I got to break out my chalk board marker, which is always a good time. We didn't apply the labels while the bottles were refrigerated because I wasn't sure if the labels would stick in the fridge. 

We popped in a simple bottle pourer in each bottle and everything worked like a charm. We found extra wide bottle pourers at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and we utilized those for the thicker sauces. 

True story - after the party I told the hubs he had to start drinking more Gentlemen Jack and Single Barrel because those bottles were my absolute favorite!  The other 750ml bottles were Tennessee Honey Jack and green label.  It's more "cost effective" for the hubs to buy his standard Black Label Jack in the larger sizes :)

The finished product! 

I know this might seem sort of silly to go over, but I'm a firm believer that presentation matters. I can't even count how many people told me at the pig roast that this was the coolest idea they'd ever seen for holding BBQ sauce. It's so simple and that's the beauty of it! 

The very first photo shows what is left of our Honey BBQ supply. It also shows how well the chalkboard label held up after getting tossed around during the pig roast.  The chalkboard marker needs to get damp first in order to wipe off so it held up a lot better than plain old chalk. 

As for next year's pig roast - expect even more BBQ sauces and more quantities. The hubs had four additional sauces in smaller mason jars because he thought those particular sauces were not standard fare and didn't expect people to use them.  BIG mistake! The extra smokey sauce received the second most requests for the recipe. The only one asked about more was the Bay BBQ sauce, which is an Old Bay infused sauce. 

Oh, and there may or may not have been a splash of Jack Daniels in a few of those BBQ sauces.  His whiskey sauce recipe, which oddly enough the final product is not pictures, indicates, "add Jack to taste."  I once again had to remind him that his Jack Daniels taste threshold might differ from others. 

Feed USA: Target

Please forgive me in advance. This post was incredibly difficult to write and I completely acknowledge there will be a few moments where I sound like an arrogant ass. I wrote, deleted, cried, re-wrote, deleted some more, and then finally hit publish. I even sent out a few texts asking if what I was about to write was acceptable. 

I've had June 30th penciled in on my calendar since the Target + Feed USA launch date was announced.  I felt a sense of pride when I heard that Lauren Bush's FEED initiative was going to partner with Target for a limited run of items that would benefit Feeding America and provide meals to Americans who needed them most.  

I'm a tremendous fan of the work that the Feed projects have done to provide quality meals to millions of individuals who need food.  There is not a fiber in my body that doesn't truly believe that providing  over 60 million school meals to children around the world is anything less than a miracle and should be heralded for the positive and commendable achievement that it is. I mean that with absolute sincerity.  

My thought process when I first heard of the Feed USA project was: 

Target + feeding Americans = I'll take one of everything! 

The months of buildup finally gave way to the launch date and I was eager to peruse the entire collection and make a few purchases.  From my climate-controled ivory tower I immediately checked out a few of the iconic tote bags and had mentally added a few baseball caps to my cart.  When my cart was ready for checkout my mind quickly second-guessed my purchases and I thought, "I didn't remember reading where any of these items were produced." I then spent the next 30 minutes reviewing the item description for all 100 items in the collection and was repeatedly told that each and every item was imported.  I took a deep breath and reminded myself that website's make errors and it was entirely possible that a few of the items were made in the USA. 

I did what any completely irrational person would do - I went to three different Targets to scope out almost every item in person. 

I didn't find a single item made in the USA. 

Here's what really bugs me. 

1. "USA" is in the product line title.  This is one of my absolute biggest pet-peeves. Don't put "USA" or "NY" in the name and then not make something there. That's just false advertising in my book. 

2. The product launch date of June 30th is the week of July 4th. Really? You launch a product line with "USA" in the name the same calendar week as America's most important holiday and not a single item is made in the USA. OUCH! 

3. The blatant misrepresentation of where the products are made because the product colors and imagery further perpetuate the image that the products are made in the USA. A bag with patriotic red, white, and blue colors that contains an image of the USA (minus Alaska and Hawaii) and adorned with brass snaps? If that doesn't proclaim "USA! USA! USA!" then I don't know what does.  

4. Current Feed USA bags available for purchase on the Feed Projects website are made in the USA.  You'll have a very difficult time convincing me that the bags made for this initiative were incapable of being produced in the USA when other Feed USA bags are made in the USA. This just reinforces my first and third points that the products available at Target are misleading.

5. The stats don't help. 1 in 6 Americans are affected by hunger. The Feed USA website states this as plain as day.  You know what could help the 50 million Americans that do not have dependable access to enough food due to limited money and resources? JOBS! Manufacturing jobs like making the items in this collection would do a tremendous amount of good for the long-term sustainability of this country.  The skills developed in making the shirts could continue to work in the growing American textile industry.  Instead, money was sent to China and Indonesia to create these goods, but Americans are expected to purchase the items in order to have a tiny bit of the funds directed back to their countrymen. 

Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe I was living in a fairy tale. Both points are most likely true.  I know people will say, "why does it matter where the items were made if the proceeds are going to help people?"  

I get that. I honestly do. And I'm not saying that the individuals who made these products in China and Indonesia should be put out of their jobs.  We're all people of one world and every person in the world is trying the best they can to do what's best for them and provide for their family. That's a universal connection that isn't unique to any one country or group in the world. 

When I advocate for purchasing American made items I don't mean it as an arrogant, "well screw you rest of the world!" I buy American because I believe in labor standards and I believe that America has some of the most advanced labor standards (please note - I did not say "the most advanced") and there are other parts of the world where labor standards are severely lacking. I don't want to think that an individual put their life at risk to make my tee shirt because they happened to work in a factory that wasn't built properly or they're working for pennies a day. 

I had lofty goals and expectations for this iniative. Maybe during Feed's next major endeavor they'll include provisions to make products in the same country that they are working to support and that way they'll be able to make their impact even greater.

But you know what - at the end of the day I'll buy this Feed USA bag because it's made in the USA and provides support to local communities.  I'll most likely end up buying an item from the Target collaboration because I want to support businesses in any endeavor that benefits Americans. 

For more information on how you can help Feeding America please click here. For more information on how to donate to Feeding America please click here. 

What are your thoughts on the Feed USA Target collaboration? 

Flag Day

Today is flag day. Support your country. Proudly wave the American flag. Thank a serviceman and be happy to live in a place that offers so many freedoms.  

American flag flying over Baltimore's Inner Harbor during Sailabration 2012. 

Pap Pap's casket flag. Full story here on why the hubs refused to put his grandfather's flag in an imported flag case and the start of my rational for buying American. 

A little girl gave me this flag right before the finish line of the Parks Marathon on September 11, 2011. All runners were encouraged to wave the American flag while running the last mile and across the finish line. 

If you're looking to purchase an American flag, check out USA Love List for a list of American flags made in America.  

VDay Gifts for Him: Made in USA

1  /  2  /  3  /  4  /  5  /  6  /  7  /  8  /  9

Guess what: all of the above gifts are less than $150!  Actually, I intended this list to include all items under $100 each, but the Allen Edmond shoes were just too beautiful handsome to leave off the list.

There's something for just about everyone on this list or it's a great start list if these things aren't your guy's cup of tea.  If your guy doesn't like beer, but he is in touch with his inner geek, then I highly suggest anyone of the posters from Pop Chart Labs. Not only are they made in Brooklyn, but they're made with vegetable dyes so they are also vegan friendly.  I've purchased three separate posters from Pop Chart Labs and each of the guys who received the posters were thrilled.  Even my brother-in-law loved his diagram of movie monsters and he's a tough cookie to please.

Men's wallets are one of those items where a few dollars can be invested because unlike women, who tend to have hundreds multiple purses, men tend to only have a few wallets.  At least that's how the guys in my life operate.  The bifold wallet is a classic and the one above from J.W. Hulme. Co is an American staple and is actually guaranteed for life.  When was the last time you bought something and it came with a lifetime guarantee?

Side note: I've found soapstone whiskey stones that are made in the USA everywhere from Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel (linked above), to World Market.  I would have never in a million years guessed to look for things made in the USA at World Market, but I was pleasantly surprised to find they do carry quite a few things made domestically in the states.  However, I did find that searching for "Made in USA" yielded zero search results, so search for "made in United States."

Two things that are one this list that I think would work for almost every gift situation:  stationary and cologne.    In these days of texts, instagram, Facebook, etc there is still a need and desire for the handwritten word. The hubs could leave me a post-it note (also made in the USA) and I'd swoon.  If you want something a little fancier than a post-it note then head on over to Crane & Co. for a fantastic selection of stationary that is all made in the USA.  If paper products are a no-go, then go the smelly route and buy a new fragrance. I never even realized that many of today's colognes and perfumes are actually made in the USA.

Valentine's Day gifts for the guys - piece of cake.  Yes, guys love cake too! 

Last Minute Gift Ideas: Made in the USA Edition

You've made your list. You've checked it twice. And, you still realize you have shopping to do this weekend for a few more people on your holiday gift list.  It's okay, you're not alone.  I put together a quick and easy list of made in the USA items you can find almost anywhere.

Sorry cool and independent stores.  I have awesome things in store for you next year.  Right now I'm trying to get across how easy it is to buy things stamped, "Made in USA."

Maglite flashlights (varies) - True story - right before my dad left me in my freshmen dorm room at college he slipped me a big, black Maglite and asked that I always carry it in my purse.  The man knew I was a sucker for a big bag and I'd have room for it.  His rational, "not only can it provide light, but it can ward off a mugger."  Not kidding.  There's more Maglites in my house than I can count, they're made in the USA, and you can buy them just about anywhere. Stocking stuffer anyone?  If you think this isn't a cool gift, just ask yourself what you need during the next power failure and get back to me then. Available at Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, Target, etc.

Libby Glasswares (varies) - Not every piece of Libby glassware is made in the USA, which means you need to check the box.  However, I have more than one set of cool mugs that are made in the USA including my favorite beer mugs.  Specialty glasses are always a perfect hostess gift.  Available at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Target, Walmart, HomeGoods, etc.

Yankee Candle (varies) - Look, I don't think I need to tell you how awesome these fragrant candles are, but I can if you need me to.  The Christmas Cookie candle is a holiday staple in my house.  Although, I really want to buy that peppermint bark candle.  Available: EVERYWHERE

Craftsman Tools (varies) - Again, not every Craftsman tool is made in the USA, although the screwdriver set pictured above is made here.  Available at Sears and KMart many of the items in the Craftsman line are made in the USA.  I bought the hubs a shiny black Craftsman tool chest for Christmas on Black Friday and it's proudly stamped, "MADE IN USA."  If you think a screwdriver set is a dorky gift then we might not be able to be friends. I've got my own screwdriver set and the hubs as his own.  That's how we roll.

Lodge Cast Iron (varies) - If you want a gift that's going to last, then go with something in the cast iron variety.  During Hurricane Sandy I actually ran out to HomeGoods and picked up a Lodge kettle for my wood stove that could not only boil water for tea, but also could have been used to make soup if the power went out.  I've used Lodge items since I was a kid on camping trips and these babies have outlasted all of my other camping gear. Available at HomeGoods, Target, Walmart, REI, Bass Pro, Macys, Sears, J.C. Penny, etc.

Calphalon Cookware (varies) - Again, not every piece of Calphalon is made in the USA, but many of the pieces in their bronze and nonstick lines are made in the states.  I have my eye on this sear nonstick pan. Calphalon pans are available at Williams-Sonoma, Macys, Bed Bath and Beyond, Crate and Barrel, Target, Kohl's, JC Penny, etc.

KitchenAid Mixer (varies) - Have you come across a wedding registry that didn't include a stand mixer?  I don't know if I have!  These babies are awesome and I can't imagine my baking routine without one.  Maybe the bakers in life already own one.  You know what they might not own - the glass bowl attachment. Yup, that bad boy is made in the USA.  Available just about everywhere.

New Balance Made in the USA (varies) - I didn't know this until recently, but New Balance has a "USA Collection." line of running shoes.  New Balance distinguishes between two categories based on the percentage of the shoe that is made in the USA.  The "Made in the USA" shoes are, "proudly produced in our U.S. factories by our more than 1,300 U.S. workers.  Where the domestic value is at least 70% we have labeled them, 'Made in USA.'"  two lines of shoes that are stamped "USA." Other shoes in the collection are stamped, "Assembled in the USA."  These shoes have a domestic value that is less than 70%.  Shoes are available at New Balance Stores, Urban Outfitters (yes, hipsters love them!), Sports Authority, Cabela's, and other sporting stores.

Crayola (varies) - Bring some color to the holidays with crayons and other goodies produced by Crayola.  I don't remember many stockings as a kid that didn't include some type of coloring product.  Again, not everything that Crayola makes is made in the USA, but with two manufacturing plants in Pennsylvania there's a solid chance that you can find a set that's made here. Available: Target, Walmart, etc.

Spatula Set ($22.50) - Another awesome stocking addition.  These specific spatulas are made in the USA. Made out of durable silicone they are heat resistant up to 500°F. That's hot!!!  Unfortunately, these are a Williams-Sonoma exclusive, but if you're heading to the mall you can pick up a set of these babies in a pinch.

Jack Daniels (varies) - I think I've made it known once or twice, but I live in a Jack Daniels house. You don't have to pick up a bottle of Jack this holiday season, but if you're going to someone's house you could always bring a bottle of wine or alcoholic beverage.  This is probably the easiest American made gift you could find at the last minute.  America makes a lot of tasty alcohol.  Just please drink responsibly and NEVER drink and drive.  Thanks!

Burt Bee's (varies) - Again, stocking stuffer perfection!  Burt Bee's has tons of collections and kits that could easily be picked up at any local drug store, Target, Walmart, etc and wrapped in a hurry.  Not only is it made in the USA, but it smells awesome.

Carhartt Men's Duck Detroit Jacket ($75) - Look not every item in Carhartt's line is made in the USA.  I know, insert a frown face here, but many items are made in the USA.  Even better is you can find Carhartt items at Dick's Sporting Goods, Bass Pro, J.C. Penny, Sears, etc.



Again, this is clearly not meant to be an all inclusive list of last minute gift ideas that are made in the USA.  These are just a few, and I do mean a few, items you can find almost anywhere if you're near a mall this weekend.

If you are heading out to do some shopping this weekend, please, please, please be safe and be happy.  It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Gift Guide: Buy American for $50 (or less!)

Warning:  The blogosphere is completely over saturated with gift guides at the moment.  Of course that meant I had throw in my own two cents, but I went with a slightly different selection of holiday gifts.  

First up, I've made in known before but buying goods that are manufactured right here in the United States of America is important to me.  However, I do fully acknowledge that yes buying American made goods can cost quite a bit more.  I also know that we humans are creatures of habits and some of us like to shop in certain stores and we're not going to give up our favorite stores anytime soon.  I'm right there with you and that's why I put together a list of American made gift ideas that are less than $50 each and many of these can be found at your big-name box stores. 

Fox River Red Heel Products Original Sock Monkey Kit ($28) - Who doesn't love the sock monkey?  This could be a ridiculously cute parent/child weekend craft project.

House of Harlow ZigZag Stacking Ring ($35) - This is an amazing vintage looking piece and if you're a celeb crushing individual, then anything by Nicole Ritchie is a solid choice.

New York Hat Company Herringbone Camp Cap ($29) -  This hat had me at herringbone.  Made out of wood flannel and from the state of New York? What's not to love. Buy it for the man in your life and then steal borrow it over and over again.

L.L. Bean Snow Castle/Snowball Maker Set ($30) - Confession: my nephew received this set last year as a present as a gift and I thought, "who needs a snowball set? It's called use your hands kids.  Yuppy kids running over the world." Then, I remembered back to my childhood and I remembered all of those memories of frozen and wet hands while playing in the snow.  I could have won a few more snowball fights if my hands weren't frozen!  Yes, I'm almost 30 and I want one of these.

Brooks Essential Low Tab 2 pack ($16) - Yes, you read that right these are $8 a pair running socks.  Running socks are pricey, however, if you have a runner in your circle of friends buy them socks as a stocking stuffer.  High quality running socks can make a run because blisters are a runners worst nightmare. Plus, they come in a ton of fun colors! I own more than one pair of these babies and they're worth every penny (that's how I know they're made in the USA even though the website doesn't make it clear).

Crate & Barrel Reversible Double Griddle ($50) - If you can't figure out what to cook on this thing then we need to have a talk.  It's cast aluminum and you know it's going to last. Weekend brunches never tasted so good.

Hanky Panky Low Rise Thongs ($20) - Many times when garments are stamped, "Made in the USA" they say, "Made in the USA out of imported fabrics."  Not Hanky Panky.  The materials that make up their signature lace is knitted right here in the states.  The colors and patterns are constantly changing and that's a good thing.

L.L. Bean Trailblazer XR Headlamp ($39) - Not just for hiking! Running and walking the dog at night just became safer with this bad boy.  Lights that are made in the USA tend to be very expensive, so this little headlamp is a steal.

Nordic Ware 12-Cup Muffin Man ($21.50) - This wouldn't be a made in the USA list without something from Nordic Ware.  This fine company makes my favorite baking tools.  I'm obsessed with their pans and I've never had a cake or muffin stick to the pan!

Anthropologie Celestial Coaster Set ($32) - As a person who now cares about the current state of her furniture I can't overstate how important coasters are in my life! Yet, there are times in life where I don't want the generic run-of-the-mill coaster set.  Pick one of nine different clay coaster sets and you'll always remember to use a coaster.

Beckel Canvas Products Handi Bag ($45) - Seriously, the name says it all.  Weekends farmer's markets or day trips these bags have got you covered. You might be able to pull off that sailor's outfit you've been secretly planning with this bag.

Restoration Hardware Whiskey Stones ($18) -  Real men drink whiskey.  True story.  The last thing anyone wants is watered down whiskey. I'm a whiskey drinking gal and I know watered down whiskey is disgusting.  Pop these soapstones from America's oldest soapstone mill in the freezer and add to your beverage of choice for a cold beverage that's not watered down.

J. Crew Geometric Dot Silk-Wool Tie ($50) -  Look I'm obsessed with J. Crew, but most of what I find in the store isn't made in the USA. This tie is made in NYC's Long Island City and it's adorable.  It's the tie equivalent of a women's LBD.  Every guy should own a patterned dark blue tie.

Kenneth Jay Lane Golden Clip Hoop Earrings ($45) - I don't even like yellow gold and I love these.  I know a lot of Kenneth Jay Lane pieces are pricey, but these earrings are wardrobe staples and they're on sale!  They're larger than the average hoop of this weight and that's makes them an even better buy.



Final Thoughts: I could have thrown out a ton of little indie shops and amazing Etsy finds to highlight the independent spirit of American made products, but I know people always think, "it's so hard to find American made goods where I shop."

Sorry, I don't believe that for a second.  Nordic Ware sells their bakeware at Target, Macy's, Crate & Barrel, Home Goods, etc.  American made goods might not be everywhere you look, but if you do look you're bound to find some.

I'm proud that it is headline news that Apple is going to build a line of their computers in the USA.  I know my iMac wasn't made in the USA, but I'm happy to know that she has cousins that will be made here.  American consumers are using their dollars and demanding that more products be made in America.

I'll gladly be opening my wallet for them.

Any other made in the USA gift finds I need to keep an eye out for this holiday season? What are your favorite American made products?

That don't impress me much

I believe kids go through a stage where they are not impressed by anything.  Thankfully, by time I get around to having kids I'll have a decade of putting up with my dog's bored-with-me-demeanor. I swear, Jewels thinks she's too fancy for my life sometimes! 

Case in point: the hubs and I bought a new couch in July and it just got delivered last week.  After months of searching we went with the Z Gallerie Harrison Sofa.  (I almost write Harrison Ford Sofa every time!).  It's gray/green, sturdy, tufted, modern, and made in the USA.  In a nutshell, we love everything about it. Bonus points: there isn't a Z Gallerie in Maryland, so the hubs and I decided to buy our couch online and skip having to pay sales tax rather than drive down to Virginia and buy our couch in store. That adds up on an expensive item like a couch!

Don't forget, Z Gallerie always offers 10% off full price furniture orders with coupon code FURN10.

Jewels, on the other hand, really doesn't seem to care.  She's probably ticked because she had our ugly, old, beige, couch broken-in completely and now we went and bought a super firm couch that probably isn't as conducive to her for nestling as the old lumpy couch.  But it is super firm and that's just how we like our couches to be!

I think the only thing Jewels likes is firmly planting herself dead square in the middle of the couch.  There's nothing like having a 98inch wide couch taken up by a 13.5lb dog.

Our living room looks a bit disheveled at the moment.  I absolutely detest our coffee table and cannot wait to be rid of it.  It has a wood veneer top frame, which frayed and looks terrible.  The hubs and I will never buy another piece of furniture that contains wood veneers again.  So we need a new coffee table, end tables, side chair, paint, and artwork.  It's going to be a while to get this room in shape, but the couch was the first step towards in that process.

I'm sure whenever we bring in something new to the house Jewels will just roll her eyes and run off to find a sunny spot to sun herself in and wish she was raised by a family that owned a house in the south of France.  There's no impressing that dog!

Born in the USA

I believe if you were born in New Jersey in the 1970s or 1980s there was fine print on the back of your long-form birth certificate that required you to make references to The Boss whenever a reference was possible. Rumor has it now the fine print pleads with newborn Jersey Boys and Girls to avoid future participation in any reality show that may negatively impact the glorious reputation of the Garden State.

But I digress.

There have been numerous tiny events in my life that slowly formulated a conscious decision to try to bring in more American made products into my home. The largest spark for this decision occurred last spring when the hubs and I signed an offer to purchase our home. That was it; we were finally adults because a bank said they trusted us enough to keep sending them payments for the next 30 years. If that’s not a sign of adulthood, then I don’t know what is!

With such a life changing event happening I pulled the hubs aside and told him that in our new forever home, I wanted to bring in more goods stamped, “Made in the USA.” In that same discussion, I also said I specifically wanted to bring in less goods stamped, “Made in China.” There had been so many recalls on children’s toys, pet foods, drywall, and a host of other goods coming from China at the time that I singled the country out. Yes, I felt bad about it. I’m not a fan of prejudices, but the last thing I wanted to do at the time was bring something into our house that was potentially dangerous. 

I won’t go into all my reasons for making this decision, but I will say that it was a long-time coming. 

As usual, the hubs put up with my craziness and endured my shenanigans as best as he could. He was very

straight with me and we both understood that we would, “do our best, but costs and logistics would prevail.”


More often than not, "costs prevailed." I don't know about you, but have you ever really looked at how few items are labeled, "Made in the USA" these days? It's disheartening. In addition, the cost for most items made in this country are significantly higher than those imported; especially for lights! If you find an American made light company that is reasonable, please let me know! 


Then, in January of this year the hubs was given the flag that draped his grandfather's funeral casket.  When that box showed up on our doorstep the hubs and I knew we had to find a case to keep the flag preserved for memory sake and save keeping. 


Off we went to find a flag case.  Ten stores later the hubs was about to lose his cool in the middle of a big-box craft store. This particular store had an entire row filled with shadow boxes and flag cases specifically showing pictures of holding American flags.  But guess what? Every single case and box was labeled, "Made in China." 


The hubs wasn't on "Team America" at the time, but he quickly came over to my side.  He was actually shaking while talking to a customer service representative who was absolutely flabbergasted and embarrassed that every single item in the aisle was made in China, yet advertised itself as being the perfect item to hold an American flag. 


I felt so bad for the hubs that he wasn't successful in finding the perfect case for his grandfather's flag that I actually posted a short summary of our frustrations on the craft store's Facebook page. In less than two days my wall post received over a 150 likes and 50 comments.  Three days later I received an email from a regional manager expressing his concern with my wall post and informed me that he would take my concerns up the chain of command.  


I went back into that craft store this weekend and you know what I found. Nothing had changed. Every single flag case and shadow box on their shelves was still made in China. 


The hubs ended up finding a nice store online that specializes in making flag cases. Every single case is made in North Carolina and is made by hand.  

In the meantime, the hubs and I are still struggling to find American made items for our house. I've almost given up on buying clothes made in America because I can't find a shoe company that makes a fashionable woman's shoe.  All but two pairs of my Cole Haan shoe collection is made in China. Same thing for all of my J.Crew dresses!  


Here's what we've found:

1. The big home goods stores (Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Z Gallerie, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.) will specifically say, "Made in the USA" if a product is made here in the states. If it says "imported"  or nothing at all then there is a solid chance the item is coming from China.  Most of the stores above are very open about where their items come from and have country of origin on their website (Crate & Barrel wins in this department).  Other stores will openly say in the item description if the item is made in Italy, India, Brazil, Canada, or Mexico.  I've actually emailed Restoration Hardware in the past and had them send me a list of everything in their current inventory that was made in the USA.  Restoration Hardware definitely gets a point for amazing customer service, but I'd love them more if any of their window hardware was made in the USA. 
2. Just because something is reclaimed wood doesn't mean it's made in America.  I fell in love with a gorgeous reclaimed wood table at Williams Sonoma Home and was pretty bummed to find out a table costing over $2k was made in China. 
3. Ceiling fans are not made in the USA.  Seriously, I've been looking for an American made ceiling fan for over six months.  If you find one, let me know.
4. Don't automatically assume a company that makes things in the USA makes everything in the USA.  Libby glasswares makes a ton of things in the USA and also a ton of things in Mexico.  I don't quite know why one glass shape is made in the USA and the other is made in another country, but it's frustrating that the ones I want aren't made in the USA.  Our GE Cafe fridge is made in Canada and the USA and we went with it because of it's amazing reviews and knowing that we could buy some GE things that were made in the USA.  
5. Many online shopping stores (Crate & Barrel, Overstock, Wayfair, Bellacor etc.) allow you to search for items made in the USA.  One careful caveat is on Bellacor you'll only get items that have "Made in the USA" in the item description.  Some companies keep that piece of information in their company description and not in their item description.  I bought a floor lamp from Bellacor that was listed on ten different sites as "Made in the USA," but wasn't coming up in searches on Bellacor. 
6. Some items lend themselves to being made in the USA more than others.  North Carolina is known for upholstered furniture and it's not difficult to find a ton of quality couch options that are made in the USA.  However, the hubs and I have yet been able to find a pretty bathroom garbage can that is made in the USA. The only ones we can find are the generic clear plastic ones. 
7. Room & Board is the coolest store of all time.  They don't just list the country of origin for every single  product on their website, but for all USA made items they list the specific state where the product is made and artisan that makes all of their products.  The hubs and I bought our bed from Room & Board in March and it's been one of our favorite purchases. 

If you've found any companies for either home or fashion items that are made in the USA, please leave me a comment.  It's really been a struggle for us and we need to buy curtains ASAP!