Made in the USA

According to ABC News, if we each spent 64 dollars on products made in America during our holiday shopping we could create 200,000 jobs. Made in America news story 


Some of the sources provided by friends include:


Rada Cutelery
bath towel set
made in usa forever - toys etc 
Homer Laughlin
Burt's Bees
Munro Shoes
Fortune Tee's
Lodge cookware

Other sources for Made in the USA Materials and Merchandise: 

Still Made in USA
Companies that can proudly display "Made in America"
    

Dear Dick's Sporting Goods: You Are The Spawn of Satan

Just for fun again THIS year let's play the "Which Item Does the Dick's Sporting Goods coupon actually apply to game! (Answer: gum). The list of exclusions on a Dick's Sporting Goods coupon is mind-boggling. I think it would be simpler for them to have written "everything in our inventory." True story last year their own Customer Service could not tell me what I could actually use a coupon code for. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=12312192&camp=Email:11282011CyberMonday
For those playing along at home the exclusions to the use of this coupon/code are: 
% & $ OFF COUPON:
Offer valid only while supplies last and not applicable to canceled orders due to out-of-stock merchandise. Discount does not apply to taxes, shipping and handling charges, gift wrapping or similar charges. Discount not applicable with returned merchandise; total discount will be deducted from the value of any returned item to which the discount applied. Discount excludes the following:

  • ABU GARCIA
  • ADIDAS GOLF USA INC
  • ANDERSON BAT
  • ANON
  • ASICS
  • ATHALON
  • ATLAS SNOW-SHOE
  • BABOLAT
  • BAUER/NIKE HOCKEY
  • BILLABONG
  • BIONIC
  • BLADERUNNER
  • BLOCK
  • BRIDGESTONE
  • BRINE
  • BROOKS
  • BURTON
  • CALLAWAY GOLF
  • CARHARTT
  • CCM
  • CLAM
  • CLEVELAND GOLF
  • CLUB GLOVE
  • COLUMBIA
  • COMBAT SPORTS INC
  • CONTOUR
  • COSTA DEL MAR SUNGLASSES
  • DAKINE
  • DC
  • DECKERS OUTDOOR CORP.
  • DEMARINI
  • DESCENTE
  • DIAMONDBACK
  • DITA / FIELD HOCKEY NORTH AMERICA
  • DWINDLE DISTRIBUTION
  • EA SPORTS
  • EASTERN
  • EASTON
  • ECCO USA, INC.
  • ELECTRIC
  • ELEMENT SKATEBOARDS
  • ENJOI
  • ESCALADE
  • EYEKING
  • FITNESS QUEST / TOTAL GYM/AB LOUNGE
  • FLOW
  • FOOTJOY
  • FOXPRO
  • G-LOOMIS
  • GIRO
  • GITA SPORTS LTD
  • GOALIATH
  • GOALRILLA
  • HARO
  • HEAD
  • HUMMINBIRD
  • HURLEY
  • INNOVA
  • J & B IMPORTERS, INC.
  • JANSPORT
  • JORDAN
  • JUGS
  • K2
  • KETTLER
  • LEGEND DISTRIBUTION
  • LEW’S
  • LIFETIME
  • LOUISVILLE SLUGGER / BIONIC
  • MAUI JIM
  • MERRELL
  • MIKEN
  • MISSION
  • MIZERAK
  • MIZUNO
  • NAVICO
  • NIKE
  • NIKE PRO
  • NIRVE SPORTS LTD
  • NOKONA
  • OAKLEY
  • ODYSSEY
  • OGIO
  • OLD TOWN
  • O'NEILL
  • PATAGONIA
  • PHITEN USA
  • PING
  • PINNACLE
  • POLAR
  • POWER BALANCE
  • PRANA
  • PRINCE
  • QUIKSILVER
  • RAGE BROADHEADS
  • RALEIGH
  • RAWLINGS
  • RAZORS
  • REACTOR WATCHES
  • RED
  • REEBOK CCM/REEBOK HOCKEY
  • REEBOK ZIG
  • REEBOK NFL JERSEYS
  • ROLLERBLADE
  • ROSS REELS
  • ROXY
  • SALOMON
  • SAUCONY
  • SCHUTT SPORTS
  • SCOTT
  • SHAUN WHITE SUPPLY CO
  • SHIMANO AMERICAN CORP
  • SKULLCANDY
  • SMITH OPTICS
  • SOLE
  • SOREL
  • SPY
  • SPYDER
  • SRIXON
  • ST. CROIX RODS
  • STRIKE MASTER
  • TAYLOR MADE
  • THE NORTH FACE
  • THULE
  • TIPPMANN
  • TITLEIST
  • TUBBS SNOWSHOES
  • UGG AUSTRALIA
  • UNDER ARMOUR
  • VOLCOM
  • VON ZIPPER
  • WARRIOR
  • WILSON PROFESSIONAL GOLF
  • WILSON SPORTING GOODS
  • YAKIMA
  • ZOO YORK

Also excluded are :Boats, Canoes, Kayaks, Hauling and Storage Racks, Canopies, Shelters, Furniture, Coolers, License and Championship Merchandise, Heaters, Fire Pits, Grills, Smokers, Hammocks & Stands, Team Orders, Gun Safes, Trolling Motors, All Electronics, Fish Locators, GPS, Ellipticals, Table Games, Treadmills, Home Gyms, Weight Benches, Cardio Equipment, Gift Cards and Gift Certificates. Additional exclusions may apply. Cannot be combined with any other promotional offer nor is this offer valid on previous purchases. Entire order must be shipped to a single address and customer is responsible for all shipping costs for returned merchandise. This promotional offer may be modified or terminated at any time without notice.
 I absolutely LOVE this take on the age-old (is it?) question "Kids in the Kitchen? Yay, Nay, or "is that a booger in my meatball?" All the Good Mothers are Doing It  by Andrea Ferrell

My response to this wonderful and witty blogger's question?

Wait until they are twelve.

Ten at the outside.

My 12 year old daughter is a careful and capable cook, more concerned with exact measurements than I am and a bigger germ-a-phobe than any of us. I could probably hire her out as a sous' chef.  (sp?)

I had her messing around in the kitchen at a younger age but the keyword is "mess." Be willing to sacrifice the occasional egg or 1/4 of flour to the cause, let them crack and mix and whip to their heart's content. Then practice good sleight of hand (or just wait until they lose interest and wander off). 

Scene at Home - Dining Room

Here is the table I nearly destroyed via my overconfident incompetence. Nonetheless it is important to note that every decor item shown ranges in price from Free-$1 in cost because I'm spendy like that.


























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K & J's Excellent Adventure

First, it pays to have a talented decorator friend. I have one. You should too. I’d tell you more about Jaime but she’s already busy enough and frankly, you’d ALL want to be her friend, she wouldn’t have as much time to hang out with me, and I would be sad. That would not work for me so selfishly I AM KEEPING ALL THE JAIME FOR MYSELF!!! That is until she finally GETS A DA#$ BLOG like I have been nagging her for at least a year now. She is one of those people you can show like a rock and a piece of tinfoil and in 30 seconds or less she will immediately and seemingly effortlessly explain how that could be a valuable and beautiful addition to your home. It’s amazing. I look at, say, a bedspread and see “a covering for a bed. See also: blanket.) Jaime looks at a bedspread and immediately suggested an amazing wall hanging using only her sheer cunning and some recycled wood.

Anyway, all this should explain why when Jaime texted me last week and said “Antiquing today?” I was all in. Do not pass go. Leave the house with laundry in the washer, dishes in the sink, and probably the door hanging open behind me. THRIFTING with Jaime??? I am so in!
On my suggestion (thank you Internet) we went here:

Yes. Right? It’s kind of a lot to take in all at once. This is the Company Store in Negley, Ohio. I know! I had no idea that American Pickers prime picking spot was in Ohio either!
This was apparently the largest general store in Ohio from 1910-1915 (I know because I read this on the sign). It is now open seasonally (due, we are told, to the prohibitive cost of heating this enormous old building and boy, do I feel their pain).



From the outside it’s kind of tough to take it all in. We had to break it down in chunks of amazing antique eye candy (and plastic Santas!) This is just 1/3 of it and you really can’t get the depth from here. Suffice to say it goes deep. On this porch we found a neat wooden piece. The proprietor explained, casually, that it dated from the 1700’s – and was sitting on the PORCH.


Inside we found aisle after aisle of amazing glassware, small items, and just a general plethora of STUFF.


Just one of the many baskets of doorknob ends. Don’t let the size and scope of their choices fool you. The items are actually pretty well organized and arranged.



Yes that is an actual eagle stuffed and mounted in a huge box on the wall. No he did not startle me … much.


And then, on the porch, the sun shone down, a choir of Angels sang and I found THIS little beauty just sitting there, out in the open, for anyone to pick. I swear I pounced on it with both hands and strange little exclamations of love (because I am a shrewd bargainer like that). Sensing it was already sold the proprietor did what any savvy businessperson would do when the buyer is already invested in the piece and probably a sure thing: she said “$5 bucks.” ♥




I really think Frank and Mike would be proud. I also think Jaime and I should have our own show.
Then on the way back we stopped at a yard sale because only WE could sniff out a yard sale, in Ohio, in November.



Vintage tablecloth. Huge and in amazing colors. For $1. I’m just posting that here to torture Jaime because I love her but she makes me so envious sometimes and my $1 tablecloth has inspired her to new heights of imaging me having craftiness I do not actually possess (“Pillows! You could make pillows!”) As Journey says, don’t stop believing Jaime.

Don’t You Wish Your Funkins Were Hot Like Mine?

First let me state that I love election day. The pursuit of freedom and the democratic process in action in America? Oh it is wondrous! That out of the way let’s get to why I’m really so excited about Election Day – PIE!!! Okay, pie and the Church Bake Sale and Bazaar which is held every election day at the church that serves as our polling location. Every year I come home with something awesome and every year I force  share it because what good is a deal if you can’t crow about it?
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No I am not suddenly in need of three canvas images of the exact same baseball player
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I am a frame addict and these are new in the package wrapped canvas images. I have big plans to replace the current ballplayer, however talented he may be, with my own images thus creating “canvas” portraits for a fraction of the cost. Ditto the framed flowers in the background. Pretty but not my style. Nonetheless, where are you going to buy shadowbox depth professionally matted frames for $1? Nowhere but Church Bazaars, that’s where.
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Most of the clothing was new with tags (Superfan is a school spirit shirt which is how it made the cut). I have not suddenly decided I am a superhero. Unless you count Superhero of Saving (Maybe I'll keep that shirt).
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Don’t hate. It was a quarter.
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For those that get the vapors over the idea of “used” clothing.  I’ve never understood the weirdness with used clothing. Taking into account the manufacturing process, shipping, and try on in stores, I assume everything in stores anywhere is “used” clothing. Today more than one of the items was brand-new, with tags.
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This was all wrapped up in a sealed package and appears to be hand-milled soaps. What would that set you back in a gift shop or store? More than a $1?
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I tucked them into this display (also all cadged thriftily at various times for a total cost of somewhere around $4 including the metal basket). Yes I did just share a photo of the back of our toilet. You can thank me later.
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Huh? Wait, how did that get in there? Oh well the truth is out. My real incentive to vote is Church Lady Bake Sale food. This is Chocolate Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Oreo Fat-Butt Dessert (I added the last part myself). Weird that there is already a bite out of it? I wonder if my family will believe that it came that way?
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Finally, we have the items I did not pay for. (NO I DID NOT STEAL FROM THE CHURCH.) These are my Adventures in Trash Picking Part II. Although since they were on the lawn with a “Free” sign I don’t know if that’s really Trash Picking or the Cheapest Yard Sale Ever? My score this early a.m. was two free “funkins” (that would be fake pumpkins); 6 wrought iron candle stands in various heights, the “Home is where our story begins” sign and 4 pillar and one Pumpkin Spice jar candle. In a box. For free. No kidding. The best part? I had just added “Funkins” to my wish list a day earlier(don’t ask).
Better part? I picked these up on the way to the Church Bazaar and I wasn’t in there five minutes before a friend sidled up to me and said “gee if only they had some fake pumpkins here!” before cracking up. Yep. Busted. He had totally seen me grabbing these (Jeff you are just JEALOUS you didn’t get “my” funkins first!)
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So, I have this idea that I’m going to do something crafty and creative with said funkins and some other stuff I picked up today for the princely sum of a quarter. Anyone have any ideas? I’m open to anything. Keeping in mind that the dog is likely to confuse my funkins for a soccer ball and take off with the whole kit and kaboodle.
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My last adventure in trash picking in the spring scored me this awesome giant green glass bottle that Pottery Barn sells for a kidney and a limb. I prefer “free.” This bottle still makes me happy when I look at it. Oh, the white buffalo in the second image is not permanent there. Mr. Wonderful received that as a lovely gift for, like, saving a man’s life and all but enough about his life saving wonderfulness, blah blah blah back to MY THRIFTING.