Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse

that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Oh.... Yes there is! It is time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese-made flat-screen TV? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a gazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint.

Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community.

If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US (We the People), encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we could not imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition!!

Please pass this around we can make a difference cant we ?

October 24, 2011

I have not given up on my quest to buy American, but at times it can be so very frustrating. However, I am finding that if I stretch my normal shopping time to at least double, I can usually find things.

Yesterday I was able to find a couple of "ruggettes" ( - yes a made up word, but I really cannot think of a good word for those foam mats that are becoming all the rage in front of sinks and the like) at Walmart. I had to look at several, and the funny thing is that often there will be two of the same brand of item - looking almost identical - but made in two different countries. If I am lucky, one of those countries is the USA.

Assuming I can find fabric made in the USA, I might have to start making my clothing if I am going to insist on American made. I am having real difficulties there, especially with dress clothing. Of course I think most fabric is made overseas, and I must admit the thread I use is made in Switzerland because the old fashioned used to be American made Coats is so poorly manufactured (wherever it is made) that it either ravels, snaps or tangles while being used. That does not make for a very pretty finished product and it DOES make for a very frustrated seamstress!

I will continue this blog from time to time, but I am sure most of you do not want to hear my ravings about buying in the US every single day even if I am thinking them. Besides, for the most part now, I am just going to update when I find products.

Update - Made in the USA

It has been a busy few days so I have not been online much, but I have some more items that are made in the USA and one disappointment.

Disappointment first - I could not find any information about Wranglers Jeans - so I emailed the company. They are very bold about the fact that they have moved their manufacturing offshore - the last Wranglers made in the USA were in 2005.

However, Not Your Daughter's Jeans are made in the USA so I will see if I can find a pair that fits. They are a little pricey, but a friend says hers wear like iron.

MADE IN USA:

Elmers Glue

Dove products. And I have found that Dove "Go Fresh" body wash works just as well as the Olay (not made in USA) I was using. It keeps the ultra dry skin from itching. Good stuff. Has several different fragrances.

Target Up and Up Nail Polish Remover - made in USA

Lysol products
Woolite
Oxyclean

(I might have already mentioned the last two, but wanted to make sure)

I am finding that if the label says "Distributed by" - it is probably NOT made in the USA. Most companies that are making their products in the USA proudly post that on the labels.

That is all for today - and probably the next few days. It has been an interesting month, and while my pledge to buy nothing not made in the USA has been stymied a few times, I have been able to find replacement products for items I use - with the exception of clothing.

I will continue to try to purchase only USA made goods and I will continue to report on products that are or are not made in the USA as I shop. By the way if you find anything that I have not listed - and want to add to this blog - and cannot figure out how - just email me at ladydremr.c@gmail.com and I will add the info for you and give you "writer's credit"

Thank you and have a blessed day

A little history and a little more buy USA

My oldest son was giving me a hard time today because my computer is not made in the USA - but then again it was made by a company that is not American. I used to have a Dell - and I like Dell, but they have priced themselves out of my range. I am not sure but I think Dell is still made in the USA and even better - the last time I had to call about my old Dell- about three months ago - the very nice American who helped me had a lovely Georgia accent.

I am not against world trade. There are many items that are not and have never been made or grown in the USA and I am not saying we should stop using them. Coffee - my heavens, I would hate to have to give up coffee. My perfume is made by a foreign company in their own country - and I do not have a problem with that. My problem is with American companies taking their manufacturing plants overseas to keep from paying taxes to the USA and to pay slave wages to poor people in another country. Don't get me wrong - if those same companies want to export their products to those countries - go ahead and have a factory there - heck, BMW, Honda and Toyota have all have built factories in the US, paying US salaries, to US workers to sell to Americans.

I will keep on trying to purchase things that should be made in the USA - only from companies who make them in the USA. I did have to give in the other day because I need to keep vinyl gloves on hand - the disposable medical ones - and after about three stores I could not find any from any company made in the USA. I purchased one box and I will keep looking but in the meantime, I needed them. I think that is what companies bank on - that many of the products they make are things we need and we will give up. A friend found scissors for me - now I just need to find a place to purchase them. The company that makes Dritz - parent company - still makes some scissors in the states. Unfortunately many of the dritz sewing notions are made in China so I fear their scissors are too.

Here are more things made in the USA.

All laundry detergent

Original Udder Balm - and is one of the best hand and foot creams ever made. Just go to Originaludderbalm.com

Snuggle fabric softener

I think Dial is still made in USA

Woolite; Oxyclean and Shout are all made in the USA

More NOT made in USA and a couple made in USA

OK - this morning while I was getting dressed I was reading labels! Oh my goodness! I do not think I own any clothing made in the USA anymore. The following brands are NOT made in the USA.

Bali - made in India
Levi's - made in Mexico
Sonoma jeans - made in Egypt
White Stag - Mexico - Nicaragua (Sad - this has always been a favorite "American" brand - I have worn it for years and I know they were made in USA previously. And the saddest thing - the quality has gone downhill noticeably. )
Faded Glory - a Walmart brand - Indonesia
Briggs of NY - Guatemala
Vanity Fair - Thailand
WM Earth Spirit Shoes - I am not sure but maybe made in USA
Cameras - I have not been able to find even one brand that is made in the US anymore - so sad.
Lia Sophia - Jewelry - made in China
Hanes - (undergarments) - made in Thailand
Secret - made in China


I did find some made in America items: The following brands are made in the USA.

Colgate products (a few are made in Canada) but most in USA
Arm & Hammer toothpaste
Dove product
Mary Kay cosmetics - tinted moisturizer, and cream cheek color are made in USA. Their cream eye color is almost made in the USA.

Unfortunately I did have to give in and purchase one item not made in USA. For health reasons I must have vinyl gloves in the house - and I looked everywhere - drugstores and Walmart and gave up - purchased Walgreens brand to give me time to hunt more. I will find a brand - I hope.

Products - and where they are made

Crest toothpaste, dental floss and most other Proctor and Gamble products I have looked at so far - made in China or Malaysia.

Puffs - made in China

Kleenix products - made in the USA

Johnson & Johnson - those I have checked so far - made in the USA

Mary Kay products - some made in the USA - some in Canada and some in China (the good thing is that the eye products I have looked at are made in USA)

Redken shampoo and conditioner - made in USA

Neutrogena - made in USA

Jergens products - made in USA

CVS medical gloves - made in China and Malaysia

Olay products - made in China

Dove products - made in USA

Walmart - very few products made in the USA anymore. You have to really look at the labels.

Clothing - if I actually threw away everything in my closet that is NOT made in the USA - I would be running around naked. And since I am of a "certain" age - that is not a pretty thought. As a senior citizen, retiree, I do not have the money to replace my entire wardrobe but I will be looking at labels and I may purchase a whole lot less in the future.

Have a wonderful day and watch this space. As I find read more labels I will post their "made in" status here - maybe if we all start buying only made in USA products, the manufacturers will get the message and bring the jobs back to the USA. Their greed is what has taken so many jobs from our families.

Where is it made?

I decided at the first of this month - August 2011 - to purchase only merchandise made in the USA. WOW! It has saved me a LOT of money, but it has also been frustrating as I find products that I have used for years and that I know were originally made in the US - made in China or Malaysia or various other countries. If these companies made their products in the US - think of the jobs that could be created.

My first thought was to post things on Facebook - but FB is not really for that and a friend suggested this blog so here we go.

Personally I would like to pass a new tax law - and I have already sent this to our president and will be sending to my representatives and senators this week.

Tax law by Robin: If a company manufactures their products in the US - they should have minimum tax rates.

If a company manufactures their products anywhere but in the US - and employees anyone but legal Americans - their tax rate should be 75% of gross income. As they move back to the US and start hiring Americans - then their tax rates can go down.

My next post will list the companies I have found to actually still manufacture in the USA - and sometimes it is hard to find the info. And those that do not!