Day 31 - 7/31 - All American Day

What a exciting, exhausting, long day. Sorry for the late post. All schedules on vacation are out the window so late ice cream means late belly aches and over tired exhausted crying children.

We had another great family day. We started with deciding to go bike riding. We each rented a tandem so we could go farther than we would if they biked themselves. We went to a local shop
and took the Rail Trail, old railroad tracks, paved over for bikers.

 

We had a ball and did over 10 miles!! On the way back we saw an old fashioned lemonade stand, it doesn't get any more American than this!

 

The girls were wiped out because of the ride so they passed out in the car. While they were sleeping I ran into the store I told you about yesterday. It's called the Mill Stores and they make all their wood items by hand and it is all Made in USA.

 

 Not everything in the store is, but what they make is made local. I saw a cute house for Zoey

but the Princess doesn't like the outdoors unless someone is with her so I would not waste my money. They had bird houses, planters, furniture, you name it! Even flags made here, I love this store!!

I saw these wooden letters that they sell and had to add my motto!!

 

 

 

After we did the beach and dinner, an inflatable park (only in America) and to end our great day, delicious homemade ice cream. While they were at the inflatable park with my husband I ran to a store to buy hermit crab food (don't even ask) and found these dresses for the girls, how perfect!! I wasn't even looking!!

It was the flag label that caught my eye.

 

I do not believe we could have crammed in any more things today and it truly was an all American day. At dinner I asked the girls what they liked and did not like about this month. They both said they did not like not being able to buy what they wanted to. They did like playing the label game though, my little one said it was like going on an adventure. They both agreed that they want more things made here - I told them I was working on that :).

 

This month was different than last year. I feel I truly did see more things made here this time around and the labeling was much more prominent. If it was made here, you knew it! Even my jacket tonight was labeled great ( I bought it in my mad dash the night before the TODAY show.)

 
 
 
 
 

It was actually made in NY, that is a first for me!!

 

I tried to share as much information as I could with everyone, sites, businesses, items, in hopes that more people will use these things or ask for them. That is the only way we can get more products made here.

 

I also tried to reach out to companies and business with ideas, compliments, complaints, etc. Sadly, I feel this was unsuccessful since I really didn't hear back from many of the ones I emailed. I will post again if I do hear and share with you if I ever receive those free shoes :)

 

I really wanted to work on awareness this month and I know that was a success because of all the emails and texts from all my friends and family who would find something made here and take a picture and send it to me. Just the fact that people are looking - shows me this is on their mind and makes me think that when given the choice, they will buy American.

 

I hope I made a small teeny tiny difference in the grand scheme of things. I love that I got to share my story on the TODAY show and I hope that someone saw it and decided they would try it too!

 

Enjoy the rest of your summer, be safe and have fun. If you have  anything to share or find anything great please share it with me at nubbypuppy@hotmail.com . Try to buy American if you can. Try to remember why our country is so great and let's keep it that way by supporting businesses here that employ American workers and give them jobs that support our economy.

 

Thanks to my dad for being the inspiration for this and for giving me the courage to share this with others. Good night dad, I love you!

Day 30 - 7/30 - Hurts "sew" bad

Still vacationing and enjoying this family time. We are finally getting to talk and catch up. My daughter reminded me that I promised to teacher her how to sew. I wish I knew how, but I don't. I can put on a button and fix a hem but that is it. She wants to be a fashion designer so she want to start sewing outfits for her dollies. I jumped on the computer while they were at the pool and found that Joanne's Fabrics does sewing classes 101, 102, etc and there is a class early next week! It will teach them how to use a sewing machine and they can create a pillow case. Great, I signed up and I have to show up with fabric and thread. No problem! The store I was in last night had a wall containing bolts of fabric, I'll do this now while I can. By me not a lot of stores carry fabric anymore like they used to for obvious reasons. Michaels does not but Walmart does. Joanne's does but there is not one close to me and I do not want to wait till the day of the class to buy the supplies. I tricked them with ice cream to get them back to the store and ran to the wall of fabric. They had so many!

I found a really cute old fashioned American type print that I though would be cute, it was actually called "America". I grabbed that and it wasn't too much per yard. I went to pay and on line I remembered to check. The fabric was cotton, I know we grown and produce cotton in America, it had to be from here. WRONG!!

Ugggg, this is so frustrating! It is made in Pakistan!!  I have one day left and I am still being surprised by the fact that we cannot produce simple items in this country! I went back to the wall and checked a bunch of other fabrics and I could not purchase a thing!! Why can't we make fabric??  This is bad. Then as I am looking for fabric for my daughter, I find the perfect material for valances for my kitchen. I have been looking for a retro curtain to put over my sink for about 5 years. It is hard to find red, white and black curtains that go with a 50's kitchen. Now that my daughter is taking a sewing class she can show me how to sew a valance and I can make it myself!

Sorry-out of luck, either I wait till Friday, or I don't get it. I don't even want it now, I'm so mad. After doing this for two straight summers, small things like this still annoy me. I'll try to locate fabric made in the USA - it has to exist somewhere, my curtains can wait. And my daughter will have to wait till next week for hers too, I can't do it now.

Tomorrow is our last day! There is a great shop in town that produces a lot of wooden products by local craftsmen. This may be a great way to end our mission, till then...

Day 29 - 7/29 - Ode to Zo

So we are on the road and vacationing but work is still getting done on the blog front. We left this morning and Zoey couldn't come with us this time. She gets so excited to go in the car and go to my mom's, but since we are gone, my mom is staying at my house so there is no car ride this time. I had to leave her at the bottom of the stairs and literally close the door on her smooshy face. It broke my heart :(. I promised I would bring her back stuff. So reluctantly I went shopping for the dog. When I travel I love to discover new shops and find anything I can that is new or interesting. Since we are still on our mission, I decided no shopping till we leave Friday - avoid temptation all together. So while the family was watching an outdoor movie down the block, I ventured out.

 

I started at The Black Dog a famous shop in town.

 

However there was nothing I could get there for her. I left and went across the street.

 

Then I found a cute store called Ben Franklin - sounded much more American

 

 I should have been shopping for Zoey all along! Everything I was interested in purchasing for her was Made in the USA. First thing was a collar made in Connecticut!

But they did not have an XL because her neck is huge wrinkled mess!

 

Then I found a car sticker that said Made in USA!

But they didn't have a Bulldog one, what's up?? Does everyone here have a bulldog??  Check out the flag in the corner of the magnet.

 

Finally I saw this and knew this I had to buy, it is so true! I'm shopping for her and not my girls - yes she is spoiled!

Now I just had to make sure it was made here, I turned it over and this made me smile!!

The company is Love and Laughter www.mydogsigns.com and if you cannot read the red writing it says

"These signs are made in the USA and NOT in China!

I love it and I bought it just for that reason. I don't know if Zoey will appreciate it but I do.

 

So mission accomplish, now I have to survive the rest of the week!! Send me good thoughts, I'm going to need it!!

 

 

 

 

Day 28 - July 28 - My unAmerican American decorations

So what started this whole thing like I said on the show was last year when I went to decorate I noticed that none of my American decorations were from America! That caused me to rant at my husband for an hour and thus the Made in America blog was born.  My friend was laughing at me saying how many decorations do you have for 4th of July? I quickly corrected her and said it is not just for the 4th but it starts at Memorial Day, then Flag Day, the 4th, and we end with Labor Day. We keep the decorations up from May to September, all through the summer.  I have a thing with holidays and themes and I kind of take them too far. Even Zoey has a dog collar for every season and holiday!  I have so many decorations it takes up about 4 bins of and another just for linens (bedspreads, pillows, tablecloths, etc.). She told me she puts out a garden stake flag and has a flag salt and pepper shaker - that's it!  I do have a little more, so I wanted to share a few and show you sadly, none are from here.

The only piece not from China, these dessert dishes are from Indonesia. I have dinner plates, cups and mugs, all from China. Everything else I'm going to share is from China

 
 

 The girls camp snack bag and cups - all themed of course

 

 

 
Cute mopinas/dish clothes - the irony 

Kitchen Curtains

 

Some of the too many decorations!

Zoey chilling in her flag collar. I don't know where it is from because she drools so bad she has rendered the label illegible. I'm and 95% sure - not here. 

The best throw blanket! Believe it or not, this is the only decoration I own that is Made in the USA! It was a gift I received this year. I assumed it wasn't and so glad it is!!

 The only one that counts, my porch flag, made here!!

I have a ton more stuff and I checked everything and other than the flag blanket, nothing is from here. I checked around to see if you can purchase American decorations made here, but I couldn't find anything, just flag buntings and banners made here, nothing else. It is totally frustrating to see these nice decorations depicting American not even made in this country. I get it, but the irony is so funny.

Last week in and I have admitted to myself that I will not hear back from these companies. It is very frustrating, but my letter to them truly means nothing. They will make money regardless if I shop there. In their mind, putting more American products in their store will not boost their sales because people are always looking for the cheapest price. I feel good about this month, I just wish I had a better response from the companies.

 

Day 26/27 - Displaying the flag

So I have entered the last week of this mission. It has gone so fast!! It was a great beach weekend so my lack of shopping didn't hurt so bad. I had my friend down to the beach and she shared with me a picture she took during the TODAY show.

I'm so glad she took this!! I was such a wreck that day that I didn't even think about taking a photo. Thanks Meredith!!

 

In the mail yesterday we received a special letter from the local councilman. It was a certificate thanking us for displaying the American flag on our house everyday! I thought this was awesome! I read the letter and it was sent to other houses where they witnessed the houses having the flag out year round. Here is an excerpt from the letter:

 

It was common to see the American flag fly outside almost every home and business over a decade ago after American was attacked. However, it is unfortunate that fewer and fewer residents take the time to participate in the patriotic display. While some fly the flag out of duty others choose to do so for honor or sometimes their own personal reasons. Nevertheless, this act of patriotism is encouraging to see throughout the community.

It's so true, I have the flag outside my house, because I am a proud American and out of respect for my grandfather who fought in WWII and my dad who made me appreciate the country I live in. I moved in 15 years ago and the first think we did was put up an American flag on our porch.

I know I am not the only one on the block to get this letter but it did make me feel good to be recognized.

Our flag on the porch!


We have another beach house on Cape Cod and we did the same thing. A house is not a home without an American flag waving outside.

 

Does your house have an American flag outside?? If not consider it. Buy a bracket, pole and flag-all made in America - see Grand 'Ole Flag post - and display it proudly!!  Get an all weather one and leave it out year round. Not just for the 4th and Memorial Day but everyday. Not a tiny garden stake flag that I yelled at my sister about this morning, but a big normal size American flag. Maybe you can get a letter next year too.

Day 25 - 7/25 - Think positive

I thought today would be a good day to be positive and list all the American things I came in contact with today. I feel I complain a lot about negative things, so lets see the positive today.

• Cereal was thankfully made in Minnesota www.generalmills.com
• Sunscreen made in Westbury, NY - www.Babyganics.com



• Drove our Chrysler to Camp
• Went to Beachclub in Point Lookout, NY, USA
• Drove our Chevy to the beach
• Beach table was Made in USA

• Marino's Italian Ices - Made in Queens, NY - www.marinositalianices.com
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• Came home and did some weeding in my Okabashi gardening shoes. I never knew these were made in American until I did all the searches for shoes.  Great comfy shoes in all crazy colors. www.okabashi.com
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• My dress for the evening later on was actually Made in the USA!!  I bought it a few years ago and never wore it
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• After eating all day long, I ended the night with a good ole Made in USA mint from Red Bird Brand in NC www.piedmontcandy.com
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• I'm sure there were a ton of other things that I encountered today that were made here. This was fun and I enjoyed trying to figure out what was from here and not. It was a good positive day full of American made products!!

Day 24 - July 24 - Updates

To start my friend yelled at me today and told me that I did not show pictures of the stuff I bought yesterday. So here are the things I purchased.

A flag onesie actually made here!!

cute clutch

I am really happy with all my purchases - there is no buyers remorse here!

So to update a few loose ends, I heard back from Hallmark and Marshalls would forward my email to the proper people. I never heard a word back from Mandees or Kohls yet. I did hear back from Sbiacca. Funny I wanted to email them to be like hey where are my shoes. Here is the email from the head of PR.

Hi Annmarie,

I did not forget you - Sbicca has been swamped with getting Fall deliveries out and prepping Spring '15.  They are putting together a list of styles in inventory for you to choose from - as soon as I have it I will send it over with pics.

 

Best, Heather

Heather Witbeck

Shine A Light PR

502 Leland St., Austin, TX 78704

323.252.4225

heather@shinealightpr.com

I emailed back to say thank you. I will follow up and share even if it is after the end of the month. One more week to share as much as I can!!