Things To Do Before the End of the Year

Call this a to-do list for the year's end. Things to do before New Year's Day:

My Christmas, as Told by Instagram

I finally did it, I finally was convinced to get myself on Instagram. Here's how my Christmas vacation was spent, as told by my Instagram.

Christmas Gifts

Wanna know what American-made gifts I bought for my family and friends? Here's the skinny.

P.S. Friends and family, no peeking.

Made in the USA Gift Tags

Want to let your loved ones know that their holiday gift was made in the USA? Use a gift tag to let them know.

Oh Christmas Tree!

We have ornaments from all over the world on our Christmas tree (some purchased on various trips, or received as gifts), but some are American-made. Of course.

Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa,

I've been such a good girl this year. I don't really feel like I need much. 2013 has been great so far: good food, good work, good health, good family, good friends, and no natural disasters. What more could I need, right? But, yes, there are a few things I want. Here are the things on my wish list for Christmas:

Made in the USA Gift Guides 2013

If I had had more time this year, I would have liked to have done some of my own gift guides. Alas, time (and my job) caught up with me. Instead, I decided to do a post of other people's ideas for gift-giving that are as good as or better than what I could have done myself. Presents for the booze lover? Your coworker? The home owner? The dog owner? Your best friend for life? The new mommy? Or the handsome guy in your life? Your favorite country mouse? These gift guides for this holiday season have got you covered:

The Cold Season

As the season inches toward winter, the more you have people around you sniffling, sneezing, and coughing it seems. Feeling under the weather? Got a cold? Arm yourself with some comforting remedies and things to help keep you human while you're sick.

American-Made Sunday Links

This past week was a busy one for news about the Made in America Movement.

Here are a dozen articles and videos you need to see if you haven't done so already:

American-Made Saturday Links

Here are ten articles and videos you need to see if you haven't done so already:

Giving Thanks and Top Posts for November

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Hannukah. Happy Biggest Shopping Weekend of the Year. Happy Maker Monday. Lots of deals to be had this weekend. If you haven't done so already, have a peek at Sarah's (Made in USA Challenge) list of Made in USA deals this Cyber Monday. There are lots of great gifts lists as well from some of my fellow bloggers (you can find links to their sites over there on the right). If you're wondering where to find some American-made products for the holidays, have a peek at my list of links on my Website Searches for American-Made Products page. I think they come in handy when searching some of the Internet sites.

I'm coming up on my first blogiversary. There is so much for which to be thankful: lots of great ideas this past year, lots of writing, lots of support from readers like you. Thanks for giving me great feedback. I'm really glad that I decided to start this blog and love where it has taken me. Every month, I'm making new discoveries and finding all these great American-made things. I've enjoyed  reading about (and even meeting) some great American makers. I've been blessed to have the support, as well, with all these wonderful people and organizations devoted to the Made-in-the-USA community. Thank you.

The top five posts for November 2013 are:

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Be jealous. This is what I will be having for dessert for Thanksgiving.

Things I Spotted at REI Made in the USA, Part II

Grabber hand warmers

Here are ten more things I spotted at REI that are American-made.

Things I Spotted at REI Made in the USA, Part I

Nalgene water bottles

The fairly new REI store in NYC is pretty impressive: 39,000 square feet, 3 different levels, located in the Puck Building in SoHo. Full of sporting goods, outdoor equipment, clothing, and shoes. Here are ten things I spotted while shopping there the other day that are American-made.

Advent

Are you ready for December? One of my favorite traditions is having an Advent calendar. Growing up, I have had some really great ones. Some were flat paper with windows, some very artistic and creative, some just silly and fun, some were three dimensional (and involved setting it up on a table), some involved little treats that could be eaten or toys that needed assembling each day.

Weekend Links

Apparently, my readers want more links. Ask and you shall receive. Enjoy the weekend.

Here are seven articles and videos that you need to see if you haven't done so already:

Spotted in the Movies II

Screen shot of Out of Sight

I don't know why but I just love this movie. It's one of the ones I can watch over and over without tiring of the plot or characters. Recently, I watched it and saw something new... a nice shot with this American Security safe in one scene.

P.S. See more in the Spotted... photo series.

All Ablaze, For the Guys

A classic blazer for guys that doubles as outerwear?

All Ablaze, For the Ladies

A classic grey wool blazer for the ladies, with a little surprise twist.

Black Birdy

After falling in love with the Shinola Birdy wraparound watch, I couldn't make up my mind which version I liked best. I even had pics of my top four choices on my fridge to help me decide. And then, just a couple of weeks ago, they introduced a new version and I knew that it was the one. 

American-Made Weekend Links

Here are nine ten articles you need to see if you haven't already:

American-Made Weekend Links from Forbes

Today's links post is a little bit different from the ones I've done in the past. I wanted to get a glimpse of how one media outlet publicized the current Made-in-America issues. Today, the media source is Forbes magazine. I've included some of the articles published over the past five months. Such a variety in the viewpoints based on the different contributors, especially in the November articles.

Here are ten articles from Forbes you need to see if you haven't done so already:

Top Posts for October

This is my 200th post. It's been a great journey, this whole blogging thing. I mean, really, I have been lucky to receive such positive feedback from my readers and peers in the Made in America Movement. It's this support that drives me with this blog and for that I am grateful. I have been pretty busy lately and so I am not able to write and post as much as I want. I'd like to think, however, that by focusing on quality, rather than quantity of posts, I've been keeping to my overall goal. Plus, the Red Sox won the World Series. Yup, October was a great month. Thanks, all.

The top five posts for October 2013 are:

American-Made Weekend Links

Here are a dozen articles and videos you need to see if you haven't done so already:

Spotted at the Outdoor Cafe

"Cups made from plants make a difference."

This Greenware cold drink cup is not only environmentally-friendly, it's made in the USA.

P.S. See more in the Spotted... photo series.

The American Pastime

My wife's Boston Red Sox baseball hat

 

Today's post is courtesy of my husband, Dan, the Yankees fan. (Yes, you read correctly.)

 

What's more American than baseball? My thoughts exactly. An American sport calls for an American-made hat.

From Farm to Table

Rabbit, served up in Heath Ceramics

Last week, a few girlfriends and I went out to eat at Print Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen. This restaurant is not original in the growing trend of farm-to-table dining, however, it is NYC's first to have a full-time staff member solely devoted to seeking out local and seasonable items to put on the menu. My girlfriends and I had a great night, and Print didn't disappoint.

American-Made Halloween Candy

Are you all set for Halloween trick-or-treaters? In my neighborhood, we don't get to pass out candy. Most children go early to parade around in their costumes and get treats from the local businesses. I kind of miss the tradition of scaring little children passing out candy. If you do get candy for your neighborhood kids, here are five great options for American-made candy for Halloween:

Banana Bread Muffins

Banana bread muffins fresh from the oven in vintage EKCO muffin tins

Maybe it's a sacrilege to mess with a recipe from James Beard, but that's how I roll sometimes. The original banana bread recipe was originally published in Beard on Bread 40 years ago and it makes the best banana bread I've ever tasted. I got my own copy of this cookbook from my mom 10 years ago (probably after calling for the recipes from hers too many times) and this is the recipe that is the most used from this book. It's a great way to make use of overly-ripe bananas and I bet James Beard would approve of my rendition.

Stripes and Plaid

Just a quick selfie to show off some things I've been loving lately, including the combination of plaid flannel and navy stripes:

Store Spotlight: Red Wing Shoes

The other night, I was on my way to dinner with my husband and a couple of friends. We had a few minutes to kill before our reservation so I decided to have a peek inside the Red Wing Shoe store in Sunnyside, Queens. The displays beautifully show off their shoes as well as photos of some of the U.S. factories and workers.

Five Other Ways You Can Use Q-tips

So, apparently you're not supposed to put cotton swabs inside your ears to clean them. (Cue Girls OCD-like comments below.) Uh huh, that's right. Cotton swabs, however, are useful for lots of things. I keep a container on my dresser and never travel without them. I buy Q-tip brand cotton swabs, made in the USA, in bulk at Costco.

Here are five "other" things you can do with cotton swabs:

American-Made Weekend Links

It's amazing how sobering the news has been of late. I am constantly reminded of both of what amazing and what tragic things are occurring in the world right now. It's sometimes hard to focus on the positive when there's a government shutdown, children are still working in terrible conditions in sweatshops around the world, and corporate greed still fuels so much of what we see. And then along comes something that just makes me smile and feel like the good really can overpower the bad.

Stay positive.

Here are a dozen articles and videos you need to see if you haven't already:

The Most Exported Made-in-USA Product

There is one product in the United States that is still 100% American-made, one of our top exports, and coveted all over the world. In fact, most of this product in existence right now (as much as two-thirds) is exported. And demand is still growing. Do you know what it is?

Laundry Day

Yesterday, I finally got around to doing some laundry that I had put off for an embarrassingly long time. Since I live in an apartment building that has community washer and dryers in the basement, it's necessary for me to have a laundry bag to carry my things down to the laundry room.

National Manufacturing Day

At Borough Furnace in Syracuse, NY

Today, is National Manufacturing Day. With a skilled labor shortage and advancements in technology, there are lots of reasons why people should get acquainted with the manufacturing industry in the U.S. There are lots of events planned and ways in which you can get involved.

Spotted at the Nail Salon

Lanel Professional Nail Dryer

This makes going to the nail salon even more worth it, right?

P.S. See more in the Spotted... photo series.

Leggings: Beyond the Basics

A few years ago, I solidified my love for leggings. While I have a ton of leggings for Pilates, I also have some that are just for when I want to wear something comfortable: after work, on the weekends, and when I am traveling. There are so many options for American-made basic leggings. And now there are lots of options for those who want something that's a step up from the basics.

Top Posts for September

A thanks to all your emails, tweets, comments, and messages in support of my work on the blog the past month. It's great getting your feedback.

The top five posts for September 2013 are:

Fall Cool

This is a great autumn nail color. It's Essie Merino Cool, a dusty gray purple that they released in their fall collection several years ago. I love the neutral, moody base. The cream formula is perfect and make it almost a one-coater.

Pictured here with my American Apparel scarf in Sir Robert William Flannel Plaid.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

American-Made Friday Links

Hope you're all enjoying this fall weather.

Here are eight articles and videos that you should read or watch if you haven't already:

Rockin' the Laundry

Clean, white diaper!  This diaper is over a year old and has NO stains!

Today's post is written by my baby sister, Liz. Seems like it wasn't too long ago that I was changing her diaper and, yet, now here she's become the expert on diapering babies. She's a working mom who is passionate about breastfeeding and other natural parenting methods. She resides in the Palouse region of Washington State with her fella and two sons, affectionately nicknamed D-Boy and Squish.

I started cloth diapering when my oldest son was about 7 months old. Most people start well before that, but I was young and naïve and believed that if I used disposable diapers, I wouldn’t have to deal with poop. After a few months of parenting (and a few hundred diaper changes), I saw how foolish I had been and was was more open to the idea of cloth diapering. Then the adventure of washing diapers began.

Syracuse Ironmen

Speaking of hometowns, I was thrilled to find out that Borough Furnace, makers of these fine cast iron skillets, are from my hometown of Syracuse. There has been a lot of buzz about them in the blogosphere and the media and for good reason.

Hometown Tees

New York Hometown Tee

If you love New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, or Boston, this understated design from the made-in-America men's brand, Hank, might be just the thing to show your hometown pride.

American-Made Tabletop

These handcrafted items are from Catherine's Table, featuring American-made items for your table and kitchen. They carry the work of artisans and craftspeople from all over the U.S. Here are just a few beautiful things:

Spotted at the Pilates Studio

Vita Vibe Ballet Barre

We've been using these barres in Pilates and I just recently realized that they're made in the USA!

P.S. See more in the Spotted... photo series.

Weekend Laid Back

 

This past weekend was very relaxing. I spent most of it catching up on some much needed sleep and laying low. The weather is finally hinting at fall, I got some errands done, and I had a chance to wear some Made-in-the-USA things (old and new).

Spotted in the Subway Station

"Designed by you; assembled in the USA."

I saw this subway ad while I was on my way to dinner the other night. Made me smile.

Update -- Some more versions of this Moto X subway ad:

The Ball Jar

These pint-sized Mason jars in vintage style blue are so cool. (And if you are like me, your inner 13-year-old self will be giggling at the thought of blue Ball jars.)

Back to School!

It's that time of the year: back-to-school season. Over a million NYC public school students start classes today. A happy time for some and a dreaded time for others. Either way, it's been the signal for stocking up on school supplies and new clothes. I decided to get some American-made things for my three-and-a-half-year-old nephew who is in preschool. With some help from his mom (my sister) and my husband, I think I've got quite the back-to-school care package for him.

American-Made Friday Links

First, a thanks to Mrs. American Made for featuring one of my head-to-toe looks on her blog. This is just one example of how my fellow bloggers have been a huge support to me.

Lots of news lately about things American made, especially the NYC fashion industry (most likely spurred on by NYFW).

Here are a dozen articles and videos that you should read and/or watch if you haven't done so already: