Pushin' for a Cushion

The good news is, it's quite easy to find a Made in the USA outdoor cushion.  The hard part is finding some that fit my patio furniture!

Shopping through the Gardeners Supply patio replacement cushions, I sadly realized their sizes were not going to work for me.  Bummer because I loved the patterns.  But I discovered that the majority of the cushions out there are made by the same company.  

Arden Companies manufactures most of the outdoor cushions you are seeing in the largest national retailers, most notably Wal-Mart.  They have several manufacturing facilities across the US.  If you choose to browse WalMart.com, be aware that some of the item descriptions can be confusing as to country of origin.  For example: Made in the USA and/or Imported.  Gee thanks for clearing that up for me.  Luckily, the item description included the manufacturers name, the aforementioned Arden Companies.  So I gave them a call at the Southfield, MI corporate office to clear things up. The incredibly nice service rep, who sounded like she could have been Mrs. Arden herself, explained that most of the year their products are 100% produced in the USA.  During peak season or to keep up with the heavy demand of larger orders, the production of the pillow covers is outsourced to overseas facilities.  The covers are then returned to the US for stuffing and completion of the final product.  The labels will clearly differentiate between the fully "Made in the USA" product or as shown below:

Next up...Another company I am excited to learn more about is Sturbridge Yankee Workshop.  They have a Made in the USA search tab front and center on the website :)

Spring Fever

It''s March and I officially have Spring Fever!  Time to pack away the sweats and sunny up the house!  Vamp up the spring/summer wardrobe with a few new tees and capris.  I have been out shopping a few times in recent weeks at my local Target, Wal-Mart, and BJ's Wholesale.  Historically, the majority of my wardrobe can be traced to a big box store or warehouse club.  Unfortunately, 99.9% of the choices in these places are not "home grown".  Well, maybe the cotton is but it is shipped to an overseas factory to be turned into that super-cute pair of cargos.  I'm going ot have to do some online searching for more Made in the USA clothing choices.

My friend Val is going on this journey with me.  She recently spotted some athletic-wear by SoSporty.com that states Made in the USA clearly on the tag. BUT, I called them to ask if I could purchase their products anywhere online and was told they currenty only sell wholesale to stores like TJ Maxx or Marshall's.  I have to admit, I was left with doubts after hanging up the phone.  Next question on my list: Are there any regulations/requirements for proving your "Made in the USA" item really is?

UPDATE:  For your reading pleasure:  Made In The USA Compliance


Next up...Screened porch makeover courtesy of Gardener Supply Company's Outdoor Cushions!

ABC News Special Report

I'm very excited about the upcoming ABC News Special Report Made in America series.  This series will provide just the "crash course" I need.  I haven't gotten the chance to explore the website as of yet, but surely it offers tips, stores, and manufacturers for all of us who will be changing our shopping habits and proving our purchasing power.

You can go on ABC's website and take the Made in the USA pledge.

Through a child's eyes...

Sometimes I forget just how perceptive kids are.  How they hear things even when we think they are not listening.  I had an interesting conversation with my almost-five-year-old this morning.  It went a little something like this:

Cam:  Mom, this (insert random item of your choice) is so COOL!  I bet you can buy these ALL OVER THE WHOLE WORLD!  Well, except for Mexico...and China.
Me:  Really?  Why not Mexico and China?
Cam:  They don't have any stores there.
Me:  They don't?
Cam:  No, 'cause they only make stuff there they don't buy it!

Pencil Pusher

Who knew a simple shopping list comprised of school and office supplies would become such a headache. I recently checked Wal Mart for pencils and White-Out without much Made in the USA luck. Finally, near the end of the isle, a single pack of pencils jumped out at me! I wish everything would be this easy to spot.

Every pack of pens I picked up was made overseas. So, I settled on my favorite Staples Xeno pens.

Although I wasn't in the market for Sharpies, I did take a look. Many styles were made elsewhere but I did find one pack that was manufatured here. I was really surprised to discover that a company may have one product line manufactured overseas and another style made in America. I know they must have their reasons, but doesn't make much sense to me.

A recent trip to a local favorite home decor market was not as successful. Let's just say that Carolina Pottery is a misnomer. I suggest a name change to Far East Pottery.

I would also like to replace our couch at some time in the near future. Imagine my excitement to discover that the Pottery Barn couch that I love is Made in the USA! So excited! Now just have to figure out how to work it into the budget :)

Birth of the blog...

I made all the standard New Year's resolutions: get organized, lose weight, blah, blah, blah...but this year I made more than a resolution, I have made a change of consciousness. I mostly avoid the news these days but it is impossible to ignore the US economy and loss of US jobs to cheap overseas labor no matter how far down in the sand you happen to have planted your head. This year, along with reading labels on nearly every food item I buy, I will also be looking for the "Made in the USA" label. Looking on the package, reading the fine print in the catalogs and websites. Deciphering the difference between "Made in", "Assembled in", and "Distributed by". What I learn, I will share...