Showing posts with label Patriotic Purchase Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patriotic Purchase Blog. Show all posts
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Thursday, May 21, 2015
OKABASHI SANDLES HAS MOTHERS DAY SPECIAL - MADE IN THE USA
OKABASHI SANDLES MADE IN THE USA
as the ads say, they have arch supports and are recyclable. They also have garden clogs.
We buy ours at our local stores, preferring not to buy on line. Why? Because we like to preserve retail worker jobs, we like to try things on rather than wait for boxes to arrive and maybe have to ship things back.
as the ads say, they have arch supports and are recyclable. They also have garden clogs.
We buy ours at our local stores, preferring not to buy on line. Why? Because we like to preserve retail worker jobs, we like to try things on rather than wait for boxes to arrive and maybe have to ship things back.
Image from the OKABASHI WEBSITE and owned by them.
We bought a couple pairs locally.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Monday, May 11, 2015
REMEMBER CHECK THOSE LABELS - AND THE FINE PRINT - for MADE IN THE USA!
We have found products that at first glance appear to be Made in the USA because they have an American Flag, and American Sounding name, or some other logo or seal that appears Patriotic, but when we read the fine print we find out that the item is actually made in China or another country, or we find that it is only being IMPORTED by a company that is headquartered in the United States - which can be a post office box address.
WE WANT MADE IN THE USA!
WE WANT MADE IN THE USA!
Saturday, May 2, 2015
MILK BONE DOG BISCUITS - TRADITIONAL and MADE IN THE USA (CHECK BOX!)
MILKBONE.COM
Our dog just got a new box of the Milk Bone Flavor Snacks, which keeps her interested in what treat she's going to get today. Sometimes if she isn't ready to eat it already, we find she has hidden it for later under her bed or in the folds of her blanket. Our local stores don't carry the fancier options you'll see on the website.
Our dog just got a new box of the Milk Bone Flavor Snacks, which keeps her interested in what treat she's going to get today. Sometimes if she isn't ready to eat it already, we find she has hidden it for later under her bed or in the folds of her blanket. Our local stores don't carry the fancier options you'll see on the website.
MADE IN THE USA
(Image from Google Images)
Our dog likes variety so this is the box we bought.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
DROUGHT IN CALIFORNIA - BUG INFESTATION EXPERIENCE
Spring has come weeks earlier than usual here in Southern California, and some of our Native California plant seeds have sprouted which we are very excited about after last years failed attempt to use Native Seeds to create a butterfly garden and habitat.
We have also experienced our first bug infestation indoors, which we have been valiantly if not aggressively trying to combat with the least poisonous means. We believe that the bugs are coming indoors in record numbers in search of water. We found mosquito hawks hanging out on the walls of our bathroom waiting for mosquitos and what seemed to attract them was that we had socks presoaking in a small tub. We also found fruit flies, roaches, water bugs, and other unidentifiable little insects, possibly babies. These bugs quickly made it into our refrigerator where they seem to have frozen to death, into our stove, though we keep cleaning it, and into our microwave. Although we know that West Nile Virus has been detected in the area, like anyone what we are most concerned about is the roaches.
We have a dog who is very curious and loves to taste things. We felt that, by making our own traps with boric acid powder and powdered sugar and putting them in places that would be difficult for the dog to get into, we would succeed. It has been about a month now and our entire kitchen is closed off. We think we are beginning to win but we do not want our dog to eat a dead roach full of poison.
Admitting to roaches is kind of embarrassing. Reading about them, we know that they will eat anything, including the paste that keeps your wallpaper stuck to the walls and soap. They are not an indication that you're a slob or have a filthy house.
But they don't have to eat much or that often and what they really do need is water.
What this means is that we cannot ever have any dishes drying, any water laying, any spills not cleaned up, including spills beneath the cooking surface of our gas stove.
To be dramatic, one day I spilled some water, and before I could mop it up four bugs came running and were drinking at the edges of it as if it were a pond!
So when we change our dog's water, we started taking her water bowl outdoors and throwing that water into the weeds rather than into the sink, in hopes that some of the bugs will stay out there! As is, we already try to reuse very mildly soapy water, such as water from the third rinse of handwashables, to water our lemon tree.
If you're having the same problem with bugs...
The potion of boric acid powder, a poison, mixed with powdered sugar was suggested to us by an apartment building manager down the street. She said that was what the Building Inspectors suggested. Online there are a number of recipes and the suggestion that plain old baking soda can work too without the poison. The idea is that it should be spread finely such as with an old toothbrush, in areas where the bugs are going to walk. The idea is that some of them will eat other dead bugs or take it back to a "nest" where it will then kill others. Eventually the bugs get a heavy hint, give up, and take a hike?
But to where when they want water?
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Sunday, December 14, 2014
NON PROFITS AND DONATIONS - HOW TO BE SMART ABOUT IT!
It's easy to print up business cards and other brochures and literature that make untrue claims in order to collect money for a good cause. You never know if that person who is wearing a Santa Suit and ringing a bell, or who is standing outside your supermarket with an official looking can is even going to turn over your donations to a real non-profit.
It's easy to turn your pockets inside out to give a few coins to someone, and we're not saying that all those people who need out there are frauds or that you need to give big or take tax deductions to give.
We're saying be careful, make phone calls, ask good questions, and also protect your privacy as a giver. One of our friends gave a couple thousand dollars to a candidate she believed in years ago and her name, address, amount she gave, and other information are still on the Internet, and of course there is an assumption about her political affiliation because of it. SO YOU MAY WANT SOME ASSURANCES THAT YOUR DONATION WILL ALWAYS REMAIN PRIVATE.
A way to start is to read some of the sites about NONPROFITS. Here is a site that will lead you to MANY opportunities to find out more about the non-profit you may consider donating to:
NON PROFIT AND CHARITY EVALUATORS resource center
It's easy to turn your pockets inside out to give a few coins to someone, and we're not saying that all those people who need out there are frauds or that you need to give big or take tax deductions to give.
We're saying be careful, make phone calls, ask good questions, and also protect your privacy as a giver. One of our friends gave a couple thousand dollars to a candidate she believed in years ago and her name, address, amount she gave, and other information are still on the Internet, and of course there is an assumption about her political affiliation because of it. SO YOU MAY WANT SOME ASSURANCES THAT YOUR DONATION WILL ALWAYS REMAIN PRIVATE.
A way to start is to read some of the sites about NONPROFITS. Here is a site that will lead you to MANY opportunities to find out more about the non-profit you may consider donating to:
NON PROFIT AND CHARITY EVALUATORS resource center
Thursday, December 4, 2014
HERE'S SOME IDEAS FOR YOU - ECONOMICS OF A HOLIDAY SEASON - KEEPING THE SPIRIT WITHOUT SPENDING
We had a small traditional Thanksgiving feast, laid back, and let "Black Friday" and other sales events go by without a purchase. That's because we're on a budget and committed to keeping the spirit of the Holidays alive while staying on that budget. We're committed to spending our money wisely, recycling, giving away things we don't need (without a tax deduction), being innovative and creative.
We don't think that a Christmas Tree piled high with gifts is important. In fact, this year we will decorate without a Christmas Tree. The drought has raised prices on real ones and we will not buy a fake one; they're bad for our economy and not biodegradeable.
Here are some ideas for you:
Instead of buying Christmas stockings (they get bigger every year) go traditional and put out one knee sock or one shoe.
Use old Christmas cards again by using them hung on string in windows, cut them to make your own present-tags, or use them to make tree ornaments.
Use old Christmas wrap again. Cut out the ripped, taped, or worn out parts and wrap smaller gifts with it.
Use fabric scraps or scarves for gift wrap.
Don't buy a tree. There is no reason that gifts must be under a tree.
Ornaments can be shown off and appreciated by placing them in bowls for the table.
Pull out old, ethnic recipes, and give things like casseroles that can be frozen and thawed out for meals, as gifts. (Call ahead and tell the person that's what you're giving them to be sure they will appreciate it and have room in their freezer. Reuse the small #5 Plastic containers from store bought frozen meals for smaller portions.)
Have a "misfit" toy party. You and your children's friends wrap a toy they used but which is in good condition that they are through with, bake a cake, and have the kids grab bag the toys.
Don't forget about caroling; cheering up others by appearing at their door with song is still a great gift... go by the nearest Assisted Living place in your neighborhood. Last time we did this people cried "You remembered us!"
We don't think that a Christmas Tree piled high with gifts is important. In fact, this year we will decorate without a Christmas Tree. The drought has raised prices on real ones and we will not buy a fake one; they're bad for our economy and not biodegradeable.
Here are some ideas for you:
Instead of buying Christmas stockings (they get bigger every year) go traditional and put out one knee sock or one shoe.
Use old Christmas cards again by using them hung on string in windows, cut them to make your own present-tags, or use them to make tree ornaments.
Use old Christmas wrap again. Cut out the ripped, taped, or worn out parts and wrap smaller gifts with it.
Use fabric scraps or scarves for gift wrap.
Don't buy a tree. There is no reason that gifts must be under a tree.
Ornaments can be shown off and appreciated by placing them in bowls for the table.
Pull out old, ethnic recipes, and give things like casseroles that can be frozen and thawed out for meals, as gifts. (Call ahead and tell the person that's what you're giving them to be sure they will appreciate it and have room in their freezer. Reuse the small #5 Plastic containers from store bought frozen meals for smaller portions.)
Have a "misfit" toy party. You and your children's friends wrap a toy they used but which is in good condition that they are through with, bake a cake, and have the kids grab bag the toys.
Don't forget about caroling; cheering up others by appearing at their door with song is still a great gift... go by the nearest Assisted Living place in your neighborhood. Last time we did this people cried "You remembered us!"
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
THE NOT SO SMELL GOOD PLUMBER - IT'S NOT MY JOB MAN! AND THE DROUGHT
OUR BATHROOM WAS FLOODED WITH SEWAGE...
Recently we had the experience of getting up way early on a Sunday morning, walking the dog before the sun was up over the horizon, having a cup of coffee, and then going back to bed. At some point while we were sleeping, our plumbing silently went bezerk. We finally convinced ourselves to get up and start the day, maybe walk to the public swimming pool for a swim, when we realized that water was all over the bathroom floor and making it's way into our bedroom, living room, and office.
We threw some towels in but that was not enough. We waded in wearing rubber shoes and realized that there was sewage half the way up the bath tub and that what we were wading was, in fact, sewage water.
Soon one of us made a phone call to the local firehouse to see if maybe they had a wet vac (no go) and another to the plumber around the corner who advised us to shut the water off to the house from the outside to stop the flooding. This worked as soon after the toilet was gurgling and the sewage water in the tub went down, but there was no doubt what had been in it. This plumber only does commercial work, so he couldn't come out.
After contacting a plumber who said he could come out, we waited six hours, and he snaked the piping, saying that our sewage main was stopped up and couldn't hold the pressure of the water. Then the carpet cleaner came and went, leaving us to throw away carpet padding on our own as this one didn't even carry plastic bags with him and to run at full speed 24/7 our one household fan to dry it as he doesn't provide fans.
Then it flooded again. This time the sewage main was snaked all the way out to the street. While the first plumber wondered aloud if we threw anything in there such as nonflushable toweling, which we are sure we didn't, this one said that he just thought it was "a lot of slime." As he was leaving he said, "Sorry about your floor but we have a company policy. If we didn't make the mess we don't clean it up." Of course he had been walking in the crap to snake our system and he walked that all over the living room carpet, the parts that were dry.
We are now, with our one household fan and the air- conditioning noisily running, unable to use our bedroom. The carpet is propped up off the floor in with a couple of bottles of our cleaning fluid that the carpet cleaner appropriated. We wonder when we will be in our own bed again and if we will be breathing contaminants.
We've spent days waiting for workers who did not show up at all or showed up hours late. Our Labor Day weekend was ruined. Two of our days we had to walk to the corner restaurant to use a toilet. We went without a shower for several days, finally resporting to washing our hair and sink bathing in the kitchen.
THE BATHROOM FLOOR REMAINED LITTERED WITH SEWAGE which we had thrown lots of newspaper down on to soak up the water in. It smelled. Our cabinetry is warped, our water and electric bills will be very high, and we're out a couple hundred bucks in bath towels, paper towels, the purchase of cleaning supplies we would not normally buy, and so on.
THE CARPET CLEANERS WERE AWARE IT WAS A SEWAGE PROBLEM but they did not wish to help us with the bathroom. Our furniture is all around in a chaotic crazy-making scene, blocking a view to our television set as the carpet dries. When we come home we open the door and do a sniff test. To us it still smells a little outhouse. Our dog will not even enter the bedroom or the bathroom.
So we called ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. They said they could not come out. And so it went.
WHAT WE ARE PERPLEXED, ok PISSED OFF, about is the IT'S NOT MY JOB, MAN attitude we encountered. NOT MY JOB. Everyone made it clear the bathroom floor was NOT THEIR JOB. No one offered to do it, not even for MORE MONEY!
Certainly ours cannot be the only home that had a sewage emergency in recent times.
So we bought rubber gloves, face masks, used more newspaper, let it soak up and dry, and removed it, then scrubbed with ammonia and scrubbed some more. Sad to admit but it's been a week and we still have newspaper all around the immediate tub area. It's just too much for us to do and try to keep up with our life.
Talking to a friend, she said, YOU NEEDED TO CALL THE SMELL-GOOD PLUMBER. This is a local plumbing syndicate of many years duration that advertises on local radio programs. They say that their plumbers themselves SMELL GOOD. If one of their plumbers shows up with B.O. then you don't have to pay them! Besides using good deodorant and washing their hands, what's implied is that their plumbers WILL NOT LEAVE A MESS FOR YOU TO CLEAN UP!
Another realization we had was that this plumbing problem WAS PROBABLY ABOUT THE DROUGHT. You see, we've been voluntarily cutting down on the number of showers we take to save water for California. Instead of every day, we take showers every other day, and if we go swimming we shower at the pool. We realized that by not having gallons of water going down our drain every day, the pipes are not getting the regular cleaning action of water running through them.
Recently we had the experience of getting up way early on a Sunday morning, walking the dog before the sun was up over the horizon, having a cup of coffee, and then going back to bed. At some point while we were sleeping, our plumbing silently went bezerk. We finally convinced ourselves to get up and start the day, maybe walk to the public swimming pool for a swim, when we realized that water was all over the bathroom floor and making it's way into our bedroom, living room, and office.
We threw some towels in but that was not enough. We waded in wearing rubber shoes and realized that there was sewage half the way up the bath tub and that what we were wading was, in fact, sewage water.
Soon one of us made a phone call to the local firehouse to see if maybe they had a wet vac (no go) and another to the plumber around the corner who advised us to shut the water off to the house from the outside to stop the flooding. This worked as soon after the toilet was gurgling and the sewage water in the tub went down, but there was no doubt what had been in it. This plumber only does commercial work, so he couldn't come out.
After contacting a plumber who said he could come out, we waited six hours, and he snaked the piping, saying that our sewage main was stopped up and couldn't hold the pressure of the water. Then the carpet cleaner came and went, leaving us to throw away carpet padding on our own as this one didn't even carry plastic bags with him and to run at full speed 24/7 our one household fan to dry it as he doesn't provide fans.
Then it flooded again. This time the sewage main was snaked all the way out to the street. While the first plumber wondered aloud if we threw anything in there such as nonflushable toweling, which we are sure we didn't, this one said that he just thought it was "a lot of slime." As he was leaving he said, "Sorry about your floor but we have a company policy. If we didn't make the mess we don't clean it up." Of course he had been walking in the crap to snake our system and he walked that all over the living room carpet, the parts that were dry.
We are now, with our one household fan and the air- conditioning noisily running, unable to use our bedroom. The carpet is propped up off the floor in with a couple of bottles of our cleaning fluid that the carpet cleaner appropriated. We wonder when we will be in our own bed again and if we will be breathing contaminants.
We've spent days waiting for workers who did not show up at all or showed up hours late. Our Labor Day weekend was ruined. Two of our days we had to walk to the corner restaurant to use a toilet. We went without a shower for several days, finally resporting to washing our hair and sink bathing in the kitchen.
THE BATHROOM FLOOR REMAINED LITTERED WITH SEWAGE which we had thrown lots of newspaper down on to soak up the water in. It smelled. Our cabinetry is warped, our water and electric bills will be very high, and we're out a couple hundred bucks in bath towels, paper towels, the purchase of cleaning supplies we would not normally buy, and so on.
THE CARPET CLEANERS WERE AWARE IT WAS A SEWAGE PROBLEM but they did not wish to help us with the bathroom. Our furniture is all around in a chaotic crazy-making scene, blocking a view to our television set as the carpet dries. When we come home we open the door and do a sniff test. To us it still smells a little outhouse. Our dog will not even enter the bedroom or the bathroom.
So we called ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. They said they could not come out. And so it went.
WHAT WE ARE PERPLEXED, ok PISSED OFF, about is the IT'S NOT MY JOB, MAN attitude we encountered. NOT MY JOB. Everyone made it clear the bathroom floor was NOT THEIR JOB. No one offered to do it, not even for MORE MONEY!
Certainly ours cannot be the only home that had a sewage emergency in recent times.
So we bought rubber gloves, face masks, used more newspaper, let it soak up and dry, and removed it, then scrubbed with ammonia and scrubbed some more. Sad to admit but it's been a week and we still have newspaper all around the immediate tub area. It's just too much for us to do and try to keep up with our life.
Talking to a friend, she said, YOU NEEDED TO CALL THE SMELL-GOOD PLUMBER. This is a local plumbing syndicate of many years duration that advertises on local radio programs. They say that their plumbers themselves SMELL GOOD. If one of their plumbers shows up with B.O. then you don't have to pay them! Besides using good deodorant and washing their hands, what's implied is that their plumbers WILL NOT LEAVE A MESS FOR YOU TO CLEAN UP!
Another realization we had was that this plumbing problem WAS PROBABLY ABOUT THE DROUGHT. You see, we've been voluntarily cutting down on the number of showers we take to save water for California. Instead of every day, we take showers every other day, and if we go swimming we shower at the pool. We realized that by not having gallons of water going down our drain every day, the pipes are not getting the regular cleaning action of water running through them.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
SKIP THE FAKE TREE AND BUY A SMALL PLANTABLE LIVE TREE INSTEAD
What to do about a Christmas tree when you want to BUY AMERICAN? Buy a LIVING PALATABLE TREE!
Really, all the fake plastic trees are a landfill nightmare and a biodegradability nightmare and a rarely made in the USA. A live cut tree that was grown to be harvested is next best. That tree should not go to a bonfire. It should go to a city or other pick up that grinds the tree up and turns it into mulch.
WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED FOR THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT!
Here is the HOW TO PLANT from Better Homes and Gardens!
CHRISTMAS TREE PLANTING - BHG
"The key to success is timing. Purchase the tree as close to Christmas as possible, and keep in indoors for as brief a time as you can. It is also important to prepare a planting spot outdoors before the ground freezes so hard you can't dig."
Now, we grew up with the tradition of buying and planting live and didn't have a problem at all. We actually didn't dig a hole or worry about how long the tree was on the back porch. The tree roots should have dirt around them and be bound in burlap. Then it was left outside on the cold porch in a cardboard box, not where the snow drifts could get it. Soon as the ground unfroze we planted.
And every tree we planted took root and grew much bigger!
A better fate than old Charlie Brown' tree wouldn't you say?
Really, all the fake plastic trees are a landfill nightmare and a biodegradability nightmare and a rarely made in the USA. A live cut tree that was grown to be harvested is next best. That tree should not go to a bonfire. It should go to a city or other pick up that grinds the tree up and turns it into mulch.
WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED FOR THE EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT!
Here is the HOW TO PLANT from Better Homes and Gardens!
CHRISTMAS TREE PLANTING - BHG
"The key to success is timing. Purchase the tree as close to Christmas as possible, and keep in indoors for as brief a time as you can. It is also important to prepare a planting spot outdoors before the ground freezes so hard you can't dig."
Now, we grew up with the tradition of buying and planting live and didn't have a problem at all. We actually didn't dig a hole or worry about how long the tree was on the back porch. The tree roots should have dirt around them and be bound in burlap. Then it was left outside on the cold porch in a cardboard box, not where the snow drifts could get it. Soon as the ground unfroze we planted.
And every tree we planted took root and grew much bigger!
A better fate than old Charlie Brown' tree wouldn't you say?
Monday, November 11, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
THE MINIMUM WAGE AND COST OF LIVING - LIVABLE WAGES STIMULATE THE ECONOMY
We are all for a LIVABLE MINIMUM WAGE. We know that fast food workers are striking. We know that in Southern California, it takes about $18.00 an hour to rent a one bedroom or single apartment, drive, gas up, and insure a used car, and so on.
If we do not pay people a livable wage, then they cannot participate in life. They cannot stimulate the economy by spending on things that those with livable wages can.
People who don't make a livable wage often have to by USED rather than new products. We're all for recycling and reusing. We do it. However, buying a new product, if it's made in the USA, will provide more business stay in business and more employees stay employed.
If you are not for a livable wage, we ask you to see if you can live on about $10 a month. You'll have money in the bank that a minimum wage worker doesn't, but you may start to understand the limitations.
You probably won't be about to eat out much, maybe only the $1. menu at the fast food restaurant.
If we do not pay people a livable wage, then they cannot participate in life. They cannot stimulate the economy by spending on things that those with livable wages can.
People who don't make a livable wage often have to by USED rather than new products. We're all for recycling and reusing. We do it. However, buying a new product, if it's made in the USA, will provide more business stay in business and more employees stay employed.
If you are not for a livable wage, we ask you to see if you can live on about $10 a month. You'll have money in the bank that a minimum wage worker doesn't, but you may start to understand the limitations.
You probably won't be about to eat out much, maybe only the $1. menu at the fast food restaurant.
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