Coupons

Super couponing is a huge trend now probably due to the recession and so much job loss. Interestingly coupons started in the US with Coca Cola in the late 1890's which consequently made the company well known throughout the US. Buying made in the USA with food couponing is a challenge to find products. But I have found great success with using local coupons for local stores in non-food, of course it's not crazy couponing discounts but I have definitely scored on stuff.

For example in Littleton CO the historic main street business district has an amazing ladies sample only tour annually(LOST) to drum up business. Women can purchase and support local business by spending $12.50 for a pack of coupons, bracelet and map. Which on the appointed day you go and collect goodies that the local businesses are giving out. It's a fun swag bag event that brings me joy every time I participate. The coupons give you free stuff after the event even or you can walk into savory spice store and get dutch chocolate with your purchase. I like paying from local stores if the product is not made locally.

With facebook I love to like small business that give opportunities to win goodies easily, there are better odds. I have scored organic local eggs, milk, and granola from Mile high organics that delivered it to my door for free. Two weeks ago from one of the local stores I frequent I won the book Wise at Heart which was written by two people in my community. Last week, I won a Daily Tea shirt for Peanut at Nest which is a local clothing boutique.

The key to getting local coupons and deals is getting out there in the community. Honestly you can score alot freebies of quality because there are less numbers of people doing it. Because of local events like Guinness Book of world record cloth diapering change. We scored coupons for local stores and discounts at Whole Foods. Keep a look out for local events and you can score deals!

Vitamix

Our blenders have always died a miserable death on us. We have been saving up for a vitamix for a while and we finally bought one. I previously owned a blendtec and we returned it asap due to the fact that its first couple of uses smelled like electrical burning. Vitamix is amazing and its made in the USA like BlendTec. I love it we are already made smoothies and sorbets. Very easy to clean. I recommend getting one.

The Challenge

So, I've been having a horribly hard time finding USA made clothing. The brands that used to claim made in USA have altered due to survival and alot of the USA made is low quality. I have not slacked in my goal but I've gone to local consignment stores and boutique for things. As well as ideas. Buying locally made from business that I meet the owners and can ask all sorts of questions about their business practices makes me feel that my purchasing power is sustaining jobs in the USA.

I'm not horrible with a sewing machine. I actually like to use it when I have a quick project and Peanut is not climbing on me. Inspired by taking back American consumer power and buying made in America challenge. Well today I need to go to the store and buy some supplies to send to Japan made from the USA.

JBF

The week before last week we went to the consignment sale for Just Between Friends Denver for Peanut. They had amazing sales from toys,clothes, shoes, books etc. The national live stock area made my want to get goats later. Seriously if you have little ones you need to go there and shop around they are so well organized and I love there selection of stuff. We also found these awesome bibs that are oversized and do what bibs were meant to do in keeping the kid clean they were from Hip Violet.

Failed Paper Mache eggs and felt eggs

Water balloons killed my project they are near to impossible to blow-up with air. I barely managed to blow-up five and some look more like lemons then eggs in shape. But with those 5 small ones I'm still going to do it later today, if they are cool I will show pictures. If not you can use your imagination.

I also attempted to make felt eggs they are horrible looking like Frankenstein made some Easter eggs in the likeness of himself. I'm not feeling the Mary Shelly meets Tim Burton's themed easter this year. I wish I had time to hollow out eggs, then dye them and stuff them. Like the old school way before plastic came along, but at last I don't have time for it before I need them on Friday.

Easter is here

Invites to an easter egg hunt with out buying chinese made plastic eggs is hard to find but I found a couple of alternatives felt eggs, wooden eggs or my favorite the paper mache from Not Martha. I will have to make them but I will post how it goes if I create them today.

Buying shoes-an impossible

So we were looking for sketcher like loafers that my husband loves made in the USA. We thought that New Balance was the answer. Totally wrong they are made in Vietnam and china like every other brand. They jumped the boat on USA made and turned to China too. It was sad to see that we were not able to find sneaker loafers made in the USA. I thought about as a teenager there were mom and pop stores that had great brands of shoes for discount, so we could still buy local. It was not a possibility! The shoe industry has totally gone over seas.