Diary of An American Shopper - New Orleans Edition

Diary of an American Shooper - New Orleans Edition

New Orleans has always intrigued me. How could it not? It's a city with so much history. It invented a style of architecture, a style of music and a style of food. To me that's up there with the big boys - New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. I had always wanted to visit the city - I remember back in high school while working on our spring musical and bored with rehearsing, I tried to convince a friend of mine to drive with me down to Mardi Gras. He refused. So I waited.

Last summer, we finally got to visit and I wasn't disappointed at all. New Orleans is one of those cities that keeps it's past fresh within it. I felt the same thing when I visited London for the first time. It made sense to me that this was the city that spawned Charles Dickens, Jack the Ripper, the Clash, Alfred Hitchcock and Ian Fleming . New Orleans' history made sense to me too. This city housed Truman Capote, Anne Rice, Stephen Ambrose, John Besh, William Faulkner, Lee Harvey Oswald, Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis and James Booker just to name a few -for a full list visit. There is this overwhelming vibe of "cool" that hangs in the air. The balconies drip with the ghosts of culture. It seems that this city is built upon remembering it's history. One legend leaning on another to bring us to today.

If you get the chance to visit this city, you won't be disappointed (word of advice - try to avoid it in the summer if you aren't good with the heat). Listen to some music, sample some pralines, eat some beignets and have some chicory. Take home a piece of art to remember this great city. I'm sure you'll find it as welcoming as I did.

There are local candy artisans, coffee roasters, musicians, painters and writers all selling treasures for you to take home. I found an awesome painted panel for my friend. I found it right off of Jackson square in the French Quarter. We turned the corner and there were a bunch of Jazz musicians singing and selling their cd - a great gift for jack. We sent home pralines from Southern Candy Makers. And of course we sampled some beignets and chicory at Cafe Du Monde.

And who can forget this is the land of Tabasco. We also found an amazing autograph store called Vintage 429. It was amazing. They had autographs from presidents ranging from Thomas Jefferson to Obama. They had a flag signed by all the Apollo astronauts, not to mention the countless celebrity and sports stars. There were so many autographs they were running out of room.

It's heartbreaking that this city and region keeps getting pummeled with hardship after hardship. It doesn't seem fair. Don't let the history and culture fade, visit this region. Support the people of New Orleans. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Atlantic vs Pacific - My Ocean is Better than Yours

ALICIA: So in the On the Leesh office, Melissa has the title of - among other things - odd man out. This means that she was born and raised on the West Coast. From time to time, we enjoy throwing it down on who's got it better. Is it Edy's or Dreyers? Is it Biggie or Tupac? Is it the Atlantic or the Pacific? In honor of our third oceans week, here's a sample of how Melissa and I throw down. Feel free to weigh in.

MELISSA: While I may be the only West Coast born gal in the office it doesn’t take a genius to understand why the West Coast easily beats out the East Coast. In Ocean v. Ocean I will take the Pacific any day. While I could go on an on by listing all the reasons why the West Coast is great, I would rather send out a rebuttal to Arinella’s slanderous statements about my Beloved Pacific.

ALICIA: Our ocean is older - whether or not this fact is true, we have a longer history of writing stories about our ocean.

MELISSA: Oldersmolder. Everyone knows that younger is hipper. While your Ocean may be in it’s 70's and 80's we are still in our prime 40's. And everyone knows that 40's is the new 30's and who doesn't have a rockin time in their 30's? We may be young but what we lack in age we make up for with amazing scenery, fantastic waves and Sea Otters. (I mean come on. Who doesn’t love a Sea Otter)


(Sea Otter from Northern Pacific Ocean)


ALICIA: Our ocean is more romantic. It's grey and stormy. It pounds against the rocks. That is exactly how I felt after my last break up.

MELISSA: Atlantic more romantic than Pacific? Yeah right! I got engaged on the beach of the Lost Coast in Mendocino, CA and let me tell you there is nothing more romantic. Sky High Rocky Mountains, sprawling beaches and sun for miles and miles. Hmmm…Let's see ladies, would you rather your man proposed to you on the grey, stormy and temperamental beaches of the Atlantic or on the soft sandy beaches of the Pacific, under a crystal blue sky and epic moss covered mountains? (Please See Photos)



(This is a picture taken from the southern route of the Lost Coast from Wikipedia)



(This is one of my personal photos from my engagement trip to the Lost Coast. In June 2005. This is over looking the beach and mountain range covered in beautiful morning fog. And still that Epic Blue Sky. Also that man in the R of the photo is now my husband.)

ALICIA: We have sharks at a much more manageable size. It's less intimidating to go swimming.


MELISSA: I have several things to say about this but first of all...Yes a Shark maybe scary but it is a SHARK! I mean if it weren’t scary or dangerous it wouldn't be called a shark. It would just be just another fish. I don't know about you but if we are going to have sharks I would rather have a real shark. No one needs nor cares about a very tiny shark.

Secondly according to the International Shark Attack File quoted in Surfing Magazine, "There were a record 84 documented unprovoked shark attacks throughout the world in the year 2000. Of those, 34 (almost half) occurred in Florida."

It would appear to me that while we may have bigger sharks in our Ocean your more likely to get eaten by one in the Atlantic! I will take a big shark over those odds any day.

Shark Jumping photo from - New Smyrna Beach, Florida

ALICIA: Cross it, and you're in Europe. What? Awesome.

MELISSA: HA! Cross it, you’re in Hawaii. More Awesome.


ALICIA: It ranges in color from dark and stormy (see #2) to crystal blue. Pick your passion, you can find it.

MELISSA: We got that too, nothing special there.


ALICIA: We've got the National Seashore, Acadia, Biscayne & Dry Tortugas (the Florida Keys), The Island of Saint John (yup the whole island), the Everglades, Cape Hatteras, The Outer Banks and ATLANTIC CITY - take that!

MELISSA: We have Hawaii, Malibu, Big Sur, The Redwoods, The Lost Coast and many others. As far as having Atlantic City go ahead and claim NJ. No one on our Coast wants it anyway.


ALICIA: We've got the Caribbean and other tiny islands that have made Spring Breakers so happy over the years

MELISSA: We have MEXICO, the epicenter of spring break debauchery. Who hasn’t been to a raucous spring break party in Acapulco, Tijuana, or Puerto Vallarta?


ALICIA: I just wrote Caribbean - what's up billion dollar Disney Franchise!

MELISSA: Oh I am sorry did no one tell you that Disney was started in California? Oh yeah that’s right, IT WAS!

ALICIA: We don't have earthquakes - what's up with those?

MELISSA: Yes we have earthquakes but those are just part of Mother Nature. On the West Coast we appreciate Mother Nature and her need to stretch her legs. Why doesn’t the East Coast let Mother Nature take a walk every once in awhile? You keep her pent up and frustrated. Hence your temperamental and stormy coasts, she’s pissed that you won’t let her out. No one likes a caged animal, come on East Coast, get it together.

Also may I point out that while we do have earthquakes we get hardly any hurricane’s where as the Atlantic is always pushing those baby’s around. Yuck!


ALICIA: We have major US cities - Boston, New York, Providence, Charleston, and Miami

MELISSA: We also have some fantastic Major U.S. Cities i.e. San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles and not to mention smaller gems like Malibu, Carmel & Monterey.

ALICIA: Lobster - the real ones. Nuff Said

MELISSA: Dungeness Crab. Back at yah.

ALICIA: According to Wikipedia (which we all know to be accurate) - The estimated population of California, Oregon, and Washington was 47 million. And from EastCoastUSA.com, The east coast population is about 98 million, which is 37% of the total US population. By this fact - people just prefer the Atlantic, Melissa. So, I guess this just about shuts it down? NO COMPETITION!

Keep trying to rock it, Melissa - but you can't compare Love, Alicia the Atlantic Lover

Melissa: No one likes a crowded beach. ;)

Peace out Atlantic. -Melissa. (Pure Bred Pacific Ocean Lover)


P.S. By the way: It is totally Dryers Not Edy’s, Tupac Not Biggie and Best Foods Not Hellmann’s.

Our Beaches Then and Now - Diary of an American Shopper day 295

Our Beaches Then and Now - Diary of an American Shopper Day 295


As many of you know, I grew up in Massachusetts. I still consider myself a New Englander through and through. There is an unwritten rule for those of us who grew up in the tiny six. No, not our cynicism! We summer at the beach - either the Cape, New Hampshire or Maine. Not to neglect the Connecticut shore, but it doesn't have the same weight as the other three. Moving on....

When Jess and I were wee youngin’s, my parents packed our towheads in the back of the car - put Stevie Wonder on the tape deck, and off we went. Now, I'm bound to make people upset with this, BUT us yankees (not the team, gross! GO SOX) are very particular about what constitutes the Cape. Technically, Cape Cod is the eastern most part of Massachusetts – you know the part that looks like a body builder flexing. However, like anyone with a homebound sense of pride, there is an attitude of my Cape is better than your Cape. We break the Cape into who's on it, and who pretends. For most of us, the Cape doesn't start until the middle - sorry Woods Hole. That being said, my family summered in Wellfleet, which is two or three towns from the tip (depending on if you categorize North Truro as it's own town). Needless to say, when we were growing up - we vacationed on the CAPE. No question about it, Jess and I made the National Seashore our home.

Wellfleet is a great town because not only does it have the ocean, but it also has lakes made from old tide pools - great for kids. If my neurotic mother was feeling particularly anxious, she didn't have to worry about us getting whisked out in the undertow or eaten by a shark (Jaws was based on a fictional Martha's Vineyard after all), we could practice our swimming on the peaceful waters outside our cabin. We could sun ourselves on the dock and swim back to shore. Wellfleet had it all.

Jess and I's favorite activity was going to Marconi beach - or as we called it Macaroni. (Side note, I didn't realize it wasn't named after pasta until a few years ago. Oh what a child's memory will create. You should hear how I remember our first house - it rivals Hogwarts).

One thing that we always loved about Marconi was the dunes. They're so high and so soft. They're fun to play in. It was so easy to imagine giant castle walls springing up to protect us. Perfect for the budding thespian in Jess and filmmaker in me. We found horseshoe crabs, quahog shells and the occasional starfish.

The National Seashore was our playground and we were spoiled. It shaped our love of the ocean and our ideas of summer activities. We would collect shells, make sand castles, body surf, and bury each other in the sand. Our picnics would inevitably include sand in our watermelon, but we didn't care - it made it crunchy. After a long day, we would dump sand out of our shoes, and go to Serena’s for dinner followed by PJ's for a fudge nutter bar. Life was good.

Around my tenth summer, my parents decided that the Cape was getting too crowded, so we started going to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. It had a whole other slew of activities - golf carts, skeeball, make your own sundaes, and alpine slides, but Jess and I missed our wonderland. After a few years of begging and pleading, we took a weekend trip to the Big Linguine. But it wasn't at all like we remembered.

There were beer cans left from a late night party, and the whole beach had turned into a giant ash ray. It was so depressing. The pristine place that we revered was tainted and it was hard to imagine that it could ever be the same. Why would people be so selfish? For a long time, I didn't go back. I found it too upsetting. It was as if someone were stamping all over our childhood.


A couple of years ago, I felt the Atlantic pulling me out, so I decided to take Atticus (my pooch) to the Cape for a week. Inevitably, we stayed in Wellfleet. (I'm nostalgic what can I say). This time, the beach was restored to its former glory.

Was it because I was visiting in September, or was a massive beach clean up underway? I hope it was the latter. I would love to share the Cape with my kids and show them what I grew up with - a magical playground instead of a giant trashcan.

I have visited many times since them - and I am happy to report that Marconi, Nauset and Coast Gaurd are all beautiful and clean.

To ensure that fact, I'll leave the beach cleaner than how I found it. What about you?

I mark day 295 a hopeful improvement.

Diary of an American Shopper Day 259

Diary of an American Shopper Day 259

So where did I leave off? Oh right - talking about my love of the open road. I guess the big question is how has my driving been impacted by my knowledge of climate change and global warming? To tell you the truth, it's changed pretty drastically. One of my favorite actives is joy riding. Driving just to feel the breeze through my opened window. Driving just to see if it's raining on the other end of town. Driving to watch the sunset over the ocean. Basically - driving just to kill time.

Don't get mad - I don't do that anymore. And that's a bummer. Not only is it fun to drive, fun to watch the scenery and fun to listen to the radio in the car, but I do my best thinking on the open road. Some people do it in the shower, some people do it at the gym. I do it behind the wheel. It's true; you can ask Jess or Julie. So that's been a change. I have to think constructively on my couch. And yet, when I do get to drive - thoughts explode into my brain. I feel like Da Vinci and I wonder why I don't drive more often - and then I think of global warming and I remember.

But I wonder - could my car's impact or rather lack of impact really make a difference? And the answer is probably not. It's true - I'm making a sacrifice to save a small amount of emissions. So why? Why not indulge myself if I enjoy it so much, if I become more productive because of it? Who cares? What's stopping me? Well, guilt.

I am committed to this movement because I know that if a whole lot of us opt for public transportation, or stop joy riding as a way to pass time, our collective lack of emissions can make a difference. But we have to do it together- not alone. I guess that what it comes down to - we're all connected and my choices affect your choices, or rather your children's choices. If I could help to make a difference about these major issues in life - global warming being one - would I do it? And yes I would. I will give up one of my favorite things to help.

I mark day 259 a sobering admission of acceptance.

Diary of an American Shopper day 253 or an introduction to Go Green on the Road

Diary of an American Shopper - Day 253

Okay, major confession time - I love my car. I love being behind the wheel and looking at the open road. There's nothing more iconic and American than our relationship to our car. It's James Dean, it's Steve McQueen it's NASCAR. Getting your license at 16 means being granted your freedom. Getting your first set of keys means getting your independence. Choosing your first car means expressing yourself. We're all intimately tied to our cars.

My family grew up going to Cape Cod and Lake Winnipesaukee for our family vacations. We stayed at Jonathan's Landing on the lake, and one of the coolest features they had was that everyone drove golf carts around the property rather than driving cars. Well, my dad - being the coolest dad ever - let me drive this golf cart when I was a wee youngin'. I had to be supervised, so it meant me dragging my dad out constantly when he'd rather read, exercise or do a puzzle, BUT he obliged and I got to drive. I remember we had to charge the cart every few days by plugging it into the outlet in the garage - if only filling my car up now was so easy.

Cut to the summer of my freshman year of college. I remember my dad going into my car to check something and coming into the kitchen where I was sitting and obviously watching the Food Network. He said, "Alicia, where have you been driving?" and I replied, "Why?" He sat down and looked at me, and I knew I was in some kind of trouble. He then proceeded to tell me that I put 11,000 miles on the car that summer. WHAT?! I still don't know how I did that. I drove in and out of Boston a lot. But it was still a shock. Maybe I wound up driving further for that gallon of milk that my mom requested than I actually did - did I go all the way to Pittsfield or Rockport? I do have to say on one jaunt I looked up and read the "Welcome to Vermont" sign, so who knows. The numbers don't lie.

A number of years later I was working on a film in Nebraska and my favorite memory there also involved a car. Not my car, but a car all the same. One of the production assistants on the shoot, was 16 and very new behind the wheel. He was driving to set which happened to be in a corn field and cut the wheel too hard so he disappeared behind the giant stalks of green. Then a few miles down the road, he zoomed out ahead and maintained his path as if nothing happened. He came into the production office complaining that his breaks weren't working and asked me if I could help him track down a mechanic. The problem, corn stalks were wrapped around the wheels. That'll stop you every time.

I have driven many miles just to see the ocean, or to visit a good friend and now later in life to get to a shoot in far away states, and it saddens me to learn how this precious gift of freedom is partially responsible for the destruction of our most precious gift - this earth that we live on. I have tried to do my part. I use public transportation as much as possible, I try to car pool as much as I can, and I bought a more fuel efficient car - I now average 32.5 miles per gallon on the highway. So that's pretty good. But I can't break my connection to this completely revered of objects. After working on this weeks videos, I have learned more tips to implement to help limit my environmental impact.

How about you?

I mark day 253 an honest reflection of concern.

Diary of an American Shopper day 239 - or An Opening Blog for Go Green Vacation

Diary of an American Shopper day 239

Since I recently went on vacation, I thought it was the perfect time to put the What You Can Do motto into effect. I don't know about you, but when I go on vacation, my good habits seem to go right out the window. So what did that mean about all of my "Made in America" and "Buying Green" efforts? To be honest, I thought they would get the best of me.

HOWEVER - all of the hotels that we stayed at had little cards that invited us to hold off on washing our sheets or towels everyday. It's a tip that we discuss in one of our videos that is very easy to do. At home, I don't wash my sheets or towels everyday, so why should I do it on vacation? Think about this - according to Rachel Buchholz, managing editor of National Geographic Kids Magazine, "Doing one less load of laundry a week saves as much as 2,000 gallons of water a year, so think how much water a hotel would save by doing less laundry." Not to mention all the detergents! All I had to do was hang up my towels to dry (like I do at home), and they knew not to change them. Simple steps!

On vacation we drink a lot of water, and I mean a lot. Then again in my day to day life I drink a lot, so I guess it's not surprising. However, on vacation, we usually have to keep buying water because the airlines don't let us on the plane with a bottle and.....well...that's another blog. HOWEVER, our first stop on our vacation was Zion National Park in Utah. And we were pleasantly surprised by efforts that Zion has made to help our environment. They don't allow cars into the park, but rather run shuttle buses for the visitors. These eco-friendly buses run regularly so we never had to wait more than 5 minutes and they took us everywhere we wanted to go. The buses limit the ware and tear on the roads as well as lowers the pollution in the air. Imagine if all our National Parks had these restrictions. When I visited Yosemite, I was blown away by the way that people would park their cars anywhere because the lots were full. This meant they were parking on plants and tree roots. You can only imagine what that does to erosion. In addition to the buses, Zion doesn't sell bottled water in the park. Instead they sell large plastic bottles that you can fill up at any of the fountains throughout the park. It really was inspiring. What if more parks did this? How much plastic could we save?

And my "Made in America" motto was alive and well. I bought souvenirs from local artisans, a Navajo blanket and some beautiful pottery made in Colorado and Montana.

I mark day 239 a pleasant success!

Diary of an American Shopper day 194, or my 10 places to visit This Summer

So, everyone has a list of things that they would like to complete in their life time. Mine is pretty short - I would like to become fluent in another language, I would like to learn how to ice skate, I would like to drive cross country, I would like to swim with wild dolphins (albeit, not the safest), and I would like to visit all 50 states. My dad shared that last goal as well, and I'm happy to report that on May 23, 2010 we completed it! My dad and I visited Theodore Roosevelt State Park in North Dakota, and completed our 50 state adventure. Now I realize that somehow driving cross country may be anti-climactic after that, but I am keeping it on the list!

Moving on. In honor of Summer, and the fact that most of us get out of our hibernation lairs, I'd like to share some advice on my top 10 places to visit in this great country of ours. In no particular order....


#1 - Visit Wyoming!
It has Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons, Devils Tower, Jackson Hole - and that's just to name a few. I'm not a crowd person, so we visited in May and encountered more four legged wildlife than 2 legged; however, if you are a big fan of the slopes, you can find a lot to do in the winter months as well.





#2 - Visit Alaska!
I would like to get back to Alaska, so that I can visit Denali National Park, but my parents and I took a cruise along the southern coast in 2000 and we visited Glacier Bay National Park, Ketchikan (the spot with the highest rainfall in the US), and Juneau (the only state capital with no road access). I also almost adopted a Husky, but that's another story. It's a beautiful part of the country that reminded why explorers found this land of ours so promising. FIlled with local artisans and wonderful people, it also happens to be the highest consumer of ice cream per capita. AMAZING!

**Thanks to http://alaskarvcampgrounds.com/glacier-bay-national-park-and-preserve-gustavus/ for the picture


#3 - Visit New York City!

Okay, I realize I'm a little biased, but I think this city is amazing. I've lived her for ten years, and I still find new places to explore. And even older places, like our lady friend, give me thrills everytime I see them. Seems like the wonder of New York never really fades. Like no other city in our country, New York has history, culture, art, character and life!


# 4 - Visit Cape Cod, the Green Mountains or Acadia National Park!
Being a New Englander I am a huge fan. I grew up summering here before the crowds became too overwhelming and we went to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire instead, BUT if antiquing, beaching, eating or mini golfing is your thing - Cape Cod is your place.

And of course the great state of New Hampshire is home to my favorite highway - The Kancamgus. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park is a long way away from pretty much anywhere, but it's a very accessible park. I grew up with the Atlantic as my ocean, and I admit that it's still my favorite. And yes, I'm well aware that I'm biased and nostalgic for the place where I was raised.



# 5 Visit New Orleans!
This part of our country couldn't be more rich. It's filled with history. It invented a food, a music and an architecture style. And sadly, it's been hit pretty hard over the past five years. This part of the country is filled with some of the coolest art I've ever seen and with some of the nicest people I have ever met. They need our support right now, so it's worth a trip.



#6 - Visit Badlands National Park!
It looks like you're on the moon, but you'll never seem more interesting geological formations. And heck, it's the title to a great song!


#7 - Visit Memphis!
It's a town filled with such history and great food. Home to the King and Sun Records, to the Peabody Ducks, home of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock and Roll, you can't go wrong. If you're there, be sure to eat at Corky's. It's worth the wait.



#8 - Visit the National Parks of Utah!
With Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands and Arches (just to name a few), you will see some of the most beautiful country there is in only a few hundred miles. On top of that, you're very close to Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, The Grand Canyon and Saguaro National Park. There's so much to see there. If you thing is hiking, Native American Art or White Water Rafting, there's so much to do in this part of the country.



#9 - Visit our History!
Whether you visit Boston, Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Lexington & Concord, New York, Washington DC or any of the other places in this country where our roots have grown, you will learn about where we come from, and how this country got it's start. And it's ultimately in those spaces that we learn where we're going.


#10 - Visit with Friends!
Cause no matter where you go, if you're with people who get you, you'll have the best time. Get outside and enjoy this great country of ours!

Diary of an American Shopper day 173

I know I've talked about it before, but I love this country. I love the different landscapes it offers. I'm always amazed that we have: oceans, deserts, rivers, streams, rainforest, glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, valleys, badlands, canyons, islands, capes, wetlands, basins, reefs, archipelagos, geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, plains, cities and towns. It is awesome in it's size and resources. As we celebrate, Earth Day, I want to share with you a few facts about this great land of ours.

Hawaii is the only state that features almost all of our landscape features in one location - it has oceans, mountains, valleys, deserts, volcanoes and rainforest. It's an amazing place, and the only state that is growing every year. As the Kilauea volcano continues to erupt on the big island, she continues to add land mass to the island. Therefore, making Hawaii our youngest state both in in adoption to the union, and in it's time on the earth. And this change is happening solely because of Mother Nature.

But what about the areas of our country that are changing because of Us?

At one point, the wetlands along the Gulf Coast, protected our shores from all sorts of natural disasters as well as housed wildlife and improved the overall water quality of the area. On the EPA's website, I learned that an acre of wetland can store 1-1.5 million gallons of floodwater. That up to one-half of North American bird species nest or feed in the wetlands, and Although wetlands keep only about 5% of the land surface in the lower 48 United States, they are home to 31 percent of our plant species. And despite these fact, the US loses about 60,000 acres of the wetlands each year. That gave me pause. The wetlands along the gulf coast are deteriorating. And I want to do something about it.

Glacier National Park in northern Montana is losing it's glacier's at a staggering rate. This year, it lost an additional two glaciers, and experts are predicting that the remaining 25 glaciers could be gone by the end of the decade. These glaciers are disappearing at such an alarming rate that Dan Fagre, an ecologist with The U.S. Geological Survey stated, "When we're measuring glacier margins, by the time we go home the glacier is already smaller than what we've measured." I find that terribly upsetting. Glacier Bay once homed 137 glaciers and now, we could live in a world where our children may never understand where this National Park got it's name. These glaciers feed the streams and therefore ecosystem of the region. Also, without the water flow, the chance of forest fires also increases.

But what can we do? In the spirit of What You Can Do, I pledge to make one simple change to help save these Wetlands and Glaciers. I vow that I will not purchase any new yarn (I'm an avid crocheter) or books for the next 6 months. I will use what I have, and donate the money I save to organizations that address these issues.

I mark day 173 a depressing but motivating challenge. Will you join me?

Diary of an American Shopper day 154

Diary of an American Shopper Day 154

Okay so confession time. I hate to clean. I hate it. One of my least favorite things ever. But cleaning products are one of the few product lines that offer a wide variety of domestically made choices.

Frankly I think it stinks that there are only a few companies that make recycled trash bags here. But when it comes to cleaning supplies, the world opens up.

You have eco friendly lines like Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyer's, and Method are all stamped with the Made in the USA label, but what about making your own cleaning products?  That way they are certainly made domestically. Hard to get more local than your own kitchen. And possibly that could make cleaning a bit more fun, as you become your own scientist in the kitchen. I for one, would love an excuse to don a lab coat and convince people that I am up to serious business.  And many of these recipes are easy to concoct.

For instance, did you know that you can make your own creamy soft scrubber with baking soda and detergent liquid?  Simply pour 1/2 cup of baking soda in a bowl with enough liquid detergent to create a texture like frosting. YUM - but resist the urge, this frosting will taste yucky.  Then take this mixture and put it right on your sponge and you're ready to go.  Simple.

Or you can make window cleaner by mixing 1/2 a teaspoon of liquid detergent with 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 cups of water.  Granted this window cleaner may not have that fresh clean scent that you're looking for, but most of these ingredients you might already have at home.  Just invest in a spray bottle and you're ready to go.  (And yes I realize that buying a domestically manufactured spray bottle may be near impossible, so my solution?  refill your old window cleaner bottle when you run out).

I have a pretty strong notion that this won't make cleaning any more fun, but it'll save a few bucks and that can be fun - I can use that money on some tasty frosting to put on a dessert of my choosing! Bet I can even double duty that lab coat as a new apron.

I mark Day 154 an enlightened alternative.

Diary of an American Shopper day 148

Diary of an American Shopper Day 148

So this may seem like a bizarre topic to discuss in Diary of an American Shopper since there really isn't any "shopping" involved per se, but it's something I have always felt pretty passionate about so away we go.

When I was a kid one of my strongest memories was when we would switch from winter to summer clothes and back again. My mother would plop my sister and I in front of the TV to watch the Wonderful World of Disney with popcorn while she would send my dad upstairs to collect the loot. He would come downstairs like Santa but instead of carrying a red velvet sack, he was carrying contractor bags filled with goodies. Now these were clothes we had seen before, many of them had become old friends going from Jess to me as hand me downs. I would get so excited. Would this be the year that Jessie's striped pants became flood waters and therefore mine? Or would she no longer fit into her rainbow t shirt that I'd been coveting?

My mom made hand me downs fun. We would do fashion shows with Jess and I walking down the hallway runway and striking our best Christie Brinkley. My dad and mom would plop down for dessert and watch their kids become models. They would applaud and judge the clothes and make us feel like super stars. Whatever was left over after receiving low scores went to the church for anyone who needed it.

From this two of my all time favorite games was born. 1 look at my loot- the act of taking out new purchases and showing them off. And 2 the spring cleaning clothing swap.

My parents made hand me downs exciting and fun and they ingrained in me the idea of recycling or donating clothes. I can't even imagine throwing something into a dump. Even accessories get donated. There's always someone who wants a pair of bright blue hoops!

So let's bring it up to date. One of the favorite in office games now is still look at my loot. I pick two weekends a year (usually when the weather gets warmer or starts to turn crisp- lots of people think apple picking while my mind turns to my closet).

I still fashion show for Jessie but our parents have been replaced by poodles. Instead of it being a chore, its a highlight of the season as I become Heidi Klum walking around my apartment.

Anyway contractor bags have been replaced by shopping bags, but Julie and Melissa descend with the same fervor that we did as little ones. And I don't have that guilty feeling about getting rid of something that I spent a lot of money on or was a gift. This way it can live on. Its a bit like Sisterhood of the Traveling pants that something that fit me could also fit Melissa, Julie or Jess.

And one more hidden benefit- I rediscover clothes I haven't worn in a long time. Its like a whole new wardrobe for everyone. And whatever doesn't fit still goes to the church.

Its a win win for all.

This certainly isn't a new tip, so let me know your stories!

I mark day 148 a reinvention of what I already have!

Diary of an American Shopper day 133

Diary of An American shopper day 133

Okay, so it's been a while. I've ben doing my best. I found jeans that were Made in the USA. And surprisingly I was able to find some yarn (from imported materials - not really sure what that means, but I think it's better than nothing). We purchased some What You Can Do post it notes that were from recycled paper and soy ink, so that got me thinking....

With Go Green Work week ending, I wanted to open the question to everyone - How do you run a cost-effective office while still trying to "be green" and "buy american?" It's really not so simple. When given the choice between an eco-friendly notebook and a brand new one, you're looking at a difference of at least $1. These figures can add up. And when you add the "Made in the USA" label to any of these eco-friendly lines, not only does the cost typically go up, but the choices go way down. So I ask, what is an office manger to do? Are you supposed to choose the trees or your budget?

Sadly, I think I know the answer to this question for most people, and frankly, I don't think you're wrong. I'm not talking about a multi-million dollar company choosing the bottom line, I'm talking about the little guy that is struggling to make it. For small companies, dollars and sense make a big difference, and I know that we can't always be looking at what is environmentally friendly. But I wanna know why?

How come there isn't any sort of tax incentive or subsidizing on these products? I know that I can get a tax break if I make my office run on green energy, but that costs money to install. What about starting small with basic office supplies? Well, as far as I know, tax breaks aren't there yet. Why not? And why can't our government help us out for making these good choices the way that they choose to subsidize some crops like corn and soy?

I feel like the only way these can become universally acceptable and the new norm is if we can make them more cost-effective. What do you think?

I mark day 133 frustrating.

Diary of an American Shopper day 74

Diary of an American Shopper day 74

Where have I been? To tell you the truth, one of my other resolutions was to waste less this year. So, I came back to the city after the holidays and I realized I had too much stuff! I went to put my new stuff (much of it made domestically) into my closet and the previous years stuff fell out. Hmmmm...I had a problem.

So I started to clean and organize. Two of my all time favorite things. Yes - I'm type A. Moving on...In the organizing, I realized I already had 3 things of shaving creme, 5 things of deodorant and 2 thinks of conditioner. And it didn't stop at toiletries. I have a lot of stuff. Needless to say, I haven't had to buy anything besides food for a while now. And my food is grown in these fine United States! I was very proud to pick up squash over Christmas that had a sticker on it saying it's place of birth was New York. Awesome. I digress...

So as I'm digging myself out of the mountains of things that fell out of my closet, I realized - I need to organize better. And organization means shelves. And then I started to sweat. Shelves are Made in China and Sweeden. This wasn't going to be easy. Or was it. I went to the containerstore.com and they're currently having a sale on their elfa shelves. 30% off. Not bad my friends. Probably not for me though....

What's this? These shelves also whispered some very familiar words in some very tiny print- Made in the U.S.A! WHAT? If I were them I would print that in HUGE FONT. It would help people like me. But how can this be? How can it be that the first place I looked, I strike pay dirt? Clearly the waste gods were looking kindly on me and granting me this concession so I will be able to see what I have and therefore stop buying stuff!

The question? What happens when I clear out all my stuff and need to buy something new? WIll my two resolutions live in harmony throughout the year? We'll have to wait and see. But being type A, patience is something I need to work on,

I mark day 74 a HUGE SUCCESS, but harbor trepidation for the future

Diary of an American Shopper - Days 17 - 39

Woah - what happened? Last I wrote I was blissfully in the throws of pre-Thanksgiving challenge. And now, the holiday season is upon us and that means gift giving - and that gets my Made in the USA brain into a tizzy.

So, let me give you a bit of a re-cap. I have succeed in many gifts that I gave this year - my family likes pottery and pottery can be made my local artisans. Awesome. My family likes Christmas ornaments - and these too can be painted and crafted by American hands. My family loves Star Wars. Hmmmm...this complicates things. What am I to do? Do I purchase something with a drawing of the Millennium Falcon by good old American artists, or do I go with the officially licensed more desirable choice?

This brings up a very important question that I have been forced to deal with. How far does this challenge extend? Am I really going to give everyone arts and crafts including my friend Jim who shares a tradition with me. Every birthday and Christmas, we exchange gifts that are about Elvis. This has brought some very interesting artifacts into my collection - a 1970s bust of the king looks down on me from the top of my bookcase (made in germany - but hand molded. awesome!), an elvis cutting board gets used underneath my vegetables in my kitchen (made in the UK) and elvis jewelry (made I'm not sure where). See a theme here?

I just read the book A Year Without "Made in China" by Sara Bongiorni. She and her family decided to take on a boycott of everything "Made in China" for one year. I read it, and was very impressed on what she did considering she has children and most toys are Made in China. When I read this book, I realized that I didn't ever utter the word boycott, but I want to take this challenge seriously. So I thought long and hard about my choices.

I spoke with people. I received doubt and concern - My friend Matt and I discussed the fact that the Support the Troops car magnets are Made in China (that one hit the hardest.), but mostly, I heard support and that is what is keeping me going.

I've decided to do my best. I am going to buy my brother in law and one of my best friends the real deal - that means not Made in the USA, but it's what they really want. Their gifts will be supplemented by American made goodies. I've decided to also research countries that have good trade relations with our own, so next year I can make a more conscious and informed decision.

The way I look at it, If I'm giving a gift - I'd rather it stay with the person I'm giving it to rather than wind up in some trash can and contribute to the whole waste problem....but wait that's another blog.

I mark days 17 - 39 very illuminating

Diary of an American Shopper - Day 16

Woah, what a weekend. Every year, my dad and I get together to start our Holiday Shopping...in November! I know, I know - Christmas shopping at the beginning of the month? Well, I don't do crowds and I don't do rushing, so I start early. As long as your organized, you can get it done and not get stressed, but I digress.

This year, we hit up Portland, ME for a little holiday flair. We've been there before and love the shops - many of which feature local artisans. Sounds like a good place to set up camp for a day of shopping.

We hit store after store, and when it came to most gifts - I was a proud supporter of our Nation! I found pottery, jewelry, accessories (both leather and wool) and a wooden cutting board. However, the brakes hit hard when it came to clothing. I was only able to find one shirt by Steve Allen and that was it. What is that about? I knew that this would be the hardest part of this challenge - shopping for clothes. So what did I do? Well, to be honest - I broke down and bought things that weren't made in these United States with a vow to research more companies that make clothing domestically. I am well aware that buying domestic clothes will likely stretch my dollar the most when it comes to this challenge, but I want to see how far I can go.

I mark day 14 - 16 a fifty/fifty Success/Failure

Diary of an American Shopper Day 13

Seventh Generation got back to me! Here's what they wrote.

Hi Alicia,

Thank you for your loyal patronage to date and taking the time to e-mail us with your question. I applaud your USA loyalty with regard to products. We do our best to do that same thing in our family and I think when possible that is a good method regarding purchase habits.

We have had a percentage of our paper products made in Canada for many years now. We also have paper made from a manufacturer in the US as well. It so happens that you may have been drawing (based on store distribution and location) paper products that were indeed manufactured in the US. While it would be nice just to have one manufacturing source in the US providing all of our paper it is unfortunately not a logistical option at this time. The other challenge is that there are limited partners in the US willing to work with recycled paper fibers so that is why we have to employ the use of a capable site from our friends up north.

We feel good about this relationship and Canada is indeed a good trading partner. Again, we'd prefer to have our entire line of products made in the US, however when it comes to ingredients and sourcing we are not willing to make compromises. I will note your feedback and thank you for your patronage...


I am so happy to have heard from them, and look forward to purchasing their products happily in the future. I already made the decision that if things aren't available domestically, it was okay to use foreign ingredients so I feel that this falls under that category. Their products are so much better for the environment, so it makes me feel much better to use them.

I mark Day 13 a wonderful relief!

Diary of an American Shopper Day 12

From Day 12 of our Challenge...

I am very sad to report that Seventh Generation has not yet responded to my inquiry. And I am mad. It's been a week, I feel like that's ample time for a response. Mostly, I'm mad because I need to purchase toilet paper and I'm left without my go to brand. So, I did some research, and I found that Scotts Naturals is Made in the USA, so I breathe a sigh of relief and place an order.

I am not sure what the product will feel like, but I happen to think that Scotts regular is pretty similar to Seventh Generation. So.....

I mark Day 12 a success!

Diary of an American Shopper Day 9

Written by Alicia - our MADE IN AMERICA gal - written on day 9 of our challenge

Seventh Generation has left me in the dark - no updates at all. What's that about? They asked me if I wanted to fill out a survey, but I would like a response before I check any little boxes. In the mean time, the hunt for garbage bags continued. Yesterday, I went to the mecca of all garbage bag meccas - The Super Market. I knew that I would be able to find something nestled in their bright artificial lighted aisles, I saw them staring back at me. Oddly enough there weren't that many "small" garbage bags to choose from. In fact, Seventh Generation didn't even offer me an option.

I did, however, see a new brand (well new to me)- Bio Bag. It's biodegradable and compostable! Here's what it says on their website - www.biobagusa.com

BioBag is proud to be the best selling brand of certified 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable bags made from the material, Mater-Bi. We are also proud to be the first “bag from corn” to achieve national distribution of retail products through natural food stores across the country.

This product sounds awesome! I know that they're making plastic containers made out of corn, but I hadn't seen any bags yet. I was nervous when I flipped the box over. It is probably made overseas. BUT NO! Made in the USA is right there in print! I throw a couple in my basket, and head for the check out.

I mark Day 9 a MAJOR SUCCESS!!!

Diary of an American Shopper Day 8

There is one thing that becomes very evident when you meet me. I love Bruce Springsteen. Love him! I've seen him many many times in concert, own all his albums, know all his lyrics, and have cried and danced to his music. So when I heard that he was playing his entire album - The River - and that I was going to be in attendance, I just about had a melt down!

How does this confession fit in to my challenge? I mean who is more American than Bruce Springsteen? Well....I bought a t-shirt. We all knew that the show was a rare treat, but when Bruce said he wouldn't be performing the album live again, I knew this was a once in a lifetime experience. It was amazing and I wanted to wrap myself up in a t-shirt to remember it. A very special t-shirt that listed the date of the show and all the tracks on The River. So, I bought the shirt, and didn't even once think if it was made domestically. It's true - I confess! I wanted the shirt and there was only one to choose from. It's not like I could rule out one in favor of a Made in the USA cousin. So I just took out my money and didn't look back.

Later when I was home - days later, I flipped over the label and it said MADE IN HAITI.

And how do I feel about it now? Kind of guilty I guess - I did commit to this challenge. But how do we react if we really want something and there is no other choice? Should I have not purchased the shirt because it wasn't made here? I guess in honor of this challenge I should probably say an emphatic NO!- However, I can say with confidence that if in the same situation, I would probably buy the shirt again.

I mark Day 8 a very accepted failure