American Made; Organic Never Looked So Good

With the economy doing so poorly right now "American Made" has taken on new importance for me. I'm also actively trying to reduce my carbon footprint, so I've been searching the web for eco friendly products made in the US. Here are a few of my recent purchases, and I must tell you, when it comes to organic, recycled, hand woven or hypoallergenic items, I figured I would have to visit several different sites that specialized in just one or two categories. I was quickly proven wrong. All of the items featured here were found in just one place.

Like many of you, I have people in my life who are consummate consumers. You know the kind; people who just have to have the latest gadgets and designer name brands. I'm a fan of gadgets myself, but I usually shop around, and it wouldn't kill me to wait a couple of months for the price to go down. I talk about the environment and the plight of animals used for their fur/skin, but sometimes the siren call of high fashion is too strong for my friends and family to resist. One thing I've started to do -- and I must say, it has had an amazing impact -- is buy eco friendly gifts. When a person receives someting organic or handmade, it opens their eyes to the beauty, if not the superior functionality, of these items.

My kids are aged three and six and, of course, they've inherited my many allergies. It's taken me years to figure out that organic works best for us. My children, even my pets, have benefited from this discovery. My skin used to break out in itchy hives from dreaded rayon, polyester and acrylic. Silk was gentle on my skin, but not on my wallet. And talk about spending with the need for regular dry cleaning. In recent years, I've wised up, turning to clothing made of baby bamboo, organic cotton and hemp. My skin is a big fan and my wallet has never been better.

Well, yeah, we just got the dog so, perhaps, I went a little overboard. Before I decided to go "green," forcing my family to go green with me, my cat suffered several health issues related to flea products, scented cat litter, even the food she ate. I just wanted to start off on the right foot with the dog. It's the fluffiest little golden retriever you ever saw. He will be loved to within an inch of his life. Although I had the dog's health in mind while purchasing these items, I also was thinking about the kids. They spend a lgreat deal of time interacting with the dog, so I try to make sure only natural products are used on his skin and coat.