Bronze Markers and Plaques

A couple of years ago a good friend of mine passed away and he was memorialized by the Golf Course that he worked by a beautiful bronze marker that was placed near a tree that was planted in his honor. The marker had a picture of him on it and was such a nice thoughtful way to remember him.

Valley Monuments is a 100 year old foundry that now has a website, BronzeMarkersAndPlaques.com, where you can buy all kinds of Bronze Markers and Plaques. This family owned company offers guaranteed foundry-direct pricing and "Old World"-style craftsmanship of their bronze memorial, recognition, dedication, garden, commemorative and award plaques and bronze grave markers.

For something as important as a memorial marker, you need to rely on a company that has proven experience because bronze is one of the world's most durable and timeless metals and will be seen for hundreds of years by future generations.


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Register to win a Yoplait Kids Get Active Prize Pack

Register to win one of three Yoplait Kids Get Active Prize Packs at SunEGrl Loves To Shop. Entries must be received by midnight April 10th.

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Save Money with Ebates

Shopping for Items Made In The USA? If so, check out Ebates to save money at thousands of stores including Ebay, JC Penney, Dell, cheap nintendo, Nordstrom and my favorite Target. All you have to do is sign up and you will instantly get $5.00 deposited into your Ebates account and then you can start shopping to earn up to 25% cash back. Ebates also provides you with specials and coupons that you can combine with Cash Back for maximum savings. Just click on the extensive list of merchant specials and coupons to find the best deals.

Also, refer a friend and you both make $5.00. I'm already a member, are you?

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Fannie Mae Chocolates are Made In the USA

I received a box of Fannie Mae chocolates the other day from a guest who lives in Michigan City, Indiana. I had never had Fannie Mae chocolates before, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out how yummy they are. Not only are they yummy, but they are made in the USA and have been for the last 89 years. The first Fannie May retail store was opened by H. Teller Archibald in 1920 at 11 N. LaSalle St. in Chicago. By 1935, there were nearly four dozen retail stores in Illinois and several neighboring states.

In May of 2006 Fannie May joined the 1-800-Flowers.com family of brands. For more than 30 years, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Inc. – “Your Florist of Choice®” – has been providing customers around the world with the freshest flowers and finest selection of plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections and plush stuffed animals perfect for every occasion.



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Check the labels

Received this from a friend - I like this idea!

This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled "Everyday Value." I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA .

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here - from a company in Cleveland OH !

So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets....yep you guessed it Bounce was more money and made in Canada, the Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

So my challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time!

Besides, you might save a little green in the process.

Stop buying from China ..........

We should have awakened a decade ago......

lets get with the program.... help our fellow Americans keep their jobs ... and create more jobs here in the U.S.A.

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Virtual Networking

Visit me at this new networking site called Acobay. Show your stuff, promote your blog, and get paid!

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Black Friday for Hunters

Black Friday may have come and gone but Cyber Monday is tomorrow and I just had to tell you about the great deal that is being offered by Nikon Sport Optics, NikonProGear and NikonHunting.com. The Nikon BDC Slam Hunter's Package contains all of the following including a $50.00 Nikon ProGear Gift Card.

-ProStaff 3-9x40 Riflescope with BDC Reticle
-ProStaff Laser Rangefinder
-Silent Technology Rangefinder Case
-Mastering a Long-range shot with BDC DVD

This great package offers a saving of almost $145.00 on high quality hunting equipment for the hunters in your life.

A couple of other great offers in addition to this great package, are the high-quality, rugged binoculars from Nikon Sport Optics. For a limited time only, get an extra $20 off on Nikon Action Extreme ATB 10x50 Binoculars! Plus, just for this promotion, Nikon and NikonProGear.com are expanding the Gift Card Promotion ($25 and $50 value) to include all of the following products – Nikon Monarch Binoculars, Trailblazer Binoculars, Nikon Action 10x50 Binoculars and ANY Nikon ATB Binoculars. Plus you can get special holiday prices on ProStaff Riflescopes, Nikon Monarch Rifle Scopes, Buckmasters and Omega Riflescopes! Be sure to check this out for all the Hunters on your Christmas Shopping List.



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Space Vehicles Made In Florida

The Space Shuttle Endeavour landed safely this afternoon in California and in the nature of this blog, I wanted to focus on the future of space flight and the effect on our economy. Thousands of jobs in Brevard County Florida and Houston Texas rely on the future of space flight. While I don't necessarily believe in the idea of going to Mars, I do believe that space travel is a worthwhile endeavor and it does benefit several communities and the people in those communities.

Benefits of space travel include according to Nasa.gov:

*Satellite technology that has resulted in cell phone for people nationwide.
*Vital Sign monitoring systems that have helped to save the lives of countless individuals recovering from heart attacks and other serious illnesses.
*Space Based Beacon location service has created a satellite based search and rescue system that has saved almost 13,000 people as of January 2002.

There are many more benefits that could be named but I think you should check them out for yourself. Just go to NASA's website, to check out all the information on upcoming space flights and the history of NASA.

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State of the Economy and American Manufacturers

The state of the current economy and the financial worries with the "Big 3" Auto Makers got me to thinking. A couple of years ago I found myself in serious financial troubles and I knew that the situation that I had gotten myself into wasn't one that was going to be easy for me to get out of. I really only had a couple of options and the one that I chose luckily turned out to be the best for me. I had gotten myself into a high interest car loan, had thousands of dollars worth of credit card debt and had creditors calling on a daily basis. The only option for me was to voluntary give up my car which is the same thing as a repossession and then file for bankruptcy. The first six months were very tough, but with less money coming off of my bottom line I was able to finally start saving and then get myself into a nice used car at a "Buy Here Pay Here" lot. After a year or so of paying on that loan, I was able to qualify for a loan for another vehicle that was much more dependable. The bottom line of this story is that maybe the "Big 3" need to hit rock bottom before they can realize their mistakes and learn how to live wiser and more efficiently. In my opinion, I truly believe that Ford will be ok because they have 2 really popular vehicles which are the F150 and the Mustang. The one that I worry about the most is Chevrolet because they have gotten so far away from who they are, that they sort of lost their identity. I don't think that saving the auto makers is the answer. In this case the answer may be just to let them try to correct their own mistakes. Unfortunately, in the process hundreds of thousands of people may lose their jobs. I think that if the government does bail them out they will not truly learn what they have done wrong and things will not really get any better. What do you think? Do you think this is the fall of some of our corporate giants?

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Automated Solutions for American Manufacturing

For companies who are manufacturing Items Made In The USA, here is a company that might actually be able to help you. SetpointUSA is an American Owned and Operated company that develops custom automated solutions that are designed to improve quality and productivity in the workplace.

Setpoint, which was founded in 1992, has seen significant growth over the years. Setpoint was recognized in the 1999 issue of Inc Magazine's 500 fastest growing companies in America and also included in Utah's top 100 fastest growing privately held companies. With over 15 years of experience in industrial automation, Setpoint can successfully design and build automated machinery for a large number of businesses in a wide variety of industries.

Just an example of some of the services that they can provide:
* Fully Automated Systems
* Equipment Upgrades and Re-Tooling
* Custom Automated Solutions
* Non Destructive Testing & Non Destructive Inspection
* Energetic & Explosive Devices Automation
* Robotic System Integration
* Automated Packaging Solutions

Setpoint relies on non destructive inspection and technology that are available for a wide variety of industries and parts. Setpoint combines x-ray inspection with electrical testing to provide proper equipment and testing environment for parts, all in one compact machine.


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Buy American On This Black Friday

As you are out shopping on this beautiful Black Friday morning, I hope that you will take an extra moment to take a look at the packaging to find Items That Are Made In The USA. During these tough economic times, it is even more important to buy those items to keep the money here in our Country. If you have been shopping today, let us know what you found that was Made In The USA.


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Asstistance for getting your company off the ground

Wouldn't it be great if there was an online toolbox that you could use to help get your business off the ground? Something that could help you see bottom line results FAST... Lean Manufacturing is provided by the Hands On Group and they can help you focus your business on the direction that your business should take. That could be Focus on Quality, Drive down Cost, Improve Service, etc. For manufacturing companies, the Hands On Group understands the problems that you are faced with and with 18 years of experience they can offer you those improved bottom line results that you are looking for. Lean Production is something that is needed in this economy in order to slash time to market and reduce total inventory, while improving cost, quality and delivery performance.

Years ago, I worked for a Japanese Company that produced automotive components. They believed strongly in the 5s principles of Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. The Hands On Group delivers these principles in their online toolkit.

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Contest Winner

Thank you so much to all who entered. It was great fun and I hope you learned about some new and exciting products that are Made In The USA.

Congratulations to Traci, who was the 13th comment and the winner of the contest.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

13

Timestamp: 2008-08-28 23:19:34 UTC

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Made In Arizona!

The Queen Creek Olive Mill
This is family owned and makes the most fantastic, fresh extra virgin olive oil you will ever taste! Their olive grove is in Queen Creek at the base of the San Tan Mountains, where there is rich, fertile soil, long sunny days and cool desert nights, making it an ideal location for their trees.

Perry Rea is the owner who was once an auto parts exec but has since created a signature oil that is used in over a hundred local restaurants. His oil is a blend of Pendolino, Lucca, Frantoio and Mission olives and is known for its fruity beginning, grassy smell and peppery finish.

Queen Creek Olive Mill is located at 25062 S. Meridian Road, Queen Creek, telephone number 480-756-6998 and their website is www.queencreekolivemill.com. You can also find their olive oils at some grocery stores, including Whole Foods.

Homer, the ancient Greek poet called it “liquid gold” and in the Mediterranean, it has been more than just food: it has been medicinal, magical and an endless source of fascination and wonder and the fountain of great wealth and power.

The Green Valley Pecan Company
I love pecans! Pecan pie has to be my favorite dessert! The Green Valley Pecan Company is located in the Sonoran Desert just 15 miles south of Tucson and has been operating since 1948. Another family owned business, they focus on supplying their customers with the highest quality of nuts they can, which means they not only grow the pecans, but they also have an on-site processing and storage plant.

Not only are pecans, with their rich, buttery taste good for eating fresh or baking, they are a really good source of protein and unsaturated fats. They have been known to lower the risk of gallstones in women and the antioxidants and plant sterols found in them can reduce high cholesterol. So, they are tasty and healthy – as long as you don’t think eat them in the form of a pecan pie every day!!!

The Green Valley Pecan Company

1625 E. Sahuarita Rd., Sahuarita, Arizona 85629
www.greenvalleypecan.com

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Made In......Nevada!

Because I live in Nevada, I’m letting you know about three products that are made locally.

The first is the best: Tahoe Creamery. They used to have this wonderful little restaurant in Carson City where they sold their ice cream and I can tell you from having tasted this first hand, it is the best ice cream in the world. It is so pure and …..well……it just tastes clean! Clean, pure and creamy.

Greg Hoch, the owner, moved with his family from Connecticut where he had grown up working with his dad producing gourmet ice cream at their Shady Glen Dairy Farm. The restaurant was not as busy as they liked, so they decided to just channel all of their energy into producing the high quality ice cream and not the other food they had been serving as well. They have several franchises, one of which has just opened at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the ice cream is just delicious.

Tahoe Creamery use only the finest and all natural ingredients for their ice cream, so you can be assured of the quality. They refuse to add to the extra cost of fuel and burden the environment even more, so they only sell this locally. It is made local and sold local.

If you live in this area, this is one ice cream that you must taste. Their signature flavors are:

Tahoe Flow Cookie Dough – Creamy vanilla ice cream with rich cookie dough.
Tahoe Trip Mint Chip – Cool winter mint ice cream with an explosion of chocolate chips.
Tahoe Funk Chocolate Hunk – Crazy rich chocolate ice cream with chocolate-covered waffle cone pieces and chewy fudge chunks.
Tahoe Crunch Peanut Butter Munch – Creamy peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter ripple and toffee-covered peanuts.
Tahoe Coffee Crunchy Toffee – Rich coffee ice cream with espresso chips and toffee chunks.
Creamy vanilla ice cream with chocolate sandwich cookies and a coffee swirl.

My dad’s personal favorite – their blueberry ice cream!

http://www.tahoecreamery.com/

Bad Dog Chocolates
Yes, an unusual name, but it came about when Eric and Cindy Fehr were mastering their love of chocolate and their dog, Hana, decided to indulge and helped herself to a fresh batch of chocolates that they had just made! Therefore, Bad Dog Chocolates was born!

They know what a chocolate lover wants: Belgian chocolate made with only the purest, natural ingredients without any preservatives or sugar. They offer dark , milk and white chocolates, caramel, brownies, and their seasonal selection would make the perfect gift at Christmas time.

Not only do they make and ship this chocolate out across America, Eric also likes to give his advice on wine that works well with his chocolates. When you check out their website, be sure to click on “Eric’s Corner” to see what his recommendations are.

http://www.maddogchocolates.com/

and speaking of wine…….

Tahoe Ridge Winery & Marketplace is run by Rick and Kathy Halbardier, who have planted over 20,000 grape vines in Nevada and have achieved success with the first all Nevada grown Chardonnay wine, which sold out in two weeks.

Based in Genoa in the Carson Valley, they have a tasting room and gift shop which features current and past library selections of Tahoe Ridge wine. They have a selection of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Red, Merlot, Zinfandel and many more. They do ship to most states, although a few are excluded.

http://www.tahoeridge.com/

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Contest Annoucement

Welcome to Items Made In The USA! I'm so happy that you are here that I have decided to host a contest where you can win your choice of one of the following Island Grove Gift Pack that includes Sauces, Marinades, or Dressing.

Island Grove Salad Dressings
Island Grove Lite Dressings
Hurricane Bay Marinade
Island Grove BBQ

All you have to do to be eligible is view my previously reviewed Items Made In The USA and tell me which review is your favorite. You will also need to tell me which Island Grove Gift Pack you would like if you win.

*Earn 1 extra point by commenting on any of the products that I have reviewed. Tell me what you like, what you don't like and tell me what you would like to see more of.
*Earn 1 extra point for Digg, Stumble, or Add To Technorati Favorite.
*Earn 5 extra points for posting about this contest on your blog, or posting my button in your sidebar.
*Earn 5 extra points for subscribing to my feed.

This contest will end at midnight on August 25, 2008.


My goal is to have a contest every week from now, so if you would like to sponsor a giveaway please email me at denashops@yahoo.com. I will be happy to feature any Etsy Stores in exchange for a small giveaway item.

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