White Noise

Our families have a secret to our children's good sleep habits- The Original Sleep Sound Generator made for Hammacher Schlemmer.  Our older sister found this gem years ago and her 14 year old still uses his every night.  We both have younger children and these white noise machines are essential.  One of us even owns 5 of them! 

This sleep sound generator drowns out the dog barking, the door bell ringing, the phone and the other loud children in our homes!  The noise is created by moving air through the holes instead of based off a sound card.  That is the key to the very relaxing, soothing and simple white noise.  There are 2 volume settings, which is really helpful when you need to drown out extra noise.  

I just ordered a new one in preparation for my new baby and noticed that it is made in the USA.  Now I love these machines even more!  

We have had our machines for years and they still run as though they are new...worth every penny.  We both always travel with them and boy do they make sleeping in hotels super easy!  They are perfect for any child or adult who wants a peaceful sleep. To purchase The Original Sleep Sound Generator click here.

Sweet Dreams

Cream City Ribbon

It's that time of year again when gifts start creeping into the mind.  I always try to get organized before the shopping rush begins by stocking up on wrapping essentials: tape, paper and ribbon.  There's nothing worse than needing to wrap a gift last minute for someone and not having what you need! 

This year I am so excited to try a new ribbon I found, Cream City Ribbon, that is made in the USA by a woman owned company (love that) in Milwaukee, WI (love that too, we grew up there).  Not only is the ribbon American made but it looks fantastic AND it's environmentally friendly (made from renewable, biodegradable cotton fiber, grown and processed with water based dyes and without chlorine bleaches).  You can actually recycle it or compost it after you use it.

It curls, it shreds, it strips and it folds...what more could you ask for! 

Here are some examples of Cream City Ribbon used...can you say super cute?

So, this year I am so excited to report that I will be moving up in the world of aesthetically pleasing wrapping from my usual stick-on bow to Cream City Ribbon!  I've ordered the holiday spool kit.  Can't wait to get wrapping...

You can read more about the Cream City Ribbon's history here and you can shop for it online here.

 

Little Giraffe

The softer the better when it comes to babies!  With my first child I received as a gift the most deliciously soft blanket I had ever come across.  It was made by Little Giraffe.  It was a simple blanket made with the plushest chenille and a satin boarder.   I fell in love with the blanket and so did my son.  So when I had my daughter, she had to have one as well.  And, I just finished ordering a blanket for baby #3.  Can you tell I'm a fan? 

I'm even more of a fan now that I recently found out these awesome blankets are made in the USA!

They come in multiple colors, sizes and patterns, and they are all super soft and luxurious...click here to shop.

When I first received a Little Giraffe blanket, I thought wouldn't it be awesome to have one of these blankets for adults?  Little did I know, they make those too!  Maybe a holiday gift this year pour moi!

American Pumpkins

We love this time of year- the cool air, football season, the smell of pumpkin and cinnamon, carmel apples, etc.  This year we suggest that you support your local farmers and buy some pumpkins from a local patch- American pumpkins!  Carving pumpkins is such a fun family tradition and brings us a lot of great memories.  And if you are not into carving this year, check out some of these ideas from Real Simple magazine.  We think they are too cute!

Perfection in a pillow

We have found "l'oreiller parfait"...the perfect pillow!  These pillows are tres chic and would be a fabulous addition in everyone's home.  Petit Coterie is a company based right here in America and they have the most beautiful products: pillows, napkins, totes, etc.  They have a french country feel to them and are selling fast!  Here are a few of our favorites:

Wouldn't these be great together?

And we love these for the holidays!

Best of all, we love that Petit Coterie has made a commitment to manufacturing their products in the USA and that their business has helped other small American businesses expand.  The fabric they use is printed by a family owned business that has expanded along with Petit Coterie's increase in sales.  As Michelle from Petit Coterie put it: "I think it is like a chain reaction. One small business helps another small business and each has been able to hire more employees."   

This is exactly what American businesses need.  Thanks Petit Coterie!


To shop their collection, click here.

Happy Flag Flying

What is more American than baseball, apple pie and an American Flag?  An American flag is a staple in many houses, we fly ours most every day...and Monday (Labor Day) is a National Flag Flying Day.  Whenever you choose to fly your flag, you want one that will last through all kinds of weather and still look great.  Annin flags do!

The Annin Co. start making flags in 1820 in New York.  Click here to read their interesting history of producing flags in America.

And good news...Target sells these flags.

To find an Annin flag near you, click here.

Have a restful and relaxing Labor Day!!!!!

Color changes everything

One thing we've learned over the years is that a new hue in a room can change the entire feel of a room (and make it feel brand new) for a low cost.  We both have recently decorated nurseries for new babies and there's nothing as fun as picking the prefect color and  beginning with a fresh coat of paint!  It was easy to decide what paint to use: Benjamin Moore.  

Benjamin Moore paints are made in the USA and are top quality.  They are easy to find, just head over to your local Ace Hardware.  Or to find another local store that carries Benjamin Moore paints, click here. 

Their website is really helpful with an enormous color gallery and a new app they have to color match.  You take a picture on your iphone or android of any color you find in nature.  Then the app will let you know what Benjamin Moore paint color is closest to your color.
Talk about cool! 

The Perfect Chair

There's nothing like the perfect, comfy outdoor chair to lounge in and enjoy a good book...or to snuggle up in with your little ones and just watch the time go by.  Well, an interior decorator friend of ours turned us on to these awesome Adirondack chairs made in the USA.  They are made by Manchester Wood and come in an adult size and a kids size (not to mention a fun array of colors).   All of Manchester Wood's furniture is made in the USA in upstate New York from eco-friendly timber...click here to read more about their story.  

 View their outdoor chair collection here...in the meantime here's a sneak peak of some of our favorite colors:

aroma-rific!

Who doesn't love a beautiful smelling home?  The Capri Blue Candle collection at Anthropologie is one of our absolute favorites...and they are made right here in the USA!  The scents are incredible, fill a large room, and the containers are elegant. You can purchase them at your nearest Anthropologie store or click here to purchase online. 'Volcano' is our personal favorite scent and Anthropologies' signature scent.  Here are a few candles in the collection.

Capri Blue Candle Tin- $12.00

Capri Blue Frosted Mercury Glass Jars- $24.00

Capri Blue Etched Jar Candle- $25.00

Enjoy these candles made for you in the Red, White and Blue.