Product: Snapware (snap n stack) Storage Containers - seasonal organizers

Where to Buy: Target

Price: Prices vary with sizes

Rating: 10

Review: We were looking for some new storage containers for our Christmas ornaments and wanted to find something made in the USA. Well, we did! Snapware. They are AWESOME. They are attractive, stackable, well made, and easy to use. Snapware makes it easy to organize your life…not just your ornaments!

They offer MANY organizational containers. Visit snapware.com for a full product list and where to buy in your area! Plus…they are Made in the USA!!

 Cons: NONE

Product: Office Depot Brand Perforated Writing Pads (letter size/legal) in white or yellow (they also come in other sizes)

Where to Buy: Office Depot

Price: $6.99 for a 12 pack (50 sheets each)

Rating: 10

Review: If you are in business or use note pads on a regular basis, these are a great buy. They are very well made and sturdy. These writing pads are priced lower than most of the other brands that are made outside the US. They come in a couple sizes and colors as well.

For me, the best part of buying the Office Depot brand writing note pads is that they are Made in the USA!

 Cons: NONE

We had a recent trip to Target and I found several products that are made in the USA…IN THE DOLLAR SECTION! Now THAT is cool!

Product: Giant Book to Color (Dalmation Kids) and Fly Away with Big Bird Activity Tablet (Bendon - www.bendonpub.com)

Where to Buy: Target - in the dollar section.

Price: $1

Rating: 10

Review:These are great to keep your little ones busy. The Dalmation kids coloring book that I got is a Valentine theme, but they have others. The Big Bird Activity Tablet is perfect for an older toddler - 8yr child. It is filled with fun pictures to color and educational activities.

These two items are a GREAT buy AND they are made in the USA. I am glad I bought them and am helping support USA made products!

Cons: NONE

My husband LOVES video games and I do not. LOL. However, we have been doing a study in our Sunday school class about marriage and his need for “shoulder to shoulder” time…or simply put, time to play WITH his wife. So…I thought about it and picked a computer game that I thought would be fun, Roller Coaster Tycoon 3. I was HOPING it was NOT made in China…and it was NOT! WHOO HOO! It is made in the USA!

Product: Roller Coaster tycoon 3 Platinum (it has 3 amusment parks; roller coaster tycoon 3, soaked, and wild.)

Where to Buy: We bought it for a bargain at the going out of business sale at CompUSA, but you can buy it at any electronics or game store, I am sure.

Price:Between $25-$30 maybe less if there are still some left at CompUSA!

Rating: 8

Review: Once my husband and I actually got it installed it is a blast! There are so many things you can do! It has challenges, custom events, a no limits option, and more. You can make a regular amusement park, a zoo, a water park, or a combination…oh, and making coasters is COOL!

It is very user friendly and great for the whole family. It is rated “E” for everyone. I think it’s a great gift for a teenager as well. It teaches them about money management and problem solving skills…especially the challenges.

I would recommend the game to anyone. And, go ahead and pay the extra few dollars to get the two additional parks…it makes for more excitement and adventures!

Cons: Unfortunately, there is one big con. We almost gave up. However, there is a fix that I will include at the end of this review. This game is not compatible with Vista UNLESS you use the fix. You will get an annoying error message and will be unable to play the game. This was a real pain, and I had to search and search and try a few fixes before I found a simple one that WORKED! I think Atari needs to get this little glitch fixed.  For now though…

The Windows Vista/Dual Core Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Platinum Installation Fix

(note: you can iuse this for regular RCT3 too. Your file will be <RCT3.exe> instead of <RCT3plus.exe>)

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you follow these directions exactly, otherwise you will have to uninstall the entire game and start all over again.

1. Install the Game.

2. After installation do NOT try to start the game.

3. Delete the desk top shortcut.

4. Then, go into your Atari files located in folder C:\Program Files\Atari\Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 and rename <RTC3plus.exe> to <RCT3plus.old>. (DO NOT try and delete or override the file. It will NOT work! I tried it. You MUST rename the file.)

5. Then, after you have renamed the file, go to…

For RCT3 Platinum - http://www.securom.com/support/customers/atari/RCT3_wild_t147/rct3plus.zip

For RCT3 regular - http://www.securom.com/support/customers/infogrames/RCT3_t020bl/rct3.zip

These links will open a blank web page and a file download window.

6. From the file download window click open, extract the new <RCT3.exe> or <RCT3plus.exe> into the original’s folder (where the file you renamed is). OR, you can extract it to your desk top and then open the file, and then drag it into the folder. Whatever is easier for you.

7. Either way, once you have done this, right click on the new <RCT3.exe> or <RCT3plus.exe> and create a shortcut to your desk top. (You MUST make sure the old one was deleted or you will mess everything up and have to start all over!)

8. Once you have done this, close all programs, and restart your computer. Once you get back to your desk top, click on your new shortcut and you should be good to go!

If you run into any problems, uninstall and retry. You can also try and visit the roller coaster tycoon forums (rollercoastertycoon3.com)

Have fun!

Claire’s is a cute little teeny bopper store that is usually found in a mall. Unfortunately most of the products that I have looked at there are made in China. However, I did manage to find one nice product that is MADE IN THE USA!!

Product: Claire’s Eau De Parfum, .17 fl oz (in a small silverish pink box)

Where to Buy: Claire’s

Price: Less than $8

Rating: 10

Review: Claire’s brand perfume comes in an adorable little pink bottle in the shape of a flower. It has a very soft floral scent that is perfect for a young preteen or teenager. It’s light and fresh. My teenager loves it and is very happy with the scent of this affordable perfume that is made in the good ole’ USA!

Cons: More boys may come knocking! ROFL! 

As you know, I have been desperately trying to find products MADE IN THE USA for my Christmas shopping this year…or at LEASE Not made in China! It has been very unsuccessful so far…HOWEVER, I did manage to find a couple cute games for my toddler…

Product: Ants in the Pants and Don’t Break the Ice (both by Hasbro)

Where to Buy: I bought them at KBtoys

Price: $8.99 each

Rating: 10

Review: These are very cute games geared towards ages 3-6. It is a great way to get your kids involved in family activities, patience, and coordination. We love to play games as a family…it can be hard when you have an a teenager and a toddler! However, these games appear to be winners!

Cons: Well, maybe a screaming toddler when you do not feel like playing! LOL!

I do not own a roaster pan…well…DID not own one. I always used the disposable pans because I do not roast very often. Well, money is tight right not, and my husband and I felt it would be more cost effective to just buy a roaster pan, so that we do not have to throw our money away on the disposable ones anymore.

Let me tell you…It is HARD to find products NOT made in China. It is even harder to find products MADE IN THE USA! I know there are a lot of websites with USA made items…but what about when you just need something now…or can’t afford the shipping! ACK!

Well, we are a VERY determined family!

Back to the roaster pan…

We searched through every brand we found, and they were all made in China. Finally off to the side…hard to notice and not with the other roaster pans was a small section of pans called, Graniteware, MADE IN THE USA! Plus, they were priced JUST RIGHT! Whoo Hoo!!! I got my USA made roaster for ten bucks!

We had a few other items on the list…a dress for my little one…shoes…and a couple other items. We were able to find them all NOT made in China. However, it was difficult. Unfortunately the pan was the only thing we could find that was USA made.

I never realized HOW MUCH stuff is made in China. It’s not until I started looking for NOT China made items that I really saw just how much they have our products. It is sad that the bottom dollar of many UNITED STATES companies is more important than our countries safety and OUR economy. It would be awesome if OUR country had more products actually MADE in OUR country!

OK…I will end here…LOL…