This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Holiday Shopping for Real People - Buying Local, Buying American

   Quite a few years back now, I decided to greatly limit my general consumption by,  1) buying things made in the US, even clothes, as much as possible 2) buying things at thrift stores or second hand stores 3) accepting hand-me-downs, even from friends for myself, so, yes Kim, I am still wearing those fake Uggs as slippers,  4) buying very local.   As in, not–leaving-Ardmore local.  I do make the occasional pilgrimage to the Salvation Army in Roxborough. 

   This actually is a great tactic to make life less stressful. By limiting myself and sticking (for the most part) to my self-imposed rules, I have less choice.  Sometimes less choice is good.  If I walk into the Old Navy, I pretty much know that I will not be purchasing anything. Same with food - those shrimp are from what factory farm in Thailand?   So, I walk through stores pretty much checking off what I can't have, not deciding what I want from the vast array of choices we are presented with in this country.  And you can find clothes Made in the USA at regular stores, not just high end or speciality shops.   If you check out Free People's shirts, some of them are made here.  Go into Macy's and just look at the labels.  It is not impossible.  Did I mention that I have three kids?  While they are not always so keen on my rules, two out of three of them have learned the value and fun of the hunt at thrift stores.  They ask to go to Junior League. And they have a dad who will buy them the occasional expensive, not made in the USA item ( see North Face, real Uggs) to keep them just hip enough.

    So , when Christmas time rolls around, they may not get exactly what they asked for, but some variation on the theme. Or they may get a totally cool and unique piece of jewelry that I found at a yard sale.  Or an excellent, unused and expensive acrylic paint set that was given to me by a neighbor when she moved ( best stocking stuffer last year).  There is a lot of satisfaction in getting people gifts that are special, well-hunted for, and, most importantly, not plastic.  I definitely also support buying special locally made gifts at art or craft sales, such as Main Line Art Center's which is from the 5th -12th , and stores in the area that carry locally made funky stuff, such as Past, Present, and Future on Lancaster in Ardmore.  Also, you cannot go wrong with a lot of Philly region made products, such as John and Kira's chocolate and how about a case of the Victory Hop Devil for that special someone? Check the Gift Guide in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer which features “locally sourced” items,   But sometimes, you just need to buy inexpensive items for that two year old nephew or stocking stuffers for the 10 year old.  That involves a little more persistence to find Made in the USA at local stores.

Find out what's happening in Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

   This year , I have just begun the hunt, buying some really nice pieces of silver jewelry for the girls at a yard sale for cheap, finding a nice blank journal at the thrift store for the artist child, and roaming Mapes on Rittenhouse in Ardmore.  At Mapes, you can find a ton of things that are Made in the USA and make good little gifts or stocking stuffers ( I have included photos, but always check labels!). Tons of Crayola products made at their Easton and Bethlehem plants, Silly Putty, Mead notebooks, Post-IT notes, Scotch tape, and a DuneCraft Fairy House. You can also find things for adults or to use during holiday time – Lodge cast iron cookware, Pyrex and Anchor glassware and pie pans ( Corning Ware does not seem to be entirely made in the US anymore ), soaker hoses for the gardener,  Grandma’s Lye Soap,  Ball mason jars waiting to be filled with homemade treats, clay flower pots that would look great painted by little hands.  And, on top of that all, you get the experience of walking around Mapes looking for all this because while it is a skill to find anything there, you know it is there.  Which is why they have people there to help you.  You always run into a friend or neighbor buying as much of a random item as you are, such as a can opener or underwear or a lightbulb or a bag of chips.  Joy!

  There are other sources for items made locally or at least in this country.  The Philly region is taking off in this area and maybe, one day, will again be a manufacturing mecca of a different sort.  I offer my Ardmore perspective and a little slice of heaven we can walk to or bike to around here.  I welcome any other places, people, and ideas that help support such an economy that keeps our dollars here.  Let me know and I will add it to my list of hunting grounds!  Take the time over this holiday to slow down and check out our local world and make the gifts we give each, whether it be a gift of ourselves or a special item, heartfelt and thoughtful.  Merry merry.

Find out what's happening in Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?