Harlots, still made in the USA

My cycling style has changed from club rides and lycra to commute and ride to the store. The rides may be shorter but I still want gear I can ride in. Now I stress comfort and utility on the bike but want to look fabulous at work or in the produce aisle. I'm not into labels but at over 50 it's fun to wear pants that proudly say "Harlot".

We first saw these clothes at http://www.recycledcycles.com/ in Seattle, K bought capris and loved them. Comfortable, pockets in the right spots, fits your bike quads and hams and shows off those calves you suffered mightily for. Recently I went online to peruse some more and to my shock saw they were having a huge sale. Prices were so low I thought they are going out of business like our belated fave Ballard Organics.

I'm happy to find while Harlot has new owners they are vowing to stay made in USA. So watch this space http://harlotbikewear.com/

How will we live without ....

... Hobby Lobby? I've never been there but if you're progressive and crafty what are you going to do? Here's some made in USA ideas. You can sketch, doodle, scrapbook and paint on one of these:

http://www.ecosystemlife.com/

The blogger takes no responsibility for health care options available to the staff.

It's a matter of scale.

Buy a doorknob, a bath mat, a lampshade. Oh what the hell, let's just make the whole damn house Made in USA:

http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/ann-arbor-homebuilders-look-to-build-houses-with-products-made-in-america/

I forget what we bought ....

... but it must have been great. I found them in my "Good stuff made here" folder so it must be just that. And it must have been storage. That's what they make, we have way too much stuff and nowhere to put it all.

Look for these folks in shops like the Container Store and other fine hoarder solutions retailers. Here's the link and a well drawn argument as to why we read the label.

http://www.unitedsolutions-plastics.com/madeinusa.html

Saddle up!

Earlier in this blug we talked about bikes made in the good ol' USA:

http://madeinusareviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/one-day-in-lbs-local-bike-shop.html

Most frames are not made here though there are excellent and somewhat pricey exceptions. Your bike can have many domestic parts. At the top of the list of what makes cycling fun is a well fitted saddle. If   you've yet to fall in love at first sit with a saddle it's well worth your time to read:

http://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering/ask-the-engineers/the-four-and-a-half-rules-of-road-saddles-.html

One of the better saddles is Sella An Atomica. Here's a video about the company and workers who build one of the best saddles.

http://vimeo.com/43620714

Back to Seattle in a moment ...

We have many happy memories of days spent at Pescadero. Just off Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz is this little town, blink and you'll be past it. I hesitate to write this because I don't want it to get crowded spoiled but wait. Nobody reads my blog but you, gentle readers. We're safe.

I've learned not shop on empty stomach get artichoke bread and pasta sauce at the store across the street. You could build a picnic, they have everything you need.

Or sit down for Italian food at Duarte's and then go shop here:

http://www.madeinpescadero.com/

You'll find furniture, weavings, pottery, sculptures and most by local coastal artisans. One quiet day they showed us the furniture workshop with repurposed wood being cured for custom beds and furniture. Wonderful to see the craftsmanship behind the scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC8AEORuFlQ&feature=youtu.be

I wonder why I did not try the Wonder Walker before?

Previously on Made in USA Reviews we saw our heros meet a supermodel for a locally made product, the Wonder Walker:

http://madeinusareviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/we-met-super-model.html

Mae, the dog you see at the top of the screen and also here on her custom doggie platform bed is my late dog.

She had many fine qualities and like all dogs some quirks. She liked cows, horses, geese, pigs, alpacas, and had a BFF kangaroo. But she had issues with dogs, unless she considered them "her dog". She table surfed or at least tried to often.

But she had great leash manners. We walked as one, walking her was a pleasure.

Now that she's gone there are two dogs in our lives; B, a large mature dog, and P (not their real names), a small Puggle.

P has just completed his first puppy manners class, B has his Canine Good Citizen certification. And they both pull like a son of a gun!

I knew about the Wonder Walker, P's trainer at Puppy Manners Class recommended the Wonder Walker. So I finally got one.

Wow, it's a wonder! There was an immediate result. From the first walk with it the pulling vanished, no skating off to the side, pulling into traffic at intersections (the most frightening aspect) all gone.

The halter is no replacement for continued positive training and the work and play so he can succeed at Puppy Manners II. But it's a remarkable invention and made an immediate difference. If a dog owns you, get one:

http://www.wonderwalkerbodyhalter.com/

Just in time for Valentines day

We found these just in time for the holidays. The design was whitty, well drawn and our friends loved the cards.  In a world where we keep in touch by Facebook, blogs and text sometimes a card is just what you need. A collective of Portland artists designs each card. They are printed in the good ol' USA on sustainably sourced paper on soy and vegetable based ink.

www.allport.com