Well? Did you survive the opening bell of the holiday season and strongarm some random stranger for that Tickle Me Elmo doll on Black Friday? Or did you avoid the shopping rush altogether and are starting to get a case of the cold sweats while looking at your gift list? Fear not! The Magpie is here to not only help you, but help you help the whole country, just by the simple look at a label. I'm talking about the label-consciousness that doesn't say whether or not something says Gucci or Louis Vuitton, it's the best possible name brand you can find: Made in the USA. 

Don't roll your eyes thinking everyone's going to be stuck with Pyrex measuring cups (yes, it's an American company!).  There are A LOT of domestic-made/manufactured products out there, and it's as easy as checking the labels. Granted, you can't get everything made in the US, but you can at least make it a point to be selective based on where an item is made, and make the choice to buy local. Even if it's a little shop that sells imported perfumes, that shopowner will be glad you made the purchase there, versus a big-box department store. With every dollar you spend for a local/American-made item, it's a way of investing in our own economy, our people, and a future aimed at growth.  

It's so easy to find thoughtful and meaningful gifts that follow the Made in the USA/Shop Local ideal -- here are some tips and ideas: 

Avoid the malls, stick to small neighborhood boutiques; there are always one-of-a-kind finds and sometimes if there's something you really want, the shop owner may be willing to work a deal. 
 
You can type in "Made in the USA" or "Made in America" on large shopping websites like Amazon, and they have a wide selection of everything from home/kitchen goods to beauty products. 
 
Buy gift cards from local restaurants or shops to give as gifts -- recipients can enjoy a favorite dish or be introduced to a new shop. 
 Look for craft shows, which are popular leading up to the holidays. It's not all lace doilies and creepy knitted dolls, you can find crowd-pleasing gifts like artisan foods, handmade soaps and candles and jewelry. 

Shop online for handmade crafts at Etsy.com - you can narrow your search by local artists and find a ton of unique, beautiful gifts for others (or yourself). Make sure to shop and order early, since a lot of the items are on short supply or might need to be made.  

Jaunty Fine Print: Graphic by Denise Sakaki, statistic from ABC News series Made in America

'Tis the season, says the Magpie, to start thinking of thoughtful gestures to bestow upon our loved ones... like a bar of soap that says "Filthy Cougar." Bwah-hah-hah!! Oh, come on, you laughed. At least a giggle or two.

It's also the season for us to make the commitment to buy local, small and independent, and/or Made in America, as much as possible. The tricky thing about an economy in peril is, you can't be such a Scrooge that businesses aren't allowed to thrive on much-needed consumer dollars. We've got to do our part! Which is exactly why we should use our Jaunty Powers for Good in the form of responsible consumer choices! Think of it as an adventure, exploring new places to buy gifts for loved ones, versus that care package of Chia Pets and hot pink Snuggies. 

For the month of December, I will be featuring fun, independent-minded businesses or sources for gift ideas. This one is one I've mentioned before on the blog -- meet Filthy Farmgirl, a lovely little handmade soap company that's in the tropical wonderland of Hawaii. I've frequented their table at the Hilo Farmers Market before, gathering up as many soaps as I can fit into my carry-on bag. But don't worry if you don't live in Hawaii, you can order their products online and they've got Free Shipping right now! Their soaps are all natural, promising "No Yucky Stuff," made with herbs and spices from local organic farmers and the products are vegan-friendly. Since I met them over a year ago, they've expanded their cheeky-named soap "flavors" to naughty number 69, and added Smoochie lip balms. They're an example of a little company that could, growing and thriving as an independent small business that supports its community, offering a really unique product that is most definitely made in America.  

I love that you can see whole bits of the ingredients they use in their soap, like grounds of coffee in their Mocha Minx, or lavender buds in their Lavender Rose Dreamland. And don't let the saucy names make you think it's too blush-worthy a gift for your Great Aunt Maude -- there's plenty of soaps whose names are as sweetly-named as the scents they carry, like Coconut Lime Slice, Sassy Honey Oatmeal, or Awesome Blossom. But let's be honest, don't you want to give your LOL-worthy friends a bar of soap named Filthy Beaver, Filthy Cock or Filthy Ass? And wouldn't your nerdy pals love a bar of soap with a Filthy Zombie or Filthy Flying Spaghetti Monster on it? They'll think it's so awesome, and smell so wonderful, they won't even want to use it. When I give these soaps to friends, they often keep them as sweet-smelling silly showpieces in their bathrooms. And the ones that do use them are very pleased with the results, loving how they're getting clean with something Filthy.

So when you're making your list, checking it twice, put Filthy Farmgirl on the shopping list and order now, before the holidays!


Jaunty Fine Print:  photos by Denise Sakaki, soaps by Filthy Farmgirl