Don't Buy Budweiser, Instead Try...

This blog series "Don't Buy... Instead Try..." intends to point out some of the most egregiously unethical, wasteful, and environmentally ridiculous companies out there. Instead of dwelling on their considerable awfulness, the series will focus on the other options you have for purchasing.

Every purchase we make is a vote for the kind of world we want. 
Every single purchase is political.
 Every single purchase has ethical ramifications, and 
every single purchase should be approached with a spirit of stewardship. 

We can change the world by refusing to fund extreme greed, the mistreatment of other human beings, and the trashing of the environment. We need to stay aware of the many choices available to us. Will we get it right every time? No. But if we all make little changes, we can send companies a new message, that consumers will show up if they do the right thing. 

from Hi Consumption

Budweiser is such a weird one. Their marketing team does a hell of a job making things look American- they are staples at the Super Bowl, they sponsor Nascar teams, they constantly peg themselves as American, they even sponsor a music festival called Made in America. Their company sells 50% of the beer drank in the United States; you can't get much more ubiquitous.

From Billboard

Not enough for you? This year the company got permission to change their name to "America Beer" and all of the packaging until the election will have "America" in place of "Budweiser" on it's packaging. That's how "patriotic" they are.

But of course, this isn't an American Beer anymore (or else why would I be writing this?). The money spent on this beer heads straight out of the country.

 The company started in the United States in 1876, so they have certainly been around the block. They also include Corona and Stella Artois.  The company- Anheuser-Busch InBev- is based out of Belgium and Brazil. These two bought Budweiser out in 2008. This company is huge, and their many brands make up 25% of the global market share for beer. Pretty impressive. They are also now owners of beer brewers in China, and they are trying to take over the market there as well.

In fact, the brewing of the Anheuser-Busch beer is starting to move to a brewery in China as well, so the money is going, and if we let them, the jobs will go too. Boo, Budweiser! I wincey face at you!

So, short version, if you want to keep your money in the United States, Budweiser isn't the beer for you, no matter how many commercials they buy for the Super Bowl.

Beer as an American institution is obviously a big thing, and lots of people care about it, so you can get really good information about how to tell if a beer is brewed in America. I like this How To best. If you can't live without your BudLight, at least do your research and buy the beer brewed here.

As a side note, I am not much of a drinker, and when I do drink I want it to taste as much like fruit juice as possible. So I can't comment on the taste or quality of beers, because I mostly still make a toddler icky face when I drink them. No shame, but it is important you know you are not dealing with an expert here. Still, the options here are so epically long, I can at least put some out there for you, and you can comment with which beers you like best!

1. Buy your Beer Local- Beer turns out to be one of the most local things you can buy in America. There are over 3000 breweries in this country. So many cities and regions have their own craft breweries. You can look up what is near you by using this craft beer map- I love this! You may not even realize it is a local thing unless you get out of town and can't find it. Seattle fits this description to the extreme, and you could probably drink only local beers your whole life and still miss a brand or two. Trying your local beers can be a new (delicious) challenge, and you will support the local economy and short shipping travels! Learn more about supporting your local breweries here.

2. Brew it yourself- Homebrewing may seem trendy, but like anything where you are making your own food, it is also eco-friendly! You learn a whole new set of skills, and you can brew your own beer to get it exactly how you like it. Curious about starting? Read more about what you need to start here. We just went to a dinner where the hosts had brewed something specifically for the birth of their daughter and Mommy's glorious return to alcohol. I think that is pretty awesome.

So these are the two first steps, but what if you are at a bar that isn't in to craft beers? Or you are on the road and don't know what's local (hint- ask someone). Here are the more mainstream beers I found that are owned, brewed, and packaged in the US:

from beerpulse.com

3. Samuel Adams and Angry Orchard- From the largest craft brewery in the United States, these beers and ciders are made by Boston Beer who have breweries in Boston, Pennsylvania and Ohio. If you are named after a founding father, you should probably stay in the US. Luckily, this company did. We generally buy Angry Orchard when hosting, because The Boy likes the ciders. They also have cool programs to support small breweries in America (a big difference from "macro-brewery" Budweiser, who actively antagonizes American brewers).

from Fat Tire

4. Fat Tire- Made by the New Belgium Brewing Company based out of Colorado. This ale has gained a lot of momentum in the past ten years, and at least on the West Coast, it is pretty easy to find. Even cooler? It's employee-owned by it's 480 employees, and they will employ another 154 Americans when their second brewery open in Asheville. Awesome American success story.

from American Beer TV

5. Sierra Nevada- Based out of Chico Calfornia, this brewer has won awards for their green practices and sustainability. Their pale ale is the second best selling craft beer in the US, so you can find them most anywhere. They have been around 30 years and are credited with starting the whole craft-brewing trend.

I could keep going- if America has 3000 breweries, you have about 2,997 more options of beers out there. You can visit and support amazing breweries across the US. I can name breweries or beers in most of the places we visit, which I think says a lot since I am not a beer drinker. It may seem strange at first to step away from Budweiser at first, but you might find something really great!

Want more shopping inspiration? Check out my Giant List of Shopping Lists.

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Throwback Thursday- The Top Ten Things that Always Make Me Feel Patriotic

This is a throwback to two summers ago now, but after so much crappy news, I thought I would bring it back in case anyone else needs a reminder that there are great things about this country. 

I don't know if everyone has been feeling this way, but the Supreme Court rulings on labor unions and religious preferences for corporations (businesses aren't people, and Hobby Lobby isn't all that representative of my faith) really bummed me out on a week where we are all supposed to be pretty excited for our nation's birthday (also fireworks, I love fireworks). Despite the immediate frustration of the week, I feel like there are so many reasons to feel good about this country. That's what I want to reflect on now:

from scotusmemes.wordpress.com

10. That we can fight about weeks like these- I want credit for writing the majority of this blog before I read Pag's article this week, but he made a good point, so let's add it here. RBG is a national treasure, and her dissent reminds us all that we have the right to speak openly about our disagreements. We always have the right for real discourse, whether we get in our own way about it or not. I am happy that I can live in a country where I can disagree with you, and you can also think I am full of it.

Update- RBG continues to be totally kickass, but this week talking about Justice Sotomayor might make more sense. 

9. The Rocky Mountains- Driving up to these mountains was one of the most giddy, pride-filled moments of my whole life. Does everyone have that feeling? One of the great things about America is that it is so large and complex that you can live here your whole life and still have it surprise and awe you. It's like learning something new about someone you care about and it only making you love it more. The Rocky Mountains makes the whole place feel bigger.

8. All National Parks- Each time I go, I am pretty blown away that my ancestors lucked out and landed in such a big, strange, and beautiful country. Plus, even on busy days, I have found people at National Parks to be good to each other (unlike airports or shopping malls).

7. That so many people volunteer- 1 in 4 adults volunteered last year, 7.9 BILLION hours of time given to others. Think about how much money that is. Even more exciting, our generation is one of the volunteeringest of recent history, which is pretty impressive when you consider we have infamously been short jobs and basic adult maturity. Our country values donating your time and giving to others (volunteers are twice as likely to donate money as non-volunteers). And it makes building up civic life in our country a team effort, which is pretty badass. Plus, think how many people would never learn to use tools (me? Am I the only one?) if not for this kind of thing. You see the value in your labor when you give it away.

6. Parades and Community Events- Because you get candy, and bands play, and you end up running into someone you really would rather not see. Also, because parades and the like are just another way we give away our time, labor, and often our talents so that the immediate world we live in is a more colorful place. If regula volunteering is a collective effort to help people survive, things like this (mostly i mean toddlers trying to twirl batons) is what makes that life worth living. Americans give their talent away in spades.

Update- I have a whole new appreciation for parades after going to the Fremont Solstice Parade in Seattle and seeing the naked bicycling. We are a diverse bunch of people, and we can be crazy and weird, but I believe in public space and I believe in celebrating anything (even naked bicycling) together.

5. Road Trips- Just drive between any two states in the USA, and you will be happy you live here.  Kitschy roadside attractions, scenic splendor, and convenience stores (I mean, can you really top Sheetz?) are all pretty awesome. 

from aproposfrance-usa.blogspot.com

4. That we are so different from each other, and that is good- I love having classes of kids of so many races and cultural backgrounds. Difference is one of our greatest strengths as a country, and I love living in a place where that difference is mostly accepted. We can all do better with this, but the first step is just appreciating how freaking cool it is that people in Hawaii may have very little in common with people from Nebraska culturally but that just means they have things to give/teach each other. I know this is naive and idealistic, but I believe it anyway, because I have seen it at work.

Update- Wow, this one makes me feel sad, because I do feel like we are losing this as a country, allowing fear and xenophobia keep us from appreciating difference. I hate to see people, especially my family and friends at times, see someone's difference as a potential threat. I still believe in this for our country, and I still see it on an interpersonal level everyday, but we need to fight for mutual understanding on a larger scale. The bright side is for every attempt to make us more afraid, someone else makes a push for greater understanding. Let's not lose this. 

from friendsofspl.wordpress.com

3. Public Libraries and Museums- Feeling bad about the country? Go to a public library. These institutions (and free museum systems like the Smithsonian) will make you feel better, because we prioritize learning enough to make it available to everybody. Plus, they are almost always staffed by cute old people, who just make everything better. If you were thinking to yourself a few minutes ago "Self, I should really volunteer more often" I would try helping out your local branch.

from http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857

2. The incredible amount of progress that has been made on gay marriage- Doesn't it do your heart good when you read yet another state has changed its stance on gay marriage? I know this is a boil that is a long time coming, but the turn around of public opinion and the adoption of these rights have been very inspiring. I am hopeful this momentum just keeps going, so I can raise my kids in a country where this systematic discrimination is a part of the past. Marry on!

And now- This battle has been won, and I am so glad, but I don't think we should just pat our back and move on, since recent events prove that there is violent hatred that still exists for this community and for transpeople. There is a lot of work left to do here, but I still feel encouraged that attitudes shifted so quickly, and it gives me hope for other areas (like environmental stewardship!).

1. Basically anything that has to do with The Boston Marathon- Nothing better encapsulates the greatest parts of us as Americans that at the Boston bombing, people turned and ran toward the bomb to help rather than turning away to ensure their own safety. The city's long term response to a truly awful moment are so inspiring, and seeing the images from the race this year will put nearly anyone in tears. I feel the same way when you read about the many people who go to help rebuild New Orleans or who have turned September 11th into a day of service. You have to feel good about living in a country where such dark moments consistently bring out the goodness in its people. I believe we are a country of really generous, kind, and courageous people. That's what I like to think about on the 4th of July as the fireworks go off- the light that chases out darkness. 

And now- We still have amazing helpers everywhere in this country. I was so inspired to see the pictures of people in Orlando lined up around the block to give blood to help the shooting victims. Or the story about Chick Fil A bringing food on a Sunday, complicating their image as gay-bashing. I think what it shows is that when we see someone needs help, Americans do something. Our desire to help trumps a lot of the other feelings swirling around right now, and I am so proud of that. 

Yay America! I hope there are light things going on in your life as our summer has started on such a dark foot.

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Don't Buy American Girl Dolls, Instead Try...

This blog series "Don't Buy... Instead Try..." intends to point out some of the most egregiously unethical, wasteful, and environmentally ridiculous companies out there. Instead of dwelling on their considerable awfulness, the series will focus on the other options you have for purchasing.

Every purchase we make is a vote for the kind of world we want. 
Every single purchase is political.
 Every single purchase has ethical ramifications, and 
every single purchase should be approached with a spirit of stewardship. 

We can change the world by refusing to fund extreme greed, the mistreatment of other human beings, and the trashing of the environment. We need to stay aware of the many choices available to us. Will we get it right every time? No. But if we all make little changes, we can send companies a new message, that consumers will show up if they do the right thing. 

from The Odyssey Online

Every girl in America in the 90's got the American Girl catalogs as regular mail to flip through. I think I read the vast majority of the historical fiction books that went with each doll. They covered an amazing spread of American history, from slavery to immigration to the effect of war on families. Pretty impressive when you think about it, and the dolls actually won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award multiple times for their educational value as well as play.

I don't remember being impressed deeply by the historical accuracy, but I loved the outfits. You could buy the dolls pajamas, dress up clothes, all the good stuff. I think Samantha was my favorite because she had the best stuff, though eventually Molly won me over. I mean, who can fight mid-century with glasses. I also went through an Addy phase and a Kiersten phase.

Remember, I never owned one of these dolls, though I did have tons of their books. That's how great I thought they were. I had a favorite without ever owning one.

So, it cuts me deep to do this to you, Molly.

Now, the company looks very different. Many of these historical dolls have been phased out and they have mega American Girl Doll Stores, not just the catalog. Go ahead, accuse me of just being bitter that they have discontinued all of my childhood dolls. It might be a little true, but it is only part of the story...

American Girls are all made in China. They aren't all that American at all.

American Girl dolls are also very expensive- 115 dollars a doll without any accessories. When a product made with cheap labor is this pricey, it's worth it to us to ask where the rest of that money goes to. Maybe before this was because the Pleasant Company still manufactured stateside, and they were only available by mail order. In 1998, the company became a subsidiary of Mattel.

Did you know Mattel (of Barbie fame) also owns American Girl dolls? And that all of that nonsense is made in China?  Mattel is another company that started out "All-American" but have since moved all of their labor overseas. So it is hard to feel too excited about Barbie's more "inclusive" line up when Mattel just got busted (yet again) for unsafe conditions for their workers.

 In 2015, both Mattel and Hasbro (the two most mainstream toy brands) failed inspections for the safety and treatment of their workers. They did so badly that they failed most of the Chinese labor laws for hiring and breaks, which is pretty impressive when you read how low those bars are. They began to be under scrutiny after a string of suicides by a sister company's workers. I hate this. I hate thinking that a child's toy, a desperate grab for a teeny bit of money, could be that destructive.

Equally disturbing is Mattel's history of very unsafe toys being made in these places. In 2007, the company recalled Barbies, Cars toys, and more because they had lead paint and unsafe magnets in them. 19 million toys had to be recalled for these reasons. Don't fool yourself, companies like these, with incredibly lax and irresponsible regard for their workers don't care more about you. If they can get away with poisoning your kids to make money, they probably will. Not exactly the American Dream, and a far cry from the really thoughtful designs that the American Girls began with.

Want to read more about how Mattel and Hasbro try to cheat their audits and refuse to comply with labor standards? Ethical Consumer has written multiple reviews on this exact topic.

Perhaps because of Barbie's clearer association with this nastiness, the company chooses not to connect the two brands, but they are both made by the same people. Yuck.

So, don't buy American Girl Dolls, Instead Try... 

1. Get them Used- Eh, this one is way tougher than most of what we have talked about, because they do still have a perceived value. On Ebay "American Girl" brings up 42,000 hits, but the dolls are actually a little more expensive. When I was a kid, the dolls were in a glass case in the library- serious business. So you can find old Molly's or Addy's, but they may be pretty expensive. You could also ask around on your local Buy Nothing, but again, perceived or emotional value might make these hard to part with.

from Pockets with Posies

2. Pockets with Posies- I love these rag dolls so much, and even if they are a little different from the American Girl dolls, I feel like they are special enough to be treasured on a similar scale. I am pretty sure this (or something very like it) is the doll that my cousin bought her daughter for Christmas, but she will have to let me know, because it is just a guess based on looks. The store is moving off of Etsy soon, but you can see the new link there. The store owner collaborates with her clients, so you could get any kind of doll that works for you.

from Roving One

3. Roving One- These rag dolls are in a similar spirit, but I think they are a little more affordable. You may have to keep an eye out for one that speaks to you. I just think they are so adorable- those legs are ridiculously sweet and lanky. Plus, they are a whopping 75 dollars cheaper than an American Girl doll.

from Riley Construction

4. Riley Construction- I think these dolls, more so than any of these others have a distinct style. They also come in more iterations (including Mermaid). Maybe not historically accurate to the American Age of Mermaids, but they still look great!

5. Kaiya's Room- Her dolls also have amazing legs. Maybe the most cartoony as opposed to stylish, but still darn cute and bound to be somebody's favorite. I also like that she does dolls of both genders, because I don't like when these things get overly girly.

Looking at even more dolls- Twiice Loved, Made with Luck, Le Petite Melina, and Little Side Kick.

from Sew My Goodness

If you already have an American Girl Doll...

So you already bought one of these dolls or your kid received one as a gift. Don't panic! The key to living a green life isn't about being perfect, it's just about trying to do better. You can find tons of great accessories and clothes for the doll. And instead of shelling out for their way overpriced accessories, try looking on Etsy for cute clothes and accessories- tons are out there! Here are some stores that sell really cute accessories:

My favorite- Sew My Goodness
Beezies Custom Dolls
Fizzy Zig Zag (Star Wars Stuff)
Little Doll Closet
JoDee Petites
Hardwood Furniture
Sandi's Dream Creation
Sweet Flutters
Creative Kids Fashions
Little Prince Charlie
Harper's Fashion City
My Fair Cottage
Faux Real Food

See how many options you have? Tons. It may be slightly different from the vision you had for your kids and grandkids, but if they don't mind, why should you? Skipping out on the American Girl doll is a vote for toy manufacturing moving back to the United States and ethical labor. Because if you are going to buy a 100 dollar doll, shouldn't it at least have been made ethically?

Want more shopping inspiration? Check out my Giant List of Shopping Lists.

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6 Things from this Weekend- San Francisco Edition

1.Nostalgia Food- It's amazing how many of the things we miss from our five years in California are edible (also, my dentist and lady doctor- less edible, equally amazing). We drove all over the Bay getting our favorite sandwiches and paella, and it made for such a fun (and filling) weekend. I may never need to eat again, but I am sure the fetus would object. It really highlights a downside of eating local- when you go, you really miss the food!

2. Awe-inspiring Recycling- Rather than toss their horrible hotel art, the hotel we stayed at ingeniously re-used their pictures of flowers and columns to decorate their underground parking garage. I want to give whoever thought of this a hug, because it is both eco-friendly and hilarious.

3. Getting to put my Shoulders out there- I love the off the shoulder trend, but it is hard to pull off as a prego. This is a non-maternity, Made in the USA My Space dress (super affordable), sized up one size and cinched with a belt. I think it looked pretty cute in my second trimester, though now in my third it is really being put through it. Still, if you are like me and want one ruffly thing, this could be it

4. First Drawing as a Family of Four- Yes, Scorpion is a Scorpion. Still, pretty cute!

5. The Science of Sharing at the Exploratorium- This science center always has a space for social phenomena and learning, and right now the exhibit is about how and when people help each other and share. It was both depressing at times and really uplifting in others. It also made me feel really grateful for all the sharing cultures I have seen taking place. I truly believe God designed us to share as humans, and that if we want to do His will, we should give what we have constantly. It's interesting to see the instincts of self-preservation that keep us all from that goal, but I am going to keep trying and I hope you will too.

6. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge- The last time we did this, we were moving away from the Bay Area, driving up the coast to move to Seattle. I was also pregnant with The Bub, but I wouldn't find out for another week. It's only been 2 and a half years, but it does feel so much longer. Anyway, it was good to revisit the bridge with Baby in tow, and I felt way more choked up about the whole thing than I expected to.

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Picture of the Week- Open your Golden Gates

We took a quick trip to San Francisco and the Bay Area this weekend to see some old friends and eat. Like a babymoon where you bring your spawn along. This is one of the beaches I came to when grad school stuff fell apart. Amazing how different life is now.

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Some Things to Feel Good About- Kids vs. McDonalds, UC San Diego Bottle Ban, and the Value of Values

I try to keep on top of the news around the environment, but I often cannot stand to read so much depressing news stories in a row. I am suspicious that this constant onslaught of bad news stomps out our motivation to try, because the problem just feels too big. On this blog, I am trying to propose an environmentalism that is personally sustainable- a bunch of little changes we can all keep up with, and I want to focus on the positive, not because I won't readily admit the problems we face are huge and important, but because good things are happening. It's worth focusing on and feeling empowered, because the changes we make CAN make a difference.

Wow, I am trying to think of a more depressing week for news, but it would be hard to top this one.I mean, just nothing kind to be found. But, there are good things out there!

1. Awesome Kids take on Plastic Straws- Meredith Moss in the UK started a petition to deliver to McDonald's CEO to encourage them to give up the plastic straws. Preach, girl! We use over 500,000,000 plastic straws A DAY, and if large restaurant chains like McDonalds gave them up or switched to paper, we could eliminate a tremendous amount of pointless. waste. Interested in backing her up? Read her story here, and even better, sign her petition here. Clean water is worth fighting for!

2. UC San Diego Bans Single Use Bottles on Campus- In the battle against single-use plastics, it doesn't get much better than a major university banning them completely. Please, let this continue to catch on. I don't think you can discount that a university right on the water can see the tremendous destruction caused by these bottles, and I am so pleased they are cutting the bottle (let's all follow in their lead). I am living for a world with boxed water, and I know it is coming.

3. Buffalo News "The Value of Values"- This article talks about the growing consumer investment in the ethics and values behind what they buy. It isn't just a race to the cheaperst option anymore, and thank God for that. Let's all keep learning this lesson and making the world better!

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Picture of the Week- I'm So Sorry, Kirby

Bougie Environmental Blogger: "Oh yeah, totally re-use party decorations as house decor to give them more life!"

Reality Barbara: "Let's just put this in the dining room, so it can watch us eat"

3 months and much better weather later, Kirby is kind of begging to be put out of his half-crushed misery. I am willing to bet he will still be up at the end of the summer. I will let you know.

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