Made in the USA - Products we LOVE

Made in the USA! Products we LOVE…

In a time when we can purchase just about anything right from the tips of our fingers, it is often hard to sort through all the marketing chaos to find solid, American companies with ethically sourced products. The rise and fall of big tech companies all vying for the almighty American dollar. Health fads have come and gone but one truth seems to have outlasted any marketing campaign - Natural is Best. As our healthcare costs skyrocket for various reasons, part of the solution is for all of us to be healthier. Regular exercise, eating clean and fresh and  putting products on our bodies and around us that are as simple and healthy as possible. (Avoiding synthetic fragrances and stuff that’s so chemically processed the ingredient list is unpronounceable.) Add in products that are made in the USA, grown here when possible, supports our veterans, helps our environment and we have hit the jackpot. And while it is unrealistic to think that every item will hit every check mark on my list, there are many American companies that are doing their part to hit as many as possible. 


This particular blog will be an ongoing collaboration of companies and products that our family has tried and loves - Most of  the products will be from American companies that source as much as possible from here in the US or ethically source from other countries (think coffee beans) and assemble here in the USA. If you find products you love that aren’t on this list, please email us at IronSideRanchLLC@gmail.com. Would love to hear about what you have found that’s American made! Some companies are open about their political stances and some aren’t - and while we have our own set of personal beliefs and values, we try to let the products speak for themselves. Please send us companies that you’ve found and love and we’ll check them out and share!


Black Rifle Coffee
https://www.blackriflecoffee.com
“Black Rifle Coffee Company is a veteran-owned coffee company serving premium coffee to people who love America.” Mackay and I are avid coffee drinkers and have tried different brands over the years - everything from Folgers, Starbucks, to Fresh Market varieties and Black Rifle Coffee is by far the best we have had. We love that they are a veteran owned company and have great tasting coffee! We finally bit the bullet and joined their monthly subscription and have not once regretted it. We enjoy medium roasts and have found “Coffee or Die” to be one of our favorites but have in no way extinguished all of their options.  You can buy ground or whole bean and in the whole bean category, they also offer a certified organic variety. What’s more American than supporting our Veterans while drinking an all-American drink, coffee? Best. Coffee. Ever. 


Legends Creek Farm
https://www.legendscreekfarm.com
We enjoy their body lotions and soap. This is a company that is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny. They love their goats and so do we! They raise and keep all of their goats, offspring included; each with a name! As I lather on my lotion that ingredients that I recognize, I wonder which momma goat gave the milk for my bottle. Their customer service is great - I had an issue with my first order and they resolved it quickly. We all have sensitive skin (our daughter has mild eczema) and in combination with a healthy lifestyle, Legends Creek Farm products have been very helpful in keeping her skin clear. They included a free lip balm/chapstick in my last order that I love just as much Burt’s Bees - we are now moving to Legends Creek Farm for chapstick too! The body lotions go on smooth and don’t leave a greasy residue. I love their whipped lotions during the winter when I need just a little something more for dry skin. Their goat milk soap is refreshing, washes off nicely and has wonderful but light scents. (The triple milled bars last a LONG time.) If you don’t have the time or resources to make your own soap, this is a wonderful alternative for the whole family. Honest, simple ingredients for great products.


MyPillow
https://www.mypillow.com
I cannot speak highly enough of MyPillow quality and products. The founder of MyPillow, Mike Lindell’s story is truly quite amazing and an inspiration to many young entrepreneurs. Several months ago we purchased a mattress topper out of necessity for Mackay’s back. Back problems naturally take time to heal and he’s made progressive progress these past few months. How I wish we had had this when I was pregnant! We also have really enjoyed their sheets and towels too. Made in the USA and generally with American materials (USA cotton). Everything is really well made, soft and durable. I think it’s funny that we still haven’t purchased the pillows yet, but they’re on the list! Wait for their discount codes via emails or texts to get the best deals. 


HankyPanky
https://www.hankypanky.com
They have come a long way since their original embroidered handkerchiefs. Ladies, these are the most comfortable bras and underwear you will ever wear. They use ethically sourced materials and all made in the wonderful USA (including all the cotton fibers). I have not tried their famous “lace butter” thongs yet but their uhm, more full coverage options, fit beautifully. I did a lot of research looking for attractive, wearable underwear that didn’t cost an arm and a leg and this is what I found. In order to keep it more friendly to my budget, I buy from their 3 for $48 and have been quite happy with the selections. It seems that the majority of underwear is made in China (or extremely expensive options from Europe) or IF they’re made here, they’re something that looks like my Grandma would wear - but NOT HankyPanky! Their designs are sexy, wearable, comfortable and sustainable. The dyes are eco-friendly and adhere to the American environmental regulations. They also offer a “Lingeriecycle” program where you mail them your clean, used/worn out lingerie and they recycle it into carpet padding. My envelope is just about full of my old lingerie and will be mailed after my next order or two of replacement underwear. I will admit, my husband does seem to enjoy me wearing them but ultimately, I buy them for me! Great products for when you want to get the hanky Panky going or when you just want to feel beautiful and comfortable for yourself.


GoPure
https://gopurebeauty.com
Skin care - taking care of our largest organ in our body is important! And let’s face it, most women are trying to beat the clock and looking for ways to look as young possible. There are sooooo many lines of skincare available and many are quite expensive. I wanted a line that had simple ingredients, no artificial fragrances, no parabens, no words I couldn’t pronounce, and was budget friendly. This is what I found - all made in the USA from globally sourced materials. They are 100% cruelty-free. They don’t pay celebrities to endorse their products and they had wonderful reviews. I’ve been using their products now for just over a year and have been very pleased with the line as a whole. There are a variety of products for skin types - I have dry skin and love their Glyco-Peptide anti wrinkle moisturizer that I mix with a few drops of their Pure Rosehip Oil. Their Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid serums are also on my favorite list. Shop their bundles for the best deals.


Plant Therapy
www.planttherapy.com
Finally a place to buy essential oils that isn’t a multi-level marketing company! They offer a variety of products but I have fallen in love with their essential oils. They are safe and effective, top quality and affordable. If you love a quality product but are tired of monthly subscriptions, look no further. Their website is full of useful information, blogs on safety and efficacy, oils for children and pets and they even include sticker labels for the top of the bottles! I can easily find the essential oil I’m looking for without having to touch each bottle to view the label. We go through a lot of lavender, peppermint and lemon and they have conveniently offered 100 ml bottle options! Go smell your way to a happier day…


Puracy
www.puracy.com
Body wash and shampoo! All Plant-based, 99.3% all natural, organic ingredients made in the USA (of course). We buy our body wash and shampoo in bulk from Puracy. I originally started buying from them when we had a new-born because we wanted something safe for his delicate skin that was guaranteed to be made here in the USA. Since then, we have expanded into their body wash, shampoo and conditioner for the rest of the family. They also have other products but these are the ones that we use and love. Eco-friendly, pronounceable ingredients, ethically sourced and made in Texas. This company has won many major awards (not that I really care about that) and been featured in magazines (don’t care about that either). We reuse the original bottles and refill from their 64oz containers. Their products are safe for color-treated hair, animal friendly (certified cruelty free), great for your skin and everyone in your household.


Badger Balm
https://www.badgerbalm.com/
Sunscreen at its finest! This is perhaps one of my happier finds! The company just seems like a wonderful company, on-site childcare, allows newborns to join parents at work, very observant of environmental impact of their products and I love their Natural Mineral Face Sunscreen “Damascus Rose”. Finally a sunscreen that I can wear on my face that doesn’t clog my pores, leave a white residue, works great under make up or bare faced. All of the ingredients are organic, nonGMO, cruelty-free certified, nonNano. Their sunscreens are not a chemical based sunscreen, but use natural minerals like zinc.  I have only tried the Damascus Rose facial sunscreen but will definitely be expanding into their other products. We will be buying their reef-friendly body sunscreen for when we are out on the lake (want to protect all animal wildlife, not just the reefs) and bug spray. We are out in the woods all the time and love that they have Deet-Free options that are based with organic citronella, cedar and lemongrass. Protection from the sun while enjoying family time out in it. Bring on the summer!


Woodland Mills
woodlandmills.com
Forestry Equipment
Finding good quality, affordable forestry equipment Not made in China has been quite an undertaking. This company is based in Canada and has some wonderful equipment. We just bought one of their sawmills (Mackay will be doing a youtube video on it sometime this summer and I’ll update this post with a link to it at that time.) He is very impressed with their quality of products and customer service. Their products are great for everyone from the hobby woodworker to the full-time logger and master wood worker. Sawmills, stump grinders, wood chippers -  think of all the projects! Definitely worth the extra shipping wait because their products are in such high demand!


Iron Side Ranch LLC
www.ironsideranchllc.com
Best Beef and Pork available in Alabama! Of course I had to plug our own grass fed, nonGMO raised cows and pigs! Steaks ready to be seared on the grill, fresh pulled pork ready for the bbq party and cookout, sausage and bacon for Sunday morning brunch and hamburgers for your family get-together. All locally sourced, raised in sunshine, fresh air, salad bar variety greens, hay and hog feed from Tucker Milling (think organic, nonGMO, everything grown in Alabama).  We utilize ranching practices that are great for the environment while encouraging natural animal biodiversity, grasses, tree stands and eventually water conservation (think pond development and reduced run-off) and solar-energy. We have happy cows and happy hogs which means the best tasting meat in town… Farm tours will be available later this year and a farm store opening soon for select-cuts to be purchased on-demand.