MamaGrizzly

You’re not surprised, are you? It’s yet ANOTHER recall in the Chinese made products problem. The following excerpt is from FoxNews

NEW YORK — Toys “R” Us has recalled 27,000 crayon and paint sets made in China because the packaging of the wooden box contains lead, as does some of the watercolor paint within, company and government officials said Thursday.

No injuries have been reported from the use of the Imaginarium Wooden Coloring Cases, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

I do hope that all of the parents out there are really taking this seriously and looking into purchasing more of their toys from US toymakers.

The toy recalls are becoming so common now that don’t even seem to be getting major headlines.  See my screen shot below of where I found this article on Fox News.  To be fair, I didn’t even find the article on the main page of CNN or MSNBC.

You just have to place this under the category of comical.

My darling husband had to have a set of fingerprints made and the agency requesting the fingerprints suggested that he go to the local police department. What a great idea! So, he did.

When he arrived there, he was told that it would be $20 to be fingerprinted. What?

The irony of the situation? If he had robbed a gas station, he could have gotten a FREE set of fingerprints AND a PASSPORT QUALITY photograph! 

Teresa of TOYSMADEINAMERICA.COM stopped by and left a comment on my  blog entry titled Buy Toys MADE IN AMERICA.

This is by far the most comprehensive list I have seen.  I encourage you to stop by there for all of your toy shopping - indoors AND outdoors!

SpongeBob SquarePants Address Books are being recalled over lead fears….  Here’s an excerpt from the article:

WASHINGTON —  An Ohio importer recalled nearly 250,000 SpongeBob SquarePants address books and journals manufactured in China because the bindings might contain hazardous levels of lead paint, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.

Martin Designs Inc. notified the agency that tests of the metal spiral bindings turned up lead content above the level considered safe for children, the CPSC said. Under regulations, children’s products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.

FoxNews has an article title Buy American: Toys Made in the USA.  In light of recent events in China, and Mattel’s attitude that they have no intention of changing their relationship with China, I will be seeking out more American made toys and products than ever before.  Here are some American toy manufacturer’s.  Let’s all do our best to support them.  Anyone have experience with any of the vendors below?

Melissa and Doug - I LOVE their products - especially their puzzles.

American Plastic Toys

Shop for America

Zebulon USA

US Made Toys

Uncle Goose Toys

Holgate Toy

Maple and Mark

Based on this article.  The headline is : Company has no plans to stop doing business in China. 

I’m in shock that Mattel doesn’t appear to be even considering any other options.  I plan to do some research and write some letters…. I’ll be back on this topic soon. 

Let’s ADD to the list of bad products from China - Report: Vinyl Baby Bibs Sold at Toys ‘R’ Us May Contain Lead appeared today on Fox News. 

This is a delicious cereal with milk or just a snack.   

6 cups oatmeal (regular oatmeal)
1.5 cups chopped pecans
2/3 cup wheat germ
1 cup sunflower seeds
2 cups sweetened coconut (optional)

combine the above ingredients in a bowl and mix well

1 cup butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup light brown sugar

melt butter and combine with honey and sugar

pour over the dry mixture and combine so that it is all “wet”  (I actually had to double the “wet” ingredients.  )

Pour mixture into 2 pans and spread out evenly.  Place one rack in the oven at the bottom of the oven and the other at the top of the oven.  Place one pan at the top and the other at the botttom and bake at 350 for about 50-60 minutes stirring often and swapping the dishes about half way through. 

When cereal is done, (it will be brown and crispy), place it on waxed paper and spread it out and let it cool.  Sprinkle on raisins or dried cranberries (or your favorite dried fruit). 

Refrigerate when done.  It keeps in the freezer for up to 6 months.

I won’t even PRETEND that there is anything healthy about this.  But it’s QUICK - and DELICIOUS!

You need:
2 - 16-18 ounce cans off your favorite pie filling (I love the apple pie filling)
1 package WHITE cake mix
1 cup melted butter

In a glass pyrex dish, dump in the pie filling and spread it out evenly.  Dump on the white cake mix - even it out as much as possible.l  Next pour the melted butter all over the white cake mix and try to get it spread out as evenly as possible ;

Place in the oven at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.

Serve hot!!  YUM!