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Our Best Friends: Photo Contest

February 21, 2011

This week, we’re celebrating our favorite pets. Whether you (like me) gaze longingly into the window of every pet store and stop at pet adoption fair you pass, or you already have a beloved pet in your family, I’m betting you have a great collections of photos, videos and stories to share.


Jessica, our graphic designer, shared this pic of her dog Jingles (L) with Madison (R).

So this week, you can share them with the UncommonGoods community by joining our group on Flickr, posting to our Facebook wall, tweeting @uncommongoods, or leaving a comment below.

We’ve got some pet-friendly gifts to give away, and if your pet is posing with a pet-friendly gift from UncommonGoods, we just might add your pet’s photo or video to our website!

We’ll announce our winner(s) next week.

The Uncommon Life

Meet the Author: Exclusive Facebook Event

February 14, 2011

If you haven’t read Little Princes yet, here’s your chance! On February 25th, author Conor Grennan is joining us on Facebook for a real-time Q&A. You can ask Conor your questions today, by leaving a comment below, and automatically be entered to win one of five signed hardcover copies of his brand new book.

From his book:

“IT WAS WELL AFTER nightfall when I realized we had gone the wrong way. The village I had been looking for was somewhere up the mountain. In my condition, it would be several hours’ walk up a rocky trail, if we could even find the trail in the pitch-dark. My two porters and I had been walking for thirteen hours straight. Winter at night in the mountains of northwestern Nepal is bitterly cold, and we had no shelter. Two of our three flashlights had burned out. Worse, we were deep in a Maoist rebel stronghold, not far from where a colleague had been kidnapped almost exactly one year before. I would have shared this fact with my porters, but we were unable to com­municate; I spoke only a few words of the local dialect.” Read more.

Little Princes is the true story of Conor Grennan’s journey to Nepal and how he found his life’s focus, helping reunite orphaned children with their families. In the vein of Three Cups of Tea or Mountains Beyond Mountains, it’s one of those feel-good memoirs that reminds us all how much of a difference we can make in the world.

What I loved so much about Grennan’s story was that he didn’t start out with a save-the-world mission. He was traveling around the globe on his own adventure, and only stopped off to volunteer for a month in Nepal to impress his friends and family. But his transformation was truly inspiring.

So join us on February 25th at 3 pm for a chance to talk to Conor, learn more about his work with our Better to Give partner Next Generation Nepal, and win a free signed copy hardcover edition of Little Princes.

RSVP today, by leaving a comment or question for Conor below.

The Uncommon Life

Thank You from AmeriCares

February 11, 2011

To Uncommongoods, your customers and employees,

On behalf of AmeriCares, I would like to thank you for your continued support of our organization and your dedication to our mission. Your commitment to us has helped save hundreds if not thousands of lives. Let me tell you what your support recently accomplished…


El Salvador, photo credit Miguel Samper

Your recent support helped deliver a shipment of crucial medical aid to Darfur, Sudan, to ease the suffering of families in this war-torn region. The air shipment included medicines and medical supplies to treat serious infections, malaria, and other deadly diseases, as well as infection control items, hypodermic needles and rehydration supplies to protect refugee communities. We also delivered nutritional supplements for pregnant mothers and young children to help prevent malnutrition.

Right here in the United States, AmeriCares helped provide lifesaving prescription medicines to families in every state. Since we started our U.S.-based Patient Assistance Program, more than 3 million prescriptions have been filled at an estimated value of over $2 billion!

And our efforts in post-earthquake Haiti – supported by you– have been combating an outbreak of cholera that has infected over 130,000 people. Since late October, AmeriCares has delivered over 40 shipments to 28 hospitals and clinics treating cholera patients, with more shipments planned to re-stock clinics and hospitals to help stem the outbreak.


Haiti, photo credit Kelly Cohoon

Every one of these efforts – and hundreds more in over 90 countries last year – helped save the lives of children, mothers, fathers and other family members in crisis because of poverty, natural disasters, civil conflict, or disease outbreaks. That’s the power of your support.

We are grateful for the chance to make a difference every day in the lives of the most vulnerable, thanks to your consistent generosity. You have our deepest thanks and appreciation.

With gratitude and warm regards,

Amee Tolia,
Senior Associate, Development
AmeriCares
To learn more please visit us at: www.AmeriCares.org

Design

Calling All Bloggers

February 7, 2011

ETA February 17, 2011: Thanks to everyone who shared their blogs with us this past week. I’ve had so much fun reading! Check out the winning bloggers: Style Substance Soul and Kimberly Michelle.

To everyone else who entered, stay tuned for future opportunities! And thanks for all your support.

This just in: New wallet tools are here to help you out of any jam. These credit-card sized sheets of stainless steel transform into dice, cufflinks, wrenches and a mini photo frame. We think they’re perfect for busy people on the go, a nice gift for someone at the office, and a must-have for a night out. What do you think?

We’ve got a set of these new wallet tools to give to a great blogger. Let us know if you’d like to be the one to review these fun gifts and share them with your readers!

Leave a comment below, and don’t forget to include a link to your blog! Let us know what kinds of products you’re interested in reviewing, so we can keep you posted with future opportunities.

Gift Guides

Biodiversity Bombs

February 2, 2011

Punxsutawney Phil has spoken, and if the groundhog is to be believed, it looks like spring is right around the corner. Time to start thinking about spring flowers?

Last week, Treehugger blogger Sami Grover wrote about a growing movement of people swapping seeds. These folks are planting more than plants and vegetables; they’re committed to biodiversity in their gardens. Many will be meeting up in England for a “Seedy Sunday” this weekend.

But if there’s too much snow on the ground to make it to a seed swap in your area, get started with our brand new wildflower seed bombs. Choose a packet from your region, and you’ll be ready to go with wildflower seeds native suited to your area. Each bag contains 5 seed bombs, plenty to fill your backyard or share with your neighbors.

Originally these bombs were created as a way to revive vacant lots in Cincinnati. But I think they might just revive all of us from the winter blues!

Read on for a full list of seeds included in each set.

Continue Reading…

Maker Stories

Busy Signals

January 31, 2011

Congratulations to our winner, Lucy, who said:

I hate being tied to a phone, so will gladly turn it off for myself. I will also tell all those who regularly call me that I will have it off and they should call me the day before or after Valentine’s Day. I want to devote and focus the entire day on my family, not my phone. One I love (family); one I merely tolerate (phone).

Every Valentine’s Day, we try to make time for the people we care about in our lives.

And our new Phonekerchief is a great way to signal your date that you’re not busy– your attention is all on them.

It’s not always easy to do. We’ve all got texts, apps, emails, and to-do lists. But this Valentine’s Day, we’re all trying to send the message, “My phone is off for you.”

Who will you turn your phone off for? Let us know for a chance to win a sweet Valentine’s Day gift.

Winner announced on Friday.

Design

And The Winner Is…

January 28, 2011

Congrats to Rachel W!

And a warm round of applause for our runners up:

“That’s gonna go straight to your handle.” — Chris B.

“Mug#1: Why the long face?
Mug #2: I’m only half full” — Lauren

Maker Stories

Behind the Scenes

January 27, 2011

Ever wondered what the story was behind our stump ring? Or who came up with the idea for Einspine’s Drying Line? (Bet you wouldn’t have guessed a chiropractor living in Malta!)

We just talked to Ingrid Zweifel, designer of the Phonekerchief, about the inspiration behind her conversational piece.

We’re going behind the scenes to bring you the true stories behind our most popular products. Want to know more about the designers or artists who created your favorite gifts? Let us know!