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The Uncommon Life

The Uncommon Life

Better to Give: Quarterly Update

July 29, 2010

Way to go! Between April and June, you helped raise more than $15,000 for our Better to Give partners. Let’s check in and see what these great nonprofits have accomplished this year.

 

Americares has done incredible work in the past few months to support Gulf Coast families affected by the BP oil spill.  They’ve also sent more than $30 million in aid to Haiti, and continue to send aidworkers and fund to help the one million people who are still struggling to rebuild their lives.

American Forests is also reaching out to communities around the country and the world. In 2010 they’ve pledged to plant 4.8 million trees this year to help restore our planet’s forests.

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund is an amazing resource for artists and artisans around the country. They provide emergency relief and help artists to protect their work from natural disasters and other incidents. In this video, Katie Tonguis, a New Orleans potter talks about how CERF+ helped her rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

Defenders of Wildlife was a quick responder to the BP oil disaster on the Gulf Coast. Their experts have been coordinating efforts to protect oiled birds and animals, and they’ve also been on the ground working to clean up beaches. In the continuing months, they’ll continue to advocate for wildlife and be part of the efforts to recover Gulf Coast wetlands.

And CDI is working hard to help students here in New York City, to graduate high school and go on to successful lives.

Starting this month, we’re introducting a new Better to Give partner: B  Corporation. B Corp promotes a new kind of business that uses its profits to inspire social and environmental change. Rather than reward companies that seek profit at all costs, B Corp looks for companies that are accountable to their communities and working for positive social change.

UncommonGoods is one of the founding members of B Corp and we’re proud to include them in our Better to Give program.

So what’s Better to Give? It’s simple. Whenever you’re buying a gift at flowslowly.com, you can choose one of four organizations at check-out. We give a dollar from our profits to the organization of your choice. Easy, right?

Got an idea for an organization we should feature?  Leave a comment below!

The Uncommon Life

Gift Lab #10: Keshia’s Beach Party

July 28, 2010
Keshia

1) Product Name: The Collapsible Party Tub Cooler

 

Collapsible party tub cooler

 

2) Background research: I really LOVE going to the beach to just relax and have fun. And sure, a cooler serves as an ingenious concept for serving up an ice cold drink while sun bathing when it’s 80+ degrees outside. But it is always such a drag to have to lug the cooler when packing up to go home after it has already served its purpose. And of course I always forget about that hassle while on my way to the beach because all that is on my mind is having fun in the sun. Now, I find myself trying to convince Continue Reading…

The Uncommon Life

Welcome back the Plastiki

July 27, 2010

If you haven’t heard the news yet, be sure to congratulate the crew of the Plastiki on their epic voyage across the Pacific. They set out to raise awareness of the threats of plastic bottle waste and ended up inspiring a wave of activism.

Here at UncommonGoods we try to do our part.  We print our catalogs on recycled and FSC- certified paper. More than half of our products are handmade or constructed from recycled materials. We’re always looking for more ways to become more sustainable.

 

And just last week, we resolved to shake up our monthly company lunches. Each month we all get together for lunch, and we go through a fair amount of plastic plates and silverware.

So we agreed as a company that we would try to reduce and reuse. Next month, many of us will be dining with these Box Appetit lunch boxes.

And after seeing photos of the Plastiki docking in Sydney Harbor, I’m gearing up to do more.

What  about you? What kinds of things can you do to cut back on plastic waste?

The Uncommon Life

Just arrived: our latest catalog

July 26, 2010

 

Fall Catalog 2010

It’s hard to think about fall in the  middle of a heat wave…but I must admit it was nice to see our latest fall catalog – chock full of lots of fun new things for the end of summer and start of autumn. Plus, doing  a little online shopping with the AC blasting sure beats heading out in the heat!

Check it out: UncommonGoods online catalog.

The Uncommon Life

Introducing: UncommonGoods Scavenger Hunt!

July 23, 2010

scavenger hunt_1
Not like you needed another reason to put off work on Friday…but we will give you one anyways:)

The UncommonGoods Scavenger Hunt!

Here’s how it works:

We will put up a cropped photo of something that we sell (see photo above). Clues will be given out every 10-15 minutes on Twitter. Contestants will troll our website looking for the chosen item. The first person to write the correct answer in the comments below wins a $25 gift certificate to UncommonGoods! Be sure to include your Twitter name if you have it.

Here’s your first clue:

I try to dodge work whenever possible.

Tune into Twitter for more clues!

Good luck!

The Uncommon Life

Sweet Treats Week: Recipe #4

July 23, 2010

I love buying my groceries from the farmers who actually grew it.

Strawberry image by Bahadorjn, posted under a Creative Commons License

I just started going to the farmers market at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. In the past I’ve frequented markets in Carrboro, NC, DC and Vermont.  It can be hard to get up on a Saturday morning, but it’s worth it. Just check out this video of the farmers market in Burlington, VT!

But once I get home, I’m stumped. I just bought 3 lbs of strawberries! What do I do?

Continue Reading…

The Uncommon Life

Sweet Treats Week: Recipe #3

July 22, 2010

Orange Pineapple Sunshine Cupcakes

Doesn’t the name alone just make you smile? I’ve never met a more cheerful, upbeat dessert! If you have a summer birthday coming up, these are a fun alternative to typical ice cream cakes. They have a wonderfully delicate tropical-meets-vanilla flavor. And they feel very  light and airy – thanks to applesauce as a substitute for oil and whip cream frosting. Plus, with oranges, pineapples and applesauce – it’s practically like eating a fruit salad! At least that’s what I told myself as I ate one for breakfast this morning… Continue Reading…

The Uncommon Life

Sweet Treats Week: Recipe #2

July 21, 2010

Whether it’s cookouts or cocktails, every family has a twist on an old classic. Like an heirloom (but more fun), family recipes are passed down, tweaked, perfected—and if you’re a lucky dinner guest—shared.

As UG’s resident Cuban-American, I grew up chomping on ropa vieja (shredded beef) and frijoles negros (black beans) steeped with garlic and know-how. Always full, yes. Blessed, double yes. But much to the disappointment of my grandmother, I’ve gone untouched by the kitchen fairy. So when it comes to indulging my cultural pangs, I stick with our national pastime. No, not baseball. Our other social sport: mojito mixing.

My Havana-born parents can muddle a mojito blindfolded. Me, I need prescription contacts and a blender. Here’s what you’ll need to whip up Mango Mojitos fit for a Continue Reading…