My Grandma Hannah was the first person to introduce me to palindromes, words that read the same backward and forward. Her name, with its impeccable symmetry and simple syllables, still wins as my favorite palindrome. “Mom” is another favorite, though for different reasons. Sure, it was one of the first words I uttered and it holds powerful meaning in my life. But what really tickles me is that the word “MOM” when written in all upper-case letters spells “WOW.”
How perfect is that? Seriously.
The next Instagram Challenge theme is Wanderlust. For some of us, Instagram might fuel our foodie fire, or it might challenge us to master an unshakable crow pose. But for those who have a chronic itch to experience the world, Instagram presents a whole new can of worms. While your go-to #TravelTuesday accounts might temporarily alleviate your wanderlust, we know that the only real solution is to get up and go. Now that the weather is heating up, it’s time to get moving!
The next Instagram Challenge theme is Spring Cleaning. As you may have noticed, our blog just went through its own spring clean. All winter long, the blog team rolled up their sleeves and brainstormed ways to de-clutter, reorganize, and redesign The Goods. We’re still clearing some dusty corners, but we can all agree that the blog looks better than ever. We now have a clean slate to introduce you to more artists, help you discover uncommon facts, immerse yourself in creative design, and get to know the people who keep UncommonGoods going strong.
Whether it’s organizing your home for the new season, or clearing your closet for an updated wardrobe, we want to see how you’re tackling the annual clean-up!
The next Instagram Challenge theme is CELEBRATE WOMEN. We decided to introduce this challenge with the cover photo of the beautiful “Well Read Women: A Reader’s Journal.” Moved by the female heroines throughout literary history, artist Samantha Hahn created watercolor portraits that captured the complex spirit of her favorite characters. She assembled her collection in a journal that allows readers to reflect on the admirable, flawed, and empowering qualities in each of these women, protagonists who continue to inspire the values of women today. In honor of Women’s History Month, join us in celebrating history in the making. We want to see the women who inspire you! Be sure to tag your photos and stories with #UGInstaFun to be in the running for a $50 gift card. Visit here to see the entries we’ve received so far and scroll down to view some of our favorite empowering gifts.
The next Instagram Challenge theme is CRAFTING. One of my unexpected joys from working at UncommonGoods is the inspiration to try new projects. It’s no secret that our vendors are a very crafty bunch, but our internal team is also full of talented dabblers. When we’re not working on a new catalog, you may find us learning how to knit, coloring for fun, mastering tie-dye techniques, and making weaving look easy. Given that we’re all more susceptible to introspective projects during the winter hibernation months, we thought it would be the perfect time to see your crafty creations! While sharing your photos, be sure to use the hashtag #UGInstaFun to be in the running for a $50 gift card. Visit here to see the creative entries we’ve received so far and scroll down to view some of our favorite crafting essentials from UncommonGoods.
Here at UncommonGoods, it’s our policy to use business as a force for good. Through our Better to Give program, it’s important to us that we connect our customers with charities that impact the world in a positive way. In the wake of the water emergency in Flint, MI, we have partnered with the Community Foundation of Greater Flint to help raise donations for its Flint Child Health & Development Fund.
On January 16, 2016, President Obama declared a federal state of emergency in Flint, MI. The city has been afflicted with a public health crisis since 2014, when evidence first surfaced that its potable water supply was contaminated with lead. According to USA Today, Eden Wells, Michigan’s chief medical executive, has determined that “every Flint child under 6 years of age — 8,657 children, based on an analysis of Census data — should be considered exposed to lead.”
The Flint Child Heath & Development Fund is dedicated to providing children affected by the city’s water crisis with critical resources and interventions that support positive health outcomes. UncommonGoods has committed to donating at least $1,500 to the Fund. For every customer that selects this non-profit through our Better to Give page during checkout, we will donate $1 on your behalf.
If you would like to donate directly to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund, please visit this link.
For the most up-to-date information, you can follow the Community Foundation of Greater Flint on Facebook.
Since teaming up with our friends at Mental_Floss last year to produce printable, trivia-packed party kits, we have had lots of fun introducing download-it-yourself gift tags, cheese tags, and holiday cards, available to you for FREE! For Valentine’s Day, we took this DIY assortment to the next level with Printable Valentine’s Day Fortune Cookies.
The concept is sweet and simple: You print the cookie shapes and fortune strips, follow the included instructions for origami-style folding and filling, and add a dab of glue to finish. The download is complete with four pre-written fortunes that range from romantic to racy, and four blank strips for you to fill in a message for your Valentine.
Given that I generally view the world through my stomach, it didn’t take long before I decided that homemade fortune cookies would be part of my immediate future.
The next Instagram Challenge theme is OUTSIDE YOUR WINTER WINDOW. We did a little something different when deciding which photo to use to promote this contest. I tried to picture what winter looked like outside the windows of my past, but as a native Floridian turned New Yorker, my mind kept shifting between palm trees and piles of dirty city snow. We talked about snow globes, snow gauges, and starry landscapes. We imagined deer roaming through a winter wonderland. Ultimately, these abstract perspectives of what this season looks like inspired us to use artist Renée Leone’s vibrant piece Blizzard. This image illustrates her perspective on winter in Chicago, specifically from North Avenue Beach and Lake Shore Drive. Through geometric patterning, she created a personal portrait that not only depicts what she saw in this particular location, but also what she felt.