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The Uncommon Life

The Latest Addition to UncommonGoods

March 9, 2011

Here at our offices in Brooklyn, we have a really fun sample meeting every Thursday. Our buyers all crowd into a meeting room, filled with carts and bags of goodies. Each buyer presents their finds in front of the whole team, and together they decide which amazing gifts and home items will end up on our website and in our catalog.

We want you to have a seat at the table. This week, we’re launching our community voting app, and offering you a way to give your thumbs up or thumbs down on all our finds. Now you can see the newest gifts on the market before they’re even available.

In the past, you’ve helped us pick the color of sari scarf and you’ve shared your fantastic ideas for new products like Multiblocks and the reclaimed seatbelt chair. We love your feedback and ideas!

We designed this voting app with you in mind. We’re reading every comment and tallying every vote. Our community voting app is here to make it really easy (and fun!) for you to share your ideas and get a sneak peek at all our unique finds.

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Design

And the Shower Squid Says…

March 9, 2011

This week, we’ve gotten dozens of submissions for our caption contest. Now we need your help to pick the winner.

Here are our favorites so far (but leave a comment if we missed a good one!):

‎1. “No, I won’t wash your back, my hands are full…” — Marcie Kuehl

2. Many hands make light work. — Heather Berkner Stratz

3. Is that a shampoo bottle in your hand or are you just happy to see me? — Lori Humphrey Waller

4. I got this… and that, and that, and that. — Jane Heron Bennington

5. A little dab here, a little squirt there, all clean. — Mike Guessetto

6. “Honey how many oz. can we put in our carry on?” — @mmc67

7. Don’t worry, I’ve got a HAND-le on that– @alas3lads

Leave a comment below to cast your vote!

Gift Guides

Remake, Renovate, Redecorate

March 1, 2011

These are the three R’s of springtime. After a long winter, who doesn’t want a new look for their home? We just showed you some great ways to liven up your bathroom, but we’re not stopping there.

What’s next on our redecorating spree?

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Gift Guides

Prizewinning Pets

February 28, 2011

More than 100 UncommonGoods customers shared their best photos, videos and stories with us during the last week, and we sure had a hard time picking our favorites. But here they are, the prize-winning pets.

First Prize:

Molly

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The Uncommon Life

Getting Some Facetime

February 25, 2011

How often do you get to meet your favorite authors? Not that often, am I right! Luckily Conor Grennan, bestselling author of Little Princes, took some time off from his book tour to join us today on Facebook, for a quick chat.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Little Princes yet, you’re going to want to after hearing all about Conor’s adventures. Read on for more about coming face to face with a child trafficker, dealing with dysentery, and the joys of eating an apple.

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The Uncommon Life

Meet the Author Update

February 24, 2011

We’re so excited to meet author Conor Grennan tomorrow at 3 pm on our Facebook page, and I can tell by all your questions that it’s going to be a great event!

Conor has devoted his life to helping reunite children in Nepal with their families, after a decade-long civil war, and his book Little Princes is a real call to action for all of us.

I think Conor’s going to have some great suggestions for ways we can all help. But I want to start out by telling you about our Better To Give Partner, Next Generation Nepal. Founded by Conor Grennan, this amazing nonprofit offers temporary care and education for children trafficked into Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu, and slowly but surely are reconnecting these children with their families in rural and remote mountain villages.

Right now, you can choose for Next Generation Nepal to receive $1 from us, each time you make a purchase. And on Friday, February 25, in honor of our Q&A with Conor Grennan, we’ll be doubling our donation amount.

So if you haven’t picked up a copy of Little Princes yet, you can make a difference for children at the Little Princes orphanage, by buying your copy on Friday. Just remember to select Next Generation Nepal at checkout!