An Uncommon Goods Gift Guide: Life’s Little Luxuries

There’s a team of people in New York City who call the old historic Brooklyn Army Terminal their office. They’re promoters of creativity, seekers of the cool and unusual and advocates for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

(Photo source)

Together, they work on a site called Uncommon Goods where you can find everything from Man Candles to all sorts of handmade goodies for Mother’s Day to glass balloons for birthday celebrations to all sorts of things you can personalise.

It’s a company that I can really get on board with, especially since they donate $1 from every purchase to one of their not-for-profit organisation partners. They support four of them: RAINN (The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), American Forests (who work to preserve our lovely green spaces), Women for Women International (who provide refugees with the resources and support they need to regain their self-sufficiency) and Reach Out & Read (a network of doctors and nurses who promote literacy). You can choose which organisation your purchase will support.

I think that it’s one of the little luxuries in life to be able to choose where we spend our money, whether it is in the big high street shops or independently-owned businesses like this who have strong values.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time scrolling through their website, so I thought I’d share some of my top picks along the theme of the life’s little luxuries:

1. Capture the moment print (to remember to be mindful)
2. Diana camera (for capturing the moment)
3. Colourful hammock (because relaxing is definitely a luxury!)
4. Quirky bud vase (to fill with pretty flowers)
5. Map print (to dream of the next trip)
6. Cat teepee (because Oakley is watching me write this…)
7. Rowboat serving dish (to make eating salad more fun)
8. Heirloom journal (for coming up with ideas to take over the world)
9. Whale stapler (why have a normal one when you can have a whale?)
10. Giraffe bookends (because I’m going on safari in August!)

Another thing I love about these guys is that, while not all products are handmade, they share a little profile of the artists who have created the ones that are and they eature maker stories regularly on their blog.

What are some of the brands or companies whose values you admire? Is this something you consider when you shop?

Note: This post has been sponsored by the lovely folks at Uncommon Goods. All opinions are, as always, my own.