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Gift Guides

Gift Lab: Indoor Grilling Made Easy with the Flipside Stovetop Grill

June 28, 2016

Louise Gift Lab

 

Product:

Flipside Stovetop Grill

Research:

As the Inventory Planner for our Tabletop category, I am usually one of the first to get a sneak peek at the new items being added to our assortment of kitchen and cooking tools. When NéQuana, our tabletop buyer, showed me the Flipside Stovetop Grill, she thankfully noticed when my eyes lit up and offered to let me take it for a spin.
I’m a lifelong New Yorker, which means not only do I not currently have my own outdoor space, I have never had my own outdoor space. I dream of one day having a space to grill outside, but given that that time is still in the future (and that even when it happens, there will still be winters), a grill pan has been on my kitchen wish list for a while. I was particularly drawn to the Flipside Stovetop Grill because it is wide enough to cover two burners, and being able to cook in larger batches is always appealing to me – doing multiple rounds in the same pan is a pain, messy, and the first batch gets cold while subsequent batches are being cooked. When it was pointed out to me that the “Flipside” of the grill pan acts as a griddle, I was sold. It came home with me that very night.

Hypothesis:

MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

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Gift Guides, Maker Resources

Gift Guide: Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Year

June 23, 2016


Just as there aren’t official rules that fit every romantic partnership, the “appropriate” wedding anniversary gifts by year aren’t written in stone–nor iron, copper, bronze, tin, steel, gold, or diamond. The origins of the traditional anniversary gift list are shrouded by the mysterious, misty mists of time, anyway.

The “traditional” guide for anniversary gifts by year featured mostly practical items, to help couples set up their new homes. The modern list, created by the American National Retail Jewelers Association in 1937, is (surprise!) big on precious metals and gems. As much as we adore sparkly baubles, we don’t believe that jewelers have the authoritative last word on this subject.

However, an anniversary gift guide of what’s generally considered appropriate can be a lifesaver: without one, it’s easy to succumb to mental paralysis when you need to come up with anniversary gift ideas for friends or relatives celebrating X years of marriage.

With all this in mind, here is our own fresh guide of anniversary gifts by year: traditional, modern, and, of course, uncommon.
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Gift Guides

15 Thoughtful Groomsmen Gifts Your Guys Will Actually Use

June 10, 2016

You’ve selected your tux, curated the perfect dance floor playlist, and chosen something special to give your bride. (Um, right?) Now you just need to find the perfect gifts for your guys. (Nope, a six-pack of beers won’t cut it.) With wedding season in full swing, we’ve rounded up some options that will make your pals say, “Aw, thanks, dude.”

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Gift Guides

Our Favorite Inspirational Jewelry Gifts For Graduation 2016

May 3, 2016

Graduation season is coming, and soon countless students will walk across a stage toward their individual destinies: college, adventure, or a new career. Very exciting! But let’s be honest: commencement ceremonies usually entail a tedious wait through a seemingly endless roster of names, peppered with cliché-riddled speeches. How do you make this super-meaningful, yet often dull occasion more memorable for your favorite graduate? We think one of the nicest ways is congratulating them with a beautiful and inspirational jewelry gift to mark their hard-earned milestone. Bearing profound, uplifting messages, these necklaces and bracelets make ideal graduation gifts (and mercifully rescue you from the daunting task of crafting a sentimental speech yourself).

To help you choose the right gift, we put together a collection of our favorite inspirational jewelry pieces. Some of our pieces feature inspiring quotes while others are more symbolic. We tracked down motivational quotes to complement theses abstract pieces to illuminate their meaning. Honestly, this post is so packed with forceful wisdom, we’re afraid it might explode. Read at your own risk!

For The Trail Blazer

Ralph Waldo Emerson Inspirational Jewelry - Necklace | UncommonGoods

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Gift Guides

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

April 28, 2016

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas 2016 | UncommonGoodsProcrastination is rarely rewarded, but guess what, undecided gift-buyers: you’re in luck. Our spectacular selection of last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas means you don’t have to suffer from eleventh-hour anxiety. Pounce on a great present now, and you’ll make the May 8 date with time to spare. Continue Reading…

Gift Guides

Infuse-a-Palooza With Our New Tea Infuser

April 18, 2016

I’m generally a coffee-drinker, but following a string of over-caffeinated mornings that left me shaking at my desk, I’ve been looking for a lighter replacement. Enter our new Citrus and Ginger Tea Infuser – a unique to-go bottle with exchangeable attachments that allow you to enliven your teas with tang and spice. The infuser includes:

• Steeping basket – perfect for loose leaf or bagged teas
• Reamer – get those juices flowing!
• Grater – a two-piece attachment that lets you flavor your tea while keeping the grated fibers locked away, (no floaters!)
• Bottom compartment – anything you can’t juice or shred can be chopped up and placed in here.

It’s called the Citrus and Ginger Tea Infuser Bottle, but don’t let the name limit you – a whole produce aisle of fruits, roots, and veggies awaits! I journeyed to my local grocery store and put five flavor fusions to the test. Continue Reading…

Gift Guides

Gift Lab: A Scarf Dye Kit That Will Make You Believe in Magic

April 14, 2016

Meet Anuli | UncommonGoods

Product:
Magic Jar Scarf Dye Kit

Research: 
I’m a big fan of tie-dye! I’ve even hosted tie-dye workshops to teach other people how to turn a plain t-shirt into something fun. However, tie-dye is a pretty messy activity to do, especially indoors during the dead of winter which is the context I’m working with at the moment. I’ve been eyeing the Magic Jar Scarf Dye Kit for some time now, so when our assistant  jewelry & accessories buyer, Jackie,  told me we got a new color in (turquoise!) I knew I had to try it.  The scarf comes in a glass jar with the dye powder mixed inside. The only thing to add to it is water. How simple is that?

Hypothesis:
Admittedly, I was skeptical because the directions seemed just too simple. There had to be a catch. All I was asked to do was fill the jar up with room temperature water, close the lid, let it sit for an hour, wash the scarf with detergent and let it dry. Sounded too good to be true. Continue Reading…