Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Love Letter Gifts for the Holidays





How is your holiday shopping going? If you’re still searching for that something special that you haven’t seen before, I have the perfect site for you! Uncommon Goods is an online retail shop based out of Brooklyn, New York, that is filled with unique gifts made by talented craftspeople who focus on sustainable design.

“We make it our mission to support and provide a platform for artists and designers; in fact, half of what we sell is made by hand. Most of the products we carry are created right here in the USA, and about one-third of our entire collection incorporates recycled and/or upcycled materials. At the core of our company is a great respect for the integrity of the creative individual and the belief that it is our responsibility to use our business to impact the world in a positive way.”
– via Uncommon Goods  

They have lots of cool home, garden, office, special occasion and even personalized gifts in their collections, and they asked me share some of my favorites with my readers this holiday gift giving season. Since I love typography and graphic design, I have chosen some text worthy treats that would certainly make a thoughtful impression.



“When lovebirds carve their initials into the knotted bark of a tree, they create an everlasting record of a romance able to stand the test of time. Ceramicist Laurel Begley translates this ages-old tradition into a keepsake vase that captures a couple's ability to always find something fresh and beautiful to love about each other as they grow old together.” 




“A thoughtful token for a couple of newlyweds, a family, or a new homeowner, this personalized stamp celebrates the place you call home. Brandy Schuman custom designs these stamps in her Atlanta, Georgia, studio and then cuts them out of durable red rubber and North American native wood. Your chosen name and address are rendered in a stylish mix of print and script lettering, adding handwritten appeal to ready-to-go writing.”


“Keep your bartending repertoire at hand and streamline your mixology with this set of clever cocktail glasses. Each rocks glass features four formulas — one on each side — for concoctions based on their main spirits: gin (salty dog, Tom Collins, gin rickey, gin fix); rum (mojito, rum sour, Boston cooler, Havana two); vodka (Bloody Mary, vodka cooler, Madras, seabreeze); whiskey (whiskey fix, de riguer, cablegram, dinah). Each glass in the set is marked on its base with its main spirit, so it’s easy to get to the bottom of things at cocktail time.” 





“You can live a life of abundance, independent of any material things, if your heart is always filled with a spirit of gratitude. This elegant box set contains all you need for a head start on such a gracious way of living. Not only does it contain 52 thank you cards—one for each week in the year—but it also has tips for writing meaningful thank you notes, and a guided journal for you to record your experiences.”



“More than just a warm greeting or farewell between yogis, the word ‘namaste’ is also used to express gratitude or to thank another person for his or her selflessness and generosity. Capturing the nuanced spirit of this expression, Alexandra Ferguson’s handcrafted pillow brings a calming presence to any space and serves as a reminder to be thankful for life's many blessings.” 



“Wise words spring to life in these bright desk sculptures. Artist Matthew Hoffman draws and then laser cuts uplifting phrases out of birch plywood. Highlighted by a vibrant finish and letters that climb, each pedestal-footed design is signed by the artist himself.” 



“I really like the idea of sneaking positive
messages into the world.”

In addition to offering beautiful gift items, Uncommon Goods also shares the inspirational stories of the makers behind them. Be sure to check them out while selecting your next perfectly thoughtful gift from Uncommon Goods this holiday season!


Note: I was compensated for this blog post,
but the opinions are exclusively my own.



Place your UncommonGoods order by 5pm ET on the dates below to receive your order on or before December 24, 2015:

December 17 – choose Economy shipping or faster
December 18 – choose Standard or Preferred shipping or faster
December 21 – choose Expedited shipping or faster (not valid for PO Box addresses)
December 22 – choose Express shipping (not valid for PO Box addresses)
Orders placed after 5pm ET on December 23 will leave the UncommonGoods warehouse on Monday, December 28.


*Unfortunately the shipping cutoff for International orders has already passed.


Friday, December 4, 2015

Top 5 Gifts to Give (or Receive) from R+F


Now that I have your attention (how cute is that fresh-shaved face?!) I’d love to share with you some of my favorite Rodan + Fields skincare products for this holiday giving season!

First up is just for the guys ...



1. Beyond the Shave gift set for men

The Beyond the Shave regimen has been specially curated to provide men with an easy way to incorporate skincare into their daily routine. Step 1 is used as a shaving cream that softens the beard while also pulling impurities from the skin. Step 2 soothes and treats any nicks and cuts after the shave while Step 3 moisturizes and protects from future sun damage that ages skin. All 3 together provide significant overall improvement to the skin that guys (and those who love them!) can both see and feel. I’d say this gift is a win-win! The set comes in a handsome gift box for a limited time only while supplies last.

Retail price $180 / Preferred Customer price $162




2. For her: Lip protection gift set

Next up is something special for her. The Holiday Lip Promotion bundles three top selling lip care items at over 20% OFF regular price. This limited time only gift box set contains Enhancements Lip Microdermabrasion stick which gently exfoliates the lips, 60 capsules of Redefine Lip Renewing Serum which delivers antioxidants and peptides that smooth and condition, and a set of two Essential Lip Shield moisturizing lip balms that hydrate and protect throughout the day. Lips will be mistletoe ready in no time! 

Retail price $67 / Preferred Customer price $60 






3. Everyday skincare essentials

The Essentials and Enhancements collections offer a little something for everyone on your list. Whether you are looking for thoughtful appreciation gifts or special stocking stuffers, these daily use products will show you care with each and every use. Preferred Customer prices range from $14 – $22 for Essential items, $53 for Mineral Peptide Powder with Brush, and $70 for the Micro-Dermabrasion Paste. A group of these together would make a great gift basket!







4. Redefine Hand Treatment Regimen

Winter hands need special care and this pair of products delivers beautifully! The Redefine Brightening Treatment addresses the tell-tale signs of aging like sun spots, crepey skin, wrinkles and dryness. It is paired in this set with the Redefine Age Shield Hand Balm which is one of my personal favorites (it smells SO good and my hands have never been softer!) Together, the Redefine Hand Treatment Regimen makes a thoughtful gift to the people on your list who are ALWAYS going out of their way to lend a hand to take care of others.   

Retail price $67 / Preferred Customer price $60







5. Eye Cream and Eye Cloths combo

Put a twinkle in someone’s eye with the super popular Redefine Multi-Function Eye Cream. This tiny jar (which lasts about four months) is big on results – fighting wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles with powerful peptides and skin brighteners. FYI: men love this product as much as women! The Redefine Eye Cloths are the perfect companion product to the Eye Cream. They are great at quickly sweeping away make-up or freshening the face while on the go (they are great after a workout!) 

Retail price $90 / Preferred Customer price $81




Preferred Customers (or PC Perks program members) always get 10% OFF all products plus FREE shipping on orders placed every 60 days, along with customer service provided by yours truly! To sign up as a PC, the one-time enrollment fee is just $19.95. This is the best way to invest in the benefits of treating your skin – or the skin of those you love – to Rodan + Fields. Rodan + Fields Gift Certificates are also available in the denomination of your choice (ask me for details!)




Anyone who signs up as a Preferred Customer this month will receive a BONUS GIFT from me in the mail (please leave a comment below or send me an email so that I know you read this post!) I would be SO happy to be able to assist you with your skincare needs this holiday season and into 2016. Rodan + Fields skincare products are everyday luxuries that keep on giving by turning back the hands of time! #agingbackwards







Give yourself the Best Gift Ever!


R+F President and CEO Lori Bush


And if you are interested in gifting yourself with a shiny new business in 2016, I would love to help get you up and running as a part of our super fun group of consultants (or brand ambassadors) who are changing skin and changing lives simply by washing their face and sharing these products via social media like I am doing today. Contact me to learn more!

email me at yblacker@verizon.net