Eco Voyage

to date, i have stood up in exactly twelve weddings. think four weddings + a funeral, only, multiply by three and subtract one funeral. and yes, i'm both hugh grant + charlotte coleman here.

this means exactly what you think: 12 bridesmaid dresses, 12 fabulous ceremonies, and shopping for twelve tokens of my love {aka gifts} for the happy couples, and eventually, it means gifts for the wee ones as well.

over the last four years, while writing for finny + dill, i've been searching for gifts that mirror my values, gifts that are made with environmentally-friendly materials + are made by individuals or companies with opaque supply chains. and of course we all want gifts that shine.

where do we find the kind of toys that tickle a baby's brain, promote language skills + keep her universe free from harmful chemicals, like lead-based paint + bpa plastics that have plagued the toy industry? today we're taking a peek into the world of uncommon goods, an online eco boutique based out of brooklyn, offering imaginative, handmade gifts + old fashioned toys for the little dumplings in your life, including meal time essentials, books + apparel to keep you + your sweet potatoes engaged, safe + healthy.

here comes the bride:

i admit i've been a bit adrift in the world of gift giving when it comes to weddings + the little ones. i've been turning over stones looking for special gifts for the holy union as well as ethical children's gifts that are made with natural materials + are just plain cute. ask, and ye shall receive. uncommon goods, i discovered, has stylish, sustainable wedding gifts + the perfect eco presents for the babies + toddlers, too.

at one point in four weddings, charles, hugh's character, walks into a luxury boutique + inquires about the gift registry. he's directed to a bevvy of impractical + costly options including a life-sized pygmy sculpture. none of my friends have made any such appeals for frivolity, which leaves room for a universe of functional, yet fashionable gifts.

with wedding season upon us + baby buns baking away, here's a place where you can find memorable, personalized gifts for the starry-eyed couple {yes to the sea of love artwork + sleek, wooden wine glasses} by object makers around the globe.

be kind, rewind:

let's rewind to 1999: founder dave bolotsky had a bright idea; he wanted to pull up gift giving by the roots by creating an online marketplace to connect makers from every corner of the country with individuals looking for beautiful design + unique gifts. remember what year this was, friends. this was a mighty lofty goal.

dave inaugurated this tiny enterprise from his apartment; the company grew, weathering the storm of economic uncertainty, taking a few steps back + some giant leaps forward. today it is a successful business employing 100+ workers in new york + artisans across the world, offering fair wages + a positive working environment {and the opportunity for makers to do what they love + for buyers like me to snag their wares}.

let's talk toys:

vetting the market for items made with love by sewers, knitters, painters, woodworkers, metal smiths and myriad other artists + crafters, ug has gathered

a collection of perfect gifts for the lil peanuts in your life

including plush toys made with organic textiles + wooden toys colored with natural dyes.

there's been quite an evolution in the world of baby toys, from simple wooden building blocks to electronic items that light up like times square + erupt in robotic jangling. while we want toys to provide hours of entertainment + to positively impact development, we also want toys that are made with organic + natural materials.

i was happy to find handcrafted toys that i imagine even geppetto would admire {behold the world's cutest booties + the coolest selection of building blocks: there are 118 elements on the periodic table; i know this because of ug's novel baby blocks for little nuggets + not because of my phenomenal memory for all things chemistry}.

more good news:

with every purchase you make at uncommon goods, customers have the option to donate $1 to a nonprofit at checkout via their better to give program {to date, ug has donated over $1,000,000}. giving gifts + giving back is easy as pie at this online market.

wedding season + stork delivery? you know what to do.

until next time, stay green dear hearts!

{this is collaborative post sponsored by the good folks at uncommon goods //

images c/o uncommon goods // artwork by ev}

a 24-hour photocentric + foodcentric jaunt through the city that never sleeps {well, sometimes it does, but we're heading to the places that are up early in the morning + stay open late into the wee hours of the night}. we're doing new york the plant-powered + eco way. welcome to the big green apple.

okay, so you've been to the guggenheim museum, toured the metropolitan museum of art, stood wide eyed before the lady of liberty, and traversed through central park. now it's time to really dig in, boys + girls. these are the places to sate your appetite; veggie eats + sustainable sites ahead:

b r e a k f a s t // l i t t l e c h o c a p o t h e c a r y

this is little choc apothecary. the first time i had a crêpe was in france. and it was magnifique. but that was ten years ago.

a crêpe is a moist, warm pastry: a thin, porous pancake envelopes sweet or savory fillings; think chocolate, berries + bananas or fresh veggies. as someone who is both plant powered + gluten free, i've hoped to bump into a venue that creates veg friendly + gf crêpes. i've been waiting, yes, patiently, since i first had that delectable dessert ten years ago.

the wait is finally over. and it was well worth it, my friends.

l a c r ê p e

this is the toasted almond + clotted cream crêpe with fresh, nectarous raspberry sauce {fruits + veggies come from local farms}. it was so good it was disorienting.

t e a t i m e

expect a vast selection of healing teas + vitalizing sunlight spilling into every corner of this cafe {it rivals the most charming cafes in paris}. happy plants abound + dulcet french music fills the air. the warm + inviting atmosphere is perfect for getting writing or work done.

i would plan an entire trip to new york around the crêpes at this cafe. yes, they're that good.

s h e ' s t h e b o s s

this is julia kravets, fashion model + fearless entrepreneur; pioneer of plant-based pastries + healthy eats chef. she is the proprietress of this first fully vegan + gluten-free crêperie in new york city. in my book, she's the boss of brooklyn.

l u n c h // c l e m e n t i n e b a k e r y

this is clementine bakery

. the folks here refer to themselves as the friendly neighborhood cake dealers. and they are also wheeling + dealing the best vegan, gluten-free bagels this gal has had in years.

b r i g h t l i g h t s , b i g c a f e

this sunny, wide open space offers a restrained palette of white walls + blonde wood + plenty of green-leafed friends. a cheerful milieu for families + meet ups with friends.

t h e b i g c h e e s e

this is a before picture. see that bagel in the background with just a smidge of vegan cream cheese? well, i asked for another round of cream cheese {the truth is, if i could, i would have ordered an entire vat of it}, well hmph, the after picture never happened.

as you can guess, i ate it too quickly.

this here is the schmancy sandwich with baked tofu, spinach, avocado, pesto + the most flavor one can possibly pack into a simple, yet deeply satisfying menu offering. oh my little heart.

d i n n e r // c h a m p s

champs diner is the place for all the comfort food you can dream up. and more 90's music than you ever thought was possible to resurrect. tater tots, nachos + m.c. hammer? yes, ma'am. hot dogs, philly cheese "steak", cauliflower po boys, frothy shakes + greasy fries. yesss. and breakfast food for dinner. mhmm. we only live once, so go on + do it {unless you believe in reincarnation}, then you should still do it. in this lifetime + in the next.

b r o o k l y n f a s h i o n + d e s i g n a c c e l e r a t o r

this is me at the brooklyn fashion + design accelerator. where exactly is ethical fashion born? forget stories of storks, this is where all good things take shape in the world of sustainable fashion in new york. bfda is a hub that provides pioneering designers with the resources they need to transform their ideas into successful green businesses.

z e r o w a s t e d r e a m s

some of my fave ethical fashion companies are headquartered here including men's clothier glass house shirtmakers + study ny. if you're in the area + are interested in learning more about the world of eco textiles + fair trade fashion, definitely call to set up a time to pop in for a tour. i might be biased, but the tour guide, faye lessler, is not only one super stylish gal, she's also smart + informed, and she is the brilliant mind that has brought to life one of my fave eco lifestyle blogs sustaining life. bfda also has a dynamite blog. can't get enough of either. both blogs are worth bookmarking + adding to your feedly queue.

l e c h a t

this is poncho. the brooklyn apartment i stayed at came fully equipped with the most gracious host + hostess, artists + activists who shared similar values, oh and to my surprise, this sweet + cuddly cat. yes, it was one happy trip.

for the definite list of new york city vegan + vegetarian restaurants, visit activist + model renee peters's plant-based restaurant guide at model 4 green living. renee is kind of amazing, and her exhaustive list of veg venues in nyc is pretty near perfect.

until next time, stay green dear hearts! ♥

{images by ev // image of yours truly by the lovely miss lessler}