•
It is a new year and in our society, a lot is happening this time of year. People are resolving to do things, checks are written with the wrong year, people go back to work to the normal grind, and in many parts of the country we’re entering some of the coldest months of the year. Nevertheless, we push forward with our lives and seek to be maybe just a bit better than we did last year.
For some it is all about the resolutions and more power to them. But the reality is after 6 months only 46% of American adults are still sticking with it. Let’s be real here people, make small goals for yourself and be excited when you achieve them. Practical goals like working on your budget, seeking personal and professional improvement outlets, using reusable bags at the grocery store, smiling at strangers are easily achievable all year long.
Figure out what inspires YOU! Give yourself a theme song for the coming year. Go organic! Read that book you find intriguing. Or maybe it’s finally time to check out that yoga class you’ve been thinking about – heck, grab a friend and find peace together. When you can concentrate on making changes toward an ultimate goal that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, you’re much more likely to succeed and truly make changes.
Consider purging unnecessary items from your life. Now this is open to whatever interpretation works best for your lifestyle – you can literally get rid of all items that aren’t necessary to your existence or what most of us could benefit from is getting rid of the old and some of the unnecessary. Many of us have more clothes that we know what to do with. Same goes for things that sit in the garage, basement or attic forever and ever. If you haven’t used it in a year and have no plan to do so then get rid of it! Don’t toss it into landfills though, donate to local charities (they’re even taking cars these days); give more sentimental items to family or friends, and recycle what you can. Getting rid of the clutter is a great way to add a little Zen to your life.
Appreciate what’s around you – and what’s out there in the rest of world too. It can be so easy to function in your own little bubble and a great way to experience new things is to pop that bubble! Check out a new park, sample a new cuisine, be grateful for what is in your life, and even thank that stranger that just held open the door while you were juggling your latte and Blackberry. Simple things can make your day or year pretty darn fantastic.
They say life is short so don’t take it for granted and it’s safe to say that many of us can look back at the last 10 years and wish things may have went down in a different way. But there’s no use in that really because you should be striving to just make what’s ahead the best it can be. Cheers to that!
Guffly is your source for stylish products and unique gifts that ease your shopping conscience by being eco friendly or fair trade. The website features one new Daily Guff at an extra affordable price each and every weekday. Guffly features creative goods ranging from personal accessories, home goods, clothing, office & desk accessories, to pet accessories. The team happens to think that making stylish and modern purchasing decisions doesn’t have to mean using excess resources, filling up landfills, or relying on unfair labor. Check Guffly out at http://guffly.com/
•
These Fair Trade Napkins are another great product from Market Place Handwork of India. Not only are they a great way to spice up your table but, they supports disadvantaged women in India. Market Place Handwork of India is more than just a company – they are a non-profit that supports the economic development of disadvantaged women so that they can build their own sustainable businesses.
They currently work with 14 coops consisting of 480 artisans in India. All of them produce high quality fair trade products. What’s more is each artisan’s community is also impacted by the work of these women. Leadership-building initiatives and decision-making in the workplace have given the artisans the tools and confidence to become social activists. They have tackled such problems as lack of clean water, corrupt shopkeepers, and insufficient garbage collection.
Lull in the dinner conversation? Tell the amazing story of these napkins to get the conversation flowing. Check them out on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
•
A great new product is rockin the Daily Guff today, the Hipster Tee from the eco stylish company Holstee. The company is the product of two brothers, Dave and Mike at Incubaker (great name!), a NYC based innovation lab. What’s more, proceeds from the company are used to empower entrepreneurs around the world. Seeing how Guffly is an entrepreneurial endeavor as well, we have a special place in our hearts for companies doing this.
The Holstee tees are custom designed the fit of their shirts to make you look good. Their cut is fitting where you want it – in the sleeves and around the body.
The shirt fabric itself is close to magical, soft and light to the touch with inherent stain protection and moisture-wicking. This fabric is made from 100% recycled polyester (a combination of plastic bottles and industrial scraps – how cool is that?!).
Check out Holstee’s Manifesto, we think it’s pretty powerful and worth a read:
This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often.
If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like your job, quit. If you don’t have enough time, stop watching TV.
If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.
Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite.
Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them.
Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them.
Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating.
Life is short. Live your dream, and wear your passion.
So while you can go to any big box store and grab a 3-pack of the generic pocket tees that have been around for decades in not so environmentally friendly ways, instead you can choose to make an impact on the world and your wardrobe with these unique Hipster Tees from Holstee. You probably won’t see someone else wearing one…yet, anyway! Check them out on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
•
The nice people at Vers create these attractive, functional Bamboo iPhone and iPod Cases while considering the environmental impact of said items. We appreciate the careful consideration of the effect of mass production on our environment and the great steps that Vers has taken to make a difference for today’s Daily Guff.
You may remember these too cool cases from back in October when we first carried them – we got an overwhelming response that you wanted to have more funcationality from your case with your iTouch and iPhone. Well, Vers must have heard a lot of that too because now they’re offering new styling on the cases that allows you to access full functionality and ultimate protection.
Their mission states:
Without a doubt, the creation of any mass-produced product requires the use of resources and energy to manufacture, transport and manage throughout their useful lives – which resources, how much energy and the length of a ‘useful life’ are where big differences can be made to reduce the total impact that a product makes on the world. Could you craft a more beautiful, better sounding system with LESS impact to the environment at the same time? We thought so, and it’s been the driving passion behind Vers from day one – to be better in every way imaginable.
The company also partners with the Arbor Day Foundation to replant for each tree they take! Bamboo grows faster than any other species, reaches a harvestable height in as little as 3 months, and produces 35% more oxygen per acre than trees – amazing stuff! The bamboo grass for these awesome cases are harvested by hand so they require significantly less energy (energy = CO2). Believe it or not, bamboo is harder and more dimensionally stable that Oak, with strength characteristics equal to steel! There isn’t a better, more eco-friendly way for you to protect your precious iPhone.
We think this a great option for a iPod case that will protect it for sure! These make great gifts (especially for those hard to buy for guys). Get one for you iPhone, iTouch, iPod Classic, or iPod Nano on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
•
Instead of offering a product today on the Daily Guff we offer you an opportunity to give a Christmas to less fortunate children in Detroit. This year the Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit will distribute 36,000 holiday gift boxes – their community fundraising goal is $1.4 million. While looking for a charity for Guffly to support this holiday season, it just made sense to help them cover Christmas 2009 expenses and maybe even help towards their 2010 goal.
The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit is a 95-year-old charity founded in 1914 by James J. Brady. The organization includes 300 members whose sole mission is to ensure that there is “No Kiddie without a Christmas.” Each holiday season the Detroit Goodfellows distribute holiday gift boxes to children ages four through 13 living in Detroit, Highland Park, River Rouge and Hamtramck. Each child receives warm clothing, toys, books, games and candy.
The Detroit Goodfellows are not affiliated with any other Goodfellow organization and there is no national headquarters. As a Detroit business, Guffly feels that it is important to us to support efforts to improve our city. You have all heard the bad stuff about Detroit and here is an opportunity to help one of the good things about Detroit. We see great things happening in Detroit every day and we hope that by bringing this incredibly worthy charity to the Daily Guff we can be a part of some of those things.
Learn more about how you can make a charity Christmas gift that will be match dollar for dollar by Guffly on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
•
With the New Year nearly here we all start thinking about what changes we want to make. Fresh on your mind is probably all the delicious treats you were eating over the holidays! Next stop, an excercising New Year’s resolution. But, it is hard to exercise. There is that stupid scale, the food points, and those crazy machines. Nevertheless, you look around and everyone seems to be doing it these days. How do those people who work out all the time do it? After a while, you just get bored or lose hope. The number one way is to get in a healthy habit; find the exercise and diet plan that works for you. It’s even better if you can work some healthy habits for the earth into your workout plan too. It’s not as hard as television makes it out to be. Don’t think of it as just something to do to look good for the summer but something that can improve your life! Healthy habits create a longer life; and we all want that, right?
Get Out: if you cannot afford a gym membership, it may seem like you have limited options for staying fit. The gyms haven’t taken up all of the space in the world. Exercising outside is still a great option. When you’re working inside it takes a lot of electricity to break a sweat. But when you’re working out in the outdoors the only manpower is you. You build up your cardio a lot faster and can train to go longer a lot easier. Don’t like running? That’s ok. Try walking at first and gradually go from walking to jogging to running. Is there a park in your area? Sounds like a great place to do lunges. When you’re going to work park the car half a mile or a mile away and get a quick 15-minute workout at the start of your day. When riding the bus get off a stop or two early and walk the rest of the way.
Trying New Things: You think you can’t stick to an exercise plan? It’s all in your head. You need to connect your body with your mind and put them both into a positive place that says “Yes I Can!” Try Pilates. 
Sounds like something weak and girly doesn’t it? It’s far from that. Do you have an aching back or not-so-strong core? Those are the focuses of Pilates. If you want an exercise that not only works out different parts of your body but also has you, walking away feeling rejuvenated than Yoga is calling your name. Through poses inspired by the animals of the earth, it unites the body with the spirit. There is no one way to do yoga but thousands! Both of these exercise forms focus on the mind connecting with the body. Many people around the world consider these to not just be forms of exercise but a discipline, so it’s great for people who want to find an exercise plan to stick to. If you feel like you’re likely to quit after a short time find an exercise buddy or join a class. If you don’t live in a city, it might take a little research to find a licensed trainer or a trainer certified DVD in your area but it will be well worth the search.
Pump Some Iron: You don’t like exercising but feel really bad about the environment using the big machines? There are other ways to exercise at home or in the gym. Pump some iron instead of using the machine; you wouldn’t believe how many exercises you can do with a few weights, dumbbells, or kettle bells. Just make sure you’re exercising the right way, you don’t want to pull a muscle by trying these inexperienced on your own. There are items from your childhood that can help too. Remember the jump rope? You can skip around the house or around the block. It might also be a great idea to invest in self-powered machines instead of electrical. Spinning bikes and rowing machines that don’t run on electricity are great.
Dress for a Sweat: When thinking about which exercise clothes to buy think about fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, or other natural fibers. Many major manufacturers are starting to make clothing from recycled fabrics; everything from sneakers to sweatbands. When you’ve worn out your exercise clothing, you don’t have to throw it away. Since 1993 Nike’s program Reuse-A-Shoe has collected sneakers to make basketball courts, playground floors, tennis courts, and running tracks for communities in need around the world. More than likely, there is a center or playground near you that is made from recycled sneakers. Companies like Patagonia want the clothes that you buy from them back so that they can be recycled and made into something else. Anything in your closet that is decent but you just don’t want to wear anymore should be sold at a consignment shop or given away to charities or friends. Donate your bad clothes to a local quilting club or to an animal shelter to make bedding for animals in need. You can see if the recycling center in your area recycles clothes or knows of a place where you can.
Guffly is a one product per day online store featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at http://www.guffly.com
•
The Daily Guff today is featuring the Recycled Nylon Laundry Bag made by a company called Gorilla Sacks based in Atlanta, Georgia! They are not creating your average reusable bags down there. All of these bags are made from recycled aerial banners. Believe it or not they actually hand cut the pieces of their bags from the billboards!
Worried about the cleanliness level of something like this – no worries man, after the banner is unfolded, inspected and cut it’s sent to the washer with eco-friendly Charlie’s Soap and a bit o bleach to disinfect it (you don’t want sky cooties on your underoos do you?)
The cleaned up pieces then head to the master sewers at Gorilla Sacks – they get to work from the comfort of their homes in the good ol US of A! We like American made products that really are made in the US under great conditions!
Given the nature of recycled materials, each of these awesome, oversized Recycled Nylon Laundry Bags is one of a kind. We think these could be a great beach bag too! Make doing laundry fun on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
•
It seems like year after year flies by and you are constantly striving to better yourself and how you interact with the world. The transition from 2009 to 2010 is no different –it has become crucial to look at your environmental impact and some people look to New Year’s Resolutions as their motivators. While some Resolutions, like giving up chocolate, are just crazy talk that usually is forgotten around the second week of February resolving to make a smaller footprint on our planet is a no-brainer smart decision.
Here are some great suggestions on simple ways to green up your lifestyle a bit without feeling as if you’re really sacrificing:
Recycle Everything You Can – Yes, yes…recycling is still as important as ever and chances are it will be for the rest of our lives. Studies show that 60% to 75% of garbage in landfills can be recycled. That means that if everybody recycled, we’d have 60% to 75% less garbage in our landfills, and we’d need at least that much less land for garbage disposal.
Ditch the Plastic Water Bottles – People in the U.S. throw away 2.5 million plastic water bottles in a hour. Now that’s embarrassing! With so many options of reusable water bottles out there, it’s not difficult to find one that works for your lifestyle – get two and rotate them. It’s a piece of cake to walk down the hall to the drinking fountain at work and fill it up.
Bring Your Own Bags – Many stores even offer discounts when you bring your bags! That’s even easier than clipping coupons and there are many great reusable tote options to choose from. Consider not only having grocery bags on hand but also bags for when your clothes, home, or pet shopping and even reusable produce bags. Leave a couple in your car for whenever you might need them and feel good by cutting down on your plastic (aka oil) use.
Keep the Washer on Cold – According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “about 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water.” That’s no joke. Additionally, washing your clothes in cold water can be better for the fabric too! It’s a simple switch.
Buy Smart, Buy Local – How was that TV made? Where does that potato come from? Through purchasing items that are made with sound, fair trade, eco-friendly manufacturing practices you are supporting the companies that are supporting change in a real way. Also, whenever possible choose local products – it stimulates your local economy, builds relationships in the community and as an added bonus, if you’re purchasing food you’re going to be getting the freshest stuff out there!
Power Strips For the Win – Chances are many of your electronics around the home and office are already plugged into power strips – good thinking. Turn the whole strip off when you’re not using the devices connected to it to avoid phantom energy use. Just remember to group items on the strips in a way that makes sense for how you use them.
Even if each person made a solid effort to do just one or two of these ideas a difference can be made. Living a more eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to be a hippie, rich or Al Gore – you can choose simple modifications to your lifestyle that are kind to the environment without feeling like you’re sacrificing anything. You may also notice that your bank account feels a little fluffier since things like bottled water and energy bills can really add up! Try it – you might just like it and when you do, tell your friends!
Guffly is a one product per day online store featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at http://www.guffly.com
•
Back to the Daily Guff by popular demand are the Fair Trade Shoes but this time it is the High Top Fair Trade Shoes! These awesome kicks are brought to us by The People’s Shoe founded by Anton Brandt.
Anton discovered The People’s Shoe while in Shanghai working in public relations and we’re glad he did. The white and blue canvas sneakers are standard issue work wear in the country. Anton saw an opportunity to bring these eco-friendly shoes to the rest of the world and now they’re on the Daily Guff!
The company manufacturers in China (before you scream, keep reading…) and they spend a lot of time in the factory checking in on product quality and more importantly, workplace quality. They ensure that all workers get paid a living wage, the work conditions are fair and accommodating, and everyone is of age to be working in the factory. They also avoid the use of polybags during each step of their process and package their shoes in reusable totes instead of shoeboxes. We don’t doubt that this is a huge undertaking but it is a necessary one to be good to the planet and the people.
On top of all that, each pair purchased also contributes to LA Mission, and organization that fights homelessness and drug use in LA’s Skid Row. The People’s Shoe says, “We’re setting our sights high: donating money, sneakers, and planning an event to get the word out.” Right on.
Sport a pair of these incredibly stylish, eco-friendly, fair trade shoes and make people turn and look because they truly are unique. Get yours on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com/
•
From the Windy City to the Motor City comes the Recycled Cork Cuff Bracelet designed by the lovely ladies at Studio 1am. If you have not heard of them, you have to check them out! Donna Piacenza and Jody Work make up the design team for the studio and take an unconventional approach to their projects that we think makes you think twice about what you are looking at.
In their words, “Studio 1a.m. challenges and often subverts tradition through the design of everyday objects, environments, and graphic concepts. Their process enables the continuous flow and evolution of ideas. This experimental, cross-disciplinary approach results in meaningful and unforeseen outcomes.”
We dig that they are using sustainable cork as a material for their beautifully designed cuff. Each cuff is cut from a single block of cork that you can use for storage and display. Each piece is individually numbered and designed to fit both men and women. Learn more on the Daily Guff: http://guffly.com
