Blog Matters

I know that it can be frustrating to be an environmentalist and committed to recycling in Louisiana - use this guide for recycling + re-use in New Orleans. I collect recycling info (and keep it updated) to help make it a little easier & save you some legwork. Please let me know if you have additional info & I'll add it to the list!

When I was in high school we did a 'walk in my shoes' job day, I chose to spend the day as the Recycling Center / Landfill manager. It made a significant impact on me to see the mountains of trash first-hand. At that time I was living in a small town, but I continue to think about how large landfills are (and how many there are) that accommodate each city or town. Between that & having grown up in Europe as a kid, I am physically unable to throw things away that are recyclable or re-usable. So much so that a funny ex-boyfriend gave me the nickname 're-psycho' - haha. But seriously, it does make a difference, check out the details below.

P.S. - A * before a listed location indicates a place for Re-use, otherwise locations are for recycling.

Glass -
Glass Half Full, Dropoff every Monday & Saturday at their Gentilly location, at 3935 Louisa Street, from 9am - 6pm. Every Wednesday at their Uptown location, at 911 Joliet Street, from 9am - 6pm. Monthly pickup/paid service coming soon. See this page on their site to sign up for pickup.
Target, 4500 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie *Closed during pandemic
Tulane University's Newcomb Art Department, accepts clear glass only, must call (504) 865-5327 before you go, donations can be overwhelming at times.
Whole Foods Metairie, 3420 Veterans Memorial Blvd. The glass recycling collection is located behind the store. *Closed during pandemic
(Please bring it back, Whole Foods on Broad Street!) 
* Big Easy Bucha bottles only - 4040 Euphrosine, M-F, 10-4. "Customers are welcome to bring back their used Big Easy Bucha 16-oz bottles and we will gladly recycle them. We also refill 67-oz. growlers on site."

Appliances -
Best Buy, 1138 S. Clearview Pkwy, double check for size limitations (for recycling)
*Habitat Re-Store, 2900 Elysian Fields, Check website for list of donate-able items for Re-use

Batteries -
Home Depot, 1100 S. Claiborne, container near the entrance/returns desk

Building Materials / Home Repair (For Re-Use) -
*The Green Project, 2831 Marais Street
*Habitat Re-Store, 2900 Elysian Fields, Check website for a list of donate-able items

Clothing-
*Drop Boxes, click to find the closest to you (Louisiana-wide) / 

Compost-
Public Libraries drop off schedules: Daily pick-ups by Compost Now, check their site for drop-off schedules. Each day has different library locations & hours. *Closed during pandemic

Cosmetics-
Origins, accepts all cosmetics for recycling, not only Origins products.

Electronics -
Best Buy, 1138 S. Clearview Pkwy, additional locations, call to confirm
Best Buy accepts: Audio Equipment, Cameras, Car Audio/Video/GPS, Cellphones, Computers & Tablets, Radios, Rechargeable Batteries, Video Equipment. Check here for the comprehensive list and further info.
Target, 4500 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, Small Electronics only, 3" or less

Ink Cartridges -
FedEx Office, Canon cartridges only, 762 St. Charles Ave, call to confirm at other locations
Office Depot, Any cartridge brand, 1429 St. Charles Ave, call to confirm at other locations

Light Bulbs, Compact Fluorescent -
Lowe's, bring to the customer service desk, 2501 Elysian Fields
Home Depot, 1100 S. Claiborne

Paper, Plastics 1-7, Cardboard, & Small Metal Cans -
Curbside recycling, call 311 to request your recycle bin, it can take a couple weeks to arrive btw.

Plastic Bags -
*This includes bubble wrap, saran wrap (clean), bubble mailers, ziploc bags, etc.
Lowe's, bring to the customer service desk, 2501 Elysian Fields
Rouse's Locations
Target, 4500 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie 

TVs - Best Buy, 1138 S. Clearview Pkwy, double check for size limitations

The City's Recycling Drop-off Center accepts most of the above + more on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 2829 Elysian Fields Avenue, 8am-1pm. See the link for a full list of accepted items. 

Thank you for checking out our blog! As your reward for making it to the end, use code 'recycling' for FREE U.S. shipping on orders over $20 : )

Ever been frustrated by cleaning out wax from a glass jar, metal tin, or ceramic container once your candle has burned to the bottom? Here's how to easily clean out the remaining candle wax so that you can re-use, recycle, or upcycle the container.

Put your candle in the freezer! Leave it in overnight, or at least long enough for the wax to freeze. Then pop up out the remaining wax with a butter knife, then wash - et voila! You have a glass to drink out of, or a tin to re-use, or with Goods that Matter candles, you can bring in the clean glass jar to our shop for a $2.50 credit!

Step by step instructions with pics below.

Step 1. Place candle in freezer. Leave it in long enough for the wax to become frozen. (I typically leave it in there for several days until I have time to remove the wax and clean the jar, not that it's time consuming, I'm just tired/lazy in the evenings.)

2. When you're ready, remove the wax at the bottom with a butter knife. Push around the edges and most of the time the whole piece will pop out in one disc. If the remaining wax is a little thicker, you can break it up into a few pieces.

3. Discard the wax and wick disc.

4. Remove the label or packaging. Our labels are easy to remove by tearing the side sticker - the sticker goes to the trash and the label to be recycled.

If your candle label is held on by an adhesive, try soaking the label in water then peeling off to remove, and then use rubbing alcohol to remove the adhesive from the container. 

5. Wash jar (or other container) with a sponge and dish soap. Et voila! Re-use your container as a drinking glass, pen jar, or... We are now thrilled to offer a $2.50 credit for your clean candle jar at our shop! Credit goes towards your next Goods that Matter candle purchase.

October 16 was the first How I Built This Summit and I am thrilled to have attended as a HIBT Fellow! HIBT is my FAVORITE podcast, when I saw that they were hosting their first summit and offering a fellowship in order to attend at no cost, I applied immediately.

I'm so glad that I did - my biz was selected as one of 40 fellows from over 500 applicants! I apply for and am rejected for things on the regular, so this was an extra exciting win!!

The summit was held at the Yerba Buena Arts Center in San Francisco and was a one-day event. It was hands down my favorite conference type event of all time. Everyone was so passionate and excited to be there, both the speakers and attendees. Speaking of the speakers, check out this lineup - my faves were Adam Lowry & Eric Ryan of method and Lisa Price of Carol's Daughter.

The full day started at 8.30 am and went through 6ish, it was filled with incredible speakers as well as break out sessions. The choose your own sessions included discussions on design thinking for business, imposter syndrome, investor pitch tips, and marketing strategies for growth.

Some of the common threads throughout the talks were: staying true to your values / mission throughout the highs and lows of entrepreneurship (described as the trough of despair by Joe Gebbia of Airbnb, haha so true!), trusting your gut, following through with your absolute best, at the same time finished is better than perfect, creating meaning in your day-to-day, and the importance of remaining open to constantly learning.

There were also many situations discussed where each entrepreneur turned a big 'NO' into a learning experience which ultimately led to the improvement of the business idea or of a moment in time that could have been a deal breaker. These discussions also highlighted a moment where most would give up, but through these new learnings, they not only continued but improved.

I really appreciated how well we were treated as fellows: we were invited to the opening night ceremony for speakers and premier ticket holders, they reserved seats for us in the front row, and gave us a shout out and had us stand during the opening of the summit - it was all just so nice.

This was actually NPR's first ever event and everything was done so thoughtfully. The lunch was delicious and the gift bags included items made by companies across the U.S. who are featured at the end of each episode.

I left the conference inspired, motivated, and on a real entrepreneurial high, ready to move forward and create new things. If you haven't heard this show yet, definitely give it a listen! It fills me with inspiration and motivation with every show and I'm so excited for each new episode. Some of my faves btw are: Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia, Chicken Salad Chick, Chipotle, Lärabar, and Ben & Jerry's - give it a listen.

ALSO! I got to meet Guy Raz! You know when someone seems really nice and awesome and then when you meet them they really are?! He was really genuine and so patient with everyone that wanted to take a selfie with him - all. day. long. See my shit eating grin selfie below, haha.

It was also a joy to visit San Francisco to visit with friends and eat all of the Italian eats in North Beach! Til' the next time SF and biggest thanks to the whole team at How I Built This, it was a delight to meet you and an honor to be a part of this special day, thank you for everything.

Fave quote from the day:
'Driven by creating meaning in our work.' -Adam Lowry, method

Did you catch our interview on DNO? Reposting it here:

Tippy Tippens and All Things Good

An interview with the founder of Goods That Matter. 

09.25.2018

PHOTO: MICHAEL TUCKER

 

Where are you from originally, and what’s your story?

Well, I’ve moved around a fair amount - I was born in Nashville, we moved pretty shortly after to New Jersey, where my family lived on a sailboat for a bit. Mostly, I grew up in Germany, in a small town near Heidelberg. We moved back to the U.S. for my teen years to Yorktown, VA - that was a pretty big culture change. My Mom is Dutch & my Dad is from Georgia, so they wanted my sister and I to grow up in both cultures (U.S. & Europe).

All of the moving made me very adventurous and curious, I love experiencing new places and exploring new things. I’ve also lived in New York, Richmond, VA, and Wisconsin before moving to New Orleans. I feel like I’m from many places and like them all for different reasons

Your background is in design, right? Where did you study, and what were your original goals as a designer?

Yep! I designed and made Furniture for 10-ish years, my undergrad degree is in Furniture Design. I’ve always been a minimalist/modern design fan and am attracted to creating things that are functional. I learned of Industrial Design and became drawn to the idea of making smaller modern design objects but with a larger reach. Initially, when I started applying to grad schools, my intent was to design modern, eco-friendly products. There wasn’t as much talk about the environment in product design then (2002). I was accepted to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn & had always wanted to live in New York. I lived there for about 5 years in Clinton Hill, Greenpoint, and Red Hook. After that, I accepted a job with Kohler, where I designed faucets for a few years, and I’ve also been a freelance designer/consultant.

 

 

Did you develop an interest in business and social entrepreneurship before, during, or after the start of your career?

I was interested in having my own business for many years and have always been curious about how other people started their businesses. I remember hearing about TOMS in 2008 and that really sparked with me. I had many small entrepreneurial type projects along the way and had also attempted to start a couple of design services for clients type business with friends that ended up getting pushed to the backburner for various reasons. I had never attempted taking a product based business idea all the way before starting my company.

I hadn’t heard the term social entrepreneurship before coming to New Orleans. When I did, it really clicked with me - I realized that this is exactly what I want to do. To use my design skills to do good for the world, to help change things for the better. It inspired me to start my company, where all of our products give back and are made of eco-friendly materials.

How did your experience in the industry contribute to the shift into a more socially positive practice? What is one thing you would most like to see change in the world of design and manufacturing?

Well, being a product designer is really tough as an environmentalist. One of the things that I liked about working for Kohler was that their products live long lives and are made to be very high quality. I’ve never been attracted to designing consumer electronics, which is the majority of the field, because of the short life span and toxic environmental impact.

I would love to see the long-term effects of products to be considered on a large scale within the industry. How do products being disposed of effect the environment for example. Or health of people in other countries, like when used electronics get shipped to China for recycling.

Also, the real cost of things - when you buy something for $3, that means it cost around .25 or less to produce. So, if you’re buying a $3 plastic cup let’s say, what are the other associated costs that aren’t currently attributed to that product? If you added in the costs of a workers’ poor health, environmental cleanup, how long it will last, what happens when it sits in a landfill, etc.- that cup’s cost is no longer only $3. Then, if you compare it to a cup that costs $15 that’s made by a local company using local, non-toxic materials - their prices are really much closer, but the local cup doesn’t have any of the toxic side effects. It can be overwhelming I know, but I feel like our Industrial Age mentality and processes have gotten out of control and really need re-thinking and re-working.

Has it been rewarding to see the impact of your efforts? What are some of the most positive outcomes of your work?

It definitely has and in a lot of different ways. I’m proud to have donated 31K so far to our donation partners, I wish it was more - but I’m still working on that. I’ve also learned from our non-profit partners that the publicity/attention that Matter helps bring to them also leads to additional donations from other groups or individuals which is another nice benefit.

Working with people locally is also awesome, for example, I got a couple of larger orders for candles and bug sprays this summer, so that meant a summer boost too for the candle maker that we work with and for the woman who makes our bug sprays. The summer sales really slow down here, so it feels good to share the welcome extra.

It’s also really important to me to truly enjoy working with my collaborators. Emily of Sweet Olive Soap Works who has made the Bird soaps from day one is always a pleasure, we crack jokes and swap small business woes with every delivery/pickup. And John Fitzgerald is the best, it’s always a joy to visit his letterpress shop - he’s the most peaceful person I know. Everyone that knows John loves him and is a fan of his inspiring/social equality letterpress postcards that he passes around during Mardi Gras.

Another aspect that’s really enjoyable for me is to hear back directly from customers. It’s a pretty great feeling to hear how much something means to someone or how much they’ve enjoyed something. For example, I would never hear anything back about how someone liked their faucet when working for Kohler. It’s nice to see how the things that I’ve designed blend into people’s every day.

“It’s a pretty great feeling to hear how much something means to someone or how much they’ve enjoyed something...It’s nice to see how the things that I’ve designed blend into people’s every day.”

Tell us how you started Goods That Matter and how it's evolved over the years?

I started with one product, BirdProject Soaps, it was my way to help after the BP Oil Spill in 2010. From there, I was inspired to start the company - my idea was that all of the products would be made of eco-friendly materials, each item would fulfill a basic need (so no tchotchkes or market fillers), and each product would be tied to a social/environmental cause.

I had never taken a product fully to market before meaning in the past I had only been the designer or the maker. But, I hadn’t ever designed the whole package before, figured out the pricing and distribution, etc. I had a big learning curve, also in learning about business. Running a small business is very different than being a freelancer. I had to learn everything pretty much.

“Running a small business is very different than being a freelancer. I had to learn everything pretty much.”

Also, in the beginning, I was making the ceramic birds that are at the center of the soaps. I couldn’t find anyone here at the time to slipcast them so I did it. That was way too much to do every single thing. It slowed me down too business-wise since I couldn’t keep up with demand/interest as much as I could have otherwise.

Goods that Matter has evolved in many ways, it’s pretty crazy that the business will be 8 years old in November! The name has changed, it used to be Matter, Design for Social Change - that was confusing for a lot of people and didn’t best tell what we actually do.

I’ve learned how to be a better business person and operate things more smoothly. I also learned to reel in the things that I wanted to make product-wise. For me, as a designer, I’m curious about making anything - a wallet, a lamp, a shoelace, pretty much anything is an interesting design problem. I realized that I needed to reel it in for the brand - to limit our product offering to home goods, and since I’ve done that I feel like our company is easier to understand for our customers. But in the beginning, it was confusing, people were like - you make soaps, blankets, notebooks, and why? Now, that we have more of an assortment within the home goods arena it makes sense to people.

As we continue to evolve, I’m really passionate and concerned about the plastic epidemic, as an eco-driven company I’m working on how to make a difference in that area via my company.

How has working as a B Corp helped you grow and accomplish your goals?

I think that being a B-Corp helps customers to know that we’re really doing what we’re saying we’re doing. It also helps us to align with similar businesses, this helps people know that there are more and more businesses that are working to use biz as a force for good.

I would like to be more involved with B-Corp activities/meetups around the country but unfortunately don’t currently have it in the budget.

It seems like you have such a tight community. Has living in New Orleans been good for building that?

Thank you! I do feel lucky to have a great group of friends and collaborators. Absolutely, New Orleans is a mecca for collaboration and community. It’s one of my favorite things about it really and the reason that I was drawn to stay here. People are real, they keep it real, and I truly appreciate that.

Who are some of your favorite collaborators?

I love to collaborate and have so many fave collaborators! We have a recent collaboration with Learn To Live, a local healthcare non-profit. We collaborated to make a custom first aid kit, journals, and are currently working on a cool tote.

Also all of the people that I work with on a regular basis: Sweet Olive Soaps, Mad Darling, and John Fitzgerald letterpress to name a couple.

I also love to stay in touch w/ architecture and design friends around the country: architecture and design friends,Spatial Affairs in L.A.; restauranteur friends in Richmond, VA - Proper Pie & ZZQ; and one of my constant collaborators and co-conspirators, Jen Galvin in NYC, a water film-maker, check out her recent film the Memory of Fish.

 

What else about life in New Orleans contributes to your work and life?

New Orleans is so much about community, which I adore. I feel lucky to have a lot of awesome communities - entrepreneurial, makers, designers, besties, cycling, art, photography and of course, these communities overlap too. There are also so many non-profits and people whose mission is to make things better in the world here. I think the spirit of helping each other is so strong here too — someone said to me early on ‘the rising tide floats all boats’ when referring to people doing well in New Orleans. I really like that for the most part, everyone wants everyone to do well. It’s not a ‘this is all mine’ kind of mentality - it’s more ‘we’re all in this together.’ It’s been really important to me to work with local makers and businesses so that the money spent by my business stays here.

It’s also very social of course, so whether business or personal, there’s always some kind of fun and enjoyment to be found. And the love of food, I’ve always been the kind of person who likes to have lunch and think about where to have dinner.

What is one surprising thing you've learned since moving here?

New Orleans is full of surprises, isn’t it?

Hmmm, one practical surprise is that there aren’t more public pools in the city. I mean, on those extra steamy days it would be awfully nice if more people could get in some water to cool off. There are a handful of public pools, but it seems like we should have a lot more.

It would also be really nice if the beach on the lakefront would re-open, I recently was surprised to hear that it was closed due to lack of not knowing how to prevent people from drowning after there had some been some drowning deaths.. Which is terrible, but it’s a shame to close it to everyone. I know that our city isn’t wealthy, but it would be awesome for it to re-open and have some lifeguards during set hours.

It’s ironic to be completely surrounded by water but to have such little access to it.

“I think the spirit of helping each other is so strong here too - early on, someone told me ‘the rising tide floats all boats’ when referring to people doing well in New Orleans.”

At what point did you realize New Orleans is home?

Haha, like so many that come here and fall in love with it, pretty early on. I came here for a design research trip when I was starting the BirdProject. I wanted to make sure that I designed the details of the project respectfully to the area and was working freelance at the time, so had some flexibility in my schedule. I had never been here before, although I’d felt the city calling to me for some time. There are so many things about it that felt like home to me - the beauty of the architecture, the warmth of everyone that I met, being able to walk / bike, the art and music, the inherent water. It reminded me of many places and immediately felt like the place I’d been searching for. My first visit was in August too, it was hot as a B, but I much prefer heat and humidity to the cold. The first place I stepped foot in was R Bar, which is still one of my faves.

What's your favorite thing about working in the city?

Hands down the people. In every aspect of my business, I truly enjoy talking and working with everyone - from the shop managers that carry our goods, to the makers that I work with, to customers or people that come into our shop, just everyone. It’s extremely rare for someone to be a jerk. On the contrary, people are warm, funny, and a pleasure to chat with. That’s truly a New Orleans trait, it’s very personal and easy to love. I call it an intimate city, from saying hello when you pass someone or chatting/joking while waiting in line - I love how warm people in New Orleans are.

Do you have any artists, designers, or producers that greatly inspire your work? What about any mentors?

Man, I would love to have a mentor. I have had one in the past during a Propeller fellowship program, it was wonderful. I’m really inspired by art and love going to museums and galleries - some faves are Yayoi Kasuma, JR, Alexander Calder, William Eggleston, also some fave local artists are Alex Podesta, Katrina Andry, Ida Floreak, & Max Seckel.

Some of my fave inspiring designers are Ray & Charles Eames, Patricia Urquiola, Cameron Sinclair, & Hella Jongerius.

These days, my work is mostly inspired by what’s happening in the world and by science/nature. I pay close attention to the news most of the time, although these days I have to take Trump breaks as he’s attacking everything that is important to me — it’s been very stressful since he’s been in office. But I’m inspired to find ways to help the problems that are happening in our society and on our planet. For example: climate change, the plastic epidemic, and social inequities are what I’m most focused on and inspired by these days.

“There are so many things about it that felt like home to me - the beauty of the architecture, the warmth of everyone that I met, being able to walk / bike, the art and music, the inherent water. It reminded me of many places and immediately felt like the place I’d been searching for.”

Wisdom you’d share with your younger self?

Feel good about you, feel good about being confident. I was a painfully shy kid and it took me a long time to really feel confident and comfortable being me in the world. I recently watched ‘I feel pretty’ with Amy Schumer and thought, that’s really it - the key is being true to yourself and feeling great about you, just don’t go overboard and be a selfish jerk.

I’ve always been determined and motivated, but I would tell the younger me to take bigger risks sooner, which I think is connected to feeling confident.

What's on the horizon?

I’m thinking most about ways to help reduce plastic use and other ways to help reduce the effects of Climate Change these days. These topic are both important for everyone and every thing around the globe and New Orleans is really affected by both. We have a plastic waste problem and are at the forefront of climate change issues. It would be amazing if New Orleans could step up and be a hub of leadership and inspiration for both issues.

 

When did you open the Good Shop?

A little over 3 years ago, we opened upstairs from Church Alley Coffee on OC Haley. It was really difficult to find an affordable retail space, the real estate bubble was really spiking then. I noticed that Church Alley had an unused loft space so asked if I could sublet it. It was also my studio space at the time, which Justin Shiels and I shared. The GOOD Shop has had a few forms - we shared space with Stacks Bookstore, Justin Shiels, and Good Cloth. We’ve also hosted pop-ups for a few months with like-minded local makers, like Smoke Perfume & Zeko Jewelry.

After OCH, we then moved with Church Alley to Canal Street in MidCity a year or so later. We recently moved to Magazine Street earlier this year and are now sharing space w/ Rachael Adamiak Jewelry, we’re right next to White Roach Records in the green building next to Whole Foods. We love our new neighborhood and have really been enjoying our new home.

Who are your partners?

The GOOD Shop is a collaboration between Heartsleeve Tees, Tchoup Industries Bags, and myself. Each of us has a social/environmental mission for our business. We also are all women-owned, which is pretty cool. We share overhead and divvy up the shop days, it’s made it a really affordable (logistically and financially) way to have a brick and mortar space. Together we have a full offering of unique local goods, come on by!

How good has it been to have a space for the mission and conversation? What sort of unexpected things have happened because of it?

It’s been great to collaborate with like-minded businesses. It helps tell the story to our customers both individually and as a group.

Sharing the space and shop tasks also makes it more fun, you can often feel isolated when running a small business. When we do shop events or host pop-ups, it’s more fun when we all throw in ideas and meetup to plan upcoming events or shop needs. It’s also a divide and conquer kind of approach, it’s really helpful to divvy up tasks needed for the shop.

It has also led to collaborations, swapping biz advice, and new product inspirations. Heartsleeve does all of our screenprinting for example and Tchoup and Matter have collaborated to make a wallet from upcycled bike inner tubes.

What else would you like to share about the shop?

We have a couple of fun pop-ups in the works - one already in the books is with FAIT, a new plant design store and solarium on wheels, they’ll be doing a plant design workshop at our shop in October. Also, Wonder South will be popping up sometime in the coming months, stay tuned!

Our lives are full of to-do lists, healthier ways to live, and be a happier person- so I'll keep it short. Here are a few easy ways to make your home healthier for you and the environment. 

1. Use a fabric shower curtain
Plastic shower curtains aren't recycle-able and can off-gas in your home. (P.U.) Fabric shower curtains are also easier to clean, just throw them in the wash when needed, way easier than scrubbing.

2. Direct your power bill to green energy
I use Arcadia Power's free version, 50% of my regular energy bill goes to renewable energy (wind and solar). They are a national company and you can participate whether you are renter or homeowner, super cool! Use my referral code & receive a discount on your first bill.

3. Use eco friendly cleaning supplies
Chemical cleaners are unhealthy for us and our water supply, while all natural cleaners smell like heaven and do the job just as well. Some of my faves are:
Dishes - I love Mrs. Meyers lavender dish soap, smells delicious & is easy on your skin too.
Laundry - I prefer the Trader Joe's liquid detergent, the scent is light and fresh and cleans everything well. It's also safe to use for front-loading washers & lasts forever.
Bathroom cleaner - Method Bathroom Cleaner, it's a tough cleaner & smells trés bien.
Kitchen cleaner - Trader Joe's Cedarwood & Sage Multipurpose Cleaner

4. Use washable and re-usable cleaning cloths
These are so easy to use & throw in the wash when needed. I much prefer using these to paper towels - they save paper waste and also don't leave little paper flecks behind.
Dusting & Surface Cleaning - Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
Windows - Method window + glass microfiber cloth

5. Use dryer balls instead of fabric sheets
These last for years (I've had mine for 3 years and still going strong) and they also help your clothes dry more quickly.

6. Use a water filter instead of bottled water.
Number one, the plastic bottles are terrible for our environment. Two, 25% of the water is actually tap water and many bottled water options actually contain toxic chemicals. I use this PUR filter which also removes lead. Bonus - PUR also recycles the filters, just mail them back when it's time to change the filter. I also love my reusable water bottle, which keeps your water nice and cold.

7. Compost & Recycle
My kitchen trash can is so petite (4.5 liters) due to composting and recycling. I keep the compost in the freezer until the bag is full to bring to my community garden. It also helps your freezer from running more frequently due to helping fill the freezer (a full freezer runs less than an empty one). Check our recycling guide for more on recycling info. 

8. Don't microwave plastic
If you use a microwave, use glass or ceramic dishes that are microwave safe instead of plastic. When the plastic is heated, it leaches chemicals into your food and in the air.

9. Conserve water
One easy way is when you're brushing your teeth, turn the water off - voila! (Don't let the faucet run when not in direct use in general btw.) Here are more ways to save water at home.

10. Use recycled paper Toilet Paper 
Trader Joe's is my fave for TP, it's 100% recycled paper and a few dollars for 12 rolls

The old school ways of 'waste not want not' run deeply through my veins. I used to ride around town with my Opa and Oma finding the best deals on TP & canning jars to stockpile in their basement in case of WWIII. Anyhow, when one of my fave coffee cups that a friend gave me for my birthday broke recently, I wanted to find a way to save it (now repaired in the photo above).

Inspired by the beautiful Japanese tradition of Kintsugi, which translates to golden joinery, I wanted to find a simple way to repair my broken ceramic faves. I experimented with a gold powder & a ceramic glue to see if I could get anywhere close to the awe-inspiring Kintsugi tradition. My quickie solution isn't as drop-dead elegant, but for a 5-minute fix, I'll take it!

I tried this with a ceramic friendly glue, Liquid Nails adhesive and a fine, brilliant gold powder made by Pearl Ex Pigments. I had used this powder before in my furniture making days, to tint stains for wooden furniture. They make a lot of different colored powders, so if you'd like to experiment with different colors of kintsugi-esque repairs, go for it!

What you'll need: glue, tinted powder, applicator stick (I used some to-go chopsticks that I had in my kitchen), something to mix the glue/powder on (scrap paper), and a paper towel for cleanup.

Wouldn't it be sad to throw these away? For this repair, I'm fixing: 1. My fave little bowl from Pearl River in NYC back in the day & 2. My studio-mate Kathleen of Smoke Perfume's ceramic incense holder, made by barebone ceramics for a special gift set.

Make sure that both sides of your broken object are clean before mixing. Check the setting and curing time for your glue. This version of liquid nails adhesive quick sets in 10 minutes and cures in 1 hour.

To start, scoop out the teeniest bit of tinted powder, you really don't need much. It's about 8 parts glue to 1 part powder. Scoop out a little at a time and mix it in until you get it as tinted as you'd like.
Pro tip: Don't pour the powder out like I did the first time, you'll get half a jar.

Mix your glue/powder relatively quickly and apply to both sides of the broken object. Apply just enough to coat the edge, too much will create a bulbous bead of gold glue once the sides are placed together.

Once both sides are coated, place together on the broken edge.

You may need to slide the pieces back and forth a bit to get them to seat properly into the break.

If your piece has multiple breaks, go piece by piece to rebuild your object one glue seam at a time. 

The last step, let sit to fully dry. This glue's cure time says an hour, but I let it sit overnight to be on the extra cured side of things. *I wouldn't recommend using this glue as a food safe object any longer, but you can use your bowl or cup as a planter or catchall, etc. Check the glue package that you select for your project for details on whether or not you can use with food items again.

I have left the gold glue bead as is, as I thought that wiping it away might not work well with this glue as far as leaving gold smears on the side of the piece. If you try another glue/technique let me know, I'd love to hear how it works for you (maybe try it on a couple of scrap or test pieces first). I hope this is helpful & restores some of your favorites!

I love this about Kintsugi: "As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise."

Happy Holidays!

I don't know about you, but I live in a small apartment and this year I'm excited about the idea of using evergreen branches to make a small 'tree'. In the past few years, I've typically bought a small cypress or rosemary tree, but they haven't survived the winter inside until I could plant them outside.

I browsed them again this year but didn't want to be a tree killer once again, so was thrilled when I found some evergreen branches at Whole Foods for a few dollars. I considered taking a little road trip to the forest to clip my own, but as this is my busiest time of year, decided to go ahead and purchase them for a few bucks.

They smell heavenly in my home and I think they look really pretty decorated with my fave family ornaments! So, if you're looking for an eco & budget-friendly way to bring the holiday spirit into your home, pick up some evergreen branches from your local greenhouse, florist, or grocer. Or, if you have a tree in your yard that you can clip a few branches from, even better!

Also, interestingly btw, this is where the Pagan tradition and origin of Christmas trees stemmed from (no pun intended). Historically, people would trim branches and bring them into their homes during the winter solstice to invoke a little Spring.

Update! This is my second year decorating with Christmas boughs, I love it : )

This was a guest article for my friends over at Good F*ing Design Advice, written a couple of years ago. I just rediscovered it, and think it's still relevant. I thought I'd reshare, let me know what you think.

Be f*ing authentic and genuine. 
Creating from a place of integrity

Introduction:

au·then·tic
ôˈTHentik/
not false or copied; genuine; real

gen·u·ine
ˈjenyo͞oin/
(of a person, emotion, or action) sincere.

Digging deep—what would you do if you let yourself do anything?

The reality is, it’s scary to trust yourself, to take risks, and to be honest with yourself, no matter what it is—whether professionally, creatively, or emotionally.  The best part is though, that when we do trust ourselves and take risks, the most wonderful things happen. I believe that if you’re fearful of your decision in some way, it’s likely that you're on the right path and the best things are ahead.

Is it hard? Absolutely.

Why is it so difficult to allow ourselves to trust in our unique ideas? Why aren’t we encouraged or taught to do so more often? When bouncing ideas off of Brian from GFDA for this article, we discussed how being genuine/authentic as a designer is underrepresented both in the professional realm and in education/academic circles. I believe that if it were seen and taught as a skill to be used more often, the world would be a better place.

As is true in most things, it does take the trying, doing, and practicing to achieve what you’re after. When you allow yourself to be you though, you will (mostly) enjoy the work that it takes, embrace the risks, create your best work, and discover true gratification. Curiosity, motivation, and enjoyment are unparalleled when being true to yourself.

Creating your path to take.

You take the high road and I’ll take the low road..  We make so many decisions in our lifetimes, some meaningful and some created by an overflow of options in our day to day ( toothpaste w/ flouride, or baking soda, peppermint, or brushing bubbles for sparkly teeth, etc.). Often, I believe the truly important things can become blurred by the constant murmur of all of the non-important ones vying for our attention. Ultimately though, the lives that we lead and the roads that we take are made up of our individual decisions. Each day we move ourselves through the world and select with every choice how we are spending our estimated 683,807 living hours.

How should we spend our working hours?

As a designer/maker, I love seeing the growth of made in the U.S. products rebuilding, from companies creating everything from Swiss quality watches made in Detroit, to design-y temporary tattoos and 3d-printed bicycle flower vases, to hand-blended perfumes and letter pressed greeting cards. I see the growth of these goods as a desire for honest and reliable things in our lives, each company a protest and step up against unfair treatment to workers across the world and reducing the overload of cheap, short-lived goods.

On the flip side, this also spurred me to think about how much of the market is driven by companies trying to catch up to or mimic others. Unfortunately, a lot of our retail marketplace is run by marketers saying, ’We need one of those too,‘ instead of being driven to create something truly unique and meaningful. This led me to think about the great value of using 1. Genuine and 2. Authentic as an essential gauge for any company, including my own Made in the USA company.

Ironically, all companies that do have authenticity as their bottom line, produce the work that those marketers are trying to catch up to and duplicate. I have worked a few jobs that hurt my creative soul, I despaired spending all of my energy on things that didn’t matter to me or to the good of the world either. I finally realized that I would need to create my own dream job, that it was silly to wait and to continue pining for some dream, esteemed design position.

Your time matters.

Nearly four years ago, I began my company, Goods that Matter, as my way as a product designer to help with restoration after the BP Oil Disaster in 2010. Upon creating this solution, BirdProject Soap, I realized that I wanted to continue spend my time creating sustainable products with heart. Matter is now proud to be a Benefit corporation and is working on products for literacy, disappearance of bees, gun violence, and education in low-income communities. Each year, Matter selects two social or environmental problems to research and develop a poetic product for. Everything that we make is done sustainably in the U.S. and also donates proceeds from sales to an innovative partner group.

It continues to be both a sometimes terrifying and exhilarating adventure to have my own company and to be the owner of my fate every single day. I’ve learned most things the hard way, made so many mistakes, and am continually learning how to do things better. I think that the key for me is asking questions. As a younger designer, I think that I sometimes felt that it should all just come from within like magic, that I should somehow know all of the answers already. Now, I realize that if I don’t ask questions or learn something, that zero spark or magic will come from me.

Each of us has a completely unique voice, our experiences gives each of us our authentic perspective. In grad school, I often chucked my initial idea because I thought everyone would think of that one too, then realized that we all came up with different ideas and that they were never actually the same. Is it possible to be authentic straight out of the gates? I think yes. I think that we actually begin as authentic, then slowly erode to creating copies by worrying about what others might think of us. We then have to erode that worried voice away to find our genuine perspective again.

My 2 cents on creating authentic and genuine work

Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t rush. Pay attention to the details, try new things over & over again, don’t give up, and if something bothers you - do not ignore it, try to find a new solution for it. Also, don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back or buy yourself a beer sometimes for keeping it real. It’s not easy to take the thoughtful path, but it certainly is worth it.

Create a toolkit for yourself

We have many toolkits and shortcuts given to us for the tasks in our lives, don’t forget that you can make one for yourself too. I believe that ultimately life comes down to making a lot of decisions and hopefully feeling good about most of them.

Creating tools for yourself helps you to feel confident in the path you choose. For my tougher decisions, I will draw out the core of each route and pick which makes the most sense, seems the most intriguing, or is actually most feasible at the time. To help in creative projects,  I have ingrained the following pairs of guides for my decision making process in vetting concepts: risk|unique + genuine|beautiful + authentic|longevity. If a design has all three, we are good to proceed.

Be f*ing authentic and genuine. Your reward will be feeling truly gratified when you’ve used your energies on the things that matter most to you. There is beauty in honestly feeling good about what you’re spending your time on and we all should enjoy that beauty.

Goods that Matter is proud to be a community partner with Tulane's Center for Public Service. This semester we had the honor of working with two students, Sophie Zerbib, a senior in sociology and graphic design, & Rachel Neu, a senior in architecture.

Check out what they worked on this semester, why they were interested in working with Matter, and what they learned below.

Sophie Zerbib

As an intern at Goods that Matter, I had the opportunity to witness how products and design can build awareness and create societal impact.

I became inspired by the growth and amazing impacts that Goods that Matter has had when I constructed an online press kit and press release packet. Throughout the process of creating clothing tags for scarves and throw blankets, I knew the work would be benefitting the victims of a disaster working with Rebuilding Together.

While I was an intern, I was also able to research a new charity that Goods that Matter will soon donate to, which is centered on anti gun violence. I always wondered how philanthropists like Tippy purposefully select where they will contribute to, so having the opportunity to be a part of this process and decision was very intriguing to me.

Observing and taking part in such a wonderful Benefit corporation has really helped me see what I would love to be doing after I graduate university. I am motivated to take all of the practice and knowledge I have gained from interning at Goods that Matter and apply it to help build a more innovative and creative community and society.

Rachel Neu

This semester I have been working on a series of three candles. Proceeds from these candles will be donated to gun violence prevention, national parks protection, and Louisiana flood relief. I assisted in product development, research, and branding of the candles. I started my internship by researching the different candles that are currently on the market and brainstorming ways to create a unique product. I then searched for a recycled glass jar to use as the container for the candle. I have also been involved in designing the label for the candle and creating a cohesive aesthetic such that each candle can be both unique and part of a larger series.

I have really enjoyed the opportunity to use design outside of architecture and to get a glimpse into the world of product design. I have learned a lot about what goes into developing and creating a product. This semester has also provided me with a new outlook on approach to community engagement through design. I have really enjoyed my semester with Goods That Matter, and can’t wait to see the finished candles! 

Louisiana has been experiencing devastating flooding from an inland tropical depression, dropping 600% more than normal levels of rain since August 12. This is a .1 percent chance in happening, also known as a 1000 year rain. Southern Louisiana has received over 6.9 trillion gallons of rain and the rain still hasn't stopped. Some locations are still flooded and some are expected to re-flood.

We are part of a group of 12 New Orleans businesses that are using their shop & restaurant spaces as drop off spots for donations. Yesterday, we brought 3 carloads of flood relief supplies to a small donation & flood rescue center in New Iberia. 4 additional car/van loads were brought to Baton Rouge. We estimate that these donations helped 400 families. (see more below)

This does not end our collection and delivery. The following businesses are continuing to collect and deliver donations to remote locations in Acadiana. This will be to small towns, folks in rice and sugarcane fields, and crawfish workers as well. These people are in need and aren't receiving donations from the larger donation centers. It will take a long time for our neighbors to be back on their feet, thank you for your help.

Church Alley Coffee, The GOOD Shop, 1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., Central City
Dryades Market, 8am-8pm, 1307 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., Central City
Cane & Table, 5pm-12am, 1113 Decatur St., French Quarter
Solo Espresso, 8am-3pm, 1301 Poland Ave., Bywater (on vacation through Sept. 4)

We are currently collecting:

Cleanup Supplies & Detergent
Mops, Fans, Utility Knives, & Buckets
Feminine Hygiene Products
Diapers, Formula, & Baby Wipes
New Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
Towels, Pillows, & Sheets
Non Perishable Food
Water
Pet food, leashes

No Clothes - Except for men's tall, women's plus, and children's clothing

If you would like to make a direction cash donation, we are recommending the following groups:

For People: Blessings New Iberia, please donate to their Go Fund Me page. This money will be used to help low income families in New Iberia with home supplies and restoration of their homes. Also, United Way Acadiana & Southeast Louisiana.

For Pets: Angel Paws Animal Rescue - A no-kill shelter taking in all kinds of animals: Dogs, Cats, Goats, Horses, etc.

Additional resources & how to help:

New Orleans Moms Blog has a full list of donation groups & drop off spots.

Food donations:
Second Harvest Food Bank in partnership with Rouses, text LAFLOODS to 90999 to donate $10

Cafe Reconcile, help prepare meals and they are also requesting: Chicken, Beef, Fish, Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Rice, Gumbo, Green Beans, Mixed Veggies, Corn, Red Beans, Black Eyed Peas, Bread and Cookie

Sylvain / Cavan / Barrelproof / Courtyard Brewery are accepting prepackaged bulk nonperishable food items, as well as hand sanitizing wipes, napkins, disposable utensils, and drinking water.

---

Hugs & smiles from the wonderful folks at this church/flood rescue/donation center in New Iberia brought me some tears, as well as the generosity & quick reply from the New Orleans community to help our neighbors in need. One woman at the shelter has to boat from her home to town, her now watery front yard currently filled with swimming alligators & snakes. It's going to take a while ya'll, we'll need to bring them more soon. But, they are thrilled with everything that we brought them & asked them to keep us posted as to what they are needing. We will update this blog post with needs for the area. This is one church in one town, we know there are others that are still needing donations and that haven't received help yet. Thank you for making this happen!

We drove through some pretty bad storms, blaringly loud flash flood warnings, and when we saw helicopters above at one point, I had a moment of wondering if we would get stuck. But, we made it A-OK, all was fine, and we are happy to do it again and thrilled to have been able to bring so much.

I also learned a new term, one woman volunteering at the shelter said she had lived in New Orleans and had relocated to New Iberia after Katrina. She said, thanks for having our six, then explained that also meant got your back. But, the phrase was originally - got your six, we googled it later - It originated in WWI with fighter pilots, the back of your plane is known as the 6-o-clock position, thus people would say I got your 6.

Through our partnerships with local businesses, by Sunday we will have gotten 19 car loads of donations deep into impacted areas. It's hard to quantify how many people we have impacted or will be impacted by this effort. At the Church we went to yesterday, they said that in 3 hours they were able to service 80 families. So 3 car loads in 3 hours and 80 families. They were nowhere near done with the items we brought. I think it's safe to say these 3 cars will have helped at least 200 families. Drivers into Baton Rouge also had 3 carloads, that's another 200 families. 400 hundred families with about half of the items we collected in 4 days is a safe estimate.

Big thanks to all that are bringing donations and to the following businesses that participated in our initial partnership. Big love to you all & biggest thanks to Renée Blanchard for starting this collaboration with one post on facebook!!

Balance Yoga
Buff Beauty Bar
Cane & Table
Church Alley Coffee
Dashing Bicycles
Dancing Grounds
Dirty Coast
Dryades Public Market
Goods that Matter
Lionheart Prints
Rouler Cycling & Café
Solo Espresso
The GOOD Shop

We just got back from an awesome trip to Colorado, for our first time at the Firefly Market in Boulder. Firefly wrote the nicest feature about us on their blog too btw, thank you Firefly! My mom traveled from Virginia and helped me at the market, we also spent some time before and after the market on a mother/daughter vacay! 

We had the best time meeting folks and spending time in Denver, Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Fort Collins. I also visited with a dear friend of mine Lori Lou who I hadn't seen in 15 years and met her two teenage sons! We also happened upon Robbie and Tricia Vitrano who are working in Boulder for several months - what a treat!

My mom & I are both beer fans and we found lots of delicious beer made in Colorado, we visited a few breweries in Denver: we loved Renegade, Breckenridge, and Prost.

When we went to Fort Collins, we also popped into rain in FC's pretty downtown. It was wonderful to see Kristin again, she has carried our BirdSoaps since 2011! We also met several people at the Firefly Market who had purchased our Birdies from rain over the years which was so cool. Her shop is beautiful, don't miss it if in Fort Collins.

And, I can't forget to mention two wonderful Museums in Denver! Both are absolutely beautiful, the Denver Art Museum, whose new building is designed by Daniel Liebeskind and the Clyfford Still Museum, whose architect is Brad Cloepfil.

Go to both, they are right next door to one another, you will be inspired. My mom & I especially loved the Women in Abstract Expressionist exhibit at the Denver museum and we loved everything about the Clyfford Still Museum, a wonderfully peaceful spot.