The Ultimate Unique Gift Guides with Uncommon Goods

I love buying gifts for my friends and family. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a smile on their face and surprise in their eyes after they opened a present from me. I am always looking for something unique and quirky, something uncommon! 

I have themed up with UncommonGoods and created the Ultimate Unique Gift Guides: for babies, for kids, Christmast gift guide for men, Christmas gift guide for women and the Ultimate Personalized Gift Guide. I hope you find them helpful when shopping for gifts for your loved ones! 


                                 
I love UncommonGoods for several reasons. First of all, they offer a wide range of products, all of which are beautiful and unique. Many of them are handmade and contain recycled components. As a vegan, I truly appreciate that they care not only about people (offering excellent service to their customers and fair pay to their workers) but also about animals. They do not sell products containing feathers, leather or fur. How amazing is that?!



THE ULTIMATE UNIQUE GIFT GUIDE: CHRISTMAS

Buying gifts for women seem to be easy. But if you want something more long-lasting than a box of chocolates, and less predictable than a bottle of perfume, UncommonGoods has a solution for you!
If she likes statement jewellery, get her something as special as the Raw Emerald Flower Cuff.
Or the She Believed She Could Bangles if she likes more minimalistic pieces. The Ripple Earrings are my favourite. They are so classy and sophisticated. Green malachites are incredibly beautiful.
The Swan Mug is gorgeous. All women would love to receive it! It will look amazing held by an artist, sipping her green tea between the painting sessions. Aesthetically pleasing, will be appreciated by a chic woman, as well as brave girl-boss. A teenage girl will say that this is the coolest mug ever! And it will, filled to the top with coffee, help her get through a tough exam period! Emerald green is one of my favourite colours, so when I saw this gorgeous Tidal Shift Print in Emerald Green, I immediately fell in love with it. This piece will look incredible in a minimalistic interior. For a woman, who likes to spice up her outift with cool jewellery, I would go for Cat & Dog Mismatched Earrings, or the Bronze Cactus Earrings. Both pairs are very unique, and affordable too!

I am sure that I am not the only person who always struggles to find something unique for men! If you have no clue what to get your husband/ boyfriend/ dad/ brother, definitely check out the whole range of products for men offered by Uncommon Goods.

Record Clock- it is a perfect present for a music fan! And you know what is best about it? Everyone loves music! The clock is handmade by an artist, and you can choose from the pre-selected Rock, Soul, Jazz or 80s albums.

Phone Charging Water Bottle and Stand- because staying hydrated and having the phone charged is important!

If he likes to ride a bike, and you can splurge a little, get him a Bike Boot Bicycle Storage.

Fruit Keg Tapping Kit- very practical and reasonably priced! Does it remind you of that scene from 'Grace and Frankie', when Grace was making the watermelon vodka?

And if you are looking for a cool, but affordable option, check out the Shark Socks :)




These were my favourite Christmas finds from the UncommonGoods website. You can see all Christmas gift ideas on this page 🙂


 THE ULTIMATE UNIQUE GIFT GUIDE:  KIDS

Buying gifts for babies may seem to be the easiest. But sometimes it is very difficult to find uncommon toys and clothes between tonnes of plastic. You have got to check out all the beautiful products that uncommongoods.com offers. My favourites are:

Forest Friends Stroller Toys- the squirrel and skunk duo is cute and soft. Perfect little friends for your little human!

Little Adventurer Socks- set of six pairs of slip-resistant socks. They're cute, comfy and unisex.

Personalized Wooden Baby Bunting- perfect not only for birthday parties but also as your baby's bedroom decoration.

Organic Cotton Teethers Veggie Crate-  teething is not a fun time neither for baby nor for the parents. But these gorgeous Veggie Teethers will help you to get through this difficult time smoothly.

Farm Animal Blocks- I do not know a baby who doesn't like farm animals. These cute blocks will help to boost your baby's imagination and develop their motor skills.

Little Animal Lover Closet Dividers- A perfect gift for new parents! It will help them to organise baby's wardrobe. And trust me- organisation is the key when the baby arrives!

It was so much fun choosing the gifts for kids! Here are my favourites:

Personalized Book About Space- an obvious choice for me! Every child (and almost every adult) will be excited to go on a galactic tour!

Swan Slippers- beautifully designed and perfectly executed, swan slippers will be a perfect choice for every little girl!

Garden Plate & Utensils- a great dining set,  which will make eating meals much more fun!

Make Your Own Kaleidoscope- I used to love kaleidoscopes when I was a child! They're so unique and out of this world. How fun would be to build it up from scratch?!

Jetpack Backpack- this unique backpack will be a great reminder for your kid that imagination can take him everywhere!

Build Your Own Robot Set- yet another creativity- boosting toy! Or- toys, as this set contains parts which will allow your kid to build 3 robots, or whatever else he imagines!

Magical Unicorn Cape- unicorns are fascinating, but unicorn-themed stuff can sometimes be a little tacky. But not this one! This cape is absolutely gorgeous.

See more ideas for kids here.

Bonus! Something very special. A beautiful letterbook, which comes with a set of 40 cards for grandparents and their grandchildren to send to each other. A phenomenal gift idea!

THE ULTIMATE UNIQUE GIFT GUIDE: PERSONALIZED GIFTS 

Birthstone Wishing Balls- these unique wishing balls are hand-blown. The are available in 12 colours, and each of them comes with 52 slips of paper. You can write your wishes on them, favourite quotes or memories, and tuck them into the ball. I would personally use them for practicing gratitude. They are breathtaking!

Personalized Constellation of Love- what is the day that you want to remember forever? The computer will plot the star charts, and the artist will illustrate that night's sky. I don't know if a gift can get any more romantic than this!

Check out more personalized gift ideas 💛

Scratch Map Deluxe- a perfect gift for a globetrotter. It will allow him to scratch off the places he already been to, and get excited to travel more!

Custom Pet Illustration- I don't need to say much. Who wouln't want to have an illustration of their beloved pet hanging in the living room? Or just above the bed 💗

My Life Story- So Far- a very special journal that you can fill in with your memories and gift it to your child. 

Which item was your favourite? What would you order from Uncommon Goods? Let me know in the comments below 🙂 Thanks for reading! 

Gosia x 

Thank you, UncommonGoods, for sponsoring this post! It's been a pleasure working with you 🙂

This is a Man's Man's Man's World

 Ilayda Akdogan, Ayberk Pekcan and Gunes Sensoy in 'Mustang'.

One of the most significant debuts of the decade! An emotional drama that stole the hearts of critics and audience. Why is 'Mustang' my favourite film of all times? 

Set in a dreamy Turkish village, where at first glance life seems to be idyllic. But there is more hell in this paradise, that you have thought.

The story begins with a terrible misunderstanding. An elderly, pious neighbour sees five young sisters having fun with boys in the sea. She not only questions their innocence but also puts them in the cage, where their old-fashioned grandma and a fickle uncle clip their wings progressively,  changing their house into a 'wife factory'.

We see bad things happen. We see emotional and physical abuse, molesting. And, finally, arranged marriages. Those girls are paying a high price not only for being beautiful but mainly for being women. 'Mustang' doesn't solely focus on a suffering and girls' response to that but also on a beauty of sisterhood and their unity. Unity of young women facing the outdated tradition and abuse, and fighting for their freedom.

Gunes Sensoy as Lale in 'Mustang'

Paraphrasing the James Brown song -this is a man's world, but it would be nothing without a woman or a girl... like Lale! The narrator of the movie and the youngest of five orphaned sisters. Brave, rebellious girl who is not afraid to speak her mind. She does not agree with the detrimental tradition and unfair treatment. She leads her sisters as she can't stand injustice. We get to see how a young feminist was  born. It is her attitude that adds an uplifting spirit to the film. Güneş Şensoy is absolutly remarkable as Lale. 

The performances in 'Mustang' are excellent. Ayberk Pekcan is great as cruel and merciless Erol. But it is the amateur actors that made this movie exceptional. Their acting is very natural, which makes the story totally believable.

Gunes Sensoy, Ilayda Akdogan, Elit Iscan, Tugba Sunguroglu and Doga Doguslu in 'Mustang'

Deniz Gamze Ergüven debuted in a style! Her first film won many awards on the most prestigious film festivals in the world, including four César awards, and the Europa Cinemas Label Award at Cannes.

Expertly directed, 'Mustang'  has a perfect pace and balance between the tragic and the happy scenes. 
Even though this film is full of contrasts and twists,  it flows beautifully. On the one hand, there is a family that cares more about the tradition and opinion of society than about happiness of young girls. On the other hand, we see a strong, unbreakable bond between the sisters, and we know that they'll do everything for each other. We see that coming of age can be both beautiful, and difficult. Especially if freedom-wanting, independent young girls live in a cage with a monster.
Erguven showed us the darkest shades of Turkish tradition, as well as the beauty of it- music, dance, and food. 

'Mustang'  is full of powerful scenes, but the cruelest of them always take place off camera. The director invited us not only to girls' house but also to their hearts, showing their intimacy in the most delicate way.
Hats off to the cinematographers David Chizallet and Ersin Gok! 'Mustang' is visually breathtaking!

This is the best film I have seen in my life. I watched it seven (!) times in the past two years.

When I first watched it, I cried and I laughed. I couldn't stop thinking about it for a long time. Gemze touched my soul. I give it 11 out of 10. A truly great piece of filmmaking!

Get To Know Me! :)

Hello, happy to see you here! Since my audience have recently grown a little, I thought I would tell you more about myself, so you can get to know me better. I chose some questions from the 'Get to know me TAG', and I am here today to share my answers with you! 


Do you have any pets? 
I do, indeed! I have a cat called Malus. She is 4 years old. Absolutely gorgeous, independant and brave. And fluffy!

Are you named after anyone? 
Yes, after my favourite aunt (my mum's sister). My older sister chose it for me. 


What is your favourite quote? 
"A ship in harbor is safe- but that is not what ships are built for."- John A. Shedd

Do you have a tattoo? 

I do not. Love them on others, but I can not imagince myself having a tattoo just yet.

How many languages do you speak?

I speak Polish and English fluently. I can communicate in Russian, German and Persian. 

What are your favourite books of all time?

I have read hundreds, if not thousands of books in my life. There are four, though, which really stood out for me. I read each of them at least of 5 times. And I am not done reading them yet!

'Matilda' by Roald Dahl                        

I have fallen in love with this book 21 years ago! It was the first 'real' book that I have read in my life. I promise that I knew some major parts of it by heart. I loved Matilda and I could really identify with her. I was always acting older than my age. Matilda was bold and brave little feminist. A 4-year-old role model to a 4-year-old me. I have recently read it at loud for my son in English, and he really enjoyed listening to it. And I was so happy to be reunited with my hero Matilda.

'Primeval and Other times' ('Prawiek i inne czasy') by Olga Tokarczuk 

Olga Tokarczuk is phenomenal Polish writer. The world that she creates in her books is just magical. I love her characters, they are multidimensional and interesting. If you have never read any of her books, start with 'Primeval and Other times.' You will fall in love with her writing from the first page!

'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' Milan Kundera

A classic. Lightness and heaviness, body and soul, love and sex. The only life that we have to live is so light, and the decisions we make, are so meaningless. This makes our existence unbearable. Not an easy and pleasing book to read, but a great one. 

'Next to Heaven' / 'Next Stop–Paradise' -"Nastepny do raju' Marek Hlasko

Yet another Polish writer on my list. 'Next to Heaven' is a book about a group of van drivers, working in the mountains in Poland. In other words, it is a book about loneliness and apathy of young men facing the difficulties of living in a communist country. 

Marek Hlasko was a rebellious and unpredictable, but very gifted artist. His writing was very raw, bold and unashamed.

He died at 35, and the circumstances of his death remain unknown.

 

What is your favourite drink?

Water, freshly squeezed orange juice, black tea with lemon. I hardly ever drink coffee.

What is your favourite TV series of all time?

'Grace and Frankie' - (Netflix), the most hilarious, uplifting and heart-warming series ever. You can read the full review here;    

'Prison Break'- one of the best series ever made. Written to perfection gripping TV drama. A story about lawlessness, brotherhood, hope and courage.Well deserved international success. I can not wait for the 6th season!

What is your favourite food? 

Baked vegetables (potatoes and courgette are my favourite), millet pudding, vegan pastas and fresh fruits. 

Favourite memory from childhood? 

The time I got to spend with my maternal grandparents. They were the most caring, loving people I have ever known. 

What was the first concert you ever attended? When I was 5 we went to see the gig of Just 5. It was a polish boysband, very popular in the 90s. I was beyond obsessed with them, and I had a crushon one of the guys (like pretty much all polish girls back then haha). After the gig, we went to get the autographs. 

My dad spent a good minute introducing me to the guy, telling him how much I loved him. But I wasn't there to shake his hand- I escaped! I was too shy to look into his eyes!

                                                                  

The best drugstore & cruelty-free cream eyeshadow- Kiko Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow in the shade 05 Pearly Silver Rose

When it comes to eyeshadows, I much prefer powders to creams. Cream eyeshadows can be difficult to work with. Most of them are either too runny, or too dry. Luckily, I have found not only the formula but also the colour that I was looking for. Check out this beauty from Kiko! It is the gorgeous Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow in the shade 05 Pearly Silver Rose. It's an affordable and cruelty-free cream eyeshadow that you need in your life!

The Kiko Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow in the shade 05 Pearly Silver is a light, warm brown with a sparkling silver sheen. It is not the traditional, boring and hard to pull off silver. It is very wearable and looks great on my dark brown eyes! It will suit not only cool-toned and neutral complexions but also the warm-toned.
It is very easy to apply thanks to its rich colour and velvety texture. It doesn't crease while drying down. Once blended, stays put for many hours. It lasts on my eyelids the whole day. It doesn't smudge nor flake.

It is hard to believe that an affordable but high-quality beauty product like this isn't a best seller yet! It is stunning, and it looks very elegant on the eyes. When it comes to the quality, it beats its higher-end brothers! And it retails for only £6,90.
It comes in a sleek and sturdy glass jar with a plastic lid. It contains 4.0 g/ 0.14 OZ of product.
I always take it with me when I travel. I usually blend my bronzer into the crease of my eye, apply the Cream Crush  Lasting Colour Eyshadow in the shade no 5 all over my lid and do a wing liner with my brow pomade. This is my favourite, effortless eye look on the go! 

What is your favourite cream eyeshadow? Do you use them at all? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for reading! x