Summer Cookout Essentials It is always our hope that our tablewares- from handwoven placemats to wooden salad servers- set a beautiful table around which even more beautiful conversations can take place. We love that in the summer, those table settings get to move outdoors! Here are our recommendations for any backyard cookout or dinner party you are having this summer. Firstly, we designed our new Harvest Apron with this kind of thing in mind. Wear it while preparing everything for the gathering. Available in cream o...

Father's Day Gift Guide Oftentimes, Dad feels like the most worthy person of celebration, but the most difficult to shop for. This Father's Day, we have pulled together our tried and true favorite Dad gifts so that you can make sure he feels valued, celebrated, and loved! 1. The absolute perfect wallet for every dad is our Minimalist Wallet. It holds a ton while avoiding bulk and maintaining its integrity. Featuring an ID window and tons of slots for cards and cash, we love this non-folding wallet for practical...

How to Perfect the Art of the Charcuterie Board Don’t let the word “art” or “charcuterie” scare you away from learning how to create your new go-to party contribution! While charcuterie boards are relatively new to the American foodie scene, they have actually withstood the test of time. Charcuterie, a French word meaning cooked flesh, describes the salted and smoked meats sold in French butcher shops and now defines easy, delicious, and timeless dining that anyone can accomplish. Whether you’re artsy, French, or none of the above, charcut...

Summer Favorites If you're anything like us, you're ready for a busy summer of traveling to warm places, sweet nights out with friends, and soaking up the sunshine. Keep reading to check out some of our favorite accessories and home goods that we'll be using all summer long. 1. If you’re planning to enjoy bike rides along the beach this summer, you need our best-selling Bike Basket! Handmade by our incredible artisans, our Bike Basket is durable enough to hold just about anything and looks so ador...

"You overpaid me." He who seeks to save his life will lose it, He who loses it for the sake of the kingdom of heaven finds it. This i know to be true. I may not know a lot. But this i know to be true. I remember an early event in Haiti. Probably in my 2nd year of living there. I had jumped on my moto and run down to the fabric stalls in the market. We needed more for the sewing group. I was in a hurry and somewhat distracted. ( like always?) Still learning the way of Haitian gourdes and Haitian Dollars. The k...

Not Wasted In the early days of 2nd Story Goods, it took time to build trust. We were all on new ground, trying to forge our way into creating things we’d never seen before, using materials that didn’t really make sense. We spent hours walking through the piles of discarded items out in the salt flats of Jubilee, knowing there were treasures to be found. We made earrings out of bottle caps, recycled glass and shells. We shaped angels from chipped plates and ceramic mugs sold for pennies in the street ma...

Valentine's Day Gift Guide Valentine’s Day this year might look a bit different for many of us. Instead of going out for dinner and drinks, staying in with your loved one (or your friends!) is the new norm. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered from date night activities to gifts, all of them ethically and sustainably made by artisans in Haiti. A great idea (for both men and women!) is to use our Large Square Gift Basket to create the perfect pairing of gifts for your partner. One way to do this is to couple our Woo...

Mother's Day Gift Guide The Active Mom If your mom is always on the go, loves to work out, and enjoys spending time outside, we have the perfect gifts for her! Our Bike Basket is an amazing handmade gift that she'll be able to use every day (and will look adorable on her bike). We also love gifting our Burlap Market Totes, especially if she likes going to the farmer's market or outdoor festivals and wants a more sustainable option than plastic bags. Finally, our MOSO Headband is an affordable option that sh...

Easter Basket Guide Easter will be here before you know it, and we can’t wait to celebrate this day of hope! For those of us who have been vaccinated, this may be the first time in over a year that group gatherings are happening, which is definitely something to celebrate. To make this holiday even better, check out our ideas for Easter baskets, table settings, and small gifts from the Easter Bunny that your child will love! Baskets 1. Our Market Basket is the perfect base for your Easter gifts! This eco-friend...

At Home with 2nd Story Goods It's hard to believe we've been living the majority of our lives from home for an entire year! Since we’ve been in the comfort of our own homes a lot more than usual this year, we’ve made an effort to make our spaces more beautiful, comfortable, and functional. The following list is just a few of our favorite products that have sparked joy in our lives while stuck at home this past year. 1. If you're working on livening up your space this spring, make sure to grab one of our Braid...

Good Habits Trying to practice some better habits in 2021? Yeah, us too! There is much we cannot control in the world, but taking care of ourselves amidst it all is something we can control. Check out our recommendations for some good habits we're trying to establish this year and 2nd Story Goods products to go with them! Bike Basket. Good habit: encourages moving our bodies. Helps us carry all the things as we do so! Natural Horn Comb. Good habit: horn combs have amazing benefits like helping co...

Spring Break Guide | 2nd Story Goods If you’re planning to travel for Spring Break this year, we have a few items that you may want to take with you! If you’re not ready to venture out just yet, stay tuned for our 'At Home Spring Break Guide' coming soon! 1. Our Bike Basket is absolutely perfect for trips to the beach, shops, or farmer’s market. Our spacious baskets are handmade with palm leaves that are local to Haiti and are so adorable on any bike! 2. For an amazing carry-on or beach bag, look no further than our Burl...

Spring Fashion Favorites 1. This spring, we're ready to dress up our Dog Tag Bracelets and Aluminum Circle Earrings! For your first date night or girls night out in WAY too long, we love pairing our recycled aluminum pieces with a silky, printed dress. You can always dress it down with sneakers and a denim jacket too! The bead in the earrings is the perfect pop of color, while the bracelet is a great staple to layer with bangles, a watch, or a couple of our stackable bracelets! 2. For a cute and casual look, we...

How to Style: Spring Patchwork Did you know that patchwork is trending this spring? If you've been considering shopping patchwork this season, this is your sign that now is your time and we are your people to buy from! Not only is it on trend, but it's also one of our favorite ways to reduce waste! This is why we created our MOSO Collection - to create a "2nd story" out of the huge amounts of clothing that are shipped to Haiti each month for a more sustainable future. Keep reading to find out which MOSO pie...

A Mother's 9 Gifts 18 months since I was last in this city. This is the longest I have been away from Haiti in 18 years? Yes. 18 years. Rebecca was 4 when I came for the very first time. 18 years. For over ⅓ of my life I have been here or would be back here within a few weeks. I sat in the office Friday afternoon with Christella and Emmanise. Chatting with these two women that I’ve known since 2010. We joked about how scared I was of Christella and her late sister, Jesula when I first landed in Jubilee Bla...

A Closer Look at Some New Products There’s nothing we love more than a new product launch! Today we wanted to share a closer look at some of our most favorite NEW 2nd Story Goods Products, and tell you a little about why we love each 🤗 (scroll to the bottom to see the matching photos!) Atelier Calla is a Haitian woman-owned artisan workshop focused on handcrafting Haitian-sourced horn, bone, and wood products. Each piece is one of a kind due to the nature of the materials. We love our partnership with them and their elega...