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*Other* Cool Products Made From Recycled Materials

We are so excited about our new 100% recycled fabric! Finally, after many years and a lot of research, we have found a recycled fabric that meets our high quality, durability, functionality and look and feel standard! Voila! Now we are curious about other hip products that are made from recycled materials so we looked around and picked our top five. Check them out!

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Unique Gift Ideas for Men

Dad, hubby, son, brother - and the gardener! For all the special guys on your list, we've found a few unique gifts that we know he'll love!

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Simple Steps, Big Impact - How We Can Protect Our Oceans

In honor of Earth Day this year, we’ve dug a little deeper into its meaning and origin. Turns out that its birth on April 22, 1970 marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Demonstrations in support of environmental awareness erupted nationally and by the end of that year marked the US government’s formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By 2009, the United Nations validated “International Mother Earth Day,” and now today, 193 countries celebrate Earth Day worldwide

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Chocolates We Can Feel Good About Giving — and Eating

We decided to do a little research on where to find the best gift chocolates and discovered that when it comes to sustainability and impact on the environment, not all chocolates are created equal. Fortunately, there are a good amount of chocolatiers out there, but here are our Top Five (in no particular order)!

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*Other* Cool Products Made From Recycled Materials

We are so excited about our new 100% recycled fabric! Finally, after many years and a lot of research, we have found a recycled fabric that meets our high quality, durability, functionality and look and feel standard! Voila! Now we are curious about other hip products that are made from recycled materials so we looked around and picked our top five. Check them out!

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Unique Gift Ideas for Men

Dad, hubby, son, brother - and the gardener! For all the special guys on your list, we've found a few unique gifts that we know he'll love!

Read More

Kitchen Hacks: Extend the Life of Five Summer Produce Faves

With food waste at an all time high in the US, we are constantly looking for creative ways to preserve the shelf life of our perishables. And since we are in the thick of summer, we have a lot of produce to protect! Thankfully there is no shortage of ideas and we tracked down some of the easiest and most practical tips to share.

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Simple Steps, Big Impact - How We Can Protect Our Oceans

In honor of Earth Day this year, we’ve dug a little deeper into its meaning and origin. Turns out that its birth on April 22, 1970 marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Demonstrations in support of environmental awareness erupted nationally and by the end of that year marked the US government’s formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By 2009, the United Nations validated “International Mother Earth Day,” and now today, 193 countries celebrate Earth Day worldwide

Read More

Chocolates We Can Feel Good About Giving — and Eating

We decided to do a little research on where to find the best gift chocolates and discovered that when it comes to sustainability and impact on the environment, not all chocolates are created equal. Fortunately, there are a good amount of chocolatiers out there, but here are our Top Five (in no particular order)!

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UMB’s Sustainable and Chic Gift Guide

We are seeking sustainable, unique and chic this year so we’ve gathered some luxe gift ideas that are sure to delight! And for added efficiency while reducing wasteful packaging, gather a group together to go in on one special thing and wrap it in a UMB! 🧡

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UMB's Eco-Friendly Camping Guide

As we head deeper into Summer 2022, travel seems to be the talk-track trend! And we at Urban Market Bags are hearing a whole lot of talk about camping travel. In honor of getting away and outdoors, we put together this Eco-Friendly Camping Guide so that you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors — without hurting them!

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Tips for Bringing Mindfulness into Your Day While Doing Ordinary Things

Spring is a time of renewal, a time when we have the opportunity to look forward to the year ahead and plan, set goals and even dreams! Practicing mindfulness is a great way to stay calm and connected with yourself, which helps to keep you on your path. And here’s the thing, mindfulness can be practiced anywhere, while doing anything, and you don’t have to know how to meditate! Here are some tips for bringing mindfulness into your day while doing ordinary things.

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New Year, New Giving Resolutions?

We know that lifestyle changes, even small ones, can make a big difference for the environment — and we do our part by shopping local, using nontoxic and sustainable products, conserving water, driving less, using reusables (our Urban Market Bags of course!), the list goes on … But this year when thinking “what else can we do,” we remembered that there are teams of dedicated organizations and people working tirelessly to move the needle with climate change and the environment, and they can use our support! So we turned to Charity Navigator to help us and thought we’d highlight our top six favorites for you. 🌎🧡

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Get Into Nature with These Fall Decor Ideas

Outdoor gatherings have been the trend of 2021, but as the air cools and the fall season settles in, we begin to move our gatherings indoors. In the spirit of keeping the trend alive, we are looking for ways to bring the outdoors in! Utilizing elements from nature for table centerpieces and festive décor is not only refreshing and eco friendly (by eliminating the drive to a store and added packaging), but also free! How to get started? Head outdoors for inspiration. Or take a look at these natural fall decorating ideas to set you on your way.

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Ten Things We Couldn’t Do During Quarantine … But Now Can!

As life outside of our home resumes, we have a much greater appreciation for all of the “little” things that we used to be able to do. Now that we are starting to be able to do them again, we are thinking about how to reincorporate sustainability into our mindset and actions.

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Tips for a Sustainable Household

This past year brought us closer to home (quite literally) and has helped us rethink some of our daily habits. Here are four tips for a sustainable household from our archives and like-minded friends.

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Sustainability Essentials

The start of a new year is the best time to revisit the basics and remind ourselves which foundational habits are important to maintain. Our daily commitment to impactful actions is what creates real change over the course of months and years. So, let's talk about sustainability essentials!

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Spread the Gift of Love this Holiday Season

Most people you know probably need a little extra love this year, right?! That’s why this holiday season, we’re thinking outside-of-the-box when it comes to giving gifts. We’re focusing less on monetary items and more on making loved ones smile through thoughtful gestures. With loneliness at an all-time high, it’s the little, non-monetary things that mean the most right now.

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Remembering the Good Stuff from 2020

This month, we made space for the good stuff from 2020. It’s been an unimaginable year for us all, and we think it’s important to reflect on the positive to keep spirits high and our lives moving forward. We all deserve to give ourselves credit for enduring this year, and the first step is to remind ourselves of what we are grateful for! </p><p>We asked our Urban Market Bags fans, family members, and friends how 2020 shaped their lives for the better and have compiled the stories here for some light, uplifting reading!

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Eight Fall Superfoods That Can Boost Your Immunity During COVID-19, Cold and Flu Season

When the weather begins to turn colder, we all know it’s not only the start of fall, but the onset of cold and flu season. And this year, we’re also competing with Covid-19. With these weather changes also comes a change in seasonal produce and foods. We’ve created a round-up of super foods (and fun recipes!) you can lean on these next few months to boost your immunity and set your body up for optimal health and safety.

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Five Reasons to Prioritize Eating Seasonally

Have you ever tasted a farm-fresh heirloom tomato in the late summer and wondered if you’ve eaten a tomato before? Eating with the seasons really makes a difference in the taste and nutritional content, plus it’s the most eco-friendly choice. Here are five reasons to shop seasonal:

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Sustainable Rest & Movement

Things look a lot different this fall and back-to-school year, and we’re all doing our best to adapt to each of the changes. Between digital schooling, unprecedented storms, social unrest and anticipating the flu season while Covid-19 is still weighing on our society, it’s safe to say we’re probably all carrying some sort of emotional burden. All things considered, it’s more important than ever to lean on the simple tools that make human beings strong and centered. For us, three of those things are intentional rest, sustainable movement and simple breathwork to reduce tension and stress, and boost moods and immunity!

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Reconnect With Who You Are in This New World

You've probably noticed a few shifts in yourself since the onset of Coronavirus as normal routines have been completely flipped upside down. When these changes happen, you're faced with observing how you adapt and who you are at your core. When you’re spending more time at home, you’re left with your 60,000 daily thoughts, which repeat themselves 90% of the time. Introspection can be scary for people because we’re so used to being plugged in and filling every minute of our time with distractions. Hence, alcohol sales are up 55% year-over-year right now and people are antsy to be done with Covid-19. Avoiding change and your thoughts can lead to anxiety and other harmful emotions. The more sustainable route is to embrace change with acceptance and awareness. Here’s how to make introspection your friend and focus on who you want to be in this new world.

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Six Ways to Reconnect to Nature During a Pandemic

Living in the world with a pandemic has become our new normal. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to take us away from the thing that heals us the most: nature. We’ve spent the last four months of our lives inside, which can create stress, discomfort and overall disconnection from everything else. How can we move forward in this new world to create more peace and groundedness in our lives, while still being safe to ourselves and those around us? It’s simple! Simply reconnect to nature and its lessons, whether you stay inside or venture out.

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