It's cold everywhere. And with the opening of the XXIII Winter Olympics on February 9th, millions of people around the world will tune in to witness the quadrennial celebration of athleticism, cultural pride and, possibly, political jockeying.

The Global Goods Partners team will be among those setting their devices to catch in real time our favorite events and athletes. From weekend sledders to a frustrated speed skater to a competitively ranked ski racer, our small team of six staff members and three long-term dedicated volunteers, hail from five different countries.

Seran Song, our indispensible marketing assistant who joined GGP in November for an eight-month professional exchange stint, has become our resident resource on all things Olympics-related. Asked about her favorite winter Olympic sport, Seran’s immediate response was, “Ever since the legendary South Korea Skater, Yuna Kim, defined the sport in South Korea with her gold medal win in 2010 and silver medal win in 2014, figure skating is my must-watch event."

While missing the excitement of being in her home country, Seran will watch the opening ceremony with friends, diligently serving her favorite Olympic-watching snack, Homemade Potato Salad. Seran was kind enough to share her simple yet crowd-pleasing recipe: Mashed potato with mashed boiled eggs, cucumber, bacon, and chopped onion, with a seasoning of pepper and salt. There's no one better to endorse the meal than Seran herself: "Easy to make, easy to enjoy and forget about the calories."

Whether in the gifting season or not, it's always lovely to find special pieces for loved ones. Sometimes, they're so good we need to keep them for ourselves. Our favorite lifestyle editor's weighed in on the best gifts to wrap up with your own name on them.

Take a leaf out of our favorite editor's books and shop all our gifts here. 

Baby, it's cold outside...

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Our special winter treat just carefully picked for you includes:
The Foldover Clutch Atilan Brocade (Tribe Alive) with neutral shades, intricately hand woven to perfection to create the foldover brocade clutch with a unique mix of contrasting patterns with reversible options Stay cozy with the beautiful Lavender & Petals Candle (Keap) with a scent of delicate fresh petals and lavender. Treat your beauty with The Starter Kit (Primally Pure) which is all about natural, non-toxic personal skincare and beauty products. Keep yourself warm during winter season with a Luxe super soft Honeycomb Scarf made from 100% Peruvian alpaca and some adorable Alpaca Hand Warmers (both Global Goods Partners).

Enjoy and good luck!

If you've been scrolling through our site wondering where these beautiful new tire accessory styles are coming from, we've got some news for you! Thanks to designer Santos Agustin, we've expanded our men's accessories. Take a look and see who's behind the designs.

Where did you grow up?

The Oahu, Hawaii. My family immigrated from the Philippines, but I can proudly say that I was born in the same hospital as Barack Obama.

How do you get into design and fashion? What did you study?

I didn't grow up thinking I'd become a fashion designer, specifically. I initially thought I would be a writer. But I ended up studying Fashion Design on the west coast as well as here in New York. I think it was more the idea of self-expression and being a creator of something. I loved making things. And just serendipitously found I could make a living out of it.

What are you currently working on and how has your career changed over the years?

My background is in Menswear. I'm currently working for myself, freelancing for friends.

What was the most challenging aspect about coming up with designs using recycled tire materials? Do you have a favorite fabric to work with?

Not surprisingly, working with recycled tire material is like working with any other medium. Every textile has its own special personality. It can be a point of inspiration actually. I've always thought the fabric dictates the design. This material had a former life as car, bike, etc. It lends itself to be hard-wearing, stubborn and also very forgiving, making it a perfect medium for an accessories collection. I know, from my own experience my wallet, my passport holder and my backpack take a beating. And you want the material to be able to withstand the rigors of everyday life.

"My favorite fabric changes all the time. 
I think as a designer, you're always 
looking for what's new."

Shop the Color Block Recycled Tire Card Holder

What other hobbies do you have outside of fashion?

I still love doing things with my hands. I'm currently trying to get my friends to come with me to a metal-working or woodworking class. Whenever I have time, I pick up the ukulele. I'm not very good at it, but it doesn't stop me. One of my favorite things to do is jam with my daughter. She's learning how to play the guitar and we like duet to cheesy songs. She's a much better musician than I am.

Shop the Recycled Tire & Vinyl Passport Holder 

If you could pick one country to stay in one year for, what country would you pick and why?

This is probably a dorky answer but I'd live in Dahab, Egypt. I think every kid grows up fantasizing about the Great Pyramids. It's a land and culture that predates the bible. Dahab, itself is a relatively new city. As I've gotten older, I've grown to appreciate the juxtaposition of the convenience of modern every day life existing harmoniously along side a millennia old culture.

Global Goods Partners is happy to launch new styles of our Th(E) Bracelet and Bracelets for Change. Both made by our partner, Kiej de los Bosques, both these bracelets create an impact that help create better opportunities for children in Guatemala.

Below you can see the impact that each bracelet makes.

Th(E) Bracelet 

Th(E) Bracelet helps children ages 6-18, especially girls, acquire scholarships to attend school. 

Of the 2 million children in Guatemala that do not attend school, the majority are girls living in rural areas. It's not uncommon for girls to leave school by the age of 12, and this lack of education means they are the most vulnerable to early marriage, frequent childbearing, violent danger, injustice and chronic poverty.

Your purchase of Th(E) Bracelet provides rural Guatemalan girls with the resources they need to fulfill their dreams of education. This scholarship program will help to lighten the burden of school costs on Guatemalan families, going towards school registration, tuition fees, travel expenses, school uniforms, and supplies like textbooks.