Archive for December, 2011

Resolutions

sohlson posted this Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

We love EcoSalon’s list of New Year’s resolutions not to make – understandably, since an unofficial office poll reveals that none of us (except Courtney, who uses an excel spread sheet for hers) make resolutions ourselves.  Rather than changing who we are, our plan for 2012 is to refine what we’re already about:

1.  Have More Fun -  Even when we’re sitting in meetings or stuck in traffic, even when we’d rather be outside riding a bike or a wave, we’re gonna make what we’re doing fun.

2.  Do More Good – The Dalai Lama says (we’re paraphrasing here) that the key to personal happiness is to see to the happiness of others first. This year we’re going to look for every opportunity to stoke out our Santa Barbara community, our greater community and each other.  Simple stuff – like washing a pile of dirty dishes someone left in the office kitchen, sticking to our beach clean up days and donating to charities whose work we admire – is what we’re shooting for.

3.  Stay Comfortable – If we follow numbers one and two this one is easy.  Comfort starts with how you feel inside, after all.  Of course getting plenty of rest, eating good food and wearing über comfy clothes can help too.

Inspire us with your resolutions, both simple and life-changing.

 

 

 

Santa-stic gifts… Not so much

sohlson posted this Monday, December 19th, 2011

First thing’s first:  if you’re anything like us you’re not exactly ahead of the game when it comes to holiday shopping…  that’s when a Horny Toad e-gift card comes to the rescue.  We’re only telling you because we love you.

Also, we want to save you from having anything to do with a gift fail story.  You know, like how getting an unsolicited parakeet is bound to end in some form of heartbreak. Or the way that gifting a bathroom scale rarely sends the right message.  And how offering a framed photo of your baby to people besides immediate family members is just awkward for everyone. And we all know at least one person fresh out of a break up who’s received a cookbook called “Easy Dinners for One.”

Of course, it’s not about the stuff… but if you have a great gift fail story worth telling, we’d consider it the best present ever.

 

 

 

Holiday Giving Week Five

sohlson posted this Monday, December 19th, 2011

For the fifth and final week of our Holiday Giving program we’re partnering with Telluride AIDS Benefit (TAB). Since its inception in 1994, TAB’s Gala Fashion Show has become a Telluride institution and favorite among both Telluride’s locals and visitors.  We love supporting this great cause for many reasons, not the least of which is that Horny Toad was born in Telluride.  Use the promo code DOGOODTAB on any hornytoad.com purchase from December 19 – 27 and we’ll give them 20% of the profits. As well, 2% of all our web sales for those days go to Telluride AIDS Benefit.  To learn more about TAB go to www.aidsbenefit.org.

Tell Us Your Traditions

sohlson posted this Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Sure we sell great holiday gifts, but in our humble opinion the best thing about the season has little to do with commerce – we love the personalized, untraditional rituals.  For instance, Lindsay and her sweetie pick a Friday night in early December to head to the brew pub across from the Christmas tree lot.  After dinner and a locally brewed beer or two, they select their tree and spend Saturday decorating.

Kate and her husband string chili pepper, sea urchin and lizard lights around their beach house. They don’t get each other gifts but spend time planning a trip or home improvement project they will take on together in the next year.

Every year Paige and her wife go to the movies on Christmas eve.  They eat waffles on Christmas morning and bake a red velvet cake for that night’s dessert.

Kim has an annual Christmas day brunch at her house.  Her whole loud family comes and, miraculously, they agree not to fight for the entire day.

We want to know the special thing you do this season.  Tell us in the comments by 12/18 at midnight and we’ll pick a winner who will receive one of our luscious Cashmoore blankets, just in time to give as a holiday gift or snuggle up with on a good old fashioned New Year’s Day movie bender.

Holiday Giving Week Four

sohlson posted this Monday, December 12th, 2011

We’re proud to say that this week’s Holiday Giving recipient is Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS). Established in 1977,  they’re an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans.  Use the promo code DOGOODSEA on any hornytoad.com purchase from December 12 – 18 and we’ll give them 20% of the profits. As well, 2% of all our web sales for those days go to Sea Shepherd.  To learn more about them go to www.seashepherd.org.

Fermental Health

sohlson posted this Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

In our fast moving world, good mental health must be cultivated patiently… like fermenting wine.

The truth is, sometimes we do our best work when we’re not working at all.  It’s not unheard of for us to sneak away for a run, bike ride, yoga class or – when the surf’s good – a few hours in the ocean.  Sometimes we call in “well.”  Think of it as preventative medicine: true sanity requires a strong balance of work and play.

We say take some time off.  Go do what you love for a few hours.  It’ll reduce stress, increase happiness and, if you’re anything like us, inspire you to approach life (and work) from a fresh angle. You can tell your boss we said so.

Holiday Giving Week Three

sohlson posted this Monday, December 5th, 2011

Week three of five in the Horny Toad Holiday Giving Program supports NW Documentary which, in turn, supports our friends at Red Reel Video.  Use the promo code DOGOODNWDOC on any hornytoad.com purchase from December 5 – 11 and we’ll give NW Documentary 20% 0f the profit.  Additionally, 2% of all web sales (whether the promo code is used or not) will go to them.  To learn more about NW Documentary visit www.nwdocumentary.org.  To learn more about Red Reel Video visit www.redreelvideo.com.