Archive for the ‘Comfort’ Category

Unflappable Customer Service

sohlson posted this Monday, November 19th, 2012

There are a couple of things you should know.  The first is that we’re upping our online customer service hours for the holidays.  That means if you need something – anything – Horny Toad-related, our customer service ninja badass Ian will probably save the day.

If you’re like us, you read a statement like this and your mind naturally wanders to the question:  “Anything? Just how unflappable is this guy?”

We thought we’d save you the trouble and “live chat” him ourselves.  Here’s how it went:

Toad Customer Care: Good afternoon, thank you for contacting Horny Toad, how can I help you?
Visitor: Hi!  I wanted to let you know that I did not get 3 compliments the first time I wore my Horny Toad shirt.
Toad Customer Care: I’m sorry to hear that.  You are definitely welcome to send it back for a refund if you’d like.
Visitor: Oh, wait, just saw the guarantee, 1 compliment the first 3 times?
Visitor: Okay, Well I’ve worn it three times and I’m not sure if I really got any compliments.  Someone at work said it was interesting and that the fabric felt amazing, but those aren’t really compliments.  Or are they?
Toad Customer Care: That’s up for you to decide.  You are more than welcome to send it back if you aren’t satisfied.
Visitor: if I send you a photo of myself in the shirt, will you tell me how it looks?

At this point Ian walked around to the front of the office where the pranksters were sitting.  Which leads us to the second thing you should know:  the internets are not private, people.  Once he got suspicious, all he had to do was glance at the IP address from the messenger and he knew it was an inside job. Busted.

Welp. You can’t win ‘em all.

But in case you need some stellar (and very patient) Horny Toad customer service, here’s when to find the person we’re now calling Saint Ian:

11/19-12/22
Monday – Friday 9am EST – 8pm EST  M-F / 6am PST – 5pm PST
Saturday 12-4 EST / 9-1 PST

You can call 888-865-8623 or hit him up on the live chat via www.hornytoad.com (like we did).

link | | Tags: | | | | |

share this:

Sweet Sweaters

sohlson posted this Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

Some things never go out of style, such as the little black dress, sliced bread, twist off beer caps… and wool. Our B’Wool sweater fabric blends traditional lambswool with silky, lightweight angora. A dash of nylon is added for durability and longevity.  Then it’s boiled down for a look that is dense but feels super light.

This Fall we’ve upped the comfort ante by working with B’wool generously.

Ladies, check out the Heartfelt (pictured above) and Heartfelt Long.  Part jacket, part sweater, we’ve never worn ours without getting a compliment.  Though the Heartfelt is lightweight enough to travel with, you’re bound to hear comments like “That looks so cozy.”  Not to mention it makes a damn good pillow or blanket on long flights and always gives the appearance of being spiffed up… but casually so.

And our men’s Felton Sweater has the power to take things up a notch, even when it’s worn with shorts.  The inherent nature of wool is to be comfortable in a wide temperature range, so you can wear it through pretty much all the seasons, and even if it gets shoved into the corner of a trunk/suitcase/luggage compartment, it will emerge looking wrinkle free.  Plus, according to our creative director Jason: “It’s dressy without being preppy.”

And if these aren’t good enough reasons to treat yourself to an amazing Fall sweater, here’s one that benefits other people too:  having a cozy persona puts folks at ease.  When friends, loved ones and colleagues see you looking relaxed yet well put together, they tend to feel more comfortable too.  And, like wool itself, putting people at ease is another one of those things that never goes out of style.

 

link | | Tags: | | | |

share this:

Where in the World Would You Like to Go?

sohlson posted this Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

Sometimes we think about where we’d go on our ideal vacation.  After all, it can’t hurt to dream…

Haley:  My dream vacation would include three parts:  2 1/2 weeks in New Zealand; 2 1/2 weeks in Indonesia and 2 1/2 weeks in Greece.
In New Zealand I would spend some of my time surfing and exploring the little town of Raglan. I’d leave the remaining time undetermined- with lots of room for spontaneous adventures in other towns.  In Indonesia I would spend most of my time in Bali surfing and working with a close family friend who runs a midwifery clinic.  And my time in Greece has not been mapped out yet; however, I have a long list of places there that I would love to see!  The goal would be to keep all of these parts loosely planned with lots of room to go where the trip pulled me.

Chelsey:  One of my dream vacations would be to spend autumn in Europe— specifically Edinburgh, London, Paris, and Vienna. I would ride on the ferris wheel over old world-sy Edinburgh, stroll through the incredible Viennese Christmas markets, people watch while trying to blend in with locals at sidewalk cafes and street markets in Paris, and just wander around in London. I’m a sucker for fall, it’s so dreamy and romantic to me, and so are all of these places. Just google “Vienna Christmas Market” and you’ll see what I mean! It looks like what Christmas felt like as a little kid.

Guin – One of my dream vacations would be at Tahoe skiing with all of my friends and family in a giant ski-in-ski-out cabin that could accommodate us all. There would be food, drink and cards in addition to music and a snowy fireside marshmallow roasting session.

Ian – New Zealand.  For probably about a 6-month vacation, because I would need that long to do everything that I want to do there.  But if I could only go for a couple weeks or a month or two, that would be fine.  I would also have to include a layover, probably a week or two, in Mallorca, Spain.

Brian: For me it’s a trip to Spain, starting in Barcelona and traveling down the coast, popping over to Morocco for a week, back up and over to Portugal for another week.  The trip ends in Madrid.  Along the way taking in the culture, the history, the beaches and some Spanish soccer.  Traveling with me are my wife and son.  Would love to stay for a month if life allowed.  This is the dream trip for us because it offers such a great blend between the present and the past.  The diversity of the various cultures along the way would give great variety in a relatively small geographic area.  While not for a month, this dream trip will become  a reality, at least for a couple of weeks, next Spring.

David:  Beach + sun + waves + beer + tacos/beer + surfboards + live music + hammock + nighttime dancing.  Sprinkle in some hiking and I’m sold.

So where would you go and what would you do?

link | | Tags: | | | |

share this:

The 2012 Horny Toad Fall Reading List

sohlson posted this Wednesday, September 5th, 2012

This Thursday is National Read a Book Day, an occasion we observe faithfully.  You might ask: “Why are you making such a big deal National Read a Book Day when it’s clearly a lesser holiday than World Reading Day or National Book Day?”  For us it’s all about the timing.  Now that the weather’s getting cooler we’re ready to curl up with our favorite sweater and a tasty warm beverage and enjoy some quiet time with a great read.  Here are our Fall reading recommendations:

Haley:  I recently read Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. I loved it!

Chelsey:  I’ve been reading The Buddha Walks Into A Bar. It’s a great perspective on traditional Buddhist philosophy set within the framework of modern, urban life. The author Lodro Rinzler makes lofty ideas like enlightenment and meditation seem applicable to daily life, all with an engaging, almost charming narrative. I’ve found that his words really stick with me and have changed my perspective on most things (for the better).

Amy:  Just finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a sad, sweet story about a very proper English husband/father/friend who does something very out of character that turns out to be life changing in an amazing, albeit ordinary way.  I’m also reading Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage – very interesting, this one.  Nobody really knows what goes on behind closed doors!

Ellen:  I’m reading Some of My Lives  by Rosamond Bernier.   This book offers the memoirs of an extraordinary woman in bite-sized chunks and gives the inside scoop on all the colorful people with whom she rubbed elbows.  The stories are an inspiring reminder that all the moments, activities and encounters of our lives have the potential for greatness.

Courtney:  Currently I’m reading  How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.  I like to think of this book as bringing me one teeny step closer to taking over the world… or making myself seem even weirder than I already do.  But, fingers crossed for the first one, right?

Jason: Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer is my latest read.  It explains why creative people are the way they are.  And I can also recommend The Society of the Spectacle, published in 1967 by a French philosopher named Guy Debord.  The first editions were covered in sandpaper so they destroyed the books on the shelf next to them, but it’s about how social life has been replaced by representation – an idea that is still applicable with the prevalence of Facebook and other social media.

We hope you find this list useful… if you have a book to recommend we’d love to know!

link | | Tags: |

share this:

Pickleback

sohlson posted this Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

We first tried a pickleback at the Woodsman Tavern in Portland, Oregon.  Since then we’ve shared it with many people.  One thing we learned is that the turkey baster makes a good tool for dealing with pickle juice.  The other thing we learned is that we like to use Booker’s Bourbon and fresh pickle brine from our favorite deli.  If you can’t get ahold of these particular ingredients, you can always start with some Bulleit Rye and jarred pickle juice.

Here’s what to do:  Shoot the bourbon and follow it with the pickle brine, one right after the other.  Just as the bourbon is starting to warm your throat, the taste of pickle brine takes over your front tastebuds and creates a satisfying leveling out in the back of your mouth.  Delicious!

Once you try it, let us know what you think.  Also we’re interested in learning some new, great toasts.  If you have one please tell us!

link | | Tags: | | |

share this:

Our Models Are Real People, Part 5

sohlson posted this Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Meet our superstar model Luna.  Not only can she rock a bear hat like no one’s business but she’s also a chef, singer, songwriter and cookbook author.  For seven years she’s worked along the California coast as a private chef, keeping her lucky clients healthy, happy and well nourished.  Just last week she celebrated the release of her cookbook Nourished:  The Art of Eating and Living Well.

She definitely did her part to keep our tastebuds in a jovial mood on the photo shoot.  We love her approach to cooking -  it’s all about wellness and sustainability, and yet she manages not to skip a single beat on deliciousness.  Her food is simple and elegant and asks you to slow down and appreciate what the planet has to offer.

Luna describes what she does like this:  My work feels like play. When I’m in the kitchen I’m sort of a cross between Frida Kahlo and Glenda the good Witch of the West. I get to wield my magic and collaborate with nature to create scrumptious edible art that celebrates the sensuous pleasure of being alive. It’s fun and it feels good to support a high quality of life and happy bellies while I’m here on planet earth.

Here’s a list of some of her favorite things about living in Santa Barbara (in her own words):

- Farmers Markets. In addition to the bountiful produce I love Fat Uncle Farms Almonds… especially the Chinese Spice and Garlic & Herb flavors.
- Urban Foraging – I hunt for everything from rosemary to fresh avocados and figs!
- Epic Tamales from La Super-Rica.
- Beautiful sunset beach walks and summertime ocean swims at Butterfly Beach.
-Early morning hiking on Rattlesnake Canyon Trail.
- Shakin’ my booty at Sunday Morning Dance Tribe.
- A perfect cup of coffee from the French Press.
- A thick slice of Sunflower Rye Bread from D’Angelo’s Bakery – lightly toasted with a smear of ghee (clarified butter).

 

link | | Tags: | | | |

share this:

Our Models Are Real People, Part 3

sohlson posted this Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

This is Meg – she’s one of our models.  If you visited the house of Meg and her husband Ian in the woods of Maine you’d probably find their (now) toddler in the front yard embroiled in a game of hot pursuit with some overly-friendly chickens.

You’d also see evidence of Ian’s affinity for out buildings  – he built their greenhouse, chicken coop, boathouse, woodworking shop and a sauna with his own two hands.

Meg and Ian grow as much of their food as they can in a big garden surrounded by a dilapidated but beautiful raw wood fence. And did we mention that they’re also teachers at the school Ian attended as a kid?

A five-minute commute along the rugged Maine coast gets the couple to work. “Our school is lucky to have access to acres and acres of woods and fields. The children learn to use their hearts and hands as much as their heads and to integrate the three. They spend lots of time outside in the garden, caring for the chickens, tapping the maple trees, learning to knit and blacksmith. We don’t use textbooks and the children create their own beautifully illustrated books on each subject they study,” says Meg. “I have 25 amazing 4th & 5th graders that I’ve been with since they were in the second grade. My husband teaches 8th grade in the classroom on the other side of the wall and, because of the vents, they can hear us singing every morning. Sometimes we take requests.”

Meg and Ian, we love your life!

 

 

 

 

 

link | | Tags: | | |

share this:

Sweepstakes Winner No. 2

sohlson posted this Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Week two winner of our What’s in Your Bag? contest did a great job of capturing the Horny Toad travel vibe – you can check out her Pinterest board here.  Little wonder she was able to win our hearts… Hannah’s pretty familiar with Horny Toad clothing.  Here’s a photo of her on a recent trip to D.C. wearing our Oolong Dress:

Hannah, the week 2 winner of our "What's in Your Bag?" contest rocking the Oolong Sleeveless dress.

Now we’re finished with the travel wardrobe giveaway part of the contest, but we’re still giving away the grand prize – a weekend trip for two to Santa Barbara!  There’s just a little bit of time to enter.  Like 24 hours or so.  So get moving whydon’tcha?  Enter here.

 

link | | Tags: | | |

share this:

Sweepstakes Winner No. 1

sohlson posted this Friday, March 30th, 2012

Today we chose the first winner of our What’s in Your Bag? contest.  Emily Fette (check out her blog) did a great job of curating inspiring travel images that really capture the spirit of the sweepstakes – and for that she gets a new Horny Toad travel wardrobe!  You can see her Pinterest board here and find out how to enter the contest here.

Emily Fette and her husband Rusty, in Chicago

If you missed out this week don’t despair! We’re picking another travel wardrobe winner this Friday, April 5th, and everyone who enters the What’s in Your Bag? contest is eligible for the grand prize (picked lottery-style): a weekend trip for two to Santa Barbara.  Now get pinning!

 

link | | Tags: | | | | |

share this:

Make Your Own Luck

sohlson posted this Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Pour a finger of Jameson, dust off your U2 albums and bust out your Leprechaun jokes, it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day!  We like the idea that people breathe life and meaning into objects (such as four leaf clovers) by what they think is true about them.  After all, if it wasn’t for all the sincere love and good vibes that go into every part of how our we make our clothes, they wouldn’t be as special and you wouldn’t feel as good when you wore them.

Is there an object you think brings you luck?  We’d love to know what it is… and here are a few of our lucky charms:

David:  “I have a St. Christopher necklace that I wear every day. I’m not really Catholic, but I’ll take all the help I can get – he’s the protector of travelers and lost souls.  I also have a little figurine of a turtle that I keep… it’s supposed to stand for a long, healthy life.  My mom also likes turtles, so it reminds me of her.”

David wearing his St. Christopher necklace.

 

Gordon:  “I have a lucky fishing hat that has yielded terrific results every time it’s been worn.  I traveled without it last week (as I lent it to a friend fighting cancer) and didn’t get a single bite the whole weekend.”

Gordon and his lucky fishing hat in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

 

Courtney: “There’s a very…unique…rainbow gemstone angel hanging in my car. My mom’s co-worker gave it to me when I got my first car, maybe when I was 16 or so. Long story short, I’ve evolved into a hyper-aggressive and all-around terrifying driver, and somehow have never gotten in an accident or even a real ticket (go figure). I’m pretty convinced that if I were to ever take that thing out of my car I’d be in trouble. It’s seriously ugly. And I think I’ll hold onto it forever.”

We can’t tell if the angel is protecting Courtney or her fellow drivers.

 

Safia: “There’s a turquoise wrap bracelet I wear almost every day. I love it for so many reasons, not the least of which is its dramatic beauty. Turquoise is supposed to be protective, and it really feels that way. Like something a super-heroine might wear to enhance her special powers. Plus it’s made by a local, family-owned company called Love Heals who plants 10 trees in Ethiopia for every piece of jewelry they sell. Gotta love that.”

Rocking the turquoise wrap bracelet at the HT holiday party.

 

Kim:  “I keep a statue of Tiny Dedo (a gargoyle first made to protect the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris) that sits on the dashboad of my car.  My sister gave one to me and my dad, and got one for herself too, to protect us when we drive.  I guess I’m pretty attached to him ’cause when I got a new car I transferred him right over!”

 

link | | Tags: | | |

share this:

« Older Entries