Horny Toad: Fun Hunting

A Message For Independence

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:00 PST

Gordon sent this out to our companies (Horny Toad and Nau) on Thursday before the holiday break. I thought it was a great sentiment that you would enjoy on this, our day of independence. A good reminder to keep things at heart and to be grateful for the gifts of voice we have.

The Scarcity of Heroes

When I was a kid, I loved watching movies about heroes. Whether it was George Washington, Jackie Robinson, Thomas More or pretty much any character played by Jimmy Stewart, I was drawn to people who stood up for what was right even in the face of great criticism, opposition or persecution. As a result, I assumed the world was full of heroes, and I wanted to be like them some day.

Oh Canada!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:00:00 PST

With all the talk about the 4th of July occupying the hearts and minds of citizens of the good ol’ U.S. of A., it’s easy to forget our northern sisters and brothers. That’s right folks, Canada! They too celebrate their proverbial birthday in July, and ironically only three days ahead of us … what are the odds?

Canada Day (Fête du Canada) is on July 1st of every year and is often thought of as Canada’s birthday. In 1867 the enactment of the Britich North America Act, which united Canada into a single country, marking the beginning of a beautiful life as a great country.

I for one will be celebrating this fine day with a Molson beer, maple syrup, grilled salmon all while clad in my Carhart overalls. Happy birthday Canada!

If you are looking for a an outfit for your Canada Day party, check this out. Hilarious.

Duzer Does America - Part 1

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:00 PST

Aaaand he’s off! Ryan Van Duzer, a friend of ours, is taking a three-speed (count ‘em 1… 2 … 3) across America. This lovely bike was supplied by our favorite beer company, New Belguim – yay beer!

A week ago he started in Oceanside California and is biking all the way to Washington DC clad in Horny Toad duds to raise money for a non profit called Community Cycles in Boulder Colorado. Why? Well, Duzer is powered by an endless supply of optimism – and a goofy whirly gig – to change the world for the better. He bikes to inspire others to get out of their cars. He bikes because he loves it. He bikes because girls love riding on the handlebars. Chicks dig bikes – and clothes that you’ve been in for days on end.

You can follow Duzer's adventure's here on Fun Hunting or on his page Duzer Across America.

Check out his first three days here. He’s a one-man crew. Go Duzer GO!

National 40-oz. Day

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:00 PST

Some may think they are “trashy,” others may think they are “excessive,” but we just think they are hilarious. They’re a 40-oz. bottle of beer – mainly containing beer that you would never normally drink for fear you may lose your sense of taste or smell or both! The upsides: 40-oz. of beer, buying bulk saves the planet, cheap and leaves you with a little extra to memorialize your homies with.

We’re not the only ones out there that think this giant bottle of beer is something worth giving thanks to. A brilliant group of folks in the Chicago area are having a week of celebratory events all surrounding this bottom-shelf treat. So, if you happen to be in the old town of the Toads – join in the fun and pour a sip on the old Toad concrete for us. Heck, even if you aren’t in Chicago, enjoy a big tall frosty one anyway – ‘cuz why not?

Chris Pierce Bows To The King

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:00:00 PST

Our friend Chris Pierce made a recent appearance at the House of Blues opening for the king of blues himself, B.B. King! Chris is a truly special person, warm and always genuine and sincere – but he also brings down the house with his pipes. That guy can sing! Hear it for yourself.

The Binary Chef - Get On The Burger Bus

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:00 PST

Here at Horny Toad, we are obsessed with food. Sure, we make and are passionate about our clothes, but we are driven by good food and lucky enough to have an office full of some amazing chefs. From gourmet grilled cheese cook offs and backyard office barbeques to weekly doses of banana bread and some killer hand-made guac, we take our food very seriously. And, just to clarify, not "serious" in a buttoned up, stuffy way, but we Toads (an Nauians) are always actively engaged in finding and experiencing what life has to offer, and often that search leads us to finding and eating great food.

Sometimes these discoveries come from unexpected places. Knausifer (Jenn Jenn) and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing Santa Barbara's newest lunch adventure, The Burger Bus. For anyone that has yet to have the pleasure, The Burger Bus [http://theburgerbus.com/index.html] is a converted school bus (short and yellow) that migrates around the Santa Barbara/Goleta area to serve up gourmet burgers (with ciabatta bread and jalapeño jelly), Telegraph [http://www.telegraphbrewing.com/purchase.htm] beer battered onion rings, kick-ass veggie falafel and fried pickle chips to those in the know on where it will be that day. It ponies up (well, drives) to several key private parking lots around town and makes it's whereabouts for the afternoon known via Twitter (@TheBurgerBus). The husband and wife owners/chefs seem to delight in serving up grub to the lunchers and pride themselves on using local SB farmer's market ingredients mixed in with breads and cheeses (from Our Daily Bread and Spring Hill Cheese of Petaluma, respectively).

Now, as we were waiting for our order yesterday and watching the throngs of other eager eaters gravitate towards the beacon of deliciousness, all we could think was "Why didn't we think of this?" quickly followed by "Why don't we have a parking lot?" Kudos to The Burger Bus for giving us and our taste buds something else to take very seriously.

P.S. Did you know that the Italian translation for "ciabatta" is literally "carpet slipper"?

Lessons For An Optimist - Off The Grid

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:00:00 PST

Wherever you go to get off the grid, clear the mind and recharge, I suggest you get to it as soon as possible … it is so fulfilling to reset at this moment as the summer of 2009 arrives. I am just re-entering the grid after several days in my favorite getaway in the Eastern Sierras near the east entrance of Yosemite.

All that kept coming to me as I reflected on the last nine months was how fortunate we are to still be here making it happen at Nau, Horny Toad and the Lizard Lounge. While these are and will be tough times for the foreseeable future, we imagined far worse just a few months back. I feel like we have turned that psychological corner from managing fear of the unknown and managing a baseline level of productivity to really being able to think long term, plan and be fired up for the potential for the future. What a refreshing change and one that could not be more exhilarating at Nau given the chance for a second life.

That said, we should remember the many lessons learned to not let history repeat itself.

Here was my short list of things not to lose sight of:

1) The things that really matter, are often those that get neglected – quality time with family and friends, pursuing your passions and maintaining balance. Live fully everyday because it is what really matters.

2) All the stuff that appeared unsustainable or too good to be true was exactly what our instincts told us … it just took longer than we expected to unravel.

3) When the shit hits the fan, you learn who your true friends are and we really now know how strength and loyalty of our community. Thanks for the support of customers, vendors and partners alike.

We are back at our passion of building meaningful products, brands and a lasting company and will remain dedicated to enjoying the journey as much as the results.

Thanks for reading,

G

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Sock Monkey

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:00:00 PST

I also have this deep, driving need to do something with everything that has exceeded its regular life, like socks. But socks are a problem here in beautiful Santa Barbara because we don’t usually wear them. In fact, wearing socks has become somewhat de rigeur. I have friends who don’t even wear socks under their boots - wouldn’t want to whiff that closet.

Anyway, I tire of my sock drawer laying unloved and unused, so here’s how to make a sock monkey and give an old pair a new lease on life.

Note: If you have wool socks, wash them in hot water and shrink them. Shrunk socks make great sock monkeys. If you have white athletic socks, use them to clean your windows, because they make sick looking albino sock monkeys.

1. Flatten one sock so the heel faces up (no bends), see “Sock 1 Figure A.”
2. Cut from the rib to 1” from the heel. See “Sock 1 Figure B.” These are the legs.
3. Take the other sock “Sock 2 Figure A” and
•   cut down the rib to the heel to make arms. I like long arms
•   cut off the toe to make the nose
•   cut out a tail, ears, a hat, anything else you want your monkey to have

4. Turn the body inside out. Sew the leg seams. Leave a hole in the crotch. Turn right side out and stuff the body. You can stuff the legs or not. Sew the crotch closed.

5. Figure out where the neck will be. Tie a string around it. This defines the head.

6. Fold arm pieces right sides together and sew them. Stuff or not. Attach to body at shoulders (unless you want the arms somewhere else).

7. Stuff and sew on the nose, ears, and tail embroider a mouth (or use fabric paint).

8. Sew buttons for eyes.

9. You’re done.

10. WHEW!

Keeping Us Real - Remembering Jonny Copp

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 PST

I was on an amazing surf trip in Costa Rica when my husband called me to let me know that our friend Jonny was missing on a climbing trip. My heart sank immediately because missing generally translates to passing in these situations. Jonny was a friend and a great being and I will miss him dearly. I’m glad that the last time I saw him he was swinging me around the dance floor at 2:00 a.m. and we were laughing our asses off. The man knew how to live and for that I will continue to pay attention to the minutes, hours and days I have left. Love and peace to all who are missing these great people.

A message from Eugenie at our sister company Nau.

The outdoor industry is collectively mourning a terrible loss with the recent deaths of climbers Jonny Copp and Wade Johnson. They and fellow climber Micah Dash (who is, as of this writing, still missing) were attempting a new route on Mt. Edgar’s Minya Konka massif, in China’s Western Sichuan Province, when an apparent avalanche swept across their path.

I only knew Micah and Wade distantly, and send love, strength and condolences to their families and friends, as have hundreds of people from all over the world, whose support continues to stream in at an impressive volume via Facebook and the Adventure Film Festival blog. (Facebook, I am learning, can have some real heart, when used toward the good of a thing.)

Jonny was an early member of Nau’s community of Influencers, those artists, athletes, and activists who unabashedly rock our world through their authentic pursuit of their passions in outdoor sport, design, and environmental and social activism.

We established the Influencers early on, knowing we would need a community of peers not only to review our products each season, but also to keep us real; to remind us, when wandering astray, of our priorities, which are, simply put, to move, be moved, and move others.

Through his work as a climber, photographer, filmmaker, and Director of the Adventure Film Festival in Boulder, Jonny was, in his never tiring, slightly goofy, and always humble way, an Influencer to a tee.

As the photo editor at Nau, I first met Jonny through his eyes. I was immediately drawn to his photographs and films, not only for the way they captured the breathtaking rarity of the people and places he knew, but also for their clarity and honesty. There wasn’t a lot of clutter, just clean lines, clear faces, and a direct route from me, the viewer, to the essence of whatever he was trying to convey, whether it was to get me outside, to show me someone’s spirit, or to make me laugh my ass off. His view to the world was rare, curious, courageous, real, fresh, funny, and inspiring.

As was Jonny himself. During Nau 1.0, we met or spoke every few months, and I always looked forward to those meetings. I was impressed (given his lifestyle) with his ability to sit still, to look me in the eye, hear what I had to say, offer constructive feedback, and to tell tales of his mind blowing adventures without ever spinning off into a space of self-congratulatory bravado.

We tossed around how, then when, we could fold his work into our ever-evolving efforts at Nau. Things never lined up, not for lack of trying, but only because Jonny was always about to leave, or already gone, off to his next best thing.

There never seems to be enough time. This can be an annoying thing, but occasionally a good thing, too. Jonny made the most of this – not wasting a single moment of his very full, but far too short, life. Thinking about my own experience of this man, I am also reminded that sometimes a blip in time is all it takes to reveal a powerful force. I did not need to know him for years to recognize how profound Jonny’s impact on our world would be.

I will miss his bright eyes, his crushing hug, and his ear-to-ear smile, but I will not miss his inspiration, because that will stay right here, in his lasting work and in my mind, a little nudge from Jonny here and there, keeping me motivated, keeping me real.

Love to you, Jonny Copp.

Love to the crew at Sender Films, too, who, along with everyone at Adventure Film Festival, are still working around the clock to find Micah and bring these guys home.

Learn how you can help here.

(photos gently borrowed from coppworks.com and adventurefilm.org, and I am hoping that in this case it’s ok…)

- Eugenie

One Word of Wisdom

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:00:00 PST

See the new Pixar movie ‘Up!’ as soon as you can.

Like Walle, the underlying life message is likely more meaningful to its adult audience yet it will be equally appreciated and inspirational for kids if only from a perspective. Prepare for some tears in the first 15 minutes and lots of self reflection and life appreciation to follow.

And as always, feel free to let us know what you thought…

Urban Bike Polo

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

Having just taking a gigantic spill on my mountain bike last night, I'm ready to try a new sport where crashing is just part of it. However, in this case, the civilized side of two wheeling is shown in all its urban glory. This is great!

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Western Spaghetti

Wed, 27 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

This is the first installment of a bi-weekly contribution to our lovely blog. Entries will be centered around the artsy fartsy stuff out there in the world. There are so many unique and beautiful things we see on a daily basis we simply must share.

In my travels to Telluride Mountainfilm this past Memorial Day weekend, I discovered a super creative short called Western Spaghetti.

The animator, PES, uses commonplace and unexpected items to put together a magical and creative plate of spaghetti. It has that retro toad-like quality. And, somehow, it makes me want to eat pick up sticks. Gotta love it!

Lessons For An Optimist - Giving a Dam

Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

On a recent trip to connect my 80-year old father-in-law with the Grand Canyon for the first time, I came away with an unexpected realization ... while our lives may be short in the bigger scheme of things, our impact can still be great.

Contrasting an 80-year lifetime to the two billion year old layers of rock at the bottom of the canyon, you immediately get a sense of how short our time is on this wonderful planet. Yet, it was just 26 years ago in 1983 that the Glen Canyon Dam almost spilled over as Lake Powell had reached “full pole” and the water needed to be released to allow the Colorado River to flow into the Sea of Cortez for the last time. Lake Powell is now estimated to be less than 50% full. While drought has contributed some to this trend, the vast majority of the depletion is a result of exponential growth in demand by a growing population.

Recently, our friends at Teva teamed up with our hero Wade Davis – and frequent guest at our Telluride Mountainfilm event – to release the recent Imax film River at Risk documenting the challenges this beautiful river faces after spending its lifetime carving one of the planet’s most spectacular natural monuments.

The optimist in me says we can reverse this trend by just paying more attention to the water we use everyday. I recently learned that one of the largest impacts on energy and water in the clothing chain was customer care. Reducing the number of washes, hang drying and applying efficient practices to care can reduce impact by upwards of 30-40%. So we are on a mission to promote lower impact care requirements and practices. We can also take shorter and fewer showers and reduce usage in many other obvious ways in our daily lives.

So let’s fill Lake Powell back up and spill the Glen Canyon dam by 2040!

Lessons For An Optimist - Question of the Month

Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

Last week we spent some time out of the office to establish our priorities for the coming year and refine our 5-year vision for the family of brands (Horny Toad, Nau and Lizard Lounge). Being committed to creating value with a sense of balance between social, environmental and financial impacts creates an energizing environment for innovation and inspiring possibilities.

But the reality is that we also have to be practical and somewhat prudent in the challenging economic climate of today, so some of those great ideas might not have had a chance to surface or fully develop. So I thought it would be enlightening to broaden the dialogue to our community of enthusiastic product and brand fans.

So here is my first of many “Questions of the Month”

Q: What is your favorite aspect of our company and what should be our top priority for improvement?

I will respond and comment on submissions to provide a window into our efforts to address your suggestions. I look forward to your thoughts.

Ping-Pong Door

Fri, 15 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

We are fanatical about a few things here at the Toad – beer, dogs and ping-pong. All of which help us remember to play and have fun even in the middle of a busy day – uhhh, beer is saved for a little later. So, when our friend Jessica found this amazing invention, we nearly lost our collective, ping-pong minds! First there was sliced bread and then there was the ping-pong door.

Designed by Tobias Fraenzel, this pint-sized version of ping pong is too good to be true. This ingenius design was in a DesignBoom contest.

Here’s some more really cool takes on our favorite game.

Biker Gang

Thu, 14 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

Hopefully you already know that this week is national Bike-to-Work Week (May 11th – 15th), and are peddling away to work and back home. Seeing as most of us here in the office are obsessed with bikes, it seemed fitting that we would hop on the ol’ two-wheeler and commute to Toad this week in bike ridin’ celebration. Actually, most days here at the Toad you can find a line of bikes parked outside the office.

We actually joined a local competition with www.trafficsolutions.info for the months of May and June – why do a week when you can do months! Heck, why not make a commitment for the whole dang year. Think about how happy you would make Mother Earth. Check to see if there is a similar kind of group in your area and let the commuter games begin.

The League of American Bicyclists is one of our favorite groups ever. Actually, they are on our 9 in ’09 list – check it out. Anyway, they have great information on local events in your area and how to get involved with bike commuting and making the commitment to a greener and fresher future simply by riding your bike. How awesome is that?

Lessons For An Optimist - What Really Matters

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

Being reminded what is important in life often comes at the most unexpected times.

That was my experience last Tuesday as I flew from my home in Santa Barbara (Horny Toad) to Portland, Oregon (Nau & Lizard Lounge) when a terrible fire broke out. I found myself on the phone as I landed talking my wife and two daughters through the list of “important” things to grab as they evacuated our house as the fire was turning our community upside.

Getting back into our home this weekend with a new found appreciation for what really matters, I came up with the following:

Of course family, friends and pets can never be replaced and it sure feels great to have them all safe and sound.

Memories in the form of pictures, videos and those amazing art projects for Birthdays and Father’s Day will come in handy when the brain slows with age.

Community…firefighters and civil servants are true heroes and we all stand a bit prouder at how our neighbors supported each other through a very trying week.

Our team of Toads, Nauians and Loungers…from sharing in our star customer service Manager’s wedding on Saturday with ashes falling to getting right to work on a benefit concert and product donation plan for victims and firefighters, it was nice to be reminded we really do have a Family of brands.

And in the interest of full disclosure, during a reflective afternoon of surf with my wife and two girls yesterday, I decided holding on to a few toys that make life a fulfilling adventure is probably a good idea as well.

Locally on Tap

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

This may be a new concept to some, but there is a difference between good and bad beer. Shocker, I know. It’s not like we are beer snobs at the Toad, but we certainly appreciate good food and good drinks. And, just like food, good ingredients and a bent towards perfecting a craft makes for the best product. Such is the case for our local brewery, Telegraph Brewing Company, here in Santa Barbara. We love the folks over at Telegraph, not only because they make amazing beer, but also because they are the embodiment of a passion – they took a great belief system and made a dream a reality. Fortunately for us their “dream” is on tap during happy hour for the Toads … mmmm beer.

This is just a shout out to all local brewers that put smiles on the faces of their neighbors. Find one near you and get on the good side of the tap.

Lessons For An Optimist - Signs of Hope

Mon, 04 May 2009 12:00:00 PST

Last week I was on the road to NYC for a media event and Freeport, Maine to visit our store. It was great to get out and see how spring was shaping up and I have to say the warm weather seems to be injecting some enthusiasm and hope that the worst is behind us.

A couple of thoughts come to mind about where we are as May begins.

Resilience - It was nice to see our population not flinch as the 24/7 media (and our Vice President) tried to scare us with the swine flu story. I was in packed airports and airplanes all week and lived to tell about it.

Growing Confidence - We may not be completely out of the woods yet but it is noteworthy that the stock market has steadily increased in the last month. It appears the first 100 days of our new Administration have established the potential of our country’s economic future in green technology and alternative fuels.

Opportunity - How about a 50:1 Kentucky Derby winner that comes from last to first in the final turn. Score one for the “anything is possible if you dream big” category!

Junk Ride

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PST

What a great way to see the country side and raise awareness of our dependence on disposable plastics and other materials. This is a great journey to be aware of and perhaps even involved in. They are touring the west coast, so check them out when they are in your town.

Check out the Junk Ride of 2009!

Lessons For An Optimist - Earth Day

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PST

To be an entrepreneur is to be an optimist and I try to live by one of my favorite sayings, "Pessimists are usually right and optimists are usually wrong but all the great changes have been accomplished by optimists.” Thomas L. Friedman

This post is the maiden voyage of an idea that our team had for me to share weekly thoughts and observations with our family of friends and fans. Every Monday you can count on an observation from the prior week through a glass half full lens. My objective is to share experiences as we navigate this fast changing world and encourage your participation and commentary in those adventures.

My subject this week – Earth Day. I know, you’ve heard it all by now, but don’t you think it’s amazing how ubiquitous this previously little known celebration of environmental awareness has become in recent years.

Why is that? Is it that we have finally embraced the evidence of global warming and have entered survival mode. Has the recent financial turmoil reminded us to cherish green places and the simple things. Maybe it is that green has become synonymous with economic potential. Or, perhaps, Earth Day has simply accomplished its purpose over the last four decades and converted the masses. Like most things, it is most likely a combination of these and many other factors that have all contributed to a major shift in awareness, perspective and practices.

I sleep at night because although we’ve left an environmental mess for our children, our youth today has been born with awareness. It is almost like our DNA was altered sometime in the last two decades and kids are teaching adults how to be green. I am regularly impressed by how aware and engaged my 9- and 11-year old daughters are. My wife and I try pretty hard to be good stewards, but our girls often point out how we can do better.

Finally, kudos to Google for understanding this long before many of us – shocker. They understand that youth gets it and launched a program several years ago to solidify Earth Day in the schools. Grades K-12 are asked to have their students design an Earth Day inspired home page Google logo and contest winners in various age categories were awarded $10K for college tuition and $25K grants to the schools of those winners. What a great way to get teachers, students and parents talking about some of the most important and relevant issues of today in the name of Google. Nice thinking!

Thanks for reading,

Gordon

Street Wise Bike Trials

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PST

We like bikes here are the Toad, but, Danny MacAskill obviously reeeally likes bikes. What an amazing collection of street trials riding. This was all filmed in Edinburgh by Dave Sowerby. It’s always fascinating when someone shows a passion for something so much so that they are able to master it to a point of jaw-dropping awe. You’ll see, take a looksee. Errrr does it need to be said that you should not attempt this at home.

Mind Over Mower

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PST

To quote Kermit the frog, "It ain't easy being green." Especially when it comes to something that you think would be good, but it turns out it’s bad – like your yard! Yes, that little slice of heaven in your back yard is one of the major contributors to pollution, both in the air and water.

EPA Statistics:

• Fact: Gas mowers represent 5% of U.S. air pollution.
• Fact: One hour of mowing is the equivalent of driving 350 miles in terms of volatile organic compounds.
• Fact: One gas mower spews 87 pounds of the greenhouse gas CO2, and 54 pounds of other pollutants into the air every year.
• Fact: Over 17 million gallons of gas are spilled each year refueling lawn and garden equipment – more oil than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez.
• Fact: Approximately 54 million Americans mow their lawns every weekend, using 800 million gallons of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants.

Bummer! We know. But, here’s the good news, you don’t have to give up on your yard. There are a few things that are doable to help reverse the green-thumb induced pollution. First of all, think about planting drought resistant plants that don’t require a ton of water and fertilizers. If you must have a lawn, plant a small one. Use local plants that are accustomed to your soil and weather – making plant maintenance much less. AND, if you need to mow or fertilize, use a push lawn mower and use organic fertilizers.

Plus, more and more there are gardening services out there that are catering to the green-minded consumer. Hop on the web to find one in your area. Here’s one in the Chicago land area – the past home of the Toad - www.ecocareonline.com. We have roots all over this country.

80's Music Geek?

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PST

All that acoustical music getting you down? Feeling a longing for a little electronic 80’s music? Do you still use a full bottle of gel or hairspray a week?

Well, search no further for relief. Just visit this amazing web page to get your canned percussion fix from the 1980’s and rock out Flock of Seagulls style.

And, yes, I’m pretty sure that is Megatron with Ray-Bans on.

World Pillow Fight Day

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PST

Pillow Fight Day: Los Angeles from bk on Vimeo.

Heads up guys and gals, this Saturday (April 4th) is World Pillow Fight Day! It’s a great and fun way to release and relieve the stress of the week. I’m thinking that world peace would be a reality if we did this every weekend, followed up by a cold beer and a hug.

Check to see if there is a pillow fight in your area at www.pillowfightday.com, or make one of your own!

Contrails on the Pavement

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:00 PST

I stumbled upon this really cool device called the Contrail. Basically, it applies chalk to the rear tire of your bike so that you leave a trail behind you, and enables bikers to reclaim shared space on the road. It’s a nice way of getting folks to pay attention to us two-wheelers while having fun with it.

Developed by Brooklyn-based Studio Gelardi, Contrail was created as part of last year's Design21 Power to the Pedal Design Competition, where it was a finalist.

We like bikes and we art, so we like this!

Beer Bottle Dominos

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:00:00 PST

Oh wow, this is taking dominos to a whole new level. Guess this is what happens when beer drinkers get REALLY bored.

Pole Dancing Bear

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:00 PST

Who knew that bears had these kinda moves! It all makes sense with the music in the background.

Podcast on Do The Right Thing

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:00:00 PST

Our friends at Wend Magazine sat down recently with our very own Toadette Kate Larramendy to learn more about the Do The Right Thing aspect of our business here at Horny Toad and beyond. Click below to listen to the interview and get behind the scenes. Or visit www.wendmag.com.

Humanitourism

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:00:00 PST

It was only recently that I was lamenting the fact that I don’t have the extra cash these days to take off on some exotic vacation. The days of living high on the hog may be over, but it was brought to my attention that the travel does not need to cease.

Do tell?! It’s being called humanitourism, where you do a little philanthropic work and get to travel around the world in order to do so! Not a bad deal when the greenback is elusive. Not only do you get to satisfy your craving for a foreign land, but you feel good about doing good in the process.

Here’s a few organizations that you can check out to get your do-gooder travel on:

www.roadmonkey.net
www.reliefworkersinternational.com
www.theinsideandout.com

Oh, and just an aside, you don’t need to travel at all if you are more of a homebody do-gooder. There are plenty of organizations that need your help right here at home. Find one through www.volunteermatch.org.

breaker ... breaker ...

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:00:00 PST

Just stumbled upon these sites, don’t ask how, but thought you all would appreciate the trucker speak humor. Hey, ya never know when you might find yourself at a truck stop – some of this stuff can come in handy.

Here’s a few to get your trucker vocab started:
Alligator - tread from the tire of an 18 wheeler on the road
Baby Bear - cop in training, or rookie
Bambie – dear (dead or alive)
Eat-em-up – truck stop café
Gearjammer – a speeding truck
Invitations – traffic ticket

Learn to speak “trucker” that these two sites
www.truckersresource.com
www.thetruckersplace.com

Hula Hoop Anniversary

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:00:00 PST

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the “official” Hula Hoop by Wham-O. This little hoop of patented plastic swept the nation in a frenzy of hip swaying joyous delirium. Old and young alike continue to enjoy a free feeling of letting your body wriggle around and get loose! Previous to the patent 40 years ago, the hula hoop could be seen made out of tubes and even twigs – yes, twigs … that is some dedication to fun.

Anyway, here’s lookin’ at you Hula Hoop! Thanks for all the years of hip shakin’ fun.

Bizkit the Sleep Running Dog

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:00:00 PST

I don't know about you folks, but have had some strange dreams before. However, none have made me run into a wall. Poor Bizkit! Maybe he was chasing after a rabbit, or trying to catch a thief! Either way, hopefully he caught it before a very rude awakening.

One-Wheeled Adventure

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:00:00 PST

Talk about Fun Hunting!

This year we teamed up with Kris Holm, a world champ of unicycling – yes, unicycling – to help support the Evolution of Balance Award. This grant was launched to support one-wheeled riders seeking creative mountain unicycling adventures with cash, uni gear from Kris and some sweet duds from Horny Toad. Picking a winner was incredibly difficult. But, a team was chosen that has the best combination of qualified riders, creativeness, and adventure. Steve Relles, Roland Kays, Perry Woodin, and Brad Stratton from Albany, NY, and Vince LeMay from Montreal, Quebec, proposed a trip in Panama to ride jungle trails from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Their route followed the ancient Gold Routes, a now obscure network of trails that for over 500 years formed a trade and smuggling route across Panama. To the best of our knowledge, they will be the first people to ride this route on any kind of cycle. Steve and crew will be headed to Panama in January 2009.

Here are a few links to their blog, pictures and stories from an unlikely adventure on one wheel. Can you even imagine doing this on two wheels?

Their blog at personarollercoaster.wordpress.com, and the full story on this epic adventure can be read at home.roadrunner.com.

The Evolution of Balance Award will be offered annually to support the spirit of true adventure in mountain unicycling! Visit Kris Holm’s page to find out more.

Hey Ladies!

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:00:00 PST

Today is a great day for us gals. Yet another step has been made today towards equality of women. President Obama signed a bill today, the first of his presidency, called the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

She is a grandmother from Alabama. She worked for 19 years for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and only at the end of her time there did she learn that she was receiving discriminatory pay for the work she work she was doing only because she was a woman. Lucky for us ladies, and actually for everyone, she didn’t shrink into retirement and call it quits; she fought her case all the way to the Supreme Court. Her case not only over turned a previous ruling, but it inspired the bill that President Obama signed today.

This is just a hats off for Lilly for fighting for equal rights for the rest of us. She is an inspiration to stay engaged no matter what your cause or position.

Weighing In On The Best Holiday Appetizer

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:00:00 PST

Among other things, the holidays bring about rich foods that would normally be banned by the government as a threat to the health and safety of all Americans. But, for some reason, during the jolly holidays, heating up cheese and pouring a mixture of sugar and butter over it, all to be served on bread – makes sense.

I recently had the chance to devour such a treat at a holiday party, and will be the first to admit that left alone with this delight of all delights, would’ve eaten the entire thing in one sitting. I’m told it makes your coat shinny and takes you one step closer to being just as “jolly” as good ol’ St. Nick. Now that’s sexy.

Here’s the recipe for what I like to simply call “Sugar, Butter, Brie.” What more do you need?

Ingredients:

- 1-cup brown sugar
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 wheel of uncut Brie
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- splash of vanilla extract
- ½ cup slivered almonds
- nip of Frangelico liqueur
- sliced baguette

Directions:

-   Melt brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla in a saucepan and simmer on low until smooth and thickened
-   Place brie in backing dish and pour brown sugar mixture over brie
-   Bake in a 350-degree oven for 25 minutes, until cheese is melted all the way through
-   Spoon mixture over brie and top with almonds and bake from another 5 minutes
-   Finish with a “nip” of Frangelico liqueur
-   Let brie rest for a minute before serving with sliced baguette and thick knife and spoon (yes spoon) for smearing on the bread

Giving Gets Good Graces

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:00:00 PST

I find it interesting that it’s the time of year when buying gifts for loved ones that the needs of so many that go without become apparent. We’ve been trying to change that, and not just during the Holidays. Along with our sister brand, Nau, we work hard to make sure that Doing The Right Thing is a part of everyday business.

Read up on the efforts of Nau and Horny Toad to give back year ‘round. Plus, there’s something in it for you other than just making you feel so dang good!

www.treehugger.com
www.greenzer.com

Ahhhh SNAP

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:00:00 PST

Yup, it’s official, I’ve gone soft. I now wear down jackets in 50-degree weather. In fact, many of the Toads here in the office in Santa Barbara have moved from much colder climates in our great country – Chicago, Tahoe, Maine … burrrr. But, now we are all shivering when the mercury drops below 40. The last week or so has brought unusually cold weather to our little home, which has even resulted in snow in the mountains above Santa Barbara! What I am sure is a nusance to many folks this time of year – that is when it’s not being played in – is a novelty to us.

Maybe a little sledding is in order while our "cold snap" lasts.

Big Moon Rising

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 PST

You probably won’t be able to reach out and take a piece of cheese off the moon, but it’s no illusion, the full moon of December 12th is actually the biggest and brightest Moon of the year. Neat, huh?

Now for the science geek stuff:

The Moon's orbit is an ellipse with one side 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other: diagram. In the language of astronomy, the two extremes are called "apogee" (far away) and "perigee" (nearby). On Dec. 12th, the Moon becomes full a scant 4 hours after reaching perigee, making it 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons we've seen earlier in 2008.

The best time to look is when the Moon is near the horizon. That is when illusion mixes with reality to produce a truly stunning view. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging Moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects. On Friday, why not let the "Moon illusion" amplify a full Moon that's extra-big to begin with? The swollen orb rising in the east at sunset may seem so nearby, you can almost reach out and touch it.

But you still won't be able to see Armstrong's footprint. Not even Hubble can do that. The Moon is 384,400 km away (on average). At that distance, the smallest things Hubble can distinguish are about 60 meters wide. The biggest pieces of left-behind Apollo equipment are only about 9 meters across and smaller than a single pixel in a Hubble image.

What you will see is the world around you. This is both the brightest and (in the northern hemisphere) the highest-riding full Moon of the year. If you go outside around midnight it will be close to overhead and act like a cosmic floodlamp making the landscape absolutely brilliant, especially if there's snow. Full moons are always high during winter and, indeed, the solstice is right around the corner on Dec. 21st.

Get Pasted This Holiday

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 PST

We love Paste! Here at Horny Toad, music and the arts are integral to our culture, and certainly an issue of Paste is always floating around the office. We got this great offer from our friends over there and thought we’d pass it along as a gift idea. It’s a great gift idea if you are still scratching your head about what to get so-and-so.

And now, a word from our friends at Paste:

Looking for the perfect gift? Look no further because for a limited time Paste is offering 2 subscriptions for the price of 1!

Paste will introduce you to music and films that go beyond pop culture. Discover new artists and filmmakers in the pages of Paste, or revisit ones you already love with Paste's in-depth features, interviews and exclusives. You'll also find reviews of the best albums, DVDs, games, book and more—a go-to guide so you can stay ahead of the curve on the newest releases.

Plus, every issue of Paste includes a FREE Paste Sampler, packed with 20+ handpicked tracks of new music from artists like Beck, The Shins, Spoon, Danger Doom, The Decemberists, The Hold Steady, Paul Westerberg and more. Think of it as a glorified mix tape from your friends at Paste. View previous sampler artists.

Save money and give a gift that your friends and family will enjoy
every month!

www.pastemagazine.com/hornytoad

Cupcake Cell Pad

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:00:00 PST

Found a new use for the sticky cell phone pad this weekend. I'm food obsessed right now. It's the holidays. Don't worry, I parked before snapping this photo - safety first! I have to say, this cupcake didn't budge even while taking a winding road home.

Attack of the Giant Baked Brie

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:00:00 PST

The holidays bring excess in all kinds of forms. I recently went to a party where this giant baked brie was served. It was truly a sight to behold. And, yes, that is a cookie sheet. Just thought I'd share that you too can serve 20 pounds of melted cheese to your guests and they will love you for it!

Note: Don't stare at this picture too long, it will make you gain weight.

United WE Stand

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:00 PST

We constantly try to think of ways to align doing the right thing and business – which as the national news has been showing, isn’t always the easiest path to take. As far as we’re concerned, there is no other way to do business except with one eye on the ball and one eye on the big blue ball Earth!

We recently partnered up with Simple Shoes – a great company that makes eco shoes for those that literally want to keep their foot print light – to donate a portion of our sales to the WE Campaign, a non-profit dedicated to solving the global climate crisis.

Here’s the scoop, 10% of any purchase made at Horny Toad or Simple Shoes using promo code SIMPLETOAD will go to the WE Campaign. Not to mention you will be lookin' and feelin' good head to toe - literally.

Here’s the word on the street about this great deal – for everyone and everything involved.

www.greenzer.com
www.thegearjunkie.com
www.whiteapricot.com
www.womensadventuremagazine.com
www.trailspace.com

After The Fire Storm - Tea Fire Update

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:00:00 PST

Needless to say, it was a long weekend here in Santa Barbara. The Tea Fire that started on Thursday evening and blazed though hundreds of acres and homes continued to rear its ugly head. Luckily, the wind died down on Saturday, which helped the firefighters get control of a very disastrous situation.

We are lucky as an office to have all retained our homes, one merely missing the blaze by one house! This morning in the office we all checked in with one another to make sure that everyone was okay. Stories of friends and family that were affected were told as we collectively mourned for those that have lost everything. Even though no Toads had a house destroyed in this fire, we are all part of this community and feel a loss.

For now, we hope to help ease the pain of the 200+ families that lost homes by donating clothing from the Toad – ‘cuz that’s one thing we know we are good at. Beyond that, we hope to help out with food and help cleaning up the wreckage left behind by the flames.

If you would like to help, please donate to the Red Cross. As we get information on more locally driven fundraisers, I will publish them ASAP for anyone that wants to help.

Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts.

The Toads

The Tea Fire - Up In Smoke

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:00:00 PST

It was 6:00 p.m. when I strolled out of the office to a strangely warm night. This time of year in Santa Barbara, it’s not entirely unusual to get warm winds from the southern desert, so I didn’t think twice about it. Around 6:30 while I walked my dog I saw the smoke – a large apocalyptic cloud of black smoke rising from the hills of Santa Barbara.

This entry is not so much a fun hunting entry, but more an information hunting entry to let all that are concerned about out little Toad home here in Santa Barbara what is going on. The office is safe downtown by the water, but that can’t be said for some of the folks that live up in the mountains above downtown. Here are some of the stats as of this morning: more than 100 homes destroyed, 2500 acres burned, approximately 500 firefighters are on the job along with helicopters, engines and fixed wing planes. About 5,400 homes have been evacuated – mandatory and voluntarily.

For more information and updates go to:
https://www.countyofsb.org/ceo/oes0.aspx?id=2332#Maps

If you are in the area and want to help there are a few things to consider first. Don’t go near the road closures. Don’t overwhelm first responders when they are trying to focus on the job at hand – this means going to relief organizations (without checking on what they need), hospitals, shelters, etc. Please always call or go online to find out how you can help. That said, they welcome the help where needed and donations are always welcome. Visit the Red Cross web site for more information on how to donate and where to volunteer http://www.sbredcross.org/.

Also, Direct Relief International, a disaster relief organization in our home town is offering up face masks for the public to help with health concerns from the smoke. Get details here www.directrelief.org.

We hope that the wind doesn’t kick up again today causing an already disastrous situation to get worse. I will update this as I get information on how the Toad family is doing. At this point we have people that have been evacuated from their homes, but I do not have any further information. I will let you know how we fair. Keep us in your thoughts.

My Name Is Flag

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:00:00 PST

With most elections called and the fever pitch of candidacy over, it's a time to reflect on our decisions. No matter your point of view or opinion on the outcome of the elections, one thing remains the same for all of us - we are Americans. I think I speak for most of us when I say, this is a great country. It's not without mistakes and challenges that we've become who we are today, but our indomitable spirit of hope remains. I was forwarded this video from a friend, and thought it quite apropos to our current state. It's time to remember, party aside, what we stand for. Here's to a bright and proud future.

Voice Your Vote

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:00:00 PST

We all have opinions, hopefully. The fact that we live in a country that asks us to give our opinion is a privilege that many have given their lives to protect - so let's honor that. Whatever it is that you believe in, make your voice heard on November 4th by going to the poles to cast your vote for federal, state and local officials and propositions. This is quite possibly one of the most important elections of our lifetimes, so be a part of it, have an opinion and make it heard. Voting is your voice!

If you are unsure where to go to vote, google - yes they think of everything - has a page dedicated to finding where your polling place is. Simply click through here, type in your address where you are registered and voila!

Women's Adventure Contest - Yoga Jungle

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 PST

We’ve teamed up with our friends over at Women’s Adventure, a great site and magazine for gals with an adventuresome spirit, to run a contest. We are giving away ten $20 gift certificates every month until December in exchange for a story about a recent adventure – the good and the bad parts. Then 3 lucky winners will be drawn from the monthly winners for the grand prize $500 gift card! We know there are those moments of either the highest highs or the lowest lows from a big trip somewhere exotic or a small trip somewhere domestic.

Below is a great example of a yoga/spa trip to Costa Rica, written by fellow adventurette Angela.

My spa yoga retreat turned into a jungle adventure with riot gear. When I arrived in Costa Rica, the luxurious room online is a cot in a jungle hut. So what, that's romantic, right? I hike to the yoga temple. No class? The yoga teacher is on her day off? (There's only one yoga teacher at the yoga retreat?) I make myself busy until dinner. By 6:00, the jungle is pitch black and my flimsy flashlight is no match to the jungle noises and the warning that my hut is located in "snake alley." It rained so hard that the jungle roads washed out, limiting beach access. On the plus side, I did wake every morning to howler monkeys. And I was in the rainforest! I had an awesome experience sea kayaking, cresting two waves that brought me more than 50 yards into shore. When it was time to leave my rainforest home, the local people had blocked the main road calling for flood relief (rightfully so). I hiked past armed militia to catch my shuttle back to the capital city. It was time to get back to the safety of mountain lions and 14ers in Colorado. Om.

Enter to win here!

Funeral Flowers

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:00 PST

While on her morning bike ride to work, Tami, our lovely PR Toadette saw this sign at her favorite place to buy flowers. Although it is sad, his sense of humor is appreciated in these dark economic days. You know what “they” say, if you’re not laughing, you’re crying.

Invest in your 401-Keg

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:00:00 PST

Some stats to ponder.

• If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Delta Airlines one year ago, you would have $49.00 today.

• If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in AIG one year ago, you would have $33.00 today.

• If you had purchased $1,000 of shares in Lehman Brothers one year ago, you would have $0.00 today.

But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drank it all and then turned in the aluminum cans for the recycling refund, you would have received $214.00 back.

Based on the above, the best current investment plan is to drink heavily and recycle. It is called the 401-Keg.

A recent study found that the average American walks about 900 miles a year. Another study found that Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year. This means that, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon!

Mmmm... Beer

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:00:00 PST

It was yesterday at about 4:00 when the New Belgium beer fairy came by our office. I am not sure if their magical powers had sensed how thirsty we were for a little respite from the busy week, but needless to say, the visit was a welcome one. With a little fairy dust and a wave of the magical beer wand [insert magical harp sound here] the Toad fridge filled with gloriously yummy New Belgium beer. There was much rejoicing and the decision was made to finish off our hectic workweek with a little happy hour.

Thank you New Belgium beer fairy!

Check back for video and pics on our little TGIF party and the quenching of some thirsty Toads.

Mowercycle

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 PST

Picture this … the wind in your hair, the big blue sky above you and nothing but lawn as far as the eye can see. This bad boy may not have a supa bad V twin engine and tail pipes that put out a sound that shake the teeth out of your head – but that’s what we think is so awesome about this thing. Did you know that a typical power lawnmower pollutes as much in one hour as driving an automobile for 20 miles! Why not combine your workout with your chores and do it all while impressing the neighbors. Guaranteed the Joneses will covet your new mowercycle.

A shout out to this guy for making the mowercycle our new favorite vehicle!

How to Make a Schwing Bike

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:00:00 PST

Call it whatever you like: Schwing bike, swing bike, wobble bike- there's no denying that these bikes are badass. We had a chance to ride one at a recent photo shoot and we are hooked!

We got home and decided we needed to make our own swing bike. Fortunately our friends over at Instructables.com have a handy dandy instructable to walk you through making your own! That is if you have a grinder and welding torch handy. Have fun and be safe!

Check us out cruising on the swing bike.

Cone Head

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:00:00 PST

A writer/friend of ours sent us this picture and we just think that although it’s sad, at least they made use of the space for a little Toad reminder that Everyday is and Adventure – especially when you are wearing a cone around your neck.

Playing Dress Up

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:00:00 PST

Once, again we celebrated the launch of a new season with a grand ol’ fit session at our outlet store in Freeport, Maine. Employees and friends of Horny Toad came together last night to enjoy delicious food, good company and great clothes!

Every season we get a group together to try on all the new clothes and give us feedback on how the styles fit. People loved the new styles and warmly welcomed our timeless, traditional pieces. Now that we’ve gathered all the feedback, we’ll be uploading it onto the site so anyone shopping can read real feedback from those who’ve tried the styles on! You can find this info under the ‘sizing info’ section under each item description. If you have your own feedback about any of our new fall styles, let us know, your feedback could also end up on the site.

Here’s some snapshots from our session.

Olympic House of Cards

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:00:00 PST

The Olympics are a time to unite and put differences aside in honor of great strength and athletic talent. It’s a time to be inspired and let the boundaries that normally separate us dissolve. We cheer collectively as a world for those who deserve the metals – whether it’s because of their personalities, stories of hardship or pure raw talent.

Yeah, and then there is this guy, who wasn’t a headliner on MSNBC’s reporting of the events in Beijing, but clearly is a specialist in his field – house of card builder extraordinaire. Judging from the opening and closing ceremonies I would say that this guy certainly has large-scale spectacle pinned down. If only they had a gold metal for the house of card event.

It's Elemental My Dear

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:00:00 PST

Below is a message from Heather (a.k.a Thrasher). She is our maven of the Web, hops inspection and lion taming. Check out what she did this last weekend. I hope to attend the west-side version of this car show after it makes it’s way to Cali. Anyway, cool stuff, and it’s awesome to think that you could have a cup of tea from the emissions of a car!

Our Hydrogen Future-

   On Sunday, August 10th, I hit up a local park, Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth, Maine with a friend of mine to check out a sweet car show that was beginning a national tour that would end in California.
   This wasn’t your normal Sunday afternoon vintage car show- we’re talking brand new innovative hydrogen cars! BMW, Mercedes, VW, Hyundai and others all had models and representatives to talk about the cars and explain how they work for our environment and us.
   The great part about hydrogen-fueled cars is they provide three useful things: heat, electricity, and water with no toxic byproduct! Water vapor is the only substance released from the vehicles. As I listened to one of the presenters explain the process in which hydrogen and oxygen combine and create the energy to power a fuel cell for a full size car. I was amazed to also find out these cars are actually safer in situations that involve fire! Due to the placement of the fuel cells you are in less danger of a fire in the middle of your vehicle as you are with a gas-powered car. Just when you think there aren’t any better reasons for investing in a hydrogen car, imagine getting an average of 120 mpg!
   Although we may still be close to 15 years from mainstream use of hydrogen vehicles, it’s definitely on our horizon. To learn more about hydrogen vehicles and how they work, please visit www.daimler.com.

Pictures and Sound - Episode 3

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:00:00 PST

Why is it that nostalgia is so powerful? Home and what it does and doesn’t represent somehow come careening back into your life whether invited or not. For Luke Reynolds, he decided to invite the process into his life rather than wait for the broadside of life to hip check him. Luke said this about the experience in the video below, “I felt like I had to go back to the place that initially shaped me if I wanted to tear it all down and reinvent myself from scratch.” Don’t know about you, but we think that is a pretty awesome statement.

The highroad is steeper for sure, but in the end the view is way more expansive if you take it. This can be said of all the folks involved in the debut of the band Pictures and Sound. The album rocks, and I for one have listened to it probably a hundred times already – it relates, it revels and it reincarnates emotions that we all have at one point or another. The video below is the final of three in the “making of” their debut album.

Buy their album tomorrow (august 19th). Preview some songs at myspace.

Pictures and Sound Episode 2

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:00:00 PST

You know when things just click with someone? There’s never that awkward “getting to know someone” period. Well, that’s how the band Pictures and Sound came together – seamless and organic. This is the second episode of the making of their debut album. They are really an amazing group of guys, making soul driven, rockin’ music that we know you will love. You can hear a taste of their tunes at their myspace page. Stay tuned for the final episode later this week.

Pictures and Sound’s first album is being release on August 19th – check it out.

Pinata Smackdown

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:00:00 PST

We go to an industry trade show every six months to show off our new duds. I know that the words “trade show” don’t always inspire thoughts of fun, but our industry happens to be pretty laid back with lots of great folks to play with. So, every year we throw a party for our friends. This year, we’ve decided to do a Piñata Smackdown! Here’s how it works. Teams of two people race against another team of two people to bust open a piñata. So, what’s so special about that, you ask? Well, the stuff inside the piñata is what is what is special. Packed inside are the makings for two margaritas. Once the piñata has busted, the team has to collect the tequila and limes – kinda like kids with candy – and run over to a table to make and drink their margis before the other team. Stupid drinking game? We don’t think so, just some good, clean and creative fun. Here’s our trail run to make sure this would actually work, staged in our humble BBQ backyard at the office (our jobs are hard). Videos from the party will be posted soon.

Pictures and Sound - Episode 1

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:00:00 PST

On a recent trip up to Portland, Oregon, we were hanging out at the Lizard Lounge having a glass of wine with some friends. As I sat there chatting it up with my friend Emilie Lee (watch out for this gal – she’s an amazing artist), she introduced me to Luke Reynolds. Beyond being a super sweet and genuine guy, he also happens to be an amazing artist too – music as his medium. Anyway, we totally appreciate the music he is making and his attitude towards it – one that is truly interested in sound, in the way it makes you feel and what it does for the person playing it and the person listening to it. Along with some other really talented fellows, who all happened to meet organically, they’re about to release their first album. Who is it you ask? Pictures and Sound.

The album will be release August 19th. I’ve heard some tracks, in fact, hear some for yourself at myspace, I am sure you will agree that it rocks. These are some good guys, making great music – what is not to love about that.

Here’s part one in a series of three videos we will be posting leading up to the release of the album. Thanks for loving music!

Air Guitar Championships 2008

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:00:00 PST

Yes, it's for real. And, yes, it's awesome! You have to check out this site www.usairguitar.com to really appreciate this organization's passion for air guitar. Until you have time to surf the site, here's a little something to get the party started [insert power chord here].

Surf's Up ... in Montana

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:00:00 PST

Yes, we Toads are very lucky to live so close to so many great surf breaks. Usually, we are able to find at least a little wave to play on. Unfortunately during the summer sometimes our little slice of surf heaven turns into Lake Pacific. I guess I’m telling you this because we were all feeling sorry for our lack of surf recently, and what do I get in my inbox, but a picture from a friend out in Missoula making waves. Yes, Missoula, Montana – for those of you who are geographically challenged, Montana is not near the ocean.

Just goes to show you can find surf just about anywhere if you try hard enough.

SPAM-Off - Good Clean (kinda) Family Fun

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:00:00 PST

I was almost in shock, jealous even, of what I heard this Monday when talking to Lisa in the morning, catching up on the weekend’s events. She, a lovely and talented designer here at the Toad, relayed that she won first prize at a contest. What contest you ask? What else other than a SPAM-Off!

The jealousy comes in not because she won a hilarious SPAM-Off, but because she does this annually with her family! I’m not sure about you, but in a world where family is less of a focus, it is so refreshing to see one having a great time together. I went so far as to tell my mom about it and she said, “why don’t we do a SPAM-Off.” I couldn’t help but think that maybe SPAM could be the ointment that cures the modern family’s worries. I hear it does wonders for your completion, why not your soul?

Anyway, the rules are these:
-   Make a dish with a movie theme with SPAM as the star!
-   All dishes must be prepared on site
-   Three hours to prepare the dish
-   BYOB, cool, table, canopy and cooking supplies

The flyer, that’s right I said flyer, is above and is worth a closer look – ‘cuz it has some pretty funny copy. I’ve also included a little slide show of the lovely Lisa and alluring Michele in their winning costumes – presentation is everything, Martha’s first creed!

Their winning dish was Arabian SPAM
Recipe - Tandoori SPAM Lettuce Wraps with Tzaziki Sauce
1) Sauté diced SPAM in pan with fresh ginger, garlic, onion, curry
2) Steam jasmine rice
3) Tzaziki Sauce- plain yogurt, diced cucumbers, fresh mint, lemon juice
4) Layer on romaine lettuce leaves, rice, SPAM, top with sauce

A Room With A View

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:00:00 PST

Katina, a Toadette, went on a little business/pleasure trip to Colorado. One day in the town of Buena Vista, on the river side of the Arkansas, she came across this little interesting living room. It’s made completely out of tile! Might not be super good for snuggling up on, but the view is killer!

Gas Prices on a Roll

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:36:06 PST

No one is safe from rising gas prices, even if you don't drive a car. Everything is effected, including the food we eat. We stumbled upon this artist's rendition of our current state of affairs and what to do about it. It's brilliant. Take a ride! Mad props go out to it's creator Robert Ariail.

Beware of Computer

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:00:00 PST

A friend of mine took this picture a while back at an office he visited. Ain't it the truth!

Pringles Golf

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 PST

Okay guys and gals. There is this site, www.instructables.com, that kicks even Chuck Norris’ butt. Yeah, that’s what I said. We have a ton of fun on this site. Check it out when you have a chance. It’s chalk full insane and not-so-insane ideas. Plenty of stuff to laugh at too.

We’re actually partnering up with the lovely minds behind instructables to bring you our next contest, invent a sport. They already have tons of interesting ideas on their site to get the creative juices flowing. Here’s one we think is particularly awesome.

See the full "instructable" here pringles golf.

Very Superstitious

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:00:00 PST

Did you ever wonder where the heck these crazy superstitions come from? Like, why is Friday the 13th such a bad thing. Well, if you are like me, you do. Here are some explanations on some common superstitions.

Friday the Thirteenth - The Scandinavian's believed that the number 13 was unlucky due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th, an evil one, who brought misfortune upon humans. It was also said that Christ was crucified on Friday and the number of guests at the party of the Last Supper was 13, with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor.

Walking under a ladder - A leaning ladder forms a triangle with the wall and ground. Triangles represent the Holy Trinity, and violating the Trinity by breaking it (walking through it) would put you in league with the devil himself.

Black Cats - In ancient Egypt, the Goddess Bast was a black, female cat. Christians, wanting to rid society of all traces of other religions, convinced the ignorant that black cats were demons in disguise and should thus be destroyed. In the process, they also destroyed the kindly ladies who cared for the cats, believing them to be witches. Being demons, a black cat crossing your path would create a barrier of evil, cutting you off from God and blocking the entrance to heaven.

Spilling Salt - Salt used to be an expensive commodity used mainly for medicinal purposes. For this reason, spillage was to be avoided at all costs. The idea that it is unlucky to do so probably stems from the belief that Judas spilt salt during the last supper. Throwing spilt salt over the left shoulder is linked to its medicinal use. If it could not be administered, the next best thing was to throw it into the eye of the evil spirits that brought sickness upon us. These spirits were thought to lurk behind your shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Rice Paddy Art

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:00:00 PST

Hmmm, may be some handy photoshop work or may be some very artistic rice growers. Either way, you can appreciate the effort. Click on the link below to see the different colored rice grown into works of art.

Rice Paddy Art

Fainting Goats

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:19:35 PST

This one is pee-your-pants funny. That's all I'm gonna say. You just gotta watch it.

Dog Cake - Yummy!

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:00:00 PST

Yeah, it’s another posting about a dog. I can’t seem to help myself these days. Anyway, it's an amazingly realistic cake, which I can’t say isn’t a little freaky.

Go Bob Go!

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:00:00 PST

Yes, we are obsessed with our dogs. But, they are all so dang cute! One Toad, Steve, and his furry friend, Bob, decided to run a local dog race that happens here in Santa Barbara annually and ... kicked some butt! Congrats you two!

Steve's proud-daddy words:

Normally I wouldn’t be so shamelessly promoting my beloved Bob (it might also be the endorphin high), but I just can’t help but spread the good word that Bob placed second in the State St. Mile Dog Race!! (And my guess is Bob would have beaten the Cal Poly ringer had his dad not been such a slow poke). Bob crushed the old State St. Mile Dog course record with an un-official time of 4:28. (Umm…and the winner officially crushed us with something like a 4:20).

Anyway, I’m just so proud of Bob that I had to let you all know!!

Bob and Steve

Office Dogs

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 PST

Mustache Mayor

Thu, 15 May 2008 15:37:40 PST

I'm gonna keep this one short because the picture is worth a thousand words. This fellow is one of the guys responsible for this web site. Yeah ... that's what I said. He has been keeping track of his mustache growth everyday on this fabulous web site - www.moustachemay.com. Everyday they (the collective moustache fans of the world) vote on who has the proudest mustache. This person is then deemed the Mustache Mayor for the day. He won with this picture and we would like to congratulate him on his elected office.

Long Live The Mustache!

Bike to Work Week

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:27:56 PST

Well, don't know about you all out there, but here in Cali, we are feeling the pressure of rising gas prices. In fact, just today the price for regular unleaded reached $4.11 at the local station by our offices here in Santa Barbara. Not only does it suck to pay an arm and a leg at the pump, but it also stinks (literally) to drive a car. Cars are a major cause of pollution, as we all know, so hit two birds with one stone by ditching the car and riding a bike to work! Save money, get exercise and save the planet - I guess that is technically three birds with one stone.

It's is bike to work week here in California, but that doesn't mean the rest of the country can't jump on the bike wagon. Here's a great web site for all you bike commuters out there.

www.californiabikecommute.com

Moustache May

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:00:00 PST

We applaud a simple idea perfectly executed. Moustache May is fun with facial hair taken to the extreme. Every day has a new Mayor - the highest rated pic from the day before. Several stachers are doing so in the name of a cause. Who knew a moustache could change the world? It rocked ours.

www.moustachemay.com

Elephant Art

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:00:38 PST

This really tripped us out. So we asked around - a neighbor of ours is an elephant vet, we asked if this could be real. His answer was yes. We were even more tripped out. So watch this elephant paint a picture of an elephant and get inspired!

PB & J's to Save the World!

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:00 PST

We love our Peanut Butter & Jelly as much as anyone, but now there's a reason to take it to the next level: The PB&J Campaign. According to these folks, eating PB&J sandwiches can reduce greenhouse gases. True or not, we love the idea! Check 'em out: www.pbjcampaign.org

p.s. Earth Day is just around the corner - so stock up on your favorite PB&J supplies . . .

Pillow Fight!!!

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:00 PST

There are certain fun and innocent activities that seem to disappear from the “things to do” list as we get older, like finger painting and pillow fights. Well, my friend who lives in Seattle heard of a group pillow fight that was going on down at the farmers market. Folks came armed with pillows and a youthful spirit to whack away at total strangers. Sounds like a good time to me! After a long winter spent up north these folks wanted to kick off the spring by getting back to childhood basics. As evidenced by the smiles and feathers, a good time was had by all, even the spectators.

The only thing missing were the PB&Js.

The King

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:00:00 PST

A somber and also hopeful entry today, in honor of Rev. Martin Luther King’s assassination 40 years ago in Memphis, Tennessee. It’s a time to take pause to remember all of the freedoms we enjoy, and some that not everyone in our country yet appreciates. No history lecture needed for the reputation that precedes this great man’s life. Simply put, he really did live every day out to it’s fullest, with his passions on his sleeve for all to see. This one’s for you Rev., may your message of tolerance and equality, live on.

Say Cheese to Spring Melt

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 PST

I ask you, what is better than crusty bread with butter and melted cheese? Nothing, I tell you, nothing! That's why the good people of The National Department for Random Holidays have designated April as a month to celebrate grilled cheese. Molten gold that you can eat! So, pick up a spatula, lather your bread in butter, and slap on a coupla slices of that good stuff we all know and love - CHEESE!

A Cool Way To Get To School

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:00:00 PST

So much for the "I had to walk 5 miles everyday both ways in the snow" story…

Peep Show

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:00:00 PST

This may be highly inappropriate, but we found it an ingenuitive usage of those strange marshmallow candies called Peeps you get for Easter. Who eats those things anyway?

Kung fu Kitties

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:29:06 PST

Ever wonder how much more entertaining your pets would be with sound effects? Wonder no more. This is a video produced by one of the fabulous minds behind our site. Watch out Hollywood!

Ahhh, Simple Pleasures

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:19:49 PST

This is the ultimate in simple pleasures. If only amusement could be so easy all the time!

Dramatic Lemur

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:00:00 PST

Well, at the beginning of this blog we posted a funny video of the five second sensation that was and still is "The Dramatic Chipmunk," technically it's a prairie dog, but whatever, it's funny either way. Now introducing another funny fella ... drum roll please ... "The Dramatic Lemur!"

Quaffing Bootcamp

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 PST

These guys don't mess around. Telluride is not only known for its beauty and grandeur, but apparently for their Gelande Quaffing World Championships as well. The Toad partook in a small exhibition of quaffing at this winter's Outdoor Retailer, but this definitely puts the "pro" in "professional" when it comes to beer drinking.

Freeze!

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:23:59 PST

Can you imagine either being apart of the this prank or observing it? It's a huge art installation of sorts.

Total eclipse of the heart - - - I mean moon

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:00:00 PST

Did you know that there is a total lunar eclipse tonight? Well, now you do. Here's the beta on it if you want to tilt your head skywards and check it out.

Nothin' Says Love Like Poofy Sleeves!

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:00:00 PST

We're not really sure what possessed these guys to wear such crazy outfits. Apparently, The Valentines were a burning star of fame back in the day - check out those sleeves! Their one hit still lives on in the hearts and minds of us all. Happy Valentine's Day buttercups.

Conservation Alliance

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:00:00 PST

Just this morning while walking my dog up at my local beach, I looked around as the sun rose and just couldn’t believe what a gorgeous place I live in. It was breathtaking. Unfortunately, every time I walk on this particular beach I always find trash washed up on the beach from who knows where, and that’s just the bad stuff that I can see! I happened to really care about the places that I call home, and hope that y’all feel the same way.

The Conservation Alliance is a wonderful group that helps both groups big and small give back to the wild spaces they know and love. If you want to get involved with a local group or give to The Conservation Alliance, just log on and check them out at www.conservationalliance.com. Here’s a little motivational video for ya.

Quaffing

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:00:00 PST

Every six months we Toads head to an outdoor industry tradeshow in Salt Lake City. Despite what the attached video suggests we do get work done. But, too much work and not enough play makes us grouchy, so, our friends at Cloudveil decided to inject some fun into the tradeshow of which we Toads gladly participated in. Documented by the ever-talented David Gonzales for your viewing pleasure.

G-Rated Joke

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:10:44 PST

You’d be surprised what’s entertaining at 4:30 in an office full of clothing designers and marketers. This one happens to be G-Rated, so we thought we’d share our extremely zaney sense of humor with our readers. You might want to sit down for fear that you may pass out from laughing too hard.

Joke: What do you call a short fortuneteller that is running from the law?

… wait for it … wait for it …

Punch Line: A small medium at large.

Here’s where you clutch your belly and laugh out loud or sigh out of sadness for our sense of humor.

Fun with Sex Education

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:00:00 PST

Talk about sex education! I guess you can never be too safe. Watch and learn kids.

I Pity the Fool

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:25:09 PST

Maybe it’s nostalgia, or just the fact that the A-Team was and still is one of the best shows ever, but this site is at least a good couple of minutes of entertainment. Not to mention, you can practice your, “I pity the fool!” the whole time.

Mr. T makeover

Ahhhhh Capella: Crazy Voices!

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:00:00 PST

Coming from someone who can barely hold a tune, even for something as simple as Happy Birthday, this is quite impressive. Crazy, would be the adjective to describe the voices of these obviously talented musicians.

Resolve To Not Resolve

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:00:00 PST

New Years is an odd holiday, don’t you think? The eve of the actual day we blow it out with the extremes of gluttony and less than demur behavior. At the start of the New Year, we roll out of bed feeling a little rough around the edges from the night before, with the best of intentions to “make a change.” Those changes, otherwise known as New Years resolutions are often discarded not a week or two later. We all know it happens, so why fight it!

Bad Gift Emporium

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:00:00 PST

One of the many joys of the holiday season is the time when we get to sit back and survey the gifts we received. Some are a little bit, well ... "creative" to say the least. It's the thought that counts, but sometimes the thought is a tad bit mislead. I mean, at what point does someone look at a large stick of cured meat (a.k.a. meat log) and think, "Gosh, ya know (insert your name here) would really love this!" Luckily, there is a web site that allows us to fully embrace the bad gifts such as meat logs and chia pets with the loving arms of humor.

www.badgiftemporium.com

Holiday Sweaters on Parade

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:02:44 PST

As we near the end of the holiday season there is time to reflect on stuff like, “Why the heck did (insert name here) think I would wear this sweater?” The age-old question of what to do with your hideous holiday sweater has an answer! Stuff it away for next year when you and your friends and family can get together in the spirit of ugly sweaters and have some holiday fun. The Toads decided to exactly this for our holiday party and guess what … it was a blast. Here’s one pic from many where blinking antlers, puffy paint, Christmas bear iron ons, chunky cable knit and red velvet adorned the festive Toads.

Happy New Year from the Toads!

What I Want For Christmas

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:00:00 PST

Ahhh, Christmas...

What are friends for?

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 PST

Not that we want to endorse this kind of behavior (i.e. playing with firecrackers), but this is pretty dang funny. After all, what are friends for?

Laugh It's the Holidays!

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:03:48 PST

Okay, we all know the holidays can be stressful. So, we're posting these little bits of hilarity to cheer you up in the midst of holiday madness.

Free Running, Running Free

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:00:00 PST

Talk about the world being your playground!

What would you do for a $500 Gift Card?

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:00:00 PST

What would you do for a Horny Toad gift certificate? We wanna know. Follow the lead of these fine folks and either shop online to enter or simply send in a video of some of your antics. www.hornytoad.com/500

Special Cow Milk

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:00:00 PST

What kind of drink would inspire leagues of people to think of their robes as proper street garb? Not only has it reached such heights in the kingdom of slackers, but it has also been deemed the IBAs (International Bartenders Association) official drink. Benefits also include a dose of calcium!

“The suspense is killing us! What drink could possibly do all this besides the elixir of life from the fountain of youth?”

White Russian, that’s who (a.k.a. Special Cow Milk). Recipes vary for this beloved concoction. A drink which somehow seems more apropos during the hibernating winter months when packing on calories is a sport.

White Russian: 1 part vodka, 1 part Kahlua and 1 part cream. For a serious kick, substitute the cream for Bailey’s Irish Cream.

Black Russian: Is a White Russian sans the cream.

Colorado Bulldog: Is a White Russian with another part of cola added to it at the end. Sweeter than a piece of toffee.

Factoid: The "White Russians" were an anti-Bolshevik group from the Russian Civil War. Now ya know!

So, dudes and dudettes, milk that special cow, with responsibility of course.

Gobble Gobble That Turkey

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:00:00 PST

Here in Santa Barbara, there is a band that we all know and love, Spencer the Gardener. They have a fun, and lighthearted spirit. On this day of thanks, we Toads want to say thanks to Spencer and his friends for making us dance and laugh. We also give thanks to all of you wonderful folks out there that share in the joy of the Toad.

Thanksgiving Rocks!

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:00:00 PST

Thanksgiving Fun Facts

• Originally Thanksgiving was really just a three-day long “party” that followed the autumn harvest where folks shared meat, bread and beer … the three food groups.

• The first observed Thanksgiving was celebrated by Plymouth Pilgrims in the fall of 1621, giving thanks for those pilgrims that survived the journey over on the Mayflower (40% of them were children).

• Joining in the feast of 1621 were the Wampanoag, including the chief, Massasoit and 90 other tribesman. They were honored at the feast for helping the pilgrims survive by teaching them the skills of cultivating the land.

• Dates of the holiday bounced around for years until President Roosevelt signed a bill that made the official holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.

• Why turkey? Well, back in 1621 turkey was plentiful, so just like any good pilgrim they used what they had on hand. Imagine if they only had fields of soybeans, then folks would be lining up for blocks of tofu (let's here if for tofurkey).

• There wasn’t just eating going on, there were games too – gee, sounds familiar to today’s football extravaganza!

• Wild turkeys have great vision and hearing. They are also very speedy 20 mph and with flight can reach 50-55 mph – dang! Those pilgrims really had to work for their meals. Maybe this was a precursor to the reason why lots of folks go out and exercise a ton before filling up on turkey and stuffing.

• Last but certainly not least, integral to the thanksgiving feast was a little known drink called BEER! Pilgrims rock.

With a Rebel Yell They Cried Mo! Mo! Mo!

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:16:43 PST

There are two ways to look at things, fun and not fun. Cancer just happens to be one of those things that’s in the “not fun” category. A good friend of the Toads was diagnosed with cancer, fought that bastard and is currently watching his opponent sulk away like a little girly boy.

Drew “macho moustache” Simmons won his round, but realizes that it couldn’t have been done without the many cancer patients that went before him. Their experiences and their willingness to be a part of shared research enabled him to reap the benefits of the best medicine and treatment technologies available.

In the spirit of the Toad community, we invite you to join in with Drew to help fight the ravages of prostate cancer. Don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom, he’s raising money and so are countless of other men, by growing a moustache for the month of November – “Movember” (put on by the Prostrate Cancer Foundation). Moustaches happen to fall in the “fun” category. Check out the link to read a bit more, see Drew’s stache status pics and join in the fun by donating or sporting some sleek upper lip hair yourself – ladies, there are other ways for us to join in the stache good times.

Drew’s moustache inspiration comes from Tom Selleck, Borat, Wade Boggs, and the entire Ski Patrol nation.

Movember with Drew

Crawbling: Wheels of Glory

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:00:00 PST

In a world where sports are taken often way too seriously, this little respite of humor is greatly appreciated. I mean, who doesn't like a polyester leisure suit in action.

LOL

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:00:00 PST

We’ve all heard that saying, “laughter is the best medicine,” well, it’s actually true! There are tons of health benefits to laughing out loud, not to mention it’s fun. Endless studies show that laughing can stimulate your immune system, reduce food cravings, increase a person’s pain threshold and is a major stress reducer.

Laughing, even a forced smile for that matter, have many positive health effects, like …

- A workout for your insides including your heart. Get that six pack and have a healthy ticker, bam!
- By making light of stressful events, laughing gives us perspective when we need it most.
- Laughing releases good hormones while reducing stress hormones such as cortisol. What’s more, it increases the number of T cells, the little buggers that fight the bad guys and keep us healthy.
- Probably one of the best parts about laughter is that it draws us together, in other words, it’s social glue. By being positive around others you infect them with the giggles, which endears them to you in turn. So smile and laugh more and you will find you have more friends.

Howloween

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:00:00 PST

Well, if you haven't figured it out yet, we are a tad bit obsessive about dogs here at Horny Toad. They are part of our day in and day out and Halloween is certainly no exception. This little slide show cracked us up, and gave us some good ideas for our furry little friends this holiday. Happy Halloween!

Fun with a Port-a-Potty

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:00:00 PST

Imagine you walk into a port-a-potty, do your business, and the next thing you know ... well, watch the video and find out. This proves the fun can be had just about anywhere.

Here's To Your Health

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:00:00 PST

Not that we want to encourage you to go throwing rum into all your smoothies, but studies have shown that the antioxidants in berries (and maybe some other fruits and veggies) are increased with the addition of ethanol, found in the good stuff like rum and vodka. Antioxidants attack free radicals, which cause cancer and heart disease, to name a few. No wonder you feel like a million bucks after a daiquiri. Here’s to your health!

Curry Pumpkin Seeds

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:00:00 PST

Yup, fall has made its announcement, which means that pumpkin carving parties are soon to be attended. Besides drinking hot rum and pumpkin ale, there is the question of, “What the heck do we do with this gunk that we scooped out of the pumpkin?” Don’t toss the mess, rather make some pumpkin seeds to munch on. Here’s an interesting recipe to try out in between strokes of carving genius.

olive oil (enough to coat the seeds)
2 tsps of curry powder
1 tsp of salt
1 cup pumpkin seeds straight from the jack o’ lantern

Mix all the above goodness together and spread across a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Watch ‘em, ‘cuz there ain’t nothing worse than burnt pumpkin seeds (well, maybe there is, but the statement was made for dramatic effect). Season with more salt and/or curry if ya wanna. You can replace the curry with other spices too, like cayenne pepper.

Hipster Olympics: Just Say No To Being Too Serious

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:15:42 PST

We think the first step in finding adventure in the every day is not taking things soooo dang seriously! Laughing is good for you. This is a great example of how making fun, can be therapeutic. Let the healing begin.

Pine Cone Violin: Noisy People Make Sound Art

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:00:00 PST

Noisy People, a feature length video of people who are taking the commonplace and turning it into ... well, beautiful noise. Finding the "freak" in the every day is what we Toads live for. We love that someone thought of putting a violin bow to a pinecone! Brilliance.

Avocado Margarita Recipe - Ole!

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:00:00 PST

Ahhh, it’s that time of year again, the avocado is being celebrated in all it’s green glory at the Avocado Festival in Carpinteria, CA - a town near the Horny Toad HQ. In honor of this fruit of the gods, we thought we’d post a beverage recipe … enjoy!

The Avocado Margarita

1 ripe and delicious avocado
¼ cup fresh lemon or lime juice
2 cups crushed ice
½ cup tequila
¼ cup triple sec

How To:
Put in a blender and turn it on. It’s so simple, that’s why we love it. Then, rub the rim of the glass with lime and dip in a coarse sea salt and chili pepper mix. Sit back with some friends and enjoy the smooth goodness.

Dramatic Chipmunk

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:00:00 PST

We don't know about you, but this is quite possibly the funniest five seconds of film we have ever seen. Who knew that chipmunks (prairie dogs) could be so hilarious. Hint: play several times, it gets better and better.

Chiditarod: A Shopping Cart Race Through Chicago

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:00:00 PST

All things being equal, besides the dogs and the sleds, the hearty folks of Chicago got together for their own version of the Iditarod with shopping carts as their vehicles and people as their engine power. Instead of a cash purse at the finish line, the goal was philanthropy. Talk about the benefits of not taking yourself too seriously.

Talent Show Breakdance

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 PST

Napoleon Dynamite ain't got nothing on this kid! Breakdancing is a lost art, one we think is due for a renaissance -- cardboard and boom boxes to boot. Never under estimate the power of the robot.

Ron's Slip 'n Slide Extravaganza

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:00:00 PST

We nearly peed our pants from laughing too hard watching this video. Some kids may have parties when their parents leave town, but these kids decided to build a massive slip and slide instead - how awesome is that?