Showing posts with label toms shoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toms shoes. Show all posts

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Celebrate!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Family Tradition

Play this first, then scroll through pictures.


















FAIL

Friday, April 10, 2009

We All Want To Change The World...

If you haven't heard already, TOMS is going to be doing an event on April 16th to raise awareness about those who go everyday without the privilege that we have owning our own pair of shoes.

It's called ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES, and you can learn more by clicking here. Please give it a click, it'll only take a minute- and if you're going to buy a pair remember to use code JASONR121108 to receive a little discount on top. Honestly, how can you lose with that?

Check out this video to find out more.


I'll be planning a local event so if you're interested, let me know- it's gonna be major! Let's raise some eyebrows!

Who's with me?

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Giving More, Taking Less

Here's a video my friend Sarena filmed during our time in Argentina. Truly a wonderful time, which by the way just ranked at number 12 on Travel & Leisures list of Top 20 Life-Changing Experiences.


Shoes for Tomorrow - Toms Shoe Drop, November 2008 from Sarena on Vimeo.

You already know what to do in order to make a difference.

Be the change.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Bear Den Last Minute Holiday Shopping Guide

If you're like me, shopping during the holidays can really be stressful when you realize there's only a week before Christmas. By the time you've finished reading this sentence, the malls will probably be swamped like the Louisiana Bayou. So, to make life a little bit easier for you, I've come up with this friendly gift guide to avoid the holiday rush. Why wait in a line when you can sit comfortably at home, nuzzled up by the fire with a hot cup of cider?

Let's get to it.

First rule of thumb...



I can't stress it enough, but I implore you to shop locally. Whether it's the florist down the street or the t-shirt brand your friends started, they will benefit more directly than say, a Wal-Mart or a Forever 21. Instead, try some of these Bear Den approved locally-grown talent.


* * *

Need a beanie? My friend Nicole makes them- and other accessories, too! With weather like we've been experiencing here in Southern California, I'm going to be placing my woven multi-colored trenchcoat in soon. Nicole makes other things too, so don't hesitate to ask if you've got a custom request.

Don't forget to check out her blog!





www.nicoleguthary.com
contact: nicole- handmadebynicole@gmail.com

* * *

Next up is Chubby Boob Clothing. It's the perfect gift for that person who has everything, because I can guarantee you they're not gonna have what Joemm at Chubby has to offer.

He's even got special holiday pricing, now!


www.chubbyboobclothing.com
contact: joemm- chubbyboob@gmail.com

* * *

Another awesome gift idea for that special someone is through Alan Thomas Apparel. Tom has been a big influence in what we've done and continue to do, and it's only fitting that he belongs on this list. If you're into a hand-crafted, artistic based design, AT is exactly what you're looking for.



www.myspace.com/alanthomasapparel
contact: tom- tom@recurmusic.com

* * *

Next is for the denim connoisseur and/or cut & sew enthusiast. Soulful Commandoe has got EVERYTHING from tees to New Era Caps to denim to everything else in between; SC has got you covered. We've come a long (LONG) way from just sweaters and tees- and we are more than happy to take you all along for the ride.

Maybe you've seen 'Lil Wayne wear the SFC Hood Scard at the MTV VMA awards?


Or maybe you picked up a magazine and saw this ad in it?


Wherever you've seen us, make sure you leave a little SC present under the tree.

www.soulfulcommandoe.com
contact: nick- nicholas@soulfulcommandoe.com

* * *

Do you feel like giving two gifts for the price of one? Look no further than TOMS Shoes, where every item you buy (whether it's a shoe or a t-shirt) you will be providing a shoe for a child in need. I can personally attest to the shoe-giving having recently been in Argentina, so rest assured your philanthropy is DEFINITELY being fulfilled.

Also, TOMS is trying to move 30,000 pairs of shoes to help fight the Podo epidemic in Ethiopia. Check out the following video..


The good news is that YOU can help, and that we're only about 6,000 pairs away from reaching our holiday goal. Be the change, head over to TOMSshoes.com, now!


And as an added incentive (as if you needed anything else), TOMS is shipping for FREE. In addition to that ( I'm starting to sound like an infomercial), I'm going to give you, the loyal readers of The Bear Den, a special code to save you an additional $5 off your order. You can pass it down to your friends and family- just don't abuse it. Consider it an early Xmas present.

PROMO CODE: JASONR121108

www.tomsshoes.com

* * *

And last, and certainly not least, is my baby... Whether you know us as The Mason Jar, or Bryan, or Tony, or Jason, or Natalie, or Danny, or Lodge 146, or those bicycle guys, or any other moniker you've given us- we're all one of the same and working for you as well as for the goodwill of our environment. Proceeds from our earnings go to certain specific charities (Friends of TOMS, 1% For the Earth, Surfrider, etc.) and for every 24 shirts we sell, we plant one tree in return. Not just a seed, but an adolescent sapling.

Free tote bag with every purchase from now until Jan. 1.






We've got a program called Branch Out that we can't wait to tell you about. 2009 will be a very exciting year for us and the people we look forward to helping. Stay tuned...

www.masonjarclothing.com
contact: jason@masonjarclothing.com

These are only a few ideas, and I certainly don't intend to sound like these are your only choices. Wherever you are, there is something you can support locally on a smaller scale than your typical corporate model.

Here are a couple more helpful shopping tips...

DO...
Buy oversized novelty mailboxes that feature the likes of trophy bass and shotgun shell.


DON'T
Buy cheap, copied sunglasses from places like Urban Outfitters, Hot Topic, or mall kiosks that always have annoying foreign (usually Eastern European) salespeople. They've obviously copied it from a legit version.


DO...
Scour the internet/antique shops in search for the original construction.

Vintage Ray-Ban Woody Wayfarer.



DON'T...
Be a jerk and steal that parking space. Somebody else was already waiting for it- they even had their blinker on. Common courtesy people. Trust me, you don't want to be a parking space stealer. You might see this on your way back from the mall.



One more thing...

If you're gonna drink this holiday season, make sure you're not driving. I'm tired of having to be reminded of situations that could have been avoided. It happens every year. Don't let me read about you in the papers.


Alright, that should do it. Remember, support local business! Contrary to what you've heard, it's they who makes the world go 'round.

Humbly from my camouflaged recliner,



j

Monday, December 8, 2008

Argentina in Film, Installment Three

Here is part three of the film pictures I was able to take in Argentina. When I last left you, we had just arrived into Salta and spent our first night. The following morning was nothing we could ever expect.

Pepe was very adamant about keeping our itineraries as secret as possible. All we knew was that our group of 10 had to be split in two 4x4's on a long drive through the mountains. Exactly how long was never told to us, but hey, this is what we were expecting, right?

Wrong.

What was first rocky, uneven roads turned into unpaved, narrow dirt roads harrowing over cliffs.

What was first three hours turned into six, six into seven, and- well, you get the picture.

Our first stop on our way to Tolar Grande was a small town called San Antonio de los Cobres. At this point I believe it had just been a bit over three hours, and Pepe still wouldn't tell us how long the rest of the way was. To get a picture of how remote this place was, I read somewhere that back in the 19th century, anyone born in the area could claim Bolivian, Chilean or Argentinean citizenship, according to his preferences.

Is that remote enough for you? What's crazy is that it wasn't even our final destination. But we'll get to there in a minute.

It's here where the people start looking more indigenous than their relatives in Buenos Aires.


Courtneypoo trying to shake off the stiffness. Our truck had to fit four in the back, with only room for three. Needless to say we were that much closer to permanent scoliosis.


Even after hours of torture, Rach manages to put on a smile. Precious.


OK I hate having to include this because it isn't film, but just to hammer the point home here was a stop about an hour and a half outside of Tolar Grande (and about another two and a half hours from the stop in San Antonio de los Nowhere).


Hours later, we finally get there. None of us are really sure how long it actually took because we were all asleep at one point or another on the drive. I don't think we wanted to know.

Surprisingly, the flag flies in the middle of nowhere just as well as it does in Buenos Aires. Astonishing.


Tolar Grande was originally just a temporary town, but as you can see it ended up staying awhile.


Check out this video and you'll catch a glimpse of where we were.


Back at the school we fit the children with their new TOMS, and played a game of Duck, Duck, Goose.


After it was all said and done, it was time for the grueling trek back to San Antonio de los Cobres where we were spending the next two nights. Normally this plate would cheer me up, but by then I was so drained I couldn't even laugh that we were served a carrot salad, garnished with tomatoes.


I think our looks sell the story.


If these TOMS look exhausted to you, you're right. They are.


My beloved leather bag was plenty exhausted, too. It also got ravaged with Mars dirt on the drive over. Actually, everyone's bags did.


The next day was brutal for me. The altitude had dehydrated me and gave me the worst headache I've ever had. After a handful of Tylenol and a few cups of Coca Leaf tea, it was off to drop shoes.



First stop- biggest group yet.





Pepe getting interviewed.


Mate = Thank God.




Next stop was at a school that also had room and board for kids who were from out of town (at least that's what I remember hearing, it could have been some sort of foster school or orphanage).



Whatever it was, they had their Christmastime decorations up.


It was also here where we were served the ultimate meat dish. Most of the girls couldn't finish it, so Big Kev ended up on garbage disposal duty. The dessert following was served in a giant cauldron with contents very closely resembling gruel.

After lunch, it was TOMS Shoes time!




My buddy Gustavo posing with my travel gnome Rupert.


As we were pulling up to the school, we all wanted to slide down the giant red slide- until we saw that it was mangled at the bottom with broken pieces of wood and nail spewing all over.


Obviously our fear means nothing to these beautiful kids. No matter what, they'll find a positive out of anything.


After the drops, it was back to the hotel where I was tricked to climb a mountain with a few members of the team. The others wisely slept. [warning: not film! sorry!]






I couldn't help it. Sorry.


Later that night we had dinner which was home to some of the largest Coke's in glass bottles I've ever seen. (Actually, they're all over Argentina.)


Then, to appease Dolly's wishes, we went shopping for a bit. Stuffed armadillos, anyone? Anyone?


I know it's a longshot, but listen up. Peace still works. Period.


Part Four, coming soon.

[editors note: i'm in vegas until tuesday, so the continuation of this post will most likely be on wednesday. after all, we're in town for this, and there is serious work to be done- aka convince tony reagins to re-sign mark teixeira. ps, i added a twitter sidebar (it's to the right of the blog) so you can follow our minute-by-minute stalking of angels brass, looming over their every move, pressuring them to sign free agents we most desperately need.]

[editors note in response to above editors note: i know. i sound crazy. but i've been baseball-less for months now. i need sustenance. this video isn't cutting it anymore.]