Atayne 360 - December 2009

The Season of Change...

No, we are not talking about the season of changing leaves; we are talking about the season of positive change (environmental and social that is). On Black Friday, we introduced Atayne 360 readers to B Corporation's Season of Giving campaign.

Atayne has partnered with 20 other B Corps to offer great products from some great companies at great discounts! We invite you to explore our fellow B Corp friends and check out all the special offers. If you see the perfect gift for that special someone, please lend your support.

While we are big believers in buying what you need, not what you want; we are also realists. It IS fun to give and receive over the holiday season. So if you are going to buy, please help support companies that are doing more than just trying to pad the wallets of wealthy individuals. Think about spending your dollars with companies that want to help people and the environment, in addition to making a profit.

Yes it is still consuming, but at least you are helping to create a little positive change.

That being said, we encourage everyone to think creatively about giving without giving more stuff. To help, we will drop a few of our favorite ideas throughout this month's newsletter.

Monthly Enviro Tip

For those of you celebrating Christmas this holiday season, getting the perfect Christmas tree may be top of mind. Instead of piling in the car and heading to one of the giant lots to buy a tree that is likely shipped halfway across the country, how about trying something different? Turn the yearly ritual into a hiking adventure.

Many of the National Forests in the U.S. allow you to cut your own tree with a permit. So bundle up, go for a hike, and find that perfect tree. Or check out this site to find a Christmas tree farm near you. Many of the farms have hiking paths so you can enjoy some physical activity as well.

If cutting a tree is not your style, consider getting a living tree. Check out these sites for tips on how to buy and care for a living Christmas tree.

What else goes together like peas and carrots?

It's not just Jenny and Forrest Gump.

In our minds, there is not much better than the gift of Atayne this holiday season. With performance (Grind) and lifestyle (Trash) Ts, 16 different graphics, and gift certificates of any value, we have something for just about anyone who loves to get active. On top of that, we are offering a 25% discount through the B Corp Season of Giving Campaign (use code BCORP09 at check-out) and free shipping for orders over $75.

But some things are just better together. Here are our picks for the best complements to the gift of Atayne.

365 days of access to some of the U.S.'s most beautiful places (also known as an All Access National Parks Pass)
Treeless reading for digital magazines with a gift certificate through Zinio. Zinio offers hundreds of titles for active souls including Outside, Mountain Bike, Road Bike, Canoe & Kayak, Ski Magazine, Sport Life, tgo, Triathlon Plus, and the Yoga Journal.
Fresh, local organic food to fuel any active lifestyle. Check out LocalHarvest to find a local CSA (community support agriculture).
The gift of giving. Check out TisBest for gift cards the recipient can spend by giving to their favorite charity.

It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags...

Often times the best gifts are the ones that don't come wrapped. We know it sounds cheesy, but the best gifts are the ones that come from the heart. These type of gifts typically end up being less expensive and less harmful to the environment as well. Here are a few of our favorite ways to give, without giving "stuff.

Plant a tree in their name. It is kind of like naming a star after them, but they might actually be able to visit it someday.
What's better than good food and good company? Well then give it as a gift! Prepare a local, organic meal for that special someone. For tasty meal ideas check out the Daily Green's recipe archive.
Give the gift of your time and a little sweat by helping out a loved one with their seasonal chores (green spring cleaning, planting/weeding a garden, raking leaves, shoveling snow). Create your own gift certificate or use a template if you're not feeling creative; save file as a PDF and email to keep it all digital.
Give the gift of less junk...mail that is. Check out Tonic and their Postal Junk Mail Reduction Kit. As Cousin Eddie would say, "Clark, that's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year."

Where in the World is Atayne?

Not convinced that a National Parks Pass is a worthy gift? Check out this pic from our friends Kennedy, Jeff, and Nate at Arches National Park. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but this picture makes us certain a National Parks Pass is definitely worth the $80.

It's a Little Known Fact...

Congrats to November's winner Maurilio G who, like many of you, knew that recycling just two aluminum cans saves the energy equivalent of a gallon of gas.

On to this month's question. What is a trashole?

Remember, all answers can be found on our website, Facebook page, or Twitter feed.

To join in the fun, email your answer to adventure@atayne.com. To be entered into the drawing for the $25 gift certificate, your answer must be received by Thursday, December 31.

Until 2010, Keep it Clean!

The Atayners