The Super Awesome Description award is a way of recognizing a member of the Zappos Development content team once a month. If a product description is particularly witty or creative, anyone in the company can nominate the person who wrote it.  The nominations are then read by other members of the content department and voted upon; the description with the most votes wins. The writer of that description is rewarded with a trophy and a certificate, not to mention recognition from their peers.

The winner for April is Jonathan B. Jonathan is part of the clothing team and his brilliant description for the Kuhl Agent Shirt was too amazing to ignore. Congratulations Jonathan!

We asked Jonathan a few fun questions to get to know him better. Check out his answers below!

What is your biggest Grammar pet peeve?

Run-on sentences. They drive me crazy.

What inspired you when writing this description?

I really liked the shirt when I initially wrote it. I mentioned it to my fiancé and she surprised me with it as a birthday present. Whenever I get something from my portfolio, I always like to check the details on the tags against what we have on the site, just to make sure everything is correct. When I pulled the shirt up on the site, I wasn’t happy with the product description I had originally written. I started thinking about secret agents and everything just clicked!

What's a fact people would be surprised to learn about you?

I just turned 40. Most people underestimate my age by eight to twelve years until I tell them I have a 16 year old daughter and twin eight year old girls.

What is the last book you read?

The Sentry by Robert Crais. Love the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike characters! The series is fast and fun.

Last year's edition of the Zappos Culture Book.

We’re at it again! For last year’s 2011 Zappos.com Culture Book, we asked our customers, employees and partners to submit their photos…a way of getting unique perspectives of the world through different lenses.

This year, we want everyone’s photos to add to the 2012 Culture Book. Here are some of the requirements for the photos:

Good:

What you think of when you hear “Zappos”

-Your favorite Zappos item

-Something fun and a little weird

-Something that makes you smile

-Something you’re passionate about

-Your interpretation of one of our core values.

No Good:

-Your dirty laundry :)

-Anything inappropriate

-Anything excessively photo-edited or Photoshopped.

Feel free to add informative titles, descriptions, your name and where you took the picture (in the email, not on the picture). If you’re submitting a photo, you’re giving us the right to use it in our book and you’re verifying that it’s your original photo (and not someone else’s).

Specs:

-The higher the resolution, the better!

-JPG format only.

-300 dpi 5” x 7” or higher.

-1200 × 1600 pixels minimum.

-You must own the full copyright.

-No trademarks (e.g. logos, brands, entities with copyright or trademarked).

Please send your images and questions to: cbphotos@zappos.com by Friday, June 15th!

While it’s true that Hurley has some pretty awesome boardshorts, all you  creative types will most definitely enjoy the freedom of customizing your very own boardshorts with the Hurley Phantom* Create.

The good folks at Hurley challenged us at Zappos HQ to flex our design muscles with the Phantom Faceoff Contest. Click HERE to vote for your favorite pair! The two styles with the most “likes” will be created and given to the lucky (and talented) Zappos employees who designed them.

* Hurley’s Phantom boardshorts have been named “Boardshort of the Year” by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) the past four years in a row!

For this edition of On the Spot, we approached two stylish Zapponians: Melissa, who loves to look classic and put together, and Derek whose fresh, streetwear-inspired style is always on point.

Zapponians take their outdoor fun seriously…as you can see from our latest employee photo shoot! From hiking, cycling, swimming and trail running, we love getting out there and enjoying what Mother Nature has to offer.

We asked our four outdoor enthusiasts (and home page models of the week) some questions to get to know them a little bit more:

What’s your favorite outdoor activity to do on the weekends?

I: I love to play soccer on my days off or pretty much any day! I just recently got into cylcing which is very intense.

What three songs are always on rotation in your playlist when you’re out and about?

I:  “Let it Go”-Calvin Harris feat Ne Yo, “Heartbeat” -Childish Gambino, and “Levels”- Avicci 

Finish this sentence: “If I was in the show “Survivor”, I would have the strongest chance of winning because ________”

I: I am very funny and tall.

What three things are on your wishlist for all those outdoor activities?

I: Brooks Pureflow, Adidas Outdoor Terrex Hiking Shoes and Osprey Ariel 75 Backpack

What’s your favorite outdoor activity to do on the weekends?

J: Speeding down the roads on my TT Bike! 

What three songs are always on rotation in your playlist when you’re out and about?

J:  Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson; need I say more??? 

Finish this sentence: “If I was in the show “Survivor”, I would have the strongest chance of winning because ________”

J: I am SUPER competitive! 

What three things are on your wishlist for all those outdoor activities?

J: Columbia Roamin’ Right™ Knit Dress, Patagonia All Weather Dress, and CEP Allsports Sleeve

What’s your favorite outdoor activity to do on the weekends?

D: When the wind isn’t acting up, I LOVE to golf!!!

What three songs are always on rotation in your playlist when you’re out and about?

D: “The Motto” - Drake, “Public Service Announcement” -Jay-Z, “On to the Next One” - Jay-Z 

Finish this sentence: “If I was in the show “Survivor”, I would have the strongest chance of winning because ________”

D: I’m an Ex-Navy Seal! Seal Team 6, Whoo Rah!!! 

What three things are on your wishlist for all those outdoor activities?

D: The North Face Men’s Nimble Jacket, Nike Sunset Volley Boardshorts, and Nike Just Do It Swoosh Tee

What’s your favorite outdoor activity to do on the weekends?

C: Hiking in the mountains. 

What three songs are always on rotation in your playlist when you’re out and about?

C: I actually prefer not to listen to any music when I’m outdoors. Rare quiet time for myself and makes it easier to connect with your hiking buddies and random strangers you run into on the trail!

Finish this sentence: “If I was in the show “Survivor”, I would have the strongest chance of winning because ________”

C: I’ll research and be prepared (I do analytics for living…) 

What three things are on your wishlist for all those outdoor activities?

C: Suunto Vector, MSR Lightnight Axis Snow Shoes, Lowa Renegade GTX

In honor the annual “One Day Without Shoes” event, A few Zapponians spent April 10^th barefoot around the office. By going a day without shoes, we join people around the world in taking a stand for the millions of children who have to live with this reality—one that leaves them susceptible to diseases and injury every single day.

Visit onedaywithoutshoes.com to learn more!

Zappos employees ham it up during our Mother's Day Picks photoshoot.

Mom definitely deserves more than just one day out of the year in her honor; all those sleepless nights, all the lunches she’s packed for us over the years, and the countless rides to soccer games and the mall—we think she’s better than any superhero!

However, since there’s only one designated Mother’s Day, it’s your chance to really make it count. Show her your appreciation with thoughtful gifts she won’t have to fake enthusiasm for!

We asked this week’s Zappos employee “models” about their own moms (and wife) and their gift picks for her. To get a real mom’s perspective, we also threw in Sunshine who is a mom of two.

Cheers to all you moms out there! We love you!

What was the best/craziest/most creative gift you have ever given your mom for Mother’s Day?

T: I surprised her with a huge bouquet of tulips last year. I'm bad about forgetting holidays, so she was genuinely shocked that I remembered! 

What is your fondest, most cherished memory of your mom?

T: I had a lot of hearing problems when I was a kid, and I remember her putting her hands over my ears and praying for me every day. 

What three words best describe her as a mom?

T: Affectionate, self-sacrificing, and fun! 

What three things are currently on your Mother’s Day gift list?

T:  Essie 6 Piece Mega Mini Color Cube in Winter , Dooney & Bourke Lambskin Collection O-Ring Shopper , UGG Coquette

What was the best/craziest/most creative gift you have ever given your mom for Mother’s Day?

D: Five years ago my brother, dad, and myself bought my mom a Jack Russell Terrier puppy for Mother’s Day. His name is Rusty.

What is your fondest, most cherished memory of your mom?

D: Going to the mountains with her.

What three words best describe her as a mom?

D: Loving, Cheerful, Humble 

What three things are currently on your Mother’s Day gift list?

D: Keen Coronado sandals,  LeSportsac Cosmetic Bag Combo , Lucky Brand Garden Stack Ring Set

What was the best/craziest/most creative gift you (or your kids) have ever given your wife for Mother’s Day?

S: The gift of making her a mother! 

It’s Mother’s Day morning—what is the first thing you and the kids do to greet mom for her special day?

S: Hugs and kisses.  

 What three words best describe her as a mom?

S: Best Mom Ever.

What three things are currently on your Mother’s Day gift list?

S: Volcom All Day Long Creedlers Sandals, Michael Kors MK5038 Watch, Michael Kors MK5216 Watch

What was the best/craziest/most creative gift your kids have ever given you for Mother’s Day?

S:  They always make me breakfast in bed. It's fun to listen to them "cooking" downstairs while they think I'm still sleeping. One year I got to eat soggy Cherrios, gummy worms and a Diet Coke.

Describe each of your kids in three words (each):

S:  Scarlett: Independent, willful, wise. Zack: Empathetic, funny, lovable.  

What is your favorite thing about being a mom?

S: They give me purpose. Everything I do is for them.  

What three things are currently on your Mother’s Day wish list? (Kids, pay attention!):

S: Kitchenaid 5-Quart Artisan Design Series Stand Mixer, Fossil Flight Chronograph Watch , Ray-Ban New Wayfarer

Check out our Gifts page for more gifts ideas for mom!

Walking around Zappos HQ and seeing all these well-dressed Zapponians gave us the idea for  On The Spot, a new video series where we literally put employees on the spot about what they’re wearing and some of their style must-haves.

For our first episode, we are putting the always-edgy Jarett and always-classy Beverly on the spot. Enjoy!