On April 24^th, Zappos hosted its second annual Earth Day Event in our Henderson HQ! We had 17 new and returning vendors join the Zappos LEAF Team in creating an awesome event to highlight how easy it is to go green.

Over 450 Zapponians hung out with us, enjoyed the sunshine, and learned about sustainable initiatives. Similar to last year, our metric for success is to teach each Zapponian at least one new eco-habit that makes a difference. Whether it is to use a reusable shopping bag or to buy brands that utilize recycled materials, every little habit or lifestyle change helps keep our planet a wonderful place to live.

We had all sorts of educational activities and giveaways for our employees. Our favorite: Repurpose America brought a giant earth mural painted by a local artist and hundreds of Zapponians used paint pens to leave messages of support for the planet by signing the canvas. The mural will be hung up inside the new downtown Zappos campus for all to see.

Special thanks to all of our friends who participated this year. Giant high fives to Zappos’ own DJ Ultra for bringing the beats and to our awesome Bistro team for grilling corn on the cob. We’ll see you next year at our 3^rd Earth Day party in downtown Vegas!

A Big "Thank You" goes out to these very special friends who made this Earth Day event possible:

Keen

prAna

Klean Kanteen

ChicoBags

EcoLUNCHBoxes

Whole Foods

Republic Services

Vegas Roots

Springs Preserve

Sierra Nevada

Vessel

BottleHood

Friends of Nevada Wilderness

A1 Organics

Repurpose America

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC)

EnergyFit Nevada

Check out more awesome news from LEAF on Twitter: @ZapposLEAF and on Instagram: #zappos_leaf

It may be hard to believe with all these winter storms across the country lately, but spring is just in the horizon! With that comes a time of renewal and fresh starts.

Why not make hiking a part of your new springtime outdoor routine? Not only is it great exercise for the body, but getting out there and reconnecting with Mother Nature can do wonders for your mood--lifting your spirits out of that winter slump.

Below are just a few hiking essentials to get you geared up and on your way! For even more hiking goodies, check out our outdoor shop!

Men's: 1. Prana Talon Mock Neck , 2. CamelBak Classic 70 oz. Hydration Pack, 3. Keen Olympus Lite Crew Socks, 4. Columbia Silver Ridge™ Converible Pants, 5. Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket, 6. Keen Newport H2

Women's: 7. Under Armour Shadow Cap, 8. Chaco ZX/2 Yampa Hiking Sandals, 9. adidas Outdoor Hiking Softshell Jacket, 10. Teva Sky Lake Hiking Shoes, 11. Patagonia Emmilen Hoodie, 12. Outdoor Research Ferrosi Capri

As part of LEAF’s initiative to make Zappos a more environmentally friendly workplace, we hosted an Earth Day event for our employees on Tuesday, April 17th. We asked several local and non-local vendors to participate by spreading awareness about how easy and fun it is to become eco-friendly, and wow, did our vendors surely step up to the plate! Earth Day was such a success that we’ve decided to make this an annual event with the goal to make each year even better than the previous!

When we first reached out to our vendors, their responses were overwhelming! They were thrilled to hear the Zappos was starting its journey to become environmentally friendly, and they were even more excited to be a part of it. The vendors that attended our event included: KEEN, prAna, Patagonia, Whole Foods, Vegas Roots Community Gardens, Lunas Recycling, Sierra Nevada, BottleHood, Springs Preserve, Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Southwest Gas, and RTC.

prAna did something special for all Zappos employees that deserves a special shout out. Not only did they showcase their use of sustainable materials in their products, demonstrated how they’ve eliminated poly bags in their warehouse, and discussed their initiatives with clean energy; they surprised us by offsetting all of our Las Vegas employees’ carbon emissions! This means that 1,300 of us will be carbon neutral for the entire month of April!* Thank you prAna for caring so much about the environment and truly WOWing all of us!

Not all of our Earth Day vendors could make a physical appearance at Zappos HQ. However, they still showed their support for our event and sent out information about their eco-friendly products and sustainable initiatives, prizes for us to raffle off, and even coupons specifically made for our employees. These vendors included: ChicoBags, EcoLunchBoxes, Klean Kanteen, Semilla, People Towels, Vessel Drinkware, and Haiku Bags. 

One of our goals for our first annual Zappos Earth Day was to promote an eco-friendly change in the daily habits of at least one employee. With the help of our vendors that provided and demonstrated eco-friendly options and initiatives to our employees, I believe the event successfully achieved its goal! The immense turnout of curious Zappos employees also helped promote more green awareness. We really could not have pulled this event off without the help of all of our amazing vendors –THANK YOU!

That being said, it is my personal goal to make next year’s Zappos Earth Day even more successful!

*1,300 individual offsets would be the same as 117 cars removed from the road for a year, or carbon sequestered by 128 acres of trees, or removing the harmful effects from extracting 1392 barrels of oil.

This Sunday, the world celebrates Earth Day, a time to renew our commitment to protecting our planet’s natural resources and the environment.

As an ode to Mother Nature, we want to share just some of our favorite Earth-friendly picks. Made of sustainable, recycled or organic materials, these products are a step in the right direction to being more environmentally conscious—and that’s always a beautiful thing!

1. Volcom V.Co Meadow Tank Dress, 2. Patagonia Summertime Dress, 3. The North Face Papenoo Woven Top, 4.Marmot Women's Pop Tee, 5. Patagonia Three Trees Shirt, 6. Keen BrooklynII Travel Bag, 7. NVEY Eco Lip Color , 8. Timberland Earthkeepers Katama Strappy Sandals , 8. Timberland Earthkeepers Hookset Chukka

Here at Zappos HQ, we have a group of eco-minded employees who banded together to form L.E.A.F (Leading Environmental Awareness for the Future) , a group committed to making Zappos a more environmentally-conscious company. To learn more about L.E.A.F. and their eco-focused efforts year round, click HERE.

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!

Since my team and I are off to Costa Rica once again for our Spring 2012 style shoots, I thought it was only fitting to start off the year’s first Style Destination post with where else—Costa Rica!

With its lush, green landscape and gorgeous coastline, Costa Rica is definitely a tropical playground. Being comfy and cool is top priority when packing for any tropical destination. Here are a few of my essentials for this trip:

1. Goorin Brothers Malibu Hat: Humidity and hair just don’t mix. This lightweight fedora is a must for easy, fuss-free hair!

2. Reef Butter 3 Flip Flops: I love how cushy and comfy these sandals are! They’re perfect for walking along the beach or sightseeing around town.

3. Ella Moss Rhapsody Cover Up Hooded Poncho: A sheer coverup is perfect for throwing on while you enjoy a little poolside cocktail!

4. The North Face Women’s Horizon Tempest Pant: A pair of lightweight and breathable roll-up pants is perfect for those sudden downpours.

5. Oakley Dispatch II Polarized: These oversized shades keep the glare away while looking totally glam.

6. Keen Whisper Sandals: We do a ton of walking around in different terrain during our shoots, and these durable waterproof sandals are a lifesaver.

7. Gabriella Rocha Alika Bikini Set: An adjustable bikini doubles as a great layering piece underneath those slinky tank tops and summer dresses. I like to bring a few during my trips!

We recently did a photo shoot right here in our own backyard; well, Nelson, NV to be exact, less than an hour away from Zappos HQ. There’s an awesome ghost town out there, and it made for a really cool backdrop to this fall shoot.

Check out some of our favorite shots (Click on the photos to shop these looks!):

Classic Man

Trendster

Casual Cool

Outdoor Style

GIRLS: 1. Roxy Cedar Boots, 2. EMU Australia Kids Dama Boots, 3. Columbia Heather Canyon Boots, 4. Sorel Kids Tofini Boots

BOYS: 1. EMU Australia Kids Little Creatures Boots, 2. Timberland Kids Earthkeepers Grafton Hill Boots, 3. UGG Kids Bobbey Boots, 4. Keen Kids Kootenay Boots

As snug as a bug in a rug. That’s how cozy your little ones’ feet will be when they slip into one of our favorite kids’ fall/winter boots! Lined in warm shearling or faux fur, these adorable boots are perfect for frolicking on fall leaves or running around in the playground.