Last November, the outdoor recreation and sporting goods retailer REI did something rather unheard of. On Black Friday, they closed all of their stores and paid their 12,000 employees to spend time outside. They dubbed this campaign #OptOutside, and they encouraged everyone else to join them in the great outdoors instead of at the shopping mall. What a refreshing idea!
This year I’m thrilled to report that REI has partnered with Subaru, and together they are inviting dog lovers to #OptOutside with their pups this Friday. I simply cannot think of a better way to spend a day than being outside enjoying nature with my best friend—my basset hound—so I’m all for this. If you need help deciding what to do with your pup, check out REI’s list of dog-friendly activities.
To make this campaign even better, if you post a photo of you and your doggie out in nature with the hashtags #OptOutside and #MakeADogsDay, Subaru will make a donation to the ASPCA.
The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was established 150 years ago, making it the oldest humane society in the United States. As the President & CEO of the ASPCA Matthew Bershadker said, their “focus is to get pets out of shelters and keep them in homes, while increasing the protections of animals under the law. We are helping to shape a society that continuously improves the lives of animals.”
True to their motto—“We are their voice”—the ASPCA strives to make lives better for animals in a variety of ways. They work with the government to enact and enforce animal protection laws, perform spay/neuter operations across the country, run an adoption centre in NYC, transport animals to shelters, save animals from horrible conditions, and much, much more. Working to protect those who have no voice is a noble mission indeed.
I truly hope that everyone will venture outdoors with their dogs this Friday to pause and enjoy the beauty of nature. If you do, don’t forget to post a photo on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook using the #OptOutside and #MakeADogsDay hashtags to help raise money for the ASPCA! Additionally, if you want to give more to the animals, you can always donate to the ASPCA in honour of a loved one or host a Holiday Campaign.
As the weather cools down, there’s nothing quite like curling up with a book under a warm, fluffy blanket—especially if the blanket is as glorious as this super chunky knit blanket! Made from 100% Australian Merino sheep wool, this blanket would keep you cozy and warm even during the middle of winter. Available in a variety of colours, including strawberry [shown below], mint, grey, lilac, and more.
If you love the movie, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, then I’m sure you’ll be as excited as I was to learn about this musical production! Max the dog, Cindy Lou Who, and the green man himself will be on stage delivering a heartwarming performance the whole family will enjoy.
The talented troupe of Whos brings Dr. Seuss’ classic holiday tale to life with joyous music. Amidst the lineup of merry tunes, you can expect to hear some favorites, such as “Welcome Christmas” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” This grand production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas will leave you filled with the Christmas spirit! Here’s a little taste of what you’ll see:
To catch a show near you, take a peek at the list below. And, if you live near Nashville, TN, you’re in luck because the musical will be performing at Opryland all season long!
National Theatre
December 13–31
For tickets and information, click here.
Can’t attend a local show, but want to experience the magic of the musical? Get the Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical soundtrack on iTunes or Amazon.
Advent season is almost upon us, and what better way to count down the days ‘til Christmas than with this lovely advent calendar? I love the charming cross stitch pattern on all the boxes—the hearts and snowflake patterns are my favorite! This calendar is a digital download, so you can print it from the comfort of your own home. If this Scandinavian style doesn’t strike your fancy, I’m sure one of these calendars will: penguins & igloos, Christmas cottages, gnomes, or stars.
In a little more than a month, Santa will be making his annual trip around the world. This is a particularly busy time of year here at northpole.com, and I’m sure all of you are working on your Christmas preparations as well. I do hope that you and your family will come visit us here regularly during the holiday season. Besides all of the great stuff elsewhere on the site [such as the tasty recipes, awesome crafts, and letters to Santa], we will be bringing you fun, festive content here on the Elf Blog every single day between now and Christmas.
If you are wondering where Raymond the reindeer travelled to this year, love holiday events, or simply need a daily dose of Christmas joy, the Elf Blog has you covered. All of us elves look forward to spending the holiday season with you and yours!
