Some people don’t always think of hand balms as an essential in climbing equipment. But I think we can all agree that our hands are definitely one of the most important tools we regularly depend on while on the wall. Needless to say, taking care of our hands is vital to do the thing we love, so doesn’t it make sense to treat our hands only with the very best?
I have tried hand balms far and wide, attempting to get rid of eczema, heal cuts and prevent callouses from ripping open at the crag. Whether you climb on quartzite or granite, gripping the wall is no easy task for our palms and fingers, not to even mention the impact that chalk can have on nail beds. Luckily, before I even got out to Joshua Tree, on some harder, rougher rock, I found Giddy’s Hard Lotion & Healing Salve. I’m a lavender kind of lady, so of course, I went right for the purple-covered tin.
At first, I was tentative to rely on such a strange-looking hockey puck of wax to save my hands from the destructions that come with climbing. But it smelled fantastic, was easy to use and small to store. I had friends, fellow climbers, who would ask me about my newest habit of rolling around the puck in my palms a few times before leaving the crag or the gym. They’d try out the hand salve too, and be pretty excited about the awesome smell and how quickly the lotiony feel absorbed into the hands, not really leaving too much of a sticky residue. But it wasn’t until I was climbing out on a brisk fall day that I realize the hand salve’s greatest quality.
After crack climbing all day, my feet were beat up. The tops of my curling toes were starting to rash over and my heels were near cracking. The idea occurred to me that if the salve works on your hands, why not your feet too? Following a quick rub down on each of my barking dogs, they immediately started to feel better. Walking back to the car was a breeze because of how the salve had loosed up my skin and prevented any further rubbing on the tops of my toes and cuticles.
Later that week, my adventures took me to climb in Joshua Tree, where the rock and every plant in sight is just out to hurt you. Three long days of climbing later, my legs, elbows, wrists and hands were scraped raw from all the jams and off widths. In order to stop the burning I felt on my skin, I grabbed right for Lavender Healing Salve. I brushed the wax across the top of my many cuts and vio-la, good to go. The waxy finish of the hard lotion helps keeps irritating wing from making open scrapes burn more. Since the salves have all natural ingredients, there were no chemicals to further make my skin sting. The silky soothing attributes of the lotion were painless to rub on and then did wonders keeping dirt out of my open wounds.
Speaking of all natural ingredients, this not only helps you use safer, more body-friendly products, but this also impacts the environment in which we love to climb. Obviously we know that excess littering is hurting the world around us. It’s rare that we think of the amount that we touch things in our environment also impacts the surrounding ecosystems. Every time we chalk up and stick our hands back on the rock, we leave remnants of that chalk for the plants and animals native to that ecosystem to learn to deal with this newfound invasion of white dust. In the same way, every time that we lotion our hands, that substance transfers to the walls we thrutch on. Think about the amount of times that you’ve slid off a sloper or crimp; we lose a layer skin and a layer of whatever lotion and chalk every time that happens, and it stays there on the rock. When an animal comes along, that left behind layer can hurt it. But since Giddy’s products, including their hand salve, are all natural, it is very unlikely that it will hurt any organisms that also use the same rocks we climb on. This is extremely important because if we don’t take care of the environment around us, we could lose the beautiful landscapes in which we love to climb.
That being said, Giddy’s hand salve would be a good addition to your climbing gear repertoire. The lotion is good for your skin, good for the environment and has so many different uses. Take Giddy good of your skin; it makes it all the easier to be awesome.
]]>Plant Plants
Start with plants not seeds. Find a local nursery. Here in San Diego, I go to Hunter’s Nursery in Lemon Grove. There are lots of local nurseries that need your support to survive. The closer the nursery is to your house or apartment the better, because the move will be less stressful for the plant. Local nurseries often have very helpful plant experts, who love the plants and want you to be successful.
Go Easy
Pick the easiest plants to grow: Hybrid Tomatoes, Zucchini, Swiss Chard, Kale, Lettuce, Cilantro, Parsley. Your area may be great for growing something else. Your local nursey expert will know what plants grow well near you. Choose hybrid tomatoes as they are the easiest to grow and are resistant to common tomato diseases. Tomato plants need a wire cage to keep them growing upright unless you have the room for them to sprawl.
Bag It Up
Use grow bags to ensure you’ve got great dirt. Plants need great soil and it needs to be conditioned every year to replenish the nutrients that the plants remove. You can leap ahead with little effort if you use grow bags filled with fresh vegetable potting mix. This also minimizes the chance of growing a patch of weeds. You shouldn’t need to worry about buying any fertilizer when you start with a good potting mix. What’s grow bag? It can be planting bag that you buy specifically for growing or it can be a reusable fabric shopping bag. My mom uses the blue ones from Walmart for her garden. This way of container gardening is perfect for patios, balconies, or small yards.
Let the Sun Shine In
Place your bags in a sunny spot. The sugar in vegetables needs the warmth of the sun to develop. If you’re in a very warm climate you may need a spot that gives your plants a little bit of shade. Most of my garden is planted on the North side of a fence – this gives my plants some shade at the hottest time of day.
Water, but don’t drown
Plants like to be watered regularly, but not sit in water. Plant roots need to breathe, which is why so many plant labels say the plant needs “well drained soil.” The easiest way to ensure your plants are getting watered every day in the hot months is to set up a soaker hose on a timer. That way the watering is automated and you’re free to take off every weekend without coming home to wilted plants. Watering timers are pretty cheap and are very easy to attach to an outside faucet. Ten minutes a day is usually enough, but watering time will vary based on your climate.
Eat Your Harvest
Tomato and Zucchini plants are prolific producers. You can harvest leaves from the bottom of your Kale and Swiss Chard and let the plant keep growing. With very little investment and effort you should have more than you can eat. I give a lot of vegetables away to friends. But we also have a large dehydrator, which I use to preserve about half of our harvest. Vegetables rehydrate well on the trail and are a heck of a lot cheaper than buying already dehydrated. In a month as so I’ll post about basic dehydrating – without buying a dehydrator.
Good luck with your garden. We can’t wait to see pictures of your harvest. Tag us (@giddyheals) or use #giddygardens when posting on Instagram.
]]>This might be the hardest part about climbing outside. Whether you go sport climbing (where the walls are bolted), outdoor top rope climbing (where the rope hangs from above on a fixed anchor or a natural anchor) or trad climbing (where you place gear in order to protect yourself as you climb), you need equipment. This can get expensive. Finding friends who already have the gear can be your foot in the door of the outdoor climbing world. This minimizes having to teach yourself how all the gear works, having to invest all at once in your own rack (set of gear) or having to take on the outdoors alone. Which brings me to the most important part about going with someone experienced - it reduces the risk of injury. Climbing buddies are invaluable. With someone experienced, he or she should know how to climb outdoors safely and will be able to teach you, belay you and have your back in case anything were to happen. If you’re terrible with maps like I am, a climbing buddy can be helpful with this too.
Aside from showing up to the crag (outdoor climbing area) with a pair of your own climbing shoes, a safe climbing harness and maybe some chalk and carabiners, getting to the base of the wall also requires some gear of its own, mainly footwear. I tried to hike and approach in tennis shoes only once before I realized that hiking boots were a necessity. Sometimes you get lucky and the climbing area will have nice paths, but more likely than not, hiking shoes are a safe bet. When you aren’t climbing and you’re belaying instead, it is nice to not have to stand around in your toe-crunching climbing shoes. I always bring along some strappy sandals so wear among the talus or duff so that my feet don’t get too sore. I used to wear Birkenstocks and just normal flip-flops while waiting around, but I found that they slip off and cause more problems than being barefoot. I switched to some strappy sandals, like Tevas or Chacos, in order to keep my feet safer, and so far, they work like a charm.
I have a few friends who show up to climb with tupperware boxes of chicken and bags of fried rice. To me, this seems like overkill. When I am out at the crag, I survive by strictly snacks and water. This way, you avoid tupperware leaks, overstuffing or getting hungry later on when your big meal is all gone. Instead, I graze all day. I also make sure to bring a balanced array of snacks. Granola bars made of whole grain ingredients, fruit, nuts, jerky and even some type of kale chips allow me to have lots of energy, lots of food and still get all my nutrients and protein throughout the day. I usually bring three or four bottles of water (Reusable ones! Go green!) just to make sure I stay hydrated all day. Before I even hit the trails, I drink an entire bottle of water, too. Taking care of my body is important, especially when I have to rely on my body to be able to climb.
Believe it or not, your life depends on knowing how to tie knots when you’re climbing. Even if you go with someone else to climb outside, being able to check your knot and his or her knot before anyone climbs is important. The figure eight knot, which is what you tie yourself to the rope on the wall with, is easy to learn but also easy to mess up. When you climb, ask your partner to look at your knot before you start going up, just in case it got messed up. If you plan to rappel, also double check that you have overhand knots or barrel knots on the bottom of each end of the rope. This assures that if for some reason the ropes are uneven or not touching the ground, you do not accidentally rappel off the rope and fall. We are all only humans, and humans make mistakes. By checking each other’s gear and knots before each climb, we can hopefully reduce the amount of accidents, especially involving first-time outdoors climbers.
It is really easy to look at climbing outdoors as a vacation, but it should be looked at a little bit more like a trip. What I mean is that research will help you get the most out of your time at the crag. Most climbing areas have guide books. Borrowing one from a friend, your local climbing gym or investing in one yourself are all not bad ideas. Spend some time looking through it before you even leave for your trip. Decide what areas you want to spend time at, which climbs are worth doing and what gear you’ll need to do each climb. Have a backup plan ready if the inevitable group of 15 boy scouts is posted up at your first choice area. Mountain Project is also a good resource. It is online, it has an app, it is designed and compiled by a bunch of real world climbers and it is free. Needless to say, this site has boundless amounts of information, from what kind of nuts to use while building a top rope on a route to where to park your car and get the easiest approach to a crag. There are maps and photos of the routes, too. Download these before you leave to climb in case you lose service. Believe me, it may sound like homework, but the effort you put in beforehand will save you a lot of time, confusion and frustration later on at the crag.
Yup, this is the reminder that nature does not have bathrooms. So just like your mother might remind you, try to use the facilities in the parking lot or at a restaurant or gas station before you hit the trails. When nature calls when you’re out in the wilderness, bring some wet wipes (they come in clutch). Some people think that bringing a roll of toilet paper to the crag, but this can cause more problems than solutions. The second that your roll of TP gets wet, the whole thing is ruined and just a mushy gob of flaky white uselessness. If you do plan to use wipes, bring a little baggy to carry out whatever you carry in. Before you take care of your business, dig a quick hole so that you can cover up whatever you leave behind. Whatever you leave needs to be at least 6 inches below the surface. This prevents animals from eating it later on and getting sick. Peeing under an overhang might seem like a good idea because of the privacy but rain can’t wash it away. This can hurt the environment and also just end up really stinking later on. Avoid peeing on living plants, too, because the chemicals can harm them as well.
]]>Rock climbing and sore hands seem to go hand-in-hand with one another – no pun intended. While the excitement of climbing is well worth the dry palms, rough calluses, short nails and shredded cuticles, it doesn’t have to be a painful experience, nor should it be. That’s also not to mention that the pain of dry, scuffed up hands can make climbing a difficult task – and maybe even an exasperating one. So, don’t let the gashes, cracks, scrapes, blisters and flappers get you down – literally. Here are four tips all professional and non-professional rock climbers should follow to repair skin and climb safer, higher, stronger and longer.
Skin is one of the most important parts of your body when it comes to rock climbing – especially the skin on your hands. The Runnerup of the 2010 Ouray Ice Climbing Competition, Sam Elias told OutsideOnline.com, “When your skin is good, you don’t feel like you’re slipping as much. And more than anything, you can bear down on really small, sharp holds without pain taking your mind away and keeping you from trying as hard as you want to.” So get a better grip with our cool mint organic climbers salve, and get great skin that is just as strong and tough.
A lot of people (non-climbers) use hand balm to add moisturize and softness into their skin, but it’s different for rock climbers. Moisture can actually disrupt the friction required to climb, and “regular” hand balms tend to make the skin softer, making it easier for the skin to rip or scrape. In other words, the benefits people get from regular hand lotions are cons for climbers. Instead, you need a GIDDY hard lotion to keep your skin dried out and moisture-free – in a healthy way, of course. The lavender scent is also amazing.
Just because your best climbing buddy is using one kind of hard lotion doesn’t mean that it will work as amazingly for you. Skin conditions vary per person, and as a climber, you need to find a climbers salve that is specific to your skin type. You may have fairly dry and tough skin to begin with, and won’t need a strong hand balm like a climber with soft, moisturized skin would. So, before you head on over to GIDDY to purchase some hard lotion, think about your individual skin.
The last thing you’re doing (and thinking about) when climbing up a cliff with nothing but your hands and feet holding you up is staying clean. Fortunately, this rock-climbing tip is for before and after your climb. You never want any dirt, dust or grit getting into your scrapes, cuts and blisters, as this can cause severe irritation and possibly even infection. So, you have to keep your hands as clean as possible. As a rule of thumb, simply give yourself a good wash after your climb. Afterwards, apply some GIDDY Healing Salve to let your outer skin re-moisturize while keeping your skin tough for the next adventure.
Your grip has to be strong enough to endure the continuous holds of rock climbing, and damaged skin and sore hands can really jeopardize this while also sacrificing your climbing progress. Repair skin and prevail as a climber with the climbers salve and other hard lotions available at Get Giddy. Shop today and get higher.
]]>
Spring is here and with it comes the sun! Soon, it will be Summer and with it comes more sun! The sun is incredible – it’s what powers the earth and gives us life and light. However, the sun has its drawbacks. The most obvious drawback is that sunrays can cause skin cancer. More minor drawbacks are that overexposure to sun rays can temporarily burn your skin and cause premature aging over the course of your life.
With that said, you need to protect your skin!
I struggled for years to find the right sun protection. Most sunblocks break me out and/or are made from dangerous chemicals. As I started developing my own skin care products, I found a wide variety of natural oils that have (natural) UV and sunray protection.
I’ve read a ton of medical journals (and some of these oils have better scientific evidence than others) – however, this is a pretty good list if you're not into reading science essays. Before you shrug this article off and say, “Yeah right, why have I never heard of this?” Without going on a political rant, I’ll say there is one major reason you’ve never been told whether or not, for instance, Coconut Oil has natural SPF in it. These natural oils are not recognized by the FDA as being protective against sun rays (which makes it really hard for companies to market their benefits). Couple that with the expense of the ingredients and you’ll see why these types of recipes don’t have the power of billions of dollars in marketing working behind them to help gain awareness.
Well I have a solution! I made a great sunblock that is simple enough to make at home. I’ve been making it for years, but, needless to say, I can’t sell this product. Even if Giddy wanted to deal with FDA testing, the cost of oversight would ruin the simplicity of this recipe. I want to add; I am not a doctor so you may want to consult with a doctor before adding this to your skin care regimen.
However, without further adieu, here is the incredible and all natural sunblock I have been using/making for years:
What You’ll Need:
The Ingredients:
Optional:
Directions:
1) Microwave the Shea Butter in the Glass Measuring Cup on 30 second intervals until completely melted.
2) Mix in the Avocado Oil, Red Raspberry Seed Oil, & Tapioca Starch into the melted Shea Butter and heat for another 30 seconds.
3) Add in the optional ingredients and let cool completely.
4) Once dried completely, transfer to glass serving bowl and whip using the egg beater (could change color of recipe during egg beating, this is normal).
5) Transfer to tins/glass containers.
]]>Rock Climbing Balm, Hand Repair Balm, Healing Salve - mailed out monthly!
Or add our lip balms or body scrubs!
We understand that it can be a hassle to go online each month on repeat and buy Giddy products or having to stock up in advance and sacrifice the freshness of our small batch hand made products! So, from now on, you can subscribe to receive any of our skin care products every 30, 60, or 90 days. Want the larger balms? Just click the drop down! Want to add lip balms? Simply include both in your cart to take advantage of bulk shipping. What's best? You save money in the process! You're getting more for less and it's cheaper!
What more could you ask for? You're welcome in advance!
]]>My boyfriend and I have wanted a camper van for about a year now. It started as just a dream, but then quickly became more and more attainable. My boyfriend, Derek, spent a great deal of time looking for camper vans on Craigslist and Sportsmobile.com. If you’ve never heard of them before, Sportsmobile is the company that outfits vans and trucks into campers.
Eventually, we found a Sportsmobile dodge van for sale by owner in Austin, but their asking price was a little bit out of our price range… by about $4,000. As we were thinking it over, Derek found a very similar Sportsmobile for sale up in Truckee, California, near Lake Tahoe for only $4k.
We FaceTimed the owner, checked out the van virtually, and decided to fly up and buy it. At the time, I was still working full-time at my previous job that pretty much never allowed vacation, so I was unable to go with Derek to retrieve the van.
The Problems
The Remodel
And so, the remodel began. We took the van to a mechanic to get a quote on the gas gauge and gear shift problems, but those are evidently time and labor-intensive problems that cost way more than they’re worth. So instead, we record our miles and count the gears as we shift.
We got a new muffler, new tires, new brakes, new rear batteries, new speakers, new door pull straps, LED light bulbs, and fixed the front end steering, and then I began working on the interior of the van.
My mom used to be a seamstress, and she taught me how to sew when I was younger, so I was SUPER excited to reupholster the inside of the van. The majority of it is just ripping off disgusting fabric and stapling nicer fabric onto the pieces, but the couch was a bit more complicated. I decided on a dark grey and lime green color scheme – because lime green is my favorite – and I went on down to Hancock Fabrics to find the best material.
I found a really durable outdoor furniture fabric on sale in neon green and bought the whole bolt of that at about $9/yard. I think the couch required about 4 yards, and the bed (which I covered in royal blue) was about 2 yards. The couch required a few extra steps like making fabric buttons, deep buttoning, and sewing a zipper onto the bottom of one piece, but it all came together very nicely.
Then, our next step was to paint the cabinets. Sadly, we forgot to sand down the surfaces, thinking that the primer + paint would be sufficient, but it wasn’t. So, we’ll likely be repainting the cabinets at some point… when it’s not sweltering outside. We painted the cabinets with the carpet still in, and then ripped the carpet out to make way for vinyl wood flooring.
Once we ripped out the carpet and the padding, we sanded the OSB board (the sub floor) down and primed it with latex-based floor primer. Then, we laid some 2mm-thick peel-and-stick vinyl wood planks along the floor. They were only $0.99 per plank, and we used about 45 planks total. We were able to cut the planks very easily with a box cutter and a putty knife, so placing them around corners was pretty easy. A couple planks wouldn’t stick down very well in the corners, so we went to the store and bought some flooring glue to re-glue the problem pieces.
The vinyl flooring comes all the way up to the captain seats, but we left the front piece of carpet installed to help reduce the road noise. Our friend Aaron made a nice wooden threshold piece to cover the gap between the vinyl flooring and the carpet up front, and now all we have left for the flooring is to install the molding along the bottom of the cabinets to seal off the floors.
Once we get back to town, we’re making an appointment with the guys at Sportsmobile and having them take a look at all the electrical wiring to make sure everything is connected properly.
We still need to clean out the water tank, replace the exterior water connection, install a carbon monoxide monitor, repaint the cabinets, finish the flooring, and then start looking into fun toys that we might want like a roof rack, rocket box, solar charger, Yeti cooler, and more.
-Aicacia Young
]]>***It's actually 10 Ounces but says 5 ounces!***
Overview:
Get Giddy with Bath Salts! The Giddy Bergamot Tea Tree Bath Salts are uplifting, stimulating, exhilarating! It's an incredibly health wild ride for your skin! It's like getting to try bath salts without having to worry about the crazy come down! Next time you are stressed, or simply need a spa treatment - just treat yourself to Giddy Bath Salts! Your skin is going to be so soft and great smelling - you'll wonder why nobody came up with this concoction sooner! As always, made from naturally sourced ingredients - you're not going to find all the carcinogens and chemicals that you find in other skin care products... I made sure of that when I developed it!
Ingredients:
Epsom Salt
California Sea Salt
Organic Vegetable Glycerin
Organic Bergamot Oil
Organic Tea Tree Oil
Epsom Salt - one of the overlooked wonders of the cosmetic industry, epsom salt is a skin softening miracle ingredient that has been used in skin care products for hundreds of years. The epsom part of it’s name came about after it was discovered in a wide array of springs in Epsom England. However, Epsom “Salt” which is scientifically known as magnesium sulfate is not a salt at all. Instead, it is a naturally occurring mineral that has been proven through extensive studies to pull magnesium and sulfate into your skin cells. Magnesium has a wide range of homeopathic uses from regulating your body’s enzymes, to reducing inflammation and muscle fatigue. Sulfate, on the other hand, have been proven to eradicate certain skin toxins and help absorb nutrients. Together, they pack a powerful 1-2 punch for overall skin health and regenerative improvement.
California Sea Salt - while already popular in high end spa treatments, sea salt is steadily growing popularity in the skincare world. Going back to the times of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Judea - sea salt has been seen as both a beneficial stress reducer as a bath salt and skin exfoliant as a salt scrub. Even, documents from China dating back 4000-5000 years ago show salt extraction methods for trade, culinary, and skin care usage. It’s obvious why it’s so popular! Salt water is the basis of all life! The salt to water ratio in our blood is the same as the ocean so our body’s relationship with salt is nothing short of existential bliss. We use only the highest grade, solar dried, premium grade Pacific Sea Salts in our skin care products!
Organic Vegetable Glycerin - glycerin, a natural byproduct of the soap making process, is known to soften and moisturize skin. By pulling oxygen into skin cells, glycerin also helps to attract and retain moisture. Because glycerin is soluble in both water and alcohol, it’s versatility has allowed it to become one of the most widely used ingredients in skin care products around the world. It is used in shampoos, conditioners, bar soaps, lotions, creams, lip balms, and a wide variety of other skin care formulations.
Organic Bergamot Oil - “What smells so good in this?” That’s what everyone seems to ask once they smell a product with Bergamot! It’s claim to fame is it’s use in Earl Grey Tea which is simply black tea mixed with Bergamot! We’re always delighted to explain that bergamot not only smells amazing (and tastes amazing), but is also one of the most beneficial oils for your skin that is readily available. It’s a natural antibiotic and disinfectant (like many citrus oils) but is also very gentle on your skin and helps with acne-prone and oily skin conditions. Finally, because of it’s ability to regulate your skin’s natural pigment… it also helps to reduce scars and stretch marks.
Organic Tea Tree Oil - tea tree oil, derived from the melaleuca plant, is relatively new to the skin care world after only being discovered for it’s medicinal benefits around 100 years ago. “New schmew” in our opinion! Tea tree oil is growing rapidly in popularity and usage and for good reason! From fighting acne to fighting dandruff, tea tree has more solidified and scientifically backed research supporting the claims of the homeopathic community that even major pharmaceutical companies are perking up to the increasingly widespread usage and efficacy of tea tree oil in products. At this point, it would be tough, if not impossible, to argue what once may have sounded preposterous: “tea tree is a miracle of nature!”
***It's actually 10 Ounces but says 5 ounces!***
Overview:
Get Giddy with Bath Salts! The Giddy Grapefruit Cardamom Bath Salts are uplifting, stimulating, exhilarating! It's an incredibly healthy wild ride for your skin! It's like getting to try bath salts without having to worry about the crazy come down! Next time you are stressed, or simply need a spa treatment - just treat yourself to Giddy Bath Salts! Your skin is going to be so soft and great smelling - you'll wonder why nobody came up with this concoction sooner! As always, made from naturally sourced ingredients - you're not going to find all the carcinogens and chemicals that you find in other skin care products... I made sure of that when I developed it!
Ingredients:
Epsom Salt
California Sea Salt
Organic Vegetable Glycerin
Organic Grapefruit Oil
Organic Cardamom Oil
Epsom Salt - one of the overlooked wonders of the cosmetic industry, epsom salt is a skin softening miracle ingredient that has been used in skin care products for hundreds of years. The epsom part of it’s name came about after it was discovered in a wide array of springs in Epsom England. However, Epsom “Salt” which is scientifically known as magnesium sulfate is not a salt at all. Instead, it is a naturally occurring mineral that has been proven through extensive studies to pull magnesium and sulfate into your skin cells. Magnesium has a wide range of homeopathic uses from regulating your body’s enzymes, to reducing inflammation and muscle fatigue. Sulfate, on the other hand, have been proven to eradicate certain skin toxins and help absorb nutrients. Together, they pack a powerful 1-2 punch for overall skin health and regenerative improvement.
California Sea Salt - while already popular in high end spa treatments, sea salt is steadily growing popularity in the skincare world. Going back to the times of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Judea - sea salt has been seen as both a beneficial stress reducer as a bath salt and skin exfoliant as a salt scrub. Even, documents from China dating back 4000-5000 years ago show salt extraction methods for trade, culinary, and skin care usage. It’s obvious why it’s so popular! Salt water is the basis of all life! The salt to water ratio in our blood is the same as the ocean so our body’s relationship with salt is nothing short of existential bliss. We use only the highest grade, solar dried, premium grade Pacific Sea Salts in our skin care products!
Organic Vegetable Glycerin - glycerin, a natural byproduct of the soap making process, is known to soften and moisturize skin. By pulling oxygen into skin cells, glycerin also helps to attract and retain moisture. Because glycerin is soluble in both water and alcohol, it’s versatility has allowed it to become one of the most widely used ingredients in skin care products around the world. It is used in shampoos, conditioners, bar soaps, lotions, creams, lip balms, and a wide variety of other skin care formulations.
Organic Grapefruit Oil - while grapefruit is obviously loaded with Vitamin C, the bitter tangy scent is widely used for it’s fragrant properties in the cosmetic industry. Grapefruits is red in color due in part to it’s high antioxidant content which helps to fight and prevent aging within skin cells. Furthermore, studies have shown that topical application of grapefruit can help to boost collagen production which further helps to reduce aging by reinforcing your skin’s foundation and reducing wrinkles. Finally, grapefruit oil acts as an excellent toner and astringent which helps to give your skin that tight lifted look!
Organic Cardamom Oil - widely used in curry recipes and Ayurvedic medicine in India, Cardamom has been used for it’s fragrant properties for centuries to help boost the aroma for soaps and skin care products. The more we study this herb that was used primarily for it’s perfumery applications, the more we are beginning to learn various ways the oil can help to relieve pain, boost memory, help treat infections, and also boost lung function. Several studies have even suggested that cardamom can kill cancerous cells and prevent the spread of cancer. If that isn’t enough - it’s application will help to literally warm the surface layer of the skin which opens your pores to absorb more moisture and nutrients in skin care products.
-Tyler
]]>After a hard training session or a good long day at the crag, your body needs to recover. Rock climbing puts a ton of stress on your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, drains your energy stores, and can leave you feeling exhausted, so it’s important to consider your body’s recovery as soon as you finish climbing. Exercise scientists argue about the exact duration of your body’s recovery phase, but most consider about 30 minutes after exercise to be the prime time for muscle recovery. There are 3 main focuses to keep in mind during your recovery period:
As you climb, or engage in any intense exercise for that matter, your body starts breaking down your muscle stores for energy. This might seem like the opposite of what you want, but this is actually how your muscles get stronger. So even though we all love a good workout, exercise itself is not what makes us stronger. Rather, it’s the rest and proper recovery that allow us to progress and build stronger muscles. For this reason, training hard without sufficient rest can actually work against you.
1) Protein
Adequate rest and plenty of amino acids from protein-rich foods will allow your muscles to rebuild stronger than before. Liquids tend to absorb much faster than solid foods, so protein shakes are probably the fastest way to meet your post-exercise protein needs.
Food Sources:
**Rule of thumb: Consume 20 grams of protein within 30 minutes after exercise
2) Hydration
If your training sessions or days out at the crag last longer than 2 hours, then hydrating with electrolytes and fluid is crucial. You will definitely want to rely on an electrolyte mix of your choosing in between burns, but it’s also wise to hydrate after you finish climbing. When you sweat, you primarily lose sodium with a little bit of potassium, so your sports drink should reflect that. Choose a sports drink with some carbohydrates (sugar) and way more sodium than potassium.
Hydration Sources:
**Rule of thumb: If you’re thirsty, then you’re already dehydrated. After a training session or long day, drink enough fluids to quench your thirst, and then drink some more.
3) Immune Support
Intense exercise is stressful for the body and can weaken your immune system, which can leave you vulnerable to opportunistic infections. Exercise can suppress your immune system for a few hours, but you can strengthen it with various foods, supplements, and healthy habits in order to avoid untimely illness. The easiest ways to improve your immune function would be to get plenty of sleep, drink less alcohol, and eat less sugar, but if those don’t sound like tempting options, there are a few other ways to build up your immunity.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants act as a biological martyr and absorb chemical damage that could negatively affect many of the cells in your body. Food sources of antioxidants include:
Immune Boosters
Nutrients like glutamine and zinc are both used by immune cells for nonspecific immunity. So, as you consume more glutamine and zinc in your diet, your immune system can continue to thrive. Consuming plenty of vegetables is typically enough to boost your immune system, but if you need an extra boost or have an autoimmune disease, you can try an oral immune supplement of powdered immunoglobulins.
Food & Supplement Sources:
Whether you’re vegetarian or paleo, the principles of recovery nutrition remain the same. After a workout, be sure to consume a good source of protein, some fluids with electrolytes, and any immune booster that you like. With the proper recovery nutrition and plenty of rest, you’ll be able to build stronger muscles and immunity and suffer from fewer injuries and illness.
]]>When I moved out to Boulder 2.5 years ago I was so excited to check out my new playground and get familiar with the close areas. There are a couple areas within 30 minutes of boulder that I spent a considerable amount of time in. My main three for bouldering are Clear Creek Canyon, Boulder Canyon, and good Ole’ Flagstaff. Over that time I completed most of the hard problems that I put on my tick list, but there is still a good handful that remain unfinished.
The past few weeks, I have been on a streak on some of my unfinished nemesis rigs. With the snow melted and the weather getting bearable, I headed up to Flagstaff Mountain just on the edge of Boulder. There were a few problems that I still needed to do, so I headed to the well traveled Cloud Shadow boulder to test my luck on Trice, a problem that has made me struggle since Day 1. There’s only three moves, but all of them are extremely subtle and precise with a couple different methods available. The first move: right hand to a funky finger stack in a sloping pocket. After that, I’m positive I tried every single beta to the next two holds multiple times and all of them felt just as close as the next. I’ve seen people trying to get a high toe and I tried that but I felt like I couldn’t get any purchase on the foot. Then I tried doing a huge double dyno to the finish but couldn't get the distance. Now, this year just playing around on it some more, I decided to put my heel above my head which is something that never feels comfortable for me, but it sank in and I could get enough purchase on the heel to move slowly enough to the next hold. It took me another try to stick the second hold and then it was just one last little jump move to a sloppy divot which proved to be more difficult and subtle than I anticipated. About 5 tries later, I went for the last hold again and hit it just right and just like that I had done Trice. It was quite the satisfying send after trying it over 100 times over 2 years. The other problem on Flagstaff that I tried once 2 years ago and never came back to was the old Butt Slammer project that hadn't been done in about 40 years. My friend Hunter told me he had done the stand to it and that the top wasn't too scary and that got me psyched to get back on it. Back in the day when I tried it I had always wanted to do it because it was such a nice steep face with a great line of holds going all the way up. Coming back to the Boulder reminded me of my first time coming up to Flag and checking out all the new boulders (for me) and stumbling upon this thing and being like, “Woah! I need to do this.” After remembering my beta with some new beta I got from Hunter I pull on the problem again and get through the first crux pretty easily and dropped to warm up some more. After a few more warmups, trying to go to the lip from the stand, I was ready to give it a go from the sit. I do the intro moves and I'm pulling through the first crux feeling good and I end up getting all the way to the lip and my fingers start to numb out. With a very sketchy landing, and my fingers numb and chalk-less, I try to top out but I couldn't get my body right so I had to climb down a little and take a drop. The next go the same thing happens and I can’t get my body over the lip to finish out the problem so I have to drop from the top again. The next go I was doing the last move for the lip and my right handhold broke catching me off guard I took a digger. After a little rest and brushing up, my freshly broken hold I get back on very tired after pretty much doing the problem 3 times already. I try and move fast through the problem because I feel weaker and I end up getting to the lip again and just pulled as hard as I could to rock my body over and hold this crimp while I do the final big crossover. After all that struggle, I had put down another one of my Flagstaff projects and I was so psyched to be done with that side of the boulder.
The next week the temps cooled down a little bit so I went to one of my climbs I've been working on in Clear Creek Canyon called Dark Waters. There are a lot of different variations in this cave and I did some of the easier ones when I first started climbing there. I was always able to feel all the holds on this climb and I could do most of the upper moves fairly easily on their own. The real crux was down low and having enough power at the end of the problem to stick the finishing dyno. Every time I come back, it takes me a few goes to re-learn the intricate footwork but once I get it down I can get the final jump maybe every other go. At that point, you just need to have enough power left to make this final jump to a decent edge, but I've managed to fall off that move more than I would've liked. I’ve worked this problem off and on over the seasons getting really close many times. I fell at the last dyno at least 8 times over the years before coming back again this year. It was cold and cloudy when we got out of the car with the snow fading in and out (pretty good weather for those bad holds). We got down to the boulder and I did a couple pull ups and did the last dyno and wanted to get right on the problem as to not waste energy so I could try the problem a lot if needed. I pulled on for the 3rd time and got through the first crux and stuck the first big move past the first overhang. Then, a little shakeout and throw a heel above head and do a big crossover to a thin slot crimp. When I grabbed the crimp, I had felt like I had all this power left so I gunned for the finish hold and caught it with 2 fingers then readjusted and continued up for the easy tall top out. It was such a relief to finally stick that dyno and complete this problem that had really put up a fight. Sometimes, you just have to walk away from your old projects for a little bit to get stronger and smarter and come back for the take down. It will all be worth it.
]]>When it’s time to get out and climb, it’s easy to get psyched about your projects and lose sight of proper nutrition. Climbing is a sport that requires both incredible strength and endurance, so it’s important to fuel your body with the nutrients that it needs to succeed. On climbing days where you plan to spend a few hours climbing, your body will rely primarily on carbohydrates. Fat and protein are great on rest days, but they will slow down your body’s ability to use carbohydrates for energy on climbing days. Pack snacks that are rich in carbohydrates, low in fat, and low in protein. In addition to snacks, remember to stay hydrated with plenty of water and electrolytes.
1. Salted Banana Chips Bananas are well known for their potassium content, but they are also one of the sweetest fruits on earth. If you prefer fresh bananas, then bring those. If you’re tired of your bananas bruising in your pack, try buying or making your own salted banana chips. These will provide plenty of carbohydrates for your body, as well as sodium and potassium to replenish your electrolytes.
2. Any Fruit If you don’t like bananas, you can bring any other fruit that you like. Cantaloupe, mango, kiwi, oranges, grapefruit, and raisins are all good sources of potassium as well. Enjoy them dried or fresh.
3. The Rice Cakes from Feed Zone Portables If eating fruit all day doesn’t appeal to you, try making the homemade rice cakes from Chef Biju at Skratch Labs. All you need is some rice, canned coconut milk, some fruit, and optional ingredients like shredded coconut and chocolate chips. You start by making sticky rice, mixing it with coconut milk, covering it with some fruit, and topping it off with another layer of cooked rice. Wrap these babies up in some paper foil, and you’ve got a homemade energy bar for you and all of your friends.
4. Energy Bars (Bearded Brothers, Stinger Waffles, Larabar, PROBAR, ClifBar, etc) Don’t have time to make your own energy bars? That’s all right. You can still find good quality energy bars on the market if you know what to look for. Bars have become increasingly popular, and there are now bars to eat before you workout, while you workout, and after you workout. Make sure you’re buying the right one for you. Bearded Brothers Bars, Honey Stinger Waffles, Larabars, and PROBAR Meal Bars tend to have less protein (< 10 grams) and are best for in between burns. The bars with lots of protein (>15 grams), like Clif Builder’s Bars and PROBAR Core Bars, are most effective if you eat them at the end of your workout. This won’t help with current performance, but it will help your muscles recover as they prepare for future sends.
5. Protein Powder (whey or plant protein) If you’re headed out to the crag, it’s a good idea to bring a source of protein to enjoy at the end of the day. Consuming at least 20 grams of protein after your last climb of the day will help your muscles recover from exercise. The sooner you can replenish your body with protein, the better, so try to eat a source of protein within 20-30 minutes after exercise. Protein can be found in nuts and nut butters, beef jerky, quinoa, protein powders and protein bars. Liquids absorb more quickly than solid foods, which makes protein shakes an effective option after exercise.
Everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to nutrition. Try out a few different options, and see which ones work best for you.
]]>I attend a good number of shows, outdoor events, climbing competitions, and pretty much any type of event that facilitates face-to-face interaction with my customer base. Likely, the reason I enjoy these opportunities so much is that I get the chance to watch people firsthand as they experience their first impression of Giddy, try to internalize our brand, and figure out if they like and support the movement we are trying to create. I also get a lot of questions that people don’t normally ask over Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or email. One question I get often: “So, do you manufacture in America?”
“Well, umm, when we can. All the skin care is manufactured in Durham, North Carolina. The clothing is either eco-friendly or ‘Made in America’ but we aren’t large enough to source all of our apparel ourselves yet so we have to work through distributors and are at the mercy of their stock. So, we do our best but are not totally there yet. As we grow – we plan on one day sourcing all of our apparel in America.”
I think some people thought I was a slick talker who never planned on being different then the big corporations. However, enough people gave their vote of confidence in our true intentions via their hard earned dollars and that time has finally come. Thanks to your massive support it’s time for me to make due on a few promises I made to you all and one I made to myself in college. Going forward, every apparel item (except the hats – we’re still working on that) will be “Made and Printed in America.” Plus, any pants (hint, hint), sweatshirts, tanks, shirts, hoodies (hint, hint), beanies, jackets, and/or anything else we put out over the next year will be sourced domestically.
Unfortunately, you’ll see a slight bump in prices. Also, as a result of changing suppliers, we will be dropping some of our best selling styles (so a good amount of what is on the site we won’t be reproducing). All of our bamboo shirts, the duck sweater, even the new tree shirt is on the chopping block – not the design.. just the underlying shirt and color. We hope you’ll continue to work with us through this process. However, our ability to release products that resonate with our customer base keeps getting better so I can at least say – our new freshness will be better than our last batch! Get ready for some new and better products that are and always will be… Made in America!
]]>Photo Credit: Bear Cam Media
Michael O'Rourke: Inside the Mind of a Competitor
This past month for me has been mainly focused around competitions and training inside for nationals.
In the beginning of February I went to Boston for the Dark Horse Competition final to throw my hat in the ring. The competition was going well and I had completed most of my qualifier problems; I actually ended up in the first after qualifiers was over. I feel like I did well in qualifiers because most of the problems were straightforward and easy to read so all had to do was figure them out and execute. We had a little break before finals so we got some food and rested up as best we could before the big show. We went back for iso and the gym was so packed for finals that some people couldn't even get into the viewing area and had to leave. The women were climbing in finals first so we had a little extra time to warm up before we had to climb. I wasn't sure what to expect when I walked out there but I knew there was going to be some interesting problems that I would have to figure out. The first problem I knew would be the most intricate because that's how they've done it in years past, and I turn around to see a funky to 2 step dyno to a good ball hold to mantle and jump out to another wall for the finish. It took me a couple tries to stick the first dyno but I eventually got it and did the problem. The second problem was even crazier and had a lot of holds I've never seen before and wasn't exactly sure how to make moves in between the volumes. I only got a couple holds in on that problem. The third problem started out with the double dyno to two pinches and finished with the really finicky mantle off of a slopping crimp. I fell off the mantle a couple times because I felt like the crimp was really greasy and I couldn't control myself on it. The final problem was a technical powerful problem that involved a good read through some volumes and finished with a huge dyno to a fat pinch. It took me a few tries to get through the bottom section but I eventually muscled my way through to the dyno and had one go for the finish but unfortunately couldn't stick it. I did go back and stick it after the comp however so that was fun. The comp was really fun and my good friend Robby D took home the win with a super strong performance throughout finals. I feel like the main thing that held me back in this comp was my ability to read the more intricate and funky beta which I've been trying to work on.
I just returned from competing at the ABS National Championship in Colorado Springs where I had my best placement yet. At first, I thought I didn't do that well in qualifiers but made it through to semis in 11th place. I was doing well in semis and got my first and second problem. The third one was frustrating because it seemed to suit me the best but I couldn't get it and had to move on to the last one. The final problem was on the slab and was very subtle and kept you tense the whole time, I got to the second to last hold and pumped out. I thought I needed at least 3 out of the 4 to make it through but my performance was just enough and I made it to finals. I had a long time to rest in between so I ate a little and went back to the hotel to rest and relax before finals. I got to the comp and they called us out and we began looking over our finals problems. I was the first one to climb since I qualified in 6th and started my first try on the left slab wall. It took me a few tries to stick the big middle hold and then I went for the finish hold from there and got my fingers in the slot on the finish but slipped out. I thought that was the way it was intended and didn't even notice a part of the wall I could've used my hands on, so I tried the same way and almost stuck it but came out at the last second. The second one was the pockets through the roof and was interesting because my beta was dependent on how good the holds were when I was on them. After the pockets I jumped to a slopey pinch and could either match and go or do a huge campus cross over to another pocket above the lip. I tried both but on my last go I did the big crossover and was able to stick the pocket. From there, there was a big move up to a slopey crimp and I stuck that but I didn't bring my chalkbag up on this problem so I couldn't get more chalk when I was over the lip and the last move was to put a heel on the finish hold and cross under to finish but I was running out of strength and I could feel my hand greasing off so I quickly decided to try and jump through to the finish but didn't do my move just right. Still, no tops but touching all of finish holds so far I move onto the third problem: just some good ole volume walking to a balancing finish. It took me a few tries but I ended up topping the third problem. The fourth problem was definitely the most difficult but I knew if I could figure out the first section I could do the big moves on it. It took me most of my turn to figure out the first section but I eventually got it and stuck the big move to the pinch and could do a couple more moves from there until I got pumped and fell off. After the comp was over and I ended up in 4th place. It was really fun to compete with everyone and I was psyched to make finals for the first time at open nationals. Time to get ready for next year in Madison.
]]>The Short(ish) Story Behind the Giddy Duck
When I started my first job out of college, I felt like a newborn baby. I was uncomfortably overwhelmed as I took in a whole new world. In my situation, this “new world” was within the walls of a massive corporation. There were so many employees that I didn't have a name, but a number. I didn’t have an opinion – just a list of duties to fulfill. In situations where the expectation is mass conformity, a nonconformist sticks out like a sore thumb. Unfortunately for me, I was that sore thumb.
However, in this albeit brief stage of discomfort in my life – the duck was born out of an act of kindness from a fellow employee. At the time, everyone in the firm received a rubber duck from management for one reason or another and I was given a duck dressed in a full business suit. Knowing it didn't fit my current situation, my coworker Melissa bought a different duck she found at a thrift store and quietly replaced it one morning before I got to work. Attached to my new duck was a note that said (inexactly), “Don’t listen to them – you don’t have to grow up if you don’t want to.”
It was love at first sight. The duck was so happy, so Giddy, in its individuality and self-expression that it became my only flicker of hope for that same feeling. I looked at the duck everyday and everyday the duck grew more in meaning. Rubber ducks don’t have to sit in cubicles wearing business suits and neither do humans. The Giddy duck, to me, came to represent that inner happiness that comes with self-expression and non-conformity.
I quit my job about two weeks later, packed up everything I owned, and moved to North Carolina. I already had Giddy up and running (on a much smaller scale than it is now) and my plan was always to use my business as a vehicle to bring happiness to the world around me. Given how much joy that small duck had brought to my life – it didn’t take us long to print the duck on a sweater and gift the Giddy duck back to the world that brought it to me.
Given what Giddy is – an all-natural skin care company that also made eco-friendly clothing – we don’t really fit “in the box.” A fun, defiantly lively rubber bath duck ended up being a perfect fit for our brand and I’m Giddy inside every time I see someone wearing it. I still have the original rubber duck; it sits on my desk and continues to bring joy to me on a daily basis. He’s become a metaphor to a life where I can have fun while working and don’t have to wear a suit if I don’t want to.
-Tyler
]]>The Story of How a Freeskier Gets Giddy:
I’m not kind to my hands in the winter. I’m a medical technologist and spend 10 hours a day in nitrile or latex gloves and I wash my hands with harsh detergents every few hours. As soon as I clock out I race to the mountain and toss my hands into gloves or mittens and expose them to the sun and the wind and the cold and then I do it all again. If I’m feeling particularly sadistic I’ll hit the bouldering gym after and suck the last remaining moisture of my hands out with chalk. Poor digits.
In the past I’ve made due with cracked hands and painful hangnails. This year I’ve made two changes and I’m pleased to say that my hands are holding up well. This August at the Chilean Freeskiing Championships I put in a test run and have continued using Giddy Scrub and Balm every night.
The scrub is my favorite. It does an incredible job of cleansing my hands without stripping them of whatever last remaining natural oil might possibly be there and adds an immediate sense of moisture from all the essential oils packed into the little jar. The mild exfoliation helps remove whatever I’ve killed throughout the day leaving my hands feeling fresh and surprisingly normal give their daily abuse. Because of how mildly it cleanses it is a perfect daily scrub for sensitive hands but the grit will get even the gnarliest of fingers clean and soft.
Following that up with the cedar mint balm, which never makes my hands feel sticky or greasy, keeps my hands (and feet!) from drying out. I absolutely love how light it goes on but how well it works. It feels feather light as it soaks in but packs a moisturizing punch like a heavy-weight champion! Both products will be accompanying me on every trip and to every competition I go to this year. I even keep a jar of balm in my backcountry bag to help protect my hands from the relentless alpine exposure they experience when I’m touring out of bounds.
The best part is that Giddy products are organic, natural, and hand made in the USA! Does it get any better than that?
-Jacqueline Knutson - Giddy Athlete
]]>Happy New Years! First off, I want to start out by thanking everyone for the support you brought our business over the past year. It was surreal and exhilarating and we couldn’t have done it without our fans, followers, and customers! As we grow – I think it will give us the means and resources to bring our message of happiness to more people and will allow us to build an even more sustainable business.
Secondly, I want to announce that our present for the New Year is a new Giddy balm that pops out (so it is easier to apply). You asked so we made it happen! We’re always striving for improvement so your tips, thoughts, and feedback are always welcome as it helps us get better as a business. We thank you for that!
Thirdly, I wanted to share some reflections about where we plan to go from here personally and as a business. For some of us – myself included – New Years, and the holidays in general, are affecting and introspective times where we reflect on our past year, our life, and try to figure out what we did right, what we did wrong, and where it all fits in the grand scheme of things. It’s entrancing to think about how much happens in a year considering its scale in comparison with the overall scale of the universe. I think our intrinsic (and extrinsic) notion of this awareness is what prompts New Year’s resolutions. Our time is short so we want to spend it living “right.”
So what is “right?” I believe foremost – we should be happy. That is why I named my company Giddy. It’s also why we are obsessed with customer service – because I wanted to bring that Giddy feeling of joy to people’s life everyday. I also believe our happiness shouldn’t take away from or negatively impact anyone else’s pursuit of happiness. That is why we try our best to do things as sustainably as possible – so our descendants who call us ancestors can enjoy the same green earth we do. Past that, it’s sort of up to you what you make of everything and that, in itself, is part of what makes life awesome.
I have a plan for global sustainability that I won’t get into here for the sake of brevity (I’ll explain it over the coming months). However, I in wrapping things up, I want to announce our Giddy New Year’s Resolution:
We want to build a globally sustainable, waste-free business that brings joy to the lives of people around the world.
Happy New Year everyone! Let’s all have a very Giddy 2014!
]]>When we developed the Giddy Hand Balm, we wanted to ensure two things. First, and foremost, we needed to make sure that the balm wasn't greasy. Eww, yuck, and annoying! However, part of what causes that greasy feeling is the same wax that binds the balm together! We found a solution: instead of going heavy on the organic beeswax, we mixed in organic carnuaba wax (a harder wax that makes M&Ms melt in your mouth and not in your hands), and that was the trick to ensure your hands aren't greasy all night after application. Secondly, we wanted to ensure that Giddy balm clogged your pores. What kind of a skin care company would want to do that to their customers? If you watch commercials - think of all the times they talk about how the oils and creams "penetrate deep". Well, they are talking about penetrating your pores. As climbers, we like our thick skin. We work hard for it. For that reason, we purposely added Organic Wheat Germ Oil (refined, and free of gluten proteins) to clog your pores so that the other light oils (Organic Sesame Seed Oil, Organic Sunflower Seed Oil) wouldn't be able to "penetrate deep". It's really neat: if you clog the pores and use light oils, it heals the top layer of skin and doesn't get rid of that hard earned "thick skin!" Plus, on top of that - it really helps to treat flappers, split tips, and just plain raw skin. The organic cocoa butter gives Giddy balm substance, organic peppermint oil helps sooth the cuts, organic cedar mint oil keeps away bugs on treks and, finally, we added an ancient Chinese herb used for homeopathic healing...Calendula flowers! Mix that all together and you have the ultimate Giddy balm!
Try us out today! Soon enough, you'll know "What Makes Giddy Balm So Different!"
]]>Right before the summer of my junior year at Stetson University in 2009, I started selling liquor bottle lamps out of my dorm room. I named the new venture Giddy aka Giddy Glassware because “giddy” is the feeling between being drunk and sober, plus, fittingly I was only doing it for beer money. However, the story goes back further than that; years before, I watched Fight Club and was fascinated by its anti-consumerism and anti-corporate undertones. What’s more, they make soap in the movie – so I wanted to make soap too. I learned quickly that Tyler Durden doesn’t properly know how to treat lye burns but even that didn’t slow me down or curve my enthusiasm. I was hooked. Soon, I was making lip balms, body butters, face scrubs, and any skin care product that spawned my curiosity. I struggled with acne since high school and after exhausting traditional remedies from dermatologists, I decided to make my own face scrub using homeopathic and functional natural ingredients – I kept that face scrub in my bathroom enclosed in a Play-Doh container (that I found God knows where).
All the while, my liquor bottle venture took a turn for the worst. After my school confiscated my collection of empty liquor bottles, I was left with a twenty-pound box of useless labels. Pissed off, I moved off campus and, again, I had no beer money. I started collecting cash and throwing parties and, one night, while a few friends were at my house for a party… a group of ladies came across the jar. Intrigued, they returned from the bathroom to ask, “What the hell is in that Play-Doh jar?” I affably explained my story, and, soon after, found myself delivering gallon containers of the “stuff” to sororities around Stetson. As demand for the scrub continued to grow, I dusted off the Giddy labels from my closet, bought a few hundred small containers, and the new Giddy was born. The scrub found its way across campus and onto other campuses. Much to my surprise, Giddy found its way from a curious substance inspired by Fight Club and enclosed in a Play-Doh jar to an emerging company.
I began screen printing my logo on eco-friendly threads like hemp and bamboo to build the brand but people started to think Giddy was a cool clothing brand unknowing of the attached skin care segment. After graduation, I met my first partner, Alex Elkins, who handled the photography and made Giddy look like a real company albeit it was still a humble hatchling of my dorm room invention. Alex talked me into moving up to North Carolina where Giddy would surely continue to thrive in the college culture of the Triangle. From there, I brought on Mike Viscusi who saw a bigger vision for Giddy – making functional skin care products for young outdoorsmen and women. He brought on a buddy, Preston Lavinder, and per the request of my new team member – I developed a healing hand salve for rock climbers and various outdoor and fitness enthusiasts. Demand grew further while friends and rock climbing enthusiasts across the country started “Getting Giddy.” We knocked on doors, knocked down doors, put our products in the hands of everyone from mom and pop shops to major retailers, and slowly started a grassroots movement. We wanted to start a company with a conscience that treats its employees and customers like rock stars while making everyone feel Giddy all the time. The rest of the story is currently being written.
-Tyler Ward
]]>So the Giddy crew is up here in Leavenworth Washington right now! Shreddin our fingers and climbing on some of the best granite this country has to offer. Our first impressions of the area are that there isn't much of a community here. There's lots of climbing, but not too many climbers. Though we've been touring some of the local classics we've also been sampling some hidden gems. There are lots of amazing problems completely off the radar established by local hard man Johnny Goicoechea . The first day Taylor (Tmoney) got stoked on a rarely tried testpiece called the Tornado. I'll let him tell you all about it…
Tornado squeezes up a really unique prow, with hard aggressive moves on small left hand crimpers and bad right hand slopers. The crux revolves around a low percentage left hand fall in move to a small sharp crimper, followed by a couple slaps to gain a right hand jug. I put in a couple days to figure out my method, a series of kneescums. Jimmy made quick work of it claiming the 2nd ascent in a handful of goes. My 3rd day on it I stuck the crux fall in, and my left hand dry fired slapping my way up the the jug. I'm psyched to get back and fire this rig!!!
-Taylor
So ya thats the gig right now. Taylor's mad close on that thing and I have been in search of some new problems to try. Yesterday I had a disappointing beginning to the day. I went out to try Carlo's Penrose Step and took an awkward fall off the last move and twisted my ankle pretty good. I'm definitely not psyched on that and its a bummer I might have to stay a bit closer to the ground the rest of the trip. Afterwards though we hiked up to Mad Meadows to check out a cool project on the Peephole boulder. It's a pretty sick line and felt quite hard. After about an hour I was able to put it down for the First Ascent calling it Future Trippin 8B. There's really just so much potential here and we're stoked to keep searching for some new problems. More to come..
-Jimmy
Pictured here is Taylor on Tornado V12:
Jimmy on the FA of Future Trippin V13:
]]>
- The Giddy Crew
]]>
*Note that while only one will make the blog, they will all make our Fan Photo Friday album on Facebook.
Without further ado, drumroll please...
Since today is the first day of summer, it's only appropriate that we picked this girl rocking her falling unicorn tee on the beach, upside down no less!