Happy Valentines Day Everyone! I hope all of you are still keeping your New Year's fitness resolutions, even throughout this promotional candy and chocolate-filled day. Most of you find this day to be cliche and full of "cute" gestures, some are truly in love, and others just find this to be another "Hallmark holiday." As for me, I think Valentine's Day is cute; however, the older I get the less I feel the need to buy gifts to show my love. For me, it is more about making fun crafts with my daughter, or suprising her with a small gift. The day is almost over here at Motivators, but we all had a blast!

At last week's ASI trade show, we all came back overwhelmed with new product knowledge, contacts, and promotional freebies. I do admit the best part about going to trade shows is the great new products we see and get. I came back with a personalized tote bag filled to the top with lip balm, promotional hand sanitizers, stress balls, promotional pens, promotional candy and so much more. Like most people, I am a weekling when it comes to the promotional food products they put out at the booths. Especially after walking around the show for hours, and once I get hungry, any booth that has food and candy, will get my attention! At last weeks show, after eating everything in sight, I have to rank this Chocolatier booth as my top choice. They had the best dark chocolate truffles I have ever had. After having a taste of their promotional chocolates, I felt like I was in Chocolate Heaven. Now, not only will this booth be embedded in my mind forever, they will surely by getting my business! 

Arguably one of the most exciting components of any award show is the red carpet.  Everyone's always eager to see who showed up, who's wearing what, and what celebrities will say when put on the spot. 

Television personality Joan Rivers has long been known as the ruler of the red carpet.  But following eight-year-old Sophia Grace's appearance at the 2012 Grammys, there may be a new Queen Bee (even if she did take a short break to nibble on some promotional candy).  Check out the highlights of Sophia Grace and her cousin Rosie interviewing musicians before the 54th Annual Grammy Awards:

There's no denying the duo is adorable.  But what's more impressive is how on point Sophia Grace is.  Mashable reports that the young girl was particularly astute at "knowing how to get the big celebrities to talk to her, being aware of Taylor Swift’s wardrobe choices and of course, understanding the importance of Flo Rida’s shades."

All in all, I think the two girls made the occasion extra-fun.  What do you think?  Should the pair host more red carpet events?

We're closing in on Valentine's Day, and singles everywhere are scrambling to find a last-minute date.  Where do you turn for potential love connections?  Some will ask their friends to set them up with that guy or girl they've had their eye on, and others will end up at the local bar or pub, hoping to spot that special someone.

But if you're thinking about looking online for a date, you might want to think again.  According to one fraud protection agency, online dating scams increased by 150% in 2011.

Mashable reports that Iovation analyzed several online dating sites' hardware and software, and found that last year, "3.8% of all transactions it processed for online dating sites were fraudulent."  The fake accounts attempt to acquire personal information, redirect users to phishing sites, harass users, and more.

So if you're looking for love online this Valentine's Day, proceed with caution!  Otherwise, instead of receiving Valentine's promotional candy from a sweetie, you could end up with a big ol' mess.

Have you been contacted any shady Internet dating profiles?  Share your story!

There's no doubt -- trade show season is definitely in full swing! Two weeks ago, suppliers wowed attendees at the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada with a variety of new and exciting items.  This week, East Coasters are getting a look at all the latest and greatest promotional products at the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) Orlando Show. 

Motivators' Director of Strategic Development, Kim Laffer, is at the conference this week, and has been sharing some of her favorite trade show items via Twitter.  Let's take a look at some of those stand-out products! 

Here's an item that screams "unique" -- these tongue tattoos (Tungtoos) are just awesome!  Who could resist playing around with the fun promotional candy?  I know my little sister would love them.

Adorable doesn't even begin to describe this promotional puzzle from Melissa and Doug Toys and Puzzles.  And, according to Kim, they are available for customization with very low minimums!  What a great buy.

The trade show lighting is a bit off in this picture due to the camera's flash, but look closely and you can see this "Brand in a Can" is also a mini promotional clock!  It's a great giveaway for corporate events.

What's your favorite new product?

I spend some of my day at Motivators blogging on the company's multiple sites. (Company Blog, Go Green Blog, Awareness Month Blog, Tradeshow Blog) When I get home, I spend much of my time doing the same for a number of blogs I contribute for. 

Recently, I came up with the idea to create my own blog. It's not that unique of an idea, being as there are close to one billion of them. To separate your blog from others, there's two things you can do: write well-written articles and promotional products.

I've seen people advertise their blogs using promotional candy and even custom rubber band bracelets. There's plenty of other items to promote a website or blog on the Motivators website. 

Back in my teenage years I remember going to numerous birthday parties, sweet 16's, and many other celebrations. Although it was many many years ago (sigh) I can tell you that certain parties made a lasting impression on me based on the customized party favors that were given out. My favorite was and still is the promotional 12 .oz light-up flashing glass. Another great idea is promotional candy, and I remember lots of it! My favorite was the take out carton full of candy, just like the promotional candy take out - Jelly Belly beans.

It seems that this is the weekend that many of my friends (and perhaps you) have decided to do haunted houses. I know a few people considering the haunted house in Bayville while a few select others are attempting to brave Blackout, a haunted house in NYC in which a person goes in one at a time and faces realistic, hellish experiences in the vein of tourture, abuse and sexual-violence - much of which can't be discussed on a company blog. (hint: you actually get waterboarded and you get handcuffed to a doctor's chair while [very convincing] actors put a sack over your head, hit you and demand you to bark like a dog) But instead of going to a haunted house for a few minutes, I will be spending this weekend completely immersed in the culture and legend.

I am heading up to Tarrytown, NY for a concert and am treating the weekend as a way to "get away from it all." If Tarrytown sounds familiar, you're either a big fan of Keeping Up With The Kardashians (Bruce Jenner was born in Tarrytown) or you know about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Washington Irving was the brain behind the story of Ichabod Crane and his run-in with the now-legendary Headless Horseman. The town received a tip-of-the-hat in the book and (because of its popularity) would eventually inspire North Tarrytown to change its name to "Sleepy Hollow." (Sunnyside - Washington Irving's house - is located here) I am spending my weekend in both Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.

There is a large Halloween celebration in Sleepy Hollow during the weekend. Everything from tours of Sunnyside to haunted houses to promotional candy tastings will be offered as well as a costume contest. I sure hope there is plenty of candy and promotional food. Note to self: bring a custom imprinted Halloween themed bag.

Once in a while, I will completely forget my lunch. Since I take one of the last lunch breaks at Motivators, I am completely famished by the time 2:00 rolls around. And when I do head out for lunch, I end up eating more than I can stomach. It's a never-ending cycle of hunger and overeating on those days.

Luckily, I learned to eat some of the promotional food we have lying around the office. My favourite food to snack on is promotional nuts, specifically cashews. This salty treat is the perfect alternative for promotional chocolate, promotional candy and some of the other alternatives that are perfect for one's sweettooth. But cashews tend to fill me up sooner (especially with cold water from my promotional water bottle) than the other foods and healthier above all. By the time lunch rolls around, my hunger is satisfied and I end up eating less than normal. These promotional products help in keeping me satisfied and will have your co-workers' hunger kept to a minimum too.

If there's one thing, I hate about Halloween it's the massive amount of temptation at the grocery store. Last night I had to go shopping and everywhere I turned there was candy. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Starburst, Twix Bars...everything was everywhere I turned. It's a delicious time of year, but man is it fattening. Of course, plenty of our customers have called up about promotional candy since we have such a huge selection. Thankfully, we haven't been bombarded with samples this year. Normally, our break room is stocked to the brim with all sorts of goodies and I can't resist, but I think I'm feeling anti-Halloween this year. I didn't put out any decorations at my house and I haven't given in and bought bags upon bags of goodies. Jen asked today if we were dressing up and I said that I think I'll come as myself on Halloween. I don't really know whats wrong with me or why I have the Halloween humbugs, but I do. Maybe I'll get more into the spirit after I visit the Bayville Haunted Firehouse this weekend. So since I can't be completely anti-Halloween, I guess I'll share a fun picture that Carolina and I took at the grocery store...