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! 

Last night, Olha, Sam and I went to the weekly fitness classes that we signed up for on Groupons. We got a great deal - 10 fitness classes (ranging from ZUMBA, boot camp, yoga, pilates to kickboxing) at D-Fine Fitness for just $49. Of course, we didn't want to miss out on an opportunity like this, so we signed up right away. Being that the facility is close to our office, it works out perfectly going right after work. Yesterday was the first day I went and I absolutely loved it! I feel that I am in pretty good shape. I work out regularly, eat right, and try to be active. First we did ZUMBA, which was a good "warm up", followed by Boot Camp. I have to admit, no matter how "in-shape" I think I may be, boot camp really kicked my "behind" (so much that I feel sore all over today!).

The initial Zumba class was lots of fun. We were quite UN-coordinated at first, but after some moving and shaking, we got the hang of it and broke a good sweat. There was a 15 minute break between the classes, so I went and grabbed one of the promotional towels they were handing out. Good thing I got one, because it really came in handy during boot camp. I don't recall sweating that much in a long time! Luckily I also brought my promotional water bottle with me, so I was able to refill from the water cooler and drink up quite frequently. Despite the intense moves and exhaustion I felt during the class, I felt amazing afterwards. Now, I am totally excited and can't wait for next week's class, and I can't wait to see what kinds of promotional fitness products they will be giving out then.

Not that I am much of a car enthusiast, but I just love custom auto accessories. Everything from air fresheners, to cell phone accessories, to ice scrapers, all essentials everyone should have in their cars. With spring in the air, and summer coming up, I personally prefer the promotional car wash kits we have on our site. For those who would rather carefully clean their car themselves, rather than go to a 5-minute car wash, this is the ideal promotional giveaway. These kits, have all of the essentials you need to make your car sparkling clean. Afterall, doesn't everyone want to leave behind the grimey, dirty winter and look forward to the bright and sunny summer ahead!

It's that time of year again - the ASI Trade Show is coming up on May 8-10, 2012 in New York City. Every year the Motivators team gets together and takes a nice trip into the city and visits some of the industry's best. Obviously, since it is trade show for the promotional industry, all of the attendants tend to get MORE than the usual amount of promotional products from the participants. Not only do the participants hand out tons of promotional goodies to the attendants, they also use a tremendous amount of trade show accessories at their booths. I can't wait to see all the awesome giveaways I will be getting this year!

Two weeks ago, I wrote about how I have been trying to overcome my coffee addiction by substituting it with herbal teas. This week, I realized one more thing - ever since I have been carrying around my little packets of promotional teas, I have come across another dilemma. Should I drink out of a ceramic  promotional mug or a plastic / metal promotional tumbler? What is the difference, you may ask. Well, they are both great promotional giveaways, that's for sure, but herbal teas are better brewed in ceramic (or glass) pots and cups. Ceramic helps savor the flavor of the teas, whereas, plastic or metal-coated teapots and tumblers actually change the flavor of your teas making it not so pleasant. So next time you are making a cup of tea in the office, instead of grabbing your insulated tumbler that you would normally use for your coffee and teas, grab your promotional mug instead - to make sure that you bring out the best flavor and ENJOY!

After I got my iPhone in December, I initially ordered a 4G iPhone Case to make sure that my phone was safe and sound. Since then, I have been taking countless pictures and posting them on Instagram. I especially love taking nature and street pictures, and posting them daily. It has become a part of my daily routine. So far, I have been able to get over 500 followers. Everywhere I go, I look around - at the sky, clouds, trees, animals, cars, buildings, etc. - trying to find something different to capture. Yesterday, as I was reading the news headlines online, I saw that Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. After using Instagram, I have actually strayed away from Facebook. First of all, I do not like the new timeline format Facebook is converting everyone to. I find it difficult to use and pointless.  Secondly, I have not been as interested in people's comments and check-ins (and so on) as I used to be. Now I am more intrigued by the pictures posted on Instagram. I love the fact that people from all over the world, just like you and me, can take any picture anywhere and immediately post it on Instagram, and I am able to view it seconds later from millions of miles away. In a way, it is like being in many places at once.For that reason, I am afraid this buyout will result in changes to the whole concept of Instagram.

Because of this new hobby of mine, I have been trying to practice my photography skills, not just out in nature, but also with my family and friends. Being that I am one who usually hates having pictures taken of myself, I used to never even remember that I had a camera with me. Now, because of Instagram, I don't ever put my iPhone down. I am constantly taking pictures of everyone and everything. I currently have over 1000 pictures on my phone and I need to routinely upload the pictures onto my laptop. Luckily, I have plenty of custom USB flash drives, so I can transfer over all of the pictures and make sure all of them are backed-up. Though I have a feeling I am going to have to order quite a few more of the promotional flash drives to keep up with all of the pictures I have been taking lately.

Anyone who knows me, knows how addicted I "was" to caffeine. I would not be able to function in the mornings without my LARGE cup of hazelnut coffee, (and another in the afternoon and another in the evening). But to everyone's surprise, I have been able to overcome my addiction over the past couple of months. It was actually easier to quit than I anticipated. One day I just didn't drink my coffee and before I knew it days and weeks went by without me even remembering my old "best friend". How did I accomplish this, you may ask. Well, I attribute most of my success to substitution - with herbal tea. Now, instead of dropping by Dunkin' Donuts every morning before work, I make sure to choose a different tea from my wide range of herbal teas. Being that I try to not just drink the teas, but also research and learn what different teas or good for, I started roaming through Motivators site and found our Logo Tea section to be quite a treat. Now I can shop for my teas through the Motivators site as well!

Yesterday, I read an article on CNN.com about how holiday shoppers are becoming more and more conscious about the origins of the items they are buying and making sure this holiday season to buy gifts only MADE IN THE USA. The article "Holiday Shoppers pledge to 'Occupy Christmas' and buy American", emphasized how consumers are more aware of how buying American will help produce local jobs and help turn the economy around. All you need to do is look on the tag or ask where the item is made. Luckily on Motivators.com, we have a whole section dedicated to USA Made promotional products, which help make your search that much easier when shopping for your promotional holiday gifts this season.

Less than 4 weeks to go until Christmas. That means less than 4 weeks to put up your Christmas tree, decorate your house, go Christmas shopping, bake treats, and enjoy listening to the endless Christmas music on the radio! It might seem like a long time, but it really is not. Considering how most people wait until the last minute to do anything, it is better to act sooner than later. That is why I recommend everyone get their employee holiday gifts ordered as soon as possible to make sure that there is plenty of stock available and that there is enough time for delivery. One of my favorite corporate gifts is the custom chocolate cookies with premium confections gift box. Afterall, who doesn't love custom food products as holiday gifts!

This morning, I was listening to Z100 on the way to work, when the crew was discussing the "type of people who annoy them the most during the holidays". Number one on the list - vegetarians! Let me explain, I don't call myself out as a vegetarian, though I do not eat any meats (red or white) but I DO eat seafood and fish. I don't know if this would make me a pescatarian, since I do eat eggs and I cannot live without my cheese and yogurt. Exactly about a year ago, I just stopped eating meat. I did not have a revelation or decide it was unjust to animals. I am not saying that I do not eat meat because I am trying to prove a point or have some sort of belief around it. Yes, I like animals and I do not believe in animal cruelty, but I also believe everything put onto this planet is here for a reason, so I am not against people eating meat. I personally just don't like it (anymore).

While listening to their conversation, it reminded me of this one promotional t-shirt I saw at the mall the other day. It said "Save a Melon, Eat a Vegetarian."  Again, I did not take offense to it, or think it was politically incorrect, or get defensive, but rather I thought it was funny. This was one of many anti-vegetarian society of meat eaters (AVSME) promotional t-shirts I saw, that just made me crack up.

That being said, yes this Thursday is Thanksgiving - a time to give thanks and EAT LOTS OF TURKEY! I will be at a Thanksgiving table too and will have  plate after plate of amazing food, minus all the turkey or meats. This doesn't mean that I will not be enjoying all of the vegetables and casseroles and desserts. It just means I will have a bit more room for everything else! HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!