There is nothing like a good trip, laced with loads of complications to get the blood running and the imagination jetting off to the moon. This was my first experience going to a trade-show and I must say that I am quite happy that I got the chance, even though snow storm, which has been deemed “Q”, brought about a million complications.

My co-worker and I traveled from NYC to NJ back to NYC and then to PA, only to be sent back home NYC when every window of opportunity closed on us. We left on Thursday and finally made it to KC on Saturday afternoon, only to find that our rooms had been given away! However, I love the kindness that we encountered in KC! Thanks to the help of several hotel employees at several overbooked hotels, we finally found a hotel. With no time to spare, we booked the rooms and with suitcases in hand, ran over to the convention center to set up the booth. Eight hours later and only four hands between the two of us, we finished setting up with just enough time to get a little bit of sleep before the show started the next morning. Phew!

Even after all the mayhem, the Camex show was very successful! It was quite refreshing to have face-to-face conversations with people I’ve only communicated with via email or over the phone. There were fun things happening at our booth. We displayed our most sought after products, plus new products that drew lots of people to our booth.

There was also a live demonstration of all the latest ASUS laptops and tablets. Andy, the ASUS representative, was a delight to work with.

Then there was the three days of giveaways! Our show assistant, Austen, walked around passing out flash drives that contained our show specials as well as a chance to win a prize (Day# 1 ASUS MEMO Tablet, Day# 2 Monster Beats, Day# 3 Livescribe Pen, Notebook, and Microphone ear buds).

I was hopeful every time a flash drive was inserted into one of the computers. I believe that I was more excited than most of the contestants. However, as the first two days went on, we hadn’t found any winners. I wanted someone to so desperately win.

I got my wish on the third day! Hugo Lamprea of NYU won the Livescribe suite of products. We still haven’t found the other two winners, but I have my fingers crossed hoping they will contact us when they realize they have won.

The convention center was way bigger than I expected so when I left the booth to explore, I didn’t even cover 1/4th of the floor before I got tired and returned to home base. There were so many new products to discover, like Happy Socks, Vintage Posters/Calendars, and Quick Notes. The list goes on and on.

All in all, I loved being able to present our products at Camex. Overall, it was an amazing experience, one in which I hope that I get to do again.

I have posted all of the photos taken at Camex. They can be found on our Facebook page…click here to be taken straight there!

Just a little Friday reflection…

How would you describe the perfect weekend?

Would your picture be filled with sunny skies, sparkling beaches, or would you be seen riding a lime green Vespa on a winding road surrounded by fields of yellow daffodils calmly swaying in the wind? 

Or, are you more like me?

Zip-lining, rock climbing, long hikes…these are just a few of my favorite things.

I would love nothing more than to go camping in the woods, where I am out in the open and exposed to all elements; mosquitoes,  birds, and bears, Oh My! 

I would love to sit and reflect on life as nature fills the space surrounding me. When I am done reflecting, I would fill those moments with excitement and adventure! Be one with nature!

So, what about you? What’s your idea of a perfect weekend?

Not for nothing is their motto TGIF – Thank God It’s Friday. They live for the weekends, when they can go do what they really want to do. ~ Richard Nelson Bolles

Happy Weekending

EARTH DAY: April 22, 2012

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

TGIF, but sadly it is the last day for my Earth Day Extravaganza. Scroll down to get your fill of Earth Day hilarities, trivia, and quotes.  I hope that you have been keeping up with me this week, because the first person to answer all of the trivia questions will win a special Earth Day prize!

1. Trivia: When was the first Earth Day celebrated? 

           1861, 1968, 1970, 1990.

2. Trivia: What percentage of household waste can be recycled?

5%, 90%, 20%, 0%

 This we know.
The earth does not belong to us;
we belong to the earth.
This we know.
All things are connected
like the blood which unites one family.
All things are connected.

3. Trivia: Who started the Earth Day movement?

4. Trivia: Global Warming is an anagram of what?

“There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.” ~ Mother Teresa

5. Trivia: When is Earth Day?

Well, that about does it for the Earth Day Extravaganza. Good luck to those who participate in the Trivia contest.

Have a great weekend and may the force of nature be with you!

EARTH DAY: April 22, 2012

In a few short days, millions of people across the globe will participate in events that will honor our home and in honor of Earth Day. I looked high and low, climbed many mountains, and swam many seas to bring you some facts about this fine earth! Ok, I didn’t go that far, but my search did lead me to some pretty interesting stuff that even I was shocked to learn. 

1. It takes more than 500,000 trees to produce the newspapers that we Americans read every Sunday and that only 30% of all newspapers are recycled!

2.  1/3 of all water is used to flush toilets.

3. Captain Planet was “green” before it was cool.

4. You would need to travel at 6.95 miles per second to escape the Earth’s gravitational pull. This is equivalent to traveling from New York to Philadelphia in about twenty seconds.

5. Almost 90% of household waste can be recycled.

6. Global Warming is an anagram of: ’Ball going warm’

7. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to watch a t.v. for 3 hours.

8. The first forced relocation due to global warming happened in 2007 when 100 residents of Tegua Island in the Pacific Ocean were evacuated due to rising sea levels and subsequent flooding.

9. Of all known forms of animals life ever to inhabit the Earth, only about 10% still exist today.

10. 20 million Americans participated in this first Earth Day celebration.

Come back tomorrow for my final Earth Day installment and believe, I have saved the best for last!

Some of you may be asking, “What is Earth Day about, when is Earth Day, what are some fun Earth Day activities that I can do in my store, etc.?”

Every day this week, I will be giving answers to your questions and giving away some really awesome earth friendly products. 

So, let’s get get started. 

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970.

It was a notion that was conceived by Gaylord Nelson, the then Senator of Wisconsin. With all the things happening to our country that year, The Flower-Child movement, protesting of the Vietnam War,  Gaylord believed that the health of the planet was of great importance, but took a backseat to all of the other goings on in the U.S. Inspired by the energy infused in the protests of the Vietnam War, he decided to take action and built a staff to help him in his quest for promoting a healthier earth.

“As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.” – earthday.org

He succeeded in his efforts. In the time following the protests, the U.S. government created the United States Environmental Protection Agency and passed the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

April 22, 1970 marked a pivotal moment in U.S. history and has been celebrated every year since.

Don’t judge this laptop by its cover, the Toshiba Satellite C655D-S5330 is quite a spectacular piece of technology!

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