Can I just say that I love love love football season?! I’m a bit of a fanatic. Honestly, it’s kind of sad. But I just love the atmosphere. The slightly chilly weather, the cheer of the crowd - and of course, the tailgating festivities. How could you not love all that?

We all get a little college football crazy around the Absorbent, Ink. offices. We’re mostly Kansas Jayhawks fans, but there is at least one K-State Wildcat and one Nebraska Husker on staff who are fanatics for their own teams. The rivalries can be pretty intense – but we still love them, anyway!

I started this post because I just watched the promo video for my team’s 2009 season and I must say, it got me pumped. Not only because I think it’s gonna be a great year (Champs ‘09! Woot!) but also because it’s another season to show off my great Absorbent, Ink. items for tailgating and spirit wear.

Before any game, we will probably be eating, drinking and lounging at the tailgate with friends. If you’ve got a great group of friends or clients, you can personalize products to commemorate the season. It’s essential to have a lounge chair, a cooler, and depending on who’s grilling, an apron complete with grill utensils. A larger group of family, friends and clients could show their spirit in loud style with inflatable noise makers. Also, lanyards will show our spirit while making sure no one loses their keys in the stands. How sweet!

Now that I have all my Absorbent, Ink. spirit gear and tailgating props, I’m fully ready to cheer the ‘Hawks on! All these items can be printed to have any logo on them, so the options are limitless. With all this spirit, I hope your team will win a few games too!

Rock chalk!

Abby Ink

Woof! Woof! Hi, let me introduce myself. My name is Galahad and I am Abby’s Labrador. I have hijacked her computer because I am seriously tired of her talking only about human products. What about us animals? We like free stuff too. In fact, giving us free stuff will get you more customers than if you give the humans free stuff, just because they love us so much. Let me share a secret with you, the only way to have a satisfying and happy life is to make your pets happy.

So, now, the billion-dollar question is what pet products can I actually use for my promotions? Well, I have the trillion-dollar answer: Absorbent, Ink. (bless their hearts) carries so many Promotional Pet Products that I am salivating all over the keyboard just looking at them. They have the more traditional pet products, such as leashes, pet bowls and pet toys, and the funky stuff, such as pet bandanas (I can just imagine myself in one of those). There are even products for those stubborn humans out there who are still insisting on giving promotional products to humans. You can give those humans grooming mitts or a pet litter scoop that they can use to take care of us better.

Another product you can use is … oh, rats! Gotta go! I can see Abby heading this way with her you-are-going-to-get-it-now look.

Ciao, or in my language, rowf,

Galahad

Whether you’ve seen “Office Space” or not, everyone knows what “The Mondays” are. After a weekend full of nothing but relaxation and more sleep than usual, you wake up to the sound of your unrelenting alarm clock. You can press “snooze” as much as you want, but it’s not going to make your morning routine any easier. Making breakfast, brewing coffee and driving in traffic all seem to go that much slower on Mondays. And don’t even get me started about the moment you actually sit down at your desk; it’s as though someone clicked the “slow motion” button on the remote for the remainder of the day.

This is a subject matter that most of us can relate to. And since people like being understood and able to easily relate to other human beings, distributing promotional products that will distract your clients from their Mondays could be prove to be a very positive thing. Allow me to make some educated suggestions.

Everyone loves photographs, especially in this day-and-age when the only kind of camera to own is a digital camera, which makes picture taking, uploading and sharing so easy. People love to litter their desks and homes with framed pictures of family, friends and scenery. So why not make everyone happy and hand out Absorbent, Ink.’s Back to Back Photo Frames? These neat frames swivel, so you can choose two different pictures to place in each frame and decide which picture you feel like gazing at for the day (whether it be your significant other or your dog). Being able to freely swivel your pictures around and stare at your beloveds is a certified cheerer-upper.

Another snazzy idea could be T-shirts. Absorbent, Ink.’s Boxercraft Women’s Burn-Out Tees have that soft, worn-in, vintage feel to them, so recipients know they at least have that little bit of comfort waiting at home (or perhaps under their suit jacket) to get through the dreaded Monday. Printing your company’s logo and maybe a catchy phrase on the shirt will remind your clients that along with being a reliable business, you understand that it’s the little things that count when it comes to starting the work week.

Regardless of which promotional product you choose to provide as vaccinations against “the Mondays,” the main idea is to ease your recipients’ minds and remind them that time flies when you’re… well… maybe not having the most fun, but at least able to have a sense of humor about it all!

Here’s to getting through the work week,

Abby Ink

Here’s a little puzzle for you.

How do the following go together: origami cranes, etched wedding glasses and a Snoopy mug.

Give up?

It’s a small sampling of the things I found when cleaning out some old boxes yesterday. I have to admit, I’m a little bit of a “collector.” (In other words, I’m a packrat!)

After going through the sentimentality that the origami cranes brought back, I started to reminisce about my best friend’s wedding (no, not the movie). It was such a lovely wedding. We spent the night eating, dancing in a conga line and yes, even dancing the cha-cha slide.

At the end of the night she handed each guest the coolest goody bags - all personalized by Absorbent, Ink.! The bag was full of items decorated with the happy couple’s names and wedding date. I left with a customized match box, champagne flutes and a candle, all in a customized tote bag. I also happened to take my customized napkin. Don’t make fun - yes, I saved my napkin - unused of course! I thought the gifts were a really lovely way to not only thank the guests for coming, but to celebrate the couple’s new life together.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I must try to find someone who is dying for a Snoopy mug.

Ever the collector,

Abby Ink

American Idol has been on for how many years now? I remember the first season with Ms. Clarkson. My, has she come a long way or what? Eh, maybe she hasn’t, but that first season was something to remember. Then again, first seasons always are since they tend to make or break an entire series.

But that’s all beside the point. I won’t bore you with my view on television politics. I will, however, share with you some pretty interesting information I stumbled upon during my morning surf (on the Web. Wish I could say in the ocean, but then again, I’d probably end up in the hospital or something. Ah, and I digress). Michelle Bell, Counselor magazine’s senior editor, blogged back in November about “Rollabanas.” Rollabanas are nifty self-rolling mini banners that can be printed with full-color images or just words advertising and promoting your organization’s name. Besides being portable, the Rollabana has optional suction cups on its ends allowing you to stick the Rollabana to your car window or somewhere in your home or office. These promotional banners are an accessory and advertisement rolled into one. Absorbent, Ink. is now offering this unique product (currently ON SALE!) for you and your recipients to enjoy.

I bet you’re wondering what the American Idol punch line is gonna be, aren’t you? Two words: Justin Guarini. Memory not working for you? He was the curly-haired runner-up during season one. Still not ringing a bell? He also starred in the smash cinema hit (not so much) From Justin to Kelly alongside his former competitor, Kelly Clarkson herself! Really, the point is that Guarini is the spokesperson for Rollabanas. That’s right. He’s gonna stick these little banners all over his car windows and maybe even sing a tune about it (if we’re lucky).

Order these creative and out-of-the-ordinary banners for your organization today and remind your clients that the only time you suck is when it’s on their windows.

Justin Guarini 4ever,

Abby Ink

I am not really a huge fan of exercising. I don’t mind it, but it’s not the first thing on my mind when I wake up in the morning. But realizing that exercise is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, all I need is a little prodding (OK, sometimes a lot) to get into my exercise gear and head to the gym. But on days when I get off work late or when it’s raining and I don’t feel like stepping out of the house, I feel I have a legitimate excuse to skip exercising (Oh, happy day!). I leap at the opportunity to turn into a couch potato and spend the rest of my day in front of the T.V.

But one fine day, my boss just had to go and ruin my bliss. He handed out exercise mats and pedometers to all the employees and gave us all some good news (at least that’s what he thought it was). He happily informed us that research proves that when your employees exercise, it reduces absenteeism and improves the quality of work. Yoga in particular provides mental AND physical relaxation so, according to him, it’s the perfect exercise for us. So a friend of his, who is a hot-shot yoga instructor, was going to come in once a week and give us lessons free of charge. At that moment, I could actually see all my exercise-free days jumping out the window.

So, if your organization is looking for ways to get your employees to exercise, too, then Absorbent, Ink. has got you covered. Exercise and yoga mats and pedometers will definitely give your employees a push in the right (??) direction.

Oh, in case you are wondering … yes, I am still holding a grudge against my boss. It’s getting smaller. Like my tummy.

Still running,

Abby Ink

I remember summers as a kid – being sent off to a three-week summer camp that was polluted with teenage hormones and an endless amount of water activities. That’s no mind, though. There’s no need to sit and reminisce about days of old and first kisses with braces intact. As an adult, I find summer is about traveling (just not to Mexico… not this year, anyway). The funny thing is, some people are expert travelers who could handle a three-layover international flight with their eyes closed, while others become completely unhinged trying to find long-term parking.

Regardless of which traveler category you fall under, be it “I-could-this-do-this-blindfolded” or “novice,” many products exist that ease the inevitable frustrations of traveling, especially luggage-finding. We’ve all been there: You get off the plane in hopes of being one of the first to arrive at baggage claim, grab your luggage and be on your merry way. After power-walking all the way to that infamous conveyor belt, you stand patiently with both eyes peeled for your belongings. “Oh, there it is! Wait, no. Wrong one. There it is! Oh, no. Wrong again. Oh that’s definitely it.” After the fifth time this happens, things get extremely irritating. Each new piece of black luggage blends into the last one and you realize that, were this a life-or-death situation wherein someone said you have to find your bag now or else, you would be in trouble.

Fortunately, there is a perfect solution. Absorbent, Ink. offers a special luggage tag that will help alleviate this particular airport pain. The Grip-It Luggage Identifier is a brightly colored, helpful accessory that travelers can wrap around the handle of almost any piece of luggage. These luggage identifiers are an ideal promotional product for transportation and travel companies. Travelers of all shapes and sizes will accept these helpful gifts and not only use them to their traveling advantage, but will also be continually reminded of your company’s efforts to accelerate the tiring process of spotting luggage on the belt.

The captain has turned off the “fasten seatbelt” sign. You may continue your voyage … with more ease.

Safe (and easy) travels,

Abby Ink

I know I’ve already written once about chocolate, but here I am again with more chocolate things to say. What do you want from me? I’m a woman!

As I was casually browsing the Internet this morning (as you can tell, I am a very focused worker), I had the random idea to search for what holidays July has to offer other than the obvious ones. Sounds right out of left field, doesn’t it? Well, my thought was that America is a country full of inventiveness, creativity, and under-the-radar holidays so I might as well check it out for this month.

Lo and behold, there sat the words that are every woman’s dream: “July 7 – Chocolate Day.” My eyes welled with happy tears and my heart skipped a beat. What? A day in which we can freely eat as much chocolate as we want and blame it on our keen holiday-observance skills? As if this wasn’t enough for my chocolate-loving heart, I read on only to discover that this is a joint holiday between chocolate and sundaes! What?! Was someone pranking me? I was sure of it. I actually went so far as to march around the office stopping in random cubicles and conducting impromptu interrogations, but to no avail.

So it’s true, people. It’s really true. Now is the time to order those Chocolate Bars with Business Cards, Villa Chocolate Bars, or Eros Chocolate Bars! Absorbent, Ink. offers an endless array of promotional products of the chocolate variety. It’s whatever your heart and your recipients’ hearts desire. Regardless, you can’t go wrong. It’s chocolate for Heaven’s sake!

I am now going to celebrate the holiday with my own personal stockpile of chocolate treats I keep hidden in my desk. Don’t judge.

A chocolatey day to you and yours,

Abby Ink

Last week, I made the absolute mistake of attending my friend’s father’s retirement party. I should have known better considering that, nowadays, most conversations among people beyond the age of 25 hardly ever go beyond the dreaded economy. And that is exactly what happened. I was treated to three unending hours of “economy” talk and how lucky my friend’s dad was to be able to retire.

But that led me to think that I am definitely not the only one tired of reading and listening to how bad the economy is. I know, from experience, that the people who discuss this are themselves sick of the topic. So why do it? Well, when there is an elephant in the room, you can’t stop talking about it. Likewise, when something as large as the economy starts affecting people’s lives, they can’t stop themselves from talking about it even if they don’t want to.

So, I figured I might as well join the bandwagon and give you my two-cents worth. One of the best - and most economical - ways to promote your business today is to make use of promotional items that are different, topical and stand out from the rest. If you have been giving pens and calenders to your customers, it is time to change! Try something like mini fans (recipients will definitely appreciate those in this weather!) with your brand name on the fans or even on the fan blades. Or how about imprinted gumball machines for your V.I.P. customers? These will definitely let people know that you have a fun side too! Another promotional item that is fun, and cute to boot, is a stuffed animal. Customers of all ages will definitely love a cuddly teddy bear or stuffed moose.

And when people are talking about these great promotional products that you just gave them, they won’t be talking about the economy. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and dazzle everyone with your innovative gifts!

Yours,

Abby Ink

Chuck Norris – America’s own personal hero. I don’t know when Chuck Norris jokes became such a fad, but they did and it is hilarious. Best known for his role on “Walker, Texas Ranger,” Chuck Norris is a keen, lean fighting machine. Since we recently received an order from Chuck Norris’s official Web site, chucknorris.com, for our Dual Star Key Tags, I have decided to dedicate this blog entry to the man himself.

Here’s a list of facts about Chuck Norris from chucknorrisfacts.com:

Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

Chuck Norris counted to infinity – twice.

Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch – HE decides what time it is.

Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.

There is in fact an “I” in Norris, but there is no “team”… not even close.

There is no “ctrl” button on Chuck Norris’s computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.

Have you had enough? Probably for today. But thank you, Chuck Norris, for choosing Absorbent, Ink. as your promotional products provider! We can all learn a thing or two from Chuck.

Love,

Abby Ink.