Trophies2Go Blog

How do we give back to the community?  Each quarter, our staff chooses a charity to support through our 'Awards for A Cause' program.  This quarter, we have chosen the College Success Foundation as the program recipient.

What is the College Success Foundation?

The College Success Foundation helps students dreams come true!

For more than 13 years, the College Success Foundation (CSF) has been a leader in improving college access and completion for thousands of underrepresented students throughout Washington State and in Washington, D.C.

In 2000, CSF was founded in Issaquah, Washington by Bob Craves and Ann Ramsay-Jenkins to provide college scholarships and mentoring to low-income, high-potential students.  CSF provides the unique integrated system of supports and scholarships to inspire under-served, low-income students to finish high school, graduate from college and succeed in life.

CSF is headquartered in Washington State and includes its subsidiaries, Washington State Mentors and College Success Foundation – District of Columbia. Through its work, the foundation provides pathways for eligible students to succeed in college, and in so doing improves their economic future.  Find out more and like the CSF Facebook page!

Trophies2Go will make a donation to the College Success Foundation based on selected product purchases.  To see the trophies and awards that will benefit the charity go to our 'Awards for a Cause' page.   Thank you customers for supporting worthwhile charities in our community by purchasing 'Awards for a Cause' products!

Cheers!
Jessica

It’s time for Spring!  Daffodils are blooming, birdsong fills the air, and longer days are ahead.  Springtime not only brings new trends in fashion and home décor, but also in the awards industry.  Three weeks ago, I attended our annual trade show in Las Vegas and scoped out the hottest new awards for 2014.  So what are the must-have top trends for spring?

Trend #1: Bamboo

It’s the hottest wood in awards!  Sustainable and renewable, bamboo's hard surface and pretty honey color make the perfect material for plaques, picture frames, cutting boards, and even travel mugs!  Beautiful when laser engraved, bamboo awards and gifts are easily personalized.  Great to look at and good for the earth, these awards are a win-win!

Trend #2: Mixed Media Pieces

Many new awards combine more than one type of material together in exciting new combinations.  One of our suppliers, Victory, combines acrylic with sustainable bamboo (See Trend #1), displayed in an iron stand.

Trend #3: Wine

When you are invited to a friend's house for dinner, what do you bring?  A bottle of wine, of course!  According to the Wine Institute, in 2012, the total wine consumed per resident in the US was 2.73 gallons.  Personalized wine products , such as engraved wine bottles, wine storage boxes, and wine tools, are a current trend this year.  With the popularity of wine, it's no surprise.

Trend #4:  Custom, Custom, Custom

Just like last year, unique, personalized pieces were everywhere in Vegas.  Awards with full color photos, 3-dimensional acrylic awards made out of logos, and crystal awards filled with custom designs were hot at the show.  Nothing says "wow" like one-of-a-kind!

Trend #5: Olympic Style Medals

With the recent Winter Olympics in Sochi, a new style of medal has come on the scene.  The neck drape remains flat, threading through the medal, instead of being clipped on with a ring. This more modern look was available for marathon racing medals and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

Medals with a one-of-a-kind design and printed neck drapes are also all the rage (see Trend #3). Create your own personalized Olympic medals; if your group has a design in mind, we can make it a reality.

Mix things up with your awards this spring by picking a trendy piece! Just like with your wardrobe, adding one fun new item can really jazz up your awards program!

Cheers,
Jessica

If you can't go to Ireland, celebrating St. Patrick's Day is the next best thing!

Monday is St. Patrick’s Day, the luckiest day of the year!  Get your Irish on with games and laughter with friends, family or co-workers!

Tunes

Start things up with your favorite Irish songs.  While I was in college, my favorite hang out was an Irish pub called Kell’s.  Live music was a staple at Kells with lively sing-along drinking songs.  My favorites are The Rattlin’ Bog and Molly Malone (Cockles & Mussels) . Check out the renditions above to get in a Celtic mood!  You just gotta smile and tap a toe while listening to these sappy songs!

Awards

Host a "wear green to work"contest at the office or get the green beer flowing with an after hours game of beer pong!  Recognize your friends for being lucky to know you with these awesome awards!

Pot of Gold Award – It's at the end of the rainbow, guarded by a greedy Leprechaun!

Lucky Horseshoe – Forget 4-leaf clovers, horseshoes are the best symbols for good luck!

Flora Leaf Block -   Perfect for spring! Lovely crystal green leaves decorate the side of this clear optical crystal award.

Food

A kid-approved favorite!

The traditional Irish-inspired meal for St. Patrick’s Day is Corned Beef and Cabbage.  Other ideas include shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, and Irish soda bread.  Find great recipes to try at Allrecipes.com.

My favorite St. Patrick's Day treat is an American, kid-approved classic – green shamrock-shaped sugar cookies!  Yum!

Don’t forget to wear your green and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day!

Cheers,
Jessica

Last weekend I attended my 10-year-old daughter’s basketball game. I am so impressed with our team's two volunteer coaches.  Not only do they teach the girls drills, plays, and other skills for the game,  but they also show great sportsmanship as humble, calm leaders of the team.  Coach Bryce and Coach Michael are outstanding examples of positive parents in youth sports.

Take the Sports Parent Pledge!

The National Alliance for Youth Sports is encouraging parents to be role models for their kids through their Sports Parent Pledge.  New series like HBO’s Trophy Kids and Esquire’s Friday Night Tykes bring attention to the roles adults – and especially parents – play in youth sports. And while we do hear about the negative incidences each day in the news, there is a lot of good being done in sports, too, that we don’t hear about.

The Sports Parent Pledge gives parents the opportunity to ban together and make a statement that not all sports parents are like what’s depicted on TV and in the news, while also getting a six-part email series packed with useful information and resources they can use to enrich their families youth sports experience.

Since Trophies2Go is a sponsor of the National Alliance for Youth Sports, I encourage you to take their pledge, like their Facebook page or share your parent pledge on twitter @NAYS_edu.

As engaged, caring and involved parents, let’s take the pledge to keep youth sports positive!

Cheers,
Jessica

As I watch the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi with my family, it inspires me to excel, not just in business but in all aspects of my life.  In 2010, Jeff was fortunate enough to attend the Winter Olympics in Whistler, Canada.  He said that the athleticism and dedication he witnessed was truly awe-inspiring.   It definitely made an impression on him.

If you are like me, you’ve grown up watching the Olympics and have at one time or another wondered what it would be like to have a coveted gold medal hanging around your neck. To the majority of us, the thought is unfathomable. Yet we all grasp the amount of discipline, perseverance, and just plain hard work that goes into being an Olympian – not only the winners, but all of the participants as well.

Every Day Olympians

Only a select few are able to compete at the Olympics – the best of the best.  What about everybody else?  I believe that each person has strengths in life.  Through recognizing what those strengths are, followed by training and practice, that strength can be honed into making each person be the best they can be.  When a person is doing their best, trying their hardest, stretching themselves, they grow.  Add goal setting, determination, and focus, and you have what it takes to make an “every day” Olympic champion, regardless of the situation.  This focus, dedication, and accomplishment is what our business celebrates and we are proud to create mementos to capture that achievement.  Every day Olympians in action, getting the recognition they deserve!

 What Will You Take Away From 2014 Sochi?

Olympic Champions!

As you watch the games, find inspiration in the perseverance of the athletes.

For you -  How can you strive to hone your strengths?  Are there new goals you can set for yourself?   Use the momentum of the athletes to help yourself grow.

For others - Is there someone in your life who takes their game to the next level?  Look in your work, family, friends and acquaintances.  Do they deserve some special recognition?  If yes, then let them know you notice, even a note or email can make an impression.  For example, last week Jeff & I received an email from our daughter's teacher praising her efforts in class.  He said she managed to  stay to focused, have a good work ethic, and help her classmates even though that particular class is usually disruptive.  It meant a lot to Jeff and I that he wrote to us, and it was very meaningful to our daughter too.  This positive reinforcement will keep her motivated to do her best in his class.  When you give recognition, it benefits both the giver and the receiver.

I hope you enjoy watching the Olympic Games as much as I do.  It's fun to hear the stories of the athletes and root them on to victory!  Go Team USA!

Cheers,
Jessica