Chili Cook-Off!

A few weeks ago, some creatives were discussing their varying chili recipes and an idea was born. Why not have an agency chili cook-off and have a chance to taste everyone's different creations? So today 8 very different chilis made their way into the office in bid for a Chili's gift card grand prize. We had chicken chili, veggie-heavy chili, chili with noodles, thin chili, thick chili and even a chili with beer. After the rest of the agency spent lunch tasting and comparing the chili varieties they voted on their favorites.

And the winner? The delicious White Chicken Chili brought in by our receptionist Gail. Congrats Gail!

We Are Fallon Plaque Is Complete

Because we blogged about this a few months ago, the good people at Fallon sent us an update on their We Are Fallon plaque. The idea was, they solicited former and current employees to donate awards they'd won at the agency to be melted together into a giant plaque to hang in Fallon's new office space. The idea is very cool, melting together awards to represent what's made the agency what it is today. They received over one hundred donated awards for the project! More than one from some ad greats like Bob Barrie. Speaking of which, you should check a few more of the promo videos that came out since we last blogged about this as well as the final making of the plaque videos at their website for the project.

It's all very well done, but would you expect any less from Fallon?

Charlie Brown As A Copywriter

Our agency is a much more friendly work environment than what's portrayed here, but I thought this little twist on a Charlie Brown Christmas is a fun little piece for anyone in the ad world.



(via AdFreak)

Our COO Is Using Us As Guinea Pigs

But we're okay with it, because we are Thanksgiving Pie guinea pigs. We all strode into the Creative Department this morning to see a homemade Sweet Potato Pie and rating sheet to greet us. Our COO apparently wants to test out his Thanksgiving Pie options on us prior to the Big Day. It's a thankless job, but we're willing to take it on and dive in, even if it is 9 a.m. I'm hoping for more to compare it to in the coming weeks. (hint, hint)

Pumpkin, Pumpkin, the Great Pumpkin!

Last Thursday we had a Creative Department excursion for a little creative fun and bonding between our art directors, designers and copywriters. We headed out to a local pumpkin patch, picked out our canvases and headed back to the office for some creative carving. Today, the rest of the office is voting on their favorites. Which one is your favorite?

Moving On From Movie Quotes

Earlier posted about our boss's first chalkboard wall, Song Lyrics. Once the song lyrics were erased, we started in on movie quotes and now that we've filled the wall again, we'll erase and start over. This round is an agency collaborative story contributed one sentence at a time.

This should be interesting.


View the large, and legible, image of the movie quotes wall by clicking on the photo above.

Missing Megan

If you haven't noticed, my counterpart is still MIA. You may also have noticed the typo on the poll to the right (others have). Sadly, my bad proofing skills have come to light without Megan keeping me in check—see how things fall apart when she's not here?

Unfortunately, I can't edit the poll without erasing it completely, thus erasing all the current votes, so the typo will have to stay until the poll is completed. That would drive Megan crazy. Good thing she's too busy with giant moving trucks and setting up her new home to notice—yet.

Hurry back Megan! We miss you! And this blog is starting to feel decidedly one-sided.

A Red Hot Journey to Nirvana

At the beginning of the summer, our boss painted a wall in his office with chalkboard paint and allowed only song lyrics to be written on it. Two months and many contributors later, there's no more room on the wall and we're starting over with a new theme—but not before documenting this one and the surprising amount of memories it holds. Listen in to the eclectic mix...

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Over the next couple of weeks, Megan will be honeymooning and relocating and I'll be biking through Germany—so we'll be taking a short break from blogging. What's going to happen to the Creative Cooler during this hiatus? Don't you worry—we have a few posts up our sleeve and some agency friends keeping tabs here until we get back.

Most notably, we'd like to introduce you to our newest copywriter at the agency, lil' Bill, who'll be blogging and checking in. We think you'll enjoy his musings.

Summer Fun (and Food)

Every other Friday in the summer, the agency has a summer picnic. Have a brat, burger or chicken and bring a dish to pass. We all sit around chatting in the warm weather and stuffing ourselves with sides and salads and far too many desserts. As a baker, I love the cookouts and am generally responsible for one of those many desserts. It's a great time to chat with coworkers and add some new recipes to your repertoire, even if it leaves you in a food coma for the rest of the afternoon—or like today, buzzing from Jeff's delicious, but potent rum cake. Yum.

Daisy Sprouts

I may redeem myself yet...

What to do with all those awards?

Fallon is apparently rolling in so many Clios and One Show Pencils they don't know what to do with them all—so they're melting them together to make a large 'You Are Fallon' sign. Man, if only I had that problem... you can have my Addys! But a One Show Pencil? I'd let that carefully gather dust for many, many years...

Check out their promotional videos:

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar is a sweet salsa that's been an agency staple ever since it was introduced here by a former employee a few years ago. It's a fantastic summer party dish since it's easy, you make it the night before, and it makes a ton. A big Happy Birthday and thanks to Gail for bringing it in. Here's the recipe!

COWBOY CAVIAR

DRESSING:

1/2 CUP VINEGAR
1/2 CUP SUGAR
1 CUP OIL

BRING THE DRESSING INGREDIENTS TO A BOIL AND LET COOL

DRAIN AND RINSE ALL THE FOLLOWING CANNED INGREDIENTS FIRST AND PUT IN BIG BOWL WITH FRESH INGREDIENTS

1 CAN WHITE CORN (OR GREEN GIANT MEXI-CORN) I USE 2 CANS MEXI CORN
1 CAN PINTO BEANS W/JALAPENOS
1 CAN BLACK-EYED PEAS W/JALAPENOS
1 CAN BLACK BEANS (RINSE THOROUGHLY)
1 EACH GREEN, YELLOW AND RED PEPPERS - CHOPPED
1 MEDIUM RED ONION - CHOPPED
CILANTRO CHOPPED (TO TASTE)

POUR COOLED DRESSING OVER ALL AND STIR GENTLY WITH A SPATULA

REFRIGERATE OVERNIGHT FOR BEST TASTE

SERVE WITH CHIPS, ALSO GREAT AS A SALAD

Let's Try This Again

I refuse to give up on my black thumb. I'm now attempting to grow some daisies, my favorite flowers, in anticipation of summer. Wish me luck!

Cutting Through The Creative Clutter

As an agency art director and designer, I get bombarded with direct mail from stock photo sites and paper companies. All of these mailings are always using some latest printing technology or are thick booklets filled with photos—nice and well designed, but their content is overall pretty boring and most go directly into my recycling bin after a 2-second review. Every once in awhile, however, something catches my eye. Most often it's a mailing from Veer, a stock photo and font Web site with a more playful brand than most. Nine times out of 10, if I stop to read a piece or hang up a piece in my office for inspiration (the ultimate honor), it's a piece from Veer. An exception being something like the calendar from Mohawk Paper above.











Veer's latest mailing is probably one of my all time favorites. I'm a little delayed on this since I received it a week or two ago, but didn't have time to look through it until today. It's a little Creative's Secret Handbook filled with silly, but clever copy ranging from challenging riddles that will get you discounts on the website to random entertaining bits like Creative Secret Handshakes. I have to give kudos to Veer for this mailing, it's really one of the most entertaining I've received. I haven't figured out what that key is for yet, but I'm working on it.

Wildlife Update II

Last week, the turkeys in our backyard were really active. There seemed to be some territorial conflicts among the males. Does anyone know, is mating season upon us? Or maybe they're just having ego issues again. Typical.

We didn't catch any of the flap attacks on film, but we did get some walking and pecking footage. Christine put together this lovely video for your enjoyment:



In related news, turkey poults hatched during March 2008 were up slightly from last year. Thanks to our CD for tipping me off to Turkey Hatchery. My excitement is overwhelming.

A Little Wine and Cheese with Your Friday?

Kudos to our account execs who brought in wine and cheeses for a spontaneous wine and cheese tasting in the office this afternoon! It was very pleasant surprise when I walked downstairs to discuss a photo. Proof that our AE's have fun too.

Agency Antics

The other day I lazily turned around at my desk to find 10 photos of this woman I don't know creepily smiling and staring at me through the window of the shared wall behind me. I gave a little yelp of surprise and half jumped out of my chair, much to the amusement of my neighbor on the other side of that window. Granted, she was not the culprit, but she'd been waiting to see how long it would take me to realize they were there. Far too long. Apparently, I am not very aware.

Such is the life in the creative department—sometimes you turn around to find a mango on your bookshelf smiling (yes, smiling) down at you. Other times you may be hit in the head with a wad of paper by another neighbor, shot with a Nerf gun or come in to work to find a crime scene drawn around a toy on your desk.

Even with all the antics, somewhere in the middle of it all, we do get our work done. Promise.

R.I.P.

I've been on a bit of a killing spree lately. First, my little office goldfish, Ipsum, and now my little clover. Well, it probably didn't help that I forgot to water the clover since I last posted about it...

It Keeps Growing

I have yet to kill it, so my little clover is still growing—reminding us that spring should be around the corner soon. It's a little late for St. Patty's, but cute none the less.