Remember several weeks ago when we had the insanely wild travel schedule, when the Pineapples split up and headed simultaneously to Nashville and San Antonio? We are pleased to present to you the first spot from the new Nelson Mazda Tulsa campaign. Let's head to Nashville with the Park family! 

For some reason my embedding tool doesn't feel like working today, so please click HERE to watch. You'll be glad you did.

We had such a great time shooting this commercial! I was the official driver on this trip, and got to see a lot of fun things along the way. (I'd never been to Little Rock before.) We also made a stop at Graceland, which I've always avoided before because I admit, I don't love Elvis. But it was still neat to see. It was fun for the Park family, too, as they are all huge Elvis fans. 

It's birthday season around Pineapple HQ, and we celebrated Jay's birthday on Wednesday with a fabulous lunch at one of our favorite places, Chuy's. Everyone else loves the salsa, but I'm addicted to the (very unhealthy) queso. If you haven't tried it yet, you definitely should. It's worth checking out. We got so excited about the yummy food that we forgot to take our traditional photo!

We did get a delivery of some fantastic muffins from Mimi's Cafe on Wednesday…I'm pretty sure I gained weight just by looking at them. (I ate one, too, so  I'm doomed.) 

I'm not sure if Jason did something to Barlow, or if Barlow was just feeling feisty, but he managed to swipe a couple of Jason's prized possessions for us to have some fun. Instead of sending a ransom note, Jay and I decided to have some fun! I'm growing a little attached to the trucker hat look; maybe I'll just keep it!

Pineapple fans, have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy this summer weather and remember, our commercials don't suck!

First up is Davis-Moore Nissan in Wichita, Kansas. For them we wanted to do something a little different to showcase their fun-loving staff. Without further ado, we introduce to you: The Davis-Moore Nissan Guys!

Next up for Davis-Moore is a spot titled "Dawn Walk."  It features the Davis-Moore Nissan Guys AND the new store on Kellogg in Wichita! Click HERE to watch!

We have more Davis-Moore Nissan spots to come…I don't want to overwhelm you all at once! 

As you may know, we have a new client in Carbondale, Illinois; Pineapple is proud to be picked by Vic Koenig Chevrolet! Vic is a very kind, easygoing, all-around nice guy, and we wanted to drive that message home with this first spot, "Get to Know Vic." Click HERE to watch!

The whole idea of the Vic Koenig campaign is that Vic doesn't do the typical car-buying "drama". We decided to have a little fun with these spots and called the campaign "Embrace the Drama." We think they turned out so well; what do you think? Here is the first one in the series: click HERE! 

We got some new photos in for the Wall of Awesome this week:

The other highlight of this week was MY BIRTHDAY! Yes, it's in all caps; yes, it's that important. Barlow and Jay took me to lunch at Forest Ridge, and it was delicious. Plus I got an extra-yummy and EXTRA-large ice cream sundae out of the deal. I ate way too much of it.

That about wraps up this week; I'm feeling a bit more in a video and photo mood today, rather than talking your ear off. (Writing your ear off?) Have a wonderful weekend, and we'll see you soon!

I have been busy placing annual media buys for our clients in Portland, Connecticut, New York and Illinois. There are lots of new markets to learn and lots of new Account Executives to meet. Everyone has been tremendously helpful and easy to work with, and Pineapple is happy to be showing our creative to tons of new viewers. We will have new spots to debut next week for several of our clients, including Nelson Mazda in Tulsa.

Today was a busy day at Pineapple HQ. We kicked off the morning with a productive meeting with Rodney from Nelson Nissan, followed by a meeting about new Surf n' Fusion products. This is going to be BIG! Watch our facebook page for more updates from Jay on this one! Our friend Denae, from NCC Media in Dallas, came up to have lunch with Jay and me. She gave me a crash course in Connecticut and New York cable markets, which was tremendously helpful. We had a fantastic lunch at Main Street Tavern (fried cheese!!!), while Barlow had a lunch meeting with John Trook of KTUL a few tables away. We wrapped our afternoon with an interview with the local newspaper, the Broken Arrow Ledger. It publishes on Wednesdays, so be on the lookout for a story about the Pineapple People! We took some fun photos that included Barlow showing off his surfing skills, and of course, we had to take some with our Cowboy orange pool table.

Our travel season is complete, for the time being. (Except Jay gets to head north in a couple of weeks to pay a visit to our favorite Connecticut/New York clients! I wonder if he'll pick up another Yale shirt while he's there. Perhaps a Yale baby tee for little Ian?) But with our incredibly busy production season wrapped, that means we have an insane amount of new commercials heading down the pike in the next week or two. Be sure to follow us on facebook and Twitter (if you don't already) to see them before anyone else!

Have a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans. We'll talk soon!

Wichita. San Antonio. Nashville. Gresham.

Portland. Cardondale. Hartford. New York City. New Haven.

These are some of the cities that we've seen in the past six weeks. If you count airport stops, we also hit St. Louis, Denver and Boise. 

In the middle of all that traveling, the moving fairy came to life and our office magically relocated one night, all by itself. Unfortunately, we weren't around to enjoy it.

BUT. Now we are BACK! And I'm sure you all want us to come visit you, but it's just not gonna happen for a while. We are going to get settled into our amazing new office space in downtown Broken Arrow and just get back into a daily routine.

The brand-new Pineapple HQ is truly spectactular. And to make it even more wonderful, we have fantastic Mexican food right across the street, a delicious restaurant literally beneath our feet (with an extensive beer selection), and a chocolatier just a few short steps away. This spells trouble for our weight loss challenge. (I am not winning, but neither is Barlow.) The good news is, I have been improving my billiards skills. Too bad there isn't more cardio involved in Nine Ball.

Let's see, I have already filled you in on Hartford and New York City and New Haven. Have I told you all about Nashville and San Antonio? I can't remember anymore. I know you all haven't heard about Portland, so let's talk about that. Our newest client is Nissan of Gresham, which is on the outskirts of Portland. If you haven't been to Oregon, it is absolutely gorgeous. (I learned that several films and TV shows are shot there, like Twilight, Portlandia, Leverage and Grimm. Fun fact.) Our crew decided against a traditional hotel and rented a cabin near Mount Hood, and we spent the week like the big happy family that we are. Barlow even cooked for us several times and did a surprisingly good job. It was an obvious attempt to sabotage Jason and me in the weight loss challenge. It worked. 

The campaign for Nissan of Gresham is, in true Pineapple fashion, different than anything else. Let me just say that it involved 500 long-stem red roses, pedestals, plenty of red carpet, candles and cars. FIVE HUNDRED ROSES. With thorns. BUT the spots are going to be awesome. Of course.

If you haven't been following us on facebook, you should be. We released a ton of new spots this week from Gilland Chevrolet, Taste the World Photography, Car Country, Harte Nissan and Harte Infiniti. Yes, all of those were completed this week! Crazy, isn't it? It's nice to see the fruit of all our labors, though. 

Next week's blog will feature nothing but new spots. How about that? This is getting a bit lengthy and I don't want to bore anyone. But I will post one now just for fun. This is the first spot for the Harte Nissan stores in Connecticut. Code Green in the house! It's breathtaking…. http://youtu.be/rHoZQFn030Y. (Jay decided to get all fancy with my blog, and I'm not clever enough to figure out how to embed videos like I used to. But just use that link until I figure it out!)

I hope that everyone has a terrific upcoming weekend. And that no oxygen mask is required.

On Monday morning, I received a phone call from Jay at 7:30 a.m., telling me that Pineapple HQ was empty. As in, everything gone. No furniture, no computers, no surfboard….nothing but a lone paperclip on the floor. Hmm. This had "Barlow" written all over it! We received an email from the boss man a short time later, asking us to meet him in downtown Broken Arrow. And then, the new Pineapple HQ was revealed. And to borrow a word from Jay, it is SPECTACULAR. We are now located in a loft over the Main Street Tavern in downtown BA. Our foosball table is back, and we've added a pool table (orange, of course!) to the mix. We are pleased to have our striped wall back, along with some fabulous damask wallpaper. And I'm sure Jay is happy that he doesn't have to stare at my mug all day; we are a lot more spread out now! Feel free to drop by for a visit, but I'm warning you…you WILL have to play a game of pool. 

After the crazy day we had on Monday, Barlow and I headed north to Wichita on Monday night. We started shooting at Davis-Moore Nissan bright and early on Tuesday. The "Wichita Wow" campaign is going to be really funny; hats off to Sean and Cory for doing such a great job as the "Davis-Moore Nissan Guys." The staff was fantastic as always, and great sports. Thanks to Tara for making everything happen! If you're in Wichita, be sure to stop by and see the new Nissan store; it's beautiful!

After a long day and a long, late drive home, we began Wednesday at Nelson Mazda Tulsa. We were shooting before the sun was up! The Pineapple teams split into two groups to shoot two separate commercials; one team headed south to San Antonio and the other headed east to Nashville. Barlow's team stopped at such infamous places as Billy Bob's, the Alamo and the University of Texas. The fact that they were decked out in OU gear did not bode well for them. I had a really fun pic of them on the stuffed bull at Billy Bob's, but thanks to lame Timeline on facebook, it's not showing up. So I'll just have to share a couple of Nashville pics from my journey instead!

The Park Family bluegrass band (Olivia, Ava and Paige) jam out at River Market in Little Rock. We stopped at a few places there, then headed out to Memphis, where we hung out at Graceland for awhile and had some good old Elvis fun.

We wrapped around 1 a.m. in downtown Nashville. (I didn't get any photos, because I was guarding our cars from being towed!) The girls did some fiddling on Broadway before we finished for the day, making it back to our hotel around 2 a.m. After a a short few hours of sleep, Jason and I snagged an earlier flight, thanks to us finishing early, and flew back to Tulsa. We're all a little sleepy and delirious, but we are going to have some amazing commercials for our client. They'll be done in a few weeks, so stay ready! 

We've got a couple more days in our new office before we go to Portland, Oregon, next week to shoot the Nissan of Gresham campaign. And after that, we're taking a traveling break! We've earned enough frequent flier miles for the month. I hope all of you have a magical Easter weekend. This Sunday is finale of the Come Alive series at The Assembly of Broken Arrow, so if you're so inclined, go check it out. They have three services on Sunday morning! Happy Easter, Pineapple fans!

I've got buys to place in six new markets, so that's always a challenge. I love getting the chance to put things together and meet the new account representatives, though! 

The new spots for Harte Auto Group and Gilland Chevrolet GMC are in the final stages of production, so hold on just a little longer, and we'll show you the finished product. I can't wait to see them myself! We've been on a humorous roll lately, and the new spots are guaranteed to make you laugh.

On Monday, the crew is heading north to Wichita to shoot the new campaign for Davis-Moore Nissan. We love working with them; the staff is always excited and willing to do whatever ridiculous things we ask them to do, with no complaints. Hope they're ready for us this time! After driving back to Tulsa on Tuesday night, we will be at it again bright and early (actually, just early) on Wednesday morning, when it's time to rock and roll for Nelson Mazda Tulsa. Our crews will split into two groups and hit the road for San Antonio and Nashville, before heading back on Thursday. It's going to be a long week, but full of production…my favorite thing!

The following week will see us flying to the Pacific Northwest and Gresham, Oregon, where Pineapple will help to launch a brand-new Nissan store. (In rounding up props for this one, I discovered that they sell caskets at Costco. Who knew?) And THEN, it's off to Carbondale, Illinois, to film for Vic Koenig Chevrolet! April is turning out to be the busiest month I've ever spent in my life, and I've worked Black Friday and the holiday season at the largest mall in Oklahoma, so that's saying a lot. Trust me, this is a million times better!

We had a nice visit from Ben at Cox Media this week, and he presented me with some more Digi swag. Thanks, Ben!

Well, I won't keep you any longer. Go outside and enjoy the fantastic weather we're having! And if you're stuck in a cubicle today, I'm sorry. See you next week!

Last week was another busy one for the Pineapples (seeing a trend here?). Jay, Barlow, Jason and I headed north to visit our new client at Harte Auto Group in Hartford, Connecticut (or ConnECticut, as Jay likes to say). The day before the production, we took a couple of hours to tour the area and did a quick stop at Yale University, which was absolutely gorgeous.

And of course, we had to buy tee shirts. They look educated, right?

But then we got down to some serious Code Green business at Harte Nissan! The staff was great fun to work with, and we had some amazing talent on hand for the shoot, too. Everyone was a good sport about wearing green scrubs, and breathing into oxygen masks or brown paper bags. These spots are going to be hilarious, trust me.

After a long day of shooting, we decided to venture south to Manhattan. It was a quick trip, but we had a lot of fun. New York City is always a good time. I didn't get the hot dog that I wanted, but we did have some fantastic late-night pizza. The next day we found a cool little diner for breakfast (not on our diets, by the way) and then took the subway to Battery Park and the Ground Zero area. 

This week was a little slower; Barlow and Jay flew to St. Louis for the day and visited with Vic Koenig Chevrolet in Carbondale, Illinois. They've decided to Pick the Pineapple! Welcome aboard, Vic!

Next week we will actually all be at Pineapple HQ every day, before we head to Wichita, San Antonio and Nashville the following week. After that, it's off to the Pacific Northwest to shoot new spots for Nissan of Gresham. Travel season is in full swing! I hope everyone is having a wonderful spring break, despite the rain. We'll see you next week! 

Last week, Barlow, Jason and I traveled to Florida and Alabama. Jay had to sit this one out, as he was busy at the hospital welcoming little Ian into the world. Many congrats to Jay and Kami….Ian is a doll! We flew from Tulsa on Wednesday to Panama City and had a lovely dinner with the crew from David Scott Fine Jewelry. We had a great time with them, as always! Thanks to Scott, Rebecca, Keith and Nicci for taking time out to meet (and eat) with us. (And thanks to the random keyboard player who entertained us with 80s love songs!)

On Thursday, we drove north to Ozark, Alabama, to shoot a new campaign for Gilland Chevrolet GMC. It was fun for me (as productions always are), mainly because I got to meet the Gillands and their staff. I also got to drive a Silverado with only nine miles on it. Can't say I've ever done that before!

The Trade Spot campaign is continuing, this time with a humorous spin. These commercials are going to be hilarious! We also had some amazingly talented actors, which always helps. Everything went smoothly, minus the sudden rainstorm and the threat or tornadoes. I also got to run the audio for the first time. Don't I look awesome in headphones?

I also got a fun shot of Barlow and Jason acting tough. Which they SO are. 

After that, we drove back to Panama City. I was a little disappointed because the Gilland gang told us we had to try boiled peanuts, and we missed our chance. Maybe next time! It was a whirlwind trip, but a successful one. 

So there you have it. I missed the blog because I was on a plane. My apologies. Next week we're on the road again, to Hartford, Connecticut, so I'll do my best to get it done early! Have a great weekend, and enjoy this blast of winter weather we're having. Oh, and your commercials suck.

We had quite a bit of success at NADA, and Barlow and Jay are doing some traveling next week to visit some potential Pineapple Pickers. They're going to visit two very major cities in two days, logging quite a few airline miles along the way. Southwest, you're welcome. The following week, we'll drive to Arkansas to visit another group that the guys met in Vegas, and then we'll head north to Wichita to chat with our friends at Davis-Moore Nissan. It's just about time to launch a new campaign for them! In the middle of all that, we're going to shoot ELEVEN commercials in one day for Taste the World Photography. February is definitely filling up fast! I'm just happy to be planning another production; it's one of my favorite things to do and I haven't gotten to do it in a while.

Now, are you ready for our big news? Pineapple is fortunate enough to be one of the front-runners of a new product that is literally going to change the face of internet advertising. Jay is heading up this new venture, called Digital Pineapple, and the "geek" in him is loving it. (He's a self-proclaimed geek, so don't think I'm being mean!)

The new platform is changing the method of the traditional search engine. We can now allow you to search terms through your browser, rather than a search engine. What does that mean? Your company can purchase keywords, and when your keyword is searched, the top third of the page will be YOUR website. It's not just, "Oh, my link is at the top of the search results." No, sir. This is completely different. And the beauty is, since it works through your browser (Microsoft browsers, that is), it doesn't matter which search engine you use. Google, Yahoo, MSN, Bing, even Craigslist.

Several global powerhouse companies have already gotten on board with this (Hershey's, Toyota, UPS), so it's definitely no joke. Visit this link to get a demo and see what this means for the future of the internet. You can also see if keywords you may be interested in are available. Take my word for it, they're going fast! And if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jay at jay@pickthepineapple.com. This is serious stuff, people!

It's been a really exciting week at Pineapple HQ. We are ecstatic that our company is growing in leaps and bounds in a matter of days. We're all a little giddy! On that note, have a wonderful weekend, folks, and we'll chat soon!

Well, Pineapple fans, it’s that time of year again…time for NADA in fabulous Las Vegas! If you’ll remember, last year the guys flew from Nashville to San Francisco for the convention, while our booth got stranded in a warehouse in Tulsa during the largest blizzard in the history of Oklahoma. Remember good old Snowpocalypse? It took some fancy footwork, but they did the best they could, which involved purchasing a TV in Cali to show our commercials on, and me chasing down a printer to make a sign that said, “Our booth got stuck in the snow. Please watch our commercials anyway.” That being said, we still ended up with some new clients that could see the awesomeness of the Pineapple even without our fancy booth.

This year, we went another route, going for a minimalistic booth consisting of a projector and some pop-up signs declaring why Your Commercials Suck. The best part is, all of it is able to be carried onto the plane, which means it should get there in one piece. But of course, nothing ever goes as planned. Barlow informed me this morning that Denver (where their layover is supposed to take place tomorrow) is under a blizzard advisory. More fancy footwork on my part: Barlow is now en route a day early, and Jay will fly out tomorrow and change planes in Houston instead. Let’s hope for no delays so that Barlow doesn’t have to set up the booth alone. (Although it shouldn’t be hard this year.)

If you’re a current client attending NADA, be sure to stop by and see the guys. And if you’re on Twitter, tweet about us using hashtags #pickthepineapple and #NADA2012. Rumor has it that huge screens will be set up on the convention floor running a live Twitter feed, so be sure to spread the word about us!

Our website was relaunched this week and is now mobile-friendly! So you can now view our awesome commercials on your iPad, phone, or whatever, without being tethered to your computer. Pretty awesome, and just in time for NADA. I hope that everyone on the convention floor takes a moment to check it out on their phones, and then tweets about it. Do it!

Also don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Barlow is @pickpineapple, Jay is @letter10, I’m @smashgirlfriday and Jimmy the executive minion is @thejimmynorton. You’ll be entertained, I promise. Also be sure to check our facebook page at www.facebook.com/pineapplead for updates from fabulous Las Vegas! I hope they see a celebrity and post a pic, although nobody too cool because then I’d be jealous. If the guys run into Vince Vaughn, I’m never speaking to them again.

From all of us here at Pineapple, have a great weekend! Take advantage of the amazing weather; it’s definitely a 180 turn from last year’s Snowmageddon. And if you haven’t Picked Us, your commercials suck…but they don’t have to!

The big news from this week is the launch of the brand-new mobile-friendly Pineapple website. You'll now be able to view our site from your phone or iPad, which is awesome! So when you're bored sitting in traffic, or at the doctor's office, or whatever, you can watch our spots! The relaunch is coming just in time for NADA 2012, which is perfect timing for all of our potential new clients who will be itching to Pick the Pineapple as soon as they meet us and see our work. That's a given!

We've picked up several new clients for our Social Attack program, and we've been having a blast posting on Facebook and Twitter and getting to know the fans and followers for David Scott Fine Jewelry, Gilland Chevrolet GMC and Forest Ridge Golf Club. I've been learning a lot about engagement rings, which is fun for me…I'm a sucker for all things wedding-related. We're off to a fantastic start for all of them, and we couldn't be happier about the results.

The guys leave a week from today for fabulous Las Vegas, to attend NADA 2012. It's a great opportunity to not only meet potential clients and spread the word about Pineapple, but a good time to catch up with several of our current clients, as well. I'm sure Jay and Barlow will find a fabulous venue in which to watch the Super Bowl, too. I'm a little sad that I have to stay behind, but I went to Vegas last time, so it's Jay's turn. I guess.

All of us have been getting a lot more involved with Twitter, so it's time for you to follow us! You can follow our main feed @PineappleAd. If you want the scoop on sucky commercials, and nothing but blunt honesty, follow Barlow @PickPineapple. You can also follow Jay @letter10, me @smashgirlfriday and Jimmy the executive minion @thejimmynorton. We're all pretty observant and have very different views on life, so I guarantee you'll be entertained. If you're not on Twitter yet, you should be! It's addicting.

We've got two productions on the books in the next three weeks, so that's keeping us busy, too. (I just learned what "pipe and drape" is. I mean, I knew what it was, but not that it had a name. Learn something new every day!) We are about to churn out some super creative stuff, so stay tuned.

From all of the Pineapple People, have a fabulous weekend, and enjoy the warmer-than-average weather. Maybe we'll get lucky and avoid a blizzard this year….happy Friday, y'all!

Holidays are a special time for the Pineapples, and the Barlows hosted another fantastic Christmas party for the group. They always graciously open their home to us and it’s done in true Barlow fashion; no karaoke and a keg for us. Lori whipped up a terrific holiday meal, and then we had our traditional gift exchange. This year we added a gag gift twist to the celebration, and with all of our inside jokes, it was pretty darn funny. Barlow was the winner with his gift to me, which made me sad at first. (Long story.) But he turned it around by arranging a special appearance with a guy I’ve always wanted to meet: Fox 23′s Ron Terrell! It made my day!

It’s been a busy week since I’ve been back. We are in the final stages of preparing to send Barlow and Jay to fabulous Las Vegas in a couple of weeks for NADA, THE convention for car dealerships. We are counting on convincing some new folks to Pick the Pineapple! We’ve also changed up our booth. It’s much more compact, so there will be no shipping it, which means zero chance of it getting stuck in a warehouse in a blizzard, like last year.

I managed to complete all of the annual media buys for our clients while I was out (in between feedings, of course!), so we are set to go for 2012. We’ve got several productions lined up for the next few weeks, and I’m excited; I’ve missed production shoot days! And it will be much easier on me since I don’t have a huge belly to lug around anymore.

We have three new spots that have been launched since the beginning of the year, so it’s time to share! First up, the newest commercial for David Scott Fine Jewelry in Panama City. We had a great time shooting this, not only because the gang at David Scott is a blast, but because we got to go to Panama City, which is beautiful. This was the last shoot that I got to go on, literally the last week that I was cleared to fly. I don’t know how much help I was because I had that previously mentioned huge belly and ankles the size of tree trunks at that point. But the spot turned out great!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6TCwxR4nIE&w=420&h=315]

It’s what you’ve been waiting for….Rog is back, and he’s ruling the courtroom! I was actually in the middle of making all the arrangements for this shoot when I ended up in the hospital three weeks earlier than planned. I was faced with a real problem when I got a call that our original courtroom couldn’t be used, as I was literally in a hospital bed when I received that news. Luckily, I had some reinforcements that were able to save the day!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU9ETJHy9fo&w=560&h=315]

Next up is our newest release for Davis-Moore Nissan in Wichita. I was completely out of the loop on this one, so Barlow got to take the bull by the horns and line everything up. (I like to think he became more and more appreciative of my work during that time, haha!) He was thrown a curveball when the original actor slated to play the dad got sick at the last minute, so he had to step in and put on his acting hat. (This isn’t a normal occurrence!) He got everything done and everyone drove off to Denver. This is a shoot that I really would have liked to have been on, because it’s so different than what we normally do. This is one of my favorites!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV_hCb7D0OU&w=560&h=315]

Jay has been working on revamping the Pineapple website, so we’ll let you know when that’s complete. Also, all of the Pineapple People are becoming more active on Twitter, so be sure to follow all of us. Barlow will let you know which local commercials SUCK and which companies are in desperate need of Picking Us! Follow Barlow at @PickPineapple, me at @smashgirlfriday and Jay at @letter10. Our executive minion, Jimmy, can be found at @thejimmynorton. You won’t be disappointed. We’re pretty honest!

It’s good to be back, Pineapple fans! Thanks to everyone that sent well-wishes and gifts and flowers. I appreciate all of you!

The meeting with Gilland was a productive one; we will be producing a new campaign for them soon. In addition, the Pineapples will also be launching their new website shortly and begin managing their social networking. Things are going well in Alabama!

It was great to see the gang from David Scott Fine Jewelry; they are a lot of fun! They were presented with their new commercials and they loved them. This campaign is going to be the talk of Panama City; I just know it! Just to give you a taste, see below to watch the spot that’s hitting the airwaves next week!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Iwc1ohcsH0&w=560&h=315]
After a brief overnight stop back in Tulsa, the guys headed north to Wichita to visit Davis-Moore Nissan and present them with their next campaign idea. As always, the staff at Davis-Moore was a pleasure to deal with, and we look forward to working with them in the future. It’s definitely been a busy week for the boys!

As all of you know, the Pineapples are all big Oklahoma State fans, so I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the tragic event that affected the Cowboy Nation last night. One decade after 10 members of the OSU Cowboy basketball family were lost in a horrific Colorado plane crash, the Cowgirl basketball program says good-bye to head coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna. The coaches were killed in a plane crash yesterday afternoon in central Arkansas, along with the pilot and his wife. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones, as well as the entire OSU family.

From all of the Pineapple People, have a safe weekend. Hope all of your Thanksgiving preparations are going well; it’ll be here before you know it!

My husband and I have a long-standing tradition of going to eat at Applebee’s on Veterans Day; it’s not my favorite restaurant, but they do a fantastic job of recognizing veterans with their Thank You Movement campaign. (And who doesn’t like free food?)

Several other restaurants have followed in Applebees’ footsteps and are now offering deals to veterans. With proof of service, active duty and veterans can eat free at Chili’s today between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Outback Steakhouse offers a free Bloomin’ Onion. And Arby’s will give a free roast beef sandwich (whoop-de-doo. Thanks a heap, Arby’s.).

It’s been another wild week at Pineapple HQ. We got our new surfboard in, complete with amazing graphics, courtesy of Jay.

And even though there were no surfboard-hanging kits available at Home Depot, the guys even managed to get it hung on the wall. Great job!

We have been busy laying in the final media plans for 2012 for all of our clients; it’s a big project, but we are pleased about getting everything done early to ensure the best possible rates for our clients. It’s definitely worth it!

We also have some productions in the works: new Car Country spots will be filmed this month, and we are also working on plans for Taste the World Photography’s next campaign, Rockstar Row.

Barlow and Jay are heading south to visit clients next week, so I’m a little bit jealous of that. They’ll just have to have fun without me, I guess! I’m also working on travel arrangements for NADA in fabulous Las Vegas in February. We are hoping for another successful convention so we can spread the word about how awesome Pineapple is.

From all of the Pineapples, have a wonderful weekend! And a HUGE thank you to all of our veterans out there!

You all know that the Pineapple People are very honest with our opinions on commercials. You are all aware of our “Your Commercials Suck” campaign. Barlow is taking this to the next level; he’s on Twitter now! Follow Barlow @PickPineapple to get his 140-character opinion on commercials…he’ll tell you how it is. And if you know him, it’s pretty obvious that it will be entertaining!

We have spent this week wrapping up numerous projects; the new “Yes!” campaign for David Scott Fine Jewelry in Panama City is coming along nicely, and we should have final spots to show you soon! We have also been doing some final tweaks on the new spots for Nelson Mazda in Nashville, so that’s exciting, too.

Good news out of Charlotte: the Walla Walla Bing Bang campaign for Rogers Auto Group is a huge success! After just two weeks on the air, the dealership and it’s employees are being inundated with new business and compliments on the spots. Aimee’s got moves and she didn’t even know it! Great job!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrHft4oriVg&w=560&h=315]

Well, Pineapple fans, have a wonderful weekend! Be sure to cheer on our beloved OSU Cowboys tomorrow as they take on K-State, and watch for our “Come Alive” commercial to air during the game! And remember, if you haven’t picked the Pineapple…your commercials suck!

I’m not sure why my bangs look like one of the Three Stooges; I blame the camera. That’s the only time I’ve been on a surfboard. Not sure I’m coordinated enough to try it on water.

Editing for the David Scott Fine Jewelry commercials is in full swing; unfortunately, Barlow is stingy and won’t share with us until they’re finished, but he says they look amazing. Having been on-hand for the production, I have no doubt of that. I just can’t wait to see them!

We also finished the other Nelson Mazda Tulsa spot this week. I will post a finished version of it next week. Let me just say that it oozes awesomeness. (Naturally. I just wanted to use the word “oozes.” That opportunity doesn’t come along often.)

I am up to my ears in media buying for 2012; it’s a lot of work, but I really enjoy it. It’s like a puzzle, and we get to fit all of the pieces together. It’s important that we stay in budget, have the commercials air in programs that people actually watch, and that we reach the target buyer for the product. It’s a lot to juggle, but it’s fun! I love tackling big projects like this, so look out.

Next week promises to be a busy one, so get ready for lots of news and hopefully pics of our surfboard (minus me and the Three Stooges hair). Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and we’ll chat next week!

Barlow, Jason and I had a fantastic trip to Panama City, Florida, earlier this week. We left on Sunday afternoon and had an uneventful (though long, with our three-hour layover) journey. Of course, immediately upon arrival we hunted down a Mexican joint for dinner. That was about all we had time for, as we left our hotel at SIX IN THE MORNING on Monday. Yes. LEFT the hotel at 6. Not woke up at 6, but left. My body tends to rebel at call times that early. But we were all on time for our first location, which was at a gorgeous home in Panama City, right on the water.

The first commercial we shot on Monday featured actors Danny and Steve and actress Melanie. They all did a phenomenal job and were wonderfully professional to work with.

After we wrapped the house location, we headed to our client’s store, David Scott Fine Jewelry. They have a brand-new location, and it’s really something. We shot several scenes there with actresses Tera and Nancy and actor Eric, as well as the David Scott staff. Thanks to David Scott, Rebecca, Keith, Michael and Bea for your kindness and hospitality! After the jewelry store, we headed to Pier Park, which is really cool. It’s an outdoor mall that’s right on the beach. That’s every girl’s dream! Even better, they have a small amusement park, too, which was a perfect location for later in the shoot. I loved this scene because we filmed our “couple” doing fun Floridian things, like cruising in a Corvette and eating ice cream. (I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t get any photos of Jason lying on the hood of the Corvette while it was driving.) We picked up some ice cream for Tera and Eric at Kilwins (don’t worry, they didn’t eat it IN the Corvette) for the next shot. And Keith from David Scott had sympathy for the poor pregnant girl (aka ME) and bought me a scoop of chocolate fudge brownie or something, and it was AMAZING. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Kilwins within about five states of us. Trust me, it’ll make you forget all about Braum’s. This stuff was GOOD. Poor Tera didn’t even get to eat hers, as it melted too quickly and it ended up all over her fingers. After that delicious scene, we walked over to the beach for our mock wedding. This spot is going to be really funny…it’s a totally different take on a jewelry commercial. We can’t wait to see it! A special thanks to our bride and groom, Christi and Andrew, as well as our guests Shaye, JD and Anthony. Our minister was fabulous and I didn’t catch his name. We also had several other guests on-site, including some furbabies.

The wedding scene was a bit tricky, as we were literally racing against the sun. But in true Pineapple fashion, we got it all done and the footage is fantastic! Thanks again to everyone for helping out with this scene (even Precious the pup).

After the beach, we had one final scene left to shoot at the Miracle Strip, which is the amusement area. It truly looks magical at night, with the ferris wheel and carousel all lit up. Romance was in the air! (Well, as much as it could be for two strangers that were proposing.) In all seriousness, Danny and Jane did a great job. And I kept waiting for Jason to get dizzy after being spun around in circles over…and over…and over.

Another huge thank you to the rest of our crew, Seth and Rich. You boys did a great job!

The Pineapples had a wonderful time, and we arrived home from the beach just in time for autumn. At least we got to go to the beach before it gets really cold. Stay tuned for the David Scott “Yes!” campaign…it’s going to be amazing! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and we’ll see you next week!

This week we released the next round of commercials in the Davis-Moore Nissan “Socially Acceptable” campaign. The planking spots that ran last month have gotten a lot of attention in Wichita, so we’re very “plankful” for that. Next up? Flash mobs and owling! Both of these are socially acceptable at Davis-Moore Nissan.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgAyaFw_8UY&w=420&h=315]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vwKBML6BZc&w=420&h=315]

Hey, all you employees out there….Monday is Boss’s Day. Since we will be out of town on Monday, we decided to celebrate a little bit early and surprise Barlow with a few small tokens of our affection. Thanks for being a fabulous boss, Barlow!

Even if you don’t like your boss, you should at least acknowledge the day. If you don’t want to be too nice, www.someecards.com generally has a nice selection of, what else? E-cards. You can post them directly to your boss’s facebook page and get a few brownie points, and it won’t cost you a thing.

If your boss is unfamiliar with someecards, he’ll think you’re joking and won’t be mad at you, but will think instead that you have an amazing sense of humor that he’s been overlooking all this time. Maybe you’ll even get a raise.

Keep an eye on the Pineapple page next week as we head to sunny Florida for a couple of busy, busy days! Have a wonderful weekend, and we’ll chat next week.

Barlow kicked off this week by flying south to his favorite city of Austin for a quick potential client visit. He did manage to get in a round of golf, which he won. The great news is, his prized possession trophy gets to keep its home at Pineapple HQ. Congrats, Big Pineapple!

Yesterday was an adventurous one. The morning started off with me dropping off my truck to get some work done. After that, I borrowed Barlow’s truck to pick up some items for the office (we were running dangerously low on Mountain Dew and peanut M&M’s. ) I managed to cross everything off the shopping list without incident and load everything up in the truck. I left my phone, wallet and keys in the truck and went to return my cart like the good citizen I am. I returned….to a locked truck. Well, hmm. Barlow’s truck has remote keyless entry, and it’s not supposed to lock while the keys are in the vehicle. Could have fooled me! Now what? Thankfully, the kind folks at Target customer service let me borrow their fancy red phone, and I knew Lori’s number. I knew she’d have an extra key. BUT she was on a school field trip, eating fried goodness at the fair. I figured there was no point in calling Barlow, since he didn’t have a car to come get me. Jay had stepped out for a dental appointment. I was on my own. I was only a mile from the office, so I figured I’d walk. Lucky for me, I didn’t make it far before I heard my name called; Jay and Barlow spotted me. Apparently Jay had made it back, and Barlow was late for a lunch meeting. When I didn’t answer his texts, he asked Jay to drive him. It all worked in my favor, since they had pity on me and gave me a lift. Thank goodness, because my shoes were not made for walking. I’m pretty sure I’ll never live this one down. The best part is, when I finally got a key and was able to unlock the truck late yesterday afternoon, all of my purchases were still in one piece. (I was pretty concerned about the Junior Mints, but they survived nicely.) The lesson of the day is, don’t trust remote keyless entry. Ever.

On a brighter note, we had a visit from our pals at Taste the World Photography. Cindy and Fannypack Guy (aka Jeremy) are always a hoot!

We’ve got one more week in the office before our crew goes to sunny Florida for production. I’m really excited because I get to go this time! Barlow has written an amazing campaign for our new jewelry client, and it’s going to be a lot of fun to shoot. In addition, I’ll get to meet with all of the media reps in the market, which I like to do; I like meeting the people who I’m dealing with. It’s always a bonus to put a face to a name. Plus, it’s Florida, which is one of my favorite states. I’ve never been to Panama City, though, so I get to cross it off my list. It’s a win-win!

Have a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans! Enjoy the fair and the Red River Rivalry; it’s a big weekend! See you next week!

In addition to the employees, we also had three actors on hand to star in the commercial. A huge thank you to Kelsey, Patrick and Snow for their help!

To make things even more interesting, Clay and Jason had a water-chugging contest, and Barlow decided to interfere by snatching Jason’s bottle away. Jason ended up soaked, and Clay was declared the winner. Always a good time with the Pineapple People!

Thanks to Ben Scott at Cox Media for my new media swag….I am the proud owner of a Digi bobblehead! He’s pretty cute, don’t you think? Now I have two Digis to keep me company. I think they’re the ones eating all of the gummy bears. And a happy belated birthday to Ben from the Pineapple People!

The Pineapples have been picked again…in Panama City, Florida! We are pleased to announce that David Scott Fine Jewelry has officially picked us! I am currently scheduling travel and production…more to come soon! I feel like I really need a trip to the beach, don’t you?

Yesterday we were out at Nelson Nissan in Broken Arrow, live on KTUL channel 8. Our talent, Jeff Lazalier, did an amazing job as always. Nelson Nissan is wrapping up their Super September with a ton of great deals (including $199/month on Altimas), so you should go see them before October 1!

It’s definitely been a busy week, as always. But the weekend is nearly here….and it’s time for the Tulsa State Fair! (Even though ‘Tulsa’ isn’t a state.) Personally, I’m excited…if you remember last year’s blog at this time, I was on a mission to find someone dumb enough to eat a Krispy Kreme Burger. That person ended up being me, and I’m actually looking forward to it this year. I’m not going to fight it. Also on my list is a deep-fried Snickers (I hear great things, and I couldn’t find one last year), roasted corn and a shish-kabob. I’m sure I’ll find a few other items to nosh on, as well. If you go to the fair before I do and you find the Snickers stand, please let me know where it is. Feel free to post your fair food photos on our facebook page!

Have a fabuloso Friday and a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans! Enjoy the fall(ish) weather….who am I kidding? Enjoy the blazing September heat, and we’ll talk next week.

First of all, on Sunday we hosted the annual Nelson golf tournament at Forest Ridge. This year’s theme was Ka-Pow, which was achieved with a feel-good, retro vibe. Lunch consisted of sandwiches, cheez puffs, Ding-Dongs, Twinkies and Kool-Aid. Music was playing featuring hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s. The goal was to feel like a kid again, and have fun doing it! Many thanks to Forest Ridge for hosting us and providing a delicious and fun meal. Thanks to all of the Nelson employees who participated; we hope you had a wonderful time, despite our early finish, thanks to the lightning.

We had a putting contest, and the winner was one of our guests, Shane Gray of FOX 23. Congratulations, Shane!

Nelson Nissan employees Jeff Dorsey and Nathan Parker grab some Kool-Aid while waiting for the prizes to be announced.

And of course, our Big Pineapple Barlow was the day’s emcee.

After a long day of golf, Barlow headed out bright and early on Monday morning to Nashville, where he prepared for the Nelson Mazda production to kick off the grand opening of their brand new dealership in downtown Nashville. Tuesday was spent on the set with 30 extras, two actors and plenty of Nelson Mazda employees. Pineapple is pleased to present Nelson Mazda Downtown as the Heartbeat of Nashville!

After wrapping the Nashville shoot, Barlow hopped a plane to Panama City to visit with a potential client. Then he’s heading back to Tulsa after a very long week! We’ve definitely missed his zaniness at Pineapple HQ this week, so we are happy to welcome him back to the office today. And Jay and I are really trying hard not to eat all of the gummy bears before he gets back in town. No promises, though.

The Pineapple People have a lot of projects in the works, so stay tuned. Like…a lot of new stuff. Get ready for plenty of updates in the upcoming weeks! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and we’ll chat soon!

the Nelson Ka-Pow Golf Tournament!

This year’s tournament is going to be held at Forest Ridge and as always, will be a fun day for all of the Nelson employees. We just want a nice day for it! I will take plenty of photos to share with you on Monday, don’t worry! And if you’re a Nelson employee, get ready for a fun day!

Yesterday was a big day for the Pineapple People; we presented the new spots to The Assembly at Broken Arrow. This was a big deal for us, as this campaign is unique for us. The spots definitely don’t look like your average church commercial! Even better, we had the joy of presenting them at The Assembly’s sanctuary, complete with big screen and stage. If only we could present all of our work in that manner!

But most importantly, the client is happy, and that makes us happy! As much as I would love to show you the spots, you have to wait until Monday. Or you can attend Sunday services this weekend at The Assembly; they will be unveiling them to the congregation. Even cooler than that, former Attorney General John Ashcroft will be in attendance! But if you’re unable to attend, we will be posting them on our facebook page on Monday. You can also watch a lot of TV over the next few months, and you’re sure to catch them there!

Monday will be another big day, as we will be FINALLY posting the new spots for Davis-Moore Nissan! I know we’ve been talking about them for weeks now, but the official launch is Monday, so you just have to wait a couple more days. We can’t wait to hear feedback!

Next week is full of out-of-town production: the Big Pineapple will fly out on Monday morning to direct the new campaign for Nelson Mazda in Nashville. He will also tackle the latest Rogers Automotive spots while on the road, so he has a lot on his plate in the next few days. After that, he’s off to sunny Florida to visit a potential client before heading back to Tulsa, just in time for the Nelson Mazda Tulsa production. Whew!

This is a big weekend, even if you’re not a Pineapple. Our beloved OSU Cowboys will play in Tulsa tomorrow night (wave at Barlow if you’re there!), apparently there is some big OU/FSU game (or so I hear), and the Emmy Awards are on Sunday night. There definitely won’t be a shortage of events to watch on television. And you can keep an eye out for Pineapple commercials, too.

Enjoy the fall weather, Pineapple fans, and have a safe and pleasant weekend. We’ll talk next week!

We spend the first part of the week getting everything finalized for Davis-Moore Nissan in Wichita. Yesterday we took a road trip north to present the campaign to their team, and we are pleased to say that they loved it! We are really excited to launch this series of commercials; they’re out of the box even for Pineapple. I promise we will reveal them soon; we just have a couple of tiny tweaks to make. But just to prove to you that the client is happy, check this out:

They all planked in the conference room to show how pumped they are about the campaign! Trust me, this will all make sense soon.

On the way home from Wichita, we decided to take a Pineapple field trip. Okay, so it was planned in advance, but whatever. Barlow, Jay and I spent the evening cheering on our favorite Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Pokes gave us a win over Arizona, so that made the night even better. We had awesome seats, perfect weather and a terrific time. Thanks, Barlow!

That being said, it was a very long day and a very late night! We are happy that it’s finally Friday and we have a peaceful weekend of sleeping in to look forward to. At least, that’s my plan; who knows about everyone else!

Today I continue my race for media swag. The favorite media Account Executive of the day is Kendra Mueller from Cox Communications in Wichita. She sent me a really cute, VERY soft MTV hoodie. I plan to wear it every time I watch “Jersey Shore” and plenty of times in-between. She also sent a couple of t-shirts for Jay and maybe Barlow, if I’m feeling generous. Nobody was here today to photograph me modeling my new digs, so this will have to do. A very excited THANK YOU to Kendra!

Well, Pineapple fans, have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy the cooler temps….I heard a rumor that it’s going to be hot again next week. That’s going to make me really sad, because now I’m in sweater-mode mentality. Guess we’ll find out next week. Talk to you soon!

We have been having a fun time at Pineapple HQ with my new quest for fun media gear. I have been having a blast getting to know all of the Account Executives in the different markets, and they have all been incredibly helpful to me as I embrace my new media-buying responsibilities. My new goal started with a local radio AE, when I asked him for a t-shirt from his station. (I have always had a weakness for free tees.) He delivered, and that started a spirited battle with some other local stations. I say, “bring it!” I also received a prize pack this week with plenty of goodies in it; my favorite part is Digi! He (or she) is already a professional Pineapple planker.

 So if you feel the urge to send this poor gal a t-shirt (or something else interesting), it will be gratefully accepted. The goal is for me to have one week at the office wearing a different media shirt each day. Don’t worry; if it’s your shirt, you’ll be featured on the Pineapple facebook page that day! Who doesn’t want a little love? Adam does:

And so does Ben:

And Travis!

Who’s next? It could be YOU!

The Pineapple People are saying farewell to summer this weekend by having a pool workday tomorrow. Thanks to our Client Relations Director, Jay, we get to have those days occasionally, and it’s quite a nice change from being in the office. Luckily, the Pineapples are mobile, so we can still get plenty of work done poolside! Don’t get too jealous if we post some fun pool pics tomorrow on our facebook page.

We hope that you have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend. Stay cool, have fun, and we’ll be back in the office on Tuesday. Oh…and if you haven’t picked the Pineapple, your commercials suck. Seriously, they really do.

Last week, we took off to the great Kansas north and spent a couple of days in Wichita with our new client, Davis-Moore Nissan. The staff there has been absolutely wonderful and easy to work with. We have a hilarious campaign in the works for them, and we can’t wait until it’s finished so we can show it to you. Until then, photos will have to do! Can you guess what this “Socially Acceptable” campaign is about?

I would also like to thank all of the media outlets in Wichita for taking time to meet with us. We are so glad that we got to meet all of you!

After a long couple of days of shooting, we headed home for a day of recovery before tackling our next production, for The Assembly of Broken Arrow. This shoot took place on Sunday and involved the Pineapples, multiple locations, a few actors and about 300 extras. Piece of cake! (Or…piece of pineapple?) These spots are going to be powerful, dramatic and amazing, with plenty of Pineapple power.

And Barlow got to have a microphone. That’s a little scary.

We took a short break between the two productions to present the final video to Cindy and Fannypack Guy (aka Jeremy) from Taste the World Photography. It was a huge success, and business is booming! The video is already on its way to being viral, and we had a fantastic time working with their gang. Take a few moments to see what happens when you’re a high school senior that wants to be a rock star!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy5GFkOsYAc&w=560&h=345]

We’ll end the week with a live event this Saturday with our friends at Nelson Nissan, and that’s the perfect way to cap off a busy month at Pineapple. Remember, Pineapple fans, Friday is right around the corner, so if your week has been crazy, don’t sweat it…it’s almost over. Enjoy the rest of your work week, and we’ll chat soon!

Barlow is back from a short trip out of town to work on all of the new campaigns we have coming up. We can tell he’s back…because he’s planking. It’s what he does.

We have two new clients that have Picked the Pineapple! We are very excited to welcome Davis-Moore Nissan of Wichita and The Assembly of Broken Arrow to the Pineapple fold. This means that we get to work with some wonderful new folks, and that our production schedule just got a little bit busier…and we LOVE that! The Pineapple People are heading up to Wichita next week for a two-day shoot, and I, for one, am very excited because this is my first production out of town. I must be moving up in the world. This campaign is going to be a blast, and I can’t wait to get started on it. The Assembly production will follow immediately on the heels of the Davis-Moore shoot, so next week will be another busy one, hammering out all the details that come with planning a big campaign. We’re ready for it!

The following week, Barlow will be heading to Nashville to shoot another production for Nelson Mazda, to celebrate the grand opening of their new location. I see plenty of production planning in my future!

We have a new member of the Pineapple People. Josh started yesterday as our new Executive Administrative Assistant. If you come visit Pineapple HQ, you’ll see his smiling face as soon as you walk in the door.

We are doing our best to put him through the Pineapple paces quickly, so he can learn the ropes and become an important member of our team. (You know how it is starting a new job; it’s a little unnerving. Especially if your co-workers go around planking and owling all the time.)

Well, Pineapple fans, it’s off to a client meeting. Have a wonderful weekend, and we’ll chat next week!

Second of all, we have been busy laying in media plans for all of our clients. I’ve been learning a lot, and it’s really fun; it’s like a puzzle, getting everything to fit just right. In addition, I’ve gotten to deal with new folks from all over the country, which I love. It’s definitely been a learning process, but it’s all falling into place nicely.

Third, we’ve been preparing for tomorrow’s BIG $5 Car Sale at Nelson Nissan in Broken Arrow. Folks, this event is going to be fabulous! Here’s how it works: the gates open at 8 a.m. at Nelson Nissan. Wander around and find the vehicle that you’d like to purchase. At 10 a.m., be the first person standing next to that car, and then you’ll find out the price. They will have cars going for $1500, $500, $100 and yes…even five bucks! This event is going to be awesome, so you should really stop by and check it out. You can also tune in to watch live on KJRH with Jeff Lazalier, or listen on KVOO. Our commercial has been all over the place; if you haven’t seen it, you can watch it below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtDGorAv5CY&w=560&h=349]
We’ve got some more travel on the books, too; Chief Pineapple will head south to sunny Florida in a couple of weeks. He’s been invited to the Cadillac Dealers of the South convention again, and he is pleased and honored to be asked back. He also loves Florida, so this is a win-win. He has a couple more productions to head up after that, so August is going to be a busy one. Just the way we like it!

Speaking of bosses, do you like yours? Is your boss sweet and clueless, like Michael Scott, or is he more like Colin Farrell in “Horrible Bosses”? Either way, I bet your boss has never attacked you with an ax! (Don’t worry, mine hasn’t, either!) This past Monday, three employees of a Maryland painting company were at the home of their boss, Francis Scalera, filling out some paperwork. Scalera suddenly began accusing one of the employees of stealing quarters, and leaped toward him, attacking him with a decorative, medieval ax. He choked the victim and then struck him in the forearm, before he was subdued by the other two employees. Scalera was arrested and released on $70,000 bond. The victim was treated at the hospital for a deep gash and chipped bone. Scalera tried to apologize before the police were called. My question is, did he actually steal the quarters?

Kids in Tulsa are heading back to school soon, with a big change…in wardrobe. A bill was passed just a couple of weeks ago (way to wait until the last minute), stating that all Tulsa students will now wear uniforms to school. I can’t decide if I like this, or not. At first, I thought it was great. It will prevent bullying for kids that can’t afford the latest and greatest trends. It will cut down on silly fights and worse, when kids try to steal fancy shoes and jackets from other kids. And kids will never have to worry about what to wear; just which color polo shirt to put on, and then the ultimate decision: khaki pants or khaki shorts? (These days…all shorts!) But I recently spoke with a friend of mine who is a Tulsa teacher in a lower-income area, and she doesn’t agree with the uniforms. She said kids in her area can’t afford new clothes, and the extra expense of uniforms will be a burden on most parents. There is an organization that will provide two uniforms to each child that can’t afford it, but she said that’s not enough; some of these kids don’t have easy access to laundry facilities, so they’ll be wearing those same two uniforms until they get a chance to wash them. That put a bit of a new perspective on the situation for me. What do you think, parents? Are uniforms a good move or not? I can’t decide.

Well, Pineapple fans, it’s another busy day for the Pineapples, so I’m going to sign off now. Have a fabulous Friday, try to stay cool, and remember to follow those pesky water-rationing rules!

There will be a slight break in the heat tomorrow, as it’s only supposed to be 100 degrees. Pack a sweater.

It’s been another incredibly busy week for the Pineapple People. Jay attended the JA Jewelry Show in New York City, and he had quite an experience. I’ll let him tell you all about it sometime. Let’s just say he met a lot of interesting folks, did a lot of people watching, and learned a few things about hand sanitizer.

On Monday of this week, we did a production for local senior photographer Taste the World Photography. We had a great time with Cindy, Fannypack, and the spokesmodels. We spent most of the day shooting in Cindy’s downtown Tulsa loft studio, and then finished the day at an amazing swimming pool that was kindly offered to us by Stacey Pennington. All of our crew did a fantastic job, and everything came together nicely. We appreciate everyone’s kindness, generosity and hard work to make this shoot a success. Can’t wait to see the finished product!

Yesterday was another busy and fun day, with Barlow, Jay and I hitting the road and heading north to Wichita, Kansas, to meet with a potential Pineapple picker. We had a terrific time, and the staff at the dealer group was a lot of fun: just our kind of folks. Thanks to the gang for a catered lunch, and for inspiring Barlow to plank on the conference room table. We couldn’t resist.

On the way home, we stopped in Cowboy Country aka Pineapple Paradise aka Stillwater, and chowed on some cheese fries from Eskimo Joe’s. And then we planked some more.

We’ve had three productions in three weeks, and it’s been pretty eventful around here. Now we have a couple of production-free weeks…to plan the next one! Next on the books is a trip to Florida for the Cadillac Dealers of the South meeting, then it’s off to Nashville for more production. This summer is definitely keeping us on our toes, and we’re loving every minute of it.

This morning I read about Sandy McMillan, the woman who was asked to leave an Oregon Walmart for wearing a string bikini top to shop at the store. McMillan and her sister went to pick up a few grocery items, and she wore her bikini top and shorts to combat the 90 degree heat. (Ninety degrees? That must be nice.) A few minutes after entering the store, McMillan was approached by an associate and asked to cover up or leave. Now McMillan is embarrassed, and claiming that she didn’t do anything wrong: “I was horrified. I am embarrassed….It’s wrong. If you don’t like the way someone looks, don’t look at them….I hadn’t done anything obnoxious or outlandish.” Personally, I think she did something wrong by wearing that ensemble in the first place. You can watch a short video of her interview HERE and see if you agree with me. I wonder if she’ll make it onto People of Walmart!

Well, Pineapple fans, have a fabuloso Friday and a wonderful weekend. Remember, if you are too hot this weekend, and need to run to Walmart, don’t wear a string bikini. It won’t end well for you.

First….Tuesday. We have the opportunity to shoot something a little different from a :30 commercial; we are making a three-minute video for a local business. We had tons of extras, talent, baseball players, karate kids, employees, a tank, a whale…you name it, it was involved. We also got to see Barlow dancing. A lot. In twelve hours, you can see a lot of interesting moves. (Maybe that depends on your perspective.)

Here is a fun fact for you: The Blue Whale is considered one of the Top 10 attractions on Route 66. Now, I will admit, I grew up not far from the Blue Whale, and I had never been there. Honestly, I haven’t been missing much. It’s odd, it’s quirky…and it’s a concrete whale sitting in a pond of scummy sludge. But now I can say I’ve been there.

Know what makes kids dance? The promise of candy.

Next up…the commercial reveal! We actually unleashed this on our facebook page, but for all of you who aren’t on facebook, now is your chance to see the latest Pineapple juice. This is the spot we shot for Summit Christian Academy last week. The campaign is called “Up”, and we are so happy with the way it turned out. To view the commercial, please click HERE.

We also released a new commercial for Rogers Auto Group in Shelby, North Carolina. They are launching a new “Trade Better” campaign!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc96uM6_ZNQ&w=560&h=349]
All in all, it’s been a busy, yet successful week at Pineapple HQ. Monday will be another crazy one, when we head to downtown Tulsa, then to a swimming pool. I bet at least one person will jump in when we’re finished…it’s going to be HOT! Be sure to watch for updates on that!

Please think positive thoughts for a safe trip to New York City for Jay tomorrow; he’s going to represent Pineapple at a jewelry show with 17,000 attendees. We know he’ll do a great job for us! Let’s just hope the booth arrives this time, hmm?

Have a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans, and stay cool.  We’ll talk next week!

Isn’t there a saying about a clean desk involving a clean mind, or something? I must have been in the gutter yesterday then, but I’ve completely redeemed myself, just in time for the weekend.

We had a terrific production earlier in the week at Summit Christian Academy in Broken Arrow. The school has a fantastic faculty, and the kids were a lot of fun to work with. A huge thank you to everyone at Summit for helping the day to run smoothly! The shoot was a lot of fun, as always; our crew is a blast to work with, what can I say? To see all the photos from the day, please click HERE.

The other big project for this week has been finalizing details for Jay’s journey to New York City next week. It’s a convention…my favorite thing! We have been working to coordinate the booth, travel, shipping, and all the other good stuff that goes along with an event such as this. Let’s just hope that there isn’t a blizzard this time, and the booth arrives safely and on time! No flashbacks from San Francisco and the Snowpocalypse event of 2011, please.

In addition to that, we’ve got three productions that we are juggling right now, so there has been plenty of planning. As usual, I’m on board for tackling all of the crazy tasks! (Last week I got to go on an elevator hunt!) I’ve talked to several folks this week that I normally wouldn’t get a chance to visit with, and that’s a fun part of the planning process for me. Now I just need everything to fall into place…it always does, just sometimes not as early as I would like. I’m not a fan of surprises!

Unless they’re sweet. Today we received a nice gift from a colleague of Jay’s. Love me some cake pops!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m cutting this a bit short today (I really wanted to get your opinion on the prisoner that got married behind bars….he’s serving a 163 year sentence. Silly, right?) because I’ve got plenty of Pineapple errands to run, and the clock’s a-ticking. Hope all of you have a wonderful weekend, and stay cool!

We have multiple productions coming up in the next few weeks, and they run the gamut from car dealership to photography studio to private school. This means we have LOTS and LOTS of planning and details to take care of. But we shine when it comes to juggling a lot of tasks, so it’s all good. I say, bring it! (That’s what I say today; wait until next week and ask me again!) We have signs to make, elevators to reserve, talent to book, make-up people to find…plenty to keep us busy!

The Pineapple People also have two conventions on the books over the next few weeks. First up, Jay is heading back to New York City! He had such a great trip the first time, that he’s ready to do it again. He will be attending a jewelry convention; should be fun! Maybe he’ll make a stop to visit Grand Central for old times’ sake. And shortly after that, Barlow and Jay will head south to sunny Florida to visit with the Cadillac Dealers of the South. (They may get in a round of golf, if they’re lucky!) Barlow was invited to this event last year, and he is pleased and honored to be asked back again. From there, Barlow will hop a flight to Nashville for another production.

See what I mean? We have a lot going on around here.

This morning was quite a big one for NASA; the Pineapples all gathered round and watched the final space shuttle Atlantis launch earlier today. We like to do things together! What do you think about the end of the space program? Is it a good idea or not? The space program has been active since 1961; it’s been a good ride! I just hope all four of the astronauts have a safe and easy voyage home. If you missed watching the launch, you can watch it HERE.

I also heard a fun story of inspiration and ink this morning on the way to work. A school in San Francisco was trying to come up with incentives to get students to raise their test scores. After nixing ideas like “dollar-off coupons at the corner store”, teacher Stanley Richards promised to get a tattoo if the students raised scores by 50 points. He was positive that it would never happen, and this is proved by the ridiculous ink he promised to get: the school’s vice-principal dressed as a sumo wrestler, holding a medallion of test numbers and slaying a dragon, which represented the standardized test. Sounds ridiculous, right? Well, it worked: the students raised the scores. And Richards got the silly ink on his left calf. Would you get a tattoo on a bet? I wouldn’t.

Well, Pineapple fans, I hope that your week has been a good one, and that your weekend is even better. Try to stay cool…I have a feeling we’re in for a record-breaking weekend. If you don’t have any friends with a pool, I highly suggest you get on that today.

You may be wondering where the pizza comes in….we had pizza for lunch. Minus the pineapple. Happy Friday!

Pineapple Hands, the non-profit sector of our company, has been able to help quite a few folks since its inception last year. But since we’d like to do even more for those who need assistance, we decided to host a fun golf tournament to raise some additional funds. And while it was a lot of preparation and a lot of work, it was a blast and definitely successful! A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, volunteers and players!

If you didn’t know, Thursday was HOT, with expected temps of 93 degrees. Now, we are used to much warmer weather than that, but it seems pretty hot when you’re in it all day. The Pineapple People and our wonderful volunteers arrived early to set up. We had plenty of signs to put out (thanks to Meeks Lithographics for donating all of our banners and signs!), tables to set up, Pineapple tee shirts to fold….and a million other tiny details. (Many thanks to Fox 23 for providing koozies for the players!)

Players began arriving around noon, and that’s when things really got busy. I was working registration, Jay was selling the “Pineapple Package” to our players, and Barlow was running the show, while our volunteers pitched in everywhere else! After registration, folks noshed on fajitas (yum! Thanks to the catering staff at Forest Ridge!) and enjoyed free chair massages before taking part in the putting contest. At 1 p.m., it was tee time!

In typical Pineapple fashion, we had some extras that you don’t normally see at golf tournaments. We had a popcorn machine with fresh popcorn available on the second hole, free drinks and candy bars during the tournament, and cotton candy afterward, not to mention the 12-foot inflatable pineapple on the course, which we used for team photos. (These will be emailed to you, players!) We also had live music throughout the day by Collin Campbell; he was amazing! You can check out his music page HERE.

After everyone was finished, we gave out some awesome prizes. The winner of our “poker run” was Brian Darnell, who received a stainless steel grill (you can invite us over for a cookout any time, Darnell!). One of the teams from Nelson Nissan was our overall winner, and each player took home a pair of Oakley sunglasses. Congratulations to Rodney Gist, Jeff Dorsey, Steve Mabee and Ben Beeler! We had three winners that received custom pineapple tiki mask trophies for “Closest to the Pin”, “Longest Drive” and “Straightest Drive.” Winners in those categories were our very own Jay Moore, Andy Bruner and Tara Secrest. Great job, guys and gal!

We also hosted a prize raffle, where we gave away a foursome to Forest Ridge (thanks, Lance!), a custom embroidered Pineapple golf pullover, and an embroidered golf shirt. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Overall, we had a fantastic day. Yes, it was hot, but the sun was shining and it wasn’t windy, so it was an ideal golf day. We would like to thank our sponsors and all who donated money and time:

Nelson Nissan, Car Country, Oklahoma Army National Guard

Meeks Lithographics, Forest Ridge, Fox 23, Lazalier Consulting, Collin Campbell

Dori G. Studios, Shelly Barlow, Shannon Devlin, Mason Briggs, John Norton, Jimmy Norton

We couldn’t have done it without you!

For all of you who were unable to participate this year, don’t worry: we’ll be back next summer with an even bigger and better tournament!

Travel time is kicking into high gear again; it’s that time of year, I supposed. Barlow was fortunate enough to receive a trip to the U.S. Open and a chance to play golf at a fancy golf course in Maryland (somehow related to the U.S. Open) from one of our media outlets. He had a wonderful time and is very thankful for the opportunity. He is getting home just in time to head to North Carolina on Sunday for a new production for Rogers Auto Group in Shelby. It will be a quick trip, and then Jay and Barlow are off to Alabama to visit our friends at Gilland Chevrolet GMC. It is definitely starting out as a busy summer for the Pineapple People! But you know us; that’s when we’re at our best. There are several more trips planned for the summer, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. That’s just for the next two weeks.

Jay had a positive experience this week: he got a new desk! Hooray for Jay and his new fancy workstation. We had a fun adventure shopping for this yesterday, where we encountered the worst salesperson on the planet. If she’s your grandmother, I apologize.
Has everyone seen the famous “riot kiss” photo? I actually hadn’t, just because I’ve been so unbelievably busy this week, I didn’t have any down time to peruse the Internet. But I just stumbled across it.

To me, it looks like something out of an action movie. Turns out, the couple went to the Stanley Cup finals in Vancouver. After a 4-0 Canucks loss, the city went wild…and not in a good way. The gal in the photo, Canadian Alex Thomas, was knocked to the ground by one of the policeman’s shields (rude!). Her date, Australian Scott Jones, immediately dropped to the ground to check on her. (See, chivalry isn’t dead!) Not to worry, Alex’s only injury is a bruised leg. The photograph was taken by a freelancer and turned into Getty Images, where it was instantly picked up by media outlets and social networking sites worldwide. If it were me, I’d get a framed wall portrait of that bad boy; it looks awesome!

Bad news for Rebecca Black fans…the video for “Friday” has been pulled from YouTube due to a legal dispute. I’m very sorry for your loss.

Well, Pineapple fans, I just got handed a few more items for my to-do list, so I’m going to sign off now. Have a wonderful weekend, celebrate your dads on Sunday, and I’ll see you next week! Remember, if you haven’t signed up to play in Hands & Holes next Thursday, it’s not too late!

The production in New York City went very well. I was so relieved when the time arrived, as I have been dealing with Grand Central Terminal’s paperwork for weeks. I tell you what; I learned a lot about insurance! Actually, I’m still clueless, but I know who to call when dealing with insurance. That’s more honest. But everything went smoothly for our crew and our client, and our actor did a terrific job. Plus, Jay got to eat some NYC pizza, so I’m sure he’s happy about that. The gang will be back today, so I’m excited to hear all about it. Check out a photo from the shoot below.

Barlow has been churning out creative like a madman, which is good because June is shaping up to be an incredibly busy month for the Pineapples, with several productions coming up. I spent most of Monday booking travel; I hope the boys have their suitcases ready, because they will be hitting the road a lot in the next few weeks. So far we’ve got North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida on the calendar. Round that out with a few local events, productions and our golf tournament, and June will be one for the record books!

The golf tournament is coming along nicely, and it’s going to be FUN. So if you haven’t signed up in some capacity, what are you waiting for? Love to golf? Sign up a team! Play as a foursome or a twosome, whichever you prefer. Not much of a golfer, but want to have an entertaining day helping out a good cause? Sign up to volunteer! (I’ve volunteered for a few golf tourneys in my day, and it’s always a blast. Hanging out in the sun, visiting with everyone, making new friends, enjoying the festivities…what’s not to like?) Perhaps you’re not a golfer or the volunteering type…that’s okay, we are still in need of hole sponsors. You’ll get credit, don’t worry. And remember, it’s all tax deductible. Come on, it’s for charity! If you are interested in helping, please send me an email at ashley@pickthepineapple.com.

As you all know, Southwest is the airline of choice for the Pineapple People. (Except Jay; he’s a little upset about their scheduling right now.) Our second choice is American Airlines, and that’s it. We hate Delta. All of us. And if you’re a fan of them, maybe you won’t be for long after hearing about their latest shenanigans. One of the reasons I like Southwest is the fact that bags fly free. If you’re traveling on a budget, you can easily spend $100 on bags. That’s no fun. Delta charges $25 for your first checked bag, and $35 for your second. They have been allowing soldiers coming home from deployments to fly with three bags for free. How kind. But on Tuesday, a group of 34 Army soldiers coming home from Afghanistan were told that they could not fly with four bags free, as their military orders stated. Each soldier would have to pay the baggage fees, which was considerable for many of them. Like $200. A lot of them didn’t have credit cards, because they’ve been living in tents in Afghanistan. Not exactly a place where they need a Visa card. The unit ended up being charged about $2800 in baggage fees. The soldiers will be reimbursed, but from personal experience with the government, it will be a long while before they see that money. Two of the soldiers affected immediately made a video about the situation and posted it on YouTube. Yesterday, Delta decided to let soldiers check four bags. Way to go, Delta. I’m glad you can help, since they’ve been risking their lives for you and your freedom. And that is why Pineapple prefers Southwest. Or really, any other airline other than Delta. Watch the soldiers’ video below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX8luPQZ2I0&w=480&h=390]

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to do some shopping and make final preparations for our Nelson Mazda production tomorrow. It’s going to be a busy Friday! Have a wonderful rest of the week, and we’ll talk next week!

The boys had multiple meetings; I know of at least four client meetings plus two conference calls. I have been up to my ears in finalizing details for the shoot in New York City, which is NEXT WEEK! It seemed so far away, as things often do, and now it’ll be here before we know it. The guys are ready to descend on the Big Apple, and did I mention that I’m jealous? New York is one of my favorite cities in the world, but I guess someone has to stay behind and guard the fort. Who’s in charge of that? This girl. I’ve been dealing with excessive amounts of paperwork (those folks at Grand Central Terminal need a lot of info!) but I’ve gotten it all finalized. (I’m very glad that I don’t work in the insurance field; that’s definitely not for me. I’m happy there are other people in the world to take care of that for me. Cheers to insurance agents!)

The rest of the week promises to be busy, as well; Thursday and Friday are always crazy for me, personally. In addition, Adam is headed out on a much-deserved vacation, and of course, there is the big NYC trip next week. But as far as being busy goes, we’re used to it! Jake is on vacation, as well, so I guess I’ll be back to celebrating Fabuloso Friday by myself. (Unless Jay decides to pitch in and help!)

We have released some new commercials this week, which is always fun! Remember the Car Country shoot with the dancing Roger? Well…those spots are ready for viewing, so here goes! We had a lot of fun shooting these, and even though Rog was nervous, he ended up having some pretty slick moves. Way to go, Credit Cruncher!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwT3qlKQvXk&w=640&h=390]
And here is one more for you!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLfnOh1Yu08&w=640&h=390]
Now I’ve mentioned before how much I love cupcakes. And I really love chocolate cupcakes, with chocolate frosting, which potato chips on top. But over the weekend I was browsing the web and I ran across something even more amazing: Chocolate, Whiskey & Beer cupcakes. Yes. These are super chocolate-y, with Guiness and a Bailey’s filling. This just sounds too fantastic NOT to share! I haven’t made them yet, but they sound absolutely delightful. If you decide to make them, please bring me one. Get the recipe HERE.

It’s not too late to sign up to play in our charity golf tournament, Hands & Holes Tournament of Compassion! It’s going to be on Thursday, June 23, so get your clubs ready. We are also looking for hole sponsors and volunteers; if you are interested in helping or playing, please email me at Ashley@pickthepineapple.com. It’s for a great cause and it will be a lot of fun!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to run some errands. Have a terrific day, and enjoy the rest of the week…the weekend is almost here! See you soon!

Last Sunday, the community of 50,000 was destroyed by an EF-5 tornado; it’s the deadliest tornado in 60 years. The death toll currently stands at 132, with 156 people still listed as missing.

We thought that even though we are a small group of five people, maybe there is something we can do to help. Or maybe we can make someone smile or brighten a day.

We loaded our backpacks with movie candy (something sweet is always a nice treat) and coolers full of cold bottled water, parked the car, and started walking.

I cannot even begin to describe the devastation. I’m sure you’ve seen footage on television of the tragedy, but it does not even begin to describe the magnitude of the destruction. It’s absolutely indescribable. You can literally see for miles, and all that is visible are piles of what used to be people’s lives. I heard someone on the radio describe it as if King Kong had been there, and that is a fairly accurate description. The path is so long, and the damage is so widespread; you can’t picture it unless you see it in person and it’s in your face.

We did what we could; we simply walked and asked people if they needed help, whether it was searching for a particular item in the rubble, or moving a large piece of furniture. We offered everyone candy and water; so many people said, “Oh, thanks, we’re fine” until we mentioned the water was cold, and then they jumped at the chance. There are cases of water all over the city, many sitting on street corners in the heat. But cold water is hard to find. And since the entire city is under a “boil order”, which means any water used has to be boiled for at least three minutes, bottled water is really the only option. Even convenience stores that weren’t directly affected cannot serve any products using water, like tea, coffee or the soda fountain. We were pleased that offering such a small item like cold water was so happily accepted.

A few families asked us to help dig for a specific belonging. One family was searching for a small filing cabinet, which we found under a fallen wall. One elderly veteran was looking for an old wooden footlocker that contained his American flag; we didn’t have any luck with the box, but we did locate the flag. We actually helped one man find his wallet and keys, which is a miracle in itself, considering the mess we were digging through. And after handing over the keys, the man’s wife grinned, gestured toward the foundation of the house and said, “Should I lock up?”

We spoke to several individuals who rode out the storm; some were in basements, others in hallways or bathrooms, and one couple spent the terrifying minutes in the crawlspace under their house. The stories of the survivors are chilling, and they were all eager to share. The crawlspace family was trapped, and the man’s elderly father walked a mile through the rain and debris afterward to chop them out with an axe. One couple told us about their daughter who ran two miles to their home after the storm, in the rain and the dark, barefoot, wearing shorts. Upon arrival, she couldn’t tell them how she got there. Adrenaline was high, and shock was prevalent, but these folks are now facing reality and standing tall, doing whatever it takes to rebuild.

The spirit and determination of the town is one to be reckoned with. Several homes have hung American flags from whatever is left standing. Many have a good sense of humor, like those that have posted “For Rent” or “Garage Sale” signs on their property. We saw a car, upside-down and partially wrapped around a tree, that had been spray painted with the message: “For Sale, Cheap. Fixer-Upper.” Every home has been spray painted with names of insurance companies, messages that the family members are “OK” and if there is a gas leak within the home. A large X means that the home has been searched by the search and recovery teams. There is definitely something eerie and unsettling and very real about that. But next to those messages are ones that say things like, “God Bless Joplin” and “Down but Not Out.”

The citizens of Joplin have promised to rebuild their beloved community. The high school and hospital lay in ruins. Medical records from the hospital have been found up to 70 miles away. The majority of large businesses like Home Depot, Walmart and Academy are demolished beyond repair. And most of the homes have been destroyed, so much so that you can easily see from one end of town to the other, through the entire six-mile path that was left by the tornado.

A tornado is a finicky creature. I know that it’s wind, but something in my headwill always think of them as a live being; it just seems unreal that a weather pattern can cause so much complete destruction. There are entire houses that are gone, yet closets with clothes hanging in perfect order are still standing.  We saw two homes that had but one wall remaining, and that wall was covered in bookshelves, with all of the books still aligned. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the chaos.

We hope that although many of you are unable to travel to Joplin (or the recently affected communities in the Oklahoma City area), that you will still do your part to assist those in need. The smallest donation can make a difference to someone; donate a case of water (five bucks at Dollar General), some of your old clothing or toys, or buy some toiletries. There are many organizations that are gathering supplies; facebook is crawling with them. There are also several facebook pages for both regions that will let you know what is needed and where.

If nothing else, please take a moment to pray for those affected, for comfort and strength and perseverance. If you aren’t the praying type, some positive vibes will go a long way. Take a moment today to be grateful for what you have, for there are so many that have nothing.

To view the photos from our Joplin journey, please click HERE. I would like to add that in no way do I intend to offend anyone with the fact that I took photographs. I was intentionally discreet with taking them, as not to offend anyone. I truly feel that this is a positive way to share our journey, and to emphasize how much assistance those in the affected areas need. See you next week, Pineapple fans.

California preacher Harold Camping has been saying that the Rapture was scheduled to happen last Saturday, and the end of days is coming soon. According to the Bible, it says that “No one knows the day or the hour.” Obviously the Rapture didn’t happen, but I’m starting to wonder if it says anything about tornadoes in the final chapters of the Bible. Because it seems that devastation to our country is coming in that form. That, and flooding.

Obviously, Camping was wrong, and now he’s backpedaling and saying that he made a mistake (ya think?) and Judgment Day is now scheduled for October 21. Somehow, I don’t think people will listen to him anymore. I bet his congregation is dwindling, too.

In the spirit of helping others, how about an update for our Hands & Holes Tournament of Compassion? The event will take place on Thursday, June 23, at Forest Ridge. This will be a tournament unlike any other you’ve ever seen! Pineapple plans are in full swing to make this the Best. Tournament. Ever. Planning a tournament is always a bit overwhelming at first, because there are a million (and one) details that we must attend to. We aren’t just going to hand you a free sleeve of balls and feed you a stale chicken breast…that doesn’t say “Pineapple”! This will be a day of fun that you won’t soon forget, we promise.

Here is a little background for you: Pineapple Hands is a non-profit sector of Pineapple Advertising. Since its inception in 2010, we have taken part in several projects aimed toward helping those in need. We collected donations for a family that lost everything in a house fire, we spent an afternoon helping an ill elderly lady with multiple chores around her home, and we did our part to give a struggling family the best holiday possible. In addition, we have taken trips to hospitals and assisted living centers to visit and generally spread cheer. Our goal is to help anyone who needs it, in any way we can. The idea behind Hands & Holes is to raise enough money to make it possible to help many more families. Every dollar raised will go toward helping those in need!

If you are interested in playing, volunteering or sponsoring the tournament, please contact me at Ashley@pickthepineapple.com.

Our area is facing severe weather this afternoon; let’s hope that it doesn’t come to fruition. Let’s also hope that the rain will diminish in Joplin; serious thunderstorms are hampering their rescue efforts. Have a good day, Pineapple fans, and we’ll talk soon.

As for me, it was peaceful. And quiet. I got a lot of work done, and got to listen to country music all day long with nobody (Jay!) complaining.

But they hit Pineapple HQ running yesterday morning, because we had a LOT of stuff to do! Barlow started the morning early, with a breakfast meeting. Then he hurried to the office to meet with a potential client. (They started off the meeting by playing a quick round of foosball.)

After that, all of the Pineapples headed out for a lunch meeting. And THEN, we had another presentation for 3D Abs. Remember when we went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, a couple of months ago? We did the same thing again, but we hosted it at Pineapple HQ this time. And since we hosted it, we did it Pineapple-style! We served a delicious feast of fresh pineapple, strawberries, chocolate truffles and pina coladas.(Last time we had a fantastic barbecue feast, but this wasn’t at meal time, so we did something different!) Michael did a great job presenting his product, and the fitness models were fantastic.

Today promises to be another busy day; being out of the office always seems to make you feel behind, even if you’re working from the road. We’ve got meetings all day to go over everything that has been happening, and everything that’s coming up. Tomorrow we have a live event at Nelson Nissan, so we’ve got another busy day in store! Don’t forget to tune in to KJRH to watch during the 8 a.m. newscast!

Does anyone know who Leroy Fick is? Fick is the latest lottery winner to make headlines, and it’s not for being a gracious winner. Last June, Fick, who lives near Saginaw, Michigan, won $2 million on a lottery game show. What a lucky guy, right? Especially for someone who is on food stamps. Fick notified the appropriate government agency that he was on food stamps, but had won the money, and they said that since lottery winnings are considered “liquid assets,” he still qualified for assistance. So Fick, who has more than one million bucks in the bank, is using food stamps. Despite being under fire from the media and America in general, he’s shamelessly continuing to waste taxpayers’ money, saying, “If you’re going to try to make me feel bad, you aren’t going to do it.” Michigan is scrambling to correct the loophole, so that winnings will be considered for future food stamp applications. In the meantime, they’re sunk. What do you think about this? It seems that Fick is milking the system, and he doesn’t care, while there are plenty of people who truly do need assistance.

Well, Pineapple fans, have a wonderful weekend! Try to stay out of the rain, and we’ll talk next week!

1.) I can listen to the radio instead of the MP3 player, and I can choose whichever station I want.

2.) If I want to eat leftover Chili’s for breakfast (which I did this morning), nobody is here to make fun of me.

3.) It’s just…peaceful.

But I will be glad when they get back. As you may guess, it’s hard to write about what’s going on in the office when it’s just me, as I’m not that interesting sitting here alone. So we’ll discuss something else. Let’s talk about food.

Yesterday was my wedding anniversary, and we went to dinner at Chili’s. Now, you may think that’s silly (my husband certainly did), but I had my reasons. Last year, on our first anniversary, we went all out with a hotel room and a fancy dinner at The Melting Pot. This year, since we’ve just purchased a house, we are more focused on practical purchases. In addition, I had a birthday coupon for a free brownie sundae at Chili’s that I was determined not to waste (who would want to?) and it expired yesterday. Besides, I like Chili’s. So Chili’s it was.

Since we were starving when we got there, we ordered an appetizer, which always turns out to be a mistake, especially if you’re planning on dessert. I made it about four bites into my dinner before I started getting full. So I did what any girl would do; I asked for a to-go box, and ordered my free dessert. My husband thought that was silly, too, but again…I have logic. I can’t exactly take ice cream home with me to eat later, so I may as well save my dinner and eat that for lunch (and breakfast) today. See? It all makes sense.

Now on another food note: a world record is being set today in Wisconsin, as 57-year-old Don Gorske eats his 25,000 Big Mac. Read that again if you need to; it’s not a typo. For 39 years, Gorske has eaten at least one, usually two, Big Macs per day; only eight days have passed since May 17, 1972, when he hasn’t eaten one. Shockingly, his cholesterol level is normal, and he isn’t obese by any means, weighing in at 180 pounds and standing 6’2″. The cause of the chronic Big Mac eating is most likely linked to Gorske’s obsessive-compulsive disorder, as he doesn’t like change. He often buys the burgers in bulk, then freezes and microwaves them for later meals. I’ve never eaten a burger from McDonald’s, but I can’t imagine they would taste that great after being frozen (again) and microwaved. Is there any meal that you could eat every single day and not get tired of? It’s hard to imagine.

Tomorrow is the third and final day of my loneliness, so I’m going to enjoy my radio station while I can. If you have any ideas of fun things I should be doing while the boys are gone, let me know! Talk to you soon!

I missed one day this week due to being sick, Adam has had several appointments out of the office, Jay’s been on vacation, and Barlow has been spending a lot of time in client meetings. But today, on this cold and blustery Friday, we are all back at Pineapple HQ, as one big happy family. (I’m sure Jay would rather still be in Hawaii, but that’s too bad.) And now it’s Fabuloso Friday, so time to clean! And Jake chose today, of all days, to be at the state track meet. I bet he asked them to have it on a Friday so that he wouldn’t have to help clean. He’ll be forgiven if he brings back a gold medal or two.

This morning we all got together for a financial meeting over a delicious breakfast. (Thanks, Barlow!) We have been working hard to hammer out the perfect formula for our financial puzzle, so that it’s a well-oiled machine. I’ve got a calendar project to get busy on, and I know it’ll make life easier for Brock and me! And speaking of financials, the nice lady from the bank just came to fix my nifty remote scanner. I never have to go to the bank again! (Except when it breaks, which it did for a few days.) It is so choice; if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV2Y2kIUkIs&w=640&h=390]

Happy Friday the 13th! This day can occur up to three times in one year, making it not so exciting, but this year it happens only once. The last time we celebrated this “unlucky” day was in August, and if you care to read about some superstitious facts, you can check out the Pineapple blog from that day HERE. Personally, I don’t hold much stock in the unluckiness of the day, but some famous figures in history certainly did. Franklin Delano Roosevelt not only avoided travel on Friday the 13th, but on the 13th of every month. Henry Ford refused to do business on that day. In addition, a lot of people refuse to drive, as Fridays are linked to a higher number of traffic accidents. However, this is likely due to the higher alcohol intake on Fridays, and there is no proof that there are more accidents on Friday the 13th than any other Friday.

It seems that Charlie Sheen and his “winning” attitude has stayed out of the spotlight recently, and plans are being made to replace him on “Two and a Half Men.” I saw on the news last night that the show’s creators were in talks with Hugh Grant about taking over Charlie’s role, and I thought, “No! How stupid.” Now I realize after some news this morning, that his actual character won’t be replaced, but a new one brought in, which may work out. Hugh Grant ended up passing on the deal, and now the rumor is out that Ashton Kutcher may take the part. Kutcher hinted on his Twitter page yesterday by tweeting “What is the square root of 6.25?” The answer?  Two and a half. It’s also floating around that Kutcher will receive one million per episode. Not too shabby. What do you think? Can Kutcher pull it off?

Well, I suppose it’s time for the Pineapple People to get their cleaning pants on. Have a fabuloso Friday, and we’ll talk next week!

Last week was a busy one for the Pineapples. We had a production for Car Country on Wednesday, and it was a lot of fun. Adam, Barlow and I were all on set, as well as seven dancers and the Credit Cruncher (of course). The dancers put together an awesome dance routine, and the Credit Cruncher got to show off his smooth dancing moves. He was a little nervous, but he did a fantastic job. To see all the photos from the shoot, please click HERE.

I have been booking a lot of travel recently. As I mentioned last week, the boys are heading to New York City next month to shoot a commercial at Grand Central Terminal, which will be a terrific experience. They’d better take a lot of photos and keep us all updated! Jay will be heading back to the Big PINEapple in July to attend a conference, so I’ve been learning a lot about airfare and hotels in New York!

But before that, the guys will head east to do some client visiting in Tennessee and North Carolina. They will leave this weekend, so they have plenty to do this week before they go out of town. Seems like next week will be a quiet one at Pineapple HQ!

We are pleased to announce the first Pineapple Hands golf tournament, Hands & Holes Tournament of Compassion. The goal of Pineapple Hands is to assist those who are down on their luck, for whatever reason, and need a helping hand. We have had several successful projects since the inception of Pineapple Hands last year, and we are eager to do more. With your help, and this tournament, we will have the ability to help many more who are in need. This legendary event will be held on Thursday, June 23, at Forest Ridge in Broken Arrow. In true Pineapple style, this won’t be a boring golf tournament! It will be unique, creative and tons of fun, so start gathering your team today. If you are interested in signing up, please let us know via facebook, or send me an email to ashley@pickthepineapple.com. If you would like me to send you the invitation (below) via email, please let me know! We look forward to hearing from you!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Mother’s Day, and that you got your mom something nice…or at least a card! I always thought Mother’s Day was a made-up Hallmark holiday, but I learned yesterday that is has been celebrated in Greece since ancient times, and has been around in the United States since the late 1800s, and officially became a national holiday in 1914, when it was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. The woman who is given credit for achieving the national status of Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, later became so upset by the commercialization of the day, that she spent several years and most of her inheritance fighting the holiday she helped to create. I suppose this is a fine example of “Be careful what you wish for.” Father’s Day has a similar beginning, dating back to 1910. Hmm. Who knew?

Pineapple fans, have a marvelous Monday, and we’ll talk soon!

Today has been incredibly busy. We kicked off the morning with our weekly staff meeting, and as usual, we had a lot of ground to cover. I am frantically working on final plans for the Car Country production tomorrow; it’s going to be a crazy production day, which I love. The Credit Cruncher is always fun to work with, as well as all of the great folks at Car Country. We have a lot of people involved in the shoot, so it should be a good time. Stay tuned to our facebook page tomorrow for updates and photos from the set!

I also booked travel arrangements for New York City today, for when the guys head to the Big PINEapple in June. I’m still so jealous! They better take lots of photos for all of us left behind. We are hammering out the final details with the people at Grand Central, so we should be good to go very shortly. This is going to be a spectacular production! And hopefully the guys will get to take at least a little bit of time to see the city. I know Jay has dreams of watching his beloved Yankees play, and Barlow wants to check out a few places, too.

I heard a disturbing piece of info on the news last night: gas prices are expected to reach $4 per gallon by the end of this week. This is NOT good news, especially for someone like me with an ancient, gas-guzzling SUV. I have plans to fill my tank today, so you may want to follow suit. Thirteen states are already paying this price; Oklahoma is always one of the cheapest, so that’s depressing. On a similar note, scooter prices for the first quarter of 2011 have risen almost 50% from last year; I can certainly believe it! In addition, motorcycle sales have risen more than 7% since last year. I’d love to have a scooter, but I’m too chicken for that. In the meantime, I’ll just suffer through the rising gas prices like everyone else. Sure wish I drove a Prius right about now.

There has been a lot of talk since the death of bin Laden about the White House releasing proof of his death, namely, a photo of his body. From what I’ve read, the White House bigwigs, including President Obama, are in serious discussion mode involving a photo release. The general consensus of Americans is that we want actual proof that he’s gone to ensure this isn’t just a massive political coverup to boost Obama’s presidential ratings. On the other hand, the photo is bound to be disturbing and disgusting, being that he was shot multiple times, one of them in the eye. With the immediate burial at sea, there is no longer any way to tell if he’s gone or not. I, along with many others, agree with the burial at sea, since this reduces the likelihood of a shrine built to the terrorist leader. What do you think? Would you want to see a photo of the body? Oh, and just a heads up, in typical facebook fashion, there is already a virus going around, or that’s what I’m guessing. Since I really doubt a girl I went to high school with is privy to the unreleased photo. So if you receive a post on your wall, a message, or a chat message, or all three (like I did) with a “photo” of dead Obama that will leave you “speechless”, I wouldn’t click on it.

Have a terrific Tuesday, everyone, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Barlow is in the creative zone today, and Adam’s been working on some details for the Car Country production on Wednesday. It’s going to be on a pretty large scale, and a lot of fun, so be sure to watch for photos later this week.

Tomorrow is another busy day, as we have our weekly staff meeting, and we have plenty to go over. Two productions in the next few weeks need to be planned, and we have two golf tournaments on the books for the year, too. I love busy weeks!

I heard some interesting news late last night. It seems that after 10 very long years, America’s Public Enemy #1, Osama bin Laden, has been found and put to death. Amen, is all I can say. Justice has been a long time coming after the 9/11 attacks, but at least it’s finally been served. Hats off to our armed forces for bringing this horrifying chapter of American history to a close.

It amazes me that everyone (including me) has been thinking bin Laden has been cooped up in an Afghan cave for the last decade, and he was found living in a mansion next to a military facility. What?! The fact that the compound was surrounded by barbed wire-topped concrete walls, they burned their garbage rather than setting it out for collection, they had no phone or Internet, and that nobody really came and went may have been a clue that something fishy was going on. Now the question is, did the Pakistani people know he was there (which means they’re guilty of hiding him), or did they honestly not know (which makes them look incompetent)? It’s not a good day for Pakistan’s government.

Social media is changing the world, and this is a prime example. For instance, last night, I didn’t watch the news like I usually do. (I chose to watch Liar, Liar instead.) My husband got a text about bin Laden, so what did I do? Instead of missing the end of the Jim Carrey flick, I logged on to facebook and was immediately rewarded by multiple status updates giving me the news of the terrorist’s death. This morning I learned about Sohaib Athar. Never heard of him? Turns out he’s the guy that “liveblogged the Osama raid without knowing it.” Athar is a 30-something software consultant that lives in Pakistan, and was tweeting last night about the helicopter that was keeping him awake. Little did he realize that it was the SEAL team involved in the capture. Portions of his tweets and Twitter conversations with others have been released to the public. His newfound fame has caused him to gain more than 13,000 new followers, and his email account has crashed due to the media outlets contacting him. Oops…he was just annoyed at the helicopter.

Pineapple fans, I hope that you’ve had a wonderful start to your week. I’ll see you tomorrow!

It’s been a busy Friday morning so far at Pineapple HQ. Jay is out of the office today, as he is flying to west Texas to speak to a group of legal professionals on the art of social media. Thank goodness for technology; he can’t escape from us that easily! I told him to go visit the scene of the Baby Jessica well site catastrophe, but he wasn’t making any plans to do so.

Tomorrow is Jake’s birthday, and we had big plans to have a lunch for him, but due to all of the craziness happening today, we are postponing until next week. I hope he forgives us! We’ve got three Pineapple birthdays in the next 16 days…hopefully that means three fun lunches! Jake’s is more of a milestone, though, being that it’s his 18th, and Jay and I are just marking one more year of the 30s. We still deserve lunch, though, right?

Barlow and I just wrapped up a conference call with our client CreditPoint Software, in regard to their upcoming production. It’s official; the Pineapple People are heading to the Big Apple! I’m incredibly sad that I don’t get to go, since I adore New York City, but someone has to stay behind and hold down the fort. Jay and Barlow will head up the production, and it’s going to be amazing! The shoot will take place at Grand Central Terminal; if you’ve never been there, it’s truly a gorgeous place. The fact that it has been featured in so many movies and television shows is really neat; the Pineapples are in the big leagues now. The production will take place in June, so I’m really kicking into high gear now with travel arrangements, and dealing with the nice folks at Grand Central. They have been very kind and helpful so far, which makes my job much easier. And I was thrilled to see that Pineapple’s favorite airline, Southwest, begins service to LaGuardia the very day we are planning to fly in. It’s fate, I tell you.

Last night was a sad one for fans of “The Office”, as we said goodbye to Michael Gary Scott, the most over-the-top, ridiculous, clueless and kindhearted boss on television. I was glad it was an extended episode (52 minutes), and I was very sad to see it end. Yes, I cried. I don’t cry during movies (because I know they’re fake) and yet I welled up in the final scenes of the farewell episode. How pathetic can I get? At least there are still three more episodes left of the season; it won’t be the same without Michael, though.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to take care of a few things. Have a fabulous Friday, and I’ll see you on Monday!

Now that we’re finally having decent weather, our neighbors to the southeast are not so fortunate. Reports of 137 tornadoes were received from the region by the NWS Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Alabama was especially hard hit, with a reported death toll so far of 131. One of the worst areas struck was Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama. I spoke to my friend in Birmingham this morning, and she said they were without power, like one million others, and their neighborhood is full of broken trees and destruction, but they are fine. Deaths have also been reported in Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi and Georgia. More than 2000 National Guard troops have been activated to assist with rescue and recovery. If you would like to donate to the relief fund, please text “Red Cross” to 90999. Thanks to Pineapple friend Geoff for sharing this video of the tornado in Tuscaloosa. It helps put it a bit more in perspective.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ohIVzIZLuQ&w=480&h=390]

As you know, it’s been a slightly crazy week for the Pineapple People. We are in full production preparation mode this week. Our largest project right now is the upcoming shoot at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. As expected, it’s not as easy as it sounds; there are a lot of details to work out, as well as writing the script and finding the perfect talent. We are also working hard on next week’s Car Country commercial starring the Credit Cruncher. This one is pretty detailed as well, but it’s happening locally, thank goodness!

So tomorrow is Royal Wedding Day! As you may know, I’m beyond excited about this. I won’t go so far as others, though, and skip work for the festivities. I’ve got it all set to record on my DVR, and I will be perfectly content to watch it when I get home from work tomorrow. I do plan on stopping off at Panera on my way home and picking up some scones to eat while I watch this magical moment unfold. It’s funny, though; the internet is full of stories about Americans who are planning on calling in sick and hosting elaborate watch parties, featuring British snacks, Union Jack party favors, plenty of costume jewelry and of course, British accents. All I want is a scone and my couch; that’s all I need. I may put on some pearls. So what do you think about the festivities? Will you record it? Watch it live? Or skip it altogether?

Have a terrific Thursday, Pineapple fans! Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

We’ve got another busy day ahead at Pineapple HQ. Jay is working on the Pineapple website, making sure it’s completely up to date with our latest commercials. Adam is diving headfirst into a co-op project (that’s a car dealership thing) and that will keep him busy for a while. I have plenty of planning to take care of for our upcoming productions. I’m on task today to find a new screenprinter for some tee shirts (I actually have one in mind that I would like to use, but they opened 17 minutes ago and aren’t answering the phone!), book final travel arrangements for the boys’ SEC Country journey next month, and get in touch with one of the train stations that I’ve been dealing with. Oh, and I’m also looking for a very specific type of actor. I definitely have plenty on my plate for the day!

So in the midst of all this work, I have been bound and determined to win $1000 from one of our local radio stations. They are running a contest in which they play a “Secret Sound” three times per day and if you’re the 10th caller and you answer correctly, you win 1000 bucks. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. For the past couple of days, I have known the Secret Sound, and I have been trying like a maniac to get through, to no avail. I tried the first two times yesterday, and missed the final chance. And of course, that is the time that someone got it right. And I knew it. I was briefly disappointed, until I heard the new sound this morning. And I actually knew it! I tried desperately to get through, and heard nothing but a busy signal in response. When I got to work, I grabbed my camera to check something…I actually have the sound recorded on my camera from a few months ago. So nobody call me at 11:30, because I will be on the phone, trying to get through to the radio station. My co-workers keep laughing at me, but I don’t care. Everyone needs a dream, and my dream is to win $1000. Besides, it’s Administrative Professionals Day, and I think my role as Girl Friday falls under that umbrella. That means they should be nice to me today! Don’t you agree? So if anyone knows any secret tricks to getting through to radio stations, I would love to know. I’m going to call from my office landline phone, because it’s easier to hit redial that way. And no, that’s not abuse of office property…is it?

On the national advertising front, insurance giant Aflac has found a new voice for their spokesduck. Incredibly annoying comedian Gilbert Gottfried was fired from the gig after tweeting insensitive comments about the disaster in Japan earlier this year. Aflac launched a nationwide search for the perfect voice, and found a winner in 36-year-old Minnesota sales manager Daniel McKeague. I’m sure McKeague is excited, because I’m betting he’ll get a hefty paycheck. The new commercial premiered last night; I think it’s pretty cute.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSr3dRXlM5w&w=640&h=390]
Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to call the screenprinter again. And you can bet I’ll be making several calls at 11:30 a.m…..wish me luck! See you tomorrow!

We’re in for another busy day at Pineapple HQ, as always. Today is our weekly staff meeting, when we will go over all of the updates from the past week on each client. It always takes quite a bit of time, but it’s usually productive. (Just kidding…it’s always productive!) We have quite a few projects in the works, like the train station shoot that’s coming (who knew there were so many rules for filming in a train station?), new Car Country production, SEC trip, and the new Nelson Nissan campaign. We’ve got plenty in the pipeline to keep us busy, especially when it comes to production; there are always tons of logistical items to work through.

It’s a busy day for Adam, as he prepares to jump into May. He always has a lot to do to prepare for the upcoming month, to ensure that all of his buys are complete and accurate in each market. He deals with multiple Account Executives from numerous stations, so he has a lot on his plate.

This is the second full week of the Gilland Chevrolet GMC Trade Spot campaign in Ozark, Alabama, and all is going well there. Did you see our commercials for them? Here is one of them!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=786jLkHaF74&w=640&h=390]

Today is another somewhat somber day in Oklahoma history. On this day in 1991, several towns in Oklahoma were struck by multiple tornadoes. I have vivid memories of this, as my middle school (Oologah-Talala) bore the brunt of the storm. Fortunately, the storm came around 9:30 p.m., so classes weren’t in session, and this was a blessing, since $10.5 million worth of damage was done to the school alone. Our new bus barn was demolished, with most of the fleet ending up in a creek a half mile away. The rest of the buildings were absolutely demolished, netting us an extra month of summer vacation. The damage was caused statewide by a series of F-4 tornadoes that ultimately damaged 180 homes, 30 barns, four airport hangars, seven airplanes, a fire truck and a Girl Scouts Camp at John Zink Ranch. Four people were killed, and at least 61 injured. But the community of Oologah rebuilt the school into a masterpiece of education; we were rewarded the next year with brand-new buildings and materials. (And buses.) It just goes to show that Oklahoma’s spirit cannot be destroyed.

Tornado season is upon us once again, as witnessed by the two deaths by storm in southeastern Oklahoma on April 14, the devastation in North Carolina from the same storm, and the extensive damage to the St. Louis airport last Friday. Remember to have a plan on where you and your family will hide in case of a tornado. Stay on the lowest floor possible, in an exterior room, like a closet or bathroom. It’s a good idea to have bottled water, non-perishable food (think beef jerky) and a radio with batteries in case of power failure. If you’re in a mobile home, get OUT and go somewhere else. If the meteorologists tell you to take cover, it’s a good idea to listen. Don’t go outside to check out the storm, like so many Okies are known to do. Nothing good will come of it, I promise.

But it doesn’t look like any storms are coming today; it still looks beautiful outside! I’m off to make some travel arrangements, so I’ll see you tomorrow, Pineapple fans!

This morning, a nice lady from our bank came over to install a super-cool remote scanning machine, so that I don’t have to go to the bank all the time. This machine is supposed to be magnificent and make my life a hundred times easier. Except…after spending two hours at my computer, it wouldn’t work. She assured me that that’s not normal procedure, so I guess the fact that my computer is a freak is supposed to make me feel better. She’ll come back later this week for round two. In the meantime, I’ll just continue to make bank runs.

After that, I got busy making travel plans for the boys; they’re off on another adventure soon! They’re headed back to SEC Country for a client check-up visit. And for the first time, Southwest kind of irritated me. Well, their website did. I’m booking, booking, booking away without a hitch, and then I get an “undefined error” message that tells me to start over. So I did, and received the same message again. On and on, until I suddenly get bombarded with email confirmations for Barlow….four of the exact same flight. Oops.

I also tried to load my stapler for the first time and apparently I’m not smart enough to do that, because it won’t work now. Even Adam couldn’t figure it out! Oh, Monday, Monday! Hey, the good news is, it’s stopped raining!

The Pineapple People have a long list of things to do this week. We are working on finalizing details for our train station shoot in a few weeks, and we also have a new Car Country production coming up next week, not to mention the SEC trip in mid-May. We also have a trip to New York City on the books for July, and I guarantee plenty more events will come up before then. We also nailed down dates for two Pineapple golf tournaments last week. It’s definitely going to be a busy summer, from what I can see.

Did everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend, minus the crummy weather? If you’re still battling a tummy ache after inhaling too many jelly beans and chocolates, take heed of what I’m about to tell you! First, you can freeze it. Chocolate freezes well, and sometimes even tastes better. (One idea suggested from the web is frozen crumbled Robin’s Eggs over ice cream.) Or you can melt your chocolate bunnies and use the delicious goo to make a sundae or your own fondue.  Got leftover Peeps? Make some colorful s’mores! Or, as they’re known in THIS RECIPE, S’meeps! They’re cute, at least.

At the White House, the Easter celebration is still going strong, as the Obamas hosted the annual White House Easter Egg Roll today. Doesn’t that sound like some type of sushi? The tradition began in 1878 and has become a favorite. All 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., are represented in the event, which is highlighted by the rolling of hard-boiled eggs across the South Lawn. All four of the Obama were on hand, both participating and cheering. Other aspects of the day included a cooking demonstration for kids with Al Roker and Kelly Ripa, singing by Colbie Caillat, and professional athletes hanging out at the basketball and tennis courts. Sounds a bit more extravagant than my Easter, that’s for sure! A record 30,000 people showed up at the White House this year…can you imagine?

Enjoy the rest of your Monday, Pineapple fans! Try to stay dry, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Let’s start with Earth Day, shall we? Today is the time to think about saving the world; carpool, drive less (this is foremost on a lot of minds, considering we are facing $4 per gallon gas prices), recycle, grow your own food, make your own clothes, compost, et cetera. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m terrible at all of these things. I’ve always meant to recycle, but it just seems like a time-sucking chore. There, now I sound lazy. Does anyone have any tips on how to start recycling?

One thing that is small, yet helpful (to the earth AND your electric bill) is unplugging appliances when not in use. A lot of appliances will continue to suck power even when turned off, and they’re known as “vampire appliances.” A few culprits are cable boxes, computers, modems, cordless phones and clocks. Obviously, it makes more sense to leave your clock plugged in. But think about keeping your computer turned off when not in use, at least. Or your toaster…how often do you use that, anyway? And of course, be sure to “outen the light” when you’re not in the room. Every little bit helps! Not only are you helping Mother Earth, you can also save about 10% on your monthly electric bill if you keep a lot of items unplugged.  Want some more ideas on helping out our planet?

1.) Hook your bike to a blender…seriously. With a few spare parts, you can hook an old bicycle up to a generator that can power most appliances, from a blender to a washing machine to a laptop. There’s a book called The Human-Powered Home that can help you. It’s also a great way to get some exercise, although I don’t know how well you could type on a laptop while riding a bike.

2.) Don’t mow…as often. Wait until grass is four inches high before your first mow; after that, set your mower at three inches. You could also buy a goat, or be like me and have a giant dog that looks like a cow that enjoys grazing.

3.) Use your dishwasher. You’d think washing by hand would save energy, but it actually wastes more water. Be sure to fill the dishwasher completely, though, otherwise it defeats the purpose.

4.) Va-va-vinegar! Personally, I love vinegar. I like to use it in cooking, I love eating balsamic vinegar and salt & vinegar chips, I’ve bathed my skunked dog in it, I’ve gotten rid of ants with it. (My husband hates it.) It’s truly a terrific cleanser, though, and very eco-friendly. Mix one part vinegar with nine parts water and use it to clean just about any surface. And rather than using plug-in or spray air fresheners, place a small bowl of vinegar in a room to deodorize.

5.) Keep car windows open. If you’re like me, with a gas-guzzling SUV and a long commute, this can be helpful. If you’re driving under 45 mph, turn the air conditioner off and roll the windows down; this can really reduce your fuel consumption.

Websites all over the world (wide web) are celebrating Earth Day. Check out Google today; they’ve got a fun interactive doodle on the homepage. Starbucks is also celebrating Earth Day; if you visit any location and bring your own reusable mug, you’ll get a free brewed tea or coffee! Don’t have a mug? Not to worry, Starbucks is selling theirs at 20% off today. Thanks, Starbucks! Also, if you’d like to look stylish and help the environment, try checking out Simple Shoes at www.simpleshoes.com; their products are made from recycled materials. And they won’t break the bank. Just ask Jay, he’s wearing some now!

Today is also Good Friday, which means two more days until Easter. We decided to have a little fun this morning at Pineapple HQ…

And with that, have a fabulous Friday, a swell Saturday and an excellent Easter. I’ll see YOU on Monday.

The live event will be a lot of fun on Saturday! Our host, Jeff Lazalier, will be on hand with the Easter bunny, live on KJRH from Nelson Nissan. We will be on during the commercial breaks in the morning newscast, between 8 and 10 a.m. Not only is it fun to watch, they will be offering some fantastic deals on pre-owned vehicles, but you have to watch to find out the scoop. Be sure to tune in, or even come by and see the Easter bunny! (I promise he’s nice – we know him! But I’m not telling you who it is!)

Remember when the Pineapples made plans to  travel to Nashville for production, and then it snowed? And then the guys went up there, and it rained, causing another cancellation? Well, trip number three was the charm, and the spots are now finished! I posted two yesterday on our facebook page, and I’ll post the remaining spots today. The campaign is called Spirit Rider, and is designed to showcase the spirit of Nashville and Nelson Mazda. “It’s got a fast vibe and a slow roll.” The spots turned out great…I’ve posted my favorite below. Check out the rest of them on the Pineapple page and let us know which one is your favorite!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5Hnl6H3OkQ&w=640&h=390]

Today is Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. Of all the days of Holy Week, this is by far the most somber, as it marks the betrayal of Jesus before the crucifixion. Church services for Maundy Thursday often include the ritual of feet-washing and a special communion. Tomorrow is Good Friday,  which is the Christian commemoration of Jesus’ Passion story; specifically his betrayal, trial and crucifixion that are described in the Christian gospels.

Many Christians also mark Good Friday by participating in or watching processions meant to replicate the journey that Jesus took through the streets of Jerusalem while carrying his cross to the site of his crucifixion at Calvary. Two of the largest and most famous of these occasions are Rome’s Way of the Cross that leads to the Colosseum and is presided over by the Pope and the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem — a procession along the traditionally marked route of Jesus that is attended by thousands of pilgrims each year. If you’re Catholic, you’re most likely fasting tomorrow. As with all other Fridays during Lent, meat is forbidden. It’s recommended that only one full meal with two smaller meals are eaten. The use of other meat-based products such as lard, chicken broth or dairy is not traditionally forbidden, although many individuals elect to make their Good Friday meals entirely vegetarian or vegan. And then…Sunday is Easter, which is a much more joyous celebration.

Do you have any interesting Easter traditions? Here is one question that I have: I know that the Easter bunny is a non-religious symbol of the holiday, and he brings eggs, hence all of the Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets for the kiddos. But why eggs? What possible correlation is there between a rabbit and an egg? Can someone please explain this to me?

Happy Easter, everyone! If you have the day off tomorrow, enjoy it, and if not, I’ll see you tomorrow!

Barlow has been hard at work on creative for most of the day. Adam and Jay have been gearing up for tomorrow’s potential client pitch. I’ve also still been chatting with various transit authorities. Again, it’s tricky, but I’ll find a way!

Now you know we love all things Pineapple, so of course we’re excited that today is National Pineapple Upside-down Cake Day!

A Pineapple Upside-down cake is made with the topping at the bottom of the cake and the batter poured over top. The topping typically consists of canned or fresh pineapple rings and some people like to put maraschino cherries in the center of the rings. After the cake is baked, the cake is turned out onto a platter and served upside-down – with the topping shown on top of the cake. The pan needs to be non-stick to avoid parts of the cake sticking to the pan which would have an unpleasent effect on the cake’s appearance. (That’s something that would happen to me.) The first Pineapple Upside-down cake recipe was likely one found in a 1924 fund-raising cookbook published in Seattle. However, the Dole company is credited for popularizing the cake during the 1940’s. For a recipe, click HERE! If you would like to bake one and drop it off for us, we would really appreciate it. Thanks to blog reader John for the heads up on this holiday!

It’s almost Easter, and that means some awesome candy is hitting the stores. Did you know that Easter is the second-largest candy holiday after Halloween? Marshmallow Peeps are an Easter staple for many (not me, blechhh) and have been since the 1950s. They’re made in Pennsylvania by the same company that makes Mike & Ike and Hot Tamales. Personally, I feel that they missed the boat on Peeps, but a lot of people like them. (My best friend is the only person I actually know that eats them. She also likes cotton candy, so I suppose she can’t help it.)

In 1971, the UK produced MY favorite Easter candy, the Cadbury Creme Egg. (I ate one last night, come to think of it.) I just can’t get enough of the milk chocolatey-fondant goodness. I have been extremely disappointed in the past with the assorted flavors of Snickers eggs and caramel eggs. No, no, NO, Cadbury! Stick with the original. The eggs are the best-selling candy in Britain between New Year’s Day and Easter. In the United States, they usually aren’t found until springtime, although I did see them for sale the week before Christmas this year in Breckenridge. Not sure if those were really early, or leftover from last year. Want to make your own Cadbury eggs? Click HERE! I also just learned that in the UK they have a Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry at McDonald’s. That really needs to head over the pond to Oklahoma!

 And one last little tidbit for today’s sweet theme: a Wisconsin teenager recently attended her senior prom sporting a dress made of Starburst wrappers! The teen’s mom made it for her, taking SIX years to do so. Each wrapper is folded eight times, with the final folds being done with a tweezer to ensure perfection. In order to get enough wrappers, she would purchase 2-lb. bags at a time, and ask that friends save the labels. In addition to the dress, she also made a vest for her daughter’s date, as well as a clutch and shoes to perfectly accessorize the gown. The couple lucked out; this year’s theme was Candyland. I guess if she eats too many Cadbury Eggs, she won’t fit into the dress much longer.

I hope that all of you are having a wonderful day, and I’ll see you tomorrow! Remember, if you decide to make a pineapple upside-down cake or some Cadbury Eggs, please bring me some! And we would like to wish blog reader Alice an amazing birthday today!

We are changing traffic (remember, that’s which commercials are running) in several markets, so that’s always a bit of a chore. It’s imperative that I coordinate getting proper instructions to each media rep at each television station, as well as arrange getting copies of the commercial to them. And it seems that every station accepts a different format, so there’s usually some juggling involved there. But whew, it’s all done! Almost…Jake just went to pick up final dubs (copies of the commercials) for me to overnight to one of our markets. And THEN it’ll be done!

Yesterday Adam and I presided over a Nelson Nissan production. (Actually, Adam presided, I just pitched in occasionally and took photos). We had a lot of fun! First we filmed at the studio with our talent, Olivia, then we  headed over to the dealership to shoot with some of the staff. As always, they were very friendly and pleasant to work with. We shot quite a few scenes with sales manager Jeff Dorsey and numerous sales consultants. The dealership has undergone a massive makeover for the past several months, and is preparing for a Grand Reopening in mid-May. Pineapple is on hand to help them launch Renovation Jubilation! Click HERE to see all of  the photos from yesterday’s shoot.

Speaking of Nelson Nissan, they are running a new game on their facebook page! So if you’re bored, visit their page and play Bouncing Balls for a chance to win one of three $100 cash cards! If you turn out to be terrible at Bouncing Balls, visit Nelson Mazda Tulsa’s facebook page and play Alien Intruders. Maybe you’ll be better at that!

Today marks the 16th anniversary of the Murrah bombing in Oklahoma City. Last year at this time, I wrote a blog dedicated to the day. There is nothing more that I can add this year to express the horror and grief that still affects so many Oklahomans today, even 16 years later. I do have one update, though. In last year’s April 19 blog, I wrote that I had never been to the OKC Memorial, and now I can proudly say that that’s no longer true. Barlow took the Pineapple People on a field trip there last summer, and it was truly an awe-inspiring and eye-opening day. I wrote about that experience HERE. Again, I won’t spend a lot of time repeating myself; I feel the same way today that I felt one year ago. Angry, saddened, and in utter disbelief that such a tragedy occurred not just in the United States, but in peaceful, easygoing Oklahoma. Please take a moment today to say a prayer for all of those who lost their lives on that fateful morning 16 years ago, and for all of their family members who were left behind.

Pineapple fans, I hope you had a terrific Tuesday, and that Wednesday is even better! See you tomorrow….and earlier, I promise!

We are heading out in a few minutes to shoot the latest commercial for Nelson Nissan, so that should be a great time, as always! We’ll shoot at the studio first and then head over to the dealership to hang out with our favorite Nelson Nissan gang. Their renovation is coming along quite nicely, and it’s almost complete. This dealership is going to have a gorgeous face upon completion!

I apologize for the lack of blog on Friday; the Pineapple People spent the day working out of the office. I hope your weekend didn’t get off to a terrible start due to a shortage of Pineapple news! And I don’t know what you did without the weather update!

We have an incredibly  busy week ahead of us. Not only do we have production today, we have numerous client and potential client meetings planned for the next few days. In addition, we are working out logistics on a new project that requires plenty of location scouting, traveling and planning. And as always, it’s pretty time sensitive, so I’m keeping busy with that!

It seems that tornado season is officially in gear. Here in Oklahoma, we had an eventful night last Thursday, with multiple tornadoes, extensive lightning and plenty of hail. The Tulsa Metro area didn’t have much damage, luckily. Two homes about a mile from mine were caught fire after being struck by lightning, but that was all I really heard. Then the tornadoes skipped to the southeast, down past McAlister, and caused a lot of damage and killed at least two in the Tushka area. But from watching the news this weekend, it seems that the destruction didn’t stop in Oklahoma. It moved on to Arkansas, where seven people lost their lives, and over to North Carolina, where the most devastation occurred and at least 21 people were killed. In Sanford, a Lowe’s store that was full of customers and employees, was totally demolished, but everyone made it out safely. A man in Ammon, North Carolina, reported seeing his livestock sucked up by the storm and flying through the air “just like the Wizard of Oz.” Tornado season is here. Please be prepared!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to the studio. Have a fantastic day, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

It’s been a busy day so far. Barlow, Jay and I had a breakfast meeting this morning with a potential client, and all went well. Now we are each jumping into our areas of research to see what our next steps will be. Barlow is working on creative, Adam’s on the media-buying end of things, Jay is working on design, and I’m tackling logistics, like locations and travel arrangements. It’s definitely a team effort here at Pineapple!

After that, Jay and Barlow each headed off to other client meetings, while I came back to Pineapple HQ to hang out with Adam. He’s busy working on final touches for the Dothan, Alabama market, where we are placing dollars for our newest client, Gilland Chevrolet GMC. Speaking of, are you ready to see the Gilland commercials? I thought so.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=786jLkHaF74&w=640&h=390]
Here’s the other one!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naIFshZoZGI&w=640&h=390]

I’ve always had ears that stick out. It’s just a fact of life. When I was a kid, they always seemed huge, but I’m pretty sure I’ve grown into them. Now they’re not super-sized, they just stick out. I used to be embarrassed about it, but it was never a huge deal; I never got publicly ridiculed or anything. I just watched a story about a 7-year-old girl in South Dakota named Samantha Shaw, who has “cup ears” (meaning they stick out, never knew that was the medical term!) and also suffers from “lop ear” when one ear curves forward slightly. At birth, the doctors told Samantha’s mom that the ear would straighten out on its own, but it hasn’t. So Samantha’s mom decided that she needed PLASTIC SURGERY so that she wouldn’t get bullied. Is it just me, or does that seem a little extreme? I understand you wouldn’t want your child bullied, but it hasn’t really happened yet; her mother just wants to make sure that it doesn’t happen. I guess little Samantha is excited and happy, though, so that’s a positive thing. I just can’t imagine being pleased about plastic surgery as a first-grader. The number of plastic surgery performed on children and teens has gone up 30% over the last decade. What do you think? Is seven too young to go under the knife?

Have a terrific Thursday afternoon, everyone, and watch out for tornadoes and hail!

Jay has had a busy week, meeting with several potential law firms. We would love to have more folks Pick the Pineapple! He has been working hard at presenting Pineapple Power to people, so we’ll see what happens. It’s important to remember that unless you’ve Picked Us, your commercials suck.

Tomorrow we have several client meetings, beginning with a breakfast in the morning, and then heading out to a golf course to talk about tournament planning. I may not be a golfer, but there’s something magical about being at a golf course with this kind of weather going on. I love it when everything is green, and the birds are singing, and it’s warm…okay, now I sound like a Disney movie. Anyway, I’m excited about going to the golf course. That’s all I’m going to say.

Barlow and Jake both have poison ivy. I feel terrible for them! I’ve always assumed I wasn’t allergic because I’ve never had it, and Barlow hasn’t, either, so I figured he’d be in the clear. Guess not! Hope the guys feel better soon and have plenty of calamine lotion!

As you may have noticed, Donald Trump has been all over the news lately, announcing his plans to run for president against Barack Obama. According to The O’Reilly Factor last week, Trump is planning on pursuing the Republican nomination, but I heard this morning that he will run as an Independent. For some crazy reason, I always thought to run for president, you would need some sort of political background, but apparently that’s not a requirement. What do you think? Would you vote for The Donald? Maybe he just wants his own Chia Pet, like President Obama. If you would like to purchase one of these bad boys, click HERE. Please don’t admit it if you do.

I’m sure all of you are going to be busy buying the Chia Pet now, and won’t even finish reading, so I’m going to sign off and head to the store. The Pineapple People are out of caffeine! I’ll see you tomorrow!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzz0wY2Vobk&w=640&h=390]

Today is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s. I’m a little bit sad that I read this, since we don’t have any stores in Oklahoma. However, I thought I would be kind and share the knowledge; if you’re one of my readers in Nashville or Charlotte, you’re in luck! Free Cone Day lasts from noon until 8 p.m. Feel free to take a photo of yourself with your free cone and post it on our facebook page, so I can live vicariously through you. They have some new flavors to try like “Late Night Snack” , which sounds positively amazing and has a swirl of vanilla with salted caramel chunks and fudge-covered potato chips, or “Bonnaroo Buzz”, which is coffee and malt ice cream with a whiskey caramel swirl and pieces of toffee. I’m still a huge fan of “New York Super Fudge Chunk.” And now I’m craving some Ben & Jerry’s. See what I get for being nice and spreading good news?

On April 12, 1861, the first shots were fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, marking the beginning of the Civil War. Our nation’s bloodiest war lasted for four years and resulted in more than 600,000 deaths. In the end, President Lincoln and the Union army defeated General Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy and effectively ended slavery, thanks to the Emancipation Proclamation. And that is why the United States of America is still one country, rather than two.

Also on April 12, but in 1961, the first human traveled into outer space. Yuri Gagarin took a 108-minute flight above the earth, setting the original record for the first person in space. On a similar note, it was just announced that the Tulsa Air & Space Museum will not be a recipient of any of the retired space shuttles. This may be a good thing, as it would have cost our fair city $8 million. To be honest, I’m not even sure where the Tulsa Air & Space Museum is. Museums that will be adding to their collection with the space shuttles are in Florida, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. I’m not surprised.

Well, Pineapple fans, enjoy the rest of your Tuesday. We are almost to the middle of the week! See you tomorrow.

Yesterday was a busy day for the Pineapple People. We went to help a sweet lady named Ms. Ray with some household chores. Ms. Ray suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, so she isn’t as capable of doing things around the house as she would like to be. We had quite a large group of volunteers, and it was a lot of fun. The women and children stayed inside to chat with Ms. Ray and to help clean up the house, mainly dusting, cleaning glass, and changing light bulbs. We also contributed quite a bit of food; Ms. Ray is stocked for days! The boys stayed outside and did plenty of manual labor. They filled up three pickup truck beds with brush, worked on her fence, stabilized the back deck, weedeated and trimmed some trees. We even had good weather for it! Pineapple Hands is a vital part of our company, and we love having the opportunity to help others in need. Thanks to Lori for setting up our latest Hands project! Remember, if you want to be on our volunteer list, please let us know. To see all photos from yesterday, please click HERE.

It’s a peaceful day so far at Pineapple HQ. Every one of the Pineapple People are out of the office at client meetings, except for me. I’m holding down the fort and enjoying the quiet time. Lately it seems that each of us are buried up to our necks in our own projects, which is good, because that means we’re busy.

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for…I will be posting the Cancer Treatment Centers of America culture video that we recently produced. It will be on our facebook page this afternoon, so please take a few minutes out of your day to watch it and let us know what you think.

The other day I posted on our facebook page about Denny’s new bacon sundae. The reviews I read are pretty mixed; something about how the ice cream melts too quickly. Anyway, it seems that bacon is on the uprising, taking the country by storm, as witnessed by the plethora of bacon products that are hitting the market, such as:

1. Baconnaise. As if mayo and bacon aren’t unhealthy enough, let’s try some mayonnaise that tastes like bacon! I’m guilty of liking bacon sandwiches (white bread, Miracle Whip and bacon). I wonder what it would taste like without the Miracle Whip, plus Baconnaise? Just extra bacon-y? Although a sandwich just isn’t a sandwich without the tangy zip of Miracle Whip, so I’m not sold on Baconnaise.

2. Bacon soda. Thanks a lot, Jones Soda. You’ve made me happy for years with your NORMAL flavors, like root beer and orange & cream. But now you’re ruined a good thing by producing bacon soda. During a taste test on the streets of New York, more than half of the 40 people approached refused to try it. Others commented that it tasted like beef, smelled like dog poop, and generally was so disgusting, it made their stomachs turn. If you happen to get a wild hair and try this concoction, please let me know.

3.  Bacon cupcakes. Now, this is something I could get on board with. I love chocolate cupcakes with potato chips on top, so I think this might be pretty good. If you would like to try it out, click HERE for a bacon cupcake recipe. And if you want to bring me one, please feel free. 4. Bacon mints. What?! Disgusting. I read a review by a professional candy reviewer (what a sweet job…pun intended!) and he said they were hideous, disgusting, absolutely awful. So bad in fact, that his dog refused to eat them. And the smell of the mints THROUGH THE CLOSED LID was so bad that he had to evacuate the mints from the room. And apparently the bacon toothpicks that accompanied the mints were no better. So save your money and do not buy these.

5. Bakon, the bacon-flavored vodka. Seriously? I hope someone got fired for this idea. What are you supposed to mix it with, orange juice? With a side of scrambled eggs?
On that greasy note, I’m off to get some work done. Have an amazing Monday, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Today we are wrapping up another busy week. Barlow has been in full-on creative mode for the past several days, tweaking commercials and writing tons of new scripts. Jay has been working on multiple graphic design projects and Adam has been doing a little bit of everything. I’ve been working on blogging and billing; those were my two main tasks this week, along with plenty of other small chores. Tomorrow morning will be a busy one, as Adam and I will be at Nelson Nissan bright and early for the live event, where we will be giving away an Xbox 360 with Kinect to one of our lucky facebook contest players! Hope the winner is ready to be on LIVE TV! After the Nelson Nissan drawing, I’ll be scurrying over to Nelson Mazda to give away a Sony PlayStation 3! I just love giving away cool prizes.

The Pineapple People just had a very productive meeting, and it didn’t even take three hours this time! We got a lot of things done, and tons of new ideas were pitched. The Pineapples are in high gear! And now I have lots to do to keep me busy! Surely most of our ideas are great ones; maybe we can someday make the list of “Under-$5 products that made millions.” Check this out:

1. Post -it Notes. So we all know that Post-its were invented by a guy named Arthur Fry from 3M. If Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion taught us anything, it was that. What you may not know is that they got their start because a failed batch of adhesive was made that wasn’t strong enough to really stick very well, and Arthur started using them to stick notes on reports. Failure isn’t always a bad thing.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR6-3izLrNo&w=480&h=390]

2. Krazy Straws. These were thought up by a man named Arthur Gildersleeve in Denver. (Why are all these guys named Arthur so far?) The idea was to get picky eating and drinking kids to overlook the fact they were drinking something healthy, like milk. Try sucking something nutritious through a Krazy Straw, and it’s magically delicious. I, too, am a picky eater and drinker, and I just recently threw out a Krazy Straw after my husband laughed at me, saying, “Surely we can toss that out!” What he didn’t realize was that I used it just a few days prior.

3. Slinkys. Ah, the slinky. Fun for a girl and boy! These were invented by a man NOT named Arthur (Richard James) in 1945. On the opening day, 400 of the toys were introduced at Gimbels Department Store in Philadelphia; all of them sold out within 90 minutes.

4. Silly Bandz. Goodness, I hate these things. The small children in my life are addicted to them, and they irritate me because not only do they end up everywhere, I can never tell what shape it’s supposed to be. Plus, I think they look incredibly tacky, but that’s just me. Despite a host of copycat companies, the original Silly Bandz STILL sell one million packs a week.

5. Pet Rocks. I’ve actually mentioned these before, although I’ve never owned one. In 1975, Gary Dahl, an advertising exec that was tired of listening to his buddies complain about their pets, launched the Pet Rock, which came with a cardboard kennel and The Pet Rock Training Manual, all for the bargain price of $3.95. During the first six months, he made an estimated $15 million.

6. Antenna balls. I’m guilty of owning these in the past. I’ve had a few from Jack-in-the-Box, but they all got stolen. This was a bigger hassle back then, before Jack-in-the-Box was in Oklahoma; it was quite a long drive to replace it! Jack from the famous restaurant chain was the inspiration for the first antenna balls, which were created by a guy named Jason Wall. He first sold the balls in auto supply stores before hitting the big time with Walmart.

7. Koosh balls. Who doesn’t love a game of Koosh Catch? Invented by Scott Stillinger in 1987, these balls were made by a father for his children, who apparently were terrible at playing catch. He wanted them to have a ball that was easy to catch, so he made one using rubber bands. The name ‘Koosh’ came from the sound the ball made when it hit the ground (so I guess his kids STILL couldn’t catch it). Stillinger started a company to market the balls, and while he later sold it, Koosh balls are still on the market.

Now I want all of you to take some time to make a list of great inventions, and when you hit on a winner, let me know and I’ll be happy to split the profits with you. Be sure to tune in to KJRH in the morning between 8 and 10 to watch for Adam and me as we give away the Xbox 360! Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you on Monday!

I’m also trying to send out some new commercials to stations this morning, but guess what? Our ftp site hates me. I got everything up and running since The Great Computer Crash of 2011, but it still won’t work. Jay, our computer guru, even tried to fix it, and it wouldn’t work for him, either. Not only that, you know how I spent ages rebuilding my email list for the blog? Apparently it is refusing to cooperate, as well. I thought I had it up and running again, and I just received a message from someone who hasn’t received it since last week. Please let me know you have stopped receiving the blog in your email. Grrrr. It’s just one of those frustrating days. But hey, at least it’s Thursday!

I really wanted to post the clip from Office Space where the printer keeps jamming, but I thought it would be nicer to NOT post bad language. You’re welcome. You’ll just have to play it in your head: “PC Load Letter? What the beep does THAT mean?!” Feel free to visit YouTube and type in “office space pc load letter.”

Today, April 7, is an important day in history. In 1933, the Cullen-Harrison Act went into effect, which permitted beer to go back on sale after 13 years. It was the first step to ending Prohibition. So today would be a good day to hit happy hour and raise your glass to the end of Prohibition all those years ago. Cheers!

And while that is a happy announcement, today is a depressing day in the news. First, another aftershock has struck Japan, in the exact same region that is already a disaster. That’s exactly what those poor people did not need! It was first rated as a 7.4 but has been reduced to 7.1 (big deal, right?). In the thousands of aftershocks that have occurred since the March 11 earthquake, this is the strongest one, with the exception of one that happened immediately after the quake.  A tsunami alert was issued, but has since been lifted. All of the nuclear plants are now operating on emergency power.

Not only that, there has been a school shooting in Brazil, in which a 23-year-old former student entered an elementary school and gunned down several students, killing 11 and sending 18 more to the hospital, before turning the gun on himself. The victims were 10 girls between the ages of 12 and 14, and one boy. The gunman left a note, mentioning that he had contracted the AIDS virus. I’m not sure why that makes him want to murder innocent children. Our prayers go to the victims and their families in Rio de Janeiro.

The Masters tournament started today in Augusta, Georgia. I really have no opinion about it, but Barlow and Adam are quite excited, so I thought I’d mention it. This is the 75th year for the Masters, which began in 1934 as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament. The Masters is the first of the four “major”, the most prestigious tournaments played by golf professionals. The others are the US Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship. The Masters is the only one of the four to be played on the same course each year, and also has the smallest field, at usually less than 100 players. If you win the Masters, you have a lifelong invitation to play. Jack Nicklaus has the most Masters wins with six victories, and Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer each have four. Who will win the lovely green jacket this year? I’m a bit surprised there’s not a Pineapple Pool for this event!

Have a lovely Thursday, Pineapple fans! Remember, tomorrow is Friday, so the weekend is in sight. See you tomorrow!

They had a successful journey to Hill Country, met with lots of folks and ate entirely too much Mexican food. (Seriously, I’ve never heard Barlow turn down Mexican, and apparently he’s willing to do that all week!)

It’s been a busy morning for me so far; I left the house early and ran some Pineapple errands on the way in to the office, and I’ve been working on some of my social projects until now. Tomorrow it’s time for lots of blogging! Adam and Jay have been going over leads from TADA, trying to come up with a game plan. That’s the important first step after a convention; you’ve got to strike while the iron is hot. Hopefully plenty of Texans will be Picking the Pineapple soon!

Barlow has been in the creative zone all morning; he’s working on finishing touches for several projects, including CTCA’s Culture Video and the spots for Gilland Chevrolet in Alabama. I can’t wait to see those!

As you know, the Pineapple People are all iPad users, and Jay is an all-around Apple aficionado. We’re always on the lookout for handy apps that will help us with our work. (And some that are just for fun, I admit.) But have you heard about the app that lets you smell and taste food on your phone or iPad? Thanks to brewery Shock Top, you can do just that! I don’t know this technology works, but it’s really neat. The app was launched on a news show last week. See what they had to say about it. Get the free app HERE.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isUFXNYT80k&w=640&h=390]

Did you see the story about Luna the jumping cow? No, she’s not jumping over the moon, more like hay bales and very low fences. German teen Regina Mayer asked her parents for a horse and was denied. So she decided to train her cow, Luna, to be a replacement. Over the past couple of years, she has managed to tame Luna so that she can ride her, and even take low jumps. It seems that the Luna has been brainwashed into thinking she’s a horse. She hangs out with the family’s other horses, but the other cows are jealous because of all the attention she gets.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Pineapple fans! Enjoy the beautiful weather (minus the terrible wind). Remember, Tulsa County is under a burn ban for the next week. No grilling…it’s a bummer!

I can’t wait to hear about yesterday’s TADA convention. I’m sure a lot of folks are ready to pick the Pineapple; we always make a big splash at conventions, and I’m sure this one was no exception. From Barlow’s pic earlier, it seems that some dealers are already spreading the Pineapple love! See, Pineapple goes with everything!

I’ve had a busy morning so far. I’m still trying to get my computer back to full capacity; it’s a little tough to operate without Microsoft Office! Hopefully I can rectify that situation in the next day or so. It’s amazing when you think of how much software and data is on your computer that you take for granted. At least I didn’t lose all of my information: THAT would have been a disaster! But that being said, I’m still working on rebuilding my email contact list. I’m really trying to get everyone back to receiving the blog on a daily basis. If you aren’t receiving it in your email, shoot me a message and I’ll get you back on the list. I’ll get it there, I promise! But in the meantime, it will always post to our facebook page. (update: I just spent an hour going through every email address that I can come up with; hopefully I got most everyone set up again!)

I also spent quite a bit of my morning updating our billing system, so everything is good to go. Then I had the crazy urge to take care of loose ends, and do some things I’ve been meaning to do for a while, like sweep up all the confetti that my paper shredder spits up every day. I even got some filing done, too. All in all, my office looks pretty shipshape!

You’ve probably noticed that supermarkets and stores like Walmart and Target are encouraging shoppers to use reusable totes instead of plastic grocery bags. Now, that’s all fine and dandy, but I never know how much I’m going to buy. Should I take 47 tote bags with me when I go shopping? I’m not trying to be patronizing; this is a serious question. Personally, I never see anyone using their own tote bags. Am I just not observant? I know one of our local chains offers five cents off for every reusable bag you bring in, thus saving them on their $32k per week sack bill. Every little bit helps, I suppose. But now to my original point: on April 17, Target will give away reusable totes (with purchase) to their first one million customers. Last year, most stores ran out within a few hours, so get there early! Hats off to Target for celebrating Earth Day in this manner. If you use your recyclable tote 10 times, you keep 25 plastic bags out of landfills. That should make you feel pretty good about yourself.

So how many of you are barefoot today? I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Plus, I’m going to eat lunch, and I think the “No shirt, no shoes, no service” rule still applies, no matter what TOMS says. Maybe when I get back, I’ll take them off. If you’re participating in One Day Without Shoes, please let me know!

Well, I guess there was something kind of exciting that happened in college basketball last night. Something about a Cinderella upset…I just know that Butler lost because they only made 18% of their shots, and UConn came out the winners. My bracket was finished long ago, and I was under the impression that Jay’s wife, Kami, already won our Pineapple Pool. However, now there is a rumor that Barlow and Adam (who were the big-time losers a week ago) will now come out on top? Looks like there is going to be a smackdown between Kami and Pineapples 1 and 2! Man, basketball is confusing.

Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

I’m guessing that Pineapples 1, 2 and 7 are thrilled to be in sunny San Antonio where it’s 82 degrees and feels like 88. Lucky guys! I bet they’re eating some amazing Mexican food, too. Today they are working the Your Commercials Suck booth at the Texas Auto Dealers Association conference, and I’m confident that a lot of Texans will be Picking the Pineapple today. Be sure to check in on our facebook page for updates from the road; they’re usually pretty entertaining!

Since they left yesterday, I’ve learned that they don’t like pre-dawn roadtrips, they spend entirely too much time on their phones, and they were able to set the booth up successfully. And I learned all that from our facebook page, so you should really check it out.

I am learning how to Skype today. I know, I’m behind, I’ve done it before, I’ve just never called someone myself. I downloaded Skype this morning (since I lost everything on my computer!) and I’m determined to execute a call this evening to the boys in San Antonio. Think I can do it? Let’s hope so; otherwise, I’ll never live it down.

Tomorrow, April 5, is One Day Without Shoes, sponsored by TOMS Shoes. Microsoft is involved for the second year in a row, and MSN is donating 1,000 pairs of shoes to a needy village. I’ve always thought the TOMS company was neat, because for every pair of shoes that’s purchased, TOMS donates one pair to a needy child in a third-world country. What they don’t tell you is that TOMS are incredibly ugly, in my opinion. But that’s a different story: tomorrow is the day to kick of your shoes and go barefoot all day. Microsoft employees are encouraged to participate, so now I wonder if Bill Gates will have naked feet tomorrow.  Last year, 250,000 people participated in the event. I guess I can do it, but the Pineapples are all on the road, so that may be weird. And talk about some serious supermarket feet. Either way, it’s a cool idea. If you’re in Tulsa, there is a walk scheduled at Ida Red in Brookside at 6 p.m. For more information on One Day Without Shoes (and events all over the world), please click HERE.

With that, I’m off to handle my Monday chores; I’ll see you all tomorrow: barefoot, of course!

On another happy note, I am pleased to announce that none of the Pineapples have decided to play April Fools tricks. This makes me very relieved. I kind of hoped someone would try my ketchup/jelly doughnut idea, but no such luck. If any of you played a great prank today, I want to know about it! I hate having them played on me, but I’ll laugh right along with you if you tricked someone else.

We have all the final details worked out for the San Antonio adventure this weekend. The guys are leaving very, very early, and I don’t envy them that. I also don’t envy Jay’s wife, who has to drive 20 miles one way to drop him off at the aforementioned very, very early hour. They’ll get plenty of bonding time on the nine-hour drive, but should be able to kick back and relax a bit before working the convention all day Monday. Rumor has it the hotel has a golf course and a water park; wonder which activity the Pineapples will choose?

Speaking of traveling, we may be heading up to the Big Apple this summer. I <3 New York, and hopefully New York will <3 the Pineapples! More on that later, if we decide to go!

Are you familiar with Knut, the German polar bear? Knut won the hearts of the world when he was born four years ago in the Berlin Zoo. Rejected by his mother at birth (along with his twin, who died four days later), Knut became the first polar bear born at the zoo to survive past infancy in more than 30 years. He lived in an incubator for 44 days, then was raised by zookeepers, especially Thomas Dorflein, who slept on a mattress next to him, fed, bathed and played with him constantly. Knut was revealed to the public at four months of ago, to the adoring public of Berlin, including hundreds of journalists. Knut went on to achieve celebrity status, appearing in a film, on postage stamps and in books, and had tons of commercial merchandise modeled after him including ringtones (how you’d have a polar bear ringtone, I have no idea), stuffed animals and even candy. But two weeks ago, Knut suffered a seizure in his enclosure at the Berlin Zoo, fell backwards into his pool, and drowned. And even more horrifying, it occurred in front of 600-700 visitors. Of course, animal activists have tried to blame the zoo for negligence, but reports show now that Knut suffered from encephalitis in the brain, or brain swelling. It is unclear what caused it, but mad cow disease, rabies and botulism have all been ruled out. This is a tragic ending for a beloved animal, especially since he was only four years old, and polar bears tend to live 15-20 years in the wild and even longer in captivity. Here’s to Knut; he was really cute. (Terrible poem, I’m sorry!)

Well, on that incredibly depressing note, I’m going to sign off and run some errands. Also, happy birthday to my wonderful mother Dori, who is a faithful Pineapple blog reader. (She’s also the official Pineapple photographer!) Happy birthday, Mom!

Have a wonderful weekend and please think safe thoughts as our boys travel to the Lone Star State this weekend! See you on Monday!

But, on a brighter note (literally), the sun is starting to come out FINALLY, for the first time all week. It’s a touch warmer than it’s been, and the weekend is supposed to be amazing. That would definitely improve things, wouldn’t you say?

Today is Opening Day for baseball season, and I don’t think anyone is more excited than Jay. Typically, this is a day of celebration for many reasons, like the arrival of spring (although not quite yet this year) and the start of a clean slate for all 30 MLB clubs. In Cincinnati, the home of the first professional baseball team, it’s somewhat of a holiday, with many people taking off work to cheer on the Reds. For decades, the first pitch of every major league season took place in Cincinnati, and they continue to be the only team that kicks off every season with a home game. Jay isn’t a Reds fan, however, he’s a true blue Yankees fan, as witnessed below.

Tomorrow is April Fools Day; are you excited? I’m not a huge fan of this so-called holiday, namely because I’m fairly gullible. I have a friend that likes to send out the panicked “I’m pregnant” email every year, and I fall for it every single time. Because I don’t like to be tricked, I don’t do it to other people. But I do have a few fun ideas for you, in case you’re feeling mischievous.

1.) Buy some jelly doughnuts for the office. Use a straw to suck out the jelly filling and replace it with ketchup. Your co-workers will get a treat they won’t soon forget. (I’m going to be very wary of any breakfast foods that show up at Pineapple HQ.)

2.) Go into your workmate’s office and go to the Google homepage. To the right of the search bar, click on Language Tools. Scroll about halfway down, and you’ll see a very comprehensive list of languages. Click on your choice (Klingon? Chinese? Zulu? Elmer Fudd?) and your victim will be wondering what the heck is up every time he uses Google.

3.) Need a fun prank to play on your boss? Paint over the tip of all his or her writing utensils with a coat of clear nail polish, then watch the frustration grows as he or she tries to make notes. If you’re a little scared of your boss, let him know that nail polish remover will wipe it off easily. You might want to have some on hand.

4.) Here’s an interesting (although slightly disgusting) trick to play on your boyfriend or husband. Scoop out an inch or so of his deodorant, then replace it with cream cheese. Make sure you mold it to the original shape of the deodorant. He’ll wonder why he smells so bad all day. Or you can just wipe bagels under his arms. Whatever you think!

I’m sure your devious minds are kicked into high gear now! On that note, I’ll let you get back to your prank planning, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

The Pineapple People had a productive Tuesday; we had a three-hour brainstorming session, and got plenty of items ticked off our agenda, which is always a good feeling. Of course, we came up with plenty more to add! Now we’ve got a grand opening party to plan as well as two golf tournaments. Being that I’ve always harbored a secret dream of being a wedding planner (until I realized I’d have to work every weekend), this is the next best thing. I love planning events!

Next Saturday I get to give away free stuff! I’ve been in charge of facebook contests on Nelson Mazda’s page and Nelson Nissan’s page, and now I get to give away two gaming systems. I’ll be a busy bee next Saturday, flitting from store to store, but it should be fun. Whoever thought you could win a cool prize for being an amazing Tetris player?

Before that, though, the Pineapples are heading to San Antonio for the Texas Auto Dealers Association convention. The guys are driving down VERY early on Sunday morning so they can take advantage of sunny San Antonio’s beautiful weather. They’ll man the booth all day on Monday and head back on Tuesday. It’s going to be a quick trip, but hopefully a productive one. It’s going to be a lonely few days for me next week.

The disaster in Japan is still looming, and plenty of people are wondering how to help. Now there’s something you can do! Thirty-eight musicians have gotten together and made an album titled Songs for Japan. For just $9.99 on iTunes, you can buy this collection, with the funds going to the Japanese Red Cross. The album sounds awesome, and has such artists as Bon Jovi, U2, Lada Gaga, Norah Jones, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Keith Urban and Eminem. It’s a pretty eclectic group, and it’s a fantastic purchase. It’s not often you get 38 songs for ten bucks! Check it out HERE. As you know, Pineapple has several clients that are car dealerships, so I’m always doing research online about various makes and models of vehicles, so that I can be informed. One item that is of interest to everyone is the rising cost of fuel, mainly due to unrest in the Middle East. Being in Oklahoma, our average gas prices tend to be lower than most, for which I’m grateful. We’ve dropped a bit in the past week or so, and gas is now around $3.27 per gallon if you buy at QuikTrip. If you go to Shell, well…don’t bother, you’ll pay about .20 more per gallon. But I just read an article that discussed prices around the globe, and while it may not help our situation, it might make you feel better to know that several countries are paying upwards of $9 a gallon, like Turkey, Eritrea and Norway. Still others are easily paying more than eight bucks a gallon, including Greece, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. So I’ve come up with a solution. We all need to move to Venezuela, where gas is SIX CENTS A GALLON. It’s only .54 cents in Libya, but people are terrified of being shot if they get out of their cars, so sadly, that doesn’t do them any good.

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your day, and here’s to better weather tomorrow! Remember, if you haven’t Picked the Pineapple, your commercials suck. Seriously, they really do.

Are you familiar with Pineapple’s Surf ‘n Fusion program? It’s basically awesome, and allows us to post your Pineapple-created web banners all over the world wide web, and enhances your web traffic tremendously. We are pleased to announce that our clients that are participating in Surf ‘n Fusion are all having outstanding web traffic this month. Check out our website at www.pickthepineapple.com for more information.

Our big item on the agenda today is a Pineapple People Meeting. It’s a good day to sit and have a brainstorming pow-wow, don’t you think? Since we have so many projects in the pipeline, it’s time to go over everything with our entire crew. And then we’ll talk about how Jay’s wife won the bracket and kicked everyone’s butt. Just kidding…congrats, Kami!

America’s most hated new tween sensation, Rebecca Black, is on point to surpass Justin Bieber as the proud owner of the “Most Hated” video on YouTube. Black’s video for Friday has reached over one million views and is closing in fast on Bieber’s Baby. But Justin shouldn’t feel bad; he still holds the record of having five of the top 10 most hated videos. Except who cares, because I’m pretty sure Justin Bieber has more money than everyone I know combined, and he’s still a kid. Both songs are surprisingly similar, as witnessed by the video below. (This is much less painful to listen to than the original songs, I promise.)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIb9rY5xUGE&w=640&h=390]

So the wedding of the century is coming up on April 29; just one more month until Prince William and Catherine “Kate” Middleton exchange vows at Buckingham Palace. I love that William is following in his father’s footsteps and marrying a “commoner.” Kate is adorable, and they’ve been together for a long time, so I’m excited for them. Then again, I’m a girl, so of course I’m pumped about a glamorous royal wedding. The nuptials have been getting a lot of press lately, and I’m sure it was the same when Prince Charles and Diana wed, except I was only two years old at that time. Needless to say, I don’t remember it! But in this new age of technology, things are a lot more advanced than they were in 1982; one company designed a refrigerator emblazoned with Will and Kate’s image, and a German company is manufacturing tea bags with the couple’s photo. Oh, they’ve got their own postage stamps, too. The royal staff is already busy preparing the palace for the extravagant affair; 19 rooms will be used for the reception. The park in front of Buckingham Palace has already been closed to the public; it’s where the media will be stationed. It’s going to be quite an affair! Click HERE to see some preparation photos, and be prepared to hear a lot more commentary from me on the event as it draws ever near! Check out the invitation below. It has been sent to 1900 people all over the world. Mine must have gotten lost in the mail.

On that happy note, I’m off to take care of business in the Pineapple People meeting. Have a terrific Tuesday, and let’s hope for better weather tomorrow!

I’ve been playing bookkeeper all morning, which keeps me busy. In addition, I’ve been filling in some blanks on the script that Barlow wrote over the weekend for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America culture video. I had the good fortune to be present during the entire production, and I also got to edit the footage on Friday with the Pineapple People, so I already knew it was going to be an amazing piece of work. After reading the script, I’m even more convinced. I can’t wait to see the final footage! Thank you to everyone at CTCA for being so helpful and welcoming at the production on Thursday! The stakeholders there are amazing, and we couldn’t have asked for things to go more smoothly.

Ever wonder what our crew would look like in scrubs? L to R: Chris from Reliant, Joel, Barlow, Jason and Mark from CTCA

The rest of the week is shaping up to be a busy one; we have a meeting tomorrow morning to go over all of the projects that we are currently dealing with. Pineapples 1, 2 and 7 are gearing up to head south to San Antonio next weekend for a Texas auto dealers convention. This time, they are driving, so the booth will travel with them; let’s hope there are no blizzards coming our way! We plan on meeting lots of folks interested in Picking the Pineapple.

So, my dreams of Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal reuniting are officially crushed, as Miss Legally Blonde tied the knot this weekend with her CAA agent fiance, Jim Toth. I’ve always loved Reese, ever since The Man in the Moon. And of course, who doesn’t love Fear, Election, Legally Blonde and Sweet Home Alabama? Reese and Jim began dating in January 2010, and got married on Saturday at her Ojai, California ranch, where she has horses, goats, pigs, donkeys and chickens. The style of the wedding was “rustic farm” and sounds like the perfect mixture of glam and country. The outdoor decor included lanterns and chandeliers hanging from trees, mismatched antique chairs and distressed benches set throughout the property, a wood plank dance floor, antique leather sofas, jute rugs, wagon wheels and Turkish-textile pillows. (There’s just something about chandeliers outdoors that seems magical to me! Maybe I should hang one in my yard…the neighbors may think I’m strange, though.) Okay, the wedding was beautiful, and best wishes to Reese and Jim. BUT here’s the big gossip: recently divorced Scarlett Johansson (Ryan Reynolds wasn’t good enough? Really?) showed up with fellow divorcee Sean Penn. Seems odd, doesn’t it? I guess “S-Squared” (that’s their silly Hollywood name) has been palling around for a couple of months now, but keeping the relationship under wraps. It’s a pretty big statement to bring your boyfriend to a wedding, so I suppose they are public now. We’ll see how things go for the 26-year-old Iron Man 2 actress and the 50-year-old Hollywood veteran.

Hope your Monday is going well…it’s almost Tuesday! See you tomorrow. Let’s hope for warmer weather, shall we? 

Pineapples 1 and 2 are landing this afternoon, and they are hitting the ground running, because we kick off the production for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America tonight. No rest for the weary here at Pineapple!

The world lost a legend today, as Hollywood says good-bye to screen legend Elizabeth Taylor. She passed away after a bout with congestive heart failure this morning, surrounded by her four children. Taylor has been a shining star on the silver screen since the age of 12. Being that she was 79 when she died, that’s quite an impressive career, especially for a movie star. She made more than 50 movies, including National Velvet, Father of the Bride and Cleopatra (the most expensive film ever made). But the greatest movie never made was about her personal life. Taylor was known for her eight marriages and seven husbands (she married Richard Burton twice), her addiction to sleeping pills and painkillers, and her drug and alcohol abuse. She suffered many health issues, including a nearly lifelong back injury, pneumonia, hip replacements and a brain tumor. But she was also known for her loyalty to her friends, and supported such pals as Michael Jackson and Rock Hudson during times of need. Rest in peace, Liz.

Yesterday I told you about Rebecca Black, the 13-year-old girl who sings Friday, which has been hailed as “the worst song ever.” People are still laughing about her and making parody videos, but I bet none of them have been on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. That’s right, little old Rebecca chatted with Jay last night and sang the song live on the show. And it sounded just as bad in person as it did on the video. Jay did play a pretty good parody video, though, and it’s a good thing it was funny; I would hate to see a teenager burst into tears on the show.

Things aren’t getting any better in Japan. In addition to all of the other troubles, now tap water is unsafe in Tokyo due to radiation. At least, it’s not safe for infants; they say radioactive water is just fine for older children in adults. I wouldn’t want to drink tainted tapwater, though, would you? Naturally, there has been a mad rush for bottled water in stores, and even though a limit of two bottles per person has been enforced, supermarkets are still sold out. Radiation is also being found in vegetables and dairy products. Yum. You’ll be glad to know that food imports from the areas affected by the tsunami and hurricane are being halted into the United States. The Japanese incident is being referred to as the world’s most expensive natural disaster on record, with estimated costs at $309 billion. Death tolls continue to rise, with 9,400 bodies counted and more than 14,700 still listed as missing. Keep praying for those poor people!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to tackle my to-do list and make some final preparations for tonight’s production. I will be out of the office the next two days, and I will do my best to blog from the production site, but I can’t guarantee! Be sure to check our facebook page for updates, though. I certainly hope the rest of your week isn’t ruined now.

Yesterday’s production in Alabama for Gilland Chevrolet was a success! Barlow is pleased with the way things turned out, and the Gilland staff was friendly and fun, two qualities we enjoy working with. I can’t wait to see the finished product. Guess I need to be patient. Good things come to those who wait. (Well, bad things come, too, like wrinkles and weight gain, but that’s a different story.) Now the Pineapples are taking a well-deserved break for a couple of hours and kicking back on the beach, or so it seems, based on the photos they’re posting on our facebook page! Or it’s possible they’re fishing. Either way, the sun is shining, unlike here. (Update: they’re fishing. And while fish are being caught, they are nothing to brag about!)

Does the name Rebecca Black mean anything to you? Well, it didn’t to me, either, until I saw her story on TV last week. Rebecca is responsible for releasing what many are calling “the worst song ever made.” Now, that’s a bit harsh. First of all, she’s only 13 years old, and she didn’t actually write the song, she just performed it. And made a ridiculously cheesy video to go along with it. Second, I feel that there are MUCH worse songs out there, like Barbie Girl or Sisqo’s Thong Song. However, it’s a matter of opinion. Rebecca has been making the talk-show circuit, talking about how it feels for the world to talk trash about you when you’re only 13 and just trying to make something of yourself. The poor girl just wants to sing! And she may be able to, but it’s difficult to tell since the synthesizer takes over for her so much. Rebecca will end up getting the last laugh, though, since her song has skyrocketed on iTunes, and she should make a hefty paycheck, which she plans to use to help relief efforts in Japan. What a sweet girl! It’s also taking YouTube by storm, and inspiring others to make equally bad parody videos. Check out Rebecca’s viral video below, and tell me what you think. Worst song ever? No. And it will definitely get stuck in your head.  Poor kid, but remember: she’s laughing all the way to the bank. I would also like to note that when I was 13, I was having slumber parties. I was not dolled up in prom gear rolling in the back of a guy’s convertible to an unsupervised house party. That came later.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0&w=640&h=390]
Today we celebrate the 80th birthday of one Captain James T. Kirk…William Shatner! Bill has been acting for nearly 70 years, if you can believe it. I always loved him in the Star Trek movies when I was a kid (I’m no sci-fi geek, but I did have the VHS box set; this is mainly because I loved the fourth movie when the Enterprise crew came to earth to save the whales). It’s wonderful that long after the starship flew off into the cancellation airwaves, Bill Shatner is still a household name. He’s still quite active, especially for an octogenarian. I expect that between his horse breeding and his Priceline Negotiating, he’s a busy guy. Happy birthday, Bill!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to take care of some important Pineapple missions. Have a terrific Tuesday, and we’ll talk tomorrow!  

Pineapples 1 and 2 are in southern Alabama today, filming several commercials for Gilland Chevrolet GMC in Ozark. They got an early start this morning, and have been traveling to multiple locations all over town. Only the Pineapples would hit an army base, a manicure shop and a Mexican restaurant all in the same day. I hope they had some secret extra-hot salsa for the boys. Remember, they all do; you just have to ask for it. Those are words of wisdom from our Chief Pineapple.

They’ve been posting some interesting photos on our facebook page, if you’ve been keeping up. I’ve never seen Adam get on another man’s shoulders in person, but the photo was entertaining enough! Maybe we can get him to reenact it when he gets back later this week.

The boys have another busy day tomorrow before heading back to Tulsa for another two days of production. We will start shooting on Wednesday night for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and we are really excited about. It will be a different type of project for us, and one that is close to our hearts for many of us. (By the way, I found my missing Livestrong bracelet yesterday. I didn’t have it for a week and I felt naked without it.) We will hit several locations on Wednesday evening (I did some fun location scouting this morning) and we will film at the treatment center all day on Thursday. It will be a positive and rewarding experience, and it will be Jay’s first production, so it’s a big day for everyone!

Jake forgot to eat lunch today, so he’s hoarding M&Ms. He thinks we don’t notice, but check out his workspace.

In other fun news, Jay and I are wearing the same shoes. No, we didn’t plan it. Guess which one is wearing pink!

It’s a wonderful day for a birthday, don’t you think? No, it’s not one of the Pineapple People (although mine is next!) but our favorite micro-blogging site, Twitter! Happy fifth birthday, Twitter! Formerly known as ‘Twttr’, the site launched five years ago when co-founder Jack Dorsey sent the first live tweet. Do you know what it was? Post it on our facebook page if you want to guess! Twitter has come a long way since its humble beginning; now more than 200 million users around the world post nearly 1,600 tweets a second. If you don’t already, be sure to follow us on Twitter @pineapplead.

Pineapple fans, I hope the first day of spring is treating you well; let’s hope that March continues like a lamb instead of a lion. See you tomorrow!

Yesterday was a really fun day at Pineapple HQ. We had a little gathering to celebrate March Madness and Saint Patrick’s Day. We had a ton of delicious food, including grilled chicken and pineapple skewers, chips & dip, meatball subs, cupcakes, all kinds of yummy stuff! Thanks to Lori for doing such a fabulous job on the grub.

We had several friends stop by to snack, watch some basketball and chat with the Pineapple People. We also had a drawing for some cool door prizes; we gave away an iPad PropUp, a free oil change from Nelson Nissan and some Pineapple tee shirts. Thanks to Barlow to emceeing the raffle, and to Adam for doing an excellent job of drawing the winners. (Don’t say I never gave you any credit, boys!)

Our winners were all happy about their prizes, as you can see below.

But here is the best part: two of our Your Commercials Suck winners were John Trook, GSM of KTUL and Joe Brunnhuber, GSM of KJRH. Which station is going to proudly represent Pineapple more often? Will John and Joe wear their new shirts all over Tulsa? They’d better! Seriously, guys. You’d better.

The party was a lot of fun, and everyone had a good time. My bracket started off doing well, and then went downhill from there. Today we planned on getting some work done, and watching some more hoops on the office TV, when we got a big surprise this morning. Adam, Barlow and I got to go to the BOK Center and watch the tournament in person! Thank you so much to John Trook (who was not wearing his Pineapple shirt today!) for the tickets; we had excellent seats and it was a blast! And for that, I will forgive John for not wearing the shirt today. Go, Longhorns!

We’ve got a busy weekend, too…Adam and Jake will be at the live event in the morning at Nelson Nissan; you should tune in because it’s going to be really funny! It’s on KJRH between 8 – 10 a.m. On Sunday, Pineapples 1 and 2 fly to Florida for the Gilland Chevrolet production. It’s going to be a busy week, because immediately upon returning on Wednesday, we’ll launch into the shoot for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, which will occupy Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday. Time for the Pineapple People to put their game faces on!

I hope all of you have a great weekend; enjoy the weather and do something fun. And if you see any TV sales managers in Pineapple shirts, be sure to wave, because it’s either Joe or John!

Jake did a great job decorating Pineapple HQ for our March Madness extravaganza today. It looks very festive and Pineapple-like! We’ve got leis everywhere, and we are all set up for some pineapple/coconut bowling this afternoon. Maybe it’s a little over the top for just us, but that’s what we do around here. We are always looking for an excuse to have a good time, and the kick-off for March Madness is a perfect opportunity, especially since it’s Barlow’s favorite day of the year.

So, it’s Saint Patrick’s Day. If you’re reading this at work, and you forgot to wear green…look out! I know I hated it when I was in school because I always forgot to wear green, and always ended up getting pinched a hundred times. I’m not sure if that’s still the case with adults; it may be a little inappropriate in most workplaces! But do you know how your favorite St. Paddy’s Day traditions got started? Read on!

The original color for March 17 was blue, but it was changed in the 18th century to represent the Emerald Isle, the shamrock and the green on the Irish flag. During the early 1700s, Americans believed that wearing green made them invisible to leprechauns who would pinch and steal anyone that wasn’t wearing green. That being the case, people would pinch others to warn them of the impending leprechaun kidnapping.

What about the shamrock? According to Irish legend, St. Patrick used a three-leaved clover, or shamrock, to illustrate the idea of the Holy Trinity, versus the good luck associated with the four-leaved variety, a mistake many Americans make. Guess that’s what happens when the non-Irish try to emulate cultures from other countries; we generally get it wrong. Ever seen someone sporting a tee or  button with the slogan, “Kiss Me, I’m Irish?” Of course you have; it’s the most popular saying for this day. It actually refers to the Blarney Stone, which is said to bring you good luck if you kiss it. Since most folks can’t get to Ireland to kiss the stone (talk about germs!), the next best thing is to kiss an Irishman. I have a good feeling a man came up with that little twist. 

Most Americans associate today with drinking…a lot, and especially green beer. In Ireland, March 17 is considered a religious holiday, and pubs used to be closed on this day. It only became a drinking holiday in Ireland after 1995 to lure tourists, and it worked! Over a million people now attend Dublin’s five-day Saint Patrick’s festival.

With that, go put some green on, and maybe toast to Ireland’s patron saint with some green beer after work. Slainte!

It’s been a crazy day so far, perfectly normal for a Wednesday. I’ve been on the phone all morning, working out final details for our Alabama production next week. I’ve been busy securing multiple locations for our crew to shoot. It involves a lot of research and a lot of chatting on the phone. But so far, so good…I’m almost finished! I’m also learning about helicopters. And of course, I needed to find a good Mexican restaurant for the Pineapple People to have lunch; hope they have some extra-hot salsa for our Chief Pineapple.

Speaking of Mexican, we just had a delicious group lunch at Compadre’s where we talked a little business, but mostly just had fun. It’s what we do! I’m a little surprised nobody has ever told us to quiet down.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent getting Pineapple HQ ready for March Madness! We have a lot of important things to do, like compare brackets and make sure we have plenty of junk food on hand for our game-watching tomorrow. I just hope I don’t get knocked out in the first round like I did last year. Wait…I’m going to believe in the power of positive thinking. I’m going to win it all! Of course, if by some reason I end up losing, I’m never going to live it down, thanks to all the smack-talking I’ve been doing. I don’t know anything about basketball, either. We will have to wait and see what happens!

Have you checked out our fancy new Pineapple website yet? We’ve added a ton of new photos, commercials and information. Take a few minutes and look around; you can find it at http://www.pickthepineapple.com/.

Notice anything new on facebook today? As in, the comment button is gone to reply to someone’s post? I realized earlier that something seemed off, but wasn’t quite sure what it was until I read an article about it. Now when you reply, you just hit ENTER instead of clicking on COMMENT. It’s a little annoying if you want to just insert a paragraph break (which you now do by hitting SHIFT and ENTER at the same time) but it’s cool because you can actually edit your comment now, when you couldn’t do that before. Just another fun thing that facebook did to make us learn something new!

The death toll in Japan has officially reached over 4,300, with more than 8,000 people still missing. The hunt is on for bodies, maybe even survivors, for another day or two. Then it will be a recovery mission rather than rescue. The walls of the city hall in Natori are listed with names or descriptions of bodies that have been found. It’s terrifying to think that someone would only know you because you were carrying peanuts in your left pocket that day. (That was a real description.) Loved ones are still holding out hope that their family members have survived, and are posting notes to announce their whereabouts, just in case. Schools and gyms that are still standing are being used as shelters, and thousands of people are packed inside, sleeping on cardboard mats. The sad thing is, nobody is even sure where to begin to rebuild; until more help arrives, it’s strictly a matter of survival at this point. Radiation is still a very real fear. Each day seems to get worse instead of better.

On that happy note, I’m going to sign off and get some more work done. I hope your Wednesday was wonderful, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember, keep your fingers crossed that my bracket stands up to the first day of tournament play!

Yesterday was full of BipIt meetings and final production details. The official logo for Gilland Chevrolet GMC in Ozark, Alabama, has been released, too. We will be there next week with our crew, our creative, and plenty of Gilland Green to launch them as The Trade Spot. We’ve gotten a lot of things hammered out in the past 24 hours, that’s for sure. Plus, we’re having another Pineapple Pow-wow this afternoon to get even more done. Definitely another busy week at Pineapple HQ!The newly revamped PickthePineapple dot com is finished! We’ve added all new photos of the Pineapple People from our photo shoot with Dori G. a few weeks ago. We had a lot of fun doing it, and the photos speak for themselves. We have also updated what’s new with Pineapple, and the map has been updated with our newest clients and hot spots. Check it out HERE!

Today is a very important day in history. On March 15, 1980, a McDonald’s in Knoxville, Tennessee, test-marketed a new product: Chicken McNuggets! The menu item went national in 1983, and called up the kind folks at Tyson Chicken to help meet the demand. Tyson responded by producing chickens with larger, more ample breasts. Now, I’m a fan of the iconic McNugget. I like McDonald’s; I’m not ashamed. I admit that I didn’t eat there for a while after watching Morgan Spurlock’s documentary hit “Super Size Me”, and I don’t eat there nearly as often as I used to. But I like it. People always are making cracks about what McNuggets are actually made of, and now I know it’s Tyson chicken breasts.  And now, for your daily Japan update. As if the situation isn’t bad enough, now a nuclear plant is releasing radioactive material into the air, causing 140,000 people to seal themselves inside their homes. That’s assuming they still have homes to be in! But one happier story has emerged: two survivors were found today, including a 70-year-old woman. Those are miracles, for sure. I hope things get better soon. Maybe tomorrow will bring better news.

And with that, go enjoy the beautiful day; it’s getting warmer by the minute! See you tomorrow! Don’t forget to fill out your brackets!

Today has been a busy day, but that’s to be expected for a Monday. Next week is a very busy production week, so there are always a ton of details to map out. I’ve been working this morning on some various projects, like ordering very specific props for next week’s shoots. Since these always involve problem-solving and online shopping, I’m all about it. I’m also working on some research for BipIt, and I’ve been trying to get quotes for some items that we are looking at producing. Again, it is a task that’s new and different for me, so I’m having a good time with it. If only people would get back to me quickly; I’m a bit too impatient sometimes! But I’m glad that my to-do list for today started out with a million items (or so it seemed) and I’ve narrowed it down quite a lot! That spells a successful Monday in my book. Although I wish my list looked a little more like this one:

It’s official: Pineapples 1, 2 and 7 are headed to Hill Country the first weekend in April. They will be participating in a convention for Texas Auto Dealers. Being that Texas is one of Barlow’s favorite places, he is excited about it. The boys will share the magic of Pineapple with our neighbors to the south, and are bound to come back with some new leads.

But before that, we have another live event at Nelson Nissan this weekend, a trip to the Floribama region for a production, and another day of shooting in Tulsa for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. And before all of that….the kick-off to March Madness! This is a favorite event here at Pineapple HQ; the guys all are addicted to sports. Last year we had a fun time hanging out and watching basketball for a couple of hours. We plan to do that this year, too; it’s always nice to take a short break and watch some TV, right? Although I’m not a basketball fan, at least I understand the game, which is more than I can say for football. Either way, it’ll be a fun day!

I had a busy weekend. I didn’t sit and watch the news, and I didn’t surf the news sites like I do during the week, to get ideas for my blog writing. That being said, I am embarrassingly ill-informed about the tragedy in Japan. I watched a couple of videos on Friday and was aware of the bare bones of the story: there was an earthquake and a tsunami, and hundreds of people are dead or missing. Now I’m playing catch-up from the weekend, and I read the highlighted story on MSN…it’s about Japan. And now it’s not hundreds of bodies that are being found. In one coastal province, the news station is reporting 2,000 bodies washed up on the shore. Locals are going on the fourth night with no electricity, food or water. The temperatures are near freezing. But in all of the quotes I’ve read from those affected, nobody is complaining. Sure, they’re miserable and unhappy. But they aren’t looting, rioting and causing trouble. One comment I read remarked on the fact that the article mentions they are actually waiting in line for items. They’re not ransacking and stealing.

The stock market has plunged, and Japanese corporations like Toyota and Honda are going to suffer. The crematoriums are overwhelmed with bodies, and there is a shortage of coffins. Another 6.2 earthquake hit the country today, causing a new tsunami scare. Luckily, it was a false alarm. But with at least two nuclear plants severely damaged, the new threat is radioactive material being released into the air. That’s the last thing they need.

I can’t begin to imagine what the rescue workers must be thinking. Everything is such a mess; where does one begin? I cannot fathom what it would be like to skip off to work one morning, and then to have everything (and possibly everyone) that you know and love, be snatched from you in a moment’s time. To go without the most basic necessities of food and water. I can only hope that relief comes for them soon; at least fifteen foreign teams are working on the relief effort (one of the largest from the United States). But it’s so overwhelming, and it’s a tragedy for which nobody can prepare. This video that I found shows the best view I’ve seen so far; it really put things into perspective for me. The photo below portrays an area before and after Friday’s tsunami.

And on that happy note, I’m going to wish you a wonderful rest of your Monday. I’ll see you tomorrow!

Of course, Jake may not love Fabuloso Fridays as much as I do, since he’s been passed the cleaning torch. I never minded cleaning Pineapple HQ; I just have more things to keep me busy now, so I don’t have quite the free time that I used to. But Jake is doing a great job of keeping things sparkling! He even fixes things that are broken, which I can’t do. (Not well, anyway.)

It’s been a busy day today! We had a meeting this morning about Bip It; I know I keep telling you that you’ll meet him soon, and you will, I promise. Just not today. Things are progressing well with the project, and we are pumped about it. After that, we headed off to a lunch meeting with some folks from KTUL to discuss the media plan for the remainder of the year. Thanks for a yummy lunch, KTUL! I’m full.

Monday is going to be a busy day; we will be finalizing our upcoming trips to Alabama and Texas. Luckily, I’ve gotten all of the difficult travel plans already booked. And I was successful in finding a grip truck in Alabama, which was the hardest chore of all.

Looks like things are a mess in Japan right now. I had no idea the earthquake and tsunami happened (I skipped the news this morning! Sorry, Ron and Michelle!) until Adam told me at the office this morning. The disaster happened around 2:45 p.m. and it’s a mess. At least 350 people are dead or missing, and damage estimates are already in the billions. The quake was an 8.8 on the Richter scale, one of the worst in history, and the strongest quake in Japan in nearly 1200 years. I saw footage of a burning oil refinery, cars being swept away, and an aiport being submerged. Twenty-thousand Japanese locals were told to evacuate, and then areas of Hawaii and even the west coast of the United States are being evacuated as well, in preparation of additional tsunamis. Our prayers to all of those in Japan and Hawaii, and all others that are affected by this tragedy.

Well, I know this is short, but there is still lots to do at Pineapple HQ. Travel budgets, travel plans, two bank runs, a crash course in the FTP site, a mail run…and that’s just off the top of my head! Have a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans, and I’ll see you on Monday!

Today is a bit more lively at Pineapple HQ; Adam and Jake are both in the office with me, causing all of their usual chaos. We each have several projects that we’re juggling at once, so we’re all keeping busy. I’ve spent the morning trying to secure a grip truck for our shoot in Alabama in a couple of weeks. (Yet another thing that I’ve learned about since becoming a Pineapple.) If you google “grip truck rental” you’ll find plenty of listings, but guess what? They are never in the area that you need them to be. It’s that pesky Murphy’s Law thing; it applies to everything, including equipment rental. But I’ve managed to find one, because that’s just what I do.

It’s a big day for OSU basketball….or it was. After a narrow win over Nebraska yesterday, the Cowboys fell by one point today to #2 Kansas. I guess it wasn’t meant to be this year. I’m still sporting my OSU tee in support, though! I have no plans to remove it for the rest of the day. (Yes, I’m wearing something under it!)

Thanks to blog readers Alex and Sara, who have helpfully informed me that the mystery appliance in our kitchen is most likely an electric kettle. This makes sense. It sounds like a cross between a teapot and a clothing steamer, so that seems right. I’ve never seen anyone do anything with it; I’ve just heard it steaming. Maybe I should start hanging out in the kitchen until I see how the contraption works! That might make me look creepy, though.

So I’m surfing the web to see what’s new and exciting in the world. No major updates from Charlie Sheen (except that he’s suing his former employers for 100 million bucks). And with no Sheen drama, I found something else: this is the best thing you’ll see all day. I promise.

Apparently Asians love McDonald’s just as much as Americans; in fact, you can get MARRIED at a McDonald’s in Hong Kong! Yes, it’s every bride’s dream come true! The “Warm and Sweet Wedding Package” costs about $1280 US dollars and includes all kinds of goodies, like wedding gifts (free McNuggets, perhaps?), pink invitations bearing the golden arches and special decorations featuring Ronald McDonald and the Hamburglar (maybe because the groom “stole” the bride’s heart? Haha, that was bad). For an additional fee, the happy couple can have a “wedding cake” built of boxed apple pies, balloon corsages and a very tacky large pink backdrop. I wonder if McDonald’s locations in the States will pick up this trend. Somehow, I doubt it. If you’d like more information on this excellent marketing idea, please watch the video. It’s worth it.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rhuntig4tk&w=480&h=390]
And now you know that if you need to entertain your kids and your grandparents all at one time, you can take them to McDonald’s!

Have a terrific Thursday, Pineapple fans! Enjoy the beautiful weather, and remember two things: Tomorrow is Friday, and your commercials suck…if you haven’t picked the Pineapple!

It’s another quiet day so far at Pineapple HQ. I have a longer commute now, so I’m leaving at a different time each morning to try to judge the traffic situation. That leads me to early arrivals at the office, which is nice. I get a lot more done with no interruptions! Adam and Barlow have been in meetings off-site all morning, and Jake has a special Ash Wednesday service at school, so he won’t be in until later. I enjoy it for a while, but I’ll probably be really lonely by the time everyone gets in.

I didn’t get one single response to yesterday’s blog, which can only mean one thing: nobody else knows what the odd kitchen appliance is, either! I can’t believe that none of you recognized it. And it’s not a test, I’m really just curious! If you haven’t read yesterday’s yet, please check it out and see if you know…it’s driving me crazy.

We all know that drinking and driving is wrong. It’s always wise to have a designated driver. But what if you don’t have one? I know! Let your 10-year-old child drive you home instead; that’s a terrific idea! It’s funny, right? But 33-year-old Audrey Willoughby of Florida probably isn’t laughing, since she faces 18 months in jail. Willoughby and a male friend had a few beers and decided to let the little girl drive them home. Willoughby rode in the backseat with her 8-year-old son. Really? Endangering two kids instead of just one? Obviously, since this is news, it didn’t have the best ending. Although nobody was injured, the child ran into three vehicles and finally a house on the way home. It’s tough enough learning to drive when you’re 15 or 16, but 10? She needs to worry about driving Barbie around in the Glamour Camper, rather than driving mommy and friends home from the party. Willoughby has pleaded no contest to child abuse charges.

I’ve laid off poor Charlie Sheen the past few days, but I can’t help but notice that he’s still popping up everywhere. Tulsa became famous a few days ago when local realtor Brian Pingleton sent Sheen a tweet, and Sheen responded that he invented Tulsa…in his sleep. Well, Charlie, thanks for putting us on the map! Between tiger’s blood and warlock comments, Sheen has finally admitted to Life & Style that he’s losing his mind. That publication isn’t exactly the New York Times, but I’m guessing there must be a grain of truth in the story somewhere. Sheen has officially been fired from his show, his kids have been taken away, and the world thinks he’s a nutcase. This is the most public meltdown since Brit shaved her head a few years ago. This is one of those times when I definitely wouldn’t want to be a celebrity; I don’t think it’s all it’s cracked up to be. I wonder what Sheen will come up with next? Oh, and look! If you buy this issue, you can read about Mariah Carey’s baby shower. I’m headed to the store RIGHT NOW!  Have a wonderful Wednesday, Pineapple fans! We are halfway to the weekend and hopefully warmer weather. See you tomorrow!

I own all kinds of random kitchen appliances. I’ve got a panini maker, three George Foreman grills, an iced tea machine and a Lemonader. Add that to my Kitchenaid mixer and the waffle maker, and I’ve got quite an assortment. But we have some new neighbors in our office and they have some kind of apparatus in the kitchen that is leaving me stumped. I googled it to try to figure it out, and didn’t have any luck. It looks and sounds like a steamer, but I doubt they’re steaming their clothes in the kitchen. This may be silly, but can someone please tell me what this is? Well, I got all of the travel arrangements worked out yesterday for the next Pineapple adventure to Alabama. I was a little nervous since the guys will be staying in Panama City on the last night, in order to catch their flight out early the next morning. (Southwest doesn’t fly any closer than that!) Being that it’s spring break time, I was afraid everything would be booked. But I got lucky, and managed to get rooms at Barlow’s favorite PCB hotel. Two points for me! I’ve ventured into the world of Priceline lately, and I’m loving it! I don’t love William Shatner and his cheesy “Price Line Negotiator” quotes that are plastered all over the site, but it’s actually pretty cool, and I’ve scored some good deals so far. It’s kind of fun to name your own price and gamble on where you stay, but that only works if you’re not dead-set on a particular hotel. I like playing the mystery game!

Today feels like a quiet day. Barlow and Adam are at a breakfast meeting with a client, so I’m enjoying some peace at Pineapple HQ. Barlow is still hard at work on new creative, so that’s keeping him busy. Adam is working on new market research and media calendars today. We are also looking forward to March Madness. I did terrible in last year’s Pineapple bracket, and I had help from someone that knows sports. I think this year I’ll just wing it on my own and choose the team with the best uniforms or best names. I used to pick racehorses by the color of their blankets, and that always worked well. I’m determined to be the big winner at the office this year! Boys, get ready to pay!

Today is Fat Tuesday, the day to eat lots of rich, fatty foods, dance on tables like a crazy person, and the time to just be ridiculously excessive. Now is the time to do it, because Lent starts tomorrow. I’m not Catholic, but my mother is, so I usually join her in giving something up, but I’m not very good at it. I gave up sweets last year, and I was halfway through a box of popcorn and Junior Mints at a movie before I remembered that. Oops. I haven’t decided what to give up this year; I’ve got plenty of time to figure it out, right? Are you giving up anything for Lent? What is it?

One of my favorite Mardi Gras traditions is the King Cake, in which you get to eat delicious but oh-so-bad for you cake. In New Orleans, it’s typically a deep-fried concoction, similar to a doughnut, and is frosted with the Mardi Gras colors of green, purple and gold. A plastic baby is hidden inside (to represent baby Jesus) and whoever receives the piece with the baby gets the privilege of buying the next year’s cake, or hosting the next Mardi Gras party. I’m always a little creeped out at the thought of accidentally taking a bite out of a plastic baby, but it’s still fun. We should have one at Pineapple HQ today!

Happy Fat Tuesday, Pineapple fans! Laissez les bons temps rouler, and I’ll see you tomorrow!             

But it’s a good day; all of the Pineapple People are back in the office, and we are ready for another busy week. Adam made it home from Nashville on Friday night after a quick trip for the Nelson Mazda production. We finally had good weather; the third time really was the charm! Jake will be back today after his track meet on Friday. Hopefully he’ll be strutting around Pineapple HQ with some gold medals! Now I’m planning a trip for Pineapples 1, 2 and 7 to Alabama and South Carolina for a production and a meeting. They will be gone for three days and will arrive home the day before the shoot for our newest project for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America that we told you about on Friday. I am getting the final details for the travel arrangements finished today. At least this journey isn’t quite as complicated as some of the others I’ve had in the past. And I get to deal with Southwest exclusively. I read the other day about how airlines are cutting back even more, and one of them is about to start charging for not only checked luggage, but carry-on bags, as well. Wish I could remember who it was!

Barlow has been in serious creative mode; he’s got at least three campaigns that he’s cooking, and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with. He is hard at work on the script for Cancer Treatment Centers of America, too. We will also be introducing you to our new friend, Bip It, very soon! He’s cute; you’ll like him. We also will have a couple more Nelson Mazda Tulsa commercials to show you; we are just making some final tweaks. They’re so powerful, they’ll make a grown man cry!

Last year, when Dynasty Spas decided to Pick the Pineapple, we put on a killer event for them called Aquafest. We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting Aquafest again in April. It’s a really cool campaign; last year it was a huge event, complete with a skydiver. Lots of folks came out for it, and it was a big success. We are excited to put on the show again!

And now for today’s frivolous lawsuit. Remember in 1994 when Stella Liebeck sued McDonald’s after burning herself with hot coffee? Of course you do. Liebeck was awarded $2.86 million in damages. ABC News referred to the case as “the poster child for excessive lawsuits,” and I’ve always felt the same way. What I didn’t realize was that she was 79 years old, and suffered third-degree burns on her thighs, groin and buttocks. She remained in the hospital for eight days. Well, that may put a different spin on things. Liebeck also asked McDonald’s to settle for $20,000, which is the amount she spent on medical bills, basically. The fast-food giant offered her 800 bucks, so she took them to court and emerged with much more than she originally requested. But now a woman in California is suing her local dollar store (99 cent store, to be exact) after slipping on a banana peel at the store. I’m interested to see what Ms. Ida Valentine does next. Will she end up a big winner like Stella Liebeck? Or will she just be another person that gets mocked for a “frivolous lawsuit?”

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to finish travel arrangements. I hope all of you are off to a terrific start to your week! And just for the record, I found my purse on Friday. See you tomorrow!

Adam is out of the office today in Tennessee. He headed up the Nelson Mazda shoot in Nashville last night. With a crew of three, nineteen extras, two actors and two cars, not to mention multiple locations in downtown Nashville, he had his hands full. But I’m confident that he did a great job; I’ve been getting emails from extras all day telling me what a fun time they had with the Pineapples. We’re just cool like that, right? Thanks to everyone who volunteered to be in the commercials!

Jake is out of the office today, too (track meet), so it’s been a quiet day at Pineapple HQ with just Barlow and me at the office. We went this morning to a meeting for a brand-new project: a video that is to be used for recruiting purposes at Cancer Treatment Center of America. We are really excited about this, since it’s something that we don’t get to do on a regular basis. Our goal is to inspire hope for all those involved with CTCA. Being that Barlow and I have both lost people close to us from cancer recently, I know this will be a project that is near and dear to our hearts. We met with a few people at CTCA, and were given a tour of the facility, which is quite impressive. It doesn’t feel like a hospital, and everyone had a very positive energy about them. It was really something else. And with that, Barlow would like to say a few words.

“Greetings from Pineapple Land – yes, it’s me, Barlow as guest contributor to the Pineapple Blog today.  I wanted to share a brief moment of my day.  In many ways Pineapple is built to make the rich richer – yes, we have high dollar clients that spend an enormous amount of money to ensure their business continues to grow and flourish through our unique and exclusive Pineapple approach to advertising. And for that I and my team are always thankful!

But today was different;  today Pineapple was invited to share in a unique challenge for a company designed and orchestrated to help people through life’s many obstacles.  Pineapple will soon be producing a video through partner Reliant for Cancer Treatment Centers of America. We get to dive into the souls of people whose only real desire is to live.  Not get richer, not obtain more material things but to simply breathe. 

What an idea concept right?  I mean I’m guilty  - you are too. We get caught up hoping for more money, more boats, more friends  – what if you just wanted more air, more heart beats, more blinking, more swallowing, more walking, more eye to eye contact with someone you love, hell maybe just a stranger… I walked through the hallways of CTCA with Ashley, Reliant partner Chris Wright mingling with those that are simply wanting good news, positive tests results, a piece of hope.  I stand in confidence and spiritual happiness most days – today I stand humbled and honored.  Pineapple was picked to create and conceptualize a story about CTCA, its many opportunities and assets but more important, its people!  We get to embrace their story, capture the true essence of what life is like when you’re told “you have cancer” and we get to encounter the good, the bad and the realness of God’s destiny through people who hope for the best part of life…a future.

Ashley back to you.”

We are truly blessed to have been chosen to work on this project with Reliant and CTCA. We will be shooting the video in just a couple of weeks. As always, we will share updates as we go.

Pineapple fans, have a wonderful weekend. I’m moving, if anyone wants to come help. And if you find my purse, let me know. See you Monday!

I was hired as the “office manager.” When I first started, my tasks consisted of keeping the M&Ms stocked and making sure there was plenty of Mountain Dew. We were also just moving into Pineapple HQ at that point, so I did things like purchase cleaning supplies and soap for the restrooms. After a couple of weeks, I was given the responsibility of travel arrangements, which scared me to death, because I was handed a folder full of information and rules. Two days later, I was faced with planning the most challenging trip imaginable. (At the time. Ha. Ha.) The next week, we decided to launch Pineapple Attack, our social networking branch of the company, and Barlow decided that I should be the one to head it up. There was definitely a learning curve with that, but it’s been a blast. I’ve gathered a lot of information and had a great time doing it.

Last summer, I was handed the Nelson Auto Group Golf Luau. Never having done anything remotely like planning a golf tournament before, I was just a bit nervous! But I had so much fun, and the tournament was a success. And I make it a point to learn from my mistakes, so I know I’ll do an even better job this year. I wonder what theme Barlow will come up with this time!

Then came traffic. Before Pineapple, all I knew about traffic was that it’s terrible during rush hour. Oh, but that’s a different kind of traffic. In advertising, “traffic” refers to which commercials are running. Ever seen a commercial on television for a sale that’s already passed? Somebody messed up on traffic duty. I keep up with which commercials are running on which stations in all of the different markets that Pineapple is in. It can be very confusing at times, but I’ve got it down.

A few months ago, I was given even more responsibility, including bill-paying and keeping financial records. Again, that was something entirely unknown to me, but I’m learning, and I love that my OCD and attention to detail get a full workout every day. And I have this odd obsession with printing checks, which is helpful, since I get to do that a lot. So you see, I’ve learned a lot in the past year. But there are plenty of other things I’ve learned, too, which don’t necessarily apply to the job.

1.) Nearly every Mexican restaurant has a super-secret, burn-the-heck-out-of-your-mouth salsa; you just have to know to ask for it.

2.) Money talks. You can hire someone to do whatever you need, as long as the price is right. I’ve needed to find people for some fairly odd gigs, and although it’s been a down-to-the-wire challenge a few times, it always works out if you offer them enough. In my year at Pineapple, I’ve hired a fire spinner, a hula dancer, girls with ripped abs, actors that can cry on command, and people who aren’t afraid to be in a bikini on TV. I’ve also rented a bunny suit, but you already know that.

3.) It really IS a small world. That Kevin Bacon six degrees of separation thing is true; I’m convinced of it. One of my co-worker’s has a brother-in-law that is friends with a guy I dated in high school. In addition, Adam’s roommate used to work with my husband five years ago; we discovered this on accident while at an OSU watch party at Barlow’s house. Barlow and I both have an uncle in the same one-horse Texas town. He also knows a girl who is now dating a guy that I dated in college. Jake is friends with a guy I know from when I worked at the mall. The list goes on and on; it’s almost spooky.

4.) Returning a rental car to a location other than the pick-up location costs an arm and a leg. Seriously, you could practically buy a car for what the rental company charges. Granted, it wouldn’t be a very nice car, but still.

5.) It doesn’t matter how well prepared the boys are when they travel. Even though I give them a folder before each trip filled with every bit of information they could possibly need while on the trip, they will inevitably call me to ask a question they already have the answer to. I think they just like to make me crazy. That’s what men do, right?

Overall, it’s been an amazing year with Pineapple. Sure, there have been stressful days and bad days, but every job is like that. LIFE is like that. Sometimes we bicker and fight like siblings, but that’s only because we’re close. I love my Pineapple family, and I’m thankful for the day that Barlow and Adam decided to give me a chance.

I’m trying to make a tweak on a flight reservation, and apparently today is the day to call Southwest; the line has been busy, busy, and the one time I got through, I was told the wait time was 40 minutes to an hour. Then the big boss called, so I had to click over and I lost the connection. Now it’s busy all over again. They tell me patience is a virtue; I suppose I should be working on that! Ooh, I’m on hold again. We’ll see what happens. (UPDATE: After three tries of being on hold and having to hang up for various reasons, I asked Jake to call and he managed to get it changed. Hooray for Jake!)

We are about to have a client meeting here at Pineapple HQ, which is always fun. We love our workspace, and we enjoy getting to share it with others. And I love the snacks! I probably shouldn’t admit that. Hopefully there are some leftovers. (UPDATE: I got a chocolate strawberry and it was delicious.)

We are putting the finishing touches on the new Nelson Mazda Tulsa commercials; they are so good! As always, they tell a story, which is the Pineapple way. And they’re funny, too. I will share soon!       

Four hours later….

Man, it’s been a wild day! Lots and lots of little things happening: billing, invoice meeting, new client meeting, errands, changing airfare, booking hotels….just a million things. And here it is after 4 p.m. and no blog for you today. I’m sure all of you are waiting impatiently for your daily dose of Pineapple.

Not only that, I’m sure you’re waiting for your daily Charlie Sheen update! Yes, I know; I can’t get past it. He’s like a train wreck and you can’t help but wonder what he’s going to do next. Don’t deny; you’re a bit fascinated. Well, last night, his twin sons got taken away from him. Guess someone didn’t like the fact that he was shacking up with the “goddesses”, and a judge had them removed last night and taken to their mother’s home. Ex-wife Denise Richards has full custody of the couple’s daughters, Sam and Lola. Denise is doing an exceptional job of keeping the two girls far away from their daddy’s drama. Good for her! Hope she can keep it up as Charlie continues to unravel. Oh, and did you know he’s on a drug? It’s called “Charlie Sheen.” Can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

I learned the coolest thing yesterday. Now, maybe I’m easily amused, but I’m sharing with you anyway. I’m very particular about my bread. It’s always a battle at my house because my husband likes a completely different kind than I do. It’s gotten to the point where I just buy him what he wants and don’t eat it; I rarely eat sandwiches anyway. BUT one time last year I purchased a loaf of Sunbeam at the store near my house. I took it home, opened it and found mold on it. No thanks. The next day, I purchased another loaf of Sunbeam (my husband is partial to it; we don’t buy it anymore!) at a store on the opposite side of town. Took it home and found mold. Several months ago, I purchased a loaf of Mrs. Baird’s (my favorite) and found mold on that. How, you ask, can you prevent that? Yesterday, I learned the secret.

You know how loaves of bread have those twist-ties at the top? Well, they’re different colors. And it’s not just for decoration; the color represents the day of the week on which the bread was baked! YES!

• Blue: Monday
• Green: Tuesday
• Red: Thursday
• White: Friday
• Yellow: Saturday

I’m sure you’re thinking, “Well, there’s no way I can remember all of that.” The colors are listed in alphabetical order, so that can help you remember. G for green was baked before Y for yellow, see? I’m really excited to go buy some bread now, just so I can figure out when it was baked. No more moldy bread for me!

Well, on that note, I’m going to head back to work. My apologies for the blog delay, and I hope that everyone had a wonderful day. I’ll see you tomorrow!

It’s been a quiet day so far at Pineapple HQ. Barlow and Adam have been in client meetings all morning, so the office is peaceful. I’ve been busy wrapping up production plans for the Nashville shoot on Thursday, as well as starting to put together an agenda for the North Carolina/Alabama production in March. This is the third time the Pineapples have planned to travel to Nashville for this particular shoot; please pray that the weather cooperates this time! The first time, we had to postpone because they got a ton of snow. The second time, the team went up and began filming, only to have a torrential downpour ruin the rest of the day. So let’s hope that there are no tornadoes, earthquakes or tsunamis this time, and certainly no snow or rain! Please, we just need one sunny, non-windy day; that’s not too much to ask, is it? I’ll let you know how it goes.

Hmm. I just clicked over to a news site and the major headline is about flooding in the Midwest.

We got our staff photos today! A huge thank you to Dori G. for coming out to Pineapple HQ and making us look fabulous. We had a blast, as always, and they look wonderful. We will be updating our website shortly with all new images of the Pineapple People.

Well, crazy Charlie Sheen is still at it; he’s been making the press rounds for the past couple of days, and I’m really surprised he hasn’t claimed to have been abducted by aliens yet. I just learned that he has not one, but TWO live-in girlfriends; one is a porn star named Rach and the other is a model he calls Natty. I hope that’s short for Natalie. It’s like he has his own version of Big Love going on. Even more interesting, he refers to the girls as his goddesses. Both girls help him take care of his twin sons, Bob and Max. His divorce from Brooke Mueller (the victim in the famous Christmas domestic dispute case) will be final on May 2. In the aftermath of Sheen’s rambling interview on the Today Show yesterday morning, his longtime publicist called it quits, most likely because Sheen is turning into a crazy person. It’s sad, though, because he looks simply awful.  

I stayed up too late last night painting at my new house. That being said, I’m extremely tired today. So of course I’m going to click on the article that proclaims “5 Ways to Beat Fatigue at Work!” No matter how awesome your office is, and how entertaining your co-workers are, sometimes you’re just plain exhausted. I thought I’d share these five little tips with you, and I fully plan on trying some of them myself…today.

1.) Eat a tiny square of chocolate

Chocolate is known to boost your mood, and to release feel-good endorphins. Funny, I thought exercise did the same thing. What an oxymoron that is. Experts recommend a small piece of dark chocolate. I wonder if peanut M&Ms count.

2.) Drink two glasses of cold water

They don’t have to be large glasses, either. I really need to kick my Diet Dr. Pepper habit, because I feel terribly dehydrated every day when I get home. We have really good ice at the office, too; I need to take better advantage.

3.) Doodle

This is a wonderful way to get your creative juices flowing. I bet Barlow does a lot of doodling when he’s in creative mode!

4.) Snack on some Vitamin C

Eat an orange smiley, or drink some lemonade.

5.) Stretch

Something as easy as a forward bend can get you more pumped up. I’m pretty sure I won’t be attempting Downward Facing Dog in my office. I’d never hear the end of it.

So if you’re feeling a bit sleepy, try one (or more) of these; let me know how it works! Guess I’ll go eat some M&Ms and strike a yoga pose. Have a pleasant afternoon, Pineapple fans, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

This morning we are meeting to discuss strategy for our newest client, Gilland Chevrolet GMC in Alabama. Adam and Jay are diving headfirst into market research so they can continue their super media buying skills in the new area. Barlow is churning out some new creative for them, as well as for several other clients. And I…well, I’m telling you about it, among other things! Don’t worry, I have plenty to keep me busy…that’s how Mondays are!

Did you watch the Academy Awards last night? I didn’t; does that make me a bad person? I just scanned over the list of winners to see what I missed. It took me about two minutes, so I feel pretty good about not spending three hours (or more?) watching the ceremony. The King’s Speech had a great night, winning Best Picture, Best Actor (Colin Firth), and Best Director (Tom Hooper). I haven’t seen it (mainly because I chose not to) but I’m sure it’s a terrific picture. I do like Colin Firth, except I only see him as Mark Darcy from the Bridget Jones movies.

I am very excited for Natalie Portman, winner of Best Actress for Black Swan. Now I want to see it even more! I’ve always loved her, even in random indie movies that nobody has ever heard of. And of course I liked her in Where the Heart Is; it’s one of my favorite books. I think she’s a fantastic actress, and she just seems really genuine. Maybe she’s a terrible beast of a person, but she doesn’t seem like it. Engaged, pregnant, and an Oscar. What a great year she’s having!

The Social Network was so buzzed about, and it didn’t come out a winner, not as much as expected. It did pick up Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Original Score. I thought it was a good movie, but not Best Picture material. Obviously the Academy agreed with me. Jesse Eisenberg did a wonderful job as Mark Zuckerberg, though.

Apparently the big mess of the evening was James Franco, a co-host and also a nominee for Best Actor. I thought that James and Anne Hathaway would be a fun team, but I guess it was a flop, and the audience was begging for Billy Crystal to come back. James admitted that he didn’t spend time rehearsing like he should have, only flying in on the weekends, after taking classes at Yale during the week. But by all accounts, the duo was “on fire” during rehearsals. So what happened? I didn’t watch, but read that James was incredibly distracted and kept playing with his cell phone, and that Anne tried really hard, but was extremely nervous. Wouldn’t you be? I love the fact that Anne Hathaway was unknown until her first film, The Princess Diaries, was released in 2001. Now, 10 years later, she’s hosting the Academy Awards. I think that’s pretty neat. One fun fact about Anne is that she was originally cast as the female lead in Knocked Up, but was replaced with Katherine Heigl because she didn’t want to show live birth footage to give the illusion she was in labor.

Well, Pineapple fans, my to-do list is growing longer by the minute, so I’m signing off. I’ll see you tomorrow!

We have lots to do today as we wrap up the work week. Barlow is putting the finishing touches on some new creative for a couple of clients, both potential and current. The new commercials for Nelson Mazda are nearly complete, too, and I’m really excited to see them. It’s always fun to be at the production and watch it being filmed, and then seeing the finished product. Of course, I’m very impatient, so that makes the waiting even worse. We have been hard at work on our new Bip It project…we will introduce you to Bip soon. He will be worth the wait, trust me!

Tomorrow we are hosting another live event at Nelson Nissan to celebrate National Auto-Trader Day. This is going to be a huge event, and we are pumped about it. Our host will be Jeff Lazalier, and we’ve got a terrific promotion going on, where you can get up to $2000 more for your trade. Be sure to tune in tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. on KJRH to see what’s shaking in Broken Arrow.

On a personal note, I had a bit of excitement last night. If you keep up with our facebook page, you know that my husband and I closed on our first house a couple of days ago. We decided to go buy paint last night and drop it off at the new place. Unfortunately, our electricity isn’t turned on until today, but we took a couple of flashlights and figured it wouldn’t be a big deal, since we were just going to pop in for a minute. We were there for about ten minutes and as we were leaving, a police car pulled up. Oops. It turns out that one of the neighbors knew the house was vacant and was concerned about the flashlight activity. After explaining the situation and running our driver’s licenses, he let us go. What a welcome to the neighborhood! We can’t figure out if our neighbors are incredibly nosy or just very vigilant. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

I’m hard at work today on travel plans again. Adam is already scheduled to go to Nashville next week, and now we have had some developments come up, so we are extending his trip so he can visit with a few clients. That means I get to plan another of those crazy agendas where all the pieces have to fit just right. I love doing it; it’s a fun challenge for me. I figure I could always have a side job as a travel agent, if I needed it. I am just waiting on the final meetings to be scheduled so I can start arranging flights and hotels. I’m relieved that Southwest flies to Tennessee, so I don’t have to worry about any of those “other” airlines. I’m also glad that Southwest is opening up service to South Carolina, which means we’ll hardly have to use any other airline at all! Sigh. I wish Southwest would just fly everywhere. Don’t they know they are the official airline of Pineapple Advertising? That should count for something.

Well, I’m beginning to think I’m psychic. Yesterday I told you that Charlie Sheen could be on the verge of trouble with the producers of Two and a Half Men, and boy, is he ever. Late yesterday, CBS announced that production for the hit sitcom is being halted for the remainder of the season. They had four episodes left to shoot, with filming resuming next week. They’ve had it with Charlie’s antics. And last night, Charlie ranted on a radio, bashing everything from his boss to Alcoholics Anonymous. Um, I hate to break it to you, Mr. Sheen, but even if you do make $2 million a week, it’s never wise to bash your boss, especially in public. You’re not invincible. What I thought was ironic was his quote, “And if you’re part of my family, I will love you violently.” He had domestic violence charges filed against him in 2010, after putting a knife to his wife’s throat. Does he love her because she’s a part of his family? Or does he love her…violently? I’m pretty sure Charlie Sheen’s career is about over; he probably doesn’t need any money, though, considering his paycheck. Listen to part of Sheen’s radio interview from last night HERE. He’s beginning to sound a lot like Mel Gibson…

Remember, Pineapple fans, don’t ever call your boss a “worm” or a “contaminated little maggot.” Bad things will happen. Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend….and don’t forget to watch KJRH in the morning!

We’ve got plenty of irons in the fire at Pineapple HQ. We’re doing some updating on the Pineapple website (check it out HERE), we are starting work on our newest client, Alabama’s Gilland Chevrolet GMC, and we are gearing up for a couple of productions in Nashville and South Carolina. We also have a few more potential client meeting on the books. Our newest Pineapple, Jay, is jumping in headfirst as our new Account Relations Director. March is looking to be as busy as February, which is fantastic. I see lots of travel in the future!

Do we have any Two and a Half Men fans? I’m not a religious viewer, but I’ve seen quite a few episodes, so I, like many others, are wondering how in the world Charlie Sheen is still a) alive and b) the highest paid actor in all of television. CBS is finally getting fed up with the actor’s antics, including multiple rehab and hospital stays, incidents of domestic abuse and who knows what else. Every time Sheen ends up in trouble, the show’s production is impacted. Our media buyer Adam can appreciate the fact that a 30-second spot that airs during Men costs about $200,000, generating $3 million per episode. The network certainly doesn’t want to put all of their eggs into the basket that is Charlie Sheen. Rumors are swirling about possibly replacing Charlie Sheen, but I just don’t see that working. Sure, it worked when Becky was replaced on Roseanne, and even when Darren was traded on Bewitched, but Sheen is the star of the show. He’s a BIG name. He’s been around forever. An insider said that the show could replace Charlie and possibly even grow as a result. I’m glad they’re more optimistic than I am. But even if CBS isn’t 100% behind Charlie, his famous father and brother are. Martin Sheen said they wouldn’t treat him any differently if he had cancer, so why should they shun him for being an out-of-control wild child? He didn’t use those exact words, but you catch my drift.

I’ve seen a few episodes of America’s Next Top Model in my life, mainly due to a lazy afternoon at my friend’s Kansas City loft, where everyone was too lazy to change the channel. But I saw a headline this morning that caught my eye and I couldn’t resist watching the clip from last night’s episode. And then, as mean as it may sound, I couldn’t help laughing out loud at my desk. I know these girls go through a lot on this show, and that modeling in general is ridiculously tough, but the producers were just itching to have some fun with this stunt. The contestants were at a runway show, where they walked down a very narrow runway in the center of a pool of water. The “runway” was a bit submerged, so it was wet. And then, as if that’s not fun enough, let’s put each model in a giant plastic bubble! I really don’t understand the world of fashion sometimes….but this is funny, I don’t care who you are. I bet it hurt a lot to fall on the runway that looked more like a balance beam at a gymnastics meet, but it appears that no major injuries were sustained. It’s cause for some serious humiliation, though. I know I laughed, but I do feel bad for them. Watch the clip HERE, and let me know what you think.

Well, it’s officially dark and pouring down rain now. How lovely! If you’re in a dry place, enjoy it! If you’re local…don’t forget your umbrella. Have a terrific Thursday, everyone!

The Chief Pineapple is flying home today from sunny Florida. If you saw the photos that he posted on our facebook page yesterday, you know that he’s loving the sunshine, and he’s not above rubbing it in to all of us here in the gloom and chill. 

But I guess he deserves it, since he signed a new client yesterday! Gilland Chevrolet GMC in Ozark, Alabama, has picked the Pineapple! We are excited to get going with them; we will be developing an entire campaign, so it’s time for Barlow to put his creative hat on. He had a great time with the guys at the dealership, and we would like to welcome them to the Pineapple club. Thanks for Picking Us, Gilland!

The Oscars are only four days away, airing Sunday night. I don’t ever watch awards ceremonies; they just don’t interest me, for some reason. But if I would watch any, it would be the Academy Awards! I may just watch on Sunday. Maybe. There are several terrific films nominated for Best Picture (duh…that’s why they’re nominated, right?). I’m not sure if it’s because I live in Oklahoma, or what, but I’ve never heard of a few of them. I was just doing some research on the nominees and have discovered a few that I’ve never heard of, but really want to see now. Winter’s Bone looks really good, about a poverty-stricken family in the Ozarks with a deadbeat dad that skips bail, leaving his 17-year-old daughter to track him down to save the family home. I was surprised to see the brother from Eastbound and Down in this movie, only because I never would have recognized him! I’ve never heard of The Kids are All Right until now, but I would love to see that, too! I’ve had a soft spot for Mark Ruffalo since 13 Going on 30 and this looks like a fun role for him. It stars Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as lesbian parents, whose children decide to track down their donor father. Enter Mark Ruffalo. I have a feeling my husband will enjoy Winter’s Bone a bit more. Have you seen either of these? I still really want to see Black Swan! At this rate, I’ll just have to rent all of these. Other contenders for Best Picture include Inception (tried to watch it but was thoroughly confused after five minutes), The Social Network (loved it! and makes me wish I’d had a great idea like facebook) and 127 Hours (haunting and made me realize that it’s good to be cautious, and that I never want to go rockclimbing). It also looks like Toy Story 3 secured a nod for Best Picture. What? Really?

On a reality note, it looks like there may be a second chance (possibly another season?) for Kate and Jon Gosselin, of Jon & Kate Plus 8. Apparently it looks like Jon has realized that dressing in Ed Hardy from head to toe and dating 21-year-olds isn’t really the best way to live life. Rumor has it he’s gotten a normal job and is trying to win back Kate’s love. I wonder if that has anything to do with Kate’s body makeover; the woman is constantly on magazine covers flaunting her “bikini body.” I’m not saying Jon’s that shallow, but….oh, who am I kidding? I am saying that. Maybe the guy just really misses his kids, but he probably also misses the huge paycheck that came along with the show. Kate Plus 8 continued after Jon left; it’s a good thing Jon left, because Jon Plus 8 doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.  What do you think? Do you want Jon and Kate to reunite?

Well, Pineapple fans, have a wonderful Wednesday. Stay warm, and I’ll see you tomorrow! Oh, and your commercials suck.

Today is National Margarita Day! It seems like every day on the calendar is “National Something-or-Other Day,” but that’s part of the fun. I have a good friend that is an elementary school teacher in California, and she keeps me apprised of all of these special days, like National Peanut Butter Day and Johnny Appleseed’s birthday. (She has quite a large classroom celebration every year for the latter.) I find it a bit ironic that what is typically a summer favorite is celebrated in February, but who am I to judge? I also would like to know who comes up with these off-the-wall holidays. The margarita has a cloudy history, as no one can seem to identify who first invented it. One possibility is a bartender named Willie from Mexico City. He says that in 1934 he concocted the drink for his friend, Marguerite Hemery (whom he named the drink after). 

Salvador Negrete is another man who claims to be the inventor of margaritas. The day before his brother’s marriage in 1936, Salvador presented the margarita cocktail as a wedding present to Margarita (his sister-in-law). There are various other stories of the drink’s invention, but the true identity of the tequila master remains unknown. (In one of my high school Spanish classes, each student chose a traditional Hispanic name for classroom activities. Mine was Margarita. True story.) What are you doing to celebrate National Margarita Day? I’m thinking the Pineapples should have Mexican for lunch with some liquid refreshment! Mmm, chips and salsa sound muy excelente right about now.

Ironically, today is also World Thinking Day. I don’t think anyone will be thinking clearly after margaritas.

Back in June, I touched on the topic of the Amanda Knox murder trial. Knox, an American student that is serving a 26-year sentence for allegedly murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, in 2007, is back in the spotlight, thanks to Lifetime. Hayden Panetierre stars in the made-for-tv movie chronicling the events leading up to the murder, and the trial afterward. I’ve been a fan of Miss Panetierre since “Remember the Titans.” The movie aired last night on Lifetime, but I MISSED IT! I didn’t know about it. “Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy” will be on two more times, and I’ve already set an email reminder. In Great Britain, the movie was aired in it’s entirety, but the murder scene has been edited or deleted in the American version, due to complaints from the families of Knox and Kercher. Did anyone watch this? I love Lifetime movies (much to the chagrin of my husband) and I like Hayden Panetierre, and I’m always interested in true crime stories.

Well, Pineapple fans, it’s lunch time, and Adam has already voted for Mexican. He doesn’t even know yet that it’s National Margarita Day! Cheers, and have a terrific Tuesday!

All of the Pineapples are experiencing different types of weather today. Pineapples 2 and 7 (Adam and Jay) flew to Connecticut last night, where they were greeted by cold and snow. And also a minivan. I promise I reserved a midsize! Then again, they didn’t get in until after midnight (thank you, American Airlines), so they were probably a bit limited on the selection. Today they are meeting with a potential client, so break a leg, guys! I certainly hope the minivan handles well in the arctic tundra that is currently Connecticut. It’s a quick trip for the boys, as they’ll return to Tulsa late tonight. Let’s hope for no delays this time! And minivan or not, at least I didn’t route them through Chicago.

On a much brighter (and warmer) note, our Chief Pineapple is flying out today, as well. But he gets to fly into Panama City Beach on his favorite airline, Southwest. Barlow will be visiting a potential client in Alabama. Hopefully he’ll get to take a day tomorrow and enjoy some quality time in the sun. Today is his birthday, and he’s spending it traveling. So I think tomorrow he deserves a little break, don’t you? At least he’ll be warm! Happy, happy birthday to Barlow, king of the Pineapples!

So today will be a quiet one here at Pineapple HQ. We are still incredibly busy, but at least I’ll be able to take a deep breath with so many people gone and get some serious work done.

We had a great weekend! Barlow and I attended the live event on Saturday morning at Nelson Nissan, and we are pleased to report that they had a record-breaking Saturday, thanks to Pineapple’s creative facebook promotion. It was a really fun morning, and it’s always a good time hanging out with the gang at Nelson Nissan and the crew from KJRH. Thanks to Dave Sheridan for bringing doughnuts! See photos from the event HERE.

So today is Presidents Day. Or Presidents’ Day. Or President’s Day. There has never been an official declaration on the proper placement of the apostrophe, or even if there is supposed to be an apostrophe at all. For a grammar nut like me, it’s annoying. But I don’t make the rules, although sometimes I wish I did. The history of the holiday is somewhat convoluted. It’s believed it was originally meant to celebrate George Washington’s birthday, as he is the official “father of our country.” His birthday actually fell on February 22. Later, it was thought that Abraham Lincoln should be added to the mix. His birthday was on February 12th. In the 1950s, a movement was started by some travel groups who wanted to make more three-day weekends. (Don’t we all want more three-day weekends?) One of their ideas was to have one day for both great men, falling between the two February birthdays. However, it wasn’t passed as a federal holiday, although some individual states followed the new practice. Eventually it was decided that the third Monday in February would be a day of rest for federal employees. Usually it’s called Presidents Day, but some states still haven’t conformed and call it what they wish. For example, in Virginia, today is “George Washington’s Day”, since that was our first president’s home state. In Alabama, today is “Washington and Jefferson’s Day.” Notice there’s no mention of Honest Abe? Odd that Jefferson is celebrated today, since he was an April baby. It’s interesting that there is so much mystery surrounding today. I guess if you’re a federal employee, it doesn’t really matter; it means a three-day weekend!

Hope all of you have a happy Monday and a wonderful Presidents Day! Please think positive thoughts as so many Pineapples are flying the friendly skies today. See you tomorrow!

This afternoon, we have a green screen shoot for a new campaign that we are launching; it’s something totally different than we have ever done before, so we are really excited about it. We will give you more details on that soon! It’s been a busy week (that’s an understatement, really) but it’s not over yet; tomorrow morning, we will be at the live event at Nelson Nissan in Broken Arrow. It’s going to be a good time, and they have an awesome promotion going on. If you’re interested in buying a new car, tomorrow is the perfect time to do it! All you have to do is post “Nelson Nissan is having free tag & tax today only!” on your facebook page, print it out, and bring it to Nelson Nissan. Boom – purchase your car and you’ve got FREE tag & tax! But that’s not all; if you have a friend that comes in and buys a car with you, you’ll each get a free iPad with purchase. It’s easy; just print and post!  Be sure to watch for us in the morning on KJRH! Be sure to “Like” Nelson Nissan’s page…hurry, go do it now! I’ll wait.

Next week will be just as busy, but in a different way. Adam and Jay are flying up north to Connecticut on Sunday evening for a meeting, only to make a quick turnaround and head back on Monday. On Monday, they’ll most likely pass Barlow in the air as he heads south to meet with a potential client in Alabama for a few days. Lots of traveling has been on the books for the Pineapple People lately, and it’s not letting up any time soon. We already have a few trips on the books for March, as well. Nothing like racking up those frequent flyer miles! I would like to wish the boys all a safe journey. Jake and I will hold down the fort while they’re gone. We both need to brush up on our foosball skills.

Today I learned a fun fact: our new Pineapple, Jay, can juggle! And not only can he juggle, he can juggle…pineapples! I’ve tried to master that skill several times in my life, and let’s just say I’m not the most coordinated person. (Although I have managed to wear high heels two days in a row and I haven’t broken my ankle yet.) Check out Jay’s mad skills!

Well, Pineapple fans, have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend. Enjoy the gorgeous weather that’s in store. I’ll see you on Monday!

But instead, the Pineapples took a road trip yesterday! We cruised over to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and put on a presentation for 3D Abs. Everything went smoothly, and it turned out really well. We got some terrific fitness models to put on a pulse-raising, beat-bopping demonstration of the workout, and they did a fantastic job. Thank you to Patrick, Adam, Rachel and Marla for helping us out! We also had a yummy barbecue dinner from the Whole Hog Cafe in Fort Smith. And after all that, we hopped into the car and drove back to Tulsa. It was a long day, but everything was great. 3D Abs is on its way! Click HERE to see all the photos from our trip.

Tomorrow is going to be a crazy day…what a great way to wrap up another week! We have a conference call in the morning, then staff photos, then a client meeting at Pineapple HQ, then a green screen shoot. Whew! I love Fridays AND busy days, so tomorrow should be great. Especially if the weather holds up like it’s supposed to.

I read a story this morning about a 15-year-old Texas boy, Lydon Baty, who has had a seriously rough time. At the age of 7, he had a kidney transplant because of a rare disorder. But in the last year, his body has started rejecting the kidney, forcing the teen to stay inside at all times. No school, no friends, no hanging out in the yard drinking lemonade. His immune system is so weak, that a single germ could kill him. But thanks to modern technology, the “Baty Bot” was born; it’s a robot that attends school for Lydon that is controlled via laptop. So Lydon now gets up every morning and sits at his home desk, and then watches school on his computer. The robot travels from class to class with Lydon’s live face on the screen, so it enables him to talk to friends and teachers. Not quite the same as being there himself, but it’s pretty cool. You can watch the video HERE.

So Adam and I are both huge fans of “The Office,” and I was excited to read recently that Will Ferrell will be starring in four episodes near the end of the season. I guess the rumors are true that Steve Carell is officially leaving Dunder-Mifflin at the end of the season. Will Ferrell will play a visiting branch manager that will take over the Scranton branch for at least one episode. I, for one, am looking forward to this! Both of these guy are absolutely hilarious, and Will will make a nice addition to the office. I just hope he doesn’t strip down to his underpants as he does in all of his movies!

Well, it’s back to my to-do list! I hope everyone is having an amazing Thursday and that tomorrow is even better!

I finally managed to get travel plans in place for the boys next week. We’re going to send Pineapple People all over the place, basically to two different coasts. We’ll have the northeastern and the southern areas covered. I’ve managed to arrange all of the flights and completely avoid Chicago, although that took some doing. Barlow will be back on his company airline of Southwest, so he’s a happy camper. Plus, he gets to go to the warm coast. Hope Adam and Jay have some warm clothes packed! It’s going to be a busy couple of days for them, but they’re used to it.

And off to Fort Smith…..

Three hours later: We’re in Fort Smith! We had a surprisingly pleasant drive; far eastern Oklahoma is very flat. But the weather has turned around and we had a glorious day for a road trip. Barlow and Adam were just excited because this is the same route they take to Nashville, and the ride to Fort Smith was just a bit shorter.

We are getting all set up for the presentation; it’s going to be awesome! We’ve got our fitness models here, and it’s going to be quite a show.

So I know this is terribly short, but I should probably help the guys get set up. Otherwise I look really lazy sitting here on my laptop! I’ll post more photos tomorrow….see you then!

This has been an incredibly busy week, and it’s only Tuesday. All of the Pineapple People are knee-deep in projects, both old and new. Barlow is churning out creative for multiple clients, and the guys are getting ready to hit the road again. All of this is wonderful; we love being busy! In fact, it’s so busy, that we have a new Pineapple on the team. Jay is joining us as a jack-of-all-pineapples; he’s going to pitch in with everything, from sales to social to media buying. Jay is terrific at what he does, and we are really excited to have him on board. Welcome, Jay!

And since we are growing so quickly, we are taking some fun new staff photographs this week, so stay tuned for that. I know we will have a blast doing this; we did last time, and now we have even more people.

Tomorrow we are traveling to Arkansas for a meeting, which should be a lot of fun. Road trips with the Pineapples are always entertaining…just trust me on that. We plan on putting on an amazing presentation (of course). I’ll be sure to take pictures to share with you on Thursday. We are going to round out the week with a potential client meeting, as well as some production on Friday afternoon for our newest creative. Then Pineapples 1 and 2 will take off next week for a round of potential client meetings. After that, they’ll come home for a few days, then it’s back to Nashville for more production. We are going to have good weather this time! February is shaping up to be even busier than January was; 2011 is definitely off to a roaring start. And now that the snow is mostly gone, life is getting easier!

Did you have a magical Valentine’s Day yesterday? Or did you do what I did, which was go home, immediately put on some pajama pants, and flop down to watch House Hunters? My husband did cook dinner, since he got home earlier than I did, so that’s somewhat romantic, I guess. If you exchanged gifts, did you get anything good? Or something terrible? I read an article about the worst V-Day gifts ever, and I thought I’d share.

“In high school I got a mix tape from a guy I was dating off and on who had actually gotten the mix tape from another girl. He literally tried to scrape of the handwritten label and replace it with one he wrote.” —Ashley, 33

And no, that’s not me. This one reminded me of the episode of “Friends” when Monica and Chandler insisted on homemade gifts, and of course Chandler put it off and presented Monica with a mix tape made for him by former girlfriend, Janice. Oops.

“My first year in college, the boy I was dating gave me one of the most memorable gifts I’ve ever received: a talking framed picture of him. (Not him and me — just him.) When I pressed a button on the frame it said something like “when you miss me, just listen to my voice and think of me.” We broke up soon after. —Heather, 29

A photo of yourself as a gift is one thing, but a talking photo is a bit on the creepy side. Remember that, people! Although I admit I have a soft spot for those new recordable storybooks from Hallmark.

“I got a Harley Davidson calendar from a boyfriend in college after I randomly mentioned I thought motorcycles were cool.” —Adriana, 27

Hey, at least he listened to her when she mentioned something!

“I once got a bottle of Petite Nate Bath Splash from a boyfriend … the year was 2003, NOT 1983.” —Saryn, 32

I also thought Petite Nate was cool when I was a child. I remember seeing it at a store at the mall, both of which are no longer in business, if that says anything. I still remember their jingle, come to think of it.

“A toaster. Although I do still use the toaster, whereas the guy that bought it is seven years gone.” – Meghan D.

What girl doesn’t want a new toaster? Maybe he planned on making some heart-shaped toast. This reminds me of “Father of the Bride” when Kimberly Williams-Paisley received a blender and the wedding was almost called off. “But she likes those banana milkshakes!” Men just think differently, that’s all.

No matter what kind of gift you received yesterday, I hope it was memorable…in a good way. If not, let me know! Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Do you have big Valentine’s plans? Are you getting all dressed up in a fancy dress and eating somewhere with linen napkins and reservations? Or are you going out with your kids to eat heart-shaped pizza? I don’t know if there are places that do that, but there should be. Or are you taking the easy way out, like me?  For the techno-savvy Valentine, you can now get an app on your iPhone or iPod touch that enables you to send virtual conversation hearts to your Valentine. The app is appropriately named “Be Mine.” Just shake to get a random heart, personalize with a message and email to your friend or loved one. Oh, so romantic.

It’s been an incredibly busy day at Pineapple HQ. On a good note, the sun is shining, it’s something resembling warm outside, and the snow is melting rapidly. I got a bit ahead of myself in shedding my winter boots today. I discovered that it was a mistake after nearly slipping on the ice in my own driveway, then getting a shoe full of snow. It wasn’t such a good feeling on my bare feet. Maybe socks would be good for a few more days! And hey, it’s supposed to be 70 on Wednesday! Yahoo!

We are hot on some leads from NADA, so that means working out an elaborate travel schedule. I mentioned I did that on Friday, but everything has changed in the course of the past two days, so I’m going to start over. Hopefully I’ll have a winner of an itinerary this time! If only the airlines would fly when and where I wanted them to, life would be so much easier, but not nearly as interesting. In addition to that, we have several meetings lined up over the next few days, both in town and out of town, and that makes for a hectic week. But as always, we’re ready for it!

In the meantime, we are also about to release several new commercials, we’re updating our website, (check it out at www.pickthepineapple.com) and launching a few new projects that are going to be awesome! So now that your interest is piqued, I’m going to make you suffer and wait to see what we’ve come up with. How does that sound? For now, I’ll show you a new commercial for Nelson Nissan; how does that sound? Let us know what you think! Click HERE to see the extended birthday celebration spot. Did you like it? It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when I watch it…I just love it! And now we’ve got one more for you, showcasing the brand-new look of The Brand; click HERE to watch.

Well, I will let you all get to your romantic Valentine’s Day plans…I’ll see you tomorrow. Happy V-Day and happy Monday from the Pineapple People!

So I posted this morning that we had a busy day ahead of us, but I had no idea how busy! Barlow and Adam are outlining a trip to visit several potential clients, and it’s up to me to figure out the best route, method of travel and order of visits. I’m used to the SEC route by now, but this one will be a bit more challenging, as it involves some new territory. I’m definitely up for the challenge, but it’s going to take some fancy footwork on my part. Let’s just hope that Southwest (aka Pineapple’s company jet) flies everywhere they need to go. And I’m pretty sure it’s in my best interest to skip the Chicago route this time.

It’s an exciting day at Pineapple HQ. Not only is it Fabuloso Friday, where we get to watch Jake clean, Adam and I are getting CURTAINS! Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but when the direct morning sunlight streams into our offices, it’s akin to working on the sun. I’ve literally worn sunglasses at my desk. So a huge “thank you” to Barlow for letting us get some new shades! And of course, Jake gets to install them. Thanks, Jake! Make sure they’re not crooked, man.

Did you know that Nelson Nissan is giving away an XBOX 360 with Kinect? And that Nelson Mazda Tulsa is giving away a Sony PlayStation 3? All you have to do to enter is visit their Facebook pages, click on the Games tab and play! Play Tetris on Nelson Nissan’s page or Gem Swap on Nelson Mazda’s page. When we reach the predetermined number of Facebook fans, the people with the top 20 scores will be entered into a drawing. It’s a pretty sweet deal…just make sure you read the rules first. Start playing today, and tell your friends! The sooner the fan goals are reached, the sooner the drawing will take place, and the sooner the lucky winner will earn a new gaming system.

Surprise, surprise, Facebook has another new idea: profiles for couples. There is a fan page currently up in an effort to feel people out to see if they would be interested in this. You can check it out HERE. There are downsides to this, for sure. For instance, it’s a lot more difficult to find fan pages than it is to find friend pages, in my opinion. And you would never know who was posting what. Also, it’s impossible to tag just one of the two people in a photograph, so both of you would be tagged in every picture. Say your old fraternity brother found a photo of you in a less-than-stellar moment in your life, and decided to post and tag you in it for kicks. Now your wife sees it. And all of her friends see it, too. If it was on your personal page, you could probably intercept it and delete it before your wife saw it, and before you chewed your buddy out.  But with a couples page, that can’t be avoided. In addition, you have to be friends with everyone, even if one spouse doesn’t know all of the other’s friends. My husband has random friends that I have never met posting on his page all the time, but I wouldn’t want them on my page, simply because I don’t know them. Suppose one day you aren’t a couple anymore? It’s impossible to edit the title of a fan page, so you either delete it, or “Jim and Sue” will forever have this page together, even if Jim isn’t in the equation anymore. Many couples like the idea, as witnessed by the large number of profiles named “JimandSue Brown.” I have some friends that do this, but I’m not a fan, and let me tell you why. Again, you can’t tell who is posting. Or 99.9% of the time, it’s the woman, so why bother putting the man’s name at all? Unless you just really want your husband to be on Facebook, and he’s not interested. Also, it’s very difficult to search, because if I just search “Sue Brown”, “JimandSue Brown” won’t show up in the listing. (No offense to my friends who are listed as couples, by the way.) What do you think? Would you want a couple fan page? I read somewhere that 1 in 5 divorces is blamed on Facebook. I guess that makes sense; due to the vast amount of Facebook members, it’s easy to track down old flames that could possibly be rekindled. But if you and your partner don’t trust each other, a couples page isn’t going to fix that. Would Allie and Noah have shared a Facebook page?

Pineapple fans, have a fabulous Friday, and enjoy your warm(er) weekend! I’m going to sign off now to plan the travel event of the century! See you on Monday!

It’s a great feeling to be back at Pineapple HQ and to have all of the Pineapple People together again! It’s really been too long….nearly two weeks since we’ve all been here. I know the guys are glad to be back and get into the normal routine again. Of course, the day isn’t completely business as usual, since I had to call and beg for a ride from Pineapple 2 this morning, since my car’s buried. Luckily Adam doesn’t live too far away and was willing to brave the roads and come get me and deposit me at work. Thanks, Adam! I sure hope he’s planning on taking me home, too…I haven’t asked yet. I probably should. I guess I’ll need to get my car out, since he probably doesn’t want to keep playing taxi driver.

Well, even though the booth didn’t arrive at NADA in San Francisco, Pineapples 1 and 2 did the best they could with a bad situation, and they didn’t disappoint. I had no doubt they would come up with something fantastic to save the day. We are excited to start discussing the benefits of Picking the Pineapple with new potential clients and spreading the Pineapple love to even more locations. Adam loves doing his market research, so he will have plenty to keep him busy. Learning a new market is always interesting, since they’re all different. I’m looking forward to getting some more social clients, too! You know how the Pineapples are; we love a challenge!

Lindsay Lohan is an idiot. I’m sorry. I’ve actually always thought she was a terrific actress, and she had a booming career. Lohan was once considered one of the most promising actresses of her generation. But then, well, she started doing drugs and drinking excessively. And then she got involved in a drama-filled relationship with another woman, and they were always having vicious arguments in public. So she did some more drugs and got drunk even more often. Flashed a few photographers, got into several car accidents, and went to jail. Then rehab. Then jail. Back and forth, on and on…it seems like Lindsay can’t go downhill any farther than she already has. But then she went to court and painted some unmentionable words on her fingernails. That’s a classy touch for the judge. And then she went back to rehab. So sweet little LiLo is now on the straight and narrow, freshly released from the Betty Ford Clinic. But then she went to a jewelry store in Venice Beach and allegedly stole a $2500 necklace. (She entered the store, tried it on, and left wearing it. It’s on video. When word got out that LAPD was issuing a search warrant, a friend of Lohan’s returned the necklace to the police.) Now she’s being charged with grand theft, which is a felony charge. I’m pretty sure she can afford to buy whatever she wants, so it’s silly to steal it (right, Winona Ryder?). Lohan is claiming that she borrowed the necklace, and it’s all a misunderstanding. The judge this time isn’t being swayed by Lindsay’s celebrity, and basically told her to straighten up or she’s going to jail with no chance of bail. You go, judge! (Lohan is also dealing with an issue that she pushed an employee during her rehab stint and is being charged with battery.) It saddens me that these child actors get handed so much at such a young age, and so often, they just can’t handle the pressure. Hopefully Lindsay gets things all worked out, but she just really needs to stop doing dumb things. Easier said than done? I don’t think so. I think that maybe if a celebrity actually served more than 84 minutes of a jail sentence, she would be more likely to straighten up.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’ve plenty to do, so I’m going to sign off. I’m just happy to see the sun shining because that can only mean one thing: the snow will melt! Have a terrific Thursday, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Pineapples 1 and 2 are back home in T-town, safe and sound. Adam flew out of San Francisco yesterday morning, and made it to Tulsa last night around 7, which is perfect timing, since flights after 8 p.m. were expected to be seriously delayed or canceled. Barlow, on the other hand, has had a rough couple of days. Flying literally from coast to coast (just like Space Ghost!) in one day, and halfway back across the country the next, will definitely leave a body feeling confused. Add the fact that he got delayed at Chicago O’Hare (sorry, boss) and again yesterday at DFW, and you’ve got two very long and miserable days of traveling. But it’s all over now, and the guys are safe at home. Welcome back to Snowklahoma, boys!

And I’m so glad that we went to the trouble to shovel our front walk, even though we never use the front door. I needed some exercise, right?

As of Monday, Disneyland is facing a lawsuit against a patron. Jose Martinez, a quadriplegic, is stating that Disneyland employees left him unattended on the “Small World” ride. The ride stalled, and all other passengers were evacuated, yet Martinez alleges that he was left there for 40 minutes after all others had disembarked. According to Martinez, his blood pressure also spiked while on the ride, and employees did not summon for medical assistance. Martinez is suing for negligence, emotional distress and liability. Personally, I have a hard time thinking of a worse fate than being trapped on “It’s a Small World.” Have you been on that? It’s a nightmare. And I just know the song will be stuck in my head all day after just writing about this. I’m doing my best to block it out. Sorry if that doesn’t work out for you!

I’ve blogged about this recently, so I’m sure you’re all aware of Taco Bell’s current “Where’s the beef?” lawsuit, where they are being sued for the lack of ground beef in their products. The restaurant is standing behind the fact that they start with 88% ground beef, but after simmering it in their special blend of seasonings and whatnot, the amount disappears somewhat, bringing it down to 36% meat, while 40% is required by law. Ugh. But, if you’re still standing by your favorite fast-food Mexican joint, you can get a FREE beef taco if you’re one of the first 10 million fans on Taco Bell’s facebook page. You can have mine.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Pineapple fans! If you’re local, stay warm and be careful. If you’re not, enjoy your snowless weather…take advantage! See you tomorrow!

Today the Pineapples are coming home! It’s been a long week (plus) for them. Nine days is a long time to be on the road and away from home. Adam is about to board his flight in San Francisco, and Barlow is about to board his flight on the completely opposite side of the country, in Charlotte. Since they’re on their own, maybe they’ll make new airplane friends. Personally, I don’t usually talk to folks on planes. This is mainly because I’m shy, but also it’s just too darn noisy. I have a good friend, though, that makes it a point to strike up conversations with strangers each time she flies (which is a lot). Maybe Barlow and Adam are this way, too…I honestly don’t know. If that’s the case, they will have plenty of time to make new pals on their long flights today. Safe travels, guys!

So. Snow. Again. That’s the word on the street. Supposedly, tonight’s storm is supposed to be just as bad, if not worse, than last week’s. The accumulation won’t be as much (4-6 inches, is what I’ve heard) but in addition to what is still on the ground, things are going to be a mess. I stopped at Reasor’s last night to pick up a few necessities, and guess what? THEY HAD EGGS!  Since I went on a baking spree during last week’s entrapment, I used all of mine, and all the stores have been out since then. Of course, they only had one size, and it was the store brand, but they were there….real, live eggs! (Well, not live…anymore. You know what I mean.) Even better, they had ground beef in stock. This is a big deal, since it took me three stores to find some. Since I was obviously feeling lucky, I decided to cruise down the bread aisle, where I was faced with three packages of hot dog buns and two loaves of pre-cut French bread. That was it. Not ONE SINGLE LOAF of regular bread. I didn’t have my camera on me, so I’m stealing a photo that my friend took at the store, also in the bread aisle. It gives you an idea, anyway.  At least I have beef and eggs now. Guess I can make meatloaf.

It’s also been reported that there are no snow shovels in the Tulsa area. So if you don’t have one, good luck. I don’t, but I have a generous best friend that loaned me hers. I’ll definitely hit the snow shovel aisle when they come back in stock, because you just never know. Tulsa Public Schools are out for the sixth day in a row because the neighborhood streets are still too dangerous. If we get the snow that is forecast for tonight, they’ll probably be in school until July! Trash pickup is scheduled to run this week (but who knows if that will happen) and mail resumed yesterday. I have no idea how the mail carrier reached my mailbox; I had to climb over a mountain of snow to get to it. But at least it’s running…I don’t think bill collectors would be very sympathetic to our case. “Sorry, I didn’t get my mail for a week, so my payment is a week late.” Think it would work?

Well, I just got word that flights are going to be cancelled….so I’m going to cut this short and look up flights for the Pineapples so they can be prepared. Let’s hope for the best. Stay warm, Pineapple fans! See you tomorrow!

While Tulsa main streets are clear, the neighborhoods and the outlying cities are a mess. I am getting a home inspection done today in Owasso, and my realtor, who also lives in Owasso, can’t get out of her driveway. This is the first inspection she’s missed in five years, so that definitely says something. Jenks, Tulsa, Broken Arrow and numerous other schools in the area are still closed today. I bet those kids are loving it…until they find out the school year won’t end on time! And now we are under a winter storm watch until Wednesday night. More snow (who thought there could be such a thing?!) is expected tomorrow and Wednesday. So just as the roads are finally getting clear, we’re going to get more. Perfect.

Pineapple HQ is pretty clear; thanks to whoever cleared the parking lot! But as you can see, there is still plenty of snow on the ground. It’s pretty…for a few days. Glad I don’t live any further north.

Pineapples 1 and 2 are still on the road today. Adam will complete the final day of NADA in San Francisco, while Barlow flies to Charlotte to meet with two prospective clients. It’s going to be a long day for both of them. Conventions are hard work, and traveling always wears one out. It’s going to be especially difficult for our Chief Pineapple, since he’s flying across every time zone today, then back home tomorrow. I bet those guys are going to be glad to sleep in their own beds tomorrow! Hotel living loses it’s sheen after a few days. And I know their families will be happy to see them. It’s unfortunate that they missed all of the excitement of Snowpocalypse, but maybe they’re happy about that! And let’s keep our fingers crossed that the weather holds off enough tomorrow so they get home without any delays.

Did everyone enjoy the Super Bowl last night? We were planning on having a party, but decided to cancel because of the weather. And boy, am I glad about that, because when we headed to the store yesterday to buy some food, we were blown away by the lack of everything! We hit up the Walmart Neighborhood Market, and while they finally had milk in stock, they were still out of eggs, ground beef, sausage, crescent rolls, lil smokies, taquitos…basically everything that I was planning on cooking. Plus, it was packed. So if you’re planning on stocking up again before the next big storm, good luck. And let me know if you find eggs anywhere!

I was happy with the outcome of the game (Go, Packers!) but severely disappointed with the halftime performance. I’m a Black Eyed Peas fan, and I’ve heard they are terrific in concert. But in my opinion, they did not sound their best last night. I also felt bad for Christina Aguilera and her flub of the national anthem. It IS a difficult song and there were a lot of people in the crowd. According to a Harris poll, two out of three Americans don’t know the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” That is really sad! Christina apologized, saying she simply lost her place, which is understandable. Miss Aguilera stated, “I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through.” If I was in front of 106 million viewers, I would be nervous, too.

Have a happy Monday, Pineapple fans! If you are out driving, be very careful. Bundle up, stay warm, and let me know which store has eggs! See you tomorrow!

The silver lining in this disaster is the fact that Barlow and Adam are quite creative. Between the two of them, I know they’ll come up with a plan, and also do a fantastic job of spreading the news about the awesomeness of Pineapple Advertising. We will just have to stay tuned to see what genius idea they come up with. If you’ve seen our page, you know that it’s bright and sunny in California, very unlike here! Although Adam is wearing a long-sleeved shirt, which makes me a little bit happier.

It’s snowing. Again. I just received an email that we are under yet another winter weather advisory, with four to five more inches of heavy snow expected. Folks are still advised to stay off the roads and stay indoors. The exact quote is, “DELAY TRAVEL AND STAY HOME IF POSSIBLE UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE.” Well, that’s what I’ve been doing. And I’ve just about had it! You can only bake so much, and watch so much television, right? And now they’re saying that we are supposed to get another storm next week equivalent to the one we just had. How much worse can it get? The mail isn’t running. Obviously, freight trucks aren’t running. All of the stores are out of milk, including all of the Walmarts. I’ve never seen anything like this! Let’s just hope it gets better soon! I’m also wondering what’s going to happen with the Super Bowl, since Dallas is in just as big a mess as we are. I’m sure they’ll figure out something, though, right?

Last week I told you about the woman in Pennsylvania that fell into a mall fountain while walking and texting. This morning, a similar video was released involving a 10-year-old Italian boy that was walking and playing his Sony PSP at a train station. The boy was apparently so involved in his game that he forgot (or didn’t pay attention) where he was, and fell off a subway platform onto the tracks. Luckily, an off-duty policeman was nearby and quickly rescued the child. Is it possible that we have too much technology these days? Watch the video HERE. Man, I bet that kid is sore and battered! Ouch.

Well, that’s about all I have for today…being cooped up doesn’t allow for too much excitement! Please stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates from sunny San Francisco!

Yesterday afternoon, I decided that I really needed to go to the store. The main reason for this is because I was craving chocolate chip cookies, and I used all of my sugar to make snow ice cream. But I figured I would pick up a few other things while I was there. My first move was to call the grocery store and make sure they were open, since they were closed on Tuesday. Yes, they were open, but only until 5 p.m. Okay, so I didn’t have much time. I bundled up in my ski clothes. Yes, ski clothes, even my socks. And boy, I’m glad I did, since the wind chill was negative six. When I stepped outside, I realized that while I made a wise move with my ski gear, cute beanies from Express do not protect your ears from the cold.

The snow was up to my knees. And that was very difficult to walk in. Luckily, the grocery store is only three blocks away, but that can seem very far when it’s that cold! I made it without incident and walked inside, where there were plenty of other people bundled up just like me. They actually had more items in stock than I thought they would, except they were almost out of milk, with the exception of skim. Blechh. I ended up buying three quarts instead of a gallon. Also, they were out of Diet Dr. Pepper. Since this is an absolute necessity at our house, I walked to the convenience store across the street to buy this. I checked out without any problems, and then attempted to load my stuff into the backpack that I had wisely brought with me. (I purposely shopped with it wide open because I didn’t want them to think I was stealing. Maybe “looting” would be a better term during this insanity.) I thought I did a good job judging the amount of groceries that I bought in relation to the backpack. Apparently I need to return to the spatial development portion of those bubble tests from elementary school. After cramming the bag full, I still had four sacks left over, plus that two-liter of DDP that I got afterward. And except for nearly falling on my butt thanks to a patch of ice in the parking lot, I made it out of the store in one piece.

And then, after hitting QT for my soda, I got to lug all my goodies home in snow up to my knees. This time, I decided to walk in the street. This all worked fine and well, since there wasn’t much traffic, until a car actually came….and I had nowhere to go. I ended up scaling the five-foot bank and scrambling over it just in time. Not easy with your hands full and a 60-pound pack on your back. (Okay, it wasn’t 60 pounds, but sugar and flour are awfully heavy.) By the time I got home, I was sweating and out of breath, and definitely didn’t need any chocolate chip cookies. But I made them anyway. And they are delicious.

Last night, an expectant couple was trying to make their way to the hospital, but got stuck in the snow. After calling a tow truck, they called an ambulance because the baby refused to wait! He was delivered on the BA Expressway around 31st Street, and the parents were considering naming him Little Blizzard. This is not a joke. I wish it was.

Today, Pineapples 1 and 2 are flying out of rainy Nashville to foggy San Francisco. They get a layover in one of my favorite places, San Diego, on the way. I guarantee they don’t have two feet of snow on the ground. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they don’t have any delays and have a safe and easy journey. Tomorrow they will be setting up our booth at NADA and getting lots of people to Pick the Pineapple! They’ll be busy, but I bet they’ll still find time to post on our Facebook page.

We are pleased to announce the two newest commercials in the Nelson Nissan campaign! Are you ready? They are pretty awesome! Click HERE to watch Phase Wow and click HERE to see our cool new texting spot! Let us know what you think!

Pineapple fans, please try not to go crazy today. It’s only nine degrees, so I know you don’t want to go outdoors. The roads are still terrible, and you’ll probably get stuck anyway. Stay home, bake cookies, and play board games with your family. And try not to strangle them. I’ll see you tomorrow! Oh…and we’re supposed to get more snow on Sunday.

The folks at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa released a statement about yesterday’s roof collapse. The hotels and casino are functioning normally, and the only portion that remains closed is the area where the damage occurred, which is in the poker room area. Again, no injuries were reported. Since the event happened so early in the morning, there were less than 100 people on the casino floor at the time, and they had plenty of notice. Last night, another roof collapsed, this time at Ameristar Fencing at 15th & Mingo. The weight of the snow caused the collapse, and flooded the warehouse and offices. The security guard inside at the time is just fine. Probably just a little freaked out. (My carport collapsed a few years ago due to snow, and it was quite a mess.)

It’s Groundhog Day! And good news comes to us from Gobbler’s Knob; Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, so we’re due for warmer spring weather soon. That seems hard to believe when I can’t even exit my driveway. I don’t really believe that a groundhog can predict the weather, but I suppose that’s good news. Even better, I bet there’s a marathon of “Groundhog Day” on TV today! If someone finds it, let me know!

So, bad news from Pineapples 1 and 2 in Nashville. They started off the day with the big production, but pouring rain and gusty winds forced them to cancel the remainder of the shoot. It’s a bummer, for sure! An extensive amount of planning and coordination have been poured into this, but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. We’ve rescheduled for later in the month, and let’s hope that Mother Nature is on our side this time. Good news for the guys is that they’re missing the blizzard, but they are stuck in Nashville in the pouring rain until tomorrow, when they finally get to fly to sunny (and foggy) San Francisco for NADA. It’s too bad, because I know they would much rather be working and shooting the new campaign.

Well, Pineapple fans, it’s back to work for me. Don’t forget to let me know if you find Groundhog Day on TV and check our Facebook page for updates from the road…and the blizzard. Stay safe and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Snowpocalypse. Snowklahoma. The storm of the century. Here in Oklahoma, we’ve been preparing for it, and boy, is it here. The meteorologists were right on the money this time; they called it to start at midnight last night. We walked outside to see at 12:15 a.m. and the ground was already covered in sleet. I watched it sleet and listened to it thunder (the official Facebook term for last night’s weather phenomenon was “thunder sleet”) for a while before calling it a night. When I ventured out at 8 a.m. I was greeted by a sea of white. The blizzard really did arrive, uninvited but right on time.

See that darker spot on the bottom of the photo? That’s the two-foot drift at the base of my garage. As we all know, I don’t drive in this kind of weather. But my husband was determined to make it to his office. (He is incredibly stubborn. And likes excitement.) He convinced me to go with him and do my work at his place. We got stuck in the previously mentioned drift. After digging out of that, we got stuck at the end of the driveway and spent an hour getting out. After all that, he still wanted to attempt the commute, but after one mile, he changed his mind and gave in. And that says a lot! We honestly thought the main streets would be better than the neighborhood streets, but they aren’t.

In our lovely one-mile drive, we noticed that nothing is open, except for QuikTrip. Braum’s, Sonic, Warehouse Market and Family Video are all closed. I saw on Facebook that McNellie’s is closed. So really, if you don’t have a life-or-death emergency, I really wouldn’t recommend going out. My neighbor is cruising around on a four-wheeler with a plow on the front. That seems like a fun idea to me! (Except, of course, he didn’t help us when we were stuck, and he drove by three times. What a bummer of a neighbor.) And just for that, I took his picture. I hope he’s camera-shy.

Tulsa is close to setting a record for a single snowfall. As of now, we’ve had 11.6 inches of snow and it’s still coming down. This morning, the roof collapsed in a portion of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa. Luckily, no one was hurt. Patrons saw a hole appear in the ceiling and were able to escape before the roof fell. The Hard Rock was evacuated and I believe the casino has closed. Glad nobody was hurt! You don’t need to be driving to the casino in this weather, anyway. Just one more incentive to stay home, right?

Midwest Pineapple fans, stay home and stay warm today. Travel is treacherous (I can prove this!), so don’t try to drive anywhere. Hopefully tomorrow will be better! Go build a snowman, make some snow ice cream, and make sure your pets have plenty of weather. I’ll talk to you tomorrow!

Living in Oklahoma, we don’t see a tremendous amount of snow. Plenty of ice, yes, and some snow, but not nearly as much as our neighbors to the north. But this time they’re calling for 12 inches TOMORROW. That will definitely be a sight to see for us Okies; I’m not quite sure I believe it. Nevertheless, I will be stocking up on firewood, candles and groceries tonight, just in case. With my luck, it actually will hit if I’m not prepared. Murphy’s Law and all that. The last time we had our big ice storm in 2007, we lost power for several days and were completely unprepared. My husband ended up finding some stale hamburger buns and stuck birthday candles in them. It was plenty of light to play board games by! But this time he’s decided we might need something a little more substantial. Like some firewood. And I just received news that a) Green Country is under a Breaking Weather Alert and b) Walmart is crazy. Wonderful.

Well, it’s time…for the sneak peek of the first new Nelson Nissan commercial! Remember our crazy production days from a few weeks ago? The ones with lots of actors, multiple locations, and snow?! Well, the first spot is ready to be released, and I must say (even though I may be a bit biased) that it’s AMAZING. Seriously. Barlow outdid himself on this one. You just get a warm, fuzzy feeling when you watch it! Let us know what you think! And since my embedding feature has decided to quit working, please click HERE to watch! You won’t be sorry. More to come soon!

If you know Barlow at all, you know that he is a very caring, sensitive person. He always does his best to help others, and has worked hard to ingrain in all of us the urge to do the same. The Pineapple People make it a point to perform random acts of kindness, and to reach out to those in need. We make it a point not to judge others by their looks, race, religion, creed, or bank account. And he recently showed us, “everyone has a story.” He sent us this video to prove that fact. I have watched American Idol for several years, but haven’t watched this season. And since I missed this special audition and touching story, I’m glad that Barlow shared it with us. Please click HERE to watch….be touched, and be inspired. Your life can change in an instant. Live each day to the fullest. God gave it to you for a reason.

Do you love video games? Does your husband, brother, sister or mother-in-law? How would you like a chance to win a Sony PlayStation 3 or an XBOX 360 with Kinect? Nelson Mazda Tulsa and Nelson Nissan are giving away one of each, respectively. To enter, simply visit their Facebook pages, “Like” the page, and click on the Games tab. Play Bejeweled with Mazda and Tetris with Nissan! When they reach their desired number of fans, the people with the top 20 scores will be entered into a drawing, and the winner gets the gaming system! (Just don’t get in trouble at work for playing!)

Well, I’m off to tackle my Monday chores. If you’re in Oklahoma, get ready for the winter blast. If you’re not, you’re lucky, but that means you’ve probably already been hit by a ton of snow this year.  I suppose it’s our turn. Be careful out there, and we’ll talk tomorrow. And if you have to go to Walmart (like me), I’m sorry.

We started the day early today, since everyone is swamped. Not only are we as busy as we have been for the past several weeks, today is the last day at Pineapple HQ for Adam and Barlow for a couple of weeks. So with that, comes all of the extras. Do you have your airline tickets? Did you remember the sign for the Nashville shoot? Did you pick up the t-shirts? There are a lot of things to remember when it involves traveling to one destination, but they will be hitting three. Toss a production and a convention into the mix, and it’s enough to put a person on edge. But not to worry, I’ve taken care of everything! And Jake has been quite a help to me on this, so I appreciate that! And now he gets to clean Pineapple HQ, and unfortunately he is doing that alone today. But I figure he needs to pay his dues, right? I’ve cleaned by myself plenty of times!

Next week Pineapple is shooting the new campaign for Nelson Mazda in Nashville. I’m working on lining up several extras, which is always fun. I’m just bummed that I don’t get to go and see everything in action. Oh, well; maybe next time! This production is going to be just as large and involved as the one in Tulsa was a couple of weeks ago. Lots of actors, plenty of extras, and multiple locations. It’s vital that everyone does his or her part and that we choreograph everything perfectly. It’s tricky, but we always pull it off; it’s the Pineapple way!

This morning there was a scare of “Super” proportions at Cowboys Stadium, the site of the upcoming Super Bowl. (Okay, that was cheesy; sorry.) Anyway, at 8 a.m. a bomb threat was reported at the stadium. Somebody reported that they had spotted someone inserting an object into a drain near the field. After placing the stadium on lockdown, police sent remote cameras into the area to investigate. The super scary object? A piece of trash. So all’s well that ends well in Arlington. I’m guessing that the person felt guilty enough about littering to try to hide it. But it turned out to be a bigger mistake than he bargained for! Wonder if the culprit received a ticket for littering. And it’s great that threats are being taken seriously.

I’m excited about the Super Bowl, aren’t you? Granted, I really don’t care much about the game because I really don’t understand football as much as I pretend to, but I’ll watch for the commercials. And I’ll cheer for the Packers. (My mom’s a Cheesehead, remember?) One interesting fact about this year’s game: it’s very uncommon to have a Super Bowl with no cheerleaders. There are only six NFL teams that don’t have cheer squads, and two of them are Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Fun fact, eh?  

Well, I hate to cut this short, but I’m sure all of you would rather be outside enjoying the beautiful weather than inside reading this. It’s Friday, so enjoy yourselves! Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you on Monday!

The Pineapple People are proud to reveal our newly revamped website! We have made plenty of upgrades and added tons of info about Pineapple Advertising. It’s a great way to get a glimpse of the true Pineapple DNA. We tell it how it is. If your commercials suck, we are going to tell you. And if you Pick Us, we will make new commercials for you that will blow everyone’s mind, and you will not be accused of having sucky commercials ever again. In addition to seeing several of our commercials, you get to see Barlow explain his amazing philosophy, as well as view a map of our clients, learn about the Pineapple’s magic ingredients, and get a look at the Pineapple People and what we stand for. Click HERE to see it, or if you’d like to do it the long way, visit www.pickthepineapple.com. It’s awesome; you won’t be disappointed!

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 10 Oklahoma State University family members. On January 27, 2001, the Cowboys basketball team headed for home after a game against the Colorado Buffaloes. Ten members of the traveling party were on a small charter plane that crashed into a snowy Colorado field shortly after take-off. The group consisted of OSU players Daniel Lawson and Nate Fleming, Oklahoma City broadcaster Bill Teegins, OSU athletic media relations coordinator Will Hancock, student assistant Jared Weiberg, director of basketball operations Pat Noyes, athletic trainer Brian Luinstra, broadcast engineer Kendall Durfey, and pilots Denver Mills and Bjorn Fahlstrom.

I didn’t know any of the victims personally, but I had spoken to Will  Hancock on the phone a few times for a newspaper story, and one of the pilot’s sons was a classmate of mine. I was a senior at OSU in January 2001. I remember being at home for the weekend, and getting a call from a friend to tell me the news. The campus was like a ghost town; everyone was just in shock. It’s a horrifying realization that bad things really do happen to good people, and even though OSU is such a tight-knit family, tragedy can still strike. A memorial service was held at Gallagher-Iba, and it was packed with students, faculty and alumni. Classes were canceled that day, so most everyone I knew did their best to attend. Everyone tried to get there early, since we knew there would be a limit on how many would fit into the arena. The service was quite powerful, as expected. And over time, the hearts of the Cowboys began to heal a little bit at a time. But nobody has ever forgotten to Remember the Ten. Students lined up outside Oklahoma State’s athletic complex three hours before the service began. Many said it was time to begin the healing process. “I think maybe this will start bringing some closure,” senior Laura Downing said. “Everyone has been walking around campus lately kind of in a daze.” Downing and fellow senior Ashley May were in line by noon. “We know it’s going to be totally packed,” May said. “We want to get in.”

With perseverance and strength, and a whole lot of Orange Power, the people of Oklahoma State University have made a point to never forget, to make sure that the lives of those ten men will never be forgotten. A memorial is open to the public in Byers, Colorado, where the accident occurred. I have never been there, but if you’re interested, please view a video HERE of one Cowboy’s journey to the memorial site. It may just put a new perspective on things.

Have a good day, Pineapple fans. And take a moment to Remember the Ten.

Barlow has been in the creative zone all week, coming up with numerous brilliant campaigns. The bummer about this is that we always want to know what he’s come up with, and he likes to tease us and not share until he’s ready! I guess he can do that since he’s the boss and the creative genius, huh? Stay tuned for some amazing ideas from the Chief Pineapple! Adam is working hard to learn a couple of new television markets, and he’s been getting to know the various media reps from different places. Each market is different, and there is plenty to learn before placing the client’s dollars. If you’d like to know what that looks like, see below.

Are you ready for an update on John Stone, the car salesman that was fired for wearing a Packers tie to work? I thought so. It’s only been two days, and already things are looking up for Stone. He has been offered a position with a rival Chevrolet dealership in the Chicago area, with a more easygoing boss, Guy Cesario, who said that his salesmen often wear rival teams’ colors and it’s all in good fun. Cesario has been fielding phone calls from customers saying that they will buy a vehicle from him if he offers Stone a job. However, Stone is taking his time and waiting to meet Cesario in person. In addition, there are rumors that Stone will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Dallas with some prime Super Bowl seats. So he may want to wait a couple of weeks to accept the offer, because I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have vacation time quite that soon. I’m glad that Stone is sticking to his guns in this matter. Of course, his former place of employment is getting plenty of free publicity now.

If you’re eating lunch right now, you may want to come back to this section. It seems that Taco Bell is making people….run the opposite way of the border these days. A lawsuit was recently filed against the fast-food joint on the grounds that they claim to serve beef, but it is actually less than 35% meat. Um, that’s disgusting. I’m a Buenohead, and haven’t even at Taco Bell since high school, and now I’m really happy about that. When asked what the “beef” consisted of, representatives stated that it’s mostly fillers and extenders like water, wheat oats, soy lecithin, maltodrextrin, anti-dusting agent and modified corn starch. Nothing about that sounds delicious, except maybe the water. No wonder the prices are so low; so is the beef content. I wonder if Taco Bell will see a dramatic drop in sales due to this negative story, or if things will continue to churn along as usual. I, for one, will not be running for the border to try it out, to see if it’s really as bad as people say. Now, if they release info on the ingredients of Jack-in-the-Box tacos  (my FAVE!), I’ll ignore it. Ignorance is bliss sometimes, especially when it comes to one of my favorite snack foods. What will you do? Keep eating at Taco Bell? Switch to Taco Bueno? Or just let it slide and continue on with business as usual? Uh…one more thing. When searching for an image to post in relation to this paragraph, I ran across one of a rat in Taco Bell. Just keeping it real. Are you still wondering what that 35% is?

If you’re completely grossed out right now, please forgive me; that’s not my intention. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Wednesday; the sun is shining, we’re halfway to the weekend…what could be better? See you tomorrow!

Today we are getting everything lined up for next week. The Pineapple Twins are flying to Nashville bright and early on Monday morning. (Much earlier than any of us like.) First up is a couple of busy production days with the Mazda gang. On my part, that involves lining up actors, actresses, extras and locations. It sounds like it’s fun, and it is! After shooting is complete, they will head west to the City by the Bay for the NADA convention, where they will be busy convincing new dealerships to Pick the Pineapple! The guys are in their element at trade shows, so I know it will be a success. And I bet since so many of our clients first came to know Pineapple at NADA, there will be plenty of old friends to visit with. (Guys, remember to bring back some free pens and notepads for me. I have a weakness for trade show freebies.) For the convention, I am busy hammering out final shipping details (a huge shout-out to Jared from Worldwide Express for helping me on this!) and ensuring that every item that we need arrives in San Francisco in a timely manner. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but I know everything will come together perfectly. I never realized how much is involved with being an exhibitor at a major convention. There are so many miniscule details to think about!

We have launched Pineapple Surf ‘n Fusion (our digital campaign) for Rogers Automotive in Shelby, North Carolina, and it’s off to a wonderful start. Check out the screen shot of a North Carolina website to see the Rogers Cyber Cash web banner! Click HERE to see the Cyber Cash commercial.

With the Super Bowl just around the corner, things are heating up between Packers Cheeseheads and Steelers fans. (Sorry, I don’t know what Steelers fans are called. I’m the daughter of a Cheesehead, so that’s what I know.) As most of you know, last Sunday there was an excellent play-off game between the Packers and the Chicago Bears. While most people I know from Chicago are Bears fans, apparently there is one guy in Chicago who isn’t. John Stone, a car salesman at Webb Chevrolet in Oak Lawn, Ill., was fired recently for wearing a Green Bay Packers tie. He wore the tie in support of his grandmother, who was a die-hard Packers fan. I think that’s sweet, but his boss apparently didn’t, because he fired him on the spot. He gave him the option of being fired or removing the tie, stating that although it wasn’t a dress code violation, it didn’t harmonize with their advertising theme. And although no customers had complained (it was early in the day, and the few that had seen it had a sense of humor about it), the manager refused to relent. I certainly hope the guy gets unemployment.

As one who enjoys traveling (and the Pineapples do a lot of it!), I like hearing stories that happen in the friendly, or not-so-friendly skies. Last year Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater quit his job in a dramatic way, after being hit on the head with a bag or an overhead bin. After an expletive-laced announcement on the intercom, Slater grabbed a beer from the galley and exited the plane via the emergency slide. There have been several incidents in recent months, but that is definitely one of the more notable ones. A few days ago, 63-year-old Michael Isabelle, a passenger on an American Airlines flight found his route to the restroom continously blocked by the beverage cart. He must have had to go desperately, because he began kicking and knocking over the cart (hope it didn’t spill on any innocent passengers) and finally punched flight attendant Carlos Carrico in the stomach when he couldn’t get through. I’ve never had to go that badly, but it must have been an emergency for Mr. Isabelle. With the help of another flight attendant and a passenger, Carrico managed to subdue Isabelle in plastic cuffs until landing, where he was turned over to law enforcement. I just wonder if they let him visit the little boys’ room upon arrival.

Well, Pineapple fans, have a terrific Tuesday, enjoy the beautiful weather, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Today begins another busy (as always) week for the Pineapple People. Since the Pineapple Twins were on the road most of last week, today we get to meet and go over everything that’s been going on. In addition to that, the guys are leaving town again next week to head to Nashville, then San Francisco for the annual NADA convention. Hopefully after the next two weeks, they’ll get a chance to catch their breaths and stay home for a little while. Pineapple HQ just isn’t the same when they’re gone, that’s for sure. And with all of the bad weather last week, Jake and I didn’t even get to brush up on our foosball skills. Bummer. Maybe this week! He definitely needs to practice since he can’t even beat me! (Oh, yeah, Jake, that was a burn!)

Yesterday afternoon the world said good-bye to the father of fitness, Jack LaLanne. LaLanne passed away at his home in California at the ripe old age of 96, due to respiratory failure resulting from pneumonia. At the age of 15, LaLanne was a self-proclaimed pimply, nearsighted, junk-food-scarfing high school dropout. When he attended a nutrition talk with his mother one afternoon, he was inspired, and started hitting the weights at his local YMCA. At the age of 21, he opened his first fitness studio and shortly after, ”The Jack LaLanne Show” premiered in San Francisco. The show went national eight years later, and featured LaLanne teaching others about fitness and working out, using such props as broomsticks, a chair and a stretchy rubber cord. (Fun fact: LaLanne invented the jumping jack!) At age 60, LaLanne showed off his physical prowess by swimming from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf while pulling a 1,000-pound boat. In handcuffs. On his 70th birthday, he produced the handcuffs one more time and swam again, this time pulling 70 people in 70 boats for more than a mile through Long Beach Harbor. In recent years, LaLanne has become a household name, thanks to his Power Juicer. I don’t have one, but I know several people that do, and I hear good things. Jack LaLanne lived an amazing life, and spent it encouraging others to work towards healthy and fit bodies. We salute you, Jack LaLanne!

Now, I know this news is a week old, but I keep forgetting to mention it. Have you seen the YouTube video of the woman who fell into a mall fountain while texting? Cathy Cruz Marrero was walking through a Pennsylvania mall and texting her husband. Not looking where she was going, she fell headfirst into the fountain. Granted, the security guard who posted the video on YouTube shouldn’t have done that (he has since lost his job) but you have to admit, it’s kind of funny. Don’t worry, nothing was injured except her pride. (I’m not that mean. If she was hurt, this would have an entirely different spin.) But what is ridiculous is the fact that she is now threatening legal action against the mall, because no one came to help her. (Nobody had time, she grabbed her things and immediately left the scene.) Her lawsuit is based upon the fact that there was no railing around the fountain to prevent folks from falling in. Most fountains don’t have railings, because they are usually only inches deep, and most people watch where they’re going! To make things even more juicy, Marrero works in the mall, so she should certainly know where the fountain is located. She was recently on television speaking out about how dangerous it is to walk and text, saying that she could’ve been hit by a bus. In the mall? Doubtful. And now since she’s making such a big stink about the incident, reporters have been doing some digging on her, and discovered several theft charges, including a case of identity theft in which she stole a co-worker’s credit card and racked up five grand in charges at Zales and Target. That’s classy, Cathy. If you haven’t seen the video, click HERE to watch.

Well, I’m off to have a meeting with the boys. Have a great week, Pineapple fans! I’ll see you tomorrow!

I am expecting a very quiet day today with so many folks stuck at home. Jake and I were planning a foosball rematch today but that will have to be rescheduled since he’s out of school today. And I have every intention of beating him again! I do have a phone call scheduled this afternoon from San Diego, so I will do my best to live vicariously through them. I’m sure I will be begging for a wonderful weather report and some photos of the beach. Sigh. I love San Diego!

The Pineapple Twins are on their way home from their road trip, and I hope they make it safely and have avoided snow on their journey. All in all, the trip was a success. They had plenty of promising meetings with potential clients and of course, got to visit with the crews at Rogers Automotive, Speedway Harley-Davidson and Don Ledford Auto Park. They get to spend next week at home before heading off to Nashville, San Francisco and Topeka. The busy travel schedule will continue into February!

So, what’s the word on American Idol? Did everyone watch the season premiere last night? I must admit, I did not. As I mentioned yesterday, it now comes on at the same time as my favorite Wednesday night shows. I did read some postings and comments this morning and overall, it seems to have received favorable reviews. People seem to be really enjoying the new judges, especially Steven Tyler. Maybe Simon being absent won’t make such an impact after all. Best of luck to all of the contestants!

Well, Pineapple fans, have a safe snow day! If you’re driving, please be careful and drive slowly. See you tomorrow!

The Pineapple Twins are still on the road, and it’s still very quiet around Pineapple HQ. Today they are heading back to Tennessee to visit our pals at Don Ledford Auto Park. Hello from Oklahoma, Ledford clan! I know the guys always have a great time hanging out with Don and his family, so it should be a fun evening, with lots of productive decisions made for the upcoming year. At the moment, the guys are driving through the Smoky Mountains on the way to Knoxville.

Yesterday the guys met up with our friends at Rogers Automotive and Pat Rogers Speedway Harley-Davidson in North Carolina. It seems that it was a good day, and the gang got a lot accomplished as far as planning for 2011. Plus they got to check out the Harley dealership, which Barlow said was amazing. Being the daughter of a Harley mama, I’ve always had a soft spot for Harley stores, even though I’ve only been on a motorcycle a handful of times in my life. (This is because I’m a huge chicken.) But the stores are always fun, with lots of cute clothes and unidentifiable (to me) gadgets. My dog even has a fancy leather Harley-Davidson leash, which makes her look tough.

So how many of you ran out and bought a Snazzy Napper the other day? I will admit, I was doing a bit of browsing this morning on the AsSeenonTv website, and I did some reading on Pajama Jeans. Now, I’m pretty particular about my jeans, so I’m almost 100% sure I would never purchase these. But you have to agree that they do sound fairly fantastic. Supposedly they look just like normal jeans, but they are made with some super soft fabric (DormiSoft) that makes you feel like you’re wearing comfy pajamas. One of their selling points is, if you’re running errands in sweatpants, those tend to get wrinkly and saggy by the end of the day. I personally don’t run errands in sweatpants, but I’m sure plenty of folks do. I don’t even own any sweatpants (although I have stolen a pair of my husband’s, but I NEVER wear them in public). And since they technically belong to him, I don’t have to say that I own them. Anyway, the idea of Pajama Jeans is a bit tempting. The commercial claims that they look as if they were made by a European designer thanks to the brass rivets. Um, i don’t have any jeans made by “some European designer” and all of mine have brass rivets. BUT none of my jeans were that cheap…Pajama Jeans are only $39.95! Do any of you have Pajama Jeans? What do you think? Should I take the plunge into comfy denim? And if any of you have some, you must tell me. If you’re too embarrassed to post it on our Facebook page, feel free to shoot me an email.

Well, I’m off to do some work and some hotel-hunting for the boys. Have a wonderful Wednesday, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

As promised, I just posted the photos from Friday’s shoot for Nelson Mazda. I know, they are a day late, and I’m sorry! Anyway, they are on the Pineapple Facebook page, so be sure to check them out. Our actor, Davey, did a great job, and another thanks to the folks at Seminole for allowing us to invade your space. The best part of all? Their nicest conference room is called the Cowboy Room!

Jake and I have scheduled our first foosball match today. I’m a little nervous, since I’m so terrible. But I will do my best to win! I’ll keep you updated on who today’s victor is…unless it’s Jake. I’ve got about an hour to do some stretches and deep-breathing exercises to prepare myself. I’m sure he’ll play hard, because I doubt he wants to lose to a girl.

Well, there was some big news from Manhattan today. Regis Philbin is retiring after 28 years of hosting his morning talk show. It seems like Regis has been around forever, but I had no idea how long; he turns 80 in August. And I must be getting old, because I was shocked to realize that Regis and Kelly have been co-hosts for 10 years. Not to worry; “Live” will continue, as another host will be paired up with Kelly. Regis made the announcement this morning and has said that he will step down sometime this summer, but hasn’t specified a departure date as of yet. We’ll miss you, Regis!

And more big news, though not a surprise: American Idol’s season premiere airs tomorrow night on Fox. Now, you all know that I’ve been waiting for this with mixed feelings. I wasn’t sure if I would watch, since all of my favorite judges are gone, but now I know I won’t. Unfortunately for me, Idol will battle for my affections against my Wednesday night TV line-up. And since it’s on Thursdays, too, it will be up against The Office. Sorry, Randy, Jennifer and Steven…you just lost my vote. And even worse, I just discovered that one of my all-time favorite bloggers will not be writing her AI recaps this year. That was always the highlight of the season. She, too, has decided to move on from American Idol. Well, best of luck to all the contestants.

I hope all of you have a terrific Tuesday! Be sure to check our Facebook page for updates from the road, and of course, for the foosball score. See you tomorrow!

It’s a quiet day here at Pineapple HQ; the Pineapple Twins are on another cross-country road trip adventure. The guys are meeting with a potential client today in Clarksville, Tennessee. After that, they are driving down to Shelby, North Carolina to visit our friends at Rogers Automotive. It’s almost time for Aimee Rogers Thomas’ birthday, so they are going to wish her a happy birthday in person. Happy early birthday, Aimee! After North Carolina, they plan on visiting a few other clients before heading back to Tulsa later this week. The boys are in for several long days and a LOT of driving, but I know they always have a great time traveling, and it’s always fun to visit with our clients in person. Here’s hoping that a few more decide to Pick the Pineapple this week! Good luck, Pineapple Twins!

It seems they’ve already had a bit of adventure on the road. The boys were betting on sports (as they often do) and Adam turned out to be on the losing end. Barlow is now twenty dollars richer, thanks to the New York Jets.

On Friday, we wrapped up our crazy production week. It was a lot of fun, but definitely a long week. I can’t wait to see the finished commercials; we shot plenty! Tomorrow I will post photos from the Friday afternoon shoot; I am a terrible person and don’t have the camera card with me. But tomorrow, I promise! That way you can get a first-hand look at the location shoot at Seminole Energy. A huge thank you to Kim Taylor for setting it up for us!

Did anyone watch the Golden Globes last night? I didn’t, because I’ve never been big on awards shows, and football was on. But I did take a look this morning at some of the outfits the stars wore to the event. Looks like one-shoulder styles are back in style, unfortunately. And I think Helena Bonham Carter got dressed in the dark. Take a look. She’s wearing two different shoes.

 Now, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for As Seen on TV items. I used to have a Chia pet (it died), I’ve been tempted to buy a Ding King, I own a Snuggie, and my husband has a Slim Clip wallet. I used to have the Perfect Pancake maker and there is a dusty Ab Circle Pro in my house. Lately I’ve seen some interesting clothing items (Pajama Jeans, anyone?) but today I saw something really different. It’s called the Snazzy Napper; anyone heard of it? It’s similar to a giant bib that allows you to sleep in public without looking ridiculous. Or if you drool all over yourself on the plane, nobody can see you. I’m a big fan of traveling, and a big fan of sleeping, and I’m constantly trying to find a way to cover my face when I sleep. But I may draw the line at the Snazzy Napper. What do you think?

Click HERE to see Ellen’s hysterical review of the product…she makes a lot of valid points. Ha. Ha. In case you’re wondering, it’s $33 for a Snazzy Napper, plus $7.95 for shipping, and it takes between 2-6 weeks to arrive. Or you might just check at Walgreen’s.

Well, Pineapple fans, have a wonderful Monday, and I’ll see you tomorrow! And if you decide to order a Snazzy Napper, please let me know. I promise I won’t laugh…too much.

After lunch, we returned to the house and shot another spot, with actors Carolyn, Mark and Bailey. They were perfect for the parts they were playing and everything went smoothly.

After everyone packed up their gear (the crew has a LOT of stuff!) we headed to another home (thank you to the Minihans!) to shoot the final commercial of the day. Megan and Brian did a fantastic job of playing our final couple of the day. It was a long day in a series of long days, but we wrapped up before dark, so that was a nice surprise!

This afternoon, we are going to shoot at a local office (thanks to Kim for setting it up!) with three more actors. And after THAT, we will go to the studio to shoot the final two spots with yet another actress. There has been plenty of planning, organizing and arranging going into this week, and so far, all has gone off without a hitch. What’s even more impressive is that we got everything together for yesterday and today in less than 24 hours, since the weather in Nashville caused us to change our production plans. All in all, it’s been a crazy week, but busy and fun. You all know how much I love production days, and this week I’ve gotten four of them! And from all of the awesome footage I’ve seen, this campaign is going to knock your socks off! I promise to share as soon as possible! To see all of the photos, please visit the Pineapple or Nelson Mazda Facebook pages!

A million thanks to our actors: Todd, Mark, Carolyn, Bailey, Megan and Brian, and to our gracious homeowners, the Corbitts and the Minihans. We appreciate you!

The next few weeks are going to be heavy on the traveling for the Pineapple Twins. The guys are heading east this weekend, with stops in Shelby, Charlotte, Knoxville and Clarksville. After that, it’s off to Nashville for the rescheduled Nelson Mazda production. Let’s hope they don’t get any more wild snow storms before then! And THEN it’s off to sunny (or foggy?) San Francisco for the annual NADA convention, where they will encourage everyone to Pick the Pineapple. After that, all of us are driving north to Topeka to shoot for Pineapple’s newest client, Briggs Kia. It’s definitely going to be a jampacked month for all of us, but especially for the Pineapple Twins being on the road so much. 2011 is out of the chute and off with a bang!

Love her or hate her (I’m indifferent), America’s favorite domestic diva, Martha Stewart, was rushed to the hospital Tuesday night after one of her beloved “Frenchies” headbutted her. Definitely not one of those “good things” that Martha loves to rave about. Apparently Martha was whispering good-bye to her French bulldog, Francesca, and the dog got spooked and threw her head up, gashing open Martha’s lip. Of course, according to Martha, Francesca immediately felt terrible and went into hiding in her bed. (I really tried not to laugh when I read this. I honestly did.) Martha called her daughter and went to the emergency room, where she had booked a plastic surgeon (of course). Martha did end up with stitches in her lip, so that’s a bummer. I really can’t decide if I completely loathe her or not. I know she is full of fantastic ideas and she’s a multi-million dollar mogul, which is impressive. I watched a made-for-tv movie about her a few years back and it did NOT portray her in a nice way. And then of course, there was that whole jail sentence thing. Either way, I hope Martha recovers and that Francesca is forgiven. And hopefully Martha learned her lesson not to sneak up on an unaware dog.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to finish the rest of my weekly blogs before starting today’s production. Have a wonderful weekend! If you’re off on Monday for Martin Luther King Day, enjoy your long weekend. See you on Monday!

As you know, Day One was pretty crazy; we shot scenes in four different locations and had lots of talent and extras on hand. We started off the day in the wee hours of the morning at a beautiful home in south Tulsa . We had five talented actors on hand and they did a great job! After that, we headed to Scott’s Hamburgers in Bixby (thank you, Scott’s!) to film another scene with five teenaged girls.

Then it was back to the house in Tulsa, where we added a few more extras to the mix. They were out in the snow and cold, but they were troopers! Thanks a million to Olivia, BC, Abby, Sandra, Monte, Renee, James, Lindsay, Madison, Josie, Ashton, Mason and Jake! We ended the day at Nelson Nissan on a high note.

Yesterday, we also started early, in order to catch a shot of the sunrise. It was still really cold, but the snow had stopped, so we were happy about that. Yesterday’s shoot required several extras, and we appreciate all of them very much. We even had folks come from other states to be a part of the action. They got to play various roles, and I think everyone had fun. Pineapple productions are always a blast! I even had one extra ask, “Is it always this fun?” And my answer? “Yes!” A special thank you to Shawn, Clint, Heather, Bailey, Carrie Ann, Aspen, Kaeden, Tristan, Samantha, Jason and Donovan! We are thankful for everyone’s hard work over the past couple of days. Photos are currently being posted on the Pineapple Facebook page!

The Pineapple Twins were supposed to head to Nashville today for the new Nelson Mazda Nashville production. However, due to the blast of winter weather they recently received, we’ve decided to change up the schedule a bit. That means that tomorrow morning we will kick off another two days of production here in town, for Nelson Mazda Tulsa. We are all jumping into the details with enthusiasm! Productions can be a lot of fun, but there is definitely a ton of work that goes on in preparation as well as behind the scenes. We are working on lining up actors, locations and props and are ready to start early in the morning. There are a lot of balls to juggle, but the end result is always more than worth it.

Tomorrow will be similar to Monday, in that we are shooting in multiple locations. Let’s just hope for some better weather tomorrow! Please?

This weekend, the Pineapple Twins plan on taking a trip to SEC country to visit a few of our clients. Then the gang will head back to Nashville at the end of the month for more production, before heading to the coast and San Francisco for the NADA convention. After that? It’s off to Topeka to shoot commercials for our newest client, Briggs Kia! The next few weeks are going to be jam-packed and insane, but we’re ready for it. All of us are well-rehearsed in working as a team to get things done. Stress? Craziness? Bring it! We love that 2011 is starting out with a bang!

And speaking of stress and craziness, I’ve got plenty of it going on today. So I’m going to go back to my ever-growing list of projects so that I can be ready to roll for production day tomorrow! We will do our best to update our Facebook page throughout the day so you can keep up with the Pineapple People the next couple of days while we’re on the run. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

We are actually shooting five different commercials over the course of today and tomorrow, and there are plenty of details and logistics that go along with a production this size. But despite the dusting of snow and icy roads this morning, all is going smoothly so far!

Who knew Barlow could bake a cake?

One of our stars, Abby!

Olivia decorates for the birthday party

James and Renee have breakfast while discussing their Nelson Nissan purchase

All in all, things are going great! We’ll meet up again in a little while to hit a few more locations, so let’s hope the roads stay nice and clear! The shoot continues tomorrow, when we will have another very early morning and lots of extras. We are definitely getting our week off to a busy start! The Pineapple Twins head to Nashville on Wednesday for even more production.

We are also pleased to announce that we produced a commercial for a client in North Carolina. The event was held on Saturday and the store experienced a record traffic day. We are very glad that we could help them have a successful birthday celebration! Great things happen when you Pick the Pineapple!

Well, we are off to continue our shoot. Be sure to check our Facebook page throughout the day for updates from the set! Have a terrific Monday, and be careful out there!

We were nearly finished cleaning when we got a visit from former OSU golfer Trent Whitekiller. The boys all had a grand time talking golf, and Barlow purchased a set of Nike blades from Trent. He’s been wanting them for a while, and now he’s got them. Even better, they are painted OSU orange and were used by Trent last year during Oklahoma State’s run for the national championship. Barlow has some big golf shoes to fill!

After that little bit of fun and excitement, we got confirmation that the Pineapple Twins’ trip to Topeka on Tuesday was a success….Briggs Kia has Picked the Pineapple! It’s the beginning of a new year, and it’s a perfect time to jump on board the Pineapple train. We are excited to start working on their media strategy and campaign. Thank you, Briggs!

Well, Jake the Intern is now here for the third day in a row…we haven’t scared him off yet! I thought you all might want to learn a little bit about him, so I asked him some really difficult questions about himself. Keep reading to see his answers!

What made you want to work at Pineapple? 

I have known Adam ever since I can remember and spend a lot of time with him.  I know that he and Barlow are both great guys and this will help me prepare for the future.

Well, you forgot to mention that I’m a great girl. But that’s okay. You’re a senior at Bishop Kelley. What are your plans for next year?

 Next year I plan to attend the business college at OSU.  I am not sure what I will be majoring in but hopefully this job will be able to help me decide what I want to do.

 What’s your favorite color?

 I would have to say green.

 Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your spare time?

 Yes, I love to rock climb and play music.

Probably a good thing you weren’t here when we went to see “127 Hours.” You may not like rock climbing after that. What’s your favorite movie?

My favorite movie as of right now would be Inception.

What’s your favorite TV show?

American Pickers

Good choice, that’s a fun show. What’s your favorite Pineapple commercial?

The Cash for Clunkers with the rock song, it has this really great background dancer.

 What do you want to do when you grow up?

 Not sure yet!  Any suggestions?

 Advertising, of course! But that’s okay; you will change your major six times anyway. Do you have any pets?

 Yes, I have a dog named Lucy, but I don’t really like it.

 Poor Lucy. What’s your favorite thing about high school?

 My favorite thing about high school is all of the friends.

 What do you hope to learn from the Pineapple People? Other than being a phenomenal foosball player?

 I hope to learn what field I would like to go into after college and how to work proficiently.

 Tell me a fun fact about you!

I can hold my breath for two minutes.

We may have to tape him doing that breath-holding thing sometime! Jake the Intern (sorry, that nickname will stick, and I know it’s unoriginal and very unPineapple-like) is fitting in nicely and seems to handle the insanity well. Jake, we’re glad you’re here!

Well, Pineapple fans, have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend. I will be on the set on Monday, but will keep you updated throughout the day with updates! See you then!

We have another busy day in store for us. Adam and Barlow are wrapping up client meetings to get the 2011 plans solidly in place, and we are really excited about what the year is going to bring. We’ve also got a big convention coming up in a few weeks, tons of production over the next several days and lots of great ideas to make this year a success. We plan on plenty of people picking the Pineapple in 2011! (Try saying THAT three times fast!) Remember, if you haven’t picked us, your commercials suck.

We are still looking for extras for Tuesday’s shoot for Nelson Nissan! I’m sure there are some of you who are wondering what to do on Tuesday morning, and now you know. Come to Nelson Nissan in Broken Arrow at 8 a.m. until about 1 p.m. and be a part of something creative and fun. We’ll pay you thirty bucks and this could be your big break! (Hey, you never know.) Our shoots are always a blast, so come see the Pineapple People in action; you won’t regret it! Contact us on Facebook or email me at ashley@pickthepineapple.com if you need more information. We are also looking for a couple (or a man and a woman who don’t mind playing a couple), ages 35-40, for a large portion of the shoot. If you’re a good actor or know someone who is, please let us know! These commercials are going to be awesome, but we need help in the form of actors to make it happen!

Yesterday I posted our newest commercial on our Facebook page. If you haven’t been hanging out on Facebook in the last 24 hours, I’ll post it for you again. This spot is for Gary Mathews Nashville, and it features Pineapple’s latest great idea: the Truck Swap! We traveled to Nashville to shoot this one, and it was a great time. Let us know what you think! Yes, I know the embedding of the video is acting up, (some kind of technical glitch) but you can still click on it to watch!

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So yesterday I wrote about the bizarre mass bird deaths in Arkansas, Louisiana and Sweden. The situation is getting curiouser and curiouser, as Kentucky officials reported two incidents this week of mass bird deaths. In England, 40,000 dead crabs washed ashore. And earlier this week in Maryland, millions of dead fish were found in Chesapeake Bay. Authorities are speculating that the crab and fish deaths were caused by too cold a water temperature. Um, aren’t those creatures native to the area? Why is this all happening at once? After doing a little more digging, I found multiple reports of freaky mass animal deaths. Some folks are speculating that this may be the beginning of the apocalypse, while the powers-that-be insist “it’s just part of the circle of life.” I’m not sure what I believe, but I definitely think it’s out of the ordinary. Thanks to Pineapple fan Tabitha for posting this map that shows all of the incidents.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’ll let you get back to it. Smile, it’s Thursday, AND the new season of Jersey Shore starts tonight. Don’t pretend like you’re not excited! Let’s talk tomorrow about the latest antics of Snooki, Pauly D and The Situation, what do you say? See you tomorrow!

It seems like Barlow and Adam had a nice trip to Topeka yesterday. They had plenty of bonding time on the road, and I’m sure they had a blast as they always do. They met with potential clients, and Adam posted a fun photo of the gang in front of a hot pink Thunderbird. I bet there’s not many of those around!

Things are falling into place for the massive Nelson Nissan production next week. However, I am still looking for extras! We need people from 8 a.m. until about 1 p.m. on Tuesday. It will be a lot of fun, and we will pay you thirty bucks. If you’re not doing anything, you may as well come on out! It’s going to be a big production, and a good time, I promise. Plus, the Pineapple People will be there, and we are pretty cool. The scenes with the extras will be filmed at Nelson Nissan in Broken Arrow. Please contact us via Facebook or you can email me at Ashley@pickthepineapple.com if you’re interested. We need 20-30 people, so don’t figure that you’re too late. Thanks!

I have an announcement to make. I did not win the Mega Millions lottery drawing last night. This could partly be due to the fact that I have never purchased a Mega Millions ticket. And THAT is because I’ve bought Powerball tickets before and the most I’ve ever won is seven dollars. But that’s neither here nor there. Last night’s drawing made two people very, very wealthy. (And again, it’s not me.) The $355 million jackpot is the fourth-largest prize in U.S. history, and the second-largest in Mega Millions history. Since two people had the same numbers, they will split the prize, each earning a cool $177.5 million each. Not too shabby. If you’re a “Lost” fan, you may remember the episode when Hurley won the lottery. Four of the six numbers on his winning ticket were also winners this time. Interesting. Maybe the winners were big fans of the show. And in case you are wondering, the winning tickets were purchased in Idaho and Washington.

I’m sure you’ve heard about the crazy bird deaths in Arkansas that occurred on New Year’s Eve, right? I have seen bits and pieces of info about it, but never mentioned anything, because I believed the media when it was reported that fireworks were probably to blame. But things just got more interesting. On New Year’s Eve, in central Arkansas, thousands of blackbirds plummeted to their deaths. Fireworks were believed to be the cause, as the birds flew around confused, crashing into anything and everything, before hitting the ground. That’s a pretty sad way to ring in the new year, even if you are a bird. I thought that was the end of it, but now it’s being reported that several hundred birds north of Baton Rouge, possibly hit a powerline, causing fatal beak, head and neck injuries. The bodies littered the highway. The second incident happened late Sunday night or early morning, according to wildlife investigators. Now, want to hear something even stranger? Late last night, 50-100 jackdaws fell dead in Sweden. Seems too much of a coincidence that all of these mass bird deaths are happening at once. Tests are being run, and necropsies performed on the corpses. But it will be several weeks or months before we know anything. Poor little birdies.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to get things ready for Jake the Intern. Feel free to post a welcoming comment (or a warning comment, haha!) on our Facebook page. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Next week is going to be our favorite kind: insane. We are kicking off the week before sun-up on Monday, for a two-day Nelson Nissan production. We’ve got multiple locations, several actors, and lots of commercials to shoot. Nelson Nissan has recently undergone a complete construction make-over, so it’s only fitting that they have a brand-new campaign for their new look. Which brings me to the next point: we need some extras! If you’re bored on Tuesday, need something to do, and want to make thirty bucks, please email me at ashley@pickthepineapple.com or you can contact us on the Pineapple Facebook page. Extras will be needed for the scenes at the dealership in Broken Arrow. The hours are from 8 am to 1 pm and we need 20-30 people.If you’ve never been on a commercial production before, it’s a lot of fun and a really neat experience. Please let me know if you want to be a part of this, or if you know someone who does.

After the two-day Tulsa shoot, the Pineapple Twins are heading back to Nashville for another extensive production for Nelson Mazda. This is going to be another busy few days for the boys, and involves plenty of pre-planning from home, which is where I come into play. I’ve got lots of people and places to line up, and it’s always more of a challenge if you’re unfamiliar with the area. (My one trip to Nashville as a 13-year-old doesn’t really help much in this instance. But Opryland was cool. And I just found out that it went out of business in 1997! What a bummer.)

After Nashville, Barlow and Adam are planning to meet up with some of our current clients in the area. Hope everyone is ready for the Pineapple Twins! And who knows, maybe we’ll pick up another client or two along the way. Sounds like a plan to me! If only Opryland would have picked the Pineapple, maybe they would still be in business.

I would like to apologize to those of you who have not been receiving the Pineapple blog regularly lately. I know that for a lot of people, it’s the high point of the day. You don’t have to admit it, I already know. Anyway, my laptop, with my valuable blog email list, died a violent death last week. Thanks to some professional help, it was brought back to the land of the living. Alas, my email contacts are all GONE. So I spent some time this morning carefully rebuilding the list the best I could. I’ve also added some new folks, so if this is the first time you’ve received the Pineapple blog and are wondering what the heck it is, don’t worry. You are now going to get a daily dose of the Pineapple action, five days a week. And as soon as you finish reading this, I’m going to need you to head over to the Pineapple Facebook page and “Like” us. And if you’re on Twitter, be sure to follow us @pineapplead. And just remember, if for some reason you don’t receive the email one day (like if my laptop catches on fire or something), you can always read it on our Facebook page!

There’s only two weeks (from tomorrow) until the season premiere of American Idol…who’s excited? I still haven’t determined if I’m going to be a loyal viewer this year. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a bit upset about the departure of Simon, and with (mostly) new judges, I’m just not sure what to expect. Plus, I’m not a big fan of Steven Tyler or Jennifer Lopez, and after nine seasons, I’m pretty tired of hearing Randy call people “Dawg.” I think Simon’s exit will be the kiss of death. But who knows, maybe I’m wrong, and the new faces will breathe new life into the show. Guess we’ll just have to tune into Fox on January 19th and find out.

Anyway, I’m back to my to-do list. I’ll see you all tomorrow. And remember, think good vibes for the boys’ safety today!

10.) Pineapple going INTERNATIONAL!

With the addition of Toronto-area-based Phaeton Auto Group, Pineapple Advertising officially became an international agency. There has been a bit of a learning curve, as we are unable to advertise on television in that market, so we did some research and launched an amazing digital campaign for multiple Phaeton dealerships. The digital aspect was so successful that we are now using it for several of our clients in 2011. Score another point for Pineapple, always being one step ahead! Working with Phaeton has been an awesome experience, and we are looking forward to continuing with them in the coming years.

9.) Conventions, conventions!

Pineapple attended three conventions this year, beginning with NADA last winter in Orlando. Due to the vast exposure at this convention, we were able to land several new clients, making the Pineapple a success in 2010. Two more conventions followed in Vegas (NADA and the Pool Spa Patio Expo), and both were terrific opportunities for Pineapple. Thanks again to the team at Dynasty Spas for allowing us to partner with you!

8.) The One & Only Pineapple HQ

Pineapple used to have a Tulsa location as well as an office in Nashville. 2010 was the year that we decided it made more sense to have one true home base, and Tulsa was chosen as the winner. The Nashville office, while a gorgeous space, has now been moved back to good old Oklahoma. We feel that it’s easier to work all in one location, don’t you agree?

7.) Moving IN to the One & Only Pineapple HQ

If you haven’t seen our office, it’s really amazing. Barlow did all of the design himself, and it’s really a terrific place to work. The ambience is trendy, yet comfortable, and truly fits the personality of Pineapple. We love to ‘wow’ folks, and Pineapple HQ definitely does that. We were pleased to move into our brand-new building last spring. Things have only been looking up since then!

6.) The Cowboys!

The favorite team of the Pineapple People, the OSU Cowboys, finished the season with 11 wins. It was an awesome season, and we cheered them on the entire way. We only lost to Oklahoma by six points, and we ended the season on a high by defeating Arizona in the Alamo Bowl 36-10. Not too shabby, Pokes…let’s do it again next year!

5.) Hello, Brock!

In May, we made the decision to hire a new controller. After numerous interviews and plenty of qualified candidates, we decided to hire Brock. Brock has done an amazing job of keeping excellent records, dealing with multiple accounts, billing, and all of that other crazy numbers stuff that comes with being an accountant. It was our lucky day when he decided to become a Pineapple!

4.) Hello, Ashley!

Okay, I admit, I was pleased to make the Top 10. But it’s weird to write about myself. So let me just say “Thanks a MILLION!” to Barlow and the gang for choosing me as a member of the team. I love being a Pineapple (and not just because of the cool office). We really are a family, and we’ve been through a lot together this year. I’ve learned so much and met so many terrific people. So thanks again!

3.) Fore!

If you know Barlow at all, you know that he loves golf. I mean, REALLY loves golf. Earlier this year, he had the chance to play at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. Adam accompanied him on the trip (lucky for him that he’s got another decent golfer in the group!) and they had a blast. I’m sure Barlow was in heaven, considering he had several days of two of his favorite things: sunshine and golf! And of course, I have to mention that Barlow won. We even have a trophy in the office to prove it.

2.) The Birth of Pineapple Helping HANDS

The Barlows are both very giving people, and they are constantly looking for helpful and unique ways to spread their good fortune to those in need. With that idea in mind, Pineapple HANDS was introduced last summer. Lori is in charge of it, and she goes out of her way to seek out those who need assistance for whatever reason. We’ve had several successful projects so far, including collecting donations for a couple of families that needed them, serving lunch to prisoners at a church, and going to an assisted-living facility to host a crafts party. Remember, we are always looking for volunteers who would like to help with any of our projects, and we are always looking for those who may benefit from what HANDS has to offer. And in case you’re wondering, HANDS stands for Help, Assistance, Need and Despair. The spirit of the pineapple involves hospitality and giving, and we do our best to help with that and live up to the Pineapple name. If you’re interested in helping with HANDS, contact Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com.

1.) A Perfect Record of Maintaining Clients

We didn’t lose any clients in 2010; instead, we chose to gain plenty of new ones! In 2010, we welcomed Phaeton Auto Group, Dynasty Spas, River Bend Ford, Rogers Automotive, 3-D Performance Systems, Tire Country and Gary Mathews Nashville. All in all, 2010 was an overwhelmingly great year for Pineapple Advertising. We are looking forward to 2011 being even better. Thank you to all of our clients, friends and fans for your loyalty. Here’s to an amazing year!

Have you been thinking about your New Year’s resolutions? They are such a great idea, yet always seem so hard to keep. I think I may do something easy, like “Breathe every day.” That way I can’t fail. Or we could all take a page from Lionel in “Waiting to Exhale” and instead of making resolutions once a year, make affirmations every single day. Sort of like Stuart Smalley. Or perhaps…Jessica. Click HERE to see; for some reason the video didn’t feel like embedding properly. It’s cute, you’ll like it.

I recently saw Jessica, who is now a teenager, on Tosh.0, and she still likes to make enthusiastic affirmations in the mirror, although she doesn’t stand on the bathroom counter anymore.

We thought this week would be a quiet one here at Pineapple HQ, but it has been the opposite! Barlow has been churning out some new creative for multiple clients, and Adam has been finishing up loose ends before the new year. Unfortunately, Adam has been down and out with the flu, most likely. He’s been keeping a low profile the past few days. Please send lots of get well vibes to Miss Adam; we need him! We hope he is back in top form by next week, when we have several meetings to attend, both here and on the road. I’m now glad that I cleaned early this week; it wouldn’t be the same without Adam here to help me. Wow, I can almost type that with a straight face. Just kidding, Adam…I appreciate your help when it’s given!

2010 has been a crazy year. And according to the Top 10 Most Searched Items on Bing, our celebrity-addiction was fueled this year. Our hopes for celeb romances faded as we saw infidelity among the likes of Tiger Woods and Jesse James. (James’ jilted sweetheart, Sandra Bullock, was Bing’s #2 search term, after celebutante/entrepreneur Kim Kardashian.) There were also plenty of Hollywood deaths this year. Children of the ’80s, like me, were sad to hear of the loss of both Gary Coleman and Corey Haim. (Who didn’t love the Coreys?) Two actors from one of my favorite all-time movies, “Airplane!”, both passed away this year: Leslie Nielsen and Peter Graves. (“Billy, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?”) We also said good-bye to two leading ladies from ensemble sitcoms, Dixie Carter (Designing Women) and Rue McClanahan (Golden Girls). Both shows were a great part of my childhood, and I watched re-runs of the Golden Girls all the way through college. It was a busy year in Hollywood, that’s for sure. Here’s to a happier 2011!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to run errands. Have a safe and joyous New Year’s Eve celebration tonight, and the Pineapples will see you on Monday!

So tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, the celebration of the end of the year, and the ringing in of a new one. For me and my family, 2010 was miserable. The only really good thing that happened was that I landed a job as a Pineapple, which has been fantastic. So career-wise, it’s been great. Personally, it’s been terrible. So let’s all hope and pray that 2011 is a much better year for everyone, shall we? You’re probably wondering what there is to do in Tulsa on New Year’s Eve. We don’t exactly have Times Square at our disposal, but there must be something to do.

If you’re a grown-up, check out:

New Years Eve Gala at Crowne Plaza Hotel
When: Beginning at 4pm New Years Eve
Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 E. Second Street, downtown Tulsa

Crowne Plaza is doing it right with multiple parties under one roof, for just one price. In the Tulsa Ballroom, Imzadi is playing, and they are a LOT of fun, if you’ve never seen them. Mid Life Crisis will be in the Promenade Ballroom, and Brian Lee & Friends will perform in the Upper Lobby. If you’re feeling lucky, you can play in a Texas Hold ‘Em tourney from 4-7 p.m. And if you’re feeling swanky, you’ll have access to the Cigar & Martini Lounge in the Oklahoma Ballroom. Call Crowne Plaza at (918) 560-2219 for reservations, and if you plan on enjoying some adult beverages, be sure to ask about the room packages.

New Years Eve Salsa Party
When: Starting at 5:30pm
Where: The Canebrake in Wagoner 

Wagoner’s greatest NYE celebration includes dinner, champagne toast, live salsa music and salsa lessons. (Think “Along Came Polly.) Call 918-485-1810 or email info@thecanebrake.com for details and reservations.

Olive Drop New Year’s Party
When: Starting at 7pm New Years Eve
Where: Price Tower Arts Center in Bartlesville

Outlaws Gourmet Catering will provide a five-course meal, drinks will be available at the Copper Bar, and a complimentary champagne toast will be yours at midnight. To ring in the new year, a large olive will be lowered from the top of Price Tower (Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous skyscraper) into a martini glass. Two rounds of dinner reservations are availabe, at either 7pm or 9pm. Call (918) 336-1000 for reservations.

Crystal Ball: A New Years Eve Masquerade
When: Starting at 9pm New Years Eve
Where: Enso Bar, Electric Circus and IDL Ballroom, 1st & Detroit

Feel like clubbing and getting dressed up in your favorite black & white finery? Then you belong at 1st & Detroit tomorrow night. Entertainment includes the Panic! Crew, Steve Club and DJ Dilation & Jimm-A. Ticket prices are $15 per person, $20 per couple. VIP packages are also available for $25 per person or $40 per couple.

If you’re looking for family fun, check out:

New Year’s Eve Night Out at the Tulsa Zoo
When: 6pm New Years Eve – 10am New Years Day
Where: Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum

If your kiddos love camping and animals, this is a perfect adventure for them. And parents, it’s a great excuse for you to celebrate your NYE in a grown-up manner. All kids from second to fifth grade are welcome, and kids will be given dinner, breakfast and a light snack. The cost is $55 per child. Call (918) 669-6600 for reservations or more information.

New Years Eve at Bounce U
When: 7pm-1am
Where: BounceU, 8922 S. Memorial Drive
This is another ideal way to let your children celebrate their way, and you to celebrate yours. Kids will be fed snacks, dinner, and a late night treat. For midnight, poppers and noisemakers will be provided. Games will also be played, and a LOT of bouncing will be done! Cost is $40 per child, and don’t worry, they will be fully supervised. Make reservations at (918) 249-0090.

THE Party! Hahn Appliance Warehouse New Year’s Eve on Brookside
When: Starting at 9pm New Years Eve
Where: Brookside, which is on Peoria between 36th & 39th Streets

So we aren’t in NYC with Times Square out the window, but this is as good as it gets in T-town. This is the second year of this free outdoor street party, which features a lighted ball drop, bands, entertainment and fireworks. It’s supposed to be cold tomorrow, but there are plenty of indoor activities available as well, so all ages can have fun, no matter what the weather. All proceeds will benefit the Community Food Bank of Oklahoma.

For more  NYE ideas, visit www.tashadoestulsa.com, where this information came from. Thank you, Tasha!

Well, I’m off to tackle a big messy computer files project, so I’ll let you get on with your day and make your plans for your New Year’s Eve celebration. Have a terrific Thursday, Pineapple fans!

Yesterday we had a great meeting with the people
from the PropUp Store; they have a really cool iPad accessory. I’m
actually using mine right this minute, if you really want to know!
You can check it out HERE. The website
claims that the PropUp is only available in black, but as of just a
few days ago, they also come in lime green and pink. And the best
part is, they’re only $28.95! If you have an iPad, you know that’s
a terrific price for an Apple accessory.

Are you ready for the new Car Country commercial? It’s awesome! Rog is the coolest
guy ever, and he’s definitely not scary, and we feel that the
commercial portrays that. This is the spot that will be running for
tax season; it’s almost here! Let us know what you think. And when
you see it on television, you’ll be able to say, “Hey, I already
saw that on the Pineapple blog. I must be a VIP.” You know you are.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjfLABgPyv8&w=640&h=390]
Car Country is about to have a completely new website, too, and it
looks awesome. Stay tuned for the launch of that! In addition,
we’ve also been working hard on the new project for 3-D Abs, with a
video presentation and website. All of the pieces are falling into
place nicely, and we can’t wait to show you the finished product!

And now for your wacky Wednesday story. Eleven years ago, a British
couple decided to undergo in vitro fertilization in an attempt to
conceive. Doctors obtained 24 eggs from the mother, Lisa Shepherd,
and 14 of those were successfully fertilized. Two embryos were
implanted, and the couple welcomed twins Megan and Bethany in 1999.
The rest of the embryos were placed in cryogenic storage. When the
family decided to have another child, they decided to have one
embryo implanted to see what happened. Last month, the Shepherds
welcomed daughter Ryleigh, who is considered a triplet of Megan and
Bethany, even though she was born 11 years later. Pretty wild, huh?
Oh, the joys of modern medicine!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m going to work on crossing some items off my to-do list.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, and remember, it’s almost the weekend!

The Pineapples have another busy day ahead. This morning we have a meeting with the nice folks from PropUp, who were so kind to give each of the Pineapple People a free product since we all received new iPads for Christmas. The PropUp is awesome, and it keeps you from having to balance your iPad against your knees all the time. It provides a comfortable way of working (or playing!) on your technological toy. Definitely a cool invention! Get more info HERE and don’t forget to “Like” them on Facebook!

Just for fun, here is a photo of the Pineapple People at our Christmas party with our new iPads! Poor Barlow; he’s the only one without. He also didn’t get the memo to wear his argyle sweater that evening, although both Adam and I did.

And while being a Pineapple is usually a blast, there are those certain crazy times when things have to happen, and we aren’t in the same place, for some reason. For example, it was time to have a financial planning meeting for the new year, and Brock is traveling in Stillwater at the moment, so the Pineapple Trio had their meeting late last night in a glamorous, exotic locale: the McDonald’s on the Cimarron Turnpike.

We have made a ton of progress on the new project for 3-D Abs, and everything looks awesome! I just got a sneak peek at the website, and it looks great. If you’re looking for the ideal way to get amazing abs, just wait till you see the video we are producing; you won’t be able to resist! The new Car Country commercial will be ready this week, as well, and we’re just finishing up their all-new website and it’s really cool. The Credit Cruncher is the man! And he’s not scary! Well, it’s time for our pow-wow with the PropUp People, so I’m going to sign off for now. Have a terrific Tuesday, and I’ll see you tomorrow! Don’t forget to wear your orange tomorrow and show your support for the Pokes!

Pineapple HQ is hopping today. We are wrapping up several projects and get ready to launch into several new ones. We will be shooting a new commercial for Nelson Nissan in a few weeks, and that’s always fun. The new spot for Car Country is almost ready, so be ready for your sneak preview of that! I just booked travel for the Pineapple Twins in mid-January, so they can go Tennessee-hopping. We’ve got a big production up there for Nelson Mazda, as well as a few potential client meetings. Here’s to plenty of folks Picking the Pineapple in 2011! If you haven’t picked us, you really should, since your commercials suck.

Guess who got engaged over the weekend? That’s right, the King of Playboy, Hugh Hefner. Despite the 60-year age difference, Hef seems truly in love with his new fiancee, Playmate Crystal Harris. She insists that she doesn’t notice the age difference, and that she’s not after him for his money. Mmm, okay. This will be the third marriage for Hef; I’m actually surprised it’s not number eight or nine. Anyway, Hef proposed on Christmas Eve, and then tweeted the news. I’m not sure which is funnier, the fact that this couple is getting married, or the fact that an 84-year-old is on Twitter. I guarantee if you ask my grandmother, she’s never heard of Twitter. Best wishes to the happy couple. Did anyone go see “Little Fockers” this weekend? I really want to see it, but heard from a friend that it is terrible, and that it’s definitely a renter. Then I read a review in the paper that echoed that statement. I’m so disappointed; I really thought this was one movie franchise that could pull off a second sequel. (I’m not sure what that would be called….a three-quel, I guess.) Apparently all of the material is recycled, and despite the stellar cast, it’s just not funny anymore. Anybody got any input on this? Well, it’s Monday, so that means I have LOTS to do today, so I’m going to leave you to muse about Hugh Hefner’s nuptials and the terrible three-quel that is “Little Fockers.” Have a wonderful week, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcpm-0TocsU&w=480&h=390]

We had a meeting this morning to go over all of the new projects that are lined up for the next few weeks. I have plenty of travel to book, as the Pineapple Twins head off to Nashville, Clarksville, and a few other ‘villes’ in Tennessee, with a possible stop in North Carolina. Then we have the NADA convention in early February, when the boys will head to San Francisco. This is fantastic, though, since lots of travel means lots of potential client meetings and plenty of production! We will be shooting spots for brand-new campaigns for Nelson Mazda Nashville and Nelson Nissan in a couple of weeks. 2011 promises to be a juicy year for the Pineapple!

Does everyone have wonderful plans for the weekend? If you’re traveling, please be safe out there! The weather promises to be decent, so hopefully there is not a repeat of last year’s Christmas blizzard. I know a white Christmas is festive and all, but that was ridiculous! If you’re in Tennessee, as so many of our Pineapple clients are, you just may get the white Christmas you’ve been dreaming of. A snowstorm is expected to hit the Midwest, especially the Nashville area, and possibly as far south as Atlanta. Remember to get to the airport with plenty of time to spare if you’re traveling via air; those security lines can be a mess! If you are staying at home, enjoy the rest and relaxation. If you are entertaining relatives, peace be with you!

Although gifts aren’t the reason for celebrating Christmas, they are often a part of the equation. I have a few tips for you to remember when it comes to exchanging. First, 75% of people are unable to adequately pretend they like a gift that they can’t stand. Body language will always betray you. Try really, really hard to remember this little fact come Christmas morning. That way, you’ll make more of an effort to fake it, and not end up hurting someone’s feelings.

If you need to exchange something, there may be a few things you need to know. Call the store first (assuming you know where it was purchased) and ask them what their return policy is. You may have several days, and that way you won’t have to run out the day after Christmas with the rest of the world to return it. Leave the tags attached; most stores are sticklers about this, and won’t accept items without the tags, even if it’s obvious it hasn’t been worn or used. Be prepared to get store credit instead of cash. That’s just a fact of life, and the retailer can’t help it, so don’t fight with them. It won’t help. All that will do is get everyone in a bad mood, and that’s not what the holidays are about. With all that being said, don’t volunteer the fact that you’re returning the item. The gifter doesn’t need to know.

Well, Pineapple fans, we wish you a Merry Christmas! We would like to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday, and we’ll see you on Monday!

5.) Don’t freeze yourself to death

It’s always a good idea to wear layers this time of year, since you can’t guarantee what the temperature will be from one hour to the next, especially in Oklahoma! If your body temperature drops, it can raise your risk for a heart attack. In addition, a lot of people have heart attacks this time of year because they don’t recognize the warning signs. It’s common for people to be struck with chest pain while shoveling snow, particularly if they aren’t active. Or pain may be written off as indigestion after a heavy holiday meal. Just take care of yourself, and stay warm.

6.) Don’t lose your dinner

Food poisoning is common during the holidays. Drinking spoiled egg nog or eating undercooked turkey are great excuses to go to the emergency room. A turkey should always be thawed in the refrigerator, rather than on the counter, to prevent bacteria from forming. Also, don’t stuff the bird in advance. Food should never sit out for more than two hours; if you’re traveling a long distance to a holiday gathering, store your foodstuffs in a cooler. Especially that egg nog.

7.) Don’t be like Santa

According to Australian researchers, Santa is a “public health pariah.” He’s overweight, he eats tons of cookies, he smokes cigars (really?), and he goes cheek-to-cheek with hundreds of strange kids at the mall. You really shouldn’t model your lifestyle after Santa. Also, he only works one day per year! Say ‘no’ to the extra helpings of cookies, and walk extra-fast while at the mall. And remember, WASH YOUR HANDS!

Well, tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and it’s going to be a short day for the Pineapples. If you need us, we will be around in the morning. Or if you just want to stop by and wish us a Merry Christmas, you can do that, too. Hope all of your last-minute preparations are going well. I’ll see you tomorrow!

Today’s subject matter is a little heavy, but it could SAVE YOUR LIFE. I bet you never realized the holidays could be dangerous, other than the possibility of choking on a piece of fudge or hanging yourself accidentally with a strand of tinsel. Next up are nine holiday health hazards to avoid!

1.) Don’t sled like a crazy person!

Sleds offer zero protection, and they usually go pretty darn fast, especially if you find a good hill, which is the whole point of sledding. If you find yourself hurtling toward a tree at breakneck speed, you need to bail, otherwise you’ll end up with exactly that…a broken neck. It’s always a good idea to wear a bicycle helmet while sledding. Avoid rocky hills and areas dotted with trees, fences, utility poles, or other obstacles. Never sled head-first, and sit up instead of lying on your back. And if the sled begins flying out of control, roll off!

2.) Don’t make friends with the flu

If you live in Tulsa, you’ve no doubt heard the annoying PSA jingle about the flu…”Don’t bug me!” This is a very real problem this time of year. Of course, a flu shot is always a good idea (I’m gambling this year; I’m skipping it for the first time in about 16 years). But you should get one. In addition, wash your hands a LOT, carry hand sanitizer with you, and don’t make out with randoms under the mistletoe. An air kiss is always a wise idea in that situation.

3.) Don’t “fall” into winter

A lot of Christmas decorations involve ladders this time of year. Whether you’re hanging simple icicle lights on your home or rigging an inflatable Homer Simpson on your roof, it’s always wise to be safe about it. Don’t use the very top rung of the ladder; it very plainly says “This is not a step!” So don’t use it as such. It’s also a good idea to have someone hold the ladder and spot you, just in case it’s not quite sturdy. Always make sure the rungs are dry, and don’t climb on ladders in the dark.

4.) Don’t shop to death

This sounds silly, but think about it: shop till you drop is a real deal! If you’re like me, you tend to carry things off-balance. For example, when I get home from the supermarket, I carry as many bags as possible in my left hand to keep my right hand free to open the door. This happens all too often; imagine you’re walking all over the mall with 12 bags in one hand while you carry your Starbucks cup in the other. It can actually lead to joint stiffness and back pain. The cure? Make someone go with you to carry your bags.

I think I’ve frightened you sufficiently for the day, don’t you think? I’ll be back tomorrow with a few more tips to take you into the holiday weekend SAFELY. Remember, your commercials suck. If you haven’t already, you should really Pick the Pineapple in 2011. See you tomorrow!

The Pineapples are having yet another busy week, and we are trying to get everything wrapped up for the year before Christmas, so we can enjoy a few days off with our families. We are expecting a huge year in 2011, and we are getting everything firmly in place now, so that we are ready to rock and roll in the new year! We are confident that plenty of Pineapple Picking is in our future!

For 2011, we are diving even more heavily into the digital world, since we like to be on the cutting edge of everything. That’s how we roll, you know. The Pineapple website is currently undergoing a makeover, with new messages from Barlow, and plenty of new content to show you from logos to commercials. The Car Country website is getting a completely new look, and we are excited to launch that very soon. It’s much more high-tech, and showcases the Credit Cruncher in all his dancing glory. It’s also got online credit applications and plenty of (interesting) information on credit scores. It’s going to be awesome!

The Pineapple Twins are planning another Nashville jaunt in a few weeks. We have a major production taking place up there, as well as a few potential client meetings. We’ve got more Tennessee folks who are interested in getting in on the Pineapple juice! Our whole plan is to own Tennessee, you know!

Since we love Tennessee and all of our clients there, I thought I’d make this Tennessee Tuesday; how does that sound? First, if you’re looking for a dessert to bake for the holidays this weekend, you might want to try Rachael Ray’s Tennessee Whiskey Cake. My mouth is watering from just reading the recipe…click HERE to get it! I swear, if I could cook like her, I would need a crane to get me out of bed in the mornings. If you’re a Tennessee Volunteers fan, visit THIS website for plenty of themed Christmas ornaments and decorations.

Tennessee knows how to celebrate the holidays, and they hold grand displays of Christmas cheer all over the state, from Nashville to Memphis to Knoxville. Apparently The King of Rock & Roll was a fan of the holidays, because Graceland gets all gussied up for visitors to enjoy. Historic Franklin hosts Dickens of a Christmas on Main Street, complete with strolling musicians, carriage rides and your favorite Dickens characters. On another historical note, Belle Meade plantation in Nashville is beautifully decorated and invites visitors to learn about a 19th century Christmas. And of course, the granddaddy spectacular takes place at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, where Dolly’s Christmas in the Smokies takes place. Check out a sneak peek of holiday Dollywood below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeLlWKE781Y&w=480&h=390]

Enjoy your winter solstice, Pineapple fans. I think I’m going to head to the store and buy the ingredients for Tennessee Whiskey Cake. See you tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the final weekend of Christmas shopping; are you ready for it? I managed to get 98% of mine done last night, all in one fell swoop. Nothing like waiting till the last minute, right? I work better under pressure! I managed to avoid Woodland Hills and just headed for Promenade, which was much easier to deal with. Now I just have to get everything wrapped. That always seems like a fun task until you’re about halfway through, and then it gets old. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel when I have kids and have to wrap for them! Not to mention having to assemble everything. I dread the day when I buy a bicycle and have to put it together. Did any of you buy anything for anyone that requires assembly that you’re dreading?

Speaking of procrastination, today is National Free Shipping Day. Hundreds of retailers, including Target, Coldwater Creek and Williams-Sonoma, are offering free shipping with guaranteed Christmas delivery. Click HERE to see the link!

So the other day I told you that Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are planning on named their child Cleophis. I still pray that’s a joke. News broke today that the couple is expecting twins, and she told President Obama first. I hope they’re friends, otherwise that would have been an awkward conversation. Looks they need to come up with two names now! If they end up with a boy and girl they could always go with Cleophis and Cleophil. Jeez, I hope not.

Well, I’m off to clean and do about 17 hours of work before I head off to the weekend. Remember to let Adam know that he should help me! Have a fabuloso Friday, and we’ll chat on Monday!

Classic store Barney’s New York is going all out this year, with their elaborate “Foodie Holiday” window display. The window features celebrity chefs and cuisine from all over, including Seattle, New York and Los Angeles. Famous chefs both past and present have been created out of paper- mache, like Julia Child, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse and Anthony Bourdain. The entire window is a food fight, and endlessly entertaining. Macy’s Chicago store has seven windows depicting the theme “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.” This is a feather in Chicago’s cap, since the NYC store has six windows, and San Francisco only has four. Each window has a different scene, and over 150 artists were hired to create the display. Back to New York to check out Bergdorf Goodman’s on Fifth Avenue. Endlessly chic, the windows of the iconic store feature a travel theme, asking customers to define where “here” is. Seems pretty deep for a window display. But it’s beautiful, and certainly not holiday-cheesy. Scenes included are Roman mythology, 1940s Hollywood musicals, the original Penn Station and the very first science fiction film. I’m not really sure what the connection is, but the window theme at Bergdorf’s is chosen an entire year in advance, so they have spent quite a bit of time on this. If you happen to be in Cleveland this holiday season (why wouldn’t you be? Cleveland rocks!), go visit Tower City in Cleveland’s Public Square. The window features Kringle’s Inventionasium (I love when people make up words like that, very Willy Wonka-ish) and is a magical display of Santa and his elves, and it’s even animated. Fun fact for you: remember in “A Christmas Story” when Ralphie goes to visit Santa and gets kicked down the slide by the elf? That took place at Tower City.

Everyone is familiar with the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. It’s beautiful and breathtaking, and it’s a staple of the Christmas season in New York. With the ice skating rink, and the familiar golden angel statues all around, it’s a sight to behold. See for yourself. Our nation’s capital also boasts a large tree opposite the imposing Washington Monument. In this photo, it looks like the two are having a staring contest. It’s a gorgeous sight, though. I’ve never been to London, but I’ve seen plenty of photographs of the London Eye. But until now, I’ve never seen it decorated for the holidays, and I must say, it’s breathtaking! Although the blue lights make me feel chilly. But I expect it’s usually chilly in London anyway, so the lights shouldn’t make a difference. I’ve never been to Singapore, either, and I have no idea if this is a photo of something specific, but it looks really neat! The purple and blue lights are a nice change from traditional colors of red, green and white. Maybe I should take a trip to Singapore next Christmas and check out the lights in person. Well, hopefully all of these photos got you into the Christmas spirit, which would be good because it’s almost here! Have a magical Monday…I’m off to tackle my to-do list!

The Pineapples had a fantastic Christmas party last night, thanks to Barlow and Lori. They were kind enough to host the gathering in their home, and served us a fantastic meal. We feel a bit guilty after eating so much and now watching people work out. Oh, well…tis the season! The Barlows went above and beyond to give the Pineapple People an amazing day, and we really appreciate it!

Barlow is excited today because he received a new watch at the party, and he’s sporting it for all to see. Maybe it will bring good luck to our production day. It’s pretty sweet, don’t you think?

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Pineapple Hands Christmas project! We sincerely hope that our adopted family has an amazing holiday, and it’s all thanks to you! Special thanks to Lori, for all of her hard work in heading up the project, and thank you to those who donated, especially Dori Arnold, Lezly Orf, Alicia Fisher and Car Country.

The countdown to American Idol’s 10th season is officially underway. Normally I am really excited about this, but I’m just not sure how this season is going to play out without Paula, Ellen, Kara and Simon. Simon’s always been my favorite; he’s just so darn honest, and I love it. I’ve never been a huge J-Lo fan (except Selena, I LOVED her in that, but I think that has more to do with her character than Jennifer Lopez) or a huge Steven Tyler fan. I do like Aerosmith; I always get distracted by his lips, I think. I saw them on the news this morning, and they seem confident that this season will be a success, and I hope they’re right. We’ll see, I guess. The big difference this season (besides the musical chairs at the judges’ table) is that the age minimum has been lowered to 15 instead of 16. Now, I think this is silly, because every year there are some fantastically talented 16-year-olds. They jump for joy with their golden ticket, jet off to Hollywood, and do amazing, until it gets down to crunch time and they get told, “I’m sorry, your voice just isn’t developed enough to compete with the older contestants.” So, hello, why would they lower the age? The only reason that makes sense is Ryan Seacrest; he is excited that he will actually look like an adult next to 15-year-old contestants. All right, Pineapple fans, have a great day. The weekend is in sight, but we have plenty to do before then. Stay tuned to our Facebook page today for updates from the set!

Tomorrow is a busy production day; we will be shooting in the studio all day. We’ve got a new commercial for Car Country in the works, as well as the first video for 3-D Abs. It’s going to be crazy, fun and stressful, as all production days are. By the way, if you have chiseled abs and a dream of being in a workout video, we can help make that dream come true tomorrow! Let us know if you’re interested. Adam has been

Nelson Nissan is back on the air live this Saturday morning on KJRH. Be sure to tune in and watch Jeff Lazalier and the Nelson Nissan gang! We have launched a really neat digital campaign for them called the Dollar Decision. All you have to do is print out your special Nelson dollar, take it to the dealership, and decide what you want to spend it on: your down payment, your tag & tax, or your first month’s payment. Pretty sweet, huh?Time Magazine revealed the Person of the Year 2010 early this morning.  Did you watch the big reveal with Meredith and Matt? Time’s “Person of the Year” is the person or thing that has most influenced the culture and the news during the past year for good or for ill. The winner of the esteemed honor this year is……

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook. At 26, Zuckerberg is the second-youngest person to receive the award. Aviator Charles Lindbergh was 25 when he was chosen in 1927. (Back then it was “Man of the Year.” Fun fact.) Zuckerberg was chosen based on the fact that Facebook reached 500 million users this year; that means one in 10 people on the planet are signing in. Even Queen Elizabeth II recently signed up for a profile.

Now, it’s no secret that I love Facebook. I’m on it for work all day, and I think it’s amazing. It allows me to get to know and keep in touch with people that I normally wouldn’t. I’ve discovered that some acquaintances from high school actually would have made pretty good friends, and it’s great for keeping up with friends who live in other states or countries. The only downside I see to this social phenomenon is this: have you noticed that you lose a personal connection with close friends? How many times do you say, Oh, it’s so-and-so’s birthday; I’ll just Facebook them. There isn’t as much calling and emailing anymore; as a matter of fact, Facebook is even planning on launching it’s own email server. (I’m not a fan of that idea, personally.)

But no matter; Mark Zuckerberg has made quite a name for himself. Not only is he very, very, very wealthy, he is also philanthropic, and recently donated $100 million to the Newark school system. He has pledged to give away most of his fortune throughout his career, similar to Bill Gates. “The Social Network”, the film based on Zuckerberg’s invention of Facebook, snagged six Golden Globe nominations. If you haven’t seen it, you really should. It’s interesting and informative, and supposedly Zuckerberg isn’t quite as big a jerk as the movie portrays him. But who knows? And in case you are wondering, the following were in the Top 5 for Person of the Year: Tea Parties (the political movement), Julian Assange (editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks), Hamid Karzai (president of war-torn Afghanistan) and the Chilean Miners (I think you know who they are).

Well, have a wonderful Wednesday, Pineapple fans! It’s a gray, yucky day, but the weekend is near! See you tomorrow!

We have quite a bit of production coming up in the next few weeks, starting with two shoots on Thursday. Then there will be a bit of a break, and then another trip to Tennessee is in the works, with several stops along the way. But before that, we have to make it through Christmas, the Alamo Bowl and New Year’s Eve. And THEN it’s time for more traveling! Go, Pokes! Are any of you planning on attending the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio? The Golden Globes are coming up on January 16, and the full list of movies, actors and shows has been released. “The King’s Speech” starring Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter leads the pack with seven nominations. Honestly, I’ve never heard of it. Other nominees include “The Social Network,” “Black Swan” (which I just read about the other day and really want to see) and “Inception.” One of my favorites, Mark Wahlberg, is nominated for Best Actor for his role in the new flick “The Fighter,” which I also really, really want to see. The chance to watch Marky Mark shirtless, speaking in his Boston accent for two hours? Sign me up! Looking at this list makes me realize that I haven’t gone to the movies since “The Social Network” and I have some catching up to do. Pretty sure “The Fighter” should be next on my list of to-see movies. Well, we are rounding up our gear for the brainstorming session, so I’m off to that. Have a terrific Tuesday, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

We have a long day planned for the Pineapples. It’s definitely crunch time now, when it comes to getting everything lined up for 2011. I have a feeling the midnight oil will be burning at Pineapple HQ tonight. But we’ve got a lot of new ideas in the mix, so we are looking forward to a fantastic year for our clients. We are shooting a new commercial for Car Country on Thursday, as well as the first round of the 3-D Abs production. It’s going to be a busy week, and we are ready!

As of this morning, we have a brand-new commercial ready for Nelson Mazda, just in time for the holidays. Check out the Tulsa version below!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN8GxJe_Fp8&hl=en&fs=1]

We are still collecting donations for our adopted family. Tomorrow is the last day, so that we may get everything ready for Christmas delivery. We are asking that you PLEASE donate anything you can to help this family, consisting of a young single mother and her six-year-old daughter. Clothing items (new or gently used), toys, food and gift cards are all extremely welcome. Clothing sizes are 6x/7 tops, 7 slim pants and size 2 shoes. Please help us give this family the holiday they deserve! We will be happy to pick up any items that you can donate. You may contact us for more information on the Pineapple Facebook page, Pineapple Hands Facebook page, or email Lori directly at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. Thank you!So Adam just informed me that I’m a scrooge. I haven’t put my Christmas tree up. And I don’t have much intention of doing it, either. I’ve never been like this before. Usually I’m eager to decorate and get everything looking festive, but I’m just not feeling it this year. Maybe there are fewer hours in the day this year. Maybe I’ve just got more important things to do this year. Or maybe I really am a scrooge. I promise to make amends and do better next year. I’ll put my tree up at Halloween to make up for the lost time. I just feel like this year got away from me somehow, and I’m not sure why. It’s possible I’m just becoming old and jaded at the age of 31, or that spending last Christmas slaving away in retail killed any possible holiday spirit for years to come. I just need one year off to recover, and I’ll do my best to make Christmas 2011 the best one ever. Did you hear the news? Lauren Bush, niece of George W. and granddaughter of George and Barbara, is engaged. Lauren is a fashion model and designer in New York, a graduate of Princeton University. Why is this big news, you wonder? Because she is going to marry David Lauren, son of fashion designer Ralph Lauren. David proposed over the weekend at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, where the couple first met six years ago. Now read this again, and you’ll see what I’m getting at. If she takes her husband’s name, she’ll be Lauren Lauren. Pure awesomeness.

Mariah Carey is expecting her first child pretty soon, and her husband, Nick Cannon, stopped by to visit the Rachael Ray show on Friday and to discuss baby names. Apparently Mariah and Nick want to choose a ‘C’ name for their unborn bundle of joy, since both of their surnames begin with that letter. Let’s hope he was kidding when he announced the name “Cleophis.” Oh, please, let him be kidding. It sounds like a disease! Guess all we can do is wait and see what they decide. Or at least pray that they call the kid “Cleo” for short. Well, I’m going to get back to work and let you do the same. Have a happy Monday, stay warm, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Today is a busy day for the Pineapples; we are having a meeting to discuss 2011. Adam has been working like a madman to get all of his plans in place for next year. I can’t believe it’s almost 2011; it seems like just yesterday there was an ongoing debate over whether to call 2010 “two-thousand-ten” or “twenty-ten.” I don’t think it’s been decided yet, after an entire year. (I say “two-thousand-ten” personally. I know you were wondering.) And it seems like just two days ago that Y2K was causing all kinds of panic. I must be getting old, since that was 10 years ago. Or almost 11 years ago, I suppose.

We are having some visitors from KJRH at Pineapple HQ this morning, so we are not having Fabuloso Friday; we had Fabuloso Thursday instead. It’s not quite the same, but it’s always nice to come in on a Friday and have the office looking and smelling so nice. And…newsflash! Adam helped! Hooray for that, and THANK YOU, ADAM! Tis the season for office Christmas parties, and the Pineapples are no exception. We are all looking forward to the gathering when we can have dinner and enjoy each other’s company outside of Pineapple HQ. If you are attending a work holiday function this year, please keep reading for some tips on what NOT to do. And yes, the Pineapple People will be reading this, too. Everyone take notes!

1.) Don’t dance like Elaine from Seinfeld

Everyone remembers Elaine’s famous dance moves, where she resembled a frog in a blender. Need a refresher? See below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku-VSuWJjDQ&fs=1&hl=en_US]

And yes, Elaine is funny, but we know that’s a sitcom. But here is a real-life office party dancing dude…please don’t be that guy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfbLnjQgVBM&fs=1&hl=en_US]

2.) Don’t drunkenly serenade your co-workers a la Bridget Jones

Now I’ve sang karaoke a few times in my life, but I always make it a point to make sure that I don’t know anybody that can video my performance and gleefully post it on YouTube. I KNOW that I can’t sing, but after a few cocktails, everyone feels like the next Carrie Underwood. Please don’t sing karaoke in front of our co-workers, like these next guys. I do wonder where he got that cool chicken hat, though.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZSEiVFzJkg&fs=1&hl=en_US]

3.) Don’t drink too much!

Personally, I don’t think it’s ever wise to get drunk in front of your boss and co-workers. It’s not professional, and who knows what words will spill out of your mouth? And if you get too tipsy and start rambling on, one of said co-workers just may tape it and post it for the world to see. And then a million other people will watch it, and re-post it, and so on…you get the idea. I imagine this girl is still hanging her head in shame. I hope she skips future office gatherings. Or at the very least, sips on water instead.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BXCi9ZjXK4&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]

4.) Don’t put on a cape and football helmet and fall into the Christmas tree

Now, I’m pretty sure this didn’t happen at an office party, but it’s still funny. At least her head was protected, and the fish tank was safe. But I bet some of those ornaments were glass, and I bet that hurt. A word to the wise, don’t drink and then excessively spin around. Not a good idea.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhAw0_f5wgk&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]

I hope that you take these tips to heart and just have some good old-fashioned fun at your holiday gathering this year. Don’t do anything that will be talked about at work (or posted on the internet). But if you do, please share it with me so that I can publicly humiliate you. Deal?

Have a fantastic Friday, Pineapple fans! Please remember to pick up something this weekend for our adopted family! We are still desperately in need of items for them. The little girl wears size 6x/7 shirts, 7 slim pants and size 2 shoes, and loves toys and dolls that any 6-year-old enjoys. Gift cards and food items are also welcome. Please help Pineapple Hands with this project; we REALLY appreciate it! See you on Monday.

Today promises to be a very busy day for the Pineapple People. We are all in the midst of big projects this week, and we are having a company-wide meeting to go over everything tomorrow, so we are all working hard to get everything finished. Working hard comes naturally to all of us, and the boys are just relieved to be working from Pineapple HQ for the next few weeks before hitting the road again. Plus, everyone is in a great mood…the holidays just do that to a person, don’t you think?

We are in the middle of revamping the Pineapple website, so get ready for that. We are shooting a new commercial next week for Car Country, and you know I love production days! But for now, we are proud to offer you the first viewing of the newest Nelson Nissan commercial! Here goes!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_etiYBUuF50&hl=en&fs=1]

Does anyone need a free oil change? This is all you have to do. Go to Facebook. (I’m sure you’re logged in already.) Search for Nelson Mazda Tulsa. “Like” their page. Then suggest their page to your friends, and tell your friends to “Like” them, then have them post your name on the wall. The first person to get 30 new fans for Nelson Mazda Tulsa will get a FREE oil change. No kidding. It’s easy, I promise. Just post this in your status:

Hey, dear friends, please “Like” Nelson Mazda Tulsa, then post my name on their wall! I really need a free oil change, so please be a good friend this Christmas season and help me out! Thanks!

I’m a little late getting started with my Christmas preparation; I haven’t even put up my tree yet. At this rate, I will leave it up until St. Patrick’s Day, just to get some good use out of it. At least I finally bought a couple of gifts yesterday. That makes me feel a little better about it. It’s the best time of the year, and always the most expensive, and the economy certainly isn’t helping. I thought I would help you all out and offer you some money-saving tips for the holidays. I just read an article and laughed hysterically at the first item, just because I’m not a crafty person. But if you’re artistic, you can make your own Christmas ornaments, a fun (inexpensive!) family project. Read on…

Make your own baker’s clay using four cups of flour, one cup of salt and 1.5 cups of warm water. Roll out the clay, cut out with cookie cutters or mold them yourself. (This is where I would FAIL miserably.) Bake in a 300-degree oven for 30 minutes or more, let them cool, then decorate with poster paints or acrylics. Honestly, I’m not sure when you put the hooks in, but you could probably figure it out. Or if you have plenty for this year, you can always stock up the day after Christmas when everything is marked down. That’s a good idea for wrapping paper, too, or you can also purchase that at the dollar store for just…one dollar. (One dollar seems to be the theme of this blog!)

Now, if you’re like me (the procrastinator), you still have plenty of shopping to do. Or maybe you have to buy a gift for someone who has everything. I found this cool list of Quirky Christmas Presents to give you (and me) some ideas. Yes, some of them are absolutely ridiculous, like the World’s Largest Gummy Bear. That makes my tummy hurt just looking at the picture. But I think the Bacon Genie is a cool idea, and you can bet that I’m going to track down those peanut-butter bubbles for my dog. I will give you one piece of advice: don’t buy booties for your dog. They WILL freak out. And while it’s really funny to watch for a few minutes, it will be a waste of money, I promise you. So buy Fido an umbrella instead. Have a terrific Thursday, Pineapple fans. Hang in there, the weekend is in sight! Oh, and an update from Adam’s new 3-D Abs experiment: he’s sore!

Yesterday Adam gave a presentation to one of our clients, and I tagged along to make him feel embarrassed and to take photos to show you. He did a really good job, so we can’t even tease him about it! The only rough spot we had was remembering the password to link up the projector…how many guys did it take? In all seriousness, it was a great presentation, and the gang at Nelson Nissan is happy, which is what matters. We are excited to launch this new digital campaign; it’s called The Nelson Nissan Dollar Decision and will be in effect online very soon. The age of digital is the wave to be riding, and Pineapple is definitely on board!By the way, if you haven’t been over to Nelson Nissan in a while, it looks amazing! Their construction project is almost finished and it’s so nice. It’s very modern and clean, perfect for a car-buying experience. (Or giving a presentation; the conference room was terrific!) So we’ve had a busy day, but we managed to break away for lunch together, which we don’t get to do too often. Even better, we had Mexican, which is everyone’s favorite. Now we are all full of chips and queso and other Mexican deliciousness, and while we all wish we could take a siesta, it’s just not in the cards. More work to be done! But it’s Wednesday, and the week is going quickly.

Okay, it’s time for me to get on my soapbox now and beg. Maybe I should be on my hands and knees instead of my soapbox. Either way: Pineapple Hands has adopted a family for Christmas that consists of a single mother and her six-year-old and they are having a rough time right now. Please help us with any items (new or gently used) that you can spare to help them have a wonderful holiday. We are accepting clothing items, food, toys and gift cards. The little girl wears a size 6x/7 top, 7 slim pants and size 2 shoes. She enjoys make-up, dressing up, dolls and arts & crafts. We really need help from the Pineapple fans to make this a success. You can contact us on the Pineapple Facebook page, the Pineapple Hands Facebook page or email Lori directly at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. We will be happy to pick up any donations you may have. Thank you! As I mentioned last week, our new client 3-D Abs came by to show us a bit about the system. Well, Adam has been joining Michael, the client, for early morning workouts every day this week! And for some reason, Adam keeps complaining about being sore.  Not only has he been working hard on his abs, Barlow has been making him keep their racquetball appointments, so he’s been getting lots of workouts done! Next week, Adam will teach Barlow and I the basics, so we can work out as a group. THAT should be interesting! I don’t think I’ll post any pictures of that fun experience. But I promise to keep you informed of our progress.

Well, I have plenty more to do today, so I’m heading back to it. Please try to donate a little something to our family; it doesn’t have to be expensive, and everything will help. And we’ll see you tomorrow!

After my Accord accident (in which I walked away with nothing more than soreness and some horrific airbag burns on my face), I swore that I would never drive in the ice ever again. Not very realistic, but I did manage to avoid it for about four years. And then, a couple of years ago, I decided to be brave and try it. I didn’t make it to the end of the block before I got stuck. So I got a push from a stranger, and managed to make it halfway up my driveway. The next morning, while sitting in my living room, I heard a horrendous crash from outside. I opened the door to a sheet of metal covering the opening. My entire carport had collapsed from the weight of the snow. I guess I should be thankful for small blessings that my car was stuck in the driveway from the previous evening. See now why I think winter weather and vehicles don’t mix?

We should be in the clear for awhile; there is a higher chance of snow activity this weekend, so everyone get ready. I need to go buy some de-icer; I already had frost on my window yesterday morning!

But no matter what the weather is outside, Pineapple HQ is toasty warm. (This is mainly because Barlow apparently has a low body temperature and cranks up the heat.) Plus, we have plenty of work to do this week, which distracts us from the cold. Barlow is in “creative mode”, so he’s holed up in his office with some good tunes (NOT holiday music!) and an open mind. Adam is busy putting together plans for 2011 for all of our clients. In addition to that, he has a meeting today and then a client presentation after that. It’s a busy day for the Pineapple! I’ve been brainstorming some cool new social ideas, since Facebook and Twitter are taking over the world. The boys are excited to be back in the office for a few weeks, rather than on the road. I’m happy to have them here, too, since it’s much more entertaining that way!

This time of year is always busy, and it’s hard sometimes to turn your brain off at night so you can get to sleep. At least, that’s how it is for me. Plus, it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning when it’s so very cold outside! But there is a woman named Sondra Lowell who is trying to combat that. She has invented a new movie genre called “film sleepy” and she has directed two films that are intended to put the viewer to sleep. Yeah….that’s what I thought. The first film is called “WebcamMurder.com”, which actually sounds pretty interesting, right? Not the case. The movie consists of normal people sitting around in front of webcams. To make the film long enough to be considered a feature, Lowell had the actors speak slowly and pause for a LONG time between lines. Her second film is titled “Sublime Crime: A Subliminal Mystery” and has no words, just blank screen shots mixed in with “flashes of plot and personal growth affirmations.” Wow. You can purchase (or rent) the movies on Amazon. If you are out of sleeping pills and give this a try, let me know. Watch a clip of “WebcamMurder.com” below. Don’t deny it, you know you’re going to watch it! It’s only a minute long, so you won’t fall asleep at your desk. At least, I didn’t. But after 85 minutes, I can definitely see how you would!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ygzTXiQ5fg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]

We have less than a week left to collect donations for the family that Pineapple Hands has adopted for Christmas. Please help us in any way that you are able. If you are out Christmas shopping, please pick up a little something extra that a six-year-old girl would enjoy (make-up, dress-up clothes, arts & crafts, dolls) or perhaps a gift card or food items for her mother. If you prefer to donate your time and you are handy, we would love for you to help them out around their house with some minor repairs. If you would like more information, please contact us on the Pineapple Facebook page, the Pineapple Hands Facebook page or email Lori directly at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. We are accepting donations until December 14th, and we will be happy to pick up anything that you care to give. Please help us give this family the holiday they deserve! Gently used items will also be accepted. Well, assuming you are still awake to read this, have a terrific Tuesday! Stay warm and be careful out there, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Did anyone attend any of the Christmas events that I posted on Friday? I attended the Claremore Christmas parade on Saturday evening, and man…it was chilly. Luckily I was able to sneak out early, before frostbite set in completely. I still want to know about the Christmas Train…I would love any kind of feedback on that, because I would really like to go.

The Pineapple Twins are back safely from Nashville. They met with a few Pineapple clients and shot a commercial for a new client, in just a few days. Lauren Ledford will star in the production, so we are really excited about that. Lauren is a natural and always does a terrific job. Adam, Barlow and Jason  joined her for dinner one evening and had a wonderful meal at Sambuca. Sorry that Adam is such a terrible photographer!

In addition, the guys met with Chad of Nelson Mazda Nashville, where they hammered out a strategy for the upcoming year. Lots of exciting things are happening! Adam even managed to meet with a few of the local media reps to discuss annual budgets for our Nashville clients. Another successful trip for the Pineapples! They are glad to be home, though, and ready to be settled at Pineapple HQ for a while. I think maybe we need some Christmas decorations, don’t you think? I can’t listen to Christmas music anymore, now that they are back. But Barlow made me a deal that we can listen to holiday jams on Christmas Eve. That works for me!

Okay, fans, I’m going to put the pressure on you now. We are in desperate need of donations for the family that we have adopted for Christmas. Anything you can contribute would be AMAZING. We aren’t asking you to spend a fortune, but if you’re out shopping, please just pick up an extra gift card or some food items. The family consists of a single mother and a 6-year-old little girl. She enjoys dressing up, make-up, dolls, crafts, all of the typical girly activities. She wears a size 6x/7 shirt, size 7 slim pants, and size 2 shoes. Please help the Pineapples deliver a fantastic Christmas to this deserving family! If you would like more information, you can contact us on the Pineapple Facebook page, the Pineapple Hands Facebook page, or email Lori directly at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. Have a wonderful Monday, everyone. I’ll see you tomorrow! And hey, did anyone use their free Wendy’s coupon for the fries? I’m so curious…I haven’t used mine yet. 

Barlow and Adam are still in Nashville, and they have a big production today. Let’s wish them a peaceful, stress-free day, shall we? And of course, a safe trip home when they’re finished. The Pineapple plate is definitely full right now. We are about to launch the jazzy new Car Country website, and it looks awesome. In addition to that, we are all set for a brand-new digital campaign for Nelson Nissan. If you’re in the market for a car, now is the time. Don’t you need a new vehicle to haul all of your Christmas goodies around? I think you do.

We are officially into the holiday season, and there is always plenty to do around these parts. I’ve looked up a few of the highlights for you to save you some time.

-Tulsa Christmas Parade of Lights: Saturday, December 11, downtown Tulsa

-Castle of Muskogee Christmas Kingdom: Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, 6-10 p.m.

The Castle has something going on for every holiday, and Christmas is no exception. From now until New Year’s Eve, you can drive through (no charge, donations are accepted) and see over 2,000 inflatables. I’m personally not a big fan of inflatables, but I bet kids like them. They also have some indoor activities, including movies and Father Christmas. HERE is the website for more information. The Christmas Train: Dry Gulch, USA, November 26 – December 22, 6-10 p.m.

Okay, I admit, I’ve always wanted to go to this, and I never have. Dry Gulch is located northeast of Pryor, and features an old Wild West town, the locomotive, and tons of activities. You get to ride on the train and be told the story of Christmas. How festive is that? HERE is their website, with ticket and scheduling information. All tickets must be purchased in advance! RHEMA Christmas Lights Extravaganza: RHEMA Bible Church, Broken Arrow, November 22 – January 1, 5:30 – 11:30 p.m.

Over two million lights grace the campus this year, and admission is free. It’s a really neat experience, if you’ve never been. I went last year for the first time, and I thought it was amazing. You can drive through parts of it, and walk through others, like the RHEMA Park Bridge, which is covered in lights that are synchronized to Christmas music. My recommendation is to bundle up, swing through Starbucks, and walk through the park. You won’t regret it. HERE is the website for more information. Well, I’m off to get some things done. I have plenty of blogs to write and plenty of cleaning to do. Can’t have a Fabuloso Friday without a sparkling clean Pineapple HQ! I hope all of you have a wonderful (although chilly) weekend, and enjoy the holiday festivities. I’ll see you on Monday!

The Pineapples are gearing up for a VERY busy 2011, and we are ready to hit the ground (and the new year) running. We have several clients that are ready to Pick the Pineapple, and we also have a huge convention coming up at the beginning of the year. We are ready to spread the Pineapple Juice even farther across the country!

We have less than two weeks to collect donations for Pineapple Hands. If you are out doing your Christmas shopping, please just take the time to pick up an extra gift card, a food item, or some items for a six-year-old girl. Grab a few coloring books, some make-up for kids or a new outfit. We aren’t asking you to spend a million bucks, we just need everyone’s help to give this young family the holiday they so desperately deserve. Please pitch in and help us spread the love of Pineapple Hands! “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is on the radio, so I think I’m going to go dance around. Hope nobody walks in. Have a terrific Thursday, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Today is Pay It Forward day. The Pineapple People always make it a point to do random acts of kindness toward others, and to encourage everyone else to do the same. You never know how much one small act can change a person’s day, or even their life. And if everyone that receives an act of kindness pays it forward, the world would be a much better place. Today we are asking that everyone do a good deed for another. If you would like to post it on our Facebook page, we would love to hear about it! In order to encourage kind acts, and interaction among our fans, we are offering a $5 QT card to the first 20 people who post their act on our page. And no, folks don’t usually get rewarded for doing a kind act, and that’s not the point; we just want our fans to interact and get to know one another better. If you don’t want to openly ask for your gift, you can send me an email at ashley@pickthepineapple.com.

Congratulations to Alice Houck for winning our fan blitz yesterday! Alice will receive a $20 gift card to Dickinson Starworld Theatres for being the first to send 30 new fans to the Pineapple Facebook page. Thank you, Alice! We will be holding fan blitzes once per week, so stay tuned for details! And just ask Alice, it’s easy!

Pineapple Hands has launched a new project! We are collecting donations for a local family so that we can help them have the Christmas they deserve. A full-time schooling, single mom, and her six-year-old daughter have fallen on some hard times, and we would love to help them get back on their feet. We are accepting gift cards, food items, and clothing and toys. The little girl wears a size 6x/7 shirt, size 7 slim pants, and size 2 shoes. She enjoys dolls, coloring, dressing up and arts & crafts. If you are handy, they also need some work done around their home, like some simple repairs, and an air conditioner and water heater check. If you prefer to donate your time, that would be amazing. We are accepting items until December 14th. If you would like more information, you can contact us on the Pineapple Facebook page, the Pineapple Hands Facebook page, or you may email Lori directly at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. So today is World AIDS Day. And for once, celebrities are using their fame for a good cause. We all know that celebrities rely heavily these days on Facebook and Twitter. For crying out loud, Ashton Kutcher has over six MILLION followers. Lady Gaga has over seven million. And today, singer Alicia Keys and her foundation, Keep a Child Alive, has convinced several famous faces to sign off of Twitter and Facebook until her charity raises one million dollars for AIDS awareness. So don’t expect to see any updates for a bit, especially if you follow Keys, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake or Kim Kardashian. Several celebs have been shot for an ad campaign for the event, in which they pose as dead bodies, the theme being, they’re not actually dead, but they’re dead to the digital world. Interesting concept. What do you think? Well, I’m off to take care of some business. Have a wonderful Wednesday, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Remember to pay it forward today!

The Pineapples have a busy day ahead; the boys are leaving for Nashville in the morning, so there is always a lot to do in order to prepare for a trip, especially when production is involved. Not only do we have to get the crew situated, plus all of their equipment, we have to make sure that all of the actors and props are in place, and the scripts are perfect. Barlow has been pumping out some awesome creative lately, so these new spots are going to be great! And they will definitely put you into the spirit of Christmas.

We have a fun work activity this afternoon. Pineapple’s newest client, 3-D Abs, will be coming by to show us a demonstration of the product, so we can get ready to start production on the new infomercial. I have a feeling that we won’t be walking out of work this evening with brand-new six-pack abs, but I bet we will be sore tomorrow. Or at least, I will!

You all know that we have a very active Facebook page. Well, we feel like it’s time for another fan blitz! Yes, that’s right….the first person to get us 30 new fans will receive a $20 gift card to Dickinson Theatres. The easiest way to do this is to post the fan blitz in your status update. Simply tell 30 of your friends who don’t already “Like” Pineapple to go to our page, “Like” us, then post YOUR name on our wall, so we can keep track. First person to 30 wins! And who doesn’t want to take a night off from Christmas preparations to go to a movie? Especially if it’s free! And now it’s time to remind all of you that we are collecting donations for a local family for Christmas. We are accepting gift cards, food items, and clothing and toys for a six-year-old girl. She loves make-up, playing dress-up, coloring, arts & crafts and dolls. She wears size 6x/7 tops, size 7 slim pants and size 2 shoes. Please donate anything that you can to ensure that this deserving family has a wonderful holiday season. If you need more information, please contact us on our Facebook page, the Pineapple Hands Facebook page, or email Lori directly at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com.

While we are on the subject of helping others, let me tell you about something else. All of the Pineapple People make it a point to do random acts of kindness on a regular basis. You never know how much one act can affect someone else. And it may seem trivial to you, but it can make all the difference. Tomorrow, December 1, is Pay It Forward Day. This is a great way to start realizing how you can make a change in someone’s life. So tomorrow, do something random and kind. Pay for the coffee for the person in line behind you. Help someone load their Christmas tree. Hold the door for more folks than you normally would. Anything and everything can make a difference. Oh, and the Salvation Army bell ringers are out and about at local stores, so please donate anything to them…whatever spare change you have is fine. I’ve volunteered as a bell ringer for the last several years, and I’m telling you, it’s a COLD job! Although I never got to wear one of those aprons….maybe that would’ve helped. All right, Pineapple fans, I’m going to stop begging you for things now. Have a terrific Tuesday, bundle up, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

So it was a busy weekend for the Pineapples. The Pineapple Twins headed to Stillwater for the Bedlam game and had a great time, minus the whole “loss to the Sooners” thing. They had a fun Saturday of tailgating, hanging with friends, and cheering for the Cowboys. It was a nailbiter of a game, and I’m overjoyed that the Cowboys gave the Sooners a run for their money this year. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go OR watch the game, but I’ve heard plenty about it. It’s always a bit of a letdown on the Monday after Bedlam, no matter who wins, because we look forward to it all year. Kind of like Christmas. We’ll get them next season! After a relaxing Thanksgiving and Bedlam weekend, the Pineapple Twins are kicking back into travel mode. The boys will head to Nashville on Wednesday to shoot a commercial for a dealer group up there. They also get to pay a visit to the Ledfords, so it will be a fun, although busy, trip for them. Lots of work to be done in the coming days!

And what will I be doing while they’re gone? Working hard to launch a new fan blitz on our Facebook page! We’ve come a long way since we first started our page last spring, but you know us; we are never satisfied with just letting things be. Our new goal is to get 2000 fans by the end of the year, and we know we can do it with your help. Stay tuned for more details!

And on a sad note (since it’s Monday, after all), today we say good-bye to Leslie Nielsen. He passed away yesterday after battling pneumonia. He was 84. I thought it was just a coincidence that “The Naked Gun” was on yesterday. Maybe it wasn’t. I’ve always been a Leslie Nielsen fan; I loved The Naked Gun series as a kid, and Airplane! is one of my all-time favorite movies. Hats off to you, Mr. Nielsen, and rest in peace.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]

Well, I’m off to jump into my crazy Monday; hope everyone has a wonderful day, and I’ll see you tomorrow! Also, don’t forget to think about what you would like to donate for our Pineapple Hands Christmas spirit project!

Things are picking up here at Pineapple HQ. We’ve got new clients on board, and we feel confident that plenty more will be Picking the Pineapple in 2011. It’s going to be a very busy year for the Pineapple People, and we couldn’t be more excited about it! The Pineapple Twins are heading to Nashville next week to shoot a new commercial for a dealership up there, just in time for the holidays. We love new production; it’s always fun! And shooting on location is always a blast.

Tomorrow is a HUGE day for Oklahoma football, the culmination of the regular season, and the almighty Bedlam game between our beloved Oklahoma State Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma Sooners. This year is going to be a great game; both teams are solid, and OSU is doing especially well this year. It seems that everyone I know is heading to Stillwater for some tailgating and football fun. If you’re out and about, be sure to find the Pineapple People….just look for people wearing orange. (That’s a joke.) The game starts at 7 p.m. at Boone Pickens stadium. Get there early, sport your orange, and get ready to cheer on the Cowboys. Oh, and ESPN Gameday is going to be there, too. Not too shabby!Now that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas music is officially on the radio, it’s time to think about the next big holiday. And when we think about Christmas, it’s easy to be excited about gifts and cookies and trees and shopping. But what if you weren’t able to do all of that? What if you were a single mom with a young daughter, struggling just to make ends meet? I complain all the time about never having enough money, but I’m not in a bad position, especially when I think about others that are seriously having problems just paying the bills. And that’s where we all need to step in and help; the holidays are about giving, after all. That’s where Pineapple Hands comes in. We have, in a way, adopted a single mother and her daughter, and our goal is to give them the Christmas they deserve. But we can’t do it alone! Pineapple is now accepting donations of food items, gift cards, clothing and other gift items. See the list below for more specifics. Please open your heart during this season and help this family; they will be so grateful, and so will we. We are accepting donations through December 14.

size 6x/7 shirts
size 7 slim pants
size 2 shoes
she likes:  makeup, dressing up, coloring, arts/crafts, playing with dolls, etc.  She’s a typical girl.

Also, if you would prefer to donate your time, they need some minor repairs done around their house, and the air conditioner and water heater serviced. Please let us know if you are interested; you can contact us via the Pineapple Facebook page, the Pineapple Hands Facebook page, or email Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. Have a fabulous Black Friday and a beautiful Bedlam weekend! We’ll see you on Monday!

Today is the busiest travel day of the year, so if you’re on the road, please be careful. I guarantee that not everyone is as good a driver as you are. The airports are under plenty of scrutiny today due to the new scanning machines. Today is “National Opt-Out Day” in which a group is encouraging travelers to “opt out” of the scanning machines because they’re too invasive. Wouldn’t a pat down by a stranger be more invasive? Tulsa is fortunate, since we have had the scanners for more than two years now, so it’s not a big deal to most locals. You stand in the booth, put your hands on your head like Bullwinkle,  and that’s it, you’re done. No wanding, no patting down, unless there is something suspicious, like the Nigerian man who smuggled bombs in his underwear. Personally, I don’t see what the fuss is about. Maybe the people watching the other side of the screen are laughing at my body? I don’t really care. I think the Opt-Out Day could go one of two ways. Either it’s going to back lines up a LOT due to them making a fuss about being screened in a different manner, or since they have to take all of those folks separately, the lines for normal scanning folks would be shorter. Either way, I’m glad that I’m not flying today. And I think it’s silly for people to make such a big deal about this; it’s only for our own safety and security, and that’s not something I care to mess around with. The photo below is from MSNBC, showing how the TSA is trying to keep searches “minimally invasive.” Um…yeah.

Things are cooking here at Pineapple HQ lately. We have several new and exciting projects lined up, and we are really pumped about it. We have lots of folks getting ready to Pick the Pineapple, and that’s fantastic. We think EVERYONE should Pick the Pineapple, don’t you? We have launched a new campaign for Don Ledford Auto Park in Tennessee, and that is going very well for him. And the brand-new Rogers Automotive spots are generating plenty of heat in North Carolina. We are working on getting Pineapple coast to coast! See one of our new Rogers Automotive spots below!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH83BSpzxh8&hl=en&fs=1]

Well, Pineapple fans, I’ve lots to do today, and I’m sure you do, too. Be careful traveling, be careful if you have to go to Walmart, and enjoy Thanksgiving with your families and friends. I’ll see you on Friday. Happy Thanksgiving from the Pineapple People!

That being said, Pineapple Hands will be collecting donations of food, gift cards and other items for a small family here in our area. Please contact us on our Facebook page, the Pineapple Hands Facebook page, or email Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com for more information. We have compiled a basic list of needs below, and we would like to gather all donations by December 14th in order to give this family the holidays they deserve.

size 6x/7 shirts
size 7 slim pants
size 2 shoes
She likes:  makeup, dressing up, coloring, arts/crafts, playing with dolls, etc.  She’s a typical girl.

In addition, if you are handy, they need some minor repairs done around the house. Please let us know if you can help; a small act of kindness can make a world of difference in someone’s life.

All of the Pineapple People are excited for Thanksgiving; everyone has big plans, and some are staying home while others are traveling. We are all thankful for the blessings that Pineapple has bestowed upon us, and we are thankful for all of our clients that have helped us to get where we are. We have wonderful opportunities with our company, and we do not let a day go by without realizing that and saying a little thanks.

And of course, all of us are excited to cheer on the OSU Cowboys this Saturday against our biggest rivals, the Oklahoma Sooners. The game is in Stillwater this year, and kick-off is at 7 p.m. It’s going to be a great game, as both teams have had amazing seasons. We have faith in our Cowboys and we will be sporting orange at the game this weekend, so be sure and say hi to the Pineapples if you’re around. Orange Power! I’m sure everyone is excited about a shortened work week. But we have lots to do today, so I’m off to tackle my to-do list. Stay focused, work hard, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

The gray and gloomy weather today in Tulsa is a bit depressing, but at least it’s not freezing cold…yet. Apparently that will be here just in time for Thanksgiving on Thursday. At least it will finally feel like the holidays when it gets cooler, but I’m not looking forward to it. Although it is definitely easier to get into the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa spirit when the temperatures drop and snow (or ice) is imminent.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, mainly because I love to eat. I’m excited to be hosting it at my house this year (and I’m sure my dog is, too, since that means lots of scrap potential). Does anyone have any wild and crazy Thanksgiving plans? Maybe you are chunking the whole idea and hitting the slopes while eating a cheeseburger, or perhaps you’re serving an Asian fusion meal instead of turkey. If you’re doing anything out of the ordinary, please feel free to share it with the Pineapple People on our Facebook page. And even if you’re planning on deer hunting, eating turkey and pumpkin pie, then retiring to the recliner to watch football, we would love to hear about it.

I’ve been out of the loop for a week, so until our staff meeting later today, I won’t have too much Pineapple info to share. I know that we have a lot of potential clients and a lot of projects barreling down on us faster than a runaway train. The days leading up to the holidays (and after!) are going to be very busy, and we are all looking forward to it. Nothing makes the Pineapple People happier than plenty of work! And I will have more than enough to go around today; Mondays are always busy, and it’s always hard to come back after missing a few days. Plus, there is office cleaning to be done, and M&Ms to buy…our candy ‘bar’ is at a dangerously low level. That will be fixed today!

However, I do have a Pineapple Hands update. We are looking to help a wonderful family have the holiday season they deserve. The family consists of  a single mom and her young daughter. They have fallen on some tough times and are doing the best they can, and we would love to help them. In turn, we would like to ask for some help from you. We are collecting food items to put together a food basket for them. In addition, gift cards of any kind are welcome. Please refer to the list below for some more specific information, and we will provide more in the days to come:

Items for her daughter:
size 6x/7 shirts
size 7 slim pants
size 2 shoes
She likes  makeup, dressing up, coloring, arts/crafts, playing with dolls, etc.  She’s a typical girl!

If you’re handy around the house and would like to donate some of your time instead, they need some minor repairs done on their house. The water heater and air conditioner need servicing, and new tires and struts are needed for their car.

Anything that you can do to help will be greatly appreciated by this deserving family. If you know of anyone who would like to help, please feel free to forward the information along. If you have any questions, please contact us on the Pineapple Facebook page, the Pineapple Hands Facebook page, or contact Lori directly at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. The completion date for this project is December 14, so that we have time to get everything ready in time for Christmas. Thank you in advance, Pineapple fans!
I would like to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving week! Stay safe out there, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Barlow is still on the road, with one more leg of the trip to go. He is heading to Toronto to visit with one of our clients up there. The Pineapples would like to wish him a safe flight and a productive meeting. We will be glad to see him back in the office again! It’s definitely not the same when he’s gone.

The boys had a great time at the CMAs in Nashville on Wednesday night. Adam showed me some pictures, and it looked like a lot of fun. I’m still jealous, but glad they had a good time. Apparently the guys had a good time convincing the people sitting next to them during the show that Adam is British. Here’s to Adam’s accent skills! After the show, the whole gang had dinner at The Palms. Thanks again to Michelle and Don Ledford for hosting the Pineapples!

This is the first time that I’ve seen Adam since the convention in Vegas (that seems like a long time ago!), and he had some fun stories to tell me this morning. The convention was a blast, of course, and they had a productive week working with the Dynasty team.

Adam and I have a busy afternoon in front of us. Not only do we need to go over everything that has been going on for the past two weeks, we are putting the finishing touches on a presentation for our Canadian client. And of course, we are cleaning. And he IS helping, no matter what he says!

Got any big plans this weekend? If you aren’t heading to Austin to watch the Cowboys take on the Longhorns, and you’re going to be in Tulsa, you should check out the Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show. It’s the world’s largest gun show, and it’s at the QuikTrip Center at the fairgrounds. It’s a lot of fun, and a new experience if you’ve never been to a gun show. Plus, they have good junk food.

For all of my loyal readers, I have some bummer news for you. There will be no Pineapple blog next week. I know, I know, you’re not sure how you will go on. But you will, I promise! There may be a guest post (if you’re lucky!). But I’m going to be out of the office next week, and the blog goes with me. But I will see you all the week after that! Have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend. And I’ll see you a week from Monday!

Barlow and Adam are still on the road today, but we shouldn’t feel bad for them because thanks to Michelle and Don Ledford, they got to attend the CMAs in Nashville last night! All of the other Pineapples are insanely jealous, but we are all happy for them. There are some photos from the evening on our Facebook page, so be sure to check them out. Michelle and Don are always wonderful hosts to the Pineapple People, and we appreciate them very much. Thank you, Ledfords! It looks like the trip has been a success so far, and a new dealer group in Knoxville is looking to pick the Pineapple! Good job, Pineapple Twins! We can’t wait until they get back so we can hear all about it. We love getting new clients, because there is a lot of research involved. Barlow gets to come up with new creative, and Adam gets to do market research, which is one of his favorite parts of being a media buyer.

Happy Veterans Day from the Pineapple People! Today is a day of celebration of all those who have served or are currently serving our great country. In addition, I would like to give a shout-out to all of the silent ranks, the families of those who stay at home while their loved ones serve to keep us free. If you are a veteran, or know someone who is, you might benefit from this awesome list of free stuff that I am going to post below.

Applebee’s: All locations are giving a free meal to veterans today. There is a special limited menu available (which still has plenty of items on it; click HERE to see it). Alcohol and gratuity are not included. All you need is proof of service, like paperwork or a photo of you in uniform. Last year I took an achievement certificate that I received overseas, and that was acceptable.

Outback Steakhouse: Outback is offering a free Bloomin’ Onion and a non-alcoholic beverage to all veterans and active military personnel today. Click HERE to see the press release.

Golden Corral: This restaurant is offering a free meal on Monday, November 15, from 5 – 9 p.m. To date, Golden Corral has served over 2.2 million free meals. Nice! For more information, click HERE.

Chili’s: Chili’s is following suit with Applebee’s and offering a limited menu (six items) for all veterans and active duty military today. It’s dine-in only, and beverages and gratuity are not included. Click HERE for more information. And if you’ve ever eaten an MRE, you know Chili’s is MUCH better! Hooter’s: Guys, I know you’re excited about this one. Hooter’s also has a special menu today, for all veterans or active duty personnel with proof of service. A drink purchase is required. Click HERE for details. The following establishments are offering free goodies for veterans, but several are franchises, so you will want to call ahead and see if your local store is participating:

Krispy Kreme: free doughnut

Subway: free six-inch sub (Remember, Subways are franchises, so call ahead to check!)

T.G.I. Friday’s: Buy one, get one free (entree? I guess?) with current or expired military ID. (This isn’t really fair, since they usually take your military ID away from you when you get out of the service!)

Texas Roadhouse: Free meal; offer varies by location. Valid from opening until 4 p.m.

And just so you know, Home Depot and Lowe’s are both offering 10% off to veterans and their families today. On all other days, active duty military and retirees receive a 10% discount.

Well, I hope that all of the retirees, veterans and active duty folks out there will be full of delicious, free food by the end of the day. I know I will be! And if you don’t fall into that category, my apologies that today’s blog didn’t have much helpful info. But you can always pass it along to a military friend! Have a terrific Thursday, everyone, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

The Pineapple Twins are still on the road. Yes, still! But the trip is going well, and they are having a great time along the way. On Monday, the boys visited with our newest clients at Rogers Automotive in Shelby, North Carolina. They had a successful meeting with Aimee, the owner, and she is loving her new “Better” campaign. Aimee is a great fit with the Pineapple; she’s fun and has great business sense. To end the day, the Pineapple Twins went to dinner with Aimee and her mother at a local Mexican restaurant (Barlow’s favorite!) and had a wonderful meal. Thanks for picking the Pineapple, Aimee! We are having a blast working with you!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2tqOrLYS6A&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Yesterday the guys met with a potential client in South Carolina…we want the Pineapple Juice to be in BOTH Carolinas, and we can do it! Today the boys head to Tennessee to meet with yet another person interested in picking the Pineapple, then it’s off for a visit with the Ledfords in Athens. Stay safe out there, guys! We miss you back at Pineapple HQ! And be sure to keep up with our Facebook page for zany updates from the road.

I saw this next item on the news yesterday morning. And since football season is coming to a close in the next few weeks, it seems an appropriate time to share it with you. At a middle school championship game in Texas, the kids used a trick play to surprise their opponents….check it out for yourself. A little feel-good moment for your middle-of-the-week blues, click HERE to watch.

Students at Oklahoma State are still uneasy after the gunman from Monday night’s home invasion remains on the streets. Police are deducing that the burglary was random, and it was unfortunate that the student who lived in the house walked in when he did. The student, a junior, was set to be released from the hospital yesterday. Police are still looking for the gunman, and activities at the school have resumed. The Cowboys face the Longhorns in Austin this weekend at 7 p.m. Let’s go, Cowboys! Well, it’s back to my to-do list. Lots to do today, so I’ll see you all tomorrow! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

I’ve definitely been keeping busy while the boys have been gone. I’ve run a million errands already this morning, and my to-do list is getting shorter, which is always a good feeling. They are going to be sad when they get back to the office, though, because the stash of peanut M&Ms and Mountain Dew is getting low. (And no, I haven’t eaten ALL of them by myself; there has definitely been some help from upstairs!)

It’s almost time for another Facebook fan blitz! Maybe that’s how we will celebrate Thanksgiving. The winner will receive a free “Your Commercials Suck” tee shirt, the official gear of the Pineapple People. Stay tuned for details on the contest. (Sorry, our previous winners can’t win again, but you can still contribute if you have lots of spare time on your hands and you’re feeling generous.)

So the Pineapple’s favorite school, Oklahoma State, is the latest college to fall victim to a school shooting. Last night, a junior returned to his home near campus and walked in on a burglary. The assailant shot the victim in the leg and stole his laptop, which was recovered nearby. The residence halls and the Greek houses were put on lockdown, but classes are continuing today, since the campus itself was not locked down, which seems like a mistake. If I were there, I would be hanging out in my room until the guy was caught. The Stillwater Police Department and the OSU campus police are working together on this case. Let’s hope he is caught soon, and that no other people are injured. Oklahoma State has been listed as one of the safest campuses in the Big 12. On another OSU note, congrats to OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden for being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. Oklahoma State will face off against Texas this Saturday (in Austin) at 7:00 p.m. Don’t worry, the game will be televised, if you can’t make it south this weekend. Well, it’s back to work for me. Wishing all of you a terrific Tuesday, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

Mondays are always crazy for me (isn’t that true for everyone?), and I have plenty to do to keep me busy while they’re gone, that’s for sure. The good thing about insane Mondays, is that it makes the time fly by, which is good when I’m all alone.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a3UYgcJorU&fs=1&hl=en_US]

And now for your “feel-good Monday moment.” This past weekend was the New York City marathon, which includes some of the world’s best marathoners. Plenty of celebrities have run in the past, including Oprah, Katie Holmes and Sean Combs (aka Puff Daddy aka P. Diddy). But this year, a new “celebrity”, Edison Pena of the Chilean mine catastrophe, joined the ranks. Pena has been making the talk-show rounds for the past few days and has earned the nickname “The Runner” because he ran 2300 feet each day while trapped underground. While that’s not quite as far as a marathon, it helped him to keep in shape. When he was invited to attend the marathon as a special guest, he decided he wanted to run it instead, and his goal was to finish in less than six hours. He completed the run in five hours and forty minutes. And that was with two visits to the medical tents, and with ice packs tied onto both knees. The miner gained notoriety during the rescue mission because of his love of Elvis music, and treated the crowd to a rendition of “Don’t Be Cruel” after finishing the marathon. Pena is truly an inspiration! Now, we all know that texting and driving is dangerous. Here at Pineapple, we follow a strict no-texting, no-emailing while driving rule; it’s just too risky. On another note, I have seen people reading books while driving twice in my life, and I was blown away each time. I mean, really? I love to read, but I like living more, so I would never do it while driving; that’s just silly. This morning I ran across a video taken by two men who were driving on the highway next to another man who was simultaneously reading a book AND a Kindle while driving, then proceeded to answer a phone call, all while driving 60 mph on the highway. I’m just surprised that they didn’t end up capturing a horrific car accident on that video. I’m posting a photo of the man driving. There is a video as well, but it had a couple of bad words (exclaimed by the men in astonishment), so I won’t post it out of respect. I just can’t believe this! Have you ever seen anyone reading while driving? Well, I’m off to tackle my Monday chores. Be sure to check our Facebook page for updates from the road! Have a wonderful week, Pineapple fans, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Since the Pineapples do an excessive amount of traveling, today I thought I would switch things up a bit and share some advice from a couple of articles that I found yesterday. Basically, it boils down to “how not to anger flight attendants.” Read on, Pineapple fans!

1.) “Want to start off on the wrong foot with me? Put your carry-on in a full overhead bin, leave it sticking out six inches, then take your seat at the window and wait for someone else (me!) to come along and solve the physics problem you just created.” I can tell you from a close friend’s recent personal experience that if you somehow manage to break the latch on the overhead bin, the passengers will have to disembark while maintenance is called, and your flight will be severely delayed. (She hasn’t admitted it yet!) So this is actually a great piece of information.

2.) “An all-too-common scenario: I hand you a cup of coffee and say, ‘Cream and sugar?’ You say, ‘What?’ I say, ‘Cream and sugar?’ You say, ‘What?’ Come on, people. What do you think we’re going to ask after we’ve handed you coffee? Your favorite color?” Just order a glass of wine instead, and you won’t have this problem.

3.) “The lavatory door is not rocket science. Just push.” This is for real; I was on a flight a couple of weeks ago and had the wonderful privilege of sitting in the very last row, right next to the restroom. Another passenger actually asked me (uh, I’m not a flight attendant) how to open it. I thought she was kidding, because it really did say “PUSH” in huge letters.

4.) “No, it’s not OK to come back into the galley to stretch and bend over with your rear end in my face while I’m in my jump seat during my only break, trying to eat a meal.” I’ve never seen that happen, but it’s a pretty funny mental image.

5.) “If you have a baby, bring diapers. If you’re diabetic, bring syringes. If you have high blood pressure, don’t forget your medication. That way, I’m not trying to make a diaper out of a sanitary pad and a pillowcase or asking over the intercom if someone has a spare inhaler.” Do they even let you carry syringes on the plane? Couldn’t they be made into a weapon? Although I somehow got through security recently with an aerosol can of dog mace.

6.) “Just in case you hadn’t noticed, there are other people on the airplane besides you. So don’t clip your toenails, snore with wild abandon, or do any type of personal business under a blanket!” Unless you’re in first class. But seriously, I read an article once about the cleanliness of those blankets, and it’s really not good. Considering they only have seven minutes to clean a plane between flights, I’m pretty sure they aren’t doing laundry.

7.) “If you’re traveling overseas, do yourself a favor and bring a pen. You would not believe how many people travel without one, and you need one to fill out the immigration forms. I carry some, but I can’t carry 200.” Why not?

8.) “Do you really have to go to the bathroom right now, while we’re wrestling a 250-pound food cart down the aisle? You can’t wait 90 seconds for us to pass?” Yeah, once they got to the bathroom, they probably wouldn’t be able to open the door anyway. PUSH.

9.) “Do not poke or grab me. I mean it. No one likes to be poked, but it’s even worse on the plane because you’re sitting down and we’re not, so it’s usually in a very personal area.  You would never grab a waitress if you wanted ketchup or a fork, would you?” Some people might…

10.) “Is it that difficult to say hello and goodbye? We say it 300 times on every flight, and only about 40 people respond.” Does this remind anyone else of the SNL sketch with David Spade? Personally, I always say good-bye and thank you, since they didn’t kill me on the way to my destination.

11.) “If you hear us paging for a doctor or see us running around with oxygen, defibrillators and first aid kits, that’s not the right time to ask for a blanket or a Diet Coke.” I already told you, those blankets are filthy. You don’t want one anyway.

12.) “You really expect me to take your soggy Kleenex? Or your kid’s fully loaded diaper? I’ll be right back with gloves.” Now that’s just wrong.

Sometimes flight attendants really do seem crabby, but for the most part, they are pretty friendly (unless you’re flying Spirit, which I would not recommend). Maybe they figure since they don’t earn tips, they don’t always have to be nice. But it definitely helps for a better flying experience. I hope the Pineapple Twins have a safe journey home from the desert today. It seems that the convention went well, and I can’t wait to hear all about it. Have a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans! I’ll see you on Monday (when I’ll be all alone AGAIN!).

Veteran’s Day is one week from today, and as a veteran, I’m very excited about it. The main reason? I get to eat free at Applebee’s. I think it’s a great thing that Applebee’s has this tradition every year. I know they are probably thinking that only one person in the group will be a veteran, and everyone else will pay for their meals. But my husband and I are both vets, so we both get to eat free. And while it’s not the entire menu that’s available for free, it is still pretty extensive and there are many more choices than you would expect. See the menu HERE. So if you’re a veteran, take some kind of proof of service with you and go eat at Applebee’s (any of them!) next Thursday. And if you’re not a veteran, you might want to steer clear on that day, because it gets pretty crowded. Golden Corral also offers a free meal, but I’ll take Applebee’s any day.

Now that I’m on this Veteran’s Day kick, let me tell you about another fun project (and you don’t have to be a veteran). I learned about this through social networking (because that’s what I do!) and it’s pretty neat. Secret is working on a project on their Facebook page for current military members. Simply visit their Facebook page, and post a photo of yourself saluting. They will take all of the images and create something (it’s a surprise!) for all of the military members currently serving. Go check it out, submit your image and then visit the page on November 11 to see the big reveal. Or you can visit the page, click on Troops Salute, and view all the pictures that have been submitted. (Mine’s in the second row!) Thank you, Secret, for supporting our troops!

Well, I hope that everyone is all pumped up about Veteran’s Day now. Plus, there is only 21 days until Thanksgiving, and 51 days until Christmas. The holidays are bearing down once again. Have a terrific Thursday, Pineapple fans, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

So admit it: who is still eating Halloween candy for breakfast? All of our leftover Snickers and Reese’s cups were gone by Sunday night, and it had very little to do with trick-or-treaters. We still have a few Paydays left, and they make for a mighty tasty morning snack, I must say. But I’ll be glad when they’re all gone, so I can stop feeling guilty about eating so many! We still haven’t seen any Halloween pictures from Pineapple fans…what’s the deal with that?

Election Day is over. Finally. While I was pumped to go vote (and get that sticker!), I’m relieved that the political campaign is over, and we can stop seeing all of the mean, mudslinging commercials. If you voted, are you happy with the results? If you didn’t, you don’t get to complain. Sorry. It is exciting that Oklahoma has it’s first female governor, though. Now I’m ready for a woman president! But only a really good one.

Well, Sesame Street may be in the hot seat again, and it has nothing to do with Katy Perry this time. The show may be in trouble for violating Apple’s copyright policy with their new song, “There’s an App for That.” I will say that the iPhone is pretty darn amazing, and I would love to have one. (No offense to my ancient Blackberry.) I was just thinking the other day while I was looking up phone numbers via my phone while shopping, that a few years ago, that wouldn’t have even been possible. (Phone book? What’s that?) And from what I hear, there is no end to what you can do with an iPhone, whether you’re on a social media site or checking in for your flight. And it’s no secret that there is an ‘app’ for just about everything (although not for combing your cat. Watch the video and you’ll see what I mean.) Kids these days have the opportunity for so much technology, it’s ridiculous. My 5- and 7-year-old niece and nephew have more than one Wii in their home, and they each have their own iPod Touch. The oldest one knows how to play games on his mom’s iPhone, and his grandma taught him how to text. (Although they usually don’t make sense, they’re pretty funny.) And they don’t think twice about it. I remember being completely excited about having an original Sega gaming system when I was a kid, and I was cool because I had a VCR in my room. Now kids don’t even know what a VCR is. Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now, and let you watch the Sesame Street video below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhkxDIr0y2U&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to tackle my to-do list, which is getting longer by the minute. Only two more days till the weekend, so enjoy them, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few months, today is Election Day. Yes, it’s today. Polls are open until 7 p.m., and it’s an important day, so make sure you go out and vote today. I went early this morning and got my sticker, which I’m sporting right now. (You all know how much I love that silly sticker!) And don’t be scared, but I think this is the longest ballot I’ve ever seen. (It still only takes 10 minutes!) There’s 11 state questions, I believe. I’ll be honest, I was unfamiliar with a few of them, but I think the most important ones are 744, which deals with schools, and 751 (I think), that states we should make English our official language. And then of course, the race for Oklahoma’s first female governor. So go vote! If you’re not sure where to go, click HERE to find out.

For all of you baseball fans out there, I’m sure you were all glued to the tube last night to watch the San Francisco Giants win their first World Series title in 56 years. Watching the celebration is always an emotional moment, no matter which team you’re rooting for. (It seems that Texas is having a rough time in sports this season across the board. Who’s with me?) And I couldn’t stop thinking about how much Tim Lincecum, the Giants pitcher, looks like Mitch from Dazed and Confused. Mitch was even a pitcher in the movie. Either way, congrats to the Giants; winning the World Series is a major accomplishment. In a story straight out of “The Blind Side”, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are currently under fire for meeting with two University of Iowa basketball recruits in September. Since the celebrities are considered “boosters”, they are not allowed contact with recruits. Apparently the two recruits (one of which has committed to Iowa) met the couple at an Iowa football game, and all four watched the game from an exclusive suite at the stadium. Maybe Sandra Bullock can offer them some advice. Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to tackle my to-do list. Don’t forget to check our Facebook page for updates from Vegas, and you can follow us on Twitter @pineapplead, too! Have a Fabuloso Tuesday!

I took the Pineapple Twins to the airport this morning. I tried hard not to smack Barlow when he mentioned that it’s going to be 85 degrees all week in Vegas. The boys are going to have so much fun with the Dynasty crew, plus I bet there will be some killer hot tubs there. Maybe they’ll bring me one back as a souvenir. Make sure to check our Facebook page for updates from the road! And of course, we want to wish the boys a safe journey.

It was another wonderful football weekend for Oklahoma teams. We were a bit nervous about the Cowboys being minus Justin Blackmon, but they didn’t seem to have any problem. I was also pleased to see the University of Tulsa defeat Notre Dame! And that other Oklahoma team won, too.

Did everyone had a wonderful Halloween? It seems there was a shortage of trick-or-treaters this year; I wonder why that is. Everyone I’ve talked to said they didn’t have many. But you know what that means…more candy for us! I made a point to get rid of all my “not-so-great” candy, and to keep all of the chocolate for myself. Those kids will never know the difference. My waistline will, but that’s a problem for another day. We want all of you to post pictures from your weekend on our Facebook page! We are interested in seeing who dressed up as a pineapple…just kidding. We really would like to see pics, though, so please feel free to share! Here is mine…Now I know I’ve mentioned this a couple of times, but maybe you forgot. TOMORROW IS ELECTION DAY! Be sure to get out and rock the vote, Pineapple fans! There are a lot of important issues on the ballot this time, especially State Question 744, and the state’s first all-female race for governor. So whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or you fall somewhere in between, please stop by the polls tomorrow; they are open from 7-7, so there’s really no excuse. Plus, you’ll get that sticker that I love so much.

Well, Pineapple fans, I hope that all of you have a wonderful first day of November. Enjoy the crisp fall weather, and if you have any sweater shoes, feel free to put them on. There are only 55 days till Christmas! See you tomorrow!

Today is the last day in the office before the Pineapple Twins head to Vegas. So today I’m making sure that everything is ready for them to pack up and take with them. I have lots of errands to run today to pick up last minute items for them. Guess I’ll just cruise around with my heater on!

Yesterday afternoon was a tense one for faculty and students at Texas A&M in College Station. Around 4 p.m., a bus driver on campus reported seeing a man carrying an AK-47 near Rudder Tower in the center of campus. The school immediately issued a “Code Maroon” alert and put the campus on lockdown in order to search for the gunman. I discovered the event on Twitter, and stayed tuned in to catch the latest, because let’s face it, that’s where the news is these days. “Rudder” was a trending topic in just a few minutes, and it was interesting to see all the updates from students. (My favorite was the guy that posted, “Now my car’s gonna get towed! Why’d I park in front of Rudder?”) I was interested in the story because it shocks and saddens me when I see all of the college violence as of late. Plus, I’ve attended a week-long photography school at A&M for several years, and my class was usually held in Rudder. So at least I’m familiar with the area. But today there is good news for College Station (and the Bush family, which was in town), as it turns out the weapon in question wasn’t real, and there was no gunman. Whew!

It’s finally Friday, and it’s going to be a busy weekend. First of all, it’s Halloween, which is always fun, being that it’s one of my favorite holidays. We expect to see plenty of pictures on our Facebook page on Monday! Whether you’re going out to a party, or staying home and handing out candy, there is no excuse for not dressing up. I mean it! If you have kids that are going trick-or-treating, please follow the basic safety rules for them: carry a flashlight, watch for traffic, and check all of their candy before eating any. You never can be too careful.

Not only is it Halloween weekend, it’s also a big football weekend. Oklahoma State will travel to Manhattan, Kansas, to take on Kansas State. It may be a tough road for our beloved Cowboys, as they will be playing without star wide receiver Justin Blackmon, after an arrest earlier this week. The game will air on Fox Sports Network, and starts at 11 a.m. There are several other important games this weekend, but we here at Pineapple HQ only really care about one team, so that’s all I’m going to write about. Besides, my fingers are starting to hurt from being cold. Have a wonderful weekend and a happy Halloween, Pineapple fans! Remember to be safe and post pics for us on Monday! See you then!

Anybody got any fabulous Halloween plans? Please feel free to share them with us on our Facebook page! Also share any creative costume ideas that you have for you or your kiddos. It’s always fun to see what other people do for this fun holiday. And of course, we expect to see lots of pics posted on Monday for our enjoyment! I’m going to be Alex from Flashdance, and I’m so ready to sport my legwarmers and 80s hair this weekend. I have every intention of being a “maniac, maniac, on the floor!” Tuesday is Election Day. Finally. It seems that the political commercials are getting more and more evil this year; the mudslinging is at a ridiculously high level. If you believe all of them, every single candidate is a nasty crook. I’m sure that not all of them are, right? Anyway, make sure to go to the polls on Tuesday, submit your vote, and wear that sticker proudly! Rock the vote, people! If for some reason, you don’t make it to the polls, I found this handy website where you can print out your own I Voted sticker. I’m sure nobody would wear it under false pretenses, but maybe you sent in an absentee ballot and didn’t get a sticker. Don’t say I never gave you anything.

As I was skimming the headlines this morning for some blog inspiration, I ran across a tragic story from Notre Dame. Yesterday afternoon, a 20-year-old student manager named Declan Sullivan was filming football practice for the Fighting Irish. Indiana was under the influence of extremely high winds, estimated at 40 miles per hour. Nevertheless, Sullivan was sent up onto a 50-foot high mobile scissor lift to tape practice.  Caught in the hazardous winds, the tower toppled, falling over an eight-foot chain-link fence before landing in the street. Sullivan was taken to the hospital, where he later died. From information that I read, the safety out-rigger jacks were not deployed, and OSHA is now investigating. This is a terrible loss for the Notre Dame community, and I can only hope that somebody gets in huge trouble for sending that poor kid into such a dangerous situation.  Not that it will ease the pain of the family and friends of young Mr. Sullivan.Well, on that happy note, I’ll let you get back to it. Tomorrow is Fabuloso Friday, and it’s Adam’s last chance to clean for a few weeks. Want to take bets on whether he’ll help me or not? Have an amazing day, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

As I mentioned on our Facebook page earlier, Adam has been hard at work compiling the ultimate list of songs to be played at Pineapple HQ. We got some sweet surround sound put it a couple of months ago, and we are loving our music these days. We have all contributed some of our personal favorites, and the others have to agree. I was specifically told that no girlie music was allowed, so Britney, Jessica and the Backstreet Boys are noticeably absent from our list. Pineapple fan Nancy has requested a list of some of our favorite jams, so here are 10 on the official Pineapple Playlist:

John Mayer – Who Says

Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire

J Geils Band – Centerfold

The Fray – You Found Me

The Goo Goo Dolls – Iris

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication

Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are

Jack Johnson – Bubble Toes

Counting Crows – Mr. Jones

Augustana – Boston

We are pretty mellow, in case you can’t tell! Plus, I don’t think it would be good for clients to come in and hear gangsta rap, you know what I mean?

I would like to give a special shout-out today to one of my loyal readers, Linda. She has been in the hospital for the past few days, and she even mentioned the Pineapple blog from her hospital bed. Linda, we wish you a speedy recovery and plenty of get well vibes!

Well, I’m off. The big trip to Las Vegas is happening in just a few days, so I’m going to start getting everything ready for the Pineapple Twins. Have a wonderful Wednesday, Pineapple fans. Only a few more days to get your Halloween costume ready! And we expect to see lots of pics posted on our page on Monday! And remember, your commercials suck, unless you’ve Picked the Pineapple!

Did everyone watch Monday Night Football last night? The poor Cowboys don’t seem to be having much luck this year. They started giving away the game to the Giants, and then poor Tony Romo went and broke his clavicle. And then it was pretty much downhill from there. I thought they might make a comeback there at the end, but it just wasn’t in the cards for Dallas last night. Wishing Tony a speedy recovery! It seems that everyone’s favorite “Cousin Eddie” is having a few problems. Randy Quaid and his wife Evi have recently been getting into one scrape after another. A few years ago, Quaid was accused of not paying taxes. In 2006, he sued a film company for not getting paid more for his minor role in “Brokeback Mountain.” (It must have been minor; I’ve seen that twice and do not remember him. Which role did he play? Anyone?) In 2008 he was tossed out of a play and an actor’s union for inappropriate and abusive behavior. Last year, the Quaids skipped out on a $10,000 hotel bill and were later arrested. When they finally showed up for court (after skipping several appearances), Quaid walked in carrying his Golden Globe from 1987. In August, the Quaids sued their lawyer, accusing him of stealing their money. Now the crazy couple are seeking asylum in Canada, saying that a group called the Hollywood Star Whackers are after them, and they have been responsible for numerous celebrity murders, including Heath Ledger (drug overdoes) and David Carradine (suicide). They are convinced that Randy is next in line. After being arrested in Vancouver late last week on California charges, the couple remains in custody in Vancouver. I think that will be good for them; seems like some detox time may be in order for ol’ Cousin Eddie.

We are feverishly planning the trip to Las Vegas for the boys; they leave next week and will accompany a team from Dynasty Spas to the Pool Spa Patio Expo 2010. We are counting on a lot of new folks picking the Pineapple next week! We are working on getting all of our materials ready for the booth, so we will be prepared for any situation. Vegas is always exciting, and I know they’ll have a great time with the Dynasty team.

And that’s not the end of the traveling…last week I told you that trips to Canada, Texas and Vegas were in the works. I come back to find that Nashville, South Carolina and Iowa have been added to the list. Time to put my travel agent hat on! The last couple months of the year are going to be huge for Pineapple, and we are jumping in with both feet. Add that to the San Francisco convention in February, and we have a LOT of stuff going on!

Which leads me to this: we are still looking to fill a part-time marketing assistant position here at Pineapple HQ! Twenty hours a week, a reasonable wage, and a terrific learning experience in a fun environment; who wouldn’t want to work here? If you know of anyone who may be interested, please send resumes to ashley@pickthepineapple.com.

So it was a miserable weekend for Oklahoma football. Whether you prefer orange or crimson, we know you were sad on Saturday. It was rough, especially being homecoming weekend for the Cowboys. But hey, we’ll try again next week. The Cowboys will take on Kansas State on their home turf on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., and the Sooners will challenge Colorado at home at 8:15 p.m. Both games will be televised, so put on your collegiate apparel and get ready to cheer on your team!

And now it’s time for your odd news story of the day, since it’s Monday and we’ve just been through a full moon. A former real estate agent in California was recently found to have been driving around with a dead body in her passenger seat for months. Police discovered the body when they were called about the woman’s vehicle blocking a driveway. When they arrived, they smelled a terrible odor coming from the car, and then saw a foot sticking out from under a blanket in the front seat. When questioned, the realtor initially denied knowledge, then came clean, saying that she had given a homeless woman permission to sleep in her car. The deceased died of unknown causes, and instead of contacting authorities, the realtor continued to cruise around with the body in the passenger seat. Police estimate that the homeless woman had been dead between three and 10 months. I bet she had to buy a LOT of those pine tree air fresheners. Well, enjoy the rest of your Monday, Pineapple fans. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @pineapplead. See you tomorrow!

If you’re unfamiliar, Walkaround is when folks “walk around” (haha, clever) the Greek neighborhood and admire (oooh, aaaah) the house decorations (or “house decs”) that have been lovingly handcrafted by the fraternities and sororities. At the beginning of the school year, when the Homecoming theme is announced, each fraternity is paired up with a sorority. They are homecoming partners, and they come up with a design for the house dec based on the year’s theme. And then…the work begins. Huge rolls of chicken wire are unrolled and welded to huge poles to form the frame. And then each person spends hours upon hours placing tiny squares of tissue paper dipped in glue through the holes in the chicken wire (this is called “pomping”). And somehow, after weeks of hard work (and an all-night pomp session the Thursday night before), the pattern emerges, and you’re able to see what you’ve been doing this whole time come to life. It’s kind of like a giant paint-by-numbers, with glue and tissue paper. A lot of the time, these house decs are really something, and they generally have moving parts. There is a contest to see which houses win, and it’s always a big deal to win the Homecoming house dec competition. But the fun part is on Friday night, when hordes of people are walking past, stopping to admire all of your hard work. It’s a great sense of accomplishment, even if you don’t win. (But that’s usually a better feeling.)

Saturday will be a full day of fun, beginning with the Sea of Orange parade at 9:00 a.m. in downtown Stillwater. A pep rally is scheduled for 11:45 a.m., complete with the Cowboy Marching Band, Pistol Pete and the OSU Spirit Squad, and the Spirit Walk will follow at 12:15 p.m. Tons of places will be offering food for alumni, and of course, there will be plenty of tailgating going on at the stadium.

And then…our #15 ranked Cowboys (6-0, tied for #1 in the Big 12 South with Oklahoma!) will take on #13 Nebraska at 2:30 p.m. at Boone Pickens Stadium. I would like to add that the Cornhuskers have lost their last two games against OSU, in case you were wondering. The Pineapples will be on hand to cheer on our beloved Cowboys, so feel free to find us and say “hello.” We could wear Pineapple shirts and you could play “Where’s Pineapple?” in a sea of orange, but that would be too easy. Homecoming will be a perfect way to cap off a busy week. So we’ll see you in Stillwater, and remember…your commercials suck (unless you’ve Picked Us!).  Have a great weekend, Pineapple fans, and we’ll talk on Monday.

1.) Travel isn’t as easy as 1,2,3

After several months as a Pineapple, I can book the most complicated trip on the planet. When I was first informed that I would be taking over the travel arrangements, I thought, “Sure, that’s easy.” I’ve booked all of my own travel, including honeymoons and a European adventure, and all of my mom’s travel, this would be a piece of cake. Boy, was I wrong. I didn’t realize that one business trip could take the Pineapples to at least four different cities and two countries, in less than a week. Barlow, like anyone, has certain airlines, rental car companies and hotel chains that he prefers. But of COURSE, those are never in the cities that I need them to be in. I already knew that rental cars could sometimes be returned to a different location than where you picked it up. But I didn’t know that they charge over a dollar a mile. Now, that’s just highway robbery!

2.) Media Buying is an Art Form

As you all know, Adam is our media buyer. His job is to negotiate with the reps from the media outlets (TV and radio stations) and get our clients’ commercials in the best time slot, for the lowest amount of money. It’s not a coincidence if your commercial comes on during Monday Night Football or American Idol; that’s someone like Adam, working hard to make that happen so that millions of people see your commercial. If your spot only comes on at three in the morning on a channel nobody watches, nobody is going to see it. Adam is a media-buying Jedi Master, which is just one more reason to pick the Pineapple. (Shameless plug, I know!)

3.) Golf Tournaments are Like Weddings

It’s not a secret that I have planned two of my own weddings. I loved every minute of it, and thought it was fun. When I took on the Nelson Golf Luau a couple of months ago, I felt that golf was a game, and it should be fun and easy to plan. Much to my surprise, the only game to it was the golf that was played that afternoon. It felt strikingly similar to a wedding, when it came down to details like chicken or pork, which color tablecloths, what kind of decorations to have. And all of it was budgeted, just like a wedding. Of course, I didn’t give out prizes for the longest drive at my wedding. All in all, I learned a lot from that event, and I’m ready to take it on next year, and this time I’ll know what I’m in for!

4.) Don’t be a Doormat

I’m basically a shy, quiet person, until you get to know me. Years spent in the military taught me to never volunteer, stay in the background, and agree to whatever you’re told to do. Working with Barlow and Adam has taught me that that’s not real, and it’s not the way to get things done. Although I still don’t like speaking up much in group settings, I’ve learned to speak up when I feel that I’ve done something worthy, something that will help the company or a client. I’ve learned to disagree when I feel that something isn’t right. Working at Pineapple HQ has taught me to stand up for myself and to do the best that I can. I’ve also learned that working with three grown men is much more drama-free than working with 30 high school girls. I’m just sayin’.

5.) There’s a Way to Do Nearly Everything

For a price. But the fact is, there were several instances in the beginning of my Pineapple life when I thought, “Hmm, I have no idea how to do this. I guess there’s no way.” But now I’ve learned otherwise, and as Barlow says, “When you hit a wall, don’t bounce off, just break through it.” So I’m figuring out how to break through, and how to get things done. It’s a terrific lesson, and it is serving me well so far. Barlow is good at not micro-managing; he wants us to learn how to do things ourselves, without holding our hands. It only makes us stronger, which is an excellent thing.

All in all, not only has Pineapple grown as a company in the last several months, I’ve also grown as a person (and not just because of all those peanut M&Ms). Now I just trust that all of us continue to grow together as a team, and we’ll be a basically unstoppable force with a Jedi Master on board. I’m just sayin’.

Have a great day, Pineapple fans, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

So  are you ready to see what we’ve been up to? This morning, Pineapple is pleased to announce the latest, greatest spot for Nelson Nissan, home of The Brand! We are turning more of a tech-savvy direction this time, featuring a new texting campaign. Check it out and let us know what you think.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrThJcJD2h8&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Not only do we have a new Nelson Nissan commercial, we also have a new spot for Dynasty Spas, promoting the World’s Largest Hot Tub Sale. (See, I told you we’ve been busy!) This is going to be a huge event for Dynasty Spas, and Pineapple is very excited to be part of it. (If you live in Tennessee, it’s a perfect time to go pick up a hot tub!) Watch the new commercial below, and tell us your thoughts. We think it turned out very well, and it is definitely the style of the Pineapple: fun, creative and full of energy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FDefQblCqA&fs=1&hl=en_US]

I’ve been up to my ears in travel planning lately. I’m telling you, these boys are constantly on the move, visiting current clients, meeting potential ones and spreading the word about Pineapple. I’m thinking about contacting Southwest and asking that Barlow have his own personal chair continuously reserved. Wouldn’t that make life a little easier for all involved? I know it would make him happy! So far in the next three weeks, tentative trips are in the works for Las Vegas, Canada and Texas, and who knows what else will happen? San Francisco will take place in February, and I guarantee several more frequent-flier miles will be earned before then. Have I mentioned that Southwest is the official airline of the Pineapple? I wish the rest of the airlines would figure out what Southwest already has: it’s not cool to charge for every single peanut and ice cube, and it’s nice when the flights are on time. Since I’m obviously in the Halloween spirit (it’s only a week and a half away, people!) I was thinking about decorations, and of course, jack o’ lanterns are always near the top of the list. I found this really neat slide show with pumpkin decorating ideas (and instructions!). It’s perfect if you’re like me and a.) get really grossed out by pumpkin guts b.) think the smell of pumpkin guts is one of the most revolting scents on the planet or c.) want something a little more classy and unique than a smiling, buck-toothed pumpkin on your porch. I really like the black & white painted ones; let me know if any of you decide to try any of these projects! And even if you don’t, at least check out the pictures; it’s pretty cool, and it’s a good way to kill three minutes of your day. All right, I won’t take up any more of your time. You need a few minutes to watch our new commercials and get some Halloween ideas. Have a wonderful Wednesday, Pineapple fans, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

Tuesdays aren’t as crazy as Mondays, but it still looks like a busy day is in store for the Pineapples. We were off and running while it was still nearly dark outside! Barlow is in his office being creative (as usual), Adam is on a conference call in his office, and I’m up to my ears in invoices, learning the newest part of my job. See why we want to hire someone? If you know anyone that needs a part-time job, and is crazy enough to deal with the rest of us, please send a resume to Ashley@pickthepineapple.com. It’s an awesome place to work, and we would love to have someone new in the mix.

Lori has been working hard for Pineapple Hands, and I think she’s just about to unveil some projects for us. She’s got several ideas in the works, which she presented to us yesterday, and they all sound great. Now she’s just working on the logistics of getting them done in the best Pineapple way. Remember, you can always sign up to be on our volunteer list. Just send Lori an e-mail at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com, and let her know that you would like to be on the list of Very Cool People that Like to Volunteer. There is no pressure to help every time, just when you’re available and interested. So what’s the deal with France? I have seen a couple of snippets on the news the past couple of mornings, and I did a little bit of reading on the subject. It seems that the entire country has lost its mind, because the government is trying to pass a bill that will raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. I read somewhere that they have 35-hour work weeks and one month of vacation per year. Are they really complaining? I know each country is different, but my grandparents are in their 80s and still working, which is sad. I’m sure they would have loved to retire at 62. I guarantee they wouldn’t have thrown a fit over two measly years. The thing that really gets me about the France situation, is that it’s mainly teenagers that are rioting, protesting, looting and just basically causing a big fat mess. Why do the teenagers care? I know when I was that young, I didn’t think about retirement. Honestly, I still don’t. One-quarter of France’s gas stations are out of gas due to oil refinery strikes. Airport employees, train drivers, teachers, postal workers and armored truck drivers that supply ATM machines are all on strike. I feel terrible for all of the people who aren’t on strike, and now can’t work because they don’t have gas in the car. I don’t claim to know anything about politics (I don’t, really) but it just seems that this is a fiasco that has gotten blown way out of proportion. France, please calm down. You really don’t know what a sweet deal you have. Stay dry today, Pineapple fans. Tomorrow promises to be sunny and warm again, so hang in there and remember to be careful out there! See you tomorrow!

We are jumping into another busy week here at Pineapple HQ (I think I say that every Monday!). The new campaigns have officially launched for Rogers Automotive in North Carolina, and for Don Ledford Auto Park in Tennessee, and we’ve got plenty more projects in the fire.

You know the Pineapple Twins are always on the road, right? (You should know, because I always complain about being lonely when they’re gone!) Next up for the boys? Another trip to fabulous Las Vegas in just a couple of weeks. This time, they will be representing Pineapple along with Dynasty Spas, at the Pool Spa Patio Expo 2010. I know they’ll have an amazing time, and meet lots of new folks who are interested in picking the Pineapple. We are still looking for a part-time assistant! The position will be for about 20 hours per week, and will consist of a little bit of everything, from running errands, to helping Adam with media-buying research, to helping me with social networking activities, and a million other things. This is a perfect opportunity for a newly graduated communications major, or maybe someone with a bit of office or advertising experience who only wants to work part time. Please send any resumes or questions to Ashley@pickthepineapple.com. I look forward to hearing from you! At the rate Pineapple is growing, we need to find someone soon, so please help us spread the word.

It’s nearly time for one of my favorite holidays: Halloween! Next weekend is the time for everyone to dress up in their favorite scary, funny or silly costume and celebrate with plenty of candy. I did hear on the news this morning that if your child is allergic to nuts, you should immediately remove all candy containing nuts from his goodie bag before he (or she) starts chowing down. When I was a kid, I remember parents being concerned about razor blades in apples. First of all, that’s just sick, and second of all, I am very particular about my fruit, and wouldn’t eat an apple from a random stranger. In addition, why would I choose to eat an apple instead of a Snickers or a Milky Way? That’s just silly. But peanut allergies are becoming more common and more serious, so be sure to keep your kiddos safe this Halloween. Make sure they carry flashlights, too! I hope it’s warm this year; seems we’ve been lucky the past few years with the weather. Nothing is worse than having a cute costume and then having to wear a coat over it. Anybody have any fun costume ideas? Just to get you in the spirit, here’s a shot of me last Halloween, when I learned that pretending to be pregnant is really hard!Have a fantastic week, everyone! We’ll talk tomorrow!

I would like to make it known that I am the only person in the office that knew it was Boss’s Day. (To be honest, I found out on Facebook first thing this morning.) So I did what any other employee would do; I sent my boss an e-card. Two, actually. And they were pretty funny, in my opinion. No, I didn’t buy my boss a gift. Let me ask you all: did you buy your boss a gift for Boss’s Day? I’m just curious, so I thought I’d ask and take a random poll.

We celebrated the weather and the holiday by having a cookout, Pineapple-style. Barlow and Adam grilled up some mean barbecue chicken and smoked sausage, and we added baked beans, chips and dip to round out the meal. We had a few Pineapple friends come over to hang out with us, and we had a great time. It’s a great warm-up for football tomorrow. Let’s go, Cowboys!

Of course, being that we had some guests, that meant I didn’t really get to have Fabuloso Friday; it ended up being Fabuloso Thursday, which doesn’t sound nearly as good. I didn’t let Adam completely off the hook since he was out of the office yesterday; I made him take out the trash today. I figure he can make it up to me when I go on vacation, and he will get to clean all by himself. I bet he’ll like it so much that he’ll want to help me every week. Nah, I’m not holding my breath. Okay, I was, but then I changed my mind. Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to clean up from the Pineapple picnic. Have a wonderful weekend, and don’t forget to wear your orange! Happy Boss’s Day, Barlow, and all of the other bosses in the world!

It’s been an insanely busy week for the Pineapples. As I mentioned earlier, we are placing in two new markets in North Carolina for the first time, so that’s always a great learning opportunity. In addition to the North Carolina campaign, we are also launching a new campaign for Don Ledford Auto Park in Tennessee. When this happens, there is always a lot to do. Adam and I have been riding the crazy wave the past few days, but everything is set to go, so we are excited about that. No doubt our clients are, too!

Tomorrow the Pineapple People are celebrating Friday with a good old fashioned grillin’ party. We are going to cook up some Polish dogs and baked beans (and Barlow’s favorite, Ruffles and ranch dip) and kick back for a few minutes. It’ll be nice to take a few minutes to catch our breath after the busy week we’ve had, and it will be a great day to celebrate the upcoming weekend (which is supposed to be beautiful, by the way, with temps in the 80s again). And of course, it’s also a perfect way to put us in the mood for football Saturday! Oklahoma State will take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at 2:30 p.m. in Lubbock. Don’t forget to wear your orange and support the Cowboys!

Okay, you’re probably getting the idea that the Pineapples have been really busy lately. That being said, we need to hire an assistant to pitch in around the office. And although it’s insane sometimes, it’s a terrific place to work. It’s a laid-back and fun environment, plus we have a foosball table and endless M&Ms. We are a really cool group of people (yes, I’m including myself) and we would love to see your resume! The position would be about 20 hours per week, with an hourly wage, with a possibility of a full-time position later. Please send any resumes and questions to ashley@pickthepineapple.com.

So how about that Chilean miner rescue yesterday? Was everyone else glued to it like I was? I can’t begin to imagine the relief those guys felt, finally getting out in the fresh air and greeting their families after 69 days. The Phoenix capsule looked incredibly claustrophobic and scary, like a carnival ride out of a nightmare. But it served it’s purpose, and I hear all men are in the hospital for observation, but a few may get to leave as early as today. Here’s what really grinds my gears: on CNN they were announcing a huge party in the town to celebrate. But all of the miners were in the hospital! What kind of a welcome home party is that, if they couldn’t even attend? I also did a little research on the look-a-like flag situation. Since Chile became a country in 1810, and Texas didn’t earn statehood until 1845, it’s starting to look like my home state copied off the Republic of Chile. Bummer.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to tackle my to-do list. Enjoy this gorgeous Thursday and remember, it’s almost Fabuloso Friday! And Adam WILL be helping me clean this week, whether he likes it or not!

We are kicking off two campaigns in the next day or so, in three different markets, so this is a busy time for everyone. Adam is working to place all of the media dollars, and I am working to get the commercials and the “traffic” (which spots to run and how often) to the TV stations. And now you’ve learned an advertising term for the day. We’ve been pumping up these commercials for a few weeks now…are you ready to see them? Yeah, I thought so. First up is Rogers Automotive in Shelby, North Carolina.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2tqOrLYS6A&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Pretty cool, right? Next up are two new spots for Don Ledford Auto Park in Athens, Tennessee, featuring Lauren Ledford.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUPlXi8b_c0&fs=1&hl=en_US]

And one more…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfjJtr4o1M8&fs=1&hl=en_US]

As I said yesterday, the big news of the day (other than the Oklahoma earthquake!) in the world is the Chilean miner rescue. Last night I thought, Wow, wouldn’t it be cool if they would stream that live so everyone could watch? Viewers watched the oil spill mission, and that was entirely underwater. Little did I know that someone is as smart as me and had the same idea, because I was greeted by the newscast this morning featuring the rescue, along with the camera view down in the mine shaft. It’s really interesting, actually, and everything seems to be going smoothly so far, as the crew works on bringing the 17th miner to the surface. The rate of rescue is about one miner per hour, so it’s going to be late tonight or tomorrow before the effort is complete. You can watch the rescue live on CNN.com, where there is a ticker, and also live video.

Now, I’m probably going to sound really airheaded when I say this, but when I saw the first video clip of the rescue, I wondered why there was a large Texas flag prominently displayed. Did anyone else notice that the Texas flag is incredibly similar to the Chile flag? Here’s the Texas flag: And the flag of the Republic of Chile:

And now I’m craving Chili’s. Or chili. Anyway, many positive thoughts and prayers for the miners and the rescue workers as they work to bring all 33 men back to the surface.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone! Back to work for me…and for you! See you tomorrow!

As Barlow mentioned yesterday on our Facebook page, Pineapple is placing dollars in two major markets in North Carolina! Adam loves getting to learn new markets and meet the media reps from different parts of the country. In just a few days, the Rogers Automotive “You’ll Do Better!” campaign will launch, placing the Pineapples in yet another state. Thanks to Rogers for picking the Pineapple! Stay tuned for the premiere viewing of the new commercials.

In just a few weeks, Barlow, Adam and Kiera are heading off to Las Vegas to participate in a hot tub expo with Dynasty, which will be a terrific opportunity. Not only do they get to hang out with the fun Dynasty gang, Las Vegas is always a good time. I will be home guarding the fort at Pineapple HQ, but I expect plenty of updates from the road. Part of the production yesterday involved the Dynasty convention video to play at the booth, featuring Kiera. This convention is addition to the one I’ve been working on for NADA, which will take place in February in San Francisco. My planning is almost complete, so I’m glad for that; it’s a load off my mind!

So I went to see “The Social Network” this past weekend. Of course, like everyone else, I’m obsessed with Facebook, and being that I deal with it for a living, I was interested to know the history of the company. (And of course, who doesn’t want to watch Justin Timberlake on the big screen?) It was a pretty long movie, a little over two hours, but I thought it was great! The whole premise on how Mark Zuckerberg began Facebook is fascinating, not to mention brilliant. Facebook touches the lives of hundreds of millions of people every day, and it got it’s start on a whim one late night at Harvard University. It’s a well-made movie, if you were wondering; I highly recommend it!

Well, tonight is the night…the rescue operation for the Chilean miners will begin! I’m sure those guys are thrilled to get out of there, except maybe the guys who have both mistresses and wives waiting outside for them. More than likely, they will volunteer to be the last ones out. After nearly 70 days spent half a mile under the earth’s surface, seeing the daylight is bound to be a shock to them. I can only imagine how excited they are to be rescued. Somehow, having gifts dropped down a hole and seeing their families via video conferences wouldn’t be the same. The rescue operation is expected to take about 48 hours, and I’m sure it will be all over the news for the next couple of days. Or you can just keep up with the story through me!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off…lots and lots to do today! Enjoy your Tuesday, and we’ll talk tomorrow! 

The Pineapples have a shoot this afternoon, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. You know how much I love production days! We are heading to the studio shortly to shoot the newest commercials for Nelson Nissan and for Dynasty Spas. I’m curious to see what wonderful ideas Barlow has come up with this time. Don’t worry, I’ll take plenty of pictures to show you all tomorrow.

Barlow and Adam have made it safely back from their meetings in New Orleans. They managed to squeeze in some fun activities while they were there, including a tour of Bourbon Street and the OSU football game against the Ragin’ Cajuns. Looks like a great time was had by all, especially since the Cowboys pulled off another win! Several hours before the game, the Pineapples got permission to enter the stadium early to take this photo. The Pineapples are definitely masters of persuasion! It’s still great of all of you to suggest us to your friends on Facebook! We love new fans, and we love getting to share the daily antics of the Pineapple People. So please, let your friends know what they’re missing out on. It may be time soon for a new fan blitz, and you know what that means: free t-shirts! You can also follow us on Twitter @pineapplead for more Pineapple news. We are still looking for a college student to fill an unpaid internship position. So if you, or someone you know, is a college student pursuing a communications degree, please let us know. We would love to find the perfect person to round out the Pineapple People.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend, and that your Monday is going well. Looks like the rain might just hold off (famous last words, right?) for now. See you tomorrow, and remember…your commercials suck. Unless you’ve Picked Us!

Barlow and Adam are still on the road, and from what I can tell, it’s going well. I’m sure they are excited about the OSU game tonight against Louisiana. The Cowboys are on a winning streak this season, and we are eager to see it continue. If you’re not lucky enough to be in Louisiana with the Pineapple Twins to watch it in person, you can catch it on ESPN2; it starts at 8:00 p.m. So put on your orange, click on the tube, and look for the Pineapple Twins on television. And don’t forget to cheer for the Cowboys!

Election time is getting closer by the day. Oklahoma has an impressive ballot this time; it’s one of the longest we’ve ever had. Perhaps most intriguing is the race between Jari Askins and Mary Fallon for the position of Oklahoma’s first female governor. From the commercials on TV (and we at Pineapple pay attention to commercials; it’s kind of our job), you will know that the two main events on the ticket are the governor race and State Question 744. If you skip the commercials or just don’t watch TV, State Question 744 involves our state’s education system and will mandate that Oklahoma spend the same amount of money on school funding as the surrounding states. It seems like a no-brainer, but there’s quite a bit more to it than that. I’ve learned that I really should research the ballot before I hit the polls, and not just go to get the sticker. So I’ve been doing my homework this time, and I recommend that everyone else do the same. And then go to the polls and get your sticker!

On that note, the Naked Cowboy is running for President. I’m not even kidding. The Naked Cowboy aka Robert Burck is a man that plays his guitar in Times Square, while dressed only in briefs, boots and a cowboy hat. Apparently he’s not too happy with the current presidential situation, and he wants to make a change. So he put on a suit, got a haircut,  and announced that he’s running for office. For anyone who’s interested, he’s a Republican from Ohio. I’m shocked to say this, but his platform actually sounds pretty decent. He’s got a lot of ideas, including drug tests for welfare recipients, which I think is great. But I don’t believe he has any political experience, other than an announcement that he was running for mayor in 2009. He dropped out of the race shortly after. I admire his guts (and his ability to put clothes on) but I think this is not going to end well for Mr. Burck.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to clean the office, all alone. Don’t you think Adam should do it all by himself next week? That would be only fair, right? If you agree, let me know! Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the gorgeous weather, and we’ll talk on Monday!

I still haven’t gone to see The Social Network yet, although I really want to, since the subject is right up my alley. I know Adam wants to see it, too; maybe the Pineapple People should take a field trip to the movies, for research purposes. It’s gotten really good reviews so far, and is even claiming some Oscar buzz, so it should be worth it. If anyone has seen it, please let me know what you thought. You could leave a comment on our Facebook page; wouldn’t that be appropriate? We are on Twitter, too (even though that’s not what the movie is about.) But we love our Twitter followers, so if you’d like to be cool, please follow us @pineapplead.

I’m settling into my new office nicely; but man, is there a lot to do! It seems that paperwork is multiplying in the night. Good thing I have amazing organizational skills. I’m learning a lot of new tasks, though, so while it’s more work, it’s keeping me busy and entertained. I’m determined to have the desk completely clear by the time I leave tonight. Think I can do it? I have to…clutter makes me crazy! And I think if I get rid of it, there won’t be any to multiply. I swear, leaving paperwork is like feeding Gremlins after midnight.

Are any of you Sun Chips fans? If so, you’ve probably noticed the new compostable bag. Obviously, they are concerned about the environment, which I think is fabulous. But get this…I saw on the news this morning that Frito-Lay has decided to ditch the new bags, because they are too noisy and it annoys people. The segment on the news featured a reporter visiting various public places with his bag of Sun Chips to see if people were bothered. Well, they were. But the locations included a library and a movie theater. In case you were unaware, food isn’t supposed to be there in the first place. And they are very quiet places. So what I got from that is, Frito-Lay is more concerned with helping people sneak food into the movies than they are about the environment. What do you make of that?

This is the last weekend for the Tulsa State Fair, and your LAST CHANCE to get a doughnut burger for an entire year. I swear, it was delicious, no matter how disgusting it sounds. Even if you don’t try one, there are plenty of other fun food options, such as your classic corn dog or roasted corn (what’s the deal with corn and fairs?), or your more adventurous chocolate-covered bacon or pickle. And of course, there are plenty of stands selling Pineapple Whips, so you should get one and think of your favorite Pineapples. Even if you’re not down for the food, it’s a fantastic opportunity for people-watching. Maybe you’re going tomorrow night and worried about missing the OSU game? Never fear, there are plenty of televisions at the different watering holes that will be showing it. So put on your orange and head to the Tulsa State Fair, and put yourself in a food coma. I promise it will be worth it.

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone. I’m going to dig into my pile of paperwork now. See you tomorrow!

Barlow and Adam are hitting the road again tomorrow. This time, they get to meet with clients in good ol’ N’Awlins. I sense a fun trip ahead of them, in between business meetings. Who doesn’t love New Orleans? If you’ve never been, it’s definitely worth checking out. The city is steeped in history and amazing architecture, delicious Cajun grub, and of course, Bourbon Street, which is a place like no other. The boys are going to try to take in an OSU game while they’re there, so that will be a fabulous time. Let’s hope our Pokes keep up their winning streak. Go, Cowboys!

Barlow has been in creative overdrive lately, and putting the finishing touches on the new commercials for Don Ledford Auto Park and Rogers Automotive. I know we’ve been keeping you in suspense, but I have a bit of good news: The new logos have been released, and you get to see them first! What do you think? Both campaigns are going to be amazing; Don Ledford is launching the $2000 Drive, and Rogers Automotive will be letting their customers know that “You’ll Do Better!” with Rogers Automotive.

I do have one commercial to show you, for Dynasty Spas in Athens, Tennessee…they are getting ready to launch the World’s Biggest Hot Tub Sale of the Year, and we have the brand-new commercial to show you FIRST! Check it out and let us know what you think.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZX7eZojaDQ&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Yesterday the Pineapples decided to head out of the office for a bit and meet one of our pals for lunch at a local Mexican restaurant. It was a nice change of scene, and we always have a blast when we go out and do things as a group. The food was excellent, as was the company. Lori has multiple Pineapple Hands projects in the pipeline, and we are all excited to see what she has planned. Don’t forget to shoot Lori an e-mail at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com if you’re interested in being a volunteer. There is no pressure to make every event; but if you think one sounds interesting and fun, please let us know; we can always use more “helping hands.”  I hope all of you are having a wonderful Wednesday…the weekend is getting closer all the time, when you’ll be able to get outside and enjoy the weather. See you tomorrow!

So I’ve been thinking that I need to take some foosball lessons. Do you think private tutors are available for that sort of thing? I know I can’t count on Brock to help me, since he’s the only person I can beat. I guess I’ll just have to practice on my own, so that one day I can come in and beat Adam and Barlow. Not at the same time; I think that may be too much to ask. But if you know of anyone that offers lessons, please let me know.

The commercials aren’t complete for the North Carolina and Tennessee shoots yet, but we have the logo for Rogers Automotive in Shelby, North Carolina. Are you ready?! Here it is…the first glimpse of the “You’ll Do Better” campaign!

We are also getting ready to launch a new campaign for Dynasty Spas in Athens, Tennessee…it’s almost time for the World’s Biggest Hot Tub Sale of the Year! Check out the tickets that will be given for a chance to win a FREE hot tub, and stay tuned for the official release of the commercial!

I guess that rage knows no age. And maybe you should be careful about doing things that may be considered annoying to others, especially in small spaces, like a shared bedroom, or an office space. (Pineapple HQ isn’t huge….) Anyway, an 81-year-old California man just murdered his 94-year-old roommate at a rehabilitation center. Both men were sharing a room after recovering from hip surgeries. Manh Van Nguyen was singing in Vietnamese, and apparently William McDougall had had enough. McDougall somehow limped his way to the closet, where he retrieved a metal rod, and proceeded to beat Nguyen over the head. Employees tried to prevent the attack, but Nguyen died in the hospital from blunt force trauma. And now, 81-year-old McDougall is in jail on a $1 million dollar bond and faces 25 year to life in prison. What a way to live out your golden years, huh? Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans! Enjoy this beautiful weather, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

So I’ve been thinking that I need to take some foosball lessons. Do you think private tutors are available for that sort of thing? I know I can’t count on Brock to help me, since he’s the only person I can beat. I guess I’ll just have to practice on my own, so that one day I can come in and beat Adam and Barlow. Not at the same time; I think that may be too much to ask. But if you know of anyone that offers lessons, please let me know.

The commercials aren’t complete for the North Carolina and Tennessee shoots yet, but we have the logo for Rogers Automotive in Shelby, North Carolina. Are you ready?! Here it is…the first glimpse of the “You’ll Do Better” campaign! We are also getting ready to launch a new campaign for Dynasty Spas in Athens, Tennessee…it’s almost time for the World’s Biggest Hot Tub Sale of the Year! Check out the tickets that will be given for a chance to win a FREE hot tub, and stay tuned for the official release of the commercial! I guess that rage knows no age. And maybe you should be careful about doing things that may be considered annoying to others, especially in small spaces, like a shared bedroom, or an office space. (Pineapple HQ isn’t huge….) Anyway, an 81-year-old California man just murdered his 94-year-old roommate at a rehabilitation center. Both men were sharing a room after recovering from hip surgeries. Manh Van Nguyen was singing in Vietnamese, and apparently William McDougall had had enough. McDougall somehow limped his way to the closet, where he retrieved a metal rod, and proceeded to beat Nguyen over the head. Employees tried to prevent the attack, but Nguyen died in the hospital from blunt force trauma. And now, 81-year-old McDougall is in jail on a $1 million dollar bond and faces 25 year to life in prison. What a way to live out your golden years, huh? Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans! Enjoy this beautiful weather, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

There is a lot going on at Pineapple HQ this week. We’ve got some new clients, and we are very excited about that. Stay tuned for more details! Brock is teaching me all that he knows, so that I can start handling the day-to-day money functions at the office. Brock is moving out of Pineapple HQ this week (which means I get his office…whoop! whoop!) and will handle the accounting from off-site. We’re going to miss having Brock around every day, but we’ll talk to him a lot (actually, I will probably be bugging him with questions a lot!).

The commercials from the North Carolina and Tennessee productions are in the editing stages, and we can’t wait to see them. We will share as soon as they are complete. We also have quite a bit more production on the way, which is always fun.

“The Social Network”, the flick based on the founding of our favorite social platform, Facebook, launched this weekend to great reviews, easily nabbing the number one spot at the box office. With a smart (true) story, and expert acting from Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale) and Justin Timberlake (Black Snake Moan), it’s sure to continue to be successful. I can’t wait to see it; did any of you see it yet? What did you think? Have a wonderful week, Pineapple fans! Let me know if you go see “The Social Network,” and I promise to do the same!

1. The OSU Cowboys beat Texas A&M last night, during a very exciting (and stressful) game.

2. It’s Fabuloso Friday, which means cleaning the office.

3. It’s October 1, which means there are only 84 days until Christmas.

4. The weekend is almost here, and it’s going to be perfect fall weather.

5. The Tulsa State Fair is in town.

Yes, I know the Pineapples have been giving me a hard time about skipping the OSU game to go to the fair. But I had to find someone that was eating a Krispy Kreme burger, like we talked about yesterday. So I am here to tell you about my mission, and it’s success.

My original goal was to take a photograph with someone that was brave enough to eat one of these concoctions. I decided the best method was to go hang around outside the booth where they were being sold. That was easy. A lady was kind enough to take a picture with me. Unfortunately, she really didn’t get my point, so she was trying to shove it at me while I tried to beat her away. We left the booth, and discussed the completely disgusting nature of the doughnut burger. I guess we talked about it too long, because my brother-in-law piped up with, “I think we should buy one and each take a bite.” Color me intrigued, because I finally agreed, but only if there were no vegetables on the thing. So he ran off and returned with a greasy, sticky, doughy mess. The burger had a ground beef patty, cheese and tons of bacon (he asked for extra, since we didn’t get veggies), between two Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts. The thing was huge, and it was completely sticky. All eyes were on my as I took the first bite (it was my mission, after all!). Cameras were poised to catch my reaction. I was just trying to pick it up so I could figure out how to even fit it in my mouth. Like I said, it was huge! And the verdict…It was delicious. I can’t believe that, I really can’t. I’m not an adventurous eater, and I made fun of the doughnut burger all day before this. But I will eat my words (and a doughnut burger) and say that if you’re at the fair, you should give it a try. I will say that there is no way I could (or would) eat a whole one, because I don’t want to have a heart attack quite yet.

And just to prove that I think about work and my Pineapple People all the time…For all of you that are heading south to the Red River Shootout this weekend, please have a fantastic time, and be safe. And if you want to be really cool while you’re there, wear orange. If you have other plans this weekend, enjoy the weather. You could start your Christmas shopping if you want, since you only have 84 days left. And now it’s time for the Pineapples to clean the office. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and we’ll see you on Monday!

I’m the current black sheep of the Pineapple family, because I’m blowing off the trip to Stillwater to attend the Tulsa State Fair with my family tonight. I know that OSU games are always fun, but I look forward to the fair all year! I missed two years ago when my appendix decided it didn’t like me anymore, and I was bummed for weeks. Cheesy, I know. But there’s something comforting in the fact that the fair is always the same, not to mention the food! I recently heard about the absolute amazingness (is that a word?) of the deep-fried Snickers, and I think I just may have to try one tonight. But I promise I’ll make someone share, and I won’t eat it all by myself. I’ll admit I was a little bit disturbed when I saw the Krispy Kreme burgers on the news this morning. I thought, surely that’s not really what it sounds like. But oh, was I wrong. Hamburger patty, bacon, cheese, and “all the fixins” between two Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Uh, no thanks. That’s one item that I will skip for sure. The sad thing is, the folks chowing down on the news seemed to actually enjoy them. If you go to the fair and eat a Krispy Kreme burger, let me know how it is. Today I am continuing with my NADA convention project. Who knew there was so much to do? We already have everything for our booth, so you would think after you register and get a booth assignment, you would just show up and set up your display. Oh, no, there are a million details that you wouldn’t even think about. You have to rent carpet (which comes in a delightful array of rainbow colors). You have to rent electricity. As if the building doesn’t have electricity. Everyone is trying to make a buck, I suppose. Need Internet? Got to rent it. Perhaps you need a trash can, and someone to empty it for you? You got it, even more rentals. But after all the dirty work is done, it’s a terrific opportunity for some new clients to Pick the Pineapple! Here is a shot of Adam, Kiera and Barlow at last year’s convention in Orlando. Do you remember when Adam posted on our Facebook page about Katy Perry’s guest appearance on Sesame Street? After filming the spot, which featured Perry and Elmo, PBS was flooded with feedback concerning Perry’s revealing top. The scene has been cut from the show, but Perry is reveling in the aftermath. She recently filmed a clip for Saturday Night Live, poking fun at the incident in a roundabout way. Of course, she did lots of bouncing in her very revealing Elmo tee. If you’ve got a few minutes and would like to watch the SNL clip, click HERE. But I don’t want to offend anyone, so if you were upset by the Sesame Street scene, don’t watch.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to learn how to rent carpet. And how to figure out which color to choose! Have a terrific Thursday, and don’t forget to tune in to the OSU-A&M game tonight! And remember to let me know how those Krispy Kreme burgers are. See you tomorrow!

Today will be another busy day here at Pineapple HQ. I’m still working on setting up a social network for a new client, and it’s keeping me busy for sure. Adam is up to his ears in media buying for another new client, and Barlow is still hard at work being creative. Brock is home battling a nasty bug today, so the Pineapple People would like to send him wishes for a speedy recovery.

It’s that time again….NADA! And no, I don’t mean the Spanish word for ‘nothing.’ NADA is a huge convention for the National Automotive Dealers Association. The Pineapples attended last year’s convention in Orlando, and we are prepping to go again. Barlow, Adam and Kiera will be in San Francisco for the event. While it doesn’t happen until early next year, now is the time to make all of the arrangements. I’ve been busy with airfare and hotel reservations, as well as all of the minute details that go along with such a large project. This is a big undertaking for me, since I’ve never done it before, and there are a ton of things to think about. But I’m confident that all will go well. This is a fantastic opportunity for Pineapple; last year’s convention landed us several terrific clients, and we are excited to gain a few more this year. I’ve never been to San Francisco, but I’m sure the gang will take plenty of photographs for me. Maybe I’ll even get a postcard!

All of the Pineapples are excited for the big OSU-Texas A&M game tomorrow night in Stillwater. Let’s cheer for the Cowboys to continue their winning streak! The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at Boone Pickens Stadium. Don’t forget to wear your orange tomorrow! A fun Thursday night game is a great way to warm up for the weekend. Ready for your “Dancing with the Stars” recap? Last night America said adios to Michael Bolton. I suppose that’s all well and good, especially if you have tickets to see him in concert here on Saturday. (I don’t, but hey, to each his own.) I was wondering how he was going to be on tour while also on “DWTS.” Guess he didn’t plan on lasting that long on the show. Also in “Dancing” news, Miss Bristol Palin is in trouble for going to bar after the show to “eat nachos.” Apparently she thought the “Must be 21 to enter” law didn’t apply to her. (Miss Palin is 19.)

And now, for the most awkward clip you’ll see all day. Last night, on “Australia’s Next Top Model,” the host was given the wrong information and announced the winner incorrectly. Humiliating…you have to watch it for yourself.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoMtQJeQ8aI&fs=1&hl=en_US]

On a lighter note, the runner-up was given a free trip to NYC and $25,000 for her professionalism. Not too shabby. The lesson here, always show your best side even in a bad situation, and you just may be rewarded for it.

Well, it’s back to my to-do list; it seems to be growing by the minute! Have a wonderful Wednesday, Pineapple fans.

Barlow is hard at work on new creative for several clients; he’s got his thinking cap on today. No Mickey Mouse ears, though. Adam is putting together some impressive media buys for new clients. He loves getting to learn new markets and making deals. It’s important that the client gets the absolute best package with the best deal, and that’s where Adam shines. There are a lot of working parts to media buying, and Adam knows them all. Brock is in his office crunching numbers, which is what he does best.

Earlier this morning, tragedy unfolded on the University of Texas campus in Austin, as shooting began in the library. At 9:43 a.m., the shooter was confirmed dead on the library’s sixth floor, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound with an automatic weapon. No other injuries have been reported so far, but police are looking for a second shooter at this time, due to conflicting descriptions by witnesses. We pray for the safety of everyone on the campus, which is currently on lock down. People are being told to stay away from the campus, and if already on campus, to stay indoors behind locked doors. For the folks in Austin, I’m sure this brings back terrifying memories of the 1966 shootings by Charles Whitman. Stay strong, Longhorns.

On the West Coast, San Francisco lawmakers are trying to ban toys from McDonald’s Happy Meals if the meal is too high in fat or calories. This stems from a plan to combat childhood obesity. If the meal contains more than 600 calories, the child won’t receive a toy. McDonald’s does offer healthy alternatives to French fries now, such as apple dippers. Juice and low-fat milk are available instead of soda. Personally, I don’t think this is the right way to handle the situation. If your child is obese, don’t frequent McDonald’s. I’m not sure why McDonald’s is the only chain under fire here, since most fast food joints give toys in meals for kids. Don’t feed your kid junk on a daily basis, make them play outside instead of sitting in front of the boob tube, and this more than likely won’t be an issue. I’m just sayin’.

Well, I’m back to my project. Enjoy this amazing weather we’re having today. And your commercials suck. Seriously, they really do. (Unless of course, you’ve Picked Us!)

Barlow is back at Pineapple HQ today, fresh from his Disney world adventure with Lori and the Barlow Babies. All involved had a fantastic time and made plenty of memories. But if you’ve ever been to Disney World as an adult, you know you need a vacation to recuperate from the Disney vacation. The Disney empire requires plenty of walking and waiting in line, bus-riding and park-hopping. But it’s definitely an experience that everyone should have, at least once.

We have a lot going on this week! New commercials from the Tennessee/North Carolina trip are in production, and we can’t wait to see them. We are about to launch a new campaign for a hot tub sale next month, and it’s really cool; we will show you soon! The new Car Country commercial is about to hit the airwaves, in honor of hunting season, which is just around the corner. So keep an eye out for the Credit Cruncher!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W92vaZAzl_E&hl=en&fs=1]

Lori has several new projects for Pineapple Hands in the works; I know she’s working on getting a few things set up. We can’t wait to hear what’s coming next. Don’t forget, if you want to volunteer, please just e-mail Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. She will be happy to fill you in on the newest projects, and we appreciate any Helping Hands you can offer. We are still looking for an intern to spend about 20 hours a week here at Pineapple HQ. It’s an unpaid position, so it’s ideal if you (or someone you know) is a local college student majoring in communication (advertising, marketing, journalism, public relations!). It’s a terrific opportunity to learn how a full-service agency works, plus it’s really fun. So if you know someone, please have them contact me at ashley@pickthpineapple.com. We will be happy to give more information.

And now, your sad news story for the day. (It is a Monday, after all.) Everyone is familiar with Segway scooters, correct? Mall cops ride them, Presidents ride them. Jim Heselden, a British businessman who purchased the Segway company one year ago, was killed over the weekend in a freak Segway accident. Apparently he was out for a ride in the country near his estate, and the scooter went off a cliff. Witnesses reported seeing Heselden’s body fall over into the River Wharfe. While this is an ironic tale, it turns out that Haselden was one of Britain’s leading philanthropists, and very active with charitable events and donations. Our condolences to the Heselden family.

We had a tiny bit of excitement yesterday; we had a runaway dumpster. Our dumpster escaped from its holding place and ran across the parking lot, blocking every car from getting in or out. Adam came to the rescue, pushing it out of the way. (And dumpsters don’t smell good when it’s 90 degrees outside.) So props to Adam for doing a random act of kindness yesterday. Nobody saw him help except for me, so I’ll give him credit. I tried to help him out, but ended up just taking this instead: The Barlows are still having a magical time at the Magic Kingdom. We would like to wish them a safe flight home this weekend! And of course, no lost luggage, and plenty of leg room on the plane. I’m sure we’ll have some fun pictures to show you next week!

Does anyone have any exciting plans for this first weekend of fall, other than watching football? It’s an off week for Oklahoma State, since they take on the Texas A&M Aggies next Thursday, at home. The Sooners are playing in Cincinnati this weekend, which is good, because I’m going to Norman. I didn’t really feel like being in Norman on a home game day; I would need to dress in orange from head to toe to counteract the effects. But I’m guessing it will be fairly quiet since they’re playing out of town.

I saw an interview on Fox Daybreak a few days ago with the reigning teen texting champ, and two other contenders, just before they competed in the LG National Texting Championship. The current winner was defeated, and the new champion is 13-year-old Brianna Hendrickson of Brooklyn. She won by texting a verse of “Old McDonald” in less than 60 seconds. Not only does speed count, but accuracy is important, too. Brianna’s prize? A cool $50,000, and a chance to compete in a charity tournament for another 50k. Not too shabby. But when you think about the fact that Brianna has a $7,000 per month texting bill, that extra cash will come in handy. Now I just wonder this: why in the world haven’t Brianna’s parents opted for an unlimited text plan? But the next time you get on to your kids for texting too much, maybe you should just encourage them to text faster, and maybe they can win some prize money.

Have a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans! Stay safe, and enjoy the beautiful weather. And remember, your commercials suck. Seriously, they really do.

The Barlows are still enjoying quality time at Disney World, and I imagine they’re having a terrific time! I bet the Barlow Babies are over the moon this week at all the cool stuff they get to see. (What five-year-old girl wouldn’t be excited about lunch with the Disney Princesses?)

Brock, Adam and I are holding down the fort at Pineapple HQ, and we’ve got Gen-X radio to help us along. (Kid Rock is currently keeping us company.) We each have our own projects to keep us busy this week, so it’s been fairly quiet around here. We haven’t even played any foosball. We may have to rectify that today. Maybe I can beat Brock again, if I’m lucky!

Well, the Forbes list of the 10 richest Americans has been released for the year. Not surprisingly, Bill Gates comes in first place, at a worth of $54 billion, thanks to his success with Microsoft. His best pal, Warren Buffett, came in second. No surprise there. Four of the top 10 are members of the Walton family, mainly Sam Walton’s children. In addition to the Wal-Mart chain, which has annual sales of about $400 billion, the Walton family also owns the Arvest Bank chain, which is run by Sam’s son, Jim Walton. Today I offer you…the best reason for not living in the middle of nowhere. Five children in Peru have been killed by rabid vampire bats. The reason for the deaths? It takes medical personnel about 15 hours to reach the communities where the children lived. This year alone, 3500 people have been bitten by these bats. And really, they’re quite creepy looking. Maybe someone should invent bat spray. Don’t steal my idea! There are seven days, seven hours and 17 minutes until the opening of the Tulsa State Fair, which runs September 30 through October 10. I’m sure all of you are sick of the jingle, just like I am. What’s your fair favorite? But despite that, I’m still excited. I wait all year for the shish-kabobs, and I guarantee I’m making a beeline for the stand, because I know exactly where it is. I also recently learned about deep-fried Snickers. I’ve heard of them, but never tried one. After the delicious description I heard the other day, I’m fairly sure I’ll try one this year. And I’m fairly certain that’s not on my diet. But I really don’t care!

Have a terrific Thursday, Pineapple fans! Enjoy this first day of fall…hopefully the weather cools off a bit, and gets us in the mood for the fair! See you tomorrow!

Lori has been busily lining up projects for Pineapple Helping Hands. If you would like to be on our volunteer list, please email her at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. No pressure, we will simply contact you when something comes up, and you can let us know if you would like to donate your time to that particular project. It’s a great way to give back to the community, and the Pineapple People can always use extra help!

Well, the radio personalities were right…the Hoff is OFF “Dancing with the Stars.” Guess he should stick to airing his music videos in Germany. I’m not a big fan, but I thought he would last longer than one night! And my personal favorite, The Situation aka Mike Sorrentino, isn’t doing so well, either. I haven’t seen him dance, but I heard that he’s “got the guns but not the ammunition.” Although if any of you iPhone users are also “Jersey Shore” fans, The Situation has developed an app called…you got it, “The Situation.” It will keep you updated with local GTL…gyms, tanning and laundry facilities. It also includes a workout so you can get abs like him. And this little gem can be yours for just $4.99! I’ll wait while you download it.

It’s a big week for television viewers, since it’s premiere week. I caught the first episode of “The Biggest Loser” last night. I’ve only seen probably five minutes of the show in my life, but it was pretty interesting. I just may become a regular viewer. It amazes me at what it takes for these contestants to finally do something about their weight. From what I was able to tell, someone has to die or nearly die before they realize that their obesity is truly affecting people other than themselves. I’m happy that at least some of them are waking up and coming to that realization before it’s too late. So I’ll cheer on my favorite contestants and try not to eat ice cream while I’m doing it. I hope everyone is enjoying the return of all their favorite shows (The Office! The Middle! Modern Family! Cougar Town!), and hopefully discovering some new ones. Just make sure you keep an eye out for your favorite commercials by Pineapple Advertising!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to make some travel arrangements. Enjoy your last day of summer, and your first day of fall! See you tomorrow!

Now, in some odd news…a Kentucky man accused of killing his wife in 2009 is using the caffeine insanity defense. Really? Raise your hand if you drink more than one soda per day. That’s what I thought. Woody Will Smith, 33, is accused of strangling his 28-year-old wife Amanda with an extension cord, and then using it to bind her feet. He used another cord to tie her hands. But his attorney is saying that he had ingested so much caffeine (in the form of soda and diet pills) in the days leading up to the murder, that he was not of capable mind to even plan a murder. One man has walked free in the past on this defense, but it’s very rare. “Caffeine intoxication” can cause nervousness, excitement, insomnia and slurred speech. Bad news for Smith; he tested negative for ingesting any kind of diet pills or energy drinks immediately after the murder. Poor planning. Hmm, the Pineapples could be in trouble, considering the amount of 5-hour energy, Mountain Dew and Diet Dr. Pepper we drink. 

Did I inspire anyone to watch “Dancing with the Stars” last night? I only caught two performances, but of course not the ones that everyone is talking about. Local radio personalities tend to think that Michael Bolton may get the boot (which would be good since he’s playing a concert here in the near future!) or that the Hoff is Off tonight. We shall see! Tune in to ABC tonight to find out who’s going home.

Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans! Let me know what you think about tonight’s DWTS results! See you tomorrow!

It’s another busy Monday here at Pineapple HQ. Barlow and Adam are back in the office after their adventure to North Carolina and Tennessee last week. It was a hectic week of traveling and production, and I know they’re glad to be home. Barlow is especially happy, because he is leaving again in the morning, to take his family on a well-deserved vacation to….Disney World! The Barlow Babies are excited beyond belief, and I think Barlow and Lori are just as pumped. They just aren’t jumping up and down as much as I’m sure the kids are. (At least, they aren’t jumping around in the office.) It’s going to be a magical week for the Barlow clan, and I’m sure Barlow will post some fun photos from the trip on our Facebook page. We all need to see a pic of the whole family in Mickey Mouse ears, right? As you can see, Barlow is ready to head to Orlando!

It was another great football weekend for Oklahoma…except for TU. Sorry, Tulsa fans! OSU was favored to win by seven points, but our beloved Cowboys managed to blow TU out of the water, with a score of 65-28. It was a bit more tense for Oklahoma fans, as the Sooners took on the Air Force. But OU managed to win in the end. I wore my Air Force shirt, but I guess it didn’t help. (For the record, I spent half of the day in an Air Force shirt, and the other half in an OSU shirt.) The Oklahoma State Cowboys continue their home streak on Saturday, taking on the Aggies from Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m.Pineapple Advertising is looking for an intern! If you are a college student, or know someone who is a college student who needs an unpaid internship for credit, please have them contact me at ashley@pickthepineapple.com. We need an extra pair of hands to pitch in at Pineapple HQ, doing a little bit of everything. The best part is, things are different every day, and there is lots to learn. Plus, we’re a pretty darn fun group of people.

Have a wonderful week, Pineapple fans! I’ll talk to you tomorrow! Remember, only 10 days till the Tulsa State Fair! Oh, and your commercials suck. Unless of course, you’ve Picked Us!

Tomorrow is Saturday, which means…FOOTBALL! Our beloved Cowboys will take on the University of Tulsa at 6 o’clock. The Cowboys are expected to win by seven, so I hope that’s the case. That other school that we don’t care for much plays at 2:30, in case you’re wondering. Go, Pokes!

The Pineapple Twins are traveling home today after a long trip to North Carolina and Tennessee. They shot several commercials, and we can’t wait to see the final results. Don’t worry, we’ll be sure to share them with you as soon as they are complete. There are plenty of photos on our Facebook page from the Southern adventure! It seems that all went well, and it looks like everyone had a great time in the midst of all the hard work that was done. I can’t wait to see the finished product!

Being that the Pineapple Twins are still on the road (or in the air, as the case may be), it looks like Brock and I are on our own for Fabuloso Friday. Our cleaning parties are always fun (especially since we have our cool stereo surround sound system now) but nobody is a fan of sweeping and mopping. Maybe Brock and I should play a game of foosball for that task. Although I’ve only managed to beat him one time, so I don’t know how wise of an idea that would be on part. The Tulsa State Fair is just around the corner. You’ve no doubt heard the jingle on the radio, and you’ve probably been walking around humming the Fair Favorite song. The fair is one of my favorite events of the season. Yes, it’s always the same, but there is some comfort in that. I know exactly where my favorite shish-kabob stand is. I know right where to get the best ear of roasted corn, complete with lemon pepper and lime juice. (Yes, that’s how I eat it at home, too. Don’t knock it till you try it.) And my husband is a great sport, because every year I insist on paying some ridiculous amount of money to see the world’s largest pig, or the shortest horse, or…Tiny Tina. I did pay to see Tiny Tina once, and I thought it was terrible. Look for her if you stop at the fair; she’s worth the money. I hope she makes a good share of it. But all of this leads to me this: I just discovered a story about the world’s smallest cow. I think cows are adorable (until they end up on my plate, where they are just delicious) and tiny cows are even cuter. So check this out, and see if you agree that Swallow is adorable. A little cheerfulness for your Fabuloso Friday. Too bad she won’t be at the Tulsa State Fair.

Have an amazing weekend, Pineapple fans! Stay safe, enjoy the warm weather, and we’ll chat on Monday!

Tomorrow is Friday, which is fabuloso, but I guess our cleaning party will be a little smaller, with just Brock and me. Maybe I’ll get a jumpstart on that today. Somehow I would feel mean postponing it until the boys got back; I’m pretty sure the last thing anyone wants to do after traveling all day is clean. I will just make Brock work twice as hard (insert evil laugh here).

Do you know of any college students that are looking for an internship for credit? Pineapple is looking for an intern! That’s right, we need a student for 20-30 hours per week who would like to learn more about all aspects of working at a supercool, hip, full-service advertising agency. We may even let him or her play foosball with us occasionally. But only if they deserve it. And if they’re a worse player than me. I need to win more than once in my life. Contact me at Ashley@pickthepineapple.com if you have any ideas, or if you’re interested. I mean, look how fun we are! Who wouldn’t want to intern here?

Back in June, I wrote about 15-year-old Josie Ratley, the Florida teen that was savagely beaten by a male acquaintance over a text message. If you don’t remember that, the blog is HERE. Now that your memory is refreshed, today I have an update for you. It’s been six months since the vicious attack, and Josie is making strides. After being in a drug-induced coma and undergoing three brain operations, she is slowly improving. Physically, she looks great, like any other typical teen. But her brain was severely scrambled, and she has been working with a cognitive therapist, learning the basics like the alphabet, all over again. The boy that attacked her, 15-year-old Wayne Treacy, is being tried as an adult for attempted murder. It didn’t seem that teens were that cruel when I was in high school. But the technology that is available to the population these days seems to cause a lot of trouble. If you would like more in-depth information on Josie, you can watch this piece from the Today show HERE. Happy Thursday, Pineapple fans. Hope you have a terrific day, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

The Pineapple Twins made it safely to Charlotte yesterday. I received word from Adam last evening that he successfully made it to all four of his flights (sorry, pal), and the ridiculously large signs for the commercial that he had to carry on made it one piece, as well. They’ve got an amazing hotel room set up as Pineapple HQ on location, and the shoot for Rogers Automotive in Shelby kicked off successfully bright and early this morning. And tomorrow? It’s time for the boys to make a road trip to Tennessee. Keep up with the adventures via our Facebook page.

Remember the Nigerian man who attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day? His trial is currently going on, and he’s in big trouble. The main reason for this, in my opinion, is that he decided to fire his attorneys and represent himself. Everyone knows that courtroom suicide. Or I thought everyone knew that! The other thing that caught my attention on this case is that the bomb was in his PANTS, and therefore he has been dubbed the “Underwear Bomber.” Just because of that, I bet he wishes he could use his bomb-making skills to build a time machine and change his mind about the whole plan. I’m sure criminals who are notorious enough to earn nicknames in the press really wish they could choose their own moniker. BTK did it, and I think the Zodiac Killer may have, as well. Bottom line, the Underwear Bomber (snort) is almost certainly doomed to a life behind bars.

Well, after months of speculation about the collapse of American Idol, it seems that all three judges are now firmly in place. Rumor has it that Jennifer Lopez has indeed signed a $12 million, one-year deal with the hit show. She rounds out the trifecta of judges that also includes Randy Jackson and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. A couple of months ago, it was rumored that J-Lo’s demands were ridiculous, thus forcing producers to look elsewhere for a third judge.  “It was suggested that Lopez was holding out for a Fox contract that included development deals and movie options, but People reports she simply settled for the $12 million.” Simply settled for $12 million? Really? What a kind gesture on her part. I’m not a huge fan of either of the new judges, but I will continue to watch, because it’s a habit by now. And without Simon, it may be the last season. And that’s huge. (Okay, not really, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.) According to “Rolling Stone” the judges will be officially announced in early October. I hope that all of you have a wonderful Wednesday. And if you want to stop by Pineapple HQ and eat M&M’s and watch “Jerry Springer” with Brock and me, the party starts at 2 p.m. Have a great day, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

Barlow and Adam are off to North Carolina today. We expect plenty of interesting updates from the road! Check our Facebook page to see what the boys are up to on their travels. Adam gets to see a total of four airports today, and everyone knows airports are great for people-watching. Who knows what he’ll run into? The Pineapples left behind wish them a safe journey and a smooth production.

While we here at Pineapple pride ourselves on being the best advertising agency around and we are on the cutting edge of the latest trends, there is one direction we aren’t planning on taking any time soon. Wonderbra is launching a 3-D billboard in London, featuring Brazilian model Sabraine Banado. Now, you have to wear 3-D glasses to experience the full effect, and who keeps 3-D glasses in their car? I mean, you’re driving along and think, “Ooh, here comes the Wonderbra billboard! I need to put on my 3-D glasses!” Doubtful. Even without the glasses, the billboard will be very distracting. And in this age of cell phones, iPods, and excessive texting, drivers have enough distractions without a hot girl in a bra to distract them. Curious about this latest ad? Click HERE to see it. (Wow, I just heard a hundred simultaneous mouse clicks from all of my male readers!) In related billboard news, I did see one yesterday that I thought was pretty neat. (Of course, this is before I found out about the  3-D one.) It was a billboard for the Broken Arrow wine tasting, and it showed a wine glass filling up. I was amazed. Then again, I am easily entertained. Three cheers for technology.

Let’s move on from billboards to television, shall we? It’s time for a trivia question! What are the three most-used words on TV this year? Here’s a hint: last year’s words were “Michael Jackson”, “Twitter” and “vampires.” Ponder on that for a moment, and let me know what you think! Another hint: one of this year’s words stems from one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Just imagine some hair gel and the beach.

Well, Pineapple fans, do your best to stay dry today. Don’t forget to check in for Pineapple travel updates! See you tomorrow!

The day before production, especially one that’s out-of-state, is always a busy one. We are all busy trying to wrap up loose ends, make sure all of the props are ready to go, and basically prepare for any events that are out of the ordinary. My to-do list for this dreary Monday is VERY long! But while it’s a stressful day, it’s always more fun to be busy, and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with crossing every single item off the list. So I may be running around like my hair’s on fire, but I’m not pulling it out, so that’s something positive. The two new commercials are going to be amazing, with Barlow’s creative genius at work. It’s always interesting to work with a new client, and we are excited to get to know the Rogers family better. And working with the Ledfords is always a great time!

Barlow with the women of Rogers Automotive

Barlow with Michelle & Don Ledford

Did everyone have a good weekend? Football season is back in full swing, and it was a wonderful weekend for the Cowboys, so all of the Pineapples are happy. I’m sure Sooner fans are relieved after the colossal win over Florida State. All in all, it was a good day for Oklahoma schools. Next on the schedule for our favorite team? It’s the Cowboys versus the Golden Hurricane. Kick-off is Saturday at 6 p.m. Don’t forget your orange!

The two newest commercials for Car Country, featuring the Credit Cruncher, are complete! If you missed the posting on Friday, you can watch them HERE and HERE. The first one is announcing that a brand-new location has opened in Bartlesville, and the second will definitely get you in the mood for hunting season, which is right around the corner. Check them out and let us know what you think!

And now, a fun little video for your Monday. Everyone loves Pac-Man, right? Even Google celebrated the famous video game’s 50th birthday recently on its homepage, allowing employees all over the world to play Pac-Man for free. Check out this cool student project involving 111 kids in an auditorium. The students spent four hours “playing” the game using stop-motion techniques. The end result was pretty neat. Well, it’s back to my to-do list. I hope all of you have an amazing week! See you tomorrow! P.S. Does anyone know how Michael Bolton is going to take a break from Dancing with the Stars to perform at the Hard Rock? Does he just plan on getting eliminated really early?

]]> http://www.pickthepineapple.com/2010/09/pre-production-pineapples/feed/ 0 http://www.pickthepineapple.com/2010/09/nine-reasons-to-love-the-pineapple-people/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nine-reasons-to-love-the-pineapple-people http://www.pickthepineapple.com/2010/09/nine-reasons-to-love-the-pineapple-people/#comments Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:57:13 +0000 Ashley http://pickthepineapple.wordpress.com/?p=678 Happy Friday, Pineapple fans! It looks like mean Hermine has finally made her way out of Oklahoma. Today is going to be a sweltering, heat advisory type of day, which is what we’re accustomed to having. But at least it’s not raining anymore. Rainy days always tend to be so depressing; it’s much easier to be happy when it’s sunny. And to top it all off, it’s FRIDAY! I know it’s been a short week, but Friday is always fun. Plus, we get to have our weekly cleaning party!

Today we are working on getting all of the loose ends tied up for the North Carolina/Tennessee production journey next week. I would much rather have everything ready to rock and roll before the gang leaves on Tuesday. It’s easier for my sanity’s sake! At least I got the airfare all taken care of, so I don’t have to make any more phone calls to the people who are in charge of the friendly skies. (Or the folks at Expedia, who take an extremely long time to make a simple reservation.) Make sure to check our Facebook page next week for updates from the road!

There are several reasons to Pick the Pineapple for your advertising needs. Obviously, we’re the best, but there’s more to it than that. I would like to share with you some of the reasons why I think you should Pick Us.

We like to wear funny hats. And all of the Pineapples wear many hats when it comes to making our agency a success. We all pitch in as a team and help each other out, whether it’s for production, media buying, social networking, creative strategy, or even cleaning. Except the accounting business; we leave that to Brock.We have a good time. Pineapple HQ isn’t your typical office, that’s for sure. We have been blessed with an amazing workspace, and we can’t just let that foosball table sit there and get dusty. Plus, it’s a great way to blow off steam or to get our creative juices flowing again.We are well-read. Each of the Pineapple People is expected to be an expert in his (or her!) field. We all strive to be the very best at what we do, and that comes from studying and learning everything we can about our business. We know how to use kitchen utensils. And we are on the cutting edge of the latest trends in advertising. (Okay, that was cheesy, but I love puns; I couldn’t help it.) The Pineapple People are definitely a team. We’re all friends, which makes the work environment that much better. And we like to celebrate one another’s birthdays. We work hard. I know it looks like we spend a lot of time playing foosball, but we truly work a lot. Our team puts in a lot of hours at Pineapple HQ and on the road, and several places in between. So while we do play hard, we work hard, too. We always keep our chins up. Something might happen to throw a project off track, or cause a delay, but we always find a solution to the problem. We make it a point to deliver nothing but the best to our clients. So while we may be down for a moment or two, we always bounce right back. The Pineapple People are winners. We work hard to be the best at everything we do, because we expect nothing less of ourselves. And our clients expect the best, so that’s what we give them every single time. And the number one reason to Pick the Pineapple….we proofread! Joe Cooper didn’t Pick the Pineapple! Have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend. Stay safe, and we’ll see you on Monday!

It’s going to be another busy day at Pineapple HQ. We are working on arranging a huge production that will take place next week in North Carolina and Tennessee. So not only is Barlow up to his ears in new creative, I am working on the excessive travel plans. And of course the airlines never seem to cooperate with me! I spent literally 30 minutes on the phone with Expedia yesterday; does that seem ridiculous to anyone else?

If you read yesterday’s blog (which I’m sure you ALL did!) you know that I wrote about Ted, the black lab that was stolen along with a truck in Broken Arrow. Well, blog reader Trisha sent me an e-mail yesterday to let me know that Ted has been rescued! He was found by a woman at a Tulsa apartment complex, safe and sound. The truck was found nearby. Three cheers to the good Samaritan, and many thanks to Trisha for reporting the good news!

Do we have any chicken wing lovers in the house? Buffalo wings are one of my all-time favorite foods; luckily there is a Wing Stop near my house, which is my favorite. I always finish before my husband (even though he always says he wasn’t trying to race). Well, neither was I, but I’m just faster. But a Virginia woman named Sonya Thomas just defeated America’s number one competitive eater (and it’s not Kobe the hot dog king!) in a wing-eating contest in Buffalo. Thomas beat Joey Chesnut, eating 181 wings in just 12 minutes. That’s pretty impressive, if you ask me! Be safe while out driving today…remember, turn around, don’t drown! Operation Slick Streets is in effect, so go slowly! Don’t forget about the Bluegrass & Chilifest kicking off today in Claremore at 4 p.m. See you tomorrow, Pineapple fans.

It’s going to be a busy day at Pineapple. We all have multiple irons in the fire, just the way I like it. Barlow has been in hard-core creative mode, and Adam is working on gathering market research for several new markets that are interested in Picking Us! And of course, I’m sure that Brock will want to have a foosball rematch; otherwise, he will never live down yesterday’s loss. Maybe I should refuse and just hold on to that sweet sense of victory.

One Tulsa man had a terrible Labor Day weekend. Dr. Khris Keller walked inside the QT at 81st and the Broken Arrow Expressway on Sunday afternoon. When he left the store, his truck was gone and with it, two dogs in crates in the bed of the truck. One of the dogs was Ted, a black Labrador Retriever, who is Keller’s constant companion. Hopefully local law enforcement officials can quickly locate the thief and rescue the two dogs. Keller isn’t concerned about the truck; he just wants his dogs back, and is offering a $1000 reward to anyone that finds Ted. If you have any information, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Need a dose of family fun this weekend? Claremore is proud to host the 31st annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival at the Claremore Expo Center. The event kicks off tomorrow at 4 p.m., and will run through Saturday night. Parking admission is just five dollars per carload, and then all of the concerts are free. There are several great acts this year, including Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Grascals, and many more. In addition to the music, there is plenty of food (think of it as a practice run for the Tulsa State Fair), a car show, an antique tractor pull, singing competitions, and the Mid-America Regional Chili Cook-off. Even if you’re not into bluegrass music, it’s a really good time, so bring your lawn chairs and come hang out in Claremore. I will be making a beeline for those fried potatoes made with a drill…those are my FAVORITE. I also see a corn dog in my near future. Pineapple fans, please do your best to stay dry today. Keep those umbrellas handy and we’ll talk tomorrow! And one other thing…Your Commercials Suck unless you’ve Picked Us!

Speaking of football, how about those Cowboys? The official team of Pineapple is off to a terrific start, and we’re all ecstatic about it. In case you were too busy on your boat this weekend to keep up, OSU defeated Washington State 65-17. The Cowboys will take on the Troy Trojans this Saturday at home; kick-off is at 6 p.m. Orange POWER!

It’s going to be a busy week here at Pineapple HQ. Personally, I’ve got several projects to work on, especially since we have officially launched our Canada client’s campaign. I’m learning a lot about our neighbor to the north. It’s amazing how different the cultures and lifestyles are for two countries that border each other. Barlow is spending the day in a creative cocoon, coming up with more of the brilliant ideas that make Pineapple the best!

Hurricane Earl seems to have moved on his way. Fortunately, he caused much less damage than was expected. After hitting North Carolina, he moved northward, striking the Canadian coast on Saturday. While he didn’t make a huge mess, there are 200,000 thousand folks in Nova Scotia without power. Of course, now we’ve got Miss Hermine beating the tar out of Mexico and the Texas coast. Flooding is expected to be a serious issue, after they receive the foot of rain that is expected. If it’s not one thing, it’s another, right? We’re already feeling Hermine’s effects here, in case you haven’t noticed. Green Country has rain expected today, and it’s ridiculously muggy outside. At least we had good weather for the weekend!

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m heading back to my to-do list for the day. Have a terrific day, and remember, even though it feels like Monday…it’s not! See you tomorrow!

It’s going to be a great day…not only is it Friday, it’s a Friday before a holiday weekend. Even as adults, it’s easy to be excited about that, right? Does anyone have any exciting Labor Day plans? The weather is supposed to be beautiful, and not a zillion degrees, which is refreshing. (I’m sure the construction crew next door is ecstatic about this!) My husband and I are taking the concealed carry class this weekend, which should be fun, although I’m a bit nervous. I hope the test isn’t too hard! And then it’s off to the lake for some sun and fun. And of course, all of the Pineapple People are excited about the first OSU football game tomorrow. Go, Pokes!

Hurricane Earl has finally hit land, as expected, but has downgraded to a Category 2 storm, which is a relief to East Coasters. Earl is headed northward, and seaside communities there are under hurricane alerts. And although many families have canceled weekend beach vacations, the surfing crowd is happy; usually waves such as these are only found in Hawaii and other far away beaches. A hotel manager in Montauk, New York, has said that while many reservations have been canceled, he has received several calls inquiring about vacancies from brave souls who want a front row seat to Mother Nature’s fury. All I can say is, I think this is one of the few times in my life that I can safely say I’m glad I don’t live on the beach.

For those of you who are staying close to him this weekend, are you planning a cookout? It will be a perfect weekend for it, what with the amazing weather, and plenty of football on television to keep your guests entertained. I’m sure you’ll be grilling up the traditional burgers, chicken and hot dogs, but here’s a recipe for an appetizer that sounds delicious. I hope to find time to make it myself. Click HERE to find out how to make Jalapeno Poppers with Crab Meat and Corn. If you make them, let me know how they turn out! I’m getting hungry just reading the recipe. And of course, a cookout wouldn’t be complete without a pineapple! Click HERE for the recipe for Spit-Roasted Pineapple. Yum!

Well, Pineapple fans, it’s time to start our cleaning party. Brock and I are going to pump up the jams and play a rousing round of “Name that Tune.” I wish all of you a safe and FUN Labor Day weekend. See you on Tuesday!

“Well, college football season is almost upon us (according to the countdown clock on OrangePower.com, 2 days, 7 hours, and 26 minutes until OSU kicks off in Stillwater against Washington State), and I thought I’d give a few of my thoughts on the upcoming Oklahoma State football season:

The big question, in my opinion, is how effective our new offense will be under first-year Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgerson. In no way am I questioning the system itself – it has proven effective at two different schools that Dana has coached at. Additionally, I am very excited about our new QB, Brandon Weeden – he has a rocket for an arm and seems to be very poised and composed under pressure. The only question mark for me is the ability for our young and inexperienced wide receiver corps to make the plays necessary to pump up this offense to fullest potential. As far as I’ve seen, we don’t have a true “go-to” receiver like we have had in recent years (Dez Bryant, Rashaun Woods, Hart Lee Dykes, etc.)…but the good thing is, this system really doesn’t need an amazing, NFL-caliber wide receiver to be effective – it just needs fast, experienced and smart guys who can CATCH THE BALL when it is thrown to them.

Barring any more major injuries (which could be devastating since we are already thin at several positions), I’m not too concerned with our defense. Defensive coordinator Bill Young seems to always have an answer for the opposing offense, and he’s done a great job molding and forming the talented guys that we’ve recruited on defense the last couple of years.

Provided Brandon Weeden and Kendall Hunter stay healthy, I predict our record will be 8 – 4, landing us a school-record fifth-straight bowl game appearance.”

Thank you, Brock! He sounds like he knows what he’s talking about, doesn’t he? I feel like men are just naturally ingrained with sports knowledge. Oh, well, we know how to apply make-up and exfoliate.

Pineapple fans, have a like, totally awesome and rad “90210 Day.” It’s going to be like, totally great. See you tomorrow!

Barlow is still in North Carolina, encouraging potential clients to Pick Us! We wish him a fantastic trip and a safe journey. Keep up with our Facebook page for updates on his adventure. Unfortunately, Hurricane Earl is gearing up for a possible landfall on the East coast, namely North Carolina. Hopefully it will fizzle out before reaching the coast. It’s possible that it will turn back toward the east and head back out to sea.

Hurricane Earl is following Hurricane Danielle, and Fiona is following close behind. Have you ever wondered who is in charge of naming hurricanes? Personally, I have. It’s obvious that the sex is alternated between each storm. So let’s learn something new, shall we? Hurricanes have been named for a few hundred years. In the Caribbean, storms were given names based on Roman Catholic saints. When meteorologists decided that naming storms was indeed a good idea, they tried naming them by latitude and longitude coordinates. Obviously, this was tricky and confusing. So during World War II, someone got the bright idea to name storms with female names. (Hmm, wonder what THAT reasoning was!) In 1979, male names were added to the list. There are six lists of names currently in rotation, and a new list is used every year. After six years, the first list is used again. Letters Q, U, X, Y and Z are never used. However, after massive storms that cause major catastrophe, the name can be retired for sensitivity reasons. For example, there will never be another storm named Katrina, Rita or Ike. Why all of the foreign names? Hurricane names can be English, Spanish or French, because hurricanes tend to occur in the Atlantic where all of these languages are spoken. I hope that everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday. I know you’re all gearing up for the long Labor Day weekend, but get some work done, okay? We’ll talk tomorrow!

It’s a quiet morning here at Pineapple HQ. I think everyone is still sore from the golf tournament on Sunday. I am, and I can’t figure out what I did, other than run around like crazy all day. I didn’t do any of the heavy lifting like Brock and Charles did. It’s just one of life’s great mysteries, I suppose.

Barlow is on his way to North Carolina this morning to visit with a potential client. We wish him a safe journey, short lines at the airport, and a comfortable hotel bed. We’ll find out shortly if North Carolina is ready to Pick the Pineapple! Stay tuned to our Facebook page for travel updates from the Big Pineapple!

Do we have any Pineapple fans that are also fans of Dancing with the Stars? I’ve personally caught maybe 10 minutes of the show EVER, but it’s always fun when the names of the season’s dancers are released. If you haven’t seen it yet (drumroll, please!), the contestants for the new season are:

Michael Bolton

Personally, I celebrate the man’s entire catalog. To me, it doesn’t get any better than when he sings ‘When a Man Loves a Woman.’ Brandy

Where in the world has she been? Moesha got canceled nine years ago. Margaret Cho

I must admit, although the name was a tad familiar, I had no idea who this person was. Apparently she’s a comedienne. “Her performances have been seen by millions around the world.” Um, not by me. But good luck to Margaret. Rick Fox

Again, I didn’t know who he was. This could be because I’m not an NBA fan, and although his list of television and movie appearances is impressive, I’ve never seen any of them. So we’ll move on now. Jennifer Grey

“Nobody puts Baby in a corner!” Now this makes me happy! Jennifer Grey has been out of the spotlight for a while, after shooting to fame with hits such as “Dirty Dancing” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Rumor has it that a botched nose job messed up her career. Not because it looks bad, but just because she doesn’t look like herself anymore. I think she’ll definitely have a leg up, since she’s got all of that “Dirty Dancing” experience under her belt. David Hasselhoff

“Don’t Hassel the Hoff!” Oh, yeah, this should be entertaining. Although he used to be an attractive man, I just do not see the fascination. Germany is obsessed with this man, but I think his music and videos are absolutely ridiculous, although funny. Want proof? Click HERE. Hasselhoff was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most watched TV star in the world. What?! I bet he would be a good dancer, though, as long as he can stay sober and he can keep his cheeseburger addiction under control. Florence Henderson

It’s Mrs. Brady, “America’s Favorite Mom!” Who doesn’t love Carol Brady? I picked up a couple of fun facts about “The Brady Bunch” while researching for this blog: “The Brady Bunch” was only on for five seasons (seems like it would have been longer!) and it has never been off the air in the USA. Ah, such a feel-good show. Ms. Henderson has maintained a high level of professional success as a spokesperson for a zillion different products, and now serves as a motivational speaker. Kyle Massey

Another mystery for me. Then I realized that he is a Disney star. Although I admit to watching numerous episodes of iCarly, thanks to my niece and nephew, I have never watched “That’s So Raven” because I have an intense dislike for Raven-Symone. Bristol Palin

Ah, Bristol. Probably the only teenager in the world to get pregnant, engaged, unengaged, re-engaged, and then un-engaged again, and to announce each event on the cover of a national magazine. Audrina Patridge

Okay, I admit it, I watch “The Hills.” It’s a guilty pleasure, go ahead and laugh. And while a beautiful girl, Audrina is my least favorite. She just seems so…airheaded. (I know I sound like that now;  it’s “The Hills”, for crying out loud.) But still. But she is in great shape, so she may be a good contender. Her ‘ceiling eyes’ bug me, though.Kurt Warner

Okay, I have already admitted that I’m not an NBA fan, so I guess this is where I say that I’m not an NFL fan, either. Kurt Warner is the first quarterback to participate in “DWTS.” That’s all I’ve got…sorry. But you can click on any of the contestant’s names for more information.And now for my personal favorite…

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino

Yes, I watch “Jersey Shore.” Now that we’ve got that out in the open, I think The Situation will be a fabulous contestant! Yes, he’s arrogant, yes, he’s too tan and used entirely too much gel, but he does have an amazing body, and he’s in fantastic shape. I wish lots of good luck to Mike. He’ll probably get a significant amount of votes from women, because “Ladies Love The Situation!” So what do you think about this season’s line-up? The season premiere will be on September 20. I just might watch it this time. Until American Idol starts again, and then I don’t know what I’ll do!

Lori has been busy working on upcoming projects for Pineapple Helping Hands. Don’t forget to contact her if you are interested in being a volunteer. No pressure, no commitment, you just participate when you’re able. Contact her at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com for more information. Or if you know of any potential projects, please let her know! For all of the latest information on the goings-on of the Pineapple People, be sure to fan us on Facebook, and to follow us on Twitter @PineappleAd. Stay cool, and we’ll chat tomorrow!

The Pineapple People all came early to help set up and achieve the luau atmosphere. We had a delightful setting on the back patio at Emerald Falls. Entertainment was provided a hula dancer, a steel drum band, and a fire spinner. That’s right, a fire spinner! Not too common in Oklahoma, but he did a great job. See below for some of our entertainment photos! We had a grass-skirted table all ready for registration…and you can see little Zoe supervising the situation.After registration, guests were invited to participate in our prize raffle. We had some excellent prizes for giveaway, including a putter, a driver, a gorgeous golf bag (congrats to Mason Gist!) and plenty of gift certificates that were kindly donated by our sponsors. As you can see, our prize table was quite festive as well! After registration and a good look at the prizes, our guests indulged in a delicious feast of Hawaiian pineapple-infused pulled pork, corn on the cob, pasta salad, fruit and honey wheat rolls. After the guests were seated, they were served pina coladas by Kiera and Lori. Girls, you did a great job! Thank you! After lunch entertainment (led by Barlow, our Chief Pineapple), four names were drawn. The four gentlemen selected then each took a turn (with a pink ball!) trying to get closest to the pin. The winner received our largest prize, a gorgeous tile-inlaid fire pit! See the winning shot of the contest below! Congrats to Grant Wilburn! Enjoy your fire pit!The golfers then teed off, and the competition was on! On the third hole, Klondike ice cream bars were available for those who wanted a cool dessert. Guests could watch our hula dancer while enjoying a delicious ice cream treat, given out by Lori and the Barlow Babies. The real fun, however, was on the 16th hole, manned by Charles. After the entire team teed off, the worst drive had the privilege of donning a grass skirt and a coconut top, and having their photograph taken. Photographs were then printed and provided to the golfer as a souvenir. You can see all of the winners (losers?) HERE. After the tournament, the prize raffle was on! Mason Gist was a lucky winner, claiming two prizes. Congratulations to all of our winners. The Pineapple People would like to thank everyone for participating in a wonderful afternoon of golf, camaraderie, and fun. We sincerely hope that all of you had a wonderful time. It was a good way to end the weekend, and to begin the work week. I hope that everyone is having a good Monday, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

You know what day it is, right? Fabuloso Friday, of course! The Pineapple People have a cleaning party at 10 a.m., and we are all going to pitch in and make Pineapple HQ sparkle. Being the only female in the office, I have to be tough and get these boys to pitch in and help. A tough job, but someone’s got to do it!

This Sunday is the Nelson Golf Luau 2010 at Emerald Falls in Broken Arrow. It’s time to purchase all of the odds and ends that need to be taken care of still. So today I get to go out and do what women love…SHOP! Personally, I can’t think of a better way to spend my Friday. It’s going to be a great day! I’m really excited about the tournament, too; I think golf tournaments are a blast, and working them is great, because you don’t have to keep score. If you know me at all, you know that I am a huge animal lover. I get sad when I see bundles of trash in the road, because my vision isn’t that great, and I always think it’s a dead animal. I can’t even tell you how many times my husband has laughed at me for saying, “Awww, how sad!” and then he points out that I’m sad about a bag of laundry or something on the highway. Animals really touch my heart; I can’t even go to the pound without tears being shed. That being said, I was seriously angered when I saw THIS on the news yesterday. Luckily, the kitty was found 15 hours later, and is fine. But the messed-up part of this situation is that the lady that did it now has police protection outside of her home because she’s scared of what people might do to her. If you’re going to do something like that, you deserve what you get, in my opinion. The cops need to be arresting her for animal cruelty, not protecting her! Perhaps throwing her in a dumpster might be a fair punishment. If you’re mad right now like I am, watch THIS to make your day a little brighter.

Well, Pineapple fans, it’s time for me to get geared up for my day of cleaning and shopping. I hope that everyone has a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend. If you’re looking for something fun to do with the family, take a trip out to Claremore to see the world-famous DockDogs! The event begins on Saturday morning at the Claremore Expo Center and will be a lot of fun. Check out a sample of what these dogs can do HERE. Have fun, Pineapple fans, and we will chat on Monday! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @PineappleAd, and suggest us to your friends on Facebook!

Have you heard about the miners trapped in Chile? I heard bits and pieces on the news recently, but I finally did some true reading about the story this morning. A group of 33 miners were the victims of a mine collapse in northern Chile. Of course, mining accidents rarely have happy endings, so the world was stunned when on Sunday, 17 days after the incident, it was discovered that all 33 miners were indeed alive. Now comes the bad news…for various reasons, they probably won’t be rescued for four more months! (I’m hoping it’s sooner than that; look at the China traffic jam.) The men were told that there was no way they could be rescued before mid-September, and they were hoping to get them out by Christmas. Can you imagine, being trapped underground for that long? What a nightmare. I pray that they all stay healthy and get rescued soon! Don’t forget to “Like” our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @PineappleAd. I hope everyone has a terrific Thursday! Stay cool, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

The Pineapples are having a busy week; it’s always a bit crazy toward the end of the month. In addition, we are preparing for the Nelson Golf Luau 2010 on Sunday afternoon at Emerald Falls. It’s going to be a great tournament! If you are not a Nelson employee but love golf and would like to participate, you still can! For just $100 per person, you’ll get a round of golf at beautiful Emerald Falls in Broken Arrow, as well as a delicious lunch, and plenty of fantastic entertainment. We are also looking for volunteers, if you don’t have any major plans! The tournament kicks off at 12:30 on Sunday, beginning with lunch. If you are interested in playing or volunteering, please contact us on our Facebook page, or e-mail me at Ashley@pickthepineapple.com. Now, everyone knows that all of Tulsa is under construction, and we all complain about it every day. But at least we don’t live in China, where folks have been stuck in a traffic jam for TEN DAYS. Yes, that’s right. The jam stretches for 60 miles, and vehicles are at a standstill. And what started it? Construction. It’s unbelievable, really. The worst part is, the jam could last for another three weeks! Can you imagine? Do you just tell your boss that you need a month off because you’re stuck in traffic? It sounds funny when you say it out loud (I just did, all by myself, in my office) but that’s how it is, I guess. Supposedly people are just hanging out by the road, playing cards and whatnot to pass the time. Local villagers are coming by on bicycles and selling food at outrageously inflated prices. And think about this…no restrooms. (One tidbit of information stopped me: bottles of water are being sold for $1.50 each, 10 times the normal cost. Really? I thought that was a great price!) Pineapples are considered a sign of good fortune in China; maybe that’s what the vendors should be selling! So the next time you’re stuck in rush hour, think about the drivers in China and thank your lucky stars that you won’t be sitting there for a month. Enjoy this gorgeous weather today…there is no telling how long it will last. Don’t forget to suggest our Facebook page to your friends and be sure to let us know if you’re interested in the golf tournament. Cheers, we’ll chat tomorrow!

It’s a peaceful day at Pineapple HQ. We got some surround sound speakers installed last week, though, so now we’ve got some great tunes going on. Yesterday was “Ashley Music Day” so we jammed out to Gen-X FM all day (it takes me back to high school). Brock enjoyed it as much as I did, but Charles, the eternal Alabama fan, wasn’t quite as pleased. He claimed today as “Charles Music Day” but it’s still tuned to Gen-X and he hasn’t said anything yet….this will be a true test to see if he reads my blog or not, because I guarantee that he will change it once he realizes that it’s his turn.

Did you hear that Tiger Woods’ divorce from Elin is finalized? Elin has returned to her maiden name of Nordegren, no longer wanting to be associated with the pro golfer, I guess. Makes it kind of awkward for her children, I would think, but that’s her business. The details of the divorce settlement have not been released, but I heard this morning that Elin will receive 500 million bucks. Nice chunk of change, wouldn’t you say? Other sources say the amount is between 100-150 million. But either way, I wouldn’t complain. I’m sure she’s just glad to be free of the mess that he caused.

If you watch television, listen to the radio, or spend any time at all online (which we know you all do!), you know that America is obsessed with weight loss and healthy body image. This is probably due to the fact that the United States takes first place on the list of the world’s fattest countries. (Oklahoma is #11 of fattest states, by the way.) Airlines have started charging overweight passengers for an additional seat, and forbid them from sitting in an exit row. But get this: a woman in Georgia was recently charged an additional $5 fee at a nail salon for being overweight. The salon owner’s reasoning: overweight people have a chance to break the salon’s chairs, so they charge each one an extra five bucks. The woman was completely humiliated, of course, and did get refunded her five dollars. But then the salon owner asked her to take her business elsewhere, and now the customer is on the Today show. Wonder how long that salon will be in business?

Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans. If you have a convertible, I would advise that you leave the top up, unlike the poor person I saw pulled over on 169 this morning in the rain. Stay dry, enjoy the cool(er) weather, and we will chat tomorrow. Don’t forget to suggest the Pineapple Facebook page to your friends, and become a fan of Adoorables, as well. You can also follow us on Twitter @Pineapplead.

On another note, school started for Tulsa Public Schools today, to watch your speed and slow down in those school zones; the speed limit is 25. Extra police officers are on duty and they are not writing any warnings, just tickets. There is a lot of additional traffic out today, so allow yourself some extra time from here on out.

The Pineapple People had an insanely busy and long day on Friday, and it was a blast! We started in the woods north of Tulsa at 6 a.m. We had our actors and Car Country’s Credit Cruncher decked out in full camouflage for our hunting-themed commercial. It is going to be so good, I promise! The script is really funny, and everyone loves the Credit Cruncher (he’s not scary!). I took a ton of photos, and you can check them all out HERE. Get ready!

After we were finished “hunting”, the gang headed farther north to Bartlesville, home of the newest Car Country location. Yes, Bartlesvillians, the Credit Cruncher is now in your town! We filmed some more with the Credit Cruncher, and our actress, Tosha. Thank you, Tosha, for a job very well done! After Bartlesville, we all loaded up and headed back to T-town for an afternoon of shooting in the studio. Roger did a terrific job, as always, he’s a pro by now at this Credit Cruncher business! We’ve got two new Car Country commercials headed your way very soon, so stay tuned for those. You know the song and dance! After the studio, we were all finished with Car Country. What to do next? How about shoot a commercial for Dynasty Spas in Athens, Tennessee? We had a kind couple loan us the use of their home, and we had six actors/actresses participate in the hot tub shoot. It was a lot of fun, and we know it will turn out great. A huge thank you to Josh and Kathy Loehr for allowing us to use their home, and a special thank you to Ally, Dicksy, Becky, Charles, Alex and Patrick. Great job, everyone! Check out all of the photos HERE.All in all, it was a terrific day. You know how much I love production days! You never know what’s going to happen, and that’s half the fun. We will keep you updated and let you know as soon as the final spots are ready. Stay cool, Pineapple fans, and we will chat tomorrow!

Today is a busy production day for the Pineapple People, and we are on the move all day long. Stay tuned for tons of photos and videos on Monday. We’re going to be all over the place and shooting for several different clients, so there will a variety of fun stuff to be waiting for! I know you’re going to be itching with excitement all weekend, but good things come to those who wait, you know.

Speaking of production, have you seen our new Nelson Nissan Fan the Brand commercial? It’s coming soon to a television set near you (if you live in the Tulsa market, that is), but you can get a sneak preview by clicking HERE. It shows support for all three of our state’s major schools as well as support for the best Nissan dealership in town! I have a Pineapple Helping Hands update for you! Remember when we helped Ed and Lasay Castellanos and their children, after they lost everything in a house fire? Lori had a moment to catch up with Lasay recently and see what she had to say.

“We are somewhat back to normal. We are back home and enjoying all of the items  the Pineapples gave us. Thanks so much for everything you did; you have no idea what that meant to our family and how much it helped! Everyone’s closets are full of clothes and toys and I am using all of it! I used the blue towels to design the whole house, as well as the green plates. I loved them! Thank you so much again, let us know when we can Pass the Pineapple!”

Below are photos of Lasay’s daughters closets, now full of clothing! We are so glad that we were able to help the Castellanos in their time of need. Thank you again to everyone who helped out by donating items! You can still sign up to be a Hands volunteer, just e-mail Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com and have her sign you up.

Well, Pineapple fans, have a fantastic Friday. We’re off to…well, everywhere! See you Monday!

Speaking of Barlow and his creative genius, have you checked out the Adoorables Facebook page? These are personalized posters designed for your children, complete with surname and inspirational quotes. The idea is, they are hung on the door so it’s the last thing your child sees before he leaves for school, and gives him ideas on how to live his life in the best possible way. If you haven’t seen them yet, please check it out…they are “Adoorable!” They will be available for sale soon, and if you “Like” the page, you’ll be among the first to know when that is. Ready for the latest American Idol update? It hasn’t been officially announced yet, but word on the street (and by ‘street’, I mean the news and the Internet) is that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith will join Randy Jackson at the judge’s table for the upcoming season. Jennifer Lopez was denied because she was too expensive and too demanding, and I hear that Shania Twain has been tossed into the mix as a potential judge, as well. I think she would be a good pick; she did a guest stint on the show last year and did a wonderful job. Plus, I bet the male audience would increase! I’m curious as to how the auditions are going with only one judge; I know they’ve already started. Wonder how that works. If you have the inside scoop on this, I would love to know! Who do you want to be the judges next year?Have a wonderful Friday Eve, Pineapple fans. Remember to stay cool today, do your best to honor the ozone alert, and we’ll chat tomorrow!

Now, why are criminals stupid? (Besides the obvious?) Tulsa Police Department recently released a statement about how criminals are committing crimes and bragging about it on social networking sites. As in, “Look what I did! I broke into so-and-so’s house, and look what I stole!” They even go so far as to post photos of themselves committing the deed, or photos of them with the hot merchandise. In turn, the police see the photos, use them as evidence, and bam. Caught.

Well, Pineapple fans, have a wonderful Wednesday. Stay dry, or stay cool, depending on what change the weather will bring this afternoon, and we’ll chat tomorrow!

On a brighter note, it’s another terrific Monday here at Pineapple HQ. Barlow is on the road, scheduled to speak to a group of Southern Cadillac dealers. He’s got a great presentation ready; the audience is definitely in for a treat! Keep checking our Facebook page for travel updates from the Big Pineapple. He’s already discovered a Pineapple theme in his hotel room, so we know good things are in store. And now, for your feel-good moment of the day. In 1962, in an Iowa City junior high school, two seventh-graders met and began dating. Shortly before high school, they broke up, and went on to live their lives, both marrying and divorcing twice along the way. Now, nearly fifty years later, the couple, Karen Wilcox and Mike Wilson, have reconnected and gotten married. To make it even sweeter, they said their vows at the junior high where they met. Tell me that doesn’t give you hope for everlasting love, folks!

Fishing has begun again along the Gulf Coast, which should be a relief to all of you seafood-lovers (and me!). The shrimpers are nervous, however, that there won’t be a market for their catch, thinking that consumers will be afraid to eat it. Apparently there is plenty of clean shrimp, but there is always a possibility of unethical fisherman turning in dirty, oily shrimp. That’s a frightening thought, but I like to trust that people are basically good, and wouldn’t risk something like that. I am happy that all of those guys are getting to go back to work and earn a living again, and I’m sure they are relieved, as well.

Don’t forget to suggest our Facebook and Twitter pages to your friends! Also, check out our new Adoorables page on Facebook, as well. We will be accepting orders soon! Have a fantastic day, everyone, and we will chat tomorrow! Remember, your commercials suck!

Barlow is preparing for his presentation to the Cadillac dealers of the south next week. We’ve been putting the program together, and I’m telling you, it’s fantastic. Barlow is very passionate about what he does (if you meet him for more than three minutes, you’re aware of this) and he’s an amazing public speaker, so we know he’ll do a great job. With any luck, we will have some Cadillac dealerships Picking the Pineapple very soon!

Do we have any superstitious Pineapple fans out there? I hope that you’re facing your Friday the 13th in a positive way. When I was younger, I had a book about superstitions and their origins, and I thought it was interesting. Unfortunately, all I remember now about that book was that it had a purple cover. But that’s okay, I can still find out some fun facts about superstitions, I have the Internet! So let’s learn something today in honor of Friday the 13th, shall we?

Friday the 13th

Let’s start with the most obvious, since it’s today. The fear of the number 13 is very common. In fact, many hotels and office buildings are built without a 13th floor, and some airlines even omit the 13th row of seats. The theory behind the number 13 is that Judas was the 13th guest at the Last Supper, and he turned out to be a very bad guy. In addition, Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Thus, Friday the 13th is an extremely unlucky day.

Black Cats…MEOW!

We’ve all heard that it’s a bad omen if a black cat crosses your path. But do you know why? In the Middle Ages, black cats were linked to witches and Satan. Since witches were thought to be able to change form, a black cat could be a witch in disguise. On the other hand, cats are sacred to the Egyptians, and anyone who killed one was punished severely.

Umbrella-ella-ella

Opening an umbrella indoors is considered bad luck. This seems common sense anyway, because doing so would likely cause you to knock something over, or maybe poke someone in the eye. And why do you need to open an umbrella inside, anyway? But you just want to know why it’s bad luck, so here goes. Umbrellas that are used properly and shade us from the sun are considered magical. (Really? Hmm.) But when one is opened inside, the sun god gets offended, and he tends to react in nasty ways.

One more fun fact: the pineapple is a symbol of good fortune in China.

Overall, superstitions are ancient, and rooted in something that doesn’t even exist anymore. A lot of them seem to have some common sense embedded (walking under a ladder is just plain unsafe, not just bad luck), so they’re smart to follow, but don’t panic if you break a mirror or spill some salt. It will be okay, I’m sure of it.

Pineapple fans, have a great weekend. Stay cool, and we’ll chat on Monday! Don’t forget to suggest Pineapple’s Facebook page to your friends, and follow us on Twitter @PineappleAd.

Today I’d like to tell you about Barlow’s newest creation. If you’ve got kids, you’re going to love this! The products are called “Adoorables” and they’re designed to hang on the back of your door, so it’s the last thing your child sees before leaving for school, or wherever the day may take him. Adoorables are printed with “messages for the soul” and teach children important life lessons. It’s still in the beginning stages, but they will be available for purchase shortly. Check out our Facebook page (more info will be added as it comes!) and suggest to your friends!

The Nelson Auto Group Golf Luau 2010 is approaching quickly; the date for the tournament is Sunday, August 29 and will be held at Emerald Falls. If you are a Nelson Auto Group employee, there is no charge, just make sure you sign up before August 15th! You can sign up on our Facebook page, if that’s easier for you. If you are not a Nelson employee, and would just like to play in a fun golf tournament, the cost is $100 and includes food, entertainment, a round of golf at beautiful Emerald Falls, and the experience of playing in a Pineapple-style tournament. You can sign up on our Facebook page, too!

More American Idol drama….Jennifer Lopez will not be a judge, after all! Apparently her demands were getting ridiculous. Jessica Simpson has been in talks; I’d love to see that! She may make uncomfortable shoes and she may not be the brightest, but the girl can definitely sing. Oh, the suspense!

Did you hear that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are in the area? They went shopping at Bass Pro in Broken Arrow, and they’ve been seen multiple times in Bartlesville. I may need to make a road trip to visit my friends in Washington County! But why are they here…does anyone know? I saw that Ben was buying a new rod and reel, and he was taking lessons in Bartlesville. Fishing lessons for an upcoming role, perhaps? THIS JUST IN: a Bartlesville native is directing Affleck’s next film. Aha!

Have a terrific Thursday, Pineapple fans! If you go celebrity-hunting, let me know. Stay cool, and we’ll chat tomorrow!

Barlow and I were out shooting the latest Nelson Nissan commercial yesterday, and it was a lot of fun. We were all over Tulsa and Broken Arrow, and it was definitely worth it; this spot is going to be awesome! Whether you’re a fan of TU, OSU or OU, you’ll love this commercial, I promise. Kiera and our actors did a great job, as always, and we had a blast. You can see photos from the day HERE and videos HERE.  A special thanks to Joe, his four-legged pal Tyson, Kent and the rest of our crowd! We couldn’t have done it without you.

We also did another scene for the newest Dynasty Spas commercial, in Athens, Tennessee. Kiera did a great job, as always! See videos HERE and HERE. It was hot in the studio!

As I mentioned earlier, Barlow has been invited to speak at a convention of Southern Cadillac dealers. We are excited about it; this is a terrific opportunity for Pineapple Advertising. If you’ve ever seen Barlow present something, he’s a terrific public speaker and has a gift for connecting with an audience, so we know he’ll do a good job of convincing these Cadillac dealers to Pick the Pineapple! We’ll keep you posted on the outcome, and of course Barlow will post pics and updates on our Facebook page while he’s gone.

I hope you enjoy our sneak peek at yesterday’s production. Stay cool today, friends, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

Charles is still on the road, and is living the dreaming in Louisiana today. Keep up with our Facebook page for travel updates from Charles; they’re always entertaining and good for a smile.

So the wonderful heat advisory has been continued until Friday now. And then…a cold front for the weekend, with temperatures in the 90s. I literally laughed out loud when the meteorologist said that. It’s so sad that 90s is considered cool. In the meantime, stay inside as much as possible and drink lots of water. Make sure your kids and pets are plenty hydrated, too, and don’t forget sunscreen.

Did you hear about the JetBlue flight attendant that went off on the passengers? Yesterday Steven Slater was on a flight landing at a NYC airport, when a passenger attempted to remove her baggage from the overhead bin while the plane was still taxiing down the runway. When he got on to her for it, her bag accidentally hit him in the head. Instead of moving on, he demanded an apology from the woman, who refused. (Why, I’m not sure. Seems it would be easier to just say “sorry” and continue on with your day.) This apparently was the breaking point for the flight attendant, who then proceeded to get on the intercom and cuss out the entire plane, saying that he has been doing this for years, and he had just had enough. Then he grabbed two beers from the galley, opened the evacuation slide, jumped off (wonder if he removed his shoes), and drove home, where he was later arrested for criminal mischief and trespassing. I don’t know how the trespassing charge comes into play, but he faces seven years in jail if convicted. Wow. You really shouldn’t mess with flight attendants.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to the production site. Stay tuned for photos and videos from today’s shoot; they’ll be great! Stay cool, and we’ll chat tomorrow!

After recovering from the epic road trip from two weeks ago, Charles has headed out this morning on another road trip adventure of his own. He’s driving south this time, aiming for Arkansas and Louisiana, and he’s determined to get some new folks to Pick the Pineapple. We have every bit of confidence that he will return victorious! Keep up with our Facebook page for travel updates!The Pineapple People participated in a HANDS project yesterday. The team attended church with the Barlow family, then served a barbecue feast (complete with Lori’s famous Monster Cookies) to a group of inmates that were allowed some time off to attend church with their families. The event was a huge success, and the Pineapple People were glad to be able to help out. And of course, it was done Pineapple-style, so everyone received a lei! Kudos to Lori, our Pineapple HANDS coordinator, for setting up this project. Well, Pineapple fans, we would like to wish all of you a wonderful week. Since it is Monday, and that is the day most likely for workers to have heart attacks, I’d like to leave with you something entertaining and stress relieving, just click HERE. Happy Monday! Remember, Your Commercials Suck, they seriously do. You should really Pick Us!

It’s a quiet day here at the office. It’s a big client meeting day for several of the Pineapples, so Charles and I are getting ready to have a cleaning party. Again, if anyone would like to come help, you’re more than welcome! We like volunteers, and we could always give you a can of Mountain Dew for an extra burst of energy, since we have plenty on hand.

For all of you that are ready for your kiddos to go back to school, this weekend is the perfect time for some back-to-school shopping. Tax-Free Weekend in Tulsa starts today! Clothing and shoes are all non-taxable, so it’s a great way to save nine percent on your purchases. A lot of stores will be having big sales, too. So put on your comfy shoes, pack some snacks for the little ones, and hit the mall running!

Also, as I mentioned the other day, Green Country is getting a new area code. It doesn’t officially launch until January, but you can start using the new 10-digit dialing system tomorrow, so you can get used to it. I’ll definitely get right on that, won’t you?

Ready for your American Idol update? In the spectacular judge unseating fiasco that has been happening, Paula might come back! I did enjoy Ellen as a judge, but I miss Paula’s spacey attitude, emotional upsets and her seal-like clapping. Maybe this won’t be the last season of Idol, after all!

The Pineapples have had a long week. It’s been busy, and fun, and interesting, as only a week at Pineapple HQ can be. We’ve logged a lot of hours this week, but since we’re lucky to have cool jobs, we don’t mind at all. Our team is good at solving problems and coming up with new solutions, all with the special Pineapple touch. Barlow has been churning out a ton of new creative campaigns this week, so we’ll have plenty of new commercials to show you soon!

Have a fabulous Friday, Pineapple fans. Stay cool. Charles and I are off to our cleaning tasks.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Big Pineapple decided that we needed to have a foosball tournament. He did it in a professional way; everyone was seeded, and so forth. (I was the last seed. Go figure.) So the first match is between Barlow and myself. Now, in his defense, because of the seeding system, I started with seven points. But if you put a positive spin on it, I actually did beat him 3-2. That’s how I prefer to think of it. So Barlow was out. Done. Finito. And I moved on to play Adam, the number one seed. This time I only had a four-point advantage. Lot of good it did me, because I managed to not score a single point. Round two, and I’m out. My feeling of victory was short-lived. But oh, it was beautiful while it lasted.

Next on the chopping block was Charles, who lost to Brock. It was a close game, and we managed to get the final goal on video, thanks to my superior skills. Click HERE to see the moment of glory! This leaves the final match between Adam, our resident foosball king, and Brock. Brock was lucky to start with four points, and he kept the lead until the last few nerve-wracking moments, when Adam rose from the ashes and took Brock down. Barlow did a great job of commentating this one…click HERE to watch!

It’s been an eventful day here at Pineapple HQ, and it’s just barely lunchtime! Who knows what the afternoon will bring? A rematch, perhaps? Have a terrific Thursday, Pineapple fans. Enjoy the respite from the blazing sun and go play in the rain! See you tomorrow!

The oppressive heat wave continues to roll across Green Country, but it’s supposed to be lifted tomorrow evening. I have a feeling that means the temperature will drop to 98 instead of 100. Is anyone else ready for autumn? I love the summer, I love the lake, and all of the fun things that go along with the season, but this is getting ridiculous. I’m ready for sweaters, jeans, bonfires and football. Anybody with me?! We are still plugging away with the planning of the Nelson Golf Luau 2010. This is my first experience with planning a golf tournament, and it’s a lot of fun. There are lots of activities to plan and plenty of details to think about. I know it’s going to be a huge success, because Pineapple is in charge, and you know we don’t do things the boring way. Ever. If you’re a Nelson Auto Group employee, make sure you sign up on the Pineapple Facebook page by August 15th. Check out the flier below for more details! You can also find the flier on our Facebook page, where it can be enlarged to be read more easily. Well, Pineapple fans, I’m heading back to work on another project, so I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Stay cool, please? Go drink some water!

We’ve got a fantastic event coming up! Pineapple is pleased to be in charge of the annual Nelson Auto Group Golf Invitational. This year’s theme is Golf Luau 2010, and the event will be held on Sunday, August 29, at Emerald Falls in Broken Arrow. This isn’t your plain-old typical golf tourney…this one is Pineapple-style, and will be a lot of fun. You can sign up your team on the Pineapple Facebook page, but hurry! Last day for entries is August 15th! Lori has the Pineapple People set up for another Pineapple Hands project this weekend. Stay tuned for updates! Don’t forget, contact Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com to get on our List of Super Cool Volunteers. Do it now! No pressure, we will just contact you when we have a project, and if you can make it, that’s great. If not, we’ll forgive you and just ask you again later.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @PineappleAd. It’s just one more way to stay connected to your favorite Pineapples! Enjoy your Tuesday, Pineapple fans. And if you want to spend all day draped across the air conditioner, that’s okay with me.

It’s going to be really hot all week long; they are talking of 105 as the temperature, not even counting the heat index. Please drink LOTS of water, and try to stay indoors as much as possible. Also keep a closer eye on your kids and pets during this extreme heat. Remember to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! And wear plenty of sunscreen.

Pineapple HQ is officially back to normal today. All of the Pineapple People are here, and it’s much more entertaining around the office. Not that Brock and I didn’t have a great time last week; it was just very quiet. (Except of course, when “Springer” was on.) To celebrate the reunion of the Pineapple People, we cooked out burgers today. Charles is our resident grillmaster, and I’m the official little lady in the kitchen that tries really hard to take care of everything else.

We had a meeting over lunch to discuss the epic road trip adventure, and all of the new projects we get to work on. The trip was a success, and the boys had a great time. And from what I can tell, no speeding tickets or anything too terribly exciting, just good, old-fashioned, road trip fun. And uneaten ice-cream sundaes.

Speaking of ice cream, Target is offering a free pint of Ben & Jerry’s for those who volunteer to serve in the community. Organizations are always short-handed, so what better way to bribe folks to help than by giving a free pint of deliciousness? Get more info on the offer here. And sign up; it always gives warm fuzzies when you help others.

And while we’re on the topic of helping others, don’t forget that you can still sign up to be a volunteer for Pineapple Hands. Simply contact Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com and tell her you’d love to be on the volunteer list. There’s no weekly commitment or anything like that; if we need volunteers, and you can make it, perfect. If you’re unable to make it for that particular project, that’s okay, we’ll call you the next time. We are all off and running headfirst into another work week. Let’s make it a great one! Stay cool, Pineapple fans, and we’ll chat tomorrow!

All in all, it seems the Pineapple epic road trip adventure was a huge success. Don’t worry, we will keep you posted with all of the updates!

For all of you American Idol fans, it’s a sad day. Kind of. Ellen DeGeneres has decided to vote herself off as judge for next season. With the absence of both Simon Cowell and Ellen, I don’t see the show being quite as big a success. But with all of the folks out there who still dream of being discovered (or making fools of themselves on national television) there should be plenty of contestants still willing to audition. Personally, I am an Ellen fan, but didn’t think she was really the best choice for a judge; although she’s hilarious, she’s just too nice! And this just in: allegedly the other female judge, Kara DioGuardi, has been fired! Ooh, I bet more updates will come throughout the day! I feel that the light at the end of the Idol tunnel just blinked out. Well, Pineapple fans, it’s time for the Pineapple People to clean the office, since it is Fabuloso Friday. We hope you enjoyed the travel updates from the road this week, and we will chat on Monday, when the gang is back in full force! Have a safe weekend and stay cool…temps will top the 100 mark! And because it’s Friday, and we’ll miss Ellen on Idol…I leave you with this!

I just had the privilege of watering the plants at the office. And for quite possible the first time in my life, I didn’t get completely soaked, only from the knees down. I’m not sure why I have such difficulty operating water apparatus; I can’t go to the car wash without getting drenched, either. Am I the only one that has this problem? We hope that everyone enjoyed Brock’s first blog! As the professional “money man” here at Pineapple, he’s decided it’s time to spread his wisdom to all of our fans. So look forward to reading “Shahan’s Sense and Cents” every week! Don’t worry, it will be posted on our facebook page and our Twitter, so you won’t miss it.

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone! Stay cool, and we’ll chat tomorrow!

Barlow, Adam and Charles are in Panama City, Florida, this morning. I’m not jealous at all. Really. I’m not. We would like to wish them the best of luck with their client meetings today, and hope that they have time for a little bit of R & R while they are there. At the very least, they should dip their toes in the ocean! Stay tuned to our facebook page for updates from the boys on the road!

I hope that everyone had a chance to vote yesterday. It’s worth it just to get the sticker, I always say. And of course, to decide the future of our county/city/state/nation.

As you all know, Pineapple Advertising is on Twitter, just like a zillion other people. Twitter is a microblogging platform (each post must be 160 characters or less) that is commonly used by celebrities. (Ashton Kutcher has 5,329,450 followers.) I just saw on Fox 23 News at Noon that Angelina Jolie has started a Twitter account. She has no intention of using it (maybe later, she says), she has zero tweets, zero followers and is following zero people. She just started it so that nobody else can use her Twitter name, @angelinajolie. I’m sorry, but I think that’s ridiculous. Who would WANT to be Angelina Jolie? Of course she’s glamorous and wealthy and has Brad Pitt, but still. I think she’s a bit frightening. Have a wild and wacky Wednesday, Pineapple fans! Stay cool and we’ll chat tomorrow!

If you’ve been keeping up with the Pineapple facebook page (and why wouldn’t you be?!), you know that we’ve got some big things brewing. Barlow informed everyone via facebook that we’ve solidified production rights for a dealer group, so that’s great news…can’t wait to hear the details! I also can’t wait to see the video of him losing a one-hole golf tournament; that should be fun. Way to go, Chad! And thanks again to Carol Harper!

The Pineapple Trio has completed their Tennessee leg of the trip with stops in Nashville, Chattanooga and Athens, and today are headed to southern Georgia. You can follow the progress of the Pineapples on our handy map, pictured below: Brock and I are awaiting anxiously for more updates from the boys. Don’t worry, we will keep you updated! And now it’s  almost time for Springer, so I need to load up on M&M’s and get a good seat. Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

Let me begin with the FREAKIN’ GINORMOUS SPIDER that has apparently decided to move in. I know there are a few vacant offices still, since we’re in a brand-new building, but really…spiders are not allowed. I’m not an incredible sissy when it comes to bugs (unless it’s June bugs or crickets) but I can’t bring myself to smash a spider that’s as big as my hand when I’m wearing flip-flops. Talk to me when I’m wearing jeans and combat boots. And since all of the guys in my office are gone, that means I have to outsource the problem. Attention to all of the men that are working upstairs: Will one of you please, please, come downstairs and take care of the new resident under the water fountain? That would be GREAT. Thanks. I keep expecting him to knock on the door. Don’t look at the picture below if you’re squeamish about bugs! I’ve been busy so far this morning working on a project for BCBC Modern; I’m learning a lot about modern furniture, which is very cool. One of the best parts about being a Pineapple is not only the random stuff I get to do, but the interesting research that comes along with it. Who knew that bamboo furniture was a real thing, and very popular?

Did everyone have a wonderful weekend like I asked you to? Mine was good, except our air conditioner went out at the house. Whew, it was warm! But I learned that if you go outside and do something like mow the lawn, when you come back in, it almost feels cool. So there are definitely ways to beat the heat (for a few minutes, anyway). And I got the call an hour ago that it is up and running again. Why does it seem that things always break on the weekends when nobody can fix them? Murphy’s Law, I suppose.

Well, Pineapple fans, I hope you’re looking forward to the travel journal from the boys as much as I am…they are bound to have some good stories. Enjoy your Monday, and if anyone is in the neighborhood, please feel free to stop by with your boots and stomp the spider.

1) Auditioned a hula dancer.

Yes, it’s true. The boys and I had a girl come into the office today and hula for us. And we learned some interesting facts, such as the hula moves are based on nature. Bet you didn’t know that, and I never would have probably, unless I was a Pineapple.

2) Lost 57 consecutive foosball games.

This is a sad fact. I am truly a terrible player. It’s embarrassing. I have two family members that are fantastic players, but have they given me lessons? Noooo. My goal is to someday beat Barlow. Just wait, it’s coming. I may have to learn from YouTube videos or eHow articles, but I will learn. Mark my words.

3) Rented a bunny costume.

It wasn’t even Easter. Or maybe it was, who knows. At least I didn’t have to wear it.

4) Attempted to rent a private jet.

At 5:30. On a Friday. In a different state. Needless to say, it didn’t happen, no matter how hard I tried. And if you knew the rest of that story, you would be really sad that I couldn’t make it happen.

I’ve done a lot of interesting things since I’ve been a Pineapple. And of course, now that I’m trying to think of them, I can’t come up with any more off the top of my head. But honestly, there are plenty. It’s the daily random challenges that contribute to loving a job, right? So all of you cubicle folks, maybe you should convince your boss to buy a foosball table.

The boys are off on the epic road trip adventure on Sunday. I’m going to be all alone on Monday (good luck on your CPA exam, Brock!), so I expect lots of facebook comments for me to respond to. And if you need to rent a bunny costume, call me and I’ll take care of it for you. Just not a private jet.

Happy weekend, Pineapple fans. Hope you all get to swim, or at least play in the water, or something this weekend…it’s going to be HOT! And FYI, water toys weren’t nearly as fun when I was a kid…it was just sprinklers or Slip ‘n Slides, which are basically garbage bags sprayed by a water hose. And it doesn’t sound quite as cool now to run as fast as I can and hurl myself belly first onto the hard ground. Have a safe one, and we’ll chat on Monday!

Today has been a quiet day so far at Pineapple HQ. All of the Pineapple People are either in meetings with clients or getting travel finalized for next week. I’m a lonely girl right now, but I guess that will get me prepared for next week when the boys are on the epic road trip adventure. Diet Dr. Pepper, cashews, and iTunes are all keeping me company. At least with Charles out of the office, I can play whatever music I want. (No offense, but I get sick of Alabama.)

I also got my office phone fixed, which means my cell phone bill will be lower, so my mom will be happy. Thanks, Anthony!

July 22. What is, Alex Trebek’s birthday? For all of you Jeopardy fans, Alex Trebek turns 70 today! I love Jeopardy, always have, but I tend to do better with the children’s and college editions. Go figure. Anyway, happy birthday to Alex! There are several other celebrity birthdays today, like David Spade, Don Henley of the Eagles, Albert Brooks and Rhys Ifans. (You should remember him as Spike, the hilarious roommate in Notting Hill.)Winners of the Pineapple fan blitz, your shirts are ready! We’ve got them here at Pineapple HQ, so just let us know when you want to come by. JR, we will mail yours since you’re across the country in sunny California! Thanks again to JR, Dori, Geoff, Connor and Tosha! And don’t worry, you can still tell your friends about our facebook page! We love spreading the Pineapple fun with new fans! Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @PineappleAd!

Have a wonderful Friday Eve, and we will chat tomorrow!

I would like to thank my Pineapple family for being so kind and supportive during the recent days, after the tragic loss of my brother-in-law, Jason Orf, after a valiant battle with cancer. My family thanks you for your prayers and support as well. I’m so fortunate to work in such a close-knit environment with such understanding folks. Thank you, Pineapples!

I’ve got my head buried in my computer today, playing catch-up after taking off for four days. It always seems to take a few days to get back into the groove and back to where you were before. Luckily, it’s peaceful here at Pineapple HQ today; the epic road trip adventure has been pushed back for one week, so it’s business as usual. NEXT week is when Brock and I get to watch “Jerry Springer” and eat M&Ms all day!

Did you hear about the whale in South Africa that landed on the couple’s boat? Sounds like a bad joke, but read more here. The couple was out for a Sunday afternoon sail, when the 40-ton whale breached and landed on the boat. Fortunately, the boat was made of steel, and everyone involved is fine. A tourist on a nearby boat caught the photo, which is amazing in itself! I got smacked with a flying fish once upon a time, but this is definitely a much “bigger” experience!Well, Pineapple fans, it’s good to be back. Try to stay cool during this crazy hot weather, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

On a lighter note, the Big Pineapple Road Trip has been pushed back one week exactly due to the Orf Family’s loss. So this Sunday we will re-launch on our plans to make stops along the way thru Nashville, TN, Chattanooga, TN, Atlanta, GA, Bainbridge, GA, Panama City, FL, and then head back to the promised land, Tulsa, OK! We have potential client meetings, as well as to see many of our old friends/clients. (We consider all clients a “friend” at Pineapple Advertising.) It will be a fun adventure and more than likely chocked full of inside jokes that we make up along the way do to boredom and Charles talking too much.

In the end – take a long look at everyone around you that you may take for granted each day – and cherish them. Life is very precious and you never know when it can be taken away. To quote Travis Tritt: “It’s a great day to be alive”. Remember that as you go thru the motions today, don’t let yourself catch a case of “The Mondays”.

It’s a hot, hot day here at Pineapple HQ – hot from the temperature, and hot from the sizzlin’ work we’ve all been doing!

Yes, apparently Tulsa, OK has relocated itself to the surface of the sun.

Next week is going to be a lonely one here at HQ, as Barlow Bear, Adam and Charles are all headed to SEC country (i.e. Tennesee, Florida, etc.) to meet with current – and prospective – clients. Here’s to a safe, fun, and productive trip for all of you guys; maybe the weather will be better where you’re headed!

Well, it’s a busy day here at the office, so I’d better be getting back to work. Stay juicy, my friends!

"I don't always advertise; but when I do, I make it a Pineapple Spot."

It’s a quiet day here at Pineapple HQ. Once again, everyone has noses to the grindstone and is taking care of business. I did take care of one very important detail this morning: I changed the notification sound on my e-mail. We all get so many e-mails here, and everyone has the same sound effect (except Adam, who has an incredibly annoying twangy guitar string noise that one can hear all throughout the office) so it’s hard to know when it’s you receiving an e-mail, or someone in another office. Now I have my very own sound, so that will be one less thing to worry about. Plus since I figured out how to do it, I learned something new.

Apparently I’ve been living under a rock, since I was uninformed about the “Barefoot Bandit” aka Colton Harris-Moore. Am I the only one that didn’t know about him? I saw a headline recently that he had been caught, and while catching up on my current events this morning, I read a bit about him. He’s a 19-year-old kid from Washington state that has been on his own since the age of 12, and committing burglaries ever since. And he didn’t just steal money from people’s piggy banks; he was stealing cars and boats and planes. Of course, my first question was, “How did this kid learn to fly a plane?” Reading and video games. Now that, my friends, is pretty amazing.  He was nicknamed the “Barefoot Bandit” since he committed a few of his crimes without shoes. And he was finally captured in the Bahamas on July 11. How did he get to the Bahamas? Stole a plane in Indiana and flew there himself. Sounds like an intelligent guy; what a waste of brains and street smarts.

Well, Pineapple fans, I’m off to tackle the world of social networking. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @pineapplead, and keep telling your friends about our Facebook page; it’s full of behind-the-scenes looks at the Pineapple People, plus it’s the place to see all of our new commercials before everyone else! And really, what’s cooler than that?

Let’s jump right in and show off the new Nelson Nissan commercial, shall we? This is for the “Nelson Nissan No-Sale Event of the Year” and it features Kiera and managers Rodney and Jeff. Ready for a little boom-boom? Watch the new commercial here. It’s pretty fabulous, right?

Next up we’ve got a new spot for Nelson Mazda, showcasing the Mazda6 (which is a Popular Mechanics “Top Pick”). This is a short fifteen-second commercial that quickly explains what a great ride the new Mazda6 is, as well as plays on the social media trend that’s all the rage right now. Watch it here. For all of you Yankees fans out there (like me…I’m related to Lou Gehrig, so it’s a given!) it’s a sad day. George Steinbrenner has passed away at the age of 80, due to a massive heart attack. Under Mr. Steinbrenner’s ownership, the Yankees went from a sad ball club to a force to be reckoned with, winning seven World Series titles during his reign. “The Boss” was a tough old bird, but everyone loves him because of Seinfeld, and you know it! I would like to wish all of our Pineapple fans a wonderful day; hope your week is off to a good start, and we’ll chat tomorrow!

The Pineapples are all busy with upcoming projects, including Canada, a golf tournament and the Epic Road Trip Adventure that is slated for next week. I’m jealous that the boys get to go visit everyone and see what’s happening with our clients; then again, I’m a proper lady and don’t know that I would want to be in a car with three grown men for that many hours. But, oh, the things I would learn!

So did everyone watch the World Cup final yesterday? I’ve already admitted that I don’t care about sports, and even I watched it. Viva Espana! Of course, I paid more attention to the players and the uniforms than the actual game, but at least I watched it. Now I’m an OSU alum and I bleed orange, but I have to say, the Spanish uniforms looked much more classy than the head-to-toe orange sported by the Netherlands. It was just too road-construction-orange, rather than Cowboy orange. Good game, though.

What is the deal with Mel Gibson?! I can’t believe his career isn’t in the toilet already after his anti-Semitic rage back in 2006, but have you heard what he’s done now? A tape has been released of a positively explosive exchange between ol’ Mel and the father of his millionth child, Oksana Grigorieva. Apparently Oksana had a recording device planted in her diamond earring (which seems more “Get Smart” than “Braveheart“) and caught the entire rant on tape. Mel went berserk, threatening to bury Oksana in her rose garden, burn down her house and telling her that she dresses like a prostitute. Ah, true love! Mel has been dropped by his agent, and Leo DiCaprio has allegedly pulled out of Mel’s new movie. Ooh, the drama!

Gotta run, Pineapple fans! We will chat more later…hope your week is off to a great start, and you survive your Monday!

Thanks to Lori, the head of our Pineapple Hands department, we got to participate in a fun morning at a local assisted living facility. Lori and the Barlow Babies made a ton of Monster Cookies (which were delicious!) and pink lemonade. Then all of the Pineapple People rounded up some of the residents and we spent a couple of hours making leis, in true Pineapple spirit. We had a ball getting to chat with some new people, as well as showing off our crafting skills.

Adam made a new friend in Harriett, who just moved to Tulsa four days ago. Being from central Illinois, Harriett is amazed by how green our city is, and by how many trees we have. She said it’s quite a bit different from up north. Tulsa is also a much larger city than she’s used to, so she said no driving for her! Harriet & Adam

After we finished up our craft project, we went around the center and called on some residents who didn’t make it to our cookie and lemonade fiesta. We knocked on doors and gave out cookies and goodie bags, and in return we received lots of hugs and smiles. Zoe & Charles give out treats

Before we left, one of our new friends, Jean, treated us to an impromptu concert on the piano. Jean has never had a proper lesson; she’s taught herself to play completely by ear, and she was really something. Honestly, everyone has something to share with others, no matter how old or young he or she is. Jean’s piano performance

It was truly a rewarding experience, and we look forward to many more Pineapple Hands projects in the future. Remember, it’s not too late to become a volunteer with us; just e-mail Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com and ask her to put you on the list. Check out the rest of our photos and videos!

I hope all of our friends have a safe and exciting weekend (bit of an oxymoron, eh?) and we’ll chat on Monday!

Yesterday we finished the second portion of the production for our Canadian client. It was really fun, actually, and we all got to watch the shoot. We’ve got tons of photos posted here. I can’t wait to see it in action! It’s going to quite entertaining, I promise you that. We are ready to launch the work of the Pineapples internationally!

Raise your hand if you’re a Chik-fil-A fan! I know all of you are, and that means you’re going to be really excited about what I’m about to tell you. Tomorrow is Cow Appreciation Day! And that means free food at your local Chik-fil-A…if you dress like a cow. That’s totally worth it. If you dress in just one or two cow-print items, you will receive a free entrée item, but if you dress head-to-hoof in cow gear, you’ll get an entire combo meal FREE, including a drink. What if you don’t have any cow clothing? That’s okay, because you can go to their website and print out different cow parts to make your own costume! Now the location near our office is always packed with a zillion chicken-loving folks at lunchtime, so I would advise you to go during an off-peak time. I hope that you’re still telling your pals to like Pineapple Advertising on Facebook! And in case you didn’t know, we’re on Twitter, too! Follow us @pineapplead and get more of the scoop from your favorite Pineapple People. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog, when I tell you all about our Pineapple Hands project. It’s a good one!

Much love, Pineapple fans, and have a wonderful Thursday…the weekend is just around the bend. And let’s hope for some SUN!

Yesterday afternoon we filmed several internet commercials for our new Canada client, Phaeton Auto Group. We are launching two separate campaigns between three different auto dealerships, and they’re so creative…so very Pineapple! Barlow did a fantastic job on these, as always. The commercials will star Kiera as the spokesperson, and we know she’ll be a big hit with her new Canadian audience. We’ve got a few photos and videos that have been posted on our facebook page for you to see.

This afternoon (as long as the rain holds off!) we will be shooting the second portion of the campaign. We’re really excited about it, because it’s going to be a bit different than we’re used to. Oh, please don’t rain! I heart production days!

Tomorrow the Pineapple People are heading to a local assisted living center to make some new friends and have fun with crafts. Lori is going to come up with a spectacular project that will be a huge success. And we’ll all have a new decoration for our offices. We’re looking forward to it! Remember, you can always become a volunteer with Pineapple Hands, just contact Lori if you’re interested. Her e-mail address is lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Pineapple fans. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

I’m up to my ears in travel arrangements for the boys. Barlow, Adam and Charles are making a journey in two weeks to visit several of our clients. They are driving since they’ll be making so many different stops. Their destinations include two towns in Tennessee, one in Georgia, and one in Florida. That’s the definition of an epic road trip! They love getting out and checking in with our clients, and this is a great way to do it. It’s going to be quiet at Pineapple HQ that week, but at least now I have Brock to keep me company, unlike the last time when I was all alone. (But I did get to watch “Springer”, remember?) This time Brock and I can both nosh on M&M’s and watch trashy daytime TV. Just kidding, Barlow!

We are shooting the Canada production this afternoon with Kiera. It’s going to be a good one, as always! I’ll swing by and take some photos and video to share with you all. This client is a whole different animal, and I’m excited to see the results of the campaign.

Remember, you can always contact Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com if you are interested in being a volunteer for Pineapple Helping Hands! And don’t forget to check our Facebook page daily for the latest on the Pineapple People…and tell your friends!

Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans. Hope everyone is getting settled in after the long weekend. See you tomorrow!

The Pineapple People took a trip to Grand Lake this weekend. Barlow and Lori were kind enough to have all of us out on their boat, and we had a great time! Thanks, Barlows!

It’s always hard to get back into the groove of work after being off for an extra day, but the Pineapples are all adjusting quickly to the Monday morning rhythm. We love our jobs, so it’s never a burden coming to work! Plus, there was hardly any traffic this morning, which is always a nice bonus. But it’s going to be a busy week here at Pineapple HQ, so we’re excited to get a jump on things.

For all of you competitive eating fans out there (anyone? anyone?) it seems that six-time winner of the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, Takeru Kobayashi, completely humiliated himself at this year’s competition. He didn’t compete this weekend, due to a contract dispute with the Major League Eating officials. (Can you believe there is actually such a thing?!) And after the contest was over, he rushed the stage and got arrested. Wow. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures, but seriously. Makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it. And it makes hot dogs sound not nearly as delicious. We’d like to wish all of you a magical Monday from the Pineapple People. Stay safe out there, and we’ll talk tomorrow!

The summer seems to be going really fast, doesn’t it? It seems like Memorial Day was just yesterday, and here it is, the Fourth of July. Next thing you know it’ll be Labor Day. All of us Pineapple People are lake fiends, so we love these lake holidays! (A helpful hint for my readers: eating frozen grapes makes one very, very cold, and it’s hard to type while shivering. Maybe I should stop while I write this.)

While celebrating America’s birthday this weekend, please be safe! Wear sunscreen and bug spray, and practice proper boating procedures. Don’t leave small children with fireworks unattended, and keep your four-legged friends at home, away from the BOOM-BOOM-BOOM of the festivities that will freak them out.

We here at Pineapple Advertising would like to wish all of our friends a wonderful weekend, and a fantastic Fourth! Stay safe, and we’ll see you next week!

We will have new commercials ready soon for BCBC Modern and Nelson Nissan. New commercials are always fun; I like getting to see them before everyone else. It’s just one tiny way that I can feel important. Ha. We do have a new one for River Bend Ford in Bainbridge, Georgia, and you can check that one out here. It’s getting rave reviews already, and Kiera did a fantastic job, as always. It’s definitely got the magic of Pineapple!

Don’t forget, we are always looking for new volunteers for Pineapple Helping Hands. If you want to be on the list of very cool people that help others, please contact Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com. You don’t have to commit to every project, so don’t worry about that. It’s a great way to reach out to others and do a kindness. And it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Our fan base on Facebook is still growing, and we have our loyal fans to thank for that. Winners of the fan blitz, we are still working on getting new shirts made; I promise we didn’t forget you. We’ll let you know when they’re ready for pick-up. And J.R., we’ll mail yours. Unless you happen to be making a stop in Oklahoma soon! Keep on telling your friends to Pick the Pineapple!

Much love to all of our Pineapple fans, and we’ll chat soon!

If you haven’t heard, the Pineapple has been officially picked in the Toronto area, thereby making us an INTERNATIONAL agency! I know we’ve been talking about Canada for awhile now, but it’s definitely a go. Adam, Charles, and I are gearing up to get everything together for a July 1 launch of the campaign for Phaeton Auto Group. It’s very stressful, very exciting, and very interesting! We are learning a lot about the Canadian culture, and while it’s a bit overwhelming, we love this kind of stuff. (Did you know that Canadians refer to “hoodies” as “bunny hugs”? Much cuter terminology, if you ask me.)

Barlow is on the road today and we haven’t played a single game of foosball. You’d think that then the boss is away, the kids will play, but we actually work even harder, in my opinion. Plus he’s not here distracting us by forcing us to play foosball with him. He will be back tomorrow, so I’m sure it’ll be “Game on!” then.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, all. Hope your plans for the Fourth of July are coming together nicely. (Now is the perfect time to make friends with someone that owns a boat.) We’ll see you tomorrow!

Barlow was in full director mode, as usual. He’s great at giving orders! But even the director and the man in charge of the camera need a break now and then…Jason and Barlow stretching it out

We’ve got lots more fun photos, as well as some videos (Robot, anyone?!) posted here and here, so be sure to check them out when you get a free minute. And remember, please continue to tell your friends to “Like” us on Facebook! We love meeting new fans, for sure.

Now I’ll probably get flamed for this, but I’m going ahead anyway. I’ll admit, I’m not actually a soccer fan. The World Cup doesn’t matter to me. Yes, it would have been great if Team USA would have done well, but it doesn’t make a difference in my life. But I saw the coverage on the news this morning about the England-Germany debacle. Germany scored two goals early in the game, and England scored one in answer. But when they scored a second goal, the refs didn’t count it, for some reason. Maybe they were scratching. Maybe they were looking for shooting stars. Who knows. The end result is the same; the refs goofed, and now the whole world is talking about it. (Even me, who doesn’t give two hoots about soccer. Except when David Beckham is on the field, which he’s not, because he’s injured.) That is a bad blow for England, but here’s what I don’t get. They still lost. They lost by three points. The goal wouldn’t have made a difference, in my opinion. Of course, they are saying that the missed call threw off their momentum and all that. But stuff happens. Sorry, England.

And just for good measure (and all of my female readers): Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans. I’ll see you tomorrow!

I’d like to a give a big THANK YOU to Brock, who was kind enough to cover the Pineapple blog for me last week. He did a pretty good job, wouldn’t you say?

The Fourth of July is coming up this weekend, everyone’s favorite American holiday! It’s time to put on your flag tee shirts, grill up some burgers, and make a stop at your local fireworks stand. What better way to celebrate our country’s birthday? Hopefully you’ll be fortunate enough to head to the lake, because I have a feeling it’s going to be hot! If not, there are plenty of patriotic celebrations around Tulsa. The best fireworks display in town will be the FreedomFest at the River Parks. Get more info about Freedom Fest here. From my experience, it’s best to get there very early!

The Pineapples are taking a group outing to Grand Lake this weekend, so we’re really excited about that. It’s going to be a beautiful weekend full of good friends, fireworks, food and fun! Remember to be safe when setting off fireworks. If you want to be extra-careful, shop for fireworks like Kicking Wing and I do: “Snakes and sparklers are the only ones I like.” We’ve almost survived Monday, everyone! Hang in there…the rest of the week is going to be fantastic! See you tomorrow!

Sorry we missed you all yesterday – if you can believe it, the entire office was overrun with aliens! However, to their disappointment, we don’t operate in the intergalactic advertising market…yet.

(An artist's rendering of the attack)

 In all seriousness, we’re pumped for the weekend. It’s kinda nice to take a break every now and then, rest up, and come back in full Pineapple force on Monday!

In other news, our favorite former OSU Cowboy basketball player James Anderson was drafted 20th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in last night’s NBA Draft. Go James, and Go Pokes!

"I just owned you."

 Well, from all of the three people still left in the office today (one of them, Adam, is pictured below, working hard to get everyone the Sweetest Spots and Juiciest Buys), so long and have a great weekend…we’ll see you on Monday!

Apparently he likes working in the Bat Cave.

Travel safe!

Well, it’s been a hot day as usual here at the office…but we don’t mind – especially when the Team USA futbol (or is it soccer? or checkerball? or…whatever our colleagues overseas call it?) won its first World Cup match in eight years and finished atop its first-round group for the first time since the original World Cup in 1930, beating Algeria 1-0! All of this due to Landon Donovan’s goal just 45 seconds into the four minute injury extension time, after regulation ended in a zero-zero tie…boo-yah!

Goooooooooaaallllllll!!!!!!

 While many of us were in important meetings and attending to other pressing matters while this was going on, I’m pretty sure Barlow Bear was watching in his office…which would explain the loud yell we heard after Team USA scored the goal. If he wasn’t watching…then who knows what he was doing? Ahem.

Almost as awkward as this family photo...

Anyways…thanks for reading, Pineapple fans! I look forward to getting acquainted with you all over the next few days.

AMERICA!

All in all, this campaign is so going to be soooo fun. I’m serious. And I’m not just saying that because I work here! Check out the rest of the BCBC Modern production photos here. There should be more to come, so stay tuned.

Have a terrific Tuesday, Pineapple fans, and stay cool. Don’t forget to tell your friends to “Like” Pineapple Advertising on Facebook!

We are kicking off the day with a location shoot on a ranch, filled with real live horses and cowboys. Pretty exciting stuff, right? I’ve lived in Oklahoma most of my life, and I still am quite unfamiliar with the whole rodeo/horses/wild west scene. I’m going to sit this one out, though, and do some work here at Pineapple HQ instead. Barlow is on his own…hope he can handle the heat!

After the ranch shoot, the crew is headed over to the studio to shoot footage for the new BCBC Modern campaign. This is going to be amazing, and I’m not just saying that. It’s creative, it’s catchy, it’s Pineapple at its best. We are creating two different layers of the campaign today (that means two different commercials) and the afternoon will be full of the first shoot.

Tonight, though, is when the fun really starts! We’re shooting a “dinner party” commercial on location at someone’s home, which will be really interesting. I get to be in charge of arranging food and beverages, as well as some other assorted props for the shoot. Sometimes it’s like Hollywood around here, I swear!

It’s going to be a very long day, and the Pineapple People are charging into it full steam ahead. I’ll have plenty of photographs and videos for you tomorrow. Stay tuned, Pineapple fans, and stay cool today….hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! (And Diet Dr. Pepper doesn’t count.)

Now I would like everyone to gather round and let’s all sing “Happy Birthday” to our newest Pineapple, Brock, aka “Vulcan.” Brock is the money man in the office, so maybe he’ll treat us all to lunch for his birthday, on Pineapple. (But probably not.) Happy birthday, Brock!

Today is also a big day for Adam…he’s officially a homeowner! So let’s throw a big CONGRATULATIONS his way. We’ll let you know when he decides to have a housewarming party.

How about those Lakers? Whether or not you cheered for Boston or Los Angeles, it’s nice to finally have a winner in the NBA Finals. I really thought Boston was going to have a good chance, but apparently they forgot to show up for Game 6, and then they decided to slack off during the last half of Game 7. So the Lakers win again….and I’m not really surprised. I’m just relieved to not have to watch basketball anymore.

We’ve already played one game of foosball today, Barlow and I versus Adam and Brock. We let Brock win because it’s his birthday.

Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans. Stay cool, stay safe, and we’ll see you on Monday. Don’t forget to keep sending your Facebook friends to the Pineapple page to “Like” us!

I’d like to give a special “Happy Birthday” shout-out to Mr. Eli Barlow, who turns 6 today. Happy birthday, little man, hope it’s a great one!

As I mentioned yesterday, we’ve got a huge day ahead of us on Monday. It’s going to be a crazy day of shooting, and it’s important that we all pitch in together and make sure every detail is flawless. It’s so interesting to see everything come together; it’s like a very intricate dance, and everyone has to know their steps perfectly so that it all falls into place. (One of my chores? Make sure there’s a hamburger on the set. I love the randomness of my job!)

Now I’m going to get personal. (Sorry, Barlow!) This isn’t really the forum for this, but my family needs all of the extra prayers possible right now. My 33-year-old brother-in-law, Jason, was diagnosed in February with Stage 4 colon cancer. This has been a shocking blow to our family, and has turned everything upside-down. The whole family is tense and terrified, his two small children are confused, and Jason is dealing with unbearable pain. Neither his wife (my life-long best friend) or his mother have had a decent night’s sleep in months, and they haven’t had a home-cooked meal in about that long, either. Take-out is the name of the game these days. We found out late yesterday that a space has been made available for Jason at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and the family is headed there this morning. Please keep the family in your prayers as this ordeal continues. Jason needs all the support he can get right now! Thank you, Pineapple fans. Now I’ll get off my soapbox.

We were so excited to meet our personal goal of 1000 Facebook fans by the end of June. (Charles lost the bet, by the way.) Our fan blitz winners did a fantastic job of sending people to our page, and we’re very grateful! Thanks again to Dori, Connor, JR, Orange and Tosha! Are we stopping? No way. Remember that if you’re ever bored at work, just send people over to “Like” Pineapple Advertising. We do our best to post interesting info, pictures and videos, so you won’t get tired of us.

Remember to contact Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com if you would like to be on our volunteer list for Pineapple Hands, offering a helping hand to those who need it. Don’t worry, you don’t have to sign your life away or anything, we would just love to be able to contact those who are willing to help when they can. It’s a great cause, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Lori if you’d like to be a part of it. Also let us know if you know of anyone that needs a helping hand!

Have a fantastic Thursday, Pineapple fans. I think I’ll go try to play a game of foosball against myself.

Charles and I had to say good-bye to a loyal resident of our office this morning. My Pistol Pete bobble-head met a tragic fate during an unexpected base-jumping incident. He’s been steady and true throughout both of our office moves, so we’d like to wish him a proper farewell. We will have a gathering later this afternoon to sing the OSU fight song in his honor. After lunch, Barlow and Adam had a battle of wills over the foosball table…it was a tremendous game, well-played by both. However, Barlow ended up triumphing over Adam, and was really cool about it. See the video of the aftermath here.

It’s been a busy week so far, but next week is shaping up to be really crazy. We’re kicking off Monday with a shoot that’s scheduled to last alllll day long, beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting probably 12 hours. The Pineapple People are excited, though; it’s going to be an awesome campaign, and we can’t wait to show it off to you! Don’t worry, I’ll be on the set to take photos and videos so that I can share all the hilarity and mayhem with our loyal readers.

It seems to be a busy week in the world of sports, as well. Between FIFA, the U.S. Open, and the NBA Finals, men everywhere are having no trouble finding something to watch on television. I guess the only problem would be deciding on which event to watch. (Unless you’re Barlow…he’s tuned into the golf channel 24/7.)

The week is halfway through, Pineapple fans. Hang in there…it’s beautiful outside, let’s hope it stays that way! See you tomorrow!

Yesterday’s production for Riverbend Ford in Bainbridge, Georgia, and Dynasty Spas in Athens, Tennessee, was a success! We had a great time shooting the green screen portion of the commercials with Kiera. All of the photos, as well as several videos, are posted here. They’re entertaining…definitely a way to spend a few minutes during the downtime of your workday.

Tomorrow’s shoot for BCBC Modern has been moved to Monday. That one is going to be a blast…I hope I get to go! The campaign for them is going to be amazing…folks in Tulsa are going to love it, and they’ll be singing the tune all over town, we promise. It’s the Pineapple way!

I’m going to see “The Wizard of Oz” tonight at the Tulsa PAC, and I’m very excited. “The Wizard of Oz” has always had a special place in my heart; when I was five years old, I spent my summer doing that production in community theater, and that’s where I met my best friend, who is still my best friend (and sister-in-law!) to this day. I only wish she could go with me! I’m really looking forward to it…anyone else going?

It’s going to be a great day at Pineapple…stay dry, everyone, enjoy the sunshine, and we’ll chat tomorrow! Don’t forget to check out our new pics and video on our facebook page!

We’ve got a busy week planned here at Pineapple. This afternoon we’re doing a shoot for Dynasty Spas in Athens (remember AquaFest? Same folks!) to get them ready for their summer season. Today we’re doing the ‘green screen’ portion, and those are always fun to watch. It’s neat to see how the footage starts as a person in front of a blank screen, then to see how final product turns out.

We’ve got another production this week, too, for our newest client, BCBC Modern. They have the coolest furniture around, and we’re really excited to launch a campaign for them. If you’re looking for some new furniture that’s not boring, you should really see what they have to offer.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a crazy week, and that’s just how we like it! We’ll be back soon with behind-the-scenes footage from the shoots this week! Have a wonderful Monday…try to stay dry!

Love it when boys clean!

It’s been another busy week here at the Pineapple. Barlow’s been working like a fiend (what’s new there?) and churning out some awesome creative. The new Nelson Nissan commercial has just been completed, and it looks fantastic. Check it out here and let us know what you think. It was a lot of fun to make, and it’s definitely got an upbeat vibe to it. Plus, if you’re in the market for a new car, now you know that there is a great promotion going at Nelson Nissan!

You know how much I love production days, right? Well…next week is my lucky week because we’ve got TWO on the books! I love watching the filming and all the creative elements come to life, and then see how it’s all put together through the magic of editing. Stay tuned, Pineapple fans…you know I’ll be on the set with my trusty camera to bring you all of the behind-the-scenes action.

Well, faithful readers (hi, Mom!), I’m signing off. Much more work is to be done before the end of the day. Have a wonderful weekend, stay safe, and we’ll chat on Monday.

We’ve got a full house at Pineapple HQ right now…the Pineapples have some playmates! Haylee and the Barlow Babies have come to say hello and we’re always glad to see them here! I’m just happy that they’ve taken Adam’s mini basketball away from him for a few minutes….if I’m lucky it’ll get stuck on the roof. Wait, don’t tell him I said that. Charles is heading out this afternoon to make some important sales calls…keep your fingers crossed for him. We’re always ready for new people to Pick the Pineapple! He got a new haircut, so he’s looking quite professional and dashing these days.

The new Nelson Nissan commercial is in the final stages…I can’t wait to see the finished product! Don’t worry, we’ll post it for you to see as soon as it’s ready.

What is this world coming to? I just saw a terrible story about an assault on a teenager that left her brain-damaged, and all because of a fight via text message. While I think that texting is great (yes, I’m addicted) and Facebook is just about the best invention since sliced bread, it’s amazing to me how many tragic stories are emerging in the news regarding teens, bullying, and suicide. People magazine featured a cover story recently on 15-year-old Phoebe Prince, the Irish teen that was bullied on Facebook to such an extent that she hanged herself in her home, to be found by her sister. Nine teens are being charged with bullying and cyberbullying her to her death. Facebook is a wonderful tool, kids, so let’s not use it for bad stuff, okay?!Josie Ratley

Phoebe Prince

On that somber note, have a wonderful Thursday, Pineapple fans. Happy Friday Eve! And I’ll try to be more upbeat tomorrow, I promise!

It must be somewhat of a relief to Natalee Holloway’s family that Joran van der Sloot has confessed to the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores in Peru. Of course, now he’s trying to say that he didn’t mean it, like he always has before. He’s an admitted pathological liar, which makes it difficult for the police to even know when he’s telling the truth. I just hope that they get the truth out of him once and for all, and that he gets everything he deserves. Now he’s destroyed two families, not just one. He needs to be punished! This is a story that I’ve been keeping track of for the last five years, and I can’t wait to see the end result, and some peace for all of the families involved.

Speaking of terrible and tragic crimes, did anyone follow the Foxy Knoxy case out of Italy? Just saw a great documentary last weekend on MSNBC, “Deadly Exchange,” and it was fascinating. Hard to decide if she’s innocent or guilty…what do you think?

On a lighter note, McDonald’s is offering $3 refunds to any customer that purchased the Shrek drinking glasses recently. They were discovered to contain cadmium, which isn’t cool at all. That stuff is in batteries, metal and other items that you don’t want to be drinking. So if you purchased any of these glasses, you need to get a refund form (no receipt necessary) and submit it, along with the glassware, to your local McDonald’s. This makes me wonder about the classic Pizza Hut Care Bears glasses that I still have in my kitchen cabinet from 25 years ago. Wonder what dangerous element those contain?

And since things are going so well on the fast-food front, I should also tell you that Burger King has pulled it’s crown-shaped chicken tenders from the menu, deeming them too poor quality to serve to their customers. Yum. Not to worry, they hope to have a chicken tender substitute on-hand later this week. I’m sure everyone will be lining up to try those! This is why we should just eat at Wendy’s instead.

Pineapple fans, I sincerely hope that you’re having a wonderful Wednesday. I promise to have brighter news for you tomorrow! Don’t forget our Facebook fan blitz (are you sick of hearing about this yet?!)….we still need TWO more winners! Send us 20 fans and win a FREE “Your Commercials Suck” tee shirt…you know you want one. Be cool like the Pineapple People in the most fun shirts around!

In all seriousness, we do have some really huge news. One of our commercials has been sold and is slated to air in the #1 television viewing market in the country….NEW YORK CITY! That’s right, folks, the Pineapple is going to debut in the Big Apple! Many creative directors wait years for a chance to show their stuff in such a huge market, and a lot of the time it doesn’t ever happen. Pineapple is only three years old, and we’re about to achieve that goal. This is definitely a HUGE day for us!

We had a blast at the Nelson Nissan shoot yesterday! If you missed yesterday’s blog, you can see all of the photos here. We’ll post the commercial as soon as it’s finished…shouldn’t be too long. And trust me, it’s going to be awesome! You can watch this in the meantime!

We have three winners so far in the Pineapple fan blitz on Facebook. They are Connor Cosgrove, Dori Arnold and Geoff Kesler! Congrats to those three; they will each receive a FREE “Your Commercials Suck” tee shirt, courtesy of Pineapple Advertising. Tosha Downing Wyatt is a strong contender for fourth place; she’s brought us 10 new fans so far. All you need to do is send 20 of your friends to our page, have them click “Like” at the top, then have them write your name on our wall…it’s really very easy, and who doesn’t want a free shirt? Tosha, keep up the good work! You’re halfway there. And then, who will our fifth and final winner be? It could be YOU!

In addition to just wanting to spread the word about how cool Pineapple is, we have a wager in place here at Pineapple HQ regarding the number of fans that we have. I won’t tell you who is betting, because I would hate to tip the scales in anyone’s favor. But it would really mean a lot to some of us if you could keep recommending us and bump up our fan numbers!

From all of us here at Pineapple HQ, have a terrific Tuesday…we’ll see you tomorrow!

Lori is lining up projects for Pineapple Hands. We’ve been getting offers from several folks who would like to volunteer; if you’re interested in helping out with any or all of our projects, please e-mail Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com.We always need more helping hands to spread the Power of the Pineapple.

We still need two more winners in our Facebook fan blitz! It’s not too late to win a FREE “Your Commercials Suck” tee shirt from Pineapple Advertising. Just tell 20 of your friends to visit the Pineapple page, click “Like” and write your name on our wall. Easy as pie…or pineapple, I should say!

It’s Monday, Pineapple fans…it’s time to buckle down and have a great week! See you tomorrow!

We’re proud to announce that a local furniture store, BCBC Modern, has Picked the Pineapple! It’s a really interesting store full of super-cool furniture, and the owner has a great vision and passion for his product. We know he’s going to be a fun client and we’re excited to get started!

We have been having the Pineapple Fan Blitz on our Facebook page…and it started off really strong. And then…what happened? We have three winners out of five, and we still need two more! You can still win your FREE “Your Commercials Suck” tee shirt; just have 20 of your friends “Like” the Pineapple page, and have them write your name on our wall. Simple as that. Besides, it’s Friday, and I bet you’re not working that hard anyway. So why not win a prize?

Don’t forget that we are still taking volunteers for Pineapple Hands; contact us via Facebook or e-mail Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com.

Have a wonderful weekend, Pineapple fans! Stay cool!

Another client is teetering on the brink of picking the Pineapple…it’s not completely official, so that’s all I can say right now. But I feel confident that we’ll have good news for you shortly. Things are blowing up at the Pineapple!

Lots going on lately outside the walls of Pineapple HQ…Rue McClanahan of the Golden Girls has passed away at 76, due to a stroke. Ms. McClanahan was a talented actress, a gifted comedienne, and a native Oklahoman. She will be missed!

And on another note, Joran van der Sloot, the chief suspect in the Natalee Holloway disappearance in 2005, is now wanted in connection with another murder in Peru. Personally, I think the Aruban police seriously botched that investigation, and I feel terrible for the Holloway family. The lack of closure has to be absolutely heart-wrenching. And to think that van der Sloot has been living the high life for the last five years, skipping around the world having a fine old time, and now he’s allegedly murdered another young girl who was unfortunate enough to fall for his charms. I hope he’s brought to justice soon. Pineapple fans, I hope you all had a fantastic week…it’s rapidly drawing to a close! Have a wonderful Friday…we’ll chat tomorrow!

There is definitely a lot of action going on at Pineapple HQ…we all feel as though our heads are spinning in a million different directions. But everyone here is great about buckling down, working as a team and helping each other out when we need it. Or when we just really need a foosball partner.

Charles’ position with the company has expanded, and he’s busy learning the ropes of his new tasks, as well as continuing to be a super salesman for Pineapple. He’s doing a great job of tackling all of those leads. Even though he’s mean to me sometimes, I still say nice things about him, see? I want that noted for the record!

Barlow is in full-on creative mode, working on about six different campaigns. He thinks better with some peanut M&M’s in his hand. It must work, though, because he’s churning out some amazing creative these days. You’ll definitely want to stay tuned for that!

It’s Wednesday, Pineapple fans….we’re over halfway to the weekend! Enjoy this hot weather, and before you get sick of it, remember that summer is still three weeks away!

It was a heartwarming moment, and the family was so grateful. The only requirement to be helped by the Pineapples is that you have to pay it forward, and pass on the power of the pineapple to someone else who needs it. Check out the rest of the photos here. On another note, the Pineapples had a meeting with a potential client today and we’re very excited! We love meeting new people and figuring out what we can do for them. Plus we love entertaining here at Pineapple HQ! More on that later…we are pumped for someone new to Pick the Pineapple!

Thanks for reading, Pineapple fans! Please let us know if you are interested in being a Helping Hands volunteer, or if you know of someone who needs a hand, whatever the circumstances may be. You can contact us via our Facebook page, or e-mail Lori at lbarlow@pickthepineapple.com.

First on the books is a repeat trip back to our favorite city, Toronto! I think the boys just want another stamp on their passports. It’s time to seal the deal with the dealer group up there; they’re definitely ripe for picking the Pineapple! We’re counting on the boys to bring it home.

After that, it’s time to hit the road. The Pineapple People are heading to sunny south Florida to speak to a dealership that we met at NABD in Vegas. Assuming they don’t just decide to stay there and live on the beach, it’s off to Ohio after that to meet with another potential client. Lots of folks are thisclose to picking the Pineapple, and we’re very excited about that. I’m personally pumped about the Florida lead because I heart the beach! (I even got married on a Florida beach last year, THAT’S how much I love it!) Traveling with the Pineapples is always an adventure, and I’ll be here to keep you informed of all the happenings on the road.

Pineapple Advertising has hit a home run as far as car dealerships are concerned, but we also have several clients in other industries, as well. We have a meeting next week with a really cool furniture store that is ripe for Picking Us! It’s an awesome store, and we know that we can do a great job for them.

Pineapple Helping Hands is still collecting donations this weekend for the Castellanos family, victims of a house fire one week ago today. All items are welcome, and we are especially needing the following: household items, linens, towels, kitchen items, men’s clothing (XXL, 36×36), women’s clothing (medium, size 7.5-8 shoes, LOVES flip-flops!), 3T girl’s clothing, and 3-6 month girl’s clothing. Please let us know if you have anything to donate. You can reach us via our Facebook page, or you can e-mail me at Ashley@PickthePineapple.com. We are so grateful to those who have been able to donate so far. We appreciate you!

For those of you crazy Facebook addicts, we are still doing our Fan Blitz! It’s EASY…just tell your friends to visit the Pineapple page, click “Like” at the top, then post your name on our wall, so we know who sent them. We are giving away FREE “Your Commercials Suck” tee shirts to the first five winners. We’ve got two so far, closing in on three, so there are still two left. Hurry, hurry! Today would be a good day, since everyone will be slacking at work due to the upcoming long weekend.

Speaking of the holiday weekend, we wish all of you a safe and festive Memorial Day. Whether you’re boating, camping, or just hanging out at home, enjoy the break. You deserve it! We’ll talk next week!

Ash: Are you excited after completing your first week as a Pineapple?

Brock: Definitely excited, it’s been great so far. The people are awesome, and the job/office is looking to be a perfect fit for my skill-set and my personality.

Ash: Are you starting to feel comfortable in your new position as controller?

Brock: I’ve actually been informed that my official position is “Financial Advisement Director,” but yes – I think I’m starting to get the hang of it! It’s a lot of things at once right now, but each day I will become more familiar with the day-to-day Pineapple Operations.

Ash: What’s been the most challenging part of your new job?

Brock: So far it’s been absorbing all of the information about Pineapple, its clients, and the way we do business each day. Again, I think that challenge will subside over these next few days as I really slide into my position and set up my own system.

Ash: What’s your favorite part of being a Pineapple?

Brock: The chance to be a part of something big – building from the ground up – and being a part of such a seemingly close-knit staff here at the office.

Ash: Is there anything you would change if you could?

Brock: I would add a ping pong table to the office – the foosball isn’t cutting it. I would obliterate these newbies if we had some pong.

Ash: What are you most looking forward to?

I’m most looking forward to the day (hopefully in the next couple of weeks) that I’m fully independent and have a hold of everything my job entails. I’m ready to stop bugging Lori all the time!

Last Friday was Pac-Man’s 30th anniversary. And Google chose to celebrate that very special day by changing their logo to an actual working Pac-Man game. (Don’t act like you didn’t know!) Now some research has been done that says that one day cost the American workforce $120,000,000 in productivity. WOW. Who would’ve thought? I wonder if they’ve done research to see how many dollars are wasted on Facebook every single day. If you keep up with the Pineapple Facebook page, which I’m sure all of you do, you know that Pineapple Helping Hands is off to a great start with its first official project. Pineapple is collecting donations for a local family, the Castellanos, that lost everything in a house fire last week. Any donations are gratefully accepted, and we really need the following:

Household items, kitchen items, linens,

Men’s clothing (XXL, 36×36)

Women’s clothing (Medium, size 7.5-8 shoe, LOVES flip-flops!)

3T girl’s clothing

3-month-old girl’s clothing

Please contact us via Facebook if you have donations, or you can e-mail me at Ashley@PickthePineapple.com, or Lori at LBarlow@PickthePineapple.com.

In addition, if you would like to become a volunteer for Pineapple Helping Hands, please let Lori know! We expect to take on many projects in the coming weeks, and would love to have extra “hands” to help out! Also, if you know of anyone who could benefit from Helping Hands, please let us know that, too. Is everyone as excited as I am about the American Idol finale tonight? If you are, I hope you’re ready for Lee DeWyze to be the big winner, because I fully expect it to happen! I know Crystal has been a front-runner for most of the competition, but I think Lee has the chops to be really big. And let’s face it, I just like him better. So there. Crystal has amazing talent, but I’m just not really into that Janis Joplin vibe, and Lee sings songs from artists that I like. Plus he’s got that incredibly hot voice. Hope everyone tunes in tonight on Fox at 8/7 central. If nothing else, it will be historical…it’s Simon Cowell’s last episode! Personally, I don’t see Idol continuing on at such a high rate of success without Simon, but what do I know?

Don’t forget that the Pineapple Fan Blitz is still going on! Simply tell 20 of your friends (or enemies, or casual acquaintances) to go to the Pineapple Facebook page, click “Like” and post your name on our wall. We want five winners, and we have two so far, so there are still three spots left! Each winner receives a FREE “Your Commercials Suck” tee shirt, courtesy of Pineapple Advertising. Congrats so far to Connor Cosgrove and Dori Arnold, our first two winners!

Enjoy this beautiful day, Pineapple fans. See you tomorrow!

Today I would like to focus on our first official Pineapple Helping Hands project. A local Bixby family, Ed and Lasay Castellanos and their two young daughters, were victims of a house fire this past Friday afternoon. Lacey was home, playing outside with the two girls, when their microwave shorted and caught fire, immediately engulfing the entire back of the house in flames. The family has lost everything, and the Pineapple Helping Hands are jumping into action. We are collecting anything you can spare!

*Household items

*Men’s clothing, size Large, 36×36

*Women’s clothing, size Medium, shoe size 7.5-8

*3T girl’s clothing

*3-month-old girl’s clothing

If you are able to help, please bring any donations to Pineapple HQ. We’re located in the office buildings behind Louie’s at 101st & Sheridan, #6304. Our address is 6304 East 102nd Street South, Tulsa. If you need more information, please contact us on our Facebook page, or via e-mail at ashley@pickthepineapple.comThank you, Pineapple fans! We know that you’ll help us rally round this family and bring some peace of mind to them during this stressful time. Have a wonderful week!

We’ve had quite a few visitors today, so it seems everyone is using any excuse possible to run errands and enjoy the sunshine. Which is fine with us; the Pineapple People love visitors!

It’s been a peaceful day so far. Charles has been working on leads from NABD in Vegas, and we’re hoping to make some moves on those very soon. I’m pushing for some beach clients, personally. I mean, we’re Pineapples! Naturally we love the tropics!

Adam has been working hard today, too, as you can see below.

I’ve been hard at work pushing our Pineapple Advertising Fan Blitz on Facebook….we have our first winner as of a few minutes ago, Mr. Connor Cosgrove! Four more people are eligible to win a free Pineapple tee shirt. All you have to do is get 20 of your friends to LIKE the Pineapple page on Facebook, and have them post your name on our wall so we know they sent you. Simple, and the shirts are awesome!

Well, it’s time to clean Pineapple HQ, our favorite Friday tradition. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and keep sending your friends to the Pineapple!

First of all, we are having another FAN BLITZ on the Pineapple Facebook page. Be one of the first five people to send us 20 new fans, and we’ll give you a FREE “Your Commercials Suck” tee shirt, the very same kind that’s worn by the Pineapple People on the road. (But not THE exact shirt; we wouldn’t do that to you. We’ll give you a new one.)

These shirts are really cute, and definitely attract attention, so why wouldn’t you want one? And let me make it really easy for you; just copy and paste this into your status update on your Facebook page:

“Help me win a FREE tee shirt! Go to the Pineapple Advertising page, click ‘Like’ and then type my name on their wall! Thanks!”

If you’re not that Facebook-savvy, let me teach you a trick. Copy and paste the above sentence, then delete the words ‘Pineapple Advertising’. In that spot, type the @ symbol, then start typing ‘Pineapple’. A drop-down box will appear, and you can select the Pineapple Advertising option, and that will turn the words blue, then make a link directly to our page, so your friends don’t even have to search for us. Miss Dani Ross is in the lead right now, but there’s plenty of time for YOU to win! Come on, Pineapple fans, don’t let us down! If you really want to know why this is so interesting, there’s a wager going on at Pineapple HQ about a fan number….I don’t want to tell you who is involved because I don’t want to tip the scales in anyone’s favor, but let’s do this! Please?We’ve got some hot new leads from our Vegas convention, so that means it’s time to start traveling again! We’re hoping that all of our new prospects will not waste any time before Picking the Pineapple, because let’s face it…that’s the smart thing to do.

I’ve got a big field trip planned for today. I’m spending the day with Car Country’s very own Rog the Credit Cruncher. I’m looking forward to it, because he’s not scary! We’re planning on taking tours of all three of the dealerships, as well as meeting some of the employees and learn a bit more about the company. I’m excited for my behind-the-scenes look, and I’ll be sure to share everything with you as soon as I can. We hope that everyone stayed safe and dry during the storms last night. I hear that the weather is supposed to be hot and sunny this weekend, so let’s hope that’s really the case! Happy Friday Eve, Pineapple fans!