Change is a happenin'!

Wow, this has been a crazy month for our little PR department! There has been a department addition, two moves, and a baby - pretty sure that could be a movie title...

If you haven't already heard - Heather has had her baby! She welcomed little Olivia into the world last week, and we couldn't be more excited for her. We are loving the baby updates, and are looking forward to meeting the new little bundle of joy. But she couldn't get out of here before we were able to throw her a fun little surprise baby shower - complete with celebrity baby name games, a diaper cake, and the cutest little clothes you've ever seen!

We have also added another member to our department - we are now up to six, can you believe it?! Six!! (Plus one, for Olivia, of course...) Jill joined us just in time to meet Heather, before the new arrival...and we are very excited to have her! I'll let her introduce herself -

"As they say, third time is a charm, and after a couple moves between the Northwest and Phoenix, I am excited to be back in Portland. My dog is happy to be back in her native state, my dermatologist is happy my skin will get a reprieve from the sun, I am pretty sure my boyfriend is happy we don’t have to do the distance thing anymore, and I am happy to have found an awesome job at R/West.

I am a loyal Oregon State Beaver, and happy to represent (along with Jen!) in an office that seems to be full of way too many Ducks. My background is in Communications, having first gone the journalism route which led to a little reporting for the Arizona Republic. But, I had been spoiled having my own column in the Oregon State Barometer to muse on whatever crossed my mind, and covering the 2A state high school softball championship just wasn’t the same.  (No offense to my softball-playing friends, but there is a reason I do not play on the R/West softball team. As a competitive swimmer for 17 years, I have gills—not eye-hand coordination.)

When I am not caught up in the PR trenches, I am thrilled to be back in the Northwest for all of the great outdoor adventures this area has to offer. I am happy to have made it up here in time to enjoy the last of the beautiful Portland summer and, perhaps more importantly, the start of football season. I also still enjoy yoga, but I do prefer to take it into a studio.

Want to know more? Follow me on Twitter @jill_personius. I like to think of myself as a “cautious” social media adopter, but every once in a while you might pick up a thing or two."

In the midst of all of this, we've also had two moves - Jill has obviously moved from Phoenix to join us, and I have moved to a tiny little town about an hour south of Portland. Gotta love that morning commute!

So there you have it - that's the update on all the latest! Just in case you're wondering, H is out on maternity leave until the end of the year - but something tells me that her Blackberry will never be too far from her side...

Random Acts of Clowness Takes Over Portland

It was a workday like any other for Molly and Ali. With excitement and uneasiness, they drove to the Courtyard Marriott at 4:30 a.m. and loaded up the Subaru with Tom and Lara, official Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circus clowns, Their mission for the day: Spread Ringling Bros. cheer and unexpectedness across the city of Portland in anticipation of the circus coming to Portland Sept. 16-20. The clowns would be popping up around the city during the day in an event called Random Acts of Clowness—handing out freebies at Dutch Bros., Taco Del Mar, and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream at the Jamison Square park.

The day started out with a bang. Joe V. of KPTV joined the R/West circus clan at Dutch Bros. to spread the circus love. Over the course of two hours, over 170 free coffee drinks were served and given away by the clown couple. Customers were handed Ringling Bros. ticket coupons and official clown noses. Many arrived to Dutch Bros. already fitted with their own noses and couldn’t get enough of Joe V.’s whip cream incident! Hey, you never know what will happen with clowns around!

With a moment to powder their noses and scratch their heads, the clowns were off to hand out free kids meals at Taco Del Mar. Upon arrival, a family of true Hillsboro fans greeted the clowns with excitement and hunger for a free meal.

The day ended with lots of kids, sun block, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, and sticky faces. Kids playing in the fountain at Jameson Square Park were intrigued by the clowns and even more excited to receive free Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. There were little voices saying, “Mom! I want to go to the circus!” chiming throughout the park as parents watched their children with red clown noses playing in the fountain.

5:00 p.m.—Mission complete. At least until the circus train arrives in Portland, Sept. 14 with shows the 16-20!

Sorry...for leaving the toilet seat up, AGAIN!

Do you need to apologize for something, like the talking in rhyme all the time? Or because people just can't accept how awesome you are?

Do you have that one friend you've been playing phone tag with for three months, a boyfriend you ditched for girls' night, or a co-worker you need to do some kissing-up to? If you are anything like Nancy from the Seattle Times, you have plenty of apologizing to do!

If that's the case, have we got the perfect way for you to say "sorry!" - what better than a free taco?!

August 27th is Global Forgiveness Day, and Taco Del Mar is celebrating by letting you send a free e-card to those you need some forgiveness from. The forgiver can then redeem the e-card for a free taco, by taking it to their local, participating Taco Del Mar on August 27.

Check out www.tacodelmar.com to look at e-card options, and start sending them off to your friends, family or even complete strangers - now through the 27th.

Free kids meals in July - that's right, I said FREE!

All of you mommies and daddies out there, get ready, you're going to love July! After 5 p.m., everyday during this month, Taco Del Mar is giving away free kids meals to kids 12 and under, with a $4 adult purchase.

So basically, you can run down to your local TDM at dinner time and grab some grub - feeding a family of four for $8!! How can you beat THAT?! Well, ladies and gents, you can't!

You might be thinking "Why in the world is Taco Del Mar giving away FREE food?!?" Well, it's simple - Taco Del Mar loves kids, and July is when they're showing it. It also happens to be the same month TDM made Parents magazine's list of America's "Top 10 Best Fast-Casual Family Restaurants." Taco Del Mar ranked #9, based on a two-month study of healthy kids' menu items, family-friendly conveniences, and value. So not only is TDM's food healthy and yummy for kids, it's also FREE during July!

And did I mention, you can take the kids to TDM for a FREE dinner during July??

My new wheels!!!

How do you like my new set of wheels?! Pretty awesome right...this is me sitting in my new Ferrari California, because that's how we roll here at R/West!




Ok, so by "my new set of wheels" I might mean "my new obsession/first thing on my Christmas list..." I'm pretty sure it was made for me, that leather seat fit like a glove, and getting out of the driver's seat was one of the most difficult things I've ever done... The Ferrari California is Ferrari's new addition to the family, coming out in 2010. This is the only one in Oregon, and it's currently sitting in the showroom at Ron Tonkin's Gran Turismo dealership (the oldest Ferrari dealership in the country, mind you.)

You might be asking why in the heck did I get to sit in the fastest (speedometer tops out at 220), most beautiful thing you've ever laid eyes on...and here's why: Yesterday Gran Turismo hosted it's 10th Annual Track Day at Portland International Raceway, where customers were invited to bring their own fast, fancy cars and race them at top speeds (under professional supervision/instruction of course!)

Danyel and I started out the morning bright and early with Drew Carney of KGW's LIVE at Sunrise, at the Gran Turismo store. That is where we got to drool over these amazing cars, learn about the dealership and even watch Drew drive this beauty. (Believe me, we were all holding our breath as the drove away in this $225,000 car...mic in one hand, wheel in other - after just announcing that he didn't know how to drive a stick!!) Let's just say it was an entertaining morning with Drew!

Then it was off to the races - we headed out to PIR where we spent a beautiful day in the sun watching fast, gorgeous Ferraris, Maseratis, Lotuses, Porsches, (insert anything fast, expensive and amazing here) cruise around the track at 150 mph!! Those babies could haul! All drivers had to take an instruction course with Pro Drive and then were able to drive with a professional in the passenger seat. Helmets were also required driving/riding accessories...always safety first on the track!

There were a few pros (like Steve and Art from the dealership) who could take passengers out in the California and Ed Tonkin's personal Porsche. And yes, I was lucky enough to be taken on a very fast, very exciting ride in that cute little blue Porsche (thanks Steve)!!! Yeah, I'm pretty sure I could own one of those too (Christmas list currently reads 1. Ferrari, 2. Porsche...)

Yesterday was definitely an adrenaline-packed, amazing day...and even though Danyel and I woke up at 3:30am (Drew - you know we'd do anything for you!) it was all completely worth it. And I'd probably get up that early every day if it meant I had the chance to ride in those amazing cars!

And check out the R/West Facebook page for more photos, videos and fancy car fun!!

Meet Molly & Ali - Our newest R/West PR girls!

In the last few weeks the R/West PR team has experienced some major changes - some very sad (Kendall - we miss you every day...and are still trying to dry our eyes!) and some exciting (new, awesome PR minds like Molly and Ali).

Our department's founder, Kendall, decided that teaching history was her true calling and has decided to go back to school and learn how to shape young minds. (Yes, Kendall graduated college as a history major, but ended up becoming the founding member of the R/West PR team as we now know it, and a PR rockstar!) Here we are celebrating her new life/crying about her leaving...

So because of Kendall's new career path, we did many interviews, searching high and low for someone to fill her big shoes. Then we came across Molly, who we'd love to introduce you to - I'll let her take it from here:

Hi loyal PR Girls’ Followers!

I thought it was only right to make a formal introduction to our readers as the newest member of the R/West PR team. I started working at R/West on April 28th and haven’t looked back since. Here’s a little background on where I’ve been, what I’ve done and my plans for the future…

I am originally from Woodinville, WA, a small town on the eastside of Seattle where I grew up from diapers to prom dresses. After 13 years of playing soccer I decided to continue in college and moved to Montana to play for the Grizzlies in Missoula. I spent the next four years learning all about wonderful things to do in Big Sky Country- hiking, fly fishing, camping, kayaking and floating the rivers. It was in Montana that I fell in love with the outdoors.

While in college I interned one summer in Juneau, Alaska at the Alaska Brewing Company as part of the summer six-pack. Six total strangers bought in from the “lower 48” to help bring some outside insight into the launch of their new IPA. We gave our opinion on logo design, name choices and strategies for the launch. While there the six of us got to experience Juneau from a whale watching boat, helicopter and dog sled.

After college I worked at a couple of marketing firms with clients ranging anywhere from an assisted living facility at an old Masonic Temple to a beautiful day spa in downtown Seattle.

I was browsing jobs at ski hills one day thinking to myself, “I like marketing and I love skiing, maybe I can find a job that takes that into account.” It was then that I came across a communications coordinator position for Snowbird Ski Resort in the Wasatch Mountain Range in Utah. I had a phone interview and then drove down for a second interview and was hooked on my first drive up the canyon. I worked there last winter, skiing a few times a week and learning the ins-and-outs of marketing a resort.

And now? Well, I’m in Portland! I decided to move here to be closer to my family and to open the door for more opportunities in marketing and public relations. Some of my interests also include good food, good beer and good music - so what better place than PDX?

The clients I will be working on at R/West include: BridgePort Brewing Company, Franz Bakery, Marquis and Consonus Companies, The Portland Clinic and Feld Entertainment (including Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey when they're in Portland). It is great to look forward to coming into work everyday and I could not be more excited about my clients and my coworkers!
Cheers!

Molly

So there you have it - straight from the horse's mouth! :) We are looking forward to getting to know Molly a little better, and teaching her all about life at R/West!

Also, I wanted to share a post where you can learn all about our semi-new (sorry we didn't introduce you earlier!) intern Ali. She is part of the Senior Portland Experience program through the University of Oregon (go ducks!), and we have really enjoyed working with her over the past few weeks! During her program, she is also working on the Portland Fair Trade blog - check it out!

Ok, and on a little more personal PR department note - did we tell you JulieAnna is engaged and getting married in Cabo this November?? And Heather is pregnant with a little girl!! She is due this fall, and we are so excited to have a little one running around the PR department (ok maybe not running for a while, but you know what I mean!)

So, I think that about covers our updates for now...I'll let you know if anything else comes to mind!

-B

Can you eat a five pound burrito??

Did you do anything fun for Cinco de Mayo? Maybe you munched on nachos, listened to a miriachi band, or sipped on a yummy margarita? Well, that is all good and well, but if that's all you did - you missed out!


For one day only, Cinco de Mayo, Taco Del Mar was offering up a 5 pound burrito, called the Cinco de Mondo! If you could finish the burrito in 30 minutes or less you won gift certificates, SWAG and some major bragging rights! Many thought they were up for the challenge, but you should have seen their faces when that HUGE burrito was placed in their hands (the thing was the size of baby!)


So the day before the big event, May 4th, Joe V. from KPTV's "On the Go with Joe" came out to the Hillsboro Taco Del Mar and learned how to make the 5 pounder. Throughout the morning, Joe was hoping someone would be brave enough to come down and try and eat the burrito in 30 minutes - his biggest fear was that no one would come and that he would have to try to eat that massive thing on his own!


But luckily Sye showed up - in pants with an elastic waist - to take on the 5 pounder! Keep in mind he was eating 5 pounds of beans, rice, cheese, chicken and pico de gallo on live TV, at 8 a.m. on a Monday! When he was reminded of this, he got quite nervous, and even took a little walk around the block to get fired up. (He recently got engaged, and didn't tell his finacee he was doing this...his biggest fear was that she and his future mother and father-in-law would be watching, and see him stuffing his face with beans and rice.)


Here's a video of the morning, so you can see just exactly how Sye did against the Cinco de Mondo.

So in the end, Sye was victorious, and won catering for 10 people - we told him to have a party with his finacee and her parents, so that if they did see the show that morning, maybe yummy food would help their embarassment. :)

Then fast-forward to May 5th, Cinco de Mayo and time for all big eaters to venture out in their sweatpants and belly up to the burrito bar for 5 pounds of burrito-ey goodness. And many did! These two went head-to-head at the Taco Del Mar on MLK, but neither of them made it to the finish line...

And these two guys walked out of the restaurant groaning, with their pants unbuttoned!


All-in-all, Taco Del Mar's Cinco de Mayo celebration - Cinco de Mondo, was a HUGE success, like 5 pounds worth...


So make sure your eating pants are nice and stretchy for May 5, 2010 - now that you know what to expect, there are no excuses for not being able to take that baby down!