Every Friday, we present our staff’s top picks for the best links or articles of the week AND we’ll tell you why we think they’re so great. A word of warning – this isn’t always about marketing. It’s just great stuff from across the web that we think is worth sharing. Enjoy!

8 Crazy Gadgets to Buy if you Win Mega Millions (Kathleen): http://on.mash.to/IZyTiS

Lottery fever is spreading like crazy! With tonight’s jackpot estimated at $460 million, just about everyone we know is running out and buying a ticket. Here in our office, we’ve had several conversations about what we’d do with our millions. I have to admit – none of my plans were as outlandish as these ideas from Mashable.com (may be time to revise my list – 24 carat grill, anyone?).

All 120 Crayon Names, Color Codes and Fun Facts (Jessie-Lee): http://bit.ly/JGwQKN

Bringing crayons online! This article divulges all 120 colors in Crayola’s classic collection via Hex code, including Jungle Green (my personal favorite). How cool is that?! Definitely one to keep in the design arsenal.

Type Connection (Jessie-Lee): http://bit.ly/JGxfNe

A typographic dating game. This website is brilliant! You can play matchmaker with your favorite fonts while learning why they do or do not make the perfect mate. I can’t wait to see this little adventure expand – what a wealth of knowledge!

Conan O’Brien Buys Mashable, Ousts Pete Cashmore as CEO (Kathleen): http://on.mash.to/IZArcw

April Fools Day is one of my favorite times of the year. I absolutely love when companies make fun of themselves with fake press releases, etc. Here’s a great one from Mashable (anything with Conan O’Brien wins my vote!)

West Jet Introduces Child-Free Cabins (Kathleen): http://bit.ly/IZBb1y

Yes, this is ANOTHER April Fools piece, but I promise, its worth watching (especially if you have kids!). So funny. Kudos to West Jet for coming up with this!

One of the most – dare I say genius? - yet totally ridiculous inventions of the past few years has weaseled its way into the promotional products industry. That’s right, I’m talking about the SNUGGIE.

I know you’ve been dying to get your logo on a snuggie and the opportunity is now all yours. Since the snuggie is only, after all, an extra long fleece blanket with sleeves, decoration options for promo snuggies are pretty much unlimited. Screen printing, embroidery, laser etching, appliqués, or dye sublimation – the choice is all yours! Promotional snuggies are even available in a rainbow of color options-choose from burgundy, red, colbalt blue, camel, green, black, pink, navy, or brown.

Think the snuggie is only for grandmas and those too lazy to put on a jacket? Think again. The band Weezer cuddles up in snuggies too! They’re even including their new cd “Raditude” with every Weezer Snuggie purchase. Sweet deal!

Hmm … seems like the only place the snuggie hasn’t invaded yet is Microsoft Word spell check. But neither has the brand name “Crayola,” and they’ve been around since 1885!

Annapolis, MD March 27, 2008 –

Quintain Marketing announces the addition of Jessica Matase to the firm’s project management team. Before joining Quintain Marketing, Jessica was an advertisement consultant for Crayola, LLC where she managed added-value print campaigns in national magazines and product sampling opportunities for the Crayola Beginnings and Color Wonder lines. Jessica also provided support to Crayola’s consumer promotions department.

Jessica brings strong advertising experience, as well as expertise in partnership marketing to Quintain, having developed and maintained partnership relations for Crayola with Royal Caribbean, Merck, and the Hearst Corporation. Jessica’s corporate experience, as well as her dual focus on marketing/advertising and project management, provides her a unique understanding of the corporate promotional marketing process.

Prior to entering the marketing and advertising industry, Jessica spent time at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York as a part of the group sales and visitor services team.

“We are thrilled that Jessica has joined the Quintain Marketing team,” stated Kathleen Booth, Owner and CEO of Quintain Marketing. “Jessica’s impressive experience with corporate marketing and advertising, coupled with her professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to customer service, will really make a difference for our customers.”

About Quintain Marketing

Quintain Marketing is a promotional strategy consulting firm located in Annapolis, MD. They offer unique, creative and high quality branded products, dimensional marketing, and web-based employee and customer gifting and incentive programs.

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