(Remember – this post was auto-scheduled to go up – I will MIA all day Tuesday and playing wicked catch up on Wednesday & Thursday – so if I’m not responding to comments you’ve left me, or commenting on your blogs – I haven’t died! I’m just Yawp-ed out!!!! I promise I’ll be back in full effect as soon as possible!)
Ya’ll ready for the “BIG REVEAL”?!?!?!?!?!?!? 
I know you are! After 10 months of HARD work – today is Yawpfest 2009 – and the theme: NERDSTOCK! 
Yeah – I am LOVIN’ it! 
So what is Yawpfest? Let me explain!
Basically, it’s our annual company picnic – with it’s own creative “American Greetings” spin.
Where does the “yawp” come from though??? I’ll explain some more! 
Ever seen the movie Dead Poet’s Society? Where Robin Williams reads a Walt Whitman poem where they talk about a Neanderthal yell called a “yawp”? Yeah – it came from there! And that movie ties in to our corporate culture because it’s all about being different and getting the most out of every day – standing up on your desks to get a different view of the world! Yeah – I work for a pretty cool company!
So over the past 10 months – a committee of about 20 people worked together to pick a theme, events, a venue, all the swag – every single little detail you could ever imagine – to put together an awesome day for 300 people. I seriously felt like I just planned a wedding or something! 
Things went from about 0-60 this last week – as all of the things we had ordered started to pile in! Here’s just a small sampling:
Threatening notes so our items didn’t disappear:
Swag bags filled with awesomeness!
Our 2009 logo (the koala is AG’s unofficial mascot):
Nerd glasses:
Nerdy notebooks:
Yo-yo’s:
USB jump drives that are also lava lamps!
These were my favorite swag item!! So pretty!!!
So what are the events we planned? Well I’ll share!
Nerd Feud – yeah – think Family Feud just with even nerdier questions – LOVE IT!
Video games (because what is nerdier?!)
Full couch action and everything!
And then a game called “Volleypong” – and an Art Project! We tried to give everyone a nice variety to choose from! Look at how awesome the signs are that we had made:
Major perks to working at a creative company!
I was, OF COURSE, the head of the:
Food Committee!! (I mean – would you expect anything less?!) So I was in charge of making sure I fed 300 people breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner! 
(Luckily I had awesome helpers so the dinner part was WAY easy!)
Monday morning – Sam’s today and picked up a lot of the stuff!!!! (Has anyone used Sam’s Club “Click’n'Pull”???? – it was a god send today! If you haven’t used it – I HIGHLY recommend it!)
It had to be the “day before” since we were getting so much fruit! 
Somehow – we managed to “score” an extra bulk size bag of Kielbasa (what the what?!) – I mean – wouldn’t that make anyone laugh? 
Then, I spent the rest of the day STRESSING OUT about last minute details, putting the whole room together, getting everything organized, running around like crazy, and giving a 1 hour “Reveal” presentation to the company!
I can honestly say – I don’t remember a time where I have worked so hard and busted my butt for so long! Honestly – I am exhausted! (and I still need to make it through the full day on Tuesday!) I think I lifted a cumulative total of about 5,000lbs, and probably walked about 10 miles. 
Part of breakfast is set for tomorrow – and I must say – it’s quite a lovely presentation:
and I’m picking up the bagels at 6am!!!! Here goes nothing….
I’m off! Wish me luck! I really hope I make it through these next few days!
35 Comments so far
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GOOD LUCK!!
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By VeggieGirl on 10.13.09 9:03 am | Permalink
It all looks FABULOUS and like so much fun! You did a great job. ENJOY the day. I am super jealous
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By Erica on 10.13.09 9:07 am | Permalink
Enjoy your awesome NERD FEST!!
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By Murphy's Dad on 10.13.09 9:28 am | Permalink
Congrats on all your hard work…it looks like it is going to totally pay off!!!!!
Have a blast…can’t wait to read the recap!!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
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By Courtney on 10.13.09 9:30 am | Permalink
OMG. I SO want your job right now.
Have fun!
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By Rose on 10.13.09 9:34 am | Permalink
Good luck! I’m sure it will be great! I want that lava lamp!
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By Quinn on 10.13.09 9:58 am | Permalink
OH MY GOODNESS! That looks awesome!! Those jump drives are saw-wheat! That nerdy picture of you is hilarious!
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By K on 10.13.09 10:08 am | Permalink
Awesome job on everything! Have fun!!
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By Green Dog Momma on 10.13.09 10:08 am | Permalink
Your company is too cool
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By Evan Thomas on 10.13.09 10:16 am | Permalink
Good Luck! It sounds like you did a fantastic job putting together a fabulous day!
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By Lindsay @ bananaandchocolate on 10.13.09 11:06 am | Permalink
What a blast! You did such a good job, HAVE FUN!
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By Morgan on 10.13.09 11:23 am | Permalink
Good luck!! That looks funnnn
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By carolinebee on 10.13.09 12:08 pm | Permalink
That is cooool!
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By emma on 10.13.09 12:12 pm | Permalink
Can I come work for you guys? I could write some damn funny greeting cards.
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By Sarah (LovIN My Tummy) on 10.13.09 12:21 pm | Permalink
Wow everything looks awesome!!! I want to work for American Greetings!! Please??? I’m willing to move, really I AM!!!
Good luck, I’m sure it will go off without a hitch!!
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By Julie on 10.13.09 12:30 pm | Permalink
ummm yes Sarah LovIN does need to come work for us.
Also – Nerd Stock is awesome! I literally came to my desk just to read this post – Back to Yawping!
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By kristin on 10.13.09 12:48 pm | Permalink
This bash looks awesome! And that first photo of you… my favorite. I wish I could come!
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By healthy ashley on 10.13.09 1:04 pm | Permalink
How awesome!!! Obviously you do work for a great company, as I’ve been learning a lot about what companies need to do to keep their employees motivated and innovated. This is perfect!! It looks like you had such a great time putting it together too, even though I’m sure it was a lot of work! Way to go providing some healthy foods too
You know I like that!
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By gina on 10.13.09 1:39 pm | Permalink
LOL “scored some kielbasa!” TWSS
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By Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) on 10.13.09 1:41 pm | Permalink
hahahahaha HAVE SOOOO MUCH FUN!
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By Holly on 10.13.09 2:12 pm | Permalink
hahaha have a good time!!
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By Tay on 10.13.09 2:18 pm | Permalink
That looks like so much fun!!!
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By Lauren on 10.13.09 2:30 pm | Permalink
HOORAY! the big day has arrived!!! cant wait for a recap, i LOVE it!
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By janetha on 10.13.09 3:06 pm | Permalink
looks like quite the event. good luck and have fuN!
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By on the rocks on 10.13.09 3:44 pm | Permalink
This looks like a very fun event. I want to go! Good luck and have fun!
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By MelissaNibbles on 10.13.09 3:51 pm | Permalink
Have fun today girlie! Love the usb drives, so awesome!
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By Andrea (Off Her Cork) on 10.13.09 4:01 pm | Permalink
Good luck!! Sounds super fun! Can I come work with you?? Haha:)
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By Niki on 10.13.09 4:53 pm | Permalink
AMAZING! You guys put together one heck of a company party..maybe I missed it did you say where you work?
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By RunToTheFinish on 10.13.09 5:20 pm | Permalink
You look super dorky in that picture but hahaha it totally cracked me up! I’m definitely lovin’ it!! I would love to attend this Yawpfest and have a share in the yoyo’s. mauhahaa It definitely looks like a TON of work!!
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By Michelle on 10.13.09 6:00 pm | Permalink
yeahhhhhh we can’t do things like that in the federal government. hahahahha
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By mel on 10.13.09 7:34 pm | Permalink
What a wonderful event! looks so awesome! way to go on all the hard work!
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By Lizzy on 10.14.09 11:50 am | Permalink
THAT IS SUCH A COOL IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!!! The video games with the couches are the best (other than the food of course)!! Looks like you and your co-workers did a lot of hard work! I hope you are rewarded and everyone loves it!!!! Can’t wait to hear what they all said!!!!
-A
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By A on 10.14.09 2:19 pm | Permalink
You will make it thru hon. Totally.
And I love this post for.so.many.reasons!
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By Erin on 10.14.09 10:10 pm | Permalink
[...] got to see (and hear!) about all the crazy set up – now I’m finally getting around to showing you [...]
By Green Dog Wine » Blog Archive » Yawpfest 2009 Recap – Part 1 on 10.17.09 9:19 am | Permalink
It is best to take part in a contest for probably the greatest blogs on the web. I’ll recommend this web site!
[Reply]
By Du är on 02.29.12 6:06 am | Permalink
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