As today is the day people proclaim their love for one another, I thought it might be fun to examine for facts pertaining to men, women and gifts!

 Here you go!

 -         Did you know the average American eats 24 pounds of candy a year!

-         The average American household spends $1067 per year on gifts

-         It is expected that Americans spend $4.1 billion on jewelry for Valentine’s day

-         The average person spends $126 for wooing their Valentine

-         189 million stems of roses are sold on Valentine’s Day

 We hope you all have a safe and pleasant Valentine’s Day!

 Your Friends at Pino Insurance Agency!

Meet the Peel P50, produced by Peel Engineering.

This microcar weighs in at 130lbs.  It is 54 inches long and 41 inches wide.  A one door wonder of sorts.  The Peel sports 3 wheels and can reach speeds close to 40 mph.  This little guy can not go in reverse but, never fear, there is a handle on the back so you can pull it where you want to go.  One man even took it on an elevator!

As far as gas consumption goes, users and makers state that they get 100 mpg.  So, if you do not like the options that you typically see on the road, check into one of these.  You can find all you need to know at Peel Engineering.

Now you can impress all your friends while you watch the collection of the year’s best commercials!

We are so excited about this program and we hope that you will be too! We are starting a new year with a new referral program that benefits not only the friends or family members that you refer, but you as well!

Here is how it works…

* You tell your friends and family about the superior service and great rates you are getting at Pino Insurance Agency!

*Your friends and family call or come in to receive one of our signature, no-pressure quotes.

* Your name is entered into two drawings, a quarterly drawing and an annual drawing.  (The more people you refer the greater your chances of being big winner!)

How easy is that?  We all love good service almost as much as we love great prices! This is a way to share your decision to be insured with PINO INSURANCE AGENCY with others and be rewarded too!  In addition to your chances to win, your friends and family will receive a gift card just for receiving a quote.  Remember there is never any pressure to buy!! 

If you wonder why we are doing this, the answer is simple.  We can’t grow unless our great clients, like you, refer us to more great people! 

So, to sum up the Pino Referral Program, you are entered into two drawings for each person you refer to us that receives a quote and they will receive a gift card just for getting a quote from us!  You have nothing to lose! 

Feel free to call with any questions you have 360-566-6995!  Thanks in advance for helping us to make 2012 another fabulous year! 

Quarterly drawings will be held on the following dates;

      *April 6, 2012 *July 6, 2012 *October 5, 2012 *January 11, 2013

Annual Drawing will be held on December 3, 2012.  There will also be an open house, details to follow.

If you are not a current client, please feel free to call us for a quote and you too will receive a gift card as our thanks to you!!

The most expensive street legal car of 2011 was the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.  This supercar can set you back $2,400,000.  That’s right, and it doesn’t even make you coffee!

I am not sure what insurance would cost on a car like this, but if you have one we would love to quote you!  You can visit our website at www.pinoteam.com. 

Enjoy your week!

Friday, January 20^th

*Portland Boychoir performs with World Orphan Choir (6:30 pm)

1819 NW Everett St.

Portland,OR 97209 

Visit their website at http://www.portlandchoirs.org/ for more info!

*Rose City Classic Dog Show (7:30am – 7pm)  January 20, 21, 22

Judging, agility, obedience and more at the Portland Expo Center.   

2060 N Marine Dr.

Portland,OR 97217

*Family Friday Series Musical night out with the kids (7:15pm)

Featuring Classical Revolution PDX

Community Music Center
3350 SE Francis Street 97202
www.CommunityMusicCenter.org

 Saturday, January 21^st

 *Museum Family Saturday (11am- 4pm)

A free event for the family to discoverPortland’s Maritime history.

Oregon Maritime & Museum
115 Sw Ash St, #400c
Portland,OR 97204

 http://oregonmaritimemuseum.org/

*Oaks Park Learn-to-Skate (12:15pm – 1pm)

$6/skater  Includes skates and admission to the 1-5 skating session.  Learn safety, forward and backward skating, stopping and more.

Oaks Park

7805 SE Oaks Park Way

Portland,OR97202

www.oakspark.com

Enjoy your family!

So, did you know…

• All snowflakes have six sides?
• Snowflakes formed when ice crystals form around tiny particles of dirt
• In Prince Edward Island,Canada snowflakes often look pink due to their red clay
• Mt.Baker reported a record snowfall of 1,140 inches of snowfall for the 1998-99 ski season.
• On average a snowflake falls 3’ per second
• According to urbandictionary.com, snirt is “the stuff that piles up in parking lots and along the side of the road … during the winter.  Not quite snow, not quite dirt.”

As for driving in the snow, here are a few tips

1)      Don’t, if you don’t have to.

2)      Be prepared.  This includes traction devices in your car, as well as warm clothing and shoes… Just in case!

3)      Slow Down!  It is not a race to get to somewhere the fastest.  People would rather see you arrive safely then not at all!

4)      Brake BEFORE you enter a corner

5)      Pay attention to others on the road.  Even if you are comfortable driving on the snow, chances are the person next to you is not.

6)      Make sure you have your insurance agent’s phone number with you.  If there is an accident, contact your agent ASAP!

Now go forth!  Enjoy the snow!  Play outside or curl up inside, but whatever you do, be safe!

 If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment and we will get back to you shortly!

Today we are nearly two weeks into the New Year.  So, how are those New Year resolutions going?  Are you still faithfully fulfilling them, or are you like me? 

I am still waiting to start my ‘New Year’ resolutions.  I tell myself that I need to read a little more about said resolution.  I need to get everything else in order.  I need to prepare myself and my family.  I need to feel like it!

Once all those things fall in place I start looking around and wondering, what next.  What was that great thing that I wanted to do?  How was I going to change?  Hmm.  I think next year I will resolve to write down my resolutions.  What a great idea!

So for all of you, here is a little list of how tips that lend to more successful resolutions:   

• Write down your goals
• Read your goals everyday
• Have fun with it!
• Tell a few people who will help keep you accountable (and don’t get upset when they do!)
• Find a resolution buddy, someone to take the challenge with you.  That’s fun!
• Post a blog about it
• Set small, clear and concise goals for yourself (with dates or numbers)
• REWARD yourself when you accomplish above said goals. This could be really fun!
• Find someone who wants they same goal
• HAVE FUN! 

 Good luck! 

 And if saving money is one of your goals, don’t forget that we offer a multitude of insurance options for Oregon,Washington and Arizona.  Visit our website here.

01/13/12

(5-7pm)

Free movie night at Cafe Sip ‘n’ Play.  This week they are playing Tinkerbell.  Café Sip ‘n’ Play, 3000 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver, WA

 01/14/12    

(1-3pm)

Wondrous Weather Around Us!  Fun, hands-on activities for children about clouds, wind, rain, snow and much more.  At the  For more info, go to here.

(10am – 3pm)

New Year, New You Wellness Event.   A free YOU 101:How-to Improve You wellness event for the whole family. There will be free health screenings, cooking demos, Arthur Murray dance lessons, walk-through inflatable lungs, Zumba, CPR lessons, kids’ fun area, and many PeaceHealth Southwest medical experts to help you start the year off right with a renewed commitment to healthy living!  At the Clark County Fairgrounds.  For more info, go here.

(9am – 1pm)

Friends of Trees Neighborhood Planting.  Fisher’s Landing Elementary School, 3800 SE Hiddenbrook Drive
Join SE Vancouver neighborhoods to plant trees in neighbors yards and planting strips. Enjoy a light breakfast, good conversations and a memorable planting.  For more info, go here.

(9am – 4pm)

Free Fee Weekend @ Fort Vancouver.  From Jan. 14 – Jan 16. What a great time to visit the Fort!  Fort Vancouver, 1001 East 5th Street, Vancouver, WA 98661

01/15/12

(12-5pm)

Free Museum Family Day Celebrating Japanese Prints.   Join this lively celebration of Japanese printmaking on Free Museum Family Day. Make woodblock prints, create mini-ikebana flower arrangements and transform into fantastical Kabuki characters. Don’t miss this day of traditional and contemporary Japanese visual art, music, dance, and theater.  For more info, go here.

Every Sunday

Sunday Art Market in NE Portland.  Every Sunday, members of the Milepost 5 creative community, in Northeast Portland, are taking their work outside for the Montavilla And Milepost5 Arts (MAMA) market!  For more info, go here.

Every Monday

Traditional Irish Folk Dancing.  Yeates Studio in the Arciform Building, 4231 North Interstate Avenue, Portland, Oregon.  Ages 13 & older, drop-in fee $3. Contact Irish Club 503.286.4812

For example, did you know that windshield wipers were invented by a woman?  Mary Anderson patented the windshield wiper in 1905 after she noticed snow and rain gathering on the fronts of trolley cars and automobile windows.

Stay tuned for more interesting, educational and just for fun posts from your favorite local insurance agency!