Tricia Meyer

Affiliate Marketer, Blogger, and Consultant

Cartoons and Vibrators

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Penelope Pitstop
Penelope Pitstop

You read that right. Those two words should not go together and yet strangely they did today. I was in my office working this morning when my husband called me into the other room. He knew I was busy getting ready to go give a presentation so I thought to myself “This had REALLY better be important.” Turns out that it wasn’t important but it was hilarious and worth breaking for.

My daughter was watching cartoons before school. It was Wacky Races, a cartoon on the Boomerang network that I watched as a kid. It originally aired from 1968-1969, so it was old even when I watched it. The car my daughter was most interested was driven by Penelope Pitstop and was called the “Compact Pussycat.” If that in itself wasn’t crazy enough, check out her gear shift below of  beauty supplies and gadgets that every girl should have at her disposal: [Read more…]

Planning a Pittsburgh Steelers Party

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Pittsburgh Steelers Deluxe Party Pack
Getting ready for the season and want to add a little bit of authentic Pittsburgh to it? Living in Indiana, this is a challenge for me–but one that I readily accept! Here are my ‘burgh tips for a Pittsburgh Steelers party:

1) Terrible Towels: You can’t celebrate the Steelers without Terrible Towels. Preferably everyone at the party will have their own. You can get them online for less than $10 each.

2) Black and Gold Decorations: You can get Super Bowl decorations at almost any party store, but if you want actual Steelers plates, cups, and napkins, you will probably have to get them online. My favorite place for that is CelebrateExpress.com. Get the Steelers logo items online and then buy your black and gold balloons, tablecovers, etc. locally.

3) Iron City Beer: Although I am not a beer drinker, Iron City is pretty much the official beer of Pittsburgh. If you don’t like Iron City, you can  go with Rolling Rock or Yuengling.

4) Chipped Ham Barbecue: You won’t be able to order “chipped ham” from the deli if you aren’t in Pittsburgh, but just ask them to shave it really thin for you and then kind of break it up into smaller pieces with your fingers. AllRecipes.com has a Pittsburgh Chipped Ham Barbecue recipe, but I make mine even easier than that because I cheat and start with a little pre-made BBQ sauce. Set it out in the crockpot with buns on the side for serving.

5) Heinz Ketchup: I think this one is pretty self-explanatory.

6) Clark Bars: Born in Pittsburgh, they are the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth during the game.

7) Primanti Brother Sandwiches: Obviously you won’t be able to buy them if you aren’t near Pittsburgh, but you can make a pretty good imitation. The basics that you will need are sandwich meat, italian bread, french fries, coleslaw, and cheese. All of that goes on the sandwich–all of it! Need more information? Get the cole slaw recipe and meat ideas.
 Watch the Man v. Food of Primanti’s below.

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8) Kielbasa, sauerkraut, and pierogies: I like my pierogies with cheese and potato on the inside and sour cream on top. You should be able to find them in your freezer section (Schwan sells good ones as well).

9) Pittsburgh Steelers Polka: It’s been redone many times over the years and they update it every time the Steelers go to the playoffs. The video below just gives me chills. Love the Myron Cope “Yoi” and “Double Yoi”!

[youtube1]BJSZmRgNFJQ[/youtube1]

10) Smiley Cookies: Love those cookies from Eat ‘n Park? Get them online and in Steelers Black and Gold!! (Get $10 off your purchase of $50 or more with code 10OFF5) Just saw that they are also offering free shipping on all Steelers packs right now and you can schedule them to ship just in time for the game!

11) Pittsburghese: Make sure that yinz throw in a few “Stillers” and “‘burghs” when you are cheering and yinz will all have a terrific time at any Steelers Super Bowl Party!

2010 Reading List Complete

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My reading goal this year was 52 books, and I completed my 52nd book the other night (leaving me about 10 days to spare!). I actually didn’t even realize it was my 52nd book until I went in to update the list that I have been keeping. I’m not sure that I didn’t leave anything off accidentally, but it’s pretty close. I’m all set to start on a new stack of books for 2011, but could use more recommendations. Please leave a comment if you have any! You can see the books I have read in the last couple of years on my What I Am Reading page.

Here’s my completed list for this year if you are interested:

The Shack (William P. Young)
Grave Secret (Harper Connelly Mysteries 4) (Charlaine Harris)
The Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) (Richelle Mead)
Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly Mysteries 3) (Charlaine Harris)
Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly Mysteries 2) (Charlaine Harris)
House Rules (Jodi Picoult)
Grave Sight (Harper Connelly Mysteries 1) (Charlaine Harris)
Beautiful Darkness (Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl)*
Go Ask Alice (Anonymous)
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (John Grisham)
Little Bee (Chris Cleave)
The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom)
Size 14 Isn’t Fat Either (Meg Cabot)
Size 12 Isn’t Fat (Meg Cabot)
Mockingjay (Suzanne Collins)*
Linger (Maggie Stiefvater)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Stieg Larsson)*
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Stieg Larsson) *
Charlie St. Cloud (Ben Sherwood)
The Reader (Bernhard Schlink) (ironically, the audiobook)
Book of the Dead (Patricia Cornwell)
Undead and Unpopular (MaryJanice Davidson)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson and Reg Keeland) *
Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn (Ridley Pearson and Tristan Elwell)
The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom (Susan Veness)
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: A Eclipse Novella (Stephenie Meyer)
The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon)
Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) (Richelle Mead)
Gone (Lisa McMann)
The Help (Kathryn Stockett)
Dead in the Family (Charlaine Harris)
Burned (House of Night Novel) (Kristin Cast and P.C. Cast)
Undead and Underappreciated (Mary Janice Davidson)
The Last Song (Nicholas Sparks)
Shiver (Maggie Stiefvater)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows)
Undead and Unemployed (Mary Janice Davidson)
Fade (Lisa McMann)*
Undead and Unwed (Mary Janice Davidson)
Tainted (Brooke Morgan)
Bare Necessity (Carole Matthews)
Wake (Lisa McMann) *
Twenties Girl (Sophie Kinsella)
Blood Promise (Richelle Mead) *
Shadow Kiss (Richelle Mead) *
Frostbite (Richelle Mead) *
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan’s Curse (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (Rick Riordan) (read this series with 9-yr-old daughter)
Vampire Academy (Richelle Mead) *

(* are books that I couldn’t put down)

Book Series Worth Checking Out

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I love a good book series. There’s something about being able to connect with characters from book to book that just takes me in and holds me. I have quite a few series that I have read regularly or completely and would recommend to friends. A few are pretty obvious, but some of the others may interest you as well!

Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling) My favorite of all favorites. It took me a long time to read these because I kept saying I didn’t like “kid” books. I ended up loving them so much that I cried when I was done and couldn’t think about reading anything else for weeks. For a year, I compared every book I read to Harry Potter. The early books seem to be written a little more for kids and young adults. The later books are, at times, very dark with heavy themes. (7 books–series complete)

Twilight (Stephenie Meyer) Not much I can say about this one. You probably know more than you want to about it. (4 books plus a novella coming out–series complete?)

Vampire Academy (Richelle Mead) This series has blown me away. I picked it up on a lark at the grocery story and ended up reading all of them that were out in a matter of weeks. They are vampire books but like none other that I have read. By the 4th book, I was loving them as much as Twilight. (5 books–more to come)

Sookie Stackhouse Novels (Charlaine Harris) I also picked these up at the grocery just because I was looking for something new and saw that the “True Blood” series on HBO was based on them. I had not seen the series but figured I would read the books first. They are a quick read and kind of fun. More vampires but a lot of other creatures as well. (10 books–more to come)

House of Night (Kristin Cast and P.C. Cast) Eight books in this series so far. They are a quick read about (guess what??) vampires. The vampires are “fledglings” in a vampire school. A little romance but the teen crush variety rather than a lot of the “true love” variety. (8 books–more to come)

Hunger Games Trilogy (Suzanne Collins) This series was recommended by a friend who actually got it from her daughter. It’s geared toward young adults but also has some very adult themes. In particular, I think it has a lot to say about reality television and to what extent we get wrapped up in it regardless of the impact it has on the people involved. (2 books–last one coming in August)

Wake Trilogy (Lisa McMann) This is a short series of quickly read books about a teen girl who gets sucked into people’s dreams when they fall asleep. I’m actually reading the last of them right now and anxious to see how it ends! (3 books–series complete)

Shiver (Maggie Stiefvater) Supernatural but with no vampires. A lot story about teenagers with some big problems. I liked the book but am not sure about series potential. The sequel, “Linger,” comes out July 2010. (unknown series length)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan) A fun kid/young adult series based on mythology. This one was fun to read with my 9-year-old daughter. A number of my friends also read them alongside their school-aged kids. (5 books–series complete but a follow-up series starting in the fall)

Beautiful Creatures (Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl) Only the first of this series has come out yet, but it is a great read. Unlike most of the others, this book is written from the teen boy perspective. He falls in love with a girl with supernatural powers. It’s supernatural and romantic at the same time. The second book will be available October 12. (one book so far)

Undead Series (Mary Janice Davidson) More vampires and an interesting take on it all. These are very light-hearted. They are sometimes known as “Betsy the Vampire Queen.” I’ve read half of them and will likely read the rest when I have time but am not itching to read them all like the other series listed. (8 books out, 9th book being released July 201)

Kingdom Keepers (Ridley Pearson) These books take place in Disney World, so Disney fans will enjoy them. I know as many adults who loved them as kids who did! The stories are about kids who are trying to save the parks from evil that comes out at night. (3 books so far)

Those are my favorites! Click here to see what else I am reading.

Selena Gomez Concert in Indianapolis

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Selena Gomez is apparently coming to Indianapolis this summer. Maybe even twice. Why do I care? Because my daughter Jillian is obsessed with her and Wizards of Waverly Place. I thought that it was actually a little bit too obsessed until my mom reminded me that I was just as obsessed at her age with Olivia Newton-John as what Jillian is with Selena Gomez. Point taken.

Which brings me to my problem. First I heard that Selena Gomez was going to be joining Lilith Fair, and it is going to be happening at Verizon in Noblesville in July. I resigned myself to the fact that I would be taking my 7 and 9 year old to Lilith Fair just to see Selena Gomez. Hours and hours of performances in the grass in the heat with two little girls for about 15 minutes of Selena Gomez magic.

Then I happened to be playing around on the Ticketmaster website today and discovered that Selena Gomez and the Scene (her band) are actually performing themselves in Indianapolis in August. They will be at the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand, which tells me it is part of the Indiana State Fair. Unfortunately, it’s the day that I will be in New York for Affiliate Summit.

Now both Jillian and I are going to have to appeal to my husband (who would probably rather have his teeth pulled out than attend a Selena Gomez concert) to not only take my daughters to it but to do it without me! Selena Gomez tickets are not expensive (that’s the plus side) and go on sale this week. If you happen to be in Springfield, IL, or Columbus, OH, you are also in luck. (Or maybe not?) I have to say that I am a little sad about missing my daughters’ first real concert, especially when I know how big this one is going to be for them.