Tricia Meyer

Affiliate Marketer, Blogger, and Consultant

10 Things That Made Me Laugh at Affiliate Summit West

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ASW11 SAS Photobooth with Kim Rowley
ASW11 SAS Photobooth with Kim Rowley

Normally this would be the time when I do a serious wrap-up post about everything I learned at Affiliate Summit. This time I can’t get out of my head just how much I genuinely enjoyed the conference. It’s not that I didn’t seriously learn a lot, it’s just that (shockingly) I felt myself giggling an awful lot the last few days. I think I’ve finally learned how to truly be 100% myself there so that I can laugh and learn at the same time.

In no particular order, here are 10 of the 100+ things that gave me a good laugh in Vegas.

1) Shawn Collins in the Patriot jersey. On the one hand, it was a sad moment for all of us AFC fans. On the other hand, knowing Shawn, it was pretty darn funny. And I won’t even start in about his “short pants….”

2) Not being able to find the Blogger Lounge for 2 hours. It was totally, completely my fault. I started feeling like I should be saying “Look, kids, Big Ben, Parliament” as I went around in circles seeing the same people over and over. I think maybe I was too busy socializing to find a map.

3) Jason Rubacky and the Jazzy. Jason could #GetSome serious senior citizen action rolling on that thing.

4) Trying to figure out how the curtains opened at the Wynn. Yep, I’m from Indiana.

5) Tiny coffee cups with baby spoons at lunch. The desserts were cute as could be, but watching people eat them was kind of a Gulliver’s Travels moment. (The book, not the movie. I haven’t seen the movie)

6) Trivia night and how competitive but not at all really competitive all my friends are. Did I mention that my team won?

7) The scared look on the faces of the merchants in the audience  by the end of our Inside the Minds of Affiliates panel. We really didn’t mean to sound so grumpy. I promise I’ll be nicer if you email me. (Just don’t try to call me)

8 ) Putting on every single hat, boa, and pair of glasses in the ShareASale Photo Booth with Kim Rowley. And the number of people who asked if they could have a copy of the pictures that we took when I told them that we were making out in there.

9 ) My (non)sighting of Charlie Sheen before the Tuesday keynote and the fact that people back in Indiana actually believed it because it was retweeted so much. (Thank you, Erik Hom)

10) At least 50% of every conversation that I had with OPMs, affiliate managers, networks, and fellow affiliates. Each of you brought me so much joy that I couldn’t help but laugh at least a little. And I have to mention Eric Nagel specifically for putting up with more of my giggling than anyone else.

Thanks as always to Shawn Collins and Missy Ward for giving us an environment in which we can both work and have fun, ensuring that we will be back time and time again!

Indy Mini Marathon Training Begins

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Indianapolis Mini Marathon
Indianapolis Mini Marathon

January is here and with it a new tradition for me–training for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. I call it a “tradition” but really it’s only the third time that I have done it. The funny thing is that I have another “tradition” that starts around April 1 and goes something like this “This-was-the-stupidest-thing-I’ve-ever-done-remind-me-never-to-sign-up-again-I-hate-running-this-is-no-fun.” Only with a few more bad words thrown in. So why do I keep signing up over and over again?

First, I view the half marathon training as a “positive” weight loss/exercise goal rather than a negative one. By that I mean that even if the scale doesn’t budge a pound, I can tell myself that I am doing great and making myself stronger and healthier if I can continue to increase my runs each week. For a Pollyanna like me, that feels a lot better than fearing a scale every week.

Second, the Mini Marathon is one of the only things I have done in my adult life that has truly given me a sense of achievement. Sure, I birthed two kids. But a passed out teenager can do that. I started a business, but I’m not exactly Steve Jobs. Completing a half marathon is just one of those things that you have to feel good about and no one can ever take away from you.

Don’t get me wrong, I won’t be winning any prizes. My kids asked me the first year if I would be “sad” if I didn’t win my “race.” I tried to explain to them that to me, just finishing the race was “winning.” They didn’t get it at the time, but I have been able to use my race as an example with my kids many times since when they have tried hard at something but didn’t “win” or come in first. We can share together how good it feels to try and do our best.

This year I have a new incentive–my husband is running with me! He has never been a runner but has been working up to the training for the last 6 months. I bugged him and bugged him to do it with me and he already runs faster than me. That’s a little depressing but it’s nice to have someone to pump me up when I need it.

Back to the training part. I follow the Half Marathon Training: Novice program by Hal Higdon. It’s 12 weeks but I give myself 16 in case I need a “do over” week or if I am traveling and don’t get in a full week of training. You have to be able to run 3 miles to start the program. For the 2 days a week that he lists cross training or strength training, I used to walk but now I do an hour of Zumba. So it’s basically 5 days a week of exercise for me–2 Zumba and 3 running, with my Saturday always being my “long run” day.

I’m excited to get started but nervous as usual. Not enough exercise and too many cookies the last couple of months. But it’s good to have a goal and a plan!

Favorite Jello Shot Recipes

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Jello Shots Recipes
Jello Shots

New Years Eve is coming and everyone is planning food and drinks. I’ve had quite a few requests for my favorite Jello shot recipes, so here they are. I’ve pieced them together over the last couple of years from other place and honestly cannot remember which ones I made up and which ones I got from other places. So apologies if any of these are yours. Feel free to post your own recipes in the comments because I would love to try other flavors!

I like to use the jello shot cups with lids so that I can make all of the shots the perfect size in advance and then label them with what flavor they are. I also find that they are easier to store and last longer when you use the cups with lids. You can find them at your local party store or online at ShindigZ. They do sell out fast around holidays so plan ahead!

Sex on the Beach Jello Shot
3 oz. package Orange gelatin
8 oz. (1 cup) boiling cranberry juice
3 oz. peach schnapps (or Pucker)
5 oz. vodka

Add gelatin to hot cranberry juice until dissolved. Stir in alcohols and divide into cups for chilling.

Piña Colada Jello Shots (A little labor intensive but really good!)
3 oz. pkg Pineapple Jello (Sometimes called “Island Pineapple”–found it at Walmart)
1 cup canned, unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup Malibu or coconut rum

Bring the coconut milk to a boil. Add jello and stir until dissolved. After cooling to room temperature, stir in the Malibu or coconut rum. Pour into cups and chill. Layers will form with the coconut milk on top. These are smooth!

Mix and Match Jello Shots

You can mix up different flavors by dissolving 3 oz. of gelatin in 1 cup boiling water and then adding then adding 8oz. of cold liquid – straight alcohol, a mixture of liqueur and vodka, or alcohol and cold water. For flavored liquors use can use straight alcohol but you might want to combine high proof liquors with some water so that they are not too strong.

Lime Jello can be mixed with things like Absolut Citron for a citrus shot or tequila for a “margarita” shot.
Sour Apple Schnapps can be mixed with pretty much any flavor of jello to get a “Jolly Rancher” jello shot. We used   peach and watermelon.

Chocolate Covered Cherry Shots

This is the most labor intensive of all to make but was a perfect “dessert” shot and just about everyone loved them. Plus, they are fun to eat.

3 oz. package cherry jello
8 oz. boiling water
3 oz. crème de cacao
1 oz. vodka
Maraschino cherries without stems
4 oz. white rum
Chocolate “Magic Shell” ice cream topping
Spray can of whipped cream

Soak the cherries in rum for 24 hours. Put one of the soaked cherries into the bottom of each shot cup. Keep the rum/cherry soaking mixture for later. Mix the cherry gelatin into the hot water and then let it cool to room temperature. Add crème de cacao, vodka and ½ cup reserved rum mixture from cherries. Pour into cups so that cherries are submerged. Chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Cover with a thin layer of the Magic Shell and freeze 5-10 minutes. Top with whipped cream and serve.

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)

Affiliate Summit West, I’ve Got My Eye on You

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It seems like I just got back from Affiliate Summit East in New York and it is already time to start thinking about Affiliate Summit West in Las Vegas (January 9-11, 2011 at the Wynn Las Vegas). Speaker presentation submissions are in and you can already start voting for them. I encourage everyone who is even thinking about attending to take a few minutes to read through the submissions and vote. First of all, it will give you an idea of what is going to be on the agenda so you can decide for sure if you want to attend. Second, you can have your voice heard about the sessions you think Shawn and Missy should ultimately include. Third, you can take a look at my panel submission with Eric Nagel, Kim Rowley, and Greg Hoffman titled Inside the Minds of Affiliates and tell me what you think (and maybe even give me a vote if you are so inclined!).

If you have already decided that you will be attending, I encourage you to get your hotel room booked. Affiliate Summit only has a limited number of rooms at the Wynn. Although they usually give us a heads up when they are about to sell out, so many people follow them that if you do not get in quickly, you will likely get shut out. If you want to stay at the Wynn, you absolutely do not want to miss the group rates that they have negotiated.

If you haven’t decided yet whether you will be attending, what can I do to help you decide? First, check out the Affiliate Summit website itself to see what it is all about, including a fun new video. Second, do a few searches on Affiliate Summit blog posts and see all of the great things people have said over the years. Third, leave me a comment with any questions that you have about whether it would be worth it for you. I will be happy to answer just about anything.

Is cost an issue? Did I mention that I am giving away a free Affiliate Summit Gold Pass? Hop over to Helping Moms Connect if you are interested in that. The giveaway will be ending soon!

I actually happened to have been in Orlando this week and drove by the hotel of the first Affiliate Summit that I attended. My husband and I talked about how far my business has come since that Exhibit Hall day–I didn’t even attend sessions. And I am 99% sure that my business would not be where it is today if not for Affiliate Summit.