The Best Pens Songs

Geez, remember when people were saying the Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t even going to make the playoffs? Hard to believe now! It’s Stanley Cup Final time..again! And all those fan songs are starting to roll in. Here are some of my favorites from the web.

Boom Boom Pens

 

Evgeni Malkin Song

 

It’s A Great Day For Hockey

 

Penguins Fight Song 

 

Don’t Stop Believin’ 

 

And here’s my story.

The Pizza War Hits Facebook

I moved to Pittsburgh from Charlotte almost seven years ago. Since then, I have learned a lot about the Pittsburgh culture and the people.

One thing I’ve learned: Pittsburghers LOVE their pizza. They are willing to dish out that extra cash for local pizza joints known for their quality. They’re also very loyal to their favorite pizzeria.

The great pizza debate in Squirrel Hill is a perfect example. Mineo’s or Aiello’s? The fight has now spread to Facebook! Mary Murrin began the group for her friends. Now more than 1,000 people are taking part. Here’s a link to the group so you can join!

I decided to examine the Murray Avenue pizza war myself in Squirrel Hill. You can watch my Plugged In story here.

We also have a web poll. I want to find out which pizza place YOU like best … vote here! Can’t wait to hear from you guys! Happy eating!

 

 

 

Sell Your Hair For Cash!

Brushing Mike's Italian mane!

We hear it practically every day. Many folks are looking for ways to make money during the recession. I found out that thousands of people are turning to thehairtrader.com for an easy way to make some cash.

A 25 year old man from Greensburg is selling his hair on the site.  I interviewed Mike Ward.  He was a great sport and as you will see, he’s very funny! 

Mike even brought a brush with him to the interview so I could get the chance to comb his hair! Mike wants to sell his long, luscious Italian mane so he can make some money to donate to charity. No bids yet, but we all have our fingers crossed! To find out more about Mike, and thehairtrader.com, check out my story!

Plugged In Is Back!

Hi everyone!

Ashley Diparlo has left us , so now I will be working on Plugged In stories. If you don’t already know by now, I’m the Links N’@  girl. I’m also a producer for Channel 4 Action News.

My first story deals with online job searching. So many people are looking for work during the current recession (especially all you college grads out there)! There’s a good chance that potential employers are going online and googling your name. Believe it or not, you should WANT your name to pop up! A good way to make that happen is to join a social networking site or create a blog. Write about your experiences and link to sites that show off your accomplishments. Basically, get a digital resume out there! It could help you! Just make sure you try to get rid of those crazy party pictures! For more do’s and don’t’s, check out the full story.

Please email me with any story ideas you have for Plugged In or for Links N’@. My email is becky@thepittsburghchannel.com. I’d love to hear from you!

A Bittersweet Goodbye

Today is my last day here at Channel 4.

I want to thank all of the viewers, those of you that watch Channel 4 every morning and those of you that watch my stories online. Thank you for accepting me and accepting Plugged In. You have watched me stumble and really grow as a reporter.
 
I think about what Plugged In has become and I feel so very proud. Plugged In began as just an idea and has since grown to be a regular segment on our morning newscast and an intricate part of ThePittsburghChannel.com. It’s sad this chapter is ending in my life. Plugged In has been a part of who I am for so long that it’s hard to let go.
 
But I feel truly blessed to have been not only behind Plugged In’s success but to also be part of such an incredible morning show team.

I have absolutely loved my time on the morning show, despite the difficult hours. I think it’s actually rare to work with such a talented group of people like Kelly, Mike, Demetrius, Scott, Amber and Ari who are not only great at what they do on TV, but they are also really great people. The morning show (both those on TV and behind the scenes) have really been my family away from family and I’m going to miss all of them.
 
I have lived in Pittsburgh for 7 years and I have to say this city is pretty amazing. It has so much to offer and the people that live here are so very proud of where they come from. It’s really inspiring.
 
So it is bittersweet that I have to say goodbye. My personal life has just taken me in a different direction. I’m so excited about this next chapter of my life, but at the same time I’m actually very sad to finally have to say goodbye.
 
 
Ashley

 

(From the blog editors: Click here if you want to watch the video of the Channel 4 Action News morning team saying goodbye to Ashley DiParlo on the air.
Thanks for everything Ashley!)

Plugged In’s Favorites: The Best Coupon Sites

All this week I have been dishing out my favorite sites. Today it’s all about saving money by shopping online. 

 

  Retailers are looking to make sales by offering even more coupons online these days. But in order to snag the deals–you have to know where to look.

 

Here is my list to the ultimate coupon sites.

First up: CouponMom.com is a site that covers online coupon codes, printout coupons and free samples. The site’s simple design makes finding discounts easy. Plus you can sign up for email alerts on sales at your favorite retailers.

 

RetailMeNot.com and currentcodes.com are some of the originals and my personal favorites. RetailMeNot.com’s dedicated community is what makes this site stand out. Users indicate whether a discount code worked for them or not, helping shoppers quickly filter out bad deals.

 

Current Codes lets users scroll through lists of stores that are offering discount codes. Find the store where you want to shop and a box with the current discount codes will pop up.

 

Another similar site would be keycodes.com–it’s also worth adding to your favorites.

 

Next on the list is CouponCabin.com. Similar to the other sites, CouponCabin.com also offers sections for “most-used coupons” and “favorite deals” which feature the best ongoing promotions at online retailers.

 

And yet another coupon site worth mentioning is mycoupons.com. The Pittsburgh based site lets you search for categories, products and stores all from the same search bar.

 

To make sure you don’t miss out on any free shipping offers, always check these sites before placing your online order: FreeShipping.org and FreeShippingOn.com.

 

Also, before purchasing anything online, always check with price-hunting search engines like PriceGrabber.com or NexTag.com first. These sites will search the web to find the cheapest total price on a product from a reputable store, including taxes and shipping fees.

Plugged In’s Favorites: Travel Bargain Sites

Are you starting to think about making summer travel plans?  Well, here is my favorite list of travel sites that are sure to get you some pretty sweet deals.

 

When it comes to the best price in travel it’s often last-minute deals that give you the biggest savings and these sites are perfect for that.

 

 Lastminute.com lets you book vacation packages just hours prior to your flight. You can save up to 70 percent on trips that would otherwise go unbooked.

Another top last-minute vacation site is Travelzoo.com. Make sure to sign up for its weekly Top 20 newsletter email.  They will gather the best travel deals from around the web and send them directly to your inbox–it’s great! Travelzoo is also great if your vacation date is flexible. And it too has a last minute travel section.

 

Also worth clicking on for last minute travel–Licketytrip.com and VacationsToGo.com.

 

And when searching for travel deals make sure you’re searching lots of sites. Sites like Sidestep and Kayak make searching even easier. They don’t book reservations. Rather, they search multiple travel sites at once and connect you to the source.

 

Also I love sites that will keep tabs on airfare prices for me. Sites like Farecast, FareCompare and Yapta will keep tabs on airline historical data. Just enter departure and destination cities and travel dates. You’ll see pricing trends. The sites will even help you decide whether to buy or wait.

 

To get even more specific, I love cruise vacations! So here are my favorite search engines that will help you sail away with the best deals.

     Vacationoutlet.com

      Cruises.com

     Cruisecompete.com

     iCruise.com 

     Cruise411.com

 

Finally if you’re looking for really cheap travel– there’s always couchsurfing or homeexchange. CouchSurfing.com is a worldwide network that helps travelers link up with hosts offering free accommodations. Homeexchange.com is exactly that –you exchange homes with someone else.

 

Remember the key to getting really great travel deals is to be somewhat flexible with your dates and to constantly search multiple travel websites.

Plugged In Favorites: Tech Recycling Guide

Whether you have an old cell phone, outdated computer or even an old iPod, when it comes to recycling your old tech gadgets, there are plenty of options to choose from.  But here is my list of favorites.

 

First, Apple.com will take Macs, iPods, iPhones, as well as other cell phones, computers, and monitors, regardless of manufacturer. Check out the Apple Recycling Program.  You’ll get 10 percent off your purchase of a new iPod for every old iPod you recycle. Apple will also recycle your old computer or monitor for free with a purchase of a new one.

 

If it’s cash you’re after, HP’s recycling program will pay you for any used desktop, laptop, or peripheral, regardless of the brand. You can receive instant quotes for your products online and HP will also pick up the shipping.

 

Like HP, Gateway’s Trade-In Program will give you cash in exchange for your unwanted tech.  Also check out Gateway’s Trade-In Estimator to compare pricing before you commit to any program.

 

BuyMyTronics.com will buy Apple iPods and iPhones, Microsoft Zunes, cellphones, PDAs and game consoles. Gazelle.com will also cough up cash for just about anything related to tech and you can also opt to donate the trade-in value of your unwanted stuff to one of Gazelle’s 30 associated nonprofits.

 

If you have a working computer that you wish to donate, visit the National Cristina Foundation. This organization delivers working computers to children and adults that are economically disadvantaged all over the country, including charities in the Pittsburgh region.

 

You can also donate your computer locally with Goodwill. You can drop off your computer at any of the Goodwill stores in the region.

 

Plugged In Favorites: Spring Cleaning, Alternatives to eBay

This week it’s all about Plugged In’s Most Favorite Sites.

 

Yep, I will be dishing out my favorite sites all week. And it starts with a little spring cleaning.

 

There are those of us who are diehard eBay fans, but believe it or not there are other sites out there that could actually get you better deals. You just need to know where to look.

     

So kicking off my list is Govsales.gov. This site is run by none other than the government. Everything from cars, boats and real estate to clothing, jewelry and books can be found here.

 

Then there’s Propertyroom.com. This auction site auctions off items seized by police. They’re trying to get rid of this stuff. 

 

Next, Mpire.com, is another site that will answer your dream of auction shopping online. It’s a mega search site– collecting millions of listings from not only eBay but Amazon, Overstock and dozens of other top retailers.

 

There’s also uBid.com for electronics.  This auction site lists excess inventory from Sony, Dell, Gateway and more.

 

If you’re more of an Amazon fan you’ll want to bookmark refundplease.com. The site will alert you to price drops on Amazon. This way, if you’ve purchased a product, you may be able to get a refund for the difference.

 

Finally, if you’re looking to create your own online eBay business, check out ecrater.com. It’s a free web store builder and a free online marketplace. Sellers can easily create their own free online store and buyers can browse and compare between thousands of products. It’s sort of like eBay without the fees.

Shop Online, Save Some $$$

Forget eBay and craigslist, if you’re looking to buy and sell unwanted stuff through online classifieds turn to Oodle.

 

Listing items on Oodle is free. And you won’t have to pay closing fees, either. Once you list an item with Oodle it will then automatically post your listing on hundreds of great classifieds Web sites. And if you’re on the hunt for stuff, Oodle is also a great place to shop.

 

Pricepinx makes comparison shopping easy. It will help you find the lowest prices possible.

 

All you need do is install a bookmark in your browser. Then, when you’re on a site’s product page, highlight the price and click the Pricepinx bookmark. You’ll then receive a notification if the price drops!

 

Another site that will help you find the best deals around is ZingSale.com. This site will also help you find low prices. Start by entering the item you would like to buy. Then search through the list of results. When you find an item you’d like to buy “Zing” it. You’ll then be alerted when the item goes on sale.

Living a Frugal Life

Many of you are cutting back on everyday expenses, some out of choice and some out of necessity.

 

So if you’re strapped for cash and in need of curbing those costly habits than switching to a frugal lifestyle may be your best move.

 

But to be frugal doesn’t mean cheap.

 

Cheapskates aim to buy as much as they can for as little as possible. To be frugal, on the other hand, is to consider the full ramifications of every purchase. 

  

FrugalVillage is a site that will help you lead a happy, healthy life-on a budget!

 

About.com also has a great frugal living section– it breaks down exactly what frugal living is, plus gives you a large list of related articles like the top ten ways to start living frugal, how to create a frugal budget and how to slash your spending.

 

Also there are thousands of blogs dedicated to frugal living. Check out the site frugalpanda.com. It has compiled the top 50 frugal blogs on the Net.

 

Here are some other frugal sites worth mentioning:

 

 Frugalmom.net

Allthingsfrugal.com

Frugaldad.com

Mommysavers.com

ehow.com/frugalliving

 

“Living large on a budget,” this is so me! Some of my friends may call me cheap, but I really don’t care. I’m actually proud to say that I shop for bargains. In fact, almost every piece of clothing I own has been bought either with a coupon, on sale or on clearance.

Free Finds

We are all feeling the pinch these days, some much more than others.

And if you haven’t heard by now, ThePittsburghChannel.com is working to help you and your family through the economic recession. We’ve created a special Project Economy section on our Web site. Here you’ll find the latest financial headlines, both local and national, as well as an entire section dedicated to helping you save the money that you do have.

So keeping with the same theme…here are five fabulous finds to free stuff!

Today (Tuesday, Feb 24th) IHOP is giving away free pancakes all day in honor of National Pancake Day.

And if there is a Jack in the Box near you, they are giving away two free tacos today.

TGI Friday’s and Ruby Tuesday both have a buy one entree, get the second free deal going on. Just go to Friday’s web site for the coupon and sign up for Ruby Tuesday’s email list.

If you spend $10 at Bath and Body Works you’ll get free shower gel, and Victoria’s Secret is offering a coupon for free lotion.

Update On Bear/ Winterfest Pictures

Now that the Super Bowl is over and the world has gone back to normal, I can finally get back to my regular Plugged In beat!

 

But before I do that, I have to update you on my puppy, Bear.

Here he is…getting so BIG and strong. I’m serious, he’s going to be HUGE.

 

I can’t believe how much he has grown in the past few weeks. And as a proud mom, I think he’s soooo good looking.

 

Also I can’t tell you how many people have said something to me about puppy breath. What is with that? Some of our family and friends that have met Bear love to smell his breath. The whole thing is weird!  In fact, I could almost gag thinking about it. His breath was soooo bad when we first got him. Seriously it was like poop breath. That’s why I don’t get why people voluntarily want to smell it. Yuck! I just try and get away from it.

BREAKING NEWS: Bear’s first puppy tooth is about to fall out!

Hallelujah! Thank goodness! If only all of those little razor sharp blades that cut into my skin would come out at the same time, I would be a much happier girl. In fact, I’d be willing to pull them out myself.  His teeth are the one thing I wasn’t prepared for. Everyone says to beware and they’re right. Those suckers can really hurt, I mean REALLY hurt. But it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel. Soon they will all be falling out and I can’t wait!

This picture is a little blurred, but you can see how big he is getting.

 

 

 

And since getting Bear, I have become obsessed with all those dog shows on television. Yesterday, I watched three hours worth of “Underdog to Wonderdog” on Animal Planet. The show itself is a little corny, but the dogs are so cute. Also I love, love, love “Dog Whisperer”. Cesar is pretty much amazing. However, his “Shh” command doesn’t really work on Bear — I’ve tried. But speaking of training, I have used several of Victoria Stilwell’s tricks from “It’s Me or the Dog” and they actually work. We’ve taught Bear about 8 or 9 tricks/commands so far. And I really believe what they say; a well behaved dog is one that gets plenty of exercise. When Bear gets three walks a day, he’s a sweetheart. When he gets only one, he’s hell on 4 paws with razor sharp teeth—not fun.

 

 

Also, this past weekend was WTAE’s Winterfest at Seven Springs. What a blast! The snow was great and the weather was awesome!

 

And this year was a big year for me. I was the gold medal winner in WTAE’s Winter Olympics. I actually don’t know how the heck I won. Obviously I must have paid off the judges

 

Winterfest continues this weekend. If you have never been to Seven Springs, you must go. The entire resort has just been totally remodeled and it’s beautiful!!!

The Importance Of A Virtual Resume

 Some 500,00 people lost their jobs in December alone. And now they are hitting the workforce in great numbers, making the competition fierce.

 

 

 

So what does that mean to you, if you’re looking for a job?

 

It’s time to say goodbye to the traditional resume and cover letter and hello to the virtual one.

 

It’s nothing new that people are using online job sites like Monster and CareerBuilder. And that’s all well and good, but these days, in this type of job market, some people are going even further creating entire websites, blogs, even video resumes and virtual portfolios in order to stand out.

 

And on the opposite end, employers are searching online resumes and conducting more and more online interviews to save money on bringing someone in for an in-person interview.

 

So these days it’s important to get yourself out there as much as possible, but in a positive way.

 

For example, sign up for career oriented sites like LinkedIn.

 

By creating a professional profile on this site you can connect with professionals from all types of different industry. The jobs and hiring section lets you search for opportunities that are currently available.

 

But even before posting that resume online or joining career-oriented social networking sites, you must clean up any unwanted stuff that may be floating around the net about you.

 

That stuff has come to be known as “digital dirt.”  In today’s world employers are headed to the net to find out what you’re really all about. 

 

So the first and perhaps the most obvious thing you need to do is Google yourself to find out what pops up.

 

Next, clean up your Facebook, MySpace and any other social networking site. Make sure you don’t have any inappropriate pictures, quotes, videos, or messages available for the world to see.

Martin Luther King Neighborhood Diversity Crawls

Hey everyone,

 

Just an FYI on a great opportunity to have a little fun this weekend around the ‘Burgh…..

 

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Pittsburgh Cares is holding two special events to promote respect for diversity in Pittsburgh. 

 

MLK Neighborhood Diversity Crawls (various Pittsburgh neighborhoods)

Saturday, January 17, 2009, 11:00am-1:00pm

 

Have you always wanted to learn more about the history of various Pittsburgh neighborhoods? Perhaps you just want to know more about your own neighborhood.

 

Well now you can! In fact, you can explore several of Pittsburgh’s unique neighborhoods! 

 

Join Pittsburgh Cares in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s passion for diversity by registering for a narrated tour around various Pittsburgh neighborhoods including:

Mount Washington/ West End

Lawrenceville

 Bloomfield/Friendship

South Side

Regent Square

Strip District

Oakmont

 

For a registration fee of only $20 per person, each diversity crawl will include the sampling of various foods and beverages, the exploration of locally owned businesses and the education on how local nonprofit organizations support our region.

 

For more information on the MLK Neighborhood Diversity Crawls or to register call 412-471-2114 or log onto pittsburghcares.org.

 

 

Also check out…..

 

Diversity Shelves and Performances

Bidwell Training Center (1815 Metropolitan Street Pittsburgh PA 15233)

Monday, January 19, 2009, 10:00am-1:00pm

 

Join more than 350 youth and adult volunteers at the Bidwell Training Center, a subsidiary of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation for the design and construction of “diversity shelves.”

 

These wooden bookcases are designed with words and images from the Civil Rights Movement and serve as a platform for initiating dialogue around race relations, community organizing, volunteerism, and diversity. 

 

Volunteers can tour a private photo exhibit of Dr. King’s life that documents and teaches individuals about his own personal civic journey. 

 

Plus, various local performing artists will also be showcasing their talents at the end of the project from 12-1pm as the volunteers unite in celebration of Dr. King’s dream for a community that respects and embraces diversity.