I’m about to embark on an 11-city, 20-day Imprint podcast tour (with one MuggleCast in Orlando in the Harry Potter theme park) with Elysa, Matt, and Laura. It’s going to be so much fun. We’ve been planning it for so long that I feel like life is only separated by before-tour and after-tour.

We’re going to be spending a lot of time on the road. I love road trips to death, so this is one aspect that I’m most excited for.

Lately I’ve been thinking that I want to somehow have my own log of the trip. I decided today the best way to do this is via the social networking site Daily Booth.

So I made a profile – if you have an account, follow me here! Honestly, I’ve always thought the concept of Daily Booth was dumb. But people love it, and it seems like a fun way to keep a log of the trip. As you can see once you click the link, I’ve already added my first ultra corny/awkward photo.

What I plan on doing is taking a picture of me at the same angle using iPhone 4’s front-facing camera at least once or twice a day (starting on the 4th). The background will just be different every time, and I hope to make the backgrounds interesting.

On a related note, I usually get car sick easily from reading, but I’m going to TRY to read the ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo‘ series while on the road. I’ve heard a ton of great things about the books lately!

SUMMER! School ended last week, I got good grades. Here are some updates.

First – about that podcast network. I really appreciate all the feedback.. it was definitely motivating. I think, if I am to start it, it’ll happen in the Fall. Got enough going on this Summer and there’s still a lot to consider with the network.

Second, we recently relaunched MuggleNet. It has had the same design since Emerson birthed it in the Fall of 1999. I’m really, really happy with this new design. It’s coded beautifully (thanks to the equally beautiful Richard Reid) and includes lots of new features and functionality that we hope will bring more people to the site. We got a lot of feedback – good and bad – but I think it’s fair to say the majority was good. As for the negative, I think many of those people are just shocked to see this new design on a site that has been the same for ten years. With that said, we’ll continue to tweak the site as we get more feedback.

Related side note – this new MuggleNet got me really interested in learning CSS/HTML5. A goal this summer is to get a strong command of it.

Third, I got a lot of fun stuff going on this summer. We’re taking our Twilight podcast, Imprint, on a cross-country tour through the month of July. We did this for MuggleCast in the Summer of 2007 and it was a ton of fun. Part of the reason for doing this is it’ll be a really nice BFF trip for Matt, Elysa, Laura and I. Doing 11 live podcasts along the way adds to the fun. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park is having its Grand Opening on June 18th and I can’t wait for that. I recently learned they’re serving Strongbow in The Hogs Head. I had it for the first time in London a couple months ago and fell in love with it. So good. Anyway, I’ll be back in Orlando for Infinitus 2010 in July. Harry Potter symposiums are one of the funnest things. A large group of your best friends all converging on one place to mainly socialize for four – five days.. it’s too good. You always meet great new people too. At the end of every Harry Potter con I always end up with two or three new good friends. So I can’t wait to see who I meet this year.

Fourth, here’s what I’ve been listening to recently: U Smile by Justin Bieber (his Idol appearance got me into him), Nothin’ On You by B.o.B., Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz, Backstreets (alternate version) by Bruce Springsteen, Thundercrack (live) by Bruce Springsteen, Airplanes Part 2 by B.o.B. featuring Eminem/Hayley Williams, and The Only Exception by Paramore.

Fifth, I turned 21 last week. All the happy birthday wishes really, really made my day. I was in Vegas with a few friends and it was a ton of fun. The happy birthday wishes were a nice reminder of all the people who enjoy the podcasts and websites – it’s really motivating. So thanks!

There’s been a new project on my mind recently that I’m debating putting together. I think it has potential and I’m pretty excited about it.

The idea is to create a network of podcasts that all hold the same high level of audio quality, timeliness, and content. Each podcast focuses on a certain topic. They would all be showcased on one website.

The reason MuggleCast and Imprint have become so successful is because they hold high standards. There are other podcasts like this for other specific topics, so that’s why I think a network to hold all of them would be successful.

There’s one podcast network online that has proven this formula works. The TWiT network is an all-tech podcast network that releases shows on a variety of topics on a weekly basis. Each one is entertaining, well produced, and timely. Obviously there’s a big tech audience using the internet, so this network has a large audience.

I think there’s room for a network like TWiT but for fandoms. Other than technology, one of the other big markets on the internet are fandoms. Harry Potter, Twilight, Glee, True Blood, Reality TV shows all have big online communities. People love MuggleCast and Imprint because we feel like their “Harry Potter/Twilight friends” (these are their words). When they don’t have anyone to talk to about Harry Potter or Twilight, they listen to us.

As I said, all the podcasts on the network would have to agree to guidelines. Podcasts would have to be released at least every other week. The hosts have to be entertaining and have good chemistry. The audio quality has to be really nice. These are all essential parts of the formula for a good podcast.

There are a few incentives for podcasts to join this network. Example: A Harry Potter fan has been listening to MuggleCast, and they hear that MuggleCast is now part of a podcast network. They visit the network site, and they see the other podcasts offered. They’re also a fan of Glee, so they check out the Glee podcast. They expect it to be worth listening to since it’s on this network of podcasts that hold high standards. Boom – the podcast just got another listener.

Now the reason I’m blogging about this: What do YOU think of this idea? While I’d love to hear amazing support for it, I’d appreciate honest opinions the most. Feel free to suggest podcast/genres you’d like to see part of the network too.

Lets see… what to discuss… what to discuss…

… CNET’s Buzz Out Loud is currently my favorite podcast to listen to. It’s everything a podcast should be. Fast paced, funny, nice audio quality, lots of timely and interesting content. They record a new episode every weekday and talk about the day’s tech stories. If you’re looking to start your own podcast, these guys are the people to look up to.

… I had so much fun in London and Orlando last week. They left me with multiple reasons to smile every time I think back. I really want to take longer trips to both places in the next couple years. London to just explore and Orlando to visit all of Disney World (I already have plans to go back to Orlando for the Potter theme park, so this is why I will not mention it here).

Pictured above is me at the Absolut Ice Bar in London. EVERYTHING inside is made of ice. Bar, seats, drink glasses, etc. The drink I’m holding glowed on its own.

… it’s exciting to hear about all the apps being developed for the iPad. I’m especially excited for Flight Control HD and Plants VS Zombies HD (both are my current favorites for iPhone right now). They should be awwwwesome on the large iPad screen! I’m also praying USA Today makes a nice iPad app, as they are my favorite newspaper. Speaking of USA Today…

… I think I’m the first person in 5 years to subscribe to the print edition of a newspaper. Similar to my affection for Dunkin’ Donuts, there’s just something about reading USA Today that makes me happy. Everything you need to know about the world is right there. I subscribed the other day and it should start showing up on my doorstep this week. I signed up for a short-term subscription just in case they announce an iPad app soon.

… Related to my Keurig post earlier this month, Keurig just announced a new flavor called ‘Revv’ that packs extra energy. Black Tiger and Donut Shop Coffee are currently my two favorite flavors.

UPDATE: I lost. Kinda sad. Somehow the winners got 70k – 100k votes. Not sure how that was possible but whatever. Thanks everyone who voted!

The Orange County Register is holding a Disneyland photo contest, where the winner will receive tickets to a Disneyland party being held in the park for the diehard fans.

For one part of the contest, a winner will be selected based on how many votes they receive. I submitted 5 photos I took last year. If you could PLEASE pick your favorite of mine and vote for it, I’d really appreciate it!

Just click the photo you like the best below, then hit the orange “Save Vote” button on the page it brings you to. Thanks a ton!

Minnie and Pluto enjoying a stroll down the Hollywood Backlot in California Adventure.

Pluto needs help deciding which ice cream to get.

A small statue of Minnie outside Cinderella’s Castle.

Pluto begs for some free ice cream.

Flowers along Disneyland’s Main Street.

I asked people via my Twitter account what they’d like me to blog about.

- Lia and my friend Pam suggested talking Oscar predictions. I love watching the Oscars, but I’m not a big movie watching person. The only three films I’ve seen that are nominated this year are Avatar, District 9, and Up In the Air. In fact, I don’t watch movies in general. I haven’t seen any of the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings films. That’ll give you a good idea of how few films I’ve seen compared to the general public, lol.

But if I WERE to predict, I’m sure it’s going to be another landslide year like it was for Slumdog Millionaire in 2009. Avatar all the way.

- Nat suggested I talk about idiots at the gym. WOW, this girl read my mind. I’ve wanted to bitch about people at the gym for a while.

In a nutshell, I hate when people at the gym: 1) do not put their free weights back on the racks, 2) sit on machines – not using them – just to socialize with people, 3) SMELL, 4) sit on machines using their phones, and 5) scream loud when they’re struggling with their weights. I understand some grunting cause you’re pushing yourself, but I dislike the obnoxious people who go ‘AGHHHHHHHHHHHH’ and then let their weight hit the floor with a huge thud.

- Gabrielle suggested I make book recommendations. I wish I had something more recent to talk about, but sadly I don’t. I plan on spending a lot of time at the pool and/or beach this summer so I want to have a couple really great books to read. If YOU have any recommendations, let me know in the comments. Let me know why I would like it!

- This wasn’t a request, but here’s a product I’ve wanted to rave about for a while: Keurig coffee makers. Possibly one of the greatest home inventions in recent years. These coffee makers are special in that they make coffee really fast. You turn it on, it heats up, you insert a “K-Cup” (the coffee type/flavor you want), and it pours the coffee into your cup.

There are a few different brewers available. I got the “Select Home Brewing System” for Christmas and love it to death. My current favorite K-Cup flavors are CoffeePeople’s “Donut Shop Coffee“, “Black Tiger“, and “Santa’s Buzz“.

The best part about these K-Cups are the price. You can buy a pack of 50 of most flavors from Amazon. If you order through Amazon Subscribe, you get free shipping AND 10% off. For Donut Shop Coffee and Black Tiger, that equates to 35 cents per cup. And these are Starbucks-like sizes. Keurig’s can dispense up to 10 ounces at a time. If you want more coffee in a cup, then just use two K-Cups for a price of *gasp* 70 cents. Check ‘em out at Target, Costco, or online.

There are so many other flavors I’m dying to try. This new Tree Hugger flavor is described as sweet and chocolaty. Mmmmm.