Neptune, New Jersey- Hotdoggers know just about everything there is to know about the Wienermobile but what else do we know? See what happens when A-Dog and I help a group of ‘tweens before their YMCA dance!

A group of middle school boys were hanging out in BIGBUN when A-Dog and I asked them about their weekend plans. Turns out the boys were headed to a dance after their visit to the Wienermobile. They started talking about their dates when A-Dog asked, “Did you guys get your dates flowers?” Their faces went blank. That’s when I knew I had to do something.

It was the very end of our day in Neptune and I had the boys, in a single file line, follow me into the grocery store. I showed them the florist department, which was uncharted territory for these boys! While surrounded by red, yellow and pink boquets I pointed out the bargain boquets. I explained that they could all put together flower arrangements for their dates for no more than $3 each. At this affordable rate they couldn’t say no so the boys started picking out flowers and chose their date’s favorite color for the ribbon that would tie the mini bouquets together.

After the bouquets were finished  the boys had to get ready for the dance and A-Dog and I had to haul buns. But before we parted ways the boys promised that from that day forward they would never go to a dance or on a date without brining their date flowers!

I hope they enjoyed their dance and I hope the girls felt extra special carrying their flowers!

 Hey, I’m not called Lunch Luvin’ Larisa for nothing!

Normally it’s BIGBUN getting all of the attention; not this time! On every poster and flyer for this Touch-A-Truck event read “COME MEET THE HOTDOGGERS!” We felt privileged and honored to be right next to the picture of the Wienermobile, after all he is the real celebrity, we just speak for him!

New Canaan, Connecticut- A-Dog and I had buns of fun at New Canaan’s Touch a Truck. There were so many future Hotdoggers there which made it FRANKTASTIC! We had kids draw pictures of their own version of the Wienermobile and then decorated BIGBUN with the creative drawings.

Check them out!

Some of the kids drew BIGBUN flying, swimming and even made him into a big smiley face. Not one picture looked alike and BIGBUN could not have looked any better!

“Franks” for being so creative New Canaan! BIGBUN looked BUNDERFUL because of you!

If you get the chance to “meat” up with a Wienermobile you know that hotdoggers have “buns” of Wienermobile puns at our disposal. They have been created by past hotdoggers and handed down throughout the years. Some are even suggested by friends who visit us on our “coast-to-coast weenie roast.”

Here are two of my new favorites!

A-Dog Adam: I am 6′ 3″, so my head hits the ceiling of the Wienermobile when I’m giving tours. So I created this pun for myself and others who are tall enough to touch the blue-sky ceiling; “For us the sky really is the limit in the Wienermobile!”

and

While in California and passerby said; “The Wienermobile is “mobile happiness!”"

What are your favorite Wienermobile puns? Do you have any you think we should add to our list?

“Franks” in advance!

We look for any reason to celebrate with the Wienermobile! Whether it’s your first visit, a big win, or a holiday. Today while in Richmond, VA OUR DOG will be celebrating a fellow hotdogger’s birthday! Last year, while living in Texas, A-Dog could never have predicted that he would be celebrating his beefday with all of Richmond, VA!

Happy Beefday A-Dog! We all hope your year is FRANKTASTIC!

Chicago, IL- If you don’t know already Chicago does NOT put kethcup on hot dogs, just ask Molly Mustard. That was a lesson I learned quickly while cruising the Midwest in the Wienermobile. What I didn’t know was how much Chicago dogs, like Nacho Dogero Noah, love ketchup colored sunglasses!

Nacho Dogero and the Ketchup Sunglasses

After hauling buns through the snowy streets of Chicago we took a break while Nacho Dogero Noah and his brother Hot Dog Eli shared with us their favorite parts of their ride in the Wienermobile:

Nacho Dogero Noah\’s and Hot Dog Eli\’s Favorite Things!

We had “buns” of fun with our new friends Noah and Eli! Franks for being so much fun guys

McLean, VA- As most of you know we hotdoggers stay in and out of hotels while on our coast-to-coast wiener roast. When we were invited to Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, MD we thought the proper way to celebrate would be to BAKE!

Sadly, not many hotels have ovens, but we hotdoggers don’t give up so easy!  Adam and I got creative and managed to make a Wienermobile cake that impressed even the “Ace of Cakes”, Duff Goldman, himself!

A-Dog and Lunch Luvin’ Larisa’s recipe for what we like to call, Hotel Cake.

Hotel Cake

Ingredients

1/2 Sheet Cake (ask the bakery at your local grocery store for a cake without icing)

2 Tubs of Vanilla Icing (thick not whipped, this is important!)

Food Coloring

Icing Tubes for detailing

How-To Guide

1. Get Creative! Think of something “franktastic” and cut out a design on the plain sheet cake.

2. Make different colored frosting for your design

3. Use icing tubes to outline your finished product

4. Take a picture to show off your creation!

Cake comparison! Mary Alice and Duff from Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes” with me, Lunch Luvin’ Larisa!

State College, PA- Exactly a year ago I was a senior at Penn State driving around in a VW Beetle.  And now, after half a year on the road I was back in Happy Valley, this time driving a 27-foot-long hot dog named BIGBUN; how things have changed!

The chance to see State College through the Wienermobile, was surreal! I would honk at friends I saw walking to class and even stopped to introduce BIGBUN to JoePa (Joe Paterno, Penn State’s football coach).

My two worlds collided, and it was “franktastic!”

While at Penn State, Adam and I had the opportunity to recruit new hotdoggers, let’s hope they cut the mustard like Johnny Salami and I!  I also took Adam on a whirlwind tour of campus including a stop at The Creamery.

Adam loved The Creamery!

I don’t know how he did it, but Adam also became a walk-on member of the Nittany Lion football team.

So to all of my fellow Penn Staters out there; WE ARE…PENN STATE!

State College, PA- After seven months on the road, staying in and out of hotels, Adam and I had the rare opportunity to stay at a family friend’s house on our visit to Pennsylvania. We had home cooked meals every day and I was able to take a nap on a couch (an overlooked luxury, I might add!) but the best part, by far, was being greeted by Duke and Lucy every time we walked through the door.

Duke and Lucy are the Hanson Family’s dogs and before we hauled buns we felt we should thank them for letting us stay at their house. We could pet them, walk them, or give them a bone but we decided the best treat would be giving them the grand tour of the giant hot dog that was parked in their driveway for almost a week!

Just as we made ourselves comfortable at their home, Duke and Lucy did the same in BIGBUN!

Look at Lucy’s big grin, she loves the Wienermobile!

Duke gets comfortable in BIGBUN.

To begin with, check out this video of Andrew Thompson the 4-year-old winner of the Oscar Mayer Jingle contest in 1997 on Oprah.

Andrew on Oprah

How adorable? And how talented?!

In January, Adam and I had the opportunity to surprise Andrew on his 16th birthday in Tennessee. We decorated BIGBUN with streamers, ballons and even a “Happy Birthday” banner.  Then we waited for Andrew to arrive.

SURPRISE!

When he arrived at his  party Andrew and all of his friends checked out the decorated Wienermobile and then took a ride around his hometown, had breakfast for dinner (Andrew’s favorite!) and even dropped him off at dance practice at the end of the evening!

And don’t think we hauled buns without getting him to sing for us!

Andrew Thompson Sings Again!

Adam and I would like to thank the Thompson family and friends for including us in Andrew’s birthday festivities and for sending us on the road with homemade cinnamon rolls! It was an honor to hang out with this talented group of teenagers and hopefully, someday,  aspiring hotdoggers!

…although they all showed up Adam and I with their singing and dancing skills!