Jun 29, 2015

Disney Magic at California Grill | #FridayFive

Welcome back to another edition of the Magical Mickey linkup: the linkup centering around a love for Disney, sharing that love and connecting with others. I hope you find this linkup as a great place to turn to for Disney content each week and help all the bloggers participating out by helping readers find that great mouse-eared content. I'm co-hosting with Katie from Adventures by Katie, so of course check her blog out.

Previously, I wrote a post about some Disney magic. Then last week, I shared with you one of my favorite dining location as Walt Disney World, California Grill. In that post, I mentioned a special experience we had with a server there. This is that story of...


Disney Magic at California Grill

I've dined at California Grill on several occasions. One very special time was on our honeymoon. We got a reservation close to the fireworks times, with enough time to eat before enjoying the view for the fireworks. We were looking for a special meal, so decided to get a bottle of wine. We left it up to the recommendation of our server, Lisa, from Bucks County, PA. My wife told her we'd like a rieslings, something a little sweet, but not too dry. She said she had just the wine, and came back with a bottle of Selbach-Oster. We ended up enjoying a lovely meal, the fireworks, and two bottles that night.



Fast forward 2 years. We're vacationing with my family and have a reservation at California Grill. My wife and I are remembering our last dinner here, but can't remember the wine we had that night. Then, our server arrives at the table and feels oddly familiar. We decide to go the recommendation route again and explain the wine we had as best as we could. Then, the Disney magic happens. She asks if last time we were here, if we were on our honeymoon. She thought we looked familiar, remembers us and remembers the wine we had that night. Yes, 2 years later, we happen to have the same server, who remembered us, and found our amazing bottle of wine. That was some kind of magic.

Have you ever had that "how did that happen" experience?


Onto the Linkup

Here are the guidelines:

The post just needs to be about anything Disney related. There have been posts on runDisney, on the parks and even on the Moms Panel, so just give it some Disney and count it.

New posts are fantastic, but for now, if you have a great old post you want to share, drop it on in.

Try to visit as many of the posts that you can as time allows. The point of this is to share and support each other.

If you're going to be a regular, please link back to the host posts. It's just good etiquette and frankly, that's how others will get to your fellow Disney lovers content. Without that link back, they can't find the linkup and therefore the other blogs. Help me help you.

You also have the option to add the linkup code to your post if you'd like. It is not required, just another option. If not, please follow the above link back guideline.


Jun 26, 2015

Wayback Machine: 10 Years Ago | #FridayFive

It's time for a Throwback Thursday on Friday. This week's Friday Five linkup topic five things you were doing 10 years ago. To do that, I had to hop into Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine, and by that I mean I went to Facebook.


Five Things I was Doing 10 Years Ago

1. Just Joining Facebook, Apparently

When I jumped onto the time machine that is the Facebook timeline, I learned something. Apparently I had only just joined Facebook back on July 1, 2005. That was back when you needed to have a school email address at a school that was added. I remember using it so much to connect with people during college, with the defacto "I'll send you a friend request on Facebook." but I guess that was only for a small portion of my college years.

2. Junior to Senior Year of College

Speaking of college, 2005 was the spring of my junior year into my fall semester of my senior year at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. Let's see, that means my fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, marching band, jazz band, concert band, coding, video games, doing less than smart things and maybe the occasional trip out to the bars. Ok, maybe more than occasional. And maybe the last two are related.


3. Becoming Vice President of the Northeast District for Kappa Kappa Psi

During my junior year, I was the president of my chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, the Zeta Alpha Chapter at Bloomsburg University. In the spring of that year, I decided to run for Vice President of the Northeast District at district convention. I won the election, met a lot of people, and then served the next year as Vice President, which was a rewarding a fun time.

The Northeast District Council of Kappa Kappa Psi: Kalem, myself, Kate, Ed, and Adam.

4. Meeting My Future Wife for the First Time

So, part of campaigning for vice president while at UConn for district convention was meeting people. I went around to try and meet as many people as I could at convention (which I often would do anyway) but that way they would know who was running and what I planned to do as VP. At one point, my little calls me over before one of the sessions, and says "You need to meet these sexy jersey girls." It was a group of four girls from the Alpha Omega chapter at Pittsburgh University, wearing soccer jersey with the fraternity name. As it would turn out, one of those girls, the second from the left, just happens to now be my wife.

And yes, he did end up in the wedding party for having introduced us.

5. Making Stories

Lastly, as you do in college, I made many a good stories. Some stories were doing some things that may not have been the best idea. Others are just great memories of little things. Then there are some, or if you ask my wife all, start with "This one time Bob and I were drinking..." then ends in a variety of way, such as a TV fish tank, a bear skin rug or changing a bumper in the snow. You won't have good stories to tell if you don't make the memories first.


Linking Up


Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: Courtney, Cynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Eat, Pray, Run DC

You Signed Up for What?!

Mar on the Run

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up:






Jun 22, 2015

California Grill | #MagicalMickey

Welcome back to another edition of the Magical Mickey linkup: the linkup centering around a love for Disney, sharing that love and connecting with others. I hope you find this linkup as a great place to turn to for Disney content each week and help all the bloggers participating out by helping readers find that great mouse-eared content. I'm co-hosting with Katie from Adventures by Katie, so of course check her blog out.

This week I wanted to share with you one of my favorite dining location as Walt Disney World. It has some of the finest food, most spectacular views, amazing servers, and it's not even in the parks. I'll be talking about...


California Grill

One of my favorite dining options is not found in the parks but at the top of Disney's Contemporary Resort. Found on the 15th floor up a private elevator is the California Grill. The California Grill is one of the signature dining options. From there, you get spectacular views of both the Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom Park.

The menu here is fantastic. If you know me, you know I love fine foods. One of my favorite things is that it includes a seasonal menu. There are many things you find often, that are delicious. one of the most well known and beloved is the Sonoma goat cheese ravioli. I also am one to never turn down a delicious cheese plate. For main options, I've had so many delicious plates such as oak fired beef filet or a bison center cut sirloin. They also offer oven-fired flatbreads, which I have not tried. Something I have had is their mouthwatering sushi. Their sushi chef is amazing.


One of the benefits about being located on the 15th floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort is the view of Magic Kingdom Park. It is prime seating to view the evening's fireworks. They dim the lights, pump in the music, and you can view the fireworks with a glass of wine in hand. They also offer an observation deck that you can step outside for a great view with a little fresh air.


We've always had fantastic servers here, ones that seem to go above and beyond. We actually had a very special experience here, but that's a story for another week. As a signature dining restaurant, you can use their dining plan, though it costs two meal blocks. It is absolutely worth it. The one thing to note is sushi is not included.

And now, I leave you with some delicious pictures.

I do love some fine cheeses.

Sonoma goat cheese ravioli

Bison center cut sirloin steak

Oak fired beef sirloin

A sweet finish?

Have you ever dined at California Grill?


Onto the Linkup

Here are the guidelines:

The post just needs to be about anything Disney related. There have been posts on runDisney, on the parks and even on the Moms Panel, so just give it some Disney and count it.

New posts are fantastic, but for now, if you have a great old post you want to share, drop it on in.

Try to visit as many of the posts that you can as time allows. The point of this is to share and support each other.

If you're going to be a regular, please link back to the host posts. It's just good etiquette and frankly, that's how others will get to your fellow Disney lovers content. Without that link back, they can't find the linkup and therefore the other blogs. Help me help you.

You also have the option to add the linkup code to your post if you'd like. It is not required, just another option. If not, please follow the above link back guideline.


Jun 19, 2015

Five Things That Make Me Happy | #FridayFive

I'm so glad that Friday is finally here. It's been one of those long, busy weeks, so I welcome the weekend to start, even though it will be busy too. This week's Friday Five linkup topic is happiness. That's a good cheery way to start the weekend. This one is a pretty easy list to put together, so here are...


Five Things That Make Me Happy

1. My Wife and Kids


This weekend is Father's Day, which leads to the first and foremost thing that makes me happy, my amazing wife and 2 kids. Sure, they can drive me crazy and up a wall, but I love them so much. They do bring so much joy into my life. And I can say that as my son currently won't sleep in his crib, is instead in our bed, constantly trying to lay on me as I type and snuggle across the keyboard like a cat. They are, all three of them, what matters most to me and what makes me happiest.

2. Programming

This is where the coding happens.
I'm one of those people who loves what they do. I love to write code. It was why I selected Computer Science as a major and a career, because I figured I might as well do something I know I enjoy. Sure, like all jobs, it has it's stressful moments, like when you're getting ready for a release and spending many extra hours into the wee hours of the night trying to get everything perfect. But I love to code, and coding makes me happy. I'd write code in my free time, if I had free time. Coding can be an artistic outlet. People think of it as solely analytical, but you're creating new code, new algorithms, new designs. Art is creation and expression. I just express my thoughts as lines that end in semicolons.

3. Disney

You didn't think I'd leave this one off the list, did you? I may have mentioned Disney a time or two before on my blog, link up or even in Friday Fives. I can't think of a place I'd be happier to be in than Walt Disney World. It's a place to escape to, a place to be a kid in, and a place to just let go. I love the rides. I love the theming. I love the characters. I love it all. I also makes me happy because my wife loves it too. I can't want for the next trip where my daughter can really experience it, because she's of the age to understand a little more and remember. That will make me beyond happy. Disney is my happy place.

4. Food

I like to eat. I can admit that. I'm doing a better job at eating healthier, but the fact that I love to eat is not something that will go away, nor would I want it to. With that fact, food makes me happy. And I don't mean that in the bad way it really could be taken. It makes me happy because I enjoy it. I love to cook, I love new foods, and I love dining out. I can enjoy everything from a burger loaded with toppings to grilled vegetables or a salad to a wagyu beef. I can appreciate them all, for their distinct flavors.

To relate this back to the previous happy item, Disney, there are so many restaurants at Disney I love. While I plan to write about more for some future #MagicalMickey posts, there is everything form a place to get a great hotdog loaded up to the 5 diamonds of Victoria & Albert's. You can experience foods from around the world or under the sea. Even some of the best dining can be found outside the parks.

5. Running

Lastly, running makes me happy. Getting out there, just running, can ease my stress, clear my mind, and make me happy. Sometimes I run to music (which music also makes me happy) while others I let it be silent and just let my mind go with the sounds of nature. At the end of the day, I love running. Running makes me happy. Much like programming, that's why I do it. I enjoy it. Yes, there are health benefits, blah blah blah, but I run because it makes me happy.

Just put these on and away we go to happy town... or happy path? happy miles?

Linking Up


Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: Courtney, Cynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Eat, Pray, Run DC

You Signed Up for What?!

Mar on the Run

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up:

HoHo Runs

Renaissance Runner Girl

The Runner Within





Jun 16, 2015

MOBOT Foam Roller Water Bottle Review | BibRavePro

Disclaimer: I received a MOBOT to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador, tell them I sent you), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I recently got another product to check out as part of the BibRavePro program. I have to say, I love the feel and design of this product. It's unique, it's useful, and it looks good. I'd like to share with you my experience with


MOBOT Foam Roller Water Bottle

A very important part of running and staying active is hydration. As we get here into summer, it becomes even more vital for your health and safety in the heat and humidity. What do you need for that? A good water bottle. No, you need a great water bottle. Good water bottle ends up on the shelf stacked with all the other bottles that you pull out when your favorite bottles are dirty sitting next to the sink. Another important part of running, one that I personally have long overlooked is rolling. Not down the hill in grass but rolling with a foam roller. What about a product that can give you both, in a well designed package. Enter MOBOT.

What is MOBOT?

MOBOT calls itself the "World's First Eco Friendly Travel Foam Roller Water Bottle". They also have the goods to back it up. The bottle is BPA free and made from the "highest quality, food-grade stainless steel". The bottle is surrounded with EVA foam, which is heat-pressed directly onto the bottle. This is great because it will endure all your rocking and rolling, staying in place and keep looking good. The foam comes in a variety of colors. I received the Adams Ale, which is black, perfect if you want something that will blend in a little more. If you want to stand out, the have colors for that, such as Juicy Bot or The BOSS. Even the packaging is great. I appreciate good design, even down to the box. It is made from recycled and recyclable materials, and all the packaging is compostable. All of it.

A photo posted by John Wickee (@rgrdisney) on

How is it as a water bottle?

There's two purposes of the MOBOT, a water bottle and a foam roller. As a water bottle, it works great. They have 3 size options: 18 oz, 27 oz, and the mother Big Bertha 40 oz bottle, which I was provided. As previously mentioned, the bottle is stainless steel. The top offers a silent sip straw, which is easy to drink from. It's easy to pick up and drink quickly and then it flip the straw shut again. They even include a second top, though only one straw to go with it. The bottles all provide ample liquid, especially the 40 oz (that's 2 1/2 tabs of Nuun). You're not going to carry it with you on a run, but you'll have plenty for after or with you at the gym. The top's wide enough to easily drop in ice, to keep it extra cold. And speaking of cold, the EVA foam for the roller also acts as great insulation.


How is it as a foam roller?

The second purpose of the MOBOT is as a foam roller. For this, it serves it's purpose well. The stainless steel bottle is plenty thick, holding up to me no problem, and we'll just say I'm not a tiny guy. They even say it can "withstand the weight of a pro wrestler after a cheat day." The EVA foam does not budge, so the "heat pressing" clearly works. The foam has sections of ridges going horizontal and then vertical. They have a video of the basic rolling techniques for various areas using the bottles, which match up to any other general foam rolling techniques.


I first used the bottle after a 4 mile run in some wicked humidity, and it was fantastic. I mostly worked on my legs, though tried out several of the other techniques. It was a wonderful feeling on my legs. So much so that I'm inclined to, and have, used it even when I haven't been running on my legs. If you don't foam roll, you should.

The Takeaway

There's two purposes of the MOBOT, a water bottle and a foam roller. Sometimes products try to be a jack-of-all-trades and end up a master of none. That is not the case here. This is both a fantastic water bottle and a fantastic sturdy foam roller. It also passed my two durability tests: my 3 1/2 year old and my 11 month old. If it can handle them, then it's build tough. It's a great all around product.

My summary?
Roll on and stay hydrated. 
Want one of your own? Check out their site Mobot Nation or their Indiegogo campaign with a lot of great options.

#BibChat

Another exciting part of the partnership with MOBOT? They're going to be the sponsor of this week's BibChat, on Tuesday June 15th at 8:00pm CDT. We'll be talking about "Running on the Go" and they'll be giving away bottles to 3 participants! Stop on by and join in the craziness and fun that is #bibchat.

#BibRavePro

Do you love #bibchat? Do you review races on BibRave.com? Want great perks like this? Then check out the application for becoming a BibRavePro. And when you're filling it out, tell them I sent you.

Jun 15, 2015

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster | #MagicalMickey

Welcome back to another edition of the Magical Mickey linkup: the linkup centering around a love for Disney, sharing that love and connecting with others. I hope you find this linkup as a great place to turn to for Disney content each week and help all the bloggers participating out by helping readers find that great mouse-eared content. I'm co-hosting with Katie from Adventures by Katie, so of course check her blog out.

I previously wrote a post about a ride I love, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. I decided to write the second of the posts by moving onto another park. We'll be heading off to Disney's Hollywood Studios. I'll be talking about...


Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith

This is one of the more popular rides at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is an indoor roller coaster through the dark, combined with bright neon lights and the music of Aerosmith. The premise is you're on a backstage tour and then need to rush to make it to the concert. You hop in a super stretch limo, go zero to 60 and through 3 inversions to arrive on time.


To start, the theming on the ride is, as always with a Disney ride, fantastic. Outside you have the super-stretch limo as well as a giant guitar, perfect for some rocking photo ops. You enter in G-Force Records to tour as the band is finishing recording some tracks. As you enter, look for a hidden Mickey in the tile floor. I'll look for a picture of it from my hard drives of pictures and update if I come across it. After the video scene with Aerosmith, you go out the side door into the alley to catch your ride. Here, you get a great view of the ride start, which if you fail to mention to someone on their first time can be heart pumping, either the good or bad kind, haha.


I love a good roller coaster. The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is a fun ride. The quick start is a good jump, and the overall ride is fun. The speed of the coaster makes for a thrilling ride, but also a quick ride. It's unfortunate too, the roll overs and corkscrews are a lot of fun, as is speeding through the fun signs, but its over too quickly. It's worth the ride, and I always try to ride it, but I won't wait in a long standby line for it. That's just me personally.

Do you love coasters? What do you think of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster?


Onto the Linkup

Here are the guidelines:

The post just needs to be about anything Disney related. There have been posts on runDisney, on the parks and even on the Moms Panel, so just give it some Disney and count it.

New posts are fantastic, but for now, if you have a great old post you want to share, drop it on in.

Try to visit as many of the posts that you can as time allows. The point of this is to share and support each other.

If you're going to be a regular, please link back to the host posts. It's just good etiquette and frankly, that's how others will get to your fellow Disney lovers content. Without that link back, they can't find the linkup and therefore the other blogs. Help me help you.

You also have the option to add the linkup code to your post if you'd like. It is not required, just another option. If not, please follow the above link back guideline. Get the InLinkz code


Jun 12, 2015

Five Summer Activities I "Love" | #FridayFive

This week for the linkup, I couldn't decide between two lists. This week's Friday Five linkup topic is of summer, and your favorite activities. I first wrote one post on five summer activities I love. Then, I couldn't fall asleep, and my brain wrote another list. My sarcastic side may have slipped out a little on this one.


Five Summer Activities I "Love"

1. Using 10 gallons of sunscreen or being burnt to a crisp

There's nothing us red heads love more then lathering up in SPF Ginger any time we have to go outside. Amusement park? Break out the bottle. Beach or pool? Better make it two. Getting the mail? At least do your face and arms...

2. Lounging around in 99%  humidity

I just love the humidity. Nothing like weather that feels 20 degrees hotter than the already too hot. After dark? Well the sun may be gone, but still feels like triple digits, just without the benefit of sight.

3. Car hotboxes

Nothing like getting into the oven of your car all summer long. You have two choices, roll down windows to help the in car heat escape but then trade that for letting the 99.99% humidity in or you can leave it trapped and pray the AC cools the car down before you pass out. Really, option two is like a game anyway, so do that.

4. Eating an ice cream cone in 3.2 seconds

Nothing is more refreshing than a nice ice cream cone and nothing is quite like the challenge of trying to eat it before it becomes cream soup. Of course then you drink the rest straight out of the bottom of the cone, so is it really a loss?

5. Being a feast for nature

Lastly, in summer you can be at one with nature. Yes, it's the time of the lovely little mosquito. Flying around, annoying your eyes, your ears, your nose to only just land on your arm and give you a kiss. Well, I guess it's more of a bite, but biting is just like kissing with a winner. Or maybe not your arm but your leg. Or your ankle right by the edge of your shoe so it constantly itches but you just can't seem to scratch it. But wait, there's more. You can always then paint the bites with the pink stuff all over you, so it's like an artistic form of expression.

Want some more?

Ok, maybe more than a little of my sarcastic side came out. But if you want to read about some summer activities I actually enjoy, read my other post, Five Summer Activities I Love. Note, the slight differences in titles.


Linking Up


Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: Courtney, ;Cynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!


Our hosts:

Mar on the Run

Eat, Pray, Run DC

You Signed Up for What?!

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up:

Running 'n' Reading

Haley Duke

Ice Packs + Races