Gonna miss ya Jupiter

Haven't posted on my Blogger in awhile. With all the social media I do you pretty much know what I am up to. I still wanted to post something about our dog, Jupiter. She was a great bulldog and we loved her very much and was part of the family and was really sad to hear that she passed at my parents house while Kristen and I were on a vacation.

Even though she could be annoying and high maintenance. She was still our dog and we very much miss her. Being home just a day I can tell you I miss not hearing her snoring, panting and her nails clacking away on the tile and the laminate floor.

You will be missed Jupi!

If you have an iPhone you need this....

How to Create Ringtones for Your iPhone

Who knew Cookie Monster could drop some beats...

I went to an Elmo show at Sea World and a Rap concert broke out... Check out Cookie Monster and Grover doing the Kid n Play!

aXis August UCF cover shoot

This is the picture selected for the cover

This is the behind the scenes of the photo shoot.

Every year aXis Magazine does a UCF edition and it's their most popular issue. This years will probably be the biggest one due to Shanna Marie McLaughlin, UCF Knight and July 2010 Playboy Playmate. being on the cover. Also because of the behind the scenes video.

Here is what the local media thinks of the video that was done in the UCF locker room. Click HERE to view the WKMG video.

What do you think of the cover and the video? Let me know in the comments section, Facebook or twitter (@UCFBiggie). Feel free to ReTweet or share with others.

My favorite thing at SeaWorld

The Dad Life

Random Grilling ......

Do anything different or ideas I should try. Let me know...

Would you live smaller?

I would live in the house in the video 1:08.

Watch out for the Furries

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Not sure if you are keeping score but Pittsburgh is also the same city that was giving discounts on Monday to people with Mullets.

Say hello to my little friend!

So as you all know I am a Mac and after many years I have finally taken the plunge and we finally got iPhones. We have never had smartphone before. I would consider having the iPhone to when we first got HD for the 1st time. It makes you think how did I live without this useful awesomeness!

Still getting use to it and learning how to take full advantage of it. Will be lots of fun along the way.

Mullet Monday!

Click on the pic to see the event.

Have a mullet get a free haircut at the zoo..

The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium gave reduced admission Monday to those sporting the business-in-front, party-in-back look. The person with the best mullet won a behind-the-scenes zoo tour.

And the prize for the runners-up? A chance for a free haircut.

Chicken Biscuit challenge

My favorite breakfast treat is the Chicken Biscuit. I've tried many of the ones out there and my 2 favorites are Bojangles and Chick Fil A. You only have 2 ingredients so it has to be right.

I have been wanting to go to Bojangles and Chick-Fil-A at try them side by side almost like a wine tasting of sort but with Chicken Biscuits! I also had a theory that if I created a Frankenstein Biscuit using a Bojangles Buttermilk biscuit (baked fresh every 20 mins) and Chick-Fil-A chicken I would have the ultimate Chicken Biscuit.

I was lucky to not to have to do this challenge on my own. I was joined by fellow Chicken Biscuit lovers: Joe and Kress. The 3 of us headed to Chick-Fil-A and bought 2 chicken biscuits to go and headed to Bojangles for some taste testing.

At Bojangles we were met by the manger who was all about us doing our Biscuit challenge. Found out the guy making the biscuits use to work at Chick-Fil-A.

So Joe, Kress and I sat down to try: a Chick-Fil-A Biscuit, a Cajon Bojangles Chicken Biscuit and the Frankenstein. As we were setting up our sandwiches Kress and I started talking about a Reverse Frankenstein (Chick-Fil-A Biscuit and a Bojangles Chicken) and so 4 entered my tray and the tasting began.

I decided to cut my biscuits in half so I would not consume 4 Chicken biscuits.

So here are my thoughts:

Chick-Fil-A

To me this is the OB (Original Biscuit) it was the first one I ever had and have been hooked to it thanks to Chick-Fil-A. The chicken an the breading is the key to it. I would never turn it down if offered and I continue to ask Chick-Fil-A to add it to it's lunch/dinner menu and have it available all the time.

Bojangles

Never heard of this place before but it opened up about a year ago and I knew that it severs Chicken and Biscuits and that it serves Chicken Biscuits all the time (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Heck they serve 6 different types of Chicken biscuits

Right there I am thinking winner winner Chicken Biscuits for dinner! I like the Cajun biscuit and their BoRounds are good stuff (but that's for another post, another day)

Frankenstein: Bojangles Biscuit w/Chick-Fil-A Chicken

This biscuit gave you Bojangels Buttermilk biscuit with ChickFilA's chicken. It is a dream team combo. Both flavors blended together. To make some awesome loving. The flavors just melt in your mouth. It's a really good biscuit.

The Reverse Frankenstein: ChickFilA Biscuit with Bojangles Chicken

In our original plans this was not thought of, but after trying it was a dark horse in final 4 biscuit challenge. Reason being. Since Chick-Fil-A biscuit is more buttery flavor than the Bojangles biscuit you get to really enjoy and appreciate the Bojangles Chicken. It makes for a really good biscuit.

So here are my final picks. If you try the biscuit challenge please let me know your thoughts.

My Final Chicken Biscuit Rankings:

1. Frankenstein (Bojangles Biscuit w/Chick-Fil-A Chicken)

2. Reverse Frankenstein (Chick-Fil-A Biscuit w/Bojangles Chicken)

3. Chick-Fil-A

4. Bojangles

Now my friend TastyChomps (Check his site here) has informed me that Popeye now sells Chicken Biscuits! So we may need to do another biscuit challenge very soon!

Happy Father's Day!

Reading to Gabi

Me with Bella

Me and my Dad

Happy Fathers Day to ALL Dad's. Hope you have a wonderful day today.

SuperFans

Clipper Darrell is a bit obsessed even for me as a UCF fan.

Speaking of a college fans: Prayers and well wishes go out to Wild Bill Utah St super fan! He is in the hospital suffering from heart ailments.



As much as I think I am a big UCF fans- there are people who take it to the next level. Thanks to them it makes me look normal.

The Smurf's

I guess everything I watched as a kid is going to become a movie.

Darryl Owens article about the Angel of Hope

We had the opportunity to speak with Darryl Owens about our cause and our goal to bring the Angel of Hope. Here is a little excerpt:

"In search of an Angel for Gabriella" by Darryl Owens

Four years ago, Anthony and Kristen Bencomo learned they were expecting.

They were thrilled. Their first.

They told everyone. Debated names. Enrolled in Lamaze classes.

Kristen kept doctor appointments. Marveled at her budding baby bump. Wondered why she never felt a kick. Endured headaches. Spiking blood pressure. Nerves?

Complications. Time to deliver.

Too soon?! No choice.

Doctors performed a C-Section. Hooked the tiny thing to a ventilator. More tubes and wires than baby.

Scary.

After a dozen whirlwind days in the Florida Hospital neonatal intensive-care unit, life finally slowed to a pause.....

Click HERE to read the full article...

Black Sheep!

Loved rap when i was kid. I remember rapping with the Black Sheep on road trips with my friends. Great to see it on a commercial.

Here is the original video:

National Donut Day!

My 1st tattoo

Check out the process:



2010 will mark the 4th birthday and anniversary for the loss of Gabi. I have wanted a tattoo in her name since she passed. After much research and thought. I decided on a tattoo that had meaning behind it and something I would want to have forever.

I came up with the idea of a pocket watch with the time 12:07 with wings and a halo. That is all I wanted. As you can see I got so much more.

I did much research looking for the right artist and luck should have it I met a guy, Michael, standing in line at the Johnny Cupcakes tour and his friend Ryan's had this awesome rooted tattoo (it is a tree and going down to the roots) and it was awesome. He told me the guy was in Orlando and he had done both of his tattoos. Through him I got introduced to Enrique Zayas at Chrome Lotus Tattoo.

Here is the rationale behind what I wanted for a tattoo:

12:07:
12:07pm was the time that Gabi was born and it was also the time I looked forward to. Every time the clock read 12:07pm it meant I had another day with Gabi. We had 12 awesome days with her. Hence the clock on the tattoo reads 12:07.

The numbers on the watch:
I looked and looked for the font of the numbers and it hit me that my dad had given me a pocketwatch that had been passed down to me on my wedding day. His pocket watch has numbers 1-12 but for the tattoo I could only do 12, 3, 6, and 9.

The G:
The G is Gabi's 1st initial.

The Wings, Halo and Pocket watch:
In my initial thoughts I had it being just a G with wings or something and I also did not want a tattoo that was just her name. So I went with the wings and halo and the watch since it has a few meanings- an angel in heaven and also that time flew bye and it wasn't enough time to be with Gabi.

The Sunshine:

The amazing part about this is that I never told Enrique that on Gabi's headstone we have: "Our Grace from God. You will always be our Sunshine." Since Kristen would always sing to Gabi- You are my Sunshine. When I saw his initial sketch, having only told him about the watch, halp and wings and saw the Sun and the Sunshine. I was blown away and asked myself how did he know.

Did it hurt? Check out the video of me and my initial reaction to it. Now I will not lie and say it was pleasant. After the outlining and his shading I was fine. It was when he started coloring that I was in some pain.

Click here to see Enrique's website.

I get to wear pants for the next 2 weeks but it will be well worth it is fully healed and the true colors come out. I know some don't like tattoos and others do. I've wanted one and glad that this was my 1st tattoo

Deep thoughts on Gabi's birthday....

Today is Gabriella's 4th birthday. Amazing how time goes by. Usually time fly’s when you are having fun. In this case, Fun is not the operative word. In the past 4 years I have learned to live with the loss. It is true what they say that you forever grieve the loss of a child or loved one. I’ve also heard that time heals all wounds, however I think it’s more like time masks most wounds. Either way I am happy that I got to meet my little angel (even if it was for not long enough) and now that I get to experience firsts with Bella. All I can do is wonder how it would be to have both of my girls running around the house. It would be crazy and it would be AWESOME! I miss her and even though we “celebrate” on her birthday and do whatever we want on June 6th. It still doesn’t help that the pain I deal with opens up again during this time of the year.

I have a great wife and wonderful baby girl at home. I have some special family and friends, most who have no idea how to approach or deal with this after 4 years ( Don’t worry it’s tough for us too.)

Ok I’m done being emotional or deeper than most of you are use to. Hard to believe but I do have other sides you know and I am allow to be quiet and reserved.

Hope everyone has a good day today and do me a favor take a second to do something nice for someone today or take a moment for yourself and take a few deep breathes and appreciate the wonderful things you have. For no matter what we are all blessed.

Happy 4th Birthday Gabriella!

Happy Birthday Gabi. She would be 4 today. I miss her and she is always in my thoughts. Happy Birthday!
Figured what better person to sing her Happy Birthday then Bella, her little sister.



I will be getting a tattoo to remember Gabi this Friday! Been thinking about it and finally came up with something I want to have forever. Pics and possible video will be posted.

A Wokfest!

Made this tonight for dinner. Had fun making a video of my Grilled Pizza that I made another one. What do you think?

Day at SeaWorld

Went to SeaWorld with Bella and Kristen yesterday. SeaWorld is great. Its usually laid back and who doesn't love Penguins and dolphins. Bella had a blast and thats a good thing since we get to go the rest of year with her. It was a great weekend. We decided to go to SeaWorld this weekend since it would also be Gabi's 4th birthday and we always do something fun on that weekend. Since we would if she were alive.

Was a great day.

Grilled Pizza

An idea.....

Been playing a lot in the kitchen. This is my newest obsession. I love sandwiches and also love desserts so why not make dessert sandwiches! More to come with my ideas and creations. If you can come up with a name for these tasty treats (Dessert Sandwiches don't count). Let me know. My creative juices are going and I can't come up with a name...

Bad Rabbits

So as you know I like JohnnyCupcakes and watching his SuitCase tour videos I was introduced to this unsigned band called Bad Rabbits. If you like 90's music I think you will like these guys. If you do like them you can actually download there album for free. Click HERE to check out their site and download their album

Think I will be making something like this soon....

Got to have a Date Night!

So Kristen and I like to have date nights as often as possible. It is nice to have some alone time. We decided to try out a Taco Truck we had heard about on the radio (104.1- Jim Phillips and Angel for SBK both rant and rave about it). Well it is awesome and authentic. It is near Magic Suds Car Wash on Aloma Ave. The owners are very nice and the food was excellent.



After our Mexican truck feast we decided to go watch Iron Man 2. We saw the first one the week before to get Kristen motivated to see the 2nd one and it worked. We both liked it. Good times. Look forward to our next one!

Very cool Old School JohnnyCupcakes video

Played video games and got a Million $ from 2KSports

Watch CBS News Videos Online

2KSports had this contest where if you play their MLB 2K10 and pitched the perfect game you could win a Million bucks! This guy from AL won it. Good thing his wife gave him permission he could play it.

Cinco de Mayo

People think that today is Mexican Independence day. It’s not that is on Sept 16th. Today is a Spanish version of St Patrick’s day. It’s a day for everyone to be “Mexican” and drink and eat!

Cinco De Mayo!

I did not go out drinking but I love any holiday that has me wearing a Sombrero!

Grilled Cheese Invitational

I love this idea! The West Coast always comes up with this stuff. Come on Orlando and East Coast lets step up.

Great now I want a Grilled Cheese!

Who doesn't love the TGIF theme songs....

Johnny Cupcake's Suitcase Tour

So I know most of you who have no idea who Johnny Cupcakes is think I was nuts to be standing in line for so many hours for the chance to buy a limited shirts and get the chance to meet Johnny Earl aka Johnny Cupcakes.

Glad I got there when I did. Johnny only had 1 shirt per design in my size. Ironically the guy in front of me, Gabe, was the same size as me. It worked out in the end. We got some of the main shirts we wanted. I got to meet some cool people and all of us had one thing in common- Johnny Cupcakes.

Here is the video. The funny part is that all the people you see in the beginning of the video I have become friends with them one way or another and I almost made the video....

Johnny Cupcake's Suitcase Tour is tonight!