review – Page 2 – FueledByLOLZ

White Diamond (Clark)

February 2, 2020January 18, 2020 Hollie

White Diamond (Clark)

If you google “White Diamond,” you certainly find a wide spectrum of things from perfumes to some sort of TV star. Anyway, the White Diamond I’m talking about is the White Diamond (Diner) located in Clark, New Jersey.

As I’ve said in a few previous diner reviews, Many old diners in New Jersey have the name white in them: White Rose Diner, White Mana, White Manna, White Rose System, White Rose Burgers. There are about 20 old diners in New Jersey with the name White in them. According to Munchmobile, when diners were first starting, “white” meant cleanliness and wholesomeness.

I’ve been on a super old school diner kick lately, so I’ve found myself wanting to go to all of them. Which going to old school diners is great for my budget (they are cheap!), but they aren’t the healthiest spot you can find. I like to think I’m one step up from fast food.

White Diamond (Clark) Atmosphere: A
The White Diamond in Clark cannot be missed off the main road. It’s a stainless steel, old school, metallic building. It sticks out. In fact, I’ve driven by the White Diamond a dozen times on my way to various places, but I never had the time to stop. Thankfully, one day I did.

The inside of White Diamond is like a blast from the past. There are plenty of school diner signs (like a retro thunderbird poster) with a few booths and a long bar.

White Diamond (Clark) Coffee: B
Like many of the older diners, there wasn’t the option for whipped cream, but the coffee came in a 10-ounce to-go cup. I’ve begun to think that’s “a thing” with older diners with “white” in their name. Anyway, it was good coffee.

White Diamond (Clark) Food: A

The White Diamond menu is posted at the top of the diner. You go up to the register, order what you want and find a seat. It’s a no-frills, no healthy, type of menu. If you’re looking for a healthy option, the White Diamond might not be your spot.

Since it was quiet, I asked the manager what his favorite menu item was. The White Diamond is known for “breakfast and burgers,” so I figured I would probably order one of those. He said it was their “bacon cheeseburger,” so I thought, okay, why not. The bacon cheeseburger was topped with bacon, cheese, ketchup, onions, and pickles. It was good and I can see why he liked it (although he also made it!).

White Diamond (Clark) Service: A
Just one person ran the White Diamond. I’m sure it gets busy; they might have 2 people (one cooking and one on the register) but I thought that was cool. The person working was friendly, gave me recommendations, and we just chatted about random things while he made the burger. I enjoyed how personable he was.

White Diamond (Clark) Cost: $
For my burger and coffee at the White Diamond, it was $5.20. I need to go to these cheap diners more often.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the White Diamond (Clark)?
I really enjoyed the White Diamond and I’ll be back sometime when I’m in the area. It’s just an all-around fast and fun spot.

Atmosphere: A
Coffee: B
Food: A
Service: A
Cost: $3-8
Overall: A

You can see all 282 Diners here.

Questions for you:

Do you like burgers?

I go through periods of liking them and hating them (same with eggs).

What is the cheapest meal you’ve had?

Fun Run Box Review

January 29, 2020January 29, 2020 Hollie

Fun Run Box Review

Recently I tried the Fun Run Box. The motto of the Fun Run Box is “For Runners, by Runners,” which I thought was cool. With a subscription to the Fun Run Box, you get a box each month filled with “Runner Things.” One thing I appreciated is that each item in the Fun Run Box is full-sized. You aren’t getting half of an item or a little bit of something. Who wants to try half of something?

So anyway, what is Fun Run Box?

Fun Run Box is a running monthly subscription box. What makes Fun Run Box different is that it’s also a running experience. The monthly challenges and monthly theme box make it different. T

Boxes each month come with anything from running gear, apparel, skincare, and snacks. Then there is also a “challenge” each month from a game to a running streak. The running challenges makes more interesting than here is a box for you. Especially in the winter months, we all need more motivation.

With the February Challenge, it was a “Scavenger Hunt” for all things red. Each month is part of the challenge series and you never know what you’ll get. A few of the items included red running shoes, a sign with red lettering, and a dog wearing a red sweater. By competing, you could win your next box free.

Who doesn’t love a good competition?

So what was in the Fun Run Box?

So that Fun Run Box sends you the right sizes and appropriate gear, you choose which gender as well as your shirt size, calve size (for compression), and sock size. They take care of sending you a fun care package.

I appreciated that the Fun Run Box is catered for the season. Obviously, it’s February and colder. The items this month included a headband, hat gloves, and hand warmers. The hat is a wool reversible City Sports Beanie.

All the winter gear was high quality and isn’t just cheap, clearance stuff on sale.

The Fun Run Box also came with a few new to me products, including Nuttzo organic butter. I’ve never tried Nuttzo before but have been making an effort to eat more peanut butter, so this was perfect. I liked both the original and the chocolate power fuel.

The Fun Run Box also came with a “Boost Hydrate” to get electrolytes. Similar to products like Nuun. It tasted good, and I appreciated the electrolytes.

In all, I like the idea of the Fun Run Box. I think it’s a great idea for running friends that “have it all” or that you have no idea what they would like. We all have friends like that.

Right now, Fun Run Box is offering 15% off with the Code: Welcome15. The boxes are usually 35.99 (if you do more than one month, they are cheaper).

You can see all the product reviews here.

Questions for you:

Have you tried a subscription box? Runner box or any box?

Have you ever gone on a running scavenger hunt?

Diners

Superior Diner (Perth Amboy)

January 25, 2020January 25, 2020 Hollie

Superior Diner (Perth Amboy)

Recently Jess and I met up at Perth Amboy to catch up and eat the Superior Diner. The Superior Diner is known as one of the better diners in the area, so we decided to stop.

We arrived around dinner time and it wasn’t too crowded.

Superior Diner (Perth Amboy) Atmosphere: B
The Superior Diner is an older, cobblestone building. It’s not a big, shiny, metallic building, but it stands out along the road.

The inside of the Superior Diner has plenty of booths, tables, and a full-length bar.

Superior Diner (Perth Amboy) Coffee: A
The Superior Diner coffee was brewed hot and fresh and the waitress refilled it often. Plus, she gave both Jess and I plenty of whipped cream. We couldn’t have asked for better coffee.

Superior Diner (Perth Amboy) Food: A
The Superior Diner menu is huge and there are plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials. In fact, the Superior Diner menu has the most specials of any diner I’ve been to in a while. I didn’t know what I wanted but then saw the pork chop special and ultimately decided that’s what I wanted. I’ve ordered diner specials a lot lately because they are cheaper and with more food!

Anyway, the pork chop special came with soup, salad, and the meal.

For my soup, I chose the lima bean soup. It was a red base with a little kick to it. I’ve never had lima bean soup and it was great.

The salad was typical of a diner salad with nothing unique or unusual about it.

The pork chops were delicious and were cooked well. They weren’t overcooked and were tender and juicy — one of the better diner pork chops I’ve had recently.

For my sides, I chose beets and they were good as well. Nothing unique or unusual, but they tasted good.

Superior Diner (Perth Amboy) Service: B
Our waitress at the Superior Diner was friendly and our food came out fast. She was one of the better waitresses I’ve had recently. There was another waitress who was holding loud conversations and it made it hard to hear anything. At one point, she was yelling something about her cats.

Superior Diner (Perth Amboy) Cost:
For my pork chop special and coffee, the cost was $20.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Superior Diner (Perth Amboy)?
I liked the Superior Diner and it’s a stereotypical New Jersey Diner. It’s a great stop if you’re heading down the shore and I would go back.

Atmosphere: B
Coffee: A
Food: A
Service: B
Cost: $12-20
Overall: A

You can see all 279 Diner Reviews here.

Questions for you:
Are you a pork chop fan?
What is your favorite type of soup?

Food, Gear Review

Naked Nutrition Collagen

January 22, 2020February 4, 2020 Hollie

Naked Nutrition Collagen

Recently, I’ve been experimenting with different types of collagen. I’ve written a dozen posts about the uses and benefits of collagen, but it’s been a few months.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It’s a major component of connective tissues in muscles, ligaments, tendons, and skin. Consuming collagen will provide benefits, whether you are an athlete or not.

For runners, collagen can help bone and joint health, plus it can aid in workout recovery.

For nonrunners, collagen also helps skin and healthy hair and nails. I notice the difference of both my hair and skin when I consume collagen.

Why Take a Collagen Supplement?

It’s hard to get hydrolyzed collagen from food sources. You can do it by drinking bone broth every day, but taking a collagen supplement like Naked Collagen is going to make it easier to get the appropriate amount. Like whey protein powder, Naked Nutrition Collagen can help rebuild muscles post-workout.

So What is Naked Nutrition?

As the brand suggests, Naked Nutrition doesn’t contain any extra “stuff.” It’s flavorless and tasteless and so far the most tasteless collagen I’ve found to date. Naked Nutrition Collagen is highly soluble and tasteless.

The Naked Nutrition Collagen only has 35 calories per serving because it contains no extra filler. Just hydrolyzed collagen. Personally, I’ve been using it in coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. During the warmer months, I’ll probably add it so cold drinks and smoothies. You can add Naked Nutrition Collagen Peptide Powder in almost anything because you don’t taste it.

So What Does Naked Nutrition Collagen Contain (or not contain)?

One Ingredient: Collagen Peptides
Collagen Contains 9 out of 18 Essential Amino Acids
Hydrolyzed Collagen Comes From Pasture-Raised and Grass-Fed Bovine Hides
No Artificial Sweeteners, Flavors, or Colors
9 Grams of Protein and 0.6 Grams of BCAA’s Per Serving**
GMO-Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, and Gluten-Free
Growth Hormone Free, no rBGH or rBs

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport.

Questions for you:

Have you tried Naked Nutrition Collagen?

Do you take a Collagen Peptide Supplement?

Diners

Townsquare Diner (Wharton)

January 11, 2020December 19, 2019 Hollie

Townsquare Diner (Wharton)
Recently I was in North Jersey and decided to stop at the Townsquare Diner. This isn’t to be confused with the Town Square Diner in Aberdeen. When I arrived around dinner time, it wasn’t busy and we were quickly seated.

Townsquare Diner (Wharton) Atmosphere: B
The Townsquare Diner is located on the main road and a big building. It’s not a shiny or metallic building but a regular looking restaurant building.

The inside of the Townsquare Diner has plenty of seating, a full-length bar, and tables, and booths. We sat in a corner booth with strange neverending mirrors so you could stare at yourself all meal long.

Townsquare Diner (Wharton) Coffee: A
The coffee at the Townsquare Diner was good. It was brewed hot and fresh and the waitress kept it refilled often.

Townsquare Diner (Wharton) Food: C
The Townsquare Diner menu is enormous and has everything and anything you could want in a diner. It took a while for me to decide what I wanted. The Townsquare Diner drink menu is also one of the biggest I’ve seen. In fact, it’s probably bigger than the majority of bars I’ve been too. A few things the menu at the Townsquare Diner is known for include onion rings, gluten free menu, greek salad, breakfast meals, and their business power lunches.

For an appetizer, I decided to order the Meze Platter and I was thoroughly disappointed. It was bland and boring and had nothing unique or exciting about it.

For my entree, I ordered the stir fry, which came with mixed vegetables, including corn and cauliflower. Plus a nice serving of rice. The entre itself was excellent and I would order it again, but the Meze platter was bland and boring.

Townsquare Diner (Wharton) Service: B

Our waitress at the Townsquare Diner was great and I couldn’t say enough good things about her. Her good service kept the Townsquare Diner from receiving an F. However, the food took a long time to come out with no explanation of why. It took roughly 30 minutes for our Meze platter to come out and there was nothing cooked with it. It was just thrown onto the plate.

Townsquare Diner (Wharton) Price: $12-23
For my coffee, meze platter, and entree, it was $26.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come back to the Townsquare Diner (Wharton)?
The Townsquare Diner wasn’t my favorite. It wasn’t the worst diner stop ever, but I would need a reason to come back. It’s a stereotypical Jersey Diner along Route I-80.

Atmosphere: B
Coffee: A
Food: C
Serice: B
Price: $12-23
Overall: B

You can see all 276 Diner Reviews Here.

Questions for you:
Do you like stirfry?

Tag: review