All for a Happy Halloween

If you have young school aged-children still at home, then you can probably relate to the madness of a day that I will be facing today.  There’s a costume parade at the school followed by two class parties where Monster Mama Run DMT is expected to DJ dance music for said parties and then another party after school before we set off to trick-or treat with our friends.

That’s some serious Halloween hoopla, my friends!
 

 
But we do it all for the kids, right?
 

 
Rest assured, I’ll be funneling a few beers tearing into some treats of my own around 5:00 p.m.  Then, I’ll be feeling good in the ‘hood.
 

 
And with the help of some liquid courage, maybe I’ll sing some Halloween carols to really piss off my neighbors  keep my spirits high and smooth things over when Little Lion Man tries to enter each home we visit for trick-or-treating tonight.
 

 

Here’s to a safe and Happy Halloween to you and yours!



For the next four Music Mondays, I’ll be counting my blessings through song.  Each week in November, I will be singing my praises and giving thanks by sharing a song that symbolizes one of the many blessings in my life.  Come count your blessings with me and link up while you’re here.  What a blessing that would be!
 

Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

Snapshot Sunday

These photos were taken at the end of a very long and fun day at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular.  You can read all about our fun here.

Today, I’m linking up over at Gone Bananas for Kirsty’s new meme called, Snapshot Sunday.  If you have a photo or photos you ‘d like to share, post it and then link up over there.  (Sorry for the lame poem.  It just flowed out me like that.  I’m a poet but didn’t know it.)

Unknown Mami

Mummy’s Freaky Treats and Giveaway

Besides costumes and mountains of candy, some stores also stock their shelves with some interesting spirits for Halloween.  In our area, Total Wine has the best selection of seasonal ales.  With so many to choose from, I decided to give Shmaltz Brewing Company’s Coney Island Craft Lager Freakotober a taste test only because I liked its freaky look and name and its concept.  A portion of the proceeds of this ale is donated to the restoration and preservation of Coney Island, which made me feel better just knowing that my alcoholism was supporting a good cause.

As stated on the label, the ale has a red hue.  I think the label and the color was the only think I liked about the beer.  It was far too bitter for my taste buds.  Iron Chef Allan liked the flavor, but decided against drinking it because of the food coloring.  Like a good little freak sport, I finished off the beer.

Last Saturday, we attended our annual adult Halloween party.  For my dish to share, I made Mummy Pizzas, which I found at Family Fun.  The recipe suggest using English muffins, but since my kids don’t like English muffin pizzas, I used mini loaves of bread.  (Mini bagels would be a nice alternative too or even Iron Chef Allan’s superb pizza crust cut into tiny pizzas with a small circular cookie cutter.) I cut the loaves into ½ inch slices and toasted them in the oven before I added my simple sauce, thinly sliced mozzarella cheese and two slices of olives for the eyes.

Mmmmmmmm….Mummies good.
 

 
Mummy Pizzas (adapted from Disney’s Family Fun)

Ingredients

English muffins (or mini bagels or bread loaves sliced into ½ inch slices)

Pizza sauce

Sliced black olives

Mozzarella cheese (or pull-apart string cheese if kids help assemble pizzas)

 

Directions

Heat the oven to 350º F. Split and toast English muffins on a cookie sheet for 3-5 minutes.

For each mummy, spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce onto half of an English muffin.  Set two olive slices in place for eyes .

Slice mozzarella into thin, long strips of cheese and lay across the muffin for the mummy’s wrappings.

Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the muffin is toasty.

 

**********

Before you link up and leave, I would like to announce that today marks Friday Food Fight’s One Year Anniversary!  Can you believe that?!  That’s 52 yummy dishes shared here at Run DMT and 156 shared between Karen, Kirsten and me.  Not counting all the wonderful foods our visitors have flung at us this past year!  WOW!

To celebrate a year of flinging foods and to thank you for supporting Friday Food Fight, we’ve put together a giveaway.  One lucky reader will win a copy of the Joy of Cooking (Iron Chef Allan’s and my favorite  cookbook).

 Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006

Everyone that adds a link to our Friday Food Fight linky collection blog hop will automatically be entered.  Add more links and you’ll earn more entries.

One winner will be chosen at random and that winner will be announced next Friday, November 4.  Only U.S. residents are eligible to win.  Our Friday Food Fight Cookbook Contest ends Thursday, November 3 at midnight eastern time. 

For more entries:

  • Add a comment below about the Freaktoberfest beer, my Mummy Pizzas or the cookbook, Joy of Cooking.
  • Blog about our Friday Food Fight Cookbook Contest and link back to Run DMT.  Remember to add our Friday Food Fight button to your post, please.
  • Follow denisermt, ificouldescape and cheekymonkey8 on Twitter.  Becoming a follower is an additional entry for each, so be sure to add a new comment for each new add.
  • Earn an additional entry each time you tweet:  #FridayFoodFight is throwing the book at you!  Link up a foodie photo for a chance to win Joy of Cooking. Ends 11/3 http://wp.me/pigkS-3cY
  • Like Run DMT, Gone Bananas and If I Could Escape on Facebook.  Each “like” is an additional entry, so be sure to add a new comment for each “like”.

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Now link up to win and to see what If I Could Escape and Gone Bananas are flinging for this week’s Friday Food Fight.



*Also submitted at*

Fat Camp Friday Button

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular has become a Halloween tradition for my family.  For this year’s visit, the girls wanted to wear the real costumes, like the ones they would wear trick-or-treating on Halloween night.  Thankfully, I shopped early and bought their costumes.  Otherwise, they would be wearing whatever dress-up clothes or pumpkin shirts I could find in their closets.

For this year’s Spooktacular event, SeaWorld added Penelope’s Party Zone, located at SeaWorld’s Bayside Stage.  In this lively underwater environment, kids (and even big kids like me) can flap their flippers and shake their tails while immersed in the wonders of the sea with kid-friendly music, games and colorful characters.

Countless bubbles floated overhead and colorful pumpkin fish and other sea-themed characters glided around the party zone.  Truly, this underwater Halloween dance party was non-stop fun for all ages.

 

Once inside Penelope’s Party Zone, we found fun new craft stations that offered something each of my girls could enjoy.  At the Apple Decorating Post, kids and parents alike can dive into some sweet fun by creating their own tasty treats.  Large tasty apples can be dipped into decadently flavored sauces, such as white chocolate, fudge, or caramel and then topped with sprinkles and other candies and sweets.

The Apple Decorating Post was certainly the apple of my candy apple lover’s eye.

My little artist, Allana, loved the Spooky Sand Art Station.  Allana and Emmalynn worked together to create and decorate a sea glass and sand seahorse Plaster of Paris sculpture .

And of course, like previous years, there were lots of candy stations to visit for trick-or-treating.

As previous years, they healthy trick-or-treating stations as an alternative to all the candy, such as peanuts.

But Emmalynn was really happy to see that the baby bananas back this year.

Although my children absolute adore SeaWorld and all the fun SeaWorld’s Halloween Spootacular offers , I love that all the trick-or-treating stations, Halloween shows and character spots are included in a one-day admission to SeaWorld.

That definitely puts the happy in my Halloween.


About SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular:

“Create family memories during SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, the ultimate family-friendly event featuring an ocean of Halloween fun where children can trick-or-treat, dance with whimsical sea creatures, catch silly and spooky shows and create sea-themed arts and crafts.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place THIS WEEKEND, October 28-30 and the  daytime event runs from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for the fun-filled activities.

If you don’t already have a season pass or Fun Card, the best deal available right now is kids half off with a full-paid adult ticket.” 

Get more information and the scoop on all of the “spooktacular” savings at SeaWorldOrlando.com.”

22 Things I Have Done

Last week we wrote about what we have never done…this week, write a list of 22 things you HAVE done.” – Mama’s Losin’ It

I am forty years old.

And I have:

  1. Ran 53.6 miles in races before turning 40 on July 27.
  2. Ran 2 marathons in the past 4 years and I will run my third marathon (Space Coast Marathon) Thanksgiving weekend.

     

    img_7707

  3.  

  4. Participated in 30 races since I started running 4 years ago.
  5. SCUBA dived to depths of 114 feet.
  6. Fed a stingray while SCUBA diving.

     

    Scuba

  7.  

  8. Watched the sun rise and set in the same day.
  9. Camped in a tent many times and I love it.  (Thanks to our friends, Erika and John.)
  10. Visited the Grand Canyon and camped there.
  11. Camped overnight for U2 concert tickets.
  12. Ice skated in Central Park.

     

  13.  

  14. Been in a fist fight.
  15. Visited Hawaii.
  16. Seen President Obama in the flesh.

     

  17.  

  18. Eaten escargot and ostrich, which were very tasty but probably the two most bizarre foods I have ever eaten.
  19. Taken a road trip with my college girlfriends from the Florida Keys to NYC.
  20. Stood outside the Today Show and appeared on TV…twice, but really three times, thanks to scoring some Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tickets.
  21.  

     

  22. Appeared in the newspaper on several ocassions: as a teacher many times, once to speak on behalf of my moms group’s charity event for Alex’s Lemonade Stand and another time for a town hall meeting with TECO but that was not attractive. (So wish I could find that photo!)
  23. Watched a friend die from AIDS.
  24. Given money, clothes and/or food to the homeless while waiting at a stoplight.
  25. Volunteered at a local food bank, Metropolitan Ministries.
  26. Cried tears of joy when I met my babies for the first time.
  27. Fallen madly in love with some guy I met in a bar in Ybor City on Guavaween night sixteen years ago this Saturday.  And then I married him.

 

 

*Proudly submitted to*

Mama's Losin' It

Earrings! She wants them! She needs them! She loves them!

When my niece, Meghan had her ears pierced, Allana wanted her ears pierced too.  My mom had been begging to pierce the girls’ ears since they were babies, but I wanted it to happen when the girls asked for it.

 

Well, now Allana was asking for it.  Boy, was she ever!

Auntie Kirsten told Allana that she would pierce her ears for her 10th birthday.  Last Friday, Kirsten stuck to her promise and Allana feared for the state of her ears.

 

Allana chose hot pink peace signs for her first pair of earrings.  Meghan and Emmalynn held her hand while Allana nervously waited for the piercing to happen.

 

A few dots to mark the spots and then…

1-2-3…CLICK!

With a Claire’s sales associate on either side of Allana, both ears were done at the same time.  It was over in seconds and Allana said it didn’t hurt.

 

Now she is obsessing over dreaming about all the different earrings she can wear as soon as her ears heal.

*This post was inspired by this week’s Sticky Fingers The Gallery theme: Faces.  I think my daughter, Allana, made some brilliant and beautiful faces.*

Photography

*The title of this post was inspired by Judith Viorst’s Earrings.*

Random Thoughts About Tigers, Honey Badgers and Bunnies

Last week, I mentioned how incorporating strength training into my work-outs has helped my runs tremendously.  I was so excited about my progress that I tweeted about it and my BFF, Amy Dixon, was there to giving me the pat on the back on needed.

And this time, my other virtual personal trainer, Marco Reed, chimed in to cheer for me!


Yep, I showed Marco I was a tiger.  I showed him what I could do.  Because strength training (and possibly Frosted Flakes) brings out the tiger in me.  I’m Grrrreat!


But despite what Marco thinks, I’m not really a tiger.  I’m a honey badger.  I realized that when I stumbled across this You Tube video a few weeks ago.


When I watched the Honey Badger video, I laughed so hard I cried.  I forced my husband to watch it and of course, he was quick to tell me how old it was and how it had circling around the Internet for ages.  Whatever.  It was new to me.  Honey Badger don’t care.  Honey Badger don’t give a sh*t.

Since watching the video, I started referring to myself as Honey Badger because Honey Badger just takes what she wantsWatch me run 17 miles in slow motion.  I’m pretty bad ass.

During my 17 miles on Saturday morning, I spotted quite a few bunnies hopping around the ‘hood which I thought was odd.  Being Halloween and all, I got a little spooked by all the bunnies.  As each little cottontail hopped by, scenes of Night of the Lepus played in my mind.

Instead of this….

I saw this….

Now you know the real reason why running times are improving.  And you thought it was strength training!  Silly rabbit!

But those bunnies better watch out.  I may go all Honey Badger on those little lepus.

Now watch Honey Badger run in slow motion. 

10/19

8 miles

Time 1:32:43

Ave Pace 11:36

Max Pace

 

10/20

5 miles

Time 53:33

Ave Pace 10:43

Max Pace 8:08

10/25

4 miles

Time 43:48

Ave Pace 10:58

Max Pace 8:39

*Proudly submitted to Stacy Uncorked, because when I blog about my training, it’s usually pretty random.*

Stacy

You Know, I’m No Good

You know, I’m no good.  No, really I am.  As soon as I learned of Amy Winehouse’s untimely death this summer, I knew exactly what I was going to be for Halloween.


 
Was it too soon to be a dead Amy Winehouse with autopsy scar? 

Probably.  But it was funny as hell, especially since Allan dressed as a medical examiner.  See, no good, I tell ya.

I kept my costume under wraps for months, but I was dying to reveal it.  Although my friends requested Lady Gaga to make another appearance, I assured them that this year’s costume wouldn’t disappoint them.  I would be a dead ringer for another famous person.

With the help of eBay for the right wig and tattoos (and my SIL Kirsten who helped apply the tats), I think I pulled off Amy Winehouse amazingly.  I went for the Rehab look and with a bottle of Southern Comfort and a syringe in my hair for props, I stayed in character the entire party to be true to my character.


 
But I couldn’t help from being myself!  Every time I smiled big or laughed, my magnetic diamond lip stud fell off which would make me laugh even harder and difficult to stick it back on. So, I just stuck the diamond stud in new places all night long.

My friend, Chrissy hosted our annual Halloween party this year and as usual, the costumes and food were fabulous.

Everyone’s spirits were certainly lifted.

Well, at least Amy Winehouse’s were.

Next week for Music Monday, I will be sharing my favorite Halloween jamz.  I would love to hear what Halloween songs move your spirit.  Link up and play along…if you dare.  Muhahahahahahaha!
 

 

Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

There Are Witches in the Air!

When I found this fun foodie kid craft flying around on Pinterest, I knew my girls would love to make them.  I love the simplicity of these treats, but they sure are messy.  Or maybe my kids are messy?!  Messy or not, these witch hats are tasty and cute!

For the base of the witch hats, we used one Fudge Stripes cookie face down.  Unfortunately, our Fudge Stripe cookies were stuck together and fudge stripes appeared on both sides.  But then, Allana had the brilliant idea to cover the damaged cookies with orange decorating gel to help camouflage the stripes.  What a smart cookie!

Then with the help of some orange icing, we glued a Hershey’s kiss in the center.  We had some extra bat candy, bone candy and sprinkles leftover from the girls’ Haunted House cookie project (which was an absolute disaster), so the girls used the leftover candy to add embellishments to their hats.

They were so proud of their witch craft!

Witch Hats

Ingredients

Keebler Fudge Stripes Cookies

Hershey Kisses

Orange Icing

For Orange Icing

½ cup butter

2 cups confectionary sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1 pinch of orange icing gel

Directions

Mix ingredients for icing until well combined.  Add more liquid for the consistency you desire.

Assemble the witch hats by applying 1/2 tsp of orange icing to the bottom of a Hershey kiss and pressing the chocolate drop into the middle of cookie.

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Now link up and see what If I Could Escape and Gone Bananas are serving for this week’s Friday Food Fight.



*Also submitted at*

Fat Camp Friday ButtonSweet Tooth Friday

Things I’ve Never Done

I am forty years old.

And I have never:

  1. Ran a 50K.
  2. Been inked, because I haven’t found a design that I can commit to permanently.
  3. Sexted anyone, not even my husband.
  4. Rode in a hot air balloon.
  5. Slept in Cinderella’s castle.
  6. Picketed in a protest.

     

  7.  

  8. Held a gun.
  9. Punched a clown despite feeling the urge to do so.
  10. Been tickled until I peed myself, but I’ve laughed until I cried.
  11. Broken a bone.
  12. Surfed or water skied which is a pathetic living in a state surrounded by water on 3 sides.
  13.  

     

  14. Driven across country.
  15. Visited Maine.
  16. Been arrested.
  17. Performed at an open mic night at a comedy club.
  18. Taken a belly dancing or cardio tease class.
  19.  

  20. Attended a drag queen revue, but my hairdresser promises to take me to one.
  21. Skinny dipped.
  22. Slit someone’s tires.
  23. Eaten duck or liver.
  24. Been horseback riding.
  25.  

     

  26. Received over 800 comments on any one post. Holy blogger love, Batman!

 

*This post was inspired by Mama Kat who stole…er…I mean… borrowed the idea from The Pioneer Woman.*
Mama’s Losin’ It