Halloween | Through Heather's Looking Glass

Halloween 2017 Recap

November 2, 2017 by Heather

Happy November! Just like pretty much every other month this year, October flew. Now it’s on to baking and turkeys and Christmas carols and Hallmark movies. Ok, so maybe I have already started watching Hallmark movies. I just can’t help it guys. They suck me in to this sappy vortex of holiday cheer. Anyway, before I get completely sucked into the holiday madness, I wanted to recap our Halloween. Now that we live in Tampa, there is TONS to do for Halloween, so we ended up doing 4 events plus the main event Halloween night. Let’s take a look:

Friday, Emma Kate’s preschool had a parade and trunk or treat. Through a communications mix up (grumble grumble) I didn’t know about it until the day before. Thankfully I found out because the first think Emma Kate did was look for me when her class walked out to do the parade. I also would have felt horrible if she was the only one not in a costume. Thankfully the #MomFail was avoided, and she paraded her little heart out and got her first taste of 2017 Halloween candy goodness.

When we got home from school, she was conveniently able to stay in her costume because we had our neighborhood trunk or treat to attend. Emma Kate perfected her manners with “trick or treats” and “thank you’s” but was getting confused with the candy part. Some people put it in her basket, some tell her to pick what she wants, so she ended up just grabbing candy herself every time. Oops.

She also got her face painted for the very first time. It was short lived because we went home ten minutes later, took a bath and went to bed, but I’m still so glad we did it because she was SO excited and sat so still while the lady worked. Too cute for words.

Saturday my parents went with us to a nearby fall festival. They had a trunk or treat, and also businesses had booths set up and also had candy. There was also a carnival but we conveniently skipped that part. I have heard way too many news stories lately of rides breaking down and people falling from them or dying. Anything that can be put up or taken down in a matter of hours is not considered safe in this mama’s book. It ended up raining but we stayed anyway. Emma Kate was super cute and brave going form table to table and getting candy.

Sunday afternoon we headed to the local outlet mall for another fall festival. Same thing, the businesses had tables selling things and also buckets of candy. Like we really needed more, right? They also had “Disney characters” (I use this term very loosely) wandering about and singing (the incorrect) words to songs from their movies. It was a gorgeous weekend so a perfect one to be out and about though.

Then Tuesday night, the main event. The second I walked into her classroom to pick her up from school she came running over saying “I want to go trick or treating!” I had to convince her to eat dinner and wait until the sun went down, but we were finally dressed and ready to take on the neighborhood. Funny story about this costume…I always assumed she would be Elsa, or Cinderella, or Moana for Halloween since we already have those costumes. Last Thursday she got in the car after school and declared she wanted to be a pumpkin…Say WHAT?!? She was so sweet and serious, so I hurried home, got on Amazon, and praise Jesus for prime. It arrived Monday, and she was a sweet little pumpkin for Halloween.

Of course, the first door we go to a teenage boy opens it and jumps out wearing a scary wolf head thing…terrified EK and she didn’t want to ring doorbells alone anymore. Thanks kid. She got the hang of which houses to go to (“mommy they don’t have lights on so we go to the next one”) and wanted to keep going to more and more houses. I’m glad we brought the stroller because she ended up in it some and poor thing got so tired she could barely stand up and fell down several times.

After dumping out her haul and looking at her candy, it was time for bed. She passed out immediately and then wanted candy for breakfast. I was sure to hide most of it while she was at school. Thankfully shes young enough that she won’t know!

Bobby and I ended the evening with a tradition, watching Hocus Pocus.

I call Halloween 2017 a huge success, and can’t wait to see what kind of fun we can find next year.

QOTD: What did you/your kids dress up as for Halloween?

Filed Under: blogging, family, holidays, Tampa Tagged: costume, fall, Halloween, holidays, trick-or-treat

5 Things Friday XXIX

October 27, 2017 by Heather

Happy Friday friends! It’s been awhile since I did a 5 things Friday, and I thought it would be a fun way to “catch up” with you all.

1.) A cruise redo: Remember when my husband and I were supposed to go on a cruise with Carnival in September and it got cancelled due to a little thing called hurricane Irma? Well we were finally able to reschedule! It’s a 6 night western instead of an 8 night eastern, but still on the gorgeous Carnival Vista and we are pumped to leave in just over two weeks! You can follow along with me on social media (@heatherslg) and the hashtag #CruisingCarnival.

(I just bought these towel clips so our towels won’t blow away on the ship, I have meant to do it for years!)

2.) Finally fall? Y’all, we had to put our heat on last night! It dropped down to 50 and this girl was cold, but I’m not complaining! We have had record breaking heat this October (90’s!) so I was thankful to get to wear pants and a cozy sweater today. I’m busting out my boots tomorrow! Unfortunately it’s not staying this way, but maybe now we won’t be reaching the 90’s anymore until May? One can hope!

3.) Wine and Dine: I announced on Instagram stories a couple weeks ago that due to the generosity of a sweet friend I will be running the two course challenge! Yes I’m under trained and I have no costume (help?) but I am running both races and am PUMPED! I haven’t run this once since 2013 so it’s time.

4.) Giveaway: Head on over to Instagram because I am hosting a giveaway, a gift certificate, and if you like athletic apparel you need to check it out. It closes in a couple days so hurry.

5.) Webinar and pre sale: In case you aren’t on my email list or follow me on social, you may not know my pre sale for my e-course: Social Side Hustle, 21 days to becoming a social media manager, started yesterday. Not only can you get my course at the lowest price now, but you can sign up for a FREE webinar all about getting social media clients. Also if you would like to get on my email list here is the link for that.

I know I just gave you a ton of links and information, but y’all are sharp, I know you got this. I hope everyone has a fabulous fall weekend, has great weather, attends at least two pumpkin patches and three trunk or treats (no seriously we have a really busy weekend!)

QOTD: What are you or your kids dressing up as for Halloween?

Filed Under: dining, fitness, Giveaway, holidays, running, vacation Tagged: carnival, cruise, ecourse, fall, fitness, Giveaway, Halloween, social media, wine and dine

Birthday Bash Day 2

November 5, 2015 by Heather

Day two of our birthday bash trip for my mom was a fun one. (if you missed day one, go here). It was Sunday, and we were going to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party that night, so we decided to chill during the day and not goo to a park. My mom took her friend Debbie over to the Grand Floridian to shop, while I went for a run and did some work on my laptop.

I ran all around the Polynesian and to the Grand Floridian where I stopped and facetimed with Bobby and Emma Kate, then I ran back. It was humid and gross (it had just rained), but I LOVE running in Disney!

We headed over to the Wilderness Lodge for lunch (another surprise for mom) at Whispering Canyon Café. Even though my Saints aren’t having the best season, I still proudly wore my team colors! (We won by the way!)

We had a really fun waiter at Whispering Canyon, and my mom got a birthday cupcake while the whole restaurant sang to her. Luckily, we don’t embarrass easily.

We went back to the resort to hang out and get ready for the Halloween party. We had fun costumes prepared, and everyone LOVED our lights in our tutus. They actually really came in handy when walking through crowds.

My mom nor her friend had ever been to the party, so it was fun to show them around. However, I will say I was a bit disappointed in the crowd levels. In years past, we were able to walk onto rides and walk through trick or treat lines with no wait. This night was INSANE. Treat lines 100 people long, 45 minute waits for rides, people EVERYWHERE. I am pretty certain they have upped the cap for ticket numbers and it wasn’t nearly as enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, we still had fun, but it was just different.

We made it through one semi-short treat line then skipped the rest because they were ridiculously long. They moved the parade times back from the last time I went to the party two years ago, and the first one wasn’t until 8:35. Since we weren’t sure if we would be up at 11:35 for the second one, we decided to go to the first even though it’s more crowded (which it was) but it was still cute. The gravediggers are still my favorite!

After the parade, we headed towards the castle for the one thing I was REALLY wanting to see, the Sanderson Sisters stage show. This show was SO cute and did not disappoint. The actors were spot on to portray the sisters, and any Hocus Pocus fan would have loved it!

They sand songs, hung out with other villains, and ran AMUCK! (amuck, amuck, amuck).

The show was soon followed by Hallowishes, which is my favorite fireworks show! Mom and Debbie were super impressed by the finale, it never gets old.

After the fireworks were over, we were starving (we never really had dinner except for some appetizers in the lounge) so we ran over to Cosmic Rays for a snack which re-energized us. The crowds thinned out and we were able to do some trick-or-treating and ride the people mover and Buzz lightyear.

My mom and Debbie also decided to join in a dance party to a dance they did NOT know the moves to. it was sad but funny.

We were JUST getting started and enjoying the lower crowds when I realized t was almost midnight. Sad times! We made our sad slow walk towards the front and said good night to the Magic Kingdom.

We definitely had fun, I just wish every hour was an crowd-free as the last hour. I am glad we went to the Sunday night one, because it rained on Tuesday for the next party and I felt so bad for those people.

We were very happy to be staying on the monorail and crashed shortly after 12:30. The next day would be EPCOT and also the day Debbie had to leave to go home. Sad smile More soon!

QOTD: have you been to MNSSHP?

Filed Under: Disney, family, vacation Tagged: Birthday, Disney, Halloween, mickey's not so scary, running, vacation, whispering canyon

Faster than Boo

October 7, 2015 by Heather

It’s time for another virtual race from Gone for a RUN! What makes this one even better? It’s Halloween themed, and the medal is really, really cute. Tell me more you say?

This one is the “Faster than Boo virtual 10k”. How fun is that? Check out the great medal. He is wearing a sweatband and holding a water bottle. I love it. Boo also glows in the dark. What?!?

There are two options for this race, the basic package and the premium package which includes knee socks.

This race will take place October 29-October 31, so why not make it a fun costume/themed Halloween run with your friends? You must register by the 19th to get your race package in time, which includes shirt (tank for women, tee for men) race bib, and SPINNER MEDAL. You can run, walk, or crawl your 6.2 miles (and be sure to share photos on the Gone for a RUN Facebook page).

This race will also be giving back as well, so a portion of your entry fee will be going to a good cause:

By running this race you will also be supporting an amazing charity. A percentage of your race entry will be donated to Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation has enriched the lives of over 600 children and their families battling with pediatric cancer. Please read about Jaclyn’s story and the great success of the foundation athttp://friendsofjaclyn.org/jaclyns-story.

GoneForaRun is proud to provide runners both a great virtual running event that promotes fun and wellness as well as giving back to a very worthy cause to help others in need. A big thank you to our community of dedicated runners for their support!

To enter, simply go to Gone for a RUN’s website and sign up, super easy!

QOTD: Are you running any Halloween themed races this year?

Disclosure: as a Gone for a RUN ambassador, I will be racing for free, however all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: blogging, fitness, holidays, running Tagged: 10k, costume, Gone for a Run, Halloween, medal, virtual race

Weekend Happenings (Plus adorable baby costume photos)

October 20, 2014 by Heather

We finally had a beautiful fall-ish weekend here in the south (aka weather in the mid 70’s) and my dad came to visit on Saturday as well. We were able to be outside a lot which was good for this new mama who has been trapped indoors for over three weeks, and Emma Kate was so good! Here are some pictures from our weekend.

Saturday morning, my dad arrived early and we hung out for a bit before heading to lunch at McAlisters where we were able to eat outside and enjoy the beautiful day.

I put EK in her cute fall outfit (which is too big on her and it’s 0-3 months!)

She didn’t make a peep through lunch, and then we walked across the street to an antique car show and festival our town was holding.

The festival has gotten huge, there were rows upon rows of old cars.

There were even some racecars, and of course the pink one was my favorite.

We came back to the house and watched football, then it was time to BBQ in the backyard.

Homegirl was exhausted from such a long day out and about.

We ate and watched the LSU game, then headed to bed. On Sunday morning, my dad left and I went for my first run/walk post baby. I ran a tenth, walked a tenth, for two miles. The weather was gorgeous, and I was so thankful to be out there, but man do I have a long way to go! It was very humbling.

Sunday evening, our church held a “fun fest” with games, food, and where the kids could wear their halloween costumes. Emma Kate, of course, dressed up as Minnie Mouse. She was not a fan of the hat. It did not stay on long.

I cannot get over the cute.

The festival was really nice, a great place for families to hang out and for the kids to get candy. Emma Kate did SO good and only cried when I was putting her in and out of the car, so I would consider the outing a win!

That sums up our weekend, it was a good one and I hope yours was, too!

QOTD; Have you attended any fall festivals this year? Favorite costume your kids have worn?

Filed Under: baby, Disney, family, fitness, running Tagged: baby, car show, costume, Disney, emma kate, fun fest, Halloween, minnie mouse

Our Halloween 2013

November 1, 2013 by Heather

Happy November! So what did everyone do last night? Anything fun? We watched Hocus Pocus, carved our pumpkin, and handed out candy. Here are some pictures of the excitement.

Bobby always handles the pumpkin carving

Bella wasn’t a fan of the taste.

My sweet girls!

Happy Halloween!

This year vs. last year. Makes me laugh.

My little Minnie mouse and Saints player.

Bobby worked on the pumpkin some more. Looked great!

Hope you all had a fun night!

QOTD: What was the best costume you saw yesterday?

Filed Under: Disney, family, holidays Tagged: Disney, Halloween, mickey pumpkin, pumpkin carving

Happy Halloween 2013

October 31, 2013 by Heather

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I cannot believe it is here AGAIN! (I also can’t believe how many Christmas commercials and items I have seen. Good grief). We don’t exactly have exciting plans, but we will spend the evening handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, carving our pumpkin, and watching one of my ALL TIME favorite movies: Hocus Pocus. Can you believe that movie came out 20 years old? This makes me feel very, very old. However, I watch it every Halloween and Hope I always do.

Halloween 2012

I will be hiding the candy after tonight, because tomorrow I start the Advocare 24 day challenge. I have been using certain Advocare products for awhile now, and I love them so much I have decided to start selling them. More on that later though, but just know you can order through this link: www.advowithheather.com

Bobby and I are going to my parents tomorrow because he needs a haircut before our trip and only trusts one lady to cut his hair and she lives by my parents house. Also, I need to do some research for a blog post while we are there as well. I will be around though, so shoot me an email or message on Facebook or Twitter if you need me.

Have a great Halloween, stay safe, and be smart….and scare as many children as possible. I kid…sort of.

QOTD: Do you have any fun plans tonight?

Filed Under: Advocare, family, health, holidays Tagged: advocare, family, Halloween, holidays

Speaking of Which…

October 29, 2013 by Heather

Pumpkin Spice coffee creamer. I love it. I will buy bottles of the stuff so I have plenty even after the holidays are over. It’s quite sad, but it literally starts my day off great and I am in such a better mood in the mornings in the fall! Not to mention drinking coffee when it’s 100 degrees outside is not as fun. Speaking of which…

mmmmmm coffee

Cooler weather. Where did it go? Last week we had mornings in the FORTIES! I was ecstatic. Now? The high today is 82. Yeah. Isn’t it almost November? Speaking of almost November, that means it’s almost Halloween…

Want to buy cold weather

Halloween Candy. Bane of my existence. After 10/31, I am making the hubby hide it from me. Seriously, if he doesn’t, I will eat all the things. This is not good. I am trying to eat healthy and BE more healthy especially since I have been sick. Speaking of which…

Mickey pumpkin = Halloween

Antibiotics. I haven’t taken any in YEARS. I am still on my round of Amoxicillin, which thankfully is in pill form. Does anyone remember taking the liquid as a kid? I do, and that stuff was gross. Tasting the pill a little brings back bad memories so I have to swallow quickly. However, I am SO glad I am feeling better, because I have a ton to do since getting back in town, like cleaning my house. Speaking of which…

Taking lots of this, too.

House cleaning. It was mostly clean when I got home yesterday, so what the heck happened? It’s amazing how quickly we can trash things, it has literally only been 24 hours. How does this happen? I think I need to do some spring cleaning this fall so I don’t have as much stuff to clutter up.

I don’t have a picture to go with house cleaning, so how ‘bout one of Bella instead, hhmmm?

QOTD: Thoughts on any of these things? Are you ready for the candy to be gone and do you wish little elves came in and cleaned your house at night so you can drink pumpkin spice coffee in the mornings?

Winner of my Thirty-One bags cinch sack giveaway is: sarah_solomons! Please email me at [email protected] With your color and personalization for your cinch sack!

Filed Under: blogging, fitness, food, holidays Tagged: candy, coffee, Halloween, pumpkin spice

Happy Halloween, and Costume Look Back

October 30, 2012 by Heather

*If you participated in the ZOOMA virtual run, in order to be eligible for prizes you must either post a photo to ZOOMA’s Facebook page (mention RWS!) or blog about your virtual run and post it to the ZOOMA blog post about the FL kickoff run!

October could possibly go on record for being the quickest month ever, even through it is 31 days long. I feel like I blinked my eyes, and today is Halloween! I don’t think I am as “in tune” with this kind of ting anymore. When I was in school or was teaching I was very aware of holidays, parties, etc….but not having kids and working from home….not so much. Either way, we will hand out candy, we will watch Hocus Pocus (MY FAVORITE!), carve a pumpkin, and light my fall candles.

I have never been a huge Halloween costume fan. I rarely went to parties growing up, and never have I once donned a…err…”revealing” Halloween costume (no offense to those who do, just never interested me, nor did I want to spend money on a costume.) We always just wore things we had around the house. Totally boring right? I think I have been a football player 3 times.

Last year, we went to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with some friends, and since she was very pregnant at the time and needed a wheelchair, we decided to go as Dr.’s/nurses bringing her into labor and delivery. So much fun!

In 2010, we were back at Mickey’s Not So Scary, hangin’ 10

In 2008, I was the football player and Bobby was a cheerleader

Halloween 2007, yup. Same scrubs. My family went as the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, with name tags mind you.

Creative no? We just can’t help it. By the way, how totally young does Bobby look in the 2007 photo? My, my, how we have aged in five years. I totally envy people who come up with cool and creative costumes every year, but it is just not my gift. Maybe one day I will be that awesome mom who makes her kids Halloween costumes. We can dream, right?

Be sure to check out last year’s Halloween post:

Halloween in Pictures

I hope you all have a fun and safe holiday!

QOTD: Favorite costume you have ever had?

Filed Under: blogging, holidays Tagged: Halloween, halloween costumes

Halloween In Pictures

November 6, 2011 by Heather

Happy Sunday everyone. I am finally feeling back to my old self. Still tired and taking naps, but don’t feel sick anymore. I tried to go for an easy 6 miler yesterday with Bobby and my hurt hurt more than it ever has…I did some more research and I think I either have tendonitis of the top of my foot or a stress fracture. We went out to eat last night and I could barely walk. Great. I am so frustrated and tired of being injured, I am struggling with some feelings of disappointment right now. I’m still frustrated I had to miss Savannah and now this. Bummer.

Anyway, I hope you have a relaxing Sunday, now that I am well things will get back to normal around the blog, so don’t go away! I leave you with some pictures from Halloween. We usually both carve pumpkins but I felt awful so Bobby just did one. He tried to cheer me up by making it a Mickey pumpkin but it turned out looking like a bear or a monkey. Ha!

I am ssooo ready to decorate for Christmas…..

ClipE Giveaway Winner

Giveaway winner is Ana! “I love listening to Group one crew Let it Roll and Clap ya hands. They are up beat and keep me going” Ana please e mail me at [email protected] so I can mail you your ClipE!

QOTD: Did you carve a pumpkin? What did you carve? Or, what is your favorite carving you have done or seen?

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged: Halloween, holidays, injury, pictures, running, winner