2015 Christmas Fallout!

October has come and gone, Halloween is over, the Turkey has been carved and Christmas is already a few days old.  Where in the world did the time go?  For a site that claims to love and celebrate the "holidaze," you sure wouldn't think so based on my inconsistency and lack of commitment to the blog.  While in the midst of what was sure to be my best Halloween Countdown yet, real-life and work once again reared their ugly heads and forced me to but junk food and cereal on the back-burner.  To be perfectly honest, after missing out on sharing my trip to Disney World, Halloween Horror Nights and Salem, MA, I basically shut the site down for good.  It's not easy gaining traction and acquiring traffic, especially when so many awesome writers have most of this stuff covered better than I do, so I turned my attention toward social media and settled for much more entertaining, self-serving, and meaningful interaction with like-minded nerds.  Is The Holidaze done for good?  Possibly, but when asked by my buddy Chad to rise from the ashes and present my 2015 Christmas Fallout with a bunch of other cool guys, I was honored, excited, and simply couldn't say no.

So, on a weird site that features a 2015 Halloween Countdown header above a 2015 Christmas Fallout banner, I'm bringing it all together and closing out the year with a celebration of materialism and selfishness.  Yep, here's what Santa brought me for being such a good boy all year long!

Hostess Candy Corn Cupcakes

Remember when Hostess temporarily went out of business and brought Twinkies with them in their untimely demise?  In their wake, Hostess left behind a slew of products that would seemingly become nothing more than memories.  Along with their most popular items, we saw the end of their seasonal collection.  Gone were the days of Munster Packs, Scary Cakes, and Glo Balls.  Resting in pieces, Halloween cake would never be the same.  Remember that?  It was only a few years ago, but it's hard to believe it ever happened at all.  When Hostess returned, they bounced back stronger than ever.  Not only were their classics back on shelves, but so were new Halloween editions like Orange S'Creme Twinkies!  With a reignited flame, Hostess resurrected and took back Halloween with a vengeance.  This year, they're doing it again with not one, but two brand new varieties of CupCakes!

Entenmann's Pumpkin Muffins

We say it every year, but it really seems like everything is pumpkin flavored by the time October rolls around.  Cupcakes, cookies, cereal - you name it - it's pumpkin flavored.  For years, that's meant bad news for yours truly because I have hated pumpkin flavored anything.  Thankfully, as previously stated, I've grown accustomed to the taste and have finally acquired it.  But the honest question we have to ask ourselves is - is anything truly pumpkin flavored?  I think, over time, companies have ditched the traditional pumpkin flavor and have opted to call a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and spices "pumpkin."  All of you pumpkinheads have been weened off and over to this new version of the flavor while a guy like me can finally join you.  Meanwhile, we're both wrong and blindly accept whatever this taste is for what it is.

The Splat Debuts - Halloween Throwbacks

Tonight marks a very special occasion for those of us who grew up in the '90s.  At 10PM ET on the TeenNick channel, Nickelodeon is launching "The Splat!"  In case you didn't already hear, The Splat is similar to their last block of 90s programming, "The 90s Are All That."  Every night, from 10PM - 6AM, kids of the 90s will be able to relive their childhood memories by sitting back, maxin', relaxin' all cool.  Everything from "Doug" and "Rugrats" to "Hey Arnold" and even "You Can't Do That on Television" will be featured as part of the nostalgic lineup of vintage series'.  Of course, we all wished The Splat would be a 24/7 network, but this block of programming is a nice change of pace from the lackluster "90s Are All That" and promises to showcase much more of what we all remember.

This got me thinking of all the fantastic memories I have of growing up watching Nickelodeon and Snick, especially in October, when they first aired all those classic Halloween episodes.  Back then, Halloween was a true celebration and everybody joined in on the hysteria.  Almost every series paid homage to Halloween in their own way and, more than any other network, Nickelodeon truly made themselves a destination for kids in their quest for all things spooky on TV.  So, today, in honor of The Splat going live at 10PM, we take a look back at some of the greatest Halloween episodes of the 1990s!

Pumpkin Spice Latte M&M's

Much like the Oreo brand, M&M's have become known for their unique flavor varieties over the last few years.  Whether it was Red Velvet or Carrot Cake, the candy classics have become synonymous with the ever-changing seasons.  Being able to adapt and transition from one event to the other, Mars have put M&M's on the holiday map and, as expected, they're at it again with one of their best editions to date!

Burger King Halloween Whopper

Every Halloween, there are certain highlights that separate the present from the previous.  Whether it was Fruity Yummy Mummy and Frute Brute, Ghostbusters Krispy Kreme doughnuts, or Cheetos Bag of Bones, there's always that one commodity that ignites the spirit of Halloween and fuels us throughout the season.  Well, this year is no exception.  Once again, there is a brand that stands head and shoulders above the rest in the hunt for Halloween supremacy.  Yes, my friends, by now you've seen it everywhere, but 2015 belongs to Burger King's Halloween Whopper!

3 Musketeers - MuskeFEARS

When it comes to Halloween candy, it's just as critical to stand out as it is to taste good.  In fact, I may even argue that the latter is even more important because appearance has advanced influence in my decision-making.  During this time of year, I expect companies to go all-out and dress to impress.  By that, I mean I want to see something new.  I want to see new packaging, limited edition boxes, flavors, and designs.  It's all about exciting the consumer through all five of their senses.  Yes, traditional candy is great, but why should I indulge in the basics when they're available year-round?  No, acquiring my hard-earned cash is going to require some effort and when I recognize that you've gone that extra mile, I guarantee I'll lay my money on the table.  This year, 3 Musketeers has scored on every level and deserves your bottom dollar!

The 2015 Holidaze Halloween Countdown Begins!

Ladies and gentlemen, boils and ghouls, there is a foreboding spirit among us.  There is a presence that has not been felt in quite some time which has returned to revel in the ominous atmosphere of October.  On this day, a ghoulish phantom resurrects in celebration of the most fantastic season of all.  Yes, my friends, the time has finally come.  Welcome, foolish mortals, to the 2015 Holidaze Halloween Countdown!

Happy Halloween 2014!!

Happy Halloween!!

Can you believe today is October 31st?  After months of anticipation, from waiting for stores to release their Halloween products to building-up to the big day with various posts throughout the season, Halloween has finally arrived!  In my opinion, for as much as I wanted to celebrate this day, I didn't want it to sneak up on us so quickly.  Personally, I was kept way too-busy by real-life that I wasn't able to dedicate as much time and effort into The Holidaze and Halloween season as I had planned or would have liked to, but I tried to make sure that didn't get in the way of enjoying the most amazing time of year.  Sure, in terms of content on the site, I would have liked to had brought you more.  I think I did a decent job and we covered many awesome products, but my list of topics far exceeded my goals met.  For example, the Funko Holidaze Pops! fell flat on their vinyl faces as soon as work decided to increase the level of stress.  The characters I had written down and planned on bringing you might have been phenomenal, but they simply weren't to be.  On the bright side, The Holidaze doesn't completely shut down after Halloween and there are no rules stating I can't bring you cool designs and artsy posts after today.  When I find the time, I'll certainly do my best to pick up where we leave off today to keep the ball rolling.  I mean, really, is anybody gonna complain about MORE Halloween in November?  I only have 6 readers so I highly doubt it!

Instead of focusing on what I didn't do this season, I'd like to be positive and look at what we did review.  There were incredible products released this year and I think 2014 did it's best to rival 2013.  No, I don't think anything short of Ecto-Cooler will top the 2013 return of Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy, but we definitely didn't take too many steps backwards.  Just think - Krispy Kreme Ghostbuster Donuts, Orange S'Cream Twinkies and the return of Scary Cakes, Cheetos Bag of Bones, Apple-ahhh-Rita's, Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spice Oreos, Candy Apple M&M's, Orange Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins and Orange Kit-Kat's, Caramel Apple-filled Twizzlers, New General Mills Retro boxes, and Candy Corn Pebbles.  If you ask me, that's one hell of a haul for one Halloween season.  In fact, thinking about it again, it really does give 2013 a run for it's money.  But in the end, we're the ones who really lucked out and leave as winners.  We're fortunate enough to have these awesome things in our lives to help enhance the 'daze!

The majority of what I write about has to do with food and candy, but the meaning behind why I write about those things has nothing to do with the products themselves.  Sure, I'm giving you a review and I'm enjoying the taste-test, but it goes much deeper than flavor and appearance.  My goal from day one on The Holidaze is to take these things, old and new, and relate them to my life, past or present, to interact with all of you who share the same interests and make the same connections to nostalgia.  What I want to do is bring out, and bring back, memories you may have forgotten or will never forget.  I want to remind you of when you were a kid, what it was like to grow up loving Halloween and what it meant to you and your family.  If you didn't celebrate then, I want to show you how great it can be, for so many reasons, and invite you to do so with all of us.  If we're not celebrating old memories and all the emotions that come with them, then we're creating new ones in innovative ways that will one day be talked about 20-years from now.  Many of you have kids and, whether you're aware or not, you're making memories for them now that will one day be associated with their nostalgia.  They'll look back and say, "wow, I remember when me and my Mom ate those Cheetos Bag of Bones.  She loved them as much as I did.  That was a fun time."  If you notice, Cheetos Bag of Bones are an after-thought in that sentence.  It's about the connection, the bond, the relationship, the memory, nostalgia, and love that comes from what we're doing today.  That's the purpose of The Holidaze and, with all of you, I've been able to remember and share more things than ever before.

I want to thank each and every one of you who took time out of your day to read what I wrote.  Hopefully you enjoyed it, hopefully I made you laugh a little bit here and there, hopefully I brought something to your attention, and hopefully you took my advice and made the most of your Halloween season.  I know I'm not the greatest writer in the world and The Holidaze is far from the most popular site on the Internet, but I love my little niche and the group of people who continue to read and support this site.  Whether you indulged and shared on Twitter, or joined in on the Holidaze Halloween Instagram Challenge, I truly can't thank you enough for simply being a part of this tiny endeavor.  Together, we shared stories and enjoyed what this season had to offer.  Individually, we created our own memories with loved ones who mean the world to us.  That, without a doubt, is the most important part!  At the end of the day, sharing this season of macabre with those who are close to you is what separates "just another year" with "hey, remember that time?"

From a kid who grew up loving Halloween with a passion, I wish each and every one of you the Happiest of Halloweens.  If you don't have any plans tonight, then I urge you to change that by finding something to do.  It's Halloween on a freakin' Friday night!  That calls for action!  If you can't hit up the bars or find a costume party, then call your friends or family to go catch a movie.  Go out to eat and laugh over spooky cocktails.  Watch a horror movie on Netflix or any one of the 100 channels featuring a scary movie, tonight.  Bake orange cupcakes and eat a lot of Candy Corn.  Or, in the very worst case scenario, go online and read every Halloween post I've ever written.  But, no matter what, make sure you do SOMETHING tonight!  Don't let this year come and go with any regrets.  Live it up, enjoy yourself, enjoy the day and create life-long memories that don't involve you sleeping through Halloween.  As for me, I'm about to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters from my new apartment before dressing up like a scary inmate clown for a night of debauchery in Hoboken, NJ.  The best part?  It's Halloweekend, baby!  The party doesn't stop at midnight, it's only just begun!!  Believe me, we'll have plenty of time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Until then, Halloween doesn't end until we say it does!!

Enjoy, my friends, and shoot me a pic of your Halloween costume @HolidazeBlog on Twitter and Instagram!

Happy Halloween!!

Candy Corn Pebbles

This is the one that almost got away!  Thanks to social media, I find so many seasonal products on Twitter and Instagram long before I ever do in stores.  On one hand, that's a good thing because it makes me aware of items that I may have overlooked otherwise.  But, on the other hand, it can be pretty aggravating when thousands of people are posting pics with one of the coolest Halloween things of the season and I can't seem to find it anywhere.  The tease is what sometimes makes the hunt more fun and all that more worth it, but when it becomes impossible, it just gets frustrating.  That's what was was happening with new Candy Corn Pebbles.  In reality, this box was one of the first images I noticed back in early September when I searched #halloween2014 on Instagram.  One guy had it and I figured, okay, soon enough it'll be available nationwide and I'll snatch one up.  Then, weeks and weeks went by without any sign of transition.  Finally, on October 23rd, I resorted to the last of all resorts - Ebay!  $13 later, I'm no longer left out in the cold, I'm simply questioning my life's priorities.

Jekyll & Hyde's - Times Square

On Saturday the 25th of October, after we enjoyed our delicious Krispy Kreme Ghostbusters donuts, it was on to stage two of our perfect Hallowday!  Going along with our plan, we were off to Jekyll & Hyde Club in New York City.  Now, last year, we went to the original location in the Village and it was a blast.  Much like this go-around, we went the Saturday before Halloween and while it was filled with patrons dressed up in Halloween costumes, there was no wait and we were able to walk right in.  Well, in 2014, that wasn't so simple.  Being in the very heart of Times Square, Jekyll & Hyde was attracting a slew of customers all eagerly anticipating entrance into one of the coolest restaurant / bars in the city.  For a lover of the macabre, this was the place to be!  I looked at the line of people waiting outside and said to my girlfriend, "Nah, this line is for the Haunted House, we could walk right into the restaurant."  She said "No, I'm pretty sure this is the line to get into the restaurant."  Being that I'm always right, I quickly responded back with a chuckle and affirmation that "Nope, this is definitely just for the Haunted House."  Then, like an RKO outta nowhere, some random girl on the street turns to me and says "Um, no, that's actually the line for the restaurant."  Damn.. I stood there, stunned, owned by a stranger, and had to suffer from salt in the wound when I looked over at Eileen who was grinning ear to ear.  Alright alright.. Everybody has to be wrong at one point in their lives, right?  I swallowed my pride, pretended that it didn't happen, and got on line knowing girl power is alive and well.

Dipped Caramel Apple Granola Bars

This time of year, we usually spend so much time talking about the big name brands that the smaller ones tend to fall to the wayside.  Sometimes, the little engine that could turns out to be much stronger than we gave him credit for.  Other times, we realize they're small for a reason and they confirm why they're much less-known than the big dogs.  Which category will today's Halloween treat fall into?  Well, we're talking about Market Pantry, and extension of the Target brand, and they've surprised me a few times in the past.  Market Pantry certainly goes all out for the seasons and does their part in celebrating the holidays, but not everything has been solid.  Today, we're talking about a product that sounds amazing, but may be too much of a long-shot to actually be any good.

Krispy Kreme Ghostbusters Donuts

For the first time since January, I was off from work this past Saturday and couldn't have been more excited for the big day.  Knowing that it was the last Saturday before Halloween, my girlfriend and I wanted to treat it as such in celebration of the amazing season we've had in 2014.  The plan was to hop on the train, make the quick commute to NYC, grab a few Ghostbusters donuts from Krispy Kreme, eat at Jekyll and Hyde's in Times Square, drink at Times Scare afterwards, and enjoy a Haunted House followed by some Scaryoke.  It was quite the endeavor and, thankfully, I can say we pulled it all off without a hitch and it better than a few Halloweens I've had in the past.  It was too much fun to convey in words, but it wouldn't have been half of what it was without our very first stop at NY Penn Station!

Candy Apple M&M's

You know by now, we can't have seasonal products without seasonal M&M's.  For the last few years, M&M's have come second only to Oreo cookies in the battle for most-unique-flavors supremacy.  Whether it's Red Velvet, Pumpkin Spice, Carrot Cake, or Gingerbread, there's no doubt M&M's do their fair share of getting involved and enhancing the season.  Unlike some of you, I never knock a company for taking advantage of the system and using my curiosity for their profit.  In fact, I welcome it.  I love these new, sometimes oddball, off-the-wall flavors and always go out of my way to review and appreciate them.  In today's case, there's nothing too out of the ordinary and the flavor is probably long overdue.  Falling in line with Fall 2014, M&M's have gone apple picking!

Hostess Scary Cakes

Two days ago, I talked about the return of Orange S'Cream Twinkies and the return of Hostess Halloween products.  Well, with those beautifully filled sponge cakes comes another spooky legend - Scary Cakes!!  Now, we've talked about these Halloween-themed cupcakes in the past, but long before we ever thought they'd disappear.  In 2012, I reviewed Scary Cakes and compared them to what they used to be.  Sure, the cupcake itself has stayed relatively the same, but the box art and package design has changed almost every single year.  Then, I talked about the old-school Munster Pack and change to Monster Cakes.  Those were monumental times in my life because I was literally drawn in by these works of art and inspired to illustrate, animate, color and design myself.  There were something about those pieces that infatuated me and filled my heart with Halloween spirit.  To this day, I can remember where I was and who I was with whenever those boxes were bought, put on the table, or opened.  It was a happy time, now a nostalgic period, and I payed homage to that in 2012.  Then, as I mentioned two-days ago, Hostess closed up shop and Scary Cakes were gone... forever?  So it seemed, but in 2014, Scary Cakes are back!!  This time, I'm not comparing them to the past.  I'm just happy they're once again a part of the present.

Cheetos Bag of Bones

It's crunch time here on The Holidaze and I'm not talking about bone-crunching action!  We're only 4 days away from Halloween and it's time to roll out all the amazing products I've been sitting on for the last few weeks.  A lot of writers tend to bring you these things as soon as their released, usually in hopes of being the first so that their number of hits increase and more people click those ads.  Personally, I couldn't care less about any of that.  I'm here to celebrate!  I'm here to create an experience - for you and me - and this week is most important of them all!  Sure, I could have talked about Twinkies and Krispy Kreme Donuts a few weeks ago, but this is the main event!  If I did that, all I'd have left are granola bars.  That doesn't end the season on a high note and it's my goal to roll out the All-Star lineup.

It's Halloweek!

Halloween Twinkies - Orange S'Cream

Okay okay, I wanted Halloween season to start earlier than ever, but I'd like Halloween itself to slow itself down!  I cannot believe we are only 5 days away from October 31st!  Time seriously flew by and, like I said previously, work has limited my interaction with all of you via The Holidaze and Social Media.  For me, that's the sucky part about this time of year.  For whatever reason, I always seem to find myself busier in October than any other month.  But I wanted to take advantage of this weekend, both personally and on The Holidaze, to at least get this ball rolling through the week and into the big day.  I've been sitting on this post, along with the others coming at ya before Friday, because they're special and all represent Halloween perfectly in one way or another.  I'll throw in a few extra's here and there, but today we're talking about a product that I had only hoped for when we first covered the X-Men Twinkies with the Blue Creme center.  Once we saw them hit shelves, I found a glimmer of hope and depended on Hostess to do the rest.  This year, they didn't disappoint!

Halloween at Dunkin Donuts - A Holidaze Tribute

Dunkin Donuts and I go way back.  For as long as I can remember, that logo you see above has been a part of my life in one way or another.  Whether it was my Dad bringing home that retro box of a dozen donuts to my Grandparents or my Mom ordering a large hot coffee, there are many memories and a great deal of nostalgia now associated with the pink and orange.  In particular, Dunkin Donuts will always have a strong connection to Halloween.  So much, in fact, that it's become an annual tradition to indulge as much as possible when this time of year rolls around.  Don't get me wrong, I drink two iced coffees a day, but the spooky season invites us to take our game to the next level and really soak in The Holidaze.

Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Bun Cookies

Welp, I had high hopes for the month of October on The Holidaze.  I planned on bringing you a different Funko Pop design each day, I planned on keeping up with my own Holidaze Instagram Challenge, and I planned on updating the site with new articles as much as possible.  For the most part, I've failed you.  For whatever reason, and it never seems to fail, I am always at my busiest when October rolls around.  For as much as I'd love to brush work off and focus on cartoons and Halloween candy, my real-life simply won't allow it.  Finding the balance between the two, much like last year, has been difficult this October.  I wish I could simply take a month off and dedicate my entire life to Halloween for 31 days, but my bosses don't seem to be down with that idea.  I don't know when they're going to wake up and realize that Frankenberry is far more important than their company, but until then, I'm stuck doing my job.  How about I just hit the lottery and we take this site to a whole new level.  Or hey, does Donald Trump read The Holidaze?  I could use a couple mill, broski!

Since I don't think that's going to happen, I'll do what I gotta do and attempt to salvage what is left of the season.  Believe it or not, we are only TEN DAYS away from Halloween and I think I may be more unprepared for October 31st than I've ever been before.  It's a shame, really, but it is what it is.  For now, I'm going to do my best to keep the Holidaze spirit alive with the help of a seasonal standout.. Pepperidge Farm!

Castle Dracula - Wildwood, NJ (Guest Post by Sean Gallagher)

When I was a child, my family and I often traveled to the Jersey Shore to bask in the Summer sun.  For us, a trip to Pt. Pleasant or Seaside, NJ was a quick break from the everyday hustle and bustle of the real world.  But, just a bit further south, was Wildwood, NJ.  My time there was rare, but one thing I'll never forget was this giant castle that stood out head and shoulders above the other attractions.  I was far too small and even more afraid to get anywhere close to it, but I'll never forget my Father and cousin entering what I considered Hell's gates.  Although I was too young to understand, I was looking at one of the most beloved New Jersey landmarks of all time!  Given that I don't have the memories or knowledge to truly capture what this place was, I reached out to one of my best friends, Sean Gallagher.  Today, in this very special guest post, I invite you to sit back and read from his point of view.

Take it away, @Writer_Sean