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!