Blood Manor

As I've recently said, this year I wanted to make The Holidaze more than just a review site for candy, treats, and movies.  This year, I wanted to get out and take part in as many Haunted Attractions as I can in 31 days.  I absolutely love Haunted Houses and have since I was a young kid.  I used to be scared beyond belief, especially the first time my parents took me and my cousin, but I still craved the excitement each and every year.  In particular, I remember my Dad traveling in the rain to take us to "The Greenhouse of Fear."  I had to be about 10 or 11, but to this day, I don't remember where it was or how far away it was, all I know is that it was awesome, solidified my love for Haunted Houses, and vanished into the night as all good ghost stories do.

Now, for various reasons, I haven't been to a Haunted House in over two years.  2010 and 2011 came and went without a single attraction and that, my friends, is uncalled for.  I grew up on these things, from Haunted Hayrides to Haunted Mazes, these are can't miss traditions!  But, sadly, I did miss out on great times and I was determined to make sure that this didn't happen again.  So, on October 5th, my Girlfriend and I hopped a train to NYC to attend the Opening Night of Blood Manor!

This was a spur of the moment decision, so we didn't get to NY until about 11pm.  Luckily, Blood Manor stayed open until 2am so we had plenty of time.  Before I knew it, I saw the logos, the banners, the line and, out of nowhere, an Axe Wielding Maniac who jumped out from behind a mailbox.  I was not expecting to be startled so soon but, to the crowd's delight, he got me and my girlfriend good!  But no complaints here, that's what I was looking for.  I'm not the type to get scared of somebody in my face.  My gf will freak out for days with a mask in her face and a growl in her ear, but that doesn't affect me anymore.  When I was 10, I would have cried my eyes out, but now, I need to be startled.  I need you to pop out when I least expect it and, when you do, you'll get me and, in my mind, I'll give you credit.  That's what the Axe Wielder did and I was caught completely off guard.  Already this was shaping up to be memorable.

This photo is a bit deceiving.  The line appears to be stretched out to the corner, but the door is actually somewhere in the middle.  There were two options we had presented to us.  We could pay $40 each and hop on the "R.I.P. Line" and cut everybody else in no time.  Or, pay $35, and wait about 40 minutes before heading in.  We decided to pay less and wait.  

The reasoning had nothing to do with money because, really, what's the extra 5 bucks?  In fact, it was more about the entertainment.  We were looking for an experience and for this attraction to last a while.  So, by waiting on line, you're given the opportunity to interact with three "monsters," including the Axe Wielder, watch a special "Circus Freak" act, and enjoy random people being scared by these guys!  That might have been the best part.  There was a bar across the street so the sidewalk was congested with ladies and gents looking to get drunk, not be scared.  Well, too bad, little did they know Blood Manor had something else in mind.  Talk about the unexpected, they literally had no idea.  Moments like that made waiting worth while.

This isn't the best shot, but still one of the Axe Wiledling Maniac.  I don't know what his official name is, but that's what he did and that's what he was, so it fits.  This actor did a great job playing his part.  For as fun as it may be scaring people, you're always going to get the trouble makers and those who think they're part of the show and want to be funny.  In this guy's case, somebody said to AWM "Hey, did you just touch my ass?"  A few people laughed, but most grinned and thought it was a stupid thing to say.  But, this actor looked at him, hissed, and said "Ahhhh, even I wouldn't do that! Gross!" and ran off.  I appreciate the quick response because, honestly, it shows your in good hands.  You're obviously surrounded by actors who want to give you the best experience possible and, little things like that, prove they won't crack any under type of pressure.  Good job, Axe Wielding Maniac, whoever you may be!

Now, even though I don't get "scared" of people in costumes and in my face, that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the freakiness of this clown.  He's terrifying!  His mask was some type of doll head/clown face and, at times, he would just hunch over and laugh for a good two minutes.  Sometimes, he did it without any laughter at all.  That was even creepier.  But, the cool part about this guy, is he was there to interact.  For example, I was wearing this shirt..

..and the evil clown came over and spoke to me.  First of all, it was freaky because his mouth would move when he spoke or did some type of chomping motion.  Very nice touch.  But anyway, he comes over and says "Your shirt, who are these guys?"  I reply and he says "Oh yes yes, I used to enjoy a big bowl of Count Dracula cereal and honey when I was a child.  Oh yes, very good very good."  Then he laughed and walked off.  To be honest, I have no idea if he was in character or broke the 4th wall just to comment on my shirt, but it was nice to see the Monster Cereals get attention either way.

As he walked away, my gf got brave all of a sudden.  She snuk up behind him and made a face for the camera.  But one, notice how much space she left between the clown and herself and, two, take a look into her eyes and understand that there is still a great deal of fear in them.  Had this clown known what was going on and turned around, she would have flipped!  Part of me wishes he did because the reaction would have been priceless.  She likes the think that I'm there to protect her in these attractions, but believe me, I'm not.  These Haunted Houses are controlled spooks and the only time I'll let grown men get that close to her without any problems.  If you think I'm not enjoying her being scared, you'd better guess again.  It's hilarious!

The three Monsters surrounding and walking through the line seemed to vary in character.  One was supposed to be a maniac whose sole purpose was to kill you.  The second was supposed to be funny, but way too freaky to spend too much time with.  And the third, this guy, was some type of scary wolf guy.  I actually have no clue as to what he is, but he was very friendly.  When we took this picture, the guy taking it for us said "Get closer, he won't bite."  The actor responded "Yes I will haha."  He was funny, playful, and the least terrifying of the three.  He kinda looks like The Boogeyman, the old WWE superstar, but his teeth make him much better than that!  Pretty cool costume, whatever he's supposed to be.

As we moved closer to the door, the show started and it featured so-called "Circus Freaks."  This guy, dressed in a dress, is known for his stretchy skin, doubt jointed bones and, as pictured, the ability to bring his fingers all the way back to touch the top of his hand.  He was good, but his speaking skills were, in my opinion, far superior to his contortion.  He was able to handle a large crowd, keep them interested, entertained, and help pass the time.

Right before we went into Blood Manor, he asked for an assistant to come help him on stage.  What this girl had to do was stand on another man as he laid down on a bed of nails.  It's something I'm sure we've all seen before and, even if I don't know how it's done, it's impressive.  It certainly received a good crowd reaction and, at the end of the day, that's what it's all about.

In addition to contortion and nails, there was also fire being thrown around like it was nothing.  I'm always more scared for me in that instance than I am for the performers.  If you drop it and set yourself on fire, that's one thing, just don't lose your grip and fling it into the crowd.  That's more fear than I'm looking for.

Oh, and if you wanted to tip these Circus Freaks, you could!  If you had a $5 bill or more, you could staple it into the skin of any one of these guys or a female that they had as well.  The catch with the girl was that you could staple it into her breasts.  Two guys actually did.  I wonder why they chose to staple the girl over the guys?  Hm.. Well, sorry guys, no pictures!  It was time to go inside!

When you got inside and waited on a smaller line, there was 3D art all over the walls.  The one photo above will have to suffice for any pervs I have reading The Holidaze and missed out on the stapled boob.

Obviously, once I was inside, I couldn't take many pictures.  But I snapped that one above and it doesn't really do the room justice.  As you're waiting, the black lights really illuminate everything around you that you feel like you're in a different world.  Its vibrant, colorful, and spooky.  For a queued line, that's just about all you can ask for.  And it wasn't all naked witches feasting on the blood of their victims, it was a little bit of everything!

We went in with about 5 or 6 other people and I was at the front of the line.  At this point, I had to put my phone away and enjoy the ride.  I wanted to soak up as much as possible because, from what I read, there were so many little details on each set and, if you traveled too fast, you'd miss out.  That definitely wasn't going to happen here.  I wanted to look at everything!

After you're given directions, they send you on your way.  Now, I'm not looking to spoil anything for anybody here, but I'll give you a few of the highlights for me.  First of all, the actors were great.  There were a few that really served no purpose, but for the most part, they did a great job throughout Blood Manor.  There is one stop where you're asked to look at a TV screen and, low and behold, it's you.  Only, it's not the person you remember.  It's who you're going to become as your journey continues.  That was probably my favorite part of the night and I encourage you to see what I'm talking about!

There's one part where it's completely pitch black and you have to find your way through on your own.  When you're at the front of the line, that's easier said than done!  It wasn't just a straight walk through, you have to use your hands and feel your way through.  It's scary because you're literally lost.  But that's the great thing about it!  It's so much fun.. unless you're afraid of the dark!  In that case, good luck! Bwahaha!

Some scenes involved more talking than others and, at one point, I didn't know if I should wait and listen or keep going.  I guess I was supposed to keep walking because the actor, a deranged boyfriend, said "Keep it moving Homebody whatchu looking at?"  That was great!  He was obviously torturing his "lady" and he was letting you know, if you don't keep it moving, you'll be next!  Greatness!

Throughout the rest of Blood Manor, you'll find people begging you to help them.  Actors in your face demanding you stay with them.  Countless jumps and startles.  3D paint that pop better than I've ever seen with the glasses they give you.  And, of course, the detail.  The attention to detail was so amazing that I didn't even have enough time to soak it all in.  I tried!  I held back, let people go in front of me, but the next group caught up and we had to keep it moving for the sake of our own experience.  But from what I saw, damn, it's great.  Everything from TV screens in transition rooms to lights everywhere.  I absolutely loved it.  They created an atmosphere crucial to the Halloween spirit.  Combined with the music, you're looking at one hell of a trip.

There's so much more that I don't want to spoil, but I implore you to go check this out if you have an opportunity.  Blood Manor is definitely one of, if not the, best Haunted Attractions I've ever been to and, if I can, I'll make another trip before this season comes to an end.  If you're interested, check them out at

www.BloodManor.com

Pops!

Today we're talking about two varieties of "Pops."  One is candy, one is cake.  Other than one word in their names, they have nothing in common.  Although, that's not true, because they're both very tasty and bring us something cool to talk about.  So, let's dive right into it by beginning with Entenmann's.

Last year, I talked about Entenmann's Halloween Donuts.  They were one of my favorite finds from the 2011 Holidaze.  What was so great about them was the fact that their little orange sprinkles actually had an orange flavor.  This was a pleasant surprise and one that I definitely wasn't expecting.  Talk about going the extra mile.

This year, I was looking through the Entenmann's end cap at various grocery stores, but didn't find those Donuts.  This year, it appeared as though they were only carrying the Entenmann's Pumpkin Donuts.  I believe they're also new, but I know I wouldn't like them.  That was a disappointment because I thought they were a huge hit.  Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Path Mark, strike three and I'm out.  But, that was until I wandered through Wal-Mart.  Out of the darkness, the Halloween Donuts appeared and saved the day.  However, as the logo above states, this post isn't about the Donuts.  We did that last year.  Nope, this year, we're talking about..

Entenmann's Halloween Pop 'Ems!  The box is the same as last year and that's great.  For as much as I like seeing new designs, Entenmann's doesn't necessarily need to change anything.  They have the black, they have the orange, they have witches, bats, and pumpkins, and it's just the right amount of gloomy!  I've always loved their stuff.

Now, I decided to go with the Pop 'Ems this year because I wanted to give Holidaze readers something new.  Plus, I tried the donuts last year, these look like miniature versions of the same, and I thought they'd be bite size versions of the flavorful donuts last year.  Assuming they're the same ingredients, this would be great!  The chocolatey orange burst would probably be more impactful than ever before.  This appeared to be the perfect direction.

Open up the box and your nostrils are smacked by that amazing aroma.  It's the type of smell that you know shouldn't make you that happy, but it does and you're not complaining.  It's the type of smell that explains why America has such an obesity problem, but not one that causes you to care much.  You know, as soon as those seams are popped, that this is going to be epic.  It's going to good and it's something you're going to run back to every Halloween.  They say scent is the strongest tie to memory, and I guarantee this will bring you somewhere.  Whether it's 10 years ago or 10 days ago, these Pop 'Ems are going to remind you of something.  And if they don't, they'll bring you back to this year from here on out.  That is, of course, if you embrace the Holidaze and soak it all in.

Smell is only one magnificent aspect of this product.  The visuals are another.  Look at how much that picture pops.  The contrast between black, brown, and orange is the perfect ratio for Halloween.  They're little bite size decorations that, if they wouldn't attract unwanted creatures, I'd put all throughout the house.  Luckily, these are too good to even take that chance.  You can't help but eat them.  They're too enticing and it's sad how much Halloween treats can seduce you.

When I first opened the box, I'll admit, I didn't bite into one of these bad boys.  I was so concerned with taking pictures and getting other things posted that I didn't bother.  However, my girlfriend did and she said "Oh no it's bad luck to open up a box and not try one."  That's not true, but it's pretty funny and I appreciate the use of imagination.  Now, from here on out, I'm standing by that superstition and I want you all to as well.  From now on, it's bad luck to open up any Halloween themed treats without trying them.  I don't care if you just had a three-course meal.  If you pop open a box of Pop 'Ems, you better eat 'em!  Don't be like me.  Don't ignore the little balls of terror.  God only knows what they'll do if they're ignored again.

As you can tell from the photo, I did ultimately give in to the Pop 'Ems and I knew I would.  It's not like I was doing it on purpose.  I'm not trying to watch my weight or anything like that, I just didn't eat them at first.  It's not that I don't love you Pop 'Ems, I just didn't give you the attention you deserve.  See, you have to tell them things like that so they don't attack you in your sleep.  If you think I'm kidding, just look at what I found in my bed last night.

I was able to calm him down and explain that there are no other treats for me, but it wasn't easy.  He appeared to have wolf hands.  The type you'd find in Google images and add to your Pop 'Ems monster.  Yep, he's quite terrifying.  Be careful, friends..

On to the next "Pop" variety we're talking about today, it's the classic Ring Pop!  I've seen this box before, but I didn't pick it up.  In Jersey City, you don't really open the door for Trick-or-Treaters.  It's sad, but there are always the few rotten apples that ruin it for the bunch.  When I was growing up, we would usually travel to my Family's neighborhoods or go away for the weekend.  I hate seeing little kids at my door waiting for candy, but I know if I open the door, 36-year-old men will be knocking next.  Once they know you're home, they won't leave you alone.  You think Michael Myers is scary?  Try 4 grown men asking for free candy.  It puts that Pop 'Em Monster to shame.

So, for that reason, I had no reason to buy a box of Ring Pops.  They're just going to go to waste.  But, this is The Holidaze and I can always find good use for these things.  My thought is either contesting them off to Holidaze readers or giving them to my cousin who is a teacher.  One way or another, this candy will get to those who deserve it, not the rotten apples.

Regardless of where you live, that's a tough box to turn down.  The Ring Pop logo was changed from red to orange.  The Halloween logo is sinister.  Frankenstein is the perfect green for Halloween and he's being struck by lightning.  The best part is that he's not showing a hint of pain whatsoever.  I think he likes it.  All they're doing is charging him up and providing him with more life.  What has gotten into Ring Pop?  They've embraced the Holidaze and don't care how evil Frankie may get with his extra life.  But, really, he's a gentle giant.  Look at his Trick-or-Treat pail.  He means no harm.  He's probably just a 36-year-old bum who wants free candy.  Ahh, it all makes sense.

As I write this, I'm listening to "Feed My Frankenstein" so it's enhancing the Holidaze.  It was a coincidence, but one I'm happy happened.  It's October 5th, man!  We're running out of time and it'll be Halloween before you know it.  I'll have Halloween music on blast for the next three weeks now.  You should too!  Sorry, off topic..

The wrappers are all decked out in their Halloween costumes!  As we all know, there's no better color combo than black and orange for this time of year and, obviously, Ring Pop knows that.  They have this down to a science and have everything popping perfectly.  The spider web is a great touch and I love the way it changes from black to white.

These are definitely some of the coolest wrappers I've seen released and it makes me happy I bought them.  But, there's one thing I notice.  The Ring Pops pictured on on each wrapper haven't changed at all.  They've remained the same.  Like I've said, it's not completely a deal breaker when the product doesn't change as much as the branding, but it would've been nice to see a change in color or, at the very least, a change in flavor title.  It doesn't take much to call it "Hallowgreen" or something stupid like that.  But, it's not a problem.  Traditional Ring Pops taste great and, in this case, for better or worse, that hasn't changed.

The flavors, from left to right, are Watermelon, Strawberry, and Blue Raspberry.  All very good!  I haven't opened a Ring Pop in years, but I remember them being a lot bigger.  Actually, that's not true.  My fingers are just a hell of a lot bigger.  It's obvious that this Ring Pops are made for kids because I could barely wrap the ring around my finger.  They're tight, but I made it work.  I didn't finish either of these anyway, I just took three out of the box to show you.

If you open the door for your Trick-or-Treaters and don't have to deal with 6'3 guys in Jason masks, then I definitely recommend these for you.  They taste great, look cool, and the kids will be happy to have them.  But, if you're not going to be opening your door or if you're just looking for something else, then I have something else for you.  Yes, the following was made for the true Halloween fan.  Yes, Ring Pop redeems themselves with this one and officially appeals to everybody who loves the holiday!

This Halloween Ring Pop is an individual 2 Pack and does not come in the Ring Pop box.  This was found for a dollar and, from the image above, appears to be the real deal!  Package is awesome, the flavor, "Screaming Berry," sounds horrific, and those Ring Pop images seem too good to be true.  You're telling me that, when I open this wrapper, I'm going to find two Ring Pops in black and orange?  Get outta heeree!

Boom!! There it is!  Black and orange Ring Pops topped upon black plastic rings!  Wow, I'm in my glory.  Now, we can officially give Ring Pops a round of applause and a pat on the back.  Everything I complained about before can go right out the window because they made up for it all with the individual 2 pack.  You want classic?  Buy the Halloween box.  You want the Holidaze? Buy the 2 pack and find yourself in amazement.  The coolest part is that black is actually black.  It's not a dark blue or purple, it's pitch black!  This is such a cool product and one that will probably fly under the radar.

The flavor tastes very similar to the Blue Raspberry, which would make sense, but I think my love for Halloween has developed a bias because I feel like these taste just a tad bit better.  This is like the grand daddy of all Ring Pops in terms of flavor and no matter how many times people claim, or even prove, that this is the same as Blue Raspberry, I won't believe it.  I'll continue to deny it and stand by the fact that this is a brand new flavor.  This is Screaming Berry and there's nothing like it.  I don't know where Ring Pop found the rare Screaming Fruit to base their formula around, but they did and they should be rewarded with your dollar.  Seriously, you'll enjoy this one.  Even if you're not a fan of the flavor, the visuals are worth the buck.

Now, if you read everything I just wrote, go back and count how many times I wrote the words "Pop," "Pops," "Popped," "Popping," or anything else that involves POP.  Comment or tweet me @HolidazeBlog on Twitter with the answer.  First one to respond will receive the Box of Ring Pops (minus the 3 I opened to review.)  No charge.  Anyone who takes the time to do that deserves the box!

Monster Cereal Snacks

If you read any of my posts from last year's Halloween Holidaze, you know how much I love the Monster Cereals.  I mean, just look and my Holidaze and Twitter logos.  I have Yummy Mummy everywhere and I'm not even old enough to have ever tried Fruity Yummy Mummy cereal.  I can't explain where my love for these creatures comes from, but I'd bet it goes back to my childhood.  Whether is was waking up and enjoying a bowl of Frankenberry before school, or staying up late doing the same with Boo, it has been a mainstay throughout my Halloween seasons.  As I've gotten older, it's become more of a tradition, but there are still memories created with this trio every year.  I may not realize the impact they have on my Holidaze until it's over, but I can always count on them to provide some type of emotion.  Can you believe cereal can do that?

Well, this year, the cereal boxes haven't changed and there isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said last year.  I would talk about box art and flavor all day if there was something new to say, but unfortunately, the cereal is exactly what it's been since they became official Halloween cereals.  In fact, if anything, the cereals have actually lost a bit of their flavor.  I think it has to do with General Mills adding less sugar than previous years.  It's clearly noticeable and it does affect the flavor.  It's not horrible, but it's different.  It used to pack more of a punch.  Now it's more like a tickle.  Either way, I love the cereals and I'll continue to buy them no matter what they taste like.

Lucky for all of us, that's not what this post is about.  No, getting to my point, we're talking about snacks!

Introducing -- Boo Berry Razzle Boo Blitz Fruit Roll-Ups!  Try saying that 5 times fast!  Now, these aren't new, but they're new to me because I've never purchased them before.  Years ago, I found Monster Cereal Fruit by the Foot, which was great, but they've apparently been replaced by the Roll-Ups.  I'm not complaining!  They're essentially the same flavor and texture, just one is more fun than the other.  I'll let you decide which one I'm talking about.

The box is nearly identical to the Boo Berry Cereal box, but Boo is clearly holding his Razzle Boo Blitz Roll-Ups in his right hand.  Of course, the real Fruit Roll-Ups don't look like that.  They're supposed to have his body and logo printed on the candy for kids to "tattoo" their tongues, but trust me, that's not as easy as you'd think.  

These things are a pain to unroll.  They stick to the plastic so well that it's almost impossible to unwrap them without smudging the printed face or logo.  Ripping the candy down the middle is another unfortunate consequence of the plastic wrapper and it really bugs me.  I remember, when I was a kid, these unrolled much easier.  The candy seemed thicker and we were able to punch out the shapes rather than stick them on your tongue.  That was so much better.  There was more detail etched into the candy.  Now, it's just a darker shade of blue printed on another type of blue.  Impressive, but not the best they can do.  Plus, look at that design.  Can you see it?  Probably not.  For some reason, the Boo Berry Fruit Roll-Up doesn't have as much printing as the following.  It's not a deal breaker, but it's curious.

Now, if you open these and don't give two ghost sheets about the way they look and feel, then you're in luck!  See, this Boo Berry Fruit Roll-Up tastes gooood!  No, it doesn't taste like Boo Berry cereal.  That would be ridiculous.  You expect it to taste like some type of rasp or wild berry and that's exactly what you get.  This product wasn't designed to be Halloween themed inside and out, this was just perfect branding.  Let's take a popular flavor and throw it in a Boo Berry costume.  Do that, and people will eat 'em up.  And ya know what, Betty?  You're absolutely right!  Had this been a boring white box with blueberries and a happy face, I would have never ever picked it up.  But, you slapped Boo on the box and you had me on the hook.  It doesn't take much, but a product that tastes good doesn't hurt either.  This does.

Growing up, eating blue food was always cooler than eating red or green food.  To be precise, I should say "candy" rather than "food."  Food would mean healthy products that taste good and are good for you.  If that's the case, it's most likely not blue.  So let's be real here, I'm not talking about healthy junk!  This is The Holidaze!  I'm talking about Blue, Red, and Green candy!

However, as I've gotten older, it's become more than just color that's important and that's why I like these Frankeberry Fruit Roll-Ups more.  The Strawberry Scream is a cool name, Frankenberry looks great and, honestly, I'm just a biased fan.  Frankenberry is my favorite of the living Cereal Monsters and I'm, more times than not, going to put him at the top of the list every time.  I'd like to be objective, but I can't be.  I mean look, I just said Strawberry Scream is a cool name.  That's not even close to Razzle Boo Blitz but I can't admit that Boo Berry has a more creative name.  My loyalties lie with Frank and even if Count Chocula is the leader, I'll always be hoping for a surprise revolt led my Frankenberry and the resurrected Yummy Mummy and Frute Brute.  Hey Paramount, I just gave you the plot for your next movie.  It will make no money.

I have no idea why I couldn't take this picture more clearly, but no matter how many times I angled the Roll-Up, it came out blurry.  Plus 1 for Boo.  But I also have to laugh at the fact that I stood in my kitchen positioning candy for 20 minutes before realizing this wasn't that serious.  I mean, don't get me wrong, it's pretty damn serious, just not THAT serious.  So, you get what you get.  You can clearly see how many logos are printed on this one strip.  We have the cereal logo, Frank's body, and Frank's head.  That's so much better than Boo's blank blue box.  I don't know if it was just the luck of the draw or if it's just the way it is, but in this case, Frankenberry wins again!  Great succes!

I can assure you that Frankenberry Fruit Roll-Ups are not orange, but this picture would indicate otherwise.  Obviously, we've learned today that Frank is not very photogenic, but he is clear this time and you're able to get a better look at the designs.  I actually just noticed the lower left graphic featuring Frankenberry and a tombstone.  That's different.  I don't think I've ever seen a tombstone association with him.  It's pretty morbid and, for Halloween, I like that!  If I was 6 years old, I'd probably stick that right on my tongue.  But, I'm 25, and did it anyway!  Unfortunately, it didn't come out at all and there's nothing to show you.  Still, I'd recommend giving it a shot yourself.  It's fun trying.

The flavor is nothing new.  If you've ever had a Strawberry Fruit Roll-Up, then you've had a Frankenberry Strawberry Scream Fruit Roll-Up.  They're exactly the same, so you know what to expect.  Again, like with Boo Berry, it's about the branding.  It's about the box and wrappers.  It's not about the flavor.  In some cases, I'll pass up on a product when they don't change the flavor, product, food, candy, etc.. But, in this case, I couldn't.  One, it's Monster Cereal! Two, they did make the effort to print their images.  That was enough to pick these up and I'm glad I did!

Now.. On to something that IS new and has made my day!!

All hail the mighty leader, Count Chocula, and his NEW Count Chocula Treats!  Wow, this was a huge surprise.  I first saw these on Instagram.  I typed in #Countchocula, looked for a few classic images, and saw this pop up.  At first, I thought it was photoshopped.  This was back in August, before the cereals were even released, so I wasn't expecting this to actually become a reality.  But, low and behold, after a good month of searching, we finally found these and I am super pumped.  

I've had the Lucky Charms Treats before and I think I developed an addiction to them for about a week or so.  I couldn't get enough of them.  They tasted exactly like Lucky Charms and I found it so much easier to eat that in the morning instead of a bowl of cereal.  It was fast, it was easy, it was good.  Now, with Count Chocula, it can only get better!

Okay, so the treats aren't as pictured on the box, but they're close enough.  No, the marshmallows aren't overly packed into these things like the box would have us believe, but you don't need them, anyway.  This is chocolatey goodness in the purest form.  From the picture above, you can see what appears to be a cookie layer laying on top of a chocolate sheet of candy.  Well, that cookie is, in fact, Count Chocula cereal chopped down to create the perfect Halloween treat.  Those pieces are surrounded by chocolate fudge, chocolate chips, and chocolate swirls.  Underneath all of that, in the middle, are the spooky marshmallows waiting to attack.  It really couldn't be put together any better than it is!

Do you love chocolate?  Have you ever tried the Coco Puffs Treats?  Then this is the snack for you!  This is just awesome.. It's so good that I'm trying to not fall into my old Lucky Charm habits by avoiding this addiction.  Look at the spooky marshmallow staring at you.  It's like a face has been created by my bite and he's luring you into his guilty pleasure.  Perhaps this has been Count Chocula's plan all along!  He's a sly one..

In all seriousness, I don't know why General Mills haven't released these sooner.  This HAS to make them big bucks this Halloween season and, if I have it my way, it will pave the way for Frank and Boo to join him as one of the "Treats" next year.  If you make them, with the white milk bottom, I'd imagine they'd taste amazing.  Obviously Count Chocula couldn't be made into a Fruit Roll-Up (Ew, but I'd try it), but Frank and Boo can certainly join Choc next year and I'd love to see it.  Go out and buy these great treats so we can get the sales up.  Even if it doesn't lead to anything new, you'll be able to say you had a Count Chocula Halloween Treat!  You won't regret it..

Now, what could be better than that?

It looks like a slug, it looks like a rope, it looks like a joint, and it reminds me of a barber shop.  But, it's none of that, it's my FrankenBooComboBerry.  It's not hard to figure out what I did here.  I simply took one of each Fruit Roll-Ups, combined them, and twisted.  Besides an awkward looking piece of candy that can be interpreted in many ways, it creates a crazy flavor that tops each of these individual monsters.  So, if you go out and buy these things, make sure you create FrankenBooCombBerry and enjoy the trip!

Cupcakes & Fruit Snacks

To quote my Jersey Shore brethren, "Yeahh Buddy!"  September was great, it provided many Holidaze posts and certainly topped last year, but October...Is...Here!!  This is it!  31 days of pure, unadulterated, mayhem!  This is the only month of the year where you can truly be and feel like a kid without feeling a single shred of guilt.  Want to dress up like a Pirate?  Go ahead.  Want to dress up like a Super Hero?  Sure!  Do whatever you want, and nobody will judge you because it's all about Halloween.  This is the best month of the year.  It's filled with Haunted Houses, pumpkin patches, apple picking, spooky stories, scary movies, candy, and, of course, that perfect Fall weather.  It's just an amazing time of year and I truly can't get enough of it.

To celebrate the dawn of a new October, I did a little Googling.  See, it's been at least two years since I walked through a Haunted House.  I always mean to make it, but something always prevents me.  Not this year.  I'm ready to go and, to be sure, I compiled a list of local attractions that I plan on attending this year.  There are a few that I never heard of, a few that I'm actually afraid of, and a few that I've been to before.  Regardless, I'm looking for the best of the best and, as I find them, I'll be sure to review them for all of you here on The Holidaze.  I'm avoiding spoilers so I can't tell you where or what I have planned, but I would like to share this suggestion list from HauntedHouse.com.  I'm looking at the NJ/NY area, but check out your own area and find one near you!

Now, on to the entry!

If we were judging October by the logo banner above, then we'd be in for a pretty horrible month.  I admit, it's not my best.  I quickly put it together in MS Paint and said "eh, it's good enough."  There's only so much you can do with Cupcakes and Fruit Snacks without giving away the actual product information and photos.  But hey, I made it black and orange, and wrote "Snax" instead of "Snacks."  That has to count for something, right?

Tastykake is back on The Holidaze with their Kreepy Kakes!  I'm a big fan of Halloween cupcakes, but my love really lies with the idea of these cupcakes.  I've never really enjoyed these boxed, processed, cupcakes.  I'm more of a homemade type of guy.  But, every year, I find myself hunting down Halloween Cupcakes.

The reasoning for that goes back to my childhood.  I used to walk down the block to the local "corner store" in search of treats.  At that point, I didn't really care about it being Halloween related.  I just wanted something good.  I had about $3 which, at the time, made me feel like a millionaire.  I would walk around for 20 minutes, looking at the same bags of chips and Now & Later's, until I ultimately wound up with Cheesy Checkers and Jolly Ranchers.  It was always the same outcome!

But.. One Halloween, these schemers bought a box of Hostess Scary Cakes and sold them as individual packs.  I walked in and, immediately, I was drawn to the orange icing.  I was enticed by the sprinkles and chocolate cake.  In fact, as I write this, the memories are rushing back and I remember exactly what edition Hostess was promoting.  At first, I thought I was making it up, but when I googled it, I found this..

Ahhhh man!  There it is!  I can't believe this just came to me!  That's exactly what lured me in and hooked me forever.  This came out in 1992!  I was 5-years-old!  I remember being with my Dad the first time I saw it.  I mean, no wonder I'm so into product design and graphics.  This is one of the most amazing boxes I've ever seen!  The way "Munster Pack" drips in green ooze and the fact that the Munster family is drawn around the logo?  Whoa.. I can't help but love it.  No matter how much I dislike the actual cupcakes, I'll never say no to a product that evoked that type of feeling when I was just a young kid.  I don't care if it's Hostess, Tastykake, or Little Debbie.  If you release a Halloween Cupcake, I'm buying it.  It captures the true essence of Halloween!

TastyKake does a great job, but they don't measure up the the classic Hostess designs.  That's okay, though.  I'm not looking to make this a competition, I'm looking to make this blog entry about a wonderful product.  The fact that TastyKake does anything at all is more than I can ask for.  

The cupcakes themselves are very similar to the ones I grew up on.  They're orange, they have sprinkles on top, and the chocolate cake has a white cream filling.  In that regard, they're pretty spot on.  And that's important because, as I said, taste doesn't mean much to me.  I eat them to say that I did, but I'm more fond of looking at them than devouring them.  It's about memories and opening up a window to the past.  Perhaps I should change the name of this blog from The Holidaze to The Nostalgia.  For me, that's what the holidays have become all about.

By the way, do Kellogg's own TastyKake?  Because look at those sprinkles.  Those are very similar to the ones found on Spookylicious Pop-Tarts!  The creepy moons have been replaced by baby pumpkins, but the shapes and sizes are very resembling.  Probably just a coincidence, but interesting indeed.  To me, anyway.

No matter who owns what, I'm impressed with the fact that there are sprinkles on the top and bottom of these cupcakes.  I don't know if this was their intention or if all the shuffling caused sprinkles to stray, but this is what I found on each cupcake I opened.  It's a great touch.  Nobody sees the bottom and, unless you're me, nobody cares about the bottom.  But, because I did, TastyKake is getting high praise on a blog that millions of people ready every day.  And by millions, I mean 148 people.

As soon as I bit into this cupcake, I was taken back in time.  I don't know if the flavor comes close to that of Hostess, but it did something to me that makes me think it does.  It's truly amazing how the mind works because, for a split second, I was taken back 20 years and it was 1992 again.  Obviously, the memories are all there, we just need to figure out ways of bringing them to the surface.  That split second was pure joy.  It summed up The Holidaze in a nutshell and symbolizes everything I strive for during these months.  Who woulda thunk a cupcake could do that?

As for taste?  It's what I expected.  It's processed, it's boxed, it's not bad.  If not for the representation, I wouldn't run to it for my snack fix, but it definitely isn't horrible.  I actually liked it more than I did in previous years and, if it's there, I'm not going to turn it down.  Basically, because I'm running on and on, It's good, but if there's a homemade cupcake there, I'm going to pick the latter every time.

When the Munster Pack was released, the back of the box featured a cut-out mask.  Sometimes it was Herman, other times Grandpa.  The cool part about that was the fact that they differentiated from box to box.  It wasn't necessarily a surprise, but it was nice that you had options.  Plus, for collectors, it meant purchasing more than one box.  That was pretty smart of Hostess.

TastyKake is keeping their competitors' tradition alive with this cut-out mask.  He's no Herman, but he is Frankenstein.  It's not the best artwork I've seen and I'm surprised TastyKake didn't put a little more effort into the box, but it's okay.  Little kids aren't going to care and even a grown Hallowgeek like me isn't going to bother cutting this out.  Well, at least not in reality.  Graphically?  Of course!

My good pal, Dr. Acula is back again and, as usual, he's confused!  If you remember last year's post, you understand what I'm talking about.  Dr. Acula desperately wants to be a real-life Vampire.  It's been his childhood dream.  But, unfortunately, he doesn't who or what he is and is stuck in limbo.  He's just a guy trying to find himself.  Last year, we caught him dressing up like a pumpkin.  This year, he's dressing up like Franky.  Poor Dr. Acula.  At least he can rest at day knowing that The Holidaze readers love him for him, whoever he may be.

Look what I fouunnd!!  Remember when I said that I wished they'd make Halloween Fruit Snacks instead of constantly producing Gummi's?  Well, ladies and gentlemen, here they are!!  A kind Holidaze reader, Linny, commented and brought these to my attention.  I was fairly confident that I had seen this box in previous years, but always overlooked it for some reason.  Maybe because the graphics don't pop enough for me to stop and stare, but I think I drastically underrated this box's design and it's content.  Sure, it's very orange, but duh, that's Halloween!!  We have Trick-or-Treaters along the bottom, dark, spooky grass, a grinning Jack-O-Lantern, and the snacks themselves, all decked out in appropriate Halloween colors.  I'm sorry I didn't buy you before, Betty Crocker.  But this year, you weren't getting away so easy.

Looking at the shapes and colors, which would you assume is the hardest to find?  Which piece would be Halloween's version of the Great White Shark?  If you're like me, you'd probably go with the Blue Black Cat.  It stands out the most and, like the shark, it appears to be a different type of texture.  But, guess what, that's false!  In fact, none of these shapes are hard to find and, if anything, the ones you'd expect to find more than the others are the ones I've seen less of.

What you see above are 3 packs worth of Fruit Snacks.  I didn't find a yellow ghost or red bat until I got to the final pack.  The blue?  I found those in all 3 along with the overpopulation of green spiders.  The witch hat and pumpkins made limited appearances in packs 2 and 3.  Crazy, right?  Boggles the mind.  Makes one question the universe.  I'm kidding, but what else can I say to pass time talking about Fruit Snacks?

They look cooler when you bunch them up together and put the flash on.  I know that the back of that yellow ghost looks like somebody licked him, but that's just the texture.  And maybe a fingerprint.  Ah well..

On to the taste, I have to say that these are really good!  And that's with good reason.  Little did I know, Betty Crocker also makes SHARK BITES!  Now it's all coming together.  Now it all makes sense!  All of a sudden, these Fruit Snacks taste even better than I thought before.  Whoa, Betty Crocker makes Gushers too?  Oh man.. This is just getting better and better.  Now I have to demand that you buy these treats!  Get 'em now and hand them out to each and every kid you find on Halloween night.

I usually go from box, to wrapper, to snack, but this is the only downside to the Fruit Snacks so I'm ending on a low note.  I know, it's going to ruin your day now, but it must be done.  The problem with these packages is that they're too small.  They're promoting 28 packs, but it's more like 10 when you're 25 years old and can't get enough of Halloween Fruit Snacks.  I know, I know, they're made and intended for 6-year-olds going door to door, but when was the last time one of them wrote on a blog?  When did they review for Betty, huh?  

Ha.. In all seriousness, I can't find a single problem with anything I've covered today.  This was a great, subtle way to kick off the month of October.  But rest assured, things are going to get rowdy around here.  It'll soon be time to up the ante and start going out on adventures.  Who knows where they will take us!  Time will tell, and so will I, so get ready!  If you have any suggestions, send 'em my way! @HolidazeBlog on Twitter or comment here!

To conclude, I had to include a photo of my Vampire Pez.  He's blue, the package is spooky, and it represents Halloween.  He's my end-shot because that's about all I can say about him and I plan on keeping him packaged.  But, the cool part is, my Dad actually bought this for me a few days ago.  It doesn't matter how old I get, my Dad will still be one of the main reasons I grew into such a Halloween fan.  This was a cool surprise and, if you read this entire post, you'll see that my love for this holiday has pretty much come full circle.