AM~Erica Celebrates Belatedly

So anyway...

I keep trying to get the holiday going, but things keep getting in our way by way of scheduling & things.

Last year, on October 9th, I tried to celebrate Leif Erickson Day (reminder HERE), and it went OK. Needed to do much better. So I tried again this year...

It was Teen Boy's last first tournament of his high school career. So he wouldn't be with us for dinner, for sure.

Teen Girl is trying to start her job, so she had her first training/orientation - but their computers were down, so she was there for about 5 minutes...again.

Lil Guy had a school thing where it was like a writer's workshop. They were to showcase a story they had been working on, along with some goodies.

As you can see, chunks of our day were taken up already.

Originally I was picturing having crepes with lingonberry sauce...but...but...pumpkin pancakes happened! Because, well, pumpkin pancakes.
When I walked into our IHOP with my hubby, one of the servers saw us coming, was waiting for us, then said, "Hi, guys! Pumpkin pancakes? Do you even need menus?"
HAHAHAHA!!
They know us there.
So, coffee & pumpkin pancakes it became. Because...pumpkin pancakes.
We love them.

Also, since it was a Friday, and Teen Boy was at a tournament, we usually have orange chicken. (recipe HERE) It was hard to waiver from our first orange chicken dinner in quite some time.

Plus, the Royals were playing that night, too.

The closest viking-anything I did during the day was wear a fur vest...to accessorize my Royals shirt, of course.

*le sigh*

Another holiday that didn't go nearly as planned...figures.

So, I decided to piece it together in the time coming.

Saturday, I decided to do a viking-inspired meal. Even though the kiddos were grumpy about it (minus Teen Boy, who was back at his tournament), I baked up some salmon fillets on cedar planks, then served it with cranberry sauce (YAY! It's cranberry season!! Find the recipe HERE) and some sweet potato crinkles.

I added almonds to top my salmon, walnuts topped the salmon for hubby.

Then, since it's is October, I have dressed up for the promo table for Trunk-or-Treat at church for the past few years. This year is no different.
Week 1 had Laetitia, the Roman goddess of joy, celebration & festivities cover the table.

Laetitia, Roman goddess of joy, celebration & festivities

So, when week 2 was approaching, a few things came into play for that week:
1. it needed to be used as close to Leif Erickson Day as possible
B. the Chiefs could NOT be playing the Vikings

Once both of these were confirmed, I prepared Hinga Dingadoergan, a viking warrior, to take the stage.

Hinga Dingadoergan taking the mic on the stage at Christ UMC for Trunk-or-Treat promo
** photo taken by Teen Girl **

Of course, with a ruana & fur, it would be an 80 degree day in October...
*le sigh*

So I got to show a bit of wild, viking spirit...so I extended it out a little bit more...

When I got home, I decided to try some of my open-faced sandwiches, just to keep up the Leif Erickson Day(s) a little longer...

Even though I'd hoped to do a little more of my open-faced sandwich (recipe HERE), I did a super simple smoked salmon on rye bread with honey mustard, chives & dill. I added the sides of strawberries & baby carrots. And it was still delicious!

I didn't get a chance to do my takeout Danish pastries (like these, HERE) or my Scandinavian-inspired almond & cardamom cakes (recipe HERE). Bummer.

So, still working on getting the Leif Erickson Day up & running, really. Slowly, but surely. Amm-i-rite? (I am right, and don't call me "Shirley.")

However, this leads to today. It's supposed to be Columbus Day...but...ugh.
My only celebrating of this day, per the usual, is not getting mail and not going to the bank. Other than that, can we please get rid of this faux celebration? I mean, my kiddos are in school today. That should tell you that this stupid "holiday" is on it's way out.

I'm all for the push for Indigenous Peoples Day. Let's get on that! And lift up Leif Erickson Day, too! (Umm...it is an actual federal holiday, folks.)

In the meantime, Hinga Dinga Durgan from Hinga Dingadoergan! And work on better celebrating next year.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Gives Treats from a Trunk

So anyway...

If you remember, this Halloween season started out crazy leading to this weekend. (read the lead-in post HERE) Well...the weekend continued...

It was time for taking charge of the last morning of the Trunk-or-Treat table. You know that meant I needed to attract attention like I have the previous 3 weeks. Amm-i-rite?

I decided to put together & try a costume about 2 years in the making. I got drawn to the striking visual of the steampunk genre. I did not start with it thru books like many have...probably because I'm a visual person & need to see it first.

I began to dig into research it a bit...and the more I looked & was trying to get a grip & understanding of it...you know I had ideas swirling in my brain. Amm-i-rite?

A character began to come to me. I was slowly working collecting pieces to actually WEAR a steampunk outfit. Now I just needed a time to unveil Lady T'luluh Poulpe' to the world. Trunk-or-Treat table, at church, seemed as fitting time as any...so...

Everything here was a gift, from thrift shops, hand-me-downs/overs, and clearance.
I even faked a bustle.

It's just the beginning as I am working on the backstory for her. I've got a start of her background. I can't wait to actually get it down there & get other necessary pieces to make the story work a bit more. But in the meantime...I so love this outfit!!
But it figures that it was 80 degrees this late October day in Missouri, so this outfit was making me melt! More than just the love of it...but it was so warm!

But once I got home...it was time to shift focus to Trunk-or-Treat that night. My hubby & I were both doing our cars just to help give numbers in cars. Since we decided on the extra car last minute, I had to do some quick thinking for decorating our other trunk. *THINK-THINK-THINK*

I decided to head out to pick up a couple of things to go with the costume I had planned for that night. (Yes...yet another costume. DUH!) I had a coupon for World Market, so I got a great "Book of Life" ukulele for nearly nothing, since it was also on sale! Yippee!! It would look awesome with the Mexican blanket that belonged to my grandmother, and also the sombrero I've had for quite sometime. See where this is going??
I also hit the dollar store to see if I could fill out a couple more pieces for my theme of Dios de los Muertos. (Did you guess it by now?)

I have dabbled in the beginning celebrations of Day of the Dead (reminder HERE), but I had hoped it would translate to doing a trunk.

I had the sombrero, the blankets, got the tiny guitar for less than $1...actually nearly free (seriously),
and found the skeleton, beads, buckets & battery candles at the dollar store.
I took sharpies to create sugar skull patterns on the faces of the buckets. Easy-peezy.

But, like I said, I wanted it to match my costume for the event. And, even though my hubby was doing his own car, our costumes coordinated! This is a big deal, y'all. I'll explain why after I show this:

How's our sugar skull makeup?? I did it all! Which is actually really fun & kind of meditative...

I want you to keep something in mind about this. Last year, I brought up to my hubby that we have a Day of the Dead get together. A fiesta that includes remembering our loved ones who have passed on before us. As I explained it to him, he was not so keen on the sugar skull thing & refused to do any makeup kind of thing! So the fact that I threw the idea out there this year totally expecting it to NOT stick...is the one that DID!! Wha-WHA??? I know, right?

As I explained this to our good friend, and associate pastor, Rob (our "YOO CAHN DOO EET!" guy from the Firecracker Flight - HERE), he laughed & said to me, "Well, if you can start running..."
Touche', Rob. I gave him a fist bump for that one.

We got our trunks up & decorated, along with almost 30 other vehicles.

It was WINDY!! And warm. But still a great turn out! The event was top heavy in the schedule with the crowds since our hometown team was playing in the World Series game that night. So there was a HUGE rush for the first 45-ish minutes. Calmed down a bit afterward, still greeting a few kiddos thru the rest of the time.

But maybe the coolest moment for me was this:
A few folks figured out my overall theme. On one hand I could count how many kids &/or adults brought up Day of the Dead or "Book of Life." But it was the sweet, and well-costumed, Mexican family that came thru. That's the moment I got a bit nervous as to whether or not I may have done them proud or not. Truly I try to do justice to these celebrations & hoped I had transformed my trunk into a resemblance of an oferenda-type altar. I got my answer when they were ready to leave, sought me out at my car, and asked if they all could get a picture with me & my trunk decor! It was a beautiful moment.

In the meantime...I am taking a few days to gear up for Halloween! I am so looking forward to it! I'm sure that doesn't surprise you...but thought I'd tell you anyway.

And you know you'll be hearing about how that goes down. Amm-i-rite?

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Hustles for Halloween

So anyway...

As we all should know by now, we are on countdown to my favorite holiday! Just one of the few reasons I love October. And since Halloween comes for me nearly everyday, it seems to be less of a big deal when I dress up more often in October!

I love costumes! Almost to a fault...but not really. At least I don't see it that way! (check out some of my previous costumes & cosTUTUmes HERE)

When October rolls around, I know I get start promoting our church's Trunk-or-Treat event on Sunday mornings in the front lobby. We set up an information table, and I want to draw attention, so I dress up! It's a new character every week!! This year has been no different!

Trunk-or-Treat Info Table, Week 1: Tim Burton inspired

Trunk-or-Treat Info Table, Week 2: Pop Art Comic

Trunk-or-Treat Info Table, Week 3: Carlola

Oh, I do like to have fun with it, if you couldn't already tell...

Now then, if you have been paying attention...or even playing along...you might know I would have to work in a run to this, too. Amm-i-rite?

Well, I'm not gonna lie to ya. As much as I love Halloween, planning, and getting it all thought out...this year has not been as great in lines of thinking. I've been way to slow getting my thoughts together. I like to have much of this holiday with at least a good idea or 2 in motion about 2 months ahead of time. It hasn't happened this year. Much like the Halloween run(s) being planned...

Several months ago, hubby & I decided we would do one or 2 Halloween runs. As October began to fill up our schedules, the more difficult it was to decide if a run would even be possible! The last one we did was the DeFeet Hunger 5k, HERE. It been a while. Even though I did the Out of the Darkness walk at the beginning of this month (HERE), it still didn't help the lack of decent training I could get in for this month.

Finally, last week, hubby & I decided we would take in the Halloween Hustle 5k & 10k (we decided on the 5k distance). The costumes we thought about doing were no longer feasible due to timing. I can't say what they are since we may use it in the future...but just know it was gonna be GOOD!! But still a no-go. So were trying to figure out what we could do for costumes we could run in for the Halloween Hustle. And the wheels were turning...

In the meantime, we went to get our race packets the day before the run. As we went in, we gave our names to the employee at table, we got our bibs & info for the race. We also took in 4 canned goods, each, to get into a drawing for a running store gift card. As the other employee (who is also the race coordinator) took our canned goods & got our names for the drawing, she looked at me and asked if I was the one who blogged on the Firecracker Flight. In fact, if you remember, I did do a blog post about our Firecracker Flight experience, at the end of June! (reminder of the post HERE) She couldn't remember how she got to it, but said she loved reading it since it was from the runner's point of view!
Whoa! That was so awesome! Weird for me...but totally killer amazing!

And, as I was blown away from that bit of info, we went on with our day...still wondering what we were going to wear to run in...

Sadly, it was hard for me to think. I was suffering from a bad migraine that I was trying so hard to keep at bay. Not. Good.

However, I had just gotten new running shoes! They were SO needed as I wore out my other running shoes big time! This was another layer to my yucky training this month. But I did get this fantastic pair of Saucony Kinvara 5's!!

There's a runners' adage that says: "The brighter the shoe, the faster the runner."
BOOM! Get your sunglasses, peeps!

Since these shoes are obviously yellow...I wanted a cosTUTUme to go with the shoes. After a few fleeting thoughts, I made a decision! All I needed was ears. Well, also, another tutu that went perfectly.

I decided to be Minnie!

Ears & tutu to go along with the long sleeves, top, leggings (not pictured here), and headband I already had

Had to get the perfect makeup, too! Even for running!

Now then...since I had a migraine yesterday, I could not partake in usual my night-before-race routine to help insure a PR. So my equation to a PR was thrown off. I would just have to focus on the morning ritual to at least help...

Once I was together, and so was hubby...we headed off, fairly early, to the race. Like...before the bright of early set in. Plus, there was fog. An awesome start for a Halloween run...but not so good trying to see the road since it was still before the bright of early. Remember?

We got parked, valuables locked up, bananas consumed, water taken in, bibs on, necessary electronics in hand...and we were off to where it was all to begin...

And as the sun was rising, more people were coming in. Not a whole lot in costume...but still several.

Pre-race selfie/ussie/runfie after the sun started waking up

Before things got started, there was a costume contest...
...as usual, I just want to be in a class to seem competitive whether I win or not:

Here I am standing with my running friend, Sandy (from the Firecracker Flight),
as we wait to be costume-judged...

OK, so there was some pretty good competition out there...and there was only one winner for each of 3 categories: kids, adults, group. I wasn't in the kid category, and it would be weird as a solo entry in a group...so I was grouped in with a large group of costumed adults...
...and the winner is...
...a guy who dressed as Paul Bunyon!
OK...he did look really good. But it's OK! I loved my little cosTUTUme!

Soon after that, we began to gather at the start line...

The national anthem was sung...the drawing for the running store gift card had a name announced (bummer...not me or the hubby), and we were OFF...!!

Hubby's start of the race...

My mo-cheese-mo start to the race! Cuz...photo-op! Duh!

Like I've said before, I'm not gonna lie...this course was difficult. Absolutely beautiful fall scenery, fog-infused sun rays thru trees...but there were some tough hills! Oh...and a surprise stretch of trail running...with hills! Yikes!
Did see a guy bite the dust on the trail portion. He was OK...but it was scary to see!

And as the race went on, right around mile 3 was recorded for posterity:

Hubby killing the course!

When you don't plan on a PR,  just cheese it hardcore for the camera...

And we came up to the finish line...

BUMMER!!! They missed my signature leap!!
And you know I did it...

After we both finished...and we got our pics with our finisher medals!

No, I did not PR, but I still felt pretty good about my run! I still finished in under 30 minutes!

Heck yeah! I still did pretty OK, I think! Still averaging under a 10-minute mile. That's crazy to me! And 7th in my division? And 33rd overall female; 76th overall?? I'll take it all!!

And you know what? I'm married to a stud! He finished 6th overall & earned 1st in his age division! Plus...he got a PR!! His day was HUGE!!! So proud of my Prince Charming!

Before the day was over, we did get a chance to have a couple of fun pics in there, too:

Yeah...we're cute. We know.

I also had the privilege of meeting a fellow Run JunkEe!! There's an online running group I'm part of that is so encouraging! And there's those of us who do post in there pics, questions, tips, encouragement, milestones, etc. And I remember a couple of recent posts from Melinda. And there she was standing in the parking lot! I went & see if she was a fellow JunkEe...and then introduced myself. She was doing the 10k & I tried to give her some pre-race encouragement.

I saw her again after the race...right after she crossed the line! I was so proud of her!!
Everyone...wave hi to Melinda!!

What a great morning for a run! Overall, I had a lot of fun. No...no PR, but after the crummy training I've had, I was happy to take in the 3.1 miles in a Halloween cosTUTUme!
Plus, I got to meet a fellow JunkEe...and totally root on my stud of a hubby!

Oh...and just in case...
The race coordinator from Bodies Health & Fitness may read this blog again.
If that's the case, everyone, wave hi to Jen!

Now...onto continuing to root on the Royals to World Series victory! And more race planning, too! Oh...and getting together my final Trunk-or-Treat promo costume, plus Halloween costumes...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica