Candy Cocktails for Halloween!


Disclosure: Sponsor is providing the Candy Cocktail Book to the Winner.

With Halloween right around the corner how many of you have been trying to craft the perfect cocktail?  With all the candy options out there don’t you think it’d be a GREAT way to add crafty fun to your cocktails?

Sisters Flannery and Katherine Good  definitely thought so from the fun blogging site, “Fashionably Bombed.” And they’ve recently released their first Candy Cocktail book.  

Candy-CocktailsI mean, just see some of the fun cocktail creations below:

Candy Corn Martini (page 126)

candy-corn-martini

 

Lemon juice, for rim

Yellow, orange and white Jimmies (sprinkles), for rim

1 ounce candy corn vodka infusion

1 ounce fresh lemon juice

1/2 ounce Drambuie

 

Rim a martini glass with lemon juice and the sprinkles and set aside. Shake the rest of the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and then strain the mixture into the glass.

Black Licorice Widow (page 128)

black-licorice-widow

 

2 ounces black vodka

1 ounce Jagermeister

1 ounce blueberry pomegranate juice

1 black licorice wheel, for garnish

 

Shake the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain the mixture into a martini glass.  Garnish by cutting the black licorice strings and making them look like spider legs coming out of the glass!

Peanut Butter Cup (page 50)

peanut-butter-cup

 

Milk chocolate, melted, for rim

Crushed chocolate wafer cookies, for rim

1/4 cup salted peanut butter

1/4 cup whole milk

1/2 ounce vodka

1 ounce creme de cacao

4 to 6 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Minis, for garnish

 

Rim a martini glass with melted milk chocolate and then with crushed chocolate wafer cookies, and set aside.  Combine the peanut butter, milk, vodka, and creme de cacao in a blender until smooth.  Shake mixture with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a martini glass.  Garnish with the stack of mini peanut butter cups.

And now ONE of my lucky readers has a chance to win a copy:

Retail Value: 16.50
a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary, void where prohibited.  Must be 21 years or older and reside in the US.  Winner will be notified by email and sponsor will ship out the prize.  All other rules can be found here.

Categories: Cocktails, Cooking | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Halloween across the US: Top 5 Destinations!


It’s October, and I’ve been thinking about towns across the US that would be fun to visit during Halloween Time, or this month of October.

Halloween

Some stand outs include:

New Orleans, Louisiana

Halloween, after Mardi Gras is the most celebrated event in New Orleans, and trust me, it’s not just for kids including the loads of STREET Parties that New Orleans is truly known for. Stop into a Costume Shop to figure out the perfect costume before heading out to town, or bring it with you.

Also known for their Haunted Tours and Spiritual Shops scattered all around town. Explored a Cemetary, take in a Haunted House or check out a Voodoo Shop.  This is a GREAT destination for Halloween.

Referred to as the most haunted city in America, visit the numerous haunted houses, including The Hermann-Grima House, Hotel Monteleone, Beauregard-Keyes House, and Old Absinthe House, among others.

Check out this great deal from CheapOAir: Spend 3 nights/4 days at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for $820 per person if booked by October 24th.

Tombstone, Arizona:

Head to Tombstone, Arizona this Halloween and partake in a little bit of the Old West. Take the Tombstone Ghost Tour, rated one of the best Ghost tours out there.

And just a few weeks before Halloween, head to one of the biggest festivals in Tombstone: HellDorado Days truly celebrating it’s golden heritage days of the 1880’s.  Taking place October 17-19. Helldorado is a major Arizona Attraction held every third weekend in October and consists of gunfight re-enactment shows, street entertainment, fashion shows and a family oriented carnival.  In addition, come and watch the Annual Helldorado Parade on Sunday at 11am.  

Sleepy Hollow, New York

Last year I wrote ALL about the Real Sleepy Hollow, and all the various fun events to partake in.  This is a TOWN I truly want to visit over Halloween weekend in the future.

Legend of Sleepy Hollow

If you’ve ever been I’d love to hear about your experience.  From The Haunted Graveyard to the Jack O Lantern Blaze to Horsemen’s Hollow to taking historic tours of the small town in New York.

Salem, MA:

Salem must be on your Halloween radar one of these years.  Head to the place where the Salem Witch Trials happened, and get your haunt on with their annual Haunted Happening Events throughout the month of October.

Take a haunted tour, there are many to choose from including: Ghosts, Cat Tours, and Scary Stories Tours to the 1692 Salem Witch Tour.

Partake in a Haunted Harbor Cruise to the Haunted Happenings Carnival taking place to the Salem Witch’ Halloween Ball (The Festival of the Dead).  There’s a little something for everyone.

Be sure to check out the Haunted Happenings Website to begin your planning and to take a peek at the Online Guide (54 pages altogether!)

 

Los Angeles, CA

I know you’re most likely shaking your head as to why I included Los Angeles into this mix, HOWEVER, have you seen the Halloween events happening all over town?

westhoillywoodhalloweencarnival-142

A few favorites include:

West Hollywood Halloween Street Party

I went to this for 2 straight years when I resided down in Los Angeles, and I was awestruck by the creativity of the costumes.  If you’re looking to check out costumes, laugh it up, and just have a good time on Halloween night, heading to West Hollywood is a great plan of action.

Queen Mary Dark Harbor:

An annual event that takes place at the historic Queen Mary with appearances by Scary Mary and many many other ghouly monsters and goblins.  Opening night takes place October 2nd, and runs through Nov. 2nd. Tickets start at just 20 dollars.  Other options available including VIP, Fast Fright and Lodging Options available.

Mickey’s Halloween Party:

Nothing’s more magical than being able to Trick or Treat in the Magic Kingdom.  Put on your favorite costumes and head out to Disneyland during these special events that cost extra beyond your season pass or park ticket.  More information found here.

If not a fan of Mickey head to

Knott’s Scary Farm

or Universal Studios Fright Nights

and another annual favorite is none other than the LA Haunted Hayride Seriously one of the best Halloween Haunted events out there.

Did I miss a favorite event of yours?  Let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to add it in.

 

 

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Get Your Copy: 2015 Unofficial Guide to Disneyland! and Giveaway


Disclosure: I received a book for review purposes.  Sponsor will send out the giveaway copies to the rightful winners. The post may include affiliate links that help run Minnesota Girl in the World. 

Growing up in the MidWest, I truly know the amount of time that is spent on planning out your first trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World.  It is a HUGE trip, and if you’re like me, were planning on it for months reading up on every brochure, every website to get the most out of your trip.

Unofficial-Guide-Disneyland

The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2015 is a lifesaver especially when planning your trip. This guide has EVERYTHING from lodging, to rating the different dining options to even day by day guides for every theme park.  The guide didn’t skip out on California Adventure either making sure to fill you in on everything happening in the park.

It details EVERY Ride, Every RESTAURANT within the parks along with the Anaheim area, and gives honest feedback from real people that have visited the park.

The guide is really geared towards families, but even as adults without children, this is a guide that can easily help plan for your dream Disneyland vacation. The best part of a guide is you decide how to follow it.

Luckily for you, we are giving away 3 copies right here.

Enter Below for Your Chance to Win:

Retail Value: 17.99
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Must be 18 years or older and reside in the US.  Winner will be notified by email and sponsor will ship out the prize.  No purchase necessary, void where prohibited.  All other rules can be found here.

Categories: Orange County, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , | 6 Comments