Krispy Skremes for Halloween

Doughnuts are one of my favorite deserts; but unfortunately I often can't share my passion for them with my kids because at most bakeries there is the potential of contamination by peanuts and tree nuts.  That's too scary of a risk for this dad of children with severe food allergies where just the slightest exposure can be life threatening.  One outlet where we can enjoy a doughnut together is Krispy Kreme because they don't include ingredients that my kids are sensitive to in anything they bake in their kitchen which reduces the threat of contamination.  Krispy Kreme often creates specially decorated doughnuts for promotions throughout the year and since our family doesn't indulge in these snacks that often when these occur I like to pick these up for my children as a special treat.

Krispy Kreme always creates special doughnuts for Halloween and they've really out done themselves with some sweet looking zombies this year.  These Krispy Skremes are a ghoulish delight with not so scary zombie faces that will make kids giggle rather than cry.  There are two designs to choose from.  Would you prefer a blue faced one eyed zombie or a green Frankenstein's monster?

Stop by a Krispy Kreme location on Halloween and it is no trick that you can get one of these treats for FREE!!!  Krispy Kreme is giving away one of their Halloween themed doughnuts to each person who stops by wearing a costume on October 31, 2016.  If you are too squeamish to bite into a zombie head then you can also select from a pumpkin, spider web, or colored sprinkles design.  Just remember to say Trick or Treat!

For more information or to find a location near you, visit krispykreme.com

Disclaimer:  I paid for these doughnuts with my own money and am endorsing the brand as a satisfied customer with no affiliation to the company.  Opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own.  In other words no one paid me or asked me to write this review.  Because menus at restaurants and ingredients in products can change without notice you should always read labels and ask locations about food allergy concerns before making a final determination if something is safe for your particular medical condition.

Halloween Fun Runs

Fall is one of my favorite times to get outside and participate in running events because of its moderate temperatures, the brilliant coloring of the trees that decorates the Michigan landscape during this time of year, and there are always fun and interesting themed races going on -- especially revolving around Halloween.  There are races where participants are chased by zombies, fun runs where everyone is encouraged to wear a costume, events that have runners trick or treating along the route and others that are like taking a jog through an outdoor haunted house.  There is plenty of spooky fun to be had if you are up to running a 5K right before Halloween.

2016 MICHIGAN HALLOWEEN THEMED FUN RUNS:

Midland Zombies 5K Trail Run -- Saturday, October 15

Run through a 3 mile route through the trails of Midland's City Forest park trying to avoid a hoard of local middle school and high school kids who have been transformed for the day into flesh eating, human loving zombies.  Dodge the zombie-infected teenagers without them capturing the flags attached to your waist to win the race.

Headless Horseman 5K & Monster Mile -- Saturday October 22

Round up your family and friends to run this nighttime race through the sleepy streets of downtown Howell and into the shadows of Lakeview Cemetery dressed in costume as your favorite Halloween character.  Just one of the Halloween themed activities going on in the city that weekend as part of its The Legend of Sleepy Howell festival.

Waterford Coalition for Youth Zombie Run -- Saturday, October 22

Run through the scenic trails of Hess Hathaway Park and beware the zombies! They don't chase you in this fun run but they may scare you.  Runners are actually encouraged to dress up as zombies themselves and their are some awards for best costumes.  There may be a lot of zombies at this event but they won't interfere with you while running the race course.

Shepard Haunted Trail 5K -- Saturday, October 22

Run a haunted 5k trail after dark through the Shepard High School Cross Country Course which will be full of Halloween fun!  The woods will be filled with ghosts, goblins, zombies and other spooky things positioned throughout the course who will try to scare you out of your running shoes.  All entrants will receive a headlamp to wear as part of their registration to help them safely navigate the fun run route.

Troy Frightful 5K and 1K Pumpkin Family Fun Run -- Sunday October 23

All entrants are encourage to wear a costume.  All Pumpkin Run participants receive a pumpkin at the finish line.

Halloween Hustle -- Sunday, October 23

Support United Way with your entry fee for this race through the historic neighborhoods of Marshall, Michigan.  Costumes are optional but encouraged.

Costumed 5K Run and Monster Mile Fun Walk -- Sunday, October 23

Burn off some calories before you eat all of that Halloween candy and get extra use out of your awesome costumes with your family, friends, and neighbors. This event will make you laugh, smile and sweat all the way to the finish line at the Clinton Township Civic Center Trails and grounds.

Waterford Halloween Spooktacular -- Sunday, October 23

3 spooky themed events in one event - 1 Mile Fun Run; Wicked Witches 5K; Ghost & Goblins 5K, Run all three or just pick one or two of them to participate in.  Participants receive unique swag for each race they run at Waterford Oaks County Park.

Brown City Days Zombie 5K Run & Halloween Fest -- Saturday, October 29

Jack-O'-Lantern 5K & Kids' Pumpkin Patch Trick-or-Treat Fun Run - Saturday, October 29

This event's 10K provides a super natural challenge as participants run through wooded trails filled with obstructions and challenging terrain.  Race across floating and stationary superdecks, fields and a small stretch of road.  Be prepared to hurdle downed trees, wade through tall grass, and sludge through some mud.  The 5K is a slightly less strenuous course that pits runners against one another on a narrow trail.  For the kids are two options -- a 1/2 mile fun run or a two loop 1 Mile race.

Spooky Scarecrow 5K Run / Walk -- Saturday, October 29

Run through the beautiful backwoods of historic Almont Townships Orchards in a fun Halloween themed race.  Prizes for both Best Times and Best Costumes for event participants with cider and doughnuts provided at the finish line.

Trick-or-Trot 5K Run / Walk -- Saturday, October 29

Support the Meridian High School Band Department in this fun run/walk with prizes for best costumes, medals for top finishers, and t-shirts guaranteed for all participants registered by October 21, 2016 that takes place in Sanford, Michigan.

The Scare for CARE Halloween 5K  -- Sunday, October 30

A spooky fun run and walk taking place in Ann Arbor to help tackle a scary problem troubling many families --  substance abuse. Proceeds support CARE of Southeastern Michigan which has served as the area’s lead referral source for substance abuse treatment since 1977.  There are three options to choose from: Thrilling 5k, Mummy Mile, or Kids Monster Mash Dash.

The Scare for CARE 5K starts just before sunset, that spine-tingling interval between daylight and dark. Dress up as one of the ethereal spirits known to roam the earth at this hour or wear your favorite costume. Then run, walk, or creepily crawl our dusk-lit 3.1 miles, but beware: you never know what frightful sights conceal themselves along the course, just waiting to provide even more hair-raising fun to your race!

For those guys and ghouls who prefer a less eerie distance, we offer up the Mummy Mile. Ideal for those seeking a spirited sprint, the Mummy Mile is also perfect for walkers, for families and fiends, and especially for younger participants, who can trick-or-treat along the way at our Candy Aid Stations, manned our friendly, non-frightening cast of characters.

Our littlest wizards and witches can enjoy a fun run all their own: the Monster Mash Dash! Open to competitors ages 8 and under, the Monster Mash Dash features a kid-friendly 100-meter sprint leading to the very same finish line that Mummy and Daddy will cross.

Wicked Halloween Run -- Sunday, October 30

Earn a fantastic glow-in-the-dark finisher medal by participating in the largest Halloween Run in the state. It promises to be a wicked good time! Costumes are encouraged and there is a contest that rewards the most ghoulishly dressed. A great event that starts and finishes from Plymouth's Kellogg Park that includes 10K, 5K and 1 Mile options to participate in.

Fun Runs / Walks are a great opportunity to get outside for some exercise, experience an out of the ordinary activity, and often times support the fundraising efforts of a charitable or community group.  Is there a Halloween running event near you that is fun to participate in?  If you don't know there are a multitude of online running directories that provide a calendar of events taking place either regionally, state-wide, or locally.  Lace up your sneakers and get out there if you can! Just don't let the zombies bite!

How To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse

A zombie apocalypse is just a topic for horror novels or movies so it could never happen in real life... could it?  Well don't be too quick to write that scenario off.  Did you know that there actually are real life zombies in our world?  According to National Geographic there exist zombies in the rain forests of Brazil ...  just not the type you'd think of based off of Night of the Living Dead or The Walking Dead.  These zombies are ants whose minds have been taken over by a fungus.  The fungus ophiocordyceps unlateralis infects an ant, takes over its mind and then kills the insect once it has moved to a location ideal for the fungi to grow and spread its spores to other ants.  Could such a fungus ever evolve to infect the human population?  Well while very unlikely, if a zombie apocalypse were to occur it probably would be due to some sort of bacterial, fungal or viral outbreak.

With the popular television show The Walking Dead recently starting its sixth season, Halloween approaching, and zombie ants on A Geek Daddy's mind, we reached out to Rachel Buchholz, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Kids magazine/digital and author of How to Survive Anything with some questions about how to survive a zombie apocalypse:

Q: What is the best way to ward off zombies?

A:  I’m not sure there’s any way to ward off zombies, so I think it’s best to just avoid them, like venomous snakes. Stay on clear trails or roads, and avoid walking through tall grasses or stepping over fallen logs without looking. Try to wear thick clothing that they can’t bite through.

If you see one that hasn’t seen you yet, just stay calm and slowly start walking in the opposite direction. If it has seen you and is making it’s way in your direction, run.

Q: Is there anything zombies would rather eat than human brains?

A:   It’s a little known fact that zombies are pretty lazy. They’re like lions and gators, which are usually after the easiest meal. So if you put up a fight—if you throw rocks, swing sticks, even poke at their eyeballs, they’ll probably start looking for an easier snack.

As you know zombies are also pretty slow so if one gets too close it’s totally feasible to take off and run. They’re kind of like killer bees, which will chase you for maybe about 200 yards, until you’re far enough away from their hive. I think 200 yards sounds like a good distance to put between you and a zombie swarm.

Unless you really know what you’re doing I don’t ever advise attacking a zombie. They might be slow and lazy, but if you don’t have a lot of practice you can become quickly overwhelmed, especially if there’s more than one.

Q: If you can pick any item but only ONE item to have on you and use to survive during a zombie apocalypse what would it be?

A:  If I could only have one item on me, it’d be a pop-top from a soda can. You can use it as a fish hook, a signaling mirror, a scraper, a flint, a food knife, and even a weapon.

 If I could have one other thing it’d be a sock. You can slit holes in it and use it as sunglasses, but you can also take out some of the elastic from time to time to use as string, like for a fishing lure.

Q: What would be the best way to ensure a supply of safe drinking water and food?

A: If it’s the beginning of the apocalypse I’d start like you were expecting a power outage after a hurricane and fill up every bathtub and sink you can find, even use the clean water in the toilet.  That will last you for a while if you limit your intake to the equivalent of about two cans of soda a day.

But that’s not going to last you forever, so you’re gonna eventually have to go to the woods and survive there. Try to make camp near a fresh source of water. This way you can learn to catch fish but also scavenge around the banks for water plants and the critters that live in them. But don’t drink the water unless you can boil it. Fresh water is really like one big toilet for animals, and too many of those microorganisms can make you sick. If you can’t boil the water, you can collect rainwater or lick dew off of plants. And if you get desperate, suck the liquid out of a fish eye. 

To make sure that the family of at least one of our blog readers has the skills to survive a zombie apocalypse, we have Rachel's book How To Survive Anything to giveaway.  This 176 page softcover book published by National Geographic Kids is recommended for ages 10 to 14 years old though it has valuable information that even kids' parents can take away from it as well.  The book is a hilariously informative take on surviving everything from the trials of middle school life to being lost in the jungles of South America with those zombie ants.  How To Survive Anything combines the National Geographic Society's expertise on nature and adventure with the Nat Geo Kids style to provide tweens and teens with advice to conquer any obstacle whether it is a life threatening or social status damaging situation that is both authoritative and amusing. The book retails for $12.95 on the National Geographic online store.

For a chance to win How To Survive Anything you  must be a U.S. or Canadian resident over 18 years old and submit the following entry methods prior to 11:59 pm EST on Saturday October 31, 2015 to earn up to 2 entries.  All valid entries will be assigned a number in the order they are received and one number will be  selected to determine the winner using random.org.  E-mails will only be used to contact the winner and deleted following the selection of a winner.

EMAIL (1 ENTRY)

E-mail thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com your name and mailing address.   Email subject line should be ZOMBIES.

TWITTER (1 ENTRY)

Follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and tweet:

Save me from the zombies @Geekdad248 - please have #ageekdaddy blog send me the @NGKids book HOW TO SURVIVE ANYTHING #Halloween #ad

Also check out this graphic novel put together by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) that is meant to be a fun way to teach emergency preparedness using the theme of a zombie apocalypse:



Happy Halloween everyone!!! Have fun and don't let the zombies bite!!!

A Geek Daddy is a member of the National Geographic Kids Insider blogger program.  Insiders get a behind-the-scenes look at National Geographic’s resources, activities, content and projects for kids and families. They also review copies of books, magazines and toys, and are offered interviews with authors, explorers and editors. 

National Geographic is a global nonprofit membership organization driven by a passionate belief in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world. National Geographic Kids teaches kids about the world and how it works, empowering them to succeed and make it a better place. National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, videos, events and a website, and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core.

DISCLAIMER:  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but National Geographic is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize.  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion.  If you win this prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation but did receive a free featured product for the blog to review and the prize that is being awarded to provide  one of our readers for this contest.  A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this contest as a benefit to our readers. Any opinions in this post are my own.  #NGKINSIDER

Dead New World

While I suffered through the flu over the holiday break, I passed some time reading the book DEAD NEW WORLD by Ryan Hill.  It is can become somewhat surreal reading a book about a zombie apocalypse caused by a viral pandemic while you are shaking and aching from the flu and the author did a nice job of bringing his story to life for its readers.  DEAD NEW WORLD really cemented for me that the zombie genre for the time being has allowed Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead to define the standard elements of any story - a crisis was created by a viral outbreak, a zombie bite will transform the person bitten into a zombie, a person's soul, identity, personality die when they transform into a zombie, and you have to destroy a zombie's brain to kill it although they don't act by thinking but rather through instinct, the world as we know it is gone and people are struggling to survive on a post-modern planet.  Though Hill sticks with these standardized elements in his story, he does branch off in some new ways to make this his own apocalyptic zombie tale.

In a Dead New World, the United States has been overrun by millions of infected people turned into zombies with a blood lust, but unlike the world of The Walking Dead the U.S. government was able to stay intact and operational stemming the tide of the infestation.  There are cities where people live in security and pockets of civilization spread out across the country.  The population is a small fraction of what it once was now though and the army is on constant patrol through the "wilderness" in an effort to keep zombie herds in check.  If it was just the zombies they had to deal with the tide may be turning back in humanity's favor but the army also is under assault from a dangerous cult of fanatics that worships the zombies and wants to take control of the world.  Led by a man known as The Reverend, this cult has the power to command the zombies and is quickly overrunning U.S. military bases and civilian settlements across the east coast of the country with an eye on destroying Washington D.C.

You see the Reverend was bitten by a zombie during the initial stage of the infection that enveloped the world but he didn't "turn" but rather just had some of his skin become discolored and mutilated.  Another side effect of his surviving the transformation was that he also now had the power to control the zombies around him.  He believes that those people who don't transform into zombies after becoming infected are meant to be a new hybrid race to rule a Dead New World.  The Reverend's zealous human followers volunteer to be exposed to the virus believing that it is God's plan for people to either become elevated to a higher level or to become zombie servants.   He has created a human/zombie army that may be unstoppable.

Young draftees Ambrose and Holt while on a routine patrol face their squad being wiped out by the Reverend's Army.  Can two sixteen year old grunts take on a cult, save Washington D.C. and prevent the world from becoming a place where humanity is obsolete and ruled by a maniac who believes that he will create a new hybrid race to rule over a world of zombie servants?  The focus of this book really is from the perspective of Ambrose and Holt and has just as much of a military stylized approach to telling the story as a horror or Sci-Fi tact to it. 

Ryan Hill

Dead New World receives A GEEK DADDY nod of approval because I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book from cover to cover.  Ryan Hill did a nice job of making this story an interesting and entertaining read that kept my interest and curiosity peeked throughout it.  If you are looking for some mindless zombie adventures that actually spin into a well thought out story arc this is a nice pick up.  Looking for a story to read at the beach, on a plane ride, or maybe while sick in bed with the flu...grab DEAD NEW WORLD published by Curiosity Quills. 

Dead New World is available on Amazon.com either for Kindle or in paperback. 




DISCLAIMER:  A Geek Daddy Blog received a free digital edition of this book to review.  The opinions expressed are my own.