event – This Crazy Life of Mine

Tag: event

26
Sep
2015

Howl-O-Scream 2015 ~ Unearthed

categories: 2015, Busch Gardens, event, Halloween, Howl-O-Scream, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Bloggers, Unearthed

Fall is officially here and that means all things Halloween. Despite being a chicken about most scary things, I love haunted houses and being scared silly. We are fortunate to live near Busch Gardens Tampa and had the chance to attend Howl-O-Scream on opening night.

We arrived about 45 minutes before the event started so we were in line for the first house to be one of the first to go in. From there on out, we were very lucky with our timing and made it through 6 of the 7 houses and even saw the Fiends show all by 10:30. We met a couple while in line for the very first haunted house and they were so nice, we ended up hanging out with them the whole evening. It was a great time!

We really enjoyed every haunted house we went in. The themes were all scary and fun and gross and everything in between. Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate clowns, so I had my fill of them. If you love zombies, you are in for a treat. And I had my grossest, most terrifying moment ever in a haunted house in a room taken over by rats. It doesn’t matter that they were fake, I couldn’t get out of that room fast enough. Rat noises, rat skins, rat smells… It was too real for me. Which of course means it was a great haunted house! Two thumbs up for that, Busch Gardens!

Here is my run down on the houses in the order that we went in them.

Unearthed: Scarlett’s Revenge

This one was very clever. Busch Gardens played on the closing of Gwazi and incorporated it into the theme. The story is, during maintenance at the park, an excavation crew uncovers a centuries-old house beneath the ground and a sinister force is unearthed. The demon, Scarlett, summons creatures of Howl-O-Scream’s past and collects the eyes of all those who enter. This all took place beneath the towering heights of Gwazi. We went in it just as the sun was setting and it was perfect.

Circus of Superstition: The Last Laugh

Clowns. Clowns EVERYWHERE. Including outside while you are waiting in line. And once you enter the house, you are wearing 3-D glasses. Clowns in 3-D are way creepier and scarier than normal.All the superstitions you can think of are in this house. Black cats, sidewalk cracks, cracked mirrors. And did I mention clowns? I was positive I would have nightmares for days after this one.

The BASEMENT

Think Deliverance on this one. It takes you through Mamma’s Meat’s and shows you all about her award-winning recipes. It’s a family affair indeed. This house even has gross smells. Well played, Busch Gardens!

Dead Fall: Thirst For Blood

Greenhouses are creepy and this one is the creepiest! It’s dark, damp, and smells. Humans and plants are hard to tell apart in this one. I screamed ALOT in this house. Even waiting in line, there was a creepy character that had us jumping.

Zombie Mortuary

This one will be the one that haunts me for awhile. You walk through a zombie infested funeral home, as zombies search for fresh flesh and brains of the mortuary owners. Coffins, zombies, a funeral, and what I will call the rat room as previously mentioned. SO. GROSS. Of all the rooms to be in for the line to stop for a minute. I am TERRIFIED of rats and rodents so this scared me the most, even more than the clowns in Circus of Superstition.

Death Water Bayou

Set in the bayou outside New Orleans, the Voodoo Queen torments all those who enter and you have to escape before falling victim to her spell. The New Orleans / bayou theme was well portrayed in this one.

In addition to the houses, hubby went on Crash Test Zombies, riding the bumper cars and avoiding zombies. That was pretty cool.

And lastly, we saw FIENDS, the live show in Dragon Fire Grill. Music, dancing, current events, and more entertain all who watch.

This was also my first time seeing Falcon’s Fury and it’s pretty impressive. It’s not something I would ever go on (Hi, my name is Nanci and I am a big chicken) but it was fun to watch, especially in the dark. Kudos to anyone who rides it!

It’s always fun to see amusement parks at night. Despite being hot and humid and eventually getting rained on, it was a great night and I’m so glad we got to go.

If you are in the Tampa area, you should definitely check it out. It is meant for mature audiences, so I recommend leaving the kiddos at home. Howl-O-Scream Unearthed runs select nights from September 25 – October 31. Event hours are 7:30pm to 1:00 am. Tickets and front of the line passes can be purchased at Howl-O-Scream and you can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.

**As part of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, in conjunction with Busch Gardens, I was provided two tickets to Howl-O-Scream in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

13
Sep
2015

Get ready to Glow Pink at the 2015 Race for the Cure! {Giveaway}

categories: event, giveaway, RAC Ambassador, race, Race For The Cure, St Pete

As a member of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I have been invited to be a “Race Ambassador for the Cure” at the upcoming Komen Florida Suncoast GLOW run in St. Pete.

The 17th Annual Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure is returning to St. Petersburg this year, this time in downtown near the beautiful Salvador Dali Museum for a night time glow run. There are several options to GLOW PINK!

The days events start at noon and include:

12:00PM- Packet pick-up/Registration opens at Albert Whitted Park 6:00PM- Kids for the Cure Race

6:45PM- Sunset Survivor Walk

7:00PM- 10k Competitive Race

7:30PM- 5k Competitive Race/General Registration 5k 8:00PM- 1 mile Fun Run/Walk

8:30PM- Awards

Race options include:

10K Competitive:

The 10K competitive race will wind through the beautiful, waterfront streets of downtown St. Petersburg and Snell Isle. This event is timed and all participants will receive a runner goodie bag, timing chip & Race bib.

5K Competitive:

The 5K competitive race will follow the same beautiful course as the 10K, just half the distance. This event is timed and all participants will receive a runner goodie bag, timing chip & Race bib.

General Registration:

You don’t have to run to have a good time at the Race! This registration is for those who want to do the non‐competitive 5K Run/Walk, the 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk or be Proud in the Crowd. All participants will receive a Race packet with a Race shirt & Race bib.

Students for the Cure:

A special student rate for students in middle school through college. You will need to enter your school name and student ID during registration. All Students for the Cure registrants will receive a race packet with a Race shirt & Race bib. This is a non‐competitive, non‐chip‐timed entry. To participate in one of the competitive categories, you must register in that category. There are no student rates for the competitive Race categories.

Kids for the Cure:

No matter the age, we need everyone’s help in the Fight Against Breast Cancer!! Kids for the Cure is available for all kids 10 years of age & under. We will have kids dashes and kids’ activities available on Race Day. Kids for the Cure Race packets will include a Race shirt & Race bib.

Virtual:

Can’t make it to the Race? You can Race in spirit instead! Virtual Race participants will be mailed a commemorative Race shirt.

Breast cancer has affected my family – both my Aunt Darlene and my grandmother on my mom’s side. Thanks to treatment immediately after diagnosis, she is coming up on 11 years cancer-free. We are so very thankful for this. She was also tested to see if her type of cancer was genetic and it was not.

Although I am only 43, I have already had three mammograms done because of our family history as well as in preparation for fertility treatments we did back in 2009. Last year, I ran the Race for the Cure to celebrate my Aunt Darlene who is so very dear to me.

My friend and fellow Tampa Bay Blogger, Steph, is continuing her mission for breast cancer awareness in memory of her mom who passed away in 2012 from breast cancer. She created #TeamJudy to continue her memory and legacy. If you register for this years Race for the Cure, please consider joining #TeamJudy when you register.

If you’d like more information on the event or would like to register, visit Komen Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure today.

I would love to join this event and run beautiful downtown St. Petersburg at night, but it just so happens to fall on the weekend of our anniversary getaway. So, I have TWO free entries to giveaway. Two random winners will be selected on 09/28/15.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time…..

Nanci

01
Aug
2015

Win an entry to Best Damn Race!

categories: 10K, 2015, 2016, 5K, 5K + 10K challenge, Best Damn Race, Cape Coral, discount code, discount code for Best Damn Race, giveaway, half-marathon, Jacksonville, marathon, Orlando, run, running, Safety Harbor

If you’ve been following my blog the last few years, you know how much I love Best Damn Race and being an Ambassador for it is pretty fabulous. As we inch closer to the end of summer and all this heat, we have race season to look forward to and that means 4 events coming up! To celebrate the fact that it’s now August, I am giving away an entry for Best Damn Race!

But first, here’s a reminder of how awesome this event it. These are all reasons you should run Best Damn Race!

Best Damn t-shirt
Best Damn finisher medal
Best Damn Health & Fitness Expo
Best Damn goodie bags
Best Damn post-race party
Best Damn PR Bell!
Best Damn entry fee (structured based on number of entries!)
Free beer, food, and massages
Free race photos

Here’s how you can enter, some of which you can do daily to earn more entries! One random winner will be chosen on August 15th. You can select any city and any race distance except the 5k/10k challenge.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget, if you don’t win the free entry, you can always save $5 when you use my discount code NANCIC to register. Good on any race, any city.

23
Feb
2015

{Giveaway} BattleFrog Obstacle Race!

categories: BattleFrog, BattleFrog Race Series, event, Florida, giveaway, obstacle course race, obstacles, Orlando, Uncategorized

I first posted about BattleFrog last month and promised more information on this new obstacle race series.

Here are the important details:

Obstacle course designed by Navy Seals.
BattleFrog 15K with 25+ obstacles.
BullFrog 5K with 15 obstacles.
TadPole, designed for younger racers, a 1K with 10 obstacles.
Earn a cool medal and t-shirt.
Run it solo or form a team.

Whatever way you do it, you will test your limits!

You will climb, crawl, and jump. There’s even a paintball gallery. And of course, there is mud.

For my local readers, BattleFrog will be in Orlando March 14 and 15th and NOW is your chance to WIN an entry. Follow this link for giveaway options and enter today!

BattleFrog OCR Entry*

Registration fees go up on 2/28/15 so make sure you register before then! And because I’m feeling generous today, you can use my discount code CrazyLife and save 15%! (this is only for the Orlando event, general wave times.)

To find out where and where BattleFrog will be near YOU, visit BattleFrog today!

31
Jan
2015

Iron Girl 2015

categories: 2015, 5K, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, discount code, discount code for Iron Girl, event, half-marathon, Iron Girl, Iron Girl Half Marathon, race, run

One of the many things I love about running and taking part in races is the camaraderie and togetherness of being a part of something fun and challenging. When you start running and you are surrounded by hundreds or thousands of other runners, you know that you are not alone. You are not the only one facing those many miles ahead of you. And there is power in that.

Even better than just any race or event, is one that focuses on women. And my favorite women’s event is Iron Girl.

Iron Girl offers a supportive, energetic and empowering environment for females pursuing a healthy and active lifestyle.

I have had the pleasure of running the Iron Girl Half Marathon in Clearwater the last 2 years and will run it again this year. I am also excited to be able to offer you a discount for both the half marathon and 5K distance!

Another reason I love this event is the course. The course follows the same route I train on over the Memorial Causeway to beautiful Clearwater Beach, south over Sand Key Bridge, through the park, and then back. This route just never gets old to me and I feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful area with this amazing view…

Here is an overview of the courses for 2015.

Last year I ran this race with my good friend Corinna and we’ll run it together again this year. I can’t wait to see what this year’s medal will look like.

I hope to see you out there! Don’t forget to use my discount code CRAZYLIFE15 to save 10% on your registration.

Important Links:

Iron Girl Website

Twitter

Facebook

Will I see you at the Clearwater Iron Girl? Which event will you be running?

**Iron Girl provided me with a complimentary entry for the Clearwater event. All thoughts and opinions are my own.