HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This is IT. The big day! No more crossing days off on the calendar. No more "preparation." I'm ready—it's HALLOWEEN!

I could barely sleep last night because I couldn't wait for morning...well, actually, part of the reason I couldn't sleep is because Dad added a new animated prop to our display—the Michael Myers character from the Halloween movies—and he forgot to shut it off. So every time the wind blew, that creepy song would start up...

Yes, I was a bit too scared to go outside and turn it off.

But now that it's bright out, I can really appreciate how awesome our yard must look at night. I looked out my bedroom this morning and a city bus was stopped in the middle of the street and people were hanging out of the windows taking pictures!

Anyway. I've gotta jet—but before I go, I'm going to reveal this year's costume choice. Ready?

Yup. Frankenstein! Mom says she's going to do my stitching for me. <grin>

Maybe I'll see you out trick-or-treating? And of course, I'll see you tomorrow kick of National Novel Writing Month, right?

Have a spooktacular Halloween!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Happy Halloween: It's National Candy Corn Day!

I don't know what it's like in your house, but in my family, opinions are split right down the middle about candy corn. Mom and Amelia do not like it at all—my sister says even the sight of it makes her shudder with disgust. (She's so dramatic!)

But Dad and I could eat it by the bucket loads. Same with Grandma, even though Grandpa thinks it's disgusting. (Which isn't a bad thing since he can't eat too much sugar—he's diabetic.)

With today being National Candy Corn Day—and the DAY BEFORE Halloween!—I thought I'd share some fun facts about one of MY favourite treats.

Like, did you know that candy corn has been around for a very long time? The Wunderle Candy Company began making it in the 1880's—and the recipe has remained virtually unchanged. Honey, sugar, and corn starch in three distinct colours!

Along with Hershey's chocolates and Snickers bars (yum!) candy corn makes the top 10 list of most popular Halloween candies year after year—even if half the population is in the "leave em" camp.

About nine billion pieces of candy corn will be produced this year. That's 9 BILLION. I probably eat less than a hundred kernels of it a year! Apparently in an eight-hour shift, Jelly Belly (the company that now makes candy corn) produces about 28,000 pounds of the candy. (I'd love to tour that place!)

Sure, it's not the healthiest food—what candy is?—but candy corn is fat free!

And probably my favourite fun fact...did you know that if you stack kernels of candy corn a certain way, it looks like corn on the cob?

Mom is sending me to school with a whole bag of candy corn, and I'll be sure to share. Do you share your candy?

Gotta jet! Have a spooktacular day. See you tomorrow for...well, for HALLOWEEN! #OneMoreSleep

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: No Tricks, Just (Rice Krispie) Treats

Even though I try to eat healthy most of the year—gotta keep my body fuelled properly for track season, right?—we're approaching dangerous territory over the next few months.

I made it through Thanksgiving with only one—well, okay, two—slices of pumpkin pie, but it's been a month of (sneaked) Halloween candy, and then soon, Grandma's special Nanaimo Bars will make an appearance for the Christmas season, not to mention more stuffing, cranberry sauce, and... *wipes drool* You get the idea.

My willpower is tested even more because my family and I watch Halloween baking shows throughout the month. I can't BELIEVE some of the spooktacular things some people can make out of cake. It's almost enough to make me want to become a baker. Almost. I don't think I have the discipline for that.

But, when Mom does let me in the kitchen, there are a few things I'm getting pretty good at making. Like Rice Krispie squares. Actually, I've become quite a master at making them. Which is why I did a search for Halloween treats that I could make out of Rice Krispies and oh. my. gosh. Look at what I found!

Can you believe it? I think I'll make some tonight...but which kind? Maybe I need to practice them ALL and make them for my classroom Halloween party? That's probably too many options, right?

Which ones would you choose?

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow for more spooktacular Halloween countdown fun! TWO MORE SLEEPS!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: Wrapped Up Like a Mummy

Brrrr. It's chilly outside! Which makes it a perfect night to stay indoors and do some Halloween crafting—maybe even at the kitchen table while another Halloween movie plays in the background. (The Addams Family was amazing, by the way.)

Besides, the house is decorated, the pumpkins are carved, the outdoor decorations are...well, they're blowing around in the yard in this wind...  There isn't much more prep to do. In fact, I think this is the most "ready" I have ever been!

And I like doing crafts. Especially Halloween ones. So tonight, my sister and I are making something extra cozy—these awesome mummy lanterns.

I know, they're not that creepy, but they look so neat when they're lit up around the house. You could even use them to line your sidewalk, or put them on your steps Halloween night so the kids in your neighbourhood know where to find the treats. (And they probably won't get blown away by the wind!)

Click here to see the full directions (plus about 40 other cool ideas)—and then get mummifying those empty jars. If your house is anything like mine, they're laying around everywhere!

And that's a wrap on today's post. <grin> Gotta jet, but I'll see you tomorrow for another spooktacular Halloween Countdown post. Just THREE more sleeps!

~ Chase Superman duffy 

Halloween Countdown: A Day at the Movies

Happy Sunday!

There are just four more sleeps until the big day and I don't know about you, but my stomach is all fluttery. I'm so excited.

Right now, I'm patiently waiting for my sister to wake up so we can get a good start on our chores—I've cleaned my room, I promise—because later this afternoon, Dad is taking us to the theatre to see:

THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Have you seen it?

I never watched the originals—though I know all about the characters—but this animated version looks amazing. I mean, just look at this poster.

Last year, we went to see the new Goosebumps movie, and I loved it. Not scary at all. Which is good, because my sister doesn't really like to be scared. (Hence why every year she dresses up as a junior entomologist...a bug specialist.)

I'm pretty sure The Addams Family will join the list of our favourites for the season. Scroll down to see which ones I'm thinking about watching after I finish my chores and before we go to the theatre.

Okay, gotta jet. I almost forgot that I also have to plan out my NaNoWriMo project. That's right, National novel Writing Month kicks off on Friday—Friday!—when not only will I be starting work on a new story, I'll be posting my first "writing tip." I hope you check it out.

Have a spooktacular Sunday!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: Our Family Pumpkins!

Good Saturday morning!

It is a busy day in the Duffy household as we gear up for our annual Halloween bash—about 20 people will be at our house tonight indulging in spooktacular treats such as Grandma's famous spider cookies, Dad's meatloaf hand, Mom's devilled eggs, and a pumpkin cheesecake with icing spiderwebs that I garnish with adorable little spiders. (Keeps the squeamish away!)

But last night, we carved our pumpkins, and I have to admit, we did a pretty good job. Dad's Grim Reaper is impressive! One of the pumpkins had gone rotten so Amelia and I took turns carving the spooky Jack-o-Lantern—you can't even tell, right?

But the star of the night might have been Mom's spider. She did a great job, don't you think?

Afterwards, she made pumpkin seeds, and Dad turned on The Nightmare Before Christmas. He was asleep before the end, but that's okay—we've all seen that movie a few times.

Take a look at this year's pumpkins below.

Mom's creeptastic spider!

Dad's awesome grim reaper!

Teamwork! The Creepy Jack my sister and I carved!

Gotta jet! A busy day of Halloween party prep. I'll share some pics from the big event tomorrow. Right now, I have to go help Mom hang spiders off the mantle. *shudder*

Have a spooktacular Saturday! #5sleeps

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: Perfectly Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

With less than a week until the big day (and, let's face it, the BIGGER night), things are really kicking into high Halloween gear here. Tonight, the annual Duffy Carving Event takes place—with four GIANT pumpkins up for grabs. Seriously, they're big...Dad always brings out his power drill as a joke, but this year he might actually need it.

Carving the best Jack-O-Lantern is great, but you know what's almost better? The feast afterward! I'm talking about pumpkin seeds of course. Tradition in our house means that my sister and I help Mom get them ready for roasting, while Dad digs out one of our Halloween movies.

When the seeds are ready (finally!), we separate them into four bowls—and eat it like popcorn whilee watching Frankenstein or something equally as awesome. (Probably The Nightmare Before Christmas this year because Amelia loves Jack Skellington.)

So, how does Mom make the perfect pumpkin seeds? I thought I'd let you in on her secret for today's Halloween Countdown post. Don't worry, she said it was okay.

The most important step is to wash your seeds thoroughly. You want to get rid of all the pumpkin fibres (guts), so when you think you've cleaned them enough, clean them again. And again. (Seriously, it takes us like an hour to clean them!)

The other BIG rule is that you have to keep a watch on them while they're cooking. Set the timer for 10 minutes, check on them, move them around, set the timer for another ten minutes, move them around, and repeat until they're done. If you leave them alone too long, they'll burn. And trust me, burnt pumpkin seeds are NOT the same.

So what to put on them? Well, Mom says there are a few different recipes if you want to look them up. But here's what she does....

You need:
½ teaspoon of Seasoned Salt
½ tablespoon of Canola oil
Dash of salt

This is enough "topping" for two pumpkins worth of seeds.

After you've cleaned—and cleaned—the seeds, let them soak in a bowl of water for about half an hour. Fill a pot with water and a dash of salt. Bring the water to a boil, and then add the pumpkin seeds, cooking for about 10 minutes.

Drain the seeds, and put them in a bowl. Toss the seeds with the canola oil, and then lay them out on a cookie tray. Sprinkle on the seasoned salt. (My mouth is watering already!) Cook the seeds at 350C for about 40 minutes, making sure to turn them / move them around every 10 minutes.

I know this is the hardest part, but take them out of the oven and allow them to cool before gobbling them up.

And there you have it—perfect pumpkin seeds.

Gotta jet! Have a great day. I'll be back tomorrow for more Halloween fun. Oh, and don't forget to post your Jack-O-Lantern pics for a chance to win a copy of Beneath The SOIL—the most spooktacular graphic novel in the Superman Duffy collection.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: 7 Sweet Facts About Candy

With one week to go before the big day, I admit, I'm starting to think about all the candy I'll collect on my trick-or-treat route. I eat healthy most of the year—I have to if I want to be fast on the track—but from October 31 to about January 1, I'm a little less strict about what I put in my stomach.

Oh don't worry, Mom rations our candy every year—and I think she steals a few Mars bars for herself (they're her favourite)—but I definitely love a good chocolate bar, and I'm a sucker for, well, suckers.

So today, I thought I'd have a bit of fun and share 7 sweet facts about a few of the most popular Halloween treats.

1. Did you know that the creator of the Reece's Peanut Butter Cup (yum!) named the candy after himself? Yup, Harry Burnett Reese is responsible for making this delicious treat—and I can't thank him enough.

2. You wouldn't expect a dentist to be responsible for inventing a new type of candy, but in 1897, Dr. William Morrison partnered with another candy maker to create cotton candy. At the time they called their invention Fairy Floss (and my sister Amelia still does), but it's the same delicious treat you can buy at carnivals around the world.

3. Do you like white chocolate? I have some bad news for you—because it doesn't contain cocoa solids, it's actually not chocolate at all.

4. Do you know what the M's stand for in M&M's? Mars and Murrie—the surnames of the two men that invented them.

5. Speaking of M&M's, did you know that astronauts love them? They don't make a mess, and they can be tossed into the anti-gravity air and gobbled up Pac Man style. I wonder if Robert Thirsk took some up in space when he took 150,000 canola seeds? (You can read ask about that in the Superman Duffy graphic novel, It's a Blast!)

6. I can't seem to get enough Tootsie Rolls—and there's no chance of running out, either. Almost 45,000 Tootsie Rolls are made every minute.

7. I love Nutella. It's the perfect spread on my toast (once in a while), but I also love Twix chocolate bars. So of course I would probably love Twix spread—which sadly, you can only buy in the U.K.

Sweet facts, huh?

Gotta jet. If I'm late for school, Mom won't let me have any candy this year.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: 5 Fun Facts About Bats

A few days ago, I dispelled some myths about werewolves—and sure, if I ran into one, I'd be scared. But of course the werewolf—half man, half wolf—is more myth than fact, no matter what X-Men would try and have you believe.

But bats? They're real... And while I'm not especially scared of them, I think they get a bad reputation thanks to fictional characters like Dracula. And of course, bats do have pointy teeth that look very sharp.

They're actually kind of cute though, and thanks to some research I dug up, they're not as scary as I thought. Seriously.

Check out these five fun facts and tell me if it changes your perception of them.

1. Bats are the only mammals able to fly. In fact, bats are exceptional in the air. Their wings are thin, giving them what is called, in flight terms, "airfoil." The power bats have to push forward is called "propulsion."

2. A single brown bat can catch around 1,200 mosquito-size insects in one hour. In Bracken Cave, Texas, it's estimated that the 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats that live there eat about 200 tons of insects . . . each night.

3. Vampire bats don't suck blood. They lap it up. Don't worry—there are only three species of vampire bats in the whole world. If you're traveling in Central or South America, however, you might see a vampire bat bite a cow and then lick blood from the wound, no sucking involved.

4. Due to movies and television, bats are thought to be germ machines, bringing disease and toxins to innocent victims. Not true. Bats avoid people. If you are bitten by a bat, go to the doctor, but don't start making funeral arrangements—chances are, you'll be fine.

5. Bats don't see very well and do a lot of living at night, so they have to rely on navigational methods other than sight. Bats send out beeps and listen for variations in the echoes that bounce back at them and that's how they get around. Bats are nocturnal, mostly because it's easier to hunt bugs and stay out of the way of predators when it's dark. Bats do use their eyesight to see things in the daytime, but most bat business is done under the blanket of night for convenience.

See! I don't think bats are scary at all—they're just misunderstood.

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow for another Halloween Countdown post.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: In the beginning...

Halloween may seem like it's all about the costumes and candy (mmmm, candy...), but did you know that the holiday is rooted in pagan beliefs?

Dating back about 2,000 years, Halloween once marked the Celtic New Year and was originally called Samhain, which translates to "summer's end" in Gaelic. I don't know where you are in the province or the country, but it sure feels like "summer's end" to me!

On today's Halloween Countdown post, I thought I'd share the meaning behind five creeptastic Halloween traditions and superstitions. Are you ready to be spooked?

Black Cats

Black Cats: It's believed that if one walks in front of you, you're in for some bad luck, but the history of this superstition dates back to the Dark Ages when witch hunts were common. Cats were accused of being the "familiars" of witches—pets that had been given to them by the devil. Thankfully, people don't really think cats are bad luck (or evil animals). In Ireland, Scotland, and England, for instance, it's considered good luck for a black cat to cross your path. I'm more of a dog person, but I wouldn't turn down a black cat. <hint hint, Mom>

Bats

Bats: Medieval folklore also suggests that bats are familiars for witches, and seeing a bat on Halloween was considered an ominous sign. If you're not a fan of rodents, I can see why bats might be creepy, but I promise, if one flies into your house, it doesn't mean your home is haunted. Sometimes at night, I like to watch them swoop between the trees. From a distance, of course.

Spiders

Spiders: Okay, I admit, I'm not a fan of spiders. (Not even the ones in the Superman Duffy graphic novel AMELIA XERCES DUFFY...) But even I know that if I spot a spider on Halloween, it doesn't mean a deceased loved one is watching over me—it means it's fall, and they're (sadly) everywhere. *shudder*

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treating: In olden times, it was believed that during Samhain, the veil between our world and the spirit world was thinnest, and that the ghosts of the deceased could mingle with the living. The superstition was that the visiting ghosts could disguise themselves in human form, such as a beggar, and knock on your door during Samhain asking for money or food. If you turned them away empty-handed, you risked receiving the wrath of the spirit and being cursed or haunted. No risk of that at our house, we give out a lot of candy.

Orange and Black

Halloween Colours: Ever wonder why everything is black and orange this month? The traditional Halloween colours of orange and black actually stem from the pagan celebration of autumn and the harvest, with orange symbolizing the colours of the crops and turning leaves, while black marks the "death" of summer and the changing season.

Pretty neat, right?

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: It's all fun and games

Halloween is officially 10 days (9 sleeps!) away—let the games begin! Literally.

For today's post, I've rounded up some fun games you can play at your personal Halloween party, or even pitch to your teacher for you to play as a class, outside or in—depending on the weather, of course. From pumpkin bowling to a witch hat toss, I've got you covered!

So round up those soup cans, felt markers, paints and balloons, and get started on making these family fun games. The pics should be self explanatory, but if not, a quick scroll through Pinterest will give you full directions—and more ideas!

Ready, set...let's play!

Which one is your favourite? I think I'll make the soup can and tennis ball bowling game for my class. Painting each of the characters will be fun—maybe we can start it in art class!

Gotta jet! But I'll see you tomorrow for another spooktacular Halloween Countdown post—right?

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Halloween Countdown: Choosing a costume

It's a little rainy this morning, so I stayed in bed and read one of my older R.L. Stine Goosebumps book—he's one of my favourite authors and I can always count on him for "safe scares."

And it doesn't look like we're going to be doing too much—Mom says today is "prep for the week day," which means Amelia and I will be cleaning our rooms, and helping out with other chores. <groan>

BUT, that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about Halloween.

As you know, dressing up is one of my favourite activities of the season—even though half the time, I end up going trick-or-treating as Superman, the best comic book character in the universe. (Well, besides "comic book me" of course!)

Superman is my go-to costume. It already fits, people know it's me when I come to their door for treats (or tricks), and "Superman" is my nickname. But I also love Frankenstein, and I look pretty cool as a green monster. It's just that neither of those costumes is very warm, and judging by the weather already, I predict a cold Halloween.

So, I could go as one of the creatures from Beneath the SOIL—like the spider, which is pretty creepy. The costume itself is furry, and warm... Or, there's always my astronaut get-up where I channel the great Canadian astronaut, Robert Thirsk. He's featured in the Superman Duffy graphic novel It's A Blast!

So many choices. And don't get me started on some of the cool costumes I've seen at the stores—characters from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and so many more! It's mind boggling.

Which is why I need YOU to make a decision. No, really. I can't do it. Scroll down to see what I look like in each of the four costumes I mentioned above. Vote for your favourite...or leave an idea for something different in the comments below.

See, they're all pretty great, right? I know, there's still 10 sleeps to Halloween (10!)...but time goes quickly.

Gotta jet! See you tomorrow for more Halloween Countdown fun.

~ Chase Superman Duffy