
I have been looking forward to halloween since last years halloween. At one of the parties I went to last year, I was inspired and couldn't wait for this year to get dressed up!
After much discussion it was decided that a group of us would be celebrating halloween up in Bethesda, MD. (My first halloween in MD!) Jen had provided a few bar options, and found 2 specifically because they advertised costume contests. The plan was to meet at Jen's between 7-730pm and hang out until everyone arrived and head out to whichever bar we decide on.

Brendan was in town from Durham, NC visiting some friends and we had planned to hang out a bit before we each went out separate ways for the night. Lucky for him, he got to help Jonna, help me! get ready. Using corn syrup, red and yellow food coloring, chocolate sauce, maple syrup, molasses and vanilla extract (most of those things were used to try to dull out the molasses smell), we concocted a delicious brew of fake blood. After testing out the blood we decided it was time for me to get dressed (and thanks to Mary for providing me with a dress that I had to wear in her wedding this summer, who says you can't use bridesmaid dresses again?!), and time for them to cover me in stickiness. It wasn't too c

old, but it was super sticky. I had to stand in the tub for a while until most of the fake blood was relatively dry, or at least not dripping wet, before I decided to venture out into the rest of my apartment. Luckily for me, Brendan documented the entire experience and posted them all online,
for viewing pleasure. I was going to wait another 15-20 minutes before heading up to Jen's, but I was promised a surprise if I left sooner, so I dared to set out earlier than I intended. Using towels, I covered as much as I could of the drivers seat and drove up. (In the end, I managed to keep most of the corn syrup off my car. I did however find some on the steeri

ng wheel, shifter and seat belt when I drove back to VA Sunday)
I met up with Jen, Billy, Billy Ho, Craig, and Ari in Bethesda. I think I made a great entrance, and successfully creeped everyone out in my gory bloody
Carrie costume! Jen's costume was a 70s style roller skater - including Fisher Price roller skates! Billy was an unemployed Redskin, I think. Billy Ho was a vampire - like Bill from Tru-Blood, and even bought some Tru-Blood from the HBO website (read blood orange soda - that he mixed with vodka to create "fangbangers"), which was also my surprise, and delicious. It went along with my bloody motif (which was also sweet and delicious, hehe) :) Craig was dressed up as a skeleton, and didn't wear out his creepy mask. Ari wa

s a mad scientist, complete with dry ice which he thoroughly enjoyed putting in everyone's drinks and making potions and crazy doctor concoctions. We waited around for some of Billy's friends and then headed out to Union Jack's.
The bar was packed with many people, and interesting costumes. We managed to claim a corner in the back by the pool tables and enjoy all the costumes and people. I remember dancing around a lot, because that's what I do, and many pictures. It was fun pulling Jen around in her bitty roller skates and punching Billy in his giant pillow belly. At one point we managed to claim a pool table and attempted to play some pool. I

think Billy Ho and I won the first game, but I didn't play anymore after that. I was pretty content to continue dancing around. Jen and I decided to walk around the bar and explore and I thoroughly enjoying being in character and starring at people as we walked past, successfully creeping them out. While we were wandering I was given a card. This card said SCARIEST, and just like that I was selected to participate in a costume contest. We were told it would start around 1am and at that time I should head up to the DJ and get on stage. Once 1am rolled around, maybe it was closer to 130am, everyone joined me up by the DJ where I successfully won FIRST place - scariest contest and $100!! I won second place overall and won a free trip to pick from a selection of cities a

nd a hotel for 3 days/2 nights. Pretty awesome!
By this point it was last call, we lost Craig for a bit, then we lost Billy Ho, and then we found him, but still couldn't find Craig, and part of the group left. We tried to find Craig only to find out he was outside the entire time. We all crammed into Jen's new car and headed back to her house to crash and eat delicious pizza. I very gratefully was able to shower before bed, and clean off all the corn syrup and blood at J

en's. I didn't dye her bathtub too badly, hehe. But was really very glad to be free of stickiness and in nice warm pjs. To top off a very successful halloween, it was daylight savings and we got an extra hour of sleep!
I have NO idea what I'm going to be next year. How can I possibly top first place scariest costume?? I will have to find a way! Many pictures (which most have seen) on FB thanks to Jen!