Shocktober is a spooktacular haunt supporting a great cause!

'Tis the season for corn mazes, horror movies and spooktacular haunted houses. Last weekend I was invited on a media tour for the Shocktober haunted house! I brought my 12 year old daughter with me and we experienced a frightful evening! Rachel Roseberry, the Communications Coordinator at Paxton Campus was our tour guide for the evening. Shocktober is a Must See Haunted House Attraction in Northern VA! 

Photo courtesy of Paxton Campus

Shocktober is an award winning haunted house that gives back to the community. This past Spring, Shocktober won the Loudoun's Humanitarian Award. This ghoultastic haunted house is located on the Paxton Campus in Leesburg. Jennifer Lassiter, the Executive Director of Paxton Campus shared their motto is "We Scare Because We Care."
Last year, $200,000 was raised from the Shocktober haunted attraction. The money was donated to the Paxton Campus which offers specialized education to preschoolers through high school school students with disabilities, as well as, vocational training upon graduation. The students are comprised from local counties, such as Loudoun and Fairfax.

Shocktober happens every year because of it's awesome volunteers. No volunteer is turned away! Inquiries for volunteers begins in early August. Over 5,200 volunteer hours were recorded last year. Volunteers, ages 14 years old and up, attend Ghoul School in September, a 3 week week course, training teens and adults on the specialized art of scaring other's! Several teens from the Paxton Campus volunteer for a role in the Shocktober haunted house, as well as Board Members and staff, and many volunteers are comprised from the community who want to give back to this amazing organization! My 12 year old daughter was amazed at how well the actors were trained to scare people! Matt Smith is the mastermind behind Shocktober every year and starts planning the amazing haunted happening's in February! 

The legend behind the haunted house is the Carver family was forced out of Leesburg and moved to the underground caverns of Paxton Manor. They became zombie cave dwellers and began to haunt all those who enter the Paxton Manor. Paranormal activity has been detected in the Paxton Manor and has been claimed to be a real haunted house.

I had the feeling that this haunted house was going to be extra special! You enter the haunted house, in a small group. A brave leader will need to be assigned to guide you through the haunted house. I recommend placing yourself in the middle of the group! There were four of us in the original group but we ended up being so scared, that we caught up with the group ahead of us! The main house and the basement are spooktacularly decorated and uses all of your scents to engage you in a frightful experience! Many zombies, ghouls and surprises await you as spooky creativity is a specialty when designing Shocktober! The Shocktober haunted house attraction is recommended for ages 12 and up. 

My daughter and I with Jethro

Dates: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the month of October

*On Halloween Eve, Shocktober goes completely dark for Blackout Night, which promises to be a super scary haunt!

Hours: Fridays and Saturdays: 7-10pm; Sundays: 7-9pm

Location: 601 Catoctin Circle, NE, Leesburg, Virginia 20176

Cost: ONLINE: $30 including Paxton Manor and its basement, the Haunted Well of Souls to buy tickets. 
Visit  http://www.shocktober.org/and use PROMO CODE: TWINGLESMOM

To buy tickets at the door, visit the TICKET OFFICE on site: $35 including Paxton Manor and its basement, the Haunted Well of Soul

We ended up touring Shocktober with a fun friend,
Darik, from Fresh FM 94.7 

UPCOMING EVENTS for the Paxton Campus:
If you love a good scare, save the date for the Valentine's Day version of Shocktober! 

My Bloody Valentine will return in 2016. Rachel Roseberry, Communications Coordinator for Paxton Campus describes the haunted house attraction as "romance mixed with horror!"

Did you know May is Zombie Month? May 2016, date TBD, the Paxton Campus will host their first Zombie 5k which promises to be a fabulously fun race!

Living In The Moment

The only thing about this post that is a part of my blogging routine regime is that I'm writing during the midnight hour. I may add photo's later. All I want to do in this exact moment is write.

There has been this blog post stuck in my mind for awhile. It is about the controversial argument of being vs. doing.

I'm a witness to it. Mechanical human beings, going about their day, checking off their motions. But what purpose does this serve in the end?

I've never needed a lot of things or money or a status symbol to sky rocket my happiness. I learned from a very early age that none of this matters. There were times when a cloud or a rainbow got in the way of my vision but now I see clearly. It is important to not stumble.

There is this precious gift called LIFE. I'm not joking. It is the best gift you will ever receive. Sometimes you will think you got the raw deal. It is a tricky tight rope of balancing. You somehow have to stay afloat and have a career and a family and not lose Everything. So many fail and fall off, never discovering the realization of what is truly important.

The focus is on the moment. 

The Exact Moment You Are Living. 

To dissect it. Absorb it. Integrate it. Let it become a part of who you are.

Yes, I know. It sounds absolutely exhausting. Why can't we just carry on instead of fully 100% being in the moment?

This is WHY.

Because at any moment's notice, we could be gone. Our last breath taken. I know this scenario entirely way too well. My life may appear sheltered but I have seen the front door to death and dying. More than anyone should EVER see in a lifetime.

Maybe this is why I inhale and exhale life at such a rapid rate that it is difficult to comprehend. My husband often asks me "When is it enough?" not really understanding what it's all about. It's not that I'm afraid of missing out on a memory. It's more about sucking every last breathe out of me. 

Every night, I'm thankful for so much. I can close my eyes with peace, knowing I gave back when the opportunity was presented and that I did not pass judgement. I just went with it. Letting life guide me, fast and furious or slow and gentle. I embraced conversations with complete strangers, sought meaning in the nature I enveloped myself within, loved those close to me, kept my eyes open for a new experience that would teach me valuable life lessons. It all happens every day, magical moments that stack up to create our wondrous life. 

Keep Your Eyes Open.

Welcome Opportunities. Even if they are outside your comfort zone.

Dream Big.

Believe. In Love. In Friendship. In Kindness. In Hope. 

And Always Believe in  Miracles. 

Appreciate Nature.

Marvel in the Beauty of each Sunrise and Sunset.

Chase Rainbows.

Live In The Moment. 

Wishing you Peace, Love & endless Magical Moments,

Amy

Runner's World Cover Cover Contest! I'm one of the Top 100 Runners! Ineed you to please vote!!

I have exciting news to share! I was selected as one of the Top 100 Most Awesome Runners for the Runner's World Cover Contest! They were 1,600 plus applicants! This is simply amazing and I'm extremely honored!

The voting continues through Sunday, August 16th and this is where I need your help! Please vote for me everyday and please share this blog post! Your support is very much appreciated. 

Here is the link to vote:

http://coversearch.runnersworld.com/entry/292/

If you haven't already, please take a moment and read my entry. This is is more than winning a cover contest. This is a huge opportunity to share my story about my battle with Lyme Disease, overcoming obstacles with my running, giving back to the Lyme Disease community with my fundraising, and giving hope to all the Warriors out there fighting this debilitating disease. 

I have been battling Lyme Disease for 20 years and told I would never run again. I ran five miles on Thanksgiving Day 2009, after not running for fifteen years, and I have never looked back. I have continuously pushed myself outside with my comfort zone with my running and accomplished the impossible in March - running the Umstead 100 Miler in 29 hours, 36 minutes! I battled chronic fatigue, stomach issues and pain/tingling in my feet. I found out after the race that I was running with frost bite feet!

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! THANK YOU SO MUCH!  

Peace, Love, Running!

Amy

#LymeDiseaseWarrior