It’s here: spooky season!
Between Oktoberfest and Halloween, this month is associated with goblins, ghouls, ghosts…and with alcohol and substance abuse. October prompts some seriously spooky temptations if we’re battling bad spirits in the form of addiction.
Never fear! October doesn’t have to be saturated with booze and substances to be an awesome autumn month. St. Gregory Recovery Center presents below some pretty cool ideas to make this Halloween your best and most sober yet.
Let’s get down to business!
Concocting poison-Free cocktails: Mocktail Gory Glory! We bring you these three enchanting drink recipes directly from Town & Country magazine.
Blood Orange Soda
- 5 parts Q Club Soda
- 1 part blood orange syrup*
- Lime
- Rub the inside of the glass with whatever herb you have on hand, such as mint. Combine ingredients and stir. Finish with a hearty squeeze of fresh lime.
*Blood Orange Syrup: Mix equal parts squeezed/strained blood orange juice with sugar in a blender. Blend on high just until combined.
Witch’s Brew
- 1.5 cups Bolthouse Farms Blue Goodness juice drink
- 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
- .5 cup seltzer
- .25 cup blackberries
- Muddle the blackberries, add other ingredients and stir to combine.
Cider Sangria
- Combine 3 oz of apple cider, 5 oz of lime juice, .75 ounces of pear syrup and a splash of tonic water into a shaker.
- Add 2 dashes of Regan’s orange bitters and one tablespoon of diced apples, pears, or both.
- Shake, shake, shake!
- Pour into a spooky glass! (You can add more ice if you’d like!)
If mocktails aren’t your thing, we don’t mind. Sometimes, we need a little more drama to enjoy ourselves. That’s where haunted houses come into play!
A Haunted Night Out
Feeling up to a terrifying night out on the town in beautiful Des Moines, Iowa? Look no further than The Slaughterhouse, an underground lair of horrors! Online and walk-up tickets are readily available for everyone who loves a good chill down their spine: substance free! Check out this Youtube advertisement for more information and an idea of what’s in store when you venture into this haunted experience!
Perhaps anything involving haunted houses sends you running for your life. That’s not necessarily a bad thing! Running is great for you, especially during this haunted holiday season. Read on to find out why!
Ferocious 5Ks
Most cities or towns host a Halloween or autumn-themed 5K or other type of running marathon or triathlon. Cities and counties in Iowa are no different. You can see all the races that take place in Iowa during the month of October here.
Not only will training for a race help you to escape evil clowns, zombies, relapse, and more–it will also provide you with powerful natural endorphins that people often describe as “runner’s high.” A runner’s high is a light, calming sensation that most runners reach after anywhere from 10-30 minutes of running, even at slow speeds. Running, when properly done, is great for your heart, your mind, and your spirit!
Running marathons will never be your thing? Let’s take a look at another kind of marathon: movie marathons!
Scary Movie Marathons Showing in Your Nearest Living Room
What’s on Amazon Prime Video?
- The Craft
If you’re a fan of both good and bad witches, this is your film. Filmed in the 90’s with a killer cast (literally), this movie documents three young witches as they battle high school, boys, and each other. - The Witch
Nothing combines history, horror, and Shakespearean dialogue quite like The Witch. A great film for anyone interested in horror in the Americas during colonial times, this movie combines fact and fiction, myth and faith, and, YES, feminism. It doesn’t get any better! - Gretel and Hansel
If you like fairy tales and strong female leads, this creative twist of a classic fairy tale is the film for you. (Watch out: it’s scarier than it looks!)
What’s on Netflix?
- Sleepy Hollow
Johnny Depp brings the Legend of Sleepy Hollow to life with his performance alongside a strong cast of Hollywood actors and actresses. If you like comedy, drama, and period pieces, you’ll love this film on a chilly October night. - Cadaver
Foreign films aren’t for everybody–but if you like them, and fictitious cannibalism doesn’t make your stomach churn–set up subtitles and tune into this Norwegian masterpiece. - A Classic Horror Story
Who says Italy is only good for pasta? In this Italian independent film, we see one director’s idea of what good filmmaking is all about: fear. Follow one main character who has to confront a series of horrifying obstacles in her quest to decide if motherhood is something she really wants.
St. Gregory Is Ready to Help
Now that you’ve got loads of ideas for a sober yet tantalizing Halloween season filled with adrenaline and tasty beverages, don’t forget that we are always here at St. Gregory Recovery Center to answer any questions and offer any support possible during a month that can be trying for many in recovery. We’re here to celebrate the happiest of haunted seasons with you!
