There's a bean in my boots

Chili Cook-Off judges 2016
Courtesy: Jalah Gray

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I had the pleasure over the weekend of serving as a judge for the 8th annual Southern Illinois Chili Cook-Off. It's the first time I've done anything like this and it was quite an awesome experience. The theme this year was Disney and as a judge, I felt the need to dress up, so I donned the Jesse costume my mom made a few years ago for our trip to Disney World. My buddy Tom Harness also judged and he wore the infamous Pinocchio costume. 

The contest is a fundraiser for four different groups here in southern Illinois. The Lighthouse Shelter, Fowler-Bonan Clothes for Kids, Heartland Rotary iPads for special needs children and Kozy Kidz (coats for kids) split the proceeds from this event.

Judging was not easy by any means. The group tried 26 different kinds of chili. They were judged on things like taste, aroma, consistency and color. It was hard getting narrowing it down, but eventually, we were left with the top six. Then there was a tie so after it was all said and done we had 34 samples of chili throughout a 90 minute period. I'm still stuffed as I write this.

Jesse, John Okerson with Team RWB and Pinocchio

I would not change the experience for anything. It was a blast and getting to chat with the contestants and other friends along the way made the day even better. I'm already looking forward to next year's event either as a judge or a contestant with the Craftbeericans. We also got to try a very new version of Sam Adams beer. Look for the review on our Facebook page.  

Boo Blog: Who wore it better?

Pinocchio triple threat

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. Even at age 43, I love dressing up. We've been dressing up since 2000. Some years a costume will get a second or even third life around here before donating them or using it as a decoration.

In 2010 we went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. There were eight of us, so we split into four couples and each had a theme. My dad and oldest son were Geppetto and Pinocchio. A couple weeks later for a Halloween party we attended, I donned the little wooden boy costume. And just this year, my daughter attended a Halloween party and became Pinocchio. Her official costume this is still being completed for Halloween night. I should note my mom made the Pinocchio costume.

Alien becomes Grinch

Our middle son wanted one of those morph alien suits in 2012. After spending $50 on it, he literally put it on long enough for me to take one picture, deciding days before Halloween he was too old (and cool) to dress up and go trick-or-treating. Two years later I used the suit as a base for being The Grinch.

Mad Eye Moody ages backwards

Harry Potter was a popular choice for our oldest through the years. In 2008 I was Mad Eye Moody. He then repuropsed the costume three years later.

Eeyore is a double dose of cuteness

That first Halloween for our boy in 2000 he was Eeyore. We had done a Winnie the Pooh theme with his nursey and couldn't resist the cuteness of the costume. Seven years later his little sister strolled the streets in the same costume.

I just got a look at our costumes for this year. I wonder what they'll be recycled in to for Halloweens to come.