GIFT GUIDE - Kids Games

I'm a BIG fan of giving games as gifts for kiddos whether it's learning to play with siblings/friends OR playing as a whole family.  It's a great activity instead of just sitting in front of the TV.  Here are some of my favorites for my kiddos (and one new one we just got to try).  All age levels for these so hopefully you will find something for your family.


PRESCHOOL

Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel

Sequence for Kids

Trouble (and still play as they get older)

Candy Land

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

UNO

Sequence (and fun for adults too)

Operation

Guess Who

KIDS and ADULTS

Hearing Things

Hedbanz

Watch Ya Mouth

And we just got this game to try over the holidays...

Bean Boozled

And check out my other gift guides -

• White Elephant
• Splurges for Her
• Gifts for Co-Workers

Top Ten "Other" Favorites

Here are some of my "other" favorites:

1. Favorite Thing #99 - Nikon D40 - I looove my camera. It takes such amazing photos and I've been able to capture so many special moments with it.
   
2. Favorite Thing #188 - Georgetown Cupcake - AMAZING cupcakes! My favorite flavors are Salted Caramel and Vanilla 2.
   
3. Favorite Thing #76 - Rue La La -Do I really need to say anything about this favorite thing...I've gotten so many good deals on clothes, housewares, etc. I use it for myself and for gifts.
   
4. Favorite Thing #19, 52 and 57 - Emily Giffin Books - I've loved all of Emily Giffin's books. Great chic lit. And her first two books, Something Borrowed/Something Blue are being made into a movie.
   
5. Favorite Thing #58 - Sopapilla Cheesecake - One of the greatest and easiest desserts ever to make! It's heaven in your mouth.
   
6. Favorite Thing #195 - Washington Green Grocer - Hubby and I just started using this service and I love it. We get fresh, local fruits and vegetables. I've found since we started we are eating healthier and trying new things.
   
7. Favorite Thing #183 - Mexican Train Domino Game -Super fun game to play with family and friends.
   
8. Favorite Thing #179 - Honest Tea Peach White Tea -Such a refreshing drink for the spring and summer.
   
9. Favorite Thing #196 - Yankee Candle Harvest - This scent just reminds me of the fall season. I burn it all fall long...love it!
   
10. Favorite Thing #169 - Villa Cerrina Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio -One of my favorite wines. The perfect blend of chardonnay and pinot grigio...so refreshing.
    

Favorite Thing #191 - Keurig B60 Special Edition Coffee Maker

I am OBSESSED with this favorite thing. I love, love, love my Keurig coffee pot!!!! It's the best investment ever. Hubby doesn't drink coffee so it was such a pain for me to make just one pot of coffee and the Keurig fixes this problem. It makes one cup at a time. You simply place the K-Cup in the coffee pot and push a button to the size cup you want and voila! I definitely recommend this....totally worth it.

Hubby and I still love Favorite Thing #91. It's a great game to play with family and friends. Perfect for parties.

Favorite Thing #183 - Mexican Train Domino Game

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law introduced us to this favorite thing and we are absolutely hooked! Mexican Train Dominos is just that a game with dominos. It's hard to describe the game without doing it in person so I'm getting some help from Wikipedia.


Mexican Train, also known as simply Trains, is a game played with dominoes. The object of the game is for a player to play all the dominoes from his or her hand onto one or more chains, or "trains", emanating from a central hub or "station". The object of all Trains games is to be the first player to place all dominoes drawn at the start of a round. Dominoes may be placed onto the player's train, onto the Mexican train if available, or on the trains of other players under special circumstances.

Unfortunately, Hubby and I didn't get to make Favorite Thing #83 this year. Our schedules have been so busy we didn't get a chance to carve pumpkins so therefore no pumpkin seeds.

Favorite Thing #168 - Beach Paddle Ball

Hubby and I LOVE playing this favorite thing anytime we are at the beach. I guess technically you could play it anywhere but we only ever play at the beach. This years trip we won the "belt" for the most consecutive hits back and forth - 409!!!! We get very intense when we play (as you can see from the picture).

Still love and treat myself (only on occasion) to Favorite Thing #70 - Gifford's Ice Cream. There is one in our Town Square that we can walk to and it is so hard not to get it every time we are there.

Favorite Thing #155 - Overexposed in South Beach by OPI

I have to give credit to High Heels and Sweatshirts for Favorite Thing #155. She posted about this great OPI color from the new South Beach collection and I had to try it. I had it on my toes for my trip to FL.

Two of my friends liked it so much they put it on their toes. I'm not a big fan of purple nail polish on ties but this is the perfect shade.



Still love and play Favorite Thing #55. Ladder Ball is a staple at each of our cookouts and backyard parties. I definitely recommend getting it if you don't already have it.

Favorite Thing #125 - Farkle

I was introduced to this game last weekend when we hosted game night at our house. My friend Lisa taught us how to play and it is sooo much fun! It is such a simple game (you only need six dice to play) and so fun. Farkle is played by two or more players, with each player in succession having a turn at throwing the dice. Each player's turn results in a score, and the scores for each player accumulate to some winning total (usually 10,000). There is a wide variety of ways to play and score so check out the Farkle Wikipedia page. This is the perfect game to bring on vacation since you only need dice and something to keep score.

This favorite thing is still a must have for me when I want to wear my hair curly. It helps enhance the curl when I blow dry it. The "sock" allows the hot air to dry my hair but there isn't any blowing air so that my hair doesn't lose the curls.

Favorite Thing #91 - Apples to Apples

With the holidays here I thought this favorite thing would be a perfect post because its a great family game. Apples to Apples is such a fun game and great to play with family and friends. It's as easy as comparing apples to apples all you do is open the box, deal the cards, and you're ready to play. All you have to do is select the card from your hand that you think is best described by a card played by the judge. Right now it is available for $19.99. Here's a description from Amazon:

The name of the game is a play on the phrase "apples to oranges," and the game is about making comparisons between different things. General game play is as follows: players are dealt red cards which have a noun printed on them, and the judge (a different player in each turn) draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she likes best.

The fun is in the variety of unexpected comparisons people make, sometimes apt, funny, creative, or simply absurd. For example: people might match "Awkward" with "Oil Spills," "My First Kiss," "Dandruff," and "Gold Chains. " Or: "Painful" with "High School Reunions" and "Regis Philben. " Strategy comes into play since, because each player takes turns being the judge, you begin to pick up on the preferences of each player and tailor your choices accordingly.

Players can also try variations on the basic game play. For example, instead of choosing the most apt comparison, players might try choosing the red card that is least like the green one. These variations keep the game fresh and interesting every time.

Favorite Thing #55 - Ladder Ball

This is one of my favorite outdoor games - Ladder Ball! We were introduced to this game by my cousins-in-law, Marc and Kerri. It's a really fun game that I like to think of as a modern horseshoes/bean bag game. Each player or team tosses bolos (rubber balls attached to rope); and at the ladder with the goal of wrapping it around one of the rungs. Each rung is worth a different value. There are several different ways to keep score but the way that we do is after each round you count up the number of points the player/team scored. You play to 21 -- no going over.

We found the best company and also the most affordable to get the game is by a company called Sportcraft. It's available through Amazon, Target, and Wal-Mart (that I know of). I've seen it priced anywhere from $25 - $35. The great thing about the game is it's portable. The game itself is made up a PVC piping that you just connect so it's easy to take with you to places like the beach, a friends house, or even tailgating at a football game. That's what we did last year.

You also may know this game as...


Norwegian Horseshoes, Ladder Golf, Snakes, Hillbilly Golf, Polish Golf, Tower Ball, Gladiator, Snake Toss, Ladder Toss, Rodeo Golf, Dingle Balls, Cowboy Golf, Redneck Golf, The Snake Game, Slither, Snakes & Ladders, Hillbilly Horsehoes, Flingy Ball, Norwegian Golf, Swedish Golf, Polish Horsehoes, Montana Golf, Lasso Golf, Australian Horseshoes, Ladder Game, Monkey Balls, Golfball Horseshoes, Arizona Golf Balls, Ball Dangle, Poor Mans Golf, Bolo Toss, even Testicle Toss!



Backyard and Patio Fun posted about a new version of this fabulous game called Spin-It Ladder Ball.



It may need to be our next backyard game purchase!