Comments on: Announcing the Wanda Witch Clever Clue Giveaway http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/ Bright ideas designed to make everday life a little easier Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:02:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: The Wanda Witch Party Roundup Post | MeckMom.com http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1123 The Wanda Witch Party Roundup Post | MeckMom.com Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:22:05 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1123 [...] 2008’s Wanda Witch Clever Clue Giveaway (loads of great clue ideas in the comment section) [...] [...] 2008’s Wanda Witch Clever Clue Giveaway (loads of great clue ideas in the comment section) [...]

]]> By: The Wicked Witch http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1122 The Wicked Witch Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:51:49 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1122 I'm remedial but very excited. I "get" the details but could someone outline the overall evening. How many challenges, the ending activities, how to begin? I’m remedial but very excited. I “get” the details but could someone outline the overall evening. How many challenges, the ending activities, how to begin?

]]> By: Brooke http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1121 Brooke Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:35:27 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1121 We hosted our party last night and had a blast. I loved watching everyone. Four or Five people said they thought it was me after the fact, but no one wrote my name down! We had one location that was really difficult. The dry riverbed was easy to follow in the day time but at night it was a whole different story. We had one team down there for over an hour. We felt kind of bad. We had the opposite problem from some of the other witches. No one said anything to anyone because they didn't know who was invited or not and they didn't want anyone to feel bad. We invited 27 couples hoping for 18 or 20. Six of the couples never responded though we sent an email and a postcard. We ended up with 13 couples which worked out okay. We only used four teams instead of six as we had planned. However, everyone said they had so much fun that "next time" everyone will want to come. I believe them since the word is spreading like wildfire today. They came to a joking conclusion that the winning team this year has to do it next year! That's fine with me since I was not on that team. I had so much fun with this. In fact, I really have a lot of housework etc. to catch up on; my family would probably appreciate a home cooked meal, and maybe I can stop checking Wanda's email 5 times a day! Hee, hee. Thanks for the great evening! We hosted our party last night and had a blast. I loved watching everyone. Four or Five people said they thought it was me after the fact, but no one wrote my name down! We had one location that was really difficult. The dry riverbed was easy to follow in the day time but at night it was a whole different story. We had one team down there for over an hour. We felt kind of bad.
We had the opposite problem from some of the other witches. No one said anything to anyone because they didn’t know who was invited or not and they didn’t want anyone to feel bad. We invited 27 couples hoping for 18 or 20. Six of the couples never responded though we sent an email and a postcard. We ended up with 13 couples which worked out okay. We only used four teams instead of six as we had planned.
However, everyone said they had so much fun that “next time” everyone will want to come. I believe them since the word is spreading like wildfire today. They came to a joking conclusion that the winning team this year has to do it next year! That’s fine with me since I was not on that team.
I had so much fun with this. In fact, I really have a lot of housework etc. to catch up on; my family would probably appreciate a home cooked meal, and maybe I can stop checking Wanda’s email 5 times a day! Hee, hee. Thanks for the great evening!

]]> By: Sarah http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1120 Sarah Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:08:00 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1120 For Wanda about freaking out - don't worry. Last year we had 28 couples and it was crazy. We had 8 teams and a whole lot of people but I got one great tip from my sister. She encouraged me to write the rules down for every challenge/clue. It really was just too many people to yell over. I also wanted to add one of my favorites from last year before I forget. There was an old rusty water tank that we had "stuff" to make a fishing pole with. Inside the tank was there clue with a big metal washer. Here's the clue: "Hvae you eevr ntoecid how yuor bairn wrkos so fsat you can raed setnihomg lkie tihs so you wno't cmoe in lsat. Spilmy go to yuor coolr teapd on the tnak's wall Tehn aselmsbe the fsinihg ploe And let the menagt flal. Pull out yuor two cules ecah cpolue gtes jsut one Tehn hrury bcak to yuor mat And fnisih up wtih mroe fun!" All you have to do is keep the 1st & last letter the same, then mix up all the others. We loved this one. I also am hooked on invisible ink pens. We always serve snacks or dessert at some point in our party. Last year I gave each team an invisible ink pen with light and told them to be on the look out. Then we wrote "clues" on the bottom of their plates like, "Spray John with silly spray" or "go take a bite out of Shelly's sandwich." The favorite was "bring me Shane's shoe"- Shane is a rather large man that had no clue why they were taking his shoe. It made life so fun as the couples started to figure out what was going on. Some were even digging their plates out of the garbage seeing if they lost points. For Wanda about freaking out – don’t worry. Last year we had 28 couples and it was crazy. We had 8 teams and a whole lot of people but I got one great tip from my sister. She encouraged me to write the rules down for every challenge/clue. It really was just too many people to yell over.
I also wanted to add one of my favorites from last year before I forget. There was an old rusty water tank that we had “stuff” to make a fishing pole with. Inside the tank was there clue with a big metal washer. Here’s the clue:
“Hvae you eevr ntoecid how
yuor bairn wrkos so fsat
you can raed setnihomg lkie tihs
so you wno’t cmoe in lsat.

Spilmy go to yuor coolr
teapd on the tnak’s wall
Tehn aselmsbe the fsinihg ploe
And let the menagt flal.

Pull out yuor two cules
ecah cpolue gtes jsut one
Tehn hrury bcak to yuor mat
And fnisih up wtih mroe fun!”

All you have to do is keep the 1st & last letter the same, then mix up all the others. We loved this one.

I also am hooked on invisible ink pens. We always serve snacks or dessert at some point in our party. Last year I gave each team an invisible ink pen with light and told them to be on the look out. Then we wrote “clues” on the bottom of their plates like, “Spray John with silly spray” or “go take a bite out of Shelly’s sandwich.” The favorite was “bring me Shane’s shoe”- Shane is a rather large man that had no clue why they were taking his shoe. It made life so fun as the couples started to figure out what was going on. Some were even digging their plates out of the garbage seeing if they lost points.

]]> By: wanda http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1119 wanda Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:44:46 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1119 I am freaking out just a bit, so far 22 couples have RSVPd. I einvited a lot thinking we would get a few. Any tips for big crowds? I am freaking out just a bit, so far 22 couples have RSVPd. I einvited a lot thinking we would get a few. Any tips for big crowds?

]]> By: Another Idaho Wanda http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1118 Another Idaho Wanda Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:20:54 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1118 We actually have to do the same thing of keeping it anonymous. There was a huge deal about it in Relief Society (someone thought it was a ward party) and now everyone knows about it. We got it all taken care of, so only the people we invited will go, but we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings because they weren't invited by us. We figured no one can be mad if they don't know who to be mad at! :) We decided we are just going to have my sister set everything up at a park and leave instructions to throw away your napkin from treats. I think it will turn out okay (hopefully)! :) We actually have to do the same thing of keeping it anonymous. There was a huge deal about it in Relief Society (someone thought it was a ward party) and now everyone knows about it. We got it all taken care of, so only the people we invited will go, but we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings because they weren’t invited by us. We figured no one can be mad if they don’t know who to be mad at! :) We decided we are just going to have my sister set everything up at a park and leave instructions to throw away your napkin from treats. I think it will turn out okay (hopefully)! :)

]]> By: Mindy http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1117 Mindy Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:14:22 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1117 Wow! I'm so impressed. How do you keep it a secret? My husband had to coach me on what to say to people. We practiced many times. I don't think I could do it. Way to go. Maybe if we move and start all over! :) Wow! I’m so impressed. How do you keep it a secret? My husband had to coach me on what to say to people. We practiced many times. I don’t think I could do it. Way to go. Maybe if we move and start all over! :)

]]> By: Sneaky Witch from Wyoming http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1116 Sneaky Witch from Wyoming Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:02:58 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1116 No, we didn't ever reveal ourselves. They knew it was the same people doing it this year because everything was done the same as last year other than the clues and locations that were given. I don't know how many more times we will do it - it is a lot of work, but much fun. :-) No, we didn’t ever reveal ourselves. They knew it was the same people doing it this year because everything was done the same as last year other than the clues and locations that were given. I don’t know how many more times we will do it – it is a lot of work, but much fun. :-)

]]> By: Idaho Wanda http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1115 Idaho Wanda Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:14:02 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1115 Sneaky witch from Wyoming, Did you not reveal yourselves from the last years party? How do they not know it is you again? Sneaky witch from Wyoming, Did you not reveal yourselves from the last years party? How do they not know it is you again?

]]> By: Sneaky Witch from Wyoming http://www.meckmom.com/2008/10/01/announcing-the-great-wanda-witch-giveaway/#comment-1114 Sneaky Witch from Wyoming Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:11:49 +0000 http://www.meckmom.com/?p=562#comment-1114 We have had a blast doing this party. This is actually the second year we have done it without anyone knowing who planned it. Last year we met on the grounds of a historic building for our final location. This year we met in a conference room at a motel. We leave a box with all the instructions in it. We have everything labeled with who needs to do and read what. We even put our popcorn balls and cider in the box. Our guest absolutely love it and don't have a clue who has put the party together. This year my husband made a CD for one of their clues. He started it out with cartoon witches laughing. Then he disguised his voice and said the clues were somewhere on the CD. He put a lot of halloween music on it. Sometimes the clues would be in the middle of a song and other times it would be between songs (the harder to find, the better the clue). The location he gave clues for was actually a participant's house who had no idea there was anything hidden at their house - we were very sneaky. We knew they would be fine with us using their home - and they were :-). We have written clues in pig latin. We have had participants go to a drive-thru and order something and have to give exact change for it. Also this year, my husband wrote a mathematical equation that equaled the address on a certain street we told them. It went like this: So you think you are pretty smart? Count the number of intersections on main street with stop lights. Add that to the score a football team would receive for a touchdown, an extra point, a safety, a field goal and an onside kick. Subtract that from Martin Van Buren. ( what Number of president). Now multiply that by the age of President Monson. This will give you the address on Sheridan avenue of your next clue. What number did Steve Young wear while at BYU? This will be the number of fence posts from the edge of the property where you will find your clue. Everyone ripped out their cell phones and started calling friends for answers. It was great. Thank you so much for the idea to throw this party. It is definitely the highlight of the year - and our "group" is sure looking forward to next year already. We have had a blast doing this party. This is actually the second year we have done it without anyone knowing who planned it. Last year we met on the grounds of a historic building for our final location. This year we met in a conference room at a motel. We leave a box with all the instructions in it. We have everything labeled with who needs to do and read what. We even put our popcorn balls and cider in the box. Our guest absolutely love it and don’t have a clue who has put the party together.

This year my husband made a CD for one of their clues. He started it out with cartoon witches laughing. Then he disguised his voice and said the clues were somewhere on the CD. He put a lot of halloween music on it. Sometimes the clues would be in the middle of a song and other times it would be between songs (the harder to find, the better the clue). The location he gave clues for was actually a participant’s house who had no idea there was anything hidden at their house – we were very sneaky. We knew they would be fine with us using their home – and they were :-) .

We have written clues in pig latin. We have had participants go to a drive-thru and order something and have to give exact change for it.

Also this year, my husband wrote a mathematical equation that equaled the address on a certain street we told them. It went like this: So you think you are pretty smart? Count the number of intersections on main street with stop lights. Add that to the score a football team would receive for a touchdown, an extra point, a safety, a field goal and an onside kick. Subtract that from Martin Van Buren. ( what Number of president). Now multiply that by the age of President Monson. This will give you the address on Sheridan avenue of your next clue.

What number did Steve Young wear while at BYU? This will be the number of fence posts from the edge of the property where you will find your clue. Everyone ripped out their cell phones and started calling friends for answers. It was great.

Thank you so much for the idea to throw this party. It is definitely the highlight of the year – and our “group” is sure looking forward to next year already.

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