They sell boxed Bunco games at Target and WalMart, but they’re catered to a very girls-night-out crowd (the dice are hot pink, for pity sake) and look pretty cheaply made.  I was sure I could come up with something better so I ran to the dollar store and grabbed a few packs of dice, colorful pens (for scorekeeping), and some cheap prizes.  I whipped up the scorecards on my computer while my husband set up some folding tables in the basement.  In less than 20 minutes (and for about $12) our Bunco game was set up and ready to go – just in time for the guests to arrive.

Overall, the game was a big success.  Since the game requires players to switch partners every round, there were tons of opportunities to mix; so every player got a chance to pair up with (and trash talk) every other player.   Additionally, there’s really no strategy to Bunco (it’s an easy-to-learn, pure luck game) so my 6 year-old daughter had just as much chance of winning as her Grandpa did.  In fact, it was my 8 year-old son Jack who beat us all and was promptly crowned the ‘King of New Years’.  The effect was exactly what I was hoping for – a few hours of laughter and fun for adults and kids alike.

After the party, I started thinking about how many other ways I could use Bunco.  For example, there are several new couples in our ward that I’m anxious to invite over and I think this game would be a great way to laugh and get acquainted.  It would also be a fabulous mutual game – perfect for combined young men/young women activities because the partners get to switch all the time.  And of course, it makes a fantastic girls night game.  The group I was part of in Ohio had monthly Bunco nights – each month at a different house.  It was a monthly get-away that we all looked forward to!

Some people think that Bunco is limiting because it’s traditionally only played with 12 people.  However, we’ve played it with as few as 8 and as many as 24.  You just need to adjust the number of game tables and teams per table to your specific number of players.  You can even play with odd numbers if you play with a “ghost” (read the comments area for more details) or skip the ‘team’ idea completely and have everyone roll for their own points.  Trust me, there are ways to make it work for any type of party.  All you need is a group of energetic players and a Bunco Kit of your own and you’ll be good to go.

The good news is that now you don’t have to settle on that obnoxiously pink kit that’s available in the stores.  I spent the last few days re-designing the Bunco Kit I hurriedly made on New Years and it’s now available in my Etsy shop.  It’s colorful, coordinated, and perfect for any of the Bunco parties I described above.  Best of all, it’s available in two forms –  the ready-to-go pre-cut set (handmade by me) or a printable set (to be handmade by you).  Whichever option you choose, you’ll have everything you need to get your party rolling in no time (sorry, I just couldn’t resist that pun).

I hope you guys love it as much as we did!  Good luck.  Let me know if you have any questions or if you come up with any other clever ways to use this great game.  I’m always looking for new party ideas.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

Not one to give up easily, I decided to create my own game.  I took inspiration from the cards I liked and then racked my brain to come up with more questions.  In the end I had 100 clean, laughter-inducing, conversation-provoking questions that were perfect for my girls’ weekend.

On the night of the party I passed around the questions and had each friend draw three – one to answer themselves, one to ask to anyone in the group, and one to put back.  We started the game around 8 pm and we were still playing it at 3:30 am.  The ladies loved it!  We laughed about prom dress descriptions, commiserated about house-cleaning woes, and shared stories about our lives that would never have come up in regular conversation.  It was exactly what I was hoping for.

A few months later, I created several more sets to use at a Relief Society (a LDS womens’ group) dinner.  I placed a set at each table and had the women play while they ate.  The effect was fantastic.  Women of all ages and backgrounds were able to laugh and relax together.

After the dinner, several of the women asked me where they could buy their own copy of the game.  That’s when I decided to make it official and add ChatterBox (titled after the nickname of my oldest daughter – who has been a fountain of questions from the time she could speak) to the MeckMom Etsy store.

As of today, you can purchase both the boxed set (handmade by me) or a printable set (to be handmade by you) in my Etsy shop.  The sets come with my original 100 questions but if you’d like to customize your set by adding a few questions of your own, just let me know and I’ll add them in for you.

I know I’m a bit biased, but I really do love this game.  If you’ve got a mom, sister, or good friend on your Christmas list this year, I highly recommend giving this game a try.  It would make a perfect gift!  Or better yet, buy one for yourself and share the fun at your next baby shower, girls night, or women’s meeting.  I’ve even used them at visiting teaching appointments and presidency meetings.  You just can’t go wrong when you get women talking.

I’m planning to create more sets in the future –  a group date set for teens is in the works and a family reunion set will be coming soon.  I may even create a supplement pack (25 more questions) for the Women’s Edition since it’s been so popular.  I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Remember, if you want to win your own boxed set of ChatterBox you still have a few days to enter the “Best of MeckMom – Chatterbox Giveaway”.  Just comment on your favorite MeckMom idea on last week’s Talk To Me Tuesday post to enter.  The deadline is Tuesday night (Nov 10th) at midnight CST.  Thanks everyone, for your support.  I hope you enjoy ChatterBox as much as I have.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

Breakfast Doughnut Tower

This simple little idea stemmed from my Mom’s breakfast-in-bed birthday tradition.  When I was growing up, my birthdays always began with a hot plate of french toast in bed and a birthday serenade from my family.  In order to create that same warm and cozy feel for my kids without exerting tons of effort, I created our breakfast doughnut tower tradition.  As you can see from the picture, the idea is pretty simple.  When my kids wake up on their birthday, they find a balloon & crepe paper covered kitchen and a big tower of doughnuts waiting for them on the table.  We add one doughnut for each year and then top the tower with a number candle.  The family sings, we take some pictures and then we all dig in.  We rarely have sweets for breakfast so my kids are thrilled about this tradition even if it’s not their birthday.

Birthday Present Scavenger Hunt

I love drawing out the present-opening process.  For some reason, it seems like my kids appreciate each present more when they get to hunt for it.  Here’s how our little tradition works.  When the kids wake up in the morning all their presents are wrapped and on display.  This way they get a chance to count up their stash and make their predictions about what’s inside.  While they’re away at school or during their nap, I hide their presents in various tricky locations around the house and yard (the locations get a little tougher as they get older).  After their birthday dinner the scavenger hunt begins.

My clue method changes with each birthday.  One year I hid the clues inside balloons and had the kids stomp them to find the present locations.  Another year I snapped zoomed-in pictures of the present locations and sealed them in individual envelopes.  One of my favorites was the year we hid the paper clues in the birthday cake before frosting it.  It was messy, but the kids loved digging through the goopy cake to find the clues.

This year, I came up with a simple target shooting game to kick off my son’s hunt.  First, I printed and laminated seven numbered targets (these targets could have tons of uses, so I included the free file for you below).  Next, I used a dry-erase marker to jot down the present locations on each (ie ‘in the Capn Crunch box’ or ‘in the washing machine’).  Next, I used masking tape to stick them to the wall.  When it was time to hunt, I gave my son an inexpensive Nerf dart gun ($7 at WalMart) and had him shoot at the targets.  When he managed to nail a target with his suction cup dart, he pulled the target off the wall and read the clue aloud.  Once he and his sisters located the present, they brought it back to the living room and tore it open.  The game continued until he’d located and opened all seven presents.

Regardless of the method, the end result of the scavenger hunt is always the same.  My kids come away from their birthday appreciating each gift a little more, their siblings have fun helping in the hunt, and my digital camera is full of fabulous family memories.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

If your family has fun birthday traditions that you’d like to share, please do so in the comments area.  I’m always looking for new ways to spice up our family fun!  Thanks.

Set Up:
Divide your group into two teams of any size (recommended minimum is 4 per team).   Gather 5-10 blankets, sheets, or sleeping bags.  You’ll need one neutral person to act as a referee and be the blanket coverer.Objective:
To acquire the most points in a pre-determined number of rounds.  Points are acquired by tricking the other team into thinking there are more or less team members under the blankets.  How to Play:
Instruct the first team to go to a separate room.  The remaining team has three minutes to create a structure with any number of team members.  For example, two people stand in the center and form an arch with their arms.  Other team members hide around their legs.  The referee then covers the entire structure with blankets.  Any remaining team members not under the blankets hide in or near the room.  The referee then calls the other team in.  They are not allowed to touch the blankets.  They have two minutes to make an official guess.  Once they’ve agreed on a number, the referee announces it and the team comes out from under the blankets.Scoring:
If the team guessed the correct number of people.  They earn 3 points.  For every number they’re off (either high or low), the opposing team gains a point.  The team with the highest point total at the end of the game wins.