Are you playing in the Million Minute Game Challenge?

Are you participating in the Million Minute Family Game Challenge? If so how are you doing with logging your minutes? If you aren't participating, click here to read more and enter the Word Shout game giveaway. If you are an adult, enter the What's a Dame to Do? giveaway.

Our group is called Crazy Gamers and we just logged 4,635 minutes. The top games played are Space Empires, Magic the Gathering, Pinochle, Combat Commander and Small World.  Ever heard of them? Some of our other games include Sponge Bob Game of Life, Ccandy Land, Scrabble, Settlers of Catan, Yinsh, Word Shout, Seven Wonders, Dungeon Quest, Carcasone, Rummikub, Heroclix, Heroscape, Cthulhu, Rory Story Cubes, Clue, Apples to Apples, aMAZEing Labyrinth, Pocket Battles, Ticket to Ride, Five Crowns, Seismic and Ablaze!

What are some of your favorite games? Check out one of our player's on Board Game Geek to find out about some of the listed games.

Did you know that board games have been around for 3000 years? Click here, History of Board Games, to learn more.

If you aren't registered to play I hope you do it soon. The Challenge last until the last day of December.

Rally for Recess DANNON Danimals Getting Kids Active

I'm curious as to what kind of physical activity your children get at school. The reason I'm asking, I just recently found out that Schools nationwide have had to cut recess time due to limited resources, and some schools do not provide any playtime for students at all. Apparently the Government recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of mild to strenuous activity per day. On average, over the past 20 years kids have lost 8 hours a week.

Is this a school problem or a home problem? I can see where cutting PE for kids in school is a school problem but I can also see where it is a home problem, too. Schools can't provide everything for the students so parents can make sure the kids are being active at home. This lack of PE or playtime at school or home is a growing epidemic.  


The company, Dannon Danimals® - delicious and nutritious kids snacks that include on-the go smoothies and lowfat yogurts with calcium - is motivating Moms and kids to rally around this cause, by launching a national initiative called "Rally for Recess."

"Rally for Recess" creates healthy competition, pitting school against school. Five schools have the opportunity to win new playground equipment and an all-day recess celebration. Through February 8, 2012 purchasers can find codes on Danimals packaging (or free by mail) to enter and register their school online. The top school in each of the five categories (based on size) with the most codes registered wins! For more information visit: RallyforRecess.com.

My girls are homeschooled and I do have to say that they do not get 60 minutes of mild to strenuous activity every day. My girls are involved or have been involved with Dance, Drama, Tae Kwon Do, Swimming, Soccer, etc. One of the benefits of being homeschooled is that I do have full control over their meals and snacks. 

We are huge fans of the Dannon Danimals on the go smoothies and yogurt. We love the Banana Split and Rockin' Raspberry flavors of smoothies and all of the yogurts, especially the Tropical Sherbet variety. We've found that a healthy balance is key for their activity and for their food intake.


How about you? What type of activities do they have at school? Home? What healthy snacks do you offer? 

Check out that Rally For Recess and input the product codes from the Dannon Danimals to be entered to win playground equipment!



I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Danimals and received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

FREE NOOK books! 3 HOT cookbooks! Yummy

Here are three free NOOK books. Get them quick as you never know how long they will be free. If you do not have a NOOK you can still get them with the Nook software for your computer or phone!

If you have a KINDLE then check Amazon for the same books. They are often free at the same time the Nook books are free. Click the link below each book for the direct link. Enjoy!

Tailgaiting

Burger Recipes

Everything Soup, Stew & Chili

Game Closet Organization tips

 GAME CLOSET ORGANIZATION TIPS

All you really need for a successful Family Game Night are good friends and family and your favorite games! But if getting to your games or finding the one everyone is dying to play is derailing the fun in your house, it might be time for a game closet makeover. Alison Deyette, a lifestyle expert and author of the blog “Ali on the Go,” shares a few tips to ensure you’re prepared for Family Game Night fun time and time again.

1.     Store Games in an Easily Accessible Location: Keep all your games in one place, such as a closet or storage ottoman. If you don’t have the closet space for a designated area for family games, consider storing your games near the TV in an ottoman with a lift-off top, or in a large trunk or storage bin. That way, it’s easy to get to a game when the family is looking for something to do together, or when your favorite show is over.

2.     Assign Shelves in the Game Closet: Designate each shelf in the family game closet for a particular game category. With separate shelves for word games, party games and active games without a box, everyone knows where each game goes and clean up is quick and easy! Consider keeping games for the little ones on lower shelves so they can grab them on their own for spontaneous play at any time.

3.     Store Games Side by Side: To ensure games are easy to see and grab from the shelf, store board game boxes side by side vertically, similarly to books on a bookshelf. This way, every game is easily accessible and you don’t have to worry about trying to pry one game from the middle or bottom of a stack.

4.     Find a Place for Small Game Pieces: Want to ensure you never lose those Scrabble tiles or Monopoly houses again? Use plastic tote boxes to store smaller playing items like these, as well as dice, timers and pawns. You can also use a fishing tackle box to keep all the tiny pieces separated and safe between Family Game Nights.

5.     Create a Binder to Store Game Directions: Place the directions from each game in a clear sheet protector. Alphabetize the sheets by the name of the game so directions are easy to find when you need a reminder about who goes first in The Game of Life or how much money each player starts with in Monopoly.

6.     Find Time in Your Busy Schedule for Family Game Night: Plan ahead to make sure you’re completely organized before everyone sits down at the table for Family Game Night. Make all of the treats the day before and place everything in personalized goodie bags to ensure each guest is accounted for. Also, determine which games you’re going to play ahead of time and set everything out the night before to increase everyone’s excitement for the big night!

Don't forget that HASBRO's Family Game Night: www.facebook.com/familygamenight on Wednesday, September 28th. You can also participate in the Patch Games, Million Minute Family Challenge and Game Giveaway.

Creamy White Chili a Gooseberry Patch Favorite Fall Recipe

From Gooseberry Patch: With the official start of fall just a week or so away and a welcome nip in the air around here (sorry, Texas!) we are definitely in an autumn state of mind when it comes to the kitchen. Seems like the change in season just calls for warm & hearty recipes, like the one we're sharing today. Which recipes are YOUR Favorite Fall Recipe? Share 'em all with us below so we can visit your blogs, too!

Here's one to inspire you from our Cookbook of the Week, Autumn in the Country...enjoy!

Creamy White Chili 

This recipe was shared by Janelle Dixon of Fernley, NV and has such a fabulous flavor with its blend of green chiles, cumin, sour cream and chicken.Thanks again for sending it in, Janelle!

Ingredients

1 T. oil
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
1 onion, chopped
14-oz. can chicken broth
2 15-1/2 oz. cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
2 4-oz. cans chopped green chiles
1-1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. salt
1 t. ground cumin
1/2 t. dried oregano
8-oz. container sour cream
1/2 pt. whipping cream
10-oz. pkg. corn chips
8-oz. bag shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add chicken and onion.
Sauté until chicken is cooked through; set aside.
Combine broth, beans, chiles and seasonings in a large soup pot over medium-high heat; bring to a boil.
Add chicken mixture; reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Add sour cream and whipping cream; mix well.
Top with corn chips and cheese. Serves 8.

More Fall Recipes

• 6 Fall Desserts
• 15 Fall Crockpot Beef Recipes
• 20 Apple Recipes for Fall
• 20 Ways to Cook Comfort Food Chicken in the Crockpot
• 20 Ways to Cook Pumpkin Seeds
• 27 Fall Desserts & Fall Comfort Foods

Giveaway General Mills' Cereal Treats Bars Gift Pack

 

Yum Yum! Check out the tasty Lucky Charms and Golden Grahams Treats by Betty Crocker.

• Flavor varieties include the ever popular Golden Grahams® (130 calories) and new Lucky Charms® Treats (100 calories), loaded with popular favorites like chocolate and marshmallows.


• Cereal Treats Bars contain less than 140 calories per bar and are made with wholesome cereal, making them a snack option that you can feel good about giving your kids.


• TWO Box Tops for Education seals on each box of Cereal Treat Bars, making earning cash for your school doubly cool! 

Have you purchased these treats yet for your kids? My daughters love them for snack time.  The girls think that these are cool treats because they are made with two of their favorite cereals. I, myself, love the Golden Grahams Treats! Yum.

Here is your chance to enter to win a box of each along with this really cool and stylish lunch bag. Check out the other goodies, too. I was most impressed with the packaging of these two snacks because they came with not just ONE but TWO Box Top for Education tabs! Double score.

 

 The giveaway winner’s prize pack will contain:

• One box of Lucky Charms^® Cereal Treats Bars
• One box of Golden Grahams^® Cereal Treats Bars
• Lunch bag
• Locker whiteboard
• Colored pencil set

ENTER TO WIN THE ABOVE Gift pack. One winner in the USA and ends 9/28/11. To enter click on the below READ MORE to use the very easy Rafflecopter giveaway form.

CONNECT 4 Launchers game review from HASBRO

Are you ready for the fast-flying, frantic action of Connect 4 Launchers? This revamped version of Connect 4 is sure to keep everyone in the family engaged and entertained for hours of out-of-your-seat fun.
Grab your launcher, aim for the two-tiered horizontal game unit and try to strategically land checkers in the top or bottom tray. Try to be the first player to get four-in-a-row horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Complete with three games in one – Basic Frantic Launch, Championship Frantic Launch and Advanced Power Launch – the fun is nonstop for players of all levels!

Crazy Gamers Review 

We play some really fun games with our Crazy Gamer group (Click our group to see other game reviews.) This review comes from a HASBRO game which is a play off the original Connect 4. I grew up playing Connect 4 and loved it as a kid so I was excited to get this game to review with our group.

 

This is a two player game for ages 5 and up. The game can be played with two on a team but it isn't easy to do. There is a launcher that is used to get your checker to the lower or upper level. If you are sharing it with a team mate, you must keep passing it back and forth. As for the age 5 and up that really has to do with being able to get the checker on the launcher and then coordinating it onto the two levels of the board. The age is right on.

 

This is a very fast paced game. Once you use up all your checkers the game is over or when someone gets "Connect 4". We were always able to get a Connect 4 before running out of checkers. This isn't a game to play if you want a quite, cool off game for the evening. This is a bouncing around, fast moving and giggling fit of a game. 

This would make a great gift for any family for the up and coming Holidays! Wednesday, September 28th is Family Game night! Check out the Hasbro links for more information. It is their 3rd year hosting this event. 

Facebook
Family Game Night: www.facebook.com/familygamenight
Scrabble: www.facebook.com/officialscrabble
Monopoly: www.facebook.com/monopoly
Trivial Pursuit: www.facebook.com/trivialpursuit
Cranium: www.facebook.com/cranium

Twitter
FamilyGameNight: www.twitter.com/familygamenight
Trivial Pursuit: www.twitter.com/trivialpursuit_
Cranium: www.twitter.com/playcranium

This is a sponsored post. A game was given to us to play and post a review. Our own tasty words and opinions are expressed here.