WIN Game Prize Pack: WinningMovesGamesUSA #HolidayGiftGuide2015 #SassyWinningGA2015

Win A Prize Pack from Winning Moves Games: OVER $60 RV

Winning Moves Games: #SassyWinningGA2015 

Part of the #HolidayGiftGuide2015

#SassyHolidays

Family Game Night with Winning Moves Games: 

** I received these products for review.  However, all thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

(THE GIVEAWAY IS WAY on DOWN)

Growing up, one of my all time favorite memories was of our family all sitting around the kitchen or dining room table and playing games like Skip-Bo, Trivial Pursuit, Rook, LIFE, Monopoly geez the list could go on and on.  It was at times competitive, sometimes there were tears (mainly from me if I didn't win) but most of the time it was a time filled with laughter, and most importantly togetherness.

That's why I chose Winning Moves Games as one of the gift ideas for the #sassyholidays #HolidayGiftGuide2015

Make Family Game Night a Priority

Ok, so maybe it's only my two teenager monsters that are living at my home, but it seems whenever it's something that I, personally, want to do they are DEAD SET against it.  However, the last few times that I had to "Pull" teeth to get the kids to play games with me, they didn't want it to end.  We haven't all had a chance yet to sit together as a family to play any of the games, but my husband and I and my daughter and I have given these games a test drive and I can tell you without a doubt, they are so much fun!

Scattergories Categories: A New Twist on an OLD Classic

My daughter and I had the chance one night to sit down and try out this twist on the Classic game, Scattergories.

To start off, Callie honestly wasn't too thrilled with being my guinea pig for playing this game, but she was a good sport and good child and went along with it.  Well, by the end we both were like, "ok, just one more" and six more rounds later were both hesitant to finally call it a night.

The Twist:

So, if you've ever played Scattergories, you are familiar with the concept of the game, kinda brainstorming with a theme.  I haven't played Scattergories in years, but from what I remember you had this funky dice that had letters and there were various categories and you would think of as many words starting with the "rolled letter" that fits the "Category".

Well, the Scattergories Categories is a lot similar to the original.  You do have "Categories", but instead of a dice, you have these category cards that have a word in which you will use to begin each word....  That sounds all kinds of crazy...  Let's show you in pictures...

Scattergories Categories: How to Play Scattergories Categories

 Ok...  So, in Scattergories Categories each player gets a Sheet to use for your "Brainstorming" sessions.  Each round, players will choose one "Category" cards.  The Category cards give the "theme" for that round...

Example:  Walt's Dream is the base word that will be used for this "round".  The "Category" is "anything to do with Disney".


A Short Run-Through Step by Step 

First: Fill in the boxes on your "Playing Pad", writing "Walt's Dream"  Vertically (with NO spaces).

You will THEN use the letters in "Walt's Dream"  as the first letter for each word using the theme "Anything Disney"

In this image to the left, you can see the words that I came up with!

W- Walt Disney
A: Aladdin
L: Lion King
T: Tarzan
S: Space Mountain
D: Disney World
R: -
E: Epcot
A: -
M:-

How to Win:

So, each round, all players will go through and say what they had for each letter.  If there are two players' with the same answer for any "one" letter then each player loses that point.  (If there are "two" or more of the same letter in the "Category Word" and two players answer the same thing but at in different spots, "example: Walt's Dream has two A's, if two players answered Aladdin, but player 1 answered using the first A (in between W & L) and Player 2 used the second A, then both players would get to keep those points.

My Thoughts on Scattergories Categories:

We absolutely LOVE this game.  This would make a great party game, since there's no board required, players could easily be sitting spread across the room.  I'm sure that you could come up with some fun ways to mix it up and come up with your own categories and starter words!

Callie also loved to play this too.  It's been such a hectic time for us, it's been hard to pin everyone down to get some good family game time, but it's going to be a priority for this Christmas season!

Connect 4: Twist & Turn

Although I love, LOVE Scattergories Categories, I'm thinking that my favorite of these was the new Connect 4 Twist & Turn.  It really takes classic Connect 4 to a whole new level.  Just when you THINK you've won, someone twists the dang tower and throws your game all off.  It makes you think of your move, plus think about the next possible ten moves depending on which way the tower may twist

The fundamentals are pretty much the same as Classic Connect 4, Connect 4 Twist & Turn is a "tower" that has rings.  These rings can be twisted either direction and can cause MAJOR chaos in your gameplay.

It really requires you to put your thinking cap on.  I can't tell you the number of times I've won because my dauther or husband literally won for me, by twisting at the wrong time and in the wrong place.  Sometimes, depending on where the chips are, you twist and chips are gonna move around into other columns.  It is strangely a very simple concept, but manages to raise the difficulty up about ten notches.

Find out MORE about Connect 4 Twist & Turn or Purchase it: Winning Moves

 Upwords

So, I'll be really honest, we've not yet had a chance to sit down and play this yet.  But, I so cannot wait.  I actually have never played Upwords before, but I thought it would be a fun twist on a Scrabble- like game!

Here's the GIVEAWAY:  FINALLY

I told you there was a giveaway down here, betcha you thought I was tricking ya'!

Enter to Win a YOUR OWN Prize Pack from Winning Moves Games

Giveaway for US Only (So sorry international people)

Part of the #HolidayGiftGuide2015

Winning Moves GA Holiday 2015

Abundant Harvest Review & GIVEAWAY

Abundant Harvest: For Teens & Adults

$19.99 on Amazon

Harvest Time Partners Site

Abundant Harvest:  For Teens & Adults

What it is...

Abundant Harvest is a conversational board game.  They have two types, one for Teens & Adults and one for "kids".  It's a board game that brings families together and helps with decision making.  It "creates" teachable moments for parents and their teens/ or kids...  

 The Game:

There will be more pictures than I normally include in my reviews, because I want folks to be able to get an idea of what this game is.

A look at what all comes in the Abundant Harvest:  Teens & Adults

Ok, so I really wanted to do this review.  You know some of my favorite memories growing up were of "family nights", night when we would get out the cards or games and sit together as a family and have game night.  It wasn't just us playing games, it was us spending time together as a family and laughing and having fun.  We were interacting, we did so much more than just play games..  It forced us to have to talk to each other.  Something this generation that's growing up lacks.

In a world that has gone digital and is all about technology, a lot of families are missing the core foundation that families are built on:  Communication.  I love this game, because it opens up the table for discussions.  And discussions that we seriuosly need to be having with our children. 

Principal Stands:  Trust, Patience, Loyalty, Service, Courage, Honesty, Love, Work

The Game Pieces:

So, when you open your game, you will find:

• Game Board
• Principle Cards 
• Principle Stands (The game pieces:  Has stickers to affix to the stands)
• 1 dice / die
• Scenario Cards:  5 Different Categories
• Harvest Time Reward Cards

The Principles Card

So, each player picks a "Principle Stand".  Things like:  Loyalty, service, work, love, patience, courage and honesty...  (See above pic.)  Each player also recieves a "Principle" card, these cards are to be used throughout the game when making "choices" based on the scenarios that are picked. 

Scenario Cards:

Next, you have your "Scenario" cards which come in five different categories...  When a player lands on a space they choose the "corresponding" Scenario card and read what it says and they have appx. 30 seconds to answer with one of the "Principles" from the aforementioned Principle card.  This is the "meat" of the game...  And these questions are "REAL LIFE" questions...  One even begs the question, your 16 and find out your pregnant... What do you do?  These are unfortunately, part of the life we lead..  Mistakes happen, and it's how we respond in real life to these scenarios.  This game gets you talking about these things and it's always best to be prepared and know how you would respond BEFORE a "Crisis" comes up.  It really helps to enstill values I think!  It makes you think about things and talk about things you might not otherwise think to talk about!

 There is an "accountant" and this person administeres the "Harvest Time Rewards" as well as ensure that the rules are being followed.  During the game the "accountant" uses their discrection on whether to extend the "Advice Time"....  This is where the game really is able to get a good "open discussion" going.  

During advice time, this is when after a player has chosen how they would respond in a situation, people can say what they would have done and "Critiques" or maybe a better word is "this might be a better way to handle that situation", type of thing....

 In Conclusion:

I really and truly love this game.  As a Christian, I feel it's important to teach our kids values and have open discussions and this game definitely fosters an environment that's safe for our kids to freely express themselves and opens up an environment to disucss important issues with our kids and to help teach them to make good choices.

When my kids and I played this game the other day...  I truly think that they were amazed at how much they had enjoyed this game!  It got us all to talking about things and laughing and cutting up.  It was so nice to have some family time and to hear how they would do things in certain situations.  It made me realize that despite the fact that they are normal kids, I have been able to raise them with some morals and values.  It can be so hard nowadays with technology the way it is, they have so much they learn without our watchful eye over them, they are introduced to the adult world far too early these days!

This will be a game that will will be pulling out quite frequently!!  I am going to make it at the LEAST a monthly routine!

Giveaway!!  

Love this game???  Harvest Time, the makers of Abundant Harvest are giving one lucky winner their own game!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.