Oh, date night. Having date night is the best. Planning date night, not so much. But, relationships take work and skipping date night isn’t the best long game solution. Cue up the at home date! Add a fun game and date night is exciting again. And this Couples Jenga Game is PERFECT. Simple, inexpensive, fun and intimate. Just what date night should be!

AT HOME DATE: COUPLE’S JENGA GAME

COUPLE’S JENGA – AN AT HOME DATE NIGHT GAME THAT WILL HELP YOU DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP

Life gets busy. Date nights and alone time are often sporadic. I love my kids and they make our family complete; but, I also treasure the relationship I have with their dad, my husband.

The young adults from years ago who were still discovering the world, themselves and each other are still here. It can be hard to find that woman sometimes in the mess of responsibilities and obligations she has now.

This Couples Jenga Game is perfect for rediscovering the excitement in your relationship. Reminisce and even learn new things about your sweetie while having fun together!

COUPLES JENGA IS THE PERFECT DATE NIGHT GAME FOR COUPLES LOOKING TO GET AWAY FOR A BIT

As nice as it would be to run off for the weekend, that’s not really an option, right? If you’re looking for a way to escape all the responsibilities and stress for a little while, this Couples Jenga date night is perfect! Are you: 

• stressed out?
• tired of people wanting things from you all day?
• looking to relax a bit?
• a board or card game enthusiast?
• on a budget?
• wanting a different kind of date night?

If any of those were yes answers, you need a Couples Jenga Date Night! 

3 SUPER EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR COUPLES JENGA GAME

Truth bomb. Ready? The hardest part of this project is coming up with ideas of what to write on each block. But, there is a silver lining. Two, actually.

One: I made a set of 60 questions and activities that are ready to print. If you want an easy peasy project, you can find those in my Etsy Shop. There’s even an editable PDF file to help you customize your game as simply as possible.

Two: You can make this game as sweet or saucy as you want. I included a mix of naughty and nice, but you can do whatever would benefit your relationship most.

Okay, let’s do this!

COUPLES JENGA GAME MATERIALS:

• Jenga Block Template – Download this from the button below. If you want the Editable PDF template or the Ready-to-Print labels, get them in my Etsy shop.
• Jenga Game – Get it on Amazon. You can find knock off versions and they will work (I used a knock off version), but the quality isn’t as good and the blocks may not line well.
• Paper and Printer – I recommend standard printing paper* and a laser printer. Ink jet will work too.
• Paper Cutter or Scissors – love my Swingline SmartCut. I used both it and a pair of scissors.
• Glue – wood, white glue or tacky glue will work best. I used white glue.
• Pen or Marker or image editing software – If you’re going to write the questions and activities by hand, I recommend Sharpie Art Pens. The ink is smooth, doesn’t bleed and won’t smear if it gets wet. You can also open the Jenga Block Templates in an image editor and type out your questions and activities before you print.

* Make this project even easier by printing on sticker paper instead. Forget the glue, just peel and stick!

STEP #1: DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR JENGA BLOCK TEMPLATES

• Download the free printable templates with the green button below. Save the file to your computer and print with the “actual size” setting. This file is designed to fit a name brand Jenga block, but will work on other blocks too. You will need 2 copies of the template to cover an entire set of Jenga blocks.

* PRO TIP: If you’re going to fill in your block template digitally (on the computer), do it BEFORE you print your template.

* PRO TIP: Check your game for a count of how many blocks you’ll need to cover. Name brand Jenga has 54 blocks. My knock-off set had fewer. Each template page has 30 rectangle labels. You’ll need 2 pages (give or take a few) to cover an entire game set.

STEP #2: FILL OUT AND CUT OUT THE BLOCK TEMPLATES

• If you are writing your game prompts out by hand, write one question or activity on each rectangle. You can make these questions and activities as sweet and sentimental or as saucy and sexy as you would like. I did a combination of both sweet and saucy. 
• Cut out enough labels to cover every block. I used both my paper cutter and a pair of scissors.

STEP #3: GLUE THE COUPLES JENGA GAME PROMPTS ON THE BLOCKS

• Glue one game prompt label on each block. A thin strip of glue on all 4 edges of the blank side of each label will give the best results. Smooth out the label with your fingers and let the glue dry completely. This part isn’t hard, but it does take a little time. 

* PRO TIP: You just need a thin strip of glue. Don’t use a lot or your labels will wrinkle.

* PRO TIP: Clean up any glue that seeps from under the edges of the labels with a damp cloth or paper towel before it dries. 

* PRO TIP: If any of your corners come unglued, secure them back down with a little bit of glue stick or white glue.

COUPLES JENGA: AN AT HOME DATE NIGHT THAT WILL REKINDLE YOUR FIRE!

In just 3 steps and an afternoon, you’ll be ready to light some fireworks on your next date night. Couples Jenga is the PERFECT simple, inexpensive, fun and intimate night you’ve been wanting. So, what are you waiting for? Light those fires, check out of reality for a couple hours and enjoy an evening with your favorite sweetie!

MAKE THIS PROJECT EASIER WITH READY-TO-PRINT COUPLES JENGA BLOCK LABELS!

The post Couples Jenga: The Perfect At Home Date Night Game appeared first on While He Was Napping.

In just 8 super easy steps and an afternoon, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind set of DIY scratch off cards that will add a little fun and mystery to date night. They are perfect for romantic gifts or just for a little change of pace.

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS: SPICE UP DATE NIGHT WITH A LITTLE FUN AND MYSTERY

The best part about these DIY scratch off cards are that you can customize them to fit your needs. If date night has become predictable and lost it’s excitement, then something like a Date Night Lotto card would liven things up! Scratch off a square and you have a great date idea without adding a ton of stress or prep to date nights!

Or maybe you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your sweetie or to spice things up in the bedroom a bit? Then a set of Lover’s Lotto or Spicy Lover’s Lotto cards might fill your needs best. Scratch off one of those squares and forget your boring, old routine! Right at your finger tips is a great new romantic idea to fill your evening!

And I’ll give you the blank templates in just a minute! Doesn’t get much easier than that!

(But, if you do want it to get easier, I have pre-filled, ready-to-print cards as well as an editable PDF you can just plug your own ideas into in my Etsy Shop.)

ARE DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS YOUR KIND OF PROJECT?

This project is pretty simple, but it’s not for everyone. So, how do you know if it’s the kind of thing you’re looking for? Who is this post written for? What demographics will benefit from this information? Make an emotional connection and hit a pain point.

• Do you enjoy a good, simple DIY project?
• Are you looking for a way to liven up your love life?
• Do you need a romantic gift idea that doesn’t cost a lot, doesn’t take a ton of time to put together and is something your gift receiver will love?
• Are you trying to stick to a budget?

If you said yes to those – or any combination of those – then this project is exactly what you’re looking for.

However, if you’re looking for something RIGHT NOW or don’t like DIY projects this might not be what you’re looking for. (My printable Date Night Jar or printable Truth or Dare: Couple’s Edition bedroom card game might fit your needs better right now. They are literally print and cut and done.)

HOW TO MAKE DIY SCRATCH OFF LOTTO CARDS

With just a few simple supplies and an afternoon, you’ll have custom DIY scratch off cards perfect for your needs. A quick print job, some trimming and laminating, and a splash of paint is all you need to get one step closer to a spicier love life.

And don’t worry, most of the project time is waiting for the paint to dry. While it will take a few hours for your DIY scratch off cards to be all ready to go, you don’t need to carve out a whole afternoon to spend slaving away.

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARD SUPPLIES:

• Blank scratch off card templates – Print your free blank templates HERE or you can grab all the pre-filled, ready-to-print cards and the editable PDF files to fill in yourself RIGHT HERE)
• Printer and Paper
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Clear contact paper, cold laminating pouches or a thermal laminator and thermal pouches (I absolutely LOVE this thermal laminator starter kit – works great and totally affordable. I have the older model and it still works like a charm.)
• Acrylic paint and paintbrush – any color will work, but a metallic paint will look most like a typical scratch off card. Follow your colorful heart, there is no wrong choice.
• Paint palette or something to mix your paint on
• Dish soap – the kind you hand wash dishes with, not the kind you put in the dishwasher.
• Skinny 3mm washi tape – optional

PRINT & FILL IN YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF TEMPLATES

Step #1: Download and print your blank lotto card templates. I recommend printing with a laser printer and on card stock for durability. Ink jet and regular paper will work just fine though.

*If you choose to grab my editable PDF files from my Etsy shop, you’ll want to fill those in before you print them.

Step #2: Fill in the blank templates with a pen or marker. Leave some space around your writing to make sure it won’t stick out from under the paint when you cover them up. You don’t need to leave a lot of space, but try not to write all the way to the borders of the boxes.

COVER AND CUT YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS

*If you use laminating pouches or a thermal laminator, you will want to switch steps #3 and #4. Cut the cards apart first and then laminate each individual card. After each card is laminated, cut it apart and trim the cards, if desired.*

Step #3: Cover the front of your lotto card templates with the clear contact paper. You can cover the back too, if you want, but it’s not necessary. This cover will help protect the cards and is how the paint will scratch off your DIY scratch off cards.

Step #4: After the contact paper is on the cards, cut the cards apart. The files are formatted to cut an 8.5″x11″ paper into quarters. You absolutely can cut the cards smaller though. I did trim mine smaller for neater edges and smaller margins.

PREPARE YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS FOR PAINTING

Step #5: If you choose, mask off the edges of the cards. 3mm washi tape is perfect for this! Just put a line of tape on all the grid lines on the card. It’ll keep your paint lines nicer. Repeat with each card.

Step #6: Mix your acrylic paint and dish soap with an approximate 2:1 ratio – 2 parts paint, 1 part dish soap. It’s not rocket science and you don’t have to have precise measurements for this to work, so don’t stress over it.

PAINTING YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS

Step #7: Apply a thin layer of paint over the words on your card. Let the paint dry thoroughly.

Step #8: Repeat step #7 until you can no longer see the text through the paint. Depending on what color paint you use, you may need 3-5 coats. Let dry overnight once you can no longer see text through the paint layers.

That’s it, your ready to spice things up!

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARD TIPS & TRICKS

** A laser printer will keep your ink from smudging, should the cards get wet. Using laminating pouches will also accomplish this. An ink jet printer will work just fine, just be cautious not to get the cards wet if you don’t laminate them with pouches.

** Skinny 3mm washi tape is perfect for masking off your grid lines while you paint, however it is NOT a necessity. It will keep your paint lines neater, make painting easier, and make your cards look better overall, but free-handing the painting process is definitely an option and will save some time if you don’t have to mask off your grid lines. You could also cut down and use masking tape or scotch tape, if you prefer.

** Use fresh paint. By that, I mean not paint you’ve had in a cupboard for a few years… As you can see in that last photo, I started using silver paint. But it was old. It was clumpy and kept separating and didn’t mix well with the dish soap, so I ditched it for the red and pink paints. Newer, non-clumpy paint will give you a much better result with far fewer coats of paint.

** The painting and waiting to dry process is the longest part of this project, but it will turn out so much better if you do thin layers rather than a thick, globby one. You can use a blow dryer on low heat, low air flow to speed this process up.

** If all this masking off and painting thing is more than you want to deal with, you can use scratch off stickers to cover your date ideas instead. Take this cute idea and simplify! Find scratch off stickers on Etsy or on Amazon.

Got more questions? You’re always welcome to leave a comment or shoot me a message!

READY TO MAKE SOME DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS AND SPICE UP YOUR LOVE LIFE?

In just an afternoon you can spice up date night and add some fun and mystery to your romantic life. This project is simple and fun. It’s a great romantic gift idea that is customizable to fit your exact needs. And who wouldn’t love to get some DIY Scratch Off Cards like these?!

Turn on some mood music, grab a coin and start scratching off those fun ideas!

If you want more romantic gift and date night ideas, check out the Date Night Jar (or HERE is a printable version!)

The post DIY Scratch Off Cards that will Spice Up Date Night appeared first on While He Was Napping.

RECONNECT WITHOUT LEAVING HOME

Life gets crazy sometimes, am I right? I’m a huge believer in “date night”, but I’ve honestly don’t remember the last time I went on an actual date with my husband. Between work, kids, church, chores, errands and all the other things that make up life it can be hard to fit everything in. And, if your budget is tight, it can complicate things in a whole new way. Finding a sitter for starters, right?

But, reconnecting with your dream boat doesn’t have to cost a lot. And it doesn’t have to take a lot of time either! You probably have all the things you need to put together a spa date night and massage kit already. And, trust me, you’ll both be thankful for the pampering and quality time. And you don’t even have to leave home.

IS A SPA DATE NIGHT WORTH IT?

A spa day with lots of fancy treatments sounds nice, but the small detail of wandering around in nothing but a robe with strangers touching me gives me second thoughts. And spas are expensive. But, I can get behind doing that with, and for, my husband. Especially if it doesn’t cost a week’s paycheck.

Is an at home spa night something you’d enjoy? Are you:

• looking for a romantic gift idea for the sweetie in your life?
• in need of a special date night that won’t mess up the budget?
• wanting to reconnect with your sweetheart without leaving home?

Then YES! This is the perfect date for you! Because it’s simple to organize, easy to do, it doesn’t cost a lot and you don’t need a sitter for the kids. Quality time to pamper and reconnect with your special sweetie. Who wouldn’t want that? 

THE PERFECT GIFT: AN AT HOME SPA DATE NIGHT AS A GIFT

An at home spa date night makes a great gift. A massage kit with some great coupons (who doesn’t love to cash in a coupon?) and some massage basics are the perfect tangible gift. Pair it with a scheduled night to get to use those coupons and the goodies in the kit, and you’ve got a romantic gift you’ll both look forward to using!

CREATE THE PERFECT AT HOME SPA DATE NIGHT

Whether you decide to give the spa kit and massage coupons as a gift and do the date night later or whether you choose to plan a whole special spa date night, just remember to focus on your sweetheart. Relax, reconnect and rejuvenate each other because that’s what this whole thing is about!

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT:

• Massage Coupons your sweetie will love. You can grab the coupons I used in my massage kit from my Etsy shop. There’s even an editable PDF file you can use to create your own coupons super easy.
• Comfy bath robes (my favorite women’s robe | my favorite men’s robe)
• Favorite body butter or body lotion (my favorite hand repair cream and it smells like cake!)
• Favorite massage oil or personal lubricant (I personally prefer lube and recommend this brand of lubricant. It’s smooth, not greasy and safe for all body parts, if things get carried away during your massages…)
• Favorite sparkling beverage and chocolates
• Relaxing music – I like this Spotify playlist
• Smooth stones. You can get a small bag of decorative stones at Dollar Tree and they work great so grab a bag of those next time you’re there!
• Rice bag or heating pad to warm up your stones or relax tense muscles.
• Massage tools – this is totally optional and definitely not a must-have for a successful evening.
• Favorite bath salts or bath bombs or make your own (My DIY Bath and Body Recipes Pinterest Board has some great ideas so come check those out and follow me while you’re there!)
• Favorite bubble bath

GATHERING TOGETHER YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT

Step #1 – Make any DIY products if you’re going to do that. Or rummage through your body care 

stash and see what you can use that you already have because free is the best price, right? But, if you need to make any purchases, now is the time to do it. Just remember, simplicity is good too. This is all about your time together!

DESIGNING YOUR MASSAGE COUPONS

Step #2 – Make your massage coupons. While you definitely don’t HAVE to include any coupons, it would be fun to know that this isn’t necessarily a one-time deal. My husband and I have a deal that once one of us redeems the coupon I used Photoshop but you can make them with whatever you’d like. Open your favorite word processing program, image editing software or go old-school and grab some paper and pens.

Some ideas for your coupons:

• scalp and neck massage
• back massage
• foot massage (with or without a hot water soak)
• hot stone massage (if you do this one, keep it safe. We use a small rice bag heated in the microwave and sandwiched over our rocks for a couple minutes to warm them.  This is perfect because we can easily keep and eye on them and make sure they aren’t too hot. And, remember, different parts of the body have different heat sensitivities.)
• hydro-massage (hot shower or tub, especially nice if you have a shower head with a wand and adjustable pressure settings)
• full body massage

If you don’t want to bother with making your own, don’t forget you can get a copy of the massage coupons I designed in my Etsy Shop, along with the editable PDF file that will let you design your own really quick.

I also included an “exclusive members” coupon that pulls out all the big spa-like treatments.  Hot soak in a bubble bath with bubbly beverage, full body massage with lotions and oils, facial, his choice of other massage technique. Something super special for after a rough day… or week.

YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT IS ALMOST READY TO GO!

Step #3 – Gather your massage goodies and put them in a basket or other container so everything is together and neat.

If you’re going to give them as a gift, you can dress them up fancy with a bow. If you’re going to use them as a date night, you can just use the basket so everything is in one place.

Cue up your music, put your bubbly beverage on ice (or in the fridge) and let the romancin’ begin!

A NIGHT TO RELAX, RECONNECT AND REJUVENATE WITH YOUR SWEETHEART 

Remember, it doesn’t have to be a crazy grand gesture that takes a lot of time and planning and supplies. Your at home spa date night should be about reconnecting with your dream boat so .

Keep it simple. Make sure you reciprocate equally. And enjoy each other.

Relax. Reconnect. Rejuvenate. And you don’t even have to leave home.

CHECK OUT MORE DATE NIGHT IDEAS TO KEEP THE ROMANCE ALIVE, EVEN WHEN LIFE GETS CRAZY!

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TIME IS MONEY. SPEND BOTH WISELY.

You’ve heard that before, right? Time is money. My husband used to say this to me ALL THE TIME because I’d take on projects that were costing me so much time, it wasn’t worth the money I was making on them. The same is true of some of the most popular money saving tips and techniques out there.

To be blunt, that pretty much sums up how I feel about couponing. You’ve probably seen photos where the proud purchaser has 12 bottles of juice, 18 tubes of toothpaste, 4 bottles of shampoo and 28 boxes of birthday candles that cost a whopping $19.38, right? While impressive, where would I put 28 boxes of birthday candles? And I’m picky about my shampoo.

Basically, extreme couponing isn’t for me. Know yourself and figure out what will work for you.

NOT EVERYONE SAVES MONEY THE SAME WAY

These are ways I help my family save money. I definitely didn’t use these same money saving tips when I was a college student. And another mom may not use the same methods in her family that I use in mine. Figure out what will work for your situation and do it! If something is helping you keep more money in your wallet, that’s all that matters.

Use these tips, adjust these tips or just plain ignore them. Do what works for YOU and forget what doesn’t. Maybe you try something new and discover it isn’t for you. That’s okay, now you know. Knowing what doesn’t work can help you save just as much money as knowing what does work.

5 MONEY SAVING TIPS TO KEEP MORE CASH IN YOUR WALLET

Money. Everyone wants more. But, when you’re trying to make ends meet, it can seem so much more important than just a lofty goal and a wild ambition. It feels like sink or swim. No one wants to sink. Whether your trying to pay the rent, get out of debt or inflate your savings account, here are 5 money saving tips to help you keep more green in your wallet TODAY.

MONEY SAVING TIP #1: MEAL PLAN

I don’t know about you, but our food budget is one of the largest parts of our monthly expenses. It’s not quite up there with the mortgage yet; but, it rivals our car payment, and sometimes surpasses it. Feeding my four guys is much more affordable when I plan out our meals. I use these printables and plan one or two weeks at a time. This stops us from buying food we’ll end up throwing out because we didn’t have a plan for it and it’s gone bad. It also helps us not eat out as often.

MONEY SAVING TIP #2: SHOP WITH A LIST

One of the small things that actually helps us save money is to use a list when we go shopping, and not just to the grocery store. We make a list of items to buy before we go into any store, generally speaking. I do this when I’m shopping online too. It’s so easy to add those little extra things to your cart. “It’s only $5.” Even if it’s just $5 a week, that’s $20 a month. But, think how far that $20 could go on your grocery budget or the diaper budget. You know, money you actually need to spend.

I keep a list on my fridge and when we run out of something or need to replace something, I add it to the list. Shampoo, toilet paper, new socks, contact solution – not just groceries. I meal plan and then make a grocery list from our meal plan so we aren’t buying things we don’t need. Shopping with a list helps us only spend money on things we actually need, and not on impulse buys.

MONEY SAVING TIP #3: COUPON APPS

I’m not a big couponer, really I’m not. But, there are some coupon apps that make it easy to use rebates or coupons. I like a lot of these apps because you don’t have to do the coupon redemption while you’re at the store. My faves are:

• Ibotta. I mainly use Ibotta for groceries, but they have a lot of other offers too. You can find offers for multiple stores and you have up to two weeks to upload a receipt and get the rebate. I try to upload my receipt when I’m putting my purchases away at home.
• Restaurants and fast food. If you frequent a particular restaurant, you might as well be using their loyalty program. Capriotti’s and Costa Vida are really the only ones I use, but it helps make our occasional meals out a little more affordable.
• Retail stores. It seems every store has an app, right? The ones I use offer a little something extra usually. Walmart (for their savings catcher), Costco (for the member coupons) and Target (for their cartwheel coupons only available in the app). If I’m in a particular store, I might download their app while I’m there and see if there are any coupons available. I especially do this for craft stores.

MONEY SAVING TIP #4: AUTOMATE YOUR SHOPPING

If you routinely buy something, automate that! Not only will it take the task off your to-do list, it can save you a trip to the store. Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program will have these things show up on your doorstep when you need them with ZERO EXTRA EFFORT FROM YOU. That’s something this busy mom can get behind. You can save up to 15% when you use the Subscribe & Save option and there are over 100,000 products available for Subscribe & Save.

MONEY SAVING TIP #5: NO-SPEND CHALLENGE

In my house, with all the testosterone floating around, a little competition can accomplish great things. When things get tight or we want to bulk up the bank account, we institute a no-spend challenge.

Follow these 3 steps to have a successful no-spend challenge.

1. Define the goal. Are you trying to make ends meet, get back on track or get caught up for any reason? Do you need to buckle down and have absolutely no spending? Or are you trying to save money and pad your bank account? Do you need to save as much as you can or a set amount? Figuring this out will help with the next step.
2. Set your rules. No spending at all or just the bills? What about groceries or gas? When does your challenge start? When does it end? Set rules so everyone knows what is expected.
3. Evaluate your challenge. Once your challenge is over, evaluate how you did. Did you stick with your rules? Did you accomplish your goal? How could you have done better?

BONUS MONEY SAVING TIP: KNOW WHEN TO BUY IN BULK

Warehouse stores can be great. But, it’s so hard to get out of there without spending $100, am I right? Will you really eat all of those 5 lbs of strawberries or will you end up throwing away half of them because you can’t eat them fast enough? Do you have somewhere to store that 36 pack of toilet paper? There are definitely things worth buying in bulk from a warehouse store. If it doesn’t have an expiry date (like toilet paper), you’re probably pretty safe.

Check bulk items at grocery stores too! You don’t need 5 pounds of baking soda from the warehouse store, but it’s usually a lot cheaper to refill your baking soda container than it is to buy a new one. And you can buy as much or as little as you need. Dry goods are a great place to save buying in bulk. Candy is another good one because you can get just a little bit and it’s cheaper than checkout stand goodies.

PUT THE CASH BACK IN YOUR WALLET TODAY!

So, there’s 5 money saving tips I use keep more cash for my family. Some of those may not work for you, and that’s okay. Try another one. Remember time is money. Spend both wisely. If it doesn’t work, it’s okay to move on. But, these methods won’t bulk up your bank account over night. Try these strategies for at least 30 days to see what they can really do for you and your family. It might seem like just $5 today, but you might be surprised to find it’s a $20 pack of diapers by the end of the month. Go see how much cash you can hang on to!

Want more tips and tricks to help your family? CLICK HERE to get them in your inbox every week!

The post 5 Money Saving Tips that will Help you Have More Cash appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Our kids are getting older and there are more games we can play with them. It’s a great chance to teach sportsmanship, graciousness, and sympathy. It gives us a chance to just talk to our kids and find out a little of what’s going on inside their little heads. Game night is more than just little plastic pieces or a couple hands of cards. Game night lets us re-connect. Here are 27 games we own and love or want to add to our collection.

Links on this page may be affiliate or sponsored links. I will receive a small percentage of any purchase made through an affiliate link; however, your cost is in no way changed. This helps me keep this site running. I would also like to thank Personalogy for providing us with a game to play.

Click on any image in the collage below to learn more about that game or to purchase one for your family. Read a brief synopsis of each game below.

 GAMES FOR PRESCHOOLERS:

1. Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game – a color matching game that encourages counting, sorting, and simple math skills. Help the squirrels find their acorns in this quick and fun game with easy set up and clean up.
2. Hoot Owl Hoot – This game encourages players to work together to help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. If they are successful, everyone wins! There are two play levels so this game can grow with your child.
3. Spot It! Alphabet – We love all the Spot It! games because the whole family can play, even my 2-and-a-half year old. This one is amazing for helping my four-and-a-half year old practice his letters.
4. Spot It! Junior – This is one that my 2-year-old really gets into because he is really into animals right now. He’s slowly getting the idea of the game, but needs help. My boys like to play this one by themselves and I love to pull it out when I’m trying to prepare dinner.
5. I SPY Preschool – Players match riddles with pictures and put them together like a puzzle. There are three ways to play and there are no small parts, which means we can play with the whole family. Helps practice matching, reading, and following rules.
6. Lucky Ducks – A fun matching game that helps develop color recognition. Match three to win! My boys LOVE playing with the ducks and I love that it has the kinesthetic aspect that keeps my 4-and-a-half year old engaged, while helping my 2-and-a-half year old practice shapes and colors.

GAMES FOR BIG KIDS:

1. Totally Gross – A fun board game for boys and girls alike that explores science. Everyone will get a laugh or two from the silly science questions. I don’t love the gross out challenges, but my boys do! Recommended for ages 8+, so we have to help my 4-and-a-half year old.
2. Suspend – This is one of our VERY FAVORITE games! It’s recommended for ages 8+, but my little guys like to play too. We have to adjust the rules a touch because they aren’t terribly stable, but we all have fun!
3. Scrambled States of America – Helps kids learn basic geography, state names, capitals, nicknames, and shapes through visual puzzles, riddles and geography challenges. We haven’t played this one yet, but we love the book! Another great geography option is 10 Days in the USA. My 7-year-old likes to play this one by himself and his geography knowledge is awesome. It’s fun to play as adults too!
4. Say Anything, Family Edition – Every player answers a fun question and players try to choose which answer the judge will like best. It’s a super fun game to see what stuff your kids come up with. When asked, “what would make long car rides more fun”, my 4-and-a-half year old answered with, “zebras”. Turns out he liked when we saw horse trailers, but wondered why they didn’t have zebras in them. A conversation we probably would never have had otherwise. It’s a GREAT car game!
5. Pass the Pigs – This one is simple, it’s compact (we keep one in the diaper bag in case we encounter a long wait somewhere), and it’s easy to play. All of my kids can play. We don’t always keep score – because my kids don’t care that much – but it’s a fun one for adults to play too.
6. Circuit Maze – This is a super neat game that we’ve played with at our local discovery museum and it is a really fun way to help kids learn about currents and electricity. My 7-year-old LOVES this. There’s also a lazer maze game that looks like it would be really cool too.
7. Quiddler – This is a fun way to practice spelling and it’s a fun game to play as a group of adults too. When we play with our kids, we relax the rules a bit because our oldest is still learning to spell and our other two don’t spell at all.

GAMES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:

1. Personalogy  – This is not only a great gift for introverts, it’s a perfect gift for hosts of holiday gatherings! We dare you to play, see how quickly it turns any social gathering into hilarious fun and lightens the mood. If you don’t discover new things about who you are playing with or laugh-out-loud within the first 5 minutes, throw this game in the garbage or, pass it onto your neighbor. It has no use for you. Seriously, grab your drink and a special someone or a group of friends and see how quickly Personalogy makes you laugh! Grab the family edition OR the party edition – depending on what you think is best for your gathering or recipient!
2. Rack-O – This one is fun for grown-up play and it’s a great way for my boys to practice numerical order. This is a fun date night game too, because the rules are basic and easy to learn, but there’s still some strategy involved. It is good for talking, or not.
3. Guillotine – We were introduced to this game almost 10 years ago and it’s still one of our go-to games! There’s a bit of a learning curve because each card is played differently and scores differently; but, after you get through a hand, everyone has gotten the hang of it. The best way to learn with this game is to play it! This is another teams game with our little kids.
4. Gloom – This one is still on my to-play list, but it sounds similar to Guillotine, which we really love. You try to play tragedies on your own characters and happy occasions on other players characters before they pass on.
5. Saboteur – I haven’t actually played this one, but I’ve heard it is incredible. It’s on my Christmas list this year. You’re digging for gold in a maze of mining tunnels, but some of the miners are saboteurs and try to steal your hard earned gold.
6. Mexican Train – I first played this game on my third date with Mr Napping. We still play it now with our kids! It’s a pretty basic matching game, with some extra rules and a bit of strategy. My 7-year-old can play by himself, but my other two play on teams. This is a great game for adults and older kids alike.
7. Exploding Kittens – I haven’t played this one, but it seems like everyone else has. Out of 5, 116 reviews on Amazon it’s got a 4.5 star rating out of 5 stars. I’ve heard it’s a good party game, especially if you have a competitive streak!
8. Double Ditto – This is a good game for kids and grown-ups alike. You pick a card, read it, and then write down two answers you think other players will write down too. If you can match one answer with another player, you get a ditto. If you match both answers, you get a double ditto. It’s fun to see who else thinks like you do.
9. The Game of Things – This one is fun because you can tailor it to your audience. We can play G-rated versions with our kids and adult it up a notch when we play with our friends and other adults. For example: “Things… you shouldn’t laugh at…” could be burping at the table or something more adult.
10. Deer in the Headlights – We were gifted this game last year for Christmas and it’s a fun one. There’s a bit of a learning curve because each combination of dice gets scored differently, but there’s a reference card to help keep you on track. After a while you’ll remember it too. It’s a great game for a large group. We have to play this one in teams with our little ones though.
11. Blokus – We all LOVE this board game! There’s strategy and problem solving for the adults and my boys really like to just play with the pieces and putting them on the board. They like to make pictures with the pieces too. This is another game we pull out for date night and it brings out a bit of competition between Mr Napping and I.
12. Bohnanza – This is SUCH A FUN GAME! Like stay up til 3 in the morning playing kind of fun. There’s bartering, and trading, and favors and planting and harvesting. It’s pretty easy – you are trying to collect bean plants in your fields. When you harvest your fields, you get gold. The player with the most gold is the winner!
13. Been There, Done That – This is a good ice breaker party game and super fun to find out things you might not have known about your friends. It’s super simple to learn, and can be a quick game or take a little longer. This one is fun with the kids, although I imagine it would be more fun with older kids who have a bit more freedom from mom and dad than my little ones do right now.
14. 5 Second Rule – This is a good game to practice speaking under pressure and thinking on your feet. With prompts like “name 3 breeds of dogs” and only 5 seconds to name them, how will you perform under pressure. With the pressure of the ticking timer, you just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, and sometimes it’s ridiculous…ly funny.

Do you have any favorite games you like to play with your family? Leave a comment and let me know! We love that board games (and card games!) allow us to spend time bonding together. It is such a great chance to teach our kids some of the hard life lessons like fairness and not always being the best because those are things I want them to learn at home, in a loving environment.

Game night isn’t just the plastic pieces, it’s our time to re-connect.

If you’ve got any Little Star Wars fans on your gift list, check out 23 Galactic gifts your little Jedi wannabe would LOVE by clicking that next arrow!

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Click on any image in the collage below and you can find more information about that item. Or use the links below to navigate to the Star Wars gift ideas you like most.

Links in this post maybe affiliate links. I will receive a small portion of any purchase made through these links. Your cost is in no way changed. This is one way I keep this site running. Thank you for your support.

24 STAR WARS GIFTS FOR YOUR FAVORITE CHEF

1. R2-D2 Teapot
2. Death Star Tea Infuser
3. Heat Activated Lightsaber Mug
4. Death Star Waffle Iron
5. Lightsaber Immersion Blender
6. Darth Vader Toaster
7. Darth Vader Apron
8. Star Wars Cupcake Wrappers
9. R2-D2 Oven Mitts
10. Death Star Timer
11. R2-D2 Cookie Jar
12. Star Wars Rolling Pin
13. Darth Vader Cookie Jar
14. R2-D2 Measuring Cup Set
15. Lightsaber Chop Sticks
16. Stormtrooper & Vader Salt & Pepper Shakers
17. Lightsaber Pizza Cutter
18. Death Star Cutting Board
19. Death Star Popcorn Popper
20. Darth Vader Mug
21. Set of 4 Star Wars Mugs
22. Set of 4 R2-D2 Bowls
23. R2-D2 Salt & Pepper Shakers
24. Star Wars Cookbook

Which of those galactic gadgets do you want in your kitchen? That tea infuser and the heat activated lightsaber mug are pretty high on my wish list! And that Death Star waffle iron?! Now that would be some pretty awesome waffles to wake up to.

So, which gift would your favorite chef just love to have?

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I love that Star Wars fandom spans across generations. I love that my niece loves to receive Star Wars gifts just as much and my boys – and her dad – do. And I’ll admit, I love a good Star Wars gift too, even if it’s just because I know my little Jedi-in-training picked it out just for me.

But, are there really awesome Star Wars gifts that Mom would actually want and use? Absolutely! I’ve put together a whole collection of Star Wars gifts that will get mom through her day so you can be sure she will use it and love it! Here’s 19 Star Wars gifts that mom will love and actually use this holiday season.

STAR WARS GIFTS FOR MOM

From day break and that first coffee, what to wear and how to accessorize, all the way to bedtime, these are some awesome gifts that will get mom through her whole day:

1. The Force Awakens Travel Mug
2. Yoda Keep Calm Mug
3. Yoda Best Mom Mug
4. Every Great Mom Teaches her Children Tee
5. The Force is Strong with This Mom Tee
6. Star Wars Heads panties
7. Star Wars R2-D2 Death Star panties
8. Millenium Falcon Necklace
9. Millenium Falcon Earrings
10. Star Wars Watch
11. Darth Vader Slouchy Beanie
12. R2-D2 Scarf
13. Lightsaber Umbrella
14. May the Force be with You Tote Bag
15. Stormtrooper Satchel
16. Stormtrooper Wallet
17. R2-D2 tank top
18. Chewbacca Slippers
19. Yoda Pajamas

I’m pretty certain I need “the force is strong with this mom” t-shirt and those Chewbacca slippers just make me happy. How could you not love to open those gifts this holiday season?! Whether it’s starting the day off with a cup of Keep Calm from Yoda, fighting off gloomy raindrops with a lightsaber umbrella while running errands or ending the night with a wookie keeping toes warm, Star Wars will be there to get mom through the day!

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TRUTH OR DARE: COUPLE’S EDITION

The preparation on this is incredibly simple. You just have to print and cut. Seriously, that’s all there is to it.

Materials:
– Truth or Dare Download Cards (Disclaimer: You’ll have to click through the link to see the cards. Given the intimate nature of some of them, I haven’t included a photo of them in this post. If you want to check them out, just click the link.)
– Paper Cutter or Scissors

Directions:
– Download the game cards and save the file to your computer.

– Print the Truth or Dare Cards. The link above is to the trial pack of cards. You’ll get 16 cards to try out the game with. If you like it, you can get the full game from my Etsy shop. Not all the cards you see in the photos are included in the free download.

You’ll want to print the cards double sided; and, if you can print them on card stock, that’ll be even better. My printer has a two-side print setting, which eliminates the guess work of re-orienting the paper in the tray to print the back side. If you have that feature, use it! It’ll be so much easier for you!

If you don’t want to print the cards at home, you can have them printed locally almost anywhere you can make copies – I’m thinking office supply and copy stores. After you download the file to your computer you can upload it to whatever site you decide to get it printed from.

– Cut the cards apart with a paper cutter or scissors.

You are now ready to play!

PLAYING TRUTH OR DARE: COUPLE’S EDITION

If you’ve never played Truth or Dare before, here’s the rules. One player draws a card and asks the other player “truth or dare?” The other player chooses if they would like to answer a question in total honesty or perform a dare. The first player reads which ever option the second player chose. The second player then answers the question or performs the dare. Then players switch roles and the second player draws a card and asks “truth or dare?” and play repeats as many times as you want.

Some helpful tips for a game you’ll both enjoy:
– This is something you’re gonna want to set aside some time for. It could be some good organized foreplay.
– Stop whenever you want… to finish other things. The idea is to spend some one-on-one with your sweetie.
– The only change to the original rules I would make would be to encourage you to look through the cards and make sure you’re both comfortable with everything. In the original rules, truths are usually embarrassing and dares are usually embarrassing and/or dangerous. The bedroom is not the place to try to embarrass your partner. Make sure you both feel comfortable with the game or it won’t be enjoyable!

WANT MORE TRUTH OR DARE: COUPLE’S EDITION?

If you want more dares and more questions, I have an expanded version of the game in my Etsy shop. There is a blank template included so you can write in your own questions and dares to make the game totally your own. There’s even a box you can put together to store your game in. So, if you’re looking for a quick and super easy gift idea, check out my TRUTH OR DARE: COUPLE’S EDITION in my Etsy shop.

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Well, you’re in the right place, because this date night is all about hot and steamy. It’s perfect for anniversary celebrations, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Hey, romance ain’t dead, even if the money tree is bare.

I had planned to do this Between the Sheets Bedroom Game date night on Christmas Eve, but that didn’t work out. And I had a terrible time getting my hands on a gift for Mr. Napping this past Christmas – three different gifts fell though – and I ended up giving him our Between the Sheets Bedroom Game.

We played one night shortly after he got it and it was a magical night, indeed. You can check out how I set up our date at the link above. Today, I’m going to walk you through making your own Between the Sheets DIY Bedroom Game.

Disclaimer: If hot and steamy is not what you’re looking for, you might want to skip this post ’cause we’re about to fog up the windows…

BETWEEN THE SHEETS
DIY BEDROOM GAME

Materials you need to create your own Between the Sheets Bedroom Game:

• Fitted Sheet – it should fit your bed and be a light color
• Fabric Markers – these are the kind I used
• Plastic drop cloth – a precaution in protecting your mattress
• Something you can use as a template – I traced a dinner plate and a saucer on pieces of cardstock, cut them out and used the cardstock templates as my pattern to create spaces on my game board.

Directions for creating your own Between the Sheets Bedroom Game

1. Lay out the plastic drop cloth on your undressed bed. This will protect your mattress from any bleed through from the markers. I didn’t have any issues with that, but I figured I’d take a better safe than sorry approach. If you don’t lay down the drop cloth, and the markers bleed through onto your mattress, I’m definitely gonna say I told you so.
2. Pull the fitted sheet, over the drop cloth, onto your bed.
3. Decide what to use as a template for your game board spaces. I just traced one of our dinner plates and a saucer onto pieces of paper. You can get fancy if you want, but I just went with simple circles.

4. Use the fabric markers to trace the template on to the sheet, creating a path from the top of the sheet to the bottom. I had four rows of spaces on my board. I made a little trail of dots from one space to the next so we didn’t get lost.

5. Now comes the fun, and hard, part: filling in the spaces. This is where you can personalize it to your relationship. Get as risque and steamy as you are comfortable with. Shortly after we got married, Mr. Napping and I discovered that both our love languages are physical touch. So, I focused on that in our game board. If you don’t know which love language you and your mate speak, I highly suggest you find out. It has helped so much in our relationship to know how to make the other feel loved and appreciated. It also helps that we are both the same, but we just got lucky there!

The best part of the Between the Sheets Bedroom Game

6. This was what really made the night! I included bonus spaces in our Between the Sheets Bedroom Game. They were the large circles and each was labeled “BONUS BOX”. If one of us landed on those spaces, we got to choose a box; in which I had little mini-games for us to play. You can get some ideas for these if you click that yellow button below. I had a box for every space, but we were allowed to choose any box we wanted. That was fun. Seriously, don’t skip this part.

** I had a reader send in a suggestion with an alteration they made to their game. She says:

“I also included a “finish” bonus. Something fun for him and something fun for me, depending on who ‘won’. Obviously this had to be tailored to us personally, but I added extra fancy wrapping to this one for the big finale.”

I love this idea! What a fun way to celebrate your win, especially if you’re both competitive. Thanks for the suggestion, Jessi! **

7. Then I wrote out the rules. I didn’t want to have to make up rules as we were playing, because the focus was supposed to be on the two of us during game play. Having the rules already written out made it so we could focus on us, not how to play the game.

The rules included:

• set time limits for each activity
• who was the giver and who was the receiver
• described game play and what happened when one of us landed on the BONUS BOX spaces.

Our rules were:
1. Players roll a dice and move along the board in turn.
2. Players have 2 minutes on each space they land on until the next player gets a turn to roll. Everything must STOP at the end of 2 mins.
3. If you land on a bonus box you get to open a bonus box! Follow the directions inside the bonus box to complete the task.
4. The winner is the first player to land on the finish space. Both players are then obliged to ensure their opponent finishes in a satisfactory manner.

What I would do differently next time I create a Between the Sheets Bedroom Game

That’s all there is to making the game. It’s pretty easy and, truly, the difficult part is coming up with things to write in all the spaces. You could leave some blank if you wanted, but I decided I wanted lots of intimate opportunites. Follow the directions on the fabric marker packaging to set the ink. I waited 48 hours and then washed and dried our sheet, per the directions on my fabric markers.

Having played it once, I can say now, I wish I would I have put in a few more spaces that weren’t so physically involved with more sensitive areas of the body. It was awesome and I loved it, but it wasn’t something I could have enjoyed again the next day. We ended up on “Twin Time” far more often than I expected and the girls were a bit tender the next day… Maybe consider a few “skip a turn” spaces to give yourselves a little break and make the other spaces more enticing! Despite that though, I absolutely can’t wait to play again. In all honesty… the sheet is still on our bed… Oo-la-la!

Don’t forget to download your Bonus Box ideas! Hit that button below for the download page!

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PRESCRIPTION FOR LOVE
PRINTABLE LABELS

Materials:
– Printable Prescription for Love Bottle Labels (or you can use the extra spicy versions)
– Clean Medicine Bottles
– Glue Stick
– Scissors
– Washi Tape
– Candy that will fit through the neck of your bottle

Directions:
– Print out the Prescription for Love labels and cut them apart.

– Clean off your medicine bottles, if you’re reusing them. I used an empty infant pain reliever bottle, an empty allergy medication bottle and an old prescription bottle. I had to soak the labels off in hot water and scrub the sticky off. This is the hardest part.
– When the prescription bottles are clean and dry, glue the label to the bottle. Put the glue on the back of the label, on the end that doesn’t have any text on it. Stick the label on the bottle and wrap the label around the bottle. It will overlap a bit, but that’s okay!

– Glue the end of the label down with the glue stick.

– If your lid has a label on it, you can use washi tape to cover it up. I just put a couple strips on the top and bottom of the lid and then one down the middle to cover the edges of the tape.
– Fill up the bottle with your candy. You’ll want something small enough to get in… and back out… of the bottle without too much trouble. Round candies or long and skinny candies seemed to work best.

There are two sets of Prescription for Love labels for your printing pleasure. One is more lovey dovey and one is a little more spicy. There are also two sizes of labels. One that is two inches tall and one that is three inches tall. Those seemed to be the most common sizes of bottles when I was looking though my medicine bottles.

Please note: These labels are not intended to be used with children – I don’t encourage anything that associates medication and candy for children. So, please don’t use them with children! Share all the love-inducing candy you can with your sweet special someone though. Valentine’s Day is all about sweet right?!

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