Spot it!

Spot it!

Spot it! is a wonderful, relatively new card game. I work in a specialty toy/game store and this was our game of the year for 2010, but it has been really popular this year as well.

Part of the reason it is such a great game is because it is easy to play with a wide variety of ages. Young children can play with adults as equals. And all ages from children to the adults will have fun.

Another reason that it is so great is because you can play as an individual, with two players, or with a larger group.

How many games do you know like that?

The inventors of this game are brilliant. They have somehow arranged it so that you can draw any two cards randomly from the deck, and they will have one, and only one picture in common. It's incredible!


It is super easy to learn, and the game play is fast. Each round takes between 1 and 5 minutes. You can play as many rounds as you like. It comes with 5 different game plays, but you can use a little creativity to find even more ways!

I highly recommend this game to all individuals and families.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars

Betty Crocker, you are my hero.

Looking for a new dessert for yourself, to give as a gift for a friend, or to be the hit of the party? I've found it for you.
A couple of summers ago, I had a friend working in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A couple of us jumped in the car and drove up there for a few days to visit her. While we were there, we attended a church activity and one of the girls had brought this dessert. It was AMAZING! After we got home, we did some facebook stalking to find her and ask her for the recipe. She was nice enough to forget our creepiness (finding her on facebook) and give us a link to the recipe on the Betty Crocker website.

If you like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, you're going to LOVE this. It is delicious! But, very rich. Also very easy to make. But, ingredients can be slightly expensive for a college student budget unless you can find them on sale. In the end, it's totally worth the price.



Chocolate-Peanut Butter Dream Bars
Prize Winning Recipe of 2008

Cookie Base

1

pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® double chocolate
chunk cookie mix

1/4

cup vegetable oil

2

tablespoons cold strong brewed coffee or water

1

egg

Filling

1

package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/4

cup sugar

1

container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed

1

bag (9 oz) miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cup candies, chopped

Topping

1/4

cup creamy peanut butter

1/4

cup milk

2

tablespoons sugar

3

oz bittersweet baking chocolate, melted

1

cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Spread dough in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or just until set. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
2. In large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Fold in whipped topping and candies. Spread over cooled cookie base.
3. In small microwavable bowl, beat peanut butter, milk and 2 tablespoons sugar with wire whisk until smooth. Microwave uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring after 30 seconds, to thin for drizzling. Drizzle mixture over filling. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Sprinkle with peanuts. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until set. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 24 bars

Christmas List

Christmas List

This Christmas, I was having a really difficult time coming up with a list of gift ideas for Santa. And Santa was starting to get a little frustrated with me for not being any help. So, I sat down at the table with my piece of paper and a pencil. I stared at the blank paper in front of me, surprised that I could not think of a single thing to write down. There used to be a lot of things that I wanted and needed. Why couldn't I think of them now?

Then, it hit me.

Michael Buble started serenading me over the radio with

All I Want For Christmas is You
(Click Here to Listen)

Don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about those presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
You know that all I want for Christmas is you.

I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
No, I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
There's no sense in hanging stockings
There upon the fireplace cause
Santa here wont make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
Girl (Boy) what can I do?
You know that all I want for Christmas is you

And all the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of childrens
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I can hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really love
Won't you please bring my baby to me

I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
No, I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
You all I want for Christmas is You,
Is you

`Michael Buble

All I want for Christmas is the one I love.
If you love someone, there's nothing else you need.
Miss you! Wish I could be with you this Christmas!

A Christmas Carol Come True

A Christmas Carol Come True

Working my fourth holiday season in retail (a specialty game and toy store, no less), I have learned many things. One that stands out like a sore thumb is that there are two kinds of people in the world this time of year.......

The Scrooges

and

The Cratchits
You know them when you see them.

There are some obvious signs of a scrooge. These include frowning, glaring at everything and everybody in sight, speaking in a low growl, demanding you give them a better discount than the already 30% off sale price, they often look disheveled, obviously focused on the material aspect of Christmas. There are also some slightly more subtle hints that they are a scrooge. They have an air of ba hum bug about them. You feel it as soon as they walk into the store. At first, you might think to yourself that a dementor has walked in, sucking all the happiness from the world. When, in fact, it is the scrooge. They have this negative, ornery energy that seems to affect everyone. They usually leave the store in a huff, regardless of what great products or sales they were able to take advantage of. These people are not happy! They are looking for happiness in all the wrong places.
They need to learn a lesson or two from the Cratchits.

The Cratchits, not unlike Bob Cratchit and his son Tiny Tim, have an aura of peace on earth, good will towards men. They come bounding into the store with a happy face. Smiling at everyone they see. They are the type that make you want to start singing a Christmas song. They seem to have a good understanding that, though the gifts are an important part of Christmas, they are not the most important thing about the holiday. Most of them remember Christmas as a holiday where we celebrate Christ's birth. And there are many others who believe that it is a time for family and friends. Where we can be thankful and appreciate the people in our lives. There is more than one way to show this appreciation. Gift giving and spending time together are some of the best ways during this season.
The Cratchits generally leave the store with a smile on their face, leaving behind a joyfully spoken "Merry Christmas!" to people in the store, customers and employees alike.

Let's all remember the true meaning of Christmas this year.
No one likes a scrooge.

Merry Christmas to everybody!

Two Nights Rest

Two Nights Rest
Author: Anonymous

Two nights rest for the crow that flies.
Death it brings across the moonless skies.
Not death of body, nor death of soul.
But death of spirit, hope turned to coal.

Coal so cold and dark, just like his eyes.
Unfeeling, uncaring, not denying his lies.
Hope once warm and safe and bright.
A hope she clung to with all her might.

He used that hope and gained her trust.
Then overnight crushed her to dust.
No rhyme or reason could be found.
Confused and injured, her mind goes 'round.

What had she done? What had she said?
What had made him wish her dead?
She will find out. She won't back down.
She is done playing the clown.

The truth will be told.
Even if it turns out being very cold.

Two nights rest for the crow that flies.
Death it brings across the moonless skies.
Not death of body, nor death of soul.
But death of spirit, hope turned to coal.