Board Games Keep the "Bored" Out of Parties

Monopoly, Rigamarole, Mastermind, Clue...a board game can keep you and your friends occupied for hours. So why not have a game night?

Instead of pulling out the PlayStation or the Wii, or polishing those chips for poker, why don't you organize a game night and get some Pictionary or Trivial Pursuit going? A board game really can bring you and your friends closer, and it can encourage team play, not to mention participation by every single person. So instead of taking turns with the electronic games, and instead of betting real money, why not have a board game for a night?

Here's a recommendation: try not to cringe at the prices, but Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot is a great game to try out. The more, the merrier.

The key to enjoying this is to be insane. Board games can be as insane as you make them: feel free to take risks with Clue, and to gamble your play money in Monopoly. Killer Bunnies is great for letting out the lunatic in you. As long as everyone's enjoying and joining in, boredom won't be a problem.

Let's Be Ridiculous - A Journal Adventure

This is part 1 of a possible journal adventure for you, and here's your first entry involving it. All you need to do is to copy the following questions onto your journal and then answer them. You don't need to explain anything, or even feel guilty about your answers. You just need to answer the questions and laugh your journaling session away.

Today's Questions Involve PEOPLE

1) Who would you most want to be stuck in handcuffs with?

2) Who would you NOT want to be stuck on a desert island with?

3) Someone gives you a surprise kiss on the cheek. You turn around to see who did it. Who would you like to see?

4) Who would you like to sit next to in an Advanced Calculus class?

5) Who would you want to hand over to be sacrificed to the gods?

6) Who deserves the honor of Best Person, Like, Ever?

7) Who should NEVER get a hold of your journal?

8) Who do you want to dance the Macarena with?

9) Who do you want to watch a cheesy B-movie with?

10) Who do you never want to say goodbye to?

Color Your World Again (And You Can Do it Outside the Lines This Time)

Remember those days when you worked on your coloring books, and had to keep within the lines? Ever felt stressed as a child just making sure you didn't go beyond those dark lines with your crayons? Now, you don't have to be stressed - and in fact, you can have a lot of fun with coloring books!

Coloring books are actually therapeutic: they allow you to play again, to be a kid again, to be young and relax. All you need are as many crayons as you want, and the coloring book of your choice. Pick a nice spot where you can color comfortably without people passing by and wondering if you have your head on straight.

Now, color - and don't be afraid to use weird colors or go past the lines. Just color and don't think. Oh, and breathe deeply - take this chance to stay sane by going a bit insane.

Have a Healthy Snack!

I used to wrinkle my nose at yogurt, unless it had lots of fruits in it. But when I went to Greece, I was introduced to something so simple and elegant, and so yogurt-y, I haven't stopped making it. You may be aware of it, and you might have been making this snack for ages. In any case, I am posting it here.


A typical yogurt, honey, and nut mix, from GlutenFreeKathy

Ingredients:
As many roasted/toasted nuts as you want, preferably almonds or pecans
As much honey as you like
Unsweetened yogurt, preferably low fat

Directions:
Mix and enjoy

Of course, if you have problems with honey or nuts, then you shouldn't be following these instructions. For the rest of you who want to stay sane, think about it: isn't it crazy that we all go for a burger or a bag of chips when we want a snack? Let's be crazier than the rest: let's get a bit healthier. Have some low fat yogurt with honey and nuts. With no cream, and with some nuts, you have yourself a dessert and a snack - even breakfast - that you don't have to worry too much over.

Unless you eat too much of it, that is...

I Am...

You might think that adding a word to the blank after "I am" - but once you get started, you'll find that putting your name in isn't enough. You'll start talking about your favorites: I am a soccer fan, I am a food fanatic, I am a sucker for sappy love stories. Then you'll start writing your autobiography: I am a city girl, and I have been so since childhood; I am a Sesame Street-raised child, I am the daughter of two very crazy parents. Then you'll start rambling on about your feelings: I am happy now, I am uncertain about the future, I am a stranger even to myself.

Here's what you should do for your journal entry today: make a list of the things that you believe yourself to be. Start every single sentence with "I am." The list can be as long (or as short) as you want it to be. For extra difficulty, try making all your lines rhyme.

If you can, do this "I am..." exercise every day. It can be refreshing to find out that you're still yourself, stress and all.

Hopscotch it!

Here's something that you and your friends can do together. The next time you think of hanging out and straining the couch while watching TV, think again! Grab some chalk, get some nice pebbles, and play hopscotch!

Some hopscotch grids, courtesy of kidsregen.org

Hopscotch has long been played in many different countries, and children all over the world should re-learn it instead of gluing their fingers to their PlayStation consoles. Adults are no exception to hopscotch fun: you can get good exercise, re-test your balance, and even team up to get the most points.

Here's a good site for you to start honing your hopscotch skills: http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Hopscotch

Rachel Everdene will not be held responsible for injuries sustained due to hopscotch and over-excitement or frustration related to said game.

Enjoy!

Clay Can Make Everything Controllable

Did you ever get the feeling that you wanted to squish something to a thousandth of its size - but had nothing remotely squishable in sight? True, you can crumple paper and choke some trees, or invest in stress balls and choke your wallet. But when those crumpled sheets have gone and your stress balls are stressed out, you still have an option that will last far longer: clay.

Whether it's an expensive can of Play-Doh or your neighborhood store-made clay, you can squish, mold, squeeze, and in general, divest all your energy on your favorite mound of clay. That's it: let your anger out! Take a big ball of clay out, pound on it, roll it, squish it, squeeze it, throw it against the wall (or somewhere harmless), shape it so that it resembles your boss - do what you want with clay!

Set aside about an hour of your time each day for your clay adventures. You don't have to create a masterpiece or shape the next great decoration for the Louvre. You simply have to use the clay to your advantage and take the stress out - who knows, you might get ideas for the next great sculpture by simply idly playing with clay!


Get colorful clay like this through Amazon - and squish your way to sanity!


And when you're ready for the big leagues, look for ways to hone your clay creativity!