Now that Mother Nature seems to have gotten over her week of hot flashes, the weather is back to its normal bleak self. While I do miss the abundance of sunshine, I have to admit that it did worry me that we were experiencing summer temperatures in the middle of March – if it was already 80 degrees in springtime, how hot would it be once summer hit? I look forward to basking in the month-appropriate weather soon.
You’ll know when the first day of summer is because everyone and their brother will be out on their front porch, most of whom will be enjoying a frosty adult beverage. For these occasions, the Scorzie (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $14.95) is a no-brainer. Made of durable stainless steel, this coozie is unlike any other in your extensive drink-cooling collection because it’s also a scoreboard. Say what?! There are two different colored score rings at the top of the beverage holder that you can use to keep score in pretty much any game as long as points don’t exceed a maximum of 21. The score rings click into place so you don’t have to worry about them sliding around as you booze the day away.
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that there probably isn’t too much you’re worrying about in general if your biggest issue is how to simultaneously drink and keep score.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Scorekeeping beverage holder
-Ideal for games up to 21 points
-Home and Away score rings
-Foam insert keeps drink cool
-Foam lined bottom prevents slipping and scratching
-Stainless steel body
Sometimes even the best of parties need a little nudge to get things going. It can be hard to mix different groups of friends who don’t know each other so what you really need is a good icebreaker. Something tells me that the usual set of silly games you played in summer camp aren’t going to cut it now. As an adult, you need to be a little more creative, perhaps something like…
…the Dinner Party Napkins (Perpetual Kid, $7.99). Sure, the idea of games on paper napkins might seem a little juvenile, but hear me out. Yes, it is. You didn’t think I was gonna admit that, now did you? It doesn’t matter that it’s a little dumb, what matters is that you and your guests will have a blast filling out lists of your favorite things or taking quizzes to see what your handwriting says about you. The games are quick and easy so there’s not a lot of setup or instructions to each one.
You know, Thanksgiving is next week and you could sure use an effortless activity to enjoy while you digest. I think you just found it.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 6.5″ x 6.5″
- -Set of 16 dinner size napkins
- -Multiple games
The holidays are great because you basically get to receive gifts you would love to buy for yourself, but consider impractical (likewise, you get to bestow awesomeness unto your friends and family). Some impractical items are fairly obvious, like a motorcycle-shaped rocking horse or a super-sized flat screen TV. But what about games and movies? Surely those aren’t extravagances, right? Well, what if you had so many DVDs and games that you were running out of space to store them? That would certainly change the stakes.
Don’t fret, just utilize your space. The DVD & Game Frames (Gizoo, £13.95) make it possible for you to feed your movie and game addiction while still being able to walk through your house (otherwise it’s be like an episode of Hoarders). A set of six, these cases easily mount to your wall without the use of tools or any other ridiculous apparatus. All you need is the included frame connectors and Velcro strips to create any display you want, without causing damage to your wall. The best part is that you can still access your DVDs and games while they’re mounted, so it’s not like you’re living in some snooty art museum where you’re not allowed to touch anything.
Who needs to buy wall art when you can just display your awesome taste in flicks and gaming?
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Includes 6 black DVD/game frames, frame connectors, and Velcro strips
-Create any display
-Quick and easy wall mount
-Access discs at any time
-Space saver
-No tools needed
I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I am a whiz kid when it comes to word games. Whether it’s Scrabble, UpWords, or crossword puzzles, I’m all over it. My favorite word game though has got to be Boggle. To me, there’s nothing quite like shaking up that little container of letters as your opponent waits to flip over the hourglass. Then it’s literally a race against the sands of time as you and your opponent square off to see who can find the most original words. Seriously, is there anything better than this?
Apparently there is, and thy name is Boggle Flash (Firebox UK, £24.99). An updated version of my beloved classic, this electronic game replaces the letter container with five large-sized LCD tiles. When the 90 second game begins, each tile will display a letter and players must put the tiles together to create words. Using recognition software in conjunction with an internal dictionary, the game is able to detect when the tiles are pushed together to form valid words and automatically records each word score. At the end of the round, the tiles will display the player’s score as well as the number of possible points. With it’s ultra portable carrying case and the option to play individually or with more players, this game truly is a modern update on a classic game.
So maybe you’ve seen commercials on TV for this game and you thought, “Hey, that looks pretty cool,” but you’re a little confused about the name. I did a little investigating and found out that Boggle Flash is readily available in the UK (and for shipment to the United States), but stateside the game is a rose by another name: Scrabble Flash (Amazon, $29.44). The two are essentially the same game (and both are members of the Hasbro family), with just a small tweak in the naming process. Talk about mind-boggling.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Find as many words as possible in 90 seconds
-Tiles automatically record word scores
-Changes letters with every turn
-Internal dictionary
-LCD screen
-Includes with travel box
-For 1 or more players
-Ages 8 and up
-Uses 5x CR2032 batteries (included)
As summertime draws to a close, I’m reminded of all the fun times I’ve had these past few months. Naturally, none of these memories involve spending time outdoors because I hate going outside. I mean, if I don’t get out of this house soon, people might start thinking I’m agoraphobic. Seriously though, while enjoying everything nature has to offer isn’t really my thing, I like to think I have a good time just the same. Not spending a zillion hours outdoors really frees up my time to work on my various creative projects (also no sunburn, so that’s a plus). You’re gonna think I’m pretty lame (even more so than you already do), but I like to put together puzzles. That’s right, puzzles.
The problem with puzzles today is that even if the puzzle itself is challenging, the pictures are so lame. I mean, how many times can I put together a picture of snow covered trees or a cat hanging on a branch? Zip Code Puzzles (Firebox, $34.95) are a completely different story. Instead of regurgitating the same old photo options, these puzzles are made to order according to your personal choice of geographic location. Using an extract from the U.S. Geological Survey, a 400 piece puzzle is produced according to the zip code you provide. In the center of the puzzle is a house-shaped piece that represents the address location and the puzzle itself spans six miles east/west and four miles north/south of the center point. The map displays buildings, main roads, water features, and even some local establishments so that each puzzle is unique.
I don’t know who wouldn’t want to put together this puzzle. I would totally commit to putting every last piece of this puzzle together, glue it in place, and then frame it for display. That’s not weird, right?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12.25″ x 18.5″ (assembled)
-400 piece jigsaw puzzle
-Features an extract from the U.S. Geological Survey
-Map covers 6 miles East/West and 4 miles North/South
-Center piece is shaped like a house
-Puzzle box includes personal message area
-Each puzzle made to order
-Non returnable except due to faulty manufacturing
