Valentine's Day Fortune Cookies and Printable Gift Tags

Valentine's Day is almost here and we will soon have chocolate and rose bearers knocking down our doors! I love this time of year. Everything is beautifully white with snow and we have extra comforters on our beds. We can sit safely inside, at our candle lit dinners, as the snow gathers against the windowpanes. It's already so beautiful, then comes along Valentine's Day and we find cute little cards and hunt down flowers to show those we love how much they mean to us. 

 What are your romantic plans for the holiday? 

Why not make some super cute, Chocolate Covered Fortune Cookies?

Whether you make these for/with your kids or for that special someone in your life, anyone would appreciate this delectable commemoration of the holiday. They are super fun to make and an excellent crowd-pleaser! 

I made them as favors for a Valentine's Day Dinner.

What you'll Need

• Chocolate Chips or Melting Chocolate
• Parchment or Wax Paper
• Baking sheet (Optional)
• Fortune Cookies 
• Valentine's Sprinkles
• Saucepan and Metal Bowl or A Double Boiler
• Rubber Spatula 

I used two 12 oz bags of chocolate chips, one of white and one of semi-sweet milk. But I also made about 150 cookies... So, unless you are making 150 cookies, you shouldn't need that much chocolate. 

The fortune cookies are from Market Basket. They have bags of them for under $2.00 with approximately 40 cookies in them! It's an amazing deal. If you can't get to a Market Basket, I know Walmart had some, though not for as good a price. You can buy them HERE which is a better deal than Walmart, but not as good as Market Basket. If you're looking for them at your grocery store they are generally kept in the produce department. I know... Go figure. 

Also, you should buy more fortune cookies than you'll need. Some of them will be broken. 

I wanted sprinkles that were more specifically for Valentine's Day than just pink and red (Like little hearts or something) But I had the darndest time finding them in the stores. I have, since, looked on Amazon and they do have some that are super cute! 

Melt the White chocolate on a low temp

Prep: You'll need to open all of the fortune cookies (If yours are individually wrapped.)  If you're doing this with kids, they should all be opened ahead of time. It can take a while to open them - especially if you are making 150 of them - and they can easily break in the process if you're not careful getting the wrapper open. 

Set up your double boiler. I just used a small sauce pan and a stainless steal bowl that fit nicely on top. Put water into the pot so it just kisses the bottom of the bowl. Put your chocolate into the bowl. This double boiler method will allow the chocolate to melt with out it being directly on the heat, preventing it from burning. 

Lay out the Parchment (or Wax) paper on the counter. If you need to transport them before they harden you can put the paper on a baking sheet rather than on the counter. 

Prepare for the sprinkles by setting out a plate that you can shake them over for minimal mess.... who am I kidding? There will be sprinkles everywhere. The plate's really just there to make you feel better about yourself. 

Melting Milk Chocolate: Melt the milk chocolate with the heat at medium. Once it's all melted turn the heat to low or simmer to keep it warm. Stir occasionally.

Melting White Chocolate: White chocolate doesn't behave the same way as milk or dark chocolate when it's melting. You have to keep the temperature at low or simmer and be really patient with it. If you have the heat too high, or rush it, you'll cook the chocolate, causing it to be lumpy. Which doesn't work at all for dipping. Stir occasionally.

Don't melt all of the chocolate at once. You can start with a little and keep adding to it as you go. It's hard to estimate how much you'll need and this keeps you from wasting any. It will also keep the white chocolate from being over the heat for too long. 

Dipping and Decorating: Now for the fun part. 

Once the chocolate is all melted dip the cookies into the chocolate. Before the Chocolate hardens, hold the cookie above the prepared plate and sprinkle your sprinkles over it. I did also try dipping the cookies into the sprinkles. It seems with the white chocolate the dipping method works okay, but the milk chocolate look a lot better if the sprinkles are shaken/poured over them. 

Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe with kids the tidy factor of dipping outweighs the attractive factor of sprinkling. 

Place the dipped and decorated cookies onto the parchment paper with the nicest side facing up. Leave them till the chocolate hardens. After about 10-15 minutes they peal off of the paper beautifully. 

Print out the Valentine's Day Tags given below.  Place the cookies into little plastic bags and tie the tag on with a pretty pink ribbon. 

   

Valentine's Day Tags - PDF

I made these cookies the same way (only with these cool metallic and pearl sprinkles) as favors for Our New Years Party and they were a big hit. I've included the PDF for the New Year's tags if you want to make more chocolate dipped fortune cookies to celebrate at the end of the year! 

New Years Tags - PDF

If you make these, leave a comment with your link. I'd love to visit your page and see the cookies you make!  Happy Valentine's Day

Now, three of these remain: Faith, Hope, and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.  ~  1 Corinthians 13:13

Peanut Butter Brownie Topping

In just 5 minutes you can transform your ordinary brownies into something that will never be forgotten in the awe-struck minds of your guests. How can you pass up that opportunity? And when peanut butter is involved, doesn't that make it so much more irresistible?

 No need to keep you waiting, we'll jump right in. 

All you'll need is chocolate chips, creamy peanut butter, a zip-lock bag, a pan of cooked bownies, and a microwave. 

Chocolate: You can use either white or milk chocolate chips (go ahead and try peanut butter or butterscotch chips if you'd like!) I used white here because it's what I had. If you use milk it will make darker lines and it will taste a little more chocolaty because they have a stronger flavor than white chocolate.  

Peanut Butter: Peanut Butter is life. However, I do understand that some people can't have or don't like (Actually I don't understand the latter) peanut butter. In which case you could use a different nut butter and I'm sure it would come out almost just as good. 

This link HERE is for a natural peanut butter that Skippy makes. The oils don't separate like a lot of the natural butters, so it doesn't feel oily and need stirring. Pretty neat! 

Plastic Bag: Really any plastic bag would do but having the zip seal is really convenient and makes it so much easier.

Brownies: Just use your favorite brownie recipe. The brownies can't be too hot and not yet cut into. I know, that sounds absolutely impossible. I, too, am a cut into it as soon as it's out of the oven kind of gall. You can do it though. Self control. 

Microwave: I'm sure some of you do not have microwaves. I have not tried this myself so you would be guinea pigging it. Or, trying it "at your own risk" but I believe if you were to put the bag into a bowl of warm water it would melt everything similarly. You don't want to literally melt EVERYTHING, and certainly not the plastic bag, so please just make sure it's not too hot. No boiling should be necessary. 

Magic: To start, put the Peanut Butter and chocolate into the bag. I don't measure things, but I do make sure it's about equal amounts of Peanut butter and chocolate. It's probably 3 Tablespoons or so of each but you can do more or less depending on how many brownies you made. 

Zip the bag shut and stick it in the microwave (or try the warm water trick if you don't have a microwave) You need to zap it till it's all melted, but don't microwave it for more than 15-20 seconds at a time. I microwaved mine for 20 seconds twice.

Every 15-20 seconds, massage the bag so the contents really blend together. 

Not done yet

If you can still make out the difference between the chocolate and the butter, it needs more time. 

Once it's all melted and mixed, rub the bag so the mixture is all in one corner. and snip off the tiniest bit off the corner of the bag.  For a smaller, slower stream cut the hole smaller, for a thicker, faster stream cut it bigger. I actually prefer my lines a lot smaller and closer together but (OOPS) I cut my corner to big by accident.

Very tiny! Remember, you can always make it bigger if it's too small.

Just as you would with cake icing, hold the bag so the frosting is in your hand and the top of the bag sticks up above your fist. Very gently, squeeze the bag and draw out the lines in your desired pattern. You can test it on a something else (a paper plate? a napkin?) if your unsure of the needed pressure.

I said before to use an uncut pan of brownies, however, if you cut them and remove them from the pan you could make a different design on them and do them individually. This is just a lot easier.  

Set the pan of brownies in the fridge for twentyish minutes till the icing hardens and sets, then gently cut into them and enjoy! 

The icing on the.... cake? This is SO mess free. No bowls to clean after, no frosting tips to scrub. You just throw the bag away and you're done! 

I have done this for a baby shower and they were a huge hit just on account of that easy little detail. Who doesn't love a little added flair to their food? When you take a small step more, it really does make a difference. And it's fun! 

Refrigerate for 20 Minutes before serving

EXTRA TIP: If you have any extra icing left in the bag, squirt it onto your toast and Oh My Gosh! you won't be sorry. 

It would also be amazing on ice cream. In fact, ditch the brownies, I just had an epiphany. I am going to make this for the sole purpose of drizzling over ice cream. No need to buy peanut butter sauce, I've got us covered! 

 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Kidding Supplies Checklists

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds - Proverbs 27:23

With kidding season here I find it helpful to have a list of all the things I'll need. Even if you know, and have, all the needed supplies it is helpful to have a list handy as a reference, just to make sure you aren't forgetting something.
Or, if this is your first time breeding, it can give you confidence to  know that you are prepared.
 I've done the work for you and put this list together.

If you have anything to add or that you do differently, please leave a comment.

Kidding Supplies:

• Baby monitor (You will want to keep a monitor near the mother for the days approaching her due date. Get so you are familiar with the usual 'barn sounds' and if there's any difference, check on her. The kidding can be very quick, Keep the receiving end near you if you want to be there for it.)
• Kidding Stall/Pen/Crate (the doe should not be with the herd when she is kidding. She needs to be isolated in a separate, quiet space where she wont be bothered by nosy aunts) 
• Flashlight (for those "fun" Nighttime births)
• Lots of clean towels.
• Scissors (to cut the umbilical cord if it doesn't break or if it's too long)
• Iodine (to clean the cord)
• Unscented Floss (to tie off bleeding umbilical cords)
• Rubber gloves (I don't use gloves personally, but they could be helpful if you are squeamish at all. I know for a lot of people gloves are a must) 
• Infant Nasal Aspirator (to clear the kid's nose of womb slime)

These are just the basics. Many things can go wrong during a birth, in case of difficulty you will want to contact your vet.
Make sure that all your supplies are clean, don't use anything that's unsanitary.

Post Kidding Supplies - Mother:

• Molasses (I give the mother a mixture of hot water, molasses, and grain after the birth to give her extra energy - they love it!)
• Hot water and Hay (make sure she can get all that she wants.)

As important as it is that she gets her energy back, it is also important that the mother doesn't neglect her child. If the food is a distraction from her baby take it away till the kid is cleaned and well cared for. You can help her by wiping the kid/s off with a towel. Don't be afraid to wipe the baby down kind of roughly, it's actually good to and gets their blood flowing.

I have had does who want nothing to do with their kid (I have one doe who tried to stomp her kids) in that case take them away from her and don't let her be alone with them. You will have to take the roll of mamma goat.

Post Kidding Supplies - Kid:

• Goat Coat (or tiny dog coats. If you live in a warmer climate than I do this may not be necessary, but New England is cold! I keep coats on my baby goats almost 24/7 for the first couple weeks)
• Syringe (Colostrum is the first milk that the mother produces after birth and is packed full of vitamins, minerals, and proteins that will make sure the kid has a healthy start to life. That said, it is important the baby gets the colostrum. If it is too weak to nurse or stand you will have to milk out the mother and feed the kid with a syringe or tiny bottle.)
• Pritchard nipples and clean, empty soda bottles (You can either bottle feed your kids or you can let the mother raise them. If the mother refuses to raise them you will have to bottle feed. Bottle feeding also makes the kids much more friendly.)
• Kid Milk Replacer (if the mother doesn't produce enough milk, or if something has happened to the mother, you can use milk replacer. Just make sure the kid gets the colostrum after birth and make sure you get Kid Milk Replacer. Cow or Sheep milk would be bad for the kid and definitely avoid the bags that say they are "multi species". That's not good for kids at all. I use Manna pro Kid milk which you can get HERE) 

As I said, this is just the basics. There are any number of instances where you will need special equipment or veterinary assistance. 

I have also put together a simple milking list. You can milk with a machine or by hand. I milk by hand, so the list I have here is just for hand-milkers.

Hand Milking Supplies:

• Milking Stand
• Grain (the goat will most likely not stand for the milking if she doesn't have food)
• Iodine or udder wash (in a spray bottle to clean udder before and after milking. I have a gallon size jug of concentrated iodine which I bought 4 years ago and it's about half  empty. You can buy it at any feed store. There's also an udder wash concentrate HERE which in non-iodine)
• Paper Towels (to clean udder and any messes) 
• Stainless Steel Pan (you'll want one with a wide, flat bottom that the doe can't easily spill. I actually use a bread pan)
• Canning Jars (or other clean, sanitary container to store the milk in the fridge)
• Stainless Steel Funnel (you can buy funnels that are made to hold the filters and sit on the canning jars. That's the way to go.)
• Milk Filters (make sure you get the right size filters to fit in your funnel)

I hope this is helpful, let me know if I have left anything out or if you have anything to add. 

If you have any questions please leave a comment.

Free Printable Kidding Checklist 

THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE ANY PROFESSIONAL VETERINARY ADVICE. IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY OR CONCERN CONTACT YOUR VETERINARY IMMEDIATELY.

7 Ways To Lose the Winter Blues

Winter is actually one of my top four favorite seasons. I think it's beautiful.  I love to go for long walks in the snow and I love trying to guess who all the paw prints and hoof prints belong to. I love snow and snow storms. I love snowshoeing and even sledding. As hard as it may be for some of you to believe, I prefer Winter to Summer.

Now, having professed my love for winter, I have experienced the feeling of being "Snowed In" and it's not fun. Here is simple list I've put together of tried-and-true ways to make winter your friend. 

Lose your winter blues and realize the beauty of the season. 

1: Go for a walk

Sounds easy enough, right? Bundle up in all your favorite layers, grab a camera or your earbuds (or both) and go for a walk. 

Experience winter.

 I like to walk through the woods, but a street or hiking path would be just as good. Spend some time in prayer and thought while you walk. 

Still thinking "Eww, cold." Well. all I can say is, you don't know what your missing till you get out there. 

2: Bake something from scratch

When your feeling locked up in the winter, fresh baked goods are one of the most amazing, warming things. But it's not just eating the baked goods that makes it so perfect, it's the actual act of making it. 

Imagine this: You've mixed together all the ingredients and set the batter/dough perfectly in the appropriate pan. You double check the recipe to be sure. The counters are dusted with flour, as is your apron. You think you might have got flour on your forehead as well but you don't care. You're already feeling warmer as the sense of accomplishment claims you from head to toe. The house fills with that warm, sweet smell as you sit, waiting for the oven to do it's magic. Than after it all, you are rewarded with the final product which you proceed to smear with butter, honey, or jam... it's amazing isn't it? 

 What? You don't bake? Oh, you only use boxed mixes? Well, I challenge you then. Make it from scratch. You can do it. It's not that hard and the reward is 100% worth the effort. If you don't have a recipe just Google search it. The internet is a treasure trove of recipes... to be honest, I barely ever use cookbooks anymore. You can also add any dietary restrictions to your search. For example: If you can't eat dairy just put "Diary free" in the search bar with whatever it is you're searching for (like "Dairy free muffins") you will be surprised at how many recipes accommodate special diets. It's super cool.

Some of my suggesting would be: cookies, zucchini/banana bread, scones, or muffins. And none of those should be very hard. 

TIP: don't forget the oven timer. The timer is your friend. 

If you happen to make brownies click the image for my super easy tutorial for adding an extra touch of mouthwatering goodness to any brownie recipe.

3: Tackle that photo album you keep talking about

Commit a day, a weekend, this winter to finally get that scrapbook or photo album together. How many of us have a pile, a drawer, ful of pictures, fancy stickers, printed paper, post cards, and enough photo safe glue sticks to last a lifetime? Winter is the perfect time to get it all laid out and organized in the way you want. It's fun and easy once you've started, you just need to get started. 

4: Go for coffee with a friend at a new cafe

You know that cafe that opened down the street? The one you keep meaning to go to but never find the time? Call up your bestie and make it a date. You could go to an old favorite cafe as well, but it's not as fun as trying something new. 

Your bestie doesn't like coffee? or maybe she lives in Ohio and can't make the trip for a cup of Joe? Go with your mom, I think it's about time you two did something fun together. Or your sister or brother. How about that friend you keep meaning to reconnect with but just haven't? 

Who ever you go with, it's a great way to add variety to your winter. 

5: Rearrange a room in your house

This is one of my favorites, and it's perfect for a cold, stormy day of being stuck inside. Rearranging can make a room that's feeling old and tired seem brand new. My mother and I are constantly moving the furniture in the house around and it can really make a difference!

My rearranging tips: 

• Start with the largest piece of furniture and decide where you'd like it. Then arrange everything else around it.
• Clean as you go. Move the couch and sweep where it was before moving on. 
• Start a box of donatables. If you have everything looking wonderful, but you're just not sure where to put that lamp or that jar of silk flowers... there's no where to put that completely empty, but absolutely adorable, little box. Maybe it's time to get rid of those things and let someone else enjoy the.
• Go a step further and buy something new to to brighten the room. Buy a throw blanket or a painting for the wall. Even something as little as a candle holder can make you feel like there's something new and cherishable about the space. You don't have to spend much, even less if you hit up all the thrift stores and bargain hunt for that special new addition. 
• AND if you're feeling really ambitions you could make something for your room or give an old piece of furniture new life. There are tutorials all over the internet on how to do either of those things. I made a canopy to go over my bed. It was a fun project and gives the room such an elegant ambiance. Check out my tutorial HERE if you want to do something similar. 

6: Winter day+Good book+Cocoa+Soft blanket=Perfection

Honestly, when it's so cold that you don't dare step on the hard wood floors, and the window panes are frosted, and even the baked goods aren't helping, this is the trick. Bundle up in your favorite chair, leaving space enough for the dog or cat to join you, and spend the rest of the afternoon reading with a cup of hot, fragrant cocoa beside you. Whether you're reading your favorite psalms or the newest, most captivating novel... this is perfection.

7: Make a puzzle

When my family does puzzles we set up a spare table in the corner of one of the rooms and spread hundreds of puzzle pieces across it. We will go and stare at it whenever we feel like it and gradually the pieces start to form a picture. Usually the puzzle will sit there for a week or so till it's done, then we let it remain for one more day so we can stare in awe contemplating how clever we are. It is then returned to it's box to be put under a shelf and never touched again. 

This is a fantastic way to break through the winter blues when they've got you down because it lasts for more than just one day. Also, the fact that it doesn't take a lot of brain power can be nice if you're in a state of sluggish hibernation. 

And there you have it. 7 ways to lose the winter blues. I hope you have fun trying some of  these and let me know if they were helpful to you!

What's your favorite way of beating the seasonal blues? Share your ideas in the comments!

 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. Proverbs 31:21

My cup of tea. Literally.

Today is National Hot Tea Day. To celebrate I have purchased myself this tea cup. I had seen this cup before at Walmart and decided that I didn't need another tea cup and managed to talk myself out if buying it. But now, with an occasion like National Hot Tea Day, it is absolutely justified!

The best part? You can get one HERE. They're by The Pioneer Woman. I really love her things.

Darn It! How to fix that hole in your favorite sock

Assuming you're a human being, you probably know this story as well as I do: The threads of  your favorite pair of socks have worn down and created a hole. You have continued to wear them with your big toe hanging out. Your dog has pointed it out to you with her wet nose. Your parents have begun to worry about you and your financial state. You try to ignore that cold spot inside your boots. You yank your socks off for what you believe to be the last time. You dangle them over the trash can. A tear rolls down your cheek. But wait! You favorite socks can be saved! 

Here is a simple tutorial on how to mend that hole to lengthen your sock's life expectancy. 

The basic idea of sock darning is to replace the material that has worn away and to reinforce the material that is still there. Essentially, what you'll be doing is weaving. There are multiple ways to darn, I will just be giving you one of the more basic techniques. 

NOTE: Keep in mind when you're looking at my pictures that I  should have made my initial cross threads closer together. I would suggest you make them closer, it will give you a tighter weave and, in the end, a more durable patch. 

What you'll need:

• A sock with a hole in it 
• A Darning Egg or a Darning Mushroom 
• Darning needles or long, blunt craft needles that aren't too thick
• and string, or a very small yarn, or embroidery floss (You want to make sure it's not too coarse, otherwise it wouldn't be very comfortable to wear after) 

 I wish that my egg was a little larger. It works fine, but if you're buying on new I would suggest you get something a little bigger. I think it would just be easier to work with. I also would not steer you away from a mushroom. I have never used one but I have heard good things about them from those who have.

Darning:

Step 1. Put the egg into your sock and line the hole up with the end of the egg. Hold the handle with your left hand (assuming you are a righty, reverse it if you are not) so that the sock is not bunched up on the egg. If you pull the sock too tighty your patch will be too big if it's too loose the patch will be too small. Make sure it's just tight enough around the egg that there isn't tension on the threads, but you can clearly see them all laid out. 

I have seen some people put a rubber band around the sock and egg to help hold it all in place while you work. I have not tried this but you certainly can if that sounds helpful to you. 

Step 2. Start by putting your needle in at one side of the hole and pulling it almost all the way through so that you leave a tail that's just a few inches long. Don't tie any knots yet. 

Even with a round hole you need to visualize it as if it were almost square. Keeping that in mind, start sewing across the hole so that there are threads laid out over the hole in a consistent pattern. Usually you can see that the threads right around the hold are beginning to wear out, keep your threads beyond that. Stitching into the material that is currently in good condition will help to reinforce the threads that are beginning to to show wear.

If you are familiar with weaving, this step is creating your warp.

Step 3. Once you have your warp laid out you will begin weaving. Start from which ever corner you ended the last step in and start stitching threads in the opposite direction. Go in an under-over-under-over pattern using the threads you just put there. at the end of each row, stitch into the sock to hold the threads in place. If there is sock material under where you are weaving stitch into it when you go "under." Incorporating that into the weave will make the patch stronger.

Every couple of rows, push the strings towards the end where you started weaving. You want the weave to be as tight as possible and the strings and stitches to be as close together as you can make them without them overlapping. 

Step 4. To finish you need the last stitch to be right beside where your first stitch was. If it is not, do one more weave across in the appropriate direction to make it so. Take the two ends of the string (The start string and the end string) and tie them together in a nice, tight knot. Cut the loose ends of the knot. 

At this point you can admire your handy work and congratulate yourself on giving your socks new life. Job Well done.  

 Now. The big question is: If you darn a sock so much that there is none of the original material left, is it still the same sock?

This tutorial has been shared in this link party! 

Trivia Game

Here's a super fun game I created for our new years party (To read more about my epic party, click here) I'm not entirely sure what to call it. Jenga Trivia? Tower Challenge? Stacking Quiz? Maybe just Stacked? Well, whatever I decide (or if I decide not to decide) you should definitely play it at your next party or gathering. All the questions I have are New Year related, of course you don't have to use my questions. You can totally make up your own questions or find others online somewhere.

If you do play this game, wind up loving it (which you are bound to), and post a lovely account of it on your own blog, please add a link to my blog. And also leave a comment here with a link to your blog so I can read about your party, I would love to see what fun you had with my game.


What you'll need to play

To play you will need is a block stacking game (like Jenga) with numbered pieces. If you have Jenga you could number them with a sharpie (or a wood burner if you're feeling fancy.) I ordered one that was already numbered from Amazon (and, lucky for me, it was also the cheapest one on there.) HERE is the link. It comes with 3 dice which you won't need but are pretty to look at.

You will need a set of questions. There should be one question per block, that's 48 questions if you're using the game previously linked.  HERE is a link to a PDF of the questions I had for the New Years party. They are not easy questions. Some are easier than others, but they are all pretty difficult. If you're playing with a lot of young kids I would suggest using a different set of questions. If you do a Google search for "(whatever theme you want) trivia questions" there will be other options for you

Now recruit a lot of people. You will need all the people who want to play (The more the merrier. If there's a lot of minds at work, there's a better chance of someone knowing the correct answer) and you will need one person to be the question asker. This person is the game master. The one who gets to hold the sheet of questions and cackle loudly while everyone else hurts their brains. It's fun.

Lastly, you will need a timer of some sort. I used my pocket watch but you could use a game timer, a stop watch, or just a clock. You can get this nifty set of timers HERE if you don't have anything that keeps time.

Printable Trivia Questions 

Doesn't she look like Princess Leia when she's knelt beside R2D2?

Game Play

There are two different ways this game can be played and it mostly depends on how many people you have playing and how smart they are. If you have a few people who are very smart I would play version two. If you have a larger gathering of moderately intelligent people I would play the first version.

For each version you will need everyone comfortably seated and the stacking game neatly stacked where everyone can see it. They will also need to be able to reach it if you are playing at a table. We played in the living room and just had the players stand up when it was their turn to take a piece.

Version 1 (The version we played):

• Form teams. I had everyone sit down then I divided the room in thirds. It ended up being 3 teams of  5.
• Have the first team designate a player to remove a block from the tower. They will return to their group and tell the game master which number is on their block. 
• The game master will say the question loud enough for everyone to hear. 
• The team will then be given 60 seconds (Or 30 if you want) to consult among themselves. They have one chance to answer the question and must have team consensus when their time runs out. 
• If they answer the question correctly they get to keep their block and the next team takes their turn. 
• If they do not answer correctly they pass the block clockwise to team 2 and team 2 goes through the same rigmarole and so on until each team has had a chance. 
• In none of the teams answer the question correctly there are 2 things that can happen. 1) the block can be returned to the top of the stack or 2) you can give the block to the team that answered closest. For instance: if they are trying to guess a year and team 3 is only 2 years off while team 1 is 7 years off and team 2 is 408 years off, the piece should probably go to team 3.
• Game ends when the tower can no longer maintain its balance. Which ever team has the largest amount of blocks wins. 

Version 2:

Version 2 is played very similarly to version 1, the difference being that there are no teams and everyone has to try for themselves. I would say this is the harder of the 2 versions. 

• Player 1 picks a block from the tower and tells the game master the number. 
• The game master asks the question loud enough for each player to hear.
• The player is given 30 seconds (Or whatever seems fair to you) to ponder the question then must make a guess when the time is up, or before that if they are ready. 
• If the player answers correctly they get to keep the block and it is then player 2's turn. 
• If they fail to answer correctly they must hand the block over to player 2 and player 2 has the same amount of time. This goes on until one player is able to correctly answer.
• Or, if it has gone all the way around and no one knows the answer, it can either go back to the top of the stack or to the player who answered the closes. For instance: If they players are trying to guess a percentage and player 2 guesses 99% while player 1 guesses 45% and Player 3 Guesses .5% but the correct answer is actually 97%, the block should probably go to player 2. 
• The game ends when the tower tumbles and whoever has earned the most blocks wins the game. 

TIP:
Some of these questions are more difficult than others. On some of the tougher ones, as game master, I gave the players a little help. For instance: if they are trying to guess what the Italians do to bring good luck the game master could tell them "It is something they wear" because otherwise they will be guessing WAY off and the GM will get a headache from all the face palming.

Good luck with your party, I hope you have as much fun with this game as we did. Although I do think everyone was ready to kill me by the end....

I also wrote up instructions to another game we played involving silly phrases and people making fools of themselves. You can find that HERE along with a PDF that you can print of the phrases we used.

If you have any questions or ideas please leave a comment. I love hearing from you.