The First 30 Minutes of Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Have you ever been undecided on what to play next? 

Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?

I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!

This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of Sackboy: A Big Adventure…

Do you want to play the rest? 

The First 30 Minutes of PAW Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls

Have you ever been undecided on what to play next? 

Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?

I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!

This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of PAW Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls…

Do you want to play the rest? 

The First 30 Minutes of PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay

Have you ever been undecided on what to play next? 

Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?

I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!

This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay…

Do you want to play the rest? 

How to Play – Uno

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played Uno for 2 to 10 players!

When I’m researching the rules for these games I’ve played since childhood, I am discovering that I’ve been playing them differently for years! For example, when we didn’t have a playable card to match the one on the discard pile, we kept drawing until we found one, but apparently you are only supposed to draw once and move on! It does make for some funny game moments and prolongs the game; either way is fun!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX
  • 112 cards
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Each player draws a card; the player that draws the highest number deals (count any action card as a zero).
  2. The dealer shuffles the deck and deals each player 7 cards.
  3. Place the remainder of the deck facedown to form the “Draw” pile.
  4. The top card of the “Draw” pile is turned over to begin the “Discard” pile. If any of the action cards are turned over to start the “Discard” pile (see the function of each action card for special instructions).
  5. Action cards:
    • Draw Two card – When you play this card, the next player must draw 2 cards and miss their turn. This card may be played on a matching color or another Draw Two card. If turned up at the beginning of play the same rule applies.
    • Reverse card – When you play this card, the direction of play reverses (if play is currently to the left, the play changes to the right, and vice versa). This card may only be played on a matching color or another Reverse card. If this card is turned up at the beginning of of play, the dealer goes first, then play moves to the right instead of left.
    • Skip card – When you play this card, the next player is “skipped” or loses their turn. This card may only be played on a matching color of another Skip card. If turned up at the beginning of play, the player to the left of the dealer is “skipped”, and the player to the left of that player starts play.
    • Wild card – When you play this card, you get to choose the color that continues play (any color including the color in play before the Wild card was laid down). You may play a Wild card on your turn even if you have another playable card in your hand. If a Wild card is turned up at the beginning of play, the person to the left of the dealer chooses the color that continues play.
    • Wild Draw 4 card – When you play this card, you get to choose the color that continues play PLUS the next player must draw 4 cards from the “Draw” pile and lose their turn. You may only play this card when you do NOT have another card in your hand that matches color on the “Discard” pile (but it is acceptable to play this card if you have matching number or Action cards). If turned up at the beginning of play, return this card to the deck and pick another card.
  6. The person to the left of the dealer starts play. 
  7. On your turn, you must match a card from your hand to the card on the top of the “Discard” pile, either by number, color or action card symbol.
  8. If you don’t have a card that matches the one on the “Discard” pile, you must take a card from the “Draw” pile. If the card you picked up can be played, you are free to put it down on the same turn. Otherwise, play moves to the next person.
  9. You may also choose NOT to play a playable card from your hand. If so, you must draw a card from the “Draw” pile. If playable, that card can be put down in the same turn, however you may not play any other card from your hand after the draw.
  10. If no player is out of cards by the time the “Draw” pile is depleted, the “Discard” pile is reshuffled and play continues.
  11. When you play your next-to-last card, you must say “Uno” to indicate that you only have one card left. If you don’t say “Uno” and you’re caught before the next player begins their turn, you must draw two cards.
    • If the last card played in a round is a Draw Two or a Wild Draw Four card, the next player must draw 2 or 4 cards respectively. These cards are counted when the points are totaled.
  12. Once a player has no cards left, the round is over and the first player to get rid of their cards in a round receives points for all the cards left in their opponents’ hands as follows:
    • All number cards (0-9) = face value
    • Draw Two = 20 points
    • Reverse = 20 points
    • Skip = 20 points
    • Wild = 50 points
    • Wild Draw Four = 50 points
  13. Once the score for the round has been tallied, if no player has reached 500 points, reshuffle the cards and begin a new round. Players retain their points from previous rounds.
  14. The winner is the first player to reach 500 points.

ENJOY!

The First 30 Minutes of PAW Patrol: On a Roll!

Have you ever been undecided on what to play next? 

Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?

I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!

This week let’s take a look at the first 30 minutes of PAW Patrol: On a Roll!…

Do you want to play the rest? 

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – Craiggerbear Locations Guide

If there’s one thing I do when I play a game (besides trying to relax and enjoy myself), it’s look up information. I get curious or stuck, and I find myself turning to the internet for answers. There are a lot of good guides out there that are super helpful, but what I don’t see are an abundance of simple and clean visual guides that lay out all the information in one place.

I recently posted the first 60 minutes of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and in conjunction with that I wanted to create a guide to help in finding all nine Craiggerbears.

These visuals (or infographic guides) are categorized by the size of the meal created, and then organized alphabetically into helpful sections, and downloadable so you don’t need to keep hopping back online to check on the information.

Please let me know if you would like me to work on a guides for anything else within Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart or if there are any games you would like to see visual information or guides for in the future! I love helping people, discussing games and organizing information!

The First 60 Minutes of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Have you ever been undecided on what to play next? 

Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?

I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!

This week let’s take a look at the first 60 minutes of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart…

Do you want to play the rest? 

35 Books of Encouragement for your New Kindergartener!

Zoey starts kindergarten this year! She and I are both excited for her to learn new things and meet new friends, but she is also a little hesitant and that’s completely understandable; this is a new experience!

Besides talking about it and offering her my own words of encouragement, I’ve put together a list of 35 books about going to school that we have been reading to help her feel more comfortable with the idea.

  1. A Place Called Kindergarten
  2. Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten
  3. All Are Welcome
  4. Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten
  5. Barnaby Never Forgets
  6. Breathe Like a Bear: First Day of School Worries
  7. Butterflies on the First Day of School
  8. Chrysanthemum
  9. Froggy Goes to School
  10. Giant-Sized Butterflies On My First Day of School
  11. How to Be Kind in Kindergarten: A Book for Your Backpack
  12. How to Get Your Octopus to School
  13. How to Get Your Teacher Ready
  14. I Got the School Spirit
  15. If You Take a Mouse to School
  16. Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?
  17. Junie B. Jones (series)
  18. KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day
  19. Kindergarten, Here I Come!
  20. Miss Bindergarten (series)
  21. On the First Day of Kindergarten
  22. Our Class is a Family
  23. Our Classroom Rules!
  24. School is Cool!
  25. The Berenstain Bears Go to School
  26. The Circles All Around Us
  27. The King of Kindergarten (check out Queen too)
  28. The Kissing Hand
  29. The Night Before Kindergarten
  30. The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
  31. The Smaller Spot of a Dot
  32. The Twelve Days of Kindergarten
  33. Time for School, Mouse!
  34. Tomorrow, I’ll Be Kind
  35. Wemberly Worried

What are your favorite books about school?

The First 60 Minutes of Ratchet & Clank

Have you ever been undecided on what to play next? 

Should you buy that game? Should you install that game?

I’ve been there, and sometimes you just need to take a look at the graphics, hear the music, and learn a little about the plot to see if it resonates with you before taking the next step. I’m here to help! I am creating the first 30 to the first 60 minute videos of games; indie and mainstream, new and old!

This week let’s take a look at the first 60 minutes of Ratchet & Clank…

Do you want to play the rest? 

DIY – Double Crochet Dish Cloth

Welcome back friends! Do you crochet? I do! I feel calm and cozy when I’m crocheting, and fiercely proud whenever I complete a project.

I’ve always wanted to crochet some of my own dish cloths and now is the perfect time! This pattern is simple, textured and ideal for any level of crocheter (beginners included)! Any cotton yarn can be used for this dish cloth.

Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES
  • Crochet hook (size 5 mm)
  • Cotton yarn
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle or small crochet hook
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Create a slip knot and then 30 chain stitches.
  2. Turn your chain around and double crochet (dc) into the third stitch from the hook, then continue to dc all the way across your chain.
  3. Chain 2 and turn your work. Dc into the back loop of the third stitch from the hook, then continue to dc in the back loops of each stitch all the way across your project.
  4. Repeat step 3 for the next fourteen rows for a total of 16 dc rows.
  5. After the last dc of your last row, chain 1 and rotate the dish cloth 90 degrees to the right.
  6. Single crochet across this side of the dish cloth to give it a more finished look. There will be no distinct loops to follow, but try to stitch in regular intervals, your hook will know where to go!
  7. Chain 1 and rotate the dish cloth 90 degrees to the right again, lay the original tail along the original chain, then single crochet around it (to weave it in) as we single crochet all the way down the original chain.
  8. Chain 1 and rotate the dish cloth 90 degrees to the right again, then single crochet across this side of the dish cloth to give it a more finished look. There will be no distinct loops to follow, but try to stitch in regular intervals, your hook will know where to go!
  9. After the last single crochet, use the scissors to disconnect the yarn from the skein and pull the loose end in through your crochet loop.
  10. Using the yarn needle, weave the loose end into the dish cloth and cut off any extra.
  11. Enjoy!