Bunco Party, Entertaining, Feast on This, Fun with Friends

April Fools Bunco

Get your neighbors, coworkers, husband’s coworker’s wives, or your church ladies together and start a monthly Bunco group.  April Fools Bunco would be a great way to kick off the start of any group and here are my ideas for a zany night of fun.

101_4771Let’s start with INVITATIONS

I got some girly little purse invitations at the party store, because I thought they were adorable, and then just wrote in all my party information on the insides.  I added some “Texas” blingy crosses to some of them and got them in the mail about two weeks before my party.  I didn’t give away any information about my party having April Fools pranks.

There are lots of other invitations out there that have dice on them, and perhaps that’s the way you would prefer to go. If you want to give a small preview to your party, you can add a prank to yours…perhaps a paper spider that pops out when you pull the flap open on the invitation, or a funky scent spritzed on the paper.  Or you could encrypt the invitation information into a secret code puzzle that they have to solve in order to find out the details, or cut it into puzzle pieces that they have to put together.

Now let’s think about our TABLE SNACKS101_4756

I made two snacks for each of the three tables: “puppy chow” served in dog bowls, purchased from the dollar store (and totally sterilized in the 101_4752dishwasher), and multicolored Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers, served in actual fish bowls that I picked up at Wal-Mart in the aquarium department (and also sterilized in the dishwasher).

The recipe for the “puppy chow” (Chex® Muddy Buddies®) is usually featured somewhere on the box of Corn or Rice Chex cereal boxes.  I hope it is okay for me to share it here with you.

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Now, moving on to SWAG BAGS

101_4776I filled little brown paper bags with inexpensive gag gifts (bubba teeth, stick-on mustaches, packets of Doughnut Seeds, which were cheerios – the flavored kind.  It was an idea I saw in a Family Fun magazine I believe click here for instructions).  I gave these bags as prizes after each round of play, so that my guests would act up and be silly if they wanted to while we nibbled on refreshments (featured below).  I hoped that by the end of the evening everyone would win something even if they didn’t win a Bunco money prize.

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Here is the SET-UP for an April Fool’s Bunco

Set up the three tables as usual, but make 101_4691table #3  a “loser” loser table, if you know what I mean – L-sign to the forehead, L-O-S-E-R  table!  Find a table that wobbles (taping a small stack of washers to a leg of the table will do the trick).  Set 4 mismatched chairs around it (like an ottoman, a bar stool, an office chair, and a bean bag chair).  Place a whoopee cushion under the seat pillows of one chair.  101_4683Give them 3 different size dice, a big toddler pencil or a teeny tiny pencil or a crayon to keep score with, a random stack of scrap papers stapled together for a score pad, and even nasty tasting snacks like wasabi peas, or anything bland and tasteless from the health food store, and serve in ugly bowls, chipped bowls, or just a paper plate.

You could replace the bell on table-one with a squeaking rubber duck toy, or a train whistle, or a bicycle horn, or one of those cans of air, just to be weird and obnoxious.

MUSIC

I usually like to have some kind of music going in the background of all my parties to put everyone in the “party” mood as they walk through the door.  So…what kind of music shouts “April Fools” to you?  This is probably going to totally BUST my “Christian” image to admit that I own one, but I thought a Bob Rivers CD would be the perfect touch (to lend that sort of “Jack Ass” element to the party).  Oh dear.  Yeah, Bob’s CDs are undeniably the anti-type to Philippians 4:8.  (Feel free to substitute your own music selection here if that is just too embarrassing for you.  It actually might be too embarrassing for me too with certain of my friends ).  At any rate Bob’s songs are ones that you think you know.  They sound just like the originals of hits from the 80’s/90’s.  His songs, however, if you are not familiar, are parodies, spoofs of the songs from a couple decades ago, with twisted (altered) lyrics – “fool” you music that is super funny in a tacky, crude, gross, ill-mannered, irreverent, vulgar, unashamed sort of way.  I have, dare I admit, his Twisted Tunes Volume 1 and 2.  I wonder if I turn the volume way down if anyone will notice the lyrics???   You know what might make a great alternative is Anita Renfroe (Christian comedian), except that all of her awesome parody songs are in video format and scattered between several DVDs.  Oh Anita, you need to do something about that!

What about PARTY FOODS?

I’m so glad you asked. Here was the line up for my party… but there are a million great ideas out there!  (Pinterest)

101_4761April Fools Bundt Cake (actually a calzone)

For this use a tube of Pillsbury Pizza dough, lay it in the bottom of a non-stick Bundt pan and press a channel into the center of it all the way around so that the dough is spread up the sides.  Use a jar of pizza pizza sauce, pepperoni, cooked sausage, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc. and carefully spoon this sauce in the valley of the dough that you placed in the pan.  Carefully layer another tube of pizza dough on top and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven as directed on dough package, until a toothpick inserted in the bread part comes out clean.  Remove from oven and invert onto a pretty cake plate.  Use the finest quality Mozzarella cheese slices you can buy and arrange them on top of the “cake” in a thick layer.  Return cake to oven just long enough to melt the cheese to look like icing.  As you can see, I let mine melt a little too much and I didn’t have any extra cheese to fix it.  Don’t do this. Lol! Remove from oven and serve warm.

101_4747Meatloaf “Shepherd’s Pie” Cupcakes

Do you have a good meatball or meatloaf recipe? Mix your ingredients together and use a large ice cream scoop to shape your meatballs about the size of a poolball.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place a large meatball into each of the paper-lined cups of a muffin pan.  Bake about 20 to 25 minutes until meat is brown and pulling away from the sides of the pan (internal temp 165*F).  Invert onto a paper towel lined rack to absorb grease.  In the meantime set up a new muffin pan with foil cupcake wrappers.  Transfer each meatball into a foil cupcake wrapper in the new pan and set aside.

Make enough instant potatoes for 8 servings, following directions on the box of instant butter flavored potatoes, substituting the water for beet juice.  Use the juice of 2 cans of beets (not pickled beets), being sure to add enough water to the juice to equal the amount called for.  The more beet juice, the stronger the color your potatoes will be.  If you want them to look really red, use only the juice of the beets and no water.  Transfer the mashed potatoes into a frosting piping bag fitted with a star tip and pipe the potato “frosting” onto the meat cakes.  These can be kept warm in the oven until ready to serve (up to 30 minutes).  Sprinkle with a grind or two of peppercorn mélange just before serving.  You could also sprinkle some grated Parmesan, chopped chives, and bacon crumbles on top.

Ham & Cheese “cinnamon” Rollsdscn7700

Unroll a tube of Pillsbury Pizza dough and roll it with a rolling pin to thin it just slightly.  Spread with a thin smear of honey mustard (or dijon, as you prefer), and then lay slices of thin sliced ham over the entire top, and then a layer of thin sliced baby swiss over the ham.  Roll up, jelly-roll style and slice as you would cinnamon rolls.  Lay on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until golden on top.

101_4750Spaghetti Casserole Cake

Use a box of any favorite Duncan Hines cake mix (or your favorite homemade) and bake in a non see-thru 2 X 9″ pan as directed on the box.  Cool on rack.  Refrigerate several hours.  Place one can of cream cheese frosting in a piping bag fitted with the small hole tip.  Pipe the frosting back and forth all over the top of the cake until it is covered in what looks like spaghetti noodles.  This will take forever, but it is worth the effort.  You may need to use another can of frosting to achieve the effect and completely cover the cake.  Place about 12 Ferrero Rocher chocolates randomly on top of the frosting.  Warm a jar of plum or strawberry jam in the microwave for about 15 seconds, stir and then drizzle over the “meatballs” and slightly onto the frosting.  Cake may be kept in the refrigerator the remainder of the day until ready to serve.

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101_4703PRANKS (hahahahaha)

Place a jar of nuts-in-a-tin on the kitchen counter or serving table (the kind with a spring-snake inside), so that when a guest opens it to get a snack the snake will pop out.

Make a beverage or set out some kind of candy that will stain everyone’s mouth blue (or whatever color) for the evening.  Or make sweet and unsweet tea and switch the labels.101_4740

Place a roll of some kind of gag toilet paper in the bathroom.  (Mine was printed with “Oh Crap!” all over it)

Put a fake spider in the bathroom sink, or beside the toilet, and several other places.

A Little pre-party prank…

Before my guests arrived I turned off all the lights in the house except for one lamp near the front door.  I had on a pair of pajamas, smeared a green mud mask on my face, and put some pink hair rollers in my hair.  When my guests arrived I answered the door reluctantly, like I had no idea who could be at my house, and stood there for a moment before them with a befuddled look on my face.  After a moment I opened my eyes wide, as if I’d just had an epiphany and said, “OMGosh, is that TONIGHT?”  As my guests hemmed and hawed about what to do, I broke out with a smile and blurted, “April Fools!”

Okay, April Fools, no I didn’t.  I would have, but I didn’t think about it until I was writing this blog post.  I just answered the door like it was any other party.  But please, if you are a courageous cuckoo, will you please do it for me?  It’s be fun!!!!

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PRIZES

At the end of each set of six rounds I gave out SWAG BAGS to the Highest Score, 2nd Place, Most Buncos, Last Bunco, and Booby.  Then we took a snack break.   We finished the evening giving out the money prizes and then gathered around my table, laughing, telling stories, and staying up way past our bed times.

CHECKLIST

In preparation for any themed or un-themed BUNCO party you will need:

101_468312 party invitations (plus, be prepared to make phone calls to make sure guests will be attending and find subs if not)

Appetizers, snacks, dessert

Beverages

3 tables with four chairs for each101_4676

3 dice for each table (total of 9 dice)

Personal Score cards and Vis-a-Vie markers (12 total cards, 2 markers per table – 6 total markers)

Score pads and pencils for each table (3 total pads, and 3 total pencils)

101_46995 Envelopes for prize monies:

Mark one envelope “High Score”

Mark one envelope “2nd High Score”

Mark one envelope “Most Buncos”

Mark one envelope “Last Bunco”

Mark one envelope “Booby”

Bell:  You can have a bell, like those at a motel that you tap the knob on top of and it rings, or you can have a clangy old school teacher’s bell.  If you purchase a Bunco game it will have some sort of bell included 101_4686in it.  Or as I mentioned before you could have a squeaky rubber duck, a huge baby rattle, a whistle, a train whistle, or a bicycle horn, or basically anything that makes an obnoxious noise.


Bunco Buddy
(this can be anything from a little bean bag toy, to a special crazy hat, to a lei, or even a big fuzzy die).  I had a flying monkey toy that screams when you shoot him.

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SET UP YOUR TABLES

Here’s how to set up your three tables:

Table One 101_4688

Bell

Bunco Buddy

Score pad and pencil

Vis-a-Vie markers

Dice

Snack bowls

101_4702

Table Two

Score pad and pencil

Vis-a-Vie markers

Dice

Snack bowls

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101_4693

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Table Three (Remember, if this is an April Fools theme, make this the “loser,” loser table.  If you missed the suggestion above, make the table rickety, by using two TV tables and taping a stack of washers to the bottom of one leg to make it wobble, or use a heavy piece of cardboard balanced on an exercize ball for a table, with mismatched dice, an oversized pencil or crayon for keeping score, torn pieces of paper to keep score on, mismatched chairs – a rocking chair, a bean bag chair, a bar stool, and an office chair, for example, and make the snack for that table something not very yummy – unflavored rice cakes, vegan veggie crisps, wasabi peas, swedish fish, you know, that sort of thing. And for added fun, put that table in a part of the house where players can hear the bell ring, but where there’s maybe not a lot of room, or it’s a little cold, or a little hot, maybe the laundry room with piles of clothes everywhere and the cat litter box where they have to step over, or maybe you have a loud and obnoxious clock that you can hang hear that table, or next to a kid’s room who is playing drums or basketball, or…you get the idea.)

Score pad and pencil

Vis-a-Vie markers

Dice

Snack bowls

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Once all of your guests have arrived and each has paid their $5 to the prize fund ($5 X 12 players = $60), separate the monies into the envelopes as follows:

High Score –  $20

2nd High Score –  $15

Most Buncos –  $10

Last Bunco –  $10

Booby (lowest score) –  $5

• Announce to the guests which table is Table One, Table Two, and Table Three (if they couldn’t already distinguish them).

• Players can snack and play and visit during the first set, then take an appetizer break between sets – use the restroom, take a smoke break, check cell phones, etc.

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HOW TO PLAY

101_4674You will find the instructions for how to play the basic game on any boxed Bunco game found at any game store (Wal-mart, Toys-R-Us, K-Mart, Target, etc.).

If you do not want to buy a pre-packaged game,  you can use the templates I have pictured (and detailed) in this post, plus you will need nine dice, a bell of some kind, a Bunco Buddy, and pencils and scratch pads to keep score during play at the tables.

Variations to the Boxed Game

I’ve discovered that people play Bunco differently from group to group and state to state.  In Wyoming all the groups I played with basically played the game as instructed in the box, but as a gambling game just did their payouts a little differently.

Here in Texas they do everything different.  This is the crazy Texas version I’ve been introduced to:

TEXAS BUNCO:  It is the same in that there are two teams at each table who work together to beat the other team at the table, and whenever the winners or losers move they can’t have the same partners at the next table.  BUT…they don’t work their way through the numbers (1,2,3,4,5,6) as in the boxed game, but rather ALWAYS only roll for 6’s every set, every round, every game.  If you roll three sixes that is a “Texas Bunco,” and whenever a TEXAS BUNCO is rolled, anyone at the table may grab the dice to steal the points.  Since Buncos can be stolen, you can imagine how this results in a pretty physical game and riotous behavior. Dice and people often times end up on the floor in a wresting match.  As you can imagine it is too wild for snacks to be on the tables. There might even need to be some ground rules about how long a woman’s fingernails can be (as they could be a lethal weapon – hahaha). 

If you get only one or two sixes when you roll, they count as one point each, but you get to keep rolling.  You must roll at least one six to keep rolling, otherwise you pass the dice.  If you happen to roll three ones that is called “snake eyes” and your team loses all your points acumulated during that roll.  If you roll three of any other number, it counts as five points total and you get to keep rolling.  If no scoring dice are rolled, play passes.  The first team to reach 21 is the winner of that round.  You can play six rounds and then take a snack break, and then come back and play another six rounds.  You can play as many rounds as you want, as long as it is decided ahead of time so that nobody feels cheated out of the prize monies at the end.

Winners move up a table (unless they are already at table one), and losers move down a table (unless they are already at table 3).  My neighbor’s group plays with men and women and everybody pays $5 to play.  They give prizes for MOST WINS, MOST BUNCOES, and MOST LOSSES.  They play with at least 12 people, but the more the merrier (multiples of 4).  Her group usually does a carry-in pot luck supper, which is served in courses between rounds – six rounds played, then they serve appetizers or salads, six rounds played, then they serve the main course, six rounds played, then they serve dessert, and during dessert and coffee the prize monies are distributed.  

The church ladies I played with in Wyoming paid their money to the host, who passed it on to whoever was hosting next.  That next host used it to buy prizes to give in place of money prizes at her party.  We always played at the church, but each took turns bringing the snacks.  After a while we all just started bringing a wrapped, $5 gift instead of money.  Another thing your church group may enjoy doing is to increase the price per person to play, and have each person choose a charity in your church or community that each can play for.  You could have several written on pieces of paper and let everyone draw one out, or let everyone choose their own (favorite charity), such as the church nursery, the food pantry, a women’s ministry, a missionary couple, a local private Christian school, a crisis pregnancy center, a pet rescue, a child advocacy ministry, etc.  Upon arrival, have everyone that is playing pay their money and then put down on a sign-up sheet who they are and the charity they are playing for.  At the end of the night only the big winner gets the money, and the host will be responsible for delivering it to the designated charity that week.

The way Karen’s group played Bunco: We all paid $5 as we arrived.  The money ($5 X 12 people = $60) was divvied up into prize envelopes:  First Place ($20), Second Place ($15), Most Buncos ($10), Last Bunco ($10), and Boobie ($5).

101_4675We had 12 laminated personal score cards labeled Table 1, 2, or 3 and Team 1 or 2 also labeled on them, which we drew upon arrival so we would know what table and team we were starting from.  We used Vis-a-vie markers to mark our cards after each round with our wins and losses, and at the end of the night, after all prizes had been awarded, we washed them off and they were ready for the next time.  At the end of this chapter are some Bunco cards that you can copy/print and cut apart.  If you would like, you can laminate them and use Vis-a-Vie markers just like us to mark wins and Buncos, and tally totals on for your party.  At the end of your evening these cards can simply be washed off and reused as long as they were laminated in a laminator machine and cut apart having a 1/2″ frame of laminate around them.

Bunco score cardStarting with any set of numbers we marked a circle around the games we won and an X through the games we lost (as shown in the diagram here to the right).  Notice there are three sets of numbers, a set for each game.

Notice the score card here shows Table 1 Team at the top?   If you drew this card you would start playing at Table 1 and you would be on Team 1.  The starting position is no longer relevant after play has begun.

Table Tally SheetChoose who will be the scorekeeper.  There is one person at each table who will keep score.  This person will have the Table Tally Sheet (shown here to the left) and pencil, and will keep track of points for both teams at the table.  The scorekeeper will draw a vertical line down the center of the Table Tally Sheet and label the first column “US” and the other column “THEM.”

At the sound of the bell (Table One rings the bell) someone at each table should pick up the dice and begin rolling.  If the roller rolls a ONE they get to keep rolling.  If no ONEs are rolled the player’s turn ends, and they pass the dice to the player on their left.  Each ONE rolled counts as one point.  Three ONEs rolled at once is a Bunco (if you are on round one), at which time the person rolling will shout BUNCO! And earn a score of 21 added to whatever they earned up to that point, they should now take posession of the Bunco Buddy and need to mark the Bunco on their score card, and then continue rolling until no more ONEs are rolled.  Three of a kind of any other number  besides a ONE when you are on round one scores as 5 points, and the player gets to continue rolling.

Whomever is holding the Bunco Buddy is responsible for passing it along to the new Bunco roller when they yell, and need to tell them which Bunco they rolled (1st, 7th, 10th, etc.).  So if you roll a Bunco, and yell, the person who tosses the Bunco Buddy at you will tell you which Bunco number you rolled (it will be the next number after the one they rolled), and you’ll mark that on your scorecard.

Keeping score… let’s say it is round ONE; the roller rolls a ONE with her first roll, everyone at the table would say “one” and the scorekeeper, if she was on the same team would make a tally under US, then if the roller rolled another ONE with the second roll, everyone would say “two” and the scorekeeper would mark another tally under US, and if she rolled another ONE with the third roll, all the players at that table would say “three” and the scorekeeper would mark another tally, then if she rolled 3 fives, everyone would say “eight” (3+5) and the scorekeeper would mark the five more tallies, then if she rolled three ONES, that would be a BUNCO, and everyone would say “29” (8+21) and the scorekeeper would mark the tallies), the roller would catch the Bunco Buddy as it sailed through the air toward her, mark on her scorecard which Bunco she got, and pick up the dice and roll again.  But if this time she rolled a 2, 4, and 5, with her dice her turn would be over. Her total score would be 29, as recorded by the scorekeeper, and she’d pass the dice to the player on her left, which is a player on the opposing team.

Now, if she was sitting at Table ONE, someone at that table would ring the bell marking that round ONE is over, because whenever a score of 25 is reached at Table ONE the round is over for everyone.  If she was sitting at Table Two or Three and Table ONE has not rung the bell yet, play would continue until the bell has sounded.

A night of Bunco consists of three sets of play (notice the three sets of numbers 1-6 on the personal score cards).  Each set consists of 6 rounds.  The first round everyone rolls ONEs… the second TWOs… the third THREEs… etc., and you can only get a Bunco is your roll three of the number of the round that you are on.  If your team ends the round with a higher score than the other team at the table, you both get to draw a circle around that number (if you were rolling for 3’s, you would circle the 3) on your scorecard for that set, the other team would mark an X on 3’s, and the two who circled get to move up a table (unless you are at Table ONE already, in which case you get to STAY at Table ONE).  If you were the losing team you must draw an X over that number on the set you were playing, and you stay at your current table (unless you were at Table ONE, and in that case you must move all the way down to Table THREE), and if you were already at Table 3, you just stay there.

When you stay or move to your next Table the two of you must also change partners, so you will have a new teammate for the next round.  And it will continue to change from table to table all night.

Please consult the rules of play in your purchased Bunco Box, if mine seem confusing.  

At the end of the third set all players add up their circled games, plus their total of Buncos for a TOTAL SCORE, which they will write in the bottom space on their score cards.  The score cards can then be lined up on Table ONE from highest score to lowest.  In case of a tie for high score those players will roll off to determine who should take the prize.  If the player that wins the roll off is also a winner of either first or last Bunco they forfeit that secondary prize and the person who rolled the second or next to last Bunco wins the prize instead.

Once all prizes are awarded, dessert is served.

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Some Bunco groups that I have belonged to have served alcoholic beverages during play, and others, for various reasons did not.  Use your best judgment in serving wine, frozen Margaritas, Sangria, or designer Martini’s considering that most of your guests are likely driving, and some may be addicts trying to stay sober.  Italian sodas, Iced tea (straight up or flavored, hot or cold), fruity lemonades, and designer coffees (flavored, regular or decaf, hot or cold) are good alternatives.

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Would you like to start a monthly Bunco group with your neighbors, or just have a Bunco Party now and then?  There’s no better time than the present to get started hosting one and see where it ends up.

OTHER BUNCO THEMES TO TRY,

now that you’ve gotten the ball…or…umm…dice rolling. 🙂

Red Hat Ladies Bunco

Pajama Party Bunco

Come as you are Bunco:

Make your calls to your guests to see if they can all make it, do it at a time when you think they may be wearing something they wouldn’t want anyone to see them wearing, without makeup maybe, or dressed up super fancy.  Maybe early Saturday morning, or at night just before bedtime.  Maybe when you know they are gardening, or painting the back bedroom.  Inform them that your Bunco party is a COME AS YOU ARE party and they must come exactly as they were at that moment.

Halloween Masquerade Bunco:

All players come in complete disguise.  Spend the evening trying to keep your identity under wraps (by altering your voice to a Mickey Mouse voice, using a heavy made up accent, or whispering, etc.).  See how long everyone can stay in character.  At the end of round one give each person a number to wear around their neck, and give each player a sheet with the numbers 1-12 listed.  While everyone is endulging in snacks, have each person write next to each number who they think that person is.  At the end of round two do the big reveal.  Then round three you can all relax and just play.

Strip Bunco (It’s actually a pool party – or hot tub party, but you can keep that a secret to the end if you wish):

Oooo, racy!  Invite your fun girlfriends to this one, the playful ones with a sense of humor.   Don’t tell your guests anything except the theme and that they will lose clothing for every loss.  Let them think the worst (hopefully you have a group with a fun sense of humor).

All you are going to tell your guests is that they better wear lots of clothes, and just to be safe, that they should wear their swimming suits underneath.  If someone loses all their clothes down to their bathing suit that’s all the farther they will have to go.  No one loses past their swim suit.  You can choose to tell everyone up front, or once they arrive at your house, or make them sweat to the end of the game, and spill the beans only when someone is having a panic attack.

The night should be a lot of laughs, but here’s the really fun part: Dessert will be served in the hot tub.   Whatever you are wearing at the end of Bunco is what you’ll be wearing in the hot tub.  Some people who thought themselves pretty sassy for not losing very much will think differently whilst they sit in a hot tub with 6 shirts, 3 pairs of socks, and 2 hats on their head. Ha!  Okay, I’m not really that mean.  They can shuck their duds to join us.

Monthly Holiday Theme’s:

SEPTEMBER-Grandparent’s Day- everyone brings photos, either of their grandkids or grandparents.  These can be shown around and bragged about, or put on a bulletin board for everyone to guess whose people belong to whom.

NOVEMBER-Thanksgiving-feast

DECEMBER-Christmas-white-elephant &/OR ornament exchange

JANUARY-I-Have-A-Dream  (everyone shares a crazy dream they recently had, or something they are passionate about, from having a fast food restaurant that serves only fresh fruit and veggies, to making it mandatory that all kids learn to write with both hands in school, to health insurance for pets, or whatever they’d like to change about our world)

FEBRUARY-Valentines, Mardi-Gras, Super-Bowl-tailgate, Academy Awards

MARCH-Saint-Patty’s-Day, Easter Egg Hunt

APRIL Fools (encourage light-hearted pranks and Bubba Teeth silliness)

MAY-Mother’s-Day-garden-party or Memorial Day (honor Mom, or a military member)

JUNE-Father’s Day BBQ

4th-of-JULY picnic, fireworks, and party poppers

AUGUST-Beach party, or Back-to-School

Football Theme

High School or College Alma Mater Theme

60’s Theme

Beehive (hairdo) theme

Punk or Goth theme

AND SOMETHING ELSE…

You can decide if your group wants to do appetizers and dessert or a full meal, and who will bring what.

Usually the HOST provides beverages and table snacks (usually a bowl or two of something – something sweet and something salty, like chips, pretzels, cheese doodles, Chex mix, Cheez-its, flavored popcorns, mixed nuts, etc. and M&Ms, Hershey kisses, Nibs, jelly beans, Halloween candy, and such).

Or, if doing a meal the HOST provides beverages and the main dish and everyone else brings sides.

Usually the GUESTS take turns providing carry in appetizers (ie. cheese and crackers, veggie tray, fruit platter, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta, cream cheese veggie pizza, etc.) and/or desserts (cake, pie, cookies, etc.).

Or, if doing a meal the GUESTS bring in the sides (salads, veggie sides, starchy sides, bread, and desserts).

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Good luck with your party.  If you think about it, would you please come back here and tell me how yours went?  I’d love to hear.  God bless you.

Some of the kooks that showed up to my Shindig! :)
Some of the kooks that showed up to my April Fools Shindig! 🙂

Here are the PRINTABLES: https://mrshlovesjesus.wordpress.com/bunco-printables/

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“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God…'” Psalm 14:1

Entertaining, Feast on This, Fun with Friends, Murder Mystery Party

How to Host a Murder®

 

Τhe air was crisp on that November evening, in our desolate little town.  Howling winds raged in the darkness and barren cottonwoods swayed in the furor.  A cluster of fallen leaves straggled across the street like a gang of miscreants, and a dog barked in the distance to the rhythmic sounds of footsteps crunching across the newly fallen snow.

Out of the blustery umbra a bristly figure appeared in the moonlight, undaunted by the fierce weather around him.  He approached the old house, mounted the rickety front porch steps, and lumbered towards the entrance, making the windows of the dwelling shudder with each quaking stride.  An abandoned cob web snagged against his cumbersome wool coat as he reached to open the door.  Grasping the tarnished brass knob in his strong clutches and turning it slowly, the heavy, weatherbeaten door screeched open on its hinges.  A tiny mouse squeaked and scurried beneath his feet as he stepped across the threshold into the darkened room.

A mysterious, persistent smell invaded his nostrils and wafted in the air eventhough an eerie silence hinted the old house was empty.  Gloom hung thick in the room.  Lurking silhouettes hunched as ominous obstacles throughout the quarters making it hard for him to set a course.  Beyond the menacing shadows he glimpsed a faint light from an outside street lamp peeping through a kitchen window, illuminating a meager corridor into the next room.

Pursuing the glow, the stalwart man drew near to the entrance of the kitchen, where the narrow rays of soft yellow light exposed a dreadfully macabre scene and what appeared to be a bloody knife left precariously behind on the countertop.

Was he too late?  Had someone beat him there?

His heart throbbed in his chest.  He reached for a weapon.  His mind raced for what to do next.  All-at-once the looming silence was broken by a shrill screech from a far-off room, and then a startling crash.

The man lunged in the direction of the racket, adrenaline pulsating in his veins.  Goaded by masculine fortitude, he felt his way along the walls as he slithered surreptitiously down the staircase.  His eyes were pinned open as he scanned the darkness for any slight movement.  Struggling to control his erratic breathing he bravely decended to the bottom step where suddenly, out of the obscurity, a boney, emaciated figure crashed into him and groaned.  The man gasped in surprise…

.

Did I have you going?  Did I?  Wringing my hands and cackling a wicked little laugh.  Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee.  Oh, how fun. Alright, here’s the reality behind this teaser.  The intruder was actually my husband coming in from work.  The house was dark because, well, it’s November, and I’d been on the computer most the afternoon since putting supper in the crock pot earlier in the day and hadn’t noticed that the sun had gone down, so none of the lights were on in the house upstairs, and unfortunately for husband I had rearranged all the furniture that morning as well, so that’s why the room was hard for him to walk through.

When I heard his footsteps upstairs it was right about at the same moment I had just discovered the perfect idea for my mystery-loving Mom’s birthday party, which sent me bolting to my feet and squealing with delight.  In the chaos my chair fell backwards to the floor with a deafening crash.  I just left it lay and hurried to greet my loving man.  That’s when our bodies collided at the bottom of the stairs.  And there you have the inspiration for my little attempt at fictional writing.  How did I do?  Meh…don’t quit my day job, right?  🙂

How to Host a Murder is a long-running series of boxed murder mystery games published by Decipher, Inc. Players take on the roles of suspects after a murder has occurred, all attempting to expose which one of them is the murderer.

Decipher Games may be out of business now, but their games live on and are available at Amazon.com, eBay, and several online game stores like Funagain Games.  I have also found them at garage sales and thrift shops.  If you Google the titles (I’ve listed most of them below), several buying options should come up.  The games first came out in the early/mid eighties, and most have been revised and updated.  Definitely look for the newer versions. They are just so much better written, and the very newest ones will include a CD instead of a cassette.

Your game box should include:

A cassette tape (or CD)

A host guide with instructions

A sheet of secret clues

8 Guest invitations and envelopes

8 Name tags

8 player manuals, containing secret information

A diagram of the crime scene

Optional dinner and costume suggestions

This is how your party will basically play out:

You choose your guests (you’ll need seven of them plus yourself makes eight), send out the invitations (included) at least a couple weeks in advance, and provide the meal and beverages.  Each guest’s invitation includes a leaflet about the character that they will be playing.  Your guests will be searching second hand stores, vintage clothing shops, Salvation Army, and costume stores for the perfect outfit to wear, and they will be studying up on their character so they can get their part just right for the night of the party.  Participants are to come to the party in costume and in character.  Give your guests suggestions for where to find costumes, and give them time to round them up.

As the host you also will have your character to play, and therefore will need the same preparation.  In addition, you will be serving a suggested three course meal (usually fairly easy), which you will need to prepare ahead of time.  You might choose to decorate as well, and have some sort of music to lend atmosphere while guests are reading their scripts and eating.  The cassette or CD will also include some background music, and it will have all the narrative to explain the game to the guests.  All you do is press the play button.

The game comes with booklets for each character, which you hand out at the start of your party.  They resemble play scripts.  You will gather your guests around and play the cassette/CD at the beginning of your party.  It will explain everything, instruct everyone on what they are to do, and set the scene. You and your guests will play the game in three acts (each act being made up of one part: reading scripts, so everyone knows what their character did and did not do, and then the second part: aggressively interrogating the other guests, and being aggressively interrogated, in an effort to piece together the mystery).  A course of supper will be served at each intermission.

I chose:

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUILTY, because it takes place in the little Wyoming Territorial town of Roadkill (on July 2, 1881). In response to a warm invitation from His Honor, Judge Waylon Payne, I invited my guests to be gathered in his home beside the courthouse, in the heart of town, for a sumptuous dinner. Dinner was to be followed by the hanging of the infamous, formerly elusive Malevolent Seven – a villainous gang of criminals rumored to have secretly victimized our fair territory for many years. Although no one knew the identity of the Malevolent Seven, my guests and I spent the evening figuring it out. Assuming the role of an Old West Character we solved the murder that occured just before the festivities, by using the clues provided, the crime scene diagram, etc., and in the process exposed the many secrets of Roadkill, Wyoming.

I set the scene of my party by decorating the living room and dining room with western theme decorations I found at our local party store.  They had a swinging saloon door that I hung in the doorway to the kitchen, and another in the doorway to the bathroom.  I decorated my table with gunny sack material covered with a clear plastic table cloth, and used bandanas for napkins, and piled the center of the table with a couple of old revolvers, some spent bullet casings, and a vase of roses.  I threw some saddle blankets over the couches and draped a lasso off the back rest.  I also found a great CD of old west wagon train music that I had playing when guests arrived.

3. Good Bad Ugly

The Characters:

BUTCH CHASTITY
Legendary Butch Chastity is the first lady of outlaws. Her all-woman gang are the Amazons of the American West. There’s nothing coy or dainty about Butch. She can drink her fellow outlaws under the table; she can hold her own in a game of poker; she can rob a stagecoach in record time; and she can kill a man just as soon as look at him-and often does. In her secret hide-out, a place called the Hole in the Mud, Butch plans the most daring of heists, including her many famed train robberies. It has been rumored that Butch has gotten away with more gold than any outlaw alive. Costume Suggestion: Dungarees or jeans, boots, suspenders, gun belt, pistol, holster, bandanna and cowboy hat.

P’ELVIS SWAGARIN
When a mysterious lone gunslinger rides into some dusty western town, it’s usually P’elvis Swagarin. Solemn, poker-faced, bowlegged-he’s a cowboy’s cowboy. Born Peter Elvis Swagarin, he’s P’elvis to those who know him. He’s a man with no belongings but the shirt on his back, his gun and his saddle….a man who sleeps beneath the icy stars, a horse his only companion. P’elvis appeared out of the prairie heat just two days ago, and ever since he arrived, the whole town of Roadkill has been whispering in hushed tones, wondering who he is and what he wants…  Costume Suggestion: Dungarees or jeans, chaps, boots and spurs, suspenders, gun belt, pistol, holster, bandanna and cowboy hat.

5. Good Bad Ugly

HELENA HANDCART
Matriarch of the Handcart clan, Helena is the mother of the Handcart boys: all thirteen of them. Billy-Bob, Bobby-Rae, Little Ricky, Martin and Lewis, Harpo, Groucho, Sleepy, Sneezy, Manny, Moe and Jack. Oh-and, of course, the Beav. Unfortunately, she had to bury all thirteen of her sons after they were tragically killed in a shoot-out at a dairy farm. The now infamous gunfight at the Parkkay Corral left her with nothing but memories. A strong woman, she has been able to survive, although most of the time she remains secluded on the sprawling Handcart Ranch, managing the family cattle business. Helena owns half the territory and never lets anyone forget it.  Costume Suggestion: Long black skirt with matching blouse, brooch, gloves, bonnet.

CHIEF BREAKING WIND
Chief Breaking Wind is the distinguished leader of the Cowpai tribe-an honorary position these days, since the entire Cowpai tribe fell victim to a mysterious disease several years ago and perished. Still, the stoic chief keeps his traditions alive, trusting that, with his help, the Cowpai will rise again. Unwillingly relieved of his tribal responsibilities, the chief has since opened a successful barber shop in town and, ignorant historical references notwithstanding, hasn’t scalped a soul. Still, no one ever angers the chief.   Costume Suggestion: War paint and a breechclout for the truly adventurous; loose-fitting trousers, tunic with embroidered or painted symbols, native-design blanket, moccasins or soft, slouchy boots, black braids, feather headdress. (I also brought along a woopie cushion).

4. Good Bad Ugly

ELVIRA-LYNN FEKSHIN
Elvira-Lynn is the consummate soiled dove and makes no bones about it, so to speak. She’s known throughout the territory, and there’s even that famous saloon song written about her- My Heart Burns for You, and Other Places, Too. She’s the proud madam of the Pigeon Ranch, the best little you-know-what in Roadkill. Since Judge Waylon Payne is one of her steadiest clients, the law does a good job of looking the other way. To look at her now, you’d never guess she was born in the gutter and suffered a sickly childhood, battling everything from consumption to bubonic plague. But now she spreads, among other things, sunshine wherever she goes.  Costume Suggestion: Low-cut blouse, corset, garters and patterned hose, be-ribboned bloomers, fancy hat with feather plumes, cigarette holder.

WYATT HERTZ
Wyatt Hertz is by far the most famous lawman in the West. He kept the wild frontier town of Roadkill under tight control, keeping the locals in line with an iron fist of fear. That is, until a shotgun blast caught him in the tender parts. Legend has it that Wyatt was ambushed by the vicious Partridge Family gang, and he didn’t stand a chance. That was a year ago. Since then, he’s retired, letting Judge Waylon Payne reign as both sheriff and justice of the peace. Now Wyatt runs a lucrative rent-a-horse business. He never lost a gunfight, and some folks believe he could take out a whole gunslingin’ gang with a single round from his six-shooter.  Costume Suggestion: Dungarees or trousers, full-cut white shirt with black scarf or bolo, brocade vest.

2. Good Bad Ugly

DEE ADELA MUERTE
She is known as just Adela to her friends. Adela is a Mexican beauty with the most pious of spirits but is plagued by bad luck. She’s been thrice-widowed-each time as a newlywed. Her first husband, a local politician, died shamefully during one of his secret outings to the Pigeon Ranch. Her second husband, the town pastor, died while preaching, and her third husband, the town undertaker, keeled over from exhaustion while planting the thirteen Handcart boys. Now poor Adela is left to deliver Sunday sermons and forced to become town undertaker. Still, she knows that she will rise above her misfortune. Until then, she’ll continue to wear her black mourning veil.  Costume Suggestion: Black blouse and long skirt, black gloves, large hat heavily draped with black net or tulle.

ELIAS TRUIST-HEATH
Young Elias is an up-and-coming heart-throb gunfighter. He can dazzle spectators with his quick draw and a spin from his guns, and when he’s not showing off his slinging skills, he’s demonstrating his pugilistic prowess. He’s known as the best brawler west of the Mississippi and comes out of every fight with nary a scratch. Orphaned as a boy, Elias was raised under the firm, wise hand of Judge Waylon Payne. After a patriotic stint with the U.S. Cavalry, Elias returned home to Roadkill and to the women who adore him.  Costume Suggestion: Tight dungarees or jeans, half-unbuttoned plaid shirt showing genuine or applied chest hair, sideburns, mustache, bandanna tied at neck, gun belt, pistol, holster, boots and cowboy hat.

1. Good Bad Ugly cover

Not knowing what we were doing at first, we started out a little slow and timid, but in the end had a total blast!!!!  The weather was the worst it could have possibly been outside with heavy snow and burly winds, but all my guests showed up, dressed charmingly, in character, and all were excited to play.  If I’d have given out awards, Karen would have won the Emmy for her character performance of the saloon girl.  She was a riot.  This particular title suggested that the host make a roast chicken for supper (super easy – most grocery stores have these available in the deli), but having played the game I would suggest that you make a nice beef stew instead, and that is easily accomplished in a crock pot.  I won’t tell you why the stew.  You’ll have to just trust me.

I would also like to make this little warning.  These games are a little racy.  Especially the saloon girl’s part, and Wyatt and Butch’s parts as well (in this version we played).  It’s not X-rated or anything like that, I wouldn’t say even R-rated really, and there is no explicit language that I remember, but the subject matter is maybe a little PG-13.  The box warns that you need a sense of humor and a light-hearted attitude toward deceit, larceny, sex, and murder.  But, the box also says, How to Host a Murder is so much fun, it’s almost criminal, and it really is.

If you or your guests would be offended at some of the “adult” themes, there are some teen mysteries you could try instead. Decipher has created three teen versions.

Some titles in Decipher’s How to Host a Murder (Adult) line-up are:

The Watersdown Affair (…finds you at the Watersdown Mansion, a 1930s English mansion and the elegant home of Sir Roger Watersdown. This colorful narrative includes characters such as Dr. Malcom K. T. Praktiss, the personal physician, the actress Miranda T. Shetes, the mystery author, the attorney, the socialite and more! Theres no shortage of suspects, glamour or scandal in this winding tale of murder, sex and deceit! This boxed game even includes invitations, a CD with period music, menu suggestions and more! Bring the game to life with costumes, props and theatrical flair for a party everyones dying to attend!

Powar and Greede (in this title players are guests of the producer W. Anton Powar. At a gala, guests find out that 1936 is curtains for a mutual friend).

The Grapes of Frath (set in June 1925, aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean.  The Fraths have invited several “friends” for a cruise. In a secluded bay of a Mediterranean island, murder is discovered and the passengers must decide who amongst them has committed the crime).

The Last Train From Paris (Players role-play their parts, to figure out the murderer while dining in a train car during World War II).

Archaeologically Speaking, It’s The Pits (Arthur E. Faxe, the eccentric entrepreneur and amateur archaeologist, sails this month for ancient Mesopotamia in search of human fossils and in the hope of proving the Darwinian Theory of Evolution. Faxe has chosen a region of the Tigris-Euphrates Valley known since ancient times as Vages for the site of his expedition. This area is distinguished by an immense and prominent boulder that can be seen for miles and is known locally as the Rock of Vages. A small cleft, or opening, at the base of the rock is the site of an unusual collection of fossils. The cleft, discovered in 1854 by French archaeologist, Henri Formie, is described in scientific literature as Rock of Vages, Cleft Formie. By arrangement with the local government, Faxe and his entourage will establish an extensive camp in an abandoned military fort near the archaeological site and overlooking the Tigris River.)

Hoo Hung Wu (I have heard that this is a hard one.  Some loved it; some hated it.  The setting: The Autumn Moon Festival in eighth-century China, celebrated between two families).

♥ The Chicago Caper (This is a fun one that my crew has also played.  Loved the costumes for this one!!!  It is September 1928 in Chicago.  Guests receive an invitation to S.P. Keasys place, a private club near the headquarters of notorious gangster Hal Cappone. Upon arriving, Hal is discovered murdered).

6. Chicago Caper scrapbook pages 7. Chicago Caper scrapbook pages 2

The Class of ’54 (Join the Roley High class of 1954 as they celebrate their fifth reunion with a performance by their most illustrious graduate, Rock N. Roley. You and your guests can enjoy burgers, fries and a cherry coke or malt (ambitious hosts can stick with the suggested menu of brandied pot roast) while you investigate the murder of a beloved rock star. The cassette tape, features a malt shop atmosphere and Sargent Joe Flighty’s tough-cop narrative, goes a long way toward setting the mood.   Solve the murder of Rock N. Roley and expose the truth about the tragic death of Becky Sue Lamour on that fateful Homecoming night.  A four-hour mystery dinner party for eight people).

The Duke’s Descent (You are invited to Airesborne Castle, family seat of the Dukes of Airesborne. Assume the role of one of the potential heirs to the title. Imagine your home is an English castle as you and your dinner guests enjoy hours of suspense and intrigue).

Tragical Mystery Tour (The Tragical Mystery Tour finds you among the tuned-in and turned on, off on a cross-country road trip to Beefstock with one of the hippest rock singers of all time. While you’re hanging out at her love pad, an explosion rocks the house. The psychedelic bus has been turned to dust with someone on board.  This one got lots of good ratings on Amazon).

Maiming of the Shrew (It is the Twelfth Night of Christmas, and you’ve been invited by renowned playwright William Sheepsheare and his beloved Lady Katheter deVane to dine like kings and queens at the Glib Theatre. But, when you arrive, there are blood stains upon the stage).

Roman Ruins (Roman Ruins blends history and mystery for a hilarious and captivating evening of devilish delight! Having mentioned your name in his Roman epic, the renowned poet, Flabbius Corpus, invites you to a banquet for the premier recitation of his historical work. When you arrive, you discover theres been a murder in the garden and a priceless statue is missing).

An Affair to Dismember (One of the newer releases.  Set in the Castle Von Morgue in Deadbolt, Transylvania on All Hallows Eve. Written by award winning author Neil Shusterman, the guest list includes: The Mummy of King Aldrinktotat, a Rogers and Hammerstein monster, a kosher cannibal, a deadly dentist, a flamboyant clairvoyant, a wicked witch and more! You assume the role of one of these ghoulish characters and solve the murder mystery on a dark and stormy night).

(There may be others)

So get you a box and a fun group and a good meal and a rockin’ costume and go have a blast!!!!

“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints… is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  Ephesians 1:26-28