Telephone Pictionary

I am going to tell you how to play one of the easiest, funnest (I am aware that's not a word but I don't care) games that is in existence. It's called Telephone Pictionary and just about anyone can play. I've played this with my roommates, larger groups of college friends, all girls, mixed guys and girls, family members, my friends' parents, pets, and more. It's fun. (It's also super CHEAP.)

1. Go get a stack of paper and cut each sheet into fourths so you you have lots of smaller squares. 

2. Go get a group of friends and/or family. Make sure they're funny, creative, and interesting. If you don't have friends and family like that, get new ones.

3. Sit in a circle around a table with lots of pens and pencils on it. This table would preferably also conveniently hold delicious snacks and drinks, but that part is optional. 

4. This is where the actual game starts, so pay attention. Give each person at the table a stack of paper with a number of papers equal to the number of people. If you have SEVEN people, each person gets a stack of SEVEN papers. If you have 45 people, each person gets a stack of 45 papers. If you are by yourself and have one person at the table, you are lame and should stop trying to play this game.
5. Write a funny or descriptive sentence on the top piece of paper in your stack. Everyone should do this. Then, at the same time, all of the stacks get passed to the LEFT. (Or the RIGHT if you want to be tricky.) You will be then receiving someone else's stack of papers with their written statement on the top.

6. Read the sentence that the last person wrote. Take that paper off the top and place it at the bottom of the stack. Now you will be DRAWING what the last SENTENCE said on the new top piece of paper.
7. Pass again. If you see a DRAWING in front of you, write a SENTENCE that describes the picture. If you see a SENTENCE, you do a DRAWING. So basically you are alternating between writing sentences and drawing pictures, until you receive your original stack of papers back.
8. Now each go in a circle and show your stack of papers in succession and see how much the statement and pictures changed. Hilarity ensues. Good times will be had by all.
9. Repeat steps 1-8.
10. You're welcome!

My sentence, and my friend's mom's drawing of it. 

My drawing, and my friend's sentence description of it. 

Four Eyes

Help me help you. Help me help you! (1996 movie reference.)

I thought I'd help you out. Who doesn't need a little tip every now and then? I'm going to pass along one of my favorite deals in existence. Want some prescription glasses? Okay how about for twenty bucks?

They're from Zennioptical.com. Just type in your prescription, wait about three weeks, and voila. You have some brand-spanking-new glasses that make your day a little brighter. These are my latest:

I'm loving these. My first pair was also oversized, and my Spanish brother, Jose Antonio, said that the big frames made me look like a journalist from New York. However, those didn't last the test of time on all those flights and suitcases last semester. So, to fill my hipster desires, I ordered this pair for the new school year. I feel smarter already. 

(Also, anyone else notice how the print of my shirt is way too similar to the print of the couch? Classy.) 

Grocery Snob

Living with my friends off-campus for my senior year means figuring out my own groceries. I definitely took the cafeteria for granted my first few years. If only I had an omelette guy in my kitchen every morning! (Well, actually, that sounds a little creepy. But still, if he made omelettes, I'd let him in.) 

Now that we are buying groceries, we try to cut corners in any way possible. Trips to Aldi, coupons, preferred member cards, and generic brands are all allowing us to make it work. BUT. Don't tell anyone...I have to admit that there are just some items that I push my cart right past the generic brands for. On some stuff I've gotta have the best:

1. Cereal - Crunch Berries, Cocoa Puffs, and Apple Jacks. Marshmallow Mateys just isn't cutting it.

2. Peanut Butter - Choosey Annas choose Jif. And only Jif. Sorry FoodClub.

3. Toothpaste - I'm a little more flexible on this one. I like most brands, just PLEASE, not Aim.

4. Soda - Mountain Lightning? Seriously with that name? And a note for Mr. Pibb: I'll continue to buy Dr. Pepper until you get your Ph.D, thanks. I like my soft drinks educated.

5. Mac n' Cheese - Kraft is where it's at. I got the blues!

Now before all you thrifty Dutch moms come bash down my door with a battering ram and pitchforks in tow, there is hope for me yet. It's been done - I've been converted on shampoo.

Now, I know I've written about my shampoo before, but this is important. After all, my shampoo is one of the first things I see in the morning. I used to be an unbeliever in generic shampoo. Suave had let me down in the past. From filmy, residue-leaving conditioners to shampoos that were about as thick as water, I had nearly closed the book on Suave in general. BUT. This summer I visited my friend in Grand Rapids and had to use this brand of shampoo as a last resort. Believe me, I wasn't excited about it at first, but Suave rose to the occasion. For some reason, this (pictured) variety of Suave is AWESOME. My hair ends up so silky and shiny that you'd think I was a Pantene Pro-V commercial girl. 

Okay maybe not. But still, this stuff is good. And with ALL THAT MONEY saved on shampoo, I can afford the above mentioned groceries, right? It all balances out. Just call me Even Steven. 

(Shameless link to related old school Disney Channel show here.)