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Around the Corner:		23 Games to Play in the Car… or Anywhere
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Starts July 11th EHM Summer Enroll Through July 18th – Only $49 Order now and get Brook’s 3 Step Post-it Notes Free! Learn more and registe Starts July 11th – Searching for Something Enroll Through July 18th – Only $39 Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want Learn more or register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package - LIMITED TIME ONLY – 20% OFF PLUS BONUSES! Learn more and order Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives		How many of you have summer travel plans involving a car ride? Or maybe you find that riding to or from an event, school or camp accounts for some of the quality time you have with your children? Instead of spending that time in silence or frustrated because you are listening to the same child-music CD for the 18th time that day, try a fun car game. These games often lead to laughter and memorable moments. These are also great when trying to keep children entertained in lines, waiting rooms, etc. Here are a few that I have learned over the years, heard about from friends, or created with my daughter. Guessing Games Car Colors: Choose a time limit such as 10 minutes or 30 minutes – depending on the length of the drive. Have each rider make a guess about how many cars of a certain color will be spotted during that time. The closest guesser wins. You can also do this in “sprint fashion” by using 3 -minute intervals as your time limit. Whoever is closest gets a point for that time segment. The first one to 5 points wins. Odd or Even: Each player makes a guess at how many of the next 20 license plates will end with an even number. The one who is closest wins. It helps to have a little tally chart to keep score. You can lengthen the game by increasing the number of license plates. Spy: You are probably familiar with this one. One player announces something that they see and the other players try to guess what it is by asking questions. The only trick when doing this while driving is that it has to be something that won’t go out of view – like the sky, the road, etc. Someone announces that they “spy” something and gives a clue. Example: I spy something blue. The players then take turns guessing until some one gets it. Whoever guesses correctly starts the next spy-turn. 20 Questions: One person thinks of a famous person, place or thing. Everyone else is allowed to ask the player 20 questions which can only be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Whoever guesses correctly becomes the next person to think of something. (We play this without a limit on the number of questions.) Observation Games The Alphabet Game: I am sure you know this one! Each player sequentially works through the alphabet looking for something that starts with a specific letter. For example: A might be apple tree or a word on a sign. Once a player finds an A word, they move onto B. (Have fun with Q, X and Z!) The first rider to work through the alphabet wins. Variation: Use only letters found on billboards, or letters on license plates. The Animal Game:If you are in more rural areas where cars aren’t abundant, try the animal game. Keep on the lookout for animals and when you see one be the first to make the animal sound. For example if you saw a cow you would say “moooo.” The first person to make the animal sound wins a point. Play to a designated number of points. You can make this game a bit more complicated for older kids by adding a designated number of points depending on the commonality of the animal – i.e. cows are 1 point, pigs are 2 points, etc. Find it First:Choose an item such as Volkswagen bugs, farms, people taking walks, silos, etc. Then choose a number like 5 or 20 depending on the length of your drive. See who can find the designated number of the chosen item first. Music Games Hum-Along: One rider hums a song and the other passengers try to guess. The person who guesses goes next. The first one to guess 3 right wins. Radio Game 1: Hit the “scan” button on your radio until it stops on a song. The first person to guess the artist wins. Radio Game 2: This isn’t so much a game but a way not to fight over music! The first person to take a turn goes through the dial until they find a song they like. You then listen to that song until completed. Then the next rider does the same, etc., etc. The only rule is that if you go all the way through the dial without finding a song you like then you need to listen to the last song you land on or lose a turn. Radio Game 3: While the radio is off, each rider chooses a word. Turn the radio on. The winner is the person whose word is spoken or sung first. Creative Thinking Games Story-Telling: One passenger starts a story with a single sentence. Then the next person adds a sentence. Continue until you build a complete story. The Question Game: Take turns asking open and thoughtful questions and allowing each person time to answer. Examples: o If you were on a deserted island and could only take 3 things, what would you take and why? o Who are your mentors/heroes and why? o If you won the lottery what you do with it? o If you could have lunch with a famous person, who would you pick and why? Note: If you really get into this game, you can purchase small books called “The Book of Questions” at most bookstores that give you a ton of subjects to choose from! Word Games Word Sequence: Choose a topic such as animals, places, television shows, people, fruit, etc. Name something in your category. If you choose animals you might say “panda.” The next player has to name an animal that starts with the last letter of your animal. In this example, their animal would have to start with the letter “A” such as “alligator.” Play continues until someone can’t think of a word. They are then eliminated. When you have only 1 person left, they are the winner. You cannot use any animal name twice. (If you are playing with real young children, let them have the handicap of being able to use the same word twice). The Round Game: My daughter made up this one and we have had great fun with it. Even my best friend who is single and childless enjoys this game over dinner with us. We choose a topic such as vegetables, board games, television shows, cities, types of cereal, flowers, movies, etc. Then we name something within that category. For example for cereal the first player might say “Cheerios.” Then the next player names a cereal. Play continues until someone can’t think of an item, then they are “out.” Play continues until there is only one person left. For young children, let them have three “passes” as a handicap. The Rhyming Game: Someone picks a word to start with, such as “ball.” The next player has to come up with a word that rhymes. Play continues until someone cannot think of a rhyming word. As always, give younger players a hint or two. You make the game more difficult for older kids by having each player recite the previous list of words before adding their own. Tongue Twisters: Choose a person that you all know, example, “Sara.” Then start with a phrase about that person that uses only the first letter of her name such as “Sara says strawberries…” take turns adding “S” words with as few “connectors” as possible (a connector is a word that doesn’t start with S) to see how silly of a tongue twister you can create! Memory Games My father/mother owns a grocery store: One player begins the round by stating, “My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells (something that begins with the letter A; e.g., ant traps).” The next player states, “My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells ants traps and (something that begins with the letter B; e.g., bananas). “Play continues with each player having to recite the current list and then add something that begins with the next sequential letter of the alphabet. For young players, offer them “3 strikes” where you will help them if they forget the list. Adults–sorry, no handicap for you Variation: You can vary this game to match your interests or those of a child. Example: o My mother owns a clothing store and in it she sells ____________ o My brother owns a music store and in it he sells ______________ o My sister works as a producer and she has produced __________ (insert television show) o My father owns a bookstore and in it he sells _________________ Just Plain Silly Games Laugh A Lot: Choose a player to keep a straight face. The rest of the players choose a silly answer for the player to use such as “My shoe.” Then players take turns asking questions such as, o What do you brush your hair with? o What is your favorite snack? o Who is your hero? o Where is your favorite vacation destination? The player keeping the straight face has to answer with “My shoe,” while trying to keep a straight face. If they laugh then play passes to someone else and a new phrase is established. Math Games Add-it-up: Call out the numbers on the license plate and see who can add up the numbers the quickest. For example D572-43X – players would have to calculate 5+7+2+4+3. Whoever answers correctly gets a point. The one who reaches 5 points first is the winner. (No calculators allowed.) Games that Require a Bit of Preparation Travel Bingo: Make a bingo board with color names in the squares. Print out several on your home computer. As you drive, players place an X when they see a car of the specific color. You can add to the excitement by letting each car only be used by the first person to “call it.” Try 4 corners, blackout (filing up the whole card) making an X on the card, etc. Variation: Make a “mixed” car board and include different types of items on the card such as: o Fire truck o Stop light o Grocery store o National Historic Monument o Lake or Pond o Farm o Police Car o Billboard Speed Talking: (You will need either a timer or watch with a second hand) Choose a topic and then talk for 60 seconds straight without repeating yourself or pausing. One point is awarded if you accomplish the goal. Take turns playing to a designated number of points depending on the length of your drive. If someone makes it 30 seconds, award them ½ a point. Game for a Tired Driver Statue: On a long trip and need some quiet time? Play a round of statue. The person who can stay still and quiet the longest wins! Your Turn Review this list with your children of choose a few games to try to turn otherwise “long trips” or “long lines” into cherished family moments.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Around the Corner:			“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” ~Jane Howard
ONLINE CLASSES: Make Today Matter Independent Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package: Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! I think Jane Howard is trying to express just how important our family is to each of us, and each of us in turn to our family! Let’s not waste a day, without making our family first and foremost in our thoughts, energies and joys. Tonight, at dinner time, let’s share our day and rejoice in the special-ness each one of us brings to our family’s dinner table. If you haven’t planned a meal ahead, why not order in pizza and play a board game. Your turn: Today, keep your family first and foremost in your thoughts. Share a laugh, a compliment, a touch. Your affirmation: Each day I value each member of my family (and my inner circle) and take the opportunity to tell them so.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Around the Corner:			“No matter what you’ve done for yourself or for humanity, if you can’t look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished…? ~Lee Iacocca, Automobile Manufacturing Executive
ONLINE CLASSES: Enroll Through June 13th – Only $39 Visual Journaling Order now and get a FREE CD ROM with nearly 200 images on it! Learn more and register Make Today Matter Independent Enroll Anytime – Two Weeks Free Trial and Then Only $19.95/mo Learn more and register Make Today Matter: A complete program for getting organized, managing time, living by your priorities and building the life you want: Learn more and register or, Get Brook’s complete kit and get all you need in one package: Learn more and order Current Special: Free, $28 Challenge Workbook on CD ROM with all Orders of $78+ Add the CD-ROM to your order and enter coupon code: CHALLENGE at checkout More to Explore: Make Today Matter on Facebook Brook Noel on Facebook Brook Noel on Twitter Make Today Matter on Twitter Brook Noel’s Blog Reading Room Archives			Good morning! Take Lee Iacocca’s words to heart and turn today into a day to express love and appreciation for your family and close friends. Say “I love you” out loud, rather than just thinking it. When given the chance, be an attentive listener, put down your magazine or turn off the TV and/ or computer screen while the person is talking to you. Make time to sit down and engage in conversation–actual sentences back and forth–not grunts and nods as you, or they, dash out the door or look back over a shoulder. Make eye contact. Tell a joke. Make yourself and those around you laugh. Have fun. Be a kid again. Lighten-up! Give yourself a compliment, or two or three. Your turn: Today, treat saying “I love you” and expressing appreciation to your friends and family members as the most important job and priority on earth. After all — it very well may be. Your affirmation: I take advantage of every opportunity to express appreciation and love to those I care for.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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Slow down, you move too fast, you gotta make the good times last.
~from the song Feeling Groovy

Good morning!   When I was a little girl I learned the lyrics to “Feeling Groovy” in choir and we sang the song for a spring concert. It has such wonderful lyrics and a catchy tune that I have retained many of the lyrics and occasionally find myself humming them.
 
A few days ago, we had a really “wet snow” in Wisconsin. The roads were snow covered and quite icy and as I made my 26-mile-trek home on the freeway, the top traffic speed was 30 mph.
 
When I got home, my daughter wanted to go out to eat as we had planned the night before. The little Mexican restaurant we often frequent is about 10-12 minutes away on a non-snowy day. Given the number of accidents I had seen on the freeway, I didn’t think it was a good idea to go out in these conditions.
 
“But we have 4-wheel drive,” she pleaded, puffing out her lip in a pout that must have taken years of practicing in front of a mirror to perfect. Regardless, it is a facial expression I can’t refuse.
 
“It will take us 30 minutes to get there,” I tried to reason. She didn’t care. I told her I would only drive on the back roads. I am a great snow-driver, but I don’t necessarily trust everyone else on the road, so I decided there likely wouldn’t be much traffic on the back roads.
 
We bundled up and set out on our journey. The back roads hadn’t been plowed yet, so we sang “dashing through the snow,” as we made our way to the restaurant in the predicted half-hour time.
 
After an enjoyable dinner, we made the 30-minute trek home. By now the snow had begun to accumulate rapidly. As I turned onto the road that leads to our home, I was taken aback by the beauty of the snow resting on the trees. It was one of those “blanket snows” that made everything look like it was outlined in lace. I pointed it out to Sammy and we drove even slower to enjoy the beauty to be found in each snow-covered form of nature.
 
The next day would be warm. So when we arrived home, we took some extra time to stand outside and enjoy the “lacy wonder,” knowing by morning it would have melted.
 
Interestingly, I always find myself in a cheerful mood when the Wisconsin snow falls. Many people aren’t fond of the snow, and dislike driving in the “white” stuff. But I always find myself humming as I toddle around. That night it occurred to me why I like the snow. In my daily hustle and bustle, I don’t often look at the trees or really “see” the beauty that surrounds me as I would like to. I am usually dashing madly from one commitment to another. The snow forces me to slow down. As soon as I slow down, I can see all the beauty that surrounds me more clearly.
 
Your Turn:
Today, try to “slow down.” Notice how when you “slow down” you are more apt to see all the beauty in life. Do as the Feeling Groovy song lyrics suggest and “make the good times last.”
 
Your Affirmation:
I absorb and appreciate all the beauty around me.

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“There is only one Christmas. The rest have been anniversaries.”
~Unknown 

And as always, don’t forget to start your day with a heartfelt: “Something great is going to happen today… I can’t wait to see what it is!”

And when ending your day ask yourself: “What is one more thing I can do to make today matter?”

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And as always, don’t forget to start your day with a heartfelt: “Something great is going to happen today… I can’t wait to see what it is!”

And when ending your day ask yourself: “What is one more thing I can do to make today matter?”

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