The Gift Detective » For Families

SET – Fun Game!

The Gift Detective — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:42:25 +0000

This was one of the presents that I got my boyfriend for his birthday.

SET! Available by Clicking Here
The game’s simplicity makes it easy to learn – you have to compare four things (color, shape, shading, and number) on each card independently. When you compare the cards, each of the four things either has to be completely the same or completely different. The rules are really that simple but the game gives your brain a workout! You really have to scan the cards and try to quickly ascertain if there is a “set” on the board or not.

This game got five stars on Amazon and it is no wonder. I was looking for a game that could be as good for two players or a group of people so that we could play it alone or when we had friends over and I did a lot of research before heading to the Games of Berkeley store for some in-person advice. I walked in with my list and the moment I asked about a great party game the young man immediately said “Set!” No hesitation at all. Since I had that on my list and I knew it was highly ranked on Amazon as well I took my chances and got it.

I was not disappointed.

Everybody enjoyed the game and my boyfriend and I have played it several times since the party as well. Once everyone is on the same page, the game moves quickly so you can easily sneak in a game or two here and there and, I might add, what a nice way to connect! It may seem a bit old-fashioned to sit and play a game in the evening but it really is nice, relaxing, fun and isn’t a huge time commitment for set-up nor play. You just shuffle the cards well, lay out twelve of them and start playing. This game can even be played solo or with as many people as you desire – they just have to able to see the cards. Simple, fun and engaging – I see us playing a lot of it in the future!

This game makes a great gift!!! (I speak from experience…) Are you going to a party? Great host/hostess gift! Going to stay with friends? Bring this as a gift and present it at the beginning of your stay and you will not only have given them a wonderful gift but you’ll have fun playing together as well! Birthday? Affordable present that will appeal to a really wide variety of people. This is a great game for children and adults. No reading involved! If the child can differentiate shapes, colors, shading and numbers they can play (recommended for children 6 and over). In fact, I read many reviews in which the children are as good at this as the adults so everyone in the family can participate and enjoy themselves. Want to give your family a present for a holiday or an anytime present? This would be great because it encourages thinking, everyone can play and you’ll be giving them a gift that gives back in the form of creating memories and having time to bond with them.

This is a really affordable ($9) gift so you could even buy several and keep them on hand for the next time you need a last minute gift.

If you live in the Berkeley area and are in need of a game I highly recommend visiting the folks over at Games of Berkeley. They have a huge selection of games, Frisbees, Yo-Yos, kites – pretty much anything worth playing with, they have it! The person who helped me couldn’t have been more helpful – he even recommended some fun card games as well which I thought was really nice because he wasn’t pushing me into a sale but really considering my request of what would be fun for a party. They are conveniently located at 2151 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, which is right across from the Berkeley BART station and just one block from the UC campus. If you’re a real game enthusiast, you should visit their website and check out the calendar of events that lists all sorts of gaming activities.

Happy gifting and gaming!

Toy Tuesday: Fold-a-Hoop Basketball Game

The Gift Detective — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:00:01 +0000

This is the first Toy Tuesday and I’m excited to begin this new feature with something as fun as the Fold-A-Hoop Basketball Game.

Fold-A-Hoop Basketball Game – Available Here
I think this is just a wonderful idea for a toy for kids and adults. This hoop is pretty sophisticated because it is wall mountable – so it is always available for fun but also folds neatly up out of the way when you aren’t using it. The unit has an LED scoreboard that tracks 2 and 3 point bonus scores. This gives you arcade style fun for two players so the family can join for fun together and have a tournament or when you child has friends over it would provide some fun indoor play, a really great way to get rid of some energy on a rainy day!

I have seen this similar model, which is a little less expensive but also looks like a lot of fun at my local Target. This model still folds up but does not have the sleek wall mounted storage unit so you have to fold it up and have space for it.

This is a great gift for a basketball lover, an active family, children AND adults. I’ve seen indoor basketball hoops in action at my boyfriend’s family’s house and it gets a lot of use by all the adults! Both his mom and dad get in on the fun and once the action starts with one or two people it usually gets everybody involved by the end so it is just a nice way to bring everyone to the same room and have some fun.

I could see this gift being given to kids by their parent or grandparents; the girlfriend or wife who wants to give something fun and cool to her boyfriend or husband; a gift to the college grad who can finally afford a more spacious pad but can’t yet afford too much entertainment – this will be sure to be a big hit with all their friends and visitors!

This is a present that is great for birthdays, Christmas, graduation, etc. If you wanted to make a big impact when giving it, you could mount it on the wall and then “wrap” it by putting a big red bow in the center – then your recipient will be able to play with it right away and it is just a neat and different way to present the gift.

Happy Gifting!
~ Alyna

The Story of St. Patrick’s Day

The Gift Detective — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:33:06 +0000

There are the people who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (going to the pub for a pint?) and the Irish who celebrate St. Patricks Day (going to the pub for a pint and proud of your ancestry all year long!). This DVD is a gift for the latter.

DVD Available HERE
The Story of St. Patrick’s Day DVD, done by A&E/The History Channel, examines the modern day celebrations by delving into the past of the real St. Patrick who inspired the holiday.

This is a great gift for someone who loves history and learning about their heritage. Make this gift even better by sitting and watching this with them! Pop some popcorn and sit down and enjoy this DVD as a family. Listen to the grandparents reminisce, teach the kids something about their lineage and learn something yourself…this is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday and it also gives you the gift of being closer with your loved ones.