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Personality of A Bunco Group/Monthly GIVEAWAY

I have been drawing a blank lately about which Bunco topic to write about next.  My group held their monthly Bunco meeting last Sunday.  It was a fun Valentines Day themed game.  Anyhow, one of our regular players brought a guest from out of town to play with us.  The lady is a member of a Bunco group in her hometown.  She made a comment to me that our group was very friendly and welcoming and noted that her group is focused primarily on ‘winning’ the game.  It got me thinking, is that how most groups are?  I have played with two groups and both have been mainly about socializing with playing Bunco a nice bonus.

I am the organizer of my Bunco group and I try my best to keep the game going and yet have people socializing.  For the most part my group is very social but there are a few who prefer not to socialize much.  They are usually the ones who say, ‘ding, ding, ding’ when the head table is talking and not starting to play when they want them to.  If you play Bunco regularly you know what I am talking about:)  Our games usually start at 2 pm on a Sunday and I have a rough schedule that I like to follow to try to keep all personality types happy.  People start to arrive at 2 pm and then we have a potluck meal until about 2:45 pm at which time the game starts.  We play two rounds of Bunco and then have a dessert break.  This break is typically 15 minutes and then we play one more round of Bunco, distribute the prizes and then play an (optional) game of Left Center Right.  From start to finish it is about three hours (give or take a few minutes).

Does your Bunco group have a ‘schedule’ that they follow? Are you a group who likes to socialize?  Let me know on the Bunco Game Shop Facebook Page.

This month we are giving away a cute pair of dice earrings!  The ladies in my group love these!  Just head to the Bunco Game Shop Facebook page and tell me about the personality of your Bunco group!  Also, if your minimum purchase at Bunco game Shop qualifies, you can add a pair of dice earrings to your cart for free!

Keep Calm & Play Bunco,

Bunco Betty

 

 

 

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Pajama Party Bunco

Oatmeal Bar

One of my Bunco group’s favorite theme is Pajama Party Bunco. What’s not to love?  You get to show up in your pajamas, robe and fuzzy slippers and eat breakfast food (when it isn’t actually breakfast time!).

A Mimosa or Bloody Mary (either non-alcoholic or otherwise) would be a lovely way to start out. Breakfast favorites lend themselves perfectly to potluck.  Muffins, croissants, casseroles, waffles, cinnamon rolls, sausage, bacon, the list could go on and on.  I love all of those things!  However, I wanted to shake it up a bit!  Oatmeal in a slow cooker with a toppings bar is so much fun!  Some ideas are dried cranberries, golden raisins, nuts, brown sugar, honey, chopped apples, cinnamon, you get the idea.  This way there is a healthier option that people can customize.  Another idea for a crowd is make your own breakfast burritos. Make some scrambled eggs and keep warm in a slow cooker.  Have some warmed tortillas, cheese, meats, breakfast potatoes, salsa, sour cream, avocado, etc.so that each person can customize a burrito to her liking.  Easy yet delicious and something most people will enjoy.  If you prefer not to serve breakfast food, you could go the traditional route and make it a pizza party.  That is fun too!

Now onto the actual Bunco game.  Some prizes for this theme may include sleep masks, fuzzy socks, fleece throws,a Bunco apron even small packages of cinnamon rolls or muffins.  Everyone can vote on who is the most festive and she could win a prize–fuzzy slippers maybe!  There could be a fun movie such as, Girls Just Want To have Fun (one of my favs!) playing in the background.  We always have a ton of fun with this theme.  Some ladies wear pink rollers in their hair and are decked out from head to toe.  It is a fun way to start the New Year off!

Has your group held a Pajama Party Bunco?  If so, tell me what you did to make it fun on the Bunco Game Shop Facebook page.

Keep Calm and Play Bunco,

Bunco Betty

 

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Starting A Bunco Group

Eight years ago I moved from the Northeast to the Southwest.  I had no family or friends here, so I joined a playgroup.  I had an eight month old at the time.  She needed friends and so did I.  I met many wonderful ladies from that group, some of whom I am still friends with today.  That group of ladies introduced me to Bunco.  It was a nice way to meet people and get out of the house for some fun.  I played with that group for about five years before I started my own group.

I, admittedly, am a control freak.  It is in part why I started my Bunco group.  I joined a social network that is intended to bring strangers with similar interests together and started my group in May 2010.  We played our first game in June 2010 at my house with 15 players, 7 of which are still members.  There are now 60+ members and we play Bunco once per month with typically 18-24 players.

As much as I like to be in control, we as a group have made changes throughout the years.  Rules have been tweaked and more prizes are given out to spread the joy of winning.  Even if I don’t win I have a great time!  It is nice to socialize with ladies who are my friends.  It’s also great to  meet women who are new to the group and sometimes Bunco in general.

In addition to being a control freak I am shy and soft spoken.  As many of you know, most Bunco players are not like that!  At least in my group we have a lot of strong personalities (which is not a bad thing).  The co-organizer for our group is my ‘voice’ at Bunco games.  She will shout to quiet the group down when they are rowdy (which is all the time;) Even when I think I am being loud, I am not loud enough.  This is why having a co-organizer is important.  She helps me with things I am not very good at.  Also, if I am unable to make it to a game, she will run it.  If you are thinking of starting your own group, it is a good idea to have a friend that can help you organize.

Have you started your own Bunco Group?  If so, let me know about it on The Bunco Game Shop Facebook page.

Keep Calm and Play Bunco,

Bunco Betty

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Bunco: House Rules



If you have played Bunco with more than one group, chances are each group had its own rules.  Most groups play with the main Bunco rules and prizes. Bunco being when three of a kind is rolled in the Round of a specified number, i.e. triple threes rolled when rolling for threes.  The typical Bunco prize categories are Most Buncos, Most Wins, Most Losses, Most Three of a Kinds (aka Baby Buncos) and 50/50.  We also award prizes to first and last Bunco, three losers (second chance drawing), whoever rolled the most 123 (we keep a tally throughout the game) and Snake Eyes.

What is Snake Eyes you ask?  Well, Snake Eyes is what our group does to shake things up a bit.  If you roll triple ones when not rolling for ones it is a Snake Eyes.  What happens next?  Well, you and your partner lose all of your points in the round you are currently playing.  You then yell, ‘Snake Eyes!!’ and the person with the fuzzy die throws it to you.  Whoever has the fuzzy die at the end of the game wins a prize.  In my current group I provide the prize but in my previous group the person who won Snake Eyes brought the prize for next months game.  I have played with a group who used a fuzzy die for ‘Traveling’.  When someone rolled triple threes when not rolling for threes they were given the fuzzy die and whoever had it at the end won a prize.

Another difference from group to group is who moves to what table after each round.  According to The World Bunco Association, The winning team from Table 2 goes to the “Head” table and the winning team from Table 3 goes to Table 2. The losing team from Table 2 goes to Table 3 and the losing team from Table 3 stays at the table, but one player moves over one chair so they will have a different partner. This is too confusing for me!  For the last three years my group has just had the losers move to make things easier.  Well, lately people have been complaining (and rightfully so) that the winners should be moving closer to the head table.  So, last night I made up some cute Pink Ribbon themed table signs to let people know where to move for our Bunco this month.  It was so fun, I may make some each month to go with our themes!  Hopefully I will have some happy Bunco Gals this month!

What are your groups rules?  How do you move from table to table?  Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover in a future blog spot?  Let me know on our Facebook page.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Keep Calm and Play Bunco,

Bunco Betty

 

 

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Bunco theme ideas

Hi there!  So I asked our Facebook fans to give me some bunco ideas and they were so cute!  Here’s what I got.  🙂

  • The Big Bunco Theory (like the big bang theory)
  • Pajama Bunco
  • Mardi Gras Bunco
  • Easter Bunco (bunny ears for the current bunco winner)
  • St. Patrick’s Day
  • Vampire Theme for the Black Dagger Brotherhood books
  • Alice in Wonderland meets Sex and the City Theme (fun hats and Cosmo’s)
  • Candy Land
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Best dress
  • Long Beach Housewives
  • Fabulous 50’s
  • Naughty bunco (bachelorette party bunco)
  • Ugly bridesmaid dress bunco
  • March margarita madness
  • Hunger Games Theme

The ideas were so cute!

I also wanted to share a picture of some cupcakes that someone made for an American Cancer Society fundraiser.  She did a fab job and they raised almost $500.00!

Way to go!!  They look yummy!!

Here’s another online recipe I thought sounded good…baked, not fried!  Yay!

BAKED MOZZARELLA STICKS!!

8 ounces mozzarella cheese

  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 cup dry breadcrumbs
  • 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 teaspoons melted butter

Directions:

  1. Cut cheese in 1/2″ x 1/2″ x 3″ sticks.
  2. Toss with flour and set aside.
  3. In small bowl, beat together eggs and water and set aside.
  4. In separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, italian seasoning and garlic powder.
  5. Dip sticks in egg mixture, then coat with crumbs.
  6. Repeat this process.
  7. Place on a plate in a single layer, cover with foil and chill for 2 hours.
  8. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  9. Place cheese sticks on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet and drizzle with melted butter.
  10. Bake until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes.Flip after 5 minutes.
  11. Heat a little spaghetti sauce to use for dipping.
I’m thinking of making the tonight for dinner!  LOL
Until next time Bunco Babes!!
Bunco Betty!
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Valentines Bunco Gift

Well folks, I got a job!

Ok, I’ll say it again…I got a job!  I really wasn’t looking, as I have been blessed to be able to stay home with the little ones since day one.  It’s been about 8 years since I’ve had a job and was “Me” instead of “Mom”.  Well, as you all probably know from reading the blog, I love kickboxing and the Martial Arts Studio that I Kickbox at called me one day and wanted to see if I would work Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-8pm.  UM YEAH!  Time away from the home, not too demanding and a super fun atmosphere!  I jumped on it.  Now, I’m “Me” for about 5 hours two days a week and can hang up my “Mommy” hat and have adult conversations!  I love it!

So that’s what’s new in my life…Hubby gets home tomorrow night…thank God.

The Facebook page for the Bunco Game Shop really has been doing very well and I wanted to thank you!  You guys are so awesome!!

What do you think about sharing recipes on the page?  Let me know!  We can exchange them!

So I know a lot of you out there are trying to get together a Bunco group.  Don’t forget that you can look for bunco babes on our site too!  Maybe post your name and the city you are in and see if anyone out there can help you out.

My dogs are looking at me weird…Maybe I should go feed them or see if they are out of water.

Here’s a special Valentines deal for you!

Free Valentine Flowers & Shipping for our VIPs!

Bunco Game Shop

Forward to a friend

Dear Bunco Friends-

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of our Bunco VIPs! This year we are celebrating with you by giving away Valentine flowers PLUS offering free shipping on all orders of $39 or more through 2/14/2012. Shop Now to receive your Valentine gifts!

Visit Bunco Game Shop and enter code: BuncoValentine at checkout.

Hurry – offer expires Tuesday, February 14, 2012. Visit us now www.buncogameshop.com, or call us toll-free at 1-866-618-6382 to place your order now!

Valentine’s Flowers include dice container and seeds. Potting soil not included.

Cheers,
-Bunco Betty

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Forward this to a friend too!

Off to feed the doggies!

Bunco Betty