Scrabble, My Cabin Fever Cure

Stuck inside and going stir crazy? Are you tired of watching the same old things on TV, or dying for something more stimulating to do? If it's one of those days where you can't get outside, and are bored out of your mind, you may be suffering from Cabin Fever. Don't worry, I know just the cure!

When my family is in this situation, nothing gets our minds flowing faster than a nice game of Scrabble. I grew up playing Scrabble with my family, and it has always been one of my favorites. I remember growing up we'd make it into a competition between us kids and the winner would often get some sort of reward. Whether it was getting to choose the next family movie, picking what our dinner would be, or the occasional five dollars Dad would hand out, all of us kids were excited to compete!

To this day, I love playing Scrabble with my own family. I was even lucky enough to get the Deluxe Edition from a garage sale last year! When it's cold or rainy out, or we get bored and catch a case of the Cabin Fever, this game always gets our brains flowing! It's a great way to stimulate your mind, not to mention it's educational and a lot of fun. I will always be a scrabble fan, and plan on sharing this game with my own family for years to come!

Note: All photos in this article were taken by and belong to me.

This is a great video for beginners, or those who have forgotten how to play. Don't worry, it's easy.

I love the traditional version too, but once I got the Scrabble Deluxe Edition I've never looked back. I remember with my old board we'd often get far into the game only to have someone accidentally hit the board and pieces go flying. The Deluxe Edition board is made out of hard sturdy plastic and has grooves where the tiles go to keep them from sliding around. This is one of the reasons I love it so much.

Here you can see a photo of the different pieces it came with. There is a nifty little hourglass to use for a timer. The scorecards you see are improved, and much easier to keep score with. The whole board rotates easily, 360 degrees, for easy turn-taking. This is nice because unlike the old board, you can easily turn it and face the words. There is a nice pouch to store your letters in too. The little trays hide your letters well and make it harder for your family members to peek.

I still enjoy the classic version, but the Deluxe edition definitely has its benefits. I know this year we've came down with Cabin Fever a lot due to the ice and snow and being stuck inside all day. Luckily we've been able to spend quality time together, and enjoy playing one of our favorite games. This really helps me fight off the boredom, and I always have so much fun!

Impress your opponents by adding these words to your vocabulary, and rack up the big points! Q and Z are the highest earning tiles, both worth 10 points, followed by X and J which are both worth 8. So I always try to find great new words using those letters.

CAZIQUES-A word used to describe Indian chiefs

FAQIR-Another word for a Monk

ZAX-A type of tool

QUEUE-Like "I'm third in queue for the race" it's a placement term. Also a nice way to get rid of too many vowels, and if played on the right squares can earn you several points.

QUEEN-I tend to use this a lot and have earned several points with this one

XU-My fiance actually tried to use Xu and I of course looked it up to make sure it was a real word. Unfortunately for me, It was a real word and a term for Vietnamese money. I think he won that game too!

JACQUARD-A loom

QUIXOTIC-Meaning idealistic

UNEXCEPTIONALLY-Another word for "not acceptable"

MUZJIKS A word used to describe Russian peasants

You might also check out 10 Words That Will Help You Win At Scrabble

These are some very great resources that you should check out. I've used several of these sites to help increase my knowledge, and I tend to win a lot. My fiance might tell the story differently, but he doesn't like to lose. You'll find some great Instructions (in case you lost yours), Letter Values, a few great word sites, and more.