A good football stadium can make even a losing game not seem like a total loss. If youre not a fan of one of the top teams in the NFL then at least you may be a fan who gets to watch games in one of the top stadiums the NFL has to offer. Out of all 31 stadiums the NFL teams play in, one man went out and ranked them from best to worst. Thanks to Dan Pompei you can have an idea of where youd like to view a game.

Coming in first was Qwest Field belonging to the Seattle Seahawks. The stadium offers a beautiful view of Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the Seattle Skyline. From various points in the stadium a fan can view these attractions, along with the game. How does it get any better? The field isnt far from downtown Seattle so a fan does not have to go far to do some pre and post game partying.

The second best stadium belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Raymond James Stadium has a layout all its own. From the palm trees in the end zone to the flags along the top of the stadium, this place really stands out. The north end zone also sports a 103 foot long pirate ship in Buccaneer Cove is what really separates this stadium from the rest. And for those fans who love sun, every part of the stadium gets it so no one is left in the dark.

Coming in third is Houstons Reliant Stadium. Since the dome is made from a fiberglass fabric, sun is a natural star in this stadium. Enough light is allowed in the stadium for it to have natural grass which the players seem to love and the game will be fun to watch whether the dome is open or closed.

In fourth place is Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. Ranked by Dan as the best indoor stadium ever, the brick and exposed duct work make this stadium feel like a trendy oversized loft that was converted from an oversized factory. With a seven story atrium and a connection to Hudsons warehouses, Ford Field was built like more of a workplace than a football stadium. Thanks to the Ford family, the field has really invigorated Detroits downtown area.

And finally, in fifth place comes Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. With this stadium do you not only get to view a good football game but you can also travel a few minutes to view the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center. Even the architects felt they should let fans see some of the city by creating gaps in the seating bowl where fans can look upon downtown Cleveland. Also, with all of the glass in the stadium, a fan doesnt have to feel as confined as in other stadiums where all they see are other fans and the game.

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In my recent article Kids Just Wanna Have Fun I offered some ideas to keep your fun hungry kids happy. But, duhhhhh. . .I forgot the FREE FUN STUFF! Well ya know thats the most important stuff. I dont know where my mind was that day!

So, now that Ive seen the error of my ways, Let me share some more great activities we sometimes forget about as we get older. These timeless activities have been around for ages. Things that we enjoyed as kids are still fun for kids today. Even in an electronic society!

If you have kids, most likely you have a box of crayons somewhere. I hate to admit it but I still love to color! Come on, give it a try no matter how old you are. I have found that it is contagious. Even if your kids think they are "too old" for coloring, you will be surprised how quickly they join in when they see you enjoying it! Go ahead, it works every time.

Silly putty is another fun activity that we tend to think e're "too old" for. But the older you get the more creative ideas you have and the more silly fun you can have. So come on, get your creative juices flowing.

Hey ladies, and maybe some of you gents too, do you remember paper dolls? I had almost forgotten they existed until one Christmas I came across a paper doll kit in a craft store. Suddenly, I remembered the hours and hours of fun I had playing with these simple toys. And, they are so much easier to dress than Barbie. Sorry Barbie.

There are literally thousands of craft ideas that can keep you busy for hours or days. Crafts come in all different levels of difficulty. So find one that suits everyone in the family and work on it together. Hmmmm, could this mean more conversation time! Take advantage of these fun times together. Get to know your kids better.

You can also choose a variety of different level crafts to suit everyone and work on different crafts all at once. Either way, you're accomplishing several things at once...

Children LEARN through creating.

You'll be keeping that FUN meter up, keeping them from getting bored.

You'll be SAVING MOMEY on outings by finding creative ways to have fun at home.

You'll have more "QUALITY TIME" to get to really know your kids!

Need some ideas? Just visit your local craft stores or do a search online. Check out FamilyFun.com for some super ideas for having creative fun with the family. Youll find arts and crafts, party and game ideas, parenting help, recipes, and even travel ideas.

If you're into quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting........well if you are, you know the possibilities here. It's not just for "old folks"! Get the kids involved. There are kits created for these activities. Kits created specifically to get children interested and having fun doing these activities.

There are so many wonderful ideas for crafting the possibilities are mind blowing. One walk around your local craft store and Ill bet you can come up with a craft idea for each week of the year, at least, if not two or three per week! Take a pen and paper. There's so much to take in!

Crafts for painting, sewing, candle making, transfers and art supplies that personalize items (purses, shirts, bandanas, jewelry, tote bags ..etc.), drawing, knitting, quilting, doll making, puzzles, woodworking, scrap booking..well I could go on and on. But, best thing for you to do is get on down to that craft store and get some ideas.

Please, dont buy everything you see! JUST GET IDEAS. Keep a notepad of ideas and then remember to look for arts and crafts supplies in your thrift stores, consignment shops, and at yard sales.

Oh, and dont forget to recycle items you might normally trash. Keeping a good supply of these items will help keep expenses down. Things like, scraps of fabric, ribbon, paper, egg cartons, coffee cans (all sizes), Styrofoam (packing pieces or sheets) wrapping paper scraps, buttons, toilet paper and paper towel tubes. Dont throw away anything that you could possibly use in a craft project. Dont get carried away though. Never keep more than you have room to store comfortably.

Seriously people, HAVE FUN WITH YOUR KIDS! They wont be kids forever, and believe it or not.You WILL miss them when theyre all grown up and out the door!

¶ 2:58 AM 0 comments