A few weeks ago, we had a party. It wasn’t your typical shindig in that we weren’t celebrating a birthday, graduation, or anniversary; we weren’t gathering together because of someone, but rather something. We invited some friends over to meet the newest addition to our family; the Wii U.

Nintendo not only sent me a Wii U and a couple of games, but they also sent Chris and Brian, who were able to explain this amazing new game system to a room full of eager party-goers in about 15 minutes flat. Also, they brought pizza. I kind of wanted to keep them.

Do you know how hard it is to make a teenage girl laugh? How about THREE teenage girls? The Wii U has powers, y’all. No joke.

Like the power to make me contort my face. This is me, losing the Luigi’s Ghost Mansion game. My son is just drinking that juice box like he DOESN’T EVEN CARE that I was just attacked. Rude.

What I love about Wii U is that the fun spans the ages. After three generations raced and chased, we all sang and danced to Justin Bieber’s, “Baby”…

…The B-52s, “Love Shack”…

…and Frank Sinatra’s, “New York, New York.”

Then we had prizes! Everybody loves prizes. See?

Family game night has taken on a whole new meaning for us. Honestly, we haven’t even tried to engage our kids with a  board game lately, mostly because they call them “bored” games. The tech-savvy teens and tweens at this party enjoyed the Wii U’s challenges, the team-elements, and the superb graphics, while the parents enjoyed having the kids around on a Friday night.

We connected, we laughed, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN. I’m not kidding when I say that I would do this every weekend if we could.

For now, I am practicing my vocals and scaring the dog out of the room in the process. I’m working on my dance moves and improving my Mario chasing skills. There will be no more face-contorting for me!

But first I have to stop watching Breaking Bad on Netflix, because that’s also something for which I use the Wii U and I won’t even get into how I can watch shows AND tweet with it at the same time, or purchase On Demand movies, or have voice and video chats with friends. Have mercy. I haven’t even told my husband about the sports features because I’ll never get my hands on the game-pad again!

I want to offer a huge thanks to Nintendo for making our party a success! The Wii U provided hours of entertainment and a great time was had by all. We can’t wait for next time!

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I have a thing for woman-owned shops. Maybe it’s because I’m a woman, maybe it’s because I like to shop and women-owned boutiques are more my taste, or maybe it’s because I saw my sister’s husband leave her; a single-mom who had to raise four boys under the age of ten on her own. Then, maybe I watched as she scraped and struggled through that life-changing event all her way to a successful business. Maybe.

KyKy’s Treasures is a mother and daughter team who began by making simple, beaded bracelets and selling them at their yearly garage sale. They loved doing it so much that they decided to sell them online too. Not only are they woman-owned, they are woman-and-daughter-owned. That’s a bonus woman, right there.

KyKy’s Treasures isn’t just a job for them; they love doing it and they especially enjoy creating custom items. All you have to do is ask and they will work closely with you to design the perfect piece! They sell their designs on Etsy and Luulla, but you can also like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for shop info, promotional sales. and occasional coupon codes.

And, because this mother/daughter team is so awesome, they have decided to celebrate motherhood with one of you! A lucky reader will win this Mother’s Birthstone Necklace from their Mother’s Collection.  It is 18″ long and features three 6mm sterling silver satin birthstone beads with Swarovski crystals.  They are strung on a sterling silver, diamond cut, oval link chain which closes with a lobster claw clasp.

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me which birthstone is your favorite.

2. For an additional entry, follow KyKy’s Treasures on Twitter, then leave a comment on this post with a link to your Twitter post (click on the timestamp in the tweet and it will show your tweet on a page of its own, with a unique URL).

3. For an additional entry, share this post on Facebook, then leave a comment on this post with a link to your Facebook post (click on the timestamp in the Facebook post and it will show your update with a unique URL.)

Entries are open to U.S. residents until April 17, 2013 at 10:00pm ET. Good luck and happy shopping!

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Although I haven’t done much shopping yet because that’s what happens when you get distracted by Silk Egg Nog, I know what I’ll be buying for almost everyone. If you’re still looking for ideas, here’s a peek at some of my favorite products this year:

For tweens, teens and kids of all ages:

1. Wii U – Nintendo continues to innovate with this new idea in game play. Used as a stand-alone unit or for group-play in person, or online, Wii U adds a whole new level to at-home gaming. You can even video chat! I am mostly looking forward to playing Sing Party with my daughter and her friends, because embarrassing her is a gift to myself.

2. Nintendo 3DS XL – Since its introduction to our house a couple of years ago, we haven’t seen a day go by that the 3DS wasn’t played. My kids love it (and to be honest, so do I). This year, the 3DS XL was released with a screen that’s 90% bigger, which means the adults in our home can play without our reading glasses! What? Old people like Mario too.

3. GrooveBook – GrooveBook is a free app that lets you pick up to 100 photos from your camera roll and turn them into a 4.5″ x 6.5″ photobook. The photobook is mailed to you monthly and you pay $2.99 for shipping. That’s it. You just pay shipping. And, for Momo Fali readers GrooveBook has offered the first month’s shipping COMPLETELY free! Just use promo code MOMOFALI2012.

4. Duracell Instant USB Charger – This small charger lets you add extra hours of use to your iPods, iPhones, Blackberrys and more. It’s a great solution for a problem everyone has. I can toss it in my purse and have instant access to more battery power!

Gifts for her:

1. Vegan Cuts – If the “her” is me, which means she eats vegan, anything from this site makes a great gift. Really. Anything. *cough*

2. Mark and Graham Touch-Screen Cashmere Gloves – I’ve worn fingerless gloves each winter since I got a smartphone, but being able to use your fingers on a touchscreen AND keep them warm? Brilliance. Also, cashmere.

3. Cuisinart Mini Food Processor – Slice, shred, and MAKE HUMMUS in this handy, little food processor. It’s easier to clean and store than it’s bigger counterpart, too. I’m saying this like I own this little beauty. *cough again*

4. SEPHORA by OPI gelshine™ At-Home Gel Colour System – I love to have painted nails, but I hate how the polish starts chipping off the very next day. The last time I got a gel manicure though, the polish stayed on for three weeks. I have no idea if this home system works, but the online reviews say it does. For the woman who gets frequent manis, this seems like a pretty cool concept.

5. Twiztt Cookware by Joan Lunden – Yes, that Joan Lunden. It turns out that her Emmy Award-winning journalism career created a passion for health issues. She has served as “…national spokesperson for campaigns with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the American Lung Association, The American Red Cross and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and has spearheaded campaigns on colon cancer prevention for the Colon Cancer Alliance and Amgen, and on type II diabetes for Eli Lilly.” Her new cookware line is not only attractive and practical, but also PFOA and PTFE-free, making it eco-friendly and healthier for cooking. Put that in your pan and fry it!

Gifts for him:

1. The Ultimate Heroes Collection from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment – This set contains DVDs of Fantastic Four, X-Men, Elektra, and Daredevil. Need I say more?

2. Cargo-Logic – Have a dog? Check. Have messy kids? Check. Have a husband who likes to use the family SUV to drag rotting bags of wet leaves to the curb? Check. Cargo-Logic is a stain and moisture-resistant barrier that protects your cargo area from the hazards of family life and the smell of moldy yard waste.

3. Stemless Wine Glasses from Mustache Attack – Because wine drinking needs more testosterone. Period.

4. DryCASE – My husband is a fisherman and this vacuum-sealed case offers full touch-screen functionality and is waterproof to 100 feet. It’s perfect for skiing, kayaking, or even rainy-day football games. Also, drunk canoeing.

5. Major League Baseball 2K12 – Any guy who likes baseball has envisioned himself hitting one out of the park during the World Series®. This is about as close as he’ll ever get. No offense, fellas.

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Remember a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned that Tyson® Any’tizers® has a School Year Survival Guide on Facebook? Well, I’ve been taking it very seriously. Amid the many family, school, sports and church activities – we are SURVIVING!

After doing an internet search for tools to increase productivity and studying the many options, I’ve realized that the most important part of getting through the school year is taking care of … ME.

That’s right. Call me selfish, but I know that if I’m not functioning well, no one in my house is functioning well. I’m actually the type of person who shuts down when I’m overwhelmed and then I get nothing done. Don’t be jealous.

Obviously, this doesn’t bode well for my family. Sometimes that means no one looked over their homework and other times it means they have to dig their dirty uniform from the laundry pile. When things get really bad, I might even forget that my daughter is serving Thanksgiving mass until 15 minutes before she’s supposed to be there and then we run around like crazy people trying to put on acceptable clothing and pull half-baked pumpkin pies from the oven so we can leave the house without it burning down.

Hypothetically.

My point is, that Tyson® Any’tizers® School Year Survival Guide is right on the money because one entire section is dedicated to “Rejuvenation Tips for Mom and Dad.” The four tips listed there are the exact things I need to do to keep myself and, therefore, my family running smoothly.

1. Make time for yourself. Go to dinner with a friend, curl up in your bed with a good book, take a photography class.

2. Get moving. Nothing reduces my stress level like exercise. Nothing.

3. Write it out. Put your feelings (or your to-do list) down on paper. I like to say that it gets my brain unjumbled.

4. Get out of the office. I work from home, which is technically like getting out of TWO offices. Don’t underestimate the benefit of a quick walk around the block.

More than anything, know that sometimes it’s impossible to do it all. Give yourself a break. Your family will thank you for it.

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