A few weeks ago, I received a too-good-to-be-true email from a marketing company, and came thisclose to dismissing it as spam (if you’ll recall, I get quite a lot of it).
“Host a free, catered-with-champagne party for 25 of your friends to play with one of Nintendo’s newest toys.”
Um… really? What? There must be some catch, right?
Luckily, I am dumb enough to look a gift horse in the mouth, and for once it actually WAS the real deal. I spent Sunday afternoon in a delightful art gallery with 25 of my favorite lady friends, where we were treated to a spread of hors d’oeuvres better than what you find at most weddings, and endless glasses of a heavenly rosé. The “catch”? Was that we had to play an array of games on the Nintendo DSi (basically a handheld version of the Wii, if you’re as “gamer” illiterate as I am), and give the marketing group feedback on what we thought of it.
Torture, I know.
The gals and I gathered at Logan Tavern for a little Sunday Funday before heading over to the party, and started the day with a bang in a blur of potent Bloody Marys. I knew it was going to be an interesting evening as our number quickly grew to two dozen, and we were suddenly that loud, obnoxious group of girls in the bar, yelling profanities and hooting and hollerin’ up a storm (yes, there was hooting AND hollerin’. Deal with it). As Maxie and I tried on our first gift purchased for us from our wedding registry, she looked at me and said, “I don’t think these marketing people have any idea what they’re in for with us.”
“Well, that’s pretty much always the case, wherever we go,” I agreed. “At least they won’t be bored…”
The clock struck 2:58 and we marched over to the art gallery and descended upon the group of nicest girls I have ever had the pleasure of being wooed by in a marketing manner. (Read: they laughed at our jokes.) In the middle of the room was a chalkboard with the phrase, “We love LiLu because…” written at the top. Here’s what it looked like by the time we were through with it.
The hosts asked to take a picture of me next to it, and in the blink of an eye I was posing in a manner my grandmother would not have approved of.
I decided to let the girls know just what they were in for and turned to them somberly…
“Look,” I said. “We can act all nice and appropriate if you want. I mean, I think we know how to do that… if necessary. But frankly, that’s just not us. We drink, we swear… we hump things.”
The marketing ladies laughed, told us, “Absolutely not, we want you to completely be yourselves. It’s hilarious!” and continued to egg us on shamelessly for the rest of the afternoon.
After making sure we were fed and holding libations (clearly they know the way to our hearts), the games commenced. Threats were hurled as Puzzler word search competitions became passionate. Mario Karters almost lost a few glasses of champagne in races of fury. Brain Age denounced nearly all of us to be around the age of retirement. Birds pooped on my avatar’s head when I failed to keep rhythm correctly in Rhythm Heaven.
And then we discovered the cameras.
The DSi not only has email and internet capabilities, it also has TWO enormous cameras, one inside and one outside… AND a photo editor in which you can basically do anything to a picture that Fotoflexer can do. Look how sweet…
One function uses facial recognition to determine “how related” two people are, so Maxie and I wasted no time in finding out if our babies would be speshul or not… (FYI, this is a Blackberry picture OF the picture, and not indicative of the quality…)
Fortunately, we were cleared with only a 1% related rate! I stopped taking my birth control this morning.
(Just kidding, B.)
The DSi is tiny and sleek and very purse-fittable, though I am perhaps biased because mine was sent to me before the party… and it was BEDAZZLED. I shit you not:
When we couldn’t stuff ourselves any fuller of cheese puffs and champagne, we took a group shot of the gang and got ready to leave…
Want to know who’s who? I ain’t telling… but here are the bloggy mcbloggersons who were in attendance:
Lisa, the Travel Diva
Marie’s Blog Cafe (read her recap here)
As we prepared to go, the lovely ladies surprised each of my guests with a brand spankin new DSi of their very own, with a copy of BrainAge to get started.
BOO YAH!
If only every Sunday afternoon could be this glorious… sigh.
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Nice deal, all around! Free food and booze, a chance to obligate your friends to repay favors, there is just no downside here!
Emphasis on the FAVORS… love you girls!
That looks pretty damn awesome, even though I’m like the farthest thing from a gamer. The drinks made it better, I suppose?
They make everything better… but trust, I am NO gamer. I never even played Mario when I was little. But this shiz is cool, man. It’s undeniable.
I am so sad I was in Houston and had to miss this. I like free shit! Hell, I can be bought for a freaking PBR.
Sigh. Life is so hard.
So very, very hard. I would have given someone’s left nut for you to have been there.
Can’t believe I missed out, and never got any cleaning done (ended up taking a loooong nap in the afternoon, so now my parents arrive on Sunday and my place is still a pigsty).
I can’t believe you chose cleaning over free booze and swag in the first place…
It was AWESOME!!
I’m glad I was able to meet you guys at the Tavern beforehand…
Love you muchly!
The Tavern was when I knew it was all going downhill… in the best way possible.
I swear, that was one of the best Sunday Fundays EVER.
And THANK YOU! (again and again and again)
It sure was, and of course, you are so welcome!
I love my DS. Although, I was disappointed to confirm that I suck. A kid sitting next to me on a flight had to explain what I was doing wrong and keeping me from the next level. He did give me points for being…”kind of an old lady to have one of these.”
So now I know who to go to when I get stuck…
The 12 year old on the metro. Awesome.
I really wish I lived in DC. You ladies look like as much fun as all of your blogs sound.
We really wish you did, too. xo
Again THANK YOU! It was the most fun I’ve had with a group of lovely ladies in a loooooong time!
I love my DSi! I pet it every night before I go to bed.
Did you name it?
Whenever I try on a strapless dress, my mini-boobs morph into a saggy mini squashy uni-boob that seems to be growing from my lowest rib instead of where they ACTUALLY originate.
What I’m trying to say is I’m coveting your dress, while all the while knowing I could never pull it off such as you. Bitch.
Oh, and looks like an awesome time. I’d have kicked ALL your asses in Mario Kart.
Aw, thank you. And you totally would have… I get last every time. But I do it with style, aka riding that enormous bullet thing.
No freakin’ way! You joined the marketing train, Lilu! I never thought that I would live to see the day.
Are you going mainstream? Because that would just be hawt and my love for you would grow about 1000 times over…if that is even possible.
-Francesca
Oh, I don’t know about all that… but this was impossible to turn down.
Awesomeness. Thanks for sending out the invite (altho I had to decline due to conflicting plans). If one of these ever pops up again, I’ll be sure to attend.
Will do- if we didn’t scare them off, and they’ll have us again
Y’all are so gorgeous, it brings a tear to my eye.
Oh yeah, and I’m completely jealous. *sigh*
Wish you could’ve been there, my love.
I so want a DS game.
Looks like you ladies had a blast.
I’m not going to lie… they are badass.
Wish you could have come!
…I will not…be…jealous… *eye twitch*
I’ll just say…I need to figure out which dicks I need to suck in order to get in on this thing should it ever come down Raleigh/Durham way.
That is all.
Oh, wait, no. Glad you all had fun.
Now it’s all. I think. Jealous rage is clouding my mind.
It’s okay. Smouldering with jealousy is a good color on you.
Holy crap-loads of fun! I’ve never been so envious of something involving video games. Glad you had a great time!!
I knew it would be fun, but it was approximately 1,000.3 times more fun than I was expecting. AKA AWESOME.
Sounds perfect! I’m so jealous!!! I want free alcohol and toys!
Who doesn’t?
I’m pretty sure our kids are still going to come out “ra-tards”
If they’re anything like Zack Galifanakis, I’m totally okay with that.
Umm.. that may or may not be the greatest thing I’ve EVER heard. MY Hubs got the DS for our Florida trip this year (I dragged him on a 22-hr car ride south… ha) and I freaking loved that little thing… Mario Kart at my finger tips ALL the time?
…love.
I have a feeling B is going to try to steal mine…
He is going to fail.
i never get to do anything FUN! color me green with envy. very, very, very green. and i don’t even know what that thing even is. BUT cool for you guys, looks like a lot o’ funness!
It is a little slice of electronic heaven. Wish you could’ve come! xo
So fun! I went to one of these in chicago, and I’ve been absolutely attached to my DS ever since. Much to my poor husband’s chagrin.
Oh, I’m sure he gets to steal it occasionally…
P.s. SO excited that I can finally comment… I’ve tried like 5 times but it kept telling me I was “spammy”. Pffft.
I’m so sorry! I installed a different spam protection that I THOUGHT was working better…
Wow. You get awesome ‘spam’! Looks like you girls had a blast!
Best spam ever.
DC….gets everything!! How come nobody wants to market to Detroit??
DC gets everything because we have the highest concentration of nerds, I mean bloggers, around…
Thanks, again! Great bling that I’m still lovin!
So glad you could come!
This was such a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. It’s all I can do to not bring the DSi to work…then I’d never get anything done.
Um. Mine is totally NOT next to me right now…
It was so much fun! Thanks again for the invite
Oh and the camera? C and I had way too much fun with it on the metro home!
I know. The stuff you can do to the pics is amazing!
Don’t tell MB, but it’s so good that she has a game — Brain Age — that she can dominate me at. Because I was crushing her at Madden on the PS3. Crushing.
My brain age is 64. Don’t think I’ll be beating anyone at that one… but I will WHOOP you at a word search.
I got to go to one of these w/ Lilyspeak! So fun! And so surprising when we each got our own DSi! Sweetcheeks! We were pumped!
Is there anything better than free stuff?
FREE STUFF WITH BOOZE. Awesome.
That sounds like such a fun time! I need a pink one with lots of bling and maybe a little heart with my initial. What? I’m girly.
All the marketing reps had exactly that! Haha!
Wow, that sounds like such a fun time!! :O)
It was a blast, truly.
So you’ve given these marketing people my number right? Oh shit- forget it- I don’t like 24 people to take with me.
I KNOW- honestly, that was the hardest part about the whole damn thing…
Thank you again! Since I wasn’t drinking, I ate my weight in lemon bars and cheese. And this will be an entertaining toy for the upcoming hours at the hospital!
I hadn’t even thought of that! How perfect.
Honestly I would have been there if they were giving away bricks if there was free champagne. I am such a sucker for the bubbles.
Also, a move to DC might be in my (imaginary) future. Right before Paris and the Virgin Islands.
BEFORE. Meaning, Paris comes AFTER DC, right?
sounds like you ladies had a bombtastic ass time! Nothing better than many freebies, most importantly the booze and food!
Now I have Mr. Bombastic in my head… Noooooooo!
That sounds like so much fun! I own a DS and I’m trying to get the man to upgrade mine to a DSi….he claims I don’t need any other device that I can take pictures on. He says I don’t need evidence of the chaos I get myself into. I guess he’s right.
Nonsense. Everyone with a blog needs evidence to prove their stories are true.
Awesomeness.
100%.
Flippy, LA and I got to the gallery a little before you guys and while we were testing out the goods, I heard one of the chickys admonishing the other for “dropping the S-bomb”. I was afraid they wouldn’t survive the afternoon, but they were awesome as was the entire day.
Thanks again for the invite!
btw, my brain age was 72. Where’s my walker??
I was 64. Can we just go be Golden Girls now?
What a great event for you all! Were you guys able to network the new games systems all wireless-like?
YES! I should have mentioned that. We were playing MarioKart against each other, and in chat rooms and the like, all just from being near each other. Way cool.
Oh South Dakota. Why do you disappoint me so?
In fact, my therapist told me I should consider moving to a more metropolitan area after I complained about it this morning.
You’d have a built in DD.
You know I support this decision a thousand percent.
omg how fun….esp with you girls! you look smashing, btw (could I abbreviate more in this comment?)
You can abbreviate all you want, as long as you call me smashing. xo
Just my luck, why, it was only yesterday that I had a bet with a mate.
“That Lilu, she’s a hooter and hollerer.”
“Nah,” I said, “not Lilu.”
“Bet you a tenner?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said, never one to turn down an easy few quid.
You owe me a tenner.
Best comment ever. I’m hooting and hollerin’ over it.
sounds like a blast!
and dangerous- im going to one saturday night, 7-10pm. there’s no stopping us after that.
I will be expecting a drunk voice note or 3.
“hump things”
That is my kind of party.
It ain’t a party until my leg gets some action.
As a rule, I don’t do video and computer games, but the bedazzling may change my mind on that.
Also, you and yours are lovely. “We love LiLu… because she smells like sex.” If there’s a better reason to love someone, I don’t know it.
You know who that was, too, right? *points to Maxie*
i’m still insulted that the darn thing refuses to recognize my face as a VALID FACE, but i am, uh, possibly playing dr mario right now.
I love your face. I will give it all the validation it needs. xo
Um, I want a DSi.
Who wouldn’t?
Oh, so fun! So, maybe I shouldn’t have dismissed that million dollar offer from Siberia that I got this morning?
You could be halfway into slavery by now!
Super sweeet! I was wondering if you got free shit. Sooo cool! I’m makin sure I check all my crap emails before deleting! So far just a lot of ‘relatives’ in ‘Nigeria’. Lol. But they just want $$.
No no, they want to GIVE you money! You’re wasting golden opportunities here!
I’d sell out too! So far all my blog has gotten me (besides kick ass internet people) is some Pomegranate juice, which I am sad to say, I just don’t like, so am trying to figure out how to review it and be honest and not a bitch…maybe in some champagne?
EVERYTHING goes well with champange…
Awesome party aside, let’s focus on what’s important: you and Maxie look GORGEOUS in your wedding gift of millnery.
You, my dear, are the BEST. You better believe we’ll be rocking them at the wedding.
As a long time gamer, I can only shake my fist in pseudo jealousy that Nintendo doesn’t hold events for “us” any more, but I do love the fact that they’re trying to expand the market. The more gamers, the better.
Except for when my girlfriend got addicted to New Super Mario Bros. That went from cute to annoying real fast.
I wouldn’t call myself a Gamer just wet… maybe a “dipping my toe in the pond that is gaming”-er.
“we hump things”
Yes you do. I wonder if the president of Nintendo is reading your blog right now thinking. Good god. Is this what focus groups have become?!
Pass the cheese puffs please!
They must respect our authoriTIE!
A. I’m totally jealous of you! I’d loveeee to test video games. So, would LB, I think he would dress like a woman just for the opportunity.
B. Brain Age is my favorite game. =) I play it on Xbox. I’m at almost 90% I believe.
That is all! Hope you’re having fun with your DSi!
I just played BrainAge while waiting at the dentist’s. It’s growing on me quickly.
that is amazing! you are a one lucky girl!
Don’t I know it!
FUN! That looks like an awesome partay!
You know what? It really, really was.
Nice! Looks like it was a fun time.
It was marvelous, truly.
UGH! you are so freaking lucky.
I bet you learned you lesson about deleting spam. sigh.
I prefer to think of it as “gifted”.
Sounds like so much fun! I am slightly jealous of all the parties and fun things bloggers in big cities get to do. So glad that you all had a great time.
We are more than slightly wishing you could come to them, too!
Fun fun….you are the second bloggy bff that has had a gamer party. I didn’t get my invite to EITHER. What’s distance when there’s LOVE?
I’ll see if they’ll pitch in some travel costs next time…
awww i wanna play!
It is addictive…
thats friggen awesome!
And then some.
I love how the top thing people love about you was that you are hotter than Zooey… I love Zooey…
As do I. You know who wrote that, too. Ha!
Can you put like someones beard on someones face with that thing? I’m just saying, you and maxie would make good pirates, arrrghh. Maybe even butt pirates!
BUTT PIRATES!!! I like where your head’s at… and yes, I am POSITIVE you can.
It sucks so much major complete ass that I am in Washington State and not Washington DC. Sad Days. Because I would not only throw you the best co-bachelorette party in the history of bachelorette parties, I miss all your fun time events.
**Sigh**
It feels me sad.
But, I still love you oodles upon oodles. Even if you live in the wrong Washington.
YOU live in the wrong Washington!!! Move here now! xo
if i had a DSi, i’d also not have a job because i’d be fired for playing it at work.
It is so not on my lap right now… What?
I’m soooo jealous. Free stuff + female friends = fun!
Tis a fantastic equation.
You and maxie should go on the cover of some nerdy game magazine. You could grab each others boobs or something, those nerds would go crazy!
First Mike with pirate beards, now you with nerdy boob grabbing. I love my male readers.
I am SO jealous! Sounds like fun!
Wish you’d been there, toots.
I hope to be invited to the next one!
You will, I promise!!
Next time can you ask if they can also kick in a plane ticket for me so I can go?
One of these days, there is going to HAVE to be an East Coast/West Coast reunion.
this post makes me wanna whip my shiny new DSi out and play with it. sound dirty? good cuz that’s how much i love it. well, how much i love dr. mario. do you think he’s single?
thank you for a fabulous time, once again!
Dr. Mario has got to be taken- he’s got that amazing sound track and everything. You know the Princess is up on his nuts.
Sell out? No way, SCORE!!
they certainly are expanding their marketing net, women in their 20′s-BRILLIANT!
I would have to agree. 25 girls who normally would never have known how cool they are, now turned!
You finally showed up in my reader! Sweet, yes I was that lazy. I still love you though.
You have been missed, my darling.
Lilu I’m so glad I found your blog. You’re so funny. I wish when I was your age there were cool girls to hang around with, but I swear to Christ there were not. They were bitches out to ruin your life.
Which is why it took me till I was 35 to find a decent one to fall in love with.
Anyway I just wanted to tell you that you are a bright spot in higher education and unemployment.
Higher education? Unemployment? I think you’re in the wrong place, sweetheart.
Good God, I want a bedazzled video game console. You have all the luck.
I wonder if I can host an old-school Sega Genesis party.
Um… I have to know, what would you want bedazzled on it?
wow…that looks like alot of fun. good for you all.
Thanks, mamakins.
God, I hate Ohio.
Ohio can suck my left one for taking you away from me. We’ll make up for it this weekend…
Ooooo, SOOOOO jealous. You suck. You suck. You really, really suck.
Looks like so much fun. Glad you ladies had a crazy and amazing time! And free gifts? FTW.
Totes FTW. You’ll have to take a road trip up sometime…
Ohhh M G. You are my hero! Could you ask for a better Sunday Funday?
Honestly? I really, really couldn’t.
You have all the good parties.
Yes. I do.
YOU SHOULD BE THERE.
If I could come up with a game to invite you all to test it and play with it (the game) that would be freaking awesome too; free drinks (tap water), and free food(chicken nuggets) for all. However, my new pimp says, my games are quite uhm…
what’s that foreign word?..
Inapropriate… or something like that… (def ears)
However, with Lilu involved in it, I would give my third nut to partake on games with things that poop on people’s heads or nymphs that hump things.
Daydreaming I know.
*Loved this post : )
Third nut?
Who is the cutie in the white sleeveless top ? Just want to say she is really cute !
B’s work wife. She is hilarious and lovable, as well as gorgeous.
Damn! Sounds like a blast! I knew I should be living in D.C.!
DUH.
Like Suburban Sweetheart said, I too hate Ohio.
Don’t let it happen again, woman.
wow, this sounds like an amazing afternoon except that i absolutely suck at video games and might (might) be able to make it to round two if i practiced (hard). this really does sound like a blast.
The thing about video games is, when you ALL suck, it’s still fun. xo
Damnit! Now there’s one more thing to add to the “9 gazillion things I want” list! Glad you “ladies” had fun!
Why is “ladies” in quotes? I’m not a tranny, I swear. NOT THAT THERE’S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
Man, how did I miss this goodness?
How did this GOODNESS miss YOU?!
I’m jealous.
I’m sorry.
(Not.)
My family is OBSESSED with these. We spent half our car time on vacation playing Diner Dash or Sims on these babies. Now I kinda covet them. The only thing better would be a DSiPhone. If only.
Oh shit… the future just flashed before my eyes…
You lucky lovely freak! What a blast!
It truly was.
Shut it. That is wicked awesome!
YOU shut it!
Hmmm…wait. I don’t see DJ in that picture. Well she is awfully twee, maybe she’s hiding?? Nope still don’t see her.
*pouty face*
That’s what you get for coming a weekend too early!
Getting to eat, drink, play games, and air hump things for FREE? I would not have passed that up, either.
Right?? Mostly for the air humping, though, obviously.
OMG AWESOME! Why don’t I get invited to do cool stuff like this? The last thing I got invited to is to be a member of a focus group for the local radio station where all you do is eat bad snacks, criticise things and get paid $50 which is crap because that’s what I’d have to spend on fuel to get there!
Yes, I’m jealous but very happy for you lovely bloggers
Next time you should talk them into “transportation fees” as well…
Dude, selling out is the balls! On an unrelated note, I am petrified of those brain age games. I’m fairly sure my brain age would come back as “deceased” and then I would be bummed.
Is that like a falling dream, where you actually die in real life if you hit the ground… or if Brain Age pronounces you deceased?
I’m dying, that’s amazing. To think I was out there, breaking my ankle in the Amish countryside while you guys were doing the most fun thing ever. Very jealous. Looks like fun! I’m all about selling out, just in case any marketing people are reading…
Breaking your ankle?? Holy schnikes, girl. Did they at least let you go to the hospital that uses- gasp- electricity?
So fun! I have mine on Friday, you’ve got me excited!
You should be, my dear!
That’s awesome! Good thing you didn’t pass it up!
I know, right? I’ll be reading my emails more carefully from now on…
awwwwwwww…..i want one
i read about this on the I am stylish blog a few weeks ago…im jealous XD
looks like fun,
and i want one!!!
Who doesn’t like toys?? NO ONE, that’s who.
You know you’re a dork when…
You tried and play Where’s Waldo with pictures of bloggers.
Um, WHERE is this genius creation??
Nope, I’m almost 40, broke, and getting my BA finally. ftw. It’s my turn. No fate but what you make.
Next will be an internship in DC at the NEA so I know the inside track for grant writing when I scoop a non-profit mngmnt position after my degree. If this actually happens, if we actually make it out of Fl, I’m buying at your local watering hole. Watch out.
YES. I cannot wait. Good luck, my dear!
That is so AWESOME! I’m jealous!
Wish you could have come, love!
I can’t imagine how much good, legit shit I’ve missed out on because I assume mostly everything is spam.
Honestly, probably not that much… I have a feeling this was sort of a diamond in the rough.
How awesome!! Good job not dismissing it as spam bc I’m sure I would have!
How tragic would that have been?!
FUN!!! Coolest almost-spam ever. I really like Nintendo, but I don’t think any system will top the original one. My sister and I didn’t have invisible friends growing up, we simply pretended that Mario and Luigi left the TV to come hang out with us. That’s embarrassing…
Wait. They were playing with YOU, too?? Traitors!
Sweeeeet! I was thinking about getting a DSi for The Boy this Christmas. Now, I will for sure!
Oh, he will love you forever. Trust.
I think I want to be bedazzled… That crap is awesome.
Oooo, that could be our theme for the wedding… BEDAZZLED.
you get all the luck!
looks like a blast!
‘Twas! Thanks!
Totally jealous! That’s so awesome!!!!!
It was killer.
You won me over when I heard it was bedazzled.
Bedazzled electronics kick ass.
I know. How do I get my initials on this shiz so no one steals it??
My former roommates (three dudes) each had a DS, and sometimes I borrowed it to play BrainAge if I was feeling particularly stupid (i.e. any Sunday). You lucky thing…
I know! Tis awesome
I am soo jealous!
I want a bedazzled DSi!
Duh!
Um. I’m moving to DC immediately. And we WILL be friends. That is all.
Yes, please!
How fun! I love playing Mario Kart. Uber jealous…especially that they egged you on with booze!
I’m glad your party went so well! I loved mine, too. And I met up with the early-arrivers at Logan Tavern, too, so it looks like we both had quite the good idea.
My recap link:
http://www.zandria.us/archives/main/2009/07/19/a-party-to-remember/
Awesome! I’m glad it was true.
Sadako´s last blog ..Goosebumps: One Day at Horrorland Part 2
Jealous!!!
(Also I just realized that I didn’t have the new site feed set up in my Reader. I thought you had stopped blogging!)
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