More Than Mahjong: Games, Connection & Community with Missy Mahjong

Mahjong may be having a major moment, but for Michelle Dermenjian—better known as Missy Mahjong—it has always been about so much more than the game itself. In this episode, Michelle shares how she turned her love of mahjong into bringing people together through connection, conversation, and a little friendly competition.

We talk about the story behind Missy Mahjong, the fundraising events and charitable work she's passionate about, and why games are one of the best ways to unplug and reconnect with the people around us. We also dive into her love of needlepoint, favorite games for every occasion, and all the fun things she keeps in her bag.

Whether you're a seasoned mahjong player or have never touched a tile, this conversation is packed with ideas for bringing more fun, friendship, and connection into your life. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:04

This is Bloom Bright with Kelly. Real talk, real growth, real glow, inspiring you to bloom into your brightest self one conversation at a time. Welcome, Bloom Right listeners. Oh my goodness, am I so excited for today's episode? I am joined by Michelle Dermengian, better known as Missy Mahjong. And unless you've been living under a rock, you already know Mahjong is having a major moment. But Michelle isn't just teaching people how to play a game. She's building community, creating connection, and using it all to give back in a really meaningful way. Based in Nashville, Michelle started what has become one of the city's biggest Mahjong communities, bringing women together through lessons, social clubs, fundraisers, and events. What started with a few friends learning over a glass of wine has grown into a movement centered around unplugging from your phones, connecting in real life, and creating friendships around the table. Today we're talking about how she built the Missy Mahjong brand, why this game has exploded in popularity, and how she's using Mahjong events to raise money for charities and bring people together in such a fun and refreshing way. We'll also get into her love of games and hobbies, needlepoint, what's always inside her famous game bag, and why she believes tabletop games are making such a comeback right now. And fair warning: this episode may send you straight to Amazon or planning your next girl's night because Michelle has endless ideas for games, hobbies, and ways to connect beyond just Mahjong. From family games to travel games to downtime activities, she's truly the queen of making life more fun. Okay, so without further ado, let's get into it and welcome Michelle Dermungian, aka Missy Mahjong. Welcome, welcome, Michelle. Thank you for being here.

SPEAKER_03 1:50

Thank you. I'm so happy to be here. This is my first podcast. So I'm excited to do something new. Oh, good.

SPEAKER_01 1:55

And we're gonna have fun. I feel like I, well, you are fun. So I think it's gonna be great. Let's go back to the beginning, Michelle. Before Mahjong became your thing, tell us a little bit about yourself and then how you got into this crazy game that we all love.

SPEAKER_03 2:08

Okay. Well, so originally I'm from Chicago. Um, I went to school in Colorado, at Colorado State, and I was the first graduating class of writing for the internet. It was technical journalism. Oh, wow. So way back then. And so when I graduated, I actually worked for a beauty website and um I managed the websites and I did uh we it was a beauty website, so we got to go around and like review spas and salons. It was really fun, all the different things. So just put that in the parking lot. I decided I was like, I love this, but like I can't really get paid in like manicures, and this wasn't really very, you know, lucrative. So I started selling beef out of our Wisconsin, our family farm. And so I was selling to restaurants, and before there was like a Whole Foods in every corner, I was also selling at the farmers markets. So in Chicago with Green City, um, right here in like locally at the Wheaton Market, and I think I did the Western Springs a few times, so a few different markets. And I was in a few cookbooks and um I partnered with a bunch of chefs. It was really exciting. Then I quit it all and I decided I wanted to just like focus on my family. So right now I have a 14-year-old and um an 11-year-old, and I just was like, I need to do something different. And we were moving again, so I have moved a lot in my life. Um, we are we moved to Nashville and I didn't know anybody, and I was like, you know what, this is something that I've always been around. In Chicago, you're always around Mahjong, right? So whether it's, you know, the Jewish community that's really strong here, that's always been playing American Mahjong or, you know, going to Chinatown. I mean, there's an automatic table everywhere you go. So to play Chinese Mahjong, so it's always been around, but I wasn't really excited about it until 2020 when Mahjong really became a modern, beautiful game. And I was like, let's do this. So yeah. So I decided I was like, I need to do something and to meet people, I'm gonna use something I know well, which is a game.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

And so have you always been like a natural connector, a natural meter of people? I mean, you've created this amazing community, and so I have to believe that started somewhere way back when.

SPEAKER_03 4:13

Yes. Uh well, we were just talking before we came on about how your son goes to Bennett.

SPEAKER_01 4:19

Yes, we have so many connections, you and I. Yes. But one of them is Michelle is a graduate of Bennett Academy in Lyle, and I have a current senior, oh my gosh, I'm gonna start crying, graduating in two days, and then I have a freshman there. So yes.

SPEAKER_03 4:31

So yeah. So my senior year of high school, I was playing on the men's ice hockey team, the inaugural team at Bennett, and I was not the best player. Okay. I was definitely like, didn't even want to do it. I knew how to do it, I had the equipment, I knew the role, but my team was amazing. And what I did though is I really connected all the players and I made sure that the school was connected. I got people to come to our games. I was super like involved, and that's where I shine. So I've always been a natural connector. Even from there, there actually is an award named after me. I always laugh.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

Well, I'm going to the honors awards tonight. So I'm gonna fill Michelle in as to who this next winner of the of her award is that was created for her. And I just want to say this is why I love this podcast because I get to know people in such a different way. I met Michelle through my sister, and you know, I've known her, you know, through the city and just different. I always see her dressed up, looking fabulous, and all that. Then I got to know her better through all of her love for Mahjong and my love for Mahjong. But then what threw me, she busts out that she was an ice hockey player. So that is just a fun fact that I just found out in the last couple of days. I mean, talk about you can do it all, right? I mean, God bless you. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 5:44

It's like my little dirty little secret that I'm like, oh, and I used to play men's ice hockey.

SPEAKER_01 5:47

I think that should be from the rooftops, shouting it from the rooftops, because truly that was like so cool to hear about, especially obviously knowing that Michelle went to Bennett and having such a personal connection to the school and listening tonight where if the award's unannounced, I'm gonna know the creator of that award, which is very cool. Yeah. Um, do you still play ice hockey?

SPEAKER_03 6:04

No, I do not.

SPEAKER_01 6:04

No, I'm not. Like, you know, not for fun.

SPEAKER_03 6:07

Not all the gear. Like, I don't like to be, you know, a goalie, especially, where like all the shots on the on the goal, like, no, thank you. Beautiful thing.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Michelle was a goalie. Okay, wait. So now I have to, this is even funnier. I just finished the show, Michelle, off campus. And if you have not seen it, okay, so it is very spicy. Apparently, off campus um started as a book, best-selling book series. And I just finished the first season on Prime Video, and woo, it is spicy. I would say you want to watch it alone in your room without your 14-year-old and 11-year-old, but I think it might give you some, it's all about hockey. So, hockey and all the love, the love stories surrounding these hockey players. So I don't know. You're gonna thank me. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 6:48

You bid watch it. I'm gonna have to go watch that. But, you know, I mean, I think that like, so the award is actually a the spirit award because it's about, you know, bringing people together more about being than being the best player. And that's kind of been my whole life, right? Like, I love to connect people, and that's what Mahjong does, right? I love for people to come over and not uh to my house, but to like an event. I have these big events, and when you come, even if you come with a friend, I'm gonna split you up and I'm gonna have you sit at another table so you can meet somebody different. And I might say when you come in, hey, like, you know, you're at one of my open play events, like this is so exciting. I'm gonna put you with somebody who else, like had uh, you know, had gone to Bennett or whatever. So whatever the connection is, or I'll say, like, oh my gosh, like I just learned that you lived in California when you were little. I might put you with somebody else who was from California. I love to be that connector. And what makes me so happy is that I have no time for anything beyond what I do, which is crazy. But I love to hear that people who come to my events looking for connection, they end up like meeting some of their best friends. And I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm not invited necessarily to that lunch, but I know that I connected those people and it makes me so happy.

SPEAKER_01 7:55

Okay, well, then you're gonna love this story then, Michelle, because as you were saying that, I'm gonna tell you this. So, Michelle, um, as you know, as we've said, is based in Nashville, but she also is from Chicago and she has a home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which my family does as well. And so last summer, Michelle does events in all three locations, but last summer she did an event in Lake Geneva. And I remember thinking, I mean, as we get older, I'm getting better and better just showing up places by myself. But even it still never changes where you get a little nervous. So I went by myself because I love Mahjong and I went and played, and I ended up sitting next to someone whose whole family went to Bennett, whose cousin was at Bennett, knew my daughter. And so now every time I see this lady, turns out this woman, her cousin, was um, they're all on the same date, we're on the same dance team. And it was this whole Bennett connection. And I ended up sitting next to her. I think we took a picture and texted it to my friend. And it's the whole day, I just felt like, oh, I left with such a good feeling. That's what your event created. This was not one of your big fundraising events. This was more just a simple at the yacht club, just open play. And I have to say, I left feeling good. I left feeling part of it, included, connected. And um, that's just a small, you know, personal missy major.

SPEAKER_03 9:09

I love that. That's like that's why I do this. It's everything I do is to build community and to raise money for local charities. So it doesn't have it could be one of those things, it could be both of those things, but that's what makes me feel so good about it. It's not about the actual strategy of the game. I don't play for points or pennies, I'm playing for that connection, you know?

SPEAKER_01 9:27

And it's true. And what connecting over games, which we're gonna get more into the games in a minute, but connecting over games, it just you're sitting there, it you're it gives you something natural to talk about, even if you don't know the people, you can it gives you just that sense of talking as opposed to just standing at a cocktail party trying to make small talk. Like you have the game to talk. Yeah, like if you're a quieter, shyer person, which it's never been my issue, but if you're someone that, you know, is uh it's harder to open up or whatever, like the game gives you the conversation, yeah, which I think is helpful.

SPEAKER_03 9:54

You know, I just I I've had a few really interesting conversations with um just some just some people who are kind of in the game world, and they always ask me, you know, what makes your uh reputation so stellar of like having these really fun events? Like, why do people just like love it? And there's not a lot of negativity, and which sometimes with like the games there can be. And I said, you know what it is? Because we come together for two reasons. One for could build a community, so everyone's there for that, and to raise money for local charities. The other thing is we do not play for points or pennies, and there's no competition, there's no league, there's no like tournaments, you don't have to be invested financially in this. I'm not charging for the lessons, so everything I'm doing is going directly to that charity, right? You know, I just use my time, my talent, and my tiles to put everything out there, and we're all doing it for like this really greater good, but no money. If you think about sports right now and like the club sports, and all these people are putting all this money into club sports, and this is just to play the game, right? Yes. But the problem is that like what are they doing? So they can get paid in college now. And when you put that money in there, or even if you're going to a tournament for mahjong and you're paying $100 to play in that tournament for two days, you're gonna want something out of it because you're paying at my age.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

And you're sitting next to your competitors technically now. We're not not sitting next to people that we're just trying to make friends and connect.

SPEAKER_03 11:14

100%. So, like, I'm just coming from a different angle. I don't care if you win or you lose, you're not losing anything. We're gonna lose like 25 cents. We're not even doing that.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

So, yeah, you might win a prize, but Oh, and I have to say, my sister and um you co-hosted a wonderful event last summer, and you did have the best prizes, and it was so much fun. And so let's talk about that. I think that you're right, coming together for a cause, as you said, you're creating connections, but people have another vested interest. Like they're there knowing, even if it's just the price of their ticket, that is going 100% to a cause. How did you start from learning mahjong and becoming obviously more into it and loving it all the way to these events to then fundraising events and in building it? Tell us a little bit about that process.

SPEAKER_03 11:59

Okay, so I'm gonna be a little bit vulnerable here. That in the last several years, I have been in a season of like rejection. So there's been a lot of different things that have happened to me where I just feel like there hasn't been a seat at the table in a lot of situations. I mean, my husband and I have done really well. We're, you know, we're happy, we've you know been successful. But when you move to someplace, whether it's even in Lake Geneva, um, where there's a lot of people who've been there for a long time or in the South, there's a lot of classism to be honest. And like yes, and you're just you're not if they don't know who your daddy is, and you haven't been here for a long time, you're not welcome. So I think that like coming using a game to meet people and not charge and do it from like a really genuine place of trying to connect people and raise money for local charities is just been like so authentic for me to do this, and I want a seat at the table, and I want to make sure everyone else has a seat at the table. So that has been so much of what it is. And when you come together for a common mission of community building and raising money for local charities, I mean, honestly, it just happens, it really does happen.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

Well, and I think you know, I we just talked about Bennett when I went to Bennett um with my son. We took him kicking and screaming. He ended up going, he acknowledges it's the one of the best things that ever happened, but it was a complete vulnerable moment for me too. We left everyone we knew, and I was blown away. I actually had the opposite experience. I was blown away by all the alumni with their youngest children that took a moment to include me. That took a moment. I get, I mean, my son's graduating in two days, so I'm getting a little emotional and I talk about it, but just so with me with the Bloom Bright, it was the same thing, just inclusivity, letting people know, come one, come all. Just I want to get to know people and talk to people because there are so many places, you're absolutely right, where people are just closed off. They have their groups. I always see, I think a lot of it comes from insecurity where people are like, I don't want to let this new cool, awesome lady in because it, you know, one of my friends might like her more or this or that. And I think it takes real just confidence and you know, just feeling good about your own life to really let in others, you know, and welcome people and be inclusive. And so, you know, truly hats off to you that you've, you know, are are doing that for others. Because a lot of people, you know, we both just shared examples of when we felt like we needed it. We needed to feel, you know, be part of something. Right.

SPEAKER_03 14:28

And that's the thing, you know, Mahjong can become any game can become something where it's like a middle school lunch table or a high school lunch table where it's like, well, no, these are the people I've been with forever, right? And I guess as someone who's moved around a lot. Um you know, I had come to Bennett actually my junior year. I had been to boarding school before that. Um, my husband and I have moved around a little bit, you know, just all the different things. This is my son's sixth school and he's in seventh grade. So just, you know, we've been the people who are never from somewhere and we're always adapting. But you know what? I know I'm not alone. And I'm coming from that position of saying, I know there's other people that want to connect to awesome people that want to connect that are new. Yeah. That I want to get a seat at the table for them.

SPEAKER_01 15:09

You just did the nail on the, what is it, the nail on the coffin or whatever? That there are all these awesome people that are just looking for a spot. You know, they're they're just looking to find a way in to find their group. And what's interesting about Mahjong is it's so funny that it's become such, well, that you've made it such an inclusive game because it is a four-person game. It can't be an eight-person, oh, come one, come all. I mean, you're you really can just have the four people at the table. And what I love about your events is the way you match people together and not make it feel closed off. You know, you make it feel very open and welcoming. Well, I actually have a little confession. I have a shopping problem.

SPEAKER_03 15:43

And my husband is very upset about it, but I can't stop buying all these beautiful tiles and everything that come out. So I love to find places that might have like six tables instead of doing it at someone's house. I'm like, okay, let's do this open play place that has all these tables, and maybe they're not even perfect tables, but like they'll work. And then I get to display all my beautiful things. Which are gorgeous.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

You do have, and we have to get into that. So, okay, so now we have to talk about mahjong. I love it. Obviously, you love it. Yes. But there are still a lot of, for those people, especially that keep hearing about it, but have not learned and are not playing, I think there can still be some misconceptions around the game. So, for someone listening who thinks mahjong sounds intimidating, what would you tell them? It's really just a game of matching and go fish.

SPEAKER_03 16:29

And anyone who's trying to tell you that it's like much harder than that is probably trying to sell you a series of lessons and whatever else. But I will tell you that like if you just simplify it, it's a game of matching and go fish. And just like fake it till you make it, just do what everyone else is doing.

SPEAKER_01 16:46

You know what? Oh my gosh, you just literally said exactly what I'm thinking because when I took these lessons at first, I was in a three-series series lesson and I had a wonderful teacher, but it was, it felt intense. Like it felt like so many rules and so many things. And then ironically, over the weekend, I was playing at the pool, you know, and I was listening to my friend talk. And I was playing. I mean, now I played for a while, but I actually had that same thought because my girlfriend had never played before. I'm thinking, you probably could have just shuffled the things around. You know what I mean? Like you're not gonna win, right? But you're not gonna what's I would say this to any new player, which would Michelle is saying the same thing. You're not gonna screw anyone up. Like there's certain games that if you don't know how to play, you can ruin it for others. You're not gonna do that. So there you go. And it is really, there is just a big discard pile and back and forth. It's not that deep.

SPEAKER_03 17:33

It's really, it's not that deep. And it's like people wanted to like make it so much harder than it is. It's just matching. You were trying to match one of the 14 tile sequences, whether it's on the National Mahjong League card or any alternative cards.

SPEAKER_01 17:45

And you do some fun cards. Again, when I learned, I was very serious. I was like, Kelly's very serious about Mahjong. So I think I would take like I was like, I have to have my card and I have to have this. And I think what Michelle opened up for me, especially when I went to this event that she hosted last year, is that again, it's just not that deep. You know what I mean? It's not that deep. And this is a fun game. And let's just all like she had these amazing Chicago alternative cards, which intimidated me a little bit because I at first I'm thinking, I gotta learn the rules, it's gotta be so serious, but it's just not that deep. This is a fun game.

SPEAKER_03 18:14

Like it'll say, so for a new player, just to break it down, is that you're trying to match a grouping or like so 14 tiles, which are listed on one of these cards, okay? And on the National Mahjong League, they're pretty specific. You could play defense, you could call someone dead. If you play with these like alternative hands, it'll say, like, you know, I don't know, PPP, for example. That means three of something, three matching of anything. Like, so if you're like, well, I don't even know what that looks like, or like what that symbolizes, you know, just you know, take three of the rectangles. They're colored. I mean, they have these pictures. It's just like you're right with the gold fish, they're literal pictures that you just match.

SPEAKER_01 18:51

Just matching. Yeah. And it really is, um, when you simplify it and explain it the way you've explained it, it really is. I I would encourage anyone. Well, actually, I'm gonna say this. I would encourage any person, if you have never played before, Michelle is so welcoming and makes it so easy. And it's hard. I mean, in this day and anywhere, it's hard to walk in somewhere alone. But I'm gonna tell you this right now. If you are, you know, ever hear the word Missy Mahjong event, don't be stressed. Like that's a welcoming, inclusive place where you can walk in alone. Yeah. I did it and I felt, you know, very comfortable. So you don't need to play, you don't need to know anyone. Just go. Try it.

SPEAKER_03 19:27

Even if we're not having, if we're having an open play, what I really love is that I want those people who are going to show up, right? Just going there is most of the battle. Right. And if you're getting out of a car. Yeah. If you come to one of the events, even if we're not doing like a formal lesson and you're like, oh, I'm a new player, or I've never even seen these tiles before, shadow a player every single time. We're not in a tournament. We're not in like, you know, like we're not Playster Penny. Yeah. So like it's just like you can come to one of my events and shadow someone, and you'll just learn by example, right? Doing is what's going to make you learn it.

SPEAKER_01 20:00

So that's true. And that's what my girlfriend, again, we were playing very loosely at the pool over the weekend, and she said the same thing. She's chatting and she's, I'm playing, and she's looking over, and she already got the gist. She's like, I get it. This is not that hard. And I said, exactly. If you you're watching me, you can see that this is not super intense. Someone just got another glass of wine. We got a little bit of a break. We don't even have a mat. We were because we had the umbrella in the middle. So it was not that deep, and we still played three games and we all had a ball. So it's a fun game. And, you know, it's funny because you obviously love Mahjong, but I know that you have a greater love for games and hobbies, which is I feel like in general, is making a huge comeback right now. I feel like people want to just put the phone down and so tell me about like just if you always love games, have you always been a game player?

SPEAKER_03 20:46

Um, I definitely was that child that was like nine years old and memorized all the two-letter words in the Scramble Dictionary. Oh, wow. Okay. So you are. Yes, I've always been like a game-centric person. My dad used to tease me all the time because he'd be like, oh, great, Michelle's over there playing one of her board games. You know, and I'm like, I know, I love it. I'm one of five kids. Um, we spent a lot of time at our lake house in Elkhorn actually growing up. And you know, you spend a lot of time disconnecting. I think what's old is new again. Look at all these people. They want to like just disconnect from all the craziness, unplug. You know, it's like the other thing that I keep saying is that we live right now in a world where social media is feeding us what to believe, right? True. We need to opt in. Just say, I'm gonna come to a game, I'm gonna set something up. You're opting into doing something, right? Using your brain instead of just having someone tell you what to think.

SPEAKER_01 21:40

And scrolling. Yes. Well, and I think that they say when people, you know, again, I mean, I'm older than you, but like I'm 46 in middle age, and I think, you know, a lot of people are looking for, you know, a lot of transition, you know, a lot of empty nesters, different things. And I was reading where if you don't know what to do, like if you don't know what your next job's gonna be or what your next move's gonna be, just do something. Do something new. Go in this case, it would be go play mahjong. Oh, go play pickleball. Physically get out of your regular routine and go try something new. And I think that um this mahjong in games is people are yearning for it.

SPEAKER_03 22:13

Yeah. I mean, it's like, you know what it is, is it's the Rummy Cube is really fun. I love that game. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:17

Um my kids love my Rommy Cube.

SPEAKER_03 22:19

Yes, and all the board games. I mean, think about like, I mean, even just doing a puzzle right now. It's like instead of having maybe a library in your home, you're gonna put a game room. I mean, those things are all coming back. It's a lot of fun. I mean, there's all these game lounges that are opening to go bowling, to go, you know, play pool again. Like, I mean, we haven't seen these things from like the since the 70s, you know? And now places are coming back.

SPEAKER_01 22:41

No, I think that's actually good news for my husband because we joke around that he can play all bar games. So he's like one, I was with him one time when he was playing pool and then darts, and I'm like, holy shit. I'm like, you could be like a hustler. I know. So um, and then my son, which again, I I, you know, I'm not gonna condone. I mean, he's gambling, I guess a little bit, but poker. I mean, and I okay, so my question is I actually learn poker and I do it's there's strategy and a lot to it. Do you play? Do you ever have you ever played poker?

SPEAKER_03 23:08

There are certain things that I just cannot play because my husband is going to just like beat me every single time. And my brothers. So there are things that I can do better than they can. Like I can, I know all the two word power words in Scrabble, right? That's impressive. Poker, like, they are gonna poker, tic-tac-toe. Like, I cannot figure out why my. Tic-tac always beats me at tic-tac-toe. Like, I'm always like, it's not the center. I know it's not the center, but I gotta go to the corners and like he beats me every time. Or Monopoly, like, my husband can bankrupt me like every time. Like Monopoly movie.

SPEAKER_01 23:39

I love Monopoly in the sense that it's a it's a fun game. I that was my favorite game playing, favorite game to play growing up. My dad would play with us all the time. Um, but yes, I always get beat by it. With poker, for me, my biggest struggle with poker is I can't shuffle. So when it's my turn and you're at these tournaments, and they have a dealer. Like we were just at one in our country club. They had the dealer, and but everyone still had to go around and take their turn shuffling. I shuffled and all the cards went everywhere. It was so embarrassing. So it's just like all these little things. I feel like poker puts me more on the spot. Like Mahjong is very friendly, it's a very friendly, good vibe game.

SPEAKER_03 24:14

You know, I mean, I have another confession. Yeah, I could not shuffle either, but I am a little bit like I might not win, but I need to look good playing. And I don't know how old I was. I mean, I was probably about 10 and I took the cards in. I could do this later and I could shuffle and I just needed to know how to properly shuffle. Well, I need your tricks, but I just went into my room and I remember because my brother, my older brother, was just always so good at it and he was always winning at cards. And I was like, Well, I don't want to be embarrassed, right? So I was focused and at least I can shuffle.

SPEAKER_01 24:44

Okay, so then Michelle, that's no, I so I need I need to learn that because it's gotten to the point where I mean the cards went all over the table. And it was fine, everyone was drinking, it was fine, but I was just kind of like because my girlfriend, she can shuffle like the best of them. She can probably that you and her are probably the same with the shuffling. But no, we all love games. I mean, I'm the same. I love them too, and um, it's just a fun way to connect with people. Um, so let's talk about some of your oh, yeah, the different games that you like. So all-time favorite tabletop game.

SPEAKER_03 25:11

Oh, I mean, I'm gonna say scramble, just because it's like the longest for me. I mean, I'm I think like that. I think in words, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:19

Yeah, no, that's that would make sense. Me would be probably Monopoly, just yeah, growing up. Um, what's an underrated that people should start playing? An underrated game that you don't think it's enough credit?

SPEAKER_03 25:28

I would say Rummikube. Like, I don't know that a lot of people play that. And that's an easy travel game. True. And they also make it really beautiful. So a lot of the the Mahjong companies, it's another tile game. And a lot of them make these beautiful tile games. So it's like you still get that beautiful setup, but um, not a lot of pieces.

SPEAKER_01 25:46

That's a good one. My parents are so into Rummy Cube that they actually got us monogrammed Rummy Cube with Rummy Cube, those that haven't played, you get like a stand and it's it's monogrammed. My parents is the Santaforts, I'm the Cliffords, Shelly's the Prokowski's. You're right. And it's it can be a very beautiful game as well. And it's it's and it's fun for the kids. My kids really like that one. Yeah, that's a good one. What makes a game good, in your opinion?

SPEAKER_03 26:09

I think something that's really easy to learn but hard to master. So, like anything that's a no one wants to sit there again with my mahjong lessons. I don't teach anyone all of like advanced strategy or whatever. I just want to get them playing, right? As soon as they get playing, it's much better. Otherwise, the game's kind of intimidating. You're not gonna like want to get into it. You've lost, you know, lost interest.

SPEAKER_01 26:30

That's key. I actually think that's a master comment that you just made. It's easy to learn, but then you don't get bored. So like you can still level it up if you want. Which, yeah, I mean, we both know with Mahjong, you can play for fun and like your events are and enjoyable, or you can keep leveling up where you're there's some names that people call those tables. Oh gosh, I can't think of it, but where it's a little bit more intense. But again, that's great. I mean, if people want to play for money and get into it, you know, rock on. Yeah, you know, it gives you a lot of things.

SPEAKER_03 26:58

I I just like for me, I'm like, once I have something, I want to add a new table rule, maybe, or I want to, I don't care about like winning as much as I'm like, wait, let's make this more fun. Maybe just get a new set, maybe, you know, something else. What is there any game that you are weirdly competitive about? It's gonna be Scrabble.

SPEAKER_01 27:16

Scrabble, yeah, that's your game, girl.

SPEAKER_03 27:18

I think that like just because I've like memorized that, and I mean, I have the advantage coming in that I'm like, yeah, well, anyway, so you can try to get that like six-letter word or whatever, and it's not that great. Let me give you this two-letter word, and it's gonna like just smoke you.

SPEAKER_01 27:32

Okay, so then I will tell you this. You would I have I'm horrible at Scrabble. Like, that's not my game. So you would that's there's zero competition when it comes to that one. Um, and so I mean, the games are amazing, but you've also uh gotten really into needlepoint.

SPEAKER_03 27:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:46

And I used to do that back in the day when I was little. My mom would get me the little kits. So tell me about that and tell me about like that's a whole nother world, and you can buy things and do all that stuff. Your needle points are so cool, the ones that you I've seen.

SPEAKER_03 27:57

Yeah, right now I'm working on a belt from my son that has all the Chicago landmarks on it. He picked it out and he's like, Mom, will you like the Vineyard Vines ones? Yes, which by the way, this is way more expensive than just buying a vineyard vines one. But anyway, but I was like, be still in my heart. My 14-year-old wants me to make him something and like he's gonna wear it. Like, that's just of course I'll do that. So I feel like the thing about needle pointing is again, it's just like Mahjong. It's been around forever, but like until they started making these really cool modern canvases, nobody wanted to do this, like an old school, like cat.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

Like, I I think I did like a little uh cat with a thing of strings sitting on the yeah, no one wants to frame that.

SPEAKER_03 28:37

I'm no, like I'm just not gonna do that. Like, or like some of like the Christmas stuff. I'm like, okay, that's nice, I can just buy that. You know what I mean? Like, or it's kind of cheesy, yeah. Like it doesn't really feel like special. And now they have all these cute things, but again, to stop the scroll and to stop like just for me, it's like the online shopping or you know, anything to keep me off my phone. I sit there with my needle point, I take it with me. So when I'm sitting in the doctor's office, I don't want my kids to see me on a phone. I actually I don't even feel good about myself if I'm sitting there like scrolling social media. Like, I don't feel good about that. My husband doesn't feel good when I'm like putting everything in my cart, you know. So, like, bye pointing. Here I am, I'm making a family heirloom for my son. And like, but also passing the time and I'm very present. Um, again, like you know, from sports and stuff, you can drop your kid off an hour. You can't go home in that amount of time. No, what do I do? I sit there and I need a point. So there I am making a family heirloom, doing something I love.

SPEAKER_01 29:35

So then I need to do this because I, you know what I'm doing? Because my son is graduating from high school. So I'm moving on from the basketball sitting in the car, and now I am moving into the competitive dance sitting in the car. So, what I've been doing last season is been watching a show and eating Chipotle in my car. So I feel like I feel like this is gonna be very productive for me. And I could even make something for her, you know, at the end of the season, I'll be like, you were competing, and here's what I did. Right, which would be fun. Right. So I have to get, you know, where you go around here to get your needlepoint stuff, and you have to hook me up.

SPEAKER_03 30:06

I will tell you, Third Coast um stitches, which is in Old Town in Chicago, okay, as the best one. Like I did the Gibson's uh math. Yes, I did see that. That was awesome. That one's great. Um, like I said, I'm doing the belt for my son right now with all the Chicago landmarks. They have, you know, like I don't know, just a lot of local stuff, which is great. Because then when I go to Nashville, I get something really awesome at Nashville Needleworks, which is has all the local stuff there. And you know, whenever I travel, I like to pick things up.

SPEAKER_01 30:31

You can find like a cool local spot.

SPEAKER_03 30:33

Yes, or even online. Um, Lysette Designs is out of Palm Beach, I believe. And I get a lot of their stuff. I mean, I I did a Lake Geneva, one of the lake, you know, it's oh yes, I did remember that.

SPEAKER_01 30:44

Yeah, it's very cool because it's very personalized, which is what I like about what you're doing with Needlepoint. I feel like my memories of Needlepoint, like I said, are the cat with the wall of string. Yeah like very general, kind of boring. And this is almost like art, like you can frame it and have, like you said, a family heirloom or something in your house that you didn't just buy.

SPEAKER_03 31:01

And again, not that deep. It's like the same thing you can teach yourself on YouTube. Um, and it's just the same pattern. So if you see in patterns, just so like if you for mahjong, mahjong is matching, right? Needlepoint is very much the same, or you're going in patterns and you're doing the same thing. Like you could be drinking a margarita and or three and still be doing the same thing because it's not hard, but it's keeping you busy, but it's just a pattern and it's enjoyable.

SPEAKER_01 31:27

And it is important to stay off these phones, you know, putting aside that it's not setting a bad example for these kids. It's just mentally like I have this thing now that I'll show it to you before you leave. It's a little brick and I brick my phone. So the concept is just that you, you know, you brick your phone, so you can't go on whatever apps for whatever amount of time, you know, all the scrolling apps. And so you then have to go physically get this brick to unbrick your phone. It doesn't allow you to do it. Like if you get tempted and you're like sitting in the doctor's office and you're like, oh, I'd really like to scroll Instagram right now. It doesn't allow you to. Um, I mean, there's an emergency, I guess, thing. Again, I need more things like you're saying, like needlepoint and stuff to have in my bag with me.

SPEAKER_03 32:07

Well, and I think that's what's great about Majog too, is that like the etiquette is to not take your phone to Majog, right? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 32:14

And you're using your hands. You really can't have your phone out. You can't.

SPEAKER_03 32:17

And so like you're using and you're so into it. All of a sudden you're like, oh my gosh, two hours went by and you weren't on your phone. Was anything that important? No. And like the thing is, it's like you're so in the moment with people that you're connecting at such a deeper level. Like, don't get me wrong, I've moved around a lot. I do think that Instagram has its place of like connecting people. Oh, 100%. Keeping those, like, those trends.

SPEAKER_01 32:37

Letting people know about things, like all your events. Like, I love to promote my podcast. There is a place for it, and it's wonderful.

SPEAKER_03 32:43

It's the addiction part, is addiction, and it's like feeling bad and feeling that like the FOMO, right? Like, just come, just do something, live your life. Yes, you know, and once you're in it, then you won't feel like you're missing out on anything.

SPEAKER_01 32:56

Right, because you're part of the conversation, you're engaged, you're engaged, so you don't other care what other people are engaging in.

SPEAKER_02 33:01

Right, right, exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 33:03

So, you you did an awesome TV segment in Nashville um on TV, and you had all of these amazing games that you shared, um, just for you know, all the people that were viewing. So, I want to get a little bit into some of your favorite games for families. As we're getting into summer, you know, obviously more downtime. Let's hear all of it. So, what are the games that you know you're carrying your game in your purse? Like, what do you have that you like?

SPEAKER_03 33:25

Okay, so in my or your game back.

SPEAKER_01 33:29

I know you have a good beginning.

SPEAKER_03 33:30

So, whenever I go somewhere, like let's say I'm going to like a baseball game, my son plays baseball. And if you go to these tournaments, you just live there. Okay. A lot of downtime. Right. And then they're like, oh, and congratulations, your team just won. So now you're not gonna play for four hours, but like I can't come back from like Green Bay in four hours. Like, what am I gonna do there? So um, I always like to keep games with me. So Mahjong is a hard one if people don't know how to do it. Yes, there are a lot of yes, I agree. I think that's always a great one to take. My daughter will have to come sometimes to these games, and she like I want to keep her off her device the whole time.

SPEAKER_01 34:03

Oh, for sure. You don't want her just sitting around, but she's there by herself.

SPEAKER_03 34:06

So, what is a one-player game she can play? Rush Hour. It's such a great game. It's like you've got to, I mean, it's just like being in the city, you've got to get the little car out of the parking lot, you know. Okay, and so it's a great one-player game, but it's a puzzle, you know? So, but it's amazing. And I love every single time that she like solves one of them because you can see like her like get that little dopamine hit from like solving the puzzle and feeling like, oh, like I did this, and then she puts a new one in, a new challenge in. That's nice, and it's so great. I love that. So that's a great game. I do have some travel mosh sets.

SPEAKER_01 34:37

Um how do you feel about those? I mean, do you are you like you know what?

SPEAKER_03 34:41

I actually would rather I actually think that mini mage set, it's four kids, but they're like thinner tiles and they have like a they have a stand that's more like a rummy cube set. That one I think is easier to do than a travel set. I can't see that.

SPEAKER_01 34:56

I was just gonna take you took the words out of my mouth. I cannot see the travel sets. They're because they're so small and it it is hard to decipher.

SPEAKER_03 35:04

Listen, I'm 44. I don't want to admit that I need readers, so like let's just like not put me in that thing where I'm like, you know, hold on, let me get my readers so I can see what this says in the tiles.

SPEAKER_01 35:12

Right, let me feel worse about myself when I'm trying to have a you know, entertaining game.

SPEAKER_03 35:16

Yeah, no, thanks. Um, I think for my kids too, Mad Libs, which we grew up on. Oh my gosh, totally. And it's so funny because I'm like, oh my gosh, they're learning something.

SPEAKER_01 35:26

No, those are great though. And I love what you said about this the travel set with mahjong. So that's a tip, ladies. It's it's called mini mahjong.

SPEAKER_03 35:34

It's like the mini maj, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:36

Mini Maj set. Okay, because I the travel, I completely agree. But sometimes it is nice to have something that's a little more compact, right? You know, that's not as intense. Okay, so you go to a lot of, you know, parties, events, all that kind of stuff. So let's just ask you, you know, a few questions for fun. What is your, you know, favorite hostess gift when you go to these different things? What's a good one? This might be controversial.

SPEAKER_03 35:57

I'm good as a city person, but like like from Chicago, that was such a minimalist. Like, I didn't, I know your sister probably felt the same way. Didn't want any more stuff. Like, don't bring me anything. Very true. Like, where am I gonna put it?

SPEAKER_01 36:08

Like, I have no storage. Your the gift is now becoming a problem for the host. Oh, I'm gonna have to re-gift this. Like, put it in my closet with my re-gifted items.

SPEAKER_03 36:17

Right. Yeah. And because I had no space. And then I moved to the south where like I don't even know. Like, there's like so many, everyone's always gifting stuff. And I'm like, well, I gotta like gift you something too. But I feel like I wish that the gifting stuff would just kind of like end a little bit, right? You know? Yeah. So you're more just like, I'm here, I'm you know, in a good mood. Yes, it was my gifts. But I have to adapt because in the south, it's just like you have to do it, you know?

SPEAKER_00 36:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:42

So I actually love Hester and Cook, which is based out of Nashville, but you can get it anywhere. They have a lot of amazing paper, like uh table setting things. So if you're a mahjong player, like the little cute little cocktail napkins, um, just for anybody, they have these paper placemats, which are so awesome. And if you've not used those or the runners, yes, I highly suggest them. But they're such a great way, especially if you're going to someone's home that is someone who likes to entertain, love that. Well, and they'll use it.

SPEAKER_01 37:10

It's a very usable, and then they throw it away, right? They don't have to keep it and store it and wash it and all the things, right? Oh, that's a great planner. I have no more space. I don't need anything else. That's a good one. Let's get into the mahjong accessories and all that. What is your is there a favorite mahjong accessory or something that you really love that you're obsessing about right now that is in your cart?

SPEAKER_03 37:30

Okay, well, I probably already bought it. I've already got all of my pre-orders, like, but I will tell you, and yeah, I think that everyone should have one really great white set and then switch up the mats. The mats, you can never have too many mats. It's like having too many, like, you know, linen napkins or like, you know, uh tablecloths. Like, I want the mats. The mats are so beautiful. I love them.

SPEAKER_01 37:53

Such a good tip. Yeah. So then I want you to tell me a good white set to get.

SPEAKER_03 37:58

My favorite one is bespoke. It's like a little like longer tile, okay, really clear, really easy for newer players. You know, sometimes I mean I do love, I love all like the craziest.

SPEAKER_01 38:08

But it's hard to decipher.

SPEAKER_03 38:10

Yeah, like these are clearly like bams, cracks, like dots, you know, like they're all very simple. That one is my favorite. Yeah. The bespoke.

SPEAKER_01 38:17

Okay, good. Well, I might have to get that one because I do want, I love the idea about being able to enjoy the different mats because they're also not as costly, too. So I think you can have some bang for your buck and switch up your whole vibe without investing in some of these sets that can be costly.

SPEAKER_03 38:32

Wait till you get like you're gonna have to have birthday mat and Halloween mat and like, you know, like everything, every there's a theme for everything.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

Well, these gals that I play with, um, oh my gosh, the one gal, I'm gonna give a shout-out to my friend Christine right now. I was with her. I went to her house. She it loves mahjong. And so all the Oh my mahjong um mats, she got a book of them, like a paper, yeah, and she framed them all in these beautiful frames, and she has them in her house by her mahjong table and by all her stuff. I mean, it is such a beautiful game. I mean, you really can and people love it. And I mean, and then you start to hear about the sets that are like crazy, crazy expensive too, like really, really expensive, which I would love to see in person.

SPEAKER_03 39:13

Like I, you know, I mean, yeah, you have to come and check out all your stuff. I mean, then all right, then you get to the like I have also have that auto table. Yes. You have to come over and play. It's kind of like having a papa shot at your house, like, because it's not like that beautiful to put out, but it's like a great party trick.

SPEAKER_01 39:28

Yes. Well, there was one set I was at a luncheon yesterday in this. I actually have to get this the name of the set for you because of the lake. It was this beautiful lake set, but it was like acrylic too. I don't even know it were like multiple layers. It was an expensive one. I think it was like a $700 set, but um, they were gorgeous. And I actually thought of you because I mean they were just beautiful and lake themed. If my husband is listening, it's not just me. Okay. It is not. It is not. I mean, I was at a luncheon yesterday, and over the majority of the time, we were talking about all the different companies where everyone's getting these tiles from, all the themes. Someone was saying about their Halloween map. They're like, I don't want anything too dark, but I want it to be moody and like trying to find just the right mat for that time of year.

SPEAKER_03 40:11

Right. Because I mean, leaving the set out just like for every day is amazing for two reasons. Number one, it's beautiful. Beautiful. Okay, so that's what we're doing. Number two, I think it is like such an invitation to say, hey, let's sit down and connect and play, you know? And even if you're just gonna play a messy game of doubles, it's like, okay, like we're just sitting here. And like if I'm gonna come over and I just want to pop by and have coffee with you in your home and you've got this beautiful mahjong set. I mean, it's an invitation to put it.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

Well, and it's not let's take it out, let's put it all out. Because it's more of a production. So and it's I mean, it's not that big of a deal, but it does require, I mean, it's it's just so nice if it's sitting there. Yeah. Kind of like a puzzle if you want to, you know, do a couple pieces.

SPEAKER_03 40:50

We're not a percent. And it's such a beautiful part of your home that so beautiful, you know, it's like, you know, it's a way for you to express like your, I don't know, just your connection with people, you know.

SPEAKER_01 41:01

Oh, and it in your own personality. I mean, you really can make, you know, just create the set to make it, you know, what is your vibe? Yeah, you know, and then whatever your vibe is throughout the year.

unknown 41:11

Right.

SPEAKER_01 41:12

So then you obviously have these beautiful sets in your home, but where would be your dream location for a mahjong event or to play mahjong? Like, do you have any spots that you would be like, this is what I like to do?

SPEAKER_03 41:23

I have played at some really incredible places, like South Hall, which is this incredible like farm resort retreat. Um, actually, it's in Nashville, but it's uh Franklin, Tennessee, actually. And it's from like it was created by a family from Chicago. It is a beautiful place. Um, I've played there, it's incredible, but I will say of all the places that I've done, I really would love to have like a 1920s themed event at the Palmer House downtown Chicago in that lobby, which I got raised in actually. I want the invite if you do this. That sounds amazing. Well, and did do it like because it's moody, and if you think like winter, it could even be Christmas time. And I've already picked out all the tiles that I would bring to that.

SPEAKER_01 42:03

Oh my goodness. Please put me on your invite list for this. That sounds amazing, right? I do love that idea. And I love a theme in in general. I think people think it's fun, especially as we're getting older. You know, it's it's fun to dress up, it's fun to look forward to something where you can really go a little extra mile.

SPEAKER_03 42:18

Well, I will tell you that. There's just like this as a side note. Some of these like mahjong events, I've I've got some of my gripes with the evolution of the mahjong, right? Okay. And one of the things that I cannot figure out, I am in my 40s. I do not want to dress up like some of these costume parties that they're doing.

SPEAKER_01 42:36

Yeah, no, that's aggressive, but I like the idea of an event. Like you're it's that in your calendar, it's a it's a moment for a weekly mahjong.

SPEAKER_03 42:43

Yeah, I love like a dress up to get like fancy. Like I'm not wearing a costume. Okay, no. Some of these like things that I'm seeing online, like this is why I'm like, okay, I need to log off of the social media. Yeah. Because if I see someone, one more person like dressed up in like a bird, I'm like, I'm not doing that.

SPEAKER_01 42:58

No, but that, but I have to say though, and that's why I'm glad you brought that up, because that's what I love about your Missy Mahjong brand. You bring the fun and you bring the connection and you bring the inclusivity and you do make it fun. It's a, but you don't have the cheesy, like, no one feels like, oh, if I don't come with my bird hat, then I'm not gonna be included. I'm, you know, or I, you know what I mean? You you're making it welcoming to all without taking it to a level where people feel like now it's work.

SPEAKER_03 43:23

I do. Sometimes I get, you know, a little bit like, oh, like I'm like FOMO. Like I'm like, I should be doing all of these other things. And I'm like, no, no, hold on. I'm in my mid-40s. I know who I am at this point and what's important to me. So like I have my own little like Missy Mahjong house rules, I would say, or just like etiquette rules.

SPEAKER_01 43:39

Um don't be an a-hole.

SPEAKER_03 43:42

Yes. Some people come to our events and they're like, oh my gosh, there was so much talking. And they were playing with these like really pretty sets, but they were not the traditional sets. I'm like, you know, that's fine. You just don't have to come back next time. So like, I know that, right? Too much talking. Like, I'm here for the connection. Like, I'm not here for the fast play and the quietness. You go to the library. Go and you're not your personal. Own game. There's that's your own deal. Yeah. Another thing is that like, okay, the hands are such a big part of it, okay? And don't come where you're like missing like a fake fingernail or you have dirty hands. Like, if I we do go to a lot of restaurants and I'm like, okay, fine, like I get it. Like we're eating while we're playing, like, that's part of it. But if you don't get your ketchup, if you lick your fingers at my table and then like touch my two crack, I'm gonna be like, I do. Oh, yes, I like everything. That's I you know I don't I never take wooden racks to any of my open place because I love to like when I come back from all my open places, like sanitize everything. Yes. And so even though like those like um acrylic racks are not as long necessarily as I always need to, I'm gonna sacrifice that because when I come home, I need to disinfect because like and you're in a public place, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 44:51

I wore my special ring today for you. I took my aura ring off. Okay, yeah, and I wore my butterfly ring because it is very pretty. When Michelle plays, she always has a lot of bling and encourages people, real or costume or whatever. It's just it's a hand game, right?

SPEAKER_03 45:06

It's a hand game. So it's like clean your nails. Yeah, okay. I don't care if they're polished or not polished, but like don't come with a chip to polish. But like gardening. Right, no, no, like that's fine. You can wash your hands, yeah. And so, like, and it's fine. I don't care when people have natural, beautiful nails and unpolished, like I'm totally fine with that as long as they're clean, like you're good. Yeah, and I'd actually prefer that sometimes when people have like the really long fake nails with like the Cheeto stuff underneath it. Like, I mean, no, thank you. Right. Your Cheetos, your lunch. But bring, like, I always think that it's like, I don't care what you wear, but if you can like bejewel your hands, I mean it's such kind of like I agree. I got my I got my stuff on today.

SPEAKER_01 45:39

It looks so pretty. And I do, it is pretty when you're pulling those tiles.

SPEAKER_03 45:42

Right, and like I want to see everything, and I think it's a great conversation starter to say, like, oh my gosh, tell me about your ring. So, like for me, I always have a lot of diamonds. And like I've said, in our family, we've had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of changes. And I feel like I'm always trying to keep everything really calm and perfect for my kids. And my husband always surprises me with like another change in life. And so I always tell them, and he always says, pressure builds diamonds, pressure makes diamonds. That's our whole family motto, right? So whether it's my kids getting into a new school or moving again or him switching jobs or whatever it is, every time that we have a pressure situation, my husband knows that I'm gonna go along with it because he's gonna reward me with a diamond. I love that, and that's such a great story that you have. So, like, and I always I think a lot of people have a lot of those stories. Maybe it's something where they have a um, maybe their aunt's ring that they're wearing, or they bought something on Amazon and they want to tell me that it's actually only like $10.

SPEAKER_01 46:40

Oh, they're super excited to tell you. Well, I got my dad bought me this ring in Palm Beach. It was in Palm Beach, they have a lot of um like vintage jewelry and stuff. So we were in this store, and it was it's it was that stage in life where I was already married and stuff. So most of my gifts were coming from my husband. And I it was me and my dad and my daughter that we um used to live in Fisher Island, so about you know a couple hours from my Palm Beach. And yes, that he got me that there, and every time I wear it, I think of him. And I also love butterflies. Um, even my Bloom Bright logo is a flower, but you can see a butterfly in it as well. So there's my story.

SPEAKER_03 47:13

Right, there's always these stories, right? And it is a Midwestern thing to ever to always tell someone if you got a deal on something. Yeah, oh, for sure. Yes, yes. Like even if you're like, oh, this is a Rolex, it's not even real.

SPEAKER_01 47:24

Yeah, like it's all people they do. They want the compliment, oh, I love it, and then they want to be able to follow it up with, and by the way, it was five dollars at Ross. There was I was listening to a meme about that, actually, scrolling.

SPEAKER_03 47:34

People do, everyone loves to get a deal and they love to tell about specifically Midwesterners know that those are your people.

SPEAKER_01 47:39

But I so I think that like yeah, because you're right, I've never lived anywhere aside from when I was younger in the Midwest.

SPEAKER_03 47:44

So for me, it's a normal right, it's a thing. And and I so I think that again at the connection at the table, I have to be true to what my kind of game etiquette and what I want for like the vibe of my events to be. Absolutely. So I want people to be like, I don't care if you're wearing workout clothes, but like give me your hands, shovel your guys.

SPEAKER_01 47:59

I think what's so great is again with the connection in the stories, you know. I mean, like the butterfly in your beautiful ring. I mean, people want to talk about it, and I think you create an environment where people feel comfortable asking. Yeah, you know, it's not stuffy, no, it's not, it's just a good vibe. And people are looking for it. They really are. You know what I've been looking for? That's partially why I try to, you know, start my Bloom Bright stuff to just feel more connected and learn more about other wonderful women like yourself. Okay, so to wrap it up here, I want to hear um you tell me what is making you bloom bright, like in your life right now.

SPEAKER_03 48:34

Okay, so right now, my newsletter is actually what's really making me bloom bright. And I think that everyone's talking about Substack and all of these things. Mine is still free. I'm not trying to monetize it and it's on my website, but I love that connection because I do move around a lot. And now I'm back in Chicago and Lake Geneva and I'm kind of like bopping around, but I can still kind of like connect with everyone on there. And I don't just share on my newsletter, you're gonna get part of me, right? It's I do have my tips and tricks. Like, I'll tell you that, you know, there's 1600 opportunities to use the six on the 2026 card. So, like, I'll give you like, you know, strategy tips and things like that, but I'm also giving you real life things like my next one. I just came back from Disney with my family, and it was just another place that we played, right? And it's kind of like I'm gonna give you my little tidbits. I love when people write me back, and then it's a great conversation starter for when we all sit down at the table because everyone's got a Disney store.

SPEAKER_01 49:29

Yes. Oh gosh, yes. Well, and I will say this I joined your newsletter after your event last year with my sister, and that is why I came to the Lake Geneva Open Play because obviously talk about all your tips and tricks and all of the fun things that you're doing, but you specify all your events. And it is important to note, as you said, you're not just in Nashville, you're in Chicago, you're in Lake Geneva. So there are events happening um all the time. Like I said, I really had a wonderful experience. I think you I it was like around the fourth of July, and I think my sister wasn't up like at the lake yet. I was just kind of I had a morning and it was because of your newsletter. So it really is not only is it fun to list, you know, just have as a fun thing, but it is informative too. It is.

SPEAKER_03 50:08

And I think that like I think what's really great about it is this is something that I love to do, right? So I am blooming bright because it's something that I feel like, okay, I'm sharing this with people. I am doing the events, but you know what I've really thought was fascinating is that people don't just play in their neighborhood, right? They're they don't want to just play with their same four people, right? So they might even say, Hey, my cousin is gonna be in Chicago. Like I'm gonna tell her about this event that you're having. And even if they are living in California and they have no or whatever, you know, people come to Chicago all the time. Absolutely. They come to Nashville all the time for work. So I'm actually getting people from all over that kind of pop in, but then they still subscribe to my newsletter if they're in New York or if they're in Florida or whatever, because it's also giving them the tips and tricks and like just a vibe. And I do talk about since I don't work for any of these companies, I'm not trying to sell anything.

SPEAKER_01 50:58

I'm just telling about my honest opinions of like, you know, the different tile companies coming out and well, and you said you're such a good shopper, so you have the experience. Well, and I will say this like for me, I love traveling to new places and I love in an event that like is the catalyst to get me there. So, like for me, I am gonna be looking at your newsletter and thinking, when is she doing something in Nashville that works with my schedule? Because I would love to like, I mean, I love Nashville in general, but it's a reason to go back there. You know what I mean? But I like I said, yeah, it's a great newsletter. It's so much fun. Definitely sign up. We're gonna have the link on all and all of the information on how to do all that in the bio and all the promotions we do for this episode. I cannot thank you enough for being here. This was so much fun. But you know what? I just thought of one question I want to ask you. Yeah, because I picture where you're playing in Disney. Can you do a little spoiler and tell me one of the places you played?

SPEAKER_03 51:47

Oh, I actually was just talking about how I was playing in general with my kids. Oh, going in general. But I will tell you that one of my Mahjong friends was there in Disney at the same time, but she had little kids and I had like teens and tweens. Yeah, she brought the set and she was at the four seasons pool. Like, but I couldn't come there and meet her because like I'm doing the like evening thing and she's doing the morning. Oh, totally different schedule.

SPEAKER_02 52:08

And also, we're like, I think I'm like, we just want to not be around people when we get back.

SPEAKER_01 52:12

It's a lot, it's a lot. Okay, so here's what I just envisioned. Speaking of like dream mahjong um places to play. And I used to love going to Disney when I was younger. Yeah, my sister was just at the four seasons and loved it. I haven't done Disney in a long time, so I have not been there, but I remember going to the Grand Floridian. I picture playing in the Grand Floridian lobby. Like it's got that really high ceiling and it's got that very, you know, try I love traditional, more traditional vibe.

SPEAKER_03 52:37

So in about five minutes, I'm sure someone will have like a Disney tile set. Oh my gosh. I actually was thinking that, and this will be in my next post, but what is interesting is I think that going there as adults and adult women, people who are looking for connection, like and they're like, I kind of want to just like see what it's all about. I haven't been in years, you know. What's land in like Epcot or something, and then having like a retreat where you can also go play. I'm not gonna plan it, but someone should do that.

SPEAKER_01 53:04

This is a good idea for someone that well, I mean, we will go, we'll attend.

SPEAKER_03 53:07

I have no more time. I have no more time, but if someone wants to do that, that sounds like a super fun thing where you can, you know, go to Epcot and go see the Magic Kingdom, but like as adults and not you don't have to write any of the books. And then play Mahjong and then go back and play Mahjong.

SPEAKER_01 53:21

This sounds amazing. For anybody that will like to plan, if there's any travel people out there, Michelle and I will attend. Right. Okay, so as you can tell, Michelle and I are both talkers, and we could probably go on for hours. And we are gonna probably talk more off this recording, but um, thank you, listeners. I just encourage you to play mahjong. It's so fun and play games because Michelle is really about all games and all hobbies, and she has such a great personality. I cannot thank you enough for being here. Thank you, Michelle.

SPEAKER_03 53:46

Thank you, thank you so much. And I have to tell everybody the one thing that I like think of every time I listen to your podcast is how I much when I'm in Nashville, I miss Chicago. And you and Shelly, when I hear you two like talking, not only do you guys have like a really thick Chicago accent. Oh, we do. Oh, but so it's like, I don't even know what you guys are saying. It's like listening to talk radio. Like sometimes you're like, I have no idea what they're saying, but they've got such a thick Chicago accent. But it's also because I think you have that like Polish, like the du. Oh, well, we are Polish.

SPEAKER_02 54:14

Well, and it's got that that like it's a very strong Chicago, you know, you're you know, I guess dialect, right? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 54:21

Yeah, no, we are. I am Polish. So Chicago and Polish. It's funny because I don't even realize that about myself because I'm in my own little bubble.

SPEAKER_02 54:28

I don't even care what you're talking about. I'm like, oh, if I'm homesick, I'm like, I'm just gonna listen to you know Kelly Talk.

SPEAKER_01 54:34

If you're a Chicago native living somewhere else that's Polish, apparently this is also a way to feel like you're at home. Yeah. Okay, well, thank you again, listeners. Thank you for being here, Michelle. And um, listen again for the next episode coming soon. Goodbye, everybody.