Okay so I have to be completely honest here. I’m not the gamer. The last video game console I owned was a Nintendo system. It was probably the first one that was made. I played Super Mario Bros and owned maybe two other games, a Summer Olympics one and a BMX racing one. Yes I was quite the athlete in my virtual world.
But lately I have been drawn to the Nintendo DS, its small; it comes in PINK, and seems like the perfect device for my “mommy time out” moments. I don’t say free time because that doesn’t exist in my world. I juggle a full-time job, a business, this blog, and another one, a toddler, a dare-devil one year old, a husband and a household. Well scratch the household part because there is still a pile of clothes sitting on my couch.
This coming year I plan on scheduling in some “mommy time” on a daily basis. But what do I do during “mommy time”? Well l had no idea until I started seeing a bunch of Nintendo DS commercials lately, it’s like they were calling my name. Liv Tyler and Nicole Kidman are moms and they both have a Nintendo DS at least in the ads they do.
Lisa Kudrow even uses hers to help cook with her daughter. And I really need help like that.
Then a couple of weeks ago I was walking through Topanga Canyon mall and found a Nintendo DS booth set up. It was a Nintendo DS Massage Spa – you play the DS and they give you a massage, who would pass that up.
Well me, I had a screaming baby in the stroller that needed to be fed. So I missed out on the massage and test drive. Hopefully they will be there when I start Christmas shopping. Yes I know Christmas is only 14 days away!
To get myself in the spirit I decided to do some DS window shopping. I never realized you could cook with the help of a hand held gaming device.
Check out some of the cooking tutorials they have on hand:
- Personal Trainer: Cooking (Lisa Kudrow was promoting this one)
- Happy Cooking
- What’s Cooking with Jamie Oliver
- Gourmet Chef
All perfect for my other plan for the New Year – do more cooking. Cooking and Stephanie do not get along. So my adventures will be coming soon to in my Uncooks Guide to Cooking blog.
However the DS can’t be all about cooking, after all the whole point was to find something to do during my “Mommy Time” so I created a list of some real games that should distract me from my motherly, businessly, wifely duties.
- Mystery Case MillionHeir
- Tomb Raider
- Quick Yoga Training – for relaxing
- Ballet Star – keep the blood flowing
So yes I am drawn to the Nintendo DS. (hint to the hubs, Christmas present) It’s not just for kids, mommies can play too!
Are you a mom with a DS, I would love to know your thoughts. What games are your favorites? Have you tried some on my list? What games would you want to play during your “mommy time”?
I’m not a mom, but I have a DS. Diner Dash is fun. I also like Mario Cart.
I don’t have a DS, but I saw a girlfriend of mine come into my office with one the other day. It was so cute, she played for about 40 minutes while she waited for an appointment. It looked like a really nice ‘time out’ from our busy lives. We need that!
we got a ds for our princess for christmas and as i have been talking to others, there are more and more grown-ups with those. and i, like you, LOVE the pink one. that’s what color we got princess. we got her the nancy drew mystery game. diner dash on the computer is tons of fun!!! i hope you get your ds
(found you on bpotw)
I’m your woman! I am a mom with a 4-year-old and my love affair with the Nintendo DS began earlier this summer. It is perfect for any down time you have and I originally got it to do something while I have to sit in my child’s room while he falls asleep (yes…I’m not laying next to him anymore but I have to sit in a chair in the room. Eventually I figure I will be able to get out of the room but we started with a family bed so we’ve made progress). ANYWAY…the Nintendo DS is great. I’m not a gamer by any means and this was the perfect system for me. Here are some of the games I have bought and enjoyed:
1. Brain Age 1 and 2 — I bought these to combat “mommy brain.” You do all kinds of things to increase your brain power like math, play piano, count change, remember stuff. There is also Sudoku games which I think the DS style is perfect as I can’t do them with pencil — too much erasing.
2. Brain Challenge — This is another brain building game and a little more fun than the Brain Age ones. I played this for more than 50 hours so far. There are about 40 games in topics such as memory, logic, visual, math and another that escapes me. The games are really really fun. Plus you unlock extras like Tangrams. I would definitely recommend this game as it has a lot of replay value.
3. Professor Layton and the Curious Village — This is anothter puzzle game where you solve lots of brain teasers. These are really hard (at least to me) and can be a bit frustrating. The game itself is a story game as well where you are detective solving a mystery and you solve the puzzles along the way. There are other ancillary games along the way as well. This one is definitely challenging but fun.
4. TouchMaster — If you want to just jump in and out of a game quickly, this is a great choice. It consists of about 20 different games — cards (different versions of Solitair), Skill (I tend to skip over these) and Puzzles (the best category). There is a superaddictive game called Mahki that had my husband and I obsessed for days. There are also versions of Yahtzee, Wheel of Fortune type games and more. A great value.
5. WordJong — This is a fun game. If you are familiar with Mahjongg type games, this is along those lines. You get letter tiles and you have to spell words to get rid of the tiles and get points. There are several ways to play this game as well and it is a lot of fun.
Those are probably my 5 top games to play. I have WordMaster (kind of like Boggle with words) but I don’t play it as much. I also have Planet Puzzle League but it wasn’t very satisfying. I’m looking to get TouchMaster 2 for Christmas.
Hope this helps! If you have any questions or want more info, let me know. I love my Nintendo DS!
I too want a N.DS. I have a Wii and I play Brain Academy and a Word game, but it would be nice to be able to do this while hubby is watching Football.
I love DS as well, its got so much brain testing games, good for kids as well, but i am still a all time PSP fan, such a great feeling when your holding it
I just did a post on this! Isnt it crazy how they are marketing to us now?? I find myself shopping for things I can get to use on my sons DS…maybe mommy needs one for xmas?
I have one that my 17 yr. old son so proudly gave me last year for my birthday. I have 4 of those brain age type of games that I play on it. They really do help keep your mind sharp & are fun too.
I just wanted to stop by and give you some “comment love”. I don’t have a DS “yet”, but if I had one, I am sure I would have a hard time finding time to use it. LOL I am not looking forward to when my kids get older and we are fighting over video games. My little ones are all under the age of 4, so I have a little time…… I hope…. Anyway, I also wanted to mention that I love your blog design. Who did it for you? Very nice!!
Dawn aka Painter Mommy
I’m not physically capable of being a mum and I’m not really a gamer, but you certainly raise an interesting point about scheduling time for yourself.
In such a busy world we can’t wait for “spare time” to relax because there’s never any time left at the end of the day. We all need to schedule time with our family, our spouse and time for ourselves, otherwise it just won’t happen.
I hope your husband takes the hint and you get your DS for Christmas. I hope you also manage to schedule time to use it in 2009.
I’ve seen and heard about that little thing…not sure if I am ready to go there yet. If you get one, let me know…
Dawn,
Thanks for the comment about my blog design. I actually modified the template myself. I’m a web designer by trade.
Well, if I had mommy-time I would definitely veg-out on a game. But, as of now I am still working toward the goals of mommy-time.
I say go for it! You work hard so reward yourself.
Trena
I would love a Nintendo DS. They look fun. I think it’s a great idea for some “mommy time”.
I think that all mommies need to have a time out! And I think sometimes you need a time out with something that will really work your brain – and take out your frustrations! And I love the pink look!
Great post!
Gee thanks. Yet another gadget I just have to have now.
Had no idea they had cooking games! And I need to live where you do…massage booths and video games?
Sa-weet!
I totally used to play Super Mario Bros too…in fact, now that music is an earworm tonight! We have the Wii now though and it rocks. The DS is getting added to my Wishpot Wish list!
Great job on taking time out for yourself. I don’t have a game system, but some of those recommended games/programs sound great! I hope you find one under the Christmas tree this year!
Mom’s have better things to do than play these games! Nintendo DS has been marketing these games for moms, hoping to reach a new market of people but it’s completely RIDICULOUS! This generation of moms has to work. With what little time, money and resources we have, the last thing we want to do is spend it on VIDEO GAMES.
Pam,
I disagree, I think Mom’s need to take a break for themselves every now and then. If they like to play video games during their “me” time, that’s great. I am a tech junkie so I like gadgets and think the Nintendo DS would be a nice distraction from the real world from time to time.