{"id":57613,"date":"2025-11-20T11:46:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T11:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/57613\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T11:46:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T11:46:12","slug":"oprah-names-mini-mahjer-one-of-her-favorite-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/57613\/","title":{"rendered":"Oprah names ‘Mini Mahjer’ one of her Favorite Things"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mini Mahjer creators Marian Brisch and Kristin Erwin<\/p>\n

Authors know they\u2019ve really made it when their book is selected for Oprah\u2019s Book Club<\/a>, and entrepreneurs know they\u2019ve made it when their products land on Oprah\u2019s List of Favorite Things<\/a>. Lake Highlands\u2019 own Marian Brisch<\/a> and Kristin Erwin are jumping for joy to see their Mini Mahjer game<\/a> featured by the divine Ms. O.<\/p>\n

Mini Mahjer is designed to teach the game of American Mahong to beginners, particularly children ages 6 and older. Brisch and Erwin recognized a need to simplify the complex, ancient Chinese game which has exploded in popularity across America and around the globe and make it accessible for children and families.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs young girls, we watched The Oprah Winfrey Show daily,\u201d Brisch and Erwin posted to Instagram<\/a> after they learned the big news, \u201cand we vividly remember the appearance of the Jibbitz founder<\/a> (a \u2018normal\u2019 mom). How could she start a business out of her house? How did she know what to do?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe now know the answers. Through grit, luck, and the people loving and supporting us, Mini Mahjer is a dream come true, and fulfilling our mission daily gives us the motivation to do it all over again the next day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brisch and Erwin\u2019s primary innovation is the \u201cMini Mahjer\u201d card, which offers a limited number of simplified winning combinations \u2014 fewer than the 73 options on a standard card. There\u2019s also no \u201cCharleston\u201d to select one\u2019s hand, players simply draw their tiles from the pile or bag. Their game includes three levels of play \u2014 beginner, intermediate and advanced \u2014 and each participant seeks to finish their hand according to their own card and capability. The innovative game allows players to build their skills and confidence as they each progress toward the official National Mahjong League (NMJL) card<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The pair has hosted Mahjong instructional parties at Lake Highlands Women\u2019s League<\/a> meetings, Vector Brewing<\/a> and other neighborhood locations.<\/p>\n

Products available on their site<\/a> include a $40 starter set, a $25 pink tile & travel bag and a $150 complete game.<\/p>\n

\u201cFamily game night is something we truly want to bring back \u2014 no screens, no distractions,\u201d they say. \u201cJust pure, genuine, unforgettable fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mini Mahjer<\/p>\n

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Marian Brisch teaches Mahjong to LH women.<\/p>\n