Jen Mann's Blog, page 14

Am I the Only One Who Thinks This Christmas Song is Rapey?

How is it in the 40-plus years I've been listening to Christmas music, I've never actually listened to it?

Let me explain: It was Black Friday. My mother and I were out and about maxing out our credit cards and throwing elbows for seven dollar waffle irons. After several hours of shopping, my mom faded and dropped out to go home to bed. Wussy.



I still had one more stop to make. The worst one of the night -- Kohl's. Gomer had his heart set on giving Hubs a pair of slippers he saw in the...

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

On Friday, I told you guys about Michelle and her special delivery to me. I challenged all of you to tell me why YOU would NEVER EVER return my book to me. I said that I would randomly pick a winner and then I'd send that person Michelle's book.


I thought maybe I'd get 20 comments. I thought, I'll be thrilled if 50 people leave me a message. You guys! You're the bestest ever! I got over 900 comments! Whoa. Suck it, Michelle.

As promised, I have picked a winner:

Cathleen Carosella from Fort...

The Best Hate Mail I Received (This Week)

I am not everyone's cup of tea. I will admit to that. I don't expect for everyone like my brand of humor. It's not for everyone.

Every week I get several emails and comments telling me what an unfunny, vulgar, opinionated, judgmental, bitchy asshole I am. I have been told I should have never had children. I have been told that the Hubs is the dumbest man on the planet for marrying me, because I am a nightmare. I have received death threats, but the worst are the comments about my children's...

Look No Further. THIS is the Best Holiday Gift Guide Ever

I fully realize that I'm not Gwyneth or Oprah or Ellen, but I like to make lists of my favorite things too! As my kids get older, gone are the days that I'm throwing elbows for the hottest American Girl doll or the coolest Lego set. I hate to wear pants, so any shopping I can do from my bed is a plus. That's why I asked around and I put together the best holiday gift guide you'll ever read. OK, that might be a slight exaggeration. But there's a lot of good stuff on here. I'm buying some of...

The Goop Gift Guide is Here!

I don't know if you heard the news or not, but Gwyneth's Goop Gift Guide (I call it the 4Gs) came out a few weeks ago. I didn't write about it right away, because I was too busy snapping up some of her ah-may-zing buys!

I mean, really, who can't use a twenty dollar mushroom knife? Can you say stocking stuffer? Just last week, my husband was complaining that we didn't have a knife suitable for cutting mushrooms. Every knife I handed him just simply would not do. "No, Jen! This is clearly...

The Perfect Arrival Letter for Your Elf on the Shelf

December is here and the official Elf on the Shelf season has begun. First, you needed 101 ideas of what to do with your doll, then you needed a special calendar to keep your antics straight, and now I'm hearing about Arrival Letters.

It's not enough to dig your Elf out of the couch cushions where you shoved him last year. Now he needs to arrive.


I thought a red carpet was quite the to-do for him, but once again, the candy cane bar is being raised. The red carpet is for losers who don't love...

How Real Men Get Flu Shots

You may remember the Great Man Flu Epidemic of the Punch Household. Before the Epidemic I always got a flu shot and I always made sure our kids got a shot or the mist too, but the Hubs refused. However, ever since the Epidemic, the Hubs has been diligent about getting a flu shot. Even though the Hubs is convinced he needs to vaccinated, he has a real fear of needles and every time he must psyche himself up to get the shot. (Before you ask, he won't do the mist. I'm not sure why, but he's even...

These Little Messy Boys Will Make You Laugh

You know me, I'm not a big fan of messy kids or naughty kids, but sometimes I bend my own rules.

You've got to see these two little messy naughty boys. When I first watched this video I was ready to be irritated with the kids and the dad, but there's just something so sweet about those little paint-covered faces asking "What's so funny, Daddy?" that melted me.

And then when the older kid throws the little one under the bus, he won my heart.

You have to watch this video and let me know what...

Bookplates Are Arriving!!

I'm hearing from readers that their signed bookplates are arriving!

Yay!

All of the cool kids got one of these.
A few of you are a bit confused as to why you're receiving my autograph in the mail. Well, you asked for it.

That's right. A few months ago I told you that my publisher offered to send bookplates to any reader who wanted one. You signed up. You willingly handed over your address and now you have a sticky thing with my name scrawled on it. You're welcome.

I know that several of you...

Caitlyn Ricci

It's like deja vu! A few months ago I wrote about the "adorable" New Jersey girl, Rachel Canning, who sued her parents for tuition. It's happening AGAIN in New Jersey! This time it's a 21 year old spoiled brat who hasn't spoken to her parents in two years who wants them to cough up money for her to attend a private university. A judge ruled in her favor!

Source: Maura McGarveyThat's right! Only the story gets better. So, Caitlyn Ricci (the new girl) has been raised by her divorced parents....