Small Business Saturday

Back when I lived in Jersey, one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday afternoon was to drive to Target in Edgewater and go shopping. 

Did I need anything? 

No, not really. 

But it was such fun to browse the aisles with my ridiculously large red cart and load up! Where else can you get throw pillows, fuzzy socks, light bulbs, a birthday card, Pop Tarts, Q-Tips and a Starbucks Venti Passion Fruit Shaken Iced Tea Lemonade in 5 minutes flat? 

Of course, we have a Target nearby in Florida too -- and another brand new one on the way -- but these days, I don't really have the time for freewheelin' with my giant cart. 

So I shop online. A lot. Like, a lot a lot. This isn't really new. I've been doing it for decades. Honestly, I'm like a silent online shopping ninja -- in and out before you even know I'm there.  

One time, I shopped on so many sites so fast, Amex called because they thought a THIEF had my  card.  

Hi, my name is Jen. I buy loads of silly things I don't need. Quickly.

I do try, though, to practice some conscious consumerism in my sprees. So I support small businesses. Or businesses that make their products in the US. Or brands run by women. Or brands that give back to their communities. Kinda like Target! (Kidding -- although they do do that.)

Now that the holiday season is upon us, I thought I'd spread some Christmas cheer to the many small businesses across the country that had the courage to start up.  After the past few years, they could probably use some extra revenue in their stockings.  

Over the past year or so, I've shopped on these sites -- 24 in all -- and I've loved the loot I got. So save Santa a trip and check off your nice list in your jingle jammies...

Or, buy a whole bunch of stuff for yourself. 

I won't judge.

Aviator Nation

- Founded: 2006 in CA by Paige Mycoskie 

- Style: 70s surfer

- What I Got: 5-Stripe Hoodie in Navy

- Fun Fact: I learned about this brand from my 14 year old niece

Draper James

- Founded: 2015 in TN by Reese Witherspoon 

- Style: Southern belle

- What I Got: Crewneck Sweater in Pink Colorblock, 2 Headbands & a Scrunchie (!!)

- Fun Fact: Named in honor of her grandparents, Dorothea Draper & William James Witherspoon

Faherty

- Founded: 2013 in NY by Alex & Mike Faherty

- Style: Beachy good vibes

- What I Got: Throwback Sweater Hoodie in Varsity Blues

- Fun Fact: They partner with Native American artists to make authentic designs that benefit their communities

Firstport

- Founded: 2020 in CT by Dillon Milardo

- Style: College-inspired vintage

- What I Got: Nantucket Rugby Crewneck in Dark Denim

- Fun Fact: This looks so authentic that people will ask you about the team when you wear it -- be ready with a good story

Homage

- Founded: 2007 in OH by Ryan Vesler

- Style: Vintage varsity

- What I Got: Retro Yankees & Giants Tees

- Fun Fact: Their "Chief T-shirt Officer" started this company in his parents' basement

Kiel James Patrick

- Founded: 2008 in RI by Kiel and Sarah Patrick (though I hear that's not their real last name)

- Style: New England Ivy League prep

- What I Got: Lakeside Crewneck in Navy & Newport Tennis Club Tee

- Fun Fact: They'e been together since they were teenagers and taught themselves to sew

Saint + Sofia

- Founded: 2020 in London by Malcolm and Dessi Bell

- Style: Brit chic

- What I Got: Cotton Biker Jacket in Navy Stripe

- Fun Fact: All their clothes are made from natural or recycled fabrics

Summersalt

- Founded: 2017 in MO by Lori Coulter and Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin

- Style: Classic athleisure

- What I Got: The Softest French Terry Quarter Zip Pullover in Santorini & Midnight and Pullover in Midnight & Slate

- Fun Fact: They got Insta-famous over a one-shoulder one-piece swimsuit sensation

Vineyard Vines

- Founded: 1998 in MA by Shep & Ian Murray

- Style: Beach casual

- What I Got: Flag Whale & Beach Fireworks Tees

- Fun Fact: The brothers' smiling whale logo is meant to inspire customers to live the good life

Vuori

- Founded: 2015 in CA by Joe Kudla

- Style: Coastal Cali

- What I Got: Performance Joggers in Blue Quartz & Charcoal Heather (I have Navy too)

- Fun Fact: These might be the most comfortable pants I've ever owned

Wooden Ships

- Founded: 1992 in Bali by Paola Buendía

- Style: Instagrammable sweaters

- What I Got: Customizable Jersey Sweater in Loden and Pure Snow

- Fun Fact: Each sweater is made to order

AllBirds

- Founded: 2014 in CA by Tim Brown

- Style: Eco-friendly flats

- What I Got: Tree Breezers in Hazy Cocoa and Thrive Yellow (I have about 6 pairs total)

- Fun Fact: These shoes hug your foot like a sock

Rothy's

- Founded: 2016 in CA by Stephen Hawthornthwaite and Roth Martin

- Style: Classic comfort

- What I Got: The Flat in Indigo Zebra and Orchid (I have at least a dozen pairs)

- Fun Fact: These shoes are washable, made from recycled water bottles and are super comfy

SeaVees

- Founded: 2008 in CA by Steven Tiller

- Style: Retro casual

- What I Got: Balboa Court Shoe in Kelly Green (This is my 3rd pair)

- Fun Fact: Originally owned by Converse, this brand was shelved for 40 years then brought back to life

Superga

- Founded: 1911 in Italy by Walter Martiny

- Style: Euro sport

- What I Got: Platform Sneaker in White

- Fun Fact: This footwear brand has been around for over a century

BaubleBar

- Founded: 2011 in NY by Amy Jain and Daniella Yacobovsky

- Style: Trendy bling

- What I Got: Snowflake Studs, Twinkle Trees and Blanche Earrings

- Fun Fact: This company started as a class project when they were at Harvard Business School

Charm It

- Founded: 2000 in NY by Renee Levy Klarreich

- Style: Girly nostalgia

- What I Got: "Gold" Chain Bracelet and a whole bunch of Charms

- Fun Fact: Another business that began in her parents' garage

Claire V.

- Founded: 2008 in CA by Clare Vivier

- Style: French chic

- What I Got: Flat Leather Stripe Clutch & Foldover Clutch

- Fun Fact: They have a resale marketplace for their own clothing & handbags

Ink + Alloy

- Founded: 2016 in GA by Gretchen Hollingsworth

- Style: Modern bohemian

- What I Got: 10 Strand Stretch Beaded Bracelets in Rainbow, Hot Pink, Red + Blue & Colorblock

- Fun Fact: Their founder designed for Whole Foods, Urban Outfitters, West Elm, Crate and Barrel and Target

Love Is Project

- Founded: 2012 in Kenya by Chrissie Lam and her mom, Gladys

- Style: Lovingly handmade

- What I Got: The Original Love Bracelet in Red as a gift, the red beads represent bravery, strength, and unity

- Fun Fact: Women in the Maasai tribe make these beaded bracelets

Marleylilly

- Founded: 2010 in SC by Kelly Owens

- Style: Personalized sorority

- What I Got: Monogrammed Nantucket Bracelet Set in Navy & Mixed Bead Bracelet Set in Multi

- Fun Fact: This company was started by a crafty college grad on a monogram machine she bought off Ebay

Tuckernuck

- Founded: 2012 in by sisters Jocelyn and Maddie with their college friend, September

- Style: Curated classics

- What I Got: Momogrammed Green Embroidered Tennis Racquet Boat Tote

- Fun Fact: The company is named for a small island off the coast of Nantucket

Beautyhabit

- Founded: 1996 in CA by Teresa Mitchell

- Style: Luxe beauty

- What I Got: Child Perfume Roll On

- Fun Fact: I discovered this scent on a business trip to LA and always get complements on how it smells

Thrive Causemetics

- Founded: 2014 in CA by Karissa Bodnar

- Style: Beauty with a conscience

- What I Got: Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara in Brynn (Black)

- Fun Fact: All their products are vegan and cruelty-free and this makes your lashes look amazing

Just for fun, here's few new shops that have caught my eye, and might show up under my tree...

Frank & Eileen

The Last Line

Mrs. Alice

Rowing Blazers

Happy shopping and happy ho-ho-holidays to you!

Goodbye, Friend

I can't wrap my head around Matthew Perry's sudden death yesterday so I thought I'd come here and blog it out.  

It may sound crazy, but I feel genuinely sad over his passing, almost like I lost an actual friend. And maybe I did? 

Maybe we all did.

Friends began at pivotal point in my life, at the beginning of my senior year in college. Every Thursday night, my 7 roommates and I would order Chinese food and a keg of Bud Light, hang out in our CT beach house off campus and start the weekend a little early watching our older, cooler "friends" who lived an hour's train ride away in NYC.

I just turned 21 when the show began in September 1994 and I was 30 in May 2004 when they aired the last episode. As the Friends navigated their way through adult life, lessons and loves, so did I.

Friends became my happy place.

And in the past three decades, it is a place I've visited, and revisited, and re-re-visited often, especially during hard times when I really needed a smile. 

I love every character. I know every episode by heart. I laugh at every joke. I can recite every line. Watching this show is like wrapping myself up in the coziest blanket with the sweetest smell of home.

Could there BE a more perfect theme song? I'll be there for you.

Learning in recent years how much Matthew was suffering with drug and alcohol addition while Chandler was bringing millions of people -- like me -- so much joy makes me super sad too. But it doesn't change how I feel about the show. Watching those seasons, knowing what I know now, I'm even more impressed with his talent as an actor and his timing as a comedian during those dark days.

He seemed earnest in trying to get his life back on track, but maybe his body just couldn't take it. Couldn't recover anymore. My heart breaks for his friends, Jennifer, Courtney, Lisa, Matt and David. Mourning one of their own at age 54 feels so wrong.

It wasn't supposed to end like this.

RIP Chanandeler Bong. I'll miss you. Thanks for the laughs, Matty, may you rest in peace.

Fifteen

Sorry, Swifies.

This post is not an anthem to freshmen year and first loves. It IS about the fact that this here lil blog turned 15 today!

Isn't she pretty? 

And much like when Tay Tay wrote Fifteen, I feel like I'm in my Fearless Era when I write here. Or at least I try to be.

I mean, does it seem a little silly for a 50 year old woman to keep what is essentially an online diary?

Sure. Maybe. Ok.

But I don't care. 

To celebrate this space that I created on a whim back in 2008, I'm currently in a sparkly ball gown, wearing winged eyeliner, and making hand hearts, just like Taylor. 

At least I am in my mind!

So, as we've done in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 - 2022, let's take a look back at the past Era... I mean year.

Total Posts I've Written (including this one):
349

Average Number of Posts I Write Per Month:
0.7 (UP from 0.6 last time -- still bad, but a teensy bit better!)

Average Number of Unique Visitors Per Month:
410 (UP from 398 last time)

Average Pageviews Per Month:
2,247 (UP from 2,005 last year)

Most Traffic Comes From:
Still a tie between Google and Pinterest

Most-Read Blog Posts in the Past Year (Tie):

2023: Celebs Turning 50 and I'm a Barbie Girl

Most-Read Blog Posts Ever (in order of popularity):
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Pinterest (December 2012)
Which Christmas Cookie Are You? (December 2015)
A Gluten-Free Holiday Feast (December 2014)
Farewell, Crawleys (March 2016)

Grease Is the Word (January 2016)
Dear Stores that Close on Thanksgiving (November 2015)
Election Eve (November 2016)
Freedom (July 2016)

To Date or Not to Date (October 2008)
20 Apps I Adore (January 2012)

Post Nobody Gave a Crap About:

2023: Made in 73

Most Comments:
Ummm, nobody comments anymore... better luck next year!

Most Popular Poll:
I didn't do any this year.  Poo.
Up in the Air (all-time)

Most Frequently-Used Tag for the Posts I Write:
It used to be Pop Culture

This year it was Holidays

Most Popular Search by Visitors:
Dating

Lastly, My Favorite Posts I've Written in the Past Year (Tie):

2023: The One Where Jen Turns 50 and Iron Woman

So, there you have it.  A look back to remind myself -- and hopefully you -- that I really do love this blog.  I am still writing about TV shows when the mood strikes, but this one has a special place in my heart.

Thanks (as always) for reading!

The One Where Jen Turns 50

Today marks half a century in the rearview mirror. 

Wow.

For months, I've tried really hard to embrace this new decade. But like "fetch," it just isn't happening. 

Presents would make it better, right? So, I toyed with buying myself something fancy, like another designer handbag or a diamond tennis bracelet or a new car. 

Would these things bring me joy? Maybe for a little while.

Then, I got a crazy idea. 

I made a time capsule, overflowing with things I've adored through the decades. Each piece unlocked a merry memory -- Muppets and Barbies, Mad Libs and Legos, Puzzles and Pez, Gilmores and Friends. 

And I topped it all off with a DIY 5-tier "cake" full of my favorite candies. Pop Rocks, Nerds AND Whatchamacallits? 

I'm in heaven!

Now THESE things brought me joy. But what really warmed my heart was the flurry of flowers, balloons, chocolates, jewelry and sweet notes that my friends and family sent.

This birthday has been full of blessings. I'm one lucky girl.

I have to say, 50 doesn't really feel like I thought it would. In my mind, I'm 27. In my body, I'm 72! And on this big day, I feel like I should share the little lessons I've learned along the way... 

Here are 5 things I know:

The Golden Rule is as important today as it ever was. 
Treat others as you want to be treated. Move through this world with kindness and grace. It's really as simple as that.

Be generous with your time, money and attention.
I love pretty stuff, but what feeds my soul is time spent with my loved ones. There's never ever enough of that. Helping someone who needs it feels pretty great too. Or really being present in the moment, focused on what I'm doing or who I'm with -- unplugged and plugged in -- feels like a luxury I need to do more. 

Friends are about quality over quantity.
They say we have friends for a reason, for a season or for a lifetime. And nothing beats lifelong friends who knew you back when and love you no matter what.  I met my 5 best friends between the ages of 7 and 18, and we can not talk, text or see eachother for months, even years, and then pick right back up as if no time has passed at all, laughing at old memories and making new ones. That is a gift. 

Get comfortable in your own skin.
It's not about giving zero efs for what others think. It's about a confident belief in who YOU are. Owning your values, your likes, your quirks, your strengths and weaknesses. You can't force that process, you have to ease into it like a La-z-boy.

Everything happens for a reason.
We all know life is uncertain. Call it faith or karma or intuition, but I believe the universe sends you signs when you're on the right path, or the wrong one. So listen up.

And just like the birthday candles on my cheesecake, here's one more to grown on...

Don't sweat the small stuff.
Easier said than done, so I'll be working on it as I enter this new decade. I hope I'm off to a good start because I do find myself caring less about trivial things.  Like if you want to leave your Xmas decorations up all year long, knock yourself out! Or if you don't return your shopping cart to the store, so be it! (Just don't park near me.) Or if you put the toilet paper on the roll the wrong way... 

Nope, no. Actually, that still really bugs the crap out of me.

I guess some things don't change.

Okay, so maybe I'm making peace with this new decade. Now, the new problem with turning 50 is that 60 comes next!

Yikes. Good thing I have candy.

I'm a Barbie Girl

You've really been living under a rock if you haven't heard: This hot-girl summer belongs to Barbie. 

For nearly 65 years, the planet has been obsessed with a blond-haired, blue-eyed, 12-inch-tall hunk of plastic. 

Her name? Barbara Millicent Roberts.

Love her or loathe her, Mattel and Warner Bros have put on a Master Class in marketing for the movie, with a dizzying 100+ brand partnerships in place before one fuchsia frame ever hit the big screen.

It is literally impossible to avoid catching Barbie Fever. 

From Progressive insuring her Dream House and AirBnB renting the real thing, to Gap selling matching Barbie clothes for you and your doll and Google exploding in fireworks for Barbie searches, the whole world's gone positively pink.

And I'm hooked!

The best marketing is rooted in emotion -- who among us couldn't use a hearty dose of nostalgia? A taste of a sweeter and simpler time. She's like a tiny toy time machine, transporting us to a cotton candy world swirling with happiness and fun. 

It's the ultimate escape. 

After all, Barbie Pink isn't just a color. It's a feeling. Like Tiffany Blue.

Why is life in plastic so fantastic? Well, maybe in an increasingly gender-neutral society, the Barbiecore trend gives everyone permission to unapologetically embrace all things girly.

And me? I LOVED her. 

Still do. Check out all this stuff I'm getting for my birthday -- I'm 50, not 5 -- yet the highlight is the original 1977 Barbie that started it all when I was just 4 years old.  Even at that young age, I knew Babs was special.  

This wasn't a babydoll to feed and diaper. This was a grownup! So I dressed her in sequins and feathers because MY girl was going samba over to Studio54.

Over the years, Barbie's caught a lot of flack for creating unattainable beauty standards. And sure, with anatomically impossible measurements of 39-21-33, her original rib cage couldn't fit all her organs. 

But who needs a pancreas anyway? 

Here's one thing I do know: Barbie is meant to be FUN! Remember fun?

Barbie can be ANYTHING. A pinup girl and an astronaut. A cowgirl and a scuba diver. An aerobics instructor and a train conductor. A rock star and a vet. 

Isn't that the point of make-believe?

To me, that's still pretty inspiring.  

So, I'll be the girl in the pink Corvette, driving off into the sunset. I hear Ken's waiting back in Malibu at the mansion with a couple of frozen margs...

Iron Woman

Did I tell you I have low iron?

Actually low isn't exactly the right word. It's almost nonexistent. Like, it's supposed to be above 20 and mine, at the lowest, was 6.

And turns out that's kinda bad. 

My rheumatologist discovered it first, about a year ago after some routine bloodwork, when I got a panicked call from a frantic nurse who wanted me to drive myself directly to the ER for an immediate blood transfusion. 

I was actually in the car at the time, but I said no thanks.

That's crazy.

"Aren't you tired?" they asked about the main symptom of low iron. "Ummm, show me someone who isn't tired and I'll show you someone who isn't trying," I said. But regardless, this quickly lead me on a journey of iron infusions -- 11 total -- where you sit and read or listen to music or a podcast or watch Netflix or do work to distract you. 

I tried all of that, and guess what? 

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Nothing really distracts you from the giant, dark red bag of iron and other fluids that hang over your head (both figuratively and literally) and slooowly empty into your veins, a drop at a time over two hours.  Mine also took place at the local cancer center, in a giant room for 30+ mostly elderly people all hooked up to something horrible, which added an extra layer of sadness to the whole experience.

Through this past year, my new hematologist (aka blood expert) was remarkably uncurious about what was actually causing this deficiency.  But me, being uncomfortable with my deficiencies of any kind, started digging around and realized the origins were related to my increasingly intense periods, which ripped through ultra tampons and fat pads like they were a piece of toilet tissue stuck to a shaving nick.

TMI? Then you're not gonna like this...

It was the Niagara Falls of Blood meets Sunday Bloody Sunday, except it was every day, for weeks at a time. Only mortally wounded animals on the side of the highway bled more.

So I'm sure you see where this is going. The bloody iron was flowing in and then right back out.  Like a bucket with a big red hole in the bottom.

Charming.

When my last iron level came back lower than when I started, I'd had enough of this bullshit.  A friend at work connected me to an internist, who sent me to a gynecologist, and after a couple exams, a highly invasive ultrasound where the technician should have bought me dinner first, and an extremely painful biopsy that felt like a drill bit went up my hoo-hah, I had a diagnosis. 

Uterine fibroids. Loads of 'em. 

Plus a pretty big cyst, roughly the size of a golf ball. (Fore!) And they all bled whenever the mood struck. Which was... 

All. The. Time.

I was pissed at my dusty old uterus, but I actually really liked this gyno until she told me the next stop was Surgery Town. 

Wait, WHAT? Who, ME? Nooooo!

Yes. 

Somehow I made it 49 years without having ANY surgery, except that rotten root canal, which I don't think counts. This made me a giant fraidy cat and a bundle of overwhelming anxiety that would churn every day like dirty waves on the Hudson.

So my brother jumped on a jet plane to help out with my parents and drive me to this dreaded appointment. Turns out I needed a hysteroscopy, a myomectomy, a cystoscopy, a D&C and some other freakish shit I can't remember. At least I would get to go home afterwards -- so long as I didn't lose too much blood.

I got typed just in case and let's just say I always knew I was an A+ student (haha it's in the DNA!).

We showed up yesterday and met a series of helpful and skilled strangers. My blood pressure was bonkers off the charts, even after 2 doses of something to "take the edge off," and by the time they wheeled me in, I was literally shaking. The fact that the anesthesiologist warned that getting my TEETH knocked out was a risk of a surgery in my UTERUS certainly didn't help.

Spoiler alert: I still have all my teeth. 

And I have no more fibroids, cysts, polyps or other generally unwelcome growths down under. And they examined all that goop and decided it was benign. 

Praise Jesus! 

Although, I do feel like someone took gritty sandpaper and a BBQ brush and gave my lady parts a good scrubbing inside and out. I think my first words when I woke up was that I felt like a scooped-out bagel, but I don't think anyone got the reference.

We're not in Pine Brook -- or NYC -- anymore.

Anyway, twenty-four hours later, sitting up is still pretty uncomfortable but laying back is alright. I think. Good thing because I need to stay pretty horizontal throughout the weekend and probably into next week. 

All of the Ologists agree, I should rest.

I'm told that I have the ovaries of a 30 year old, the stretchy uterus of someone who's had multiple children, and that my periods will be "pristine" moving forward. 

Let's hope at least one of these things is true... wish me luck.

Celebs Turning 50

What do the Google co-founders, a vampire romance novelist, an intern with an infamous blue dress, a teen supercouple from 90210, a supermodel who coined the word "smize" and ME all have in common?

We were all born in 1973!

In my quest to embrace a new decade, I've decided to round up the celebrity cool cats who are in the same boat as me. In this case, Larry Page & Sergey Brin, Stephenie Meyer, Monica Lewinsky, Tori Spelling & Brian Austin Green and Tyra Banks -- and about 100 others.

Is that a spoonful of sugar to help this medicine go down? Yes.  

Is it working? No, no, not really. 

But I'll give it a try! So, here's a partial list of the legends, luminaries, top bananas, MVPs and wannabes who turn 50 this year...

Actresses

• January 31: Portia de Rossi, Ally McBeal
• February 15: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• April 2: Roselyn Sanchez, Devious Maids
• April 8: Emma Caulfield, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• April 11: Jennifer Esposito, Mistresses
• May 16: Tori Spelling, Beverly Hills 90210
• May 17: Sasha Alexander, Dawson's Creek
• June 21: Juliette Lewis, Cape Fear
• July 21: Ali Landry, Doritos Commercials
• July 23: Kathryn Hahn, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
• July 26: Kate Beckinsale, Serendipity
• August 6: Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
• August 22: Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
• September 7: Shannon Elizabeth, American Pie
• September 25: Bridget Wilson Sampras, Billy Madison
• October 3: Neve Campbell, Party of Five (& Scream)
• October 3: Keiko Agena, Gilmore Girls
• November 2: Marisol Nichols, Riverdale
• November 7: Yunjin Kim, Lost
• December 3: Holly Marie Combs

Actors

• February 25: Anson Mount, Crossroads
• March 24: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
• March 26: TR Knight, Gray's Anatomy
• April 3: Adam Scott, Parks & Rec (& Party Down)
• April 14: Adrien Brody, The Grand Budapest Hotel
• April 28: Jorge Garcia, Lost
• May 27: Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock
• June 1: Adam Garcia, Coyote Ugly
• June 15: Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
• June 16: Eddie Cibrian, Sunset Beach
• July 3: Patrick Wilson, Hard Candy
• July 15: Brian Austin Green, Beverly Hills 90210
• July 23: Omar Epps, Love & Basketball
• July 29: Stephen Dorff, Deuces Wild
• Sept 18: James Marsden, 27 Dresses (& Enchanted)
• November 26: Peter Facinelli, Twilight

Child Stars

• May 5: Tina Yothers, Family Ties
• August 1: Tempest Bledsoe, The Cosby Show
• October 9: Steve Burns, Blues Clues
• October 10: Mario Lopez, Saved by the Bell

Soap Stars

• February 7: Victor Webster, Days of Our Lives
• February 9: Colin Egglesfield, All My Children
• March 17: Amelia Heinle, Young & the Restless
• June 15: Greg Vaughan, General Hospital
• June 26: Rebecca Budig, All My Children

Reality Stars

• January 2: Will Kirby, Big Brother
• January 3: Jenni Pulos, Flipping Out
• January 23: Julie Oliver, The Real World NY
• June 22: Carson Daly, TRL & The Voice Host
• July 17: Tony Dovolani, Dancing with the Stars
• August 5: Reza Farahan, Shahs of Sunset
• August 17: David Bromstad, My Lottery Dream Home
• October 1: Alex McCord, Real Housewives of NY
• October 4: Jen Shah, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
• October 26: Phaedra Parks, Real Housewives of Atlanta
• November 9: Nick Lachey, Love Is Blind Host
• November 12: Ethan Zohn, Survivor
• November 27: Samantha Harris, Dancing with the Stars Host

Broadway Stars

• February 2: Marissa Jaret Winokur, Hairspray
• November 19: Savion Glover, Bring in da Noise

Musicians

• March 30: DJ AM
• April 5: Pharrell Williams
• May 23: Maxwell
• June 10: Faith Evans
• June 26: Gretchen Wilson
• August 8: Scott Stapp, Creed
• August 22: Howie D, Backstreet Boys
• December 11: Mos Def

Magicians

• April 4: David Blaine

Supermodels

• March 12: Eva Herzigova
• May 25: Molly Simms
• June 1: Heidi Klum
• December 4: Tyra Banks
• December 5: Shalom Harlow

Comedians

• February 20: Andrea Savage
• June 30: Sebastian Maniscalco
• August 24: Dave Chapelle
• October 26: Seth MacFarlane
• December 28: Seth Myers

Athletes

• February 4: Oscar de la Hoya, Boxer
• February 28: Eric Lindros, NHL
• March 23: Jason Kidd, NBA
• July 23: Nomar Garciaparra, MLB
• October 6: Rebecca Lobo, WNBA
• November 5: Johnny Damon, MLB
• December 2: Monica Seles, Tennis
• December 7: Terrell Owens, NFL

Authors

• October 9: Simon Sinek, Start with Why
• December 24: Stephenie Meyer, Twilight

Newscasters

• February 6: Amy Robach, GMA
• April 1: Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
• August 30: Lisa Ling, CNN
• November 8: David Muir, World News Tonight

Newsmakers

• January 22: Larry Birkhead, Mr. Anna Nicole Smith
• July 23: Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton Intern
• September 5: Rose McGowan, Harvey Weinstein Whistleblower
• September 12: Tarana Burke, #MeToo Movement

Politicians

• March 20: Ronna McDaniel, RNC Chair
• July 16: Tim Ryan, OH Congress
• August 3: Chris Murphy, CT Congress
• October 1: Devin Nunes, CA Congress
• December 9: Stacey Abrams, GA Congress

Entrepreneurs

• February 10: Charlotte Tilbury, Cosmetics Founder
• March 26: Larry Page, Google Co-Founder
• July 28: Anne Wojcicki, 23 & Me Founder
• August 21: Sergey Brin, Google Co-Founder

So, I've got about 5 months left before I join this club. 

That's enough time to win an Oscar, Emmy, Tony & Grammy, play pro ball, publish a novel, learn magic, run for Congress, become a child actor AND a Real Housewife and invent something as great as Google, right?

Sure. But first, I'll take a nap and dream of a time when I was half as old and twice as cute!

See ya later...zzzzz.

Made in 73

Welp, it's finally here.  

The year I turn ffff..., fiiiii..., fiffffff...

Ugh just I can't say it.  

So I'll say this instead: The year I turn 25x2.

I've actually got 8 more months to come to terms with this cold, hard fact. To embrace it, even!

(Hold my hair: BARF.)

Suffice it to say, I've got a long way to go.

My journey to jumpstart this golden jubilee starts with a look back.  An appreciation post, if you will. Turns out, some pretty cool stuff happened in 1973! 

So, let's disco down to the time machine and check 'em out...

Cost of Living:

• The year I was born, the average family income was $12,900 and the minimum wage was $1.60 per hour
• A new house cost around $32,500 and the average monthly rent was $175
• Average college tuition at a public four-year school was $358 and $1,561 at a private school
• A gallon of gas averaged 39 cents
• A first-class stamp cost 8 cents
• In the grocery store, eggs were 69 cents a dozen, Oreos were 59 cents per package, peanut butter was 99 cents per jar and two rolls of toilet paper cost 14 cents

In the News:

• The US population was 211,908,788
• Nixon started his second term and the Watergate scandal dominated the front pages
• The landmark Roe v. Wade case on abortion rights was decided
• Paris Peace Accords were signed, effectively ending the Vietnam War
• The twin towers of the World Trade Center opened in NYC, becoming the tallest buildings in the world
• Skylab launched to become the world’s first successful space station
• The Endangered Species Act was passed
• For the first time in U.S. history, women were allowed to serve on juries in all 50 states
• A 6-day hostage drama inside a Swedish bank began the psychological phenomenon known as "Stockholm Syndrome"

Top Entertainment:

• The Godfather won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and Marlon Brando declined the award for Best Actor 
• Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut and Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach were bestselling books
• The Exorcist, American Graffiti & Charlotte's Web all opened in movie theaters
• All in the Family, The Waltons, Sanford and Son, M*A*S*H, Hawaii Five-O, Maude, Kojak, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and The Mary Tyler Moore Show were the most popular shows on TV
• The Young & The Restless premiered as a new daytime soap opera
• Schoolhouse Rock! was born during Saturday morning cartoons
• Bette Midler won a Grammy for Best New Artist and Roberta Flack’s Killing Me Softly with His Song  swept Best Pop Female Vocal, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year
• Crocodile Rock by Elton John, You're So Vain by Carly Simon, You Are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce and We're An American Band by Grand Funk Railroad topped the music charts
• Hip hop was born at a birthday party in the Bronx

Top Sports:

• George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees
• The Dolphins beat the Redskins in Super Bowl VII, and are still the only team in NFL history to achieve a perfect season
• The cost of a Super Bowl ad was $88,000
• The NY Knicks won the NBA championships
• The Oakland As won the World Series
• Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup
• Secretariat won the Triple Crown
• Jack Nicklaus won the PGA championship
• Billie Jean King & Bobby Riggs played tennis in the famous Battle of The Sexes (she won)

New Inventions:

• Garlic knots were were first baked in the ovens of Ozone Park, Queens
• Stove Top Stuffing first appeared on grocery store shelves
• Carl Sontheimer created the Cuisinart
• Betty Morris of Brookfield, Wisconsin whipped up Shrinky Dinks
• The first mobile phone call was made by Motorola in NYC
• Air bags were first used the Oldsmobile Tornado
• MRI technology was developed to surpass traditional Xrays for diagnosing medical issues
• Michaels first opened their doors to the delight of crafters everywhere
• Federal Express began operations in Memphis, Tennessee, on their first night 14 planes delivered 186 packages to 25 U.S. cities

And the #1 baby's name was... Jennifer!

No surprise there, it was the most popular girl's name for 15 years running.  Seriously.

I'll be processing this new decade over my next few posts, so come along for the ride.  I'd love the company! But let's take it slow, nobody's got time to break a hip.