Back to Reality
We had to stop at Staples the other day and we were surprised to find the aisles jammed. Excited kids were begging for 3-D dinosaur pencil tins and the extra-large pack of Crayola crayons — “It comes […]
Author: The Word Mavens
Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic are The Word Mavens. They’ve been writing partners for 15 years – dispensing their advice and opinions on everything from new technology and hosting Thanksgiving to sneaking out of a party early. Their features appear in The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Forward, The Writer, Interfaith Family and more. Their hilarious book talk, "Shmoozing with The Word Mavens" garners rave reviews from audiences everywhere. Together, Joyce and Ellen are the authors of the best-selling Dictionary of Jewish Words and The Whole Spiel: Funny essays about digital nudniks, seder selfies and chicken soup memories, a collection of some of their favorite essays. Their third book, Stuff Every Grandmother Should Know, will be published in early 2019 by Quirk Books.
When the Weather Outside Is Sweaty
Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic write, speak and blog together as The Word Mavens. Northeast on Fire! Massive Heat Wave Bearing Down! No Relief in Sight! When summer comes, TV weather people shout these teasers […]
We’re Mavens and Proud of It
Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic write, speak and blog together as The Word Mavens. Through the magic of all-knowing, all-seeing Google, you can sign up for a “Google Alert” that lets you know when certain […]
The Same Old, Same Old Father’s Day Gifts
Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic write, speak and blog together as The Word Mavens. A week or so ago, our husbands told us what they wanted for Father’s Day: A new umbrella to replace the […]
May Your Pupik Always Be Clean and Lint-Free
Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic write, speak and blog together as The Word Mavens. William Shakespeare was born in April, the month that kicks off with April Fools’ Day. So perhaps it’s no surprise that […]
Running for President? Thank You, Next
Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic write, speak and blog together as The Word Mavens. When we go to the newest restaurant, we feel young and trendy – until we have to turn on our iPhone […]
Valentine’s Day the Old-Fashioned Way
On Valentine’s Day in fifth grade, we remember sitting at our desks anxiously awaiting the distribution of cards from a shoebox wrapped in red foil. We could count on getting valentines from our girlfriends. Maybe […]
Now with 30% more wit and sarcasm! … but no quinoa
Rice Chex cereal has always been 100 percent rice, but now it boasts that it’s gluten-free. It never had gluten. But now that gluten is on the no-fly list, being gluten-free is a bragging point. […]
We Love the Tchotchkes of Christmas
We’re Jewish. Our husbands are Jewish and our kids are Jewish. We’ve been Jewish for thousands of years. It’s not news to us that we don’t celebrate Christmas. We’ve never had a Christmas tree. Never cooked a holiday ham. […]
Hurry Up and Wait
Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic write, speak and blog together as The Word Mavens. They say you spend one-third of your life sleeping, but some days we feel like we spend the other two-thirds of […]