Jen Nails

Let's nail the basics:

1. I'm Jen, and my last name is really Nails. My great grandfather, Francisco Chiodi, came to New York City from Calabria in 1896. His last name was really Chiodi ("nails" in Italian). So the story goes, when asked his name at Ellis Island, he pointed to the nails in the wooden floor panels, and that's how come our family became Nails in America.

2. I have never owned a nail salon! I never visit them, either. I like painting my own fingernails (usually rainbow-style, so each one is a different color). 

3. Born and raised in Las Vegas, I always feel like my answer to the question "what was it like growing up there?" is never satisfying. It was pretty normal! My dad was a football coach and my mom was an English teacher. Parenting happened in metaphors, specifically football metaphors. You were always down by three, 4th down, ten seconds on the clock, almost in field goal range. My dad still says, during any pep talk, "never be afraid of 4th down."