Here's "My Other Story..." and although it gets a bit personal, I hope you will keep reading.

So growing up, my mother was never in great health, she struggled with asthma and emphyzema, even though she never smoked a day in her life! When I was in high school, she courageously battled and survived breast cancer, but her fight for health and wellness was always top of the agenda. After the cancer, she had lost a good bit of her passon for cooking, gardening and all things which required a lot of physical strength, which was completely understable. But for some reason I thought she would still age with me and my young family. This was not the case. She passed away suddenly three weeks after the birth of our second child - I was 28 years old.

 It was quite by accident, that I picked up Martha Stewart's very first cookbook, Entertaining, (published in 1982), at a church basement book sale, shortly after my mom's passing. I

looked at every single page of that cookbook because I had never seen anything like it! The book featured photographs of incredible food, intriguing recipes and stunning tablescapes

set in beautiful spaces. I told my husband, "I think this Martha Stewart is really on to something!! Imagine my surprise a few months later, when I saw a commercial advertsing the first episode of her yet to be televised, Martha Stewart Living! Once again, my husband, (my always enthusiastic and engaged audience of one for all of my aha! moments), laughed with me when I said, "Oh my gosh, there's that woman from the cookbook, Martha Stewart - I told you she was on to something!!" lol

 

When her first show aired on televison, I was there! Curled up on the couch - wire

notebook in hand, pen at the ready, creamy coffee within reach and the VCR whirring - I

was ready for whatever Martha was going to teach me. I didn't just enjoy the show,

I needed the show because while other young moms consulted their mothers about stuffing

a turkey or taking care of the long stem roses they received from their husbands on

Valentine's Day, I consulted Martha. She was the one who helped me fill in the gaps,

bottom line, I needed Martha and couldn't wait to . My saint-of- a-

husband seemed to understand this as well and we adopted an enduring Saturday morning routine.

When Martha Stewart Living came on air, he would take the kids somewhere, so I could focus

100% on what Martha and her guests had to say.

 

Speaking of guests, in 1999, Martha introduced us to her good friend, Hampton's caterer,

Ina Garten. Ina was so sweet, so funny and so real. She laughed easily and her warm

demeanor, her kind smile and her quiet charisma drew me in immediately! I have

collected almost every cookbook these two brilliant women have written - and most certainly,

they became my team, my "go to" people. Having cooked with them

for many, many years, I can swear to the fact that their recipes turn out every time, if 

followed closely, and, most importantly, they are absolutely delicious! My family and friends

request them often; every year one of my children requests Ina's Potato Fennel Gratin

for Christmas Day and my husband requests Martha's Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread

Cookies, now a staple on the annual Christmas cookie platter!

 

My two mentors are vastly different in personality, but suprisingly similar in many ways.

They both have a similar minimalist, chic Hamptons style, although Martha's gotten a bit

more glammy since her collab with Snoop Dog, which I absolutely love! lol! Both Martha

and Ina share a love of vintage and bespoke treasures, they have impeccable taste and

share an appreciation and love of history, great craftsmanship, art and quality. I think both women are incredible teachers! And like many teachers, Martha and Ina are people who

change lives; they changed mine, that's for certain. Ina, definitely influenced me in terms of cooking, and a simpler, more laid back mindset. Martha is an expert on so many things and influenced me in cooking, home decorating, baking, thrifting, antiquing, creating

a tablescape, learning about flowers, weddings and adding to my knowledge of

gardening ... the list goes on and on!

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   I had learned so much from Martha and had great faith in Martha Stewrt Living

Omnimedia. I purchased a charter subscribtion to her magazine prior to it hitting the

stands and before too long, we decided to purchase some stock in her company. We bought 

as much as we could, whenever we could, and as is always true of investing, we sold at the right time. With our earnings, we purchased our first, little lake cottage.

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