I grew up in a creative environment where I was constantly encouraged to use my imagination and talents. Martha Stewart was just about the only thing we ever watched on TV. We were always playing dress up, gardening, putting together tea parties, cooking, drawing, sewing, knitting and crafting. I watched my Great Aunt get all dressed up (She had the best hats!) and my Mom put together a beautiful home, and throw pretty parties. My family would gather to make ravioli. My hobbies started to include planning parties for friends and re-decorating my room (a million times). I entered 4-H competitions for flower arranging and baked goods. I started my first business, making jewelry to sell at the kids’ entrepreneur day at the local children’s museum. Then I started Kids Business, a newsletter covering many of the same topics I do today, that I printed and sent to subscribers. I put together an Earth Day gathering encouraging others to help the planet. I started a babysitting business, and eventually a cleaning business. I, along with the help of a friend and our siblings, put together a backyard carnival (we had flyers, we advertised, we had games and prizes and snacks...the whole works).

All of these things shaped me into who I am today. All of these things have allowed me to develop the business that I have now. In some ways I’ve always been doing some version of the things I create and share now. In some ways, my whole life has been building up to this site.

Which is why when people tell me to find my niche, I say I found it... 25 years ago. And when people tell me to stick to one topic, I say “Why start now?”.

While my platform has changed and my delivery and presentation has evolved, I still care about and enjoy a variety of topics. Sure, part of it is because it’s what I’ve always loved, but you know why else? Because I believe, at the core, so many things are intertwined. Style and art is in everything- how you present a dish, how a hotel is decorated, how a home is put together. And taste? Well, if you do it right, all of life should be in good taste, not just what’s on your plate.

Could I only share recipes? Sure! Could I only talk about travel? Absolutely. But why limit myself? After all, no one lives a one dimensional life, so why have a one dimensional brand?