I didn’t always have a love of the domestic. I started working a corporate job in the beauty industry quite young. The job did give me the opportunity to live in some great cities; Miami, New York, Los Angeles and San Diego. I certainly had the advantage of eating in fantastic restaurants, and my fondest memories of each city pertain to food, drink and social life. In fact, in the few years that I lived in New York, I don’t remember cooking even one meal, but why would I!  When I moved to L.A., I met people who entertained much more at home, and for the first time in my life, started to enjoy cooking.  At that same time, I stumbled upon Martha Stewart Living. I don’t care what anyone says about Martha, she has been a great teacher for a generation whose mothers were not domestic. I have learned so much from her, many experiments not completely successful, in fact some a disaster, but I was hooked none the less. Her ability to to overcome challenges and run a hugely successful business, as well as throw down an amazing meal, groom a dog and then plant a garden, has been a huge inspiration to me. (but who can really do all of that well?) The amount of creative energy and business sense that it takes to run her empire is mind boggling. Thank You Martha!

After meeting my husband TK Smith in Los Angeles, we bought a little weekend house in the Mojave Desert, near Joshua Tree.  It’s actually in between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, so it’s kind of like living between two worlds. Both I love, both are beautiful, both have their own set of challenges and neither have out of this world places to shop or eat. So when we’re there, we cook, and we travel to shop. We have met, and become friends with a community of interesting, talented artists and entrepreneurs. I learn so much from them every time I sit at their table. I still work in Los Angeles so I get the best of both worlds. This is where we’re at today.

I’m glad you’re here, stop by often, share your story.

Jill Smith