Amanda LEWIS

Amanda’s 2021 Autobiography

I have had a wonderful, truly blessed life. This year I will have been married to my husband, Francesco, for 55 years. We have three children. Our eldest son, Skip, is married with 4 children. Our daughter, Ilaria, is divorced with no children. And our youngest son, Lorenzo, (who was ABC's "Bachelor" in 2006) is still unmarried, but with a "serious" girlfriend!

In 1962 I moved to Spain with my family. I went to the University of Madrid for two years. After that, I worked for the Samuel Bronston Movie Studio as Mr. Bronston's PR Liaison and Spanish Translator - assisting American movie stars coming to film in Spain.

I met my husband-to-be at a wedding in Florence, Italy, in 1965. We became engaged in Madrid on New Year's Eve, and were married in the summer of 1966. We moved to Italy and spent 8 years in Rome and afterwards Milan. Our three children were born in Italy. While in Italy, I created my first line of jewelry. I discontinued the line when, in 1974, we moved to Paris, due to Francesco's job. I enrolled in a cooking course with the wife of the American Consulate in Paris. She and her husband had a Chateau outside of Paris, and that was where her Cooking School expanded to, and thereafter, became well-known.

In 1977 we left France and moved to New Canaan, Ct. My husband wanted us to settle in the USA, as he wanted to start his own company. At the start of our life in Connecticut, I represented Barton Connett's Chateau Country Cooking School. I organized people to travel to France and take her classes. But soon, I decided to get my Realtor's license. I joined Previews Fine Real Estate and became their International Coordinator.

But again, ANOTHER move, due to my husband's business: and off we went - across the Hudson to Short Hills, NJ. With some training from my brother-in-law in Maryland, I soon found myself opening my first store: A "balloon delivery store" of all things! Delivery of balloons was very "in" then (1980). My store, however, was much more than balloon deliveries. Balloon-Age, as it was called mostly carried items, such as Vietri ceramics, Harbor Sweets candies, Gund plush animals, etc.--ll very exclusive products in the 80's.. We specialized in large corporate and private parties, as well as working with catalogs. Our first big job was decorating the Convention of President Reagan. Because we were the first and only balloon company in the country, at the time, to design private-label balloons, I ended up franchising (11 stores) in 6 different states.

As Fate would have it, a friend from England asked me to become the head of the US division of the famed London-based perfumery, Floris of London. For 3 years, I managed both of their American stores: one on Madison Ave in NY & the other at The Mall at Short Hills, NJ.

But other things were brewing. Francesco was at the helm of his new importing business. Perlier Bath & Body, from Italy, was one of his most prestigious brands and he decided to launch, for the first time ever, the Perlier brand on QVC. This was almost 30 years ago. At the time, I decided to try my hand at marketing Perlier, on air, along with my son, Skip (who would do the R&D). Long story short: the brand was a big hit! Skip and I became the only "mother/son act" on QVC. 5 years later, we moved on to HSN (now owned by QVC). This year Skip and I (still the only mother/son act on air) will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary on HSN, where we appear monthly. During that time I also wrote a coffee-table book called "Flowers From My Heart" which sold out on air. I created various signature fragrances, as well, one which has my name on it.

In between ALL of this (and more), we moved from NJ, we moved to Amelia Island, FL! I realized that I had too much on my plate; something had to go! So once again, I stopped designing jewelry. I loved it, but it was incredibly taxing, esp. because of the deadlines. Still working monthly, on air with Perlier, I decided to open a small home-renovation company on the island. I had my brother-n-law to help me, so I felt I could handle it; and that bloomed into AJBRenovations!

We live right on the beach, and I believe the sound of the sea, and smell of the sea air, is akin to having a yearlong spa surrounding me. I have tremendous energy, too, so I have to believe that the sea helps, there, too! And as an "aside", I am also on the Board of two condos here, in charge of their constant beautification and necessary updates.

That's about it - my hobbies: ALL of the above..... plus constant travel to various parts of the world! We always focus our vacations on learning all about the country and its people, and finding beautiful, or historic spots to relax in!