Lee has written 27 books and has millions of fans.
The sleek, elegant star seems to do everything effortlessly.
But looks can be deceiving.
Lee went through a lot to get to where she is.
Here are some things you might not know about this domestic diva.
She dropped her surname when she launched her career.
Her parents were just teenagers when they had her, and when Lee was two, they split up.
She called her grandmother “Mommy” and her parents became a forgotten memory.
Leedescribed herselfthen as a “happy child, living in a warm, carefree, and loving home.”
“She’d talk about all of the possibilities that tomorrow could bring.”
It was a happy time in Lee’s childhood, but it was not to remain that way.
Then her stepfather walked out when Sandra was 11.
It was still hard on her to deal with that adult responsibility at an early age.
“I couldn’t stop because I had no other outlet for my stress.”
Things came to a head when she was 15.
Lee said it “was the only compliment” she ever received from her mother.
She responded, “You’re right.
I am going to be more than you.”
Her mother got enraged and physically attacked her in response.
Leeleft for good then, and has had no relationship with her mother ever since.
After this, Lee went to live with her father, who had moved to Wisconsin.
Then, her father got in trouble with the law after reportedly raping his 25-year-old girlfriend.
Despite all Lee went through, she never let it get her down.
She had a passion for decorating from an early age, so that make her life better.
During this time she came up with the Kurtain Kraft idea a DIY way of hanging curtains.
She had the products sold in places like Wal-Mart and QVC during that time.
But she also faced lawsuits.
So Lee started “diversifying her product line.”
This led to her becoming a big name at QVC.
She even converted to Judaism for him, but they divorced in 2005.
But Lee wasn’t trying to be the next Julia Child.
Her niche was easy-to-make meals for the harried modern woman.
The recipes generally consist of 70 percent store-bought prepared items, and 30 percent fresh ingredients.
She wrote her first two cookbooks in 2002 without a publishing contract.
But at the time, she wanted to have more of a home decor niche.
She said, ‘No, we really need you to do this.
it’s possible for you to do tablescapes also, as long as you cook.’
I said, ‘Okay, fine.
‘“Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Leelaunched in 2003 and became an immediate hit.
But she didn’t get a lot of respect for her dishes.
Hesser also wrote that “Lee’s reliance on brand-name products feels forced.”
Then again, maybe it’s better that she didn’t.
She also mocked Lee’s “incredibly bad food taste” (viaNew York Magazine).
The publication noted that Lee then reportedly had a lawyer lean onHuffington Postto pull the article.
WhenThe New York Timesasked Lee about the recipe in 2012, she snapped, “It’s shtick.
That’s how some people get their press.
That’s what I think is ridiculous.
Yes, I can laugh about it.”
And that was one of the kinder things he said.
“She later took the high road and offeredto make him a comfort meal and a cocktail.
Imagine the two of them together on her show.
of New York since her paramourAndrew Cuomo’s election to governorin 2010.
But when she met Cuomo in 2005 at a party,his life was in a shambles.
Cuomo’s wife Kerry Kennedy had cheated on him, and they had endured a rough divorce.
His political career was in a slump, too, after his withdrawal from the 2002 gubernatorial race.
She toldThe New York Observerin 2014 that they would do so one day, though.
Many of Lee’s shows feature cocktails, “cocktail time” being one of her catchphrases.
She evenhas a margarita line, too.
In addition, the elegant-looking Lee swears a lot.
Somebody even created a now-pulledsemi-homemade compilation videoof Lee cursing on the set of her shows.
Her home was then reassessed for property tax purposes and facedan $8,200 tax hike.
Shesuffered complications from thatand had to get more surgery.
She alsounderwent reconstructive surgery.
She has been very open with her fans about what she has gone through.
In addition, Lee hasdone charitable eventsto raise money for cancer research.
She looks forward to the next 50 years of her life
Happy Sunday everyone!
Today is my 50th birthday.
I was born on Sunday, July 3 1966, at 7:47am.
The blessings of my life have been beautiful gifts.
I’ve had good blessings and terrible blessings.
The good blessings are the incredible people who inspired me, set examples for me and lifted me.
These people showed me who I want to be and how I want to be.
I have also had (what most would consider) bad or even devastating blessings.
These were wonderful blessings in disguise.
These blessings taught me who I do not want to be and how I do not want to be.
I’m very excited and hopeful for the next 50 years.
I’m excited to see my family grow and for new members to become a part of it.
Thank you for my family as well as each and every friend.
Thank you for my wonderful business and the people who have woven themselves in and out of it.
Thank you for allowing me to make a difference.
Thank you for guiding me.
just continue to keep me and my family and friends healthy and happy.
kindly give my life more purpose and meaning and use my life as you see fit.
I will always appreciate and know that all my gifts, my life, are all because of you.
In Jesus name, Amen!”
Her future is bright, especially now thatshe is cancer-free.
Lee and Cuomo even attended President Barack Obama’slast White House state dinnerin 2016.
Let’s just hope she saves the “cocktail time” for appropriate occasions.
