TJS’s Content Director Jen Chase had a come-to-juicing moment long before working for TJS was a twinkle in her eye. From childhood, she’d been a keen observer of food’s preparation, history and its way of connecting people during happy and sad times. But after being a food and lifestyle writer/editor for brands like MasterCard™ and Vegas Rated and working as a behind-the-scenes culinary director on America’s longest-running cooking show—occasionally developing recipes and appearing on camera with Ciao Italia™ ‘s Mary Ann Esposito—her first 12-day juice cleanse revealed an even deeper reverence for food via the raw foods movement, and beelieving that food truly heals from the inside out. Physically. And sometimes emotionally. 

Jump to 2012, when a serendipitous Las Vegas meeting of the minds brought together Chase and TJS co-founders Jamie Stephenson and Marcella Williams, who were looking for someone to put words to the ideas of their burgeoning company. Today, from company ads and signage to its sacred Philosophee and brand standards, she’s a voice behind TJS Facebook posts, the e-newsie, the blog, and website.

ALL ABOUT JEN

My first visit to Vegas was…a vacation in 2002, just before I entered grad school in Boston.

Then, I lived in Vegas…from 2012-2015.

Now, my connection to the city is…that while catering to writing clients in Boston and Nevada, I live in Massachusetts but I return to Vegas quarterly to meet with clients I love. Like my wholehearted Team Bees at TJS.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that there’s a lack of nature. From Red Rock to the stunning floral displays at Wynn and Encore, there’s beauty at every turn. Sometimes you just have to search it out.

Thing I liked most about living here was…I used to live at The Martin about 600 steps from Vdara and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas…which effectively made The Chandelier Bar my “local” bar (#Lucky). My greatest juicy sadness is that I moved not long before the TJS location opened at TCOLV. (#LuckyNotLucky)

My ideal Vegas night out is…either some of the city’s great pizza (there’s a ton of vareity); a walk to enjoy live entertainment and crafty cocktails; walking inside properties or Downtown to partake in the lights, sights, sounds, and cocktails; or staying in with my pup, Eli, …watching TV, reading or writing with him and a Manhattan. (When I’m here, I still love the Strip’s electricity. And cocktails, clearly.)

The daily mantra or quote I try to live by each day is… “Never regret your choices, because at one point they were exactly what you wanted.” Helps me not to second-guess my heart and head. So hard.

My favorite inspirational quote is… “There’s a difference between giving up and knowing when you’ve had enough.” A new and profound one for me. So comforting.

If I had to pick a song lyric as a theme in my life it would be… “And in the end/the love you take/is equal to the love you make.” (The Beatles)

Fruits and vegetables you’ll always find in my kitchen are…lemons, frozen blueberries and garlic. And then more lemons.

Advice I’d go back and give to my younger self is…It’s something I heard (TJS co-founder) Marcella Williams say years ago that I’ve gotten great comfort from: “It all works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, that means it hasn’t ended.” (Sorry if I hacked that, Marce.) Knowing that so many circumstances are beyond our control would’ve been an awesome thing to master a little sooner. I’m still trying to let go. Have even more faith.

Chase, age 4, rolling dough to “help.”

JEN ON WORK

When someone asks what I do every day, I tell them…it’s usually all words, all the time, for one client or another. In addition to my work at TJS I have a small consultancy (Button Soup Consulting) where I craft and edit content for food and lifestyle clients. I’ve edited a cookbook; I’m writing descriptions for the launch of new online eyeglasses reseller; I’m the managing editor for two Vegas-based quarterlies; and I’m helping a dear friend and Italian chef in Boston, Marisa Iocco, to promote the food memoir I edited for her as well as start a new chapter of her culinary career.

Favorite thing about writing/editing for others? Feeling deep pride when someone trusts me to give them the proverbial “perfect words” for a situation they need to navigate…and having them thank me for helping them give voice to their heart or head. This happens both personally and professionally, and I feel honored to be invited into people’s heart processes…from crafting a tagline to editing a resume or helping someone write a hard-to-word email.

Worse thing about writing/editing for others? I rarely write for myself any more. My blog is metaphorically unkempt. My photography is back-burnered. (…What’s lower than a simmer? Off?) I often feel like a producer, not a creative…a human doing, not a human beeing. That’s hard. But I also know I’m in control of that. So.

My first little-girl memory of loving food and seeing its capacity to make people happy was…watching my father close his eyes when he bit into bites he loved. Food completely overtook him, and he’d describe the flavors he tasted in such detail. Now, my greatest joy is giving joy through something I’ve cooked, baked, mixed in a shaker, or written. Food, drink and words are my artistic expressions and how I show love and respect.

What I love MOST about being a #GirlBoss is…working with writers who are eager to hone their craft. I thrive off enthusiasm, engagement and positivity. If I feel like I can help someone do something they love, it fills me up. That honestly goes for anything.

Chase and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Eli. Typing. Apparently with some wine.

Best business advice I’ve received? My wise former husband used to tease me and say: “You know, no one’s gonna wake up one morning and say, ‘Hey: I haven’t heard from Jen Chase in a while. What’s she doing? I should hire her….’” Point: You have to self promote. No one’s going to advocate for you like you.

JEN ON JUICE

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…my best soul-sister friend, Nic, in 2008. She decided to do a juice cleanse and since we were living together, we juiced together. Like so many other things she’s gifted me, her suggestion changed my life and health in so many ways.

The reason I drink cold-pressed juice is because…it makes me feel like I’m being so very good to my digestive system (which sometimes needs a little TLC). Juicing is gentle and mindful. Two of my favorite words.

Yes or No: I love juice so much I make my own. Yes. It’s a pain in the ass but I live too far from my fave Boston-based cold-pressed juicery to buy regularly. (But when I’m in Vegas, my first Day 1 stop is always TJS for a Singleton Six-Pack.)

I incorporate cold-pressed juice into my lifestyle by…trying to green-juice juice two full days (or at least through dinner) twice a week.

My favorite TJS flavor is…Bee Alkaline. And, Bee True To You. Greener=better.

What resonates with me most about TJS is…the integrity with which Jamie and Marcella run the company, and the integrity of my partner-in-crime, Mallory (TJS’s creative director)…how seriously and artistically she executes her mission of making the brand look beautiful for Jamie and Marcella. And I feel like no matter who you talk to in the company, there’s a passion for educating customers about using juice and food to heal and soothe. We all take our roles so seriously. For me, I want to do my best because I believe in what Jamie and Marcella have built.

Here’s Team Bees being “serious.” Front row (l-r): Jamie Stephenson and Marcella William. Back row (l-r): Jen Chase and Mallory Dawn.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…embrace the green. My dad used to live by, “Variety is the spice of life,” and so do I. Try any juice once (especially all veggie, no-sugar added juice), and then figure out what you like (or tolerate!). When it comes to juice, your digestion will benefit from every sip. And I really beelieve your WHealth™ and well being will, too.