The (Golden Girl) 7 Year Itch

Never did I imagine 7 years ago I'd own a successful business and be dreaming up new ventures. Yet here I am.

The first few years were bananas, as a mobile business using mass transit, then renting out of gyms and salons across the city, all I could ever hope for was a loft in the West Loop. I'm kind of still spinning! When my business started to boom I was unable to keep up, (a great great problem) so I taught Amie my trade. We worked together for the last 3.5 years and it has been a great ride. That ride has kept us super freaking busy (THANKS TO YOU!!) and so somehow, talks of the big picture dreams didn't happen until the last few months (Oopsie).

We turned that "oopsie" into "awesome" and I am thrilled to announced we are both pursuing solo ventures in 2014. We could not be more excited for what's ahead: she's going to continue to do A-MAZING hair, and I'm mixing up my new dream cocktail of tanning, plus oh-so much more! I am busting at the seams to share the details, so stay tuned for more emails and updates from me, as the news is coming soon.

For now, I more than anything just want to say: thank you times a million for all the never ending support. I can not explain how it feels. Be on the lookout for....#cantsayjustyet #ilovesurprises #jennyfromtheblock #awayweglow

Stay Golden,

  Jenny D

Christmas the season of perpetual hope!

I started to notice a trend over the years between the holidays and I. Maybe it's because I'm in my 30's and I'm starting to become so wise or that I'm constantly surrounded by wise people. It's probably the latter for sure but I have become quite the reflector lately. Christmas you and I have issues. 

You see ever since I was a little girl I remember being extra anxious around Christmas. Maybe it's because year after year I watched my family life deteriorate in front of me with no real idea how to stop it. In my house in the same week there could be a neighborhood full of people watching football on Sunday to a knockdown bloody fight between my mother and stepdad and a regular visit from the local police on Monday. Maybe it's because some Christmas's were super happy, like the year I woke up to a LIFE SIZE cutout of Garth Brooks in my living room! In the early 90's kids this was a HUGE deal!

Sparing the messier details, my life started with mom, then with mom and stepdad, then just mom, then with mom going to jail. One of the last Christmas's with my mother was when we took a trip to the local mall which was a nice getaway from the place we were crashing in at the time. Buying my own gifts with a few of her dollars sure did take the surprise out of opening them on Christmas Day. Bah Humbug I thought. I did however stretch those dollars as far as I could to get myself a new outfit. Every time we shuffled houses or crappy hotels I lost some piece of my old life until towards the end of my life with her I had only one outfit with me. As a teenager that's kind of a big deal. 

I'll never forget our first Christmas without my mom. One one hand it was scary not knowing what to expect and scary starting life as you know it over, especially when you are a teenager. On the other hand it was kind of a relief without all the turmoil. So I did what I thought all families do for Christmas, I made my brothers and I take a family photo! We didn't have a lot of dollars but I knew $9.99 got you like 50 pictures at Walmart and those would make damn fine gifts. Not sure if the boys were super pumped about the photoshoot but they let me have my way and I loved them for it. That was one of the greatest gifts I ever set my eyes on. It was like living proof staring right back at me that even in the worst of moments it helps to smile a little or at least just try to.

I spent the next 10 years bouncing from someones idea of a happy Christmas to the next, all the while feeling as if I didn't belong in their Christmas story. I started to wonder if I'd ever have a happy one of my own again. In all my reflection over Christmas's past I  see that like everyone else, I can enjoy searching for the perfect gifts. Little things that make the people I care about smile. I learned from watching my mothers mistakes too. Robbing from Peter to pay Paul is not worth the big screen TV that will end up being seized along with your other belongings if you don't pay for them and I vowed to never buy anything I couldn't afford.Christmas isn't about spending the most dollars you can until you're broke and homeless. It's about spending your time and your energy celebrating and loving whatever life you have and hoping that in the new year the things you'd like to be better will be. 

So this year for Christmas I have someone who really loves me to wake up with. A really beautiful tree we decorated with lots of love and eggnog. I have an amazing city that I can call home with a circle of friends that make me feel like the happy little elf I was meant to be. Now I can wait for my personal favorite present, a new year! A new season full of hopes and endless possibilities just waiting for me. 

Touchdowns and Sunsets

" It's 5 o' clock in the morning ....conversation got boring." No Lilly Allen playing , just me wide awake at 5 am . At first I'm my usual hyper self then hours go by and I'm annoyed .I can not fall asleep. Big day tomorrow. Hell everyday is a big day lately. After creating chalkboard inspiration to picking up material for a new desk to seeing tons of clients, tweeting, FBing, emailing, you name it I should be tired .I stop .I put my perfect tiny computer down and I stop. I realize I again forgot to eat dinner.

Life has literally been throwing me Peyton Manning style passes this year . Some of them catchable and BOOM there's me high steppin my way into the end zone #Touchdown .Some I'm running my route and shit I'm too far out... incompletion. My play books are out now I gotta know the ratio of completions I've been making. Well really it's a collection of 3 notebooks, an iPhone , my MacBook and me searching everywhere that makes no sense to find the idea I knew I had written down , that for sure I wrote down!

I looked at all the ideas ,all the things I had ever wanted or wished for . Create my own business (check). Have a few very BEST girlfriends to rely on that are fabulous in their own right(check). Have a room with a view (check but minus one for the mugging incident ). Travel to places I had only heard about...hellloo ...Lake Tahoe,LA ,San Diego, Hollywood,Vegas (check double check check )! Amie teased me with every pic I sent "Dang are you Beyonce ?" I said screw it this year and told myself self ,work hard play hard dammit. After looking over all the evidence in front of me I was shocked to find more.I had to make a pot of coffee. 

I've moved to the balcony at this point .It's 6am and there's a luscious sunset brewing I might as well enjoy it . Holy hell I see it ! The cause of all my sleeplessness and anxiety ! It's happiness and it's about to make me it's B*&ch!  Happiness is now running at me like a linebacker ,full speed all ,6" 2 of it. My favorite summer memory was chasing sunsets with an incredibly fine man with charm and a heart for days . #sacked # LawrenceTaylorstyle 

I turn my chair to face east. It is SO close to being a perfect sunrise and I'm awake to see it all because my little brain wouldn't power down tonight . I'm pretty excited now ! I look to my right and see my reflection in my sweet floor to ceiling windows and realize I'm in my underwear. Bursts of laughter ensue. " I'm in my 30's it's my sexy body and I do what I want ," I say to my reflection as I look to the high rise across for peeping toms. 

It's 7 am now and the light from the sun in shining on the water in unbelievable shades of pink (my 3g camera is doing this spectacle no justice). Through the sunrise and the fading of the night sky into a new day I see the flaws in my playbook. I have everything I could ever  wanted and things are getting better every.single.day. I'm not taking enough time to slow dance, maybe challenge a call or two and risk being penalized to see true happiness is staring me in the face.I have be the one passing the ball now.  !( I know it's a lot of football talk, sorry just how my brain relates things). 

I always preach true success is not how much you accomplish but how much you help others to accomplish. So I'm on a mission to do just that . Details coming soon , positive vibes are always appreciated. Until later I'm off  it's 7:40 and I got some urban hiking to do.



Stay Golden,
Jenny

Hellooooo lovers....

Hellllooo lovers... It’s February and we know what the hottest topic is, yup you guessed it ~ love . Now I’m no expert in that department but I do know a thing or two about boosting your confidence , which can only help in your journey down lover’s lane.

Let’s talk tans. With all the evidence linking UV exposure to cancer and premature aging people are finally embracing the beauty of spray tanning. I have experienced every orange, streaky, smelly, and splotchy spray tan possible. I’m here to tell you that your walk into the office doesn’t have to be a walk of spray tan shame. I hear this all the time “I don’t want everyone to know I’ve tanned, I just want a nice glow.” The following visit, that same client is telling me how her whole office couldn’t believe she had a spray tan that really looks real! We high-five and I have a friend for life because I used my education , passion,and experience to give her the best spray tan possible.

The trick for you my friends is simple. Find a skilled pro preferably with a degree in skin studies. No skin or body is the same and no tan should be. A true professional will know exactly why clients turn orange and how to prevent it. A pro will know how to prevent streaks ,unpleasant smells, stop splotchy fading , among many other things. You should leave your spray tan experience with extra sass in your step, a hair flip, and feeling 10 lbs thinner in minutes. Lets’s face it I hear this every day too “tan fat just looks better than pale fat.” So, get out there and try getting golden people ! Just once at the hands of a real pro and you’ll be hooked. Who knows, it may lead you to that valentines date where sparks fly. If not you’ll look damn good searching for your true love. Until next time sweet tarts..

Stay Golden,

Jenn Dieas of Golden Girl Chicago

The king of sunshine

Tonight I feel overwhelmed ,you were my partner in crime for all these years . Since you've been gone I know you have seen such a wave of great and equally awful things come about in my life. For the first time I can put aside the feeling of missing you and be thankful that I had so many precious moments with you . I'm crying of course because I want to hear your voice and experience life with you in it the way I've always known. Tonight feels different .

I believe you were my teacher , my master of sunshine , and that if I don't learn fully the lessons we spent so many years learning together then I'll have let you down . It was always amazing how much you believed in me , and I can't let you down. Not talking about business or success in the world all that I think I can figure out on my own. You are my greatest source of learning about love , which in all its forms makes the world go round . Learning to love myself as much as I should ( and I'm overestimating as you would encourage ). Learning to give love to others always , but the most important to you .....learning to give my heart , what you saw as so precious only to someone who really deserves it and treasures it . I love you with all my heart . You are a gift in my life and no day goes by I won't treasure you .

Golden Girls

In search of inspiration and loveliness Amie and I started a little project that became much more than we ever imagined .

After 2 years of looking for the best tanning accesorries we threw our hands up in the air . " We have to do this ourselves " we said unison " damn " ( again in unison with cheeky smiles ) . Finding a company to make a product for you that you LOVE and have confidence in is no easy fete , especially for two little street squirrels like Amie and I . Determined as ever we set out on our next golden adventure .

Samples were ordered from LA to the UK for the next year. We tried every single one . Next came the look of our very own product line . We searched for vintage photos of models and nothing tickled our fancy . We sought out a designer and thought to create a logo and use that, nope he wasn't getting our vision . Then late one night.... a spark ! Let's show real golden girls , with beauty radiating from her photograph to the story of her life !! We reached out to our circle of ladies and asked for pics for a top secret project . The pics starting pouring in along with tidbits on the girls . "YESSSSSS !!!! " we squealed when we saw Jeannie and Colleen our first two Golden Girls . We teamed up with the most fabulous graphic designer with the perfect eye for our vision ( who's also a foxy redhead which makes her even more lovable ! ) She worked her magic and our girls leapt off the photographs , onto our bottles and into our hearts. Allow us a sec to share a peek into their lives ...

Jeannie Ruzgis a bold bohemian beauty was the oldest of 7 children . At the age of 16 she began modeling for local stores and soon found herself with a blossoming career. As the oldest of 7 she found herself in the role of babysitter quite often and modeling was her outlet . Notes from her mother explained she was always hanging out with artistic bohemian types . Shortly after her modeling began it had to come to a halt . Jeannie's father had a sudden blot clot and died instantly . Her mother had just given birth to her youngest son . There was no life insurance , a family business to run, and 6 siblings to help care for. Jeannie had to shift from boho chic model to mommy in training. Four years later things settled down and Jeannie set her sights on a modeling career in Italy ! Her career flourished there and she even fell in love ! In her late twenties Jeannie was diagnosed with breast cancer in Rome ,Italy . The disease ended up calling Jeannie to heaven but a very important piece of Jeannie was passed on to her niece Natalie Jean (though they never met ) . Natalie's grandma describes Natalie as a mini Jeannie and from our observations it's quite true. Natalie is a smart, sassy, driven , lively, gorgeous girl and a major up and coming talent in the Chicago hair scene. She works in a gem of a salon ( Red 7 salon ) in Chicago's River North neighborhood and we expect years of inspiration ahead from Miss Natalie . When Natalie showed her grandma ( Jeannie's momma) our creation she was moved that Jeannie finally " made it " as a model after all these years .


I had the great fortune of personally knowing our next golden girl Colleen Lehtonen . From the moment we met I was enamored . This woman was the epitome of a Golden Girl . Strong , beautiful , loving , intelligent , confident, she was everything I dreamt moms were supposed to be . She has two beautiful children and one grandchild that gave her life such meaning . Everything revolved around them but in a way that was endearing without being overbearing . A few months after we met Colleen was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time . Her family was rocked to the core and I'm sure Colleen was too , but she didn't show it . She was the portrait of courage and faith ...her family's rock . She was amazing . The more ill she became the more beautiful she was to me . She focused on her faith and her love for her children . Anyone who knows Colleen can probably still hear her infectious laugh , it could fill a room with sunshine .

So this leg of our adventure began with two girls and as you could imagine we can't stop with sharing just two stories . As the Golden Girls keep pouring in we will do our best to share their stories full of sunshine with you . Til next time ....

Stay Golden,
Jenny D

Ducks

Dear Mike,


(you ) 98,99,100 oh hey duck what up?( me) what the hell ( you) I'm working out , sit ups bro, for the chicks (me) Mike it's 7am  (you) haha got yo ass! As much as I pretended to hate those good morning wake up calls I secretly loved them . You were always coming up with something to make me laugh.

Remember when you got your first car that you  loved ? I lived in some random woman's house at the time and was mega sad. You picked me up and were so happy you took your sunshine and threw it on my mess of a life . You were my knight in a shiny Le Baron. We listened to Jermaine Dupri  money ain't a thing and Mike for those moments it didn't matter I smiled , I laughed, I breathed . I didn't feel like my world was falling apart or that I had no home.You managed to do that to me for years when I had nothing to be sunny about you would find something to give me . A smile, a song, a hug, a freaking pizza roll, whatever it took to make me smile. I am beside myself that I couldn't do the same for you in the end but that's another letter.

Remember when I called you with "I'm moving to Michigan , I'm moving to Miami , I'm moving to Chicago ." I remember the seconds between your responses, the sound of your voice, the quickness of your breath, the thoughts in your heart. But you never said don't go .You were always my biggest fan even when you hated the plays I was making . You loved me so much you wanted me to be happy even if it broke your heart. You are a fabulous man.

After you left all I heard was  "Jenn you were the love of his life " "Jenn it was always you " "he would've dropped anything at anytime to be with you " "Jenn you and Mike had something very special " and they were all right . It's taken me almost 6 months to allow myself to think about you being gone . Hell I went to my big brothers wedding the day after your funeral, my brain was in emotional overload. I flew home after to my big old city all alone and thought I might very well die.

I know your mom is sad for a million reasons like we all are . She wanted you have the experience of being married and having kids and it seems like you never got to but in a way you did .You were my love for years .You better LOVE hearing this confession! I can see you smiling right now RUDE . We spent days upon days together ,what 12 years before I started moving away ? We picked out ducks for your bathroom ducks everything good lord so many ducks, you were so excited about that place. Remember walking through the store to find me and calling Jennifer Hellwig over the intercom ? You caught me laughing hysterically on my knees in the aisles and then the famous " got yo ass ." That's one of my favorite stories and there are hundreds more like that . It's hard to find that much love in life no matter how you define the relationship there was so much love.

You had Jaidyn . She is your sisters little girl but you loved her like she was yours. You did get to feel that father and daughter bond for 5 years . ( He really did Hilda ) . I know you got to experience so much love during your life and that makes me happy in my really awful moments.

I can hear you damn we're old dirty before I turned 30 this year . We were supposed to get married this year according to you if I didn't let some DUCK get to me first right ? I've spent 30 years blocking out memories and I remember everything about us.

I remember every wedding ,BBQ, holiday party,club, restaurant ,Orlando trip,casino boat,Storm game, Bucs game,Clearwater Beach moment and I gotta tell you my heart hurts like hell . Remember when I made my first pro dance team ? Not the Storm the Thunderdawgs !! You were there cheering me on every audition,every finals, remember ? You were so excited dude you know how many chicks I'm gonna pull now that you're a cheerleader ? You saw a second of disappointment in my eye got yo ass  ! You could never hurt my feelings and you probably had every right to. Why the hell did you love me so much ? Why the hell didn't we ever just come out and say it to each other ? We both knew hell everyone knew but we never wanted to cross that line. We were like scared little bunnies. I know you never understood why and hearing that out loud at your funeral really made me ache inside. I should've explained it to you but I didn't understand it myself I guess. Now I have a better idea . We kept our feelings locked up in a bottle hoping they'd find their way to shore someday.

Mike I never could risk losing you in my life .You were my anchor, my home base, my comfort, my end zone dance . The people places and things in my life would come and be gone so quickly but not you .You were the man I always wanted and you were right in front of me and I just couldn't risk losing you the bet was too high . I haven't told you enough how much I love you . I love you . To be honest it's hard to think about because you aren't here in a way you're still everywhere I am . I know I am very lucky for that. I got a duck tattoo to remind me of you because you know I forget everything. I haven't decided if you'll kill me for inking my body again or if you're up there doing the squirrel knowing we will always be together , my guess is both .

Guess what ? The Windy City Ducky Derby is this week . Amie and I have a team in your name and people buy up to 30,000 ducks and they race on the Chicago River for charity . Can you imagine all those ducks ? Are you laughing your ass off at me right now ? Whatever I know you are and I don't care it's gonna be fun ! I  know I'll feel you there so I'm even more excited . For now I'll focus on that and Golden Girl and the future and know that you're with me,every step I take, with the right foot forward . Sleep tight sweetheart and thank you for teaching me about love .


Love,

Jenn