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