Jekyll Books

Not only did we have a great beach visit to Jekyll Island, I got to pop into one of the stores that carries Rinse.  It was right before closing time so I didn’t get to peruse as much as I would have liked, especially since I know I could’ve spent hours in the store.

The place just oozed of beachy relaxation and I sooo wanted to buy a great book to get lost into.  And I certainly would have if we weren’t making the trip back to reality.

So next time you’re on Jekyll Island, take a gander at Jekyll Books.  You’ll spy your favorite bath & body products from Rinse in the Spa Room and a whole lot of other cool and inspiring things throughout the store.

Jekyll Books at The Old Infirmary; 101 Old Plantation Road, Jekyll Island, GA

Sweet Beginings

I love to see people succeed, although deep down inside I may be a little jealous. But good for them, right!?!?

The sweetest cupcake girl I know has done it. She's opened up her own little cupcake haven in Vinings. The space is perfect (there's even a huge window so you can see the cupcake factory at work), the location is amazing - Vinings in Atlanta & the cupcakes are delicious!

My personal fave's are the Happy Monkey (check this out, banana cupcake with peanut butter cream frosting) and Cookies & Cream (crumbled Oreo's, need I say more?)

I've had the honor of watching Lennie's business, Sweet Pockets, grow from the get-go. She's such an inspiration to me (especially because her price point is so much lower - that's a lot of cupcakes to make rent!!!)

She's also an amazing sharer. Rinse has set-up shop offering some Sweet Gifts. So stop on by, pick-up a cupcake (or a dozen) & some soap.

Location: 4338 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta - across from the Old Vinings Inn and next to the Suntrust Bank…look for the cupcake sign

2 Words... Renegade Chicago

Yup, that's right, we're IN!!!

After not being accepted to the Chicago Renegade show last year (sadness) we tried our luck again this year. With updated images on our website, $310 and who knows what else, we were accepted for this year's show, September 13 & 14 and we are so happy!

What does this mean... another trip home (the P's are ecstatic and already trying to set plans,) maybe just maybe we can track down some wholesale accounts while there (definitly more work, less play than last trip,) FOOD - Pizza, Hot Dogs, Italian Beef... & the most exciting... Brooklyn!!!

So what does Brooklyn have to do with Chicago? A whole heck of a lot. The Renegade girls put on a heck of a show in Brooklyn in the spring, and pending any horrificness in Chicago, we'll try for Brooklyn.

Country Music meets Soap

We've been there before, we'll be there again... Nashville, here we come!



March 2007 Rinse took its 1st road trip to Nashville to hang out with the girls of the Nashville Craft Mafia at their Revolution of Craft show. We had such a great time & received a wonderful welcome. It's only about time that we head back that way.




The fantastic girls of Nashville Junior League have invited us to show our wares at their Tis the Season market November 20 - 22 located in the Factory at Franklin.



Luckily we have a pretty good size opening in our schedule right around the market so it looks like we'll be able to head north a little bit early & not have to rush right home.

So now here are a few of our goals for the trip...

1. Run into a Country Music Star or two - we sure hope so!
2. Eat some good 'ole Nashville food - not really sure what they're known for, but we intend on finding out
3. Pick-up a couple of salons, spas & boutiques to carry our line

Blogs, blogs & more blogs

Well 2 to be a matter-a-fact. That's the number that little 'ole me will be posting to.


A great friend, mentor, inspiration... Petra Geiger, founder of Beehive Co-op has invited me to post on the Bee Blog (link coming really, really soon.) So every few Fridays I have the honor of posting about all things "peer to peer." I'll be blogging about the trials & triumphes, the never attainable work-life balance, interviews of people I know, I want to know and I want to be like and whatever else I can come up with.


For those who aren't familiar with Beehive Co-op, you've got to check it out. In short, it's truly a co-op which is definitly buzzing like a hive full of local & regional desiginers. The flagship store was founded through the blood sweat & tears of Petra in Atlanta. Late 2007 we Atlantians lost our fearless leader (although we are in absolute competent hands) to a move to NY. Now Petra is as busy as ever opening a new Beehive Co-op in NY, working on franchising deals, a new website, a rocking blog, and did I mention she has 2 amazing children!?!?



I want to be like Petra when I grow up!

Chicago Chicago that's my kind of town

You may have been wondering where we were last week (don't tell me you didn't notice!?!?)

Well the answer is a well deserved trip to Chicago for a little R&R, Planning & Promoting.

For those of you who don't know, I am from Chicago (ok, actually a 'burb about 40 miles due west of the windy city known as Aurora... yes, the home of the original Wayne's World.) Anyways, Atlanta is a great place to live, but Chicago will always have my heart, currently has my family & has a ton of stores that should carry Rinse and did I mention Oprah?

She (being Oprah) has not called yet, but I have a phone line almost dedicated for her call and no, even being from there, I have never even gotten to see the Oprah show anywhere but on TV. The family was great & the promoting was not nearly what I wanted.

We spent most of our time out visiting fantastic children's activities. My favorite: Dupage County Children's Museum which made way for the brilliant birthday party theme for our little squirt (bubbles & water.) Other places we loved: Morton's Arboretum, Wheeler Park & Swedish Days both in Geneva, Phillip's Park Zoo along with a slew of train stations and other boy loving activities.

We spent our eating times enjoying traditional Chicago-fare including: Hot Dogs & Italian Beefs from Portillo's; the best ketchup-free Hot Dog from Gene & Judes and a Pizza Pot Pie from Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder (which is quaintly located right across the street from where the St. Valentine's Day Massacre happened... I love gangsta history.

A lot of Rinse planning got taken care of along with behind the scenes stuff (nothing too exciting.) What didn't get done was the pounding the pavement finding the perfect salons, spas & boutiques to carry Rinse. Samples & marketing materials weren't distributed (ok, 1 postcard was handed out.) There's always next time.

Next time might just be sooner than we thought. We applied for the Renegade Chicago show in September. We'll know in just a few weeks if we're in. I sure hope so since Chicago hasn't experienced Rinse in a very very long time (a little bit of Rinse history - Rinse was actually founded in Chicago.) And if not September a winter trip is definitely in order.

Serenbe... We love You!

Hello Serenbe! For those who don't know, Serenbe is a community like none other. A beautiful sustainable community that we love that we can even be the smallest part of.

We were lucky enough to be picked up by Harris & Clark, a thoughtful grocer & food school (don't you think all grocers should be thoughtful!?!?) and let me tell you, they have thought of everything. The store is laid out in a wonderland of design, the products they carry are unbelievable (can you say yummy) and they always have samples and they make the best recommendations, and they, and they, and they...

Well anyhow, I made it to Serenbe a month or so ago to meet with Harris & Clark. I ran home and told the very nice gentleman who is in charge of the heavy lifting here at Rinse (a.k.a. my hubby Damyn) that if he wanted me to move to the country, that is where it will have to be. I dream about a work/live space. A funky little soap shop on the bottom and a large open living space on top.

So I get sidetracked easily... Serenbe hosted their 3rd Annual Spring Fling event this past weekend, and you guessed it, we were honored to participate. What an event it was. Everyone was so nice, it was a great mix of artists and the atmosphere was enchanting.

To make a long rambling short, if you are ever in the area, do yourself the honor and stop by Serenbe to kick back, relax & try a little bit of life the Serenbe way.