BBAC Archives - Soap Queen

BBAC 2012: Renee DiMichele

Anne-Marie Faiola — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:44:31 +0000

Summer is coming up soon and that means the beginning of race and marathon season. We’ve sponsored our 2nd Annual Bramble Berry Athletic Club Team this year and soon enough, we will be hearing all about their events and races. In the meantime, check out this interview with one of our amazing athletes from 2012’s team, Renee DiMichele and get ready to be inspired! I love that she wore her BBAC soapywear to the race. It’s made out of high performance bamboo material (eco friendly too!) and it’s great for working out.

Tell us about your event! What was your favorite part?

I rode in a 78-mile journey bike ride from the city to shore in New Jersey that supports funding towards multiple sclerosis research. This was an event that I started riding in about three years ago, and it is truly one of the most amazing experiences I have ever gone through. I think my favorite part of the event is seeing how much this means to those who have to live with multiple sclerosis. They were there at the very end, showing their love and support to the riders and thanking each and every one us as we crossed the finish line.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product?

I absolutely love your products, and it is just so hard to choose only one, but I think that I’d really have to go with either your fabulous essential oils or the great clays that you carry — both are great for soaping! Your customer service is also a great product that you put forth and I always get the help I am looking for from your team.

How did you get into soaping?

My whole journey with soaping started about three years ago when I walked into a non-commercial bath and body store for the first time. I immediately fell in love with the concept of using all-natural beauty products and I bought my first bar of cold process soap bar that day. Later, when I was talking to my husband and telling him how enamored I was with the idea going all-natural, I realized that I could actually make these products for myself. I began researching it that day and since then I have never stopped.

Thank you again Renee for being a great part of the BBAC team! I am so happy that we were able to sponsor you in your event and can’t wait to hear more about the amazing work you do in the future. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a bike ride over 15 miles; 78 is inspiring! ~Anne-Marie

Did you miss our other interviews with Renee’s BBAC 2012 teammates? You can read their interviews here: Claire Dann, Patty Staniewicz, Kerri Kretzmeier, Harmony Davis, Bonnie Garrity, & Andrea Edgar.

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Bramble Berry Athletic Club: Harmony Davis

Anne-Marie Faiola — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:09:13 +0000

Every year, as part of our commitment to giving back, Bramble Berry donates 5% of our profits to local non-profit organizations. Last year we decided we wanted to bring you, our Soap Queen readers and customers, into the mix and donate to the causes YOU felt passionate about. We sponsored 11 athletes for our first-ever Bramble Berry Athletic Club! The BBAC members all ran races in the name of their favorite charity and Bramble Berry generously donated to the event (plus, there were cool BBAC shirts just for our “pro” team).

If you missed out on it last year, now’s your chance to get in on the giving! Apply for Bramble Berry Athletic Club 2013 TODAY! Check out this post for the details on becoming part of the team (and today is the last day to get your application in).

Need some inspiration? Harmony Davis was a sponsored Bramble Berry athlete in 2012. Read on to hear about her charity and event.

Tell us a little more about your charity and why you chose it?

I chose Ulman Cancer Fund because they are an organization that provides support to young adults facing cancer. When my husband was unexpectedly diagnosed last October I wasn’t sure what to do. We were scared, heartbroken and lost. A friend in the blogging community suggested I contact Ulman. From there grew a personal relationship of outreach, encouragement and support. They were very helpful connecting my husband up with support and helping me as a wife to take some type of active role in what a time when you feel so helpless. I joined Ulman Cancer Fund and Revolution Three (a triathlon organization) on a Run Across America. In July of last year I participated in my very first Triathlon for Team Fight. Being active has made a huge difference. We are standing up to cancer and not taking this lying down! Ulman serves a unique group of young adults that may be just entering college or new mom’s and dads with young children. I was also able to run Rock N Roll Seattle half marathon which supports the American Cancer Society so I felt like I was connected with the people who were fighting and searching for a cure for loved ones like mine. Bramble Berry really helped and encouraged me during a tough time.

Tell us about your event!

My “training” fell during grad summer school and working part time. So training typically consisted of one 2 to 5 mile run during the week and then if I was lucky one long run on the weekend ranging from 10 to 12 miles. I love Rock N Roll Seattle marathon, but I was not a huge fan of the new course, the hills were a bit much for me at times. The course was beautiful, but the two hills back-to-back seemed almost too difficult to finish at one point. I did walk a few times between miles 10-12 but I was definitely okay with that. I went out really fast and it came back to bite me once I hit the hills. However I am sure if I had trained better I would have enjoyed it a bit more.

How did you get involved in soaping?

I am not actually a soapmaker but I am fortunate to be a friend of a blogger who is a soapmaker and that is how I learned about the BBAC. I am still so impressed with the generosity of Bramble Berry to do this for everyone. I would love to be part of BBAC in the future as well as share more of the soap making world within my blogging world of running and fitness.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?

My favorite product would have to be Sore Muscle Blend. My foot is always a source of pain and just the smell of the Lavender and Peppermint always seems to help. I also love my Gardening Cold Process Soap that Bramble Berry sent me, what a treat!

What an inspiring story. Thanks so much for being a part of BBAC 2012, Harmony!

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Bramble Berry Athletic Club: Bonnie Garrity

Anne-Marie Faiola — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:55:37 +0000

Here’s another one of our BBAC 2012 athletes! Bramble Berry is committed to donating a portion of our profits to charity (and has been ever since we opened our doors!). BBAC is all about bringing YOU in on our charitable contributions. Today’s interview is with one of our star athletes from last year’s team, Bonnie Garrity, owner of Good Earth Spa. You can catch Bonnie’s BBAC teammate Andrea Edgar’s feature here. I hop you feel totally inspired after reading (I know I do!). There’s still plenty of time to apply to be a part of BBAC 2013! Check out the details here.

Tell us a little more about your charity and why you chose it?

I choose to support the American Cancer Society because I find it alarming how many incidences of cancer there are today. I know two people who are living with cancer today and it seems like I am constantly learning of more and more people being diagnosed with cancer. It is very hard on cancer patients and their families to go through the diagnosis and treatment. The American Cancer Society is funding important research. Initially, I wanted to raise money for independent cancer research for alternative and natural treatments but the first charity I contacted did not respond. After researching different organizations, I realized that my marathon event was already sponsoring the American Cancer Society and I would be one among many doing my part toward a common team goal. According to the American Cancer Society, 71.6% of the money raised goes directly to funding research so that seemed like a great use of the money.

How was your event?

The event was great. I spoke to a lot of other racers and everyone seemed to be having a blast. It got a bit rainy but I did not mind. The constant running kept me warm and the energy of the crowd kept everyone’s spirits bright. I decided to take a slow and steady pace since I had a recent surgery a month before running the half marathon. In the end, I surprised myself in that my time was not much different than previous half marathon times. I guess you could say that taking it easy yielded the same results as trying hard! So, that was a pleasant surprise. After my race was over, I actually got a little lost in Seattle and ended up walking another 4ish miles trying to find my car (due to a combination of faulty GPS and construction road closures). Luckily, some Seattle natives were able to point me in the right direction and I got to see a lot of the city along the way.

You can check out a short video of Bonnie’s race here.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?

It’s really, really hard to pick a favorite Bramble Berry product. I love the fragrances most and they are among the most purchased items that I buy from Bramble Berry for my soap making business. Some of my favorite picks include Dragon’s Blood, Celestial Waters, Energy, Green Tea, Indian Sandalwood & Christmas Tree. I feel confident purchasing from Bramble Berry because the products are top quality and fragrances are tested for use in soap making.

Dragon’s Blood Goat Milk Soap with Aloe

How did you get involved in soaping?

I started getting soapy back in 2007. I always had dry skin problems, especially in the dry winters. My skin would crack and bleed and commercial cleansers would make my skin feel itchy, burning sensations and constantly dry. After my twins were born in 2006, I had a lot of time at home and didn’t know what to do with myself. I played around with candle-making and melt and pour soap making but the glycerin soap also had detergents and while it was a little better, it still bothered my sensitive skin. I discovered hand made soap and one day I made my first Cold Process soap. It was an olive oil soap made in a one pound batch and molded in tupperware lined with plastic wrap. The soap turned out perfect and worked great on my skin. My dry skin problems vanished and I started breaking out less. I quit buying overpriced hypoallergenic cleansers and started making my own soap for a fraction of the price. A few years later, I discovered that I actually have an allergy to sulfate detergents, which are very commonly found in detergent based cleaners and bars found in the stores. I never knew the allergy existed but apparently it is what caused the dry skin, eczema like symptoms and rash. I now make my own laundry soap, dish soap and all other soap type products for myself and my family. In time, I started selling my extra soaps and then a small business formed.

Tell us a little more about your business!

My business, Good Earth Spa, started after many people around me wanted to buy my soaps. I’ve always had an entrepreneur spirit and wanted a way to earn money from home, so I could stay home with my young children. Making soap has enabled me to have a job I love that challenges me both creatively and scientifically (art and science were my favorite subjects in school!) I get to be my own boss and set my own hours.

The “Good” in Good Earth Spa is my business being able to give back. I’ve structured my soap business so that for every retail bar sold on the website, one bar will be donated to a charity or charity fundraiser. Every other month I select a new charity. With the help of my customers who I appreciate more than I can verbalize, I’ve been able to donate soap to homeless shelters, our troops overseas, raise money for environmental causes, help find cures for diseases and support organizations that empower and employ people in 3rd world countries. The “Earth” represents my love for things natural. I support organic agriculture and strive for a more natural product. The “Spa” is the feeling of being pampered. Everyone deserves products that make you feel good. I seek materials that promote health, pleasure and well-being.

Orange Cedarwood Natural Soap

I loved reading about your event, the research you did for the benefited charity, and the charitable contributions and “one for one” model that you’ve built into your business. Thank you for being a part of Bramble Berry Athletic Club, Bonnie!

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Bramble Berry Athletic Club: Andrea Edgar

Anne-Marie Faiola — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 19:04:01 +0000

Every year as part of our commitment to giving back (see our Social Responsibility Statement here), Bramble Berry donates 5% of our profits to local non-profit organizations. Earlier this year we decided we wanted to bring you, our readers and customers into the mix and donate to the causes you felt passionate about. We sponsored 11 athletes for our first-ever Bramble Berry Athletic Club! The BBAC members all ran races in the name of their favorite charity and Bramble Berry donated to the races and paid all entry fees (plus, there were cool BBAC shirts just for our “pro” team). At this point many of our fabulous athletes have participated in their events and we wanted to share some of their stories with you. Today’s interview is with Andrea Edgar, owner of Soap4Squares!

Soap Queen: How did you get into soap making?

I first started soaping when I found out that I was pregnant in December of 2010. I realized that I was spending way too much money on commercial soap products that didn’t agree with my sensitive skin (and newly sensitive nose), so I decided that I could start making my own handcrafted soap products at a fraction of the cost. It was then that Edgar’s Soap (now Soap4Squares) was born.

I was so excited to find Bramble Berry and read Anne-Marie’s story on the Soap Queen blog. Not only did I find an excellent, well-priced selection of materials to choose from at Bramble Berry, but the founder was a fellow former criminal justice professional with a love for quality homemade soap products! I’ve been a loyal customer ever since.

Soap Queen: Tell us a little more about your business!

I started making soap for my co-workers and friends, but as the demand rose, I started selling them on consignment at a local café and gift shop. Since that time, I have officially opened my soap business. I have recently trade-named my DBA company name, Soap4Squares, and got my LLC filed with the State of Arizona! Hopefully, as my business increases, I can expand to a website with more than just one page of products. Currently most of my orders are for military customers and I donate a portion of my proceeds from my military-themed soaps to the Wounded Warrior Project. I also have my blog up and running, where I post about my new projects, company and life.

Soap Queen: Why did you want to become part of Bramble Berry’s Athletic Club?

I applied to be a part of the BBAC not only to represent Bramble Berry and the soap-making world, but also to encourage fitness for women and give back to my community in the process. In addition to my main race, I also plan to run a few more races over the course of 2012 and have (and will!) proudly wear my BBAC gear to these events.

Soap Queen: What was your charity and how did you pick it?

The charity I chose was the HelpHopeLive, which benefits those with financial needs following a transplant or catastrophic injury. This organization helps individuals to bridge the financial gap between what insurance companies will cover and what a person needs to live and thrive, coordinate fund-raising, and they help with financial responsibility counseling for funds raised.

This non-profit has a special place in my heart because we had a friend who was personally affected by a catastrophic injury and relied on this nonprofit for financial help. Will Archibald was in an accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He was an inspiration to me and my husband (and really, anyone who met him) as he did not allow his injury to stop his life. He learned to surf, play hockey, drive with hand controls, and even went back to college. Will passed away early this year unexpectedly, but HelpHopeLive still worked to fund the needs left behind for his family. It means the world to me that I was able to participate in the BBAC and to help in some way! You can read more about Will’s story here.

Soap Queen: Tell us about your events!

The first two races I ran this year were two separate 5K events for Yuma county that encouraged health and wellness within our community.

During each 5K I brought my son RJ along for the ‘ride.’ I want to teach him the importance of fitness and I figured it is never too early to learn. These races were also exciting for me because they were the first races I have ran since having RJ last August. I was a big sprint and triathlon girl in the past, so it was nice to get my groove back.

The third race I ran was a Kiss Me Dirty Mud Run for gynecological cancer research. It was such a blast!

It was a 5K obstacle course through mud, muck, rock and obstacles. Jumping over tires, low crawls under nets, big mud moats, etc. This race’s charity had a close meaning to me as breast and cervical cancers unfortunately have plagued many women in my family.

The most recent last race I ran was a half marathon in San Diego for lymphoma. During the rest of the year, I plan to run a 5K for military appreciation, a Halloween-themed spring triathlon and a Holiday Classic spring triathlon in December. For each event, I plan to be rocking out my BBAC shirt before and after the races!

Soap Queen: What is your favorite Bramble Berry product?

Picking just one product from Bramble Berry is super hard! I order from Bramble Berry because I just love what you sell, and I know that if it comes from you it has been quality-tested and will make my soapy creations wonderful. I would have to say that I’m currently in love with your Vertical Wood Mold, it’s super fun and so user-friendly. The possibilities for the designs are practically endless and the best part is that it makes the perfect sized bar of soap, not too big, not too small, it is perfect and fits in the palm of my hand.

My runner-up for favorite product would have to be your Lavender Green Tea Fragrance Oil. It doesn’t matter what I make with this scent, it totally sells out and is in demand. So clean, fresh, and it really sticks in just about anything!

Thank you so much Andrea for being a member of Bramble Berry’s 2012 Athletic Club! Looks we have a future marathoner on our hands =)

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Meet the New Bramble Berry Athletic Club!

Anne-Marie Faiola — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:05:40 +0000

Bramble Berry is honored to sponsor 11 athletes in our first-ever Bramble Berry Athletic Club to support worthy non profits. This is the first time we’ve ever done anything like this and we were thrilled to pieces with the responses! We plan on keeping you updated with the team’s events, charities and success stories. Get ready to feel warm and fuzzy! Not familiar with the BBAC? Read about it HERE.

Meet the 2012 Bramble Berry Athletes!

(Squee…this is so exciting!)

Bonnie Garrity

Rock n’ Roll Marathon (Seattle, WA) for American Cancer Society

Owner: Good Earth Spa

Christina Hunt

Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society

Harmony Davis

Run Across America for the Ulman Cancer Fund

Blog: Keep on Keeping On

Jenn Beddoe

Beach 2 Battleship Triathlon for the YMCA of Wilmington, NC

Owner: Glynne’s Soaps

Kerri Kretmeier

Rock n’ Roll Marathon (Dallas, TX) for the Susan G. Komen Foundation

Patty Staniewicz

Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon (Florida) for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Rene DiMichele

Bike MS Ride (South Jersey) for the National MS Foundation

Claire Dann

Relay for Life (Seattle) for the American Cancer Society

Linda Prahl

Relay for Life (Wisconsin) for the American Cancer Society

Kate Parker

Girls on the Run 5K (Indiana) for Girls on the Run

Andrea Edgar

5K Muddy Buddy Obstacle Course (Arizona) for Gynecological Cancer Research

Congratulations BBAC Team Members! We are so excited to sponsor your races and outfit you in BBAC schwag!

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Bramble Berry Athletic Club: Apply Now!

Anne-Marie Faiola — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:10:39 +0000

Bramble Berry donates 5% of our profits every year to worthy non profits (and has since 1998). This year, we would love to bring you into the mix with a portion of our charitable giving. Rather than have you vote on what charities to give to, we’re hoping to involve you in a personally meaningful way. If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you know that I am an avid exerciser and healthy living fanatic. Because fitness is something that I enjoy and believe is the foundation to running a successful business, I thought it would be fun to connect with Bramble Berry customers that share the same passion for giving back coupled with a desire to get moving. Let me introduce to you, for the first time in Bramble Berry history, the Bramble Berry Athletic Club! BBAC is a new group of sponsored athletes that will participate in various athletic events for charity.

I’m so excited about this! I can’t wait to support your athletic events and charities that are important to you. See details below to apply.

BBAC Perks

Up to $550 to spend on entry fee and charity donation.
BBAC schwag including team shirt to wear in your event.
Soap Queen Blog feature including your story, charity, pictures and link love!
BBAC surprise goody bag.

How to Apply

Email bbac(at)brambleberry(dot)com and tell us your story: Submit email by February 24th and we’ll announce the team on February 29th!

Tell us about the race or event you plan on competing in this year.
What charity does the event support?
Why is this charity important to you?
Please include a picture of yourself.
Send us your charity page or a link to the race if you already have one set up.

Fine print

The donation money will cover your entry fee for the event and the rest will go to the event’s supporting charity. We will cut the check directly to the charity.
We would love a picture of you in your BBAC team shirt at the race (nothing would make us prouder) and we want to hear all about the event so we can blog about it!
We will be choosing between 6-10 applicants.

Jake Locker and I at a Run for Hope benefit. See blog post here.

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