Thursday, October 23, 2014

Throwback Thursday: The Momentous Summer I Worked at Bath & Body Works (And Met a Lifelong Friend!)

The summer after my freshman year of college, I worked at the Bath & Body Works in Cleveland's Golden Gate shopping plaza. I had long been a fan of the shower gels and lotions from this self-perceived beauty mecca -- I was that mallrat girl who went in every Saturday during junior high and high school and just HAD to buy something -- so it was a dream come true to actually be able to WORK there.

This was the era of Sun-Ripened Raspberry and Sweet Pea. When shower gel was just becoming a THING and bar soap was falling by the wayside. And this was a momentous summer job for many reasons, actually...

I stocked a lot of these hand sanitizers on the shelves. A LOT.
1) That summer (1999) was when Bath & Body Works first launched their line of Hand Sanitizers. While the line of hand soap is now quite extensive, at the time it really was just the hand sanitizers -- either with or without beads -- and no soaps at all. I remember stocking the shelves with it and thinking it was just THE COOLEST MOVE Bath & Body Works could make. (And now? Bath & Body Works soap is at the top of my list!)

Ohhhh, Moonlight Path. How I love you.
2) This was also the summer that Bath & Body Works launched their Moonlight Path line, which to this day is one of my favorite scents. I loved the sultriness of the scent, from the sheer lavender and white jasmine notes to the violet, vanilla and amber. I pretty much stocked my dorm room for sophomore year with this one (and my long-time favorite, Warm Vanilla Sugar.

The famed purple lipstick summer.
3) Remember my Throwback Thursday from just last week, when I talked about how much I used to love dark purple lipstick? I bought my absolute favorite shade in bulk from Bath & Body Works that summer. (Thank goodness for that 30 percent discount.)

But here's the BEST reason for my summer job at Bath & Body Works being one of my best ever. I met a lifelong friend! My manager was a girl named Steph, who had graduated recently from Bowling Green State University with a degree in journalism. I thought Steph was THE COOLEST PERSON EVER. Not only did she have a degree in the same field as me, but she was super pretty, really fun and was also into theater. Basically, she was my spirit animal.

Steph and me! This was during a trip she took to NYC in 2012, when we enjoyed cupcake and wine pairings at one of my favorite dessert spots, Sweet Revenge.

Now, here's the thing. I always liked my coworkers at my summer jobs, but we rarely stayed in touch. To be honest, I don't even remember the names of my managers from my subsequent jobs at Victoria's Secret or Afterthoughts (that was the summer I pierced ears, which was the most terrifying and worst job I've ever had). But Steph and I just struck up a friendship immediately -- and we're actually still friends today! She even stayed with me in New York a couple times. I'm extremely grateful for our lasting friendship, which would never have happened if I hadn't worked at Bath & Body Works that fateful summer!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and stock up on Warm Vanilla Sugar Foaming Hand Soap.

16 comments:

  1. I've meet some of my best friends at summer jobs too :)

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    1. How nice! It's great to make lasting friendships at jobs you don't think will matter so much!

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  2. Hi Jamie! I love that your summer jog at Bath & Body Works was where you met your BFF! AWESOME!

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    1. :) It was definitely a treat to meet a good friend there!

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  3. I worked at Bath & Body Works when I was in high school and although it's STILL one of my favorite places, I didn't really enjoy working there, haha!! My manager wasn't so nice so maybe that's why!! I LOVE Peach Bellini, it's currently in my master bathroom!! I still have many a summer soap to finish up before I break out the fall scents!

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    1. Awww, that's too bad! A good or bad boss can make or break your job for sure. Peach Bellini is one of my current faves, it's ALWAYS in my bathroom!

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  4. How fun, I definitely got some scent flashbacks (is that a thing?) when you said Sun-Ripened Raspberry and Sweet Pea (and Juniper Berry and Cucumber Melon, even though you didn't mention those!) Late 90's/Early 00's BB&W was my jam.

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    1. Oh my gosh! Cucumber Melon. I totally forgot about that one but I LOVED it!

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  5. I agree that one can make your closest friends at work, summer jobs or otherwise! I haven't gotten into BBW products, and I don't know why. I must go back soon and give it a go!

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  6. Ah summer jobs, those were the days. And I went through a huge sweet pea phase :)

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  7. What a great post! I have always meant to try Sweet Pea and never have, got to get on that :D

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  8. I always loved the peach and raspberry

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  9. You're not a person if you don't own any Bath and Body Works products... that's a fact, lol!

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  10. Omigosh... I love the peach... Raspberry was my favorite back in the day too.

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