Today’s fave? A picture that was captured as I was high-fiving my dream team, also known as Good Carma Studio, after our No Kid Hungry Influencers Brunch on Wednesday. (*Please Note: Blog post to come)
While it was a truly stunningly beautiful affair, I am even more proud that it was an event – full of heart – that accomplished what we set out to do: get out the word about childhood hunger and breakfast in our schools.
I am so thankful to have a team that works as hard as I do. Trust is EVERYTHING to me and I trust these women implicitly.
Chrissy Kling & Melissa Wallace, you are gifts—and you produce the best events to boot!!!
Again, special thanks to our sponsors Tyson Foods, Kellog’s and Citi for all you do to help eradicate childhood hunger in America.
xoxo,
Dawn
Have I mentioned how much I love Step Up? I know, I know. I have – and have again.
But it’s just because that’s how deeply it lives in my heart, and impacts my everyday life. I was introduced to Step Up by my best friend, actress Sarah Jane Morris 3 years ago, and I quickly became a member, changing my life – and my heart – for the better.
This past Friday, June 5th, 2015 was my second year to attend the Step Up Inspiration Awards – and their 12th year of hosting this awards luncheon, so full of heart.
But this year, I didn’t just attend as a guest, I was also honored to be the announcer of the show – or as they call it – their “Voice of God.”
And yes, you can call me that from now on. I’m kidding. Kinda.
No, it really was a dream come true, and not just because it was the first time I had been the announcer at an awards show.
As I sat there with 850 others in the room, feeling my own dream come to life, I got to hear the stories of dreams coming true for so many others, including Julie Bowen…
Cristela Alonzo…
Lea Michele…
honoree Peter Kim of Hudson Jeans…
and honoree, actress & director, Elizabeth Banks.
But, I also got to see the girls of Step Up, whose dreams are coming true – like honoree Maria – simply by being able to graduate high school and attend college, thanks to Step Up, so that they can pursue their dreams.
Step Up believes all girls should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, and the Inspiration Awards raises 55% of the funds Step Up needs to serve its Los Angeles community for one year. Know how much we raised this year? Over $400,000!! We went well past our goal of $75,000!
Speaking of raising money, I have never seen anyone in entertainment work so hard (while being SO adorable and full of heart) as Modern Family’s Julie Bowen did, while trying to raise that money. I wish I could say every celebrity put this much heart into their work with charities!
It was a day that I will always will remember, not just because I was surrounded by the most talented people with the most generous of hearts, but because for the first time, I actually could count myself as one of them. Thank you for letting me be a very small part of the magic, Step Up.
Memories like those never die.
xoxo,
Dawn
Happy Thursday, friends!
Today is one of the many days that I’m feeling miiiiiighty grateful. The reason? I am so privileged to be the “Voice of God” for the 12th annual Step Up Inspiration Awards tomorrow, June 5th, 2015, at the Beverly Hilton, presented by Hudson Jeans.
What’s the “Voice of God”? Well, it’s basically the announcer. But, doesn’t “Voice of God” sound waaaay cooler? Don’t give me the credit. Step Up wrote it right into the script! As you know, Step Up is one of my FAVORITE organizations and when they asked me to be a part of their annual awards show, I was ecstatic! There’s more about Step Up – and the Inspiration Awards – below.
But first, can we just talk for a minute about Hudson Jeans? I mean, how much do we loooove them? And not just because they fit like a glove, fit all sorts of sizes and body types, and feel delicious on our bodies, but also because they’re a huge sponsor of my beloved Step Up.
So much so, that Hudson Jeans CEO, Peter Kim, is their 2015 Inspiration Awards Honoree, along with actress Elizabeth Banks. Peter is being honored as Step Up’s Corporate Honoree because as a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, he continues to use his resources to raise awareness and funding for nonprofits and various programs in the Los Angeles area. An added bonus? He loves some adventure, this guy! Just like the adventure that so many girls seek out each year, when they head off to college or to a new city. He’s our kind of people, y’all.
Well, since Hudson Jeans is a proud sponsor of Step Up, I am a very proud wearer of Hudson. Here are two of my Hudson picks for Summer, that I am loving. And I mean, looooooving!!!
1) Caught rehearsing at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday in my Skylar Relax Slim Straights – Smoke & Mirrors by Hudson Jeans ($220): The perfect boyfriend jean, that can turn into girlfriend jeans real fast, that’s how cute and versatile they are!
2) All I wanted in my teens was to look like Cindy Crawford. It’s ALL I WANTED. I wanted her beauty mark (which I kind of got, although it was a little up and to the left), prayed for her height of 5’9″ (which I got and totally believe that I manifested), and worked my little butt off to attempt to have her body (by watching – and exercising to – that Cindy Crawford workout video every day after school).
Well, I never got her body, exactly, but y’all…I finally manifested those jean cutoffs that she wore in that video, that I’ve been craving since 1992!
Thank you, Hudson, for making my dream come true with your Tori Slouch Short by Hudson Jeans ($165), which can be worn low on the hips for some Cindy-circa-1992 attitude, or high on the waist, all high-rise style, while seriously flattering any body type.
I finally feel like Cindy Crawford; although, I doubt that I’ll be doing squats and pushups in these beauties!
And, what is Step Up?
Step Up propels girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become
confident, college-bound, career-focused,
and ready to join the next generation of professional women.
Step Up believes all girls should have the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
Step Up is a special place where we all propel the fulfillment of potential. We take pride in our core values from which we develop our culture, our brand, and our impact strategies.
You can buy your tickets here!
Hope to see y’all there tomorrow!
I‘ll be the voice of God you’re hearing.
Tee-hee.
xoxo,
Dawn
How did you feel at 15-years-old? And what do you wish you could tell yourself at 15 if you could go back now?
That’s what #Dear15Me is all about. Dawn McCoy (host, creator of BeautyFrosting, and lifestyle and life empowerment expert) has created a movement where we can share our stories and struggles of when we were 15-years-old – and share our hindsight vision – to encourage teens to love and accept themselves, just as they are right now at this very moment. *Helping teens tackle their teenage years with the confidence, grace, wisdom and ease we wish we’d had.*
So many of us say, “If I had known then, what I know now….”, so why don’t we tell teens while they’re still in it? Our goal is to start a viral movement that helps ease what can be a tough time in a teen’s life. Post a picture of yourself at 15 and your #Dear15Me message, and let teens know how you felt at 15, and what you would say to yourself if you had the chance now. Because you do. You have a chance now to help them get through this challenging time, with confidence, grace and ease. No picture of you at 15? No problem. Just post a pic of you now, holding the sign “Dear 15 Me…”and write your story and what you wish you could tell 15-year-old you in the caption.
Seeing the struggles that we went through then, how we got through them, and what we know now that we wish we had known then will inspire them to live their best lives now.
****
From Dawn:
Listen. Being a teen was hard. I remember it so clearly: the insecurities, the doubts, the fickleness, the fear, the fights with friends, the crushes, trying to please your parents, trying to impress your teachers, all of it. HARD.
But, today’s teens have it even harder. They have all of that above, plus the added pressure of social media. If there had been social media when I was in high school, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have graduated, and I think my parents would agree with me on that.
I realized just how tough it is for teens these days on a recent trip to Little Rock, Arkansas. There, I talked to the mom of a 15-year-old daughter who told me about the pain she has to see her daughter go through daily when she compares herself to others on social media. Remember that party you didn’t get invited to in 9th grade? Well, imagine having to see pictures of it on Instagram the next day. Remember the guy you had a crush on who asked out your best friend? Imagine having to see pictures of them hand-in-hand on Facebook. SUPER HARD.
That next night, I drove to my Dad’s house in Hot Springs, Arkansas and saw a picture of me at 15 years old, hanging on his wall. I saw this gorgeous girl and was shocked, because that was not the girl that I remembered. The girl I remembered was chubby, with braces and filled with nervousness and insecurity. She was scared of being too much – and not enough – all at the same time.
I ended up writing a post about it, and was overwhelmed by the comments, Facebook messages, texts and emails that I received in response. My feelings of wishing I could go back and speak to 15-year-old-me really had struck a chord. Hundreds of women wrote to me, expressing that they too look back and wish they could tell their 15-year-old selves that they were perfect as is, and that everything was going to be okay. Sometimes, that’s all we need to hear: “You’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay.”
So, I’ve decided to do something about it, and start a movement. It’s called the “Dear 15 Me Challenge,” or #Dear15Me for you hashtaggers out there. #Dear15Me is a movement where we can share our stories and struggles of when we were 15-years-old – and share our hindsight vision – to encourage teens to love and accept themselves, just as they are right now at this very moment. Helping teens tackle their teenage years with the confidence, grace, wisdom and ease we wish we’d had. Here are the details. I really hope you’ll be a part of it, and that we can help make the journey a little smoother for teens out there today.
#Dear15Me : To inspire teens and women and men, at every age, I encourage you to share what you would say to yourself at 15, having the hindsight, wisdom and experience that you do now. I urge you to 1) post a picture of yourself at 15, with a caption saying: “Dear 15 Me…” and follow it with 2) what you were feeling at that age, and most importantly, 3) what you wish you could tell yourself at 15. It’s that easy.
No picture readily available of you at 15? No problem. Any pic of you as a teen will do, or just post a pic of you now, holding the sign “Dear 15 Me…” and write your story and what you wish you could tell 15-year-old you in the caption.
While there’s no time machine to take us back to 15 to correct our thinking then, we hope our past experiences and heartfelt words will help inspire – and make the road a little easier – for teens today. Tag 5 of your friends and ask them to do the same. Together, we can make a difference in the confidence of today’s teens. And be sure to tag @Dear15Me and @BeautyFrosting so we can share your experiences with our social media channels.
“I wish you could see what you look like to me. Don’t you know you’re made of stars? You can do anything – dance, laugh and sing. You’re carried by love. All that you see will come to be. So, what will you do, beautiful you?” (Dawn McCoy)
xoxo,
Dawn
This is hanging on my dad’s office wall. Me at 15. I saw this picture at my dad’s house, and it broke my heart.
I saw a gorgeous 15-year-old girl, but that’s not the 15-year-old girl I remembered.
The 15-year-old I rememberer was chubby, with braces, looked like a boy, and was much too much.
Too much, physically.
Too much curly hair.
Too much love to give.
Too much of a talker.
Too much of a singer.
Too much of an actor.
Too much of a kiss-up.
Too much for her parents.
Too much for her brother.
Too much for boys.
Too much for herself.
Too much everything.
That is not who I see now. I see someone who was just enough.
I see this picture and see a gorgeous 15-year-old, with a big personality, who was painfully insecure. More than anything, I wish I could go back and tell myself: “Embrace your curves. You’re never going to be a size 0, so stop fighting it so hard. You’re only wasting time and energy. Embrace your talents and loving spirit. You don’t need to be your big brother, best friend, or anyone else for that matter. You just need to be you. It’s enough. Don’t be afraid of being different. It’s the very thing that will change your life for the better. You’re enough. You’re special. Life is going to be so sweet. And, lastly, you’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay.”
I dedicate this post to all girls in middle school and high school out there, and their parents. I promise it’s going to get better. YOU’RE okay, you’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay.
xoxo,
Dawn
I am SO excited for the grand opening of The Container Store at the legendary Farmer’s Market at The Grove in Los Angeles today! They’re open today 9 am-9 pm and tomorrow 10 am-7 pm and 10% of every purchase made will go to my fave organization, Step Up Women’s Network – of which I am proud to be a visionary member. There will also be prizes and giveaways and more!
If you want to get organized – and need a little inspiration – head over to yesterday’s post – The Container Store Diaries: My Closet Makeover on BeautyFrosting to see how they got ME organized! It will surely inspire your organizational process.
Also, I was honored to co-host the VIP Preview Party of The Container Store this past Thursday, along with Sarah Jane Morris, Daniel Musto, Trina Turk, Amy Davidson, Ashley Jones, Lacey Chabert, Liz Dennery Sanders, Alison Deyette and more!
It was an evening filled with dancing, delicious food – and, of course, a private preview of the new Container Store opening at the Farmer’s Market at The Grove!
They even served food on their products? What do I mean? I mean, they used file boxes and pencil containers as vases…
Desk trays as catering displays and more!
So go get your shopping on!!
xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What’s first on your Container Store shopping list?
I write a blog for a living. So you might say, I like photos. It’s true. It’s the curse of being born a photographer’s daughter…and of being a second-born child whose parents showered their first born with pics and forgot about the camera when she came along. What? I’m not bitter. But it did make me a lover of marking the memory of every occasion with a photo – much to the chagrin of my family & friends.
While photographer, Claire – and Sherry (her assistant) – prepared for the shoot, I was primped to the hilt with hair and makeup by Emma Willis of Contour Fossa Makeup & Hair. There was something about sipping champagne, listening to D’Angelo, Marvin Gaye, Meiko and Robin Thicke, and writhing around in silky lingerie on my bed with pumps on that made me feel, well, sensual. And it was not a bad feeling to feel.
I have found that this one day spent showing my body a little love and respect has made me a better lover, better friend, better daughter, better one-day wife & mother and better woman.
I loved it SO much that I plan on doing it yearly to appreciate myself and maybe – just maybe – gift the one I love with, as well one day.
I have turned a corner and it’s a corner that I wished I’d turned years ago. I really hope you find it inspiring to start your own self body-love movement and find time to have a day of your own to celebrate the skin you’re in.
So here’s to closing an old chapter and turning the page to an exciting new chapter. And hey, 36? Bring it on.
*If you’re in LA, next Sunday 11/24, Unbuttoned Boudoir Photography has a special running right now for $745 for 14 images, hair and makeup! Um, can you say perfect holiday gift for the honey or yourself?
Photography by: Claire Pearce of Unbuttoned Photography
Hair & Makeup by: Emma Willis of Contour Fossa Makeup & Hair
Tassel Garland Deco by: Studio Mucci
xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: Are you one of the 91% of american women who are unhappy with their bodies? What do you do to give yourself more confidence?
“I want to be remembered as the girl who always smiles even when her heart is broken, and the one that could always brighten up your day even if she couldn’t brighten her own.”
(Unknown)
This is pretty much me to a “T”.
Have a beautiful day, beauties!
xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What kind of girl do YOU want to be?