Dine & Dish with Dawn: Society Bakery in Dallas – It’s Not Just Their Desserts That Make Them Sweet!

Posted on September 8, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Life might not be a cake walk, but don’t tell Society Bakery that.

The oven is always on at Society Bakery in Dallas, where they bake as much sweetness as they add to the world around them!

A bakery whose motto is “Be good to your sweet tooth, be good to society,” Society makes it its mission to sweeten the world, while giving back.

And, I’m not the only one who’s noticed. Ellen Degeneres and AOL have named them one of the Top Ten Cupcakes in America, and People Country Magazine listed Society Bakery as one of “Four top bakeries in L.A., Dallas, Birmingham, and N.Y.C.”.

Society Bakery founder, Roshi Muns and I established a friendship last December when I was referred to Society when I needed a last minute cake for an impromptu holiday tea party with my girlfriends. I tasted the cake (delicious!), and met Roshi (the sweetest!), and it was friendship at first sight! We’ve followed each other on social media since then, so when Roshi saw I was headed home to Dallas, she told me she wanted to “roll out the red carpet” for me and my family and friends, and host a tasting brunch for us.

Knowing I would need some help from other discerning tastebuds to taste such delectable treats, I invited my mom, my fabulous Dallas blogger friend Lee Cordon of DoSayGive, my best friend Jenny Harris, her son Shepherd, Jenny’s sister Dr. Sally Falwell, and her daughter, Evie.

Lots of love at the table with my tasting crew by my side – and that’s Roshi right behind me!

And oh my, were we ever treated!

We started out with Pimento Cheese on toast with hardboiled egg, bacon, lettuce and tomato.

Society Bakery’s homemade pimento cheese on toast, with hardboiled eggs, bacon, lettuce and tomato

Then, came out the chicken salad on croissant, tuna salad on wheat, grilled cheese and pasta salad with tomato and mozzarella.

Chicken salad on croissant, truna salad, grilled cheese and pasta salad at Society Bakery – delicious!

The next course was ricotta with fresh peaches and strawberries, served with a side of some of the most delicious homemade peach jam I’ve ever enjoyed.

Ricotta with fresh peaches and strawberries with a side of scrumptious homemade peach jam by Chef Erin

After all that, came the…DESSERTS!!
And, I do mean desserts plural!

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Life really is a cake walk at Society Bakery (details of desserts in this pic below)

We were treated to the following dessert smorgasbord (as pictured above clockwise witht the brownie, standing in for 12 o’clock): Brownie, Frosted Sugar Cookie, Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Jessie Jessup Cupcake (vanilla cake with buttercream frosting & my FAVE!), Strawberry Cupcake, Coconut Cupcake, Salted Caramel Cupcake with Salted Caramel Filling, vanilla Cupcake, White Petits Fours with filling, Monster Chocolate Chip Cookie, Bread Pudding Whoopie Pie, Apple Pie, another Whoopie Pie, Monster M&M Cookie, and their signature Chocolate Cake in the center.

Here’s a closeup of some of that deliciousness.

Sugar Heaven at Society Bakery with cupcakes, cookies, petits four, pies, brownies and whoopie pies!

As delicious as the food and “sweet treats” (as Sally & Evie call them) are, Roshi’s mission is even sweeter. Society Bakery is active in giving back to the local community of Dallas, by giving thousands of cupcakes away in exchange for items that local charities need. Society Bakery also donates throughout the year to over 100 different charities, schools and non-profit organizations, refraining from taking tax write-offs for donations because Roshi and her team believe that a business can be profitable and charitable at the same time. Sounds like someone else I know!

My heart was so full getting to share both my love for what I do, and my love of food, with some of the people I love best in my own hometown of Dallas.

What it takes to capture those delicious food pics y’all love looking at! My friend Jenny was praying I didn’t fall off that step ladder!

My dear friend (of 21 years), Jenny Harris Crandall and I cakewalking at Society Bakery

With my friend – and fellow influencer & blogger – Lee Cordon, of the fabulous blog, DoSayGive

So, when in Dallas, head on over to Society Bakery, where the oven’s always on – and the place, where when you buy sweetness, you also add sweetness to the world around you!

xoxo,
Dawn

ISSE, ISSE, Baby: My ISSE 2015 Barbie Experience

Posted on January 27, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

This past weekend, I felt like Barbie when I had the opportunity to serve on the blogger panel at the Blogger Cafe at ISSE. Makeup and skincare and hair extensions, oh my.

Let’s start with the hair. I left with gorgeous hair extensions from Hair Art, Hair Couture and Halo Couture, and cannot tell you how much fun that was!

Clockwise L to R: Hair Art bangs, Hair Art bangs & H3000 Heat Brush Pro, Halo Couture 20-inch extensions, and Hair Couture 20-inch extensions

And then there were the products!! For all of you product junkies out there, this was Product. Junkie. HEAVEN!!

Not only did I get walked around the floor and get to see thousands of products, but I also held one-on-one meetings, where I got to learn, encourage, advise and inspire. I was so happy to meet all of these brilliant and forward-thinking brands, and now I can’t wait to share my faves with you! And the best part? I got to VOTE for my favorite products of the show!

**Note: To get a pic of all of these fab products, I needed to break it into two pics, and naturally, I did so, based on color of the packaging. Ha!

The Pastel Pretties

The Pastel Pretties: Clockwise from L to R: Halo Couture The Layered Halo 20-inch extensions ($580), Crown Beauty Pink Travel Brush Set ($19.95), Rock Your Hair Spray It Hard ($22), Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo ($21), Smooth 24/7 Premium Skin & Foot Therapy Balm ($17) and MoYou Kitty Set ($39.99)

1) Halo Couture The Layered Halo 20-inch extensions ($580) – Heaven. Just heaven in a hair fall. 20-inches of virgin hair, that’s as shiny and strong as you could dream of. Totally made me feel like a Barbie.

2) Crown Beauty Pink Travel Brush Set ($19.95)

3) Rock Your Hair Spray It Hard ($22)

4) Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo ($21)

5) Smooth 24/7 Premium Skin & Foot Therapy Balm ($17)

6) MoYou Kitty Nail Stamping Set ($39.99) – I can’t help but wanna have a slumber party with this fun – and super easy – mani stamping kit!

7) Glycelene Rejuvenation Creme (pictured below)

Pastel Pretty - with Glycelene

The Black & Bronze Besties

The Black & Bronze Beauties (Clockwise L to R): H3000 Heat Brush Pro ($130), Ergo Ionic Polishing Paddle Brush ( $38.95), Eye Majic Swipe On Eyeshadow ($5), Norvell Dancing With Stars Endurance Color Boosting Skin Perfector, Föu Water, Brazilian Blowout Volume Shampoo ($34), KollagenX 24K Gold Collagen Mask ($140 for 4 masks), Gloss by KollagenX ($45) and Go2Brush ($28)

1) H3000 Heat Brush Pro by Ron King ($130): it’s what gave me that Jaclyn Smith/Charlie’s Angels hair up there!

2) Ergo Ionic Polishing Paddle Brush ( $38.95)

3) Eye Majic Swipe On Eyeshadow ($5) – swipe-on, brushless eyeshadow in one simple step? Say no more.

4) Norvell Dancing With Stars Endurance Color Boosting Skin Perfector

5) Föu Water – great, healthy, beneficial alternative to toner (which we all know I am not the biggest fan of!)

6) Brazilian Blowout Volume Shampoo ($34)

7) KollagenX 24K Gold Collagen Mask ($140 for 4 masks) – you love to wear 24k gold, why shouldn’t your skin get the 24k treatment?

8) Gloss by KollagenX ($45)

9) Go2Brush ($28) – your new best friend! A homegrown small biz, dual-ended plastic “brush” that’s more like a tool; perfect for tight lining the waterline and applying lip color seamlessly, without the hassle and clean-up of brushes.
xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Which products would have made your “Best Of ISSE” List?

Featured ISSE Beauty Influencer: Show me what ya got!

Posted on January 21, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

I am thrilled and honored to be a Featured ISSE Beauty Influencer this weekend at ISSE in Long Beach!

Meet ISSE Blogger Café Featured Influencer, Dawn McCoy of BeautyFrosting THIS Saturday, January 23rd in Long Beach

What is ISSE? Good question. It’s the International Salon And Spa Expo.

The 13-year-old me is over the moon that I get to nominate my picks for best new product, best established product, and best of show in hair, nail and skin from all of you exhibitors across the show floor.

I cannot wait to meet all of you guys from salons, spas and beauty brands and try out your latest and greatest!

Please email [email protected] to schedule appointments and to discuss future collaborations.

Here are all the details:

Blogger Café: For the first time at ISSE Long Beach 2015, the show floor will feature a one-on-one Blogger Cafe giving top beauty influencers from across the U.S. the opportunity to meet with show exhibitors. ISSE Long Beach attendees will also have the chance to meet with these beauty influencers, including yours truly, throughout the show and can win a VIP gift bag! Each beauty influencer will nominate the best new product, best established product, and best of show in hair, nail and skin from exhibitors across the show floor. Each exhibiting company has 7 chances to win! The “Best of Show” will be announced by celebrity hairstylist, Ted Gibson, at the ISSE Long Beach Night Out Party! Sunday, January 25 at Sevilla Nightclub.

Job Fair: PBA is proud to host the first annual Southern California Beauty Career Fair at ISSE Long Beach 2015. Show attendees and beauty professionals can speak one-on-one with representatives from beauty companies and salons/spas about available job opportunities on Monday, January 26, from 1:00p.m. – 3:00p.m. in the Long Beach Convention Center. The career fair is open to the public but qualified attendees must purchase a ticket to access the show floor.

OMC Tryouts: New this year, competitors can also enter for a chance to be on Team USA at OMC Hairworld 2016 in Seoul, Korea. OMC Hairworld is a bi-annual global competition inviting the world’s most talented hairstylists to compete on creativity, skill and the ability perform under pressure. The U.S. will be represented by four teams in 2016: Senior Ladies’ Technical, Senior Ladies’ Fashion, Junior Ladies’ Technical and Junior Ladies’ Fashion. Tryouts will be held on Monday, January 26, in conjunction with the ISSE hairstyling competitions. Only one spot is available on the Senior Ladies’ Technical Team. All four spots are available on both Junior Ladies’ Teams. OMC categories are open to all contestants. Competitors must compete in both technical categories or both fashion categories to be eligible for the Team USA try-out.

The Nail Spot/Cut, Color & Style Stage: The Nail Spot and the Cut, Color & Style Stage are the newest additions to ISSE Long Beach. Dedicated to nail professionals, The Nail Spot is an area featuring creative and technical education, nail competitions and more. Nail professionals looking to enhance their knowledge, creativity and skills, will find it at The Nail Spot. All ISSE nail events including education, creative demonstrations and NailPro competitions will be held in this one, convenient place. The new Cut, Color & Style stage will showcase stylists educating attendees on the latest techniques and creating the most sought after styles at any skill level.

And…The Beauty Bar!

Did someone say Beauty Bar?

xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: Will you be at ISSE? Tell me more, tell me more!

Girls Night Out: SFGDiary Calligraphy Cocktail Party with Poppyjack Shop

Posted on November 11, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

I do declare – those girls of SFGDiary are just the cutest!!! And did I mention the MOST fun?

This group of girls was so fun! Some of my favorite femmes, including the ladies, Hannah from The Little Market, Allison & Rachel from LaurenConrad.com (and, yes, the lovely Lauren, herself), Stephanie from Styled by Noir, Mara from M Loves M, Courtney from Poppyjack and those sweet SFG girls, Jackie, Lauren and Valorie!

So, when they invited about 8 of us girls to head on over last night to Valorie’s for a calligraphy, crafts and cocktail girls night out with calligraphy expert, Poppyjack Shop, I didn’t bat an eyelash before promptly sending in my RSVP.

I arrived to the warmest, most welcoming tablescape,

Can you say, BEAUTIFUL??!

and to this cuteness:

The spread at the home of Valorie Darling of SFGDiary *Photo by Poppyjack Shop

And can you even believe how cute this is?

Popcorn with add-ons, including garlic parsley butter, vanilla protein powder and sugar and spice. LOVE this!

We toasted, sipped, munched and mingled for a bit, but then…it was time to get down to business. Calligraphy business.

We all had the same idea going into the night. We all thought that we were going to be calligraphy QUEENS. We were already preparing our speeches, “No, REALLY,girls! It really IS my first time. No, I’m not a professional. That’s so sweet of you to say. Oh, if I only had time for another career. Courtney of Poppyjack Shop is just an excellent teacher.”

Well, one thing about that little fantasy is true: Courtney of Poppyjack Shop is one uber-talented teacher. And her calligraphy? Well, let’s just say you’re welcome for the introduction to the calligrapher you’ll be using for all of your weddings, showers and soirees for the next 30 years.

But the students? Ummmm…well, we tried.

Trying. Really, really trying. And having a lot of fun doing it!

There were a few shining ones among us – I’m looking at you, Mara, Allison, Lauren Conrad and Rachel – but the rest of us, well, we just had fun.

Girls night out with SFGDiary - Let's learn calligraphy, shall we?

And I’m not at all ashamed to admit that I was by far the least gifted calligrapher. So much so, that I decided to celebrate it with the art form I, ahem, learned.

My main lesson learned? I'm not a calligrapher. But that didn't stop me from making a Christmas gift tag for Oprah. Oh! And did I mention I spilled ink on Valorie's tablecloth. I am the BEST guest. Ever. (Sorry, Val!!)

My takeaway? While I love the art of calligraphy, I now know that I do not possess that gift and the best takeaway of all? I know EXACTLY who I’ll call when I need it done. Instead of GhostBusters, she’s the PostBusters. Get it? Because she’ll create beautiful custom calligraphy for envelopes and invites and such?? Oh, never mind.

Thanks again, SFGDiary for a night of new and old friends, and talented and inspiring women who love creating, love to try new things, are willing to take risks, respect other girls, are good role models and are able to laugh at themselves throughout it all. It was so much fun that I’m already planning another girls night for December. Who’s up for cupcake decorating classes with Magnolia Bakery?

**Please check out the goodness of my fellow guests:
SFGDiary

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What “Girls Night Out” task should we tackle next?

Thirsty Thursday: How2Girl Courtney Bingham-Sixx’s Signature Strawberry Mojito

Posted on November 6, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

I had the pinkest pleasure of attending How 2 Girl, Courtney Bingham-Sixx’s Think Pink Ladies Luncheon a few weeks ago at her & her husband, Nikki Sixx’s, gorgeous home in Westlake Village.

All the lovely ladies at How2Girl Courtney Bingham-Sixx's Think Pink Ladies Luncheon

The reason? To team up with Bright Pink Org and honor breast cancer awareness month by raising both awareness and money for breast cancer research.

She had pink cupcakes, a DIY Glam Your Ribbon station and more!

How 2 Girl's DIY Glam Ribbon Station

While the cause was one I’m proud to support and the company was just the sweetest, the cocktails were a sight to behold!

Thirsty Thursday: How2Girl Signature Strawberry Mojito

Thirsty Thursday: How2Girl Courtney Bingham-Sixx's Signature Strawberry Mojito

Here is Courtney’s How2Girl Signature Strawberry Mojito. Courtney says, “This refreshing combo of fresh fruit and fizz will have you feeling like you are at a spa on a tropical vacation, without having to leave the house.”

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 c SodaStream Strawberry Soda

6 strawberries quartered

1/2 bunch mint leaves

3 large limes

1 c white sugar

1 c rum

8 c crushed ice

raspberries for garnish

How2Girl’s Directions:

Pour 1/4 to 1/2 inch of sugar onto a small, shallow plate. Run one of the lime quarters around the rim of each cocktail glass, then dip the glasses into the sugar to rim; set aside.
Whip out your SodaStream, and make yourself a batch of Strawberry Soda.
Squeeze all of the lime quarters into a sturdy glass pitcher. Toss the juiced limes into the pitcher along with the mint, strawberries, and 1 cup of sugar. Crush the fruits together with a muddler, to release the juices from the strawberries and the oil from the mint leaves. Stir in the rum and Strawberry Soda until the sugar has dissolved. Pour into the sugared glasses over ice cubes, add in a raspberry and enjoy!

xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What’s your current favorite cocktail?

Weekend Wanderlust: Kelly Golightly & L*Space Swimwear’s Flamingo Fiesta

Posted on May 13, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

L Space straw & paper pineapple decor *Photo by Fred Baby

What’s better than lounging poolside in Palm Springs on a Saturday afternoon? If you ask me, not much.

Can you say Swan Lake? In my L*Space The Ruched One Piece in Black ($158) on Swannie. *Photo by Nikkia Phoenix

That’s why I was delighted to be invited to my friend and fellow blogger, Kelly GoLightly’s & L*Space’s Slim Aarons-inspired Flamingo Fiesta poolside glam event a few Saturdays ago.

A pretty poolside Flamingo Fiesta that would make Slim Aarons proud *Photo by me

Upon entering Kelly’s oh-so-chic and darling desert abode, I was greeted with a Lette flamingo macaron cake…

Flamingo Macaron Cake by Lette

flamingo-shaped watermelon delights…

Watermelon Flamingos! *Photo by me

and a bevy of fellow blogger babes.

Not much brighter than a bevy of blogger babes poolside! *Photo by Fred Baby

Venturing a little deeper into the deep end of the party, there were custom Skinny Girl & Nekter Juice Bar cocktails, towels by Tide and Pool, cute custom signs by Our Heiday and festive tablecloths by Elephant Landing.

The Festive Flamingo Fiesta tablescape *Photo by me

The BEST part? I was tickled pink to get to wear 2 pieces from L*Space:

The Ruched One Piece (pictured here with my buddy, Swannie, again ($158) – a 70s-reminiscent one piece on just this edge of sexy:

Donning the L*Space Ruched One Piece ($158) with my friend, Swannie, again. We got pretty close.

And the Storm Watch romper ($180) – a little class with sass:

Dawn McCoy, BeautyFrosting, L Space, L*Space, swimwear

My day in the sun. In my L*Space Storm Watch Romper ($180) *Photo by Fred Baby

L*Space swimsuits & covers were coveted, cocktails were shared, sun was soaked (with sunscreen, of course) and laughter was heard often, as it should be. It was, truly, the perfect poolside fete hosted by our hostess-with-the-mostest, Kelly Golightly.

Thanks, Kelly!

The side effect of too much fun in the sun? Laughter. *Photo by Fred Baby

xoxo,

BF Asks: What was your favorite poolside detail from the Flamingo Fiesta hosted by that whiz, Kelly Golightly?

BF Beauty Recipe: Dangerous Dame lipcolor

Posted on May 7, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

Warning!!! Danger Ahead!!!!

What's the Beauty Recipe today, BF? Oh, just a daaaaangerous situation...that's all

See, you’re gonna wanna buy this lip combo, honey. And I gotta warn ya…it can be DANGEROUS. Yep, just like that Big Data song.

My friend – and fellow blogger – Nami donned it at our tea party last week and I just had to know what it was so I could wear it in Palm Springs last weekend.
Why so covetable? Because it’s the perfect tomato red that can go orange crush with an orange liner (which is how Nami rocked it) or retro red with a true red liner (which is what I was coveting). Yep, this lippy is the perfect color for spring and summer, I do declare.

So, here’s my BF beauty recipe for the Dangerous Dame lip below.

MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Lady Danger ($16) + MAC Cosmetics Lip Liner in Cherry ($15) =

One Dangerous Dame!!!

I might look sweet...but danger lurks beneath.

Go on and get it…and see what kinda danger you can drum up!

xoxo,
BF
BF Asks: What lipcolor makes you feel dangerous?

Foodie Friday: Paleta Catering – A Marriage between Healthy & Sinful

Posted on May 2, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

Here’s the conundrum.

Picture it. My BeautyFrosting 2nd Bloggiversary. April 16th, 2014.

Just a few of the 70 fab-fashionista-fit-foodie bloggers at the shindig. What-oh what- to do? Photo by Drunken Pixel

You have 70 bloggers as guests. Fashionistas – who are foodies – who are fit – who are fabulous…who also have to be photograph-ready at all times. And you also have cocktails. And, um, cake.

So corndogs and pizza are definitely out of the question. But what you do when you have a houseful of nutritionally-minded mavens who are hungry but don’t want to blow their diets and want to be healthy but don’t want to sacrifice taste?

Well, there’s only one way to turn – my godsend – Paleta.

The Paleta spread: When Healthy Meets Sinful. Pacific Rim Chicken & Tofu Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce, Local & Imported Cheese Board, Crudite with Assorted Hummus and Greek Yogurt Dip and Paleta Power-Up Chewy Bites *Photo by Takahiro Watanabe

I’ve been a fan of Paleta for a while now – ever since I met Chef Kelly and learned about her passion for pleasing the palate while promoting health through healing. What sort of healing? The kind of healing that comes from eating farm-to-table fresh and filling your body with whole foods.

Paleta Crudité with Lemon Hummus, Sundried Hummus and Greek Yogurt Dip. Um, You know, "Taste the rainbow?" Well, this truly IS tasting the rainbow - but of farm fresh veggies rather than high fructose corn syrup. Photo by Takahiro Watanabe

My guests couldn’t stop gushing about the eats. I was shocked at how much these girls could put back. Sorry, y’all, just speaking the truth here. It was refreshing to see my fashionista friends ACTUALLY EATING at a party. It’s a rarity – like seeing Bigfoot or something. But, yep, that’s how good it was.

Paleta Pacific Rim Thai Chicken & Tofu Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce *Photo by Takahiro Watanabe

I did have one complaint though. My guests ate ALL the satay and I never got a taste!!! I was craving it so much after hearing everyone rave about it that I actually just ate a spoonful of the spicy peanut sauce. Oh, don’t you judge.

Next up for me? After a month of Coachella, trips to Palm Springs and events galore (see aforementioned cake and cocktails), I’m gonna give Paleta Home Meal Delivery a try. At the very least, I’ll be giving myself the gift of health and at best, I may lose a few pounds so I can be a swimmie siren this summer. Lofty goals, I know, but I really do think Paleta can help me get there!

Thanks so much, Chef Kelly and Paleta for being a BIG part of my very special day!

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Which Paleta delicacy are you most craving now?

Reality Born of A Dream: My Jouer Spring Sirens/ Troy Jensen Iconic Muses Shoot

Posted on April 23, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

Dear Jouer Cosmetics & Troy Jensen,
This is my love letter to you. Thank you for an amazing day on which I felt that my inner beauty was embraced just as much as the outer – and for making me feel truly, truly like an icon. It was a reality born of a dream and this dream-come-true has changed me forever. How? It’s made me believe that dreams do indeed come true and to never doubt the power of the dreams of your childhood. They are more potent than we know.

xoxo,
Dawn

Yours truly as one of Troy Jensen's Iconic Muses for the Jouer Cosmetics Spring Sirens Shoot - makeup & photography by Troy Jensen, hair by Nikki Lee of 901 Salon, makeup products by Jouer Cosmetics (** Specific product details coming up next week)

Dear Readers,

When one of my all-time fave makeup lines, Jouer Cosmetics – invited me to be one of Troy Jensen‘s Iconic Muses for their Jouer Spring Sirens shoot, I replied with an enthusiastic “YES!” faster than I’ve ever replied to anything in my life.

Cosmetics AND cookies? My fave!! Jouer-branded treats by Sweet E's BakeShop

I mean, I knew the genius of Troy’s work (his bevy of celeb clients include Miranda Kerr, Elle Macpherson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jewel and more) but never dreamed that I’d be one of his subjects.

Actually. That’s not true. I have always dreamed of a day like the one I had last Wednesday. See, as a 14-year-old girl in Dallas, Texas, I thought I looked like a boy – like my dad to be specific – and was obsessed with beauty and transformation and how it could make me become anybody else instead of the uncomfortable, insecure, cheesy 14-year-old that I was.

Allure magazine was my bible and Troy’s dear friend, Kevyn Aucoin was my god. I learned so much about beauty, women’s insecurities & strengths – and about myself – in those pages that I could have never learned in school. As professors, my parents wondered how on earth this useless knowledge would ever be helpful – but they continued to pay for the annual subscription because they saw my passion and they encouraged anything I was passionate about. Well, they needn’t wonder anymore if it was useless.

Back to last Wednesday. Shooting with Troy – as one of his Iconic Muses – for the Jouer Spring Sirens campaign was one of the most magical days of my life. Take Cinderella and Carrie Bradshaw, add in a double dose of my 14-year-old dream self and that’s what it was.

Before the transformation in my favorite new Hello Apparel tank!

Nikki Lee of 901 Salon took my yesterday-washed hair and added curls, volume and va-va-va-voom.

Nikki Lee's gorgeous work - curls for days & va-va-va-voom volume (and a few flowers in my hair courtesy of Troy)

After playing dress-up – and getting to try on a slew of gowns, I was dressed in a gorgeous gown from For The Stars Fashion House.

Playing dress-up with For The Stars Fashion House at the Jouer Spring Sirens / Troy Jensen Iconic Muses Shoot

Troy – the most amazing makeup artist, visionary and photographer dynamo – took one look at me and said he was inspired by Linda Evangelista, circa 1992.

Troy was inspired by Linda Evangelista circa 1992 for my supermodel siren look. Thank you, Inspiration. Thank you.

He ended up transforming me into his vision of Linda meets Cindy Crawford meets Monica Bellucci meets Sophia Loren – or as Troy said, “Linda Cindy Sophia Monica Evangelista.”

You want a supermodel? Well, I'm not one. But I can TRY to give you that supermodel pout!

They also said I looked like Demi Moore so um, thanks for including all of my icons from every decade. I’ll take it. Actually, I’ll take all of it. Because it’s not just the kind words and the magic you offered me that made this the most memorable day but the fact that I truly got to live out a lifelong fantasy.

Being adorned with roses by the inimitable Troy Jensen

Thank you for making my inner 14-year-old’s dream come true. I couldn’t have dreamed a dream this delicious. And I cannot thank Troy Jensen, Christina Zilber, Meg Young and Jouer enough. I am so honored.

Selfie time! With the Founder & Creative Director of Jouer Cosmetics, Christina Zilber - whose external beauty is only matched by her internal beauty

Selfie time continues with the amazing Troy Jensen!

To your dreams coming true…

xoxo,
BF

A Note From BF: The image with Jouer on it has some Photoshop magic but all of the other images are raw. I think it’s important that you know this so you can discern between the dream and reality. Remember, no one is perfect. No one. But you are perfect just the way you are.

Looking Back – How BeautyFrosting Was Born

Posted on March 25, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

BF Turns 2 Bloggiversary Party Co-Hosted by HomeGoods & Hope At Home - fashion illustration by Kara Endres of Sprinkles in Springs and cake by Magnolia Bakery - Photo by Takahiro Watanabe

When I started this little adventure called BeautyFrosting 2 years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. I had never written a blog. Actually, I had never even really read a blog! I mean they seemed like such a fad and, um, who had the time?

How BeautyFrosting came to be.

Then one day I found myself in Dallas sitting at our fave family spot, Mi Cocina, pondering the possibility of moving home from LA to Dallas. I was at the lowest point of my life having ended a 7-year relationship and having left my job that I’d had for years with Barbra Streisand as her personal shopper. I was down, depressed and my life wasn’t looking so beautiful.

I was searching for an answer and I found it while talking to my mom and one of my oldest, best friends – Kristin Merritt Liles. We were talking about beauty, baking and how much I love connecting with people and came up with the crazy idea of starting a place of positivity and light filled with all of the people and things I love so much. From that little, crazy nugget of an idea, BeautyFrosting was born.

Looking back, I realize that this one little leap of faith gave birth to so much. In the months following, I hit the ground running. I researched blogs that had similar aesthetics to my own, learned about the best ways to start a blog and would spend hours on Pinterest getting very clear about what exactly I wanted BeautyFrosting to be about.

Celebrating BF Turns 2 with dear friends - photo by Drunken Pixel

Introduce yourself to people, be kind and be clear about what you want.

Knowing what I know now, I realize that folks must have thought that I had some major cajones – or maybe they just thought I was naive. I was told repeatedly by brands and other bloggers that I was doing it all wrong – backwards even. I was building the brand and consulting the PR before the blog had even been written or made its online debut. But I was doing it my way and it just made sense to me. After all, why would anyone (brand, person or otherwise) want to work with me if they didn’t even know who I was? Yep, that’s where my southern sensibility comes in. Whether it seemed smart or not, pr agencies and brands that I still work with have told me since that they worked me simply because I seemed charming and honest. So there ya go, folks – charm and honesty are the way to go!

Work with the talented people you already have around you.
Rather than be yet another blog to hit the already-saturated market, I decided to spend 4 months sending emails and making phone calls to hundreds of pr agencies and brands. I decided to pool my brain trust of dear, talented and creative friends to create a blog on a budget that was literally less than $200.

I created a logo and branding template – that would shape the entire blog and brand – thanks to my talented best friend and former roommate, Vanessa York of Shindig Shoppe. After all, who could understand my aesthetic better than my best friend who had lived with me for 2 years? I asked my talented photographer friend, Amy Opoka, if she would take my profile photos for the site and she did an amazing job of executing my vision on a shoestring budget.

This early experience taught me how crucial it is to collaborate with the talents of those you know best. I learned to always ask because the worst that could happen is that they say no. By the way, no one ever said no.

With my BeautyFrosting logo and graphics goddess - and best friend - Vanessa York of Shindig Shoppe - photo by Drunken Pixel

Celebrate every milestone in life.

Ask my mom and she’ll tell you – I love celebrating and I love me a party. Even as a child, I would try to find reasons to celebrate every occasion. My Barbies were getting married? Let’s throw a wedding! I got an A on a test? Let’s have a tea party! I made the cheerleading squad? Let’s have a tex-mex party! So in true Dawn-fashion, I decided to throw a Cupcakes and Cocktails debut party here at my house to celebrate the debut of the blog before anyone had even seen it. Besides being a precious affair, we brought out the laptop and let friends and former coworkers get a sneak peek at what BeautyFrosting would be. I really think a lot of things got rolling because of the choice to celebrate this little milestone. And celebrating milestones is a great way to remember the gratitude every step along the way.

Celebrate the milestones - and little victories - along the way - Photo by Drunken Pixel

Most important lesson learned on this journey? Don’t be afraid to be a fool.

Was I fearful of starting a brand new chapter of my life? Hell, yes. But you get past the fear, accept that you may indeed be a fool and get past yourself. I asked pr companies to send samples before I even knew what that meant. I asked friends to devote hours of their time and because I believed in this so much, they believed in it and wanted to be part of it, as well. And I realized that it was more important to appear confident than it was to have 1 million readers. I have never been more proud of anything…and that’s coming from someone who was never raised to be proud. This blog has literally changed my life and I am so much better because of it.

Most Importantly…Thank YOU.

I know that I am nothing without all of you guys – my readers and social media followers – finding interest in what I write about, take pictures of and who I am. So, I want to thank each and every one of you who read this every day, like my pictures on Instagram and Facebook and tweet at me. (By the way, 2 years ago, I had no idea about what any of that was – that’s how much things can change in 2 years.) I have a feeling that the next 2 years will bring even more exciting change and I hope that you will be there for my journey every step of the way. You have made my hearts so full.

Cutting the cake and celebrating 2 years of BeautyFrosting - thanks to YOU!! Photo by Takahiro Watanabe

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What’s your favorite feature on BeautyFrosting? What would you like to see more of?