Friday Favorites: High-Fiving My Dream Team, Good Carma Studio

Posted on September 4, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Celebrating a High-Five circle with the best team ever (Good Carma Studio) at The District in LA, after the No Kid Hungry Influencers Brunch I hosted.

Celebrating a High-Five circle with my dream team – and the best team ever (Chrissy and Melissa of Good Carma Studio) – at The District in LA, after the No Kid Hungry Influencers Brunch I hosted.

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

The Ultimate Host/Hostess Gift: A Pretty Party In A Basket

Posted on July 8, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Talk about a party in a basket!

My friends, Christopher and David, are always the most lovely hosts, when I stay at their house in Palm Springs. And, lovely hosts deserve lovely host gifts!

The ultimate host gift, picked up at Joan’s On Third

So, for the past few visits, I’ve swung by my favorite neighborhood market, Joan’s On Third, to pick up some tasty sundries.

I picked up some of Joan’s famous spiced pecans, assorted cheeses (a sharp cheddar, Humboldt Fog, sheep’s milk, and creamy goat), quince jam, a baguette, and some gluten-free crackers. I added in a few bottles of my own Club W vino from home, and carried it all car-friendly in a retro wooden crate from Marshall’s.

Tasty sundries galore…

The crate is customizable with a chalkboard panel – perfect for a note of gratitude to the best hosts ever.

A customizable chalkboard makes the gift extra personalized!

Good thing I brought this party in a basket…because we ended up hosting quite the impromptu July 4th fête!

Stepping Up: The 12th Annual Step Up Inspiration Awards at the Beverly Hilton

Posted on June 11, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Dawn McCoy (ummm…me) at the 12th Annual Step Up Inspiration Awards at the Beverly Hilton

Have I mentioned how much I love Step Up? I know, I know. I have – and have again.

The stars of Step Up with star, Lea Michele. Their lights all shine equally bright!

The Step Up logo is more than just a logo…it’s a mantra.

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.

My best friend, Sarah Jane Morris, & I at the 12th annual Step Up Inspiration Awards at the Beverly Hilton on Friday, June 5th, 2015.

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.”

Are you there, God? It’s me, Dawn.

And yes, you can call me that from now on. I’m kidding. Kinda.

Behind the scenes action at the Inspiration Awards. Generated by IJG JPEG Library

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.

Being interviewed on the red carpet. That’s me. Always straddling the line between talent and press. Literally. I mean, we took down the rope so we could do interviews for #Dear15Me.

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…

The ridiculously impressive – and kind – Julie Bowen. Generated by IJG JPEG Library

Cristela Alonzo…

Our charming emcee – and my fellow Texan (holla!) , Cristela Alonzo.

Lea Michele…

The lovely Lea Michele at the Step Up Inspiration Awards. Generated by IJG JPEG Library

honoree Peter Kim of Hudson Jeans…

Honoree, Peter Kim, CEO of Hudson Jeans, as photographed by Amy Tierney

and honoree, actress & director, Elizabeth Banks.

Honoree, Elizabeth Banks, as photographed by Felix Salzman

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 Honoree, senior Maria Soto. This girl is everything we wish we were at that age!

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!

I’ve always really, really liked Julie Bowen, but after seeing her work her heart out? I can honestly say that I LOVE this woman!!

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.

So incredibly honored to be in this company. Wow.

Memories like those never die.

xoxo,
Dawn

Twitter Partytime: Hickory Farms Tradition Talk – Welcome Spring!

Posted on March 30, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Join the party! The Hickory Farms Twitter party tomorrow, that is.

Y’all. This bountiful basket just arrived on my doorstep from Hickory Farms and I simply cannot wait to share it with my Easter guests this weekend!

Spring in a basket! Literally! You can win it (minus the wine)

It’s called theHickory Farms Bountiful Tastings basket ($100 value) and I am giving away a slew of them tomorrow Tues, 3/31 at 10am PST/12pm CST / 1 pm EST when I host another fun #TraditionTalk #twitterparty with Hickory Farms – (Editor’s note: wine pictured is not part of the gift).

Just follow me @Beautyfrosting & @HickoryFarms on twitter and use the hashtag #TraditionTalk to RSVP to be entered.

It’s gonna be a party y’all! Who’s in?

xoxo,

Dawn

Party for Pediatrics With MaxLove Brand & Me!

Posted on March 5, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

You are cordially invited to…

You're cordially invited to…The MaxLove Project BrandTrunk Show

Come join me for a very special MaxLove trunk show at Wood and Vine, on Wednesday, March 11th at 8 pm. Come enjoy the photo booth, get creative at the Brave Bead Bar, and more!

Come get creative at the bead bar!

Proceeds go to The MaxLove Project, which helps children fighting pediatric cancer and other life-threatening diseases, and their families, thrive.

*Fun (philanthropic) fact? The founder of the organization, Audra Wilford, was recently one of 4,000 women nominated for L’Oreal’s Women of Worth Award, and she was a top ten finalist! Below are some links:

Hope you can make it to make lives for these kiddos just a bit sweeter! Look forward to seeing you there.

xoxo,
Dawn

Meet Beauty Collection’s Inaugural Celebrity Beauty Curator…ME!

Posted on March 1, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

As we kick off a new month today with March, I kick off a new – and very exciting – chapter in my life. I am proud to announce that I have been asked to be Beauty Collection’s first-ever Celebrity Beauty Curator.

At the #CelebBeautyCurator Launch Party at Beauty Collection WeHo on February 18th

Yippee!!

Jumping for joy! So thankful for the opportunity to be Beauty Collection's Inaugural Celebrity Beauty Curator this month!

For the entire month of March, you’ll see my face in the window display of their West Hollywood store on Santa Monica Boulevard, along with my Classic and Trending product picks for the month.

Picking my favorite Beauty Collection product picks was no easy feat!

And, all month long, I’ll be Beauty Collection’s guest blogger each week, detailing my product picks, and giving y’all a little bit more intel on me and how I got to this place I’m in and the world of BeautyFrosting I’ve created.

So happy to live in the world that BeautyFrosting has created for me

I’m so thankful that scores of friends in the entertainment, beauty and blogger world came out to help me celebrate the launch at Beauty Collection WeHo, on Wednesday, February 18th.

With Shawn - who is the CEO of Beauty Collection - and so much fun!

With the girls of Gorgeous Cosmetics

Friends galore: Lindsey Vaerst, Leslie Durso, Lynn Chen, Dana Wald, Amy Davidson, Yvette Masterson, Chrissy Kling and Ashley Jones

With Kristen Conahan and Stacie Standifer

With Jenn Chan & Dana Wald

And we toasted with cupcakes and cocktails, naturally.

Cupcakes, of course, of course!

A good cocktail is just what a girl needs after a long, busy day!

Thanks to everyone who came out to toast the launch! And thank you, Beauty Collection, for choosing me to kick off this exciting series! Stay tuned as I share my story, product picks (& tips & suggestions) and more!

xoxo,

Dawn

BF Asks: What are some of your favorite classic beauty products?

Friday Funday: The Loverly First Look Event at The Washbow

Posted on February 6, 2015 by BeautyFrosting

Oh, how I LOVE surprises!

This is the one! Eva Franco for Loverly

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the most precious, pretty girls brunch with a first look preview of the new Eva Franco for Loverly Collection at The Washbow, hosted by Be Inspired PR.

Eva Franco For Loverly

These dresses! I mean…can spring just come already?

A rainbow of dresses to match the cake you'll see later...

Besides darling dresses for your bridesmaids, showers or award season, the party itself was a stunner!

With Valorie Darling of Skinny Fat Girl Diary

Charming party rentals with tons of personality like this pink bar from Archive Rentals!

Charming party rentals like this bar from Archive Rentals! (I WANT!! Too bad there's no room in my house!)

Champagne & mimosa bar from One Hope Wine:

One Hope Wine hosted a sparkling champagne & DIY mimosa bar

Glam bar from GlamSquad. Just look how glam we look!

Thanks for the glomming, Glam Squad!

Delicious bites from 24 Carrots Catering. Helllloooo, glazed donut hole – and chicken nugget – sandwiches!

Donut hole and chicken nugget sandwiches! Say whaaa???

Rainbow cake from Beverly’s Best Bakery:

Pastel Rainbow Cake! And, y'all, it was one of the best cakes I've had in ages!!

Cakelet party favors from Beverly’s Best Bakery in assorted pastel rainbow colors:

The perfect take-home treat for a girl with a blog named BeautyFrosting

I got blue cake!

And LOTS of fun, laughter and good times with some of my favorite girlfriends!

Dawn and Jenn together again. Are y'all tired of pictures of us together yet?

Thanks for having us yesterday, Loverly & Leila Lewis!

xoxo,

BF Asks: Which would have been your favorite part of the party – the fashion, the festive decor, the furniture, the food or the fun?

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?

The Annual Girls’ Giftwrapping Party, featuring PJ Salvage pajamas

Posted on December 24, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

A very pastel cupcake Christmas at The Cupcake Palace

Last year, my friend Lindsey and I started a now-annual tradition: The Girlfriends Giftwrapping party. I brewed up one of my signature holiday cocktails (this year was my Homespun Spiced Butter Rum Eggnog), pick up some festive holiday cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery and wrap gifts galore, thanks to my fun friends.

This year, we decided to make it a a pajama party and PJ Salvage upped the ante by sending some of their sweetest pjs – the Gingerbread Man flannel pj set…

Me sipping some eggnog in my PJ Salvage Gingerbread Men pjs

and the Cake Party pj set (both $65)

The lovely Lindsey in PJ Salvage The Cake Party pjs

to play well with my pastel cupcake Christmas theme.

Oh ya know…just hiding behind the tree, sipping our eggnog. Normal.

We wrapped presents, thanks to GORGEOUS gift wrap from The Container Store.

No brown paper packages tied up with string. All pastel paper with pretty bows. Giftwrapping paper ℅ The Container Store

Toasted to the new year ahead with eggnog and nibbled on cupcakes and cookies from Magnolia Bakery.

My Spiced Butter Rum Eggnog teams up delightfully with Magnolia Bakery cupcakes and holiday spritz cookies

And just had some good old Christmas fun…even a gift wrap sword fight!

Sword fight! It has to happen every year in my house.

It was a good chance to take a moment in the midst of a busy season, enjoy some delicious drinks, eats and conversation.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope the magic of Christmas brings you jolliness and joy!

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: How are you celebrating Christmas this year?

BeautyFrosting Holiday Hosting Guide 2014

Posted on December 19, 2014 by BeautyFrosting

It’s not just the magic of the season that makes the holidays so special. It’s also simple psychology.

Families rely on happy holiday traditions for consistency in inconsistent lives.

Here are a few of my tips for fun, festive and efficient ways to host and celebrate the season this year!

Low-key can be lovely. My family loves to do a low-key Christmas Eve. We play board games and Mom puts out an assortment of appetizers. As a professor, she always received those delicious Hickory Farms cheese and sausage trays, so she’ll put those out on her beautiful crystal serving dishes along with some spicy mustard, sweet and dill pickles, creamy brie cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, spicy cheddar biscuits and her homemade shrimp ball (my fave).

Serve with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Scrabble and we’re one happy family!

The McCoy sibling holiday celebratin' in style

Casseroles are key. For Thanksgiving, Christmas, and – really all – holiday weekends, casseroles can be a lifesaver. With the relatives visiting and friends stopping by, I’ve always found having a pre-homemade casserole in the freezer a must-have. Keep a breakfast casserole and you’re good to go! And for the day after a big holiday, such as Christmas, make it easy on yourself, and make a casserole with all of those delicious, hearty leftovers. Get creative with that cranberry sauce. Who knows? It might become one of your family’s favorite recipes! Serve casserole with a salad and it’s the perfect, post-holiday meal!

Serve a signature cocktail or punch. Be sure to make the base of your cocktail in the autumnal spirit – whether it be apple, cranberry, pear or pumpkin, you can’t go wrong with a winner that whets the whistle. Two of my favorite recipes? My Charlotte’s Applejack Brandy Cider…

Charlotte's Applejack Brandy Cider

and my Brandywine Punch which I created for this past Thanksgiving.

Brandywine Punch

Tailor-make your tablescape. For instance, I love this turkey.

Let one piece of decor guide the rest of your tablescape planning

I love her so much that I tend to design everything around her – from the flowers to the dishes to the table runner aand tablecloths, Brandwywine sets the mood. Oh, did I forget to mention that I also named her? Yep. Her name is Brandywine. For instance this year, I designed a rose and gold table setting with a chalboard butcher paper runner down the center and, naturally, called it Brandywine Rustic.

One single Thankgiving decor element dictated my whole theme this year

Plan ahead to save your head. To make for a happy – and peaceful – holiday, about 2-4 weeks before the big day, ask all family members to submit their favorite recipes that they’d like you to cook. Also, ask what they’d like to contribute. This is a two-fold brilliant and sneaky strategy – a) it reminds everyone that they should contribute something and b) you can see overlap when it comes to the traditional family faves you cook, so you won’t overcook. Sometimes the family favorites that we think our loved ones love aren’t the true loves. This also helps us see their changing tastes and plan the menu accordingly each year.

What would Beyonce do? She would plan ahead and make that menu!

Be an smart shopper. I realize how bossy that sounds, so let me explain. I like to (but don’t always) buy my canned goods, sugar, flour, etc. the week before Thanksgiving. That way the pumpkin isn’t sold out and I’m not carrying in 20 loads of groceries up my stairs. Because a Thanksgiving hernia isn’t as romantic as it sounds. Then, about 2-3 days before, I buy the dairy, eggs and produce. I save the uber fresh stuff, including flowers, for the last day. This means less hassle and running all over town with all of those other last minute shoppers. You’ve got this handled.

Save the best for last!

Sass up the standards. Really wanna venture out? Ditch the pumpkin pie and bake some pumpkin creme brûlée. Keep the family faves but add in some new dishes to create new traditions. Every Thanksgiving, I bake pumpkin croissant bread pudding with cranberries and moonshine sauce. I love pumpkin pie, but I wanted to create my own tradition. Now, it’s a family favorite. I’d highly encourage you to do the same. Whether it’s turning up your turkey, making your dressing more daring, or spicing up a side, try updating those classic faves. If you – or your family – doesn’t like it, you can always go back to the traditional recipe the next year.

Pumpkin Croissant Bread Pudding with Eggnog Moonshine Sauce

Cook up some soups or beef organ yo I had let Matt Marr did for our Christmas dinner that he made me need a few days ahead of time to save time and it actually tasted better cause the flavors had time to marinate why they were frozen.

Ornament Originality. Have each person bring an ornament to share with the family tree each year. This year, I am taking my mom a french cruller donut that I found at Dylan’s Candy Shop because I grew up with her eating a dunkin’ donut on many a morning when we would drive to school. Sweet memories. And isn’t that what the holiday season is all about?

xoxo,
BFBF Asks: What are some of your family’s holiday traditions?