A Different Kind Of Dream

A. D I F F E R E N T. K I N D. O F. D R E A M. 🙌

Open yourself up…to a different kind of dream

Open yourself up…to a different kind of dream

I moved out to LA in 2000 to be an actor.
I became Barbra Streisand’s personal shopper.
Then, I became a country singer in the heart of LA’s Americana scene in a sweet, little americana band called Hawkeye.
The band broke up, and I moved to Nashville to be a country singer and songwriter. 
After Nashville didn’t work out as exactly as I planned, I moved back to LA, with my tail between my legs.
A heartbreak or broken dream or two later, I started a blog, and everything changed.
If you had told me back then, during any of those failures, that those dreams would come true – they would just look a little different than I had pictured – and I would get to be my authentic self for a living – I would never have believed you.
What I’m saying is this:
Sometimes, we have a dream and we give up on that dream when it doesn’t come to life exactly as we pictured that it would.
But, sometimes – if you just open your mind and heart to the endless possibilities out there – those dreams evolve.
And, they turn into even better, bigger dreams than you had ever hoped, or even dared to dream.
This past weekend was a dream weekend for me, as I’m sure you can imagine.
I attended Grammys parties on Friday, drove out to Palm Springs for 18 hours for the Modernism Week kickoff to toast the talk of the town – and my dear friend – designer, Christopher Kennedy. Sunday, I attended the Clive Davis party as a guest of Cover Girl, where I witnessed the coolest musical evening I’ve ever experienced. And, yesterday, I attended the Grammys for the first time, and in a beautifully full circle moment, caught up with all of my old music & recording family at the afterparty.
Today, I’m running on very little sleep from the past 4 days. While, I’m hoping I can string together sentences for a meeting later today, I just can’t wipe this darned smile off my face.
Here’s my message for you.
Dream.
Dream big.
Work hard.
Tell people what you want.
Help other people reach their dreams.
Do everything you can to get there.
And, then…
LET IT GO.
Leave some space open for a different kind of dream, because sometimes…those are the BEST kind of dreams.

Chomping at the bit to tell ya…but I can’t

Can't wait to #KissAndMakeup with y'all!

Can’t wait to #KissAndMakeup with y’all!

I am licking my lips and chomping at the bit to tell you guys about this caring campaign I’m teaming up on with Tarte Cosmetics & ByStander Revolution to help fight cyber-bullying. 🙌

But, for now, I must be patient.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing how YOU can get involved in making a big, heart-filled difference in this world with something as simple as a little “kiss!”

Stay tuned…

💋💋💋 #KissAndMakeup

Disappointment & Arnold Palmers

Disappointment & Arnold Palmers *Sunnies ℅ LAMB

Disappointment & Arnold Palmers
*Sunnies ℅ LAMB

Today, I had the loveliest lunch with Christeen of Angeleno Magazine at Porta Via today.

It was the perfect midday break – filled with shrimp salad and Arnold palmers – in Beverly Hills in the middle of a busy week that feels more like summertime than February.

Today, I also received a little piece of disappointing news.

But, I have learned that I rarely experience any kind of loss without love or levity being born from it.

Sometimes, a dose of disappointment can end up opening up something as simple as space – space you didn’t even know you needed – in which something else can bloom.

As we move forward into this week, I say this for us all: “Let us peacefully let go of what is not for us, and be open to the possibility -and beauty – of the unexpected.” 🙌🍹🍹

 

Daily Delights: An at-home happy hour

An at-home happy hour

An at-home happy hour

Who says you have to leave the house to have a happy hour?

Not I said the fly.

Some of my happiest moments have been spent right here at home.

Today was a – “go on a long walk, hit the @PureBarreBevHills, come home and shower, slip into your jammies and let your hair air dry” – kind of day.

I got SO much done by 5 pm that I poured myself a glass of Amarone, allowed myself a small indulgence of 2 dark chocolate caramel wedges and got promptly back to the grind.

Just wrapped up now for the day, and I hear a guy with roses calling my name…with a side helping of laundry, of course.

Discover your daily delights… 

#DailyDelights

I won the SuperBowl…of personal permission and freedom

The way I do the SuperBowl…

As I’ve mentioned before, this year is all about balance for me – finding that elusive balance between work life and social life, and trying to carve out a distinction between the two when it comes to my career of being an extrovert.

Today was an excellent exercise in this.

I had to cancel Super Bowl plans for two different parties today to make sure that I could meet a deadline and finish some open projects before a busy week ahead.

I thought that I should just stay home and be terribly responsible, but my good friend Amy and I had made plans to walk and talk this morning. So, I decided to add some balance to my day, and honor that commitment.

We ended up going on a walk through her neighborhood of Larchmont/Hancock Park, and then, came home where she made a delicious farmers market-fresh lunch of veggie burger with fresh avocado toast and market greens with homemade dressing.

One of the most challenging parts of growing up is learning when to say yes, when to say no, and not regretting either answer.

As I headed home to write this afternoon, with a few taunting texts about missing the big game peppered in there, I realized that I was already a touchdown ahead because I had honored what I needed my Sunday to be for me. I may not have won a ring this Super Bowl Sunday, but I have won something much greater: personal permission and freedom. 🙌🏻🏉🏆

Puppies and porridge…and not taking anything personally

Puppies and Porridge

Porridge and puppies for breakfast – with a side of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz before barre class this morning.

I read this book back in 2009, on my dear friend Trey Fanjoy’s suggestion, but reading it again now is a whole different experience. I wanted to revisit it because I especially needed a little reminder of that 2nd agreement:

Don’t take anything personally. Oy vey.
What are the 4 agreements? These:
1) Be impeccable with your word.
2) Don’t take anything personally.
3) Don’t make assumptions.
4) Always do your best.
Do you try to live your life this way? Something to think about before Saturday sweeps us away into the weekend.

Daily Delights: Turn The Mundane Into Magical

Beautify your workspace: Turn the mundane into magical simply by pulling from what's already around you

Beautify your workspace: Turn the mundane into magical simply by pulling from what’s already around you

Here’s the question we face every day, whether we recognize it or not:

How can we turn the mundane into magical?

After all, as much as we might dream of another reality where we can shirk our to-do list, those responsibilities and tasks at hand won’t just disappear.

I’ve found that it’s all about the little daily delights.

This morning, breakfast is a protein bar and my cup is filled with cream tea, while my day’s docket is filled with creative consulting work for some brands and charities I work with. As someone who dreads computer work, I look forward to it just a sliver more when my work environment is lovely.

Simply pulling from the beautiful things around me in my home – a surprise floral arrangement delivery from a client yesterday, some Rose Oil Skintreats from the Pixi Beauty event last week to keep my complexion hydrated, a Tocca Cleopatra candle to light my creative path, and a beautiful Anthropologie Becca Stadtlander journal and accompanying Kate Spade pencil for capturing inspired thoughts – make my morning that much sweeter.

What can you pull from your environment to lovely-up your work space a bit today?

It’s easier than you think…just look around you with a fresh eye…

Rainy Days and Sundays

Rainy days and Sundays

It’s a rainy, windy, no electricity, no-exercise, leftover donuts, coffee, furry blankets, wrinkly pjs, laptop movies ’til it runs out out, book-reading, scared puppy kind of day. Color us happy. Well…one of us happy. 😳🐶
#RainyDaysandSundays

Donut Pajamas ℅ PJ Salvage

Slippers: J.Crew

Donuts: SK Donuts

A Donut Story

🍩 Awwwww, man. SK Donuts, y’all spoil me with this surprise Saturday donut dozen delivery. We’re gonna have to have these guys on my new podcast.

A Donut Story

A Donut Story

Oh! Did I not mention that was happening, y’all? Well, stay tuned for the details.

🍩

For now, I’m just tasting these little beauties one tiny taste at a time – using kitchen scissors – because with as much food coming into my life these days with this upcoming show, I’m gonna need to learn the key to being a true taster.

Fun fact? Whenever I see donuts, I think of rituals.

For me growing up, it was Saturday mornings eating Southern Maid donuts, and listening to the Casey Kasem countdown with my big brother, while my mom taught a Saturday class, and my dad photographed weddings.

I also love my best friend Cathleen’s family ritual, and how her husband takes the kids for a “daddy donut date” every Friday. What’s your donut ritual? 🍩🍩

 

When Inspiration Hits: #CupcakesAndCreativity

Just my favorite kind of Friday.

Cupcakes and creativity. Let's hashtag that, shall we? #CupcakesAndCreativity

Cupcakes and creativity. Let’s hashtag that, shall we? #CupcakesAndCreativity

Any writers out there?

Know that feeling when you’re going along, and – all of a sudden – WHAM!! – inspiration hits?

Today, I had a voiceover session, went to a movie matinee of Joy, and then came home and went on a walk with the pup.

I had 3 mini cupcakes sitting patiently on my kitchen bar, and on the walk, a rhyming children’s story unfolded about the said cupcakes.

Came home, where I sat for the past 2 hours, scribbling away in baby blue pen until the story was out on paper, and finally on my laptop and then printed.

I swear…creative inspiration is the closest feeling to falling in love that there is out there.

If you’re searching for a little of it yourself, may it strike you smitten soon. 💗🙌

Happy weekend, inspired ones!

xoxo,
Dawn