List of Comforts

Got a little behind in my blogging.  Here is the List for Week 2 of 52

List my Greatest Comforts 

A glass of wine

 Hot coffee

Reading a great book 

Walking on the beach 

Shopping

Lunch with my Mother

Weekends away with my sisters

A cup of tea

Walking through a garden

Painting & Drawing

Decorating

Crafting

Camping at the Beach

Spa Days

Massages

Creme Brulee

Cooking

Long soaks in a hot tub

Petting puppies

Playing with Charlotte

Brownies

Sitting by a roaring fire 

Getting my nails & toes done

Kissing

Yoga

Flowers

Vegetable Gardens

Listening to the rain

Laughter

Wow I feel all warm inside!

That was an amazing exercise, I feel truly inspired just writing these down.

Until next time

Dawn

52 Lists To Discover Myself This Year

This year I have declared 2014 the year of ME!  This year I'm going to try to re-discover what I love to do, who I want to be and what it takes to make me happy!  I'm sick of the old Dawn who is too tired to enjoy life anymore.  I don't even remember what makes me happy and what I like to do.  Here's to finding out just what makes me tick.  

So I found this great site and I am going to try her 52 Lists (you can find her at www.moorea-seal.com) or you can just follow me here.  A list for each week of the year full of inspiration, motivation, discovery and so much more.  Join me on this journey of self discovery and make your own lists.    

52 Lists

 Week 1: List the Words That Touch Your Soul

 Hope     Home     Family     Wine     Silence      Security     Beauty     Joy     Sunshine     Comfort     Strength     Community     Passion     Peace     Food     Happiness     Wisdom     Grace     Flowers     Giving     Breathe      Sisters     Excitement     Mom     Compassion     Grounded     Journey     Priorities     Friendship     Funny     Strength     Trust     God     Beginnings     Gracious     Travel     Relax     Bling     Refined     Daughter     Smart     Sons     Loving     Relationships     Sexy     Marriage     Healthy     Creative     Calm     Energy     Sweet     Grandmere

New Beginnings for 2013

Haven't posted in almost a year! Shame on me, but so much has happened this year I was just to overwhelmed with life.  One of the biggest changes has been my new grandson.  

Born just before Christmas, he is an angel.  Loving this new expanded family of mine. 

Two grandchildren in one year!

I think I'm gonna like this Grandma thing.

Dawn

Wishing I had the guts to go for it!

It's been so long since my last post.  

Just haven't felt inspired until today.

Saw this and thought, yes I really should be planning events!

If only I had a client! 

Dawn

xoxo 

Cake Pops

Got inspired to make Cake Pops over the weekend.  

However they are not as easy as it looks and I could not get them to stay on the stick. 

But according to my kids they tasted yummy.  

Next time I'm going to try a batter that is more like doughnuts so that they stay on the sticks.  

I purchased a cake pop maker so that I would not have to experience the "smooshed" kind.

Not really a big fan of frosting and frosting in the cake as well as on top just sounds gross

to me.

I would really love to do "snowmen" for Charlotte's birthday this year.  

Anybody need any cake pops, I've got lots left!

Love ya

Dawn

BACK TO SCHOOL

It's back to school time.  

Whether you want to go all out or just keep it simple.  Below is some great inspiration. 

Serve to your little darlings with iced sweet tea, lemonade or a good old glass of milk.  

Yummy!

xoxo

Dawn

Chandeliers & Lilacs

Look how beautiful this is.  

I love that it's out in the garden and there's still a beautiful chandelier.   

I can just smell the lilacs! (Reminds me of when I was a little girl in Iowa).  

Enjoy your day, 

Dawn 

xoxo

Making Lemonade!

God gave me lemons this weekend, think I'll make Lemonade!

Perfect Lemonade Recipe

• Prep time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 3 to 4 cups cold water (to dilute)

METHOD

1 Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely.

2 While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice.

3 Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

Yield: Serves 6.

For extra fun and refreshment add some floating raspberries & fresh mint sprig! 

YUMMY!

Dawn

xoxo

My belly hurts!

Ever had a belly ache or just ate a little too much?  

This tea is wonderful.  It is so soothing to the tummy and super yummy!  Hey that rhymes.  

Anyhow, this tea is simply refreshing with it's lemongrass and spearmint.  It's good warm or iced!

And it's good for you with the whole Green Tea thing!

Enjoy,

Dawn

xoxo

ch ch ch ch ch Changes!

Thanks so all of you who have followed and played along my first year of blogging!  I've decided to make that career change I wrote about last year and will be venturing into Residential Real Estate.  So, I've decided to go back to my original idea for Charlotte's Tea Room, which is to write about tea, tea parties, food, wine, all things FOOD and PARTIES!   I hope you will continue to read and feel inspired by what I hope to share.  I have also developed a Lifestyle Blog called At Home with Dawn (www.athomewithDawn.blogspot.com).  I hope you will join me there for exciting ideas and inspiration for your life and home.

More posts tonight on BOTH!

Dawn
xoxo

Thank you Lord they are ok

Thank you Lord for answering my prayers and letting me know they are ok.  

My dear friend Mika and her little girl Hana are in Japan.  They are ok but frazzled!
Time passed so slowly until I heard her voice last night.  

I love you both.  

Dawn

xoxo

Mardi Gras

HAPPY FAT TUESDAY!  

I've never been to Mardi Gras but would love to go someday. 

Enjoy the day and make a King's Cake

It's doesn't look that hard and you could probably use the bread to soak up some that alcohol 

we're all going to drink today, even if we're not in New Orleans!

Looks like great fun, can't wait to partake someday. 

That's it for now.

Dawn 

xoxo

Does this make my butt look big?

Do I look ok?

Is my hair alright?

Do I look fat in this?  

Do you think anyone will notice this zit? 

Oh ladies why do we torture ourselves this way?  

Of course we know how we look, and some days we look like shit! 

And somedays we are just asking for a little re-assurance. 

Sometimes we know we look HOT! 

Still, we ask these questions of our spouse or lover to re-assure us that we are still desired and loved and god help them if they answer wrong!  

Thanks for playing along honey!

Dawn 

xoxo

Ahhhhh Massage

Ahhhhh I had a wonderful massage last night!  

Now I normally would not have indulged in such behavior

given my current economic situation.  

However, I have a contract with a local massage provider that I am 

obligated to each month for a year that was purchased

before my sudden "set back". 

Anyway I digress.  

As I lay there last night for my hour massage

I began to think of all of the wonderful and not so wonderful

women in my life that could benefit from such an experience.  

My wish for all my women friends and foe is to 

go ahead, take this time for yourself and get a massage, there

are lots of places to go besides fancy expensive spas, you just have to 

look around and do a little homework. 

Tips I can bring to the table... do it in the evening after work

and dinner, go in your pj's or the equivalent comfortable clothing,

have a really nice glass of wine before you go,

get completely naked (it's much better and you have a sense of FREEDOM),

close your eyes and don't talk during the massage at all!

I almost fell asleep last night on the table and went home

feeling fabulous.  

As women we have so much on our plates and we don't

always make time for ourselves.  I'm glad I'm locked into a year

contract for my monthly relaxation, not quite sure what

I'd do without it.

Dawn 

xoxo

Bookclub

I have belonged to a book club this last year and I just love it.  Not only do I find myself reading things I never would have picked by myself, but some of these books I actually like!

In addition, I get to spend time with the most amazing women.  Many I have known for almost 10 years, but others are new and just as wonderful, either way it's my time away, just for me and I get to share a couple of hours with women who are funny and insightful and really love life.   The only draw back is it's an hour drive to attend the group, bummer but worth it.

Yesterday we met and discussed an awesome book, Helen of Pasadena, by Lian Dolan.  And guess what, she was there to discuss the book with us and she signed all of our books.

This book is hilarious.  I grew up in Pasadena California and much of my family is still there and this book could not be more spot on about what life is like there for moms.  However, as we discuss things, it was clear that all women can truly relate.

I have enjoyed this so much that I am thinking of starting my own book club in my neck of the woods.  This is definitely on the reading list.

That's it for now.

Dawn 

xoxo

Normal

Will Life Ever Seem "Normal" Again?

I'm not sure, but what I do know is you have to keep trying. 

Last weekend we went on a much needed family vacation.  Camping was all that was affordable and that's all we really wanted to do anyway.  The weather was not perfect (not that you can tell in these pictures, but it rained cats and dogs in Southern California last weekend).  The drive was long but we managed to enjoy ourselves and relax.  

Most of all we felt "Normal".  

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.  

147 lbs. 

To be honest I ate pretty much everything I wanted to.  But I did work out 4 days last week.  Oh I hope this works!  

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Dawn

txoxo

BFF's

This weekend I spent time with 2 of my BFF's.  Yes, a girl can have more than one.

Friday night was spent catching up on all the stuff we never get the chance to talk about during the week.  We shared, we laughed, we consoled each other, all the great things BFF's do for one another.  The best part is she made dinner for me.  By the way, can this girl bake.  I had the best Black Forest Trifle I have ever tasted!  She is simply amazing.  Forget the diet and I didn't even weigh myself today.  I'll get back on track for next week, but not goin there this morning.

Yesterday, I met up with another BFF and her teenage daughter to go shopping!  This BFF I have known for 19 years.  We have raised our children together and I even delivered her son (one of the best experiences of my life).  We don't get the chance to see each other very often any more but you'd never know it by how we just pick up where we left off.  She is always there for me and my children in every way and I'm afraid I don't say thank you nearly enough.  Did I mention we went shopping, my most favorite thing in the world!  And yes I bought ANOTHER pair of shoes.  A girl can never have enough shoes.   We shared, we laughed, we consoled each other.   Do you see a pattern?

Awesome weekend, I don't know where I would be without my BFF's!

Dawn

xoxo

Stop the Madness

Oh how I wish I had will power, but sadly it is not a gift god gave me.  Every ounce of me wants to share that I've had a great week, that I've lost weight, that I feel great!

But let's face it diets SUCK!  

I'm not giving up like most of America on their New Years Resolutions, but I'm stopping my madness!  I am no longer thinking about what I'm eating and planning my every mouthful (only to gain weight this week, 151 pounds, measurements still the same).  I have decided that I just need to relax and eat food in moderation and get my behind off the couch as much as possible.  

More than anything I just want to feel GOOD again!!!!! 

It appears that this journey is going to take some time. Not the quick process I was hoping for.  


To all of you out there struggling with your resolutions, take a break and reflect on what you really want and allow yourself to breath and enjoy life today.  Isn't feeling good and happy the real result of our resolution that we are looking for?  

Dawn 

xoxo

No change

Ok, not going so well.  

Here are my stats for this week.

Weight     149

Chest       34"

Waist       34"

Hips        42"

Arms       13"

Thighs     27" 

To be honest I only worked out 4 days this week and found that morning is NOT my thing during the work week.  I am changing up my schedule to walk in the evening to see if that is better.  

The Diet also proved to be difficult given the current stress level at my house with OP still unemployed.

However, I won't give up, week number 2 here we go!

Dawn

xoxo