Table for Eight

Ree Drummond's (Pioneer Woman on Food Network) Chicken Fried Steak (and broccoli). Dave made it for us last night and it was awesome. (And messy. Holy deep fryer.)   I'm affectionately dubbing this summer my "Chicken Fried Summer." Why, you ask? Because I think my post-Survivor way of coping with transitions, stress, etc., has been to EAT. Anything and everything! Sour gummy worms? Don't mind if I do. Chocolate cake? Sure. Green olives and chocolate cake?  Uh ... okay, sure! The overeating is kinda (emphasis on KIND OF) funny for someone who starved on an island in the Philippines for 39 days last year, but work with me: I'm doing the best I can. And when I can do best er , I will. Promise. In the meantime, I'm just trying to begin a regular exercise routine to balance out the extra food intake AND love myself as I journey through this phase. And even that hasn't been super easy for some reason.  (For those of you w...

Bam's painting nails like nobody's business. She calls these ones "galaxy." Just a quick post today to say, I am loving summer SO much. Something about starving on a deserted island the last two summers makes being home this summer (with food, toliet paper, a toliet!, pillows, soap, family, and a watch) SO SO SO SO SO SO sweet. And guess what? I bought a new bathing suit this weekend. A non-Survivor one! And you know what that means? 1. I picked out the color I wanted. (For the game, production typically tells us to stick to a certain color on the "color wheel.") 2. I bought it a full-size bigger than last year's model. (Because when you're planning to do the Survivor Cleanse, it's best to buy a suit that's one size too small. You wanna anticipate fitting into it once the lbs are melting off of ya in the sweltering heat. Translation = if you only make it to Day 12 of the game, your suit is TIGHT. But if you make it to...

Thanks Nae and Whitt. I love my new shirt. I am so thankful it's the weekend: this has been one helen of a week. BUT, the sun is shining--both literally and metaphorically. And it looks like our family is going to come out of this challenge stronger than we were before. So I'm taking a deep breathe and just being sincerely grateful the major stress seems to be behind us. (Until the next major stress. Hahahahaha.) Happy June 1. PS: I'm thinking I will post my Survivor Finale pix. under the "Survivor" tab on the blog come Monday. I heart Survivor and am always happy to answer questions about it OR to talk about it (if you run into me in Target--ha ha), but I'm feeling like it's a good time to start the next chapter of our lives ... post-Survivor. Hugs to you and yours. --Dawn PPS: Thank you to all of our friends/family for loving us during this super-stressful week. We were showered with dinners, treats, presents, and help with our kids....

Our dog, Harriet, asleep Survivor Finale' weekend--IN MY PARENT'S BED! We had no idea. Apparently our kids set this up--and Harriet didn't object. Sorry, mom and dad! I hope you all had a great weekend.  We di d! It was our first weekend without Survivor-related things in t hree+ years. (For reals : I was originally cast fo r season 21 /22, so w e've had Survivor in our lives for a looooonnnngg time ! ) I heart Survivor and the blessing it's been in our lives so very much , but it just feels so good to come back t o life as we know it . I have never loved doing laundry or dishes more. And I really mean that . So, until Tuesday, have a G REAT DAY . Much love to you and your s .   *****   PS: For all my friends and family who've been "worried " about us/me, please know , for every criticism someone has shared related to Survivor, I ' ve received at least two supports/love in kind. (Take that, internet c yber-bulli...

Aub and Jay--who may or may not be making fun of my facial expressions. Well, i t took me about 2 m inutes to realize that it will take me 200 minutes to up load all of my Survivor Caramoan Finale Weekend photos ... and I don't have 200 minutes  right now. Tee hee. So,  I thought I'd just post pics today of people who've helped me throughout th is Survivor experience this past year. All of them are people I genuinely heart to the moon and back. Stay -tuned for more photos of the finale weekend ASAP . (My goal is to get them all up before the end of the month, and then move onto new topics . ) Corinne Kaplan. She was my bestie during the Bikal days. I so adore her. It has meant a great deal to mend fences with her. Corinne is amazing and taught me a great deal about setting boundaries in my life. Whittney and Janae are my two real-life besties. They both supported me and my family during my two Survivor stints. They both helped take care of our k...

Four of our kiddos AT the finale Sunday night. CBS put our whole group in the front row. (Very kind.) Matt, me, and Michael at Friday night Bday dinner for Andrea, Universal CityWalk. (PS: Cochran gave me my necklace a week after we got back from playing Survivor Caramoan. It's a Tiffany necklace--tee hee--with a keyhole. It's symbolic and special to me because we promised on Day 1 of the game to stay LOCKED to the end, to Day 39, and we DID! PPS: I asked him no fewer than 2 million times during the game, "are we still locked?") Me, Matt and his beautiful wife Tessa. We will be forever friends. I love Matt. Andrea's family. She had no fewer than 22 people at the finale. All from Wisconsin! Me and John at Andrea's bday dinner. Sherri and John at the Reunion Show rehearsal. (PS: Sherri is insanely beautiful in person.)   Reunion Show rehearsal: Malcolm (photo bomber), Reynold, and Andrea. Dre also has a necklac...

Well, I made it home to Salt Lake City late last night, and I can honestly say, I have never appreciated my family and friends (and home!) more. I came home to such a warm welcome. ( Thank you Marthe and Janeil and everyone)! Today is a big international press day for Survivor, so I have to keep this post brief, but I wanted to tell my family, friends, Survivor friends, and neighbors thank you so much for your love and outpouring these last 10 months (particularly this week). Survivor Caramoan was one WONKY ride, but your love and support got me through it with a smile on my face (take that, you cranky writers/comment-people). Because at the end of the day, one of the best lessons Survivor has taught me is this: Just because something is hard doesn't mean good can't come from it. Boom! Much love. Until manana.    

(c) CBS, Monty Brinton, 2012. Getting our video messages from loved ones. For th e first time in the his t ory of Survivor, they have flown out TWO loved ones to visit each cast away for the "Loved Ones V isit." Is that incredible? (Yes!) I wish I could tell you more about it ( Do we get to see them all? Do we get to see one? etc.) But t he only thi ng I can share is this (because it's in the promos): my husband Dave and I get to run a challenge together.  And it's awesome (the d ay after our 22nd anniversary --woo hoo!) . It's going to be a n emotional (and dramatic) episode . And if you are wondering ... yes, I cry. (Like a baby !) Not only is this episode emotional due to the family visits, but w ith only 6 people left in the game, we've all gr own extremely close --and the game is nearing it's end , so each and every decision is HEAVY. But then again, I'm just praying it's just "NOT ME !" going home . Ha...