Page 31 - San Diego Woman Magazine Digital Version

Women of Distinction

ery exhibitor could get an “Finally, after so many years that I have read in a long for all guests. This serenity “Not wanting to let
eight by ten of their booth. and so much searching, time that I did not want to transports you into anoth- the essence of the tree go,
It was a fun job.” I found her. I wrote her a put down. Dawn takes you er world, one of relaxation I felt there was a way of
Dawn did the corporate letter and waited patiently through the parallel lives and renewal. reinventing it, kind of like
conventions for seven years for a response. I can still re- of three women, and their I had done with myself.
and then transitioned into member my hands shaking stories are told in such a Within a year a treehouse
weddings. “I’m a people as I opened her first letter sincere and heartwarming was built, over the top of
person and the emotions back to me.” way that you don’t want its trunk and now the fa-
during a wedding were so As it turns out Dawn’s the story to end, because miliar owls still come back
much more appealing to mom was from Ireland and these women become to nest in it.”
me than exhibit booths. although she had been in friends and an integral part As an added bit of in-
While experiencing the ex- the states when she had of your life. Everyone needs formation, Dawn Nicoli has
traordinary San Diego ven- Dawn, she was now back to read ‘The Search.’ It will also been our Staff photog-
ues, photographing wed- in her native land. “I booked change you.
dings, and preserving my the first flight I could and
client’s memories, I built a journeyed on the trip that There are so many
very lucrative business. would put an end to all my nooks and crannies on the
It was at this point that unanswered questions. I not two acre grounds, includ-
Dawn had met her hus- only met my mom on this ing a hammock garden, in-
band, Bruce, and things trip, but also my 87-year-old frared sauna and the turtle
were getting serious when grandmother and all four ponds; you’ll not run out of
they decided to search out male cousins who treated places to explore. The prop-
their perfect home. They me as their sister. I had a erty has also been used to
found an amazing proper- great big Irish family that I film movie scenes, produce
ty, a two-acre tear down in never knew about.” several commercials, and
Escondido, with wonderful Dawn had several more numerous fashion shoots.
possibilities, but a lot of trips to Ireland to get to “The grounds had an amaz-
work to make it into the es- know her new family, and Over the years Dawn’s ing Torrey pine tree which
tate it eventually became. her Mother came to the property in Escondido was the heart of this prop-
Dawn continued with states as well. “It was so has metamorphosed into erty when we bought it,
her wedding photogra- great looking at my mom a magical space with an and so instead of uproot-
phy business, but was able and seeing the character- energy that is felt the mo- ing it we built the deck
to expand and build her istics that I had inherited. ment you set foot on her around it. It has continued
own studio, and Nicoli Pro- When I first met her, she grounds. Dawn and her to grow and at one point
ductions now had its own was even wearing a blouse rapher at San Diego Woman
home. This allowed Dawn to in my favorite color, which Magazine for over 8 years,
focus more on her true love, it turns out was her favorite and has been the one re-
portrait photography. “My color too. I finally felt like I sponsible for the most
husband was a landscape knew where I was from and beautiful covers and interi-
contractor and together learned of so many similar- or shots which have graced
we created these little sets ities with my mom. A void our publication. We are so
around the property. We had been fulfilled.” thankful to have someone
began adopting all kinds of Dawn, who has always of her talents and grace
farm animals to share this loved to write and is an working with us. There is
new land with us. I started excellent writer, decided, not one of our women who
photographing children during the shutdown of has not come back to us
and engagement couple’s Covid to finish the book husband parted ways after we talked about taking it raving about their experi-
portraits and my family por- she started twenty years a twenty-year marriage, down and I couldn’t bear ence with Dawn. She has
trait business grew.” ago. “My book entitled ‘The but Dawn has continued the thought, plus it provid- been a Godsend and the
Although Dawn was Search,’ not only tells my to add her personal touch- ed an incredible amount consummate professional.
busy with her business and story, but examines who es to this beautiful and of shade during the hot
renovations on their new we become by comparing unique property. With the summer months. There Don’t miss the opportunity
home, the need to find out both biological character- addition of the Airbnb flat, came a point though when to buy her book ‘The Search’
about her birth mom was istics and the effects of the and all the beautiful land- it had out grown its space, and if you are looking for a
constantly gnawing at her. environment in which we scape improvements, her so much that the branches fabulous location to host
She knew there would be are raised.” property has become an were over the entire house an event or just spend
no calm until she found This is a book that you idyllic wedding venue and and they were falling, and some tranquil time visit
out the truth. She decid- will not be able to put more recently has been the tree’s roots were com- https://acountryoasis.com/
ed it was time to take the down. I had the honor of transformed into a heal- ing up in the driveway. It
next step, and so she hired being given a copy to read, ing retreat. Reiki masters, was clearly a remarkable To View Dawn’s breathtak-
a private detective to see and the story is just so en- Pilates instructors, yoga tree. It was tough but I had ing photography, visit her
if he could track down the dearing, so compelling, instructors, and massage to make the decision to cut website at https://www.
woman who gave her life. and one of the few books therapists are available it down. nicoliproductions.com
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