Self-Care Sundays: Luxurious Milk Bath DIY

August 18, 2019 Kimberly Mcdowell

Hey everyone! I know the weekend is winding down and you’re preparing for the week ahead so what better way to help reset your mind than a warm luxurious milk bath. If you’ve read my previous Self-Care Sunday post on the bath salts DIY, you know I truly get into this bath thing. It’s a whole MOOD. I know it’s cheesy and cliche’ but wow, I must admit it really helps with feeling relaxed and pampered. So join me while we whip up this quick concoction to add to your pamper session.

Let’s begin. If you’re into DIYs, you know you have the freedom to mix and mingle tons of different combos and scents but today we’re experimenting with rose petals. I’ll add a little side note that my husband bought me some roses and they’re beginning to wither BUT I grabbed a few stems and spread the petals on a cookie sheet in a 210 degree oven and presto! I have dried rose petals for my project!

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup of Dry Milk (Milk helps softens the skin)

1/2 Cup of Crushed Oatmeal (Soothes irritated skin)

1/2 Cup of Himalayan Pink Salt (Helps to detox the skin)

1/2 Cup Rose Petals (Loaded with antioxidants)

30 drops of Geranium Essential Oil (Has a rose-like fragrance)

Now that you have all of your ingredients just combine them in a bowl, add 30 drops of the Geranium essential oil, stir and there you have it!

Now that you have your mixture all ready to go, find a cute airtight container to store this beauty treasure. I’ll let you in on a little secret, I opted for a re-purposed candle container from a candle I purchased at Bath and Bodyworks.

Ok ladies grab your soft music, your candles, your cool drink and enjoy this Luxurious Milk Bath.

Until next time,

-K

Curvyscaping: You're Invited!

August 4, 2019 Kimberly Mcdowell

Today we’re exploring a few looks for your typical summer outings! Enjoy the view and get out there and Go Somewhere!

Dinner Date

This yellow dress is from Eloquii and the shoes are from ASOS. I get so many compliments when I wear yellow. Learn to pick up on those subtle hints for what looks good on you.

Another tip is to wear location appropriate shoes. I planned to be sitting down on this outing so I could get away with high high heels.

Wedding Guest

This dress is by Nicole Miller Studio, shoes are Marc Fischer and the bag is from Aldo. Fashion tip: Explore different silhouettes to get an idea of what looks best on you. Once you find what looks best, shopping online is extremely easy.

Charity Brunch

The lace skirt and shirt are from Eloquii and the shoes are Jessica Simpson. A monochrome outfit is a great excuse to play with textures. Here we have patent leather, lace and satin.

White Party

This dress is from Eloquii and the shoes are Michael Kors. Shape wear is your friend in this clingy all white number. Keep your lines smooth to really make this piece pop.

Hopefully you’re inspired to get out there and have fun!

Until next time,

-K

The Anatomy of a Tablescape

July 21, 2019 Kimberly Mcdowell

In all my experience with event planning, I must say that the tablescape is by far my favorite. If a table is decorated nicely and full of details, this could “make” your decor. Any chance I have the free time, I play around with different settings at home. I Absolutely LOVE IT! There are so many opportunities to show your creativity from the glassware, napkins, and everywhere in between. So today we’ll break down some of the key elements for creating an amazing tablescape.

Linen

I like to think of linen as the backdrop that creates the perfect canvas to display all the wonderful details you add to your tablescape. The great thing about linen is that you can be as flamboyant or demure as you like. A busy tablecloth will come in handy for simple settings because there is no need to overdo it with tabletop details. Whereas, plain linen invites you to be as over the top with details as you want without the table looking too busy. Let’s not forget that chair covers are considered linen as well, just be sure to style them appropriately so they don’t upstage the main star of the show - The Table.

Centerpiece

The next step for me is the centerpiece. Even if you don’t physically place the centerpiece at this time I like to make sure I have an idea of what it will be. If you have large centerpieces, it might be helpful to place them and build your table around it. The centerpiece should be the single thing that ties the look all together. It should dictate the theme of your table whether its super elegant or extremely casual. You want to be sure your centerpiece and other details tell the same story or your table will look scattered and confused. This is your chance to be as creative or expressive as you want to be.

Chargers, China & Napkins

Chargers are handy for adding dimension to your place settings. The days of your basic charger are long gone! Chargers today come in a variety of styles, mirrored which is my favorite, glass, metallic, wood, palm leaves, and so many more. How can you not get excited about that??!! If my charger has a lot of personality, I tend to keep my china pretty muted. If I decide on spunky china pieces then my chargers will most likely be subtle. Another opportunity to present some pizzazz is my stemware. I love to use colored pieces for that added flair but nothing beats the classic clear glass. Napkins are also a great excuse to add some punch to your table. My favorite looks include a rose fold, monogram, or tie with a perfect ribbon in a contrasting color or pattern.

*Here we have our mirrored chargers, monogram napkins, and champagne flutes with the slightest hint of green for a fresh look.*

Candles

I would have to say that candles would be my next favorite thing about table decorating. Its something about seeing the flickering flames completely change the mood when the lights are low. They have the tendency to bring the heavy drama to a tablescape and cost close to nothing. I love to play with different candlelabras and candle holders to help tell my design story. My husband loves to frequent the flea market and sometimes I tag along to hunt for candle holders there. You can certainly score some unique finds for pennies at the Flea Market.

Stationary

Our final touch for the tablescape is the use of stationary. I feel it creates that personal touch for your guests. It speaks specifically to them. A welcome card, menu, place card, or thank you note, they all let your guests know you’re glad they’re there.

Tablescapes really help set the mood for your gathering, and no gathering is too small to take advantage of creating an amazing setting to dine. Actually, I prefer a more intimate gathering so I’m able to really go the extra mile at finding those memorable details to set the scene. I hope you’ll find this useful and be able to take bits of this information to use at your next event.

Until next time.

-K

Summer Curvyscaping Favorites: Shoes & Accessories

July 6, 2019 Kimberly Mcdowell

Hey everyone! I hope you all are enjoying the Summer weather! Here in Savannah its scorching hot. We’ve just gotten back from vacation and that time off gave me a chance to peruse the mall and other shopping centers. Now we all know I DO NOT NEED TO BUY ANYTHING but hey, It’s a vacation right! So I thought it would be helpful to share some of the great deals I found on some accessories and a few pairs of shoes. Trust me, they’re really affordable so let’s get started.

Jewelry

Earrings from Amazon - $10.59 for set of 6

Mimmic Store (Orlando, FL) - Multi-color Necklace $17.95 and Earrings $6.95

Hats and Head Wrap

Shoes

See!! Aren’t you proud of these prices??!! I love a great deal and hopefully this will help someone look summer chic on a budget!

Until next time,

-K