Black & White Stripes For Summer

Pairing two favorite details for an effortless summer look
May 19, 2017
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > #OOTD (Outfit of the Day)

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Black and white stripe dress on Waiting on Martha Black and white stripe dress with ruffle sleeves outfit on Waiting on MarthaBlack and white stripe dress with ruffle sleeves | Waiting on Martha Black and white stripes with black YSL bag on Waiting on MarthaGold bangles with black YSL bag and black and white stripe dress I waitingonmartha.com Black Celine sunglasses with black and white stripes

Happy Friday!  Today’s outfit combines two of my all-time favorite details when it comes to dressing; stripes and dramatic flare sleeves.  It’s a look you can easily dress up or dress down, and it’s a silhouette that makes you feel stylish in an effortless way.  Oh, and the material is super breathable.  And nothing is more important to me in the summer than a dress that’s comfortable and low-maintenance.  Can I get an amen?! 

I first wore this black and white stripe dress recently when I hosted a floral and entertaining class at the new Williams-Sonoma at the Avalon, when I was going to be in it for a few hours, with dinner plants to follow.  The ruffle sleeves made me feel fun and festive, while the bubble waist ensured I would feel confident and comfortable all evening long. 

Like all dresses with this dramatic shape, this one subtly hides my area—my tummy—and it flatters the upper arms, an area I’m working on trimming right now.  But word to the wise: this dress is not meant to be tight.  And at certain angles, it can even make you look larger than you are.  So if that makes you uncomfortable, this dress it not for you.  But the best part is that once you try on one of this style, you know if it’s your thing or if it isn’t.

To bring the look together, I had fun mixing the stripes of my Loeffler Randall Arabella Platform Sandals for a little pattern play.  Sadly this pair is sold out where I’ve looked, but I’ve linked a few similar styles below, along with a few more black and white stripe dress options worth seeing.  And while I kept things monochromatic in today’s look, next time I’m thinking of adding some color with a bright statement necklace like this one or bold colorful earrings like these.  How fun would that be?!  

And for all of those asking about my gold bangles…they’re from the shoppe!  They’re all-weather so you can wear them all day long—even at the beach or in the pool—and are the perfect accessory to any outfit.  Don’t be surprised if you see me wearing them all season!  Truly, MKR   

P.S.  I wasn’t kidding that a ruffle and a stripe was my favorite pair.  See this outfit and this outfit for more ways to wear this winning combo.  xo  

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Photography, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha

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9 Ways to Plump Your Skin & Get That Covetable Glow

A handful of helpful tools & tricks for Happy Skin
May 18, 2017
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Beauty & Tutorials

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Face cupping, dry brushing, exfoliating and more skincare must-do's on Waiting on Martha

I’ve realized lately that I’ve been leaning on some pretty unexpected tools and tricks when it comes to skincare these days. I’ve discovered face cupping, I’m working on “blasting” my fascia, I’m an avid fan of derma rolling, and I’m taking about 23,049,823 “skinfood” ingestibles daily.  

But thanks to this hodgepodge of skincare tools and tricks, I’ve started to see success in finding that covetable glow, and finally doing away with acne scars and large pores that haunted me for years.  And my favorite part about a lot of the things I list below is that they’re affordable and simple to do/use.  Plus, you can do so many of the seemingly weird tricks, like face cupping and fascia blasting thanks to Ashley Black, in the comfort of your home, for just a few minutes each day! 

So without further adieu, I give you 9 ways to plump your skin and get that covetable glow.  I’d love to hear if you’ve tried any of these things, or if you have another I can add to the list!  Cheers, Kat

P.S.  Hoping to get your skin swimsuit ready? See this post on the best bikini skincare products. 

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Skinny & Co. Vanilla Sugar Body Scrub

Waiting on Martha Home, $35

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Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate

It’s absolutely imperative that we exfoliate and slough off the old skin to leave fresh, smooth and healthy skin to show.  This super hydrating scrub has coconut oil which soothes and moisturizes the skin as the coconut sugar gently exfoliates. 

Moon Juice Beauty Dust

Waiting on Martha Home, $38

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Take Ingestibles and Vitamins

Once I realized that the glow came from the INSIDE, I went a little crazy stocking up on ingestibles and skin-friendly vitamins.  I especially love Moon Juice’s Beauty Dust because it’s made my hair shiny and full, and it’s so easy to mix into any and all beverages.  


Aloe Vera Plant

Amazon, $22

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Drink Aloe Vera

It’s so important to hydrate our skin from the inside out.  You can buy aloe vera juice at the store, but a lot of them have sugars and added ingredients.  That’s why we love the real deal: fresh aloe vera juice from the plant.  It’s super cheap to buy a stalk or two at Whole Foods.  Simply carve out the gel-like inside and add a squeeze of lemon juice!

BluePrint 16 oz. Juice

Amazon Fresh, $7.99

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Consume Green, Leafy Vegetables

Vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts are spinach amazing skin foods because they’re rich in alpha lipoic acid (ALA).  These have a really high concentration of antioxidants that fight free radicals and slow down the aging process.  ALA also acts as an anti-inflammatory, which lessens the signs of eye bags, blotchy spots, wrinkles and puffiness. 

Frankincense Essential Oil

Young Living via The Well Code, $73.50

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Nourish the Skin with Essential Oils

There are countless skin benefits of using essential oils. Frankincense is wonderful for giving your skin that radiant glow and decreasing any signs of aging.  Bergamot and Grapefruit are great for toning and evening the skin tone.  And lavender is super soothing for irritated, sensitive skin.  Just to name a few! 

Have more questions about essential oils? Head over to The Well Code and learn why we’re absolutely oil-obsessed. 

LURE Home Spa Face Cupping Massage Set

Amazon, $25.80

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Try Cupping

Cupping is an ancient practice in alternative medicine that helps get the blood flowing while activating the lymphatic system.  And this simple tool is pretty awesome on the face and neck; it visibly reduces fine lines & wrinkles, while increasing your collagen production, improving the contours on your face, and helping the elasticity of your skin.  You only need to use it for as little as 3-5 minutes per day to see results.   


Merben Jute Body Brush with White Handle

Waiting on Martha Home, $35

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Dry Brush

Dry brushing is another important, and very affordable, step to add to your daily skincare routine at home.  Using a dry brush on the skin helps to boost circulation, slough away dead skin cells, stimulate the lymph nodes, improve digestion, improve the appearance of cellulite, and help the body detox in general.  I personally enjoy doing it for a few minutes in the morning before a shower, as it wakes me up and exfoliates before I wash.  Always brush in circular motions and brush toward your heart. 

Golden Touch Micro Needle Derma Roller

Amazon, $13.99

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Use a Derma Roller

This simple tool uses a ton of tiny, tiny needles to create micro-incisions on the skin that cause collagen and elastin production into overdrive.  Your face will feel tighter and look plumper as it heals.  It’s a great thing to use at home for acne scaring and discoloration. 

Fascia & Cellulite Blaster Massage Stick

Amazon, $24.50

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Work on the Cellulite

Thanks to this goop article, it has recently come to my attention that cellulite is quite the myth.  No, we don’t have to live with dimples and lines on the backs of our legs forever!  We should instead, work on massaging the fascia by kneading the skin and working the fat cells free.  Is your mind blown too?  I know.  This fascia and cellulite blaster massage stick does just the trick. 

Featured image, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha

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Boozy Strawberry Basil Lemonade

An Elevated Take on a Classic Southern Staple Sip for Summer
May 17, 2017
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Cocktail Hour

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Boozy Strawberry Basil Lemonade | Waiting on Martha Boozy Strawberry Basil Lemonade recipe | Waiting on Martha Strawberry Basil Lemonade recipe on Waiting on Martha

I don’t know there was ever a better flavor pairing than strawberry and basil.  And when they’re combined in a fresh homemade lemonade recipe, the result is out of this world… the result is refreshing, punchy and the perfect balance of flavors.  Now make the thing boozy, and you’ve got yourself a dangerously easy-to-drink batch cocktail on a hot summer’s day.  Enter my Boozy Strawberry Basil Lemonade.  

Today’s recipe was actually inspired by the strawberry shortcake my mother recently made for me on my birthday.  I used the extra strawberry puree from the shortcake recipe, grabbed the rest of the ingredients I had on hand, and started messing around.  

I started by pouring regular vodka in the cocktail shaker since I didn’t have basil vodka at home.  I did, however, pull fresh basil from the garden and muddled it in the bottom of the glasses, saving some for garnish at the end.  Basil, like rosemary, goes a long way in cocktails so you really don’t need that much per each drink.  

Next, I added equal parts lemonade and club soda to the shaker.  If you like your lemonade on the sweeter side, go a little heavier on the lemonade.  I used our John Daly recipe for the lemonade here—though you can of course use store-bought lemonade if it’s easier for your occasion—because I knew I would use the sugar cane sticks when garnishing to serve.  These are the sugar sticks typically used in Mojitos, and they can be a bit difficult to find sometimes.  But when I find them, I stock up, because I love how they add a little sweetness to your drink as you chew on them.  

Because I don’t mind having actual fruit puree in my drink, I simply poured the strawberry puree in the drinks.  But if you’re a no-pulp kind of person, consider straining the puree into the glasses when serving for a less chunky effect.  I share my simple recipe for the puree below; all you’ll need is fresh strawberries, sugar and some time for them to macerate.  

All in all, this recipe is your ultimate batch drink.  It’s easy, refreshing, and a true crowd-pleaser this time of year.  When serving, I love using my pink footed goblets by Juliska atop this beautiful wood and marble board from Waiting on Martha Home.   And think how pretty it would be with all of the ingredients set up in a DIY serve-yourself bar at a bridal luncheon, baby shower or barbecue!  Truly, MKR

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Boozy Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. basil vodka (regular vodka can be substituted)
  • equal parts lemonade* and club soda, more lemonade if you prefer it sweeter
  • 1 fresh basil leaf to muddle
  • strawberry puree**
  • plus basil leaf and strawberry to garnish
  • *Homemade lemonade recipe linked in post, store-bought can also be used
  • **For Strawberry Puree
  • fresh strawberries, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • if you're fine with the chunks, mash lightly and let it sit there. Otherwise you can use a strainer to get rid of chunks

Instructions

  1. For strawberry puree:
  2. Mash strawberries and sugar together, let sit to macerate.
  3. If you're fine with chunks of strawberry, pour entire mixture into cocktail below.
  4. Otherwise, use a strainer to omit the large pieces of fruit.
  5. For cocktail:
  6. Muddle basil leaf at bottom of glass.
  7. Pour vodka in cocktail shaker.
  8. Add half lemonade, half club soda to cocktail shaker.
  9. Shake, shake, shake.
  10. Pour into glass with muddle basil.
  11. Add strawberry puree into glass.
  12. Garnish with basil leaf and strawberry, and serve.
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https://waitingonmartha.com/boozy-strawberry-basil-lemonade/

 

 

Photography, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha

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