Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly McDowell.
Hi Kimberly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hello! My name is Kimberly McDowell. I’m a 46-year-old wife and mother of two. I graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1999 with a BBA in Finance. Although my personality thirsts for structure, I am bursting with creativity and a love for all beautiful things.
I’ve always been interested in event planning and decor, stationery design, and lots of other interesting things going on in my head like blogging, fashion, and crafts. My new love is soap making. I am an Executive Assistant by day and have transitioned all my creative talents under the name of The Gracious Hostess. Under this umbrella, I am able to live out all those creative dreams through my website, www.thegracioushostess.com.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This road has been a roller coaster. Naturally, I tried to organize my thoughts to focus on just one creative arena and found it utterly impossible (for me at least). Writing about these struggles was definitely therapeutic and that’s how the blog was born.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Gracious Hostess is where I get to experiment with blogging, event design, stationery design, and soap making. The blog is a transparent experience of a normal middle-aged woman who occasionally loves a beautiful dress and a nice pair of shoes.
I’m able to connect with a lot of my peers and some of my new soap clients on a more personal level. It’s a lot of fun trying to talk about all the things we’re sometimes afraid to say. My biggest win lately is my online Soap & Body Shop. I have been making artisan soap and body products for a year and have gotten a tremendous amount of support from friends, family, and Instagram followers.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is a day we spent at Sea World in Florida with my whole family. An unforgettable experience indeed.
Pricing:
- My soaps are $7 a bar
- My body butter is $15 for 12 oz.
- My body scrubs are $15 for 12 oz.
- My body balm is $8 for a 4oz jar.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thegracioushostess.com
- Instagram: @ksmthegracioushostess
- Facebook: @Kimberly S. McDowell – The Gracious Hostess
Detrich Swain
September 8, 2022 at 10:05 pm
You’re very talented Kim and you wear a lot of different hats. Continue to pursue your dreams, big things are ahead.
Daphne Coffee-Roberts
September 11, 2022 at 2:33 pm
This is awesome. Kimberly is surely a hidden gem! From decorating my beautiful wedding, making awesome invitations for my events, owning a few Kimberly inspired pieces in my closet, and having her awesome products throughout my bedroom and bathroom,I am a fan!I wish her nothing but success in pursuing her dreams and goals.