Come visit Stratford upon Avon with us in this two-part series. Today, we drive through Shakespeare's hometown, I show you the gorgeous Welcombe Hotel and share about my background as a Shakespearean actress! As a very big Shakespeare fan, I simply adored Stratford upon Avon. I hope you enjoy today's video. In part 2, we get to visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage.
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News
Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe! With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!
Comment of the Week
Laura F. writes, "HI Jennifer I quite agree about getting up earlier than the rest of the family it's also my moment of peace before the rush starts, keep up the good work and can't wait for you're next video xx"
Hi Laura, I agree! I need that extra time in the morning to get things done in a peaceful environment where I am uninterrupted by little ones :)
Today I would love to know... have you visited Stratford upon Avon? What is your favorite Shakespeare play? Have you ever acted in a Shakespearean play? What was your favorite role? What is the nicest hotel you've ever stayed in? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.
I shot this video sharing my favorite muffin recipe before leaving for my trip. I hope you enjoy it!
For my birthday this year, I received a Vitamix blender. You know I resisted buying one of these for so long, but what a wonderful surprise to receive one as a gift! I have truly been loving it, making smoothies, soups and juices almost every day. The best thing about it is that it's easy to feed vegetables to my children (even the baby) because they love the juices and smoothies I make, even though they often contain kale, spinach and carrots!
I will frequently make a carrot juice with 1 cup water, 3 carrots and one apple. I like to keep a lot of the fiber in the juice, but I will also extract a lot of it too. I hate to throw the juice pulp away and waste all of that amazing fiber, so I researched a few healthful muffin recipes and modified them to come up with this one. These muffins are delicious. My children gobble them up and I love them too! I make a batch of these after making juice. They are so easy and I put them in the freezer. Just pull out the muffins you want the morning of. I hope you enjoy today's video.
Healthful Carrot Pulp Muffins makes 12
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup carrot juice pulp (I use the leftover pulp from making my carrot apple juice in the Vitamix )
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the melted butter, honey, beaten egg, vanilla extract, applesauce and carrot juice pulp. Mix well. Divide in muffin cups sprayed with baking spray or lined with muffin cups. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes. Serve warm with a dab of butter. Yum!
News
Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe! With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!
Comment of the Week Jennifer,
As I'm writing this i am again evacuated from my home in Northern California. The same thing happened two years ago. Our home is in danger from the wildfires. 14 families from my daughter's school have already lost their homes. I know at least half of these families personally. Your beach chat was a welcome distraction from my anxiety and grief. And I would like to say that I now have a different attitude toward housekeeping. Home keeping is a privilege not a chore. About homeschooling, if my children's schools don't reopen soon, we may be homeschooling again too. I love you too, Jennifer. Thanks for being your generous self!!
Warm best,
Alexandra
Hi Alexandra, I am praying for you and all of the families affected by the horrible northern California fires. I am glad that you and your family are safe. Thank you for your wonderful participation in the blog. I always look forward to your comments!
If you try these muffins, please let me know how you like them. Thank you for joining us today and I'll see you on Thursday for a fun family vlog shot in Shakespeare's home town.
Take a walk with me on the beach and have a chat! In this video, I update you on how homeschooling is going, what our daily routine is in Portugal and the unusual things I have been missing while traveling abroad. We are actually in England right now, but I hope you enjoy seeing these videos from our Portugal trip.
This video was shot on the DJI Gimbal Osmo video recorder. I'm still learning how to use this device so bear with me as I try to walk in the thick sand, talk and film at the same time. Ha!
Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe! With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!
Fiona G writes, "Thank you Jennifer for putting this course together. It's been really helpful in putting the 10 item wardrobe into practice."
Thank you, Fiona!
Today I would love to know... what are the unusual things you miss while traveling?
Take a peek inside the Portuguese villa we are staying in while visiting Vale do Lobo. The first two weeks in Portugal, we rented a villa up the hill and for our last week here, my mother-in-law treated us to this wonderful villa on the beach. The decor is traditional and simple, slightly dated but with much charm. We have enjoyed our stay here.
You get to see Famille Connoisseur having our daily quiet and reading time. My oldest daughter has been reading on the kindle, which has come in handy on this trip. She is a voracious reader and goes through books quickly, so rather than carry a lot of books with us while we travel, she's able to read to her heart's content on the kindle. My middle daughter is still learning to read so she likes to pick up books and see what words she can recognize, and the baby gets a board book from daddy! I hope you enjoy today's video.
Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe! With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!
Here is a great testimonial from Lisa who writes, "I absolutely loved this e-course, thank you! I feel inspired to downsize the items in my closet. I am looking forward to giving the ten item wardrobe a try! Thank you so much for this fantastic e-course!"
Thank you, Lisa! I'm so happy you enjoyed the course. Please keep us updated on your ten-item wardrobe!
Nikki Moreno, from Inspired by Nikki, shared The Madame Chic Collection on her Instagram account this week. Thank you, Nikki! If you haven't checked out Nikki's channel it's a must. She is so lovely.
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Question of the Week
DD asks: You referred to the villa you were staying in. How did you find your accommodations in Portugal? Did you use Airbnb.com or some similar online resource? Did you work with an estate or rental agent? Also, it looks like you rented a car, correct? We try to avoid car rentals in Europe and travel by bus or train. A car is probably much easier with children! Do you think one could see Portugal's small towns and villages traveling by bus or train? Or is a car necessary? Portugal is next on our travel wish list. I'm enjoying these "peeks" into Portugal with you! Thanks!
Hi DD, my husband used VRBO to rent our first villa. The car we are driving is rented. I agree that it is easier with children to have a rental car in Portugal as the area we visited was very spread-out. If you visit a larger city, you might not need a car. Most of the traveling families we came across had rented a car. Thanks for watching!
I hope you have a wonderful week! I will see you on Thursday for a chat on the beach.
It's a quick, fun travel video showing you this historic Portuguese city.
And now... What's in my toiletry bag?
In today's video I show you what's inside my toiletry bag for our 5 week European trip. I try to pack lightly because I really dislike lugging extraneous things around with me when I travel. When you're already traveling with three kids, it's important to pack light! I hope you enjoy today's video.
Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe! With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!
Here is a wonderful testimonial for the ten-item wardrobe eCourse from Elizabeth P, who writes, "Thank you very much for such a wonderful course! It's even more in depth than your excellent Ted talk, and I think your presentation was perfect! I must confess...I have a skirt just like the one on the cover of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic (currently in my out-of-season clothes), and I am searching with a discerning eye for some fabric to match the top! That's my ideal style!!!"
Thank you so much, Eizabeth! I'm so happy you enjoyed the course...
Comment of the Week
Alejandra C writes:
Thank you Jennifer for the updates. Would love to see a debt-free living series. Recently I read an article by finance blogger Pauline Paquin (born and raised in Paris) about the French approach to debt. One thing I was suprised to learn was that typically the only debt they carry is their mortgage. I think people being able to do that here in the U.S. alone would be a step in the right direction. I also think that the self discipline and commitment required for the 10 item wardrobe can, and is very useful when applied to personal finance and debt. Also, thank you for being an advocate for and encouraging saving for quality items that one can afford.
Thank you, Alejandra! I would be very interested to hear the French perspective on debt. I am looking forward to the debt-free series too.
I hope you enjoy both of the videos today! Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday for more videos from our trip to Portugal.
Today I would love to know... do you like to pack light for traveling? Do you need help in this area? What do you like to bring in your toiletry bag? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.
Apologies for the late post today. We have been traveling. We were also met with the horrible news from Las Vegas when we got off our plane. Our prayers are with the victims and their families. What a terribly sad day...
Here is my original post from today...
Today's video, which was shot in California before I left for my trip, features a few of my favorite things.
Tee shirt tunic from zulily (the brand is Cool Melon) I love this tee shirt tunic for more casual days. It's great with skinny jeans or leggings and ballet flats.
Sounds Like Reign YouTube channel. Brackin and Lindsay and their family are so much fun to watch. I love to see how other people live and, as debt-free homesteaders, the Sounds Like Reign channel shares such a refreshing perspective.
Bare Pro performance wear liquid foundation in sandstone spf 20 (click on image for link). I've been using this foundation while traveling and I am still loving it! Very natural and wears well.
bareMinerals blush in thistle (click image for link). This blush is such a good color for fall. I think it could be universally flattering.
Bath & Bodyworks Leaves candle. I just love this candle for fall. I'm looking forward to coming home and burning it before winter comes!
Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe! With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!
Here is a great testimonial for the eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe from Sheri S, who writes, "I totally enjoyed viewing the ecourse!! I'm planning to re-watch it today and get started working on my own closet. I appreciate you compiling these videos and the fact that you made it so affordable to us to participate!! Best wishes on your travels! God bless you all!"
Thank you, Sheri!
Comment of the Week CH writes , "Hi Jennifer! Thank you for your posts!
I appreciate how you give us ideas and a template to follow.
You understand that everyone's style is different. I am an empty nester from the Midwest, so of course, our 10-item wardrobes will be different. People that comment negatively on your wardrobe are looking for a cookie cutter course - a one size fits all, and that is not what this is all about. I love how you teach, inform, share, and give us the inspiration to create the 10 or 15 or 20-item wardrobe that works with each of our unique situations, budgets, and seasons of life!
I wish I would have learned so much of this 30 years ago, but it is never too late to keep developing personal style!
Thank you for continuing to share and making the world a more beautiful place!"
Thank you, CH! Yes, I love to encourage women to think about their own life and tailor their wardrobe accordingly. Expecting other people to have your exact desired wardrobe is futile because we all lead such varied and different lives. Thank you for your comment!
Lena D writes, "For the people speaking about being offended about the millennial thing. I really think focusing on this one idea misses the point. Whether millennial bore more of the focus or not, is not the main point. Being easily offended is easy. Looking past something and acknowledging a truth is hard. Many people today of all ages, which Jennifer stated, have a hard time coping with adult responsibilities. That is a fact. That should be the real takeaway of the video as well as what we can do to step up."
Lena, I could not agree more! I'm glad you took away the important point from the message.
I hope you enjoy today's favorites video. Please share what you have been loving in the comment section. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!
In today's video, I respond to some criticism I have received on some of my recent posts. One of the things I love about blogging is the dialogue we have in the comments section. There are many times, however, where I feel I am misunderstood. In today's video, I respond to my critics as I discuss my budget wardrobe for this year as well as the adulting controversy that took place on the blog.
Two key points that I hope you will take away from this video:
1. Quality vs. quantity is important when choosing your ten-item wardrobe. One aspect of this that many people miss is you must purchase the best quality you can afford. Do not go into debt over your ten-item wardrobe.
2. In my Teatime with Jennifer discussing adulting, I mention that all age groups (millennials, gen Xers and even some baby boomers) are struggling with adult responsibilities. I do not pin it only on the millennial generation. This adulting (or lack thereof) phenomenon is evidenced with the hashtags and the artwork, but also with Ben Sasse's New York Times Bestselling book, The Vanishing American Adult, which discusses many of the topics I brought up in my video.
I hope you enjoy today's video as I clear up some issues on the blog today!
Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe! With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!
Dee D writes, "I'm enjoying this course so much. It's giving me a system for thinking about my wardrobe and organizing it in my mind. Usually I go into a clothing store and am overcome with confusion by the number of choices. It just makes so much more sense to lay out a plan first and determine where the holes are."
Emily L writes, "Truly loved this course Jennifer! I have been following your blog for years and I have also been following others that are focused on minimalism. I don't think I am quite ready for a truly minimalist lifestyle but the 10-item wardrobe is definitely a place to start. I have also been applying your principles to our home since our move last year. I have been gradually work on just keeping quality pieces around our home. It's a work in progress. With the upcoming change in seasons, I am more encouraged to thoughtfully go through each piece! Thanks again!"
Comment of the Week
This comment from Emily regarding the Adulting post, was one of my very favorites...
Hi Jennifer,
I am a long time reader of your blog and of your books. Thank you so much for your insight and inspiration.
I am a member of the younger generation as well; however, I do not define myself with just one word. I agree with your statement in this video.
I have older parents, from the baby-boomer generation. My parents worked "blue collar" jobs all their life. They were and still are very hard working. I don't believe I ever heard them make the complaint that they couldn't do something on a particular day. Occasionally, they would have rough days at work, but that didn't mean they wouldn't go back or that they would limit themselves after they returned home.
My father was a truck driver, retired now, who dressed for work. He would wear slacks, buttoned down shirts, and shined shoes while driving. My mother would wash, fold, and iron his clothes each week and pack them for him. He never wore a wrinkled piece of clothing.
My mother was a school cafeteria worker and she always dressed with respect for her job as well. They were never too busy to complete house work, teach me life lessons, or help me with my homework. I know I benefited from their example.
I was taught early in life that everyone has a job to do that benefits society in some way. No one person is beneath a job and everyone deserves respect. I started out working at McDonald's, and I have work my way through various jobs, and now have my dream job. I have learned a great deal from my previous experience and hold on to those good and bad learning opportunities. Those learning opportunities were very valuable and I wouldn't be who I am without them.
About dressing appropriately, I do believe it's a matter of respect. I recently attended both a wedding and a funeral. At each event I saw people wearing jeans. At the wedding I saw someone wearing yoga/workout wear. I was personally upset by this because I don't think those people were showing proper respect for not only themselves, but for the events, as well.
I'm trying to remember to be the change I wish to see in the world.
Again, thank you for the inspiration that I think many of us need and benefit from.
- Emily
Emily, I loved reading about your family. It's clear your parents did a great job raising you and showing you excellent examples of hard work.
I would love to know what your thoughts are on today's video. Debt-free living, budget wardrobes, living to please other people, adulting... I want to read your comments. Yours could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!
Have a wonderful weekend and I will see you on Monday for a September Favorites video.
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