The Clueless Gardeners plant a lemon tree (or do they?) in today's bonus video.



Also, what does Ben typically wear while gardening?

What is coming up on The Clueless Gardeners?

All of these burning questions arise in today's fun clip.

I hope you enjoy our video.



Mentioned in the video: these are our patio lights . I gave them to Ben as a Christmas present last year and we really love the nice ambiance they provide in the evening.

If you follow me on Instagram, you recently saw our Clueless Gardener conundrum: our watermelon vine growing up the arch trellis...

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It was someone’s (not mine) bright idea to train our watermelon vine up the arch trellis 🤔 #cluelessgardeners #whatarewegoingtodonow #watermelonsareheavy #dailyconnoisseur

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Oct 17, 2018 at 12:17pm PDT

I received a lot of fabulous advice about making a sling for the watermelon. Some even mentioned that pantyhose would work well. I was all set to create my watermelon sling (and document it for The Clueless Gardeners, of course) but I wasn't fast enough!

The other morning I walked outside and my beloved watermelon baby had fallen off the arch trellis onto the floor. Thank you for your advice. I will know better for next time...

Have a wonderful week and I'll see you on Thursday.

With love,

Jennifer (A Clueless Gardener)

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In today's video I'm doing some investigative research on non-surgical and non-invasive beauty treatments.



We are focusing on tummies and wrinkles and I'm trying out some interesting products that reportedly help solve common problems.



Let's start with the tummy area.



Have you ever been irritated by the top button tab on your jeans? It can often stick out, creating a bulky, unsightly look. It can also create holes in your tops. To try to fix this, I tried out a clever little invention called The Infinity Belt. It is a smoothing belt that takes care of that problem completely!

One of my favorite aspects about maternity jeans and skirts is that they have a smooth top band to accommodate the growing belly. The infinity belt works much like maternity clothes work, but instead of accommodating an expanding belly, they smooth the belly you already have. I love it! It's a neat, affordable little fashion invention.

Now let's move on to wrinkles...



Wrinkles are not much of a concern for me. I do have them on my forehead, but they don't bother me. I think wrinkles are natural and normal. But it's always good to take care of your skin and wrinkle prevention is a part of many women's beauty routines. For women with more prominent wrinkles on their forehead, smoothing the forehead is often a desire, which is why many women turn to Botox or surgery.



In my investigative work, I came across The Kami Pad. Nevermind that my husband thought I looked like a Klingon from StarTrek when I was wearing it. It's a neat little invention that naturally smoothes problem areas and reduces the appearance of wrinkles while naturally boosting collagen. The Kami Pad was developed to reverse and prevent signs of aging. I try out The Kami Pad anti-wrinkle forehead pad, but they also have an anti-wrinkle neck pad, as well as an anti-wrinkle chest pad.

I had a lot of fun trying out these clever beauty and style hacks. This video was filmed all in good fun. Please know that you are beautiful just the way you are! I wanted to investigate these products for any woman who was interested in adding them to her beauty routine or style chest. I hope you enjoy today's video.

News
Check out my eCourses, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe, and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living.

On Instagram
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic on a beautiful chair...

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My chair (note to hubby!)

A post shared by Andrea Donahue (@andrea1050) on Sep 1, 2016 at 12:17pm PDT

Comment of the Week
After I posted the delicious fall coffee cake recipe last week, I had one reader admonish me (over email) about how unhealthy it was. Most readers, however, appreciate the fact that it is a cake and is meant to have things like flour, butter, and sugar in it :) I loved Fiona from Stay Home Instead's comment: "Hi Jennifer,
Long time reader, but first time commenting. What a wonderful cake, you know, when I was growing up, Mum would make a cake very similar to this but she called it a Tea Cake. Often it was topped with butter and cinnamon and sometimes apple and cinnamon, it was always so delicious, still warm from the oven. I think the last time I had one was just after our son was born ( 30 years ago) thanks for the reminder of how lovely simple cakes can be.
Fiona from stay home instead."

Fiona, I loved reading about your mother's tea cake. Topping it with apples is a marvelous idea! Thank you for sharing that memory with us.


I hope you enjoyed today's video. If you would like me to do investigative work on any other beauty or style conundrums, please let me know!



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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

One of my favorite cookbooks is From Amish and Mennonite Kitchens. The simple recipes in this book are hearty and very easy to make. Today, I'm making a rustic fall coffee cake from this book for the first time. The results are delicious!



I'm submitting this video as part of Falon from Moss Family TV's Fall Food Fridays. She asked her viewers to submit a fall recipe to be a part of the playlist and this is my contribution.




I enjoyed this cake so much, I've made it again since shooting this video for a Sunday family gathering. It was a big hit!

Here is the printable and pinnable recipe.



Another way to do the topping is to spread the melted butter over the warm cake and then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top. Either way is delicious.

I hope you enjoy today's video. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday!



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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

I hope you enjoyed Monday's debt-free video. The Daily Connoisseur interview series continues today with Kim from Free to Family.



Kim is so much fun to talk to. We have a lively discussion about what life is like as YouTuber, debt-free living, parenting, setting boundaries, and much, more.

I hope you enjoy today's video. Please chime in in the comments section on any or all of the topics we discuss!

News
I have another podcast interview to share with you. This time I chatted with Lauren Morley of The Author Podcast. We had a lot of fun chatting about living a chic and elegant life.

Check out my eCourses, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe, and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living.

On Instagram
Speaking of being a mom of boys... here I am being attacked by a tiny pirate. Just another aspect of #momlife ! :)

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Being attacked by a pirate: just another aspect of #momlife 😆 #dailyconnoisseur #ConnoisseurKids

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Oct 13, 2018 at 10:48am PDT

Comment of the Week
On Monday's debt-free video, Celine writes: "This is all great advice. I really can't add to it. I would, however, like to see the high schools to require a finance class to teach students how to better manage their money, and how debt works. They could learn about checkbooks, paying bills, credit cards, the true cost of taking on debt, basic income tax principles, IRAs/457s and other retirement-type savings plans, making a budget, and living within their means.
I know their parents sometimes don't teach them these things, and it would be a good time to learn about it.
Celine"

Celine, I couldn't agree more. I wish practical topics like this were taught in high school. We plan to teach our children these principles so they don't make the same mistakes that we did.


Thank you for joining me for today's video. I would love to hear your thoughts on Kim and my discussion. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Today's video is a collaboration with Kim, from the Free to Family YouTube channel. Kim, is a debt-free enthusiast, just like me. We are both passionate about living well within our means.



We decided to collaborate on today's video to share ten extreme tips for saving money and getting out of debt. Whether you have a lot of debt, have no debt but are interested in saving money, or have a singular goal, like paying off your mortgage, today's video will have something for you.

I announced last year that our family had become debt-free, including our mortgage. We have been working toward this goal for a long time, and today's video chronicles many of the steps we took to get there. I chronicle our debt-free journey and greatly expand on this topic in my eCourse, Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living.

Today, I'm excited to continue the discussion on the blog and share some of my tips with you.

In no particular order, here are 10 extreme tips for getting out of debt:

1. Share a vehicle Many Americans have enormous monthly car payments, whether they lease or own. Going down to one car per family (which is what the Chics did) and taking public transport instead or getting creative about when and how to use the car aides your finances tremendously. Of course, the vehicle must be affordable and within your budget. We currently share the family car and it has been no problem at all. We are doing this right now because we are saving for a financial investment we are making. Eventually, my husband would like to get an electric vehicle for his car.

2. Relocate to a more affordable area Last year we sold our West Los Angeles home and moved to the much more affordable suburbs. This allowed us to buy our home outright with no mortgage, allowing us to finally become fully debt-free. If you are able to relocate to a more affordable area, take the exciting plunge and enjoy the benefits in savings.

3. Enjoy your meals at home Relegate eating at restaurants to special occasions only and have the majority of your meals at home. Most people can agree, this one step saves a tremendous amount of money. The Chic family rarely ate at restaurants and enjoyed meals at home almost every evening.

4. Grow your own food My husband and I might be clueless gardeners, but our efforts in our totally out-of-control vegetable garden sure paid off this year. We had abundant vegetables the whole summer, which helped us keep our grocery budget in check.

5. Be an entrepreneur If you are able to work to provide an extra income stream, you can pay off debt and invest your money quicker. I like to encourage people to turn their passion into an entrepreneurial business. Sell on Etsy, provide services on Fiverr, and other websites of the like. I self-published my first book, which was an entrepreneurial endeavor in itself, and was able to pay off my student loans with my first book advance. (This story is expanded upon in my Self-Publishing Success video).

6. Rent a room in your home We have never done this, but know many people who have, and it brings a nice income in to the family. Madame Chic and her family brought in extra income by hosting foreign exchange students (me!) into their home each year.

7. Sell your belongings Once you start to clear the clutter in your home, you come across many items in your home that you no longer want. Whether it's clothing, handbags, furniture, or art, you can sell your belongings on places like eBay, ThredUP, Poshmark, or a consignment shop. Or have a good old-fashioned yard sale.

8. Cut out television (and other monthly expenses) The monthly cable or satellite bill is large. If you can cut this, plus any other monthly service (such as an unused gym membership) you will save hundreds of dollars each year (and have more time on your hands as well!)

9. Do the Ten-Item Wardrobe (really do it!) The Ten-Item Wardrobe is so beneficial, not only to your true style, but also to your wallet. If you truly do the ten-item wardrobe, season after season you will realize how much money you are saving. You will no longer participate in mindless shopping. Everything you buy will have a purpose and be used. For more on the ten-item wardrobe, check out my eCourse, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe and my Madame Chic books.

10. Change your mindset Ultimately, working to get out of debt, and not only save, but invest money for your future, requires an utter mindset shift away from mindless spending. It does require major frugality, but all hope is not lost. You can still live beautifully within your means.

Be sure to watch today's video for expanded thoughts on all of these topics.

News
I have another podcast interview to share with you. This time I chatted with Lauren Morley of The Author Podcast. We had a lot of fun chatting about living a chic and elegant life.

Check out my eCourses, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe, and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living.

On Instagram

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Bien dans Sa Peau📖

A post shared by Yvette🥀 (@yvibae) on Oct 5, 2018 at 10:05am PDT

Comment of the Week
Regarding last week's Q&A video, Shannon on Facebook writes, "That was the best q and a ever! All the questions I wanted to know but was too shy to ask 😂 I’m Canadian and we are for sure not as reserved as British people but are not as famously open as Americans."

Thank you, Shannon! I'm so happy you enjoyed the Q&A :)

Thank you for joining me for today's video. I would love to hear from you. Are you on a debt-free journey? Do you have any struggles in this area? Are you currently debt-free? What tips do you have for us? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.


Visit my Author Website

*New* Shop my favorite things

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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Take my eCourse on the Ten-Item Wardrobe

Take my eCourse Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

In today's Natural Home with Jennifer, I do some investigative work: Do wool dryer balls really work?



Wool dryer balls are an all-natural alternative to fabric softener and dryer sheets. The balls work to soften clothes in your dryer by gently massaging the clothes as they are tossed back and forth. Wool dryer balls also get the static out of your clothes and help to reduce drying time.

I tried out this set of three wool dryer balls for the past few months and really like them. When used alone, they do soften clothes, although not as much as a traditional fabric softener or dryer sheets. The bonus for me is how they get rid of static cling and reduce drying time. I find that they truly do reduce drying time by 25% and even help to dry items that typically do not dry well in our dryer, like my daughter's Beddy's bedding.



Many people have concerns over the chemicals used in fabric softener and dryer sheets, so if you prefer to have an all-natural wash, I would suggest using wool dryer balls instead to soften your clothes. I will definitely continue to use mine.

Another bonus is that they are very eco-friendly. I can use the wool dryer ball set that I have for up to 1,000+ washes!

Another neat feature is that you can lightly fragrance your clothing by dropping your favorite essential oil onto your dryer balls. The combination of the movement and the heat will transfer the fragrance to your clothing.

I purchased my wool dryer balls from Grove Collaborative. They sell a nice set of 3 dryer balls made from 100% New Zealand wool.

You can also find wool dryer balls on Amazon.

I hope you enjoyed today's video. I would love to know... do you use wool dryer balls? What is your experience with them?

Thank you for joining me for today's Natural Home with Jennifer. I'll see you on Monday!



I hope you enjoy today's video.

Visit my Author Website

*New* Shop my favorite things

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Last week on Instagram I asked you to submit your questions for a Q&A. I received some great questions and had a lot of fun answering them in today's video.



What should you do if your poise is also making you isolated? Am I still in touch with Madame Chic? What do you do with ten-item wardrobe angst? What is our biggest marriage struggle? What is my family background? All of these questions, plus more are answered.

There are also special appearances from a lizard, a ghost, and a very adorable toddler!

What more could one want in a Q&A? :)

I hope you enjoy today's video.

Mentioned in the video: My rebounding routine.

News
*NEW* I am a guest on Lauren Morley's The Author Podcast. We have a wonderful discussion about the Madame Chic books.

Check out my interview on Dina Cataldo's Soul Roadmap podcast. We discuss all things Madame Chic and life after Paris.

Thank you to everyone who continues to take and comment on my eCourses, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe, and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living. I really enjoy connecting with you over these courses.

On Instagram
Lessons from Madame Chic in Mongolia...

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Баярлалаа ! @saruultgs 💙 Ном унших зав Өөртөө заавал гаргаж байгаарай! #шикхатагтайнзөвөлгөө #lessonsfrommadamechic

A post shared by Anujin (@anka_____anka) on Sep 26, 2018 at 5:56am PDT

Comment of the Week
mmhondd writes, "Hi! I'm Japanese. I read "Lessons from Madame Chic". I was very moved reading the book. So I threw away many unnecessary things and changed my way of thinking!! I'm glad to have met the book. I appreciate your kindness trying to express things. Thank you so much!!☺"


Thank you, mmhondd! I love connecting with my Japanese readers. I have a surprise announcement coming soon for my readers in Japan... stay tuned!


I hope you enjoyed today's Q&A. I would love to hear your thoughts on everything we discussed. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.


Visit my Author Website

*New* Shop my favorite things

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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Take my eCourse on the Ten-Item Wardrobe

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

You know my motto, being chic is being prepared. I have a large catalogue of freezer meals I have shared with you in the past and today, I'm making three comfort food casseroles featuring lots of chicken and vegetables for fall.



I shot this video before having the baby and am just now getting around to posting it. These meals have really come in handy!



My philosophy with freezer cooking is to use what you have and not worry about following a recipe too rigidly. There is freedom in opening your pantry and deciding what you'd like to use. For these freezer meals, I had nearly 5lbs of organic chicken breast, a 2 lb bag of spinach, 2 large onions, a giant zucchini from our garden, and a lot of brown rice.



With this combination, I make three different creamy chicken casseroles that freeze well and taste even better. I essentially make three variations on the same casserole to give you options depending on what you have in your pantry. If you make these, you can feel free to make all of the same kind, or do all three that I make for variety.



I have included the printable recipes below, but first let's talk about the chicken/ vegetable base. I sautéed the chopped onion in extra virgin olive oil and added 3 large spoonfuls of minced garlic. Then I added the chopped spinach and zucchini. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. To this, I added my nearly 5 lbs of shredded chicken that I cooked in the Instant Pot. This provides a very large base to make your three casseroles from. I used roughly 1/3 of the chicken mixture for each casserole.



Feel free to get creative. Use whatever vegetables you like. Top these casseroles with whatever you fancy. I used toasted breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, but you could do any type of shredded cheese.

Here I am listing the printable recipes for your convenience. Feel free to share these on Pinterest, or with your friends who could use some freezer meal inspiration!







I hope you enjoy the recipes featured in today's video.

News



Check out my interview on Dina Cataldo's Soul Roadmap podcast. We discuss all things Madame Chic and life after Paris.

Thank you to everyone who continues to take and comment on my eCourses, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe, and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living. I really enjoy connecting with you over these courses.

On Instagram
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic in Poland...

A post shared by Minimalistic Girl (@minimalisticgirlblog) on May 10, 2018 at 10:44pm PDT

Comment of the Week
On last week's Natural Home with Jennifer video, Marielle writes, "Hi Jennifer, Thank you for using non-toxic products to clean your oven. A very easy way to clean the oven racks is to put one or two large towels on the bottom of your bathtub and put the oven racks on the towels to avoid scratching your bathtub. Cover the oven racks with very hot water and add 1/2 cup of dish soap or 3/4 cup of laundry detergent. Let everything soak overnight. Then, simply wipe the oven racks clean. The dirt, grease and grime will come right off without any scrubbing. If you want the exact method, you can Google it up and you will find it right away. Since discovering this method several years ago, that’s the way I clean my oven racks and it saves me a lot of time and energy."


What a great tip. Thank you, Marielle!

I hope you enjoyed today's freezer cooking video. I'll see you on Thursday for a reader Q&A...



Visit my Author Website

*New* Shop my favorite things

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my eCourse on the Ten-Item Wardrobe

Take my eCourse Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living

Sign up for my Seasonal Author Newsletter


FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.