Hello Daily Connoisseurs,

I'm coming to you today with a quick announcement. Please leave me your etiquette horror stories, conundrums & observations in the comment section. Ben and I plan to do a video where we respond to your questions.

You know that's going to be a good video! :)



If you don't wish to leave your comment below, you can always email me here. * Please note: due to the large volume of emails I receive, I am not always able to respond. I read every email and appreciate every one.

Thank you and I'll see you on Thursday for another ten-item wardrobe video!

Jennifer xx




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When you actively do the ten-item wardrobe, each season will likely present at least one or two holes in your wardrobe, where you will need to shop for just the right thing to fit in with your other items. One of my holes this year is a pair of jeans. I had a great pair of AG jeans for several years. Then during my pregnancy period, I wore maternity jeans. Now I am ready for a new pair.



Because my time is so limited, I did not go to a shop, but rather ordered them online. This time I tried an unexpected place: Land's End.

Normally, I would go to Nordstrom or another department store with a plethora of jeans to choose from, but I was looking for something very specific: a classic pair of dark wash jeans with no holes, preferably with a flat front.

Spanx has a jean like this but it is skin tight and has holes in it... so it didn't quite fit my list. But I found these jeans on Land's End and ordered them. I am pleasantly surprised!



I initially ordered a size 8, but they were too big and stretchy so I ordered a 6 with a 30 inseam (I am 5'5") and they fit perfectly.

I like to wear these with my Blondo booties and, as you can see in the video, they also look great with ballet flats.

I was looking for flat-front jeans particularly because after having my fourth baby, I needed jeans that slim in the tummy area. If you don't have flat-front jeans and would like to slim the tummy, use the infinity beltto keep the button tab down. I love the infinity belt and am so happy to have discovered it!

I hope you enjoy watching today's video. If you have any great jean brands to recommend, please let us know in the comment section below.

News
📍I'm working on a new eCourse for 2019. If you haven't taken my other courses, now is a great time. Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living and Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe are fun, affordable, and as many have stated, totally life-changing!

📍Visit my Teespring store for official Daily Connoisseur merchandise.

On Instagram
Lessons from Madame Chic on Instagram...

View this post on Instagram

Some morning reading. #lessonsfrommadamechic #bookstagram

A post shared by Catherine Spence (@sevenpercentcatherine) on Jan 3, 2019 at 6:59am PST

Comment of the Week
On last week's freezer meal post, Kathryn writes, "Jennifer, I love all your food-related videos! They are so helpful for getting out of a food rut, as you say. I actually tried out HomeChef after your video, and it's been so fun to savor flavors outside of our go-to meals. In this "little kid" phase of life, we rarely go out to eat, so this kind of filled that gap of trying out new, fun foods. Thanks for the tip, and thank you so much for the peeks inside your hard-working kitchen!

The really big question though, is what is the story behind those beautiful earrings in the beginning of the video? They are so elegant, and kudos to you for wearing drop earrings while holding your baby! He must not be in the grabby phase yet ;) My daughter would make mincemeat out of my ears with those! Sigh...someday! Thank you for all your hard work, and have a beautiful weekend with your family."


Thank you, Kathryn. I love when my reviews prove helpful for others. Ben and I love Home Chef too and are using them again. The earrings are by Ana Luisa. I reviewed them back in December in this blogpost. Thank you for checking back in with us to let us know your experience!

Thanks for joining me for today's post. Do you have the perfect pair of jeans? I'd love to know what they are. See you tomorrow for a quick announcement :)


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One of the reasons I'm enjoying this Natural Home with Jennifer series so much is because I am discovering so many unique products and companies that I might never have known. Today's laundry video is so much fun. Hiketron contacted me after seeing Natural Home with Jennifer to tell me about their innovative laundry detergents. Hiketron is sponsoring today's video. They have sent me their unique laundry detergents to try and in today's video I sample all of them for you.



Let's start with my favorite aspect of these detergents: the scent! You know I'm driven by scents. I love them. Whether it be perfume, or a home fragrance, scents capture our hearts and evoke powerful memories. One of my fondest scent memories that I will never forget is smelling Madame Chic's laundry in their 16th arrondissement apartment. Her laundry had a unique signature scent that was very mild and pleasant. I have yet to encounter that scent, but can still recall it so many years later.



Hiketron's laundry is beautifully scented. Their Mambo Man and Royal Linen scents are perhaps the best smelling detergents I have ever tried. The fragrances are truly long-lasting too. Every time I walk by the linen closet I capture their subtle yet beautiful scents.

But the scents are not the only features of these detergents. Here are other benefits of the high-quality Hiketron detergents:

🧺 Developed by chemical engineers and using environmentally mindful technology, Hiketron laundry detergents have a high performance of getting clothes clean without using any harsh chemicals, specifically they do not use 1,4-dioxane., NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate) and Phosphates, which are found in most major traditional laundry detergents.

🧺 Hiketron’s laundry detergents are made with sugar-based surfactants that are 96% biodegradable and very mild on the skin while cleaning extraordinary well.

🧺 The detergents are 4-in-one: laundry detergent, softener, scent boosters, and dryer sheets in one powerful ultra-concentrated bottle.

🧺 The detergents are 5X Ultra Concentrated and biodegradable using sugar-based surfactants, safe on all fabrics, colors & whites, free of dyes, optical brighteners, phosphates and dioxane, and contain a super blend of bio-enzymes to remove tough stains and soften fabrics

🧺 They are designed for hand wash, standard and high efficiency machines and work well with cold water washing.

🧺 You can purchase Hiketron both on their own website as well as on Amazon. They always offer free shipping on their website. Use code JENNY25 for 25% off your order. (Please note: the coupon code only works on Hiketron's website, not on Amazon.)

Let's get into the scents, which is my favorite part. When I was shooting this video and sampling the scents I felt like I was in a high-end parfumerie!
To hear the description of each scent, be sure to watch today's video. I also test each load out to give you my honest opinion.

I find the detergents to clean very well. I did not use a fabric softener, dryer sheets, or even my wool dryer balls when doing the laundry and I found the clothes, towels, and bedding to turn out very soft. The fragrances are long-lasting with these detergents. For the baby's clothes, I used the Clear and Powerful one, which is unscented.


Pictured here is the sample kit, which is a great way to try out each scent.

Here are Hiketron's description of the scents:

Mambo Man is crafted specifically for men with an adventurous mind to deliver a long-lasting masculine fragrance on all your apparel. Indulge yourself with a classic and sophisticated fresh scent infused with lime, lavender, bergamot and verbena, with a hint of orange blossom, cinnamon and lily of the valley as middle notes, rounded with cedar, sandalwood, patchouli and musk as base notes. (⬅️ This scent is AMAZING!!!)

Royal Linen Indulge yourself with a classic and sophisticated fresh scent with powdery nuances, crisp and sheer, with notes of white musk and sandalwood base. (I love this one too and, as stated in the video, picture that the Queen's linens must smell like this.)

Cotton Fresh has a rich floral blend of rose, carnation, violet and creamy Jasmine with a hint of citrus note. (This held a very strong fragrance for me and has a sharp, crisp scent.)

Bold Man has a classic and sophisticated fresh scent infused with citrus notes, a touch of rosemary, followed by the heart notes of black pepper, cardamom sandalwood, oakmoss, musk, tonka bean and cedar. (A delightfully masculine scent with the cedar note very prominent. Think cabin in the woods.)

Suit Up has a woody oriental aroma open with citrus blend of lemon and grapefruit and develops with jasmine, patchouli and incense with ginger undertones supported with vetiver, cedar and musk as base. (Another great masculine scent. Strong with cedar and musk. Really nice.)

Clear & Powerful liquid laundry detergent formulation is crafted with biodegradable plant derived ingredients, safe synthetic polymers and bio-enzymes that offer powerful cleaning, unparalleled mildness and an impressive stain fighting system. This is unscented.

All in all, I am very impressed with this laundry detergent. Thank you to Hiketron for sponsoring today's video and sending me these wonderful detergents to try out. Don't forget to use their generous discount JENNY25, which gives you 25% off your order when purchased on the Hiketron website. I hope you enjoyed today's video.

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday.



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FTC: This post is sponsored by Hiketron. All opinions are honest and my own.

After the holidays, I started running low on freezer meals and noticed we were resorting to less-than-healthy dinners out of haste. When this happens, I know it's time to stock up on freezer meals again. In today's late-night cooking session, I make 3 shepherd's pies, 3 chicken and gravy meals, 3 taco soups, and 3 beef tips with mushrooms, making a total of 12 meals.



Today's video is a collaboration with the Queen of freezer meals, Amy Maryon. Amy has a lovey YouTube channel where she shares tips on how she cares for her large family. Her freezer meal videos are so motivational! You can check out Amy's video here. Be sure to check out her video and subscribe if you want cleaning and meal prep motivation. If you visit her, please tell Amy I said, "hello"!

I have posted the recipes for the shepherd's pies and the beef tips before. Please note that I added a lot of extra veggies to today's shepherd's pie, including celery, mushroom, and greens, along with the usual mixed frozen vegetables. I want to empower you to create exactly the type of freezer meal your family needs. If you want to add lots of veggies, definitely do so. Don't worry about making an authentic dish. Customize it to your family's taste.

Without further ado, here are the printable recipes:



















I hope you enjoyed today's bonus video. I'll see you on Friday for a new Natural Home with Jennifer!



*NEW* The Daily Connoisseur mugs and tote bags make great novelty gifts

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Shop my favorite things

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post.

Hello Daily Connoisseurs,

I'm sharing my interview with the lovely Marie-Anne Lecoeur one day early. I hope you enjoy our interview. I had a lovely time chatting with my dear friend.



Let us know what you think about all of the French chic topics discussed and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.

Comment of the Week
On Monday's How to Wear Dresses in the Winter post, Lisa writes, "I almost always wear dresses too. In the winter (I'm in North Carolina) I like wearing my dresses with fleece leggings, boots, and cardigans. If I need an extra layer under my dress, I like wearing long sleeve Half-Tees. (they have a website.) I've worn fingerless gloves inside and I've also been wearing a beret some this winter too. Thank you for sharing this post! I LOVE your boots that you said your mother-in-law designed. If only they were still available! :)"

Thank you for your comment, Lisa. I really enjoyed reading how you like to style your dresses in the winter. Thank you for the compliment on my mother-in-law's boots. She truly is talented.

Thank you for joining us today. I will likely see you tomorrow for a freezer meal collaboration with Amy Maryon. :)


*NEW* The Daily Connoisseur mugs and tote bags make great novelty gifts

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post.

Dresses make up the largest part of my ten-item wardrobe. I like to wear dresses year round because they are beautiful, comfortable, and provide a presentable look without a lot of thought. Many women shy away from wearing dresses in the winter, however, because they want to stay as warm as possible.



In today's video, I'm sharing how I like to style dresses in the winter so that I stay warm, but still look stylish. Today's video is a collaboration with the lovely Marie-Anne Lecoeur. Marie-Anne has a wealth of knowledge on French style and is also sharing how to wear dresses in the winter on her channel. Be sure to check out her video here.

Whether you have mild California winters, or chilly Parisian winters, the key to wearing dresses during this season is in layering and choosing smart accessories.





In the first look, I'm wearing my floral LL Bean dress with my favorite green sweater coat from Anthropologie (this coat was purchased several years ago, so I do not have a link). To add warmth, I'm wearing tan colored tights and my new Blondo suede waterproof booties. Of course, you could add a cardigan under the coat, scarf, gloves and a hat if you are facing a really cold day.



In this second look, I'm wearing a simple black nursing dress (I've linked one similar to my own) with a green cardigan, my heavy winter wool trench from J Crew, a tartan scarf, my fleece tights (a must for cold winter days) and knee-high leather boots. These boots are from London Sole and are no longer available (my mother-in-law designed these... aren't they gorgeous??), so I am linking a comparable quality pair here from Blondo. I highly recommend buying quality boots that will be comfortable and last you a long time.




In my last look, I pair the same black dress with a tan cardigan, fleece tights, my riding boots, a tan pashmina, and a plaid wool coat (from BCBG- this is over a decade old and is no longer available).

If you live in a snowy place, you can always substitute the boots for fur or shearling lined snow boots. Fleece tights here are a must.

I would love to know... which look is your favorite?

News

📍I finished my 2nd round of copyedits for CONNOISSEUR KIDS, my new book coming out in the fall of 2019 from Chronicle Books. I'm so excited for your family to read this wonderful book.

📍I'm working on a new eCourse for 2019. If you haven't taken my other courses, now is a great time. Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living and Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe are fun, affordable, and as many have stated, totally life-changing!

📍Visit my Teespring store for official Daily Connoisseur merchandise.


On Instagram
A beautiful leather bound edition of Lessons from Madame Chic is now available from Horchow and you can monogram it too! I shared the image on my Instagram page. I'm still waiting for my copy, which I'll share with you when it arrives...

View this post on Instagram

A beautiful leather-bound edition of LESSONS FROM MADAME CHIC now available from @horchow and you can monogram it too ✨ #dailyconnoisseur #MADAMECHIC #jenniferlscott #lessonsfrommadamechic #classicbooks #frenchchic #authorsofinstagram

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Jan 9, 2019 at 3:42pm PST

Gigi New York has a white leather bound edition that you can also monogram... so chic. This truly means Lessons from Madame Chic is a classic :)

View this post on Instagram

And this beautiful white and gold leather-bound limited edition from @giginewyork LESSONS FROM MADAME CHIC can be monogrammed too. #MADAMECHIC #dailyconnoisseur #lessonsfrommadamechic #jenniferlscott #classicbooks #frenchchic #authorsofinstagram #giginewyork

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Jan 9, 2019 at 6:02pm PST

Comment of the Week
On Friday's rebound with me video, Natural 235 writes, "Hey Jennifer I responded to one of your first videos of the rebounder and was so inspired I actually bought one. I just wanna say thank you so much my body is not sore at all now when doing the rebounder.
One night I had to lift up a child that was a little too heavy for me and went home and I had such bad back pain. I went on the rebounder for 20 min and within an hour that pain was almost gone. The next morning it was totally gone. Before buying the rebounder I would be sore for a good week. You have change my life to pain free muscles. Ty ty"


That is wonderful news. I love your testimonial. Rebounding helps me with my back pain too. My favorite thing is I can feel the tension leaving my body as I jump. Thank you for watching!

Thank you so much for watching today's video. I would love to know... do you wear dresses in the winter? What are your tips?



*NEW* The Daily Connoisseur mugs and tote bags make great novelty gifts

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post.

Since having my fourth baby in September, I have been slowly getting back into exercising. I started walking again in November and started rebounding again in December. I really missed rebounding when I was pregnant and couldn't wait to get back on, but wanted the approval from my doctor first. She gave me the approval in mid-October, but it really took until December to feel ready to get back into the swing of things.



Since December I have been jumping between 5 to 10 minutes a day, usually at the end of the day because rebounding is a major stress reliever for me. I'm excited to start this new series today where I share my simple and fun 5-minute rebounding routine with you.



Please note: I am not a personal trainer, nor an expert in rebounding. I'm just a stay-at-home mom who loves to exercise at home and rebounding happens to be my favorite form of exercise. It's the only exercise I've ever done that I actually crave everyday. I feel so much better after doing it and I love that I can jump at my own pace on my own schedule. Although, since everyone in our house also uses the rebounder, sometimes I have to patiently wait until it's not being used anymore :)

Before you use the rebounder, make sure you consult a professional such as your physician to see if rebounding is right for you. This video is for entertainment purposes only.

I plan to put these videos out once a month. I know a lot of you told me you purchased a rebounder since I have mentioned it in my videos last year, so it will be fun to jump along with you!

I prefer the Needak rebounder for many reasons: it's extremely high-quality, yet not as outrageously priced as some of the other quality rebounders. I like the springs on the Needak because if they break, you know instantly and can replace the spring. The trouble with bungee rebounders is that the bungee wears down over time and you are not sure when to replace it. With so many people jumping on our rebounder (including my 6 foot tall husband), we prefer the springs. I also like that Needak is made in America and is a small business with excellent customer service. I've linked my rebounder in this post if you are interested in the exact one I use.

In this video, I'm exercising in my Daily Connoisseur chic slouchy sweatshirt, available from my Teespring store.

I hope you enjoy jumping along with me in today's video.

News

📍I finished my 2nd round of copyedits for CONNOISSEUR KIDS, my new book coming out in the fall of 2019 from Chronicle Books. I'm so excited for your family to read this wonderful book.

📍I'm working on a new eCourse for 2019. If you haven't taken my other courses, now is a great time. Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living and Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe are fun, affordable, and as many have stated, totally life-changing!

📍Visit my Teespring store for official Daily Connoisseur merchandise.

On Instagram

View this post on Instagram

Úsmevné,oddychové,ale aj zaujímavé a poučné čítaníčko 😊 Najviac ma zaujali prvé dve knihy,ale aj tretiu sa určite oplatí prečítať (aspoň raz 😉 ) #madamechic #jenniferlscott #thedailyconnoisseur #ikar #dnescitam #dnesctu #bookstagram #instabooks #book #books #booklovers #ilovebooks #bookphotography #booksaddict #instabook #relax #relaxing

A post shared by Majka Elfi Poláková (@mery_elfi) on Jul 7, 2017 at 4:36am PDT

Comment of the Week
On Monday's parenting post, PJ writes, "I thoroughly enjoyed this video, Jennifer. You are a good story teller! I always appreciate your spurring us on to be poised, courteous, presentable, and to maintain our dignity. It is uplifting to be around folks who maintain those standards, coupled with joy and humor, kindness and compassion. I, as a great grandmother now, agree that all of you mothers will do well to continue to try to stay calm and not be highly reactionary, but I would like to encourage you by saying that children, bless their hearts, are amazingly forgiving and as they grow up they tend to remember the good that you do, more than the loss of dignity moments! That is true grace! Keep up the good work, Mommies!"

PJ, it's great to hear from a great grandmother who has lived what I am going through now. Your advice is very encouraging. Thank you!

Thank you for joining me today on the blog. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday for a ten-item wardrobe related video :)

Before we go, I would love to know... what is your favorite form of exercise?


*NEW* The Daily Connoisseur merchandise, including tee shirts now available

Visit my Author Website

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. Links may be affiliate.