Special Announcement

Simon & Schuster have moved up the publication date for my upcoming book! At Home With Madame Chic will be published now on October 7th, 2014 (previously November 4th). Not long to wait now...

A Midsummer Night's Makeup Tutorial


This week I have for you an enchanting le no makeup look tutorial, set to Chopin's Raindrop Prelude, fit for a midsummer night's eve. This makeup look utilizes soft pinks and violet shades, and with a little creativity, can be achieved with the makeup you already have on hand. For a list of the makeup used in this video, please see the links below.

If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

**Video note: For vibrancy, I shoot my videos on the "food and fashion" setting. Because of this, the eyeshadow, in particular, looks darker on camera than it does in person. Rest assured, this is still a le no makeup look!



Makeup list:



Becca radiant skin satin finish foundation in “noisette”

Beauty Blender (stay tuned for an in-depth review of this next week)

Benefit Fake Up under eye concealer in 02 medium (this concealer is really hydrating and is my new favorite for the under eye area)

Benefit Boi-ing concealer in 03 (And this is my current favorite spot concealer. It does an excellent job and blends in naturally)

MAC blot powder pressed in medium

Urban Decay primer potion (I can't do without this... love it.)

Laura Mercier artist palette (this palette is no longer available but the individual shades can be found on the Laura Mercier website)
Shades used: Primrose, African Violet, Plum Smoke, Sparkly Dew

MAC mineralize blush in warm soul

MAC mineralize skin finish in soft and gentle (I love this highlighter... it's excellent)

Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara in 003 extreme black (A wonderful and affordable drug store mascara)

Sephora eyebrow editor in honey blonde

CHANEL le crayon levres nude lip pencil

NYX butter gloss in “tiramisu” (Affordable and effective... love this lip gloss)

Bobbi Brown long wear gel liner in caviar ink (My favorite eyeliner... dare I say Holy Grail?)


Secrets of the Lighthouse Giveaway


Our summer of book giveaways continues with another book by Santa Montefiore called Secrets of the Lighthouse, which will be released on August 5th.

Set in Ireland on the wild coast of Connemara, this hauntingly romantic novel tells the story of a young woman who goes in search of her family’s past and ends up discovering her future.

Ellen Trawton is running away from it all. She hates her job, she doesn’t love the aristocratic man to whom she is engaged, and her relationship with her controlling mother is becoming increasingly strained. So Ellen leaves London, fleeing to the one place she knows her mother won’t find her, her aunt’s cottage in Connemara. Cutting all her ties with chic London society, Ellen gives in to Ireland’s charm and warmth, thinking her future may lie where so much of her past has been hidden. Her imagination is soon captured by the compelling ruins of a lighthouse where, five years earlier, a young mother died in a fire.

The ghost of the young wife, Caitlin, haunts the nearby castle, mourning the future she can never have there. Unable to move on, she watches her husband and children, hoping they might see her and feel her love once more. But she doesn’t anticipate her husband falling in love again. Can she prevent it? Or can she let go and find a way to freedom and happiness?

The ruggedly beautiful Connemara coastline with its tightknit community of unforgettable characters provides the backdrop for this poignant story of two women seeking the peace and love they desperately need. For each, the key will be found in the secrets of the past, illuminated by the lighthouse.

Simon & Schuster are offering to give away 5 copies of The Summer House to readers of the Daily Connoisseur! This giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy Birthday Ellen C!

I would like to wish a very happy 50th birthday to Ellen C. of Hendersonville, TN. Ellen's daughter, Emily, reached out to me to let me know that her mom is a big fan of Madame Chic and the Daily Connoisseur and that her special day is coming up.

Ellen, I am wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous year. It's clear that you are a fantastic role model for your adoring daughters. Happy Birthday! Thank you for your long-time support of the Daily Connoisseur.


News
For all of you mystery/ thriller fans, check out my blogging friend, Kristi Belcamino's, debut thriller, Blessed Are the Dead, which is only 99cents on Amazon kindle. Congratulations Kristi!

Next week stay tuned for a more in depth review of the beauty blender.

This week I would love to know: do you have any fun makeup discoveries to share with us?


Music in this week's video:
Chopin Raindrop Prelude ROYALTY FREE MUSIC

Royalty Free Music by
http://audiomicro.com/royalty-free-music


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Twitter @JL_Scott

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My eldest daughter and I both celebrated birthdays last week. Thank you for all of your kind messages on social media! We had a really fun week, which also explains why this blog post is a little late... Thank you for your patience!

Ah, another year older...

Investment Shopping 101

Yes, I'm another year older. This, combined with our recent discussions on the blog, all got me thinking about investment pieces in our wardrobe. As we grow older we are becoming more mature and sophisticated. Is our wardrobe keeping up? Or are we still purchasing low-quality, practically disposable pieces of clothing that are nowhere near as dignified as we are?

So many people have posed questions to me about investment shopping and I'm giving you my answers in this week's video: Investment Shopping 101. I made the commitment in my 20s to stop buying junk clothes and to put some thought into my purchases for long-term satisfaction. If I can do it, you can too!

To get started with investment shopping you need three things:

Commitment- You must commit to a new lifestyle of seeking out higher quality clothes and accessories. This commitment will be tested regularly! You must commit to stop the cycle of compulsive shopping in order to save for the larger purchases.

Discipline- Oh, we need discipline for so many things... It takes discipline to break old habits (like compulsive spending). It takes discipline to save money for your investment piece. Once you buy your high-quality item, it takes discipline to learn to be content with what you have and not immediately set your sights on the next shopping conquest.

Vision- If you're going to invest in your wardrobe you need a vision of what is right for you and your style. A high-quality piece could last several years, if not a lifetime, so you can't make hasty purchases. Think about the entirety of your wardrobe and think long and hard (and save!) before making any purchases.

Check out this week's video to hear the entire discussion and a tale of the first time I decided to go for quality over quantity. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur


Delancey Giveaway


Our summer of book giveaways continues as we explore Delancey by Molly Wizenberg.

In this funny, frank, tender memoir and New York Times bestseller, the author of A Homemade Life and the blog Orangette recounts how opening a restaurant sparked the first crisis of her young marriage.

When Molly Wizenberg married Brandon Pettit, he was a trained composer with a handful of offbeat interests: espresso machines, wooden boats, violin-building, and ice cream–making. So when Brandon decided to open a pizza restaurant, Molly was supportive—not because she wanted him to do it, but because the idea was so far-fetched that she didn’t think he would. Before she knew it, he’d signed a lease on a space. The restaurant, Delancey, was going to be a reality, and all of Molly’s assumptions about her marriage were about to change.

Together they built Delancey: gutting and renovating the space on a cobbled-together budget, developing a menu, hiring staff, and passing inspections. Delancey became a success, and Molly tried to convince herself that she was happy in their new life until—in the heat and pressure of the restaurant kitchen—she realized that she hadn’t been honest with herself or Brandon.

With evocative photos by Molly and twenty new recipes for the kind of simple, delicious food that chefs eat at home, Delancey is a moving and honest account of two young people learning to give in and let go in order to grow together.

Simon & Schuster are kindly offering to give away 5 copies of Delancey to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur. Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). The winners will be announced on the widget and contacted once the giveaway is over. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


and be sure to visit Molly's award winning blog, Orangette here.

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Just like one can be addicted to junk food, you can also be addicted to junk clothes. When you make the commitment to eat healthful foods and cut out the junk food, you are aiming to better your life. The same can be said for clothes. This doesn't mean that we never eat junk food (or buy low-quality clothes) again, but it does mean that we no longer exist on only junk food, because that is a recipe for disaster! Break the cycle today and start to make thoughtful purchases. You'll find you save money this way and have much more long-term satisfaction.

This week I would love to know... What was the first investment purchase you ever made? What investment purchases do you plan to make for the future? Are you tired of disposable clothes that only last one season? What are your thoughts on investment shopping?

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I hope you're having a wonderful summer! Before we begin I wanted to share my newly updated author website with you.

Visit www.jenniferlscott.com and let me know what you think! Thank you to Author Bytes for doing such a great job with the re-design.



Reader Questions Answered

This week's blog post will be light on writing. As the summer holidays are here I am devoting more time to my family which means less time to blog! But I still want to provide you with quality, consistent blog and video topics each week as well as answer your questions. This means that sometimes there might be a video, but less writing. With young kids I need to go with the flow. Thank you in advance for your understanding!

Today I answer some reader questions as well as share very wise reader insights. We discuss investment shopping, provocative dressing (dressing to attract), capsule recipe collections and looking presentable always. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur


Sisters of Treason Giveaway

We continue our summer of book giveaways with the newly released Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle. Already receiving stellar reviews, this book is a highly anticipated read for me as I enjoyed Queen's Gambit so much. Many readers are saying this is historical fiction at its best!

Here is the book description:

From the author of Queen’s Gambit, which People magazine called, “A must-read for Philippa Gregory fans,” a gripping historical novel about two sisters who tread as dangerously close to the crown as their tragic sister, Lady Jane Grey, executed after just nine days on the throne.

Early in Mary Tudor’s turbulent reign, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary Grey are reeling after the brutal execution of their elder seventeen-year-old sister, Lady Jane Grey, and the succession is by no means stable. In Sisters of Treason, Elizabeth Freemantle brings these young women to life in a spellbinding Tudor tale of love and politics.

Neither sister is well suited to a dangerous life at court. Flirtatious Lady Catherine, thought to be the true heir, cannot control her compulsion to love and be loved. Her sister, clever Lady Mary, has a crooked spine and a tiny stature in an age when physical perfection equates to goodness—and both girls have inherited the Tudor blood that is more curse than blessing. For either girl to marry without royal permission would be a potentially fatal political act. It is the royal portrait painter, Levina Teerlinc, who helps the girls survive these troubled times. She becomes their mentor and confidante, but when the Queen’s sister, the hot-headed Elizabeth, inherits the crown, life at court becomes increasingly treacherous for the surviving Grey sisters. Ultimately each young woman must decide how far she will go to defy her Queen, risk her life, and find the safety and love she longs for.

From “a brilliant new player in the court of royal fiction,” (People) Sisters of Treason brings to vivid life the perilous and romantic lives of two little known young women who played a major role in the complex politics of their day.

Simon & Schuster are generously giving away 5 copies to readers of the Daily Connoisseur. This giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


This week I would love to know... what do you think about provocative dressing (showing too much skin)? What about investment shopping? What are your favorite high-quality brands? Have you thought about applying the principles of the ten-item wardrobe to other areas of your life as well?

For all mothers out there... what are your tips for getting through those (sometimes long) summer days?

See you next week!


Music in this week's video: Johan Strauss Tritsch Tritsch

Royalty Free Music by Audio Micro


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Twitter @JL_Scott

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This week we continue our conversation about dressing well. So many people chimed in about last week's topic on how to make an inexpensive outfit look expensive. Through facebook, email and the blog I received hundreds of comments on this topic.

Here were some of my favorites:

Diana H.S. writes: It's "about presenting the best version of you possible regardless of your circumstances".

Cristina S. writes: "Good taste comes at different price points and the art of curating your pieces in a wardrobe to end up with great style is the goal".

Tiffany W. writes: "Life should be a great mix of things. A dress you feel beautiful in is a great piece, no matter the price tag and adding your collection of finer things helps make it unique to you. That is true style".

Carmen writes: "I think as long as you are perfectly groomed and have great posture, you can easily turn an inexpensive outfit into looking expensive. I believe the key is how you conduct yourself. I've seem many, who swear by expensive clothes and yet look extremely cheap because of the way they behave and act."

Bree writes: "I like to wear a mix of high and lower end clothing and what I've found is that neatness counts! No amount of expensive clothes or accessories can make you look put together if you're sloppy, while a less expensive look applied with care and an eye for detail looks very nice."

Can Do Mom writes: "I agree that quality shoes and nice accessories can elevate any outfit. Also important is proper fit, care and ironing! No wrinkles, please!"

These were just a sampling of the wise comments I received. Thank you for your contributions! As always you inspire me greatly.


This week's video analyzes that je ne sais quoi that is captured when you wear quality clothes and how you can get it no matter what you are wearing. (I also address some haters!) Don't miss this week's video. If you can't see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this post, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

The Summer House Giveaway

Our summer of book giveaways continues on the Daily Connoisseur with Santa Montefiore's The Summer House. If you ask me, this sounds like the perfect beach read. Here's the description:

When Lord Frampton dies in a skiing accident, a beautiful young woman named Phaedra appears at his funeral—claiming to be the Lord’s illegitimate daughter. In his will, Lord Frampton has left the priceless Frampton suite of sapphires to this interloper, confirming her claim and outraging his three adult sons and widow. Eventually, however, Phaedra’s sweet nature thaws the frosty relationships. She becomes the daughter that Antoinette Frampton never had and a wise and compassionate granddaughter to the formidable Dowager Lady Frampton. But an attraction grows between Phaedra and the eldest son, David. It seems an impossible love—blocked by their blood connection and by the fury of one family member who is determined to expose Phaedra as a fraud.

Filled with the luscious scenery and enchanting characters her fans adore, Santa Montefiore’s Summer House is an unforgettable story about family, forgiveness, and the power of love.

Simon & Schuster are offering to give away 5 copies of The Summer House to readers of the Daily Connoisseur! This giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Dressing well is not about "keeping up with the Joneses". Dressing well is a form of artistic expression. It is a celebration of life. It is a statement about who you are. Dressing well is not just for the wealthy. Anyone can do it on any budget. Don't let our casual society make you feel uncomfortable about dressing well. The fact that other people are in sweatpants, pajamas or exercise clothes all day long has nothing to do with you. You go on shining like the star that you are.

A final thing to ponder: Tom Ford said, "Dressing well is a form of good manners". (Thank you to viewer, Glenda, for reminding me of this gem!).

This week I would love to know: How do you feel about dressing your best? Putting thought into what you are wearing? Do you feel this is about "Keeping up with the Joneses" or something more profound? What are your thoughts on ladylike dressing in our society? Let me know! On social media use the hashtag #MADAMECHIC


Music in this week's video: Johan Strauss Tritsch Tritsch

Royalty Free Music by
http://audiomicro.com/royalty-free-music
Sound Effects by
http://audiomicro.com/sound-effects


Visit my Author Website

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

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