It's been a long time since I've shared how I blow-dry my hair. I figured I better get this video out before I start losing my hair due to postpartum hair loss :) (which, by the way, is already happening!).
My way certainly isn't professional, but it's what works for me and would work well for anyone who has a lot of hair and likes to get their strands smooth and sleek. I section my hair off by first tying up the top portion of hair and blow drying the bottom in their own sections. Please watch today's video for the full tutorial.
Here are the items I use to blow-dry my hair: the blow dryer (I use the 3200 model, but that is no longer made, so I am linking the 3500 model here. It's the newer version), round brush, and La Beauté hair serum for frizz-free heat protection (I seriously love this stuff).
For shampoo and conditioner I have been using the Acure with argan oil + pumpkin that I reviewed in last week's Natural Home with Jennifer. Please note: many of you have asked me to review a shampoo and conditioner bar so I will be doing that soon.
Also featured: on my nails Londontown Full Monty, a nice opaque neutral. (always use my links with code JenniferS for 25% off of Londontown 9-free polish), and the robe I'm wearing can be found on Amazon.
Thank you for watching. I hope you enjoy today's video.
News
📍 Ben and I received so many requests and etiquette conundrums for Monday's post, that we will be filming a part 2 soon. Stay tuned! If you have emailed me via my author website, please know that I am receiving so many emails, I am not able to reply to them. Thank you for your understanding. I read and appreciate every email I receive.
📍Check out my affordable eCourses Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living and Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe.
Comment of the Week
On Monday's etiquette chat with Ben, Laura S. writes, "My dear friend has a saying that she uses often with her children: high expectations for yourself, grace for everyone else. They are words to live by!"
Laura, I absolutely loved your comment and quoted this to my family the other night at dinner. I love that saying and will adopt it now! Thank you for sharing it with us.
I would love to know... do you blow dry your hair? Do you wear your hair straight or curly? Do you have advice for me on how to wear my hair curly? What tips and tricks do you have for making your hair sleek? Let ms know and your comment could be comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.
Thank you to everyone who sent in requests for today's etiquette video. I received hundreds of comments and letters through the blog, YouTube, social media and my contact form on the author website. Clearly the topic of modern etiquette resonates with so many people. You would not believe the stories we read! I have enough material for an entire year :) Ben and I could not address each question, but answered a variety of conundrums in today's video.
How do you handle the houseguest who is perpetually on their smartphone? What do you do when your theatre experience is sabotaged by a fellow audience member? What's the etiquette for grooming oneself in public? What should you say to a pregnant lady? How do you handle dogs at the dinner table? Is the wave of courtesy extinct? Find out our answers to all of these questions plus much, much more.
News
📍 MADEMOISELLE CHIC, my Japanese children's book, was featured in Yomiuri Kodomo Newspaper.
📍Leather bound limited edition copies of Lessons from Madame Chic are now available at Howchow and Gigi New York. They can be monogrammed as well.
📍Check out my affordable eCourses Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living and Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe.
Comment of the Week
On my author guestbook, Andrea writes: Hello Jennifer,
I just finished reading 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris and enjoyed it immensely!! I cannot even express how this book has changed my thinking and the way I live now. It’s is amazing!! I can never thank you enough for taking the time to write your books. I am a changed women in so many ways now! I have always loved to entertain and go above and beyond for my family but things just got better after reading your first book!! Thank you suggesting to us to take time to pamper ourselves too! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! Oh ya and I binge watch your YT videos too because I glean so much from you and your wisdom etc. etc. I get so excited when a new YT video is available!! Thank you! Thank you!! Also, thank you for not being ashamed to mention prayer! Thank you again!!! Off to read your second book! Yippee!!
Hi Andrea, thank you so much. Your note on my author guest book "sparked joy" for me, as Marie Kondo would say :) Thank you for supporting my work in such an enthusiastic way.
Thank you for joining us for today's video. I would love to hear your thoughts on the etiquette topics we discussed. Also, would you like this turned into a series? Maybe I can convince Ben! :)
VALUE - With 350+ sprays or 175 uses, Birdie replaces 10+ bottles of gel based alternatives.
HYDRATING - Formulation is proven to improve skin hydration for up to 24 hours.
BETTER-FOR-YOU INGREDIENTS - Formula contains 7 simple, natural ingredients that you can recognize and understand: Alcohol, water, glycerin, aloe vera and the essential oils of lemon, spearmint and bergamot.
NO NASTY CHEMICALS: Vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and void of any harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances.
DUAL FUNCTIONALITY - Birdie contains a sanitizing spray plus 10 dry wipes. Simply spray liquid on to wipe to capture dirt and grime on hands.
HIGH TECH - Birdie contains a twist locking mechanism to prevent accidental sprays on-the-go. Our bird needs to be fully unlocked in order to spray liquid.
The Minnie has 500+ sprays or 250 uses, Minnie replaces 15+ bottles of gel based alternatives.
They are also TSA friendly, so you can take them on your flight. Olika sent me these to review back in December and I've been using them ever since. They are very handy and make a great natural alternative to traditional chemical-laden hand sanitizers.
Shampoo + Conditioner
The Acure Argan Oil + Pumpkin Shampoo and Conditioner is a beautifully hydrating duo with a delightful scent. (Seriously, this smells amazing). I purchased mine on Grove Collaborative but you can also find the set on Amazon.
Vegan, gluten and cruelty free
Paraben, sulfate, silicone, sodium chloride, phthalate and synthetic fragrance free
Color safe, 100 percent biodegradable
I find these to be very moisturizing. They get my hair clean and I like their natural properties.
Eczema Therapy Cream
I requested the Kamedis Dermatology Eczema Therapy Cream to try as I have suffered from a particularly bad case of hand eczema of late. (Watch today's video to hear the whole story.) I find this cream to be very soothing and does help my hands when I suffer from a flare-up. Here are some of the botanicals found in this natural cream:
Chinese Rhubarb: a strong anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial botanical
Great Burnet
Tree of Heaven
Baikal Skullcap
Cnidium Fruit
Licorice
Here is more on Kamedis Dermatology from their website: Kamedis skin formulations are derived from natural botanicals used in traditional Chinese medicine, botanicals that have been renowned for their therapeutic properties for hundreds if not thousands of years. Ours are conscientiously sourced and meticulously purified. Our manufacturing process employs the highest quality standards, including assessment of physical and chemical properties and microbiological testing.
**Please ask the opinion of your healthcare professional before using any new product to treat your eczema condition.
e-cloths - clean with just water
They both performed beautifully. I was especially impressed with how the electronics cloth polished my laptop. To use, try it on your electronics dry first. If you have any stubborn streaks, dampen one corner of the cloth with water and wipe, then go over the same spot with a dry part of the towel.
The glass polishing cloth has a rough texture that is perfect for polishing your glasses. A great thing to do before a dinner party.
I hope you enjoyed the items reviewed on today's Natural Home with Jennifer. If you have any requests for this series, please let me know.
Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday for an all new video.
Not every venture will be a success in your ten-item wardrobe. If you ever partake in online shopping, you will frequently come across an order that is better left returned. I had been eyeing this sweater coat from the Peruvian Connection since August. Of course it looks gorgeous on the model and I thought it would be perfect for my ten-item wardrobe (this would be considered an extra).
But at nearly $300, I hesitated and waited until Black Friday to order. It never went on sale, but I ordered it anyway. I was disappointed when it arrived and wasn't a good fit for me.
Please note: I am not critiquing the quality. The quality of this sweater is excellent. It's woven from soft alpaca and is so luxurious. The fit was off for me. It looked like a bathrobe and I was bothered by the lack of pockets.
When you order something online, sometimes the temptation is there to keep it just because it's too much of a bother to ship it back, but don't settle. Every piece in your ten-item wardrobe needs to be a star. I ended up returning this piece.
I thought about scrapping this video, but I actually think it's valuable for me to show you my process. When I buy something I really analyze it. This is what goes into a thoughtful ten-item wardrobe.
News
📍Leather bound limited edition copies of Lessons from Madame Chic are now available at Howchow and Gigi New York. They can be monogrammed as well.
📍Check out my affordable eCourses Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living and Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe.
📍 If you haven't already, submit your etiquette horror stories, conundrums, and observations. Ben and I are going to react to them in a future video.
Comment of the Week
On Tuesday's Etiquette announcement post, Donna writes, "Jennifer, you are really on to something with this post. I'm still trying to think of a story, conundrum or observation but I read all 7 comments above like I was devouring the latest Grisham novel. I openly laughed out loud!! I giggled along with the couple who witnessed the dog in the theater, really feel for the lady who has to watch her in-laws sleep, and truly the lady who feels like she could be "delivering a bag of Ice cubes" had me in stitches! The last story about the dental floss leaves me speechless!! You are going to get enough stories to write another book!! Your readers are the best. I can't wait to read more stories. Looking forward to your and Ben's video on this topic. (donna)"
Donna, your comment made me laugh! I feel the same way! I have been reading the comments all week and feel like I should have a bowl of popcorn too! I can't wait to shoot the video with Ben.
Today I would love to hear from you. Do you enjoy these ten-item wardrobe process videos? I almost scrapped this video when the coat didn't work out, but then I realized it might be valuable to see me analyze a garment like this. I always love your feedback. Thank you and I'll see you tomorrow for an all new Natural Home with Jennifer.
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!
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.
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 :)
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 Freshhas 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 Manhas 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 Uphas 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 & Powerfulliquid 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.
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:
Yield: makes 3 large for the freezerAuthor: Jennifer L. Scott
Shepherd's Pie (Cottage Pie)
Make these cottage pies in bulk and freeze them for a later date. You will be so pleased you did! Please customize this to your taste. In the video, I add a lot more vegetables than are listed here. Use what you have.
ingredients:
3 to 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
5 to 6 lbs ground beef
4 6oz cans tomato paste
3 Tbs bouillon
3 Tbs flour
3 cups broth
1 cup water
4 - 6 cups vegetables (frozen or fresh)
6 cups mashed potatoes
instructions:
Cook the chopped onion with a few tablespoons of olive oil on medium high heat in a large pot until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Place the ground beef into pot and cook until brown. Drain the fat from the cooked meat and return the meat to the pan. Add the tomato paste and stir. Add the bouillon and flour and stir until incorporated. (You may omit the flour if you prefer... it just thickens up the mixture more.) Add 3 cups of broth and 1 cup of water. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes more, but do not allow the mixture to get too dry.
Divide the meat mixture in the bottom of three aluminum foil baking pans (or 6 small pans for smaller portions). On top of that, place a layer of mixed frozen vegetables (or you could use frozen corn, or any combination of chopped fresh vegetable). Finally spread a layer of mashed potato on top. Make the mashed potato the day before so there is not too much work to do the day of assembly.
To freeze: Cover your pans with aluminum foil and label them with the date and cooking instructions.
To bake: Thaw in the refrigerator the night before. Then bake at 350°F for one hour, or until the pie is fully heated through.
To bake from frozen: Place frozen pie in the oven at 350°F for 1 hour 30 minutes. Add additional time, if needed, to cook thoroughly.
You may sprinkle parmesan cheese on top if you wish. It's nice to place the pie under the broiler for one minute before serving, to make it golden brown.
Yield: makes 3 freezer mealsAuthor: Jennifer L. Scott
Chicken with Gravy
ingredients:
4 1/2 to 5 lbs of chicken breasts
3 12 oz jars of chicken gravy
3 cans cream of chicken soup (undiluted)
salt and pepper
instructions:
Distribute the chicken into 3 gallon freezer bags (about 1 1/2 lbs per bag)
Salt and pepper the chicken to taste
Add one jar of chicken gravy and one can of cream of chicken soup to each bag.
Seal the bag and label it. Freeze. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours or place in the instant pot for 31 minutes on high pressure. If the gravy is thin, you can thicken it with flour before you finish cooking. Serve with mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.
Yield: Makes 3 large meals for the freezerAuthor: Jennifer L. Scott
Taco Soup (Freezer Meal)
ingredients:
2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 large chopped onion
2 stalks chopped celery
5 lbs ground turkey
3 packets of taco seasoning (or 3/4 cup)
1 16oz can chili beans with liquid
2 15oz cans tomato sauce (or diced tomatoes)
2 16oz cans kidney beans (drained)
1 15oz can corn (drained)
2 cups water
2 4oz cans diced green chili peppers
1/2 to 3/4 cups salsa verde (optional)
4 cups greens (spinach, chard, kale, etc.)
1 cup chopped bell pepper
shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, and tortilla strips for garnish
salt and pepper to taste
instructions:
In a large stock pot, heat the oil on medium heat. Cook the onion, and celery until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the ground turkey, cook until brown. Drain. Add the rest of the ingredients and let simmer for at least 30 to 40 minutes. Let the entire soup cool (this will take a long time). Divide the soup into gallon freezer bags. This could make 3 to 5 meals, depending on how many vegetables you use and how much water and tomato sauce you add. Freeze. When you are ready to reheat, place in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours, or in the Instant pot for 30 minutes on high pressure. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced avocado, and tortilla strips.
Yield: makes 3 freezer mealsAuthor: Jennifer L. Scott
Beef Tips (freezer meals)
prep time: cook time: total time:
ingredients:
3 lbs beef stew meat
2 cups beef broth
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 large chopped onion
2 cups chopped mushrooms
2 Tbs chopped garlic
1/2 to 3/4 cup brown gravy mix (depending on how much meat and how many mushrooms you use)
instructions:
Mix together all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Divide equally among freezer bags. Depending on how much beef and how many mushrooms you use, this could make 3 to 4 freezer meals. Label your bags and freeze. When it is time to reheat, place in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours or in the instant pot on high pressure for 30 minutes Serve with chopped parsley over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.
are wonderful little inventions. Here are some of their attributes:
