Welcome to The Chic Assignment for May! We are exploring music, art, jewelry and self-care this month. Let's get right into it.
🎵Chic Assignment no. 1 Listen to Erik Satie Gymnopédies The Gymnopédies, published in Paris starting in 1888, are three piano compositions written by French composer and pianist Erik Satie.
You can listen to all three Gymnopédies for free on this 15 minute YouTube video (which has seen 20 MILLION views!)
🖼Chic Assignment no. 2 Regard the works of Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Visit the official Pierre-Auguste Renoir website to view his works. The 12 most popular works are listed on the first page. I would love for you to share which one speaks to you.
Here I'm sharing one of my favorites: Dance at the Moulin de la Galette
I am sharing this image via Wikepedia
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💍Chic Assignment no. 3 Wear a piece (or pieces) of jewelry you don't normally wear. Many of us have a jewelry box or a little dish with pretty pieces, yet we wear the same jewelry over and over again (I do this!). Open your jewelry box and wear an old piece you haven't worn in awhile. It doesn't have to be fancy, just something to freshen up your ten-item wardrobe. Let us know, what you chose to wear.
💅Chic Assignment no. 4 Get manicure and pedicure ready. Sandal season is fast approaching. Whether you wear nail polish or not, it's time to get manicure and (especially) pedicure ready. Buff those heels, apply a cream and treat yourself to some self care by taking care of your hands and feet. If you missed my spring manicure video from last month, I will share it here. This is the foot file I mention in the video: it's an invaluable tool for my pedicures.
I love reading your Chic Assignment updates! Even though I am not able to reply to each one, I appreciate reading them. I know others do too! I hope you enjoy The Chic Assignment in today's video.
News
📍We are doing a budget kitchen renovation Chez Connoisseur. Follow me on Instagram for updates (I will also be blogging this too!)
📍Take my affordable eCourses on the Ten-Item Wardrobe, Debt-free Living, and How to be Efficient at Home.
📍I would like to thank everyone who emails me, comments on videos or posts or sends me messages in other ways. I am receiving so many messages that I am unable to respond to them. Every time I read one of your wonderful emails I truly smile. Thank you so much! In this busy season of life with the children I am unable to respond. I do hope you understand.
On Instagram
Madame Chic in Vietnam...
Comment of the Week
Last week's post on The Dress Code for Parents sparked so much conversation! There were so many comments I could have chosen for comment of the week!
Anonymous writes, "When I was growing up, no matter what was going on in my world, there was one thing I could always count on: my mom looking fabulous! I don't mean in a fancy, expensive, uber-chic way. We were not a rich family! But, she was always dressed in slacks or a dress or skirt, she always had her hair done, and she always wore makeup. Always. She looked bright and pretty, and the sight of her reassured me and filled me with calm. Things were under control. Mom was put together, and so was our lives.
Years later when I was an adult and Mom was diagnosed with cancer, she was determined to keep it up. She went to her mastectomy armed with a full face of makeup on - I know that sounds extreme! Throughout her treatment, she sported the cutest wigs and wore bright colors. She fought courageously and lived for 10 more years! It was only at the very end that she became too weak to continue.
I think my mom understood the psychological effect her grooming had on her family. It always gave us a lift and made our days just a little brighter.
A Grateful Daughter"
Dear Anon, your beautiful memories of your mother were so poignant. She sounded like a marvelous woman. And how wonderful for her to leave you with such fond memories. Thank you for sharing those memories with us.
Thank you for participating in The Chic Assignment for May! I am looking forward to hearing your findings. As usual, I will be doing a check-in mid-month. See you soon!
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I know you’ve mentioned this in your books, but in terms of the manicure/pedicure assignment, I wanted to mention that buffing and shining one’s nails is a fantastic way to help them look better without having to use nail polish. I work with an animal shelter, and some of our canine guests don’t always have the best manners 😂, so I wind up scraping my nails against cages trying to get them out, etc, and nail polish simply doesn’t survive in that environment. I find lotion, cuticle cream, filing, and finally buffing and shining my nails helps keep them neat and quite nice-looking. I use a nail buffer block like this one, with all three textures on the same block, but there are soooooo many out there to choose from: https://www.amazon.com/Nail-Buffer-Block-Way-Buffing/dp/B009RT1DWY/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2GQLN40CSDB78&keywords=nail%2Bbuffer%2Bblock&qid=1556721764&s=gateway&sprefix=nail%2Bbuffer%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-2-spons&th=1
ReplyDeleteI like Renoir’s “Luncheon of the Boating Party” and a few years ago read a fun and interesting book about it. https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-670-03854-1
ReplyDeleteRenoir is one of my favorites ♡
ReplyDeleteWhat a slouch Madame has on the Vietnamese cover! Makes me smile.
I am reading your ~At Home...~ for the first time. I am going to make a list of what I love about my 1929 bungalow. I am too inclined to notice its faults first.
Thank you for sharing that lovely comment. Inspirational! ♡
I recognized the musical piece immediately, especially the first part of it. Have heard it countless times, just never knew what it was called or who composed it. I agree that it’s not upbeat but don’t find it depressing either. The mood of it has an introspective quality to it.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that in the paintings that accompanied the music every one looks so beautifully dressed (even if they are just blobs of paint) Times have changed indeed.
ReplyDeleteThat Eric Satie you tube is the most beautiful music youtube video I've ever seen!! I'd love several of those images as paintings in my home. :) I love his music!! I'm very interested to see your budget kitchen reno progress! We did a kitchen remodel years ago when we only had 1 baby in another house and it was challenging enough then. We may end up doing something in our current home, but the thought of it is not very pleasant!! :)
ReplyDeleteJewelry - yes, I am definitely guilty of wearing the same pieces over and over...I call them my "signature" pieces! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have few different pieces that I normally wear, but recently wore a childish piece - gold necklace with a tiny teddy bear. My daughters were super excited about it. I am not sure if it is age appropriate, but I like it.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you'll be posting your kitchen re-do on this blog, as I do not ever use Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media - unless blogs are social media, I do follow 4 blogs/uTubes including yours. Thankfully I don't suffer from FOMO :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the kitchen, I can't wait to see it done!
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ReplyDeleteHi ladies, thank you for taking part in The Chic Assignment for April! I'm enjoying your comments. I hope you have a lovely evening.
ReplyDeleteJennifer xx
Jennifer, I just read a lovely book, The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, that I thought you and your music-lover readers would enjoy. She references a number of eclectic classic songs throughout her book that can be downloaded on Spotify. I am very much enjoying the playlist as I write this. Check it out and you won't be disappointed!
ReplyDeleteTo say I am enthralled with your Madame Chic books would be an understatement! I have been fascinated with Parisian/French life for a few years now. I have read many books on the subject, but yours are my favorite. I have mindfully and purposefully made some changes in how I embrace life. For instance, I clean off the kitchen table and have it set with a table cloth or placemats and a centerpiece (we have a small house and this is our only eating area). I have made sure we sit down to eat several times a week; no more eating in front of the tv or computer. I have put soothing, upbeat music on in the morning as we begin our day. I try to make more conscious decisions about all things. (My daughter just returned from visiting Paris for the first time and I'm anxious to hear her impressions of it.)
ReplyDeleteI am listening to the music your suggested -- wonderful, calming! Renoir is one of my favorite artists, too. I really like any of the floral pictures but I really liked the one Two SIsters Aka on the Terrace. It reminds me of my two girls, who are almost six years apart in age.
Thank you for being so inspiring.
I'm going to be the annoying pronunciation corrector.
ReplyDelete😊 'Satie' is two very distinct syllables: 'Sa Tee' rather than 'Saytee'. He is one of my favourites, good choice!
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Hello Jennifer I recently came across your YouTube channel and am completely loving it! I am a stay at home mom to a fourteen month old daughter and have struggled to keep up my appearance. You are inspiring me! In the past two weeks I have been working on creating my ten item wardrobe and taking a few extra minutes a day to brush my hair, put on a little makeup and just look more presentable. It's actually not difficult at all and I am feeling so much better! I'm excited for my first Chic Assignment as well. I have already given myself a manicure and pedicure while the baby napped yesterday, and today I plan on wearing a beautiful statement necklace to a birthday party. Thank you so much for all you do, I am looking forward to reading and learning more!
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your work, Jennifer. A request for an art assignment: Vinnie Ream, is a name, few Americans recognize. Yet, she remains a top tier art sculpturer, of all time. The US all male congress struggled to give her the commission for her famous work of Lincoln, due to her gender & age. One wonders what other treasures she might have created in a more open era. All that aside, it would be inspiring for US to recognize Ream's highly regarded sculptures in the art world.
ReplyDeleteHello ladies, thank you for commenting and for your recommendations! I have noted them down. I am excited to do the check-in with you tomorrow. It's a long and detailed video. I hope you return and check in with us! PemelopesMom- thank you and welcome!
ReplyDelete