Welcome to The Chic Assignment for July! I have some fun and interesting selections for you this month...
Let's continue to expand our appreciation of the arts and improve our everyday lives...
Chic Assignment no. 1 Watch Andre Rieu Grand Valse Viennoise The great violinist and conductor, Andre Rieu, plays and conducts his delightful orchestra in this beautiful video. I dare you not to smile as the well-dressed musicians and audience sway to the beautiful music. This video truly sparks joy!
Chic Assignment no. 2 Read the poetry of Emily Dickinson
She is one of my favorite poets... Emily Dickinson's works are simply wonderful. I read a poem to you in today's video. If you would like to delve further, check out this article with the ten most popular Emily Dickinson poems. I'll be sharing my favorite with you in the check-in.
The book I read from is 101 Famous Poems.
Chic Assignment no. 3 Notice when you are mindlessly snacking Even the most food-conscious people tend to mindlessly snack at some point... I am no different. I tend to mindlessly snack when I am stressed. This month, let's just notice when we mindlessly snack. Be sure to let us know in the comments what you find. Is it when you are unprepared? Or stressed? Becoming aware of your mindless snacking triggers is the first step to reduce your mindless snacking. For more on this, check out my book, Lessons from Madame Chic.
Chic Assignment no. 4 Give someone a genuine compliment The Chic assignments have anywhere between 8K and 13K views. Just imagine if 13,000 people gave out compliments this month. Can't you just feel the love? Give someone a genuine compliment. Notice their reaction too... More on this in the check-in.
We are also going to continue to read... your book recommendations are always welcome here in the comment section.
I look forward to read your findings! Be sure to share these assignments with your friends who are looking for more culture and community and share your findings on social media with the hashtag, #TheChicAssignment
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Comment of the Week
Janet W. writes, "Because of you I purchased a beautiful sundress. I haven't had a dress in 30 years. I am wearing it today to my family reunion. Some of my siblings I haven't seen in 9 years. Thank you for the encouragement to dress up. I feel a little uncomfortable but I am excited to step out of my comfort zone."
Hi Janet, I loved your comment and am so excited to hear that you are wearing a beautiful dress for the first time in a long time. I hope you had a great family reunion. I bet everyone thought you looked lovely!
Thank you for participating in The Chic Assignment for July. I look forward to hearing your findings! I'll see you soon.
Love,
Jennifer xx
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14 comments:
Hi Jennifer, I can really recommend AndrΓ© Rieu. He comes from the Netherlands and one of his best concerts is in Maastricht every year. It's open air and people have a really good time. He brougt classic music back to the younger generation by making it fun. I think, he was on tour in the States too. You should see him live one day. Greetings from Germany. Bea
I love the chic assignments for July! Prior to reading your post, I had just brought my dog to the vet for her check-up, and met the new vet in the practice. She was dressed so beautifully--cropped black pants, a green knit top, white lab coat, and tan ballet flats. She had sleek, shoulder length brown hair, minimal make-up, and the greenest eyes I've ever seen. She was a poster for "look presentable always." After she gave my dog a treat and was saying good-bye, I impulsively told her how nice she looked and what pretty eyes she had. She looked so surprised and pleased, and I was immediately glad I had not kept my thoughts to myself. Little did I know that I could also check one of the chic assignments off my list. ;-)
1) I've seen Andre Rieu live at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. Incredible venue and fabulous show. Very entertaining, light hearted, & what incredible talent he and his orchestra have. I used to play an instrument and can really appreciate how hard they work. And for him to never look at a score!!!
2) I try to give compliments every day. And people seem genuinely surprised when I compliment them. I agree- bring on the love and let's say more nice things to each other. There is so much negativity out there. Tell someone they look nice, a certain color suits them, or that they're kids are well behaved...it could make their day!
3) Mindless snacking- I am guilty of this at night while folding laundry and watching tv. :(
4) Poetry...never been really able to get into, so I will give it a go.
Book recommendations-- An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff
Hi Jennifer...I loved this video. It was just full of joy and I loved the dancers as well. About 10 years ago my husband and I had 4 weddings to attend in one summer so as a surprise my husband signed us up for ballroom dance lessons. Even though we were the youngest couple in the class it was so much fun! After watching the video I’m inspired ,to find a dance class again. By the way did you notice how elegantly dressed the audience members were? Loved it!
Hi Jennifer, I have your books and always enjoy your posts. I came across a phrase in a book that made me think of you and your readers: a PBS mind trapped in an MTV world. I had to smile at that description!
Our personnel chic assignment last month was to dress up travel 3 hours to Melbourne and enjoy lunch out and the Royal Australian Ballet performance of Alice in Wonderland with my daughter and granddaughter.Looking forward to July!
Sorry... Bea again. I‘m a Jane Austen addict. reading sequels all the day. BUT I do like poems by Pablo Neruda. AND I‘m snacking when the family is in bed and I‘m alone. Not much, just a piece of chocolate or Turron. I‘m miles away from the 10 items wardrobe, but well read and interested. I‘m thinking about playing the piano again...
I find that the best way to not snack is simply not to keep snack food in the house. There is no reason for it to even be in your cupboard. If I actually get hungry, there are healthy options for me to eat, like fruit or unsalted nuts, or some cheese. But if one eats actual meals rather than "grazing at the counter", one seldom actually gets hungry. I know a lot of people use the excuse that the snacks (and I'm talking chips, pretzels, cookies -- generally salty or sweet stuff) are for their kids or for guests. Well, why would you want to serve unhealthy snacks to your guests, and most especially to your kids? The kids will protest the lack of salty/sweet snacks? Well, tough! Parenthood shouldn't be a democracy; kids don't know enough to make informed decisions about food choices. We should be.
Hi Jennifer,
What lovely assignments!
A. Andre Rieu... Nice choice. I was introduced to him by an international customer from Mexico - she excitedly mailed me a DVD of his performance there. Double treat to get a gift from a customer who seems like a friend.
B. Emily Dickinson - the name is familiar but her poetry is not. So I will check her out.
C. Not snacking - I was hoping for this assignment, and yet dreading it... lol. But you presented it so gracefully and gently, thank you! I think "being conscious" is so non-guilt-loading and yet effective. Brilliant. Can't wait to tell you my report later.
D. Giving compliments - I needed the nudge. Often I've admired a modest, ladylike woman, and just don't say anything. When I'm complimented (not often, but that makes it more special), even though it's a little embarrassing, I still savor it for days or even weeks. Except the woman clerk at a particular store, she went on and on about how "beautiful" I am and every single time I went in, until I started avoiding her!! (I am average, actually).
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for reminding me about AndrΓ© Rieu. I discovered him on a PBS concert on TV one evening and couldn’t believe how happy everyone at the concert was and how much joy the orchestra seemed to be feeling. Everyone was swaying back and forth, people were dancing in the aisles and, at some points, singing along. What a wonderful thing to watch. So uplifting! Needless to say, I’ve already watched his video and I look forward to the other assignments for this month.
Hi, Jennifer,
Non-related to this post. You had recommended summer slippers; you said they were similar to what people wear in Japan and you were really happy with them. I've gone through 13 pages of the blog and can't find the link. My feet are killing me around the house and I don't like to be barefoot, but it's just too hot to wear my comfy "indoor only" sneakers. Help!
Thanks!!!
Hi ladies, thank you for taking part in The Chic Assignment! I was so pleased to hear so many of you know AndrΓ© Rieu and some of you have actually seen him perform live. What a dream it would be to sit in on one of his concerts!
Anon- I loved that "PBS mind trapped in an MTV world". How true is that??
Melanie- the slippers are Okabashi. I linked them in my past outfits of the week video. Here are the exact ones I have http://shrsl.com/1l90c
Thanks again for taking part and I look forward to discussing everything more in the mid-month check-in!
Love,
Jennifer
One of my favorite videos of Andre Rieu is of his orchestra and chorus playing "I Will Follow Him." It is so heart warming and the ladies of the chorus are dressed so beautifully. The audience is a hoot! It's a lovely fun video - I watch it often!
Emily Dickinson: You will probably kill me for telling you this nugget but... here goes! Due to the meter of her poetry, you can sing her poems to the theme song from "Gilligan's Island" and they fit beautifully! (It was a way of memorizing them for me when I was in school!)
I love these assignments!
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