4.29.2021

Ten-Item Capsule Wardrobe Spring 2021

6:11 AM 9 Comments



Welcome to The Ten-Item Capsule Wardrobe for Spring. 


This year's video was filmed in my sister's beautiful garden. Let's have a look at the core items. This year I have 11 core items. If you are new to the ten-item wardrobe, I recommend you read my book, Lessons from Madame Chic. The aim is to have ten core items, but the "ten" can be held loosely. Some years you might have eleven... some years you might have nine. 


I will discuss each of the items in detail in the upcoming ten-item wardrobe talk-through, but for now, let's look at the core items and new extras. 

SKYE Charlotte belted shirt dress  Jennifer20 for 20% off



Rungolee "Porto" dress DailyC for free silk face mask with purchase








SKYE Risette dress Jennifer20 for 20% off 


Lilysilk blouse Daily15 for 15% off 
Mott & Bow "Henry" jean JLS10 for 10% off 


Rungolee Louise blouse DailyC for free silk face mask w/ purchase






EXTRAS

Let's look at the extras. The extras are composed of special occasion-wear, tee shirts, and accessories, etc.

SKYE Isabella dress  Jennifer20 for 20% off 


Mer-Sea & Co. Catalina slub tee


SKYE Ismay earring Jennifer20 for 20% off 


                                              Jackie Mack Designs "key to my heart" necklace 


SKYE Laure pearl bracelet Jennifer20 for 20% off 


SKYE Cosette pearl earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off 


                                       The Spanish Sandal Co. tan nubuck sandals JEN10 for 10% off 






                                                                   Lulu's tan sandals


News

📍Check out my Mother's Day gift guide on the blog

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. 

📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for April. 

📍Please note: I am currently in the process of having my blog not only redesigned, but moved to Wordpress. Please be patient during the process as the blog might be temporarily disabled over the course of this month. You can always stay au courant with me over on YouTube to never miss a video. I'm excited to work on the blog and make it a better experience for you, dear reader! 

On Instagram

Connoisseur Kids in Poland... 


Comment of the Week

Purl Two Together writes, "I love this video because I am disabled by a chronic illness and am inspired by my late nana who got dressed and did her face and hair even when she was dying of cancer. She always wanted to look her best. For me, even if I can't get dressed or do more than rest all day, putting on scent is the way I make myself feel better. But I love to pull on a dress, do a touch of makeup, pop earrings in and then I feel sooooooo much better but am still as comfortable as I'd be in my nightgown."

I love your comment and enjoyed reading about how your Nana inspired you. Thank you for sharing your tips with us!


I hope you enjoyed my ten-item capsule wardrobe lookbook for spring. I'll be going over the garments with you in greater detail in next week's talk-through.


Special thanks to Britain Films and Dava Marketing for this video.


NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.


Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home


FTC: This post is not sponsored.  I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support. 

4.28.2021

Mother's Day Gift Guide for 2021

12:10 PM 0 Comments

Mother's Day is just around the corner and I have created a gift guide here on The Daily Connoisseur that will give you wide variety of gift ideas for the special mothers in your life. 




The Relax Ultima All mothers deal with neck tension at some point in their month (if not every day). I am updating the Mother's Day gift guide to include this amazing contraption. It gives deep restorative massage through gentle electric impulses and heat. I have one and I've used it every night since it arrived. This would make such a good gift for mom. 



The Bend Soap Co. make very giftable bath products that come in soothing and natural scents. Use code DC10 for 10% off. 




The Planting Tree  Mother's Day Gift Kit

I have two roses from The Planting Tree and can vouch that they supply the most healthy and full plants. My two roses arrived carefully packaged and are now currently thriving. They have a wonderful kit that would be perfect for any mother who loves to garden. 

The Exo Beauty at-home laser hair removal device

Now this may sound like an odd gift, but it might be an unexpected hit too. Many people long to try these at-home laser hair removal devices but are torn about whether to invest in them. I have started using the EXO and will report back to you on how it works. 


Jackie Mack Designs jewelry. Jackie Mack designs the most delicate jewelry that would be perfect for everyday wear. TDC15OFF for 15% off 

SKYE Ismay earring Jennifer20 for 20% off SKYE's jewelry is whimsical and unique and make excellent gifts. 


Allen's Scottish Shortbread  would make a delightful and affordable gift for the teatime lover in your life. The packaging is so charming too, which is an added bonus. 


Pinrose Perfume  make beautifully scented perfumes that would make delightful gifts. Code JSCOTT gives free shipping. 




American Blossom Linens sell organic, American made bed linens of the highest quality. This is a true luxury gift that would delight any gift recipient. Jennifer20 for 20% off 




Vahdam Teas make excellent teas of varying varieties. They also have several impressive gift kits. 


I will keep adding to this guide as I find more gift ideas, so feel free to check back again and also share your great ideas in the comments. 


With love,


Jennifer 


FTC: Some links are affiliate. 

4.26.2021

Ten Ways to Look Presentable When You're Having an "Off " Day

6:08 AM 3 Comments


 Look presentable always is a key concept that runs all throughout the Madame Chic books. If you practice the ten-item wardrobe or regularly take part in a practical beauty and grooming routine, you likely are able to look presentable always. But what do you do when you're having an "off" day? 


Perhaps you don't feel feel well, or you're having a bad hair day. Maybe you only have a few minutes to get ready. What should you do to look presentable? In today's video I share ten solutions. Implement any of these tricks when applicable and you will find yourself looking presentable always. 


I hope you enjoy today's video. I would love to know which tip resonated with you the most. Thank you to Native for bringing us today's video and supporting The Daily Connoisseur.  


⚜️What I'm Wearing
Rungolee Porto dress DailyC for free silk face mask
Necklace by Jackie Mack Designs JENSCOTT15 for 15% off
Earrings by Rachelyn Jewelry JENNIFERSCOTT 10%off

⚜️ Featured in the video
Teddy Blake grey croco handbag TBJennC20 for an Extra $20 Off
Jeans by Mott & Bow JLS10 for 10% off
Londontown nail polish JenniferS for 25% off
A’DEL Natural Cosmetics TDC20 for 20% off
Mont Kiji scarves connoisseur121 for 12% off

News

📍Connoisseur Kids is now available in Poland from publisher, Wydawnictwo Literackie.


📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. 

📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for April. 

📍Please note: I am currently in the process of having my blog not only redesigned, but moved to Wordpress. Please be patient during the process as the blog might be temporarily disabled over the course of this month. You can always stay au courant with me over on YouTube to never miss a video. I'm excited to work on the blog and make it a better experience for you, dear reader! 

Mother's Day Gift Idea

Mother's Day is around the corner and this year, instead of doing a video on gift ideas, I will be periodically sharing ideas on the blog. I can't tell you how many people I have purchased Bend Soap Co. products for. They make excellent presents for both men and women, and they would be particularly great for Mother's Day. These are their spring fragrances. I love the natural scents and use the sugar scrub myself several times a week. The Bend Soap Co. use code DC10 for 10% off. 



On Instagram

Connoisseur Kids in Poland... 

Comment of the Week
B. Brundage writes, "A trick my mom taught me is to put wax paper on top of armoires and kitchen cabinets. The dust settles on it and you can just throw it away, wipe down and replace. Makes seasonal cleaning easier."

Thank you for that tip! We put newspaper on top of our kitchen cabinets but I forget to do this with the armoires too.

I would love to know how you look presentable when you're having an "off" day. What are your best tips? Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.

NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.


Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home


FTC: This post is sponsored by Native.  I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support. 


4.24.2021

The Chic Assignment Check-in April 2021

4:11 PM 0 Comments


 Welcome to The Chic Assignment Check-in for April. 




Chic Assignment no. 1 Enjoy the music of Puccini 

This month we are listening to O Mio Babbino Caro from Puccini's opera, Gianni Schicchi. I found this exquisite violin performance from Caroline Adomeit as well as this beautiful operatic performance by Montserrat Caballé. Today we are learning about Puccini's life with 8 interesting facts from the Memphis Opera. 


       Sommertag by Berthe Morisot, 1879 - fair use image (public domain)

Chic Assignment no. 2 Enjoy the artwork of Berthe Morisot

Berthe Morisot was a French Impressionist painter who lived from 1841 to 1895 in Paris. She is known for her elegant works full of feminine charm. Check out a gallery of some of her most famous works on Google Arts and Culture. Today we hear about her fascinating life as an Impressionist. Check out this excellent book on Morisot's works from Rizzoli


Chic Assignment no. 3 Discover a new vegetarian dish to make for dinner this month. 

I hope you enjoyed my Vegetarian What's for Dinner? earlier this month. If you haven't already seen it, I highly recommend you watch! Several people have returned to tell me their families greatly enjoyed the recipes. 

Chic Assignment no. 4 Immerse yourself into spring cleaning. I hope you enjoyed this week's spring cleaning motivation. In it, I discuss the number one enemy to homemaking and give lots of incentive to tackle spring cleaning now. 

⚜️ What I'm wearing
Londontown nail polish Desert Flower JenniferS for 25% off

Thank you to The Chic Society for bringing us The Chic Assignment. The Chic Society is the private membership group on YouTube. Membership is only $1.99 a month. I release a "vodcast" (a video podcast) every Friday and we go live (either on YouTube or Zoom) once a month. There are also two upper tiers who receive recognition in The Chic Assignment check-in.


The Chic Connoisseurs

 A Better Life with KAT (Flylady Cleaning System), AAM Truthteller, 
Adrienne Cormier, American Blossom Linens, Alexa Moradi, Allison Jennison-Smith, Amy Kennedy,
A Return to SimplicityA Sparkling Vintage Life, Amy Thibodeaux, Andrea Saavedra, 
Angelika Greenhalgh, Angie Helmly, Anny Schreier, Audrey CoyneBewitchedCrafts.com, Ausra Mewa,
Bliss Peterson, Brenda Ramsey, Candace V, Caroline Logan, Catarina Alexandra, Catherine Huang, Chelsea Kochevar, Clare's Classroom, Cyndie Lake, Deb Reardon, Denise Gende, Diana McNease, Elizabeth Doan, Efstathia Kositzidou, Freda Masoud, healthywithluba.com, Heather Phillips, Helena O, Jackie W, 
Jane Lynch, Janet Williams, Jasmine Christian, Jennifer Timm, jkp62, Judy Moore, Katherine Williams,

Kathy Feliciano,  Katie Kolodzy, Kimberly Campbell, Lakeisha Bell Cadogan, Liliedaisy, 
Lois Shank- Retiree, Loraine Tadman, Lori Skees, Maria Gerlicz-Pogorzelska, Marija B. Bingula, Space.For.Home, Marybeth Nelson, Megan Lawrence, Melanie Adkins, Melanie Riddle, Mama Mitzey, Maria Gerszewski, 

Melinda Loustalot, Melissa Ricci, Mercy Burton Russell, Michele Kieffer, 
Michelle Henderer, Michelle the Italiagal, Monique Egelhoff, Monique Hernandez, Natalie Schultz, 
Not-So Desperate Housewives, Pamela Gunger, Paula Ellis, Paula Johnson, P C, Petra Willnecker, 
Raye Cage, Rebecca Faltot, Rita Fernandes,  Rona, 
Sandra Light, Sarah Vitsas, Scott Rea, Shannon Biddy, Sharon Smith, Sheila Hopfensperger, 
Shelly Cabler aka "The Art of This & That", Sonya Sylvester, Stacy Smith, The Simple Swan, Sue Parker, 
Wendy Cassara, Wendy Somerville, Wilma Dean, Yen Lee, Zauger, Zuzaienka23


The Elegant Connoisseurs

Amanda Dykes, Author
Amiee Floor, Azalia Spa Goods
Brandi Still, Silhouette Artist
Jenny Williams, Carrot Top Paper Shop
Elaine Brisebois, Certified Nutritionist
Katherine Rae
Carli Thom - Living in Loveliness
Caroline Haydu
Guy Blaise
Jen Carlson
Jet Rowley-Herron
Jina Kay Kenry
Heather Barrera
Jenny Candelaria
Linda Eklof
Marie Caudill
Maria Conder
Melissa M
Prudently at Home
Tiffany Hess



Thank you for joining us for The Chic Assignment for April. I look forward to hearing how your assignment went this month. Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and I'll see you on Monday! 

~ Jennifer

NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.


Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.


Twitter @JL_Scott



FTC: This post is not sponsored.  I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support. 


4.22.2021

Meditations on Spring Cleaning | The Grimy Places

6:05 AM 0 Comments

 


Distraction
It’s not the homemaking itself that’s hard,
It’s lack of motivation.
I know exactly the tasks to do,
I set up my cleaning station.

But upon deciding the floors must be swept,
Something curious will transpire:
The strong desire to pick up my phone,
And scroll like wildfire.

What exactly am I looking up?
I’m not entirely sure.
All I know is, it’s more attractive,
Than the cleaning I am to endure.

So please don’t share your cleaning routine,
I have mine very intact.
The enemy to homemaking is distraction,
That is the cold, hard fact.

- Jennifer L. Scott 

 



Welcome back to The Daily Connoisseur. Our spring cleaning continues in today's video and this time, I’m tackling all of the difficult spots to clean in the home: the grimy, hidden (and not so hidden) places that have been lacking some serious attention. 

As you heard in the opening poem I wrote for you, Distraction, we usually know exactly what to do as homemakers. We know what jobs need to be done. We know what to delegate, and we know the priority in which our tasks need to be finished. 

Some people benefit from a cleaning routine. Others are more free-spirited with their cleaning approach. Some people have people help them clean their homes, others do all of the work themselves. We all have different experiences. One thing I know for sure, the biggest enemy to homemaking is distraction. So, as you tackle your own spring-cleaning projects, I hope today’s video not only accompanies you and provides you a sense of comfort, but acts as motivation, rather than distraction. 

Sometimes we allow distraction to take over when we are faced with a job we really don’t want to do. This distraction is otherwise known as procrastination. 

Charles Dickens wrote in David Copperfield, “My advice is, never do to-morrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!”

Did you hear that? Collar him, ladies and gentlemen. Procrastination is the thief of time. So, let’s tackle these grimy places in our home that require attention. 

Do you know, as an introvert I rather enjoy being alone with my own thoughts. I don’t necessarily need music or an audiobook to work (although I do employ both often). But sometimes, all I need is to be alone with my thoughts and the very present sound of what I’m doing. It’s the sound. The natural noises that bring me into the present and remind me that I’m alive. We tend to anesthetize ourselves with noise. Silence has its place in our lives too. 

When you’re in the silence, in the thick of it, here are a few things to focus on: gratitude for a place to live. Gratitude that you even have a home to clean. Gratitude for the ability to clean. Gratitude for the space to think…. To dream… 

Once you build momentum… you find that you don’t want to stop. At that point an interruption or distraction is rather unwelcome. Wiping away the dust and grime is becoming therapeutic. Like I mentioned in the poem from the last video… a spring cleaning for my room, and a spring cleaning for my mind. 

Capitalize on this. When you are in the flow, you’re actually in a rather creative state. It’s like when you’re writing a book. Every day when you face the page… It’s hard. And your mind invents other things you could do, like check the news or text a friend. But once you get started, when you get into that state… your headphones are on, your hands rapidly flying over the keys as you are in creative mode… you want it to never end. 

End it must, but for the time being, any and all interruptions are very unwelcome. If you find this flow with your housework, consider it a very magical trip and enjoy the ride. You most likely will be interrupted. You can always invite the interrupter to help you. Or, if you manage to finish your to-do list, consider it a very successful venture. 

Remember when you are finished for the day, to give yourself a little reward. A well-earned treat. The ritual of a cup of tea is transformative. And if you can capture the quiet… pour yourself a cup and settle down with a good book… And enjoy the magnificent feeling of a job well done.

Thank you for joining me for today’s video. Keep calm and remain classy, and I will see you in my next video. 

Love, Jennifer 



⚜️ What I'm Wearing
Mott & Bow Henry jean JLS10 for 10% off
Silk Scrunchie by Lilysilk Daily15 for 15% off
Necklace by Jackie Mack Designs JENSCOTT15 for 15% off
Nail polish by Londontown Mojave Mauve JenniferS for 25% off

⚜️ Featured in the Video
Dress Codes by Richard Thompson Ford
Tea strainer (similar) Spode Blue Italian DCSPRING10 for 10% off Portmeirion Botanic Garden DCSPRING10 for 10% off
⚜️ Cleaning



News
📍Connoisseur Kids is now available in Poland from publisher, Wydawnictwo Literackie.


📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. 

📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for April. 

📍Please note: I am currently in the process of having my blog not only redesigned, but moved to Wordpress. Please be patient during the process as the blog might be temporarily disabled over the course of this month. You can always stay au courant with me over on YouTube to never miss a video. I'm excited to work on the blog and make it a better experience for you, dear reader! 



Comment of the Week
DD writes, If I brush and floss my teeth shortly after dinner, I don't want to snack and mess them up! I might not go to bed for hours, but my clean teeth remove the snacking temptation.

DD, yes! This is one of the best tips to avoid nighttime snacking. I'll have to do a followup video with more tips. Thank you! 

I hope you enjoyed today's video and that it gave you lots of think about as well as lots of cleaning motivation. 


NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.


Visit my newly designed Author Website

Shop my Amazon page for a comprehensive list of my favorite things and mentions on the blog.

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home


FTC: This post is not sponsored.  I use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support.