Showing posts with label Black Friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Friday. Show all posts

11.07.2020

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide 2020 | Unique Ideas | Small Businesses

6:49 AM 3 Comments

Welcome to The Daily Connoisseur Holiday Gift Guide for 2020. This is the best gift guide yet on the blog as I am featuring the most unique and excellent small businesses and independent artists. I hope today's video gives you many ideas for gifting friends and family in your life. 



In today's video, I break down the selections in the following manner: My Top Picks, Jewelry & Accessories, Art, Candles, and Gifts under $40. I am listing my finds below in no particular order. All links and discount codes (if available) are provided. Enjoy browsing!

Before we get into the gift selections, I must present my own offerings: The Madame Chic collection and Connoisseur Kids. My books make excellent gifts because they are so beautifully designed. They are high-quality books that will not only be fun to read, but will enhance your decor as well. 


Consider gifting Daily Connoisseur merch to a Daily Connoisseur fan in your life. My merch store contains Daily Connoisseur mugs, posters, and other fun items, like the Keep Calm and Remain Classy collection that will delight any Daily Connoisseur fan. 




At Sonoma Lavender, you can find weighty spa blankets, footies, heated luxury spa neck pillows all with a delicate fragrance amongst other things. These would all make excellent and unique gifts. My favorites are the Timberlake Spa and Lavender fragrances. The Timberlake line has the woodsy scent of pine, frankincense and myrrh and the lavender scent is very true to form. These gifts would be excellent for both men and women as well as children. THEDAILY gives 20% off 




Pinrose Perfume  is my favorite perfume company. I discovered them earlier this year and am blown away with the pleasant and complex nature of their beautifully crafted perfumes. Pinrose have created a Madame Scott holiday gift set collection, which is a tremendous honor! They have many options, including fragrance petals, travel sprays and full-size perfumes with Madame Chic books! These gift sets all feature my three favorite fragrances: Secret Genius, Mystical Misfit, and Merry Maker. Code JSCOTT for 20% off all starter kits.




John Robshaw has beautiful textiles, including bedding, throw pillows, and table linens. Any of these gorgeously curated items would make unique gifts for men and women. I can attest that their place mats, napkins, and napkin rings are the highest quality and would make a welcome present. 






Riverbend Home is an excellent resource for high-quality holiday china and decorations. They are the premiere carrier of Spode china, one of my absolute favorites. They have the most comprehensive collection of both the Woodland, Christmas Tree, and Blue Italian and majorly discounted prices. It is a great idea to start someone's collection or add to it. In addition to those fine lines, they also have more casual everyday holiday plates, and a plethora of decorations. DCHOL10 for 10% off




SKYE jewelry and hair accessories SKYE is one of my favorite clothing and accessory brands. Their jewelry is of the highest quality and so unique. They also do hair
accessories like beautiful bow scrunchies and elegant headbands. Code Jennifer20 for 20% off





The Carlin by Mihoko is the most unique present and would make an excellent gift for both ladies and girls alike. I stumbled across an ad for this on Facebook and was intrigued. It is a velvet hair piece with a wire that allows you to do chic and effortless updos with little effort. The Carlin eliminates the need to use countless bobby pins. Mihoko gave us a code madamechic for 10% off




Let's talk jewelry. Custom jewelry is always a treasured gift. The Capsul Jewelry line is beautiful and has price points for everyone. Take this custom 14K gold custom block bracelet. I chose the initials of my children, but you could chose anything that is special to you. They also come in sterling silver or brass at much lower and affordable price points. These would make amazing gifts as well. JENNIFER15 for 15% off sitewide



Custom gifts are so thoughtful. Name Stories is another unique business that allows you to create a custom print with the gift recipient's name on it. The wall art tells the story of the name along with its history. You can choose from many colors for your print and also, whether you want it framed or not. This would make an excellent gift for a child or special person in your life. DC10 for 10% off 





Our Hearts are in France from the editors of Victoria Magazine. From the publishers:  Our Hearts Are in France takes readers on a memorable journey through this majestic country, where centuries-old chateaux rise from the riverbanks and snow-dusted mountains give way to rolling hills and fertile valleys sprinkled with tiny villages, each one more enchanting than the last.

Our Hearts are in England from the editors of Victoria Magazine From the publishers: Our Hearts are in England is an idyllic sojourn through this “green and pleasant land” of scenic byways and quaint villages, glorious gardens, and quintessential cottages. Filled with lush photography and enchanting prose, this exquisitely bound 232-page hardcover book is one to savor as we voyage together in search of England’s very essence.

The Art of Tea from the editors of Victoria Magazine. From the publishers: The ages-old tapestry of taking tea is woven with a prismatic palette of threads, from the golden strands of tradition and the silver cords of friendship to the rainbow ribbons of taste bud–tempting refreshments and the brightly hued filaments of an elegantly set table.


Victoria Magazine and April Cornell blue roses tea set is a limited edition porcelain tea set that is so remarkably charming. Who wouldn't be delighted to receive this beautiful set? 



Londontown nail polish is my favorite nail polish brand. Not only are the polishes high quality and packaged to perfection, they come in the most beautiful colors and are 9-free (free of 9 of the harshest chemicals found in traditional polish). These high-quality polishes are found at Neiman Marcus and other high-end retailers. I have been a long-time supporter of Londontown and they have given me a 25% off discount you won't find anywhere else. JenniferS for 25% off 


E-cloth make high-quality cleaning cloths that require only water for use. They have many holiday bundles this time of year. The cloths are an investment and that's why they make an excellent gift. Most people would love to have beautiful and effective cleaning cloths like this, but might not buy them for themselves. 
JENNIFER15 for 15% off (valid until Nov. 12th) 


Laura from Allen's Scottish Shortbread is in The Chic Society and their delicious and unique shortbread would make an excellent gift. Not only is the shortbread delicious, but the artwork on the boxes make these unique and special. 
Allens Scottish Shortbread uses their Scottish Grandmother's heirloom family recipe to bake small batches of buttery shortbread that pairs perfectly with a pot of tea, and they are holding an 85% off clearance sale at www.allensscottishshortbread.com



American Blossom Linens is a small business that makes 100% organic cotton bedding. All of their items are made in America. The quality here is excellent and any of their items would make appreciated gifts. Jennifer20 for 20% off



The Cellar Door Candle Company  is one of my favorite artisan candle makers. This is a small business you can feel good about supporting and their candles are superior to all of the usual box chain candles that are so popular. Their new scents for the holidays are Cassia (cinnamon tree and clove leaf) and Spruce Needle & Cedar Leaf. Perfection!  Code 10%TheDailyConnoisser gives 10% off 


Alora Ambiance is another wonderful home fragrance company I have discovered. It is the result of sisters Annie and Therese Gibbons' 15-year adventure living in Lake Como, Italy. When they created their first “reed diffuser” in 2000, they not only launched a company but created an entirely new home fragrance category. And now, nearly 20 years later, it is their commitment to using only the finest ingredients, materials and combinations that has kept theirs the most popular, longest-lasting and best smelling diffusers in the world. My favorite scent is Pino, which is a beautiful pine holiday scent. Code JS20 gives 20% off. 





Brandi Still is a new member of the Elegant Connoisseurs and I thought her art would make an amazingly unique gift. Her dainty scissors in hand, Brandi can render your likeness within a few brief minutes, keeping alive the art of Silhouette Portraiture that dates back to 1700’s France… she is one of only an estimated 200 practicing Silhouettists left in the world today according to a 2016 documentary.




Katy Rose Fine Art Katy Rose is an Elegant Connoisseur and I have enjoyed getting to know her and her beautiful artwork. Her final art collection of the year, Good Tidings, is inspired by landscapes around our globe in this time of strengthening through struggle. As 2020 comes to an end, may we offer the bold and brave tidings of kindness and goodwill, reminders that hope is ever-present. This collection contains 14 original paintings, an assortment of unique vintage pieces for the home, and fine art prints. Code JENNIFER2020 for 10% off any shop purchase through the end of 2020. (Expires Dec 31, 2020)


Dwell Happy Home Portraits would make an excellent gift. Surprise someone you love with a custom portrait for your home. Jan and Amy created a home portrait for our family and we love ours. Dwell Happy is an organizing company run by sisters, Amy (a former social worker) and Jan (a former art teacher and stay-at-home mom of three). A portion of the proceeds from the sale of their paintings and wreaths go toward helping foster and single-parent families create simple and organized homes. Wreaths and paintings are sold through their Instagram account @dwellhappymakes. They have monthly giveaways on their account and they will be giving away a home portrait gift card in December.




My good friend, Kim, from Free to Family has created a line of affordable journals, meal planners, and lists book. These make excellent, affordable gifts or stocking stuffers and would be great for friends and family who are into organizing and neat living. You can find her books on Amazon


Another great friend of mine, Nikki Moreno from Inspired by Nikki, has a beautiful stationery shop on Etsy. Her watercolor designs are delightful and would make beautiful and thoughtful gifts. 


Something to Cherish is an online boutique run by artist, Cherish Flieder. Cherish is so talented and her shop is full of beautiful and affordable gifts. I picked up a fire elements scarf for under $35. It also feels great to support independent artists in this way for holiday gift giving. These are unique gifts that you won't find anywhere else. 



The Illustrated Life Co. is another wonderful shop run by artist, Lydia Carns. Her recipe binder and tabs would make a delightful gift for your friends and family. Lydia also sells beautiful stationery, journals, artwork, and other goods. Her illustrations are just delightful. 


Rachelyn Jewelry handcrafted jewelry sold on Etsy by Rachel Carns, has beautiful and affordable jewelry options for girly girls. This beautiful marble and gold tassel necklace is the perfect statement necklace. Made with 14K gold-filled chain and gold-plated howlite pendants. Wrapped in pink tissue paper and tied with a silver satin ribbon.

News

📍Check out my appearance on Inside Edition discussing the importance of a well-stocked pantry. 

📍Thank you for 100,000 subscribers on YouTube! What an amazing honor. I appreciate each and every subscriber. Thank you. 

📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for October

📍Take my new eCourse, Carry Yourself with Poise. There are so many amazing ladies on this course, bonding and building friendships as we rally around elegant living. Rachel M. writes, "Thank you Jennifer for this beautiful course. It was the breath of fresh air I needed during this lockdown. I will definitely be returning to this course again."

📍Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.)


📍Thank you for your wonderful support of my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS.

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Comment of the Week

Dear Nale, welcome to the channel! I am happy to have you here. There is a lot going on in the world right now and I'm glad The Daily Connoisseur provides a simple joy for you.

I hope you enjoy my holiday gift guide. If you have any great gift ideas, please leave them in the comments! Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday for a highly requested video. 



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11.30.2017

The Very Merry Christmas Tag

5:29 AM 5 Comments

Today I have a Christmas-themed video for you. I was tagged by Jennifer from The Family Fudge. She created this tag with Becky from A Place to Nest and the questions are quite fun. You will learn what I really think of Black Friday, whether or not I like egg nog and what my favorite ornaments are... and one of them has a funny story behind it!

I hope you enjoy today's video.

The book I mention in the video is Victoria's The Heart of Christmas. This is a beautiful book showing Victorian decorating and customs during Christmastime.



To continue the videos, I tag Jen from How Jen Does It, Melissa55, Terigigi, Kathryn Morgan, Nikki from Inspired by Nikki, Hilary from My So-Called Home and Angi from A Return to Simplicity.

In addition to the ladies I have tagged above, I would love to tag you too. Let me know your answers in the comment section, or do your own blog or video on the subject. I look forward to seeing your responses!

The Very Merry Christmas 2017 Questions:
1. What are your feelings on "black Friday" shopping? Are you brave and head out with the crowds, do you shop online or do you avoid it all together?

2. What is your favorite gift you've ever given to someone else

3. Christmas cards, yay or nay? If you do send cards what style do you go with? I.e. traditional (no photo), photo, funny or classy?

4. If you were a Christmas elf, what would your specialty be? Reindeer wrangler, chief decorator, toy maker, gift wrapper, baker or management?

5. Egg nog...do you pour a tall glass or do you throw it in the trash?

6. What is your Christmas decorating style? Classic red and green, shabby chic, country/farmhouse, colorful/jewel toned, etc? AND does your style change from year to year?

7. Favorite childhood Christmas memory?

8. If you could borrow Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve, where in the world would you go?

9. Favorite ornament (show, if possible)

News
The Madame Chic books make the perfect gift for any special lady in your life.

“For women who yearn to channel Audrey Tautou…but don’t have a year to spend apprenticing with one in Paris” (The New York Times), Jennifer L. Scott’s Madame Chic books—Lessons from Madame Chic, At Home with Madame Chic, and Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic—now collected in one beautiful package.

As an American student living abroad, Jennifer L. Scott found a Parisian mentor in her host mother, Madame Chic, who instructed her in the fine art of living. Now, Jennifer shares her lessons in her Madame Chic series: Lessons from Madame Chic, At Home with Madame Chic, and Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic. Based on what she learned from Madame Chic, Jennifer explains how to cultivate old-fashioned sophistication while living an active, modern life, teaching us to take pleasure in everyday routines, to dress presentably, perform household tasks with cheer, and how to conduct oneself both in public and in private.

The Madame Chic series encourages and inspires you to live simply and passionately, no matter your age, background, or location. Like Madame Chic, everyone deserves a little Parisian je ne sais quoi.


Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe. With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!



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Lipstick, nail polish, a great pair of shoes and of course... Madame Chic!


... and Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic along with some weekend essentials.


Comment of the Week
Serenity writes:
Hi Jennifer,

I read Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death! It's such a brilliant book, far ahead of its time! I wonder what he would have said about the current challenges we face viz. easy distractibility due to smart phones, 24*7 TV channels, internet connectivity, celebrity culture etc. it's not easy to be a social critic & I know you receive a lot of flak from some of your readers for the topics you discuss on the blog viz. dressing appropriately in public, cell phone etiquette, adulting etc. But please keep up the good work! We find your social commentary very wise & inspiring! Love!!

Hi Serenity, thank you so much! Postman's book is a very important commentary on our society that still rings true today! Thanks for your encouragement.

Thanks for joining me today for another video. I would love to hear some of your answers from the Christmas tag. Let me know in the comment section and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur!

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.