In this October edition of Daily Connoisseur favorites, I share what I'm watching, what I'm reading, a favorite moisturizer and makeup item. I also give you an update on postnatal hair loss.

I hope you can join me for this fun, chatty favorites video.

Mentioned in the video:



Becca Ombre Rouge palette You saw an in-depth review of this in last week's video, but it resurfaces again here as one of my favorites. I'm having a lot of fun playing with these natural shades, perfect for le no makeup look.



Origins GinZing moisturizer I have been using this moisturizer for over two months, and I love its light, refreshing quality. Its secret ingredient is coffee! Origins boasts that it boosts tired skin (which I definitely need right now!). My favorite thing about this moisturizer is its delightful citrus scent.



Nashville Flipped is a home and garden show that follows house flipper, Troy Dean Shafer, as he restores historic homes. I love his lead designer, Julie Couch's, design aesthetic. You can gain so much interior design inspiration this program. Such a fun show!



The Light Between Oceans
I know I might be the last here to read this book, as it is an international bestseller, but I must mention it here because it is such a well-written page turner. Ever since I finished Amy Snow , I've been having a hard time finding another book to read. The Light Between Oceans has drawn me in. Here is the description from Amazon:

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.



Contigo Purity Petal Water Bottle Available at Target, this beautiful glass water bottle is perfect to keep in the car or take on the go. I love that it has no plastic parts and it's beautiful to look at! This would make a great gift too. For more on Contigo, visit gocontigo.com

News


The Madame Chic Collection box set is now available! This set is so beautifully packaged, it makes a perfect gift. Just in time for the holidays!

Cedar and Bloom shares her cold weather ten-item wardrobe in her recent blogpost.

Letter of the Week
Dear Jennifer,
I have really enjoyed your books and videos. Your advice and call for a return to deportment are quite timely in this day and age. I live in Seattle which is a very casual area, to excess even.
One day when heading in to work, a woman rushed past me with her purse, jacket, flip flops, and ScubyDo pajamas. No, these were not scrubs. I work in the medical field and some staff wear theme scrubs for the patients.
That was the moment for me when I knew it was time to go counter culture and ensure that I dressed decently daily.
The idea that looking presentable and behaving politely as counter culture is also rather shocking. The question of how in just one generation did we go from an aspiration to be our personal best to being our personal worst is really interesting.
I am happy to say my employer has instituted a dress code. I love our dress code because it is very helpful in guiding my wardrobe purchases. Getting dressed for work also helps me transition mentally from home to work, and this hidden benefit may be one of the reasons our grandparents generation was so successful; the effort of getting dressed daily set the tone for their entire day and reinforced the work ethic.
Best of luck to you and thank you again for sharing your experience and skills with society.
Sigrid

Dear Sigrid, I loved receiving your letter. It's funny that the casual nature of your city has made you dress in the opposite direction. Counter culture, indeed!




This week, I would love to know... what are your favorites? What are you reading and watching? What products are you loving right now? Let us know in the comment section below, and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.

Lastly, thank you to all of you for your wonderful support regarding the release of The Madame Chic Collection.

See you on next week for a fun mini-series on French Weight Loss Secrets!





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Twitter @JL_Scott

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. Opinions are always my own. The Contigo water bottle was sent to me to review. This post may contain affiliate links.

Special Announcement

Simon & Schuster have moved up the publication date for my upcoming book! At Home With Madame Chic will be published now on October 7th, 2014 (previously November 4th). Not long to wait now...

A Midsummer Night's Makeup Tutorial


This week I have for you an enchanting le no makeup look tutorial, set to Chopin's Raindrop Prelude, fit for a midsummer night's eve. This makeup look utilizes soft pinks and violet shades, and with a little creativity, can be achieved with the makeup you already have on hand. For a list of the makeup used in this video, please see the links below.

If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

**Video note: For vibrancy, I shoot my videos on the "food and fashion" setting. Because of this, the eyeshadow, in particular, looks darker on camera than it does in person. Rest assured, this is still a le no makeup look!



Makeup list:



Becca radiant skin satin finish foundation in “noisette”

Beauty Blender (stay tuned for an in-depth review of this next week)

Benefit Fake Up under eye concealer in 02 medium (this concealer is really hydrating and is my new favorite for the under eye area)

Benefit Boi-ing concealer in 03 (And this is my current favorite spot concealer. It does an excellent job and blends in naturally)

MAC blot powder pressed in medium

Urban Decay primer potion (I can't do without this... love it.)

Laura Mercier artist palette (this palette is no longer available but the individual shades can be found on the Laura Mercier website)
Shades used: Primrose, African Violet, Plum Smoke, Sparkly Dew

MAC mineralize blush in warm soul

MAC mineralize skin finish in soft and gentle (I love this highlighter... it's excellent)

Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara in 003 extreme black (A wonderful and affordable drug store mascara)

Sephora eyebrow editor in honey blonde

CHANEL le crayon levres nude lip pencil

NYX butter gloss in “tiramisu” (Affordable and effective... love this lip gloss)

Bobbi Brown long wear gel liner in caviar ink (My favorite eyeliner... dare I say Holy Grail?)


Secrets of the Lighthouse Giveaway


Our summer of book giveaways continues with another book by Santa Montefiore called Secrets of the Lighthouse, which will be released on August 5th.

Set in Ireland on the wild coast of Connemara, this hauntingly romantic novel tells the story of a young woman who goes in search of her family’s past and ends up discovering her future.

Ellen Trawton is running away from it all. She hates her job, she doesn’t love the aristocratic man to whom she is engaged, and her relationship with her controlling mother is becoming increasingly strained. So Ellen leaves London, fleeing to the one place she knows her mother won’t find her, her aunt’s cottage in Connemara. Cutting all her ties with chic London society, Ellen gives in to Ireland’s charm and warmth, thinking her future may lie where so much of her past has been hidden. Her imagination is soon captured by the compelling ruins of a lighthouse where, five years earlier, a young mother died in a fire.

The ghost of the young wife, Caitlin, haunts the nearby castle, mourning the future she can never have there. Unable to move on, she watches her husband and children, hoping they might see her and feel her love once more. But she doesn’t anticipate her husband falling in love again. Can she prevent it? Or can she let go and find a way to freedom and happiness?

The ruggedly beautiful Connemara coastline with its tightknit community of unforgettable characters provides the backdrop for this poignant story of two women seeking the peace and love they desperately need. For each, the key will be found in the secrets of the past, illuminated by the lighthouse.

Simon & Schuster are offering to give away 5 copies of The Summer House to readers of the Daily Connoisseur! This giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy Birthday Ellen C!

I would like to wish a very happy 50th birthday to Ellen C. of Hendersonville, TN. Ellen's daughter, Emily, reached out to me to let me know that her mom is a big fan of Madame Chic and the Daily Connoisseur and that her special day is coming up.

Ellen, I am wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous year. It's clear that you are a fantastic role model for your adoring daughters. Happy Birthday! Thank you for your long-time support of the Daily Connoisseur.


News
For all of you mystery/ thriller fans, check out my blogging friend, Kristi Belcamino's, debut thriller, Blessed Are the Dead, which is only 99cents on Amazon kindle. Congratulations Kristi!

Next week stay tuned for a more in depth review of the beauty blender.

This week I would love to know: do you have any fun makeup discoveries to share with us?


Music in this week's video:
Chopin Raindrop Prelude ROYALTY FREE MUSIC

Royalty Free Music by
http://audiomicro.com/royalty-free-music


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My eldest daughter and I both celebrated birthdays last week. Thank you for all of your kind messages on social media! We had a really fun week, which also explains why this blog post is a little late... Thank you for your patience!

Ah, another year older...

Investment Shopping 101

Yes, I'm another year older. This, combined with our recent discussions on the blog, all got me thinking about investment pieces in our wardrobe. As we grow older we are becoming more mature and sophisticated. Is our wardrobe keeping up? Or are we still purchasing low-quality, practically disposable pieces of clothing that are nowhere near as dignified as we are?

So many people have posed questions to me about investment shopping and I'm giving you my answers in this week's video: Investment Shopping 101. I made the commitment in my 20s to stop buying junk clothes and to put some thought into my purchases for long-term satisfaction. If I can do it, you can too!

To get started with investment shopping you need three things:

Commitment- You must commit to a new lifestyle of seeking out higher quality clothes and accessories. This commitment will be tested regularly! You must commit to stop the cycle of compulsive shopping in order to save for the larger purchases.

Discipline- Oh, we need discipline for so many things... It takes discipline to break old habits (like compulsive spending). It takes discipline to save money for your investment piece. Once you buy your high-quality item, it takes discipline to learn to be content with what you have and not immediately set your sights on the next shopping conquest.

Vision- If you're going to invest in your wardrobe you need a vision of what is right for you and your style. A high-quality piece could last several years, if not a lifetime, so you can't make hasty purchases. Think about the entirety of your wardrobe and think long and hard (and save!) before making any purchases.

Check out this week's video to hear the entire discussion and a tale of the first time I decided to go for quality over quantity. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur


Delancey Giveaway


Our summer of book giveaways continues as we explore Delancey by Molly Wizenberg.

In this funny, frank, tender memoir and New York Times bestseller, the author of A Homemade Life and the blog Orangette recounts how opening a restaurant sparked the first crisis of her young marriage.

When Molly Wizenberg married Brandon Pettit, he was a trained composer with a handful of offbeat interests: espresso machines, wooden boats, violin-building, and ice cream–making. So when Brandon decided to open a pizza restaurant, Molly was supportive—not because she wanted him to do it, but because the idea was so far-fetched that she didn’t think he would. Before she knew it, he’d signed a lease on a space. The restaurant, Delancey, was going to be a reality, and all of Molly’s assumptions about her marriage were about to change.

Together they built Delancey: gutting and renovating the space on a cobbled-together budget, developing a menu, hiring staff, and passing inspections. Delancey became a success, and Molly tried to convince herself that she was happy in their new life until—in the heat and pressure of the restaurant kitchen—she realized that she hadn’t been honest with herself or Brandon.

With evocative photos by Molly and twenty new recipes for the kind of simple, delicious food that chefs eat at home, Delancey is a moving and honest account of two young people learning to give in and let go in order to grow together.

Simon & Schuster are kindly offering to give away 5 copies of Delancey to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur. Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). The winners will be announced on the widget and contacted once the giveaway is over. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


and be sure to visit Molly's award winning blog, Orangette here.

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Just like one can be addicted to junk food, you can also be addicted to junk clothes. When you make the commitment to eat healthful foods and cut out the junk food, you are aiming to better your life. The same can be said for clothes. This doesn't mean that we never eat junk food (or buy low-quality clothes) again, but it does mean that we no longer exist on only junk food, because that is a recipe for disaster! Break the cycle today and start to make thoughtful purchases. You'll find you save money this way and have much more long-term satisfaction.

This week I would love to know... What was the first investment purchase you ever made? What investment purchases do you plan to make for the future? Are you tired of disposable clothes that only last one season? What are your thoughts on investment shopping?

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I hope you're having a wonderful summer! Before we begin I wanted to share my newly updated author website with you.

Visit www.jenniferlscott.com and let me know what you think! Thank you to Author Bytes for doing such a great job with the re-design.



Reader Questions Answered

This week's blog post will be light on writing. As the summer holidays are here I am devoting more time to my family which means less time to blog! But I still want to provide you with quality, consistent blog and video topics each week as well as answer your questions. This means that sometimes there might be a video, but less writing. With young kids I need to go with the flow. Thank you in advance for your understanding!

Today I answer some reader questions as well as share very wise reader insights. We discuss investment shopping, provocative dressing (dressing to attract), capsule recipe collections and looking presentable always. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur


Sisters of Treason Giveaway

We continue our summer of book giveaways with the newly released Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle. Already receiving stellar reviews, this book is a highly anticipated read for me as I enjoyed Queen's Gambit so much. Many readers are saying this is historical fiction at its best!

Here is the book description:

From the author of Queen’s Gambit, which People magazine called, “A must-read for Philippa Gregory fans,” a gripping historical novel about two sisters who tread as dangerously close to the crown as their tragic sister, Lady Jane Grey, executed after just nine days on the throne.

Early in Mary Tudor’s turbulent reign, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary Grey are reeling after the brutal execution of their elder seventeen-year-old sister, Lady Jane Grey, and the succession is by no means stable. In Sisters of Treason, Elizabeth Freemantle brings these young women to life in a spellbinding Tudor tale of love and politics.

Neither sister is well suited to a dangerous life at court. Flirtatious Lady Catherine, thought to be the true heir, cannot control her compulsion to love and be loved. Her sister, clever Lady Mary, has a crooked spine and a tiny stature in an age when physical perfection equates to goodness—and both girls have inherited the Tudor blood that is more curse than blessing. For either girl to marry without royal permission would be a potentially fatal political act. It is the royal portrait painter, Levina Teerlinc, who helps the girls survive these troubled times. She becomes their mentor and confidante, but when the Queen’s sister, the hot-headed Elizabeth, inherits the crown, life at court becomes increasingly treacherous for the surviving Grey sisters. Ultimately each young woman must decide how far she will go to defy her Queen, risk her life, and find the safety and love she longs for.

From “a brilliant new player in the court of royal fiction,” (People) Sisters of Treason brings to vivid life the perilous and romantic lives of two little known young women who played a major role in the complex politics of their day.

Simon & Schuster are generously giving away 5 copies to readers of the Daily Connoisseur. This giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


This week I would love to know... what do you think about provocative dressing (showing too much skin)? What about investment shopping? What are your favorite high-quality brands? Have you thought about applying the principles of the ten-item wardrobe to other areas of your life as well?

For all mothers out there... what are your tips for getting through those (sometimes long) summer days?

See you next week!


Music in this week's video: Johan Strauss Tritsch Tritsch

Royalty Free Music by Audio Micro


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This week we continue our conversation about dressing well. So many people chimed in about last week's topic on how to make an inexpensive outfit look expensive. Through facebook, email and the blog I received hundreds of comments on this topic.

Here were some of my favorites:

Diana H.S. writes: It's "about presenting the best version of you possible regardless of your circumstances".

Cristina S. writes: "Good taste comes at different price points and the art of curating your pieces in a wardrobe to end up with great style is the goal".

Tiffany W. writes: "Life should be a great mix of things. A dress you feel beautiful in is a great piece, no matter the price tag and adding your collection of finer things helps make it unique to you. That is true style".

Carmen writes: "I think as long as you are perfectly groomed and have great posture, you can easily turn an inexpensive outfit into looking expensive. I believe the key is how you conduct yourself. I've seem many, who swear by expensive clothes and yet look extremely cheap because of the way they behave and act."

Bree writes: "I like to wear a mix of high and lower end clothing and what I've found is that neatness counts! No amount of expensive clothes or accessories can make you look put together if you're sloppy, while a less expensive look applied with care and an eye for detail looks very nice."

Can Do Mom writes: "I agree that quality shoes and nice accessories can elevate any outfit. Also important is proper fit, care and ironing! No wrinkles, please!"

These were just a sampling of the wise comments I received. Thank you for your contributions! As always you inspire me greatly.


This week's video analyzes that je ne sais quoi that is captured when you wear quality clothes and how you can get it no matter what you are wearing. (I also address some haters!) Don't miss this week's video. If you can't see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this post, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

The Summer House Giveaway

Our summer of book giveaways continues on the Daily Connoisseur with Santa Montefiore's The Summer House. If you ask me, this sounds like the perfect beach read. Here's the description:

When Lord Frampton dies in a skiing accident, a beautiful young woman named Phaedra appears at his funeral—claiming to be the Lord’s illegitimate daughter. In his will, Lord Frampton has left the priceless Frampton suite of sapphires to this interloper, confirming her claim and outraging his three adult sons and widow. Eventually, however, Phaedra’s sweet nature thaws the frosty relationships. She becomes the daughter that Antoinette Frampton never had and a wise and compassionate granddaughter to the formidable Dowager Lady Frampton. But an attraction grows between Phaedra and the eldest son, David. It seems an impossible love—blocked by their blood connection and by the fury of one family member who is determined to expose Phaedra as a fraud.

Filled with the luscious scenery and enchanting characters her fans adore, Santa Montefiore’s Summer House is an unforgettable story about family, forgiveness, and the power of love.

Simon & Schuster are offering to give away 5 copies of The Summer House to readers of the Daily Connoisseur! This giveaway is open to US residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Dressing well is not about "keeping up with the Joneses". Dressing well is a form of artistic expression. It is a celebration of life. It is a statement about who you are. Dressing well is not just for the wealthy. Anyone can do it on any budget. Don't let our casual society make you feel uncomfortable about dressing well. The fact that other people are in sweatpants, pajamas or exercise clothes all day long has nothing to do with you. You go on shining like the star that you are.

A final thing to ponder: Tom Ford said, "Dressing well is a form of good manners". (Thank you to viewer, Glenda, for reminding me of this gem!).

This week I would love to know: How do you feel about dressing your best? Putting thought into what you are wearing? Do you feel this is about "Keeping up with the Joneses" or something more profound? What are your thoughts on ladylike dressing in our society? Let me know! On social media use the hashtag #MADAMECHIC


Music in this week's video: Johan Strauss Tritsch Tritsch

Royalty Free Music by
http://audiomicro.com/royalty-free-music
Sound Effects by
http://audiomicro.com/sound-effects


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Today I'm sharing my summer reading list with you. I just love a good, juicy read during the warmer months don't you? My lovely editor/ kindred spirit, Trish Todd, knows my interests so well and sent me a goody box with some of Simon & Schuster's most interesting summer reads.



Watch this week's video to hear more about the books. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Here are the (clickable) titles and book descriptions:

A Place at the Table by Susan Rebecca White

From Susan Rebecca White, award-winning author of A Soft Place to Land and Bound South, comes a breathtaking story of three richly nuanced outcasts whose paths converge in a chic Manhattan café as they realize they must give up everything they thought they knew to find a home at last.

Alice Stone is famous for the homemade southern cuisine she serves at Café Andres and her groundbreaking cookbook, but her past is a mystery to all who know her. Upon Alice’s retirement, Bobby Banks, a young gay man ostracized by his family in Georgia, sets out to revive the aging café with his new brand of southern cooking while he struggles with heartbreak like he’s never known. Seeking respite from the breakup of her marriage, wealthy divorcée Amelia Brighton finds solace in the company and food at Café Andres, until a family secret comes to light in the pages of Alice’s cookbook and threatens to upend her life.

In her most accomplished novel yet, Susan Rebecca White braids together the stories of these three unforgettable characters who must learn that when you embrace the thing that makes you different, you become whole.

The Summer House by Santa Montefiore

When Lord Frampton dies in a skiing accident, a beautiful young woman named Phaedra appears at his funeral—claiming to be the Lord’s illegitimate daughter. In his will, Lord Frampton has left the priceless Frampton suite of sapphires to this interloper, confirming her claim and outraging his three adult sons and widow. Eventually, however, Phaedra’s sweet nature thaws the frosty relationships. She becomes the daughter that Antoinette Frampton never had and a wise and compassionate granddaughter to the formidable Dowager Lady Frampton. But an attraction grows between Phaedra and the eldest son, David. It seems an impossible love—blocked by their blood connection and by the fury of one family member who is determined to expose Phaedra as a fraud.

Filled with the luscious scenery and enchanting characters her fans adore, Santa Montefiore’s Summer House is an unforgettable story about family, forgiveness, and the power of love.

Secrets of the Lighthouse by Santa Montefiore (release date August 5, 2014)

Set in Ireland on the wild coast of Connemara, this hauntingly romantic novel tells the story of a young woman who goes in search of her family’s past and ends up discovering her future.

Ellen Trawton is running away from it all. She hates her job, she doesn’t love the aristocratic man to whom she is engaged, and her relationship with her controlling mother is becoming increasingly strained. So Ellen leaves London, fleeing to the one place she knows her mother won’t find her, her aunt’s cottage in Connemara. Cutting all her ties with chic London society, Ellen gives in to Ireland’s charm and warmth, thinking her future may lie where so much of her past has been hidden. Her imagination is soon captured by the compelling ruins of a lighthouse where, five years earlier, a young mother died in a fire.

The ghost of the young wife, Caitlin, haunts the nearby castle, mourning the future she can never have there. Unable to move on, she watches her husband and children, hoping they might see her and feel her love once more. But she doesn’t anticipate her husband falling in love again. Can she prevent it? Or can she let go and find a way to freedom and happiness?

The ruggedly beautiful Connemara coastline with its tightknit community of unforgettable characters provides the backdrop for this poignant story of two women seeking the peace and love they desperately need. For each, the key will be found in the secrets of the past, illuminated by the lighthouse.

Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle (release date July 8, 2014)

From the author of Queen’s Gambit, which People magazine called, “A must-read for Philippa Gregory fans,” a gripping historical novel about two sisters who tread as dangerously close to the crown as their tragic sister, Lady Jane Grey, executed after just nine days on the throne.

Early in Mary Tudor’s turbulent reign, Lady Catherine and Lady Mary Grey are reeling after the brutal execution of their elder seventeen-year-old sister, Lady Jane Grey, and the succession is by no means stable. In Sisters of Treason, Elizabeth Freemantle brings these young women to life in a spellbinding Tudor tale of love and politics.

Neither sister is well suited to a dangerous life at court. Flirtatious Lady Catherine, thought to be the true heir, cannot control her compulsion to love and be loved. Her sister, clever Lady Mary, has a crooked spine and a tiny stature in an age when physical perfection equates to goodness—and both girls have inherited the Tudor blood that is more curse than blessing. For either girl to marry without royal permission would be a potentially fatal political act. It is the royal portrait painter, Levina Teerlinc, who helps the girls survive these troubled times. She becomes their mentor and confidante, but when the Queen’s sister, the hot-headed Elizabeth, inherits the crown, life at court becomes increasingly treacherous for the surviving Grey sisters. Ultimately each young woman must decide how far she will go to defy her Queen, risk her life, and find the safety and love she longs for.

From “a brilliant new player in the court of royal fiction,” (People) Sisters of Treason brings to vivid life the perilous and romantic lives of two little known young women who played a major role in the complex politics of their day.

Delancey by Molly Wizenberg


In this funny, frank, tender memoir and New York Times bestseller, the author of A Homemade Life and the blog Orangette recounts how opening a restaurant sparked the first crisis of her young marriage.

When Molly Wizenberg married Brandon Pettit, he was a trained composer with a handful of offbeat interests: espresso machines, wooden boats, violin-building, and ice cream–making. So when Brandon decided to open a pizza restaurant, Molly was supportive—not because she wanted him to do it, but because the idea was so far-fetched that she didn’t think he would. Before she knew it, he’d signed a lease on a space. The restaurant, Delancey, was going to be a reality, and all of Molly’s assumptions about her marriage were about to change.

Together they built Delancey: gutting and renovating the space on a cobbled-together budget, developing a menu, hiring staff, and passing inspections. Delancey became a success, and Molly tried to convince herself that she was happy in their new life until—in the heat and pressure of the restaurant kitchen—she realized that she hadn’t been honest with herself or Brandon.

With evocative photos by Molly and twenty new recipes for the kind of simple, delicious food that chefs eat at home, Delancey is a moving and honest account of two young people learning to give in and let go in order to grow together.

A Place at the Table Giveaway



I am kicking off a summer of book giveaways with Susan Rebecca White's A Place at the Table. We are giving away 3 copies to readers of the Daily Connoisseur. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (terms set by Simon & Schuster). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


For more on Susan Rebecca White visit www.susanrebeccawhite.com

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought

Virginia Johnson's delightful illustration in Lessons from Madame Chic

Last week I took my daughter to see a play and came home to unexpectedly hear the rehearsal of a choir coming from a neighbor's apartment. I can't imagine life without the arts... The arts feed our soul. Do what you can to seek out the arts and allow them to enrich your (often too busy) life. Seeing a play, attending a concert, listening to a church choir, visiting a museum, these are all palate cleansers that recharge our battery as we jump back into the fray of everyday life. #SeekOutTheArts

Follow Simon & Schuster on Twitter @SimonBooks and on Facebook

See you soon! xx

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This week we are examining how we present ourselves. You know one of my mottos from Lessons from Madame Chic is "look presentable always". While this seems like a superficial goal, it is actually quite powerful. Making it our goal to look presentable every single day (whatever our best is for that day) puts out the message that we respect ourselves and the people we come in contact with. That we have the energy to put our best foot forward and that by adorning ourselves we are in our own way celebrating life.



Looking presentable should not be high-maintenance or unattainable. It should be easy and fun! Which is why I did this week's video showing you an easy, yet elegant braided updo. This tutorial is for women with medium to long hair. If you have short hair you can modify it by creating two side braids and pinning them back... play with it and find what works for you. If you are unable to see this week's video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur



To continue the theme I am so happy to introduce to you The Lost Art of Dress by Linda Przybyszewski. This fascinating book explores the history (and downfall) of American dress in a witty and entertaining way. It is a book that I know many of you will love.

I was very honored to have my book blurb included on its cover:

"An invaluable resource of inspiration. The Lost Art of Dress calls us to resurrect our stylish roots and bring tasteful beauty back to our everyday routine." -Jennifer L. Scott, author of Lessons from Madame Chic

Here is the description from Amazon:

As a glance down any street in America quickly reveals, American women have forgotten how to dress. We chase fads, choose inappropriate materials and unattractive cuts, and waste energy tottering in heels when we could be moving gracefully. Quite simply, we lack the fashion know-how we need to dress professionally and flatteringly.

As historian and expert dressmaker Linda Przybyszewski reveals in The Lost Art of Dress, it wasn’t always like this. In the first half of the twentieth century, a remarkable group of women—the so-called Dress Doctors—taught American women how to stretch each yard of fabric and dress well on a budget. Knowledge not money, they insisted, is the key to timeless fashion. Based in Home Economics departments across the country, the Dress Doctors offered advice on radio shows, at women’s clubs, and in magazines. Millions of young girls read their books in school and at 4-H clothing clubs. As Przybyszewski shows, the Dress Doctors’ concerns weren’t purely superficial: they prized practicality, and empowered women to design and make clothing for both the workplace and the home. They championed skirts that would allow women to move about freely and campaigned against impractical and painful shoes. Armed with the Dress Doctors’ simple design principles—harmony, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis—modern American women from all classes could learn to dress for all occasions in a way that made them confident, engaged members of society.

A captivating and beautifully-illustrated look at the world of the Dress Doctors, The Lost Art of Dress introduces a new audience to their timeless rules of fashion and beauty—rules which, with a little help, we can certainly learn again.

Basic Books have been kind enough to offer to give away 5 copies of The Lost Art of Dress to readers of the Daily Connoisseur! Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open to US residents only (my apologies to our international readers but I do not set these guidelines).

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The five winners will be announced on the widget and contacted directly once the giveaway is over next week.

Best of luck!

For more information on Linda Przybyszewski you can visit her at http://www.professorpski.com/



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I had all of these grand plans to do a number of holiday-themed videos on the Daily Connoisseur this year and then, lo and behold, the holidays crept up quicker than I anticipated! I must have been distracted working on the second book, which I am happy to report, was just turned in to my editor, Trish Todd, at Simon & Schuster. Woo hoo!

So this week's video, Holiday Chat, discusses two topics to make up for lost time. First we talk about high and low budget decorating. I show you my citrus fruit ornaments that I did a tutorial on last year, and introduce you to my favorite decoration, my Kay Burkart Santa Claus... a true work of art!



**Update- Many people have asked where I purchased my Kay Burkart Santa. I purchased him locally from Stephanie Grace Designs in Santa Monica.

The video also gives you my top gift book recommendations. I love receiving books as presents and you are sure to find something for everyone on my list.

Books mentioned in the video are:

♦︎Downton Tabby by Chris Kelly (This book is SO FUNNY. It would make a perfect stocking stuffer.)

♦︎The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman (and illustrated by Lessons from Madame Chic artist, Virginia Johnson.)

♦︎A Life of Barbara Stanwyck Steel True: 1907-1940 by Victoria Wilson (Perfect for anyone who loves the Golden Age of Hollywood.)

♦︎The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (One of the most delightful series of books ever written, in my humble opinion.)

♦︎The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer (This is the next book club selection for the Daily Connoisseur, so I want you to read this too!)

♦︎Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott (C'mon, you know I had to include this in the gift guide.)

♦︎Taste of Home Christmas 465 recipes for a merry holiday (Fabulous holiday recipes... would make a great gift!)

Check out this week's video for the full chat. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Book News

Lessons from Madame Chic makes Martine Holston's 2013 book list as her top French lifestyle book of the year (and she read 5 in the same genre). Thank you Martine! Check out the list here.

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Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you had a marvelous day yesterday. I am thankful for my family, my friends and for you dear readers. I feel as though we are all family. Thank you for showing up and for being a part of our beautiful community.

I am happy to come to you today with a very special giveaway. But first, a backstory...

A few weeks ago, Erica Silverman, my dear friend and literary agent, told me that her sister, Victoria Wilson, was about to publish a book on the life of Barbara Stanwyck. I was so thrilled to hear this because, as you know, I just love the golden age of Hollywood and Barbara Stanwyck is one of the most iconic screen actresses from the era.

Here's what Janet Maslin of the New York Times had to say about Victoria's book:

“860 glittering pages… it ends with a cliffhanger, creating eager anticipation for Ms. Wilson’s concluding volume… ‘A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True, 1907-1940’ is not about the actress alone. It’s bigger and splashier. Stanwyck knew the most notable directors, writers, actors, studio chiefs and Broadway impresarios of her day, and Ms. Wilson is interested in all of them. A remarkable array of still photographs present
supporting characters like Florenz Ziegfeld, Annie Oakley, Clark Gable and Zeppo Marx, all of whom have their places in this account. An even more startling collection of movie ads and posters tells a riveting tale of sexism (about ‘Baby Face’: ‘You’ve never seen anything like this frank,
man-to-man story of a man-to-man girl!’), even as they chronicle Stanwyck’s career… The book describes how she evolved from an emotion-wringing actress into a sullen, bad-girl bombshell into Stella Dallas, arguably the most soapily self-sacrificing mother ever seen on camera… Regarding Ms. Wilson’s follow-up, no studio’s publicity department could offer a better set of coming attractions.”

A Life of Barbara Stanwyck Steel-True 1907 - 1940 is published by Simon & Schuster (behold the synergy!) and they were kind enough to send me a copy of this glorious volume and offered to do a giveaway to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur.

But before we get to the giveaway, check out these beautiful images S&S sent me of Ms. Stanwyck:






And here is a video of Victoria Wilson discussing the book:



This book would make the perfect holiday present for anyone who loves those classic old Hollywood movies...

Simon & Schuster are giving away one copy of A Life of Barbara Stanwyck Steel-True 1907-1940 to a lucky reader of the Daily Connoisseur. Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open to US residents only (the guidelines of this giveaway are set by the publisher, not by me). The winner will be announced on the widget one week from today. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


For more on Victoria Wilson, visit her at: http://www.victoriawilsonbooks.com/

See you next week for three very fun hair tutorials. Have a great weekend. xx

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Have you ever changed your signature scent? Or have you been content with the same fragrance for years? Are you still on the search for your signature scent? This week's video gives you an update on my own perfume journey and announces my new signature scent (hint: there's a twist to this story).

If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Forever Chic Giveaway
My dear blogging friend, Tish Jett, from A Femme d'un Certain Age has just published her book, Forever Chic. Tish was kind enough to share Lessons from Madame Chic with her readers when it came out, and now I am so happy to be able to mention her book to you. Aimed for women over 40 (and all who are interested in aging gracefully), this book is sure to delight Francophiles everywhere. Tish's book dishes out many French secrets and shares her own chic journey as a woman of a certain age.

Tish and Rizzoli are kind enough to offer to give away one copy of Forever Chic to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur. This giveaway is open worldwide so all of you can enter. Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be announced on the widget one week from today.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


For more on Tish, visit her blog here and check out her book here. Bonne Chance!

Thank you

All of my writing energy has been going into this new book, so the writing on the blog has been a bit "light" of late. I wanted to extend a thank you to my readers for being so understanding. I have two little girls to look after as well and they are my first priority so I must find the right balance. I don't want to compromise on the blog's quality and aim to provide you with a thought-provoking or interesting video each week. Thank you for bearing with me and being so supportive. See you next week! xx

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Metaphysical author, Tess Whitehurst, recently contacted me to let me know how much she enjoyed Lessons from Madame Chic. I was tickled to hear from her because I've really enjoyed her insights on feng shui in her books, Magical Housekeeping and The Good Energy Book. Tess recently came out with Magical Fashionista: Dress for the Life You Want and she was kind enough to offer to give away one signed book to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur.

Drawing on astrology, feng shui and psychology, this mystical guide shows how fashion with intention can be a powerful and life-affirming practice. Now I must mention that this is not a traditional style guide in any sense of the word. It discusses moon signs, horoscopes, rituals, fashion spells, crystals and mystical concepts of that nature and relates them all to fashion (which is why I thought this would be a perfect giveaway for the month of October!).

So while some of the concepts in this book aren't for everyone, if you are interested in metaphysics, you'll certainly gleam joy and insight from it. I also find that this book is substantial enough that you can easily absorb what interests you (I'm a cancer and really enjoyed reading about how fashion relates to my water sign) and leave what doesn't pertain to your lifestyle or beliefs.

Here is what Publishers Weekly had to say about Magical Fashionista:

"In this satisfying and unusual style guide...Whitehurst examines the metaphysics of fashion and its potential as a personal art project...Though Whitehurst instructs readers to "stand like a celebrity" and "walk like a supermodel," it's obvious that readers are meant to think of themselves on the same playing field, not as inferior beings...sure to be welcomed by the open-minded fashion lover."

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please enter via rafflecopter below. I will announce the winner on the rafflecopter widget one week from today. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more on Tess Whitehurst, visit her on Facebook and Twitter.

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I recently had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of My First Novel: Tales of Woe and Glory, an inspiring and hilarious compilation of essays from some of today's leading authors on how they got their first book published.

My writing mentor, Alan Watt, edited the book and includes his own fascinating story of how he came to write his first book, the internationally acclaimed, Diamond Dogs.

This book is something every writer should read (it would make the perfect gift too!). But even if you aren't a writer, it is fascinating to come to know the writing and publishing process from so many different perspectives. Also the stories in this book will inspire and motivate you to follow that creative spark that resides in all of us. Here is part of the description from Amazon:

Have you ever wondered how your favorite authors got their start? How did they make the leap from closet scribe to published author? In My First Novel: Tales of Woe and Glory, twenty-five authors recount the variety of hurdles, both internal and external that they had to overcome on their journey. Alan Watt, editor of My First Novel and founder of L.A. Writers’ Lab’s 90-Day Novel Workshops, states, “The goal of this book was to demystify the creative experience, to level the playing field, to say to the writer who was struggling with his novel late at the night in the garage of his parent’s house in Walla Walla, that you are no different than any of these other writers, and to keep going, and yes, at times it really is that difficult and scary, but that you are not alone, and you are up to the challenge, and here are twenty-five separate road maps to the same destination.”

Writers Tribe Books is generously offering to give away one book to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur! Please enter via the Rafflecoptor widget below. All entries must go through rafflecoptor to be fair. The winner will be announced on this widget one week from today. This giveaway is open to United States residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Best of luck! And see you Monday when we discuss the second agreement in our book club: don't take anything personally. See you then!

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I've read some great books over the last few months and wanted to share them with you in this week's video, which discusses everything from historical fiction to Victorian home life to unputdownable thrillers. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Books mentioned in the video:

Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle
The Butler Speaks by Charles MacPherson
Through the French Door by Carolyn Westbrook
Inside the Victorian Home by Judith Flanders
Daughter of Empire by Lady Pamela Hicks
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Queen’s Gambit Giveaway


Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. Queen’s Gambit tells the story of Katherine Parr, the wife who survived the treacherous Tudor court of King Henry VIII. We all know the story of Henry VIII and his more famous wives, like Anne Boleyn, but few of us know details about Katherine Parr's life. This wonderful work of historical fiction takes us right there and fills in the blanks deliciously. If you love historical fiction, especially about the Tudor time period, you will love this book.

Simon & Schuster sent me an advance copy of Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle to read and were also kind enough to offer to give away one copy of this excellent book to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur!

Enter to win your own copy of Queen's Gambit, via rafflecopter. The giveaway is open to US residents only. I will announce the winner directly on this rafflecopter widget one week from today. Best of luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway



To learn more about Elizabeth Fremantle, visit her website here.

Book Signings

Southern California readers, I hope to see you at my next book signing for Lessons from Madame Chic.
Refreshments will be served and RSVP is required:

Anthropologie Santa Monica
1402 Third Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA
Thursday, August 29th 1-3pm

RSVP Here

News

I am featured on the Liberation Artist this week in a great interview with the lovely Laura Saba.

See you next week! x

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Ashenden Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered in the Ashenden giveaway. I really enjoyed reading your comments listing your favorite historical novels and movies!


And now without further ado, the winner of Ashenden by Elizabeth Wilhide (picked courtesy of random.org) is:

Susan M. from Greenville, SC, whose favorite historical novel is Sarah's Key.

Congratulations! Please send me an email with your contact details and I will forward them on to Simon & Schuster.

For more on Ashenden, check it out on Amazon here.

Diamond Dogs


My writing mentor, Al Watt, who founded the LA Writers Lab, has re-released his debut novel, Diamond Dogs, via Writers Tribe Books. Diamond Dogs is a dark, suspenseful and riveting read that won France's Prix Printemps for best foreign novel. You can find it on Amazon here.


Lessons from Madame Chic

♥ Lessons from Madame Chic has won an award at the NY Book Fair for best in design and merchandising. I'm very proud of this accomplishment and would like to thank the whole team at S&S as well as the illustrator, Virginia Johnson, for making my book so beautiful. More info on this to come.

♥ I will be live on Sirius XM 107 radio today, Thursday January 17th at 5pm PST, with Janette Barber discussing Lessons from Madame Chic. Hope you tune in!


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Downton Abbey season 3 aired here in America last Sunday and what a delight it was. This show has cast a spell on us. There is something so mesmerizing about that grand English country house and its inhabitants. Well for all fellow Downton fanatics I have a marvelous book recommendation for you...

Ashenden, by Elizabeth Wilhide, is a positively mesmerizing book about 240 years in the life of an English country house. Each chapter in the novel shares a historical slice of life in the magnificent Ashenden.

The story starts off in present day England with brother Charlie and sister Ros, who have inherited Ashenden from their aunt. Suddenly met with the enormous financial burden the house brings with it, but also intrigued by the prospect of perhaps keeping it, the brother and sister are at odds over what to do with it. While we wonder about the fate of Ashenden, we are taken back in time with a fluid interwoven storyline as we get to meet the people who inhabit the house.

Ashenden is a delightful read. I felt very attached to the house by the end of the book and didn't want it to end!

I was lucky enough to interview the author, Elizabeth Wilhide, who gives us more insight to the book below. And be sure to check out the end of this post to see how you can win a copy of Ashenden for your own library!

What inspired you to write Ashenden?

Ashenden is based on a real house, Basildon Park, which I visited – almost by accident – in the spring of 2008. My husband and I were intending to visit a garden nearby, which turned out to be closed, and we ended up at Basildon instead. I knew I wanted to write about it as soon as I set foot in it and felt the insistent tug of its symmetry. I knew I had to write about it when I read the guidebook and discovered how closely its changing fortunes mirrored that of the country’s history.

How did you research the different historical periods you write about in the novel?

I’ve made my living as a writer on design, interiors and architecture for many years, so I already knew how this type of house would be decorated and furnished and how it would be used at any given period– that was a tremendous help! A few of the stories in the novel are closely based on real events associated with Basildon Park; most use the house as a springboard for my imagination. Chance research online led me to a site detailing POW camps in Britain during World War II, which was a thrilling discovery and became the starting point for the chapter Hut C.

Do you have a favorite historical period?

In terms of design, I love the clarity and elegance of the Georgian period. But social history in general has always fascinated me – what people wore, what they ate, how they worked, how they survived times of change…

What can you tell us about the state of many of these historic English country houses today?

Unlike Basildon Park – and its fictional counterpart – many country houses were demolished in the 1950s and 1960s. Years of decline, death duties and the depredations of the war years simply made them too expensive to maintain. Sadly, one ended up as hardcore under the M1 motorway. Many of those that remained were saved by the National Trust and opened to the public. Today, income from visitors is often not enough to run these places and they have had to fall back on other sources of revenue. Basildon, for example, featured as Netherfield in the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and the location fees helped pay for essential repairs to its stonework.

What is your writing routine?

My day starts with the Guardian cryptic crossword – it’s my commute! Then it’s chiefly a question of avoiding or failing to avoid distractions, including demon Twitter. Ashenden was written in my spare time, in the evenings and at weekends. At present, I’m trying to get my imagination to switch on earlier in the day…

What's next for you?

I’m about a third of the way into a new novel set largely in London during World War II. I’ve always been drawn to this period and I’m particularly interested in the gap between the myth-making that went on during this period and what actually took place.

Thank you Elizabeth!

Giveaway

To win a copy of this book, please follow these guidelines:

1. Leave a comment below stating your first and last name (or last initial) and what city you are from (please note, due to restrictions, this giveaway is only open to US & Canada residents only).

2. Let us know in your comment what your favorite historical novel or movie is.

3. To be entered twice in the giveaway, either tweet about this giveaway, or post about it on your facebook page. Please let me know in the comments if you have done this so I will know to enter you twice.

The winner will be announced one week from today. Good luck!

Check out Ashenden on Amazon.

Find Elizabeth Wilhide on Twitter @EWilhide

News for Lessons from Madame Chic

♥ I am featured in the Charlotte Observer this week for an article called, The right 10 pieces can help you build the perfect wardrobe.

♥ Parisien Salon gives Lessons from Madame Chic a great review and they are doing a giveaway in their article called Twenty Lessons on Leading a Stylish Life.


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