I have such a fun video for you today. I'm collaborating with Nikki Moreno from Inspired by Nikki to bring you 5 ways to add romance to your decor. Nikki has a wonderful and inspiring YouTube channel and she is a dear friend of mine in real life too! Nikki's decorating style is lovely and romantic and I can't wait until you see her tips too! Watch Nikki's video here.



Now, what do we mean by romance in decor? How can decor be romantic? Well, it's those little touches that add beauty, loveliness and charm to your surroundings.

Speaking of surroundings, I have written a poem for Nikki's channel that she is making a film of and that video is debuting tomorrow, so be sure to watch that too. It has been a fun, artistic collaboration all around!

Here are my 5 ways to add romance to your decor:



📖 Books I love to have beautiful and inspiring books in almost every room. If I have a free moment to sit down, I love to do so with a cup of tea and a great book. I like keeping books on poetry, interiors, artists, and inspiring people in our downstairs sitting rooms. In today's video I show you the book of poetry by Shelley (which will be a part of our April Chic Assignment). I also mention the Tasha Tudor book as well as my own Madame Chic books. I have been reading Mother Culture and loving it. I highly recommend this book for homeschooling moms.





🌹Flowers Our property is covered in beautifully established rose bushes and when the roses bloom, we have an abundance of fresh bouquets in our home. They add romance and fragrance and are simply divine! But in the off months, when we don't have fresh flowers, I like to use faux florals. I have used florals from Nearly Natural and I also love the decadently beautiful arrangements from Horchow.



🎵 Music When I am having "one of those days" or simply do not feel inspired to do anything, I always open the windows and put on some beautiful music. I prefer classical because it is stimulating to the mind, yet relaxing all at the same time, and oh so romantic! I mention the albums Porcelain and Beethoven at Bedtime in today's video. Porcelain was recently recommended to me by a reader and I'm loving it!


🕯 Natural Candles There is something about the flickering flame of a beautifully-scented candle that adds beauty to your surroundings. I recently did a comprehensive review of my favorite natural candles on Natural Home with Jennifer. In today's video, I'm burning Breathe Easy by Cellar Door Candles.



🍫 Chocolate Let's say the day is dragging on and you feel as though you are in despair. Forget the knight in shining armor, a dose of good chocolate will do the trick! (I'm only partially kidding!) I love having chocolate around the home. I have to hide it so that the kids (and Ben!) don't find it and devour it. Sometimes I hide it and then I forgot where I put it. Do you ever do that? Tell me I'm not alone! I like to put my chocolate almonds on this pretty antique silver dish I picked up at an estate sale in Santa Monica. It makes it so much fancier.

There you have my 5 tips for adding romance to your decor. I hope you enjoy today's video.

News
📍 A big thank you to those of you who are taking my new eCourse, How to be Efficient at Home.

Rosalie writes, "Thank you, Jennifer, for another inspiring course. Not only do you provide great, practical content, beautifully delivered, but you have also created a community of like-minded people. I think this will really help when the going gets tough - to know that I can come back, read the content and the comments and find tips, tricks and support. You have truly inspired me to "serve my family with a happy heart"."

Thank you, Rosalie! Yes, the course is accessible at any time. It's worth coming back and reading the comments on each lecture. They are truly great!

📍I love when people post about their ten-item wardrobe! Check out Robin from Faith and Flour for her week of outfits and Joy Forney for her ten-item wardrobe for spring/summer. These two ladies have done an excellent job of displaying how the ten-item wardrobe can work in real-life situations. If you share your ten-item wardrobe online, let me know and you could be featured on this blog!

On Instagram
Lucy Selgas, owner of Preserve Journals, who has always been so supportive of the Madame Chic books, has launched the kickstarter for her beautiful celebration journals. These journals are such a unique idea. They created a Celebration Journal— a beautiful, heirloom quality journal offering an intentional alternative to the greeting cards Mothers receive from their children. I have already pre-ordered mine. I can tell this is going to be an heirloom I will treasure from my children. Congratulations, Lucy!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Preserve Journals (@preservejournals) on Feb 28, 2019 at 12:16pm PST

Comment of the Week
On Monday's ten-item wardrobe video, Jodie writes, "Hi Jennifer. I’ve been following you for several years now and the capsule wardrobe is finally sinking in...I’m slow on change...if the tortoise can be a winner then so can I. Thank you for your amazing authenticity..."

Ha! Jodie, I loved your comment. I know that it helps for me to put out regular ten-item wardrobe reminder videos because everyone goes at their own pace. You can do it! And please report back to us and let us know how it goes.

Thank you for joining me today. I would love to know how you like to add romance to your decor. What are your tips for us? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.



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Before this week’s post begins check out my video called Clutter-Free Home: Checking the Mail. In the video I share with you my top tip for dealing with mail and paperwork in an orderly manner. If you are unable to see the embedded video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

And now for this week’s post:

The Signature Cake

When I lived in Paris one of the things that greatly impressed me were the homemade desserts we enjoyed on a regular basis. Madame Chic had her arsenal of recipes. Fruit tarts were her specialty- mainly apple in the winter and strawberry in the summer- but she also liked to make crêpes, custards, fruit salads and cake.

Madame Bohemienne had a few dessert recipes she always made as well but my favorite was her flourless chocolate cake. That cake was so moist and delicious… It looked very simple but was a show stopper and the ultimate pièce de résistance at her dinner parties. She told me it was really easy to make and that she didn’t even use a recipe anymore- she had made it so many times the steps and ingredients were engrained in her memory.

Having a signature cake recipe, a simple one that you can make easily and that you can perfect, is a great thing to have.

Since being back in America I have searched high and low for a flourless chocolate cake recipe that rivals that of Madame Bohemienne’s and I have found one that I can now call my own.



This recipe is from the Epicurious website. It’s a delicious recipe and oh so French. The ingredients are very simple, as are the steps (everything is mixed in one bowl- which also cuts down on cleaning time). The ingredients are also common- you will most likely have these things on hand in your home so if you find that you’ve got last minute dinner guests it would be easy to whip one together.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:
4 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder plus additional for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375°F and butter an 8-inch round baking pan. Line bottom with a round of wax paper and butter paper. Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring, until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk sugar into chocolate mixture. Add eggs and whisk well. Sift 1/2 cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 25 minutes, or until top has formed a thin crust. Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes and invert onto a serving plate. Dust cake with additional cocoa powder and serve with ice cream if desired. (Cake keeps, after being cooled completely, in an airtight container, 1 week.)

The recipe does require a double boiler like mine pictured below.



If you don’t have one of these you can always use a bowl over a pot of barely simmering water and that should work just fine. Also wax paper is imperative to line the bottom of the pan (and don’t forget to butter underneath and on top of the paper. This allows the cake to come out smoothly…) And finally, it’s not in the recipe, but a small sprinkling of confectioners sugar on top is a nice touch.

I would love to know… Do you have a signature cake?

To see the recipe on the Epicurious website, click here.


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On this Valentine's week I thought it would be apt to do a post on romantic things like orchids and chocolates. A while back I did a video called How I Care for my Orchids that got a really big response from viewers. I decided to follow up on that video and show you the different orchid varieties I keep in my home and share with you even more tips for keeping beautiful orchids in this week's video: My Orchids.



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



And as for chocolates... I know they can be a bit cliché for Valentine's day but I get them every year for Mr. Connoisseur none the less. I still get a thrill from a box of chocolates and would never turn down an occasion to receive them (I'm making the assumption that he feels the same!) This year his box, pictured above, is from Chocolate Opulence in Santa Monica, who create beautiful and aromatic French-style artisan chocolates that are made in Los Angeles. My favorites are the dark chocolate sea salt caramel (which seems to be a favorite of many people I know), the passion fruit cream and the dark chocolate crème.

I hope you have a lovely and romantic week...

I would love to know... what are your favorite chocolates? And do you keep orchids in your home?

My cymbidium orchid is pictured above as are Mr. Connoisseur's box of Chocolate Opulence.

For more information on Chocolate Opulence visit www.chocolateopulance.com

To see my first video on How I Care for My Orchids click here.


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This year for Valentine's Day I am giving my sweetheart (otherwise known as B) one pound of luxury chocolate from my favorite local chocolatier in Santa Monica, Chocolatt...from Belgium.



I love this tiny shop. Their delicious little chocolates are all imported from Belgium...



So much thought goes into the art and display. Their chocolates are unique and distinct looking. I imagine this is the sort of shop that Hercule Poirot would frequent...



I love supporting tiny, independent shops like this...



And I think B will be very pleased with his gift...

I would love to know... what are you getting your sweetheart for Valentine's day?



P.S.- On Valentine's Day I will be making a big announcement so check back soon! xoxo


Chocolatt... from Belgium is located at 12008 Wilshire Blvd in West Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.chocolatt.com