Decorate along with my family today for Christmas.

The best part about holiday decorating is how excited the children get. We like to turn on the music, bust out the candy canes and get decorating.



We start out strong with everyone pitching in...


...and then, of course, the help dwindles away and it's just me putting up our decorations... but I don't mind.


I love bringing out our treasures this time of year. The floral Christmas wreath I made from last year is still holding up...


We aren't attending The Nutcracker ballet like we normally do this year because of baby boy, so I'm really enjoying these Clara and Nutcracker decorations, which remind me of that wonderful Christmas ballet...


We made our homemade dried citrus ornaments again this year. To make them, thinly slice your favorite citrus. Place on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and bake on 200 degrees F for 4 to 6 hours. Hang with hooks or ribbon.


I love decorating with pomegranates this time of year, whether real or faux...


I purchased this beautiful Kay Burkhart Santa from a shop in Santa Monica several years ago.


This was the snowball hydrangea candelabrum I featured in my table decorating video...


We had a great time decorating the house this year. I hope you enjoy today's video.

News
📍Lessons from Madame Chic is now available in Mongolia from publisher, Monsudar.

📍I'm working on an exciting eCourse for the new year, in the meantime, check out my two courses, Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living and Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe.

📍Visit my Teespring store to buy Daily Connoisseur mugs and tote bags... perfect presents for fans of The Daily Connoisseur blog. Here is my Teatime with Jennifer mug, which I shared on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

#TeatimeWithJennifer mugs and tote bags make great stocking stuffers for fans of The Daily Connoisseur ❄️ Link in my bio ❄️ #dailyconnoisseur #stockingstuffers #teatimewithjennifer #thedailyconnoisseur #MADAMECHIC #bloglovers #coffeemug

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Dec 1, 2018 at 11:47am PST

On Instagram
Lessons from Madame Chic in Mongolia...

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Lessons from Madame Chic in Mongolian from publisher Monsudar ❤️ #lessonsfrommadamechic #MADAMECHIC #madamechicinMongolia #jenniferlscott #monsudar

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Nov 28, 2018 at 9:48am PST

Comment of the Week
Today's comment is actually a letter I received through my author website. Maria from Poland writes, "Hi Jennifer, I would like to send you greetings and words of thanks from Poland. I have read your first published book Lessons from Madame Chic some 5 years ago and have followed your vlog and next projects ever since. I have watched numerous vlogs, but yours is the only one that sunk in to my weekly routine. I think I have probably watched your every episode and I am always happy to see your new posts. The reasons I have found your books and vlog special are numerous. First, you analyze and put into simple words habits and style that I have seen, but it was difficult to put into practice myself. I see many characteristics of your Paris host madame Chic in for example my grandmother, but while I admired her greatly I could never really measure up and thanks to your books and observations I was able to understand what what makes a person stylish and confident and how to maintain a home that is always orderly. I also enjoy seeing a little sneak a peek to an American-British lifestyle and get reassurance from seeing more people sharing the values of faith and among others commitment to natural products. Keep up what you're doing and thank you again for being an inspiration. Maria"



Maria, your letter gave me so much encouragement. It's wonderful to know that my work reaches across the world in such a positive way. I'm wishing you a very happy holiday season!

I hope you enjoyed today's video. I would love to know your holiday decorating style. Are you modern? Traditional? Classic? Does the family help you decorate? Or do you go solo? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. See you on Thursday for a pillow review and a marriage conundrum!

*NEW* The Daily Connoisseur mugs and tote bags make great novelty gifts

Visit my Author Website

Shop my favorite things

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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Take my eCourse on the Ten-Item Wardrobe

Take my eCourse Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. Links may be affiliate.

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!



On Instagram
I love to share your pictures on Instagram. To be featured on the blog, use any of the following hashtags: #jenniferlscott #MADAMECHIC #dailyconnoisseur #lessonsfrommadamechic #athomewithmadamechic #polishyourpoisewithmadamechic

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

Po Anně Frankové jsem si musela vzít něco lehčího. A tak jsem zvolila druhý díl o Madame Chic 😊 Čte se to lehce a ještě si člověk uvědomí, jak je snadné být Chic 😉 Hodnocení: 🌟🌟🌟 #smadamechicnaurovni #madamechic #jenniferlscott #ukazcoctes #dnesctu #vicecasunacteni #mladafronta #knihovnajirihomahena #knihovna #bookstagram #tipnaknihu

A post shared by Mujmensi Svet (@mujmensisvet) on Oct 24, 2017 at 3:23am PDT

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

Sunday morning essentials 😄 #Sundaymorning #sundayfunday #stayathomeweekend #victoriassecretpijamas #chanelsamples #polishyourpoisewithmadamechic #betseyjohnsonpen #pinkmorning #pinkmornings #morningvibes #sundayvibe #sundaybookday #sundayperfect #sundayperfume #sundaychanel #sundaypoise #morninginpink #sundayinpink #comfypijamas #prettypearls

A post shared by The Pink Portfolios (@thepinkportfolios) on Oct 3, 2017 at 11:12pm PDT

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!

Visit my Author Website

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my eCourse on the Ten-Item Wardrobe

Sign up for my Seasonal Author Newsletter


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