Showing posts with label Clutter is so not chic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clutter is so not chic. Show all posts

3.10.2022

The Madame Chic Method for a Clutter-Free Home

6:54 AM 0 Comments

 


In Lessons from Madame Chic we learn that clutter is so not chic. Today we are going to discuss the Madame Chic method for ridding your home of clutter once and for all (hint: it's an ongoing process). 
I hope you enjoy today's video




Let's examine the five points: 




Hot Spots are the high-traffic areas in your home where clutter easily accumulates. The clutter might rotate here… but it is always there. Identify where your hot spots are. Be aware of them. Aim to sort through these every day. Don’t become accustomed to them. Work together with your family to keep these hot spots under control. Likely they will always be hot spots in that they are in high traffic areas, but they don’t have to be a disorganized mess. 




Stagnant Spaces These are the out-of-the-way areas that accumulate clutter. This clutter tends to sit there waiting for something to happen, but it never does. This is the area I have always most struggled with and continue to do so today. Because sometimes when you are clearing your visible hot spots, you cram the clutter you don’t know what to do with in your stagnant spaces. Schedule regular times to go through these spaces. Listen to a good audiobook so you don’t feel it’s such a chore and actually look forward to going through the hot mess. 




Look at your home with new eyes This one is big. BIG. We all become accustomed to how our home looks and we become comfortable with the clutter. In the beginning you might be annoyed with that perpetual pile of clutter in the corner or the pile of things you have to go through, but over time you become desensitized to it and these piles might start to build up and accumulate. Soon, it just doesn’t bother you anymore. But you might become hyper aware of your clutter zones when a new person comes to visit your home. So an exercise I put forth in Lessons from Madame Chic is to walk into your home. Physically do it. From the front door. And look around as if you were entering for the first time. Maybe as a potential buyer for a home. You would instantly notice places that were off or the clutter you got so used to would become unsightly for you. 




Check the flow When I lived in Santa Monica, I had a good friend, who has since passed away, and she was a Feng Shui expert. She taught me so much about the importance of energy and flow in a space. Some people think that a space that’s properly “feng shui-ed” (is that even a word?) is very minimalist, but that’s not true. Any space can employ the principles of Feng Shui. Madame Chic’s apartment had such a wonderful flow. There was absolutely no clutter to obstruct energy. Clutter is considered negative in the world of Feng Shui because it causes congestion in the overall flow of a room and we want rooms with beautiful free-flowing energy. Even without being trained in the art of Feng Shui, you can probably look at the room you’re in now to determine if there is a good flow. Or is there a pile or clutter or an object or two that you need to remove from the space. 




Is it beautiful? This could be the biggest Madame Chic method principle. Is your room beautiful? This matters, you know. Women, especially, are very visual creatures who need to be surrounded by beauty. Clutter often destroys the beauty in a room. I think of it like a beautiful outfit with a big coffee stain on it. The stain is the clutter. You deserve to live in beautiful surroundings. You shouldn’t wait for this to happen “one day when the kids are older” or when XYZ happens. No, it can happen now. I don’t mean to go have a shopping spree to redecorate. I mean to fix your space now. Do you need to rearrange the furniture? Are you finally getting things out of that room that don’t belong? Are there school supplies in the kitchen that should be in the homeschool room? Is your entryway crammed with coats and shoes you don’t wear right now? Are there toys that don’t belong on the coffee table? Create beauty with what you have already by clearing the clutter in your home.


Thank you to Blueland for bringing us today's video. Click my link to get 20% off your first kit. 

News


📍 The Ten-Item Wardrobe eCourse is newly updated and back online with all new video, text, and new lessons. If you have previously purchased the ten-item wardrobe eCourse, you can access all of the new changes for free.

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the Channel Memberships. In The Chic Society, I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. *NEW* We now have a penpal program too! 


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Comment of the Week 

Erica writes, "I am rereading Polish Your Poise With Madam Chic after a few years and am loving it again!

I like to incorporate nautical elements in my spring and summer wardrobe, like red, white, navy blue, and gold accents." 


Hi Erica, I'm so glad to hear you are enjoying Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic again! I love your incorporation of nautical elements into your wardrobe. 

I hope you enjoyed today's video, everyone. I would love to know about your clutter triumphs and failures. Let's all work on it together. Love, Jennifer 


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FTC: Today's video is sponsored by Blueland. Some links are affiliate, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support.  



8.26.2019

The Homemaker's Biggest Obstacle

5:28 AM 11 Comments


My Homemaker Series continues on The Daily Connoisseur. Today, I’m going to share with you the homemaker’s biggest obstacle.



In this series, I aim to explore the secret world of homemaking, its delightful aspect as well as the darker side to it. So far in the series I’ve revealed three enemies to homemaking, as well as the homemaker’s best friend.

Today we are going to reveal the homemaker’s biggest obstacle. How is an obstacle different than an enemy? Aren’t they the same things? Well, yes and no.

An obstacle is defined as a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress.

An enemy is a thing that harms or weakens something else.

Today’s exploration is definitely an obstacle. It’s a beast that almost every homemaker deals with. Are you ready to find out what the Homemaker’s biggest obstacle is?

CLUTTER

Yes, the homemaker’s biggest obstacle is clutter. Let’s think about that definition again. A thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress.

How many times have you wished to do something in your home, but got choked up by the clutter? Perhaps you have a hard time finding things, or you’d like to do a deep clean, or you’d like to finally get organized, but one look at all of that overwhelming clutter and you just fold. It’s too much.

CLUTTER: the biggest obstacle of homemakers.

Clearly, something needs to be done. There are many ways. There are many thought processes. There are many techniques. But ultimately, the clutter has to be dealt with. Systematically. I suggest timing yourself (Do you remember the homemaker’s best friend?) Give yourself a realistic amount of time to work with each and every day and, without fail, even if you do it at 8pm or midnight, address that clutter. Clear those hot spots and stagnant spaces.

I write about clutter in my Madame Chic books. Mainly because Madame Chic was an incredible anomaly as a homemaker. She never had clutter. I mean never. Did you fully grasp that? JAMAIS. Ha!

I lived with my French host family for 6 months and I never saw clutter. And no, Madame Chic didn’t follow KonMarie, or Sweedish Death cleaning or Flylady or any of the other trending systems (which, by the way, are all excellent systems that could greatly help you). She just did it.

Systematically go through your belongings and tidy them up. Get rid. Donate. Throw away. Don’t overly consume. Establish routines every day and make sure the whole family is involved. Clear that clutter. Because that clutter is the biggest obstacle you face as a homemaker. It’s what’s blocking you from blossoming truly.

Here’s a four-pronged approach to how Madame Chic dealt with clutter:
1. She dealt with her tasks and belongings immediately and never let anything collect where it shouldn’t be. In other words, she didn’t allow clutter to build up in the first place.

2. She did not over consume. She wasn’t constantly buying things to bring into the home. She was very selective. Those of you who follow my ten-item wardrobe will get this deeply.

3. The whole family was on board. Train your children young. Train them to pick up after themselves immediately. Never leave it. These habits are easier instilled when the child is young.

4. Take joy in the process. Don’t dread it. Be excited about what you will be able to accomplish now that this obstacle is out of your way.


Thank you for joining me for my Homemaker series. Be sure to share today's video with a friend who needs homemaking encouragement.

Featured in the video:
🌿 E-cloth multipurpose cloth (clean with just water) Use code JENN2SCHOOL for 15% off through August 30th.
🌿Cellar Door Candles reed diffuser in Breathe Easy
🌿My earrings are by Ana Luisa Jewelry Use code Jennifer10 for $10 off your order
🌿Wool Dryer Balls on Amazon
🌿Cleaning supplies from Grove Collaborative
🌿The sign hanging in my laundry room (I love this!)

This video is dedicated to Andrea Mills, who was a fellow YouTuber and a wonderful homemaker. She tragically passed away a few weeks ago and has left her large family behind. If you feel inclined to donate to Andrea's family, I have left her GoFundMe here.

News

📍I am a featured speaker at the Get Organized HQ Summit with I Heart Planners.

📍PRE-ORDER my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS, which comes out September 10th from Chronicle Books.

📍If you haven't taken my eCourses yet, now is a wonderful time to get started. Check out my affordable eCourses: The Ten-Item Wardrobe, Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living, and How to be Efficient at Home.

On Instagram
I shared the cover of Connoisseur Kids on Instagram to announce the pre-order. Thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered my book. I appreciate it so much!



Comment of the Week
Unknown writes, "Hi Jennifer, That was a beautiful video analysing how your spring/summer wardrobe performed for you. I live in a warm climate where winter is short but chilly. Our summers are hot and last for months. I have a capsule wardrobe too. But sometimes the discipline to plan for the forthcoming season lags due to being a busy mum! Ha! So I appreciate the encouragement to actually sit down and take stock rather than casually purchasing just whatever. So thank you! I have divided my wardrobe into 3 seasons...transitional (being spring/autumn), winter & summer. I get 2 months of autumn transitional, 3 months of winter, 1 more month of transitional, then 6 months of summer. My transitional wardrobe stays in place from autumn to spring, I just swap out a few things once winter hits. Summer means quality pieces for me, they get such a hard wear with needing to wash on the daily. Thank you for encouraging us to evaluate for ourselves what we need based on our style, climate & budget. We are more resourceful than we realise! Plus our own personal style grows and changes with us, so good to honour that. Your 10 item wardrobe really is here to serve you, enabling you to get on with what matters most!"

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I loved reading your approach to the ten-item wardrobe!

Thank you for joining me for today's video. I would love to know... do you find clutter to be an obstacle in your homemaking? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.

Visit my newly designed Author Website

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

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FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are affiliate.

8.02.2018

3 Clutter-Clearing Tips | MADAME CHIC Method

5:32 AM 9 Comments




I'm sharing three clutter-clearing tips, Madame Chic-style, in today's video.

This video is a collaboration with A Better Life with Flylady Kat, who has a wonderful YouTube channel that encourages viewers to keep on top of their homes. You can check out Kat's three clutter-clearing tips here.

I'm bringing it back-to-basics in today's video and discussing my first book, Lessons from Madame Chic.



Since living with Madame Chic and her family, I have derived my clutter-clearing methods from them. I was amazed that their home had no clutter. Ever! There was never a day when the side table got out-of-hand, or someone needed to sort through the pile of mail on the entryway desk. Random items didn't accumulate on the dining room table. When an object needed to be dealt with, it was dealt with swiftly and put away in its proper place. The Chic family led very disciplined lives and this is the foundation for living in a clutter-free home.

Here is the abridged version of my three clutter-clearing tips. For expanded thoughts on all of these topics, be sure to watch my video.

Clutter-clearing tip #1: Embrace structured and disciplined living. Clearing clutter is an on-going, everyday process. The main idea here is prevention. If you live a structured and disciplined life at home, you prevent clutter form even forming because everything is put away and dealt with properly. This tip is truly for every member of the household, not just the mother. Otherwise, mom will just be running around picking up after everyone and all will be frustrated.

Clutter-clearing tip #2: Manage your everyday items. This goes hand-in-hand with disciplined living. Our everyday items need a home and should never be put anywhere other than their place. Clear your cluttered cupboards and drawers to create room to place your everyday items.

Clutter-clearing tip #3: Enjoy keeping your home! If you enjoy keeping your home, you will relish taking care of it and not let it get out of hand. Of course, we all go through seasons of life where we will get behind on the housework (I share a story about this in today's video), but generally, if you can keep an exuberance and a joie de vivre with regard to housekeeping, you will be on top of the clutter situation.

News
The Mapp and Lucia book club Live Chat will be on Monday, August 6th 11am pacific time. Join me on YouTube to discuss the next two books in the series, Lucia in London and Mapp and Lucia. If you are unable to make the livestream, it will be available to watch as are the rest of my videos. If you would like to submit a comment for the live chat, leave one in the comment section below. I look forward to discussing E.F. Benson's book! "Au Reservoir!" :)

For more of The Daily Connoisseur, take my eCourses, Creating Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living.

On the Debt-free course, Leigha writes, "I loved this course! I've taken notes and have already started implementing many of the ideas. I've really cleared out my closet of clutter, too. Thinking I may need to invest in the wardrobe course, as well. I hope that in the next year I will be able to make great strides in reducing my debt and becoming more financially free. I am also hoping to put more emphasis on people and experiences rather than things. Thanks, as always, for such a lovely series of videos. So inspirational! Now....I think I want to enjoy a hot cup of tea. :)"

Leigha, I'm so excited to see the changes that happen in your life. Please come back and update us on your progress. Thank you for taking my course!

On Instagram
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic on Instagram...



Comment of the Week
There were so many thought-provoking comments on Monday's blog and video on the Trouble with Social Media. I you haven't already read through some of the comments, it's worth doing! Lindsay wrote, "Thank you for this! I have been very disturbed by some of these same tendencies in myself. I mentally write social media posts as I'm taking photos. There have been events where I felt more excited to post about them and see the reactions and comments from people than I was about the actual event! I resist posting on holidays because I hate the idea of making people who are lonely on those days feel even worse. I can tell my mom how much I love her in person, so I don't do a mother's day post. I am trying to use it to connect with people I don't see often and remove the self-promotion aspect of it. But it's hard."

Lindsay, I love your honesty. Social media has changed the way we think. I've noticed it in myself and it's something I have to actively fight against. Thank you for sharing your comment with us!


Today, I would love to know... do you struggle with clutter? Do you have hot spots that accumulate clutter on a regular basis? What are your best clutter-clearing tips? Let us know in the comment section below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.

I'll see you tomorrow for an all new Natural Home with Jennifer.

Visit my Author Website

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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