You know I like to use my appliances until they pretty much collapse, and that is what happened with my curling iron. One day, when I went to use it, I noticed something had gone horribly wrong! My flat iron was broken as well, so I take you along with me as I go shopping for new ones. I planned on going to Sephora, but had a last minute change and visited a local beauty supply. The people at Lisa's Beauty Supply in West Los Angeles were so helpful! I love going to these smaller stores and getting their personal and expert advice.

Neither item was inexpensive, but as I use my hair tools for many years, (I think my curling iron was over ten years old!) I like to buy quality.

I purchased the Hot Tools professional ceramic curling iron 1 1/4 inch - the ions increase shine and moisture and reduce damage and static.

And the Croc Hybrid 1 inch ceramic flat iron Please note: the link provided is to the 1 1/2 inch, whereas I have the 1 inch. I was unable to find the 1 inch online, but as you can see, this one has excellent reviews.

If you would like to see a complete tutorial on how I use my curling iron, please let me know! I hope you enjoy shopping with me in today's video.

News

I will be joining fellow New York Times bestselling authors, Eleanor Brown and Maggie Shipstead on Saturday, July 15th, 5pm at Chevalier's Bookstore in Los Angeles for a book signing, Q&A and discussion. I hope to see you there!



Great Find
I wanted to share this great drugstore find, Tree Hut Polishing Facial Scrub. Tree Hut sent me this cleanser to try, and I really like it. It also makes a nice exfoliant as there are tiny polishing beads in the cleanser. Since I am focusing on budget and drugstore beauty this season, this makes a great cleanser at just over $7.




Comment of the Week
Edna Grace Writes:

Hi Jennifer,

I have to say that Miss Mapp was my least favorite of the two novels, because of the character of Miss Mapp herself. True, both she and Lucia strive to be the first or the best in anything among their circle, but Mapp, in my opinion, is the worst of the two. She's a terrible snoop (pretending to mail a letter in the middle of the night just to see what the Major and the Captain are doing) that wouldn't hesitate stealing the original idea of a "friend" to make herself appear more fashionable (seeing Diva's chintz flowers float out the window and deciding she would make the dress first). Her food hoard shows her to be greedy and thinking only of herself, and her lie to cover it makes her even more unlikable to me. Her assumption that Isabel wanted to out-do Mapp's red currant fool recipe only supports Mapp's narcissism, and her jealousy of just about every female in Tilling (except perhaps of Irene) is absurd.

On the other hand, Lucia, doesn't necessarily stoop to the Miss Mapp level of competition, and Lucia doesn't appear to pursue intelligence with the same fervor as Mapp. True, Lucia wants to take credit for Daisy's Guru, and she wants to be the first to have the "Bracelys" to her home, but she doesn't succeed in discovering that Olga is the Bracely, and her husband is Shuttleworth. Lucia is very calculating, but she seems to give her people a little more space, and she doesn't seem to be mean-spirited in the way that Miss Mapp does. Perhaps the fact that Lucia has a husband might have something to do with that? Maybe Mapp is just lonely, trying to fill her day with things she thinks are exciting...

I know I sound harsh in my view of Miss Mapp, but maybe that was Benson's goal? Since the two women are to meet in a later book, he's certainly setting up something fun and exciting for us. Maybe a Team Lucia/Team Mapp kind of rivalry?

In the end, I did enjoy reading both books, and I look forward to the next one. I hope there's a book club for that one in the near future!

eg

Hi Edna, I loved to hear your take on both Miss Mapp and Lucia! You will love Monday's post, which discusses many reader comments. We will definitely continue with the Mapp and Lucia series by continuing the book club this upcoming fall.

I hope you enjoyed today's video... Do you like to use a curling iron? What is your favorite brand? See you on Monday for part 3 of the Mapp and Lucia Book Club!


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Come along with me today as I get my (long overdue) haircut. You get to meet my wonderful stylist, Adriana of Adrimar Salon in West Los Angeles, hear my hair loss updates, and much more in today's vlog.



When discussing my postnatal hair loss with Adriana, she showed me these Bosley Hair Thickening Fibers, which conceal the sparse areas in your hair. This was a really helpful trick!

Be sure to watch today's video to see the full vlog. I hope you enjoy coming along with me for a day in the life. Thankfully, by now, my baby is much, much better. He was suffering from an ear infection when I shot this video.

News

Sweet and Simple Home shares her favorite YouTube channels and The Daily Connoisseur is on her list!

Beyond Words writes about her capsule wardrobe process and mentioned Madame Chic and the ten-item wardrobe.

Comment of the Week
Lindsay writes:

I religiously follow your blog, and eagerly watch your weekly posts! I'm a bit behind this week, I've trained myself not to "sneak" and watch your weekly blog. I have learned to slow down, grab a drink of choice, sit at our (clean) kitchen table, and press play. It seems silly, but three+ years ago I would NOT have done that. I would have rushed through, multi-tasking, and somewhat paying attention to your video. I was behind doing a few "me" things this week, but I told myself that it's okay to wait to the perfect moment to watch. Thank you for aiding me in being a housekeeper, parent (leading by example by a tidy home/routines), and being able to think smarter and not harder when it comes to daily things like wardrobe and preparing meals.

Lindsay, thank you for your comment. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It's true, when you do things mindfully, the experience is much more satisfying. I'm so happy that my blog is a source of joy for you!

Thank you to everyone who shared their enjoyment of my Apple Breakfast Cobbler recipe. See you on Thursday for another recipe video!

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Christmas is two days away, and in today’s chatty video, I wrap up many of the loose ends from past videos, and let you know what I’ve been up to during the month of December.

In the video I share with you:

How my Christmas planning went (and what we didn't end up doing!)

Seek out the arts inspiration including my review of the new Amelie musical, what it was like to take my daughters to the Nutcracker ballet for the first time, and Diavolo dance company’s suspenseful modern dance masterpiece, Trajectoire.

A nice gift idea for men (or anyone, for that matter!) My father loved the Nixplay digital photo frame I gave him for his 70th birthday. I’m sorry I didn’t mention this sooner. But it’s worth mentioning now so you can put it on gift lists for the future.

My postnatal hair loss. I've been wanting to do an update on this for a while!

What I'm wearing on Christmas eve

I hope you enjoy this final video of 2016.

It’s been another wonderful year and I thank you so much for coming along with me and being a part of The Daily Connoisseur. To all of you who have left comments, or emailed me through my author website, even though I have not responded to you individually, I have ready every single message and appreciate every one. Thank you!

News

Life with Dee includes The Madame Chic Collection in her holiday gift guide for this year.

Abigail Murrish includes the Madame Chic books among her favorites of 2016

Comment of the Week
Miss L writes:
Thank you for the recipe! I wanted to make a breakfast casserole for my family for Christmas morning and this is just right. :D
I personally (just myself) haven't made anything specific for my family on Christmas morning, but one time a few years ago my grandma did fried ham slices and homemade cinnamon rolls. They were just right and everyone enjoyed them thoroughly! Yum!
Have a very joyful Christmas!!!

Hi Miss L., my grandmother used to make fried ham and cinnamon rolls for Christmas too. What great memories!

Merry Christmas to all and a very happy new year!

I will be taking my annual break from the blog, but I really look forward to seeing you in 2017, and sharing another year of The Daily Connoisseur with you!

In the meantime, please stay in touch with me over social media (links below). See you there!

With love,

Jennifer x

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This week we are talking hair and nails. If you follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, you've noticed over the recent months that I've been having fun experimenting with braided hairstyles. I've always loved braids (it's the Madame Bohemienne in me!) so I was excited when Ulysses press recently sent me the new book by Abby Smith, The New Braiding Handbook.


Abby Smith is a fellow YouTuber with a wonderful channel called Twist Me Pretty. This book is a valuable resource because while I usually just wing it and create a hit or miss hairstyle, The New Braiding Handbook gives you great step-by-step instruction on creating new and classic braided hairstyles.

A while back on Facebook a reader commented that she liked the braided updo but felt she might be too old to wear braids. I don't think anyone is too old. If you pick the right age-appropriate look, your braided updo can look very elegant. This braided chignon, from the Duchess of Cambridge is a perfect example:



In this week's video I start off in pigtails (which is an age-inappropriate look for me!) but it's for a good reason... I give you a classic milkmaid braid updo tutorial half way through the video.



The milkmaid braid might feel too costume-y for you but I think you should give it a try. You might surprise yourself with how chic you look and I think it makes a great (easy) formal updo as well. There's something very regal about it even though it is meant for the look of a milkmaid.

Here are some of the braided looks I've shared on Instagram over the past few months. Which one is your favorite?



And now let's talk about nails. I've been experimenting with various colors this spring, some of which are out of my comfort zone. I've found some beautiful ones! But I also realize that the neutrals and classics are still my favorite. These two in particular, Dior's Incognito and Rouge, are particularly divine.



Check out this week's video for the milkmaid braid tutorial and an even more in depth discussion of these topics. 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

WomenHeart
Last Monday I had the honor of speaking at the West Los Angeles support group for Women Heart: The National Coalition for women with Heart Disease. My talk focused on living a fulfilling life even during life's struggles. I was so moved and inspired by the stories and the bravery of the women in this group. Thank you to Alisa Becket and Amanda Daniels for inviting me to speak. For more information on Women Heart visit www.womenheart.org

Pictured with Amanda Daniels (left) and Alisa Becket (right)

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought

Sometimes, for special events, it "takes a village" to get ready and presentable. We trust our hair, makeup, styling and nails to the professionals. But on a daily basis, empower yourself to be your own beauty team. Don't be afraid to try out new hairdos. Practice wearing them at home if you feel unsure about going out in public with them. You don't need to spend a lot of money at the salon each week to achieve a polished look. Try giving yourself a manicure at home this week. Start with the neutral colors so the mistakes aren't as visible. Have fun with cultivating your own style and beauty routine. #lookpresentablealways

This week I would love to know... what are your thoughts on braided hairstyles? Would you ever wear one? What about nails? Do you like classic shades or do you prefer edgy colors? Do you do your manicures at home? Or do you have them professionally done?

Music in this week's video: Etente Cordiale
Royalty Free Music by
http://audiomicro.com/royalty-free-music
Sound Effects by
http://audiomicro.com/sound-effects

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This week we are exploring the world of hair. I have received a lot of requests to recreate the curls I wore in my New Year's Message video as well as an update on current hair care products I'm using. This week's video gives you both. We start with the tutorial, in which you'll note that the secret to having soft, voluminous curls (I think perhaps the Duchess of Cambridge employs this look every now and then?) is to alternate the direction of the curl with the curling iron.


Check out this week's video to see the entirety of the tutorial. 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



Here is a list of the hair care products discussed in the video:

Pureology Super Smooth Shampoo

Pureology Super Smooth Conditioner

Pureology Super Smooth Relaxing Hair Masque I use this once a week or so in lieu of regular conditioner.

Maijan Pure Argan Oil & Mint Hydrating Shampoo (Amazing stuff! check out the giveaway below to win your own)

Maijan Pure Argan Oil & Mint Hydrating Conditioner The mint provides a tingling sensation shortly after applying. You feel as though you are really nourishing and cleaning the hair.

Living Proof Primer Style Extender This is a primer for your hair that, I find, makes styling last so much longer.

Pureology Colour Stylist Anti-Split Blow Dry Cream A great heat protectant to apply before blowdrying your hair.

Pureology Colour Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier This heat protectant is so great because you don't need to keep reapplying it if you use different forms of heat. One application and it does the job.

Mason Pearson Boar Bristle Hairbrush An investment piece, but one that makes the hair soft and smooth. It's worth saving up for one...


Giveaway
Maijan have kindly offered to give away one Pure Argan Oil & Mint Shampoo and Conditioner to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur. This giveaway is open to US residents only (apologies to my international readers, but I do not set the guidelines). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be announced on the widget in one week's time and directly contacted by Maijan. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



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