To cap off last week's home tour videos, I am sharing one way I display faux flowers to make them look sophisticated and even real. I like to use leaf ribbon on the inside of a clear vase to make the arrangement look like it came from a florists' shop.



Of course there are many ways to display faux flowers. You can use glass pebbles, decorative opaque vases, and even acrylic water (which I have also done), but sometimes it's fun to use leaf ribbon to try to achieve the chic look from a florists' shop. I'm showing you how to use it in today's video with various vase shapes.





I usually get my faux flowers from Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Amazon and AFloral.

I hope you enjoy the tutorial in today's video.

News
I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day celebration. We had such a great day. I wanted to share this quote from Louisa May Alcott's, Little Women:



You have a few days left to enter my Ana Luisa Jewelry Giveaway. 3 lucky winners will receive the beautiful 'Olivia' earrings. Giveaway is for US residents only.

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

On Instagram
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic in Poland...

Dzień dobry w poniedziałek! Mam nadzieję, że udało Wam się zrobić w ten długi weekend tyle ile chcieliście, a jeśli nie wszystko to chociaż większość 😉 Dużo energii na dzisiaj Wam życzę! Pogoda jest piękna! 😍 #flamingo #ksiazka #madamechic #lekturadoherbatki #teatime #herbatkazksiążkąpl #herbatkazrana #notes #piekniejest #milegodnia #taca #bambus #kujonki #minimalizm

A post shared by Minimalistic Girl (@minimalisticgirlblog) on May 6, 2018 at 11:20pm PDT

Comment of the Week
Regarding last week's real and faux indoor plant post, DD writes, "I mix real and faux flowers in arrangements. A bunch of real lilies (inexpensive at the supermarket) in a big vase with several faux long, drooping stems of tiny orchid blossoms gives me an easy, beautiful, impressive arrangement for the entry or dining table. I've seen guests check them out and determine "real" when they see the lilies are real! Economical, beautiful, and easier to arrange and take care of than a big bouquet of varied real cut flowers."

Hi DD, what a great idea to mix real and faux in the same vase. I bet your arrangement looks spectacular!

Today, I would love to know if you use faux flowers when decorating. How do you like to display them in a vase? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. See you on Thursday for a pregnancy chat video.



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What a fun video I have for you today... a before and after of our master bedroom wallpaper renovation. I have always longed for wallpaper in our master bedroom, but we never wallpapered our old house for various reasons. Now that we are in a new space, I felt it time (and thankfully my husband agreed!) that we add a touch of interest to the interior design of our bedroom with wallpaper.

Our entire home is painted in the color "Silver Tradition" by Behr. This is how the house came. It's a lovely grey color, but it was a bit gloomy for the master bedroom. When we first moved into the house, we installed cream curtains with the plan to put up wallpaper in the future. Cream is the color of our bedroom furniture so we felt with the neutrality of the furniture and the curtains, we could choose a colored wallpaper that would go nicely in the room.

Here are some "before" pictures of our bedroom:



It was peaceful and serene, but a bit bland and gloomy as well.

Here are some "after" pictures:



The wallpaper is by Thibaut, from their Richmond collection. The shade is Cotswold Aqua.

Thank you to Wallpaper City and Flooring in Santa Monica and Sylvan & Phillips for doing our curtains. We like to support local, small businesses and both of these companies did a stellar job.

Be sure to check out my video to see the complete tour. 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

News

This weekend my husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. It was such a lovely day in Malibu!




Madame Chic in the News

Thank you to Life with Dee for recommending the Madame Chic books as resources to create a beautiful life.

Photographer Erin Ammons lists Lessons from Madame Chic as one of her current favorite reads. Thank you, Erin!

Letter of the Week
Janet T. writes:
Dear Jennifer,
I must first start off telling you that I am 60 years old, and I have read all of your books! I follow The Daily Connoisseur and I have to tell you, I have learned so much! I find your simple, subtle message appealing. I have made positive changes in my life because of your advice, and I say, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! I think your words encompass multi-generations. It's a way of life we have abandoned since the '60's that I am glad to see coming back.
I was guilty of living in jeans and flannel shirts, with the excuse that we live on a farm. I have since embraced the capsule wardrobe, and I feel so much better about myself, because I look my best, 99 percent of the time.( I do not understand how Madame Chic could stay clean and garden.)
All this to say, thank you, thank you, my dear. You are a blessing! I bet you never imagined that 6 months in France would have such a far-reaching effect!
With Fond Regards,
Janet T

Dear Janet, I loved your letter! Madame Chic has such a universal appeal and can help people of all ages. I am so pleased that the principles found in my books are enriching your life on the farm! Thank you for writing to me and sharing your testimony.

Comment of the Week
On Pregnancy Chat Part 2, Katherine R. writes:

Thank you for being such an inspiring individual. The honest and open dialogue in a poised and elegant manner is incredibly soothing. My husband and I would love a large family one day too. Your discussions remind me to be present with what is so right now. Not getting caught up in the plans of a future life, without taking those necessary actions now that will support a relaxed, chic environment and mindset. Over the past few weeks I've been working from home and my 'to do' list has been getting left to the side with a general disregard for keeping up the structure to support the easy flow of the day, meditating has also not been happening. I'll justify this with the thoughts of when X,Y or Z happens then i'll be up at 6 every day and cleaning, sorting and fully organized. I'm reminded by your video of the notion of Be, Do, Have and not living the other way around! Taking actions to make a mindful approach become second nature now, being powerful, deliberate and active. Thanks for the reminder! Katherine :)

Dear Katherine, Thank you for your lovely comment. It is so important to be present with what is "right now" as you put it. We tend to say "one day" I'll live a certain way, when the reality is we can make those changes right now. Thank you for your lovely reminder.

I love to hear from you! You can always leave me a comment on the blog or send me a letter via email on my author website. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week!


This week I would love to hear from you. Do you have wallpaper in your home? Have you always longed for wallpaper but have been too intimidated by the process? Send me photos of your wallpapered homes on social media using the hashtag #MADAMECHIC

See you soon!

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We come to the last video of the week. I hope you enjoyed the tidy home theme on The Daily Connoisseur. I sure did have fun sharing the videos with you! We recently rearranged the furniture in our guest bedroom. This week's video is a quick tour of the room and how I got it ready for my cousin's stay. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel at www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur


Comments of the Week
Polly writes:

You gave great advice on the exhaustion! Cutting way back on activities and expectations, getting tiny little rests (I would rest on the sofa while my children played around me--10-20 minutes of that gave me enough of a second wind for the rest of the day), going to bed *early* (when my daughter was a baby I went to bed at 8pm every night, because she was such a fitful sleeper! and I got up at 8 am when my 3 year old woke up), and thinking through the planning of essentials such as meals and laundry really go a long way. The season doesn't last forever, but it feels endless when you're sleep-deprived!

Choosing a tiny, kind thing to do for yourself each day is also helpful, in my experience. A hot bath, some time to sit and knit, fresh air, 20 minutes to read a book, sketching or writing for a few moments...these were all small refreshers that I took when my children were very tiny. Just a few minutes of some small investment in your own creativity or peace of mind makes you feel so much more human and energetic.

And it does get so much easier! You just cannot do it all when you have young children...and that's okay. Choose the best and the rest will fall into place!

Hi Polly, you give wonderful advice. I agree that investing some time in yourself each day is essential to recharge your battery. Thanks for the great comment!

TheLatonya999 writes on the Quick Morning Makeup Routine video:

Believe it or not, I am 44 years old and you just taught me how to apply makeup. Most videos of this type are just far too complicated and I don't have the attention span nor the time to apply make up in such a complicated fashion. Thank you so much!

Hi Latonya999, I love this! Sometimes you just need to see someone else's routine to get inspired to do your own.

Thank you for joining me this week. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! See you next time.

Jennifer x



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Thank you for your great response to yesterday's kitchen tidy video. Today is a quick family room tidy. Depending on how much energy I have at the end of the day, I usually tidy up the family room before I go to bed. But we have all had those days when we leave it until the morning. Please note: this is not a deep clean video. In deep cleans, the rug is vacuumed, floor mopped and all surfaces dusted.

Join me as I plump and fluff and dust the family room. And be careful that the paper airplane does not hit you at the end of the video!

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

Testimonial
Susan writes:

Jennifer . . . thank you for your books and insights! In today's world of "lewd, crude and rude" your books and videos are a ray of sunshine!

Thank you, Susan! I love having this blog where we like-minded people can gather and sometimes take refuge from our unmannerly world :)

Comment of the Week

Sunisteph writes:

Before retiring, my dad would get up at 5.30AM and prepare breakfast for my sister, my mom and me. I remember entering the kitchen with a table full of "tartines"( bread slices with butter and jam) and "petits pains". Even after retiring, he still has a strong morning routine. So I believe Madame Chic had that morning routine ;) I am bad at it and need to work on my morning routine. Greetings from France

Hi Sunisteph, thank you for sharing your memories of your father. How wonderful that he made you a tartine every day. I love that he has maintained a morning routine even after retirement.

Question of the Week

Regarding yesterday's Kitchen Tidy video, Toinette deBrebis asks:

Glad to see I'm not the only one putting on an apron (yours is a very pretty one I might add) and rubber gloves ! I would like to know what product you are using to spray on your counters.

Thanks for showing that just putting in a few minutes to clean up and put things away keeps things under control at home.

Hi Toinette, I am using the vinegar/ water/ lavender cleaner I provide the recipe for in At Home With Madame Chic. I can do a future video showing this recipe if there is interest. Thank you!

Today I would love to know... how do you tidy your family room? Do you do this on a daily basis? Do you find that toys and other stray objects find their way there regularly like I do? Let us know your story in the comment section and you could be chosen as comment of the week!

See you tomorrow for a guest bedroom tour...

Jennifer x

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I hope you enjoyed yesterday's Make the Bed Inspiration post. In yesterday's comment section, Daily Connoisseur reader, Daesman, shared an article about Admiral McRaven, a retired Navy Seal. Admiral McRaven explains at a University of Texas, Austin commencement speech why it's important to make your bed every day.

"If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.
By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter."

I loved that quote!

Today we are doing a quick tidy of the kitchen. This is not a deep clean video, I am just tidying up after breakfast, so there is much less to do! For every meal, I like to have some warm soapy water in the sink that I can drop the dishes, pots and silverware in. This helps break up any food left on them before I place them in the dishwasher. I find that this actually uses less water than if I ran the sink for each additional item.

So put on your apron, don your gloves and tidy up your kitchen with me, won't you? 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

Comments of the Week

Jamie Z writes:

Since reading your books I have been dressing up more and I love it! I feel better. On occasion I would have a nice dress on coming from an event and would stop by the market and actually feel good about it. Now its all the time! (:

Hi Jamie, I'm so glad you are having that great feeling every day now. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm with us!

Kerrie W writes:

My mum always said, "Make the bed, wash the breakfast dishes, sweep the kitchen floor, throw out the papers & straighten the lounge. If you do nothing else, the house will appear in order.

Hi Kerrie, I love your mother's advice! A quick tidy every day does wonders and doesn't take as long as we think it will.


Questions of the Week

Jennifer,
Hello! I was wondering if there was a way to subscribe via email to your blog updates. I only saw a feed but not a subscribe button for email. I am a big fan of your books and would love to get blog updates to my email, if that is possible.

Thank you,
Lori

Hi Lori, Half way down on the right side of the blog, you can subscribe via email. Enter your email address in the space provided and you will be subscribed. I believe you need to also check your email and click confirm to receive the emails. Thank you!

Many people ask where I get the music for my videos. The songs I use are royalty-free and from Epidemic Sounds. When posting videos on YouTube, creators must use royalty-free music for copyright reasons. The music in this week's video is
Beethoven Sonatina in G.


Today I would love to know... how do you tidy your kitchen after breakfast? What is your routine?

See you tomorrow for a family room tidy...

Jennifer x

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This is going to be a fun week on The Daily Connoisseur! I have four videos for you, starting with today's video, where I make the bed. Many people have been asking for a home tour and these quick tidy videos I will release this week are a fun way to get a peek into our home.

Here's a little secret about me: I can't function unless the bed is made. I make our bed every morning and really enjoy doing so. Check out this week's video. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel (and subscribe to never miss a video!) at www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

News
Over 50 Feeling 40 loves the posture advice in Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic.

Tips on Life and Love lists At Home With Madame Chic as one of ten books to revitalize your spring closet.

Comment of the Week
Mitzi R. writes:

Jennifer, you are so very right about "you never know what your day will bring you." Something always comes up and I am always glad I have prepared myself for the day. Besides that if you don't get ready for your day it will seem like it never starts and you have wasted a whole day. I agree with you in that I always feel worse if I don't prepare myself for the day (which is why I have learned to prepare myself for the day starting the night before). It is so much more.....I just feel alive when I am prepared and presentable for my day. Starting the night before helps reduce the stress which can come with the morning as well. Thank you!

Hi Mitzi, I agree that the day feels like it hasn't started until you get ready. Great comment!

This week, I would love to know. Do you make your bed every day? Do you enjoy making it? What about the people in your family?

See you tomorrow for a morning kitchen tidy...

Jennifer x


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Raising tidy children. Oh, how I love this topic, mainly because I believe we as parents overcomplicate the issue. We all want our children to be tidy and look after themselves. They won't always live with us, after all, and when they finally leave the house as adults, we want them to leave with good habits to run their own homes. But where do you begin? How early is too early to teach children to pick up after themselves? And what do you do about all that whining and complaining?

In this week's video I share how we do it in our house by discussing the following six points:

Point one: Repetition is key

Point two: Build good habits

Point three: Keep the playroom tidy

Point four: Household messes need to be cleaned up

Point five: Age-appropriate chores

Point six: Reward system? (If this concept really works for your family, then use one. We do not use any charts or reward systems and in the video I explain why.)

The real key is to start now. The younger your children, the better to implement these lifelong habits. Don't put it off for another day (or year). Make it fun. If your attitude toward household chores is negative, your children will adopt that same attitude. Avoid approaching your new household rules with a defeatist mentality. You can do this! And (spoiler alert) your children might actually grow to love tidying.

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

News
Maggie Carlise was expecting frivolity from At Home With Madame Chic, but instead she was pleasantly surprised as she writes in her article called, Reaching for Mindfulness.

Bella NYC recommends At Home With Madame Chic for it's down-to-earth advice.

Colleen Logie chooses At Home With Madame Chic as her book of the month.

Comments of the Week

UseHerNam3 writes:
I think where you get so much resistance is that people still cannot see the wider implications. People are talking about comfort as if there aren't black trousers and t shirts out there that are as comfortable as sweatpants and pyjamas. The reason why people can agree that you should dress for weddings and the theatre is because people (for now) still acknowledge that sense of occasion. The age we live in now, the sense and wonder that accompanies treating daily and perhaps mundane tasks as an occasion is slipping. Going to the supermarket is no longer an occasion, nor is going to the courthouse, nor is going to work. The fluidity that comes with modern times has completely eroded the demarcation between these distinct elements of our lives. As a result we fail to treat it with the dignity it deserves as we cram it into our self-centred ego-driven lives. Comfort is not the issue, nor time, nor budget as these things are not correlated with sloppy dressing. It's about egocentricity.

UseHerName3, I really love your well-articulated point, thank you! Well said, indeed. Looking presentable is not about comfort or budget, or even time. These are all excuses that people make. It can be done on any budget. You can find comfortable clothes that are also presentable and it takes no more time to put on a presentable outfit than an old pair of sweatpants. Thank you for your observations.

Shannon M writes:
Many months ago, you inspired me to create my own 10 item wardrobe : ) I'm a nursing mother of 3, so mine consists of entirely nursing dresses. There are SO many benefits. I can go anywhere throughout the day and be appropriately dressed, from the grocery store to the art gallery, I don't have to even think about it. Wearing dresses helps hide postpartum weight, which makes me feel much more confident. And it's SO easy, I just have to pull on a dress. I'd say that's even easier than people who choose sweats! And most importantly, my children will learn that being a momma doesn't mean you have to feel and look haggard all the time. A momma can be calm (well, most of the time, lol), well-mannered, and presentable. And I've got you and your wonderful work to thank for all this : )

Hi Shannon, I'm happy that the ten-item wardrobe has been so freeing for you! It brings me so much pleasure to hear how it has impacted your life in a positive way.

Rikki T writes:
I'm a nonverbal communication professor, and yes, how you dress absolutely matters - how you behave, the messages you're communicating about yourself and others and the situations, how others perceive you. It matters a lot.

Hi Rikki, your class sounds so interesting. I absolutely believe that our nonverbal communication is very powerful and something that not a lot of people think about. Thank you for chiming in!

Testimonial

Regarding Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic, Liz writes:

Just read your latest book and it is AN ANSWER TO PRAYER! Getting copies for my daughters and all the young women in my life. I have been bemoaning the loss of so many of these things...and gotten a little bit sloppier myself (wearing those exercise clothes too many places!). Thank you so much for this timely tome!!

Hi Liz, I am so happy you loved Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic. Thank you for your heartfelt support!


This week I would love to know... what are your tips for raising tidy children? Do you struggle in this area? How do your children respond to household chores? I want to hear your thoughts on raising tidy children. Chime in below, and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week!


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Happy Thanksgiving! In this week's video I show you our Thanksgiving table for this year. This video really encourages you to use whatever you have on hand to set a beautiful table. On our table this year we use my great-grandmother's beautiful china along with our everyday glasses and silverware.

I have layered the table linens to create a more elegant effect, using a table cloth, a table runner and square rattan place mats.

I referenced Charles Macpherson's The Butler Speaks (I love this book!) to make sure the place setting is on track and I adjusted it to fit our table.

The most important thing to remember if you are hosting Thanksgiving is to make the best use of what you have. No need to go out and purchase expensive table dressings to impress. Get creative with your table and you can create a beautiful table scape.

There is so much more I'd like to share with you! I hope you check out this week's video for a detailed talk-through of our Thanksgiving table.

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

News
Check out my timely interview with Chico's clothing brand on their blog, Inside Chic: Madame Chic's 4 Ways to Be A Relaxed Hostess.

Over 50 Feeling 40 is experimenting with the concepts in Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic by dressing well for working at home.

Heather from Cedar and Bloom blogs about her daughter's ten-item wardrobe.

Comment of the Week

Amber S writes:

When I was young and still in college I often would "crash" at a friends apartment when we would stay up late studying or have an exam in the morning as she lived 5 minutes from school and I lived 45 by car. As I said we were young and far from having homes with special guest rooms or fancy china, I think I usually slept on the couch. My friend however is one of those hosts who have the ability to make you feel so at home. I think the thing that I remember most is that there was always soap and a washcloth and towel setting on the bathroom counter for me and coffee set to brew with a mug out when I woke up. It was small things but she knew I liked to have a shower first thing and a cup of coffee and I got up early. It's the little things that make a host. I was more comfortable staying on her couch in her little apartment than I have been at houses with designated guest rooms and fancy linens. it goes to show that you can be a marvelous host in whatever living circumstances you have it's about making the people feel loved and being proud of your home!

You are so right, Amber, it's the little things that make a host. Thanks for sharing this with us!

This week I would love to know... what are your plans for Thanksgiving? What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? How do you plan to set the table? I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I will see you all next week!

Jennifer x


** Please note: there are two spoons missing from the table setting in the picture and video. This is not by design. Between the time I set the table and the time I shot the video two of the spoons were removed unbeknownst to me by my daughter :)




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Today I have a before and after video for you showing the evolution of our home office. When we moved into our new home, we decided to turn the loft space into a home office. We hired California Closets to create the built-in office and I am very pleased with the results. The wood color we chose was "Adriatic Mist", which is a taupe-grey and fits nicely with our decor.



Check out this week's video which shows you the before and after and a few of my favorite things in our office (including my mystery collection and some of the international Madame Chic copies). 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

News
Lessons from Madame Chic is going into its 7th printing and At Home With Madame Chic is going into its 3rd printing from Simon & Schuster. Thank you readers!

Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic is now available in the United Kingdom.

If you are looking for a signed copy of any of the three Madame Chic books, Pages: A Bookstore in Manhattan Beach, CA has limited inventory. Be sure to give them a call at 310-318-0900 or email info@pagesabookstore.com to order.

The Decorista lists Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic as one of her favorites things as well as includes it in her must-read library.

Jess from Used York City shares her very favorite tip from Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic.

Italiagal writes a wonderful, in-depth review of Polish Your Home with Madame Chic.

Christine from The Refined Side is unabashedly inspired by the Madame Chic books. Here's her latest review of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic.

ShimiChic has created a lovely YouTube video review of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic. ShimiChic has a wonderful channel. Be sure to check it out and subscribe and tell her I said "hello"!



Comments of the Week
Radiant Christina writes:

Excellent advice. Loved the book - I devoured it this weekend as soon as it came in the mail :). I am surrounded by coworkers daily with ZERO poise so at work is where I find keeping my composure most difficult. I found the book to be a good reminder of what I need to do to polish my poise, even in situations where poise is no where to be found :)

Yes, maintaining composure around people who are not behaving in a poised way is very difficult because you feel tempted to lower your standards. Well done for keeping your standards high.


Liya writes:

Jennifer, your books have helped me a lot. I started my journey to a simpler life style and I fully embrace it. But I think this new book is what I really needed in terms of the quality life with my children, especially I easily lose my cool with them.

Practicing poise with our children is possibly one of the best exercises we can do in this regard. We are with them so much and they love to push boundaries, giving us many opportunities to practice our poise. We won't always keep our composure but in the end, our behavior will hopefully influence them in positive ways.

Artistic Recommendation


Today I have a really unique artistic recommendation for you: Sunlight on the River by Scott Gutterman (which comes out tomorrow, November 10th). Mr. Gutterman is the deputy director at the Neue Galerie in New York City. He has comprised a masterful collection of paintings about poems and poems about paintings. I really love this book and think it would make a great present for anyone you know who appreciates the arts.

The world's great poets interpret the world's great art in this exquisite book that investigates the connection between art and words, deepening our understanding of both. The poet and the artist share a special kind of vision--an ability to see and penetrate the very essence of their subjects. This volume features poems by writers who turned to paintings for their inspiration, as well as paintings by artists who based their works on poems. Stretching across centuries and styles,
this collection includes Rossetti's haunting sonnet based on
Botticelli's Primavera; Wallace Stevens's "The Man with the Blue
Guitar," a masterful meditation on an iconic painting by Picasso;
William Carlos Williams's joyous interpretations of scenes by
Breughel; and Adrienne Rich lending a compassionate voice
to the subject of Edwin Romanzo Elmer's The Mourning Chair.
These and other pairings appear as elegant texts facing full
page, glowing illustrations of the paintings. An introduction
to some of the greatest poets and painters in history, this
remarkable book makes a perfect gift, offering compelling
insights into the worlds of art and literature, and the relationship
between the two.



See you next week for a long-overdue skin care video. Have a great week!

Jennifer x




FTC:
Sunlight on the River was sent to me to review by Prestel publishers. All opinions are my own

This week's video and post is not sponsored by California Closets.




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Today I have an exciting new book that will inspire the interior designer in you: Elements of Style: Designing A Home & A Life by Erin Gates. Charming, inspiring, witty and funny, this is a beautiful book from start to finish that would not only be a great addition to your interior design library, but would also make an excellent gift.

Erin has a wildly popular blog called Elements of Style Blog that can provide you with even more inspiration.
Here is the description of the book from Simon & Schuster:

From the rising-star designer and author of the hit blog, Elements of Style, a full-color, fully illustrated book packed with honest advice, inspiration, ideas, and lessons learned about designing a home that reflects your personality and style.

Elements of Style is a uniquely personal and practical decorating guide that shows how designing a home can be an outlet of personal expression and an exercise in self-discovery. Drawing on her ten years of experience in the interior design industry, Erin combines honest design advice and gorgeous professional photographs and illustrations with personal essays about the lessons she has learned while designing her own home and her own life—the first being: none of our homes or lives is perfect. Like a funny best friend, she reveals the disasters she confronted in her own kitchen renovation, her struggles with anorexia, her epic fight with her husband over a Lucite table, and her secrets for starting a successful blog.

Organized by rooms in the house, Elements of Style invites readers into Erin’s own home as well as homes she has designed for clients. Fresh, modern, and colorful, it is brimming glamour and style as well as advice on practical matters from choosing kitchen counter materials to dressing a bed with pillows, picking a sofa, and decorating a nursery without cartoon characters. You’ll also find a charming foreword by Erin’s husband, Andrew, and an extensive Resource and Shopping Guide that provides an indispensable a roadmap for anyone embarking on their first serious home decorating adventure. With Erin’s help, you can finally make your house your home.

Simon & Schuster are kindly offering to give away 3 copies. Please enter the giveaway via the rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (terms set by the publisher). The winners will be announced on the widget and contacted by email one week from today. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


To learn more about Erin Gates visit her blog, Elements of Style.

News
Check out my interview with Heidi Bock of Beauty in Believing blog.

A Domestic Goddess is loving the Madame Chic books.

At Home With Madame Chis is mentioned on the lovely In Sewtopia quilting blog this week.

Don't forget to enter the Christy Luxury Linens giveaway (for Daily Connoisseur readers only!)

Reading
43 Reasons Why Studying Abroad in Paris Destroys You For Life (You'll love this! Thanks to my readers who shared this with me.)

Upcoming Events
Southern California readers: come meet me at one of my upcoming book signings:

October 28, 2014 (next Tuesday!) DIESEL bookstore, Brentwood, CA Presentation, Q&A + book signing 7pm

November 2, 2014 Laguna Beach Books Presentation, Q&A + signing 4pm

(more venues and dates to be announced on my author website events page)



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How to Fold a Towel
One of the fun tutorials found in At Home With Madame Chic is how to fold a towel. Many people don't think about this small detail, but when you fold your towels this way, it not only makes your linen cupboards a joy to look at, but it makes storage more efficient.

As mentioned in the book, I learned this technique from Anthea Turner's Perfect Housewife series (no longer on the air but such a motivating show!). Once you start folding your towels in this way, you'll never go back.


illustration by Virginia Johnson

First start with the towel lying flat. Then fold into thirds lengthwise. Take the long ends and fold them to meet in the middle, flip the towel over in half again and enjoy your beautifully folded towel.



Check out this special video to see the visual tutorial. 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.


Giveaway

Christy, a high-quality linen company, has kindly offered to give away one luxury hamper of Supreme Hygro towels with matching robe and bath mat to a very lucky reader of The Daily Connoisseur. This hamper has a $395 value. You may enter the giveaway on Christy's special Daily Connoisseur page.

Christy sent me this hamper and I have had the pleasure of using these Supreme Hygro towels for the past few weeks. Made of 100% supima cotton, the towels are so soft, fluffy and luxurious and only get better with each wash.The Hygro technology are unique to Christy as they are made from a special luxury cotton that actually gets softer with washes, so the towels keep their plushness over time. I chose the white towels and bathrobe (you know how I love white linens!) but their towels come in 26 colors.


image from Christy website


image from Christy website

The giveaway will be open until December 1, 2014. Enter here and good luck!

For more on Christy, visit www.christylinens.com or check them out on Twitter and Facebook.

Reviews
Thank you to Sequins and Sunflowers and JackieMania for your lovely reviews of At Home With Madame Chic.

Thank you for all of your wonderful feedback about the book! If you loved it too, make sure to write a review online to help spread the Madame Chic message.

Upcoming Events
Southern California readers: come meet me at one of my upcoming book signings:

October 28, 2014 DIESEL bookstore, Brentwood, CA Presentation, Q&A + book signing 7pm

November 2, 2014 Laguna Beach Books Presentation, Q&A + signing 4pm

(more venues and dates to be announced on my author website events page)



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Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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Thank you for your great response to last week's video, What's in my Fridge? I really enjoyed reading what food you keep in your home. I'm going through a whole reinvention process with how I cook, feed my family and organize the kitchen (which, of course, I'll share with you in the future) and it was fun for me to do the video.

To continue the theme of home tours, today's video shows you my patio garden. I keep container plants: roses (Mr. Lincoln and Double Delight— my two favorite!), camelia, jasmine, geranium and vines. I find with container plants that frequent fertilizer is necessary for them to thrive. I use an organic plant food from my local garden center.

Our patio space is compact but we get a lot of enjoyment from it. The scent from the jasmine and roses is quite strong this time of year and wafts into our bedroom like perfume— it's really lovely.

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

Have a wonderful week x


♥ Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families affected by the shootings in Santa Monica last week. Santa Monica is a beautiful place to live and we feel devastated that these horrible acts of violence have touched us here. We won't let it get us down, however. We will rise above it and continue to thrive in our beloved little seaside town ♥

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In this week's video I show you the contents of our refrigerator on a typical weeknight. We are a family of four with my husband, my toddler, my baby and me (oh yes, and Gatsby!), so the contents of the fridge reflect all of our likes. For example, my husband loves the Skippy smooth peanut butter and won't have anything else. Same with the Yoplait yogurt... I have a few musts as well.

You'll also notice the Bio-K probiotics I have. I find that since I started drinking this friendly bacteria my digestive health has seriously improved. Also worth noting are our two drawers of vegetables. We receive a vegetable box once a week delivered fresh from our local farm (Farm Fresh To You for those of you in Los Angeles). I love getting creative with ways to cook the seasonal veggies.

At the time of shooting this video there is no meat in the fridge. We usually eat meat (fish, chicken or a roast- a must for my husband!) around three times a week and I try to buy it as fresh as possible.

Another thing to note is I usually prefer to make my own pie crusts but on busy weeknights it is nice to have a pre-prepared one handy for making savory tarts or that strawberry pie...

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

This week I would love to know... What's in your fridge?

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You know how it is at the end of a very long day when you feel like you just can't go on. You just want to watch your favorite show or read a book or just go to sleep. But the problem is that the mess from dinner hasn't quite been cleared up yet... and the living room could probably do with a once-over...

Usually at the end of even a very long day I can commit to 15 minutes of tidying up. I know that if I clear away everything tonight that tomorrow I'll wake up to a tidy house, which will then, in turn, set me on the right foot for the day. If I leave the mess, I know I'll have to wake up to last night's dishes and a disheveled living room. And if I'm having to deal with yesterday's mess, I just feel like I'm playing catch-up the whole day. I reason with myself that 15 minutes isn't too long and sooner than I know it I'll be on my way to doing something I really want to do that evening.

The marvelous thing is, you will surprise yourself with how much you can actually accomplish in 15 minutes! Many times I'll feel like I've been cleaning for ages and I'll look at the timer to find I have 8 minutes left. Try it... the next time you unload the dishwasher you'll see it actually takes only 3 minutes (instead of the hour it feels like).

I learned this technique from Anthea Turner's Perfect Housewife series and the FlyLady blog. You must try it the next time you are feeling overwhelmed with tidying your home.

For more on this topic, check out this week's video, 15-Minute Tidy. 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

♥ Wishing you a happy Memorial Day and giving thanks to all of our military men and women who serve our country, both past and present. We appreciate you ♥

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I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! Last week was very special for us as we celebrated our youngest daughter's first birthday. I can't believe the year has flown by so quickly. We marked the occasion with delicious food, homemade cupcakes and a puppet show of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Here is a picture of the buffet table. For flowers I arranged a lilac and hydrangea bouquet. It was fragrant and abundant and perfect for spring.



What you can't see in the picture are the pink streamers and balloons hanging from the ceiling. I was in a bit of a rush that day to get everything ready on time and did not think to take a picture!



For the cupcakes I made a simple vanilla cake recipe and this homemade strawberry frosting, which turned out to be so delicious. It takes a little bit of effort but is well worth it to have an all natural frosting. The strawberry flavor from this recipe is delicate and velvety. I made both the cupcakes and frosting the day before, kept them sealed and separate until the following day, then I frosted them right before the party began. (I refrigerated the frosting only.)

I also made tea sandwiches: smoked salmon with herbed cheese and cream cheese cucumber, and had assorted salads available. Even though the food looks elegant and grown-up, it was all very kid-friendly! We used paper plates and napkins decorated with fairies...

Here is a picture of Goldilocks in the puppet show, which was performed by Puppet Theater on Wheels . (I love puppet shows. Remember the one I saw on the barge in Richmond Upon Thames?)




And finally, a photo of the hydrangea bouquet a few days later. I change the water in the vase every day to make the arrangement last as long as possible.



As the years go on I'm having more and more fun planning these parties. It was a wonderful gathering and most important, our baby really enjoyed it... which is all that matters!

News

♥ Check out this great article in Rebellious Magazine called Creating a Mom-drobe Part 1. In the article, Megan Cottrell tries out the ten-item wardrobe for herself.

♥ Lessons from Madame Chic is mentioned on My Life in Focus blog in an article called Paris AND New York.

♥ I posted my ten-item wardrobe for spring video on Huffington Post Style and it has received a great response from the community! In the article I also answer the question: do Parisians actually call it a ten-item wardrobe?


I hope you have a wonderful week. See you soon! x

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A few weeks ago I was recognized by a reader of the Daily Connoisseur. I was in my local grocery store (thank goodness for 'looking presentable always'— remember I alway see people at the grocery store!) and she said, "I know you, I've read your blog and book!"

Well it turns out that this lovely reader is Jane Hamilton of JAC Interiors, a prestigious interior design firm in Los Angeles. After chatting for a bit I asked Jane if she would be so kind as to answer some of my questions about interior design for the Daily Connoisseur and she agreed!

Our Q & A is below. All of the pictures you see are from JAC Interiors' portfolio.



What are some inexpensive things people can do to update the look of their home?

• Buy new throw pillows.
• Wallpaper just one wall for accent.
• Add inexpensive art found at flea markets, not just paintings but sculpture pieces. This really adds a curated, expensive look.
• Color arrange your bookshelves—this looks very Parisian chic.
• Bring out the wedding china and use in the bathroom to store make up brushes.


Where should we splurge and where should we save when decorating?

Buy more expensive things and use them on small areas. Buy some fabulous fabric and put it on a tiny piece of furniture like a stool, accent pillow or lampshade. This will add bling to the room and probably be the only thing people will focus their eyes on. You could splurge on a great wallpaper for a small space as well. Splurge on things that will give you great pleasure everyday such as beautiful bedding. You want to get maximum usage or impact from the things you are spending more money on. Save money on fabric for heavy use items like a sofa or chair in a family room. You can use less expensive items and add bling with accessories.



Clutter is so not chic. Do you have any tips for keeping clutter at bay?

Do a daily 5 minute pick up everyday before bed. Edit your possessions. Take a hint from the French who are great minimalists. Less good quality items are better than a lot of cheap junk and will make you feel better about your surroundings. You will be able to think more clearly if you eliminate clutter down to just a few items. We find having cute baskets are great, but be careful not to turn them into junk piles. You must edit periodically. The container store has super items to help you organize.



Can you give us a few do's and don'ts of interior design?

Do have a collection of tear sheets from magazines that capture the “feeling” of the room you would like. Don’t just follow trends, go with what exhibits your best self. Gather your favorite knick knacks around the house and display them together in a collection. You will give your guests an instant conversation topic when they come over.
Go for the best quality you can afford. Consider the light in your space and be sure to compensate for dark rooms or too light rooms when choosing paint colors. The final layer of accessories, such as lighting, art and pillows make a room. Many clients don’t see the value in this last phase and that’s the icing on the cake! A room isn’t done unless there is art and fabulous lighting.

Most people feel that hiring interior designers is only for the wealthy. Is this true? How is the industry changing?

Hiring interior designers is an investment that will save you money and time in the long run. It will give you peace of mind that you are choosing the right items for your lifestyle and personality. We save you from making mistakes on your own. Find a designer who understands who you are and your needs. They should be good listeners who uplift the client and make them look and feel great when the project is done!

JAC Interiors---Jane Hamilton, Andrea Putman, Christine Thompson
JAC Interiors is an interior design firm that serves the Los Angeles area. They were recently awarded the Best of Houzz 2013.
For more information on JAC Interiors, click here, or visit, www.JACinteriordesign.com

Thank you Jane!

News

♥ Read my latest piece for Huffington Post Style called, Get Your Spring Wardrobe Ready.

♥ The Biographile picks Lessons from Madame Chic as one of 10 Parisian Memoirs to Celebrate Spring.

♥ Next Wednesday, April 3rd, I'll be appearing on the Cindy Laverty radio show with show host and author, Cindy Laverty, at 1pm EST (10am PST). Visit www.W4WN.com (Women 4 Women Network) next week to listen to the show, or click here. No downloads or Apps needed to listen. The Cindy Laverty Show is dedicated to the subject of CARE - how we care for ourself so we can better care for each other. If women need anything...it's to learn new and creative ways to care for themselves. I'm really looking forward to chatting with Cindy! PLEASE NOTE: Due to technical difficulties this show will not air this week but next week. I will update you soon. Thanks for your understanding!

I hope you have a wonderful Easter... I'll be taking next week off for spring break. Thank you for all of your emails and messages. Even though I am not able to respond to all of them, I want you to know they are greatly appreciated!

See you soon xx

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Since the last Reader Questions Answered post I have received so many questions for the series. I love to hear from you and enjoy doing these videos. Part of me feels a bit intimidated by answering your questions... but everything I do stems from a curiosity on how to live well, and that is how I approach each answer. I always enjoy when you comment and give your own take on these subjects so we can learn from each other!

This installment of Reader Q&A covers capsule wardrobe, dealing with anxiety, orchid food (yes I got all of your orchid related queries!) and French films. Oh la la!

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

Testimonial

This testimonial comes from the Guestbook on my author website. It is written by Tammy, who says:

Hi, Jennifer!
I ordered your book on Kindle three days ago, and finished it yesterday. With your book as a guide, I promptly organized my wardrobe, as I had been in a fashion rut for awhile. I found that I did not even like or wear over 90% of my clothes, many of which were relics from my college days (and I graduated six years ago!), some were even from high school. Remained were the few very flattering pieces made of good materials that I seldom wore because they were “saved” for more “worthy” events, which doesn’t even make any sense to me now. I also used your guide at Saks yesterday to pick up a few key pieces that were lacking in my wardrobe. I now have, literally, only 10 pieces, and they all make me look great and feel great! I don’t think I have felt this happy and free in years, if ever. Thank you!

Thank you Tammy!

Next week will show part two of this video... see you then! x

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With a little care and attention you can get your orchids to bloom year after year. Once the blooms fall off your orchid, continue to take care of it. Trim back any parts of the stem that have dried off. Continue to water your orchids once a week and feed them at least once a month. Over time you will notice new growth and eventually new blooms. This is so rewarding!



This week's video shows you two of my orchids that have produced new blooms. The first half of the video shows the new buds and the second shows the full blooms over one month later. If you are unable to see the video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Is Vulgar the New Normal?

My latest piece for Huffington Post Entertainment is called, Is Vulgar the New Normal? It discusses the increasingly disturbing trend of vulgarity in our popular culture. I feel very passionately about this piece. Please share with your friends if you agree.

News

♥ This Wednesday, March 6th, I will be appearing on One Chic Mama TV at 1pm PST. I'll be joining host Mary Michele via Skype for the hour as we discuss all things style. To watch the show on your computer visit this link: http://www.nissancommunications.com/onechicmama.php or click here. You can also phone in at any time during the hour to ask me a question by calling 919.851.3858, Or you can Skype Chat at: Computers2kvoice. Please phone or Skype in, I'd love to speak with you! Find One Chic Mama on Facebook.

♥ I have also written another article for Huffington Post Style discussing the merits of le no makeup look for spring.

♥ Former Fleet Street photojournalist and great family friend of ours, Clive Limpkin, has just released his autobiography, Lost in the Reptile House, available exclusively for Apple's iPad and iTunes. Learn more about the book here. Visit Clive's website here.

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I was recently given a set of antique china that belonged to my great-grandmother. The set is Syracuse China in the Briarcliff pattern, which was made in America, and dates back to the 1940s.

Because this set belonged to my great-grandmother, and then my grandmother, it is very special to me. We dined off of the china on Christmas day and have actually used it almost every day since. I love the delicate nature of the plates.

Immediately when I started to use the china, I noticed something very curious about the dinner plates. The area for food is much smaller on the antique plates, especially compared to my large, modern-day Pottery Barn dinner plates. Back in the 40s, plates were smaller and more delicate. Food portions were a lot smaller too.

This week's video shows you the difference between the antique china and modern-day earthenware plates and discusses the various unexpected merits of using your china daily. If you are unable to see my video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

This week I would love to know... do you have a treasured set of china in your family? If not, what type of set would you one day like to have?

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It can be very tempting to go overboard and spend a fortune on holiday decorations... but really there is no need. You can create your own natural, chic decorations at home.

Each year I like to create my own homemade ornaments from dried citrus fruit. These ornaments are budget-friendly (not to mention kid-friendly!) but also look so elegant.

You will need:

Citrus fruit (you can use oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, satsumas, etc.)
parchment paper
baking sheet
raffia (or some other natural string)

Thinly slice the citrus fruit and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a low oven (220° F) for 6 hours. While the fruit is drying, they fill your home with the most amazing scent! Once dry, string with raffia and hang them on your tree.

I also like to use bows as ornaments, which is another cost-effective decorating idea.

To learn more about dried citrus fruit ornaments and to see our Christmas tree, check out my video. If you are unable to see the embedded video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Book News

♥ Matchbook Magazine has picked Lessons from Madame Chic for their holiday gift guide this year as the perfect gift to give your très chic best friend.

♥ Lessons from Madame Chic also received a great review on The Gilmore Guide to Books this week.

♥ Check out this adorable Tumblr page from Simon & Schuster featuring the perfect gifts for the Francophiles in your life.

♥ Congratulations to the three winners of the big Simon & Schuster Giveaway: Jacqueline Jones, Neva Sarenana and Felicia Loveys! Simon & Schuster will contact you to arrange shipment of your prize packets.

See you next week when we'll discuss chic, budget-friendly gift wrap!



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