Edgar Degas said, "the artist must live alone, and his private life must remain unknown". While most of us artists do live with family, I'm sure many can relate to this sentiment... I know I can. To create art, one must be alone so as not to be influenced or disrupted by others. Join me for a cup of tea for The Chic Assignment check-in. To see the original assignment, click here.



In today's check-in we are discussing the curious case of Adagio in G Minor. Did Tomaso Albinoni actually compose this piece? Or was it composed by Albinoni's biographer, Remo Giazotto? And if so, why wouldn't Giazotto take credit for it? It is one of the most beautiful pieces ever composed, after all... My humble opinion.

Didn't you love the performance by Hauser? A remarkable masterpiece.



We are also going to learn more about Degas' artistic life and examine some of his beautiful pieces.


Edgar Degas self-portrait, 1855

I would love to know which Degas painting is your favorite... I read to you from this biography today. If you would like a Degas on your walls, you don't need millions of dollars, you can purchase a poster or canvas for your own home.

As far as intentional downtime goes... I am doing better. I have been struggling with the mindless impulses to reach for my phone or to surf the web. I have found that keeping a real book by my side helps here. I am more likely to grab the book if I have a few moments to myself. I have been reading The Jane Austen Diet and A Most Novel Revenge by Ashley Weaver.

As for the romantic self-care item for this month, I have been enjoying a nice, hot bubble bath with my latest copy of Victoria Magazine and a cup of tea (I have been enjoying Earl Grey lately). It was the de-stressing moment I looked forward to at the end of every day...

I would love to know how your Chic Assignment is going this month.

**Correction** In the video I meant to say the "American" artist, Mary Cassatt (not French).

Thank you to the Elegant Connoisseurs for bringing us today's video.
All the King’s Morsels
American Blossom Linens
Awesome Possum Powers
Azalia Spa Goods
Inspired by Nikki
Julie Kolman – My Confident Closet
Katy Rose Artist
Not-So Desperate Housewives
Secret Owl Society – Michelle Rohr
Something to Cherish- Cherish Flieder
Barbara Cristina de Abreu Pereira
Christine Bolla
Caroline Haydu
Denise Gende
Jet Rowley-Herron
Jenny Candelaria
Katherine Rae
Linda Eklof
Maria Conder

News
📍Join us for The Chic Assignment for February.

📍Become a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the MEMBERSHIPS feature. I do one livestream as well 3 episodes of my new Vodcast (a video podcast) per month. (Link must be accessed on a computer.) The next live stream is tomorrow.

📍Thank you for your wonderful support of my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS.

📍I am working on an exciting new eCourse for you and it is almost ready. In the meantime, 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

View this post on Instagram

Cozy Sunday afternoon. We do our best to keep Sunday as a day of rest, but I know that when I’m working it often ends up being a day of preparation. What does Sunday usually look like for you? . . . . . . . #yxeblog #saskblog #lessonsfrommadamechic #madamechic #reading #bookstagram #rosefieldwatches #peoplesjewelry #cozysundayafternoon #hygge #latte #sundaywellspent #dayofrest

A post shared by Sarah (@sweetspontaneity) on Feb 16, 2020 at 3:17pm PST

Comment of the Week
Melinda L. writes, "Thank you for not waiting until everything is "perfect" to shoot your videos. .I tend to unfollow YouTubers whose videos seem "over-controlled." They are so bland to me and I get bored. I much prefer a little "Julia Child" so to speak in the videos I watch, lol."

Well Melinda, there is no threat of anything being perfect on this blog or channel. There's always something going on over here :) Thank you for watching.

I would love to hear from you... how is your Chic Assignment going this month? What revelations have you had? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. See you soon!




Visit my newly designed Author Website

*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

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

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the ten-item wardrobe, debt-free living, and efficiency at home


FTC: This post is not sponsored. Links may be affiliate. All Amazon links are affiliate.

Welcome to The Chic Assignment for February, 2020.



In this first Chic Assignment of the year, we are focusing on romance. I have chosen one of my all-time favorite (and most romantic, may I add) classical music pieces, we are studying beautiful impressionistic artwork, and striving to improve our everyday lives.

⚜️ Chic Assignment no. 1 Tomaso Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor. I have raved about this piece many times on the channel, but we have never actually studied it for a Chic Assignment. What a better time than now to dive into the deeply romantic Adagio in G Minor. This performance by HAUSER has over 45 million views, and for good reason! Enjoy this show-stopping performance with your family this month.



We will learn more about Albinoni in the check-in later in the month.

⚜️ Chic Assignment no. 2 Enjoy the works of Edgar Degas. Degas is one of the most famous French painters of the Impressionistic period. His ballerinas are at once dynamic and romantic.


The Star, 1878 by Degas Image from Edgar-Degas.net

You can see Degas' complete works here.

If you would like to buy a canvas print of Degas' works, you can find a great selection here.

Here are some interesting books on Degas: Degas: A Passion for Perfection , Degas: His Life and Works in 500 Images.

⚜️Chic Assignment no. 3 Intentional downtime. Notice how you spend your downtime this month. If you have a few minutes to yourself, do you inevitably reach for your phone? Do you spend it mindlessly surfing the internet? If you would like to get more intentional about your downtime this month, join me in noticing your downtime patterns and perhaps changing them.

⚜️ Chic Assignment no. 4 Do something romantic this month. This does not have to involve a significant other. You can place a pretty bouquet by your bed, read poetry by the fireplace, or enjoy a cup of tea in a bubble bath as some examples. Add some romance into your daily life this month and notice the benefits.


I hope you enjoy today's video and this month's assignments. Be sure to check in with your findings and you could be mentioned in The Chic Assignment check-in later in the month. Share this with your friends and tag me on social media with the hashtag #TheChicAssignment

See you on Monday!

Visit my newly designed Author Website

*NEW* Join The Chic Society on YouTube and become a member of The Daily Connoisseur.

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

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the ten-item wardrobe, debt-free living, and efficiency at home


FTC: This post is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate, including Amazon affiliate links.

In today's Chic Assignment Check-in you will laugh, you will cry, and you will (hopefully) feel inspired to carry through with the rest of the month!



Be sure to visit the original Chic Assignment for April to familiarize yourself with the assignments if you don't already know what they are.

In today's video we discuss the synchronicity of this month's assignments. Have you seen this video?
Ave Maria Dad goes viral


Also, did you know that this is National Poetry Month? (I didn't plan that one.)

I do give you an almost literal reenactment of me reading about Shelley's life. Grab the popcorn!

We also discuss what happened the one time I changed into "exercise sweats", which brings to mind this meme I posted on my Instagram last week:

View this post on Instagram

Every. Time. #dailyconnoisseur #lookpresentablealways

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Apr 11, 2019 at 2:20pm PDT

And we discuss the importance of intentional rest.

Also mentioned/ featured in the video:

My pearl necklace is by Ana Luisa Jewelry
(Use code Jennifer10 for $10 off)

The best Ave Maria album

and

My poem, Surroundings, set to film



Surroundings

A poem by Jennifer L. Scott


We want them to comfort us.

On a hard, long day

In the trenches of daily life

We look to our surroundings to bring us cheer.

It isn’t always so.

Sometimes our surroundings

Are the cause of our despair.

Other people have a way

Of orchestrating that.

But amidst every mess,

And every day that seems impossible to surmount,

Is the breakthrough of gratitude

For our surroundings-

Whatever state they are in.

One can always find loveliness, if one truly looks

And today that is what I found.

News
Thank you to everyone who has taken my new eCourse, How to be Efficient at Home. These are the last few days to get the course at only $5. The price will go up later this week. I do this to cover the costs that Teachable charge me to host the courses. You are able to access the courses at any time and as many times as you like.

Oxana writes, "Dear Jennifer, I am very grateful to you for this course! It points out the main pillars of home efficiency. I am definitely determined now to work on the points that haven't become my habits yet. You have inspired me a lot!
By the way I live in Moscow, Russia. We have long winters here (November - March) with very little sun. It always affects me with the lack of joy and energy. But this winter I had an additional source of light, energy and joy: your books, videos and now this course! Thank you so much for doing all this for us! I've never thought of home chores as of something that could bring joy, I've always viewed them as my obligation as a housewife and the mother of 3. I used to look for joy outside my home: cultural events, vacations, shopping. Now I am learning to find joy in everything I do AT home and I love it! You've changed my mindset!
In one of your books you mentioned that you would like to be the Madame Chic for your family. You ARE already! Please continue being such an inspiration, encouragement and a good example of always presentable, smart and positive woman, wife and mother.
All the best and many blessings to you and your wonderful family!"

Oxana, thank you for your wonderful testimonial. I am so happy that the course has inspired you. It's so fun for me to connect with readers from all around the world!

On Instagram
Madame Chic in Poland...

View this post on Instagram

✨✨✨ Mam słabość do książek Jennifer L. Scott, są napisane w przystępny i lekki sposób, często z przymróżeniem oka. Poradnik uczy jak być damą w każdej sytuacji, a także nakłania do pięknego życia. #szkoławdziękumadamechic #polishyourpoisewithmadamechic #wydawnictwoliterackie #jenniferlscott #ksiazka #czytambolubie #lubimyczytac #ksiazkoholizm #zbiblioteki #book #bookstagram #bookworm #bookaholics #instabooks #mólksiążkowy #flowers #tulipany #blackopium

A post shared by M (@babbler88) on Apr 10, 2019 at 8:31am PDT

Comment of the Week
Barbara writes, "So today I dressed up for no reason. Since it's still very cool here in Toronto, Canada I wore a warm dress with tights and a pearl necklace to work. I work at a large University campus and one of my colleagues noticed. She said "I like that dress. It's very pretty!" Made me feel good. Thanks for this assignment Jennifer! I may repeat it again next week :)"

Barbara, thank you for checking in. I loved hearing your Chic Assignment findings!

I would love to read about your findings with this month's Chic Assignment. Leave your comment down below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.

Visit my Author Website

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

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the ten-item wardrobe, debt-free living, and efficiency at home

Sign up for my Seasonal Author Newsletter

FTC: This post is not sponsored. Some of the links are affiliate.

Thank you for joining me for The Chic Assignment for April. I am so excited to share this month's assignments with you.



🎵 Listen to Schubert's Ave Maria I have two performances on YouTube that I would like you to watch and listen to this month. The first is Valentina Lisitsa's piano rendition, which is arranged by Liszt. The second is Hauser's masterful cello performance. They will both move your soul.





Here is a bit more on Franz Schubert. Portrait taken from ClassicFM who share an interesting article with 20 facts about the composer.


Schubert wrote his first masterpiece at the age of 17. In 1815 alone, Schubert wrote more than 20,000 bars of music, including nine church works, a symphony, and some 150 songs – including eight in one day in October 1815. He was certainly productive and efficient! My type of person :) We will discuss Schubert more in the check-in later in the month. If you're interested in my favorite Ave Maria album, this is it.

📖 Read poetry by Shelley OK, so he wasn't a model citizen. Percy Bysshe Shelley had a mess of a personal life. He did write beautiful poetry, however, and is one of the most well-known and renowned of the British Romanticists. I read his poem To Night in today's video. Proceed with caution if you read his biography. You might need the popcorn for this one! If you listened to the poem in today's video, you have completed this assignment. If you'd like to read further works of his, check out the book of poetry I share in today's video. This was given to me by my father when I was 15. I love poetry! This portrait of Shelley was taken from this site, which lists many of his works.



👗 Dress up for no reason If you are in the habit of wearing comfy sweats on the days when you don't have anything remarkable planned, step out of your comfort zone one time this month and get dressed up for no reason. I don't mean putting on a ball gown to go to the grocery store, but I do mean wearing that dress you love but never wear or that pretty blouse you adore but are always so worried that you'll stain it so you never wear it (Who has been there?) Report your findings to us.

🌿 Intentional rest As we move toward the end of the school year, many parents are stressed out by all of the hustle and bustle and activities for the children. Let's try and take at least five minutes of intentional rest each day. Ideas are: sitting down with a cup of tea, looking through a beautiful book, reading poetry, chatting with a family member, walking through the garden, soaking in the bath. Just as long as your rest time does not include screens. Let's make our rest intentional. It is the equivalent of dining with no distractions. When you do that you appreciate your food more. When we are intentional about rest, we appreciate our rest time more and get more out of it. We cannot do that if we are "zoned out" in front of the television.

I would love to hear your findings on The Chic Assignment for this month! Thank you for watching today's video.

News
📍 Thank you for all of your well-wishes. On Instagram I posted a picture from the Urgent Care. I have been having severe back problems this week. I am sad to report it is not yet better, but I do appreciate all of your prayers and kind comments. The good news is they were playing Chopin at the urgent care! There is hope!

📍 You must check out Nikki Moreno's beautiful film that is set to my poem, SURROUNDINGS. I wrote this poem to convey the complicated relationship we have with our surroundings. Her cinematography is beautiful and conveys my meaning for the poem perfectly. Please watch this beautiful short film. I hope it inspires you.



📍 A continued thank you to everyone who has taken my new eCourse, How to be Efficient at Home. The comment section of each lecture is teeming with amazing comments. I am not able to keep up with them all and respond to each one. I appreciate everyone who has taken this course as it supports my channel and the work that I do. Thank you!

Charlene R. writes, "Thank you Jennifer. I had a lovely time watching these videos and reflecting on the improvements id like to make towards better efficiency. Its so good to listen to someone speak who also values the day to day efficient running of a calm and peaceful homelife. Striving and working towards this is something that i was created to do and it brings me joy."

Thank you, Charlene! I am so happy you enjoyed the course. I loved reading your comments there.

On Instagram

View this post on Instagram

Madam elegancijos pamokos (dvidešimt stiliaus paslapčių,kurių išmokau gyvendama Paryžiuje) 📖🗼 #knyga #bookstagram #madam #elegancija #jenniferlscott #reading #readingbook #paris #bookmorning #morningbook #madamchic #madam #dailyconnoisseur #sofoklis

A post shared by Martyna Mickienė (@martyna.mick) on Mar 26, 2019 at 10:36pm PDT

Comment of the Week
On Nikki's video set to my poem, Maria from the UK wrote, "STUNNING
Even brought tears to my eyes.
Two of my favourite YouTubers. Well-done to you both.

Much love Maria 💕 uk xx"

Thank you, Maria. I cried when I watched Nikki's film for the first time too. It moved me so much. The poem I wrote is very special and she interpreted it perfectly. Thank you for watching!

Thank you for joining me for this month's Chic Assignment. I'm in a very busy season of life right now and regretfully am not able to reply to comments like I used to. I want you to know that even as the blog and channel grow I try to read every one and I appreciate them all. I might not reply, but know that your comment is valued and treasured. Thank you! Please report your findings in the comment section! I will do a check-in with you mid-month.

Visit my Author Website

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

Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the ten-item wardrobe, debt-free living, and efficiency at home

Sign up for my Seasonal Author Newsletter

FTC: This post is not sponsored. Some of the links are affiliate.