Hello Daily Connoisseurs,

I've been working on my new eCourse, Carry Yourself with Poise, for the past five months and it is finally ready.



This course has well over two hours of video instruction and covers both the "seen" and the "unseen" aspects of what it takes to be an elegant lady.

We live in a world that does not value elegance and poise as it used to, but that does not mean it is not valuable. In fact, it is more valuable than ever as I discuss in today's announcement video.

I look forward to seeing you on the eCourse.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

With love,

Jennifer xx

If you have little children in your family, a messy house is inevitable. Yes, you can teach them over time how to be tidy and pick up after themselves. My book, Connoisseur Kids, has excellent tips on how children can not only become tidy, but love being tidy as well. However, when you have very little ones, such as babies or toddlers, a mess is often inevitable.



Our lives should not crumble just because our surroundings are sometimes messy, however. Life does go on... we just need coping strategies and a good perspective, which I share with you today.

Today's video shares 5 tips to remaining dignified in the MESS. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. What is your experience dealing with the perpetual mess of having a family? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.

What I'm wearing in today's video:
Loft blouse
Pink gem earrings from Rachelyn Jewelry

The beautiful purple robe featured is by Fleur't (here is the gown that goes with it) code JENNIFER20 gives 20% off

News

📍The Madame Chic books are featured on Mix and Match Mama's bedside table.

📍 We are taking a break from The Chic Assignment in January and will resume in 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.)

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

📍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
Lessons from Madame Chic on social media...

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יש עכשיו טרנד של ספרים שעוסקים במציאת הקול האופנתי האישי, לדעת מה הסטייל שהולם אותך וגם קצת על צרכנות נבונה... כמה שנים לפני כל אלו יצא הספר הזה שהכרתי בזכות @hadas.migemi בספר מתארת ג׳ניפר את השנה שבילתה בפריז במסגרת חילופי סטודנטים ואת החוויה שלה כזרה בפריז... עיקרי התובנות שלה היו: 1. יש דברים שהם לא שיק- אחד מהם הוא לנשנש בציבור... 2. לא חייבים הרבה בגדים כדי להיראות טוב. 3. תמיד להתלבש בבגדים הטובים שלכם ולא לשמור אותם לאירוע מיוחד. 4. לדחות מעלינו את החומרנות החדשה, לא חייבים לקנות הכל ואת הטרנדים הכי חדשים. 5. תמיד להיראות ייצוגיים. 6. שגרת טיפוח העור היא מאסט, וחובה להשתמש בתכשירים איכותיים. 7. בושם הוא חלק מהלוק. 8. טפחו גם את החלקים האחרים בחייכם, לימדו על אומנות, תרבות ודעו לשוחח על זה עם אנשים. 9. לימדו להנות מהדברים הקטנים בחיים. 10. איכות זו לא מילה גסה... 11. חיו את חייכם בתשוקה גדולה ובהמון התלהבות. . . . . . . #קריאה #ספרים #ספריםספריםספרים #bookstagram #book #books #picoftheday #reading #bookshelf #madamechic #lessonsfrommadamechic #jenniferlscott #jenniferscott #ayala_love_books #simonandschuster #relextime #weekendvibes#thedailyconnoisseur @dailyconnoisseur @simonandschuster

A post shared by ✨ AYALA ALON ✨ (@ayalalon22) on Jan 10, 2020 at 11:33pm PST

Comment of the Week

Stephanie D. writes, "I need to remember, "you can be right, or you can be happy!""

Stephanie, that bit of advice from Monday's video resonated with a lot of people. We know we're right... but it's not worth the fight :) Ha! another one!

Thank you for watching. I would love to know your thoughts on today's topic.




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Picture this: you're having breakfast... enjoying your poached egg on toast, orange juice, and coffee. You notice your toddler running gleefully around the living room, laughing uproariously. You don't mind, you're just happy to be having a few minutes to eat a nice breakfast. Suddenly you realize that he is holding something in his hand. What is it?



It looks like a large canister.
And he's shaking it.
All over the living room floor.
It's pepper.
Pepper is being shaken all across the living room floor.

Throwing your napkin aside, you start chasing after him, while yelling, "STOP!" Poached egg on toast regrettably trying to go down your throat.

Pause right here.

In this moment, you've lost your dignity.

As parents of young children, we all know what it's like to act less than dignified. In some situations (like the pepper shaking incident) losing your dignity is inevitable. But in other situations (losing your temper, etc.) dignity can be preserved. Parenting is hard, and I certainly don't know everything. But as a mother to four children, I'm learning and growing more and more every day.

I hope you enjoy today's video. Please chime in on the discussion in the comment section. I love to hear from you. For more on how to cultivate poise, check out my third book, Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic: Lessons in Everyday Elegance.


News
📍I finished my 2nd round of copyedits for CONNOISSEUR KIDS, my new book coming out in the fall of 2019 from Chronicle Books. I'm so excited for your family to read this wonderful book.

📍I'm working on a new eCourse for 2019. If you haven't taken my other courses, now is a great time. Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living and Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe are fun, affordable, and as many have stated, totally life-changing!


On Instagram
Madame Chic in good company with Marie Kondo...

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The anxiety stuff and clutter induces is real. I don’t typically need the start of a fresh year to start a fresh project but I’m doing so this year (actually I couldn’t wait and have already started🙈). I reread a couple of books that helped me jump start cultivating and decluttering my life several years ago. It was like having coffee with an old friend and picking up right where we had left off. Here’s to remembering the lessons from madame chic {especially ch.12: clutter is so not chic} and keeping only the things in life that spark joy ✨🥂 #tenitemwardrobe #konmari #sparkjoy #lessonsfrommadamechic #thelifechangingmagicoftidyingup #minimalism #keepitsimple #newyearsresolution #financialdiet #mindfulliving #minimalistliving #declutter #declutteryourlife #simplicity #lessismore #simplify

A post shared by @ nataliyasdiary on Dec 27, 2018 at 9:07am PST

Comment of the Week
On last week's Clean with Me video, Teresa H. writes, "Jennifer I love your videos (all of them). I especially love your natural cleaning videos. I tried Grove Collaborative after one of your videos some time back and I am hooked. The amazing thing is my husband has also become a fan of the products and the home always smells so fresh and clean. Thank you for your books, your videos and most of all for being YOU! Happy New Year!!"

Hi Teresa, thank you for your encouraging comment. I enjoy doing the cleaning videos and they motivate me to keep my house in good shape. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Thank you for joining me for today's video. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. What tips do you have on not losing your dignity in parenting? Do you struggle in this area? Let us know and your comment could be comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.

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Part 3 of the reader Q&As continues today with a special appearance from Mr. Connoisseur at the beginning of the video. Have the books changed me? What do my friends think of the Madame Chic books? What should you do when you are in a bridal party and everyone around you lacks poise? How can I implement routines into my home life? All of these questions are answered in today's video plus much more.

News
I hope you will join me for the Mapp & Lucia book club at the end of June!

Here is a snapshot of the two volume Lessons from Madame Chic comic books from Harper Collins Japan...

The Lessons From Madame Chic 2 volume comic books from @harpercollinsjp Illustrated by the great Junko Murata ❤️ #lessonsfrommadamechic #MADAMECHIC #jenniferlscott

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on May 2, 2017 at 10:25am PDT

Jezball Adventures shares The Madame Chic Collection...

So very excited to start reading. #jezballadventures #thedailyconnoisseur #jenniferlscott #madamechic 🇹🇹

A post shared by JezelleM (@jezballadventures) on Apr 24, 2017 at 4:42pm PDT

Comment of the Week
Amy writes: I grew up on a farm surrounded by hardworking men and women and we learned an appreciation for honest, hard work. No one I know would find this fashion trend to be acceptable in any way. Most folks who have jobs that get them this dirty want nothing more than to get home scrub up in the shower and put on fresh, clean clothes as a reward for that hard work. My father wouldn't have sat at our dinner table looking like that let alone have gone out to a restaurant or a movie. He would have considered it disrespectful to himself and to others. I'm assuming if you are spending $425 on these jeans, you would wear them anywhere. I find it disrespectful to socialize looking like this and hope folks have more sense than to buy into this fad.

Hi Amy, I loved your comment on the Fake Mud Jeans post. It's nice hearing your perspective having grown up on the farm. Your father sounds like a wonderful man! Thank you to you and everyone who commented.

I would love to hear your thoughts on today's discussion topics. Have you ever been in a group of peers and felt uncomfortable with their behavior? What did you learn from it? Where do you struggle with routines in your home life? What are your successes with routines? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur!

If you have any questions you'd like to submit for a future reader Q&A, you may leave a comment here, or email me privately via my author website. Please note: due to the large volume of emails I receive, I am not always able to respond. I do read every email and appreciate every one!


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Part two of the reader Q&A continues today as I answer your questions. Today's topics: How do I maintain poise during a disagreement, especially with a family member? Do you have to be a size 6 to look good in the ten-item wardrobe? (I think you already know the answer to that question is NO.) Where can I get a good bra fitting?

All of these topics are discussed in today's video plus much more.

News

Here is a snippet of one of the pages from the new Lessons from Madame Chic comic book from Harper Collins, Japan. So much fun!

I can't tell you how cool it is to be a character in my own comic book. Japanese readers, I hope you'll check out the two volume comic book set from @harpercollinsjp #lessonsfrommadamechic #MADAMECHIC

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Apr 25, 2017 at 8:18am PDT

Here are some more pictures of the books from around the world. First stop, China!

A post shared by Wᴬᴺ Sᴹᴬᴸᴸ (@wansmallll) on Apr 23, 2017 at 8:13am PDT

... and the Slovak Republic

#easter morning at home with #madamechic

A post shared by Alica Sakmarová (@annotated.alice) on Apr 17, 2017 at 2:20am PDT

... and America!

I did something to my neck yesterday (#imgettingold) and literally spent the entire day in bed pretty much unable to move. My family alternated between making fun of me and taking really good care of me. I was so glad when I remembered I had checked these cute books out from the library. Adorable covers make books better. #madamechic #lessonsfrommadamechic #nowiwanttogotoparis

A post shared by PaperDoll Designs (@paperdolldesignsshop) on Apr 9, 2017 at 5:49pm PDT

Comment of the Week
Kamloops writes: I am a fan of my aprons. I love my nice outfits and for cooking or cleaning an apron is ideal. For decades I also clean my bathroom as I step out of the shower. By the time I am dressed that room is done.

Hi Kamloops, I love your tip for cleaning the bathroom as you use it. When the kids were younger (but old enough to sit up in the bath without me being right there) I would clean the bathroom while supervising them. I know many other people do this too! Thanks for your tip.


Today I would love to hear your thoughts on the subjects discussed in the video. Have you ever lost your poise during an argument? How did you learn from it? Plus size ladies, do you have any words of wisdom to share with our readers regarding dressing well? Do you have any recommendations for where to get a good bra fitting? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!



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We continue exploring the concepts of etiquette, poise and deportment that I write about in Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic, with today's discussion on bad language in public.

In today's video, I share four examples from my everyday life, including an etiquette horror story from Geoffrey's. Oftentimes readers ask me why I bother to talk about these personal experiences, and why I don't just ignore them. I write about them because one of the main endeavors of The Daily Connoisseur blog and Madame Chic books is to help us to live beautiful, elegant lives. In today's modern life, it's an etiquette minefield out there! I like to bring up specific examples from my everyday life because I feel they are more helpful than generic generalizations. These real-life examples help to illustrate my point.

Clearly, my stance is that bad language should not be used in a public place where other people are privy to it (especially children). While many of my etiquette subjects tend to be controversial, I imagine that this is one that most of us can agree upon. It's always a good idea to look outside of ourselves and be aware of where we are and who we are around before speaking. Plus, it doesn't hurt to clean up our language...

Check out my video this week to hear my stories. 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
Jessica M. White shares her book picks for May, 2016 and Madame Chic made the list!

I enjoyed reading this article on Bridgette Raes' blog called 5 Secrets of a Well Dressed Woman.

This Thursday, I will be running a giveaway for the new Simon & Schuster novel, Amy Snow. I am reading this book now and it is so good. 5 winners will be chosen so be sure to stop by and enter!

Comment of the Week
Susan writes:

Hi Jennifer! Love all your books, videos and blogs! One thing I especially love is the listening to classical music in the afternoon! It really helps me transition to the evening . . . wouldn't have thought of doing that on my own!!! Also, your advice regarding going with the flow of the day . . . that helps so much! Your wall paper in both bedrooms is beautiful! Stay well and we are all looking forward to hearing the baby news soon.

Dear Susan, Thank you! I am so happy you discovered the joy of classical music through my books and blog. It is one of the very true pleasures I indulge in almost every day. I hope it continues to bring happiness to your everyday life.

Question of the Week
J writes:

Thank you for your insights! If you have time, I need some outfit suggestions for a week long trip to Disney World. I see you wearing cute ballet flats and flat sandals for activities with your girls, but my feet do not hold up wearing those. If you had to wear shorts and sneakers (I blister horribly from sandals when walking long distances) to a theme park, how would you make it look put together and feminine on top? I was thinking sleeveless polos and cute cardigans, but I'm lost. Shorts/sneakers are not my usual staples, but Disney is a whole other world. Thanks!

Hi J, great question! You can still look chic and be comfortable for your Disney World trip. If you would like to wear shorts and sneakers, no problem! You can wear a nice tee shirt or blouse, and pair a cardigan or light sweater with it. You can tie the sweater around your shoulders if it becomes hot, or wear it if you get cold. I would definitely suggest wearing a hat with a larger brim to protect yourself from the sun. When I go to Disneyland with my children, I usually wear jeans, a striped tee shirt, my Nike tennis shoes and a hat with sunglasses (see my photo below). It's important to look after your feet when you are standing on them all day. Have a wonderful trip!


Disneyland 2013 :)

This week I would love to know... what are your thoughts on this week's etiquette discussion? Are you noticing more bad language being used in public places? Have your children been subjected to it? How do you handle it? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!


See you on Thursday for a special book giveaway for the new novel, Amy Snow.



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Those of you who follow me on facebook are occasionally privy to my vents and frustrations. This past week I saw a new music video that disturbed me greatly. It is by one of the most famous young pop stars in the world right now. Her video disturbed me because it is pure vulgarity from start to finish with the sole intent of providing a high shock value. Yesterday I read that this video broke records in the amount of YouTube views. Children are watching this kind of thing, thinking that it's normal. Pop culture like this, which seems to get more and more extreme, is the very reason why this week's video of mine on cultivating poise is more relevant than ever. If we turn the other cheek and are not careful, we can completely lose any traces of dignity and self-respect our society has ever had. Let's practice cultivating poise on a daily basis and lead by example to be the powerful role models we were meant to be.

Poise is defined in the dictionary as a "graceful and elegant bearing in a person". Don't you love that definition?

Poise is free. It is something anyone can have, yet so many people today lack it. This video is meant to be a motivational message to continue to cultivate poise on a daily basis, no matter what opposing forces you face. I also share the story of a recent confrontation I had with a young woman and my hope for her future. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel (and subscribe!) at www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

I'd like to make the cultivating of poise an on-going discussion on The Daily Connoisseur. I love to hear from you! What is your experience with poise? Do you know people in your family or community who could benefit from cultivating poise? What does poise mean to you?

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
I love independent foreign films because they offer a glimpse into a different way of life and expand our horizons. This weekend I watched an excellent film that I highly recommend to all of my readers. It's an Indian film called The Lunchbox and features a marvelous directorial debut by Ritesh Batra. What a beautiful, moving and quietly thought-provoking film. It's available to rent now. You can learn more about it here.

See you soon!

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