Hello dear friends,

Thank you for all of your wonderful birthday messages. I truly appreciate them. I am coming to you with The Chic Assignment Check-In for July.



Chic Assignment no. 1 André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra. André Rieu has done a wonderful service to the world of classical music. I am linking another stellar performance of The Beautiful Blue Danube. Mr. Rieu's Johann Strauss orchestra provide such joyful performances to watch. In today's video I also go over the life of Johann Stauss II, who was known as the "King of Waltz". I would love to know... did this month's music selection also bring you joy?

Chic Assignment no. 2 We explored the world of Emily Dickinson this month and if you haven't already seen my unexpected Emily Dickinson makeup and hair tutorial, you can check it out here.

If you would like to know more about Emily Dickinson's life, here is a short documentary that I found interesting on YouTube.

I read Emily's poem, A Bird came down the Walk in today's video.

A Bird came own the Walk (328)
by Emily Dickinson


A Bird came down the Walk—
He did not know I saw—
He bit an Angleworm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,

And then he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass—
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass—

He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all around—
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought—
He stirred his Velvet Head

Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home—

Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam—
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon
Leap, plashless as they swim.


Emily often wrote about nature and, even though she was a homebody and actually spent the majority of her latter years never leaving her family home, she loved the garden and observing nature as is evident in this poem, with its keen observations. I hope you enjoy our discussion of Emily's work in today's video.


Chic Assignment no. 3 Be mindful of (mindless) snacking. This month, I noticed the times when I did mindless snacking. I tend to mindlessly snack when I am stressed, tired (at the end of the day), or when I fail to plan properly for meals. Chapter one of Lessons from Madame Chic discusses this in more detail. I would love to hear your experience with mindless snacking.

Chic Assignment no. 4 Give a compliment. Did you give a compliment this month? How did the recipient respond? How do you respond when you receive a compliment? I received a compliment from reader, Lisa R. below:

Dear Jennifer,

I saw your challenge for July. Or, maybe it was June, and I am late to the party! :) Well, either way, here is my compliment: You have done a wonderful job setting up your YouTube channel. It is a benefit to women and I have learned a lot from it. By way of explanation, I am a Mom of 7 who has *no time!* for anything. Yet, I find myself watching your videos and feeling very encouraged to make the time, for my sake and for my family's. It is worth it. Thank you. What a lovely gift you are giving to others.

Many thanks,

Lisa Ramirez

Thank you, Lisa! I am grateful for your compliment!

I am grateful for all of the compliments and kind messages I have received on the blog and (I know I say this all the time), but THANK YOU to everyone who has written to me on my author website. I am so sorry that I am not able to respond to the majority of the emails I receive. I'm just in that busy season of life with my children and have to minimize computer time. Thank you so much for understanding.


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

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

📍Thank you to my dear friend, Nikki Moreno, for designing the end cards for my YouTube video. Nikki has a wonderful YouTube channel and Etsy shop. Be sure to check her out.

On Instagram
At Home with Madame Chic in Portuguese...

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Eu não faço ideia de como "Em casa com madame charme" veio parar na minha casa, porque eu não o comprei e não ganhei de presente de ninguém. Mas não importa. O que importa é que Jennifer L. Scott escreveu um livro para meninas, cheio de dicas sobre como receber, como se portar, como conversar, como se cuidar, tudo aprendido enquanto ela era au pair numa casa francesa. Leitura super leve, mas ultra útil, sobre savoir vivre francês, que eu admiro tanto. Talvez tenha sido essa a razão para eu ter gostado do livro.

A post shared by Amanda Pessoa (@amandapessoarevisa) on Jul 12, 2019 at 6:56am PDT

Comment of the Week
Sherry H. writes, "Excellent presentation! When my grands were younger I used to spread a picnic tablecloth and set out food similar to that being consumed in whatever story we were reading. My grandchildren adored the preparation and eagerly anticipated reading time. To this day they recall those story times with fondness."

Hi Sherry, I loved reading the memory with your grandchildren. That type of quality time is what memories are made of. Thank you for leaving your comment!


I hope you enjoyed this check-in. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. I will see you soon!



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FTC: This video is not sponsored. Some links may be affiliate.

Welcome to The Chic Assignment for July! I have some fun and interesting selections for you this month...



Let's continue to expand our appreciation of the arts and improve our everyday lives...


Chic Assignment no. 1 Watch Andre Rieu Grand Valse Viennoise The great violinist and conductor, Andre Rieu, plays and conducts his delightful orchestra in this beautiful video. I dare you not to smile as the well-dressed musicians and audience sway to the beautiful music. This video truly sparks joy!


Chic Assignment no. 2 Read the poetry of Emily Dickinson
She is one of my favorite poets... Emily Dickinson's works are simply wonderful. I read a poem to you in today's video. If you would like to delve further, check out this article with the ten most popular Emily Dickinson poems. I'll be sharing my favorite with you in the check-in.

The book I read from is 101 Famous Poems.

Chic Assignment no. 3 Notice when you are mindlessly snacking Even the most food-conscious people tend to mindlessly snack at some point... I am no different. I tend to mindlessly snack when I am stressed. This month, let's just notice when we mindlessly snack. Be sure to let us know in the comments what you find. Is it when you are unprepared? Or stressed? Becoming aware of your mindless snacking triggers is the first step to reduce your mindless snacking. For more on this, check out my book, Lessons from Madame Chic.

Chic Assignment no. 4 Give someone a genuine compliment The Chic assignments have anywhere between 8K and 13K views. Just imagine if 13,000 people gave out compliments this month. Can't you just feel the love? Give someone a genuine compliment. Notice their reaction too... More on this in the check-in.

We are also going to continue to read... your book recommendations are always welcome here in the comment section.

I look forward to read your findings! Be sure to share these assignments with your friends who are looking for more culture and community and share your findings on social media with the hashtag, #TheChicAssignment

News
📍 This weekend I shared a Tasha Tudor inspired video where I make chamomile tea from the garden.


Be sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel by clicking the red subscribe button, then click the bell to be notified by email when I upload a video.

📍I have recently updated my Amazon Shop Page with my favorite home, clothing, and book recommendations. Be sure to check back for regular updates.

📍PRE-ORDER my new book, CONNOISSEUR KIDS, which comes out September 10th from Chronicle Books. (Formal announcement coming soon.)

📍Visit my newly designed author website.

📍Join me for the Mapp & Lucia book club's final installment, which will take place this summer. You can read my book club announcement here.

📍Check out my affordable eCourses: The Ten-Item Wardrobe, Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living, and How to be Efficient at Home.

📍I am featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer's article on American Blossom Linens.

On Instagram
Madame Chic in Russia...

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🗼Обьязательно наблюдайте за людьми на улицах и за публичными персонами. Кто вдохновляет ваш образ и влияет на него? С точки зрения стиля меня вдохновляют София Коппола, Одри Тоту, Марион Котийяр, Мишель Уильямс и Кэтрин, герцогиня Кембриджская... #lessonsfrommadamechic

A post shared by 🦋NURDANA🦋 (@nurdanchic) on Apr 17, 2019 at 10:37am PDT

Comment of the Week

Janet W. writes, "Because of you I purchased a beautiful sundress. I haven't had a dress in 30 years. I am wearing it today to my family reunion. Some of my siblings I haven't seen in 9 years. Thank you for the encouragement to dress up. I feel a little uncomfortable but I am excited to step out of my comfort zone."

Hi Janet, I loved your comment and am so excited to hear that you are wearing a beautiful dress for the first time in a long time. I hope you had a great family reunion. I bet everyone thought you looked lovely!

Thank you for participating in The Chic Assignment for July. I look forward to hearing your findings! I'll see you soon.

Love,

Jennifer xx


Visit my newly designed 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 video is not sponsored. Some links may be affiliate.

I recently received a request from a reader who wanted me to discuss French weight loss secrets. This week will be dedicated to the subject, with a post on Monday, Wednesday and Friday!

My discussions will be based on Part 1 of Lessons from Madame Chic, which focuses on diet and exercise. I have discussed these concepts before, but felt they need to be revisited, not only on the blog, but personally for myself as I am in the process of losing weight after having my third child.

Today's topic is no (mindless) snacking, or snacking is so not chic!

As a lifelong chronic snacker, I found it very shocking to live in a household that did not snack. This was the case when I moved to Paris to live with Madame Chic and her family.

They did not snack.

Ever.

I know.

Now, I have no idea if all French people are like this. I'm sure the answer is, non. But as I always say when I write about my stay with Famille Chic, I am just sharing my singular experience with a particular French family, and how it changed my life. And Famille Chic did not snack.

For many of us, however, not snacking is not an option. We get hungry. The day is long. Some of us have a medical condition that requires us to eat several times throughout the day. I do have a snack each day, however, I aim to avoid mindless snacking.

What are some examples of mindless snacking? Eating out of a bag of potato chips while leaning over the kitchen sink. Having a carton of ice cream while watching television. Snacking on old Halloween candy the entire time you cook dinner (I have to admit, I did this last week!!).

In this week's video, I urge you to get intentional about what you eat. If you are going to have a snack, prepare it nicely, as you would a meal. Avoid eating out of bags or cartons. Avoid doing other things while you eat. This will allow you to be more conscious when you are eating, and you are less likely to overdo it.

There is much more discussed in this week's video. I do hope you'll check it out!

News

Start prepping for holiday gifts - the @dailyconnoisseur #MadameChic Collection is now available! For anyone who enjoys the fine art of living with a French flair, this beautifully packaged set makes a perfect gift (for them or for you! 😁)

A photo posted by Simon & Schuster (@simonbooks) on Nov 2, 2016 at 7:30am PDT

The Madame Chic Collection is now available! It makes the perfect gift for this upcoming holiday season. Above, you can see Simon & Schuster's Instagram post on the collection.


Comment of the Week
Amirah R. writes:

Hello Jennifer, thank you for your teachings. I bought your book Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic. I'm almost done reading it. As I've grown and matured in life I have had a strong desire to be more classy and lady like, I didn't even know where to begin so when I ran across your book at the book store I had to purchase it and it is so enlightening. Now this evening I found you on YT after watching a video on dining etiquette. I had to subscribe. A lady even stopped me in the hall at work and to me that I presented myself in a classy manner when I'm walking in the halls and from the way I hold my head up and smile when I'm walking. I was so encouraged...what I have read in your book is actually taking form in my day to day, little by little. Thanks a million ♡

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Amirah! The changes that come with cultivating poise can make everyday life so exciting. I'm very happy for you!

This week I would love to know... do you struggle with snacking? Are you happy with your weight? Do you have a weight loss goal? What's your story? Let us know, and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.


*** As you might have noticed, I am rarely able to respond to each individual comment. This also includes the emails I receive through my author website. I want to reassure you that I read every comment and email, and that I truly do appreciate every one. In this season of my life, baby snuggles are taking priority over everything! Thank you in advance for your understanding.

See you on Wednesday for part two of the series!




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Our self-discipline series continues as we discuss snacking this week. This was the most requested subject from readers... it seems the temptation of snacking is strong and people are looking for techniques to boost their discipline in this area. We are really going back to our roots as the first chapter in Lessons from Madame Chic is called, "Snacking Is So Not Chic". You know by now that famille Chic did not snack and that my immersion into the non-snacking world was bumpy at best. I am a big snacker and I still have to keep myself in check. This is where self-discipline comes in.

In this week's video we discuss a few techniques, many of which are touched upon in At Home With Madame Chic (which comes out Tuesday!). After the book comes out and you've had a chance to read it we will delve into these topics further.

Some of the key ideas in the video:

Get organized with meal planning. We are more likely to snack if we have no idea what's for dinner tonight. But if you've put a lot of thought and work (going to the store, planning, cooking, preparing) you are not going to want to ruin your appetite with snacks. (This concept will be discussed in much greater detail after the book release).

Stress snacking. Stress snacking was never an issue for me until becoming a parent. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with my work load and with how little time I have to myself that I will reach for snacks, even though I'm not hungry. Are you snacking to make yourself feel better or to anesthetize a big emotion you're having? If this is the case, it's good to pause and be aware of this.

Avoid buying snacks that are your "Achilles Heel". We all have that certain snack that we can't resist no matter how hard we try (for me, it's kettle corn). If you know you have a problem with barbecue potato chips, for example, don't buy them. If they are not in the house, you can't eat them.

Employ good old-fashioned self-discipline. I'm not saying you shouldn't snack (in fact, many people need to for health reasons), but if you know you have a snacking problem test your will and employ good old-fashioned self-discipline. You can have a snack or two throughout the day but when your body tells you you want another one (and you don't need it and know that third bowl of ice cream is not good for you) test yourself. Feel the burn. Feel the accomplishment of not succumbing to your weakness. This takes practice and you've got to go easy on yourself.

There are only a few of the suggestions mentioned in the video. This week, I'd love to know what your struggle or success is with snacking. What is your snack story? 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

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Sit down with your family and come up with a dinner plan for the following week. Let each family member chose one thing on the weekly menu and they can help prepare it! Coming together for consistent, healthful meals will diminish your desire to snack on junk foods.

Comment of the Week
The comment of the week comes from Ashley Diaz on the No More Booty Songs + Moms' Night Out post, who writes:
Hi Jennifer, this morning I attended a teacher's meeting (I am a piano teacher:) and one of the teachers said something that really stuck with me- We need to be influencing our children in such a way that when they are older, they will pay for tickets to go see great artists perform. There is culture and class out there, and we need to support it! Often, symphonies present children series which are specially programmed to introduce children to the lifelong pleasures of music.

News
At Home With Madame Chic comes out on Tuesday! Learn more about the book on my author website.

My TEDx Talk on the Ten-Item Wardrobe is finally available to view. Check it out and share it with your friends (especially the ones who need to clean out their closets :) ).

Check out my interview with Metro US on the upcoming At Home With Madame Chic.

Hear my interview on The Simple Sophisticate Podcast from The Simply Luxurious Life blog. I close off Shannon's wonderful show with a great interview on living well at home.

The Madame Chic books are still receiving wonderful reviews. This week check out Katy Confidential, Pretty Page Turner and Books and Chocolate.

Upcoming Events
Southern California readers: come meet me at one of my upcoming book signings:
October 8, 2014 Pages A Bookstore, Manhattan Beach, CA presentation, Q&A + book signing 7pm
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)

See you Tuesday on the blog for the launch of At Home With Madame Chic!

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I'm pretty good about not snacking. This hasn't always been the case. I used to be a chronic snacker. It's like I was afraid of hunger so I never allowed myself to get to that place.

I love the quote that YouTube viewer, Sassylarita, brought to my attention, "Hunger is the best seasoning". The quote originates from Socrates, who actually said, "The best sauce for food is hunger." And it is so true. How many of us dull our appetite by snacking too much before meals? Since dropping my snacking habit I have started to enjoy my meals a whole lot more.

I'm not completely cured of my snacking tendencies though. Lately I've noticed one very curious habit of mine, which I discuss in this week's video, Not Snacking. If you're unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

News

♥ The Daily Connoisseur is celebrating over 1 million visits this week. Thank you! I never imagined when I started this blog in 2008 that we would come this far. Thank you for reading my blog and for being a part of this important community where we celebrate elegance, dignity, class and, of course, all of the aspects that help us to live well! Thank you, thank you, merci, thank you :)

♥ The Independent Florida Alligator picks Lessons from Madame Chic as one of Five fashion books for the smart and stylish (although please someone explain to me that line about sharing soup— I don't get it at all!)

♥ I'll be appearing on Smart Creative Women TV with the lovely Monica Lee (more on that to come). Monica has featured Lessons from Madame Chic on her blog this week. She even planned a luncheon around the book! You can check out the article here.

This week I would love to know... what are your snacking issues?


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