7.18.2022

12 Powerful Rose Meditations That Will Change Your Life

6:07 AM 7 Comments

 

Hello, dear readers.  We are currently in England visiting family. The day we arrived, my wonderful father-in-law, Ben’s stepfather, John Winkworth, passed away unexpectedly at home. I feel tremendously blessed to have been able to see him one more time and spend time with him right before he passed away. I had planned to continue filming videos for this channel while in England, but all of that has taken a very necessary pause as I grieve with family, give support to my husband, my mother-in-law, Jane, and help plan the funeral. I have pre-recorded two videos back in America that I have scheduled to be published (this is one of them), but I won’t be engaging in the comments and then there will be a brief break. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time. Ben and I appreciate you all very much. I truly hope you enjoy today's topic as it means a lot to me. Today is my birthday and you know how much I love roses... And now onto the video and post...




I'm sharing 12 powerful rose meditations that will change your life in today's video. 























News
📍 Lessons from Madame Chic hardcopies are finally back in stock! Pick up your copy today ♥️


📍 The Ten-Item Wardrobe eCourse is newly updated and back online with all new video, text, and new lessons. If you have previously purchased the ten-item wardrobe eCourse, you can access all of the new changes for free.

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the Channel Memberships. In The Chic Society, I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. *NEW* We now have a penpal program too! 

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Thank you to the Vietnamese readers for making Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic a bestseller ♥️


And now for The Chic Society Mentions


The Elegant Connoisseurs

Here are the Elegant Connoisseur top-tier members:
Adalet Bir
Alan Watt - The 90-Day Novel,  
Jenny Williams, Carrot Top Paper Shop
Elaine Brisebois - Certified Nutritionist
Gabrielle Julie Deber 
Guy Blaise, author of Love Like the French
Indiana Davis WillowNookBox.com 
Janice Leitner 
Jenny Candelaria 
Jet Rowley-Herron 
Jina Kay Henry 
Julie Kolman 
Juliet Keeler-LeBien 
Katherine Rae 
Linda Eklof 
Living in loveliness - Carli Thom
Marie Caudill 
Mrs. Shockley  A Home for Elegance
Moon Shadow Welsh Ponies

The Chic Connoisseurs

I am linking the Chic Connoisseurs with websites here: A Better Life with KAT (Flylady Cleaning System), Audrey CoyneBewitchedCrafts.com, Apron Diva by Denise Jordan


Leslie M 
www.withlesliemorris.comLuba - healthywithluba.comMichelle the Italiagal Tracy The Tea Lady Tracy Lopez, What’s New with Nadine XO Vanessa Blogs

A note from Jennifer... 

Thank you to everyone for both the birthday wishes and the condolences on the passing of my father-in-law. I appreciate you. This video is very special to me and that is why I wanted to publish it on my birthday. I hope you derive as much joy from them as I do. I have pre-recorded an outfits of the week video that will go up on Thursday and then I will be taking a brief break. Thank you for your understanding. I hope this video blesses you. Love, Jennifer



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


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FTC: This post is not sponsored. This post may also include affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support. 

7.11.2022

Food Presentation Tips for the Home Cook | Do's and Don'ts

6:20 AM 2 Comments


Food presentation matters. We eat with our senses: what we see, taste, smell, and feel. So in today’s video, I’m sharing food presentation tips for the home cook.

I have a passion for fine living at home. And of course, a major part of living well is through our meals and food presentation is a big part of that. In today’s video I’m going to reveal 10 food presentation secrets that will send your meals over the top. All the food presentation supplies featured in this video are in my Amazon Store.




1. Keep it together We want certain foods to feel controlled and put together. When you are enjoying a sandwich, for example, you don’t want the stress of feeling like it is going to fall out and be messy when you try to eat it. So there are various ways to keep your sandwiches together and make them look more appetizing at the same time. The first is with the traditional cocktail party toothpicks. You see these at delis and they hold a large sandwich together. Here I’ve made a grilled cheese sandwich with grilled red onions and tomato. I use the picks to hold the sandwich together and they look much more festive this way. Another way to keep your sandwiches together is to wrap them in wax paper.




I like to use colorful wax paper that makes the sandwich look like a little gift. The paper I had here was slightly too small, but I made it work by wrapping the sandwich on an angle. I use tape to seal it. Then when you cut the sandwich in half, you have a beautifully packaged work of art. You can really see the difference in the before and after with this one.


2. Create height Create height when plating your dishes. Use cake molds and ramekins to create height with your food. In the video I share an easy baked crab tartar. When plonked in a bowl, it does not look very appetizing, but when placed in a mousse or cake mold, it suddenly looks like a gourmet creation from a fine restaurant. Ramekins are also a great way to plate rice so that it holds a shape and presents a dynamic of height on the plate.


3. Think of color They say we eat with our eyes and when everything is the same color on the plate, it’s less appealing. Plus, as I write in Connoissuer Kids, eating the rainbow with fruits and veggies is very healthy. Adding purple cabbage to a sandwich makes it look so much tastier, than if it were just turkey and cheese. The addition of Roma tomatoes and grilled red onions on the grilled cheese add a beautiful color as well. Even things like grill marks on the grilled cheese help in appearance. Here’s another example: I made coconut rice, air fryer chicken, and tropical salsa. Look how bland the rice and chicken look before I add the colorful salsa: which contains mango, papaya, tomatoes and cilantro. The colors make the dish look so appetizing.


4. Edible garnishes Garnishes are key to making a plated meal look enticing. I once watched an interview with celebrity chef, Wolfgang Puck, and he said the best way to make a plated dish look good is with edible flowers. I like to use fruit, herbs, and other sauces to create a pretty finish.


5. Footed dessert bowls I use footed dessert bowls for so many things… ice cream, puddings, unruly desserts. Footed dessert bowls add height, structure, and elegance to an otherwise unruly looking dish.


6. Get creative Get creative with your food plating. Think about how you can use containers for different purposes. For example: using sherry or cordial glasses for small desserts. Here I've made a very simple pudding dessert for the kids. I place dark chocolate pudding in the bottom of the sherry glass, top with whipped cream and a raspberry. Simple but beautiful. The kids were delighted to see these and the presentation is so charming. I’ll often use teacups or drinking glasses to plate desserts or things like overnight oats in.


7. Portion sizes small The food on the plate looks more appealing, when there is less of it. Think of a giant plate heaped high with lots of food. You’ll notice that high end restaurants plate smaller portions of food… this just looks more appetizing. When you see a smaller plate beautifully plated, you want to eat the whole thing.


8. Use a squeeze bottle for sauces It’s all about control and a squeeze bottle allows you to decorate your plated food in an artful way. Normally if you are using a sauce out of a bottle, it can come out clumpy. The squeeze bottle allows you to control the distribution of the sauce in an appealing way.


9. Copy restaurant style Think about your favorite dishes at restaurants and mimic what you like about them at home. You can even do this with casual meals like sandwiches. Here I’m using wax paper and a sandwich basket to serve the grilled cheese in. It looks delightful like this. The presentation is festive and makes the sandwich look even more appealing. The only things that’s missing is a pickle!


10. Plate selection Of course, we must discuss plate selection. You can use white plates to be safe but don’t be afraid of color and pattern. You know how much I love my Spode Blue Italian plates and my Portmeirion Botanic Garden plates. I use them on a daily basis and love the color. And here’s a trick… when you don’t have time to go a bit extra with your food presentation, pretty plates make up for it. They still give your eyes something to feast on.


11. Bonus tip: Section it off If your children are picky eaters, consider serving them on plates that have sections. For some reason, sectioned plates are visually appealing to many children. They like the choice and variety. You can sneak in some vegetable salads and other things they might not try if plated on a regular plate.

Product Spotlight

Goli Apple Cider Vinegar gummies aid digestion, gut health, and appetite use code dailyconnoisseur for 10% off 


News
📍 Lessons from Madame Chic hardcopies are finally back in stock! Pick up your copy today ♥️


📍 The Ten-Item Wardrobe eCourse is newly updated and back online with all new video, text, and new lessons. If you have previously purchased the ten-item wardrobe eCourse, you can access all of the new changes for free.

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the Channel Memberships. In The Chic Society, I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. *NEW* We now have a penpal program too! 

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Comment of the Week
Bella the Reader writes, "Much of living a formal life is who you are as a person. Dress, speech, your de-cluttered environment, and most especially your thoughts are under our control. Really, it’s about what’s in your head and your actions gravitate towards your thoughts. This channel clearly gives the practical steps. Thanks Jennifer!!💖🥰💐"

This is so true, Bella. It is all the intangible aspects of a person that truly comprise the quality of formality.

I hope you enjoyed today's video and that it gave you ideas for improving the food presentation in your kitchen.

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


Visit my newly designed Author Website

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

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Twitter @JL_Scott

Instagram @dailyconnoisseur

Take my affordable eCourses on the POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home

FTC: This post is not sponsored. This post may also include affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support. 

7.07.2022

How to Live a Formal Life on a Budget | 5 Tips

6:13 AM 0 Comments

 


Chapter 11 in Lessons from Madame Chic is Live Life as a Formal Affair. It's one of my favorite chapters because I truly believe that adding formality to your life can improve your every day experience in countless ways.


Today, I'm sharing 5 ways to live a formal life on a budget. Adding elegance to everyday life is attainable for everyone. I hope you enjoy today's video.



1. Clear the Clutter Clean up your space and work with what you have. Living in a cluttered environment does not give you an opulent formal life feeling. Decluttering is free, everyone can afford to do it. Most people need to do it, including myself. Go over your hot spots and the places that regularly need maintenance.



2. Consider the atmosphere You know that nice candle you received for your birthday? The one you’re saving for company? The one you say you will burn later? Burn it now. Put on classical music or healing atmospheric spa music (or whatever you like) to make your surroundings more serene and formal. Get excited about curating the atmosphere in your home, like you would curate an art museum.

🗝 Candles


🗝 Jennifer's Outfit Details
SKYE Theodora Earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off

3. Dress up every day Almost everyone has nice outfits that they are saving for special occasions. It’s time to break out of your comfort zone and wear these outfits on a daily basis. I’m not telling you to go shopping. I’m telling you to wear what you have. If you’re in the habit of dressing down everyday in sweats and exercise clothes, it might be time to try a change. Note now you feel when you wear nice clothing at home for no reason at all. You might feel uncomfortable. You will probably feel uncomfortable. Journal all those feelings and emotions and explore them. Why? What subconscious beliefs are you holding that tell yourself that you and you alone are not good enough to wear this outfit for no reason at all? Once you break through those feelings of discomfort you train yourself to enjoy dressing well on a daily basis and soon, you will become uncomfortable with dressing down in sweats. It will become unheard of to you.



4. Set the table Even if you have the most limited resources for setting a table nicely, most people have place mats or a tablecloth. Perhaps you have one or two tablecloths that you are saving for a special occasion… I encourage you to use those on a daily basis. What do you do when the special occasion comes? Don’t worry about that right now. Living a formal life aims to get you out of the mindset that you save your best things for later. Use your best things now. When you save your best things for later it’s like you’re subconsciously telling yourself that you don’t deserve the nice things every day. That’s not true. You do. So use your tablecloths, cloth napkins, and placemats. If you have none of these things, you can bring nature indoors. Create a bouquet from flowers or foliage outside.

🗝 Table Setting Resources



5. Read more Reading... It’s so quaint! Does anyone do this anymore? Or do we prefer to binge watch television in our spare time? If you used to be an avid reader, but it’s been ages since you picked up a book, why not get back into it. Reading in the afternoon while well-dressed gives one a wonderful feeling. You will feel very formal and maybe even old-fashioned (in a good way). If you have access to your local library this is free! Of course, I recommend you read my Madame Chic series. But I also am leaving a long list of great books for you to dive into to help you on this journey: books by my talented author friends like Myka Meier, Bryan Kozlowski, Dr. Chloe Carmichael, Professor Richard Thompson Ford, Linda Przybyszewski and more.

🗝 Books
Long Live the Queen by Bryan Kozlowski
The Jane Austen Diet by Bryan Kozlowski
The Lost Art of Dress by Linda Przybyszewski
Dress Codes by Richard Thompson Ford
Nervous Energy by Dr. Chloe Carmichael


Thank you to Beam for bringing us today's video. Use code JENNIFER for 35% off your first order.

News
📍 Lessons from Madame Chic hardcopies are finally back in stock! Pick up your copy today ♥️


📍 The Ten-Item Wardrobe eCourse is newly updated and back online with all new video, text, and new lessons. If you have previously purchased the ten-item wardrobe eCourse, you can access all of the new changes for free.

📍If you are looking for more content, consider becoming a member of The Daily Connoisseur through the Channel Memberships. In The Chic Society, I publish one vodcast every Friday and do one livestream or zoom call once a month. It only costs $1.99 a month. There are also upper tiers available for people who are interested in supporting the channel on a higher level and receiving monthly mentions in the videos. *NEW* We now have a penpal program too! 

Instagram



Comment of the Week

Taylor writes, "I’m a woman in my mid 20s and I must say your channel has inspired me so much. I used to wear my gym clothes everywhere (aside from work) and ate out all the time. However, your channel has helped me invest in my appearance and learn homemaking and cooking skills. Embracing small and incremental improvements has done so much to improve my mindset and health. Thank you!"

Taylor, I just love to hear this. Thank you so much for letting me know and I hope you continue to enjoy the channel for many years to come!


I hope you enjoyed today's video. Let us know in the comments how living a formal life has benefitted you. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week!


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


Visit my newly designed Author Website

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 POISE *NEW course*, debt-free living, and efficiency at home

FTC: This post is sponsored by Beam. This post may also include affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support.