Jennifer L. Scott's Blog, page 23
September 3, 2020
Little House on the Prairie Homemaking Secrets from Farmer Boy Part 2
My homemaking series continues today as we take another deep-dive into the Little House on the Prairie book series with my Farmer Boy observations.
In today's video, I'm sharing the second half of my observations on Farmer Boy. This book is full of homemaking inspiration as the Wilders had a very full and fulfilling family life.
You can see my Little House observations here and Part one of my Farmer Boy observations here.
September 1, 2020
The Chic Assignment | September 2020
Welcome to The Chic Assignment for September.
The Chic Assignment is a monthly assignment where we explore composers, artists, and poets. We also take part in seasonal activities that enrich our lives. Let's jump into September's assignment:
⚜️ Chic Assignment no. 1 Enjoy Wynton Marsalis performing Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in Eb with the Boston Pops Orchestra, conducted by John Williams.
This is such an incredible performance. So many amazing talents meet up in this one piece. John Williams is a brilliant conductor. Wynton Marsalis is one of the best living musicians today, and this Haydn Concerto is glorious.
⚜️ Chic Assignment no. 2 Enjoy the poetry of Dorothy Parker
I discovered Dorothy Parker as a teenager and have been fascinated with her ever since. I own a very well-read volume of her poetry. She was a troubled figure and her poetry could be dark at times, but her writing was also incredibly brave and witty. I can't wait to dive into her poetry with you this month.
Check out Dorothy Parker's Collected Poems
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You can also learn more about her and read some of her most famous works for free at the Poetry Foundation.
⚜️ Chic Assignment no. 3 Stock your pantry for the upcoming winter
Many of you are canning right now. I'm not there yet, but I am thinking about stocking my pantry for the upcoming fall and winter season (spring/ summer for our Southern Hemisphere friends). It's a great idea to take inventory of what we have, get rid of expired items, clean it out (Farmer Boy-style), and stock it well. We don't know what lies ahead with regard to the shut-downs so let's be prepared for the upcoming winter.
Two of the Chic Society members are also YouTubers with wonderful channels and they have both addressed the "prepper pantry" trend that is very popular right now. I am listing their videos here for your reference:
This and That with Denise Jordan
Mary's Nest
⚜️ Chic Assignment no. 4 Transition your beauty routine for the change in season
Perhaps this means wearing a darker nail polish, or fixing your hair in a different way. Perhaps it means experimenting with different makeup colors, or just changing your skincare routine, but as we head for fall, we will want to have our beauty correspond with the season.
⚜️ Featured style
Earrings: SKYE Genevieve 18K gold pearl earrings code Jennifer20 for 20% off
Nail polish: Londontown Changing of the Guards JenniferS for 25% off
Lilysilk blouse Daily12 for 12% off
I look forward to hearing your observations this month. Tag me on social media and use the hashtag #TheChicAssignment. Also, be sure to invite a friend to join you this month. Thank you and I will see you on Thursday!
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August 27, 2020
What We Made for Dinner | Meal Plan + Cook with Me
Welcome to a new week of meal planning and cooking. I share what's for dinner in our household in today's video along with our plan and grocery bill.
I started meal planning again after not doing it for a long time. I was burnt-out, but now I'm back and fully see the benefit of meal planning. We eat better, we stay on budget, and I find cooking exciting and enjoyable again. I understand burn-out though so if you are experiencing that... I can relate to you!
Let's look at the meals this week:
Black beans and brown rice in the Instant Pot
My friend, Amy, shared this recipe with me from iFoodreal. You don't need to cook your rice or soak your beans, which makes this an excellent meal to make last-minute. It makes a lot so I froze half and easily served my family of 6 with the rest. We loved this with guacamole and cheese. It was a delicious meal and could be made vegetarian by replacing the chicken broth with vegetable broth. I used my Instant Pot for this, as well as my lemon squeezer.
Vintage Ambrosia Salad with Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken
For the ambrosia salad, I mixed pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, maraschino cherries, and grapes, with one cup of shredded coconut (sweetened), one cup of mini marshmallows, and one cup of sour cream. I served this on a bed of lettuce with some grilled chicken. We rubbed the chicken with olive oil and seasoned it with lemon pepper (most people use lemon pepper for fish, but try it for chicken) and then grilled the chicken. This was a tasty, light, nostalgic dinner, perfect for the end of the hot summer.
Homemade Hamburger Helper with side salad
I initially saw the recipe on Countryside Cravings, but modified the recipe a bit to suit our tastes.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1½ cups milk
1½ cups beef broth
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
For this kid-friendly dish, sauté one chopped onion in olive oil and then add your ground beef. I like to use this meat masher to make the ground beef mince evenly chopped. Drain the cooked meat and return to the pan. Add the paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, milk, beef broth, uncooked pasta, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, then cover a reduce simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minute, or until the pasta is cooked. Stir in cheddar cheese when ready to serve.
Baked Potato Skins with Garden Salad
We love baked potato skins. I like to get them started in the morning by washing the potatoes, pricking holes in them and rubbing them with oil and seasoning them with season all. I bake the potatoes for about an hour at 400 degrees F. Later in the day, when we are ready to eat, I cut the potatoes in half and scoop out a lot of the flesh (save for another meal). Then place them in the oven and bake them again until slightly crispy (about 15 minutes at 400 degrees F). Then place chopped bacon and shredded cheddar cheese in each potato. Place back in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. Then serve with sour cream, chopped chives and green onions. We serve this with a side salad. Sooo good.
Strawberry and Cream Merengues This dessert is from the Cookbook for Girls which is a cookbook my daughters just love! Mix two egg whites until they are frothy. Add 1/2 cup of superfine sugar (we used regular sugar and it turned out great). Bake at 220 degrees F for one hour. Make whipped cream and add that, along with chopped strawberries to the merengues. Enjoy!
⚜️ Featured in the video:
Meal planning notebook/ grocery list
lemon juicer
Instant Pot
Kitchen-Aid white mixer
Copper measuring cups
Cast iron skillet
Vintage kitchen timer
French apron
Blue & white Churchill plates
meat masher
Season all seasoning
salad spinner
Cookbook for Girls
⚜️ Style
Nail polish Londontown (Changing of the Guards) JenniferS for 25% off
Leopard headband
I hope you enjoy today's video.
On Instagram
Lessons from Madame Chic on Instagram...
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Jordan Taylor Sears (@jordantailored) on Jan 30, 2019 at 8:35pm PST
Comment of the Week
Noni Posi writes, "I tried the salmon/crab recipe. It was a risk because my kids are so picky. But they ALL ate it ALL!
August 25, 2020
The Chic Assignment Check-in, August
Welcome to The Chic Assignment Check-in for August. In today's video we are going to dive deeper into the biographies of Elgar, as well as Carl and Karin Larsson. We are also going to explore meal planning and ten-item capsule wardrobe transitions.
I hope you have enjoyed the assignments this month. Let's look closer at each of the subjects...
⚜️Chic Assignment no. 1 Elgar's Nimrod
Sir Edward William Elgar (1857-1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. We are going to listen to a performance of Elgar's Nimrod this month.
Today, we are learning more about Elgar and his interesting life. Check out his short biography.
Did you enjoy Sheku Kanneh-Mason's performance this month? I certainly did. If you felt emotional while listening to it, you're not alone. Here is a great article on Classic FM: A detailed explanation of why Elgar’s Nimrod makes you break down in uncontrollable tears.
The performance I'm recommending is this brilliant rendition by Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
⚜️Chic Assignment no. 2 Enjoy the art of Carl Larsson
Carl Olof Larsson was a Swedish painter (1853-1919) representative of the Arts and Crafts movement. His many paintings include oils, watercolors, and frescoes. He is principally known for his watercolors of idyllic family life. You can see more of his works on WikiArt or check out this beautiful art book, A Home, which shares Larsson's works in beautiful print form. We are going to learn more about his biography today, and also focusing on his talented wife, Karin. Together, they are the creators of Swedish style.
If you are interested in owning Carl Larsson prints for your own home, Great Big Canvas has a great selection.
A portrait of Karin Larsson
Learn more about Karin Larsson here.
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Detail of Christmas Eve, 1906
I love this detail of Christmas Eve. Isn't it fascinating to take a look at a special evening like this from a bygone era?
I would have to say The Flower Window is my favorite. I just love this one and want to do something similar with houseplants in my own home. I admire Karin Larsson's design sense so much!
⚜️Chic Assignment no. 3 Explore the art of meal planning
I hope you enjoyed my meal planning video this month. I received a great reaction from viewers which indicates that you'd like to see more. I know I always get inspired when I see what other people cook for dinner. I plan to continue that as an off-shoot of my homemaking series. Thank you!
⚜️Chic Assignment no. 4 Start preparing your fall wardrobe
As the season is about to change, it's time to assess our summer wardrobes (winter wardrobes for our Southern Hemisphere friends). Take note of what worked, what didn't, what will return, and what needs to go and prepare your wardrobe for fall. My fall fashion video was last week and I hope that it provided more insights into the ten-item wardrobe process and how I prepare for fall.
Thank you to The Chic Society members for bringing us The Chic Assignment check-in. 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 lowest tier is only $1.99 a month. This is the tier that most people join. The two upper tiers also have many benefits and are featured below.
Elegant Connoisseurs
All the King’s Morsels
Awesome Possum Powers YouTube channel
Azalia Spa Goods
Dressed for my Day with Kay Harms
Freedom Moms by Ashley Buffa
Inspired by Nikki YouTube channel
Julie Kolman, My Confident Closet
Katy Rose, Artist
Lovely Bits by Nicole Brignolle
How to Love with a Healing Heart by Melanie Tito
Little Pink Casa
Oh Wondrous Grace Chronicle
The Secret OWL Society digital planners
Sturm Brothers Jewelry
Something to Cherish
Katherine Rae
Mercedes Gilligan
AAM Truthteller
Angelica Lim
Bethany Baldwin
Carli Thom
Christine Bolla
Caroline Haydu
Denise Gende
Jet Rowley-Herron
Heather Barrera
Jenny Candelaria
Leslie Morris Gather n’ Grow
Linda Eklof
Marie Caudill
Maria Conder
Melissa Ricci
Prudently At Home
Tina Hugall
The Chic Connoisseurs
A Better Life with KAT (Flylady Cleaning System)
American Blossom Linens
Allison Jennison-Smith
A Sparkling Vintage Life
Amanda11762
Andrena Patellis
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BewitchedCrafts.com
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Clare's Classroom
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healthywithluba.com
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jkp62
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JulieMarieVh
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Space.For.Home Marija Bingula
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Michelle Henderer
Michelle the Italiagal
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Not-So Desperate Housewives
Olive B
Paula Ellis
Paula Johnson
Petra Willnecker
Sandy Light
Sarah Vitsas
Scott Rea
Shannon Biddy
Sharon Smith
Sheila Hopfensperger
Stacy Smith
This and That with Denise Jordan
Tiki Pié
Tina Grady
Tracy Lopez
Wendy Cassara
Wendy Somerville
Yen Lee
On Instagram
*PLEASE READ* My deepest apologies for sharing an Instagram post that had a swear word in the caption. I had actually flagged that picture as "not to share" (people tag me in their book photos and I had seen this one before) but in my late-night shuffle of getting this blogpost together, I mistook it for another book post. This unfortunate mistake slipped through the cracks. There is no Instagram post to share today and I will be sure to vet the posts better in the future. Thank you for your understanding.
Comment of the Week
Jeni Keilty writes, "Just listened to Sheku Kanneh-Mason play Nimrod. Magical! Took my breath away. I appreciate your Chic Assignments so much. They have helped renew my love of experiencing culture. You have definitely elevated the atmosphere in my home. Thank you. xx"
Thank you, Jeni! I'm so happy you enjoyed The Chic Assignment this month. I loved Sheku's performance as well. It was magical!
Thank you for taking part in The Chic Assignment this month. I would love to hear your observations in the comments and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog. Have a wonderful day and I'll see you on Thursday for another meal planning video. See you then!
*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 video is not sponsored. I also use affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links which means I get a small commission from any purchases made at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.
August 22, 2020
20 Life-Changing Homemaking Secrets in FARMER BOY... Part 1
My homemaking series continues today as we do a deep-dive into Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy. Last time, we explored the homemaking secrets found in the Little House series and the subject matter resonated with so many people who loved reading the books.
Today, we continue with part one of our exploration into Farmer Boy. I actually have 20 life-changing homemaking secrets from Farmer Boy, so in part one, we will discuss the first ten.
August 20, 2020
Preparing my Fall Capsule Wardrobe + Summer Ten-Item Wardrobe Recap
It's time to prepare for fall, and today I'm pondering my summer ten-item wardrobe, deciding what will stay and what will go, and setting my sights to fall.
The majority of my core items will be returning for the upcoming fall season... this might prove a disappointment for people looking for new items to consider, however, in today's video, I'm sharing some updates to my extras, including fall shoes, sweaters, and camisoles.
Let's talk about shoes. I'm exploring various fall flats this year and have some high-quality finds to share with you. I know that finding well-made, high-quality shoes is not always the easiest task. The following shoes are from Oliver Cabell, who have generously given us a discount code.
Mules are very popular right now. I like them because they feel like comfortable slippers, keep the toes warm (and hide a bad pedicure... ha!), and look great with jeans. This is the Oliver Cabell dream mule JSCOTT10 for $10 off your purchase.
I love driving shoes. I still have a high-quality green pair from London Sole and never want them to go. My black pair was damaged, however, and I'm so pleased with these Oliver Cabell Monti driving shoes JSCOTT10 for $10 off your purchase. They have an elegant look to them and are so comfortable.
I will also be trying out the beautiful Captain boot from Thursday Boots... more on that soon.
Lilysilk is bringing us this video and I have a new camisole to add to my extras this fall. The Lilysilk camisole in camel will look beautiful with a chunky cardigan, jeans and those mules! Code Daily12 gives 12% off.
And how Cottagecore is this romantic silk blouse? The Lilysilk Sweet Silk Shirt with half-sleeve has a poetic look to it. I love it. I could also picture wearing this as a layer over dresses in the spring. Code Daily12 gives 12% off
The Aspen cashmere wrap is a delightfully soft, lightweight wrap that would be a perfect transitional fall piece. I like that it has "sleeves" and doesn't slide off your shoulder like a blanket.
The Lisbon Traveler is a beautifully structured sweater that has a unique design. It has deep side slits, which would require you to wear a layer underneath. It is not clingy and is in a beautiful color for fall.
The Hampton Duster is a very heavy-weight, high quality cashmere duster. I love the length here and have enjoyed wearing dusters each season. My past dusters have never been the highest quality so I am excited to see how this one performs.
Also featured in the video:
⚜️ SKYE
SKYE Genevieve 18K gold pearl earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off
SKYE Opale 18K gold pearl earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off
SKYE Risette Dress code Jennifer20 for 20% off
⚜️ Mott & Bow "mom" jeans (the perfect crop) JLS10 for 10% off
⚜️ This is the clothing steamer I use.
I will review these items as the season goes on to let you know how they wear. In the meantime, I will still be wearing my summer clothes as the temperatures here are high! What is the weather like where you are?
I hope you enjoyed today's video.
News
August 17, 2020
Meditations on Homemaking | The End of the Summer
Welcome to another homemaking week in the life. We are meditating on the end of summer in today's video, which brings seasonal recipes, and freshly washed laundry.
The end of the summer is an unusual time of year. Most people are ready for fall at this point... I know I am. Yet, we are still in 100 degree + heat. That could be one of the reasons why we are dreaming of colder days ahead.
The worldwide lockdowns have also made this a strange summer... We were supposed to visit England again this August, but had to cancel due to Covid restrictions... I know everyone has some version of cancelled plans. At this point, it's really about focusing on the present and appreciating what is right in front of us.
The End of Summer
The end of summer quietly arrives,
It holds a certain peace.
My heartstrings are ready for what comes next,
Their curiosity will not cease.
But though I look forward to autumn,
Its final moments I embrace.
The solstice of our reckoning,
What challenges the world did face.
These meditations on homemaking:
Blithe thoughts to awaken the numb.
I’ll fold and think of summer’s end,
And the autumn that is to come.
- Jennifer L. Scott
Here are the recipes in today's video:
Butterscotch Cookies (from an old Amish cookbook I have)
6 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups butter
1 1/2 Tbs. baking soda
2 Tbs. baking powder
4 eggs, beaten
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla
Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer. Add the vanilla and eggs. Sift in the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix until combined. Roll into a log and chill. Once chilled, slice into small disks (space them out a lot... I didn't and mine stuck together). Bake at 350 degrees for 15- 20 minutes. These cookies are chewy and delightful! Even though I messed them up in the video, they still tasted so good. Freeze half of this recipe... it freezes well. We have enjoyed these cookies so much this summer.
Zucchini and Tomato Gratin
I made this recipe up so I could use up some garden produce. Slice a zucchini and two large tomatoes. I used the beefsteak tomatoes we have been enjoying this summer. Also thinly slice one medium onion. Drizzle olive oil in a gratin dish and arrange the vegetables beautifully with the onion. Top with more olive oil, salt, pepper, and whatever seasonings you enjoy. Finally, top a mixture of breadcrumbs and melted button on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Featured in the video:
⚜️ Kitchen
Sifter
Kitchen-Aid
Copper gratin pan Mine is over a decade old, but I'm linking a similar one here.
French apron
Striped half-apron
⚜️ Cleaning & Home
Pink floral gloves
e-cloth microfiber cloths
Cellar Door Candles
Riverbend Home Turkish towels
Checked tablecloth
⚜️Style
Londontown nail polish (Cheerio) JenniferS for 25% off
Londontown nail polish (Changing of the Guards) JenniferS for 25% off
Mott & Bow white jeans https://bit.ly/2JCP5cT JLS10 for 10% off
I hope you enjoyed today's video.
News
August 13, 2020
15 Life-Changing Homemaking Tips I Learned from the Little House on the Prairie Books
Welcome back to my homemaking series here on The Daily Connoisseur. This time, I have a fun diversion for us. Many of you know that I recently finished reading the entire Little House book series to my children. It took us around 10 months to complete this read-aloud as we read one chapter a night (2 nights off a week). If you have children, I strongly encourage you to read this series to them. They will be fascinated with the real-life stories and adventures that Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder faced back in the pioneer days.
While reading to my daughters, I took notes of all of the rich homemaking inspiration I could take from the books. I gathered my notes over the past months and finally have them to present to you today. So here we go... 15 life-changing homemaking tips I learned from The Little House on the Prairie series.
Please note that Farmer Boy (book 2) will have its own video as that book had so much information in it... For now, let's just focus on Laura and her family...
The following list below details only some of the references I discuss in the video. For a complete discussion of all references, please watch today's video.
15 Life-Changing Homemaking Tips I Learned from the Little House on the Prairie Books
August 10, 2020
Cottagecore Fashion Aesthetic, Princess Beatrice's Wedding Dress | 3 Articles on Dress
Welcome to a new 3 Articles on Dress. We are exploring the Cottagecore fashion aesthetic, Princess Beatrice's wedding dress on loan from the Queen, and Vogue's suggestion that all we really need is a day dress.
⚜️ The first article discusses the Cottagecore fashion aesthetic that is becoming increasingly popular on social media. When I released my Grandmillennial video, many people suggested that the Granmillennial style is a derivative of Cottagecore. So let's explore this aesthetic in today's video.
Here are three Instagram accounts to explore that represent Cottagecore fashion beautifully.
View this post on Instagram
August 6, 2020
A Highly Unusual Day in the Life: Extreme Hair and Makeup Transformation
Welcome to another highly unusual day in my life...
This week I had a photoshoot for a very exciting project that is coming up, and today I take you along with me. Whenever you have the opportunity to have your makeup and hair done by a professional, I recommend that you not only ask them questions on the best products and techniques for yourself, but to also film it so you can replay and watch how they apply your makeup.
Ok, I look like a deer in headlights in this photo, but it's a good close-up still shot from the video that shows the makeup really well...
Today's video is a treat because you get to see the major photo-ready transformation I underwent, including eyelashes and contouring, which are two things I normally do not do.
The makeup look is quite extreme, but it's meant to highlight the face beautifully in photos, and Jackie, my makeup artist, did an amazing job. Thank you, Jackie!
Jackie used a Beauty Blender-like sponge to apply my makeup. I recently purchased these dupes on Amazon and am very happy with them. They are a great price too.
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Featured in the video:
Lace dresses (similar) Morning Lavender
Lace dresses (similar) Lulu's
My clothing steamer
SKYE Genevieve 18K gold pearl earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off
SKYE Opale 18K gold pearl earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off
SKYE Risette Dress code Jennifer20 for 20% off
SKYE Corentin dress Jennifer20 for 20% off
Pink pom-pom slippers
Beauty Blender sponge (budget dupe)
Beauty blender sponge (original)
Londontown Cheerio (nail polish) JenniferS for 25% off
Kenra hairspray
IT Cosmetics bye bye foundation
I hope you enjoy today's video and get a kick out of seeing this very glamorous makeover.
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