Jennifer L. Scott's Blog, page 33

The Biggest Style Critique I Get from My Viewers

I've been sharing my ten-item wardrobe on YouTube for over 8 years now. For the most part, I receive kind comments, even if my style differs from that of the viewer. My intention with sharing my outfits on YouTube is to showcase how a ten-item capsule wardrobe works in real life and also to inspire people to look presentable always.



Every now and then I get a specific critique on the way that I dress. It's pretty much the only critique I get, which sparks my interest. What is behind this critique? And will it change the way I dress going forward? Watch today's video to find out.

My earrings are SKYE Odette 18K gold pearl earrings Jennifer20 for 20% off.

My dress is by Everlane .


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The Duchess of Cambridge's Royal Tour Outfits + An Inappropriate Sweatshirt & Wearing Dresses Daily | 3 Articles on Dress

For this installment of 3 Articles on Dress, we are looking-back on the Duchess' Pakistan Tour outfits, discuss a controversial sweatshirt worn by a fifth grade teacher, and learn how wearing dresses for one week influenced a busy mom.



I really enjoy this series on dress and today's articles are varied and interesting.



In today's video I'm wearing a silk scarf by Mont Kiji (designed by a Daily Connoisseur reader!) code connoisseur gives 20% off, Everlane cashmere sweater, and pearl earrings by Ana Luisa (code Jennifer10 for $10 off). connoisseur gives 20% off.

A Highly Unusual Day in the Life

Welcome to a highly unusual day in my life. I'm driving into fire territory today in Los Angeles to film a podcast, visit a dear friend for lunch, and then return to my family and a very special package in the mail.



Getting up before the rest of my family is really necessary in order to have a successful day. When I sleep later, I always feel as though I am playing catch-up. Today was a good day as I was able to get up, spend quiet time alone, get dressed and even get some work done.



I start the day in my robe and drink a tall glass of water with lemon, which has detoxing properties. I later change into my Loft blouse and Mott & Bow jeans use code JLS10 for 10% off.
For makeup, I use the Osmosis CC cream, A'DEL cream blush in coral reef, and The Organic Skin Co. eyeshadow in shades highlights and bamboo. Makeup brushes used are by Osmosis.




The podcast recording took a lot of preparation as I acted as both host and guest. I'll be sure to share the link to it when it comes out. I discussed Connoisseur Kids and the importance of raising tidy children. After filming the podcast, I visited my dear friend, Juliana (creator of Escape Room in a Box), for lunch and a good belly laugh. Don't you love seeing old friends? Do you giggle uncontrollably like we do? Or is it just us? :)

I returned home to a beautiful package from the elevated minimalist brand, SKYE, who sell ethically made and sustainable clothing. I'm looking forward to trying one of their dresses for spring.



I am wearing the SKYE Coraline trench coat



And here is a look at their Odette 18K gold pearl earrings



and Aurore 18K gold pearl earrings. The pearl hair tie is a gift they include with orders.

Use code Jennifer20 for 20% off at SKYE.

Overall it was a very exciting day, but (you know me) I do love the mundane! So when bedtime came, I was ready to rest and was looking forward to the next day, which was quite ordinary.

I hope you enjoy today's video.

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The Secret to a Homemaker's Success

Hello my Daily Connoisseurs, in today’s video I’m going to share the secret to a Homemaker’s Success. Can you guess what it is?



Welcome back to The Daily Connoisseur. My name is Jennifer and I am a wife, mother of four, a writer, and yes, a homemaker. I enjoy exploring the world of homemaking on this channel because the life of a homemaker is complex and oftentimes hidden.

Today I’m going to share the secret to a Homemaker’s success.

Delighting in the mundane tasks of your day.



Yes, delighting in the mundane. What does mundane mean? There are two definitions:

1. lacking interest or excitement; dull.

2. of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.

Basically, it’s the everyday tasks that we associate with drudgery. We would rather be doing more glamorous or exciting things than our mundane tasks: washing the dishes, folding laundry, wiping countertops, ironing clothes, making beds. It can all be so mundane.

“The world is so full of a great many things” as Robert Louis Stevenson said. Everyone else seems to be leading such an exciting life. Why am I stuck here doing these mundane tasks over and over again?



Well, the things you do most in life, are the most important. Did you ever think about it like that? Think about how many hours of our lives we devote to these tasks. They take up a significant portion of our life. We might as well change our attitude about them.

The secret to successful homemaking is delighting in the mundane. Focus on the task you’re doing and simply delight in it. Change your mind about it. Change your perspective. Imagine your delight if you were on your way to lunch with a good friend, you would be looking forward to it. You would dress nicely and have a cheerful attitude. You wouldn’t be dreading it at all.

And while at the lunch, you would enjoy every moment. We should capture some of that energy when we face our daily tasks. Now, of course, we are not going to be doing jumping jacks of joy when we clean the kitchen for the third time each day, but over time, if we can accept the present circumstances and enjoy that mundane task, we can truly start to change our lives.

I hope today's video gave you food for thought. How can you delight in the mundane aspects of the day? A wonderful resource to help you with this is my second book, At Home with Madame Chic.

Featured in today's video: the cloths I'm using are e-cloth, my dress is J.Jill, my velvet hair tie, my nail polish (code JenniferS for 25% off first-time orders), my earrings and bracelet are Ana Luisa NY (code Jennifer10 for $10 off)

The music featured is My Garden and Secret Love. Copyright free music from Epidemic Sound.

Thank you for joining me today and have a wonderful weekend.


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The Chic Assignment November 2019

Welcome to The Chic Assignment for November, 2019. This month we are exploring German artists, Johann Sebastian Bach and Caspar David Friedrich. We are also looking at seasonal skincare and food, so let's jump in.

10 Ways to Keep it Classy on Social Media

In today's video I'm sharing 10 Ways to Keep it Classy on Social Media. Social networks are constantly evolving and the etiquette for this field is ever-changing. Today's video is meant to act as a guide to keep social media usage on the healthy side. I am looking forward to reading about your experiences using social media below.



Here are my best tips for keeping it classy on social media:

Outfits of the Week + New Charm Bracelet

I'm sharing another week of outfits from my fall ten-item capsule wardrobe in today's video. It was an odd week, with each day at nearly 90 degrees F! I'm sorry I am not showing you boots and coats but the weather here is not there yet. I'll make up for it when we travel to England this winter...



I'm also exploring the world of charm bracelets today. I have always loved the look of charm bracelets and love the tinkling sound they make even more. I chose the components of this bracelet from Jeulia Jewelry (code JENNIFERAV15 gives 15% off).


The bracelet is composed of the basic bangle sterling silver bracelet, starry night safety chain, and heart with blue stone charm. Their sterling silver bracelets are delightful!


Here are the outfits for this week:


On Sunday I'm wearing the J.Jill charcoal wrap dress with a braided headband and navy ballet flats (linking similar). On my nails: Vendetta by Londontown (code JenniferS gives 25% off first-time orders) and my phone case is Casetify


On Monday I'm wearing the Everlane Japanese picnic dress over a half-tee with my nude patent sandals and Ana Luisa earrings (code Jennifer10 gives $10 off first-time orders)



On Tuesday I'm wearing the Zara tunic dress (linking similar) with black leggings and a velvet scrunchie.


On Wednesday I'm wearing the Burgundy floral dress with a navy cardigan, navy bow sandals (similar), and Ana Luisa earrings


On a blustery Thursday I'm wearing Cream v-neck cashmere sweater code JLS10, black cropped jeans code JLS10 for 10% off, nude ballet flats, infinity belt


On Friday it's the Midnight floral dress (similar) under a cropped twist black tee for a new layered look. In my hair is the velvet scrunchie.

I hope you enjoy today's video and that it gives you capsule wardrobe inspiration.


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Presentable Sleepwear: Why You Should Wear It + Essential Components

As part of The Chic Assignment for October, we are taking notice of our sleepwear. Aiming to be presentable with our sleepwear is not just a superficial aspiration. When we are presentable in our own homes, when no one is looking, we are continuing our authentic quest to look presentable always and to dress for respect.



In today's video, I'm sharing why wearing presentable sleepwear is important and sharing the various styles available. There is inspiration here for everyone. Let's take a look at a few styles featured in the video...


An essentail component to presentable sleepwear is a robe or dressing gown. These not only function to keep us warm, but they can also cover up more revealing nightgowns and are perfect to throw on at the last minute or to just putter around the house. I'm wearing Plush Necessities spa robe and slippers in today's video.


For those of you who get really hot at night and don't like to wear pajamas, chemises are a great option. They are very lightweight and feel as though you aren't wearing anything at all. I love the Bust Support Chemise from Montelle Intimates because of its thick fabric, high quality, and feminine details. Another great resource is Lusomé, which has a line of sleepwear that has breathable, moisture wicking sleepwear to benefit those who get hot at night.


One of my favorite nightgowns to sleep in are My Victorian nightgowns. I love how billowy and comfortable they are and also their nostalgic nod to the past. I am also listing a long-sleeve version here. Visit my Amazon store for even more Victorian sleepwear options.


Another high-quality sleepwear brand I love is, Natori. This set I have is a few years old, but the quality is there and it still looks great. You can see Natori sleepwear here, robes and wraps, and gowns here.



As we move into exploring winter sleepwear, I love this plaid sleep shirt to stay cozy in. This is a few years old, so I am also listing a similar one here as well as a longer plaid night shirt. I'm wearing this with leggings and the shearling slippers from Lands' End.


A Pajama set is an essential for presentable sleepwear. Whether you like wild prints, or more subdued sets like this black set with white trim (linking similar), a nice pajama set is a presentable option and great to wear, especially if you are a guest in someone's home.


This cozy flannel sleep shirt is from Nordstrom sleepwear and is another cozy, yet casual and presentable option for winter weather. You can see more Nordstrom sleep shirts here.

For those of you who are looking for more budget sleepwear options, check out your local thrift store, or Walmart's sleepwear selections. Also worth checking out are the pajama sets at Target as well as sleep shirts at Target.


I hope you enjoy today's video.

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Chic Assignment Check-In October, 2019

Welcome to The Chic Assignment check-in for October. Today is a Chic Assignment spectacular. Ben will be reading the 2nd half of The Raven and I will be playing Schubert's Serenade on the piano for you.



This is a longer video as I did not want to cut any corners, so here are the time stamps if you need to skip around:

Presentable sleepwear 1:43
Use your best 6:18
Edgar Allan Poe biography 8:19
Ben reads The Raven 17:03
Jennifer performs Serenade 22:01

The biography for Edgar Allan Poe is from the Poe Museum.




I perform Schubert's Serenade from a piano book that belonged to my grandmother. I always preface my piano performances by letting you know that my playing is full of flaws and errors, and yes, our piano could probably be tuned... but I share my performances to encourage you to just play! Play for fun. Play for joy. Play for beauty in your day. Don't worry if you have mistakes or bad tempo. Just play and enjoy without needing to be perfect, I certainly do :)

I truly hope you enjoyed today's video.

On my nails: Londontown guilty pleasure
code JenniferS for 25% off first-time orders

My charm bracelet (I love) JENNIFERAV15 for 15% off
Basic Bangle Bracelet Sterling Silver
Starry Night Safety Chain Sterling Silver
Heart with Blue Stone Charm Sterling Silver

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The 4th Biggest Enemy to Homemakers

Hello my daily connoisseurs, in today’s video I’m going to share with you the fourth biggest enemy to home makers. Can you guess what it is?



I like to explore the world of homemaking because our jobs as homemakers are complex, satisfying, and important, but also deeply fraught with enemies. It's a good practice to call the enemies out so we are better able to move on with our tasks at hand.

Let's discuss the fourth biggest enemy to homemaking.

Comparison



Yes, that’s right, comparison. The act or instance of comparing.

We have all heard the expression: comparison is the thief of joy. Well, a truer statement could not be uttered. And in today’s modern social media age, comparison is easier now more than ever.

If you call yourself a homemaker, then I’m guessing you have a place to live… a house, an apartment, a townhome, a place where you dwell. Let’s pause right there. If that is the case, and we have a roof over our heads, food on our tables, and a bed to sleep in at night. We should rejoice with gratefulness.

But instead, what do we do? We hop on Instagram and instantly feel pangs of jealousy that so-and-so’s home looks so amazing. Look at that sofa, that rug. Those houseplants. That person has better dishes than you. That person just wallpapered. That person has a swimming pool, That person just redid her master bathroom.

Comparison.

We start to look at what other people have… and it all looks so perfect. When we look at our own things… they can start to look shabby. Outdated. Awful.

Yes, our joy is being stolen every time we look at what someone else has and wish that we had it ourselves. We must not compare our homes to others. Some people have larger budgets than we do. Either that or they are going deeply into debt to live in such a beautiful space. You never know the true story behind the glossy Instagram picture. We must be content with what we have and budget responsibly for upgrades in the future.



I understand this struggle just as much as you do. I compare my home all the time. How do you think I’m able to write this? We were blessed to be able to renovate our kitchen this past year and guess what I’m longing to do now… the bathrooms. All of them! One thing I have learned about decorating and upgrades is, you are never satisfied. So let’s cease all comparisons and just be joyful and grateful for what we currently have. Let us make our homemaking a tribute and an act of gratitude for our homes. And when we finally get to do the upgrade, we will appreciate it so much more.


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