Jennifer L. Scott's Blog, page 37

5 Ways to Style a Jumpsuit or Romper with Spaghetti Straps | Ten-Item Capsule Wardrobe

I do realize we are nearing the end of the summer season and many of us are already thinking about fall... but it is so hot here (can you relate??) that my summer ten-item capsule wardrobe is still going strong. In fact, it has been so hot here that many of my core items that have long sleeves are unwearable.



My cousin recently visited me and she was wearing the best-looking jumpsuits. I fell in love because they not only look presentable, but seemed so comfortable too.

In today's video I'm sharing style tips on how you can style a summertime jumpsuit or romper, particularly one with spaghetti straps as many of them have.

My jumpsuit is from Morning Lavender. Please note the jumpsuit I have is currently sold out. I am linking some other great options here:

I love this jumpsuit in black or taupe. It is gorgeous.

To check out all of the jumpsuits on Morning Lavender, click here.

Here is a link to all of the jumpsuits at Lulu's.

Here is a lovely jumpsuit on Amazon that has more coverage on top and comes in different colors. These would be good for fall!


Here I'm wearing the jumpsuit with a floppy sunhat (linking similar) and Kork Ease sandal. If you plan to show your shoulders, it is advisable to wear a strapless bra or you could use breast petals.


Here I'm styling it with a cropped twist tee. This twist collar crop top would also be a great option. I'm wearing my Sam Edelman Gigi sandals here too.


Pairing the jumpsuit with a cropped sweater is a good option as you move into colder weather. I am linking a similar one here.


Paired with my button-down denim tie top (linking similar here and here), this has a lovely pulled-together look.


A cardigan pairs beautifully with a flowy jumpsuit like this. (Linking a similar one in cashmere).

A pashmina scarf covers the jumpsuit in a classy way.


A bonus look: a simple white tee underneath the jumpsuit looks casual and covers the shoulders nicely.

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The Third Biggest Enemy to Homemakers

In parts one and two of this series, I shared what I believe are the biggest enemies to homemakers. I've also shared The Homemaker's Best Friend. Today we are going to explore the third biggest enemy.



As a working and homeschooling mother of four children, I have a lot of experience as a homemaker. In this series, I explore the roadblocks that we face as keepers of the home. This video is not just for women like me, but all men and women who struggle with looking after their space.

We all desire to live in a beautiful and serene space. That is synonymous with a tidy space. But how can we keep our home clean and beautiful and still keep our sanity? It’s an interesting conundrum for sure, but I use a technique to explore living well. I look at the road blocks I face. I look at what holds me back and what is keeping me from achieving what I desire. So… are you ready to hear the third biggest enemy?

Unpreparedness

Yes, being unprepared.

How can this prevent us from keeping our homes as we would like?

Well, when we are disorganized and unprepared we become frustrated and waste valuable time trying to find what we need to complete our tasks throughout the day. That’s just a shallow look at the matter. But truly, this is a very deep issue.

In order to run an effective home, we need to be prepared. Prepared with our meals, prepared with our cleaning, prepared for each day through our organization.

When I lived in Paris with Madame Chic, I marveled at how she ran her home. Her home was run like a small boutique hotel. Meals were planned and on time, like clockwork. The house was always tidy and organized. There weren’t explosions of clutter here and there. There was no chaos.

So how can we be prepared like Madame Chic?

We can set everything aside and sit down and decide to take this homemaking business seriously. Even though you don’t get paid for it, even though you might already have another job, you can look at homemaking as your job as well. One you delight in.

Get intentional about meal planning. Keep your cleaning supplies organized and in strategic areas in your home so when it’s time to clean, you are totally ready. Set yourself up with a routine that you can stick to.

In short, be prepared.

Homemaking, though it can be overwhelming and exhausting, is also deeply satisfying work. Be prepared for all of it’s challenges and all of its beauty and you will not regret the time you spent doing so.

I hope you’re enjoying my homemaker series. Be sure to comment down below about how you like to prepare as a homemaker.

Here are links to some of the things featured in today's video: my books, my dress, my apron, my velvet hair tie, A Year in Provence book (by the way, if you haven't read this book, you must!), natural cleaning supplies and e-cloth, the candle is breathe easy by Cellar Door, the vacuum is Dyson (my model is a few years old... this is the newest one).
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Etiquette Author Responds to Reddit's Etiquette Problems | r/etiquette

Hello everyone, I hope you had a lovely weekend. In today's video I am trying something a little different: I'm responding to popular etiquette posts on Reddit.



What is Reddit? Reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website. Registered members submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down by other members. It's kind of like Facebook for the world.

It's quite amusing to go on Reddit and read the various posts and subreddits. Today, I'm going to read to you from the subreddit, r/etiquette, where people submit their burning etiquette questions for the world to respond to.

This is a longer video, so here are the time stamps and topics discussed, in case you want to skip ahead or know what's coming:

2:18 Realtor gives expensive gift but client gave a cheap one
6:20 Groomsman tuxedo is too expensive. Help!
7:57 Group thank you for church meal train? Or individual thank you?
10:21 Should you confront a coworker with a wardrobe malfunction?
13:37 Shared laundry facility: should you remove someone else's clothes?
17:08 Do I need to take earbuds out when talking to others?
17:57 MIL Drama: When a mother-in-law is too encouraging on Facebook.
21:30 Shared office space coffee aggravation. What to do?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of these topics. Which ones do you have advice for?
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Gender Neutral Dress Codes, Dressing Well for Travel & The Surprising Fall Trend | 3 Articles on Dress

Hello friends,

I am back with another 3 Articles on Dress video. Today we are going to explore gender neutral dress codes, dressing well for air travel, and the surprising latest fall trend.



The first article discusses the recent Gender Neutral Dress Code implemented at a Virginia Public School.

The second article, which I have discussed before on the channel, shares an argument for why we should dress well for air travel via Slate.

The final article discusses the surprising fall trend: bourgeoisie "boring" dressing.

Be sure to watch today's video to hear the details on each article and my thoughts. I would love to know yours too!

Please note: this is the headband I am wearing in today's video.

Thank you to American Blossom Linens for sponsoring today's video.



American Blossom Linens provides 100% organic cotton linens that are made completely in the USA. This is a small family business that produces such high quality bedding. Janet, one of the owners, has been a long-time reader of The Daily Connoisseur.
Use the code Jennifer20 for 20% off the first order.

If you have a small business and are interested in sponsoring a video on The Daily Connoisseur, you may contact me here. I give a discount to small businesses.

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The Homemaker's Best Friend

Today I’m going to share with you a Homemaker’s best friend. I’m going to cut right to the chase and let you know what it is. Yes, it’s a timer. You don’t have to have a fancy timer like this one. You could use the one on your phone or on the microwave. Any timer will do.



Why is the timer a homemaker’s best friend? Well… that is what I am going to reveal to you in today’s video.

How many times have you had to clean at the end of a long day and thought, I simply cannot do this. I literally cannot tidy anything up right now, I’m so tired. Or you might not even be tired, you might actually have a lot of energy, but you’d rather spend it doing something, anything else. (If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, be sure to watch my video, The Number One Enemy to Homemakers.)

Well, we often talk ourselves into a frenzy about the chores we have to do. Can you relate? We build it up in our minds as this horrible dreaded task that is going to take forever, when in reality the chore at hand doesn’t actually take that long to do.

I love to time myself for 15 minutes, although I have been known to do 5 minutes and even power hours. But 15 minutes is usually the time frame I work with the most.

You would be amazed to know what you can accomplish in 15 minutes.

Most of the time I set the timer for 15 minutes to clean the kitchen and I’m done within 8 minutes. Then I just use the rest of the time to tidy something else or I sit down and enjoy a break.

The power of the timer is in your perception. Usually when you don’t feel like cleaning, you can convince yourself to at least devote 15 minutes to the task at hand. Tell yourself that when the timer goes off you will stop no matter what.

During those 15 minutes you can listen to a podcast or have a YouTube video on in the background or listen to beautiful music. I guarantee, those 15 minutes will fly.

Sometimes at the end of the 15 minutes something curious happens. I have regained my motivation for cleaning and actually want to continue. That has happened to me more times than I could count.

Use the timer technique on any task and in any room. Every family member, including the children, can also benefit from using a timer.

The timer is the homemaker’s best friend. Use it everyday as a motivational tool. Make it your best friend.


The vintage timer is found on Amazon. The dish tray, dish brushes, flower dish soap dispenser and dish soap are all from Grove Collaborative. The microfiber cloths used are by e-cloth. The apron is by Cath Kidston, a gift from my mother-in-law.

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Ten-Item Capsule Wardrobe Outfits of the Week | Layering Pieces

I'm back with another outfits of the week video from my ten-item capsule wardrobe.



Let's get right into the outfits:



Saturday: I'm wearing the red floral blouse (linking similar here), denim skirt (linking similar) and blue bow sandals (linking similar). My phone case is Casetify.


Sunday: I'm using a twisted crop top over my polka dot dress. I have been experimenting with layering lately and will have a video coming on this soon.


Monday: On this very hot day I'm wearing the Lands' End seafoam dress with my nude patent sandals. In my hair is the velvet bow scrunchie.


Tuesday: Nautical Chic day! Navy stripe tee shirt (similar), cropped jeans by Mott & Bow, red ballet flats (linking similar), velvet scrunchie.


Wednesday: I'm experimenting with the layered look with this wrap cropped tee over the brushstroke dress. My earrings are Ana Luisa (use code Jennifer10 for $10 off)


Thursday: I'm wearing the button-down chambray shirt dress (linking similar), floral apron (a gift from my mother-in-law), and leopard sandals.


Friday: Today I'm wearing the button-down chambray tie blouse (linking similar) on top of the olive dress... one of my favorite looks from the summer!

UPDATE: Many of you are asking about my tablecloth. I am linking a similar one here as mine is several years old.

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The Chic Assignment August 2019

Welcome to The Chic Assignment for August 2019!



Chic Assignment no. 1 Scott Joplin's Ragtime music- Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer
We are departing from classical music this month to explore the world of Ragtime through the wildly talented Scott Joplin. Joplin is most famous for his pieces, The Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer (chances are, if you have a piano student in your home, they have played The Entertainer). I am going to leave a few videos for you to listen to here.

Here is an actual recording of Scott Joplin playing The Maple Leaf Rag (!)



Here is over an hour and a half of Joplin's music, The Best of Scott Joplin.



I will go over Joplin's biography more in the check-in later this month.

Chic Assignment no. 2 We are going to explore the artwork of Childe Hassam

I wanted to choose an artist I didn't know much about for this month's assignment so I could discover a whole new world of art. I looked up artists who were alive and creating around the same time Scott Joplin was, and came across Childe Hassam.



From The Smithsonian American Art Museum...
Hassam spent many summers on Appledore Island off the coast of Maine. Every year, he and a circle of musicians, writers and other artists made an informal colony based at the home of his friend, the poet Celia Thaxter. In Thaxter's gardens and on the rocky beaches, Hassam used the flickering brushwork and brilliant colors he had adopted in France to capture the spangled light of Appledore's brief summer. This painting evokes the leisurely, seasonal rhythms of America's priveleged families in the last years before the Great War. A beautifully dressed woman shields her face from the sun; she looks down and away, as if absorbed in the song of a sandpiper, the island bird that inspired Celia Thaxter's most famous children's poem.

I am leaving a link to this website where you can see more of Hassam's exquisite work. Let me know which piece moves you. I'll share my pick with you during the mid-month check-in.


Chic Assignment no. 3 The art of letter writing

This month we are going to take up the lost art of letter writing. Write a handwritten letter and send it off in the mail to a friend or family member. Think of how neat it would be if 10,000 letters were circulating this month delighting 10,000 recipients!

Receiving a handwritten letter these days is so rare that the person you write to will be so pleasantly surprised. Don't worry if you don't have fancy stationery, any paper will do. I would love to know updates about your letter and how the recipient reacted. Be sure to let us know in the comments.

Chic Assignment no. 4 Prepare your wardrobe for the transition in season. We are headed into fall and our Southern Hemisphere friends are headed into spring. It's time to transition our ten-item wardrobes to the upcoming season. I plan to have some content on my YouTube channel walking through this process. As for your assignment: this is a great time to assess your wardrobe from this season to decide what works and what didn't. What should stay and what should go and how you plan to store your out-of-season items going forward. It's also a great time to start planning for fall.

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Velvet Padded Headbands & Velvet Hair Bows | Duchess of Cambridge

Hello Daily Connoisseurs,

In today's video I'm trying out a hair accessory trend that has recently been embraced by The Duchess of Cambridge: velvet headbands and hair ties.



While I am still suffering from postpartum hair loss and the awkwardness that comes from the regrowth, I am still enjoying doing my hair and wearing a new hair accessory trend that is right up my alley.



The Duchess of Cambridge has recently been sporting several velvet hair accessory looks and I adore them! They are ladylike and playful and a wonderful nod to girlhood.


Let's start with the velvet hair tie look. This is a very chic and accessible ladylike look that anyone could replicate.

I have found two different styles on Amazon for affordable prices.



The first option is this velvet scrunchie with rabbit ties (12 pack). The wire in the tie allows you to manipulate the bow in whatever way you please. I have found a pack on Amazon that comes with multiple scrunchies in varying colors.



The second option is this velvet scrunchie with the optional removable bow (this is a six piece set with different colors). This bow is much larger and is similar to the one the Duchess is wearing in the picture. This one also comes with many colorful hair ties in the same multi-pack. I have been loving this hair accessory. It is my favorite!


Next, let's explore velvet headbands. This is a more daring look as these headbands rise up quite high on the head. But I believe, worn correctly, these headbands would make stunning and, yes, regal statements for a special event.


Have a look at how both Catherine and Pippa like to wear their headbands...



In today's video I share how to wear the headband with a half up half down do...


As well as an updo. This would be perfect to wear to a special event.




I hope you enjoy today's video. What do you think of the velvet hair accessory look?

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The Second Biggest Enemy to Homemakers

Many of you recently saw my video, The Number One Enemy to Homemakers. If you haven't watched that video, I highly recommend you do. Today, I’m going to share what I believe is the number two— the second enemy— to homemakers.



I’ve been thinking a lot about homemaking lately. Why, with so much technology and so many conveniences, some of us (myself included) still struggle with our homemaking. My revelation in the first video shared what I believe to be the number one enemy to homemakers, but that’s not where it ends.

This issue is quite complex, and there are many more enemies. It’s important for us to call them out and be aware of them in order to conquer these beasts— these road blocks that prevent us from living a beautiful life at home.

As I have pondered this topic, I truly believe that the number two enemy to homemaking is: PERFECTIONISM.

PERFECTIONISM Think about it. I’d like to think that I am not a perfectionist. That’s something other people struggle with. But I believe that most of us struggle with it, in some form, whether we acknowledge this or not.



PERFECTIONISM As women, we tend to seek perfection and beauty. Whether that is in our décor, or in our homemaking. Sometimes we feel if we can’t do a project fully and completely, executed perfectly, that we shouldn’t even bother. We get defeated before we begin. If we can’t do it perfectly, we don’t want to do it at all.

PERFECTIONISM this also goes for our décor. We all have a home— a dwelling place we call our own, but for many people— that home isn’t exactly how they would like it to be. It might be the décor that is unsatisfactory. Maybe you dislike your furniture. Or maybe you really don’t like your bathrooms or kitchen. Perhaps your sofas are a bit run down like mine are.

Subconsciously we do not take care of our homes as well as we should because our homes are not as we would like them to be.

How I like to combat my perfectionist tendencies is to just focus on the exact task I’m doing and not get ahead of myself. I do that task to the best of my ability, keeping in mind the other tasks I have to do. I try to enjoy the process.

PERFECTIONISM Because we see perfect homes and décor and cleaning routines on social media and suddenly feel bad about what we have.

I’ll give you an example of perfectionism in my own life. I have this YouTube channel, and I have a few followers on Instagram and I’m a published author. Technically some might call me an “influencer”. So a perfectionist thought might be: someone with my line of work should have nicer furniture and décor. Well, I’m going to show you a few very real things in today's video.

Fighting past my perfectionist tendencies, rather than going into debt to show off a lifestyle that isn’t in my budget right now, I am going to live with what I have. Because yes, even published authors and YouTubers have furniture with rips in it.



I think about Madame Chic a lot when this subject comes to mind. As I mention in my books, her kitchen and bathroom were very outdated. So outdated that by American standards we would instantly be itching to re-do them. But she lived with her outdated kitchen and bathroom and thrived with them. She created some of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had in that outdated kitchen.

Her furniture was antique and sometimes it was a bit shabby. But she kept her home beautifully. She didn’t suffer from comparison and perfectionism, she embraced what she had.

Let us not let our perfectionism get in the way of showing our homes the love that they deserve. Rather than comparing our homes to others, we should embrace what we have and love and appreciate it. Yes, upgrade when it’s in the budget, but if it’s not, love that shabby sofa, that outdated bathroom, Love and scrub and take care of your things because perfection is a state of mind.


Note: in today's video I'm wearing a lace tee (linking similar), my Mott & Bow jeans Use code JLS10 for off (Until July 31, 2019), and a Cath Kidston apron (a gift from my mother-in-law).

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Chic Assignment Check-In July 2019

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.


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