Jennifer L. Scott's Blog, page 38

Emily Dickinson Makeup & Hair Tutorial

Hello friends,

I'm coming to you on my birthday with a different kind of video...

As part of The Chic Assignment, we are reading the poetry of Emily Dickinson. I am fascinated by her life story and her poetry. I thought it would be fun to re-create her look with (le no) makeup and hair tutorial.

Our modern society loves to imitate celebrities of today, but I think it's fun to look at women from the past who have come before us, especially literary icons to the caliber of Emily Dickinson.



The key for this look is a completely natural makeup look without any brozers, shimmers, or other modern touches. Emily did not appear to wear makeup. If anything, she might have powdered her nose. Her skin appears to be very clear, creamy and matte.



I use makeup to simply bring out my features in a natural way. You can likely recreate this with the makeup you already have. For those of you wondering what makeup I used in today's video I am listing it here:
A'DEL foundation in beige, Osmosis translucent finishing powder,
Cream blush in Peach from A'DEL, black mascara from Osmosis, Lipstick from A'DEL in barely there, eye shadow Laura Mercier eye artist palette (no longer available) so I'm linking two comparable colors here from Osmosis.



For the hair: Emily has a very plain hairstyle with a middle part and (presumably) a low bun. I use my flat iron to smooth the hair to create Emily's sleek look. I take out hair on either side of the face and set it aside. Then tie the rest of the hair in a low ponytail (I'm using an invisibobble). Braid the ponytail in a simple three-strand braid and wrap it around the ponytail. Secure with bobby pins. Then take the strands on the side of the face and wrap them under and around the bun and secure with bobby pins.



The velvet neck tie is improvised from these velvet scrunchies that I have been loving (the tie is removable).

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial in today's video.



“Hope” is the thing with feathers
BY EMILY DICKINSON
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

Comment of the Week
Rainy Daze write, "Finally did the 10 item wardrobe. What a life/time saver! I'm usually overwhelmed by clothes shopping for myself. 10 item wardrobe helps a lot. And dresses are new to me...but I found one I liked and really do feel more feminine/put together wearing it. Very thankful for sharing your method with those of us with poor executive function."

Rainy Daze- I'm so happy for you! Thanks for taking the time to share your ten-item wardrobe progress with us.



I hope you enjoyed this fun tutorial. I'll see you next time for The Chic Assignment check-in.



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The Most Unusual and Effective Products on Amazon

Hello friends,

Today is Prime Day on Amazon, and I'm going to be sharing some products that I've purchased from Amazon, that have turned out to be excellent purchases. Many of these have really changed my daily life for the better.

I know some of you enjoy my recommendations and other do not... That's OK! You can always skip the posts that do not interest you. I am always grateful when a trusted source recommends something that is useful to me. And I always ask for discount codes. Today's post will feature some favorite Amazon finds as well as other deals I have found.



Prime Day is today and tomorrow. So let's get into these unusual, yet effective items.


From the people who sent me the neck and shoulder massager, comes the Naipo foot massager. This foot massager has heat, shiatsu massage functions and air bag cushions. It's really nice. If you have sensitive feet, just know that this is a strong massage. It's very welcome for me at the end of the day. Out of the Amazon products featured in the video, this is the only one that was sent to me to review.

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We recently re-did our toy storage and I purchased these storage cubbies. I normally go to Ikea for furniture like this, but these are from Amazon and are a great price. I highly recommend for toy storage.

Cubical Storage
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Storage bins
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Sinus Irrigation This one is life-changing for people with sinus issues. It pulses saline water into your nasal cavity and is the only way I am able to fully clear my nasal passages. I can't recommend this one enough for people with sinus problems.

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Foot file This is the miracle foot file I have spoken of before. If you have cracked and dry heels, this will take care of the problem.

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Drain Millipede I love the Drain Millipede! I stick this down our sink drains and pull up all kinds of gunk. It really does work and is very affordable.

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Floral laptop case This is a wonderful alternative to the standard black or grey laptop cases. This one is well-made and pretty.

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clear computer stand The clear computer stand is a great way to add more space to your desk and to protect your computer. It would go with any decor too.


E-Cloth
These weren't featured in my video today, but E-cloth reached out to me to let you know that they are 15% off on Amazon for Prime Day. Here are the links: The Deep Clean Mop, Window Pack (includes the Glass and Polishing Cloth), Washing Up Pad, Dusting Cloths, Window Genie , Window Dynamo

E-Cloth's own website is also having a major sale that coincides with prime day, so you can view that sale here.

Audio Books
One of my favorite aspects of Amazon is their Audible subscription, which allows me to listen to audiobooks each month at an affordable membership price.

Teami Blends

I wanted to give you an update on the Teami Blends tea. I requested their green powder to try because I am interested in adding more nutrition to my food. So since trying the Bloom Tea, I've also tried the Refresh tea (which is a mint tea with dried mango, dried strawberry, and rosebuds). Refresh is very, well refreshing! I made it for my sister and she loved it. I've also tried their greens blend. This is very potent and strong. I believe I will be waiting until I'm finished breastfeeding to use this as it has matcha in it, but it is very potent and powerful and would be great for anyone looking to add greens to their diet. I have also been using their butterfly toner with tea. This is great to set makeup, and refresh skin, although it does have a perfumey smell, which is worth mentioning if that bothers you. It has a lovely refreshing feel. Use code JLS30 for 30% off.

And one final non-amazon discount to share: Many of you are loving the Mott & Bow Jeans! They are truly a find. My discount code JLS10 gives you 10% off and is valid until July 31.

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Shaye Elliott + Jennifer L. Scott Interview | Elliott Homestead Daily Connoisseur

My interview series continues on The Daily Connoisseur with author, homesteader and YouTuber extraordinaire, Shaye Elliott from The Elliott Homestead.



I had so much fun chatting with Shaye! She and I have a lot in common: we both have four children, we both homeschool, we are both writers, and we share a lot of the same life philosophies. I just know that you will love our conversation. I didn't want it to end and I hope that Shaye will come back to be a guest on the channel again.

Here is a list of Shaye's books: The Elliott Homestead: From Scratch: Traditional, whole-foods dishes for easy, everyday meals, Welcome to the Farm: How-to Wisdom from The Elliott Homestead and Seasons at the Farm: Year-Round Celebrations at the Elliott Homestead.

Shaye's essential oil link for doTERRA can be found here. And her blog can be found here.

I hope you enjoy today's video and that you have a lovely weekend!

I would love to hear your thoughts on all of the topics that Shaye and I discussed.



Visit my newly designed Author Website

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

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Twitter @JL_Scott

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*Please note: consult your doctor before treating any ailments with essential oils. The host is not liable for any advice given on the channel and the views of the guests do not necessarily reflects the views of the host.

Historical Dress Every Day | Dressing to Improve Manners | 3 More Articles on Dress

I have three more intriguing articles on dress to discuss with you in today's video.



People who dress in historical dress on a daily basis, dressing up to improve manners, and the mess of modern power dressing are all on the table today.

Let's dive into these interesting articles:


I don’t see jeans in my future’: the people who wear complete historical dress – every day
This article introduces us to Zack MacLeod Pinsent, who likes to dress in Regency-era attire on a daily basis.

Suggested: Crow's Eye Productions is a wonderful YouTube channel with fascinating videos on historical dress. My children and I enjoy watching these videos together.


To solve Britain's rudeness epidemic we need to start dressing well by Celia Walden This article was shared with me by Emily R.
Every summer, something curious happens to the men inside Ascot’s Royal Enclosure. Doors and gates are held open for women, hands extended to help us down stairs and top hats doffed in our direction, as though, for that one week a year, young British men have decided to play at being chivalrous vintage gents – before leaving the manners and morning suits in a rumpled pile on the floor at the end of the day. Last Friday, it hit me: they’re playing that part because they’re dressed for it.

... and finally The Mess of Modern Power Dressing
The dress codes of influence and authority are one big mass of confusion — just look at the Oscars and Congress, at Goldman Sachs and the recent runways. But is that a bad thing?

In today's video I share my thoughts on each of these articles. I would love to know your thoughts below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.

My velvet hair tie (I have been loving these) can be found on Amazon.


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Homeschooling : How Did Our Second Year Go?

Hello friends,

I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend! We had another earthquake on Friday... Thankfully everything and everyone is OK.



I continue to take it easy this week so this blog post is going to be light.

Today's video is a homeschooling update for those of you who have been asking for one. We had another great year full of discovery and I share my thoughts and how I am adapting and improving going forward.

Here are a list of Charlotte Mason books:

Home Education by Charlotte Mason , Habits by Charlotte Mason, A Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason, Formation of Character Charlotte Mason, Karen Andreola A Charlotte Mason Companion



As usual, I love to hear from you, whether you are a homeschool family or not. How did your school year go? Please leave your comments below so we can connect together. If you are a homeschooling family please introduce yourself in the comments and let us know how your year went.


With love,

Jennifer


Visit my newly designed Author Website

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

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

Turkey Shepherd's Pie Packed with Veggies | Freezer Meal | Makes 3

You know how I like to cook... I like to make traditional family-friendly meals, usually without a recipe, and pack them with veggies as much as possible.



If at all possible, I like to double or triple the recipe and freeze the meals as well because (say it with me now) Being Chic is Being Prepared!



Today's video is a collaboration with the family from Easy Freezer Meals. If you want to see a professional's take on freezer meals, check out Eric and his family's videos. They live in Panama and run a freezer meal business. They have freezer meals for every occasion! Be sure to visit their channel and tell them I said, "hello".



OK, on to the turkey shepherd's pies.

I really just used what ingredients I had on hand and I urge you to do the same. If you don't have something that I am listing here, don't worry about it. Just substitute it for something else.

First, I sauteed 6 chopped carrots and two chopped onions in some olive oil.

I sprinkled the veggies with salt, pepper, ground turmeric, cumin seed, celery salt (I did not measure, but roughly 1/2 Tbs of each... also you don't have to use these spices... use what you have on hand and/or like. Salt and pepper to taste).

Add two cups chopped mushrooms and sauté.

Set vegetables aside.

Cook 5 1/2 lbs ground turkey (this is about four of those packs from Costco). Once it is browned, drain, and reintroduce the vegetable to the pot. Add 1 lb power greens (or spinach or kale... whatever you like).

Divide meat and vegetable mixture between three pans.

Layer shredded Monterey Jack cheese on top of meat.

Add mashed potatoes on top of that (I used roughly 9 medium to large potatoes)

If eating right away, put in 375 degree F oven for 30 minutes.

If freezing, cover properly and label your dish. You can bake this directly from frozen if you like at 350 degrees F for about two hours. Or, you can thaw in the refrigerator the night before and cook at 375 degrees F for around 40 minutes.

That's it! My message with these videos is that you don't need to overcomplicate things... Have fun experimenting in the kitchen and finding out what your family loves. If you have young children who are adverse to eating vegetables, pack your meals with them.

If you are not able to use casserole dishes for your freezer, these disposable foil casserole dishes (30 pack) from Amazon are helpful.

I hope you enjoyed today's video. Have a lovely weekend and I'll see you on Monday!


Visit my newly designed Author Website

*NEWLY UPDATED* 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

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

Rebound with Me | 5-Minute Routine | July 2019

Happy Independence Day! I hope all of my American readers had a wonderful July 4th holiday yesterday. Today's blog is going to be brief... I wanted to publish my July Rebound with Me video for those of you who are jumping along with me.



Be sure to stay until the end of the video for a surprise move! :)

This is the rebounder that I like to use.

I hope you enjoy exercising together this month! I'll see you tomorrow for a new freezer cooking video.

With love,

Jennifer



Visit my newly designed Author Website

*NEWLY UPDATED* 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

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

The Number One Enemy To Homemakers

We should always be growing in maturity as adults and getting wiser. That involves assessing our own behavior… truthfully. I go through stages in life where I feel exhausted. Can you relate? The burdens of everyday life and the chores that go along with them seem to be too much to handle sometimes.



I often think of the past and how women of past ages were able to handle it all. As time has moved on, technology has advanced so our homemaking should be getting easier. But also as technology progresses, we have much more to entertain ourselves with and this is where the number one enemy to homemaking comes in.

I believe the number one enemy to homemaking is DISTRACTION.

Distraction. We are distracted by our phones, the television, by text messages, social media, and yes, even YouTube videos like this one.

Distracted. Because life can feel so hard, we frequently reward ourselves with treats by checking our phones and mindlessly scrolling. You’ll hop on to facebook just to have a quick look and, soon as you know it, an hour has passed. We fill our online shopping carts with items and do virtual window shopping. We can get into an endless text chain with our girlfriends, which provides so much comfort, but also takes us away from the tasks we need to do.

Distraction. The number one enemy of homemakers. I fall privy to distraction on a daily basis. So what I’ve been working on lately is recognizing my distractions. I call them out. I notice how addicted I am to checking my email and my notifications. I notice the strong desire I get to send off a text message before I begin any chore.

A great way to combat these distractions is to consciously make the choice to finish your chore first, and then you will reward yourself with the treat of the distraction. Over time you will want the distraction less and less.

This isn’t to say that we should be all work and no play. Not at all. I like to listen to audio books and podcasts while I work. I also like to watch my favorite YouTube channels or listen to beautiful music. I text my girlfriends every day and enjoy our repartee. So, yes, we need to take time for rest and self care in equal measure. But we should also be honest with ourselves about our distractions and how they are holding us back.

Why should we care?

Homemaking is hard, but it is also deeply worthy work. The beginning of a good life starts at home. Your home shapes you, shapes your children. Is it in chaos? Or is it in order? Or somewhere in between? (Hint: it’s OK to be somewhere in between). We pour ourselves into our homes because it is worthy work, indeed. So as we eschew our distractions and prioritize our home, we lift the homemakers who came before us as we carry on in the beauty of daily life.

For more on how to be efficient at home, check out my affordable eCourse. Thousands of women have connected over there to share their homemaking and efficiency journeys.

A recent testimonial from the eCourse on efficiency:

Daniella writes, "This course was so lovely! Not only did I learn certain ways of doing things and taking care at home and of myself, but just how to do it all with a better attitude. I think that's really the key message. I am so overwhelmed by it all at times – the cleaning, the laundry, the cooking, the care-taking, working, etc., and was feeling miserable about it, but if I shift how I view these things and try to do them with a little joy and pleasure of the moment, it's SO much more manageable!

I can't wait to take your other courses and hope you will continue to do more, and please never stop youtubing! LOL, your videos are a classy, positive, breath of fresh air in a world that is just crazy right now!

I look forward to establishing a better morning routine this week, as I think this will be key to having a much more productive and positive day :)"

Thank you, Daniella! I have enjoyed reading your comments on the course!

I hope you found this video to be motivating. I would love to know... do you struggle with distraction at home? How does it affect your homemaking? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.

Love,

Jennifer




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The Chic Assignment | July 2019

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

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My Signature Jean | The "MOM" Jean | Ten-Item Wardrobe

I'm sharing the features of my new signature jeans. The Oliver MOM jean by Mott & Bow.



After having a baby, every woman goes through a transition period where their body changes and they mostly start to shed the weight that was put on during pregnancy. To get me through that period, I found the Lands' End flat-front pull up jean, which served its purpose well for me. But as I started to lose the baby weight and as the jeans simultaneously stretched, I found myself constantly pulling them up all day long. If you've ever experienced that with your clothes, you know it's very frustrating, indeed.



I knew it was time to find a new jean, but where to look? I have certain requirements for my jeans. I like them to be pretty classic and plain and I am not looking for rips or embellishments. I find that the standard ones are more versatile as they can be dressed up or down and can go with more items in my ten-item wardrobe.



Mott & Bow had been contacting me for awhile asking if I'd like to try their jeans. I said no during my pregnancy transition period as I already had my jean requirement fulfilled in my ten-item wardrobe, but when I went on the search to look for new ones, I decided to try their MOM jean. I am a mom, after all. Although I was a bit nervous because mom jeans get a bad rap. Normally one thinks of super outdated and unflattering high-wasted pants from the early 90s. Yikes!

These are the new wave of MOM jeans, however, and they are so lovely, I do believe they are my new signature jean.

Here are the features I like about them. They are thick and do not stretch very much. They are high-waisted and fall at such a place on my waist, that I never need to pull them up. Ever.

They have room in the pant leg, unlike skinny jeans, which I have always found uncomfortable. They are designed in a way that lifts the derrière and the absolute best part, they have an amazingly flattering crop that is reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn. I love to wear them with any different type of shoe.


Here you see them with ballet flats...


With heels...


With boots...


... and with sandals.

I will most likely wear these into fall/ winter as well because they are dark enough to work well with that season. These jeans are excellent for a casual nautical look all the way to a dressy evening look.

I always ask any company I feature if they can give you a discount code for those of you who are interested in purchasing. Mott & Bow have given us a discount code. Use code JLS10 for 10% off your order (this is valid until July 31, 2019).

I hope you enjoyed today's review. If you have a pair of jeans you love, let us know in the comment section below.

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.