Jennifer L. Scott's Blog, page 67

What I Look Like in the Middle of the Day | Jennifer L. Scott

First, I showed you What I Look Like at the End of the Day, and now it's time for me to show you what I look like in the middle of the day. What's going on this afternoon? The dishes need to be done, the kitchen needs to be cleaned, I have a roast in the slow cooker and cookies fresh out of the oven. It's gloriously messy, comforting and joyful all at the same time!

Running a home can be stressful and overwhelming, but enjoy the process (that is what being a daily connoisseur is all about!). It will not be pretty. You and your home will not look perfect, but you can take pleasure in the journey.

I'm listening to the Miss Mapp audio book to get ready for our book club. (I've read the novel and am now solidifying it by listening to it.)

Here is my chocolate chip cookie recipe. I keep the dough in the freezer and make it in small batches. I like to make 6 - 8 cookies at a time. This is perfect for when unexpected guests arrive.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients
1 C butter, softened
1 C white sugar
1 C packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsps vanilla extract
3 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsps hot water
1/2 tsp salt
2 C semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, and chocolate chips. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for about 10- 14 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.

Delight in the pleasures of the afternoon, no matter how messy and work-laden they are. For more on the pleasures of the afternoon, check out my book, At Home With Madame Chic.

I hope you enjoy today's video!

News
I hope you'll join me for the Mapp & Lucia Book Club. We will be starting at the end of June. Write down your questions so I can answer them in my upcoming videos!

And in the Instagram world...

A cup of tea, a bar of chocolate and Lessons from Madame Chic. What a perfect evening!

A post shared by Ewa (@ewa_fotografuje) on May 16, 2017 at 10:20am PDT

Lanasartstudio has drawn some of her favorite inspiring books and Madame Chic made the cut!

Begin each day with a grateful heart ❤️ Happy Tuesday my #instafamily ! Life is beautiful

Authentic Indian Chicken Curry Recipe

I absolutely love curries. I spent some time traveling in Sri Lanka right after college with one of my dear friends who is from the region and there my love of curries was born. I have always enjoyed cooking curries at home, but my recipes have never been very authentic. I would make simplified "western" versions. My versions taste good, but I was truly seeking an "insider" curry recipe.

I reached out to my friend Mina Irfan, from The Universe Guru YouTube channel to see if she would share one of her authentic Indian/Pakistani recipes with me. Mina was more than happy to oblige and we had great fun collaborating on this post. She shared a base chicken curry recipe with me. She said this is the type of standard recipe that Indian mothers pass down to their daughters. I feel so special to have received this recipe and am happy to share it with you now!



Mina's Chicken Curry
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:
2 pounds chicken (bone in, skin off. I use legs and thighs in this recipe)
1 small onion (Mina gets the golden browned fried onions from the Indian store, which saves her from having to brown the onions)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp. coriander powder
2 tsp. salt (adjust to taste)
¼ tsp. turmeric powder
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic paste
1 tsp. ginger paste (or get the mixed ginger/ginger paste from the Indian/Middle Eastern grocery store)
1/3 cup oil
3 tomatoes, chopped
1-2 green chiles, chopped
1 tsp. garam masala (indian spice mix - see recipe below)
2 green cardamom seeds
1 small stick cinnamon
black pepper
6-8 cloves
¼ tsp. cumin seeds

Cilantro and lemon juice for Garnish

Fry onions in oil to light brown (If using already fried onions just heat them for 30 seconds and move to next step).
Add ginger, garlic paste, yogurt, coriander powder, chili powder, turmeric powder, tomato, and salt. Add cinnamon stick (which will need to be removed before eating).
Mix and fry briefly and then add the chicken.
Mix it and let it cook for 30-35 minutes till the chicken becomes tender and meat starts separating from bone easily. I covered the pot with a lid to allow the chicken stay moist and added one drinking glass full of water to thin out the gravy.Garnish with green chilies, green coriander (Dhaniya) leaves and garam masala, cilantro and lemon juice.
Serve with naan or basmati rice. Enjoy!

Check out Mina's channel, where she will be doing crockpot versions of Indian favorites. You can watch her video here. Also, Mina is a big fan of the Madame Chic books and is hosting a giveaway of Lessons from Madame Chic on her channel. To enter, you must be subscribed to both of our channels and leave a comment on her video telling us your favorite Indian /Pakistani recipe. Mina will announce the winner on June 1st. Thank you and best of luck for the giveaway!

News
Mr. Connoisseur and I celebrated 11 years of marriage on Monday. Thank you to all of our social media friends who wished us well!

It's our wedding anniversary today. Cheers to 11 years

Goodbye, Things | The New Japanese Minimalism

In today's video I share a book review for Fumio Sasaki's new book, Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism. This book was sent to me to review by the publisher, W.W. Norton & Company.



Fumio Sasaki is not an enlightened minimalism expert or organizing guru like Marie Kondo―he’s just a regular guy who was stressed out and constantly comparing himself to others, until one day he decided to change his life by saying goodbye to everything he didn’t absolutely need. The effects were remarkable: Sasaki gained true freedom, new focus, and a real sense of gratitude for everything around him. In Goodbye, Things Sasaki modestly shares his personal minimalist experience, offering specific tips on the minimizing process and revealing how the new minimalist movement can not only transform your space but truly enrich your life. The benefits of a minimalist life can be realized by anyone, and Sasaki’s humble vision of true happiness will open your eyes to minimalism’s potential.

This was another great book to provide inspiration for de-cluttering the home in the same vein of Marie Kondo's Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I hope you enjoy my book review in today's video!

News
Sarah Chaprobin writes about the ten-item wardrobe in her new post, 2017 Spring Capsule Wardrobe. Thank you, Sarah!

Prozakobieca shares Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic among other popular books all the way from Poland...

A post shared by ProzaKobieca (@prozakobieca) on May 9, 2017 at 6:08am PDT

Jennimullinix shares Lessons from Madame Chic on Instagram...

A post shared by J E N N I M U L L I N I X (@jennimullinix) on May 13, 2017 at 5:34pm PDT

Comment of the Week
Margery H writes:
My time saving hack has to do with housecleaning. I really hate dealing with mildew stain in the shower caulking because they do not scrub out. We live in Atlanta where there are humid, humid summers. Here is my effortless way to remove them: apply clear, gel, bleach-based toilet cleaner in the morning. Rinse out at night. The gel formula makes it stay on the stain rather than running off. The bleach clears the mildew. Do not use blue or colored cleaner, as it will stain your grout! I keep a bottle of toilet cleaner which I use just for this purpose. (It's Clorox brand.) I consider this my magnum opus of housekeeping hacks!

Hello Margery, Thank you so much for sharing your tip with us. That is a great time-saver! I will definitely give that a try.

I hope you enjoy today's video. I would love to know the status of your journey with de-cluttering and minimalism. Do you need help? Have you read Goodbye, Things? Let me know your comments below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.

See you on Thursday for a fun recipe video/ collaboration!



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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.

5 Time-Saving Hacks for Moms

In honor of Mother's Day this upcoming Sunday, I am sharing 5 time-saving mom hacks. These tips could be beneficial for any woman, not just mothers. Many of these tips revolve around getting ready and taking care of yourself. I chose these tips because, as moms, we often put ourselves last on the priority list. Soon as we know it, we've gone months without doing our hair, dressing up or even taking a moment to ourselves. If you practice taking care of yourself, it will eventually come naturally to you and it will take hardly any time at all!

This video is a collaboration with two of my favorite YouTubers: Jennifer from The Family Fudge, and Kimmy from She's in Her Apron. Check out their 5 time-saving mom hacks and tell them I say "hello!".

My 5 time-saving mom hacks are as follows:



1. Braid your hair the night before. If you like the effect of the curling iron, like I do, but have limited time in the morning (or want to lay off the heat, for the health of your hair) try braiding your hair in pigtails the night before. You can spray them with hairspray, if you like. When you wake up and take out the braids, you will have beachy waves. This texture is also great for creating updos, as your hair will have more volume.



2. Make Breakfast the Night Before. You know that I love to make breakfast the night before. I've already shared my overnight oats recipe, as well as my slow cooker apple breakfast cobbler recipe. Today, I share my favorite crock pot oatmeal. I've been making this particular recipe on a regular basis and it is so tasty. My baby especially loves this meal. Place one cup of oatmeal (steel cut, or old-fashioned) in the slow cooker. Add 4 cups of liquid (I do 2 cups of almond milk and 2 cups of water) and 5 prunes. Turn it on low for 8 hours. When you wake up, shred the prunes and serve with a drop of milk. So delicious and requires no sugar!

3. Bathe or shower only once a day. Rather than bathing morning and evening, streamline it to once a day and you will not only save time, but resources as well. In today's video I share a funny story about the time Madame Chic required me to choose my bath time in Paris. I hope you enjoy my story!



4. Don't cleanse your skin in the morning. You do not need a complicated skincare routine in the morning. The only thing I do is splash warm water on my face and apply moisturizer/ spf. Forget all of the cleansers, exfoliants and other treatments. They not only take time, but they strip your skin of its oils.



5. Clear the clutter from your wardrobe. Thousands of women can testify that the ten-item wardrobe not only saves you money, but time as well. How many hours have we wasted figuring out what to wear? Doing laundry for our endless wardrobes? Picking up after our clothes strewn all over the bedroom? The less garments you own, the less you have to deal with them.

I hope you enjoy my video today! Happy mother's day to all of you lovely, inspiring moms. Remember, when you feel discouraged with the large task ahead of you each day, remember the raising of children is the most important job in the world! You are raising the next generation. Try to enjoy this season of life and take care of yourself accordingly.

News
Organized Elegantly writes about the Madame Chic books in her post, Create a Morning Routine.

A post shared by Nicole Musser (@organizedelegantly) on May 9, 2017 at 8:08am PDT

Izumi shares her copy of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic on Instagram. Thank you, Izumi!

I just finished reading 'Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic' by Jennifer L. Scott. I've read two of her books in Japanese and could not wait for the third one to be translated. This latest book is also full of inspiration and wonderful advice that I would like to practice daily. Thank you Jennifer! #madamechic #dailyconnoisseur

A post shared by izumi (@izumizm72) on Apr 29, 2017 at 6:47pm PDT

Comment of the week


Danson for Joy, that is so true. Not babbling and making excuses sure does enhance one's air of mystery. An added benefit of saying no with poise!


Today I would love to know... what are your favorite time-saving mom hacks? Let me know in the comment section below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog! Have a wonderful mother's day and see you on Monday!


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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.

Saying No With Poise | Etiquette Chat Discussion

Do you have trouble saying no? I certainly do. Especially when I'm caught off guard. In today's video I share a story with you. What happened when I was approached by a spa salesperson while grocery shopping with my daughter? My answer at first wasn't very poised, but then I got assertive and I was in control of the conversation.

Some people call it a "high-quality no", I call it saying no with poise, but truly, saying no is an art. If you worry about people-pleasing or pepper your response with a list of excuses, you will likely end up babbling and get into a conversation you don't want to have. Learning to give a firm, but polite, no is a great skill to have.

I hope you enjoy hearing my story in today's video.

News
I hope you will join me for the Mapp & Lucia book club at the end of June!

My YouTube friend, Juli, from A Beautiful Horizon is doing a 15 day dress challenge. You can track her dresses on her Instagram page. Check out the hashtag #15DayDressChallenge

A beautiful shot of the Madame Chic comic books from Japan...

A post shared by タンミー (@tammyhiro) on May 1, 2017 at 12:27am PDT

Comment of the Week
Sherrie P writes: since I have found your channel and books,I don't feel guilty to try to dress better and treat myself with respect. I'm a plus size lady and you helped me to think I could look my best. Your 1st book really changed my life.

Dear Sherrie, Thank you so much. I loved receiving your comment and am thrilled to hear that you are treating yourself with the respect you deserve!

Today, I would love to know... do you have trouble saying no? Do you struggle with assertiveness? Do you have any funny stories you'd like to share with us regarding this subject? Any tips? Let me know in the comment section and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.

See you on Thursday!


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Facebook facebook.com/JenniferLScottAuthor

Twitter @JL_Scott

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.

Have the Books Changed Me? Bridal Party Drama? Help with Routines? Reader Q&A

Part 3 of the reader Q&As continues today with a special appearance from Mr. Connoisseur at the beginning of the video. Have the books changed me? What do my friends think of the Madame Chic books? What should you do when you are in a bridal party and everyone around you lacks poise? How can I implement routines into my home life? All of these questions are answered in today's video plus much more.

News
I hope you will join me for the Mapp & Lucia book club at the end of June!

Here is a snapshot of the two volume Lessons from Madame Chic comic books from Harper Collins Japan...

The Lessons From Madame Chic 2 volume comic books from @harpercollinsjp Illustrated by the great Junko Murata ❤️ #lessonsfrommadamechic #MADAMECHIC #jenniferlscott

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on May 2, 2017 at 10:25am PDT

Jezball Adventures shares The Madame Chic Collection...

So very excited to start reading. #jezballadventures #thedailyconnoisseur #jenniferlscott #madamechic

Book Club Announcement! Mapp & Lucia Books by E.F. Benson

I am happy to announce that we will be doing an E.F. Benson book club on The Daily Connoisseur. We will be starting with the first two books in the Mapp & Lucia series, Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp.



We will start the book club at the end of June, giving you plenty of time to read the books. They are readily available and can often be found for free on the kindle or other eReaders. You can always check your local library as well for the books. Here are some easy links to the books on Amazon:Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp paperback, On the kindle (99cents), Queen Lucia on audible , Miss Mapp on audible.

Thank you and I look forward to delving into this great series with you!

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links are affiliate.

Fake Mud Jeans | Teatime with Jennifer

In today's Teatime with Jennifer, I'm sipping sweet iced tea and discussing the Fake Mud Jeans that have gone viral this week. Now that is a sentence I never thought I'd write!

What are Fake Mud Jeans?



Made by brand PRPS, Fake Mud Jeans sell for $425 and, according to the description from Nordstrom, are heavily distressed medium-blue denim jeans in a comfortable straight-leg fit embody rugged, Americana workwear that's seen some hard-working action with a crackled, caked-on muddy coating that shows you're not afraid to get down and dirty.

These jeans are representative of many things that are wrong in society right now. They are, in a sense, the Emperor's new clothes. When I posted the Washington Post Article discussing these jeans, many Facebook followers posted their thoughts. Here were some of my favorites:




Just like we have become accustomed to ripped jeans, and sheer yoga pants, are we being conditioned to accept muddy clothes as everyday fashion? How are these jeans a commentary on our virtual reality society, where we like to appear as though we do something, without actually doing it? How far will the bounds of casual dressing go? All of these topics and more are discussed in this week's Teatime with Jennifer video.

News

The Czech translation of the Madame Chic books are in a box set, as shown here from Mlada Fronta on Instagram..

A post shared by Nakladatelství Mladá fronta (@mfknihy) on Sep 14, 2016 at 9:26am PDT

Comment of the Week
Anna W writes:
Poise in arguments in so hard, but I agree that you can improve with practice. Some people really like drama, and if you respond heatedly the situation will continue to escalate. Staying calm takes a lot of the fun out of it for them. And for those who are genuinely upset, staying calm can help them have a conversation instead of an argument. One thing I've found that helped with my kids is taking a breath and pausing to say their name before responding. This helped me not blurt out the harsher words I was thinking, and the small pause and calm response can (sometimes) help diffuse the situation.

Hi Anna, I really like your advice of saying your child's name before responding to their bad behavior. Now, I just need to work on not sounding angry while saying their name! Ha! Thank you to you and everyone for your wonderful comments on the Q&A posts.

Today, I would love to know what you think of Nordstrom's Fake Mud Jeans. What do you think these jeans say about our society right now? Please let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.

I will see you on Thursday for part 3 of reader Q&As. See you then!



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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.

Poise in Arguments? Plus Size Advice? Bra Fittings? Reader Q&A

Part two of the reader Q&A continues today as I answer your questions. Today's topics: How do I maintain poise during a disagreement, especially with a family member? Do you have to be a size 6 to look good in the ten-item wardrobe? (I think you already know the answer to that question is NO.) Where can I get a good bra fitting?

All of these topics are discussed in today's video plus much more.

News

Here is a snippet of one of the pages from the new Lessons from Madame Chic comic book from Harper Collins, Japan. So much fun!

I can't tell you how cool it is to be a character in my own comic book. Japanese readers, I hope you'll check out the two volume comic book set from @harpercollinsjp #lessonsfrommadamechic #MADAMECHIC

A post shared by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Apr 25, 2017 at 8:18am PDT

Here are some more pictures of the books from around the world. First stop, China!

A post shared by Wᴬᴺ Sᴹᴬᴸᴸ (@wansmallll) on Apr 23, 2017 at 8:13am PDT

... and the Slovak Republic

#easter morning at home with #madamechic

A post shared by Alica Sakmarová (@annotated.alice) on Apr 17, 2017 at 2:20am PDT

... and America!

I did something to my neck yesterday (#imgettingold) and literally spent the entire day in bed pretty much unable to move. My family alternated between making fun of me and taking really good care of me. I was so glad when I remembered I had checked these cute books out from the library. Adorable covers make books better. #madamechic #lessonsfrommadamechic #nowiwanttogotoparis

A post shared by PaperDoll Designs (@paperdolldesignsshop) on Apr 9, 2017 at 5:49pm PDT

Comment of the Week
Kamloops writes: I am a fan of my aprons. I love my nice outfits and for cooking or cleaning an apron is ideal. For decades I also clean my bathroom as I step out of the shower. By the time I am dressed that room is done.

Hi Kamloops, I love your tip for cleaning the bathroom as you use it. When the kids were younger (but old enough to sit up in the bath without me being right there) I would clean the bathroom while supervising them. I know many other people do this too! Thanks for your tip.


Today I would love to hear your thoughts on the subjects discussed in the video. Have you ever lost your poise during an argument? How did you learn from it? Plus size ladies, do you have any words of wisdom to share with our readers regarding dressing well? Do you have any recommendations for where to get a good bra fitting? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!



Visit my Author Website

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Twitter @JL_Scott

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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.

Cleaning in Nice Clothes? Year Round Ten Item Wardrobe? Daily Reflections? Reader Q&A

Reader Q&As are finally back! Your questions have been piling up and in the next three videos I answer them. Today, I'm answering a question about cleaning in your nice clothes. What should you do if you get really hot while cleaning the house? Also, what about people who live in a place with the same climate year-round? Should you have a year-round ten-item wardrobe instead of a seasonal one? How do I prepare my nightly and weekly reflections?

I hope you enjoy my answers in today's video. Be sure to come back and watch the next two installments as there is so much more to discuss!

News
I will be doing a book club this summer on The Daily Connoisseur! We will be reading the Mapp & Lucia books by E.F. Benson, starting with the first two books, Queen Lucia & Miss Map. I am choosing these books because they are perfect summertime reads and are so apt for The Daily Connoisseurs. Also, if you have a kindle or other eReader, these books are free! They are also available in paperback or to listen to on Audible. I have not formally announced this yet, but wanted to give you a head start in reading so you can join in on the book club.



Comment of the Week

AnnMarie writes: I've been working on a capsule wardrobe for about 4 months now, not on a regular basis. I go through my clothing when the kids are in bed and I can make stacks of clothing without them dismantling. It's a process but once you get going it's easy! When I say it's a process I mean you start weeding through your clothing and discover you don't have a personal style. To help discover my personal style I utilized Pinterest. Base on my Pinterest research I discovered my style, romantic modern chic, or something like that