Jennifer L. Scott's Blog, page 69
March 13, 2017
Preparing My Ten-Item Wardrobe | Spring Summer 2017
It is that time of year again! Time to pull out your clothes for the upcoming season and begin to compile your ten-item wardrobe. In today's video I show you the detailed process of how I prepare for the upcoming spring/summer season. I'm taking all of my clothes out, trying them on and making decisions. I also discover what I need to add to my shopping list.
I hope watching my process is helpful for you and gives you ideas on how to make the ten-item wardrobe workable in your every day life.
For your reference, here is the Ten-item Wardrobe Spring/Summer 2015 where you will see most of these clothes, as well as the post on the Tailored Boden Dress Before & After.
News
So many of you have shared beautiful pictures of the Madame Chic books online, I would like to regularly start featuring your Instagram pictures in the news item of this blog! Simply use the hashtags #MADAMECHIC , #jenniferlscott or #dailyconnoisseur so I can find your photo. I can't get to all of them, but I will do my best!
Discreetly London shares a beautiful picture of Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic on Instagram.
A post shared by @discreetly_london on Mar 8, 2017 at 4:18am PST
Skycarves shares a beautiful photo of the Russian At Home with Madame Chic
A post shared by Biryukova Anna (@skycarves) on Feb 23, 2017 at 12:20am PST
Also, The Perfectly Imperfect Club draws inspiration from Lessons from Madame Chic when building her own capsule wardrobe.
Comment of the Week
I've only just found you, Jennifer, and I'm so thrilled. This video was so honest and beautiful because really, shouldn't we all be "spent flowers" at the end of the day? I loved your focus on the baby spit on your shoulder and remember that from years past. I'm now 55 and my children are all grown and I am still working at doing better at my wardrobe and appearance on a day-to-day basis. I live on a ranch and I help outdoors with the cattle and sheep and so my wardrobe is not always very feminine. Still, there are work at the barn days and work at home days so I could do better. Thank you for the inspiration. I'm sharing your blog and videos with my daughter and daughters-in-law.
~Jody
Hi Jody, welcome to the blog! I loved your "spent flowers" comment. That makes it sound so beautiful. As I'm writing this, it is Sunday evening and I feel like a very spent flower, indeed. Your life on the ranch sounds beautiful and wonderful and messy all at the same time. Fabulous!
See you all on Thursday for an episode of Teatime with Jennifer, discussing a very funny viral video.
In the meantime, I would love to hear your thoughts on this week's post. Was it helpful for me to show my process to you? Are you gathering your ten-item wardrobe together? Where are you in the process? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
March 9, 2017
What I Look Like at the End of the Day | Ten-Item Wardrobe | Jennifer L. Scott
The other night, I looked in the mirror and thought, "I should share this with my readers." Not because I looked great, but because my clothes were stained, my hair was messy and I looked tired. That's actually what I look like at the end of nearly every day. What would be the point of sharing that with you? To share that even though I know I am going to get messy, it doesn't deter me from dressing nicely and aiming high.
The look presentable always philosophy does not mean to look perfect always. It means to do the best you can with what you have. If you are cooking, cleaning, raising children and working all day, chances are you will show it at the end of the day! You will wear every moment of the day on your appearance. But in today's video I hope to inspire you to start out ahead of the curve by wearing your best. Don't save it for a future date.
For those of you who have been asking about the ten-item wardrobe videos, be sure to stop by the blog on Monday. I will be prepping my spring/ summer ten-item wardrobe!
News
Glee from Living Gleefully shares my homemade lavender vinegar solution in her blogpost called, Living Gleefully.
Comment of the Week
Sherry writes: My Cocker Spaniel, Buddy, is attracted to your voice. Whenever I sit down to watch your videos, he jumps on my lap, faces the computer screen and watches, spellbound. I thought you might like to know you have a canine fan!
Hi Sherry, your comment made my day! Please give my biggest canine fan, Buddy, a big hug from me :)
Today, I would like to know... what do you look like at the end of the day? Knowing you are going to get messy, do you dress well anyway? Does your ten-item wardrobe help you to look presentable always? Let me know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.
See you all on Monday for the first ten-item wardrobe video of the season!
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
March 6, 2017
Benecos Natural Cruetly-free Makeup REVIEW
I've heard your requests for reviews of natural makeup, and today I have an exciting review for you from Benecos . Benecos is currently one of the number one makeup lines in Germany. This pure plant and mineral-based brand has won awards from OekoTest, Natural Solutions Beauty with a Conscience, and Yoga Journal, and more.
Benecos is gluten-free and cruelty-free. It has no parabens, PEG, silicones, petro-chemicals, synthetic preservatives, dyes or fragrances.
The Creamy Matte foundation (I wear the shade Honey) ensures a smooth, even complexion and provides medium coverage with a matte finish. This foundation is also vegan.
Natural Shimmery Eyeshadow in "So What?" is a champagne shimmer eyeshadow that is delightfully neutral. Organic macadamia nut oil and organic castor oil help to create a soft velvety texture. The beautiful pigments are created naturally from pure minerals.
Natural lipstick in "Watermelon" is a beautiful fuchsia shade. Organic castor seed and organic avocado oil provide deep moisture while organic babassu oil helps to protect the skin. Vitamin C and E provide gentle antioxidant protection.
FORMULATED WITHOUT: METHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, DIMETHICONE, POLYMERS, BHT, FORMALDEHYDE, SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE, SYNTHETIC COLORS, MINERAL OIL, PETROLATUM, TRIETHANOLAMINE, MERCURY, CADMIUM, AND OTHER HEAVY METALS.
You can find the full range of Benecos at www.truenatural.com True Natural is a wonderful resource for natural beauty products!
Other makeup I used in this video: Benefit Fake up under eye concealer, Shiseido translucent pressed powder, CHANEL kohl eyeliner in ambre, YSL mascara in burgundy.
Please check out my video this week to see the makeup applied. They are very beautiful shades! Thank you to Benecos for sending me these products to review.
News
There are 2 giveaways going on right now for The Madame Chic Collection:
I was interviewed by Alexandra from The Graceful Life podcast. Alexandra is so lovely and we had a very fun conversation! To listen to the interview, be sure to visit her post, 4 Ways To Be More Chic . Alexandra is also giving away THE MADAME CHIC COLLECTION to one of her listeners! Be sure to stop by, listen to our interview, and enter the giveaway.
There is also another giveaway going on from Lauren @an_organized_life . She is also giving away a complete set of the MADAME CHIC COLLECTION. Check her out on Instagram to enter her giveaway. Thank you, Lauren!
A post shared by Lauren (@an_organized_life) on Mar 3, 2017 at 8:17pm PST
Nancy from Organized Luxury writes about the ten-item wardrobe in her post, I Have Nothing To Wear. Thank you, Nancy!
If you are a blogger and you ever write about The Daily Connoisseur, or Madame Chic books, please let me know and I will feature your article on my blog.
Comments of the Week
Last week's Teatime with Jennifer on the Oscars was a very popular post! People from all over the world weighed in. Thank you to everyone for doing so respectfully, even through differing opinions!
Dina writes: I left a comment on your YouTube channel about the Oscars and politics and thinking more about it, I wanted to add that it's not the politics I want to avoid. I don't mind discussing deficient spending or pipelines or even immigration. It just seems people can no longer have reasonable, respectful discussions about issues anymore. Politics today is about name-calling, bullying, humiliating, ridiculing and mocking. This tearing other people down over their political opinions has become a form of entertainment for some. I'm really quite tired of such mean-spirited behavior, even by people dressed impeccably, and I want no part of it.
Hi Dina, I think you are correct that the tone has become mean-spirited from both sides. I wish topics could be discussed civilly, without resorting to attacks. Thankfully, the readers of The Daily Connoisseur are able to find that civility in the comment section on this blog. I think the beginning of Patricia's comment really emphasizes that. Here is an excerpt from her comment:
Patricia writes: Jennifer, "The Daily Connoisseur," is by far my favorite blog. I have always looked forward to it on Mondays. I didn't think it could get any better, but viewing "Tea Time with Jennifer," has added even more to my experience of feeling encouraged that there is still a community, through your blog, which embraces basic civility to all...especially working against and rising above the devaluation of ourselves, our children, family and friends to the "lowest common denominator."
Rising above and beyond that means a commitment of "involvement" of ourselves "in our ourselves" (and I'm not referring to narcissism), just to elevate ourselves by our choices and behavior so that we not only elevate ourselves, but our children, and those others within our small sphere of influence...perhaps our spouse, family members, friends, neighbors, and even our community in some meaningful way.
Hi Patricia, Thank you for your comment. It is not easy to share our opinions sometimes, especially if they are unpopular. I do appreciate the poise and class with which our readers express themselves. We are so lucky to have each other!
Thank you to everyone for watching today's video. If there is any beauty review you'd like to see on The Daily Connoisseur, please let me know and I will do my best to honor your request.
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FTC: Benecos sent me these products to review. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
March 2, 2017
Teatime with Jennifer | Oscars 2017
Welcome to another episode of Teatime with Jennifer! Today we are discussing the Academy Awards, which aired this past Sunday. What a show it was! There is so much to discuss.
In today's video I share my best dressed, what we can learn from the "tour bus" segment, thoughts on the political nature of the show and even conspiracies about that best picture flub! I hope you'll make yourself a cup of tea and join me for this special episode of teatime.
You get to hear many of my opinions, but truly I love to hear from you. What do you think about all of this? Did you watch the Oscars? If not, why not? Who did you think was best dressed? Do you like or dislike the political commentary? Please let me know what you think, and your comment could be featured as comment of the week on the blog.
News
A post shared by French Sole (@frenchsole) on Mar 2, 2017 at 4:10am PST
It's world book day! Thank you to French Sole for sharing the Madame Chic books on Instagram. Follow French Sole on Instagram @frenchsole.
Comment of the Week
Margery, thank you so much for this recipe. I will have to try this on my stainless steel!
I hope you enjoyed today's teatime episode. I'll see you on Monday for a highly requested natural makeup review. Until then...
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
February 27, 2017
Homemade Lavender Vinegar Multipurpose Cleaner
Today I'm making the homemade lavender vinegar multipurpose cleaner I write about in At Home with Madame Chic . This has been a highly requested post, and I'm happy to share it with you in today's video!
In this video, I use the glass spray bottle and Majestic Pure Lavender Essential Oil, both of which can be found on Amazon. You could also find very affordable plastic spray bottles at many dollar stores.
If you've never cleaned with vinegar before, it might take a while to get used to the scent. The lavender oil cuts through the pungent vinegar. I actually love the way this smells. To me, it's the scent of "clean". Lavender also has many disinfecting properties, and has long been used as an element in household cleaners.
I hope you enjoy my video today. Please let me know if you make your own cleaning solutions at home. What are your favorites?
News
A French Collection shares Lessons from Madame Chic as one of their favorite books.
Comment of the Week
Hi Lara, so many people compare their lives to what they see from others on Facebook. This is such an unfair comparison. I generally find that people only post the positive aspects of their lives and rarely share the darker times. It is the same as comparing yourself to what you see in a fictional show on television. My advice to your friend would be to focus on the blessings in her own life and not compare herself to others. Maybe a hiatus from Facebook is also in order!
Thank you for joining me today. I will see you on Thursday for an episode of Teatime with Jennifer, where we discuss the Oscars! Until then ...
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
February 23, 2017
Coconut Lime Chicken with Chiles Recipe
Today I'm sharing one of my favorite quick and easy curries, Coconut Lime Chicken with Chiles. This recipe has been adapted from Robyn Miller's Quick Fix Meals, a wonderful cookbook.
This recipe serves four, and can easily be doubled.
I hope you enjoy today's video!
News
Your Sunny Funny Face shares her capsule wardrobe, inspired by the ten-item wardrobe and Lessons from Madame Chic.
Comment of the Week
Jennifer,
I've been reading your books and blog for a few years now, and it's your authenticity that inspired me to adopt a 10-item Wardrobe, put down my phone at lunch, and cultivate poise even when you fear standing out. I really appreciate your honesty with this video, and the others.
Whether or not you have a chance to click over to my blog, I just wanted to let you know that you've inspired me to write about my process and experience with the capsule wardrobe, and share the concept of a "less is more" lifestyle with my friends in college. It is easy for us, college students, to become consumed by the idea of having more. After all, our school attendance is often driven by a desire to have a well-paying job in the future so we can afford all that we want. I have no idea if it will shift the culture of my school, but I have observed how you shift the culture among women--mothers, businesswomen, writers, bloggers--and hope that perhaps I can pass on that same impact to at least one person at my school.
All the best,
Mary Grace
Thank you, Mary Grace, for letting me know about your blog chronicling the capsule wardrobe! I have shared it in my news item above. I hope you have fun compiling your capsule wardrobe!
Many people have asked if I will be having spring ten-item wardrobe videos coming up and the answer is yes! I have recently shot videos on the subject and you will see them in March.
Have a wonderful weekend and I will see you on Monday.
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
February 20, 2017
A Trip to the Hair Salon
Come along with me today as I get my (long overdue) haircut. You get to meet my wonderful stylist, Adriana of Adrimar Salon in West Los Angeles, hear my hair loss updates, and much more in today's vlog.
When discussing my postnatal hair loss with Adriana, she showed me these Bosley Hair Thickening Fibers, which conceal the sparse areas in your hair. This was a really helpful trick!
Be sure to watch today's video to see the full vlog. I hope you enjoy coming along with me for a day in the life. Thankfully, by now, my baby is much, much better. He was suffering from an ear infection when I shot this video.
News
Sweet and Simple Home shares her favorite YouTube channels and The Daily Connoisseur is on her list!
Beyond Words writes about her capsule wardrobe process and mentioned Madame Chic and the ten-item wardrobe.
Comment of the Week
Lindsay writes:
I religiously follow your blog, and eagerly watch your weekly posts! I'm a bit behind this week, I've trained myself not to "sneak" and watch your weekly blog. I have learned to slow down, grab a drink of choice, sit at our (clean) kitchen table, and press play. It seems silly, but three+ years ago I would NOT have done that. I would have rushed through, multi-tasking, and somewhat paying attention to your video. I was behind doing a few "me" things this week, but I told myself that it's okay to wait to the perfect moment to watch. Thank you for aiding me in being a housekeeper, parent (leading by example by a tidy home/routines), and being able to think smarter and not harder when it comes to daily things like wardrobe and preparing meals.
Lindsay, thank you for your comment. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It's true, when you do things mindfully, the experience is much more satisfying. I'm so happy that my blog is a source of joy for you!
Thank you to everyone who shared their enjoyment of my Apple Breakfast Cobbler recipe. See you on Thursday for another recipe video!
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
February 16, 2017
Slow Cooker Apple Breakfast Cobbler
Today I'm showing you a slow cooker apple breakfast cobbler that you can assemble the night before.
Feel free to make substitutions. Instead of butter, you can use coconut oil. You can use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. Or you can omit the sugar entirely. This recipe is very customizable. My kids love this breakfast and when we serve it with a dollop of vanilla yogurt, it tastes like a decadent dessert!
Be sure to watch my video today to see how to make this easy breakfast.
Comment of the Week
April, thank you so much for your kind note. I hope you enjoy the other two Madame Chic books!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. I'll see you on Monday!
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
February 13, 2017
L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Drugstore Makeup Review
This year, as promised, I am bringing you reviews of affordable, high-quality, drugstore makeup. High quality is not always synonymous with a large price tag! On Facebook, I asked many of you for your favorite drugstore recommendations. Some of you recommended L'Oreal True Match Lumi as a dupe (comparable, affordable replacement) for Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation. You know I love my Luminous Silk, so I was intrigued! How does this drugstore foundation compare?
I let you know in today's comprehensive review. I initially purchased the foundation back in December, used it for over a month, and came back to let you know my findings.
The bottom line: it's a great foundation. With one swipe of the pad, you get very light coverage. Or you can build it with two or three swipes for more coverage. The biggest advantage of this foundation is the price. It is typically sold for around $17, but if you use a coupon (like I did at CVS) you can get it for a significantly reduced rate. You can also find it on Amazon for around $12.
The blush I'm wearing in the second half of the video is L'Oreal True Match super-blendable blush in subtle sable.
To see all of the shades for Lumi Cushion, visit the L'Oreal website here.
You can watch my video this week to see the whole review. I hope you find it helpful!
News
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic is going into its 4th printing with Simon & Schuster. Thank you, readers!
Comment of the Week
This comment comes from a review of Lessons from Madame Chic on Amazon.
Lynda M writes:
Oh I loved this book, but how to put it into practice? I am an English lady, living in the USA and married to a lovely, wonderful man who comes from a Minnesota Rural Farm background...there are cultural differences aplenty, as you can imagine...especially at the dinner time, where the 'plonking down' of a gallon plastic milk jug directly onto the dining table is an unfortunate regular occurrence (not to mention the roll of paper towels to be used as napkins, and the use of a tablespoon to eat most types of food) lol! Being of English origin, I have cupboards full of fine bone china, delicately embroidered linens, Crystal glasses, delicate tea cups...all of which languish unused. Ah well, I can read this book and dream of more gracious times...maybe sneak some of that gallon of milk into a crystal decanter?
On a more serious note, I realised that my own manners had deteriorated somewhat over the past 10 years or so...I was a nurse in a busy city hospital working night shifts for several years, and 'lunch' (when it existed) was eaten in 10 minutes on the run and consisted of microwave meals or hospital burgers...and my language and general manners were starting to mimic that of my patients (mostly detoxing alcoholics and drug abusers, sadly). Now that I have retired, I can work on bringing back some graciousness into my life and this book has reminded me of many things that I had let go. Time to get back to being the English Lady that I was born to be...maybe some of it will eventually rub off. Of course, not all the suggestions are practical for day to day life...I love to curl up on the sofa and relax, and cooking a three or four course meal every evening would tax both my finances and my sanity, but it's a fun read and nice to dream about.
Lynda, thank you for such a fantastic and interesting review of my book. Your image of the milk in the crystal decanter made me smile. I am so grateful to everyone who has reviewed my books online. Thank you!
This week I would love to know... have you tried True Match Lumi Cushion? Do you have any drugstore makeup favorites to share with us?
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
February 9, 2017
Making Fried Rice (On One of Those Days!) | Jennifer L. Scott
Today's video was shot on "one of those days". We were all tired. The house was a mess and kids were being challenging. But even on days like this dinner needs to be made! Today I share my sriracha fried rice recipe. It's a quick meal that I make whenever we have leftover rice.
Many times, if I'm making rice, I'll make more than I need and use the rest the next day to make this recipe. I use mixed frozen vegetables because I always have them on hand, but you can use whatever vegetables you like. Omit the sriracha sauce if your children don't want their rice to be spicy.
The rice cooker we use is the Cuisinart 4 cup rice cooker. I received this as a wedding gift ten years ago and it's still going strong! I love our rice cooker. I almost love it as much as my slow cooker :)
Letter of the week
Dear Jennifer,
The time has come to send you a note of thanks!
Since discovering your website about 2 years ago, listening to your videos and reading your first book has had a profound impact on me and the way we run our home.
I was mulling over in my mind today about how glad I am for your perspective on life, so I wanted to let you know, and to thank you for the work that you do and the effort you take, and for sharing part of your life with us all.
Sending you an e-hug from Australia!
With love and thanks,
Esther
P.S. I am very keen to read your second and third books also, but they aren't available yet as e-books. Are there plans for them to be released online in the future?
Thank you so much for writing to me, Esther, and for your kind words of encouragement! Unfortunately, the second and third Madame Chic books are not available in Australia (Harper Collins AU did not pick them up after my editor over there left). Many readers order them from Amazon US and read the hard copy. Best wishes to you!
I hope you enjoy today's video! Do you make fried rice at your house? How do you make it? Have you had "one of those days" recently? Share with me and your comment could be featured as comment of the week on the blog.
See you on Monday!
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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links may be affiliate.
