September Favorites | Daily Connoisseur

Hello Daily Connoisseurs,

Apologies for the late post today. We have been traveling. We were also met with the horrible news from Las Vegas when we got off our plane. Our prayers are with the victims and their families. What a terribly sad day...

Here is my original post from today...

Today's video, which was shot in California before I left for my trip, features a few of my favorite things.

18 inch professional microfiber mop I have tried many mops over the years and this one is by far my favorite. I love its generous size. It covers a lot of floor space. I use this mop with the Black Diamond wood and laminate floor cleaner. It's a fantastic combination!


Joie fruit and vegetable wavy chopper knife This makes vegetables look very appealing... especially for kids!


Vitamix blender I received a Vitamix for my birthday present this year and, if you know my blender history, I could not be happier!


Tee shirt tunic from zulily (the brand is Cool Melon) I love this tee shirt tunic for more casual days. It's great with skinny jeans or leggings and ballet flats.


Sounds Like Reign YouTube channel. Brackin and Lindsay and their family are so much fun to watch. I love to see how other people live and, as debt-free homesteaders, the Sounds Like Reign channel shares such a refreshing perspective.


Laser Light Classics Ave Maria . I shared this in my Classical Music for Kids video. Every song on this album is gorgeous. It's an older album, but worth seeking out!


Bare Pro performance wear liquid foundation in sandstone spf 20 (click on image for link). I've been using this foundation while traveling and I am still loving it! Very natural and wears well.


bareMinerals blush in thistle (click image for link). This blush is such a good color for fall. I think it could be universally flattering.


Bath & Bodyworks Leaves candle. I just love this candle for fall. I'm looking forward to coming home and burning it before winter comes!



News
Check out my interview with Collective Hub on the ten-item wardrobe and why it is so liberating.

Take my new eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe! With over an hour of never-before-seen video instruction, notes and quizzes, you will feel prepared to create your own ten-item wardrobe. For those of you who already do the ten-item wardrobe, this course will keep you on track and provide further inspiration. The course is self-paced and includes a lively comment section with other ten-item wardrobe enthusiasts. Enjoy!




Here is a great testimonial for the eCourse on the ten-item wardrobe from Sheri S, who writes, "I totally enjoyed viewing the ecourse!! I'm planning to re-watch it today and get started working on my own closet. I appreciate you compiling these videos and the fact that you made it so affordable to us to participate!! Best wishes on your travels! God bless you all!"

Thank you, Sheri!

Comment of the Week
CH writes , "Hi Jennifer! Thank you for your posts!
I appreciate how you give us ideas and a template to follow.
You understand that everyone's style is different. I am an empty nester from the Midwest, so of course, our 10-item wardrobes will be different. People that comment negatively on your wardrobe are looking for a cookie cutter course - a one size fits all, and that is not what this is all about. I love how you teach, inform, share, and give us the inspiration to create the 10 or 15 or 20-item wardrobe that works with each of our unique situations, budgets, and seasons of life!
I wish I would have learned so much of this 30 years ago, but it is never too late to keep developing personal style!
Thank you for continuing to share and making the world a more beautiful place!"

Thank you, CH! Yes, I love to encourage women to think about their own life and tailor their wardrobe accordingly. Expecting other people to have your exact desired wardrobe is futile because we all lead such varied and different lives. Thank you for your comment!

Lena D writes, "For the people speaking about being offended about the millennial thing. I really think focusing on this one idea misses the point. Whether millennial bore more of the focus or not, is not the main point. Being easily offended is easy. Looking past something and acknowledging a truth is hard. Many people today of all ages, which Jennifer stated, have a hard time coping with adult responsibilities. That is a fact. That should be the real takeaway of the video as well as what we can do to step up."


Lena, I could not agree more! I'm glad you took away the important point from the message.

I hope you enjoy today's favorites video. Please share what you have been loving in the comment section. 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. This post contains affiliate links.

Favorites May 2017 + Reija Eden Jewelry GIVEAWAY

UPDATE: CONGRATULATIONS to Marija Charlton, who has won the Reija Eden Jewelry giveaway.

Marija, please contact me with your details and I will ensure your jewelry is sent to you. Thank you to all who have entered! And thank you to Reija Eden Jewelry for offering such a generous giveaway.



Happy Memorial Day. Today we are giving thanks to our veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We honor you and thank you!

In today's favorites video, I'm sharing some of my favorite finds for the upcoming summer season. I'm also doing my very first YouTube giveaway on my channel! I'm giving away a necklace and a bracelet from Reija Eden Jewelry. Reija Eden is a fan of both The Daily Connoisseur and the Madame Chic books, and she contacted me with the wonderful idea of doing this giveaway.

The winner of the giveaway will win:



Reija Eden Sparkly Rose Gold Raw Sapphire Necklace
The raw sapphire necklace is made with hand wire wrapped tiny raw sapphire stones and 14K rose gold filled chain. The necklace is a beautiful everyday piece and will instantly dress up any outfit. The grey, sparkly raw sapphires are combined with rose gold for a unique combination that is feminine and modern. The necklace is designed to let your inner beauty shine.



Reija Eden Amazonite Gemstone Essential Oil Beaded Bracelet

The amazonite gemstone bracelet features genuine amazonite gemstones and is designed to be used as an essential oil diffuser bracelet. The amazonite gemstones have naturally occurring variations making each bracelet unique. No two bracelets are exactly the same due to the variation in the hues of the stones. The black lava beads can be diffused with essential oils for aromatherapy on the go. I used my doTERRA frankincense oils in them. Just use a drop or two of your favorite essential oil on the bead and enjoy aromatherapy while you wear the bracelet. Amazonite gemstone and lava beads are said to have healing properties making the bracelet a great accessory to wear during times of stress and when needing calmness.


Reija Eden Jewelry was founded in 2008 in effort to provide beautifully handmade jewelry that also makes a difference while helping women look and feel more beautiful and inspired. The company is centered around kindness and compassion and being environmentally conscious. Reija Eden jewelry pieces have been featured in the Glamour magazine as well as on the TV show SIX. Reija was chosen as one of the mompreneus of Parenting OC magazine in 2016. Reija is a mother of four children who is passionate about jewelry design and helping her clients feel inspired and beautiful while making a difference through charity work. Her designs draw inspiration from her Scandinavian roots, modern architecture, runway fashion and nature. Reija is also very passionate about holistic health and recently started designing essential oil diffuser bracelets as a request of her customers. They have become an instant best seller with the amazonite gemstone bracelet being the most popular design. Reija Eden jewelry pieces are designed for today�s modern woman who is balancing the hectic everyday life while wanting to look put together and be ready to take on the challenges.

You can find Reija Eden jewelry on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

This giveaway is open worldwide. To enter the giveaway you must:

1. Be subscribed to my YouTube channel. To subscribe, simply click the red "subscribe" button. If you'd like to receive notifications by email when a new video goes up, click the "bell" and follow the prompts. I often post my YouTube videos a few hours before the blog goes up.

2. You must leave a comment on the YouTube video sharing your top three "favorites" right now.

The winner will be chosen by a number generator and announced via video two weeks from now.

And now on to the Favorites:




Teavana Passion Tango Iced Tea This was the drink I had in the hospital after giving birth to our son and I've really loved it ever since. It's a really refreshing, non-caffeinated iced tea that tastes great without sugar.



HSI Argan Oil Thermal Heat Protectant Spray I've been looking for a heat protectant for some time now and I really like this one.



Amope Foot File I do my own pedicures, and this foot file really helps to remove the dead skin from your heels. I use it on dry skin and then lather with cream.



Carrot Top Paper Shop Jane Austen Mug I adore Jenny Williams and her etsy shop. Her new Jane Austen mug is so darling and would make a fantastic gift for any Jane Austen fan!



The Adventures of The Wilderness Family Trilogy It's hard to find wholesome family movies that aren't crude and dumbed-down. This trilogy from the 1970s is truly good old-fashioned fun!

News
Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic has now been released in Japan, along with the paperback edition of Lessons from Madame Chic. Thank you to the Japanese readers for your incredible support of my books! The cover is by Annika Wester, Translated by Akiko Kansaki and published by Daiwa Shobo.


Comment of the Week
Regarding The History of Makeup post, Julia G writes: Thank you for reviewing this book! To the best of my knowledge as a former history teacher, the fixation of women aspiring to have fair skin was based on economics. Namely, if you were fair skinned, it meant you spent your time indoors and did not work outdoors where your skin would get tan from the sun. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I started using Jergen's Natural Glow because I am so pasty living in Alaska. It makes me look healthier, I think. The grass is always greener, right? ;-).

Hi Julia, I enjoyed reading your perspective as a former history teacher. I always find the trends in beauty over long periods of time to be very fascinating!

I hope you enjoyed my favorites today and that you will enter my giveaway for the jewelry. The giveaway is open worldwide so all can enter! See you over on the YouTube channel.

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

October Favorites

In this October edition of Daily Connoisseur favorites, I share what I'm watching, what I'm reading, a favorite moisturizer and makeup item. I also give you an update on postnatal hair loss.

I hope you can join me for this fun, chatty favorites video.

Mentioned in the video:



Becca Ombre Rouge palette You saw an in-depth review of this in last week's video, but it resurfaces again here as one of my favorites. I'm having a lot of fun playing with these natural shades, perfect for le no makeup look.



Origins GinZing moisturizer I have been using this moisturizer for over two months, and I love its light, refreshing quality. Its secret ingredient is coffee! Origins boasts that it boosts tired skin (which I definitely need right now!). My favorite thing about this moisturizer is its delightful citrus scent.



Nashville Flipped is a home and garden show that follows house flipper, Troy Dean Shafer, as he restores historic homes. I love his lead designer, Julie Couch's, design aesthetic. You can gain so much interior design inspiration this program. Such a fun show!



The Light Between Oceans
I know I might be the last here to read this book, as it is an international bestseller, but I must mention it here because it is such a well-written page turner. Ever since I finished Amy Snow , I've been having a hard time finding another book to read. The Light Between Oceans has drawn me in. Here is the description from Amazon:

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day�s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby�s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a �gift from God,� and against Tom�s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.



Contigo Purity Petal Water Bottle Available at Target, this beautiful glass water bottle is perfect to keep in the car or take on the go. I love that it has no plastic parts and it's beautiful to look at! This would make a great gift too. For more on Contigo, visit gocontigo.com

News


The Madame Chic Collection box set is now available! This set is so beautifully packaged, it makes a perfect gift. Just in time for the holidays!

Cedar and Bloom shares her cold weather ten-item wardrobe in her recent blogpost.

Letter of the Week
Dear Jennifer,
I have really enjoyed your books and videos. Your advice and call for a return to deportment are quite timely in this day and age. I live in Seattle which is a very casual area, to excess even.
One day when heading in to work, a woman rushed past me with her purse, jacket, flip flops, and ScubyDo pajamas. No, these were not scrubs. I work in the medical field and some staff wear theme scrubs for the patients.
That was the moment for me when I knew it was time to go counter culture and ensure that I dressed decently daily.
The idea that looking presentable and behaving politely as counter culture is also rather shocking. The question of how in just one generation did we go from an aspiration to be our personal best to being our personal worst is really interesting.
I am happy to say my employer has instituted a dress code. I love our dress code because it is very helpful in guiding my wardrobe purchases. Getting dressed for work also helps me transition mentally from home to work, and this hidden benefit may be one of the reasons our grandparents generation was so successful; the effort of getting dressed daily set the tone for their entire day and reinforced the work ethic.
Best of luck to you and thank you again for sharing your experience and skills with society.
Sigrid

Dear Sigrid, I loved receiving your letter. It's funny that the casual nature of your city has made you dress in the opposite direction. Counter culture, indeed!




This week, I would love to know... what are your favorites? What are you reading and watching? What products are you loving right now? Let us know in the comment section below, and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week.

Lastly, thank you to all of you for your wonderful support regarding the release of The Madame Chic Collection.

See you on next week for a fun mini-series on French Weight Loss Secrets!





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FTC: This is not a sponsored post. Opinions are always my own. The Contigo water bottle was sent to me to review. This post may contain affiliate links.

Baby Story + Summer Favorites

I hope you are having a lovely and relaxing summer. This past week we have seen scorching heat, not only in California, but what seems like all across America. There are terrible brush fires near Los Angeles and we are seeing the effect with darkened skies and ash all over our streets. I hope that everyone affected by the fires in California are safe and able to return to their homes soon.

Last week I celebrated my birthday. It was a quiet, happy celebration with my family. My husband, the children and I dined at one of my favorite French bistros in Culver City, Meet in Paris. I just love it there!

It's my birthday today and this little man has been the best gift ever. ??

A photo posted by Jennifer L. Scott (@dailyconnoisseur) on Jul 18, 2016 at 9:44am PDT

I will be taking a few weeks off from the blog, but before I do, in today's video I share the birth story of our son as well as some summer favorites.

If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my YouTube channel (and don't forget to subscribe) at www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

All of the favorites mentioned this summer fall into the entertainment category. Because I am nursing my baby, I have a lot of downtime and am able to read more, as well as catch up on some shows and YouTube channels that I love. Here are the favorites mentioned in this week's video:

Book:



Amy Snow: A Novel
I did a giveaway for this book in June and, after reading it, am back to tell you how much I loved it! It was a page turner that I did not want to end. I highly recommend it.

TV Shows:



Hart to Hart on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries has given me such pleasure. It is a TV show from the early 80s starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers. I love it, of course, for the mystery, but also for the nostalgia of how people used to dress well on a daily basis. A very high-class show, indeed!



Bringing Up Bates on UP TV. I have fallen in love with the Bates family, a large family living in Tennessee. A while back I read an online review from a reviewer who said she didn't want to like the show, but ended up loving it. It is a heartwarming show that is family-friendly.

Film:



Love & Friendship, directed by Whit Stillman, is an adaptation of Jane Austen's novella, Lady Susan. This movie is sharp, funny and a feast for the eyes. I loved it.

YouTube channels
I adore She's in Her Apron because Kimmy is funny, down-to-earth and endearing. Plus she is a great motivator for housework.

Kathryn Morgan is a former dancer for New York City Ballet and both of her YouTube channels are so fun to watch. If you want to see an elegant, poised and classy YouTuber, you must check out her channel.

If you watch either of these channels, please tell Kimmy and Kathryn that I said, "hello!"

News

I am featured on BBC in an article called, Meet the People with Almost Nothing in Their Closets.

Lessons from Madame Chic is featured on Glommable's article on Books for Unabashed Francophiles.

My TEDx talk on the Ten-Item Wardrobe has been featured in Apartment Therapy's article, Flirting with Minimalism or Downsizing.

Comment of the Week
There were many great comments on my recent Comparing Yourself To Other Women? Q&A. Here are two highlights...

The Wool Fairy writes:
Whenever I find myself feeling a bit down on myself compared to others I repeat this quote by Theodore Roosevelt, "Comparison is the thief of joy." It snaps me out of the funk quite quickly! It's a good one to keep top of mind. Thanks for another great video Jennifer!

Thank you, Wool Fairy. That is a great quote to remember.

Emma Knight Peel writes:
Comparison is the death of joy. I recently saw a quote that said, "Admire another's beauty without questioning your own." I love that! In the past, I've admired the beauty of other women and immediately tried to make myself look more like them. Now, I know what enhances my own beauty and what doesn't work, and I can admire someone else's qualities without trying to adopt them.

Hi Emma, I love the emphasis on admiration, rather than comparison. Thank you for sharing!

I would love to know what your summer favorites are. What are you reading and watching or loving this summer? Let us know in the comment section below.

I will be taking a few weeks off of the blog, as I do every summer. I will see you back, refreshed and renewed in August. See you soon!


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