Thank you so much to everyone for your well-wishes about the baby. We had our baby last week and we have had such a wonderful weekend. I have a few blogs and videos that I pre-recorded from before the birth, including today's video, that I will publish this week. After that, I will go on a brief maternity leave from the blog. When I return, I will definitely share a video about our birth story. Thank you, again, for your wonderful wishes on social media after we announced the birth of our baby boy.
In today's video, I'm doing an unboxing of Londontown's fall/ winter collection for 2018/ 2019. This is a gorgeous collection with unique colors. I've been wearing them for the past few weeks and many of you have asked about my nail colors so here they are. Londontown love The Daily Connoisseur readers and are generously offering 25% off your order when you use the code JenniferS.
I love Londontown's nail polishes because they have Florium Complex enriching botanicals infused into their beautiful colors, which are also 9-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.
What does 9-free mean? It means that the polishes are free of 9 potentially harmful chemicals: formaldehyde, camphor, toluene, DBP (dibutyl pthalate and phthalates), formaldehyde resin, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, parabens, and lead.
They have a new brush in their latest collection, which makes application even easier. I can honestly say that my nail polish lasts 7 to 10 days without a chip. They are high-quality colors.
Kissed by Rose Gold is a gorgeous metallic rose gold color. It's beautiful...
Jane Austen is a light pink toned lavender crème fit for a heroine. This was the color I was wearing when I delivered our baby. It's so pretty!
Vendetta is a deep scarlet red hinted with a slight blue undertone.
I would love to know what your favorite color is from Londontown's fall/ winter collection.
I hope you enjoyed today's video. Thank you to Londontown for your generous discount code for the readers of The Daily Connoisseur.
I'll see you on Thursday for a What's In My Hospital Bag? video. Thankfully, I packed my hospital bag early because I sure did need it! :) See you then.
By request, I'm sharing what's in my hospital bag in today's video.
I shot this video over Labor Day weekend before I delivered the baby. Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I gave birth three weeks early to our sweet baby boy! I sure am glad I had my hospital bag packed and ready :)
This is my fourth labor and delivery and I have found that you really do not need to bring much to the hospital. A special outfit for the baby, plus a few comfortable onesies (some prefer to bring a tee shirt for the baby, instead of a onesie, to not irritate the umbilical chord/ belly button), socks, pants, and a hat are nice to have. I also bring swaddling cloths as well. You can also bring newborn diapers, although they have always provided them for us in the hospital.
As for mama, I like to bring reading materials, presentable pajamas, and two outfits to wear. Additionally I pack minimal toiletries, socks, undergarments (nursing bra and suitable underwear), and a small bag of makeup. Although, I always add a bit of eccentricity to things, so I'm also bringing an Amish cookbook and a shirt for my husband, who doesn't like to pack bags. :)
For your reference, I am listing and linking (where I can) everything that I am bringing below. I would love to know, if you had hospital births, what you found helpful to bring in your hospital bag. Please let us know in the comment section so other future mothers can benefit from your advice.
(Please note: I wrote this post before delivering the baby, which explains the tenses used :) )
Kindle I have always had a lot of downtime during my hospital stays so I like to come equipped with lots of reading material, which is conveniently stored on my kindle.
Aden + Anais swaddle cloths I have a lot of these and I find them to be essential. The ones I show in the video are years old and I can't find the exact pattern, but I have linked the newest ones they have.
Hello Miz nursing top was purchased from zulily and fold-over black knit skirt This combination is comfortable, nursing-friendly and presentable.
nursing nightgown 2-pack with built-in bras These nightgowns are fantastic for their built-in nursing bra. I will cover them with the dressing gown (listed below) or oversized sweater robe. *Update* these were fantastic in the hospital. I only stayed one night, so I wore the black one. It was perfect for what I needed.
nursing coverup with wire I've had this nursing coverup since my first child was born and find it necessary for when visitors are around while nursing. They no longer make the exact pattern I have, but I have linked the most similar one.
Pellu skincare I love this natural skincare line. I have reviewed it in the past (it used to be called Nudu, they changed their name to Pellu). I plan to bring the cream cleanser and day moisturizer.
Bend Soap coconut goat milk lotion (if you order from them, enter code DC10 at checkout for 10% off). I suffer from dry skin and I love this goat milk lotion and recently reviewed it. The coconut scent is so nice. *Please note: I also packed a travel size goat milk soap from Bend. I forgot to pack it before shooting this video. Bringing soap is essential. The hospital soap is very lacking.
bare Minerals Gen Nude eyeshadow primer in low key and basic These primer/ eyeshadows are easy to apply without a brush too. This helps with my minimal packing goal.
**Update** I didn't wear much makeup in the hospital this time, just concealer and lip balm, but in past hospital trips I did apply makeup. I attribute that to the condition of my skin. I barely had any melasma this time around so I didn't feel the need to cover it up. For all my past pregnancies, my melasma had been very heavy.
Lansinoh nursing pads (a must!) These nursing pads are an absolute must. I find I use them everyday for at least the first four months after postpartum, to prevent leaks. You might not need these in the hospital as it takes a few days for your milk supply to come in. But it's better to be prepared by bringing a few and having them ready at home.
honey belle lip balm When I forget to pack lip balm, I am miserable as my lips can get really dry. This Eucalyptus lip balm is so nice and natural.
I'm also bringing baby clothes, one outfit for returning home from the hospital, and two onesies with two footed pants. For more on the baby and delivery, stay tuned for my delivery story, which I will do in a future post.
On my nails: Londontown Jane Austen. This color has bumped Essie Mademoiselle aside. I absolutely love this opaque neutral. Londontown always give my readers a discount. Use code JenniferS for 25% off your order.
I hope you enjoy today's video. Plus, Mr. Connoisseur's appearance. :)
News I'll be going on maternity leave soon. If you will miss the blog, consider taking one of my eCourses, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe and Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living. Packed with hours of video instruction, accompanying text, quizzes, and a lively comment section, you have a wonderful community of support with other fellow connoisseurs.
Comment of the Week On my author guestbook, Maggie T. writes, "Dear Jennifer, I am writing you to tell you that you are truly a light to the world, and especially to me! I love listening to you speak, and also I greatly enjoy watching your videos. Thanks to you, I have greatly condensed my wardrobe, and even though I have always strived to dress up, you have given me even more reason to continue in doing so! I have read all three of your “Madame Chic” books, and I am always going back to them for continual enjoyment! I have purchased your “10 Item Wardrobe” course, and that, as well, gives me so much to think about and also to take action even more! Thank you again for just being you."
Maggie, thank you so much for writing on my guestbook and for leaving such an encouraging comment. I sometimes focus on the negative comments I receive too much, so I really do appreciate your kind words. Thank you! Come back and let us know how you enjoyed the eCourse!
I would love to know your tips on preparing for birth and packing a hospital bag. Please let us know in the comment section below and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.
In today's final video before going on maternity leave, I share a brief update for skin, diet, and how I was doing at the end of the pregnancy.
This video was shot three days before I gave birth. Those of you who follow me on Instagram know that I delivered last week, a healthy baby boy! We are so thrilled with our little man.
I plan to take a few weeks off from the blog and channel to spend more time with my family. When I return, I look forward to sharing the birth story with you, as well as kicking off a new fall season on The Daily Connoisseur.
They are packed with hours of video instruction, notes, and quizzes, plus a lively comment section with other fellow daily connoisseurs. There is a wonderful community over there. I also try to actively engage with every student who leaves questions and comments.
Here are some testimonials on the eCourses:
This course was amazing! I am debt-free, but you have inspired me to save more, love my home life, be happy with what I already have, etc. Thank you, Jennifer! Everything you produce is of such a high quality and truly gives so much value to your audience. I am looking forward to your next course! -Nora
I so appreciate you and the financial e-course! I loved the encouragement and can do attitude!! I encourage everyone to take it, the quizzes at the end of each lecture were fun and helpful!!! - Laura
I'm a long time subscriber and just want to say how much I enjoyed this course! I really like the direction your channel is going in while maintaining your chic sensibility. Thank you for all the great work you do. -DeAnna
I have enjoyed the course and your blog. It has helped me tremendously as I down size my wardrobe and home. Thank you! - Mary Ann
Jennifer, thank you so much for your time, advice, and inspiration. I've gained a lot by taking this course and am even sad that it has ended. I know I will revisit lectures when I need a refresher. I also know I will come back and update on any new debt-free milestones I may reach in hopes that it will inspire others. God bless! - Melissa
WOW! What can I say that others haven't?! It has been a pleasure watching this course other the last few days. It has been an eye opener for sure. The exercise at the beginning to open up and share your debt story. That was a first for me. I never comment on anything and I have felt such appreciation throughout this course, that I couldn't hold back from commenting. I will be doing my best to apply all your principles and tips. All the best to all your course attendees and a HUGE thank you to you, Jennifer. -Candice
Jennifer, thank you so much for this course. Your books and vlog have improved my life in so many ways! I'm struggling to create my Ten-Item Wardrobe but with your help I've cleaned out my closet and discovered my personal style. -Terri
I just completed your e course on Chic finances and it’s incredible! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and inspiration- it’s a course where everyone can get something great that will improve their life and their finances. I love your “Yes, we can do this AND live well,” mindset, Jennifer. You’re a treasure! - tandcocoapuff
These are just a few of the amazing testimonials that have come from the eCourses. Thank you to everyone who has joined us in the connoisseur community over there.
I appreciate each and every one of you who reads this blog and watches my videos. Thank you for your support. I look forward to returning to you soon. Until next time, as Lucia would say, *Au Reservoir* :)
It's wonderful to be back on the blog. Thank you to everyone for your well-wishes after we had the baby. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past few weeks as we got to know the newest member of our family.
I'm excited to share the birth story with you in today's video. It is very raw, honest, and even funny at times! That is family life!
After initially being turned away at the hospital, I gave birth 13 hours later. Our son came so quickly there was no time to get an epidural. This was my first 'natural' birth without an epidural. I could have made it into an episode of Natural Home with Jennifer! (just kidding) :)
In today's video I share what I said while delivering (I scared Mr. Connoisseur a bit), and the whole experience from start to finish. Ultimately, I am so happy that our baby boy was born healthy and that I was able to quickly recover.
Childbirth is such a special, beautiful, and individual experience. I'd love to hear from you. What were your experiences giving birth? What funny things did you say while you were delivering your baby (ies)? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.
Mentioned in the video My plan for getting back into shape involves walking everyday, and eventually getting back on the rebounder. Everyone else in my family uses the rebounder and I can't wait to get back on!
Also, I frequently get questions about what nail color I am wearing. In today's video, I'm wearing the beautiful Jane Austen color from Londontown. (Use code JenniferS for 25% off your order with Londontown).
On Instagram A beautiful shot of the Madame Chic books...
A post shared by Katie Miller (@lapinblancdressmaking) on
Comment of the Week I love receiving comments on my Author Guestbook page. In today's entry, Madison writes, "Thank you for all your videos and I appreciate how you are “chic” in a culture that has become sloppy! Keep up the videos please!"
Thank you, Madison! I appreciate the chic community that we have here online, and you are a part of it!
Thank you for joining me for today's video. I would love to hear from you! Tell us your birth stories so we can laugh and cry together. I'll see you on Thursday for a new video!
When you've only had four hours of sleep and you'd like to look rested, what do you turn to? Le No Makeup Look, of course! In today's video, I share my le no makeup look for fall: tired mom edition! I include a few tips on how to look awake when you are anything but.
Before I even think about makeup, I think about coffee. I drink mine in an insulated cup because it takes me forever to finish my morning cup. Does anyone else have that problem?
Robin from Faith and Flour YouTube channel shares her fall Ten-Item Wardrobe. Be sure to check out her video and tell her I said, "hello". Thank you, Robin!
Comment of the Week Thank you for your comments on Monday's birth story video and blogpost. I absolutely loved hearing the stories you had to share about your own birthing experiences. I honestly laughed and felt so moved at so many of your stories. I would like to feature all of you as comment of the week! Nadege received many thumbs up on the YouTube video for her observation: "Congrats to you and the entire family. I have given birth to 4 children and my opinion is that even if you’re “prepared” it is still very painful. Prayer is always good. Women are so very strong."
Nadege, I couldn't agree more. Women are so very strong. It's truly amazing what our bodies are capable of.
I hope you enjoy today's video. I would love to know your tips and tricks for looking more awake when you are dealing with limited sleep. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.
See you tomorrow for a new Natural Home with Jennifer.
If you cook at home a lot like we do, your oven can get dirty, really fast. After a few seasons of baking and roasting, our oven was covered with grease and stains.
When we bought our house last year we inherited all of the appliances, which were heavily used and around 14 years old. Our oven is partially broken- the convection feature does not work and neither does the self-cleaning feature. Because of this, I clean my oven by hand. Of course, I like to use the most natural ingredients to clean it since our food is cooked in there.
Today, I'm sharing my simple baking soda paste recipe with you. It uses baking soda, water, and Castile soap. Castile soap is a very natural, all-purpose soap that you can find anywhere. One of the most popular Castile soap brands is Dr. Bronner's (which I have used in the past... it's great!). Today, I'm using the lavender Castile soap from Grove Collaborative. I received it as a free gift this summer for being a VIP member with Grove. Their Castile soap is great too and has a refreshing lavender scent.
Here is my Baking Soda paste recipe:
Author: Jennifer L. Scott
Baking Soda Paste for Cleaning
This multi-purpose cleaning paste is all-natural and uses ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
ingredients:
2 cups baking soda
1/2 cup liquid Castile soap
1/2 cup water
instructions:
Mix all ingredients together. Use this for all of your natural cleaning needs.
If you clean your oven with baking soda, please remember a few things: always read your oven manual before cleaning your oven. Never put the cleaning solution on the heating rods, leave those alone. I tend to just scrub the areas that have collected grease and stains and avoid the heating rods entirely. Never use too much water to wipe out the baking soda.
I'm also linking the Dr. Bronner's liquid Castile soap in lavender, from Amazon, which is another great brand that I have used in the past.
Before applying the paste and letting it sit, I vacuum out all of the larger crumbs with our wet dry vac.
Once the paste is applied, it's best to let it sit for as long as you can (overnight is ideal). In this video, I only let it sit for two hours because I had limited time, but as you can see with the results, it worked wonders to get the greasy stains out.
I hope you enjoy today's video and feel encouraged to clean your home with natural ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
Thank you for watching. Today, I would love to know how you clean your oven...
Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday!
You know my motto, being chic is being prepared. I have a large catalogue of freezer meals I have shared with you in the past and today, I'm making three comfort food casseroles featuring lots of chicken and vegetables for fall.
I shot this video before having the baby and am just now getting around to posting it. These meals have really come in handy!
My philosophy with freezer cooking is to use what you have and not worry about following a recipe too rigidly. There is freedom in opening your pantry and deciding what you'd like to use. For these freezer meals, I had nearly 5lbs of organic chicken breast, a 2 lb bag of spinach, 2 large onions, a giant zucchini from our garden, and a lot of brown rice.
With this combination, I make three different creamy chicken casseroles that freeze well and taste even better. I essentially make three variations on the same casserole to give you options depending on what you have in your pantry. If you make these, you can feel free to make all of the same kind, or do all three that I make for variety.
I have included the printable recipes below, but first let's talk about the chicken/ vegetable base. I sautéed the chopped onion in extra virgin olive oil and added 3 large spoonfuls of minced garlic. Then I added the chopped spinach and zucchini. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. To this, I added my nearly 5 lbs of shredded chicken that I cooked in the Instant Pot. This provides a very large base to make your three casseroles from. I used roughly 1/3 of the chicken mixture for each casserole.
Feel free to get creative. Use whatever vegetables you like. Top these casseroles with whatever you fancy. I used toasted breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, but you could do any type of shredded cheese.
Here I am listing the printable recipes for your convenience. Feel free to share these on Pinterest, or with your friends who could use some freezer meal inspiration!
prep time: 35 minscook time: 1 hourtotal time: 1 hours and 35 mins
This is one of three freezer meals I have made using the large batch of chicken and vegetables cooked. I cooked nearly 5lbs of chicken breast and shredded it. I added it to a mixture of 2 sautéed onions, 2lbs of chopped spinach, 3 tablespoons of chopped garlic and one large chopped zucchini. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. For this recipe, use 1/3 of the chicken mixture. I mix this with two cups of brown rice.
ingredients:
1/3 of the shredded chicken vegetable mixture (roughly 1 1/2 lbs of chicken)
1/4 cup Ranch seasoning mix
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup water
1/4 cup melted butter
bread crumbs for topping (toasted with a dab of melted butter)
Instant Pot (where I cooked and shredded the chicken before making this meal)
instructions:
Place 1/3 of the chicken vegetable mixture into a large bowl. Add the Ranch seasoning mix, milk, water, and melted butter. Stir to combine. If the mixture is too watery, add more of the chicken mixture. Transfer to a greased casserole dish or freezer pan. Top with bread crumbs that have been browned in butter. To bake the same day, bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes. To freeze, cover the casserole with aluminum foil. Label with the contents and the date. When you are ready to enjoy your freezer meal, you can thaw it the night before in the refrigerator and cook at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes. To cook from frozen, cook at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 to 1 hour and 45 minutes. Enjoy!
Please note: if you would like to make 3 of these, simple triple the seasonings and liquids and add them to the entire chicken vegetable mixture you cooked. Divide between 3 casserole dishes and freeze accordingly.
prep time: 30 minscook time: 1 hourtotal time: 1 hours and 30 mins
This is one of three freezer meals I have made using the large batch of chicken and vegetables cooked. I cooked nearly 5lbs of chicken breast and shredded it. I added it to a mixture of 2 sautéed onions, 2lbs of chopped spinach, 3 tablespoons of chopped garlic and one large chopped zucchini. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. For this recipe, use 1/3 of the chicken mixture. I mix this with two cups of brown rice.
ingredients:
1/3 of the shredded chicken/ vegetable mixture (see note above)
Instant Pot (what I used to cook and shred the chicken)
instructions:
In a large bowl, place 1/3 of the chicken vegetable mixture (around 1 1/2 lbs of chicken). Stir in the broth, butter, flour, milk, herbs, and salt. Stir to combine. Place in a greased casserole dish or freezer pan. Top with toasted breadcrumbs.
If you plan to eat this the same day, heat in a 350 degrees F oven for 25 minutes. If you plan to freeze this, cover with aluminum foil, label your meal, and freeze. When you are ready to eat, thaw the casserole in the refrigerator the night before. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 to 60 minutes. If baking from frozen, the time will increase to 1 1/2 hours to 1 hour 45 minutes.
If you would like to use this recipe for the entire bulk chicken you prepared, simply triple the broth, butter, flour, milk, herbs and salt. If you do that, this will make 3 large casseroles.
prep time: 30 minscook time: 1 hourtotal time: 1 hours and 30 mins
This is one of three freezer meals I have made using the large batch of chicken and vegetables cooked. I cooked nearly 5lbs of chicken breast and shredded it. I added it to a mixture of 2 sautéed onions, 2lbs of chopped spinach, 3 tablespoons of chopped garlic and one large chopped zucchini. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. For this recipe, use 1/3 of the chicken mixture. I mix this with two cups of brown rice.
ingredients:
1/3 of the chicken vegetable mixture (see the note above)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tsp salt
pepper to taste
2 teaspoons paprika
grated parmesan cheese for topping
Equipment Used
Instant Pot is how I cooked and shredded the chicken
In a large bowl, place the remaining chicken/ vegetable mixture (roughly 1/3 of the mixture. Add the cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, butter, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix to combine. Transfer the casserole to a dish. Top with grated parmesan cheese. (You can also top with bread crumbs.) Cook at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.
If you are planning on freezing this, cover with aluminum foil and label. Freeze. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then cook at 350 degrees F for 50 to 60 minutes. If cooking from frozen, cook for 1 1/2 hours to 1 hour 45 minutes.
If you plan on making three of this casserole, simply use all of the chicken vegetable mixture, and triple the rest of the ingredients (i.e. 3 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 3 cups of broth, etc.)
Comment of the Week On last week's Natural Home with Jennifer video, Marielle writes, "Hi Jennifer, Thank you for using non-toxic products to clean your oven. A very easy way to clean the oven racks is to put one or two large towels on the bottom of your bathtub and put the oven racks on the towels to avoid scratching your bathtub. Cover the oven racks with very hot water and add 1/2 cup of dish soap or 3/4 cup of laundry detergent. Let everything soak overnight. Then, simply wipe the oven racks clean. The dirt, grease and grime will come right off without any scrubbing. If you want the exact method, you can Google it up and you will find it right away. Since discovering this method several years ago, that’s the way I clean my oven racks and it saves me a lot of time and energy."
What a great tip. Thank you, Marielle!
I hope you enjoyed today's freezer cooking video. I'll see you on Thursday for a reader Q&A...
Last week on Instagram I asked you to submit your questions for a Q&A. I received some great questions and had a lot of fun answering them in today's video.
What should you do if your poise is also making you isolated? Am I still in touch with Madame Chic? What do you do with ten-item wardrobe angst? What is our biggest marriage struggle? What is my family background? All of these questions, plus more are answered.
There are also special appearances from a lizard, a ghost, and a very adorable toddler!
Comment of the Week mmhondd writes, "Hi! I'm Japanese. I read "Lessons from Madame Chic". I was very moved reading the book. So I threw away many unnecessary things and changed my way of thinking!! I'm glad to have met the book. I appreciate your kindness trying to express things. Thank you so much!!☺"
Thank you, mmhondd! I love connecting with my Japanese readers. I have a surprise announcement coming soon for my readers in Japan... stay tuned!
I hope you enjoyed today's Q&A. I would love to hear your thoughts on everything we discussed. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.
In today's Natural Home with Jennifer, I do some investigative work: Do wool dryer balls really work?
Wool dryer balls are an all-natural alternative to fabric softener and dryer sheets. The balls work to soften clothes in your dryer by gently massaging the clothes as they are tossed back and forth. Wool dryer balls also get the static out of your clothes and help to reduce drying time.
I tried out this set of three wool dryer balls for the past few months and really like them. When used alone, they do soften clothes, although not as much as a traditional fabric softener or dryer sheets. The bonus for me is how they get rid of static cling and reduce drying time. I find that they truly do reduce drying time by 25% and even help to dry items that typically do not dry well in our dryer, like my daughter's Beddy's bedding.
Many people have concerns over the chemicals used in fabric softener and dryer sheets, so if you prefer to have an all-natural wash, I would suggest using wool dryer balls instead to soften your clothes. I will definitely continue to use mine.
Another bonus is that they are very eco-friendly. I can use the wool dryer ball set that I have for up to 1,000+ washes!
Another neat feature is that you can lightly fragrance your clothing by dropping your favorite essential oil onto your dryer balls. The combination of the movement and the heat will transfer the fragrance to your clothing.
I purchased my wool dryer balls from Grove Collaborative. They sell a nice set of 3 dryer balls made from 100% New Zealand wool.
Today's video is a collaboration with Kim, from the Free to Family YouTube channel. Kim, is a debt-free enthusiast, just like me. We are both passionate about living well within our means.
We decided to collaborate on today's video to share ten extreme tips for saving money and getting out of debt. Whether you have a lot of debt, have no debt but are interested in saving money, or have a singular goal, like paying off your mortgage, today's video will have something for you.
I announced last year that our family had become debt-free, including our mortgage. We have been working toward this goal for a long time, and today's video chronicles many of the steps we took to get there. I chronicle our debt-free journey and greatly expand on this topic in my eCourse, Chic Financial Principles for Debt-Free Living.
Today, I'm excited to continue the discussion on the blog and share some of my tips with you.
In no particular order, here are 10 extreme tips for getting out of debt:
1. Share a vehicle Many Americans have enormous monthly car payments, whether they lease or own. Going down to one car per family (which is what the Chics did) and taking public transport instead or getting creative about when and how to use the car aides your finances tremendously. Of course, the vehicle must be affordable and within your budget. We currently share the family car and it has been no problem at all. We are doing this right now because we are saving for a financial investment we are making. Eventually, my husband would like to get an electric vehicle for his car.
2. Relocate to a more affordable area Last year we sold our West Los Angeles home and moved to the much more affordable suburbs. This allowed us to buy our home outright with no mortgage, allowing us to finally become fully debt-free. If you are able to relocate to a more affordable area, take the exciting plunge and enjoy the benefits in savings.
3. Enjoy your meals at home Relegate eating at restaurants to special occasions only and have the majority of your meals at home. Most people can agree, this one step saves a tremendous amount of money. The Chic family rarely ate at restaurants and enjoyed meals at home almost every evening.
4. Grow your own food My husband and I might be clueless gardeners, but our efforts in our totally out-of-control vegetable garden sure paid off this year. We had abundant vegetables the whole summer, which helped us keep our grocery budget in check.
5. Be an entrepreneur If you are able to work to provide an extra income stream, you can pay off debt and invest your money quicker. I like to encourage people to turn their passion into an entrepreneurial business. Sell on Etsy, provide services on Fiverr, and other websites of the like. I self-published my first book, which was an entrepreneurial endeavor in itself, and was able to pay off my student loans with my first book advance. (This story is expanded upon in my Self-Publishing Success video).
6. Rent a room in your home We have never done this, but know many people who have, and it brings a nice income in to the family. Madame Chic and her family brought in extra income by hosting foreign exchange students (me!) into their home each year.
7. Sell your belongings Once you start to clear the clutter in your home, you come across many items in your home that you no longer want. Whether it's clothing, handbags, furniture, or art, you can sell your belongings on places like eBay, ThredUP, Poshmark, or a consignment shop. Or have a good old-fashioned yard sale.
8. Cut out television (and other monthly expenses) The monthly cable or satellite bill is large. If you can cut this, plus any other monthly service (such as an unused gym membership) you will save hundreds of dollars each year (and have more time on your hands as well!)
9. Do the Ten-Item Wardrobe (really do it!) The Ten-Item Wardrobe is so beneficial, not only to your true style, but also to your wallet. If you truly do the ten-item wardrobe, season after season you will realize how much money you are saving. You will no longer participate in mindless shopping. Everything you buy will have a purpose and be used. For more on the ten-item wardrobe, check out my eCourse, Create Your Own Ten-Item Wardrobe and my Madame Chic books.
10. Change your mindset Ultimately, working to get out of debt, and not only save, but invest money for your future, requires an utter mindset shift away from mindless spending. It does require major frugality, but all hope is not lost. You can still live beautifully within your means.
Be sure to watch today's video for expanded thoughts on all of these topics.
News I have another podcast interview to share with you. This time I chatted with Lauren Morley of The Author Podcast. We had a lot of fun chatting about living a chic and elegant life.
Comment of the Week Regarding last week's Q&A video, Shannon on Facebook writes, "That was the best q and a ever! All the questions I wanted to know but was too shy to ask 😂 I’m Canadian and we are for sure not as reserved as British people but are not as famously open as Americans."
Thank you, Shannon! I'm so happy you enjoyed the Q&A :)
Thank you for joining me for today's video. I would love to hear from you. Are you on a debt-free journey? Do you have any struggles in this area? Are you currently debt-free? What tips do you have for us? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.
Kim is so much fun to talk to. We have a lively discussion about what life is like as YouTuber, debt-free living, parenting, setting boundaries, and much, more.
I hope you enjoy today's video. Please chime in in the comments section on any or all of the topics we discuss!
News I have another podcast interview to share with you. This time I chatted with Lauren Morley of The Author Podcast. We had a lot of fun chatting about living a chic and elegant life.
Comment of the Week On Monday's debt-free video, Celine writes: "This is all great advice. I really can't add to it. I would, however, like to see the high schools to require a finance class to teach students how to better manage their money, and how debt works. They could learn about checkbooks, paying bills, credit cards, the true cost of taking on debt, basic income tax principles, IRAs/457s and other retirement-type savings plans, making a budget, and living within their means. I know their parents sometimes don't teach them these things, and it would be a good time to learn about it. Celine"
Celine, I couldn't agree more. I wish practical topics like this were taught in high school. We plan to teach our children these principles so they don't make the same mistakes that we did.
Thank you for joining me for today's video. I would love to hear your thoughts on Kim and my discussion. Your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog!
One of my favorite cookbooks is From Amish and Mennonite Kitchens. The simple recipes in this book are hearty and very easy to make. Today, I'm making a rustic fall coffee cake from this book for the first time. The results are delicious!
I'm submitting this video as part of Falon from Moss Family TV's Fall Food Fridays. She asked her viewers to submit a fall recipe to be a part of the playlist and this is my contribution.
I enjoyed this cake so much, I've made it again since shooting this video for a Sunday family gathering. It was a big hit!
Here is the printable and pinnable recipe.
Yield: 1 cakeAuthor: From Amish and Mennonite KitchensPin it
Rustic Fall Coffee Cake
prep time: 10 minscook time: 30 minstotal time: 40 mins
This quick sugar and cinnamon coffee cake is delicious and so easy to make. It is from the cookbook, From Amish and Mennonite Kitchens (linked below).
Sift the dry ingredients together. Add the remaining ingredients. Beat together with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into a an 8inch baking pan (I used a round one). Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and put on the topping.
In today's video I'm doing some investigative research on non-surgical and non-invasive beauty treatments.
We are focusing on tummies and wrinkles and I'm trying out some interesting products that reportedly help solve common problems.
Let's start with the tummy area.
Have you ever been irritated by the top button tab on your jeans? It can often stick out, creating a bulky, unsightly look. It can also create holes in your tops. To try to fix this, I tried out a clever little invention called The Infinity Belt. It is a smoothing belt that takes care of that problem completely!
One of my favorite aspects about maternity jeans and skirts is that they have a smooth top band to accommodate the growing belly. The infinity belt works much like maternity clothes work, but instead of accommodating an expanding belly, they smooth the belly you already have. I love it! It's a neat, affordable little fashion invention.
Now let's move on to wrinkles...
Wrinkles are not much of a concern for me. I do have them on my forehead, but they don't bother me. I think wrinkles are natural and normal. But it's always good to take care of your skin and wrinkle prevention is a part of many women's beauty routines. For women with more prominent wrinkles on their forehead, smoothing the forehead is often a desire, which is why many women turn to Botox or surgery.
In my investigative work, I came across The Kami Pad. Nevermind that my husband thought I looked like a Klingon from StarTrek when I was wearing it. It's a neat little invention that naturally smoothes problem areas and reduces the appearance of wrinkles while naturally boosting collagen. The Kami Pad was developed to reverse and prevent signs of aging. I try out The Kami Pad anti-wrinkle forehead pad, but they also have an anti-wrinkle neck pad, as well as an anti-wrinkle chest pad.
I had a lot of fun trying out these clever beauty and style hacks. This video was filmed all in good fun. Please know that you are beautiful just the way you are! I wanted to investigate these products for any woman who was interested in adding them to her beauty routine or style chest. I hope you enjoy today's video.
Comment of the Week After I posted the delicious fall coffee cake recipe last week, I had one reader admonish me (over email) about how unhealthy it was. Most readers, however, appreciate the fact that it is a cake and is meant to have things like flour, butter, and sugar in it :) I loved Fiona from Stay Home Instead's comment: "Hi Jennifer, Long time reader, but first time commenting. What a wonderful cake, you know, when I was growing up, Mum would make a cake very similar to this but she called it a Tea Cake. Often it was topped with butter and cinnamon and sometimes apple and cinnamon, it was always so delicious, still warm from the oven. I think the last time I had one was just after our son was born ( 30 years ago) thanks for the reminder of how lovely simple cakes can be. Fiona from stay home instead."
Fiona, I loved reading about your mother's tea cake. Topping it with apples is a marvelous idea! Thank you for sharing that memory with us.
I hope you enjoyed today's video. If you would like me to do investigative work on any other beauty or style conundrums, please let me know!
Mentioned in the video: these are our patio lights . I gave them to Ben as a Christmas present last year and we really love the nice ambiance they provide in the evening.
If you follow me on Instagram, you recently saw our Clueless Gardener conundrum: our watermelon vine growing up the arch trellis...
I received a lot of fabulous advice about making a sling for the watermelon. Some even mentioned that pantyhose would work well. I was all set to create my watermelon sling (and document it for The Clueless Gardeners, of course) but I wasn't fast enough!
The other morning I walked outside and my beloved watermelon baby had fallen off the arch trellis onto the floor. Thank you for your advice. I will know better for next time...
Have a wonderful week and I'll see you on Thursday.
I like to be efficient and really don't like when I fall behind on projects. Before starting a family I was always able to keep on top of photo albums because, well, it was just my husband and me! But after having children the photos we took tripled (if not quadrupled) and I became too busy to deal with them.
I used to take the pictures, order prints, buy a photo album and then take the time to insert the photos into the album. It became too much for me and I fell behind on it and found myself with boxes of unorganized family photos. Then Chatbooks entered my life.
I saw an ad for Chatbooks and thought it sounded like a good idea and that it would solve my family photo conundrum. I was right! I've been a happy customer with Chatbooks for over three years now.
Here's how it works. You download the Chatbooks app on your smartphone. Then take pictures like you normally would in your everyday life. Hit the "heart" on all of the photos you like and those photos are automatically added to your favorites. Chatbooks generate a new photo album once you have accumulated 60 new favorites. Your album ships to you for free. Albums are affordable and start at just $10.
As you can see I have quite a stack of them!
I love these books because they are documenting our family life and I don't have to think twice about it.
I also order special chatbooks for family members as gifts. It's a great app and I was really thrilled when Chatbooks offered to sponsor today's video and offer you a promotional code.
Use the code daily20 to get 20% off your Chatbooks.
I hope you enjoy flipping through our family photos in today's video.
Comment of the Week Regarding this week's Clueless Gardeners video, Lori S. writes, "You two are hilarious! And I think I know what’s up the hill! I guess we’ll just have to wait to see what all the buzz is about!"
Lori... you are very astute. You know what's coming!! :)
Thank you for joining me for today's video. I would love to know how you organize your family photos.
I'm sharing one week of (weekday) outfits from my postpartum ten-item wardrobe.
It's a week of homeschooling, field trips, shooting videos, and lots of cooking and cleaning. It's been 7 weeks since I gave birth to our fourth child and this postpartum wardrobe is working so well for me.
On this day I wore the Loft lace tee over a nude camisole and my AG Jeans (which barely fit... I need a new pair of jeans!). My earrings are by Ana Luisa Jewelry (Use code Jennifer15 to get $15 off.)
Yes, if it's not broken, don't fix it. I have the L.L. Bean dress in green too. This dress is perfect for nursing! I'm wearing it with the tan cardigan from zulily and my brown riding boots from Aerosoles.
It's all about mixing nursing convenience with style and I'm wearing this deep grey nursing blouse from zulily with the black fold-over skirt and Lauren Conrad sandals. I know, it's supposed to be fall, but it's 90 degrees outside.
I'm wearing my Garnet Hill Burgundy dress paired with this Boden cropped sweater. This outfit is from three years ago (see Instagram post below) but I find it works really well for this postpartum season. (Please note, these items are over three years old, so I am linking to the stores, not the items.)
I shared this exact outfit on Instagram back in 2015!
Comment of the Week On last week's Non-Surgical Beauty Hacks video, NKE M writes, "Jennifer, you solved a problem that has been bothering me for years! I have never understood how I always got tiny holes on my tank tops and tees down by my belly button. It had never occurred to me that it was the friction from the jeans tab. Thank you for your lovely channel. I have been a follower of yours since 2012 and love your honesty and inspired living. God bless!"
Thank you so much! I'm happy that I solved the mysterious hole-in-the-shirt issue for you. I wondered the same thing for years and then it dawned on me. I hope the Infinity Belt solves your problem! Thank you for your kind words.
I would love to know what you think of this week's video. How is your fall ten-item wardrobe coming along? Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on the blog.
Last fall when my daughters were carving pumpkins, they casually tossed the seeds into our side yard. We were amazed several months later when a rather large and substantial pumpkin patch formed!
We grew six plump pumpkins on accident and were excited to finally pick them.
I read an excerpt from this fall poem by John Updike:
A Child's Calendar November by John Updike
The striped and shapely Maple grieves The loss of her Departed leaves
The ground is hard As hard as stone. The year is old. The birds are flown.
And yet the world, Nevertheless, Displays a certain loveliness--
The beauty of The bone. Tall God Must see our souls This way, and nod.
Give thanks: we do, Each in his place Around the table During grace.
I hope you enjoy today's video where we pick our accidental pumpkins.
News Do you know someone who is a fan of The Daily Connoisseur blog? Surprise them with a Daily Connoisseur tote bag or coffee mug, sporting the blog logo. A fun gift for the upcoming holiday season.
Comment of the Week On Monday's One Week of Outfits from my Ten-Item Wardrobe post, Meg writes, "Jennifer, As always, I love this Week of Outfits video. Thanks for all you do. I purchased one of those L.L.Bean dresses and LOVE them. I have read all your books and loyally watch your inspiring videos."
Hi Meg, thank you so much. Aren't the LL Bean dresses great? I absolutely love mine. Thanks for your kind comment.
Thank you for joining us today. I'll see you tomorrow for an all new Natural Home with Jennifer.
On today's Natural Home with Jennifer, I'm reviewing the Mrs. Meyer's limited edition holiday scents. I'm also sharing Grove Collaborative's November special with you, and taking you on a trip to Riley's Farms in beautiful Oak Glen, California.
There are three holiday scents in the Mrs. Meyer's line this year: Iowa Pine, Peppermint, and Orange Clove.
Iowa Pine smells very much like the Bath & Bodyworks candle, Fresh Balsam. It smells like a sweet, fresh Christmas tree. The scent is subtle and I love it.
Orange Clove has a delightfully rich orange essence with a spicy hint of clove. If you love the smell of pomanders at Christmastime, you would love this scent.
Peppermint is very pure and true. It smells like a peppermint candy with a hint of vanilla. It's peppy and fun.
I took the family consensus and we all liked Iowa Pine the best but the other two scents were a close second.
Right now, you can get a free Mrs. Meyer's holiday trio in your choice of scents (Iowa Pine, Peppermint, or Orange Clove), plus a free set of Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges — all packed up in a limited edition red cleaning caddy for gifting (or keeping!). New customers will get the holiday set when you place your first order of $20: Free Mrs. Meyer's holiday hand soap Free Mrs. Meyer's holiday dish soap Free Mrs. Meyer's holiday multi-surface spray Grove Collaborative red caddy Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges
Plus, if you spend $39, you’ll also receive a free Grove stoneware tray to beautifully display your new holiday soaps. If you’re already a Grove customer, you’ll get a free set of Grove walnut scrubbers.
We recently went on another field trip to Riley's Farm in beautiful Oak Glen, California. This time we learned about the American Civil War. The kids had so much fun and learned many fascinating details about that time in history. The scenery is beautiful up there. If you are ever visiting California and near that area, I highly recommend a fun trip to Riley's farm to pick apples. I bought a chicken pot pie and apple crumb pie from their bakery to take home for dinner. Simply delicious.
Here are the fruit butters and preserves I purchased from our field trip to Riley's Farm.
The pumpkin butter is so amazing. It tastes like a pumpkin pie jam.
I hope you enjoyed this episode of Natural Home with Jennifer. I'll see you on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend!
After a long day, sometimes you just need a good laugh. And sometimes that laugh verges on hysterics. Well, that's what happens with me in today's video, the first ever Teatime with Jennifer: Meme Edition!
Whenever I find a good meme, I save it. And in today's video, I'm sharing some of the funniest memes I've seen.
This meme isn't funny, but nostalgic. My great-grandmother's generation dressed like this. Dress sense has changed drastically this past century, hasn't it?
This is where I am right now. I don't need a fancy vacation, just a trip to the bathroom by myself, thank you very much!
You can be on time, or everyone can be wearing shoes. You can't have both! This was us two weeks ago at a field trip!
I want to be the mother who listens to her children, so I do. But sometimes those monologues about Ninjago go on for a long time...
We stopped watching television in order to be more efficient with our time... this meme illustrates the binge-watching culture we've become.
#Truth
Very good advice for young people: marry someone who knows (or is willing to learn) how to cook. I'm taking men and women here. It's a needed skill!
I lost it with this one.
This would never be Mr. Connoisseur as I don't take him shopping. Ever. But I know many husbands could probably relate to this meme!
You're welcome.
I'll just live in denial that we look like the top image and not the bottom.
This is what I imagine my YouTube hater looks like...
A very compelling reason to not throw in the towel...
I hope today's video has given you a good laugh. If you have a meme you'd like to share with me for a future Teatime with Jennifer: Meme edition, you can tag me with a photo on social media using the hashtag #teatimewithjennifer
Comment of the Week On last week's Ten-Item Wardrobe video, Eleanor writes, "Hi there Jennifer I have just started with my ten item wardrobe for the first time and have reduced my number of clothes from about 80+ pieces to about 36 pieces which include 10 core items and extras such as blazers, t-shirts, event pieces and shoes( all from my own wardrobe no new clothes).I must admit I love it cause it has given me a more calming experience everytime I get dressed in the morning now.I wear at least 1core item out of my ten item wardrobe and pair it with something from my extras.Something extraordinary has happened since I have started the new wardobe change , my husband and kids compliments me every day now on how nice I look!!! Some of my clothes I am not wearing now (winter clothes) have been packed away for next season I am from South Africa we have spring /summer weather at the moment Thank you for all your advice love it."
Eleanor, I loved hearing your ten-item wardrobe testimonial, especially your family's reaction to your change. Wonderful!
I hope you enjoyed today's video. Which meme was your favorite? Which one resonated with you the most? If you have any funny memes to submit for a future video, use the social media hashtag #teatimewithjennifer
Today's etiquette chat deals with the issue of professionalism at work (or lack thereof). I received two emails from readers with personal anecdotes regarding bad behavior at work.
In today's video I address the emails and weigh in with my own experiences. We end on a positive note with advice for young professionals.
My best professional etiquette advice is this: no matter what job you have, whether you love it or hate it, give it your all and do it to your best ability with a happy heart. Be professional always. Don't swear and don't over-share. Keep busy and stay off your phone. Think about what your boss is looking for and how you can better the company. You would be amazed at the doors that open for you.
I hope you enjoy the etiquette chat in today's video. I would love to hear your thoughts on all of the subjects discussed... be sure to chime in with your comment.
Comment of the Week Monday's first ever Teatime with Jennifer: Meme Edition was so much fun! I loved reading all of your comments and which memes resonated with you the most. I have many favorite comments and here are two of them:
Gloria writes, "There is an Amish/Pennsylvania Dutch saying: "Kissing wears out; cooking don't."
Gloria- what a neat saying... and so true!
R.S. writes, "I always joke that I could be on my death bed and suddenly I'll hear the gentle turning of the door knob, and a little head will poke in (or maybe my husband's) and say, "I know you're dying, but have you thought about what's for dinner?" Thank you, Jennifer, for the laugh! Your videos make my day!
R.S., this made me laugh! Ha! :)
Thank you for joining me for today's etiquette chat. I would love to hear from you. Do you have any etiquette horror stories from work? Do you have any tips for our young professionals? Let us know and your comment could be comment of the week on the blog. See you tomorrow for a new Natural Home with Jennifer!
