This & That: No. 82

Ideas for holiday gifts or a few treasures for yourself, my new jazz music find and a cookbook I have fallen in love with.

~Blog Post to Read

~Paris in the Fall: Our Favorite Things

While following some of my Paris blogs, I stumbled across Hip Paris' recent list of Fall Favorite things in the City of Light. The images and the concept of having the opportunity to enjoy such a delightful destination without the hustle and bustle of tourists, sounds but a dream. Perhaps someday . . . 

~On the Pursuit of Personal Best

DeeAnne of Live the Charmed Life has returned from a brief hiatus to two thought-provoking and inspiring posts. The one that particularly caught my attention was her discussion on choosing instead to do better than we did the day before rather than compare ourselves destructively to others. Have a look. 

~Book

~The French Kitchen Cookbook by Patricia Wells

Oh, my goodness. I have loved perusing through Patricia Wells' recent cookbook (released last Tuesday) and cannot wait to begin trying the many recipes I've dog-eared. The saffron and honey brioche, the long list of soups, creamy sorbets and simple, yet flavorful salads, all are clearly explained along with helpful tips and ideas from the chef herself - how she organizes her kitchen, what she shops for and wine pairings for many of the dishes. An extra treat is her ode to Julia Child who was a dear friend. In fact, she shares a glimpse inside her own kitchen of which contains Julia's La Cornue stove that she reluctantly had to leave behind when we moved back to Massachusetts. One of the best cookbooks I've picked up in a while. 

~Music

~Jon Batiste

Over the past weekend, while reading the WSJ my attention was captured by a profile piece on jazz musician Jon Batiste. At the young age of 26 he has a decent list of albums and shares that his aim is to bring music to the masses. His latest album (released earlier this month) contains infusions of classical jazz, funk and pop, all created with the intention of moving the audience and bringing it to them. If you live in New York City, perhaps you've had the opportunity to witness him and his band Stay Human begin performing in the middle of a subway train or along the streets from one restaurant to another. Trained at Julliard, he is worth a listen if you are a lover of jazz, like myself. I especially am enjoying his earlier album Jazz is Now. 

~Shopping

~Equipment washed-silk polka dot pajamas

Whether you are beginning your holiday shopping list or are looking for a pair of pajamas for yourself, Equipment has introduced a washed silk polka dot short pajama set that you may want to keep your eye on as the sales begin to take place next month and into December.

~Marte Frisnes nametag necklace

Hedvig of The Northern Light blog always shares fantastic style inspiration, so when she introduced jeweler Marte Frisnes nametag necklace, I was intrigued. Perfect for a holiday gift or for yourself, a simple gold strand necklace, similar to one I saw Gwyneth Paltrow wearing at the airport. No confusion as to whose necklace it is if ever it is lost, that's for sure. 

Paris by Mouth – A Food Tour to Devour

As someone who loves her food and wine, I searched for a way to become better acquainted with the food of Paris specifically in the arrondisements near where I was staying on the right bank. So when I discovered Paris by Mouth and their list of food and wine tours, I had an inkling I had just found exactly what I was looking for.

A few months prior to embarking on my trip, I reserved a spot in the Taste of Marais food tour (something I would highly suggest as the groups are small and the spots go quickly). However, there are tours for a variety of different locations throughout the city as well as tours focusing specifically on chocolate, cheese, pastries and wine. So pick your pleasure and locale.

First, a bit about the founder Meg Zimbeck. Having contributed to “Food & Wine, SAVEUR, the Wall Street Journal, AFAR, Gridskipper, the BBC’s Olive magazine, and the seat-pocket magazines of United, Virgin Trains, and Gulf Air. She also hosted a program on Paris Street Eats for the Travel Channel (USA). Also, Meg’s food photography has been featured in T Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine,and Libération.” Needless to say, she knows her way around food and Paris, and has created a tour guide business that is a gem for foreigners and foodies who want to explore the culinary pleasures of Paris.

Now, let me show you where the Taste of Marais tour took me. If only I could share the food along with the images. Wouldn’t that be parfait?

Our small group consisted of three couples from Australia and New Zealand along with myself, and the tour guide was a recent graduate from Le Cordon Bleu’s wine program, named Stephanie. Knowledgeable and approachable, she was at complete ease leading us around the Marais talking about food and the history of the city which contributed to the group being able to relax and simply enjoy the scrumptious food in a beautiful Marais.

The tour met and began at Poilâne bakery (38 rue Debelleyme, 75003) where we not only tasted the famed sourdough rounds (learn more about the bakery here), but also were treated to a pastry of our choice (the pain aux chocolat was intoxicatingly delicious – a must try) and a “punishment cookie” to top off the commencement of the tour.

With our palettes whetted and knowing we were just getting started, we stopped by a non-descript patisserie in the 3rd arrondisement to taste a top quality baguette. Earning top baguette of Paris in 2008, the 59 RdS bakery (named after its street address, 59 rue de Saintonge), the baker also has another patisserie nearby 134 RdT located at 134 rue de Turenne.

Next, it was off to a charcuterie - Ramella Charcuterie at 38 rue de Bretagne which is located on one of the lovely bustling streets in the Marais across the street from Marché des Enfants Rouges where Stephanie selected a few meats for us to try.

And then to one of my favorite destinations in Paris – a fromagerie. The Jouannault cheese shop located at 39 rue de Bretagne directly across the street from the above charcuterie served up some in-house cheeses that intensified my appreciation for French cheese. Specifically, the 30 month aged Comte (the focus of the 3rd image below) that Stephanie invited us to try was exquisite with a variety of textures and subtle, yet full flavor.

 

Then we stepped inside the Marché des Enfants Rouges which was full of food vendors, freshly cut flowers, as well as brick and mortar shops such as the Premiere Pression Provence (located at 35 rue Charlot) which sells endless options of olive oils. Selling only products from Provence, the charming shop owner allowed us to taste many of the oils and taught us a bit about which oils to use for particular purposes. I couldn’t help picking up olive oil infused with basil as well as olive oil infused with black truffle.

Tucked away in a small public garden under a fig tree, we took a brief respite for a lunchtime snack as we dined on the bread, meats and cheese we had gathered so far along our journey.

With lunch behind us, it was now time for dessert. And the expertise and artistry of Jacques Genin at his chocolate shop located at 133 rue de Turenne was a haven for chocolate lovers.

Last but not least, Pain de Sucre pastry shop at 14 rue Rambuteau was a superb last taste of the Marais as we were offered a macaron of our choice.

For three hours, to tour a small, intimate part of Paris with an expert of the food and the area was a wonderful way to get a feel of my temporary home away from home. Upon paying for your spot in the tour, all the food you enjoy is free (oh, the tour guide speaks English) and the experience is priceless.

I highly recommend taking a few hours out of your trip to Paris to dive a little deeper into the food and wine that is hard to find anywhere else.

Must Visit in Paris: Poilâne

When the word Paris is mentioned, many things jump to mind, including fashion, but if we’re talking food – it’s wine, cheese and bread. So when Paris By Mouth’s “Taste of the Marais” tour began at the Poilâne bakery, I knew it was going to be a great day.

If one talks about bread and Paris in the same breath, Poilâne must be given its just due. Beginning in 1932, Pierre Poilâne ventured from Normandy to the Saint- Germain des Prés district in Paris, determined to bake and sell sourdough rounds rather than the Parisian famed baguettes. Taking some time for Parisians to become interested in the dark flour dough (grey color flour is used), he eventually won them over as, unlike baguettes which must be enjoyed fresh within hours of purchasing, the four pound sourdough rounds can be enjoyed for a handful of days keeping its peak flavor.

Adhering to the recipe of only yeast, flour and water (the sourdough starter that was used in 1932 is still being used today – which is amazing), the business was handed to Pierre’s son Lionel Poilâne in the early seventies which is when the business became even more of a Parisian institution due to his talent with marketing, creativity and close ties with the artist community (Salvador Dali ordered an entire bedroom to be made out of bread!).

Tragically Lionel and his wife died in a helicopter crash in October 2002, and Lionel’s oldest daughter, Apollonia, 18 at the time, was faced with the decision to go to college at Harvard or take over the multi-million dollar family business.

She chose both and ran Poilâne from her dorm room for four years in which time she received her degree and promptly returned to Paris where she continues to run the successful family business. (Read the detailed profile “Bread Winner” by Lauren Collins in the December 2012 issue of The New Yorker to read the entire story behind the name.)

With four locations in Paris and two in London, the signature item, the four pounds sourdough round (also known as a miche) with the symbolic “P” at the center, is sent to more than twenty-five hundred of Paris’s supermarkets and restaurants, the Elysée Palace (where the French President resides in Paris), and two hundred thousand loaves are also shipped to clients in twenty countries each year (source). And if you want your very own loaf, you can have it shipped to your post office for under 40 Euros (shop here).

What I appreciated most is Apollonia Poilâne’s resolution to focus on the philosophy - “Every bread should have a purpose”. The intention for simplicity - you can only buy sourdough rounds, croissants (I had the pleasure of enjoying a chocolate croissant which took my breath away), apple tarts (unique and scrumptious) and a few other bakery staples – (try the Punitions, or punishment cookies) - has proven effective and quite attractive as she focuses on the quality of her product, not over-exposing the name to sacrifice where it all began. 

Pair the long slices of a sourdough round with comte cheese, dipped in olive oil, toasted with lush French butter or nibble sans anything. Either way, a simple luxury that won’t disappoint.

Below, in the summer of 2002, months before the loss of Lionel, he taped this video with Dorie Greenspan and showed her how the punishment cookies (petite shortbread cookies – it will be hard to have just one, trust me) and it was aired on CBS Sunday morning (I can vividly remember this video when it originally aired). Enjoy and be sure to stop in to the nearest location the next time you visit Paris.

 

 

 ~The first shop located in Saint- Germain des Prés district in Paris at 8 Rue du Cherche-Midi~

~the Marais district location at 38 rue Debelleyme where you can enjoy their dining room and chandeliers designed with bread – yes, each of these chandeliers is entirely bread!~

All images taken by TSLL (The Simply Luxurious Life) with Nikon D5100 and iPhone on Instagram

Why Not . . . Create Your Own Festive Traditions?

~Paris and the holidays, I can’t imagine a more magical place to be in December or to welcome the new year. And as a way to bring Paris to all of my readers no matter where you might live, I invited Aisling Greally, who is the founder of the blog  Tresor Parisien, to share glimpses of Paris during this festive time of year.

You may remember Aisling and Tresor Parisien as I had the opportunity to meet with her this summer while in Paris. She was kind enough to rendezvous with me at the famed Cafe de Flore before being my tour guide around the city for the day showing me endless shops, patisseries, boutiques and sites that I can’t wait to return to hopefully next summer.

I am so excited to introduce you to a taste of what she offers on her blog, first-hand insights into all things chic and unique that can be found in Paris and only from someone who has the opportunity to live there. She is a treasure indeed. Thank you so very much Aisling.~

This festive season finds me reflecting and thinking about traditions, what makes them and how we create them over time. The places we go and the little things we do to bring us into the festive mood. Whether it’s the smell of mulled wine, the sparkling lights, a favourite movie, a family lunch or cocktails with friends, this is the month for embracing and creating your own classic traditions whatever they may be.

After two years of living in Paris and scouting the city for my favourite places and things to do, I am finally feeling at home here and beginning to shape my own traditions and essentials for a cosy festive season à Paris....

1. Warm up…with a hot chocolate tradition…

December is one of the coldest months in Paris and as a result has become my season for lots of chocolat chaud drinking. A season highlight I look forward to each year is to go and see the Christmas window displays of les grands magasins followed by the the sparkling lights around Concorde. The tradition now is to follow this by warming up with a chocolat chaud in Jean Paul Hevin’s chocolat bar on Rue Saint Honoré. It’s simply two steps to… Hevin !

2. Create a Saturday morning market tradition ?

For the festive season you will find a host of Christmas markets around Paris. However, for me, nothing beats the atmosphere and experience of a real local traditional market. I have recently discovered the Marché Saxe Breteuil which is around the corner from where I live and has now become a sort of Saturday morning tradition. (Saturday morning wouldn’t be the same without it now)

Small family traders from rural France set their stalls up here every Thursday and Saturday morning. The produce is out of this world, you have specialist stalls for tomatoes (7 different kinds), oysters, lobsters, pumpkins, mushrooms and so much more. There are so many great characters here. I love to watch and listen to the banter of the market traders and observe the Parisians in all their splendor, pondering and taking their time to carefully select their cheese, it’s like a sacred ritual! Le Fromage!

Tapping into the seasonal produce you will find some great Christmas gifts and surprises. This year I have stocked up on soaps from Marseilles, Christmas jams, and dozens of clementines.

3. Embrace the sweet tooth…create a sweet Christmas tradition

With sweet traditions in mind my latest sweet discovery is the beautiful patisserie boutique of Sébastien Gaudard in the 9th arrondissement. I love Sébastien’s take on traditions through his style and decor and his modern approach to Patisserie. I feel like I have stepped into the world of Marie-Antoinette when I enter here. The almond croissants are to die for and it’s very easy to get spirited away by the heavenly divine patisseries and artisanal gifts chez Sébastien.

4. Get cosy… create a festive breakfast tradition

In this cold, dark Parisian December weather, there is nothing like a warm cosy place for a festive breakfast. Claus Estermann's breakfast boutique, ‘Claus’ is becoming the essential place to hit all the breakfast high notes. It’s my favourite place to go particularly at this time of year. It has all those December essentials wrapped up in one place ; a festive magic, chic understated decor, great coffee, the perfect breakfast/brunch menu and it’s just so cosy and Christmasy inside. In this weather it’s hard to leave!

5. Blame it on the Ritz… create a cocktail tradition

I think at this time of year having 'the' place to go to for a festive cocktail also sets a nice festive tradition. The last two years I have been honouring this tradition at The Hemmingway Bar at the Ritz Hotel. This year as the Ritz is closed for renovations, I will be creating new traditions by cocktailing and high tailing to the new bar in the Hotel Bristol and the new bar of an old favourite Lapérouse!

Wishing you a cosy simply luxurious festive season.

From Paris with love x

Aisling Greally

Founder & Editor of Trésor Parisien.

Images courtesy of Tresor Parisien, Barbra Austin, Claus and Sally Nadeau

While in Paris . . .

 ~Wednesday evening we hopped off our Seine river boat tour and found le Tour de Eifel all aglow. ~

As you read this post, I am en route across the pond returning to the states. Paris has been quite kind, and in the five days here has revealed many well-known beautiful sites as well as hidden treasures.

I must say the must-see sites during my second visit wore my legs out (and my feet as I was resolute in wearing flats instead of trainers), and I discovered, and was reassured, that the simple things truly are the greatest of luxuries. For example: beginning the morning with a quick walk to the neighborhood boulangerie to pick up a fresh baguette for breakfast to be enjoyed with strawberry jam, tea and espresso, sipping a glass of rosé wine mid afternoon, and losing track of time in conversation at outdoor cafes either over a lovely dinner or simply a cup of espresso or tea.

As I gather my thoughts about the trip and lessons learned during the flight home, do stop by early next week when I will share with you what Paris and London have taught me about living a most simply luxurious life.

Here is a look back on this past week on the blog, and please note that the weekly Friday newsletter will return next Friday (August 24th) and will include a subscribers’ first-to-know about an upcoming giveaway.

~London’s Closing Ceremony & British Models . . . fashion was invited to the Olympics and it was golden . . .

~Style Inspiration: Flats, Scarves & Classic Chic . . . Parisian inspired . . .

~This & That: No. 20 . . . stylish athletic clothing, Vogue Paris, a delicious English dessert and more

~A fantastic guest post from Frances Schultz, a contributing editor to House Beautiful . . . Why Not . . . Welcome Houseguests with Style? 

~A lovely visit and worth the search . . . Manolo Blahnik – Worth the Investment

~The most popular post of the week . . . The Art of Subtleties . . .

Below, enjoy a few photos captured while strolling and soaking in the beauty that is Paris.

 ~A warm day in Paris, strolling through the Tulierie Gardens with Le Tour de Eifel in the background. ~

 ~The famed Angelina Tearoom, lauded for its chocolat chaud and mont blanc was once frequented by Coco Chanel and Proust. We stopped in after lunch on Thursday for a decadent taste (notice how the hot chocolate is served – pitcher and small cup of whipped cream) of the talked about signature drink. Absolutely worth the extra calories.~

 ~Just passed Pont Alexander III while floating down the Seine, dusk settles on Paris and le Tour de Eifel emerges.~

 ~I must admit, all the talk about Laduree macaroons made me curious but at the same time skeptical. How good could a sweet treat possibly be to garner the mad attention it has found? Needless to say, after stopping into one of the three Laduree locations in Paris and trying the vanilla macaroon, I now know why they are raved about. AMAZING. Truly. Even though the other macaroons I had at Angelina’s were delicious, Laduree’s far surpassed them. And since there’s a Laduree’s in the Charles de Gaulle airport, I think I’ll be sure to enjoy a few on the flight home as well. Do make sure you try them. (New York and London also now have a Laduree.) ~ (online photo)

 ~For our last evening in Paris, we savored a celebratory dinner at Le Grand Colbert (if you loved the Diane Keaton film Something’s Gotta Give as much as I do, you’ll know this restaurant). ~

 ~On the walk home from Le Grand Colbert, the nearby Lourve pyramid was illuminated and the crowds were much quieter. Deliciously beautiful and a perfect last night in Paris. ~

 ~One last collage from London. As I shared last week, the Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville were positioned throughout the city of London, and depending up on where they were situated, they each were painted to emulate the area they were placed. Many that we found were in Regent’s Park and the others were along the South Bank across the Thames from Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Tourists, as you can imagine, were continually snapping photos of them, so we played right along and had a “jolly” good time. ~

Images: All images, unless otherwise designated, captured by Simply Luxurious. ~

The Weekend . . .

Very much like a child anticipating the arrival of Santa, for the past few months I have been gradually prepping my wardrobe, brushing up on my French and scouring everywhere for ideas of what to do during my trip abroad to London and Paris as a way to pacify myself until my plane departs. The time has finally arrived to pack my bags and venture to London for a week of Olympic adventure, splashing in London rain with my Wellies and enjoying the leisure of a vacation schedule.

I want to thank so many of you who have emailed me with ideas for places to visit, enjoy and indulge in. From pubs to pop into, vintage shops to peruse in, and decadent sweet boutiques to satisfy my sugar tooth, I can’t thank you all enough. Your emails were so very kind and a wonderful surprise. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Needless to say, I am a bit giddy - a combination of slight nerves, but more excitement and child-like enthusiasm.

Rest assured, you can expect the regular scheduling of posts to continue here on the blog. I will be authoring Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday’s post as usually, so do be sure to stop by as I will be sharing photos as they become available from the trip. For Wednesday’s Why Not . . .? posts, I have a couple of fantastic and impressive bloggers lined up.

For my newsletter subscribers: Today you will receive the regularly weekly newsletter, but while I am traveling, the newsletter will also go on vacation (August 10 & 17th) and resume on Friday, August 24th.

But back to this past week on the blog. If you’ve been traveling, busy at work or enjoying the outdoors, here is a look back on the posts found on The Simply Luxurious Life:

~The most popular post of the week . . . Why Not . . . Make Someone Feel Special?

~Modeling Everlane’s Ryan Tee . . . a fantastic collaboration with JENESEQUA

~Excellence vs. Mediocrity

~Mid-Week Motivation: 10 Instant Mood Lifters

~Style Inspiration: Red, White & Blue

~An interview about the blog on Plami’s blog Fashion Thrill (loved her original questions!)

~This & That: No. 18 . . . a top resource book for bloggers, an article to inspire and blogs to help live your best life

And this week’s newsletter, issue #112. Click here to read.

I do hope you have a splendid weekend and do stay cool if your part of the world is in or near the three digits. Until Monday, bonjour!

~P.S. You will notice at the end of today (Friday) that the header on the blog will change to my travel header. However, don’t worry, the girl walking the dog will return when I return from my vacation.~

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Elie Saab Fall 2012 Couture

Elie Saab is unceasingly consistent, as his Fall 2012 Couture collection demonstrates. Full of soft, elegant hues in peach, blue, nude and gold, as well as devastatingly handsome black gowns, Saab’s use of lace, embroidered sequins and tailored waists are always a pleasure to see season after season. While some may tire of his regular attention to regal, yet subtle glamour, I quite appreciate his adherence to the simply luxurious aesthetic, as I am almost always certain his collections will be shared on the blog. Have a look at a few of the gowns and dresses that captured my attention and to see the entire 46 piece collection, click here.

Read more »

This & That: No. 12

A recipe for your next barbeque, a website to keep you in the necessary “know”, travel ideas and a new ballet flat from Tory Burch . . .

Read more »

This & That: No. 9

I have been planning my summer over the past weekend. Dreaming of my upcoming vacations and also making sure that I remain productive and on task, as there is nothing more refreshing than coming home after being gone for a few weeks and knowing that everything is still in order upon returning.

However, with the must-do’s in line, it’s now time for me to have fun with my planning, so I’ve gathered together my summer nail polish of choice, ideas for restaurants to visit while traveling abroad and a few posts, blogs and recipes to try as well.  Have a look . . .

Read more »

Make Your Life a Formal Affair

“Tailor what living life as a formal affair means to you . . . analyze the aspects of [y]our life that could use a little more flair . . . by introducing aspects that are often thought of as ‘formal’ into [y]our life you can live a richer existence . . .”  

-Jennifer L. Scott author of Lessons from Madame Chic: The Top 20 Things I Learned While Living in Paris

A few weeks ago in the inaugural This & That post, I introduced a book I was eager to read, and boy, I wasn’t disappointed. Jennifer L. Scott’s recently released book Lessons from Madame Chic is full of 20 lessons she learned while living in Paris during college and how nearly ten years later she has incorporated these lessons into her life in California.

(the new cover, to be re-released on November 6, 2012)

(the first cover)

Filled with specific advice, anecdotes and descriptions of Madame Chic and Madame Chic’s entire Parisian family, Scott shares ways to live a fulfilling life that are not only simple, but help to create a luxurious life that is rich and focused on what most all of us seem to want to put at the top of our priority list – healthy relationships, good health and the ability to be our best selves. 

As I was reading I found myself underlining a sentence or two on nearly every page that I didn’t want to forget, and after going back over these annotations I realized that the lesson of living formally doesn’t have to take the beauty or the spontaneity out of living, but in fact it can enhance it. By showing respect to the life we’ve been given and then continue to create for ourselves we consciously make it all the more enjoyable. 

Below are a few ideas for welcoming in a bit more formality and at the same time simplicity that I especially took favor too. Have a look: 

1. Play classical music throughout your home

If you don’t have any Bach cds laying around the house, simply go to Pandora on your computer, iPad or iPhone and search classical symphonic music, and it will create a radio station for you for free. 

2. Eliminate snacking

Each meal that you sit down for is an opportunity to eat well. Scott explains how dinner in Paris with Madame Chic’s family always included at least three, sometimes four, courses and one was always a cheese platter, yet still her host family was slender because when they ate it was mindful. 

3. Create rituals to look forward to

Maybe every Saturday morning you wake up and stroll down to your favorite coffee shop for a tasty treat and chat with a good friend, or you play checkers with your son every Sunday evening in front of the fire or perhaps you take a bubble bath and savor a glass of wine after Monday has wrapped up. Take time to discover the activities that you enjoy doing either alone or with those you love and make them regular occurrences that are something to look forward to. 

4. Wear luxurious lingerie

The mistake that seems to be perpetuated regarding lingerie is that it is worn for someone else.  This is not entirely correct.  In fact, a woman should wear beautiful, high-quality lingerie for herself. Simply knowing you are keeping something to yourself and at the same time have treated yourself to something luxuriously wonderful is certain to raise your confidence at least a smidge. While it will take time to build your lingerie wardrobe, know that you are worth investing in. 

5. Purchase a Clarisonic
Treat your skin as though it were porcelain. Be very particular and handle it with care. Scott highly recommends using the Clarisonic skincare tool that gently exfoliates while allowing your cleansing products to work even harder for your skin producing noticeable brighter and healthier skin. An investment, but one to save up for.

6. A 10 Item Wardrobe

Hear me out first. When I read this, I too shook my head as I thought it was absolutely implausible to only live with 10 items in my closet, but as Scott explains, the 10 items do not include outerwear (coats, blazers, etc), shoes or other accessories, and there is a spring/summer and fall/winter wardrobe that should rotate. With that said, the key is knowing your signature style, purchase quality items that are interchangeable and most importantly that flatter your unique beauty. By limiting yourself to 10 items you reduce decision making in the morning, save money in the long run and are confident that what you are wearing looks timelessly chic.



7. Only buy the best that you can

In an effort to de-clutter and welcome more quality into your living environment, choose wisely, purchase less and be particular about what comes into your home.

8. Maintain an air of mystery.



9. Less television, more theater, book readings, art exhibits, etc

Not only is this exercise for the mind, but it also is more interactive, helps you become more in tune with what is going on in the world and in your community and enables you to be an active participant in your life instead of idling watching others live their lives on television.

10. Always go shopping with a list to avoid unnecessary purchases

Whether it is the grocery store or shopping in your favorite clothing boutiques, always have a list with you to ensure you get what you need but aren’t tempted to buy something that simply grabs your attention or your stomach. Especially when it comes to clothes shopping, by adhering to the 10 item wardrobe you will know exactly what you need, what to splurge on and what to avoid.

These are just a few of the many gems of advice Scott shares in her book. Without hesitation I highly recommend her book Lessons from Madame Chic if you are seeking to live a life filled with quality, pleasure and contentment.

However, it was just announced last week that due to the success of the initially release of her book that the title has been picked up by Simon & Schuster and they are taking it off the shelves until this fall.  At that time they will be re-releasing it in a hardback copy (click here to read more). Until then, stop by Jennifer's blog The Daily Connoisseur which is where the book originated. 

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