Lessons from Madame Chic book giveaway
I had been eagerly anticipating the publication of Jennifer Scott’s “Lessons from Madame Chic” for months, so as soon as it became available on Amazon I snatched it up. It arrived in the mail on Tuesday and by Wednesday morning I had tore through it.
Not surprisingly, within a day of its release it hit #2 on the Amazon list! Congratulations Jennifer!
The inspiration for her book stems from a series of posts on her blog, The Daily Connoisseur, about living in Paris as an exchange student. The series was so popular that readers, such as me, clamored for more. In response, Scott wrote this book. It was all I had hoped for and more.
Well, dear readers, the good news is that the lovely and talented Scott has offered to give away a copy of her book to one lucky reader. All you have to do is leave a comment on what chic is to you and I’ll enter you in a random drawing. You have until Dec. 5th to enter.
(PS If you don’t you see your comment posted immediately can you please email me at mammaitaliana23@gmail.com. For some reason I get several hundred spam emails a day and would hate to miss your entry.)
Below is the review I posted on Amazon and a link to purchase this little lovely yourself if you don’t want to wait and see if you have won. I have a huge collection of books on French Chic and this little gem has a prominent spot on my bookshelf among them.
This is the type of book I want to give my daughters on their 16th birthdays – a guide to living with passion. It is a beautifully written how-to manual on squeezing every last drop of pleasure out of life. This little book is chock full of relevant details and advice on the secrets that make Parisian’s so confident, content, and chic.
Every single subject in this book is something I want to teach my daughters.
In a sense, the two Parisian women who most influenced the author were surrogate mothers while the author lived away from home. They taught her — by example and by blunt comments — the secrets of Parisian women, passing down age-old philosophies on living a chic life.
Not only does this book encompass broad lifestyle philosophies, but it also has many hands-on tips that can make our lives more fulfilling. For instance, Jennifer includes simple tips on makeup, skin care, wardrobe, diet, and exercise. What this book does best, aside from captivate and entertain, is instruct the reader o how to bring the magic of a Parisian lifestyle into your world no matter whether you live in Topeka or Miami.
The book, which I read fully within 12 hours of receiving it, made me long for Parisian dinner parties where diners converse on substantial topics, such as film, books, art, and philosophy. At the same time, it reminded me that throwing dinner parties such as these and cultivating friends who also enjoy these types of evenings is achievable no matter where you live.
I also applaud and enjoyed Jennifer’s willingness to show us her vulnerability and efforts in achieving and adhering to the lifestyle principles and philosophies she learned living in Paris. For instance, her initial struggle against that pervasive American tendency to over share in conversation or to talk to fill uncomfortable silences. This habit ultimately dispels any sense of mystery about oneself, and in fact, end up making the speaker seem boring. Jennifer showed how maintaining an aura of mystique is oh, so chic. Ooh la la.
She also effectively captured the excitement of being young, on the brink of life, and learning at such a tender age how to embrace and appreciate the things in life that really matter: family, experiences, and overall, a quality life.
Brava!
My copy ordered from Amazon already arrived yesterday. I plan to start reading it today. It looks great! Don’t enter me in the giveaway since I’ve got a copy. I love what you say in your review about giving it to your daughters when they are 16. I wish someone would have explained all this to me at that age, it would have been nice!
Exactly Stephanie. Just think how much time we would have saved had we been given the advice Jennifer shares at such a young age! I know you’re going to love her book — it sums up everything you and I see eye-to-eye about! oxoxo Kristi
I am so excited to read her book– I am trying to hold out until it comes out on the Nook! To me, chic is being comfortable in your own skin
How exciting! I’ve been reading her blog for a long time, but had no idea she was writing a book. Congrats, Jennifer!
Tine said it very well, being comfortable in your own skin. I’ll add that chic is also about being balanced. The chic-est women I know are beautiful, but although they take care of themselves they don’t spend all their time trying to GET beautiful…they just genuinely have a lot going on in their lives, they’re interested in a lot of different things, and that energy and balance are enviable.
Thank you for the giveaway, Kristi!
wow! i can’t wait to read her book
for me being chic is having pleasing manners, behavior, or appearance
thank you kristi
What a fantastic giveaway! Of course I’d love to participate:) To me, chic is about choosing quality over quantity in all things.
I can hardly wait to read it. I have to say that being chic is knowing how to behave/react in all situations with grace and kindnes.
Chic is being comfortable with yourself.
I feel at my chicest when I walk out my door and into the world knowing I’m ready and able to give the best of myself. This includes an optimistic, caring attitude & a pulled together look that just feels right; and it shines through, rubbing off on others, as well. Thank you, Bella, for the opportunity to share.
I’ve been following Jennifer’s blog since I stumbled on her “Lessons” series. I can’t wait to read the whole thing!
I’ve just found out about this book via Tish at A Femme d’un certain age. It sounds wonderful. For me, chic is knowing the difference between style and fashion, and being confident in who you are as an individual in a way that translates to other people, via what you wear, how you wear it, etc.
It looks like a wonderful book!
For me being chic is thinking before I do things: do I really need this? do I really want to eat this? do I really want to behave like this? Upon thinking, my chic me says: “no”, or “yes”, and then it is OK.
Chic is such and all-encompassing word, but partially it is not being over-anything, over-done, over-decorated, overly chatty…
I love the Daily Connoisseur! To me, chic is choice… well-thought out and considered choices that ultimately create the self you want to be and the life you want to live.
I love your blog, and Jennifer’s too!
Chic to me is always being polished in one’s appearance and manners and doing both without drawing attention to one’s self.
It seems to be a great book!
I think, chic is a word not that easy to discribe – it’s a style,a good taste and so on…
CHIC to me is a way of being I the world.
Being chic is always “in” regardless of the trends.
I would love to read Jennifer’s book!
To me, being chic is playing up your best assets subtley rather than ostentatiously. Beign chic is also having people drawn to you for reasons they can’t quite figure.
To me, chic is elegance & confidence.
I think being chic is being “put together” in every aspect of life.
A quiet confidence coupled with graciousness is chic to me. Thanks for the giveaway and love the blog!! Karen
The idea of chic to me is a quiet self-assurance that is in the background of any situation. It’s something one can depend on or call upon to get through anything.
I love the Daily Connoisseur, and can’t wait to get my hands on the book and hear more about Mme. Chic!
Fantastic give away! I am a huge fan of hers as well. Chic means being yourself and the best self you can be at all times to me.
Chic, confident, honest, inspired, comfortable in your skin. Thank you for the giveaway…I am a regular reader of Daily Connoisseur and I’m so glad to be introduced to a new site that discusses chic living:) Good luck all.
Chic means a woman who knows who she is and how to handle herself in any situation. A chic woman is not defined by designer labels or social status.
Chic to me means authenticity and graciousness.When we are true to ourselves, comfortable with who we are and gracious towards all we meet, we exude chicness.
I love the Daily Connoisseur and loved especially the lessons from Paris.
What a fabulous giveaway, Kristi! Thank you so much! To me, chic eludes words to appropriately describe it. It is a certain “je ne sais quoi” that you may not be able to describe, but you know it when you see it.