The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style

"A home should reveal the personalities of its inhabitants. At its best it should be a portrait of who you are . . . Look at your house as an artist would and have fun creating vignettes as a painter would a still life." —Kristin Perers, author of A Home for All Seasons Fall will arrive next week on the 23rd and spring for the southern hemispheren on the same date. The changing of the seasons, as I recently shared in an interview on the Synced Life podcast, is a consistent and dependable way to be present in our everyday lives. By choosing to be present during each season we are acknowledging that its presence in our lives is evanescent, fleeting and in three months' time will transition into something different. Waiting nine more months is necessary to experience the gifts of each season. Simply knowing the reality, we have all the more motivation to revel in the gifts of each season. Last month TSLL reader Tracy emailed me and introduced me to Kristin Perers' book, A Home for All Seasons which was released quite a few years ago. But as one might imagine, since we have the same seasons each year, it is a classic of a book to refer to every three months - if nothing else, to serve a reminder for ample inspiration. Perers suggests that when we decorate with the seasons, revolving with them, we make our home feel much more alive and dynamic, but at the same time, reflective of the home's inhabitants. And in so doing, we improve the quality of our days as our moods due to our emotions are elevated with each day we spend in our sanctuary. Below are a handful of ways to decorate and adorn seasonally as inspired by Perers' book. 1.Let the seasonal blooms make their statement Whether you pick up your blooms at the farmers' market or from your yard and garden, appreciating the daffodils in early spring, the peonies in late spring, mums in fall and dahlias in late summer, remind us to savor until the blooms are no more. 2. Textiles - slipcovers, curtains, table linens, bed linens, pillows Depending upon what you have in your home that is upholstered, if you have slipcovers, changing the type of fabric if not the color as well is a way to eagerly begin a new season as well as care properly for the linens you have. 3. Determine the focal points of each community room (living room, dining, kitchen, etc.), and change or decorate it differently for the seasons. For example, if your fireplace is the focal point, adorn the mantle with seasonal details. If your dining table is the focal point, either with table linens or blooms, choose what you place on top of it to align with the seasons. 4. Create space to contemplate the beauty of nature I love this suggestion that Perers makes, and while she suggestions physically bringing things in from outside and placing them about the home to prompt us to ponder nature's beauty, I think as well it would be delightful to create somewhere in the home where you can look outside and be cognizant of what season it is. For example, my parents have a sun room in their country home, and with each season my mom will rearrange the furniture: spring - space is made for young seedlings in preparation for planting in the coming months; in summer, ample seating is the preference as it serves as a wonderful place to soak up the sun when stepping outside due to work projects inside is not possible; autumn and the arrangements and bouquets change; and in the winter, the holiday tree is adorned for the festive, wintery season. All the while, we can see outside to observe and celebrate the beauty of the outdoors. 5. Give the bedroom special attention While making sure to attend to all four of the previous items above for our bedrooms — different blankets, duvet covers and pillow covers for the bed; seasonal blooms for the side table, etc. — always keep in mind the power of a space we inhabit, especially in such an intimate fashion as our bedrooms. Here are a few ways to welcome the changing of the seasons in our most intimate room of our sanctuary: Different candle scents for each season Intentional framed photos or artwork to inspire your most current dream. Linen curtains in the summer, and while selecting the same hue, choose a heavier fabric for late fall and winter to add warmth. Different robes and sleepwear for each season. ~Discover and learn more about Kristin Perers' book A Home for All Seasons SIMILAR POSTS/EPISODES from the Archives You Might Enjoy: ~Why Not . . . Prep for a Great Fall? ~10 Ways to Welcome Spring: An Opportunity to Start Fresh ~Why Not . . . Savor the Reason for the Seasons? Petit Plaisir: ~Papier hardback customized notebooks (UK site; French site; Australian site; German site) ~TSLL post: Why Not . . . Make Lists? 20 Lists to Keep in Your Everyday Life? ~Check out the second season of The Simply Luxurious Kitchen, the cooking show! ~ ~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #261 ~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube | Spotify

Over the next couple of months I look forward to sharing many different decor ideas. I have titled today's episode/post as part une because there will be more to come. I am not sure how many at this point, but with many wonderful decor books being released this fall, I am enjoying perusing through them all, and want to share what I have discovered. The first book that inspired today's episode is Cathy Kincaid's The Well Adorned Home: Making Luxury Livable. There may be a second post/episode inspired by her book as she shares an abundance of inspiration, but these are the first ten takeaways that captured my attention. Advice from Cathy Kincaid: "Everyone wants to have nice things, but houses are meant to be lived in and I'm insistent they feel cozy and appropriate for clients and their lifestyle." Buy the best you can afford - furniture, design elements or accessories - not for investment or resale projections, but rather for quality and timelessness. Lighting sets the tone and determines if there will be a cultivated inviting ambiance - mirrors and chandliers are included in lighting as they cast their own light in their unique way. Edit, edit, edit "Take time, relax and enjoy the work" Create some tension with color and discover how to match colors imperfectly, creating some tension. Let's take a look at 10 decor ideas discovered in Cathy Kincaid's new book. I have included a handful of images from the pages, and I have a feeling there will be another episode including even more of her expertise. Be sure to tune into the podcast episode for more conversation on each of the following ten ideas for simple, yet significant decor ideas to add luxurious touches to the home. 1.Add classic moldings to the room to raise the ceiling (so to speak) and incorporate a regal touch 2.Expand a small space by using one pattern throughout "Most people think that pattern will overwhelm a room. That can happen if a pattern is used piecemeal, but the opposite is true when there's continuity." — Cathy Kincaid 3. The Power of pairs Especially in small spaces, to avoid the cluttered look that can happen with too much eclectic charm, include pairs of chairs, nightstands, etc. 4. Balance pattern and solids If the walls have a statement patterned wallpaper, choose solid upholstered furniture and visa versa. 5. Choose comfortable dining room chairs (i.e. upholstered ;)) to encourage your dinner party guests to linger. 6. Select bespoke lampshades to add a signature touch. 7. Include a luggage rack in your guest room Often our guests room is smaller than other rooms, or the closet is already being utilized. Adding a standing, foldable luggage rack conveys a warm welcome in a functional way. 8. Include some open shelves in the kitchen to provide ease of access for frequently used dishes, oils and spices. 9. Convert a beloved table into a kitchen island or work space by adding either a cutting board top or marble top to the surface. 10. Layer rugs on top of one another to make the room feel larger Place a neutral rug on the bottom, which will be the largest, and then a print or pattern that is smaller on top. As I go about examining and considering how to add my own signature to my new home, as well as follow Cathy Kincaid's advice to make sure it creates a cozy home that fits with my lifestyle, I look forward to sharing what I discover. Click here for Part Deux - 7 Décor Ideas to Add Signature Simply Luxurious Touches to Your Sanctuary ~ The Well Adorned Home: Making Luxury Livable by Cathy Kincaid ~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY: 8 Unique Small Décor Ideas that Make a SIgnature Difference in Your Sanctuary Why Not . . . Add A Touch of France to Your Decor? Why Not . . . Design a Cozy French Living Room? Petit Plaisir: ~The Great British Baking Show, Season 10 (Netflix!) https://youtu.be/E3nYjJ_aa2o

In today's premiere of Season 6 of The Simple Sophisticate podcast, personal stylist Tiffani from Shop NYC joins me to talk about the fall season fashions worth investing in, her work with clients, bridal trends, her new and updated Shop NYC digital guide and three books she highly recommends reading. Links to designers, brands and books discussed during the episode: Khaite — Fall 2019 collection Gabriella Hearst — Fall 2019 collection The RealReal — online designer clothing at consignment prices Maje — a mid-range French clothing site Books Tiffani recommends: City of Girls: A Novel by Elizabeth Gilbert Atomic Habits by James Clear Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport https://www.instagram.com/p/BwbuNBCn1Gs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Learn more about Tiffani and her stylist and concierge services as well as purchase her SHOP NYC guide 2019/2020 on her website: shopnycinfo.co and stylebytiffani.com. Social media: Instagram - @shopnycinfo Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/shopnycinfo/ ~SHOP TSLL's Fall 2019 Shopping Guide (released yesterday!)

Season 5 of the podcast has wrapped up, and I cannot quite believe The Simple Sophisticate has been producing episodes for five years (debuting in September 2014). But it indeed has, and I am very grateful for listeners and their continued interest, positive reviews and sharing what you love with friends and family. Today, the full schedule of Season 6 is available (see above). As you can see, it is very similar to Season five's schedule with at least three new episodes for every month through March. While there may be a few more new episodes shared than scheduled, what you see above are the dates on which new episodes are guaranteed to be shared. If you are new to the podcast, let me explain why I am taking the weeks off in the particular months you see above: April was taken off entirely last year, and it worked out very well for my teaching schedule. As an AP teacher, this is the month we call crunch time as the exam is just a few weeks away. In May, there is only one new episode, but it will be during the second annual British Week which is held during the third full week of May. July was also taken off this fifth season to make time for the production and taping of The Simply Luxurious Kitchen vodcast. Thank you for all listeners for being understanding of this needed month off from the podcast as it was put to good use. I cannot wait for Season 2 to premiere on Saturday September 7th. With that said, next year, I will be including this time to focus on the cooking show again. August: The only new episode in August will be shared during the annual French Week, but as I hope was listeners experience this year, I promise I will make it a knock out episode. :) Looking forward to the Season 6 kicking off with a new episode on Monday September 2nd! Thank you for tuning in and have a wonderful week. ~View all episodes of The Simple Sophisticate here.

"Parisian women . . . want above all to become the best possible version of themselves, outside and in, at any age." —Anne Berest, Audry Diwan, Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas, How to be Parisian Wherever You Are Each time I have finished reading a beauty book that offers advice I welcome into my regular routine, I think there will be no need to read another book. But the truth is, as we know, as we grow older, so too does are skin; consequently, our need to understand how to best take care of the skin at the age we are become necessary. Since the publication of Ageless Beauty: The French Way by Clémence von Mueffling, TSLL readers continued to recommend it, and it wasn't until this summer that I purchased it and read it in one afternoon and evening. I highly recommend it if you are looking for specific beauty product recommendations for your skin at every stage of aging - jeunesse (20-35) to maturité (55-older). Sharing not only specific beauty routine ideas but also offering detailed explanations so that readers can understand why they are doing what they are doing to justify the investment, the book will be a resource I return to in the future as well when I begin to step from plénitude, as she describes 35-55. But beauty when it comes to products for skincare and makeup are not all that is covered. She writes about food, exercise and carriage, as well as hair and perfume. Today, what I'd like to share with you are 22 beauty secrets that caught my attention and that I either have found to be high advantageous or are new ideas I am now incorporating into my routine. Let's get started. ~Be sure to tune into the audio version of this episode as much more detail is shared than what is shared below. 1.Regularly and properly hydrate your skin A skin's quality determines the aesthetic beauty of one's exterior appearance. "Well-hydrated skin that is dewy and glowing optimally reflects light in a flattering way that makes it look almost like silk." 2. Attention to one's skin must be a regular routine to see the difference you are seeking "One of the most important components of any French woman's beauty routine is just that — it's routine." —Clémence von Mueffling 3. Attend to proper posture 4. Adopt a cleansing routine that properly cleans and cares for your skin Mueffling advocates for washing your face twice (the first time to rid your face of impurities, pollution and makeup - preferrably with a creamy product; the second, to clean the topmost layer which "optimizes the skin's natural protection and regeneration which primarily takes place while you're sleeping"). And while I have only been washing my face once each time I wash my face - in the morning and evening, I have now begun to wash my face twice in the evening as she has suggested. However, as she reminds, the goal is not squeaky, clean skin as that would be counter to what the desired goal is. Rather, it is about cleansing and caring for our skin so that the serums, oils and moisturizes we then apply will be able to properly penetrate enabling the investment we have made in these products to work as they are intended. Depending upon your skin type, she delineates the different types of cleansers to consider in chapter 2: milk cleanser, foaming cleanser, cleansing gel, cleansing oil, micellar water and toner. ~NOTE 8/16/2019: In the audio version, I incorrectly pronounced "micellar". The "c" should be pronounced softly, like an "s" in "cell", not a hard c as in "crunch". Thank you for the gentle constructive feedback from listeners. ~read about micellar water and why I added this beauty essential to my cleansing routine a couple of years ago and continue to love it. 5. Apply a toner after cleansing with a cotton ball. What is the purpose of a toner? As she shares, toners have received a bad rap for being "unnecessarily or overly harsh". Case in point, for the past 10 years, I haven't used one, but did during my 20s. She explains that toners when made properly as the more modern, natural toners are that are available, "use plant essences to deliver targeted ingredients deep into the skin". The reason for using a toner after cleansing and before you apply your serums and moisturizers is to make sure that what follows will be absorbed effectively. ~I recently began using Clarins Camomile toner per her recommendation and find it be soothing, as well as affordable. 6. Make sure your skin is pat dry after cleansing and toning and before applying any serums or moisturizers 7. Start early and be consistent "French women know that the earlier you start a comprehensive skincare regimen, the more youthful your skin will remain." 8. Find a quality hydrating moisturizer as it is essential to your skincare routine I finally found a moisturizer that works well, especially in the arid climate that I live in - La Mer. However, she recommends many moisturizers at varying price points, some below and some above what La Mer is priced. 9. Apply any oils or serums on BEFORE applying your moisturizers I have read conflicting commentary on which should come first, but I am trusting Clémence on this one. Whether you apply a serum or an oil after your toner, apply it after your toner and before your moisturizers (face and eyes). Why? For the same reason the toner and the second cleansing is used to ensure that the moisturizers can properly penetrate and do their intended job. 10. Consider welcoming a humidifier into your home Living in an arid climate, for some reason it took me four years to follow this sage recommendation. However, if you live in a tropical or humid climate, there is no need as the moisture that the humidifier provides is already done naturally in the environment in which you live. Why a humidifier? Remember, the goal is to regularly and adequately hydrate your skin, and especially during your sleep, by keeping your skin hydrated you enable the products to not have to be asked to do more than they are capable of, but your body retains more moisture offering that healthy glow you are looking for. ~1st recommendation (what I use in my home) Honeywell Germ-Free Humidifier (the previous link a model no longer found, this new model is its equivalent and comes highly recommended - Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier) ~2nd recommendation Pure Enrichment Mistair humidifier 11. Apply a spritz of thermal spring water After finishing your evening beauty cleansing and moisturizing routine, spritz a bit of thermal spring water on your face. As well, after cleansing in the morning, apply for a a bit more hydrating and extra dewy glow. Blot off gently after letting it sit on your skin for about one minute. ~I am not using after her recommendation Avène's Thermal Spring Water, and based on the size of the bottle, I will have it for some time. 12. Find and use a hydrating and healing lip balm It has taken me a long time to find a lip balm that does just these two things, and it was found after reading this book. Bioderma's lip balm stick will cost you $4.90 at the most and is soothing and exactly what I was looking for. Apply throughout the day and especially just before going to bed. 13. High SPFs are a good idea, let me explain AND consider reducing your time in the sun even when you are wearing sunscreen Perhaps you have heard it as well when you share with others that you are wearing SPF 50 or higher, "beyond [insert number], the SPF doesn't matter". First all, that is incorrect, and second of all, it's absolutely incorrect! Okay, now that I've gotten that off my chest. Mueffling explains that SPF is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin and can be used to approximately how many minutes you can remain in the sun without burning. So yes, wearing SPF 60 as I do, especially on your face, it will save you money and time. But let's back-up what is the difference between UVA (which sunscreens do not protect against) and UVB (which sunscreens do protect against). Understanding the difference has motivated me to stay out of the sun as much as possible during the highest and most direct sun exposure times of the day. UVA (the long waves responsible for aging) are the most harmful because they can cause "the most injury to our cells' they are able to reach inside cells and damage the genetic code, impacting the cells' ability to produce good-quality collagen, hyaluronic acid, and the other proteins needed for proper functioning". UVB rays (the short waves responsible for burning, redness, pigmentation and the superficial damage that occurs immediately after sun exposure) can be protected against with sunscreen (when applied regularly). So, consider limiting your sun exposure and consider increasing the SPF. 14. Help your skin out while you are traveling, especially on the plane, and refrain from drinking alcohol while in flight 15. Avoid spritzing your face while traveling (plane) as it actually will dry your skin out even more 16. Moisturize your hands regularly Hand creams to try: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream (recommended by Heidi Wynne) L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 17. Add a facial massage to your weekly beauty routine Something that you can do at home, she provides three basic techniques for massaging your face with a moisturizer you already use. As our facial muscles need to not be contracted all of the time, so when we give them a massage we are asking them to relax. A facial massage will help your facial muscles retain elasticity and remain firm. 18. Visit a facialist regularly Depending upon your age, von Mueffling recommends jeunesse receive a professional facial every season (every three months), plénitude every two months and maturité every month. By visiting a reputable esthetician you can keep your skin in its best shape, combat problems that may arise quickly and accurately without doing more damage and improve the quality of your everyday skincare routine. 19. Eat skin-friendly foods Sharing a long list of best foods to eat, at the core of such a food regimen is eating food that is sufficient in healthy fats, low in caffeine and very spicy foods, regularly include citrus and offering diversity and brilliant colors. ~Why Not . . . Feed Your Body Well? 20. Your Décolleté Needs Extra Care and Attention From cleansing to moisturizing, remember to not only tend to your face and neck but the area between and just above your breasts. 21. Exercise Regularly and Well ~Why Not . . . Get and Stay in Shape? 22. Prioritize Quality Sleep ~Why Not . . . Get A Good Night's Sleep? ~Ageless Beauty the French Way: Secrets from three generations of French beauty editors by Clémence von Mueffling ~SIMILAR POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY: Why Not . . . Create a Beauty Capsule Shopping Routine? The Beauty & Make-up Products I Love and Use Daily 8 of My Favorite Beauty Products Why Not . . . Look and Feel Radiant? 8 Ways to Create Glowing Skin, episode #13 Petit Plaisir: ~Le Mystère Henri Pick (2019) https://youtu.be/kbyBzbTYw5s TSLL’s 4th Annual French Week posts thus far . . . SUNDAY August 11th Welcome to TSLL’s 4th Annual French Week! 7 French Candles I Love & A Giveaway! – giveaway Visiting Musée d’Orsay and Impressionist Berthe Morisot’s Exhibit MONDAY August 12th NEW podcast episode – #257: An American Being Everyday French – My Interview with author & writer John von Sothen The World, Large & Small, Illustrated for Your Home, Kitchen and Life: A Modvin Paris Illustrated Giveaway – giveaway 5 New-in-2019 French Lifestyle Books I Have Enjoyed TUESDAY August 13th Q & A with Heidi Wynne on Scarves, Effortless Style and Classic Films 11 Helpful Tips for Visiting and Shopping at Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen in Paris A Simple Everyday Luxury: A Gien Mug, giveaway, — giveaway WEDNESDAY August 14th Attending Susan Hermann Loomis’ Cooking Class in Louviers, Normandy 9 Places in Paris I Recommend for Dining, Sleeping, Exploring and Finding the Perfect Croissant

If you take an American man and place him in Paris, asking him to fit in, it will take a good sense of humor and a sincere love of France, but this man will be calling Paris his home, his sincere home, in due time. Such a man, or should we say, monsieur, is author and writer John von Sothen. I had the opportunity to meet up with John in the arrondisement he has called home for nearly 20 years - the 10th - and join him for what I like to describe as a "walk and talk". For more than two hours (which felt like minutes as I had the good fortune of being on a one-on-one guided tour of a city I too love, but have so much to learn), he showed me his everyday life from the fish monger where he picks up his poisson, the boulangerie where he walks down to pick up his faily's baquette (or two) in the morning and the restaurant where the neighborhood parents meet up after dropping their children off at school in the morning. His new book, released this past May - Monsieur Mediocre: One American Learns the High Art of Being Everyday French - shares the reality of being an expat from America living in Paris all the while being newly married, newly a parent and new to everyday living in France. Needless to say, with a dose of humor, an insatiable curiosity and deep affection for France, and being raised to "contribute" as his mother would also encourage him to do at dinner parties his parents would host in Georgetown in his youth, he has found France to be his home in more ways than he ever intended, but sincerely appreciates. In today's episode, I have divided it into three parts (all included in this one episode). As our conversation begins, we are seated outdoors on a terrasse in the 18th arrondisements bordering the 10th. I hope that you will appreciate the real-time acoustics of the city of Paris' background music as you will hear it all - French conversation, the traffic, and a city that is alive. With my trusty, but small hand-held recorded we chatted about everything, much of what I learned by reading his book and much more. There are a few instances in which the wind is heard, and while I have edited out most parts of our conversation in which the wind was present and obstructive, the instances in which I have not is intentional as what we are talking about is worth hearing, and I did not have the heart to cut it out. Thank you for your patience in these rare moments because the rest is a dance of insights about Parisian and French living from the inside that we don't often learn or hear about. From talking about the famed French vacances that foreign onlookers love to dream about, what being an aristocrat really means in France (psst - his wife is an aristocrat and from an aristocratic family, so he has the inside scoop), the truth about raising children in the city of Paris, how his mother influenced his love and interest in France, why he was raised unintentionally to be someone who could step into a new culture and not be intimidated, what escaping to the country in France is like for someone who loves the city life, the film Amelie, American politics as perceived by the Parisians, and his now quickly-becoming-famous rescue pup made it into a French film. ~John von Sothen's family dog Bogart at home when I met in him July in Paris (left); the French film Yves in which Bogart stars. The film premiered on July 26th of this year.~ Now, a quick note about that last point. Of course, I was drawn to our entire conversation and intrigued about the realities, but when we started talking about his family's dog Bogart, I couldn't help but be intrigued. And perhaps John noticed this because he gave me the opportunity to meet his dog, and so, below I captured a picture of him after I had the chance to say hello. He is the sweetest pup, truly a kind soul and no wonder he is a star on screen because he is a star period. (view the trailer for the film - Yves - here - Bogart appears in the first seen sleeping on the sofa) I do hope you enjoy our conversation. John von Sothen's book is available now, and you can find him writing for Esquire, French Vanity Fair, GQ, and AirMail, as well as other French and American publications (and even sometimes on French television as his book describes in hilarious detail). ~Learn more about John von Sothen and read more of his writing at johnvonsothen.com ~Purchase a copy of Monsieur Mediocre: One American Learns the High Art of Being Everyday French (May 2019) https://www.instagram.com/p/BybapiHAsit/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link ~John entertained graciously my attempts at a photo together, but I wanted to included especially the photo on the lower right as in the background is a piece of art created by his mother of which wsa talked about at the beginning of today's episode.~ ~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate:  iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube | Spotify ~Find more episodes of The Simple Sophisticate podcast. ~Find all of the French-Inspired episodes of The Simple Sophisticate podcast here. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1EFxuqg-Zt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link TSLL’s 4th Annual French Week posts thus far . . . SUNDAY August 11th Welcome to TSLL’s 4th Annual French Week! 7 French Candles I Love & A Giveaway! – giveaway Visiting Musée d'Orsay and Impressionist Berthe Morisot's Exhibit ~Sponsors of today's episode: Candid Co - candidco.com/simple Save $75 off your order with the following promo code - SIMPLE

Cultivating our signature style takes time because it involves understanding ourselves and bringing our truest selves forth. In other words, our signature style is more than what we see on the surface. When we discover what our signature style is, it will become a classic for us uniquely because it is a timeless revelation that will not subside with time. It may ebb and flow to adjust with the offerings of sartorial collections of the zeitgeist, but at the core, who you are, remains the same. What you value - characteristics of importance - i.e. integrity and warmth; what brings forth your most beautiful and best self - a particular silhouette and a particular fit so you feel most comfortable as well as stunning; each of these and more are small, but significant parts of your classic, and thus signature style. In today's episode of the podcast, a readers' favorite from last season, discover 18 ways to define your very own classic style. With each point, there will be great discussion and examples, so be sure to tune in to the audio version. ~View the show notes for episode #159 here ~Images 2 & 3 - previous posts shared on IG of Shannon's style over the years

While it may appear that everyone outside of ourselves is living lives full of amazing, surreal moments from distant lands or dining out at amazing restaurants, even wearing the perfect item of clothing or experiencing bucket list events with every scroll on our social media apps, the reality is that we too are living an amazing life each and everyday even if it doesn't make our social media page to share with the world. Whether looking about as we take our morning walk with our pups as I did yesterday morning (shared in the image above), waking up in a home that provides the feeling of safety and warmth, conversing with loved ones as we share how our days have unfolded or any number of seemingly quotidian details, all of them are something to celebrate and savor. In today's episode of the podcast, one of the top five episodes of season two in early 2016, you will hear shared and discussed 15 ways to elevate the everyday. In spring 2016 I had been living in Bend for about nine months, and I hadn't left the area since arriving in July 2015. The everyday of my life in Bend to me was electric. I can vividly remember pinching myself nearly every week at the reality I had the opportunity to experience, and while in between now and then, I finally did venture outside of Deschutes County to see my family, travel abroad as well as experience a few moments of frustration, I do my best on a regular basis to remember how fortunate I am, and get excited about the everyday things that make life truly extraordinary. Speaking of those hot air balloons, today's Monday's Motivational post was inspired by them. Have a look at the post here - A Life Lesson from a Hot Air Balloon. I hope you enjoy this episode, and thank you for stopping by. ~View the full show notes of the original episode and post here Images: captured by TSLL in Bend, Oregon, and shared on IG. If you look closely between the cattails you can see two hot air balloons.       Images: captured by TSLL in Bend, Oregon, and shared on IG. If you look closely between the cattails you can see two hot air balloons.

I find that the summer months are a wonderful time for assessment and reassessing what works well in my daily routines and why. Similar to the French's La Rentrée which occurs in September after residents have returned from their holidays and school and life and everyday routines return to their regular pace, so too do many of us find ourselves determined to make everything we do run a bit more smoothly. So I will admit, I wasn't surprised when this episode, which was shared in the first season of The Simple Sophisticate podcast, was a listeners' favorite. With some aspects of our daily routines, there are supplies we need to always have on hand to make our everydays run seamlessly, and that is primarily what a Modern Woman's Lifestyle Grocery List is all about. And if you're like me, I take a look at this list every year and update it for my life as it may have changed or improved and different details of each or some of the items may need to be updated, substituted or replaced. I do hope you enjoy and thank you for stopping by and tuning in. ~View the original show notes for episode #28 here.  

Summer season offers a wonderful opportunity reboot our eating habits, remind us of the ease and deliciousness when we eat in season and highlight how eating can be pleasure-filled minus the any guilt. In today's episode of the podcast, this archived episode was in the top five episodes of the first season. Originally airing in the fall of 2014, I hope you enjoy discover the 10 Simple Ways to enjoy food and enjoy the body that takes you through each and every day. Visit the detailed, original show notes of episode #8   ~SIMILAR POSTS/EPISODES YOU MIGHT ENJOY: ~10 Ways to Enjoy Grocery Shopping  ~A Capsule Menu: What It Is and How to Create Your Own ~How to Create an All-Around Healthy Life, episode #208 ~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube | Spotify   ~Images via TSLL's Instagram from a recent trip to Bend's Farmer's Market - image 1 and image 3