The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style
Shannon Ables
The simple sophisticate is someone who prefers quality over quantity, sensible living over mindless consumption, personal style instead of trendy fashions, has an insatiable curiosity for life’s endless questions and a desire to live a truly fulfilling life rather than being led around by the nose. Inspired by her lifestyle blog The Simply Luxurious Life, Shannon Ables (the original Simple Sophisticate) shares with listeners tips on how to live a refined life on an everyday income, a life of true contentment. Founded on the principle of the art of living a life of quality over quantity, episodes explore topics ranging from creating an everyday life you love living, strengthening mindfulness practices, preparing seasonally delicious meals, building a capsule wardrobe, traveling the world (Francophiles and Anglophiles tune in as France as well as the Britain are favorite destinations), and living life to the fullest without breaking the bank because living well is really quite simple.
*illustration by artist Sarah Löcker exclusively commissioned for the show
*illustration by artist Sarah Löcker exclusively commissioned for the show
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 28, 2015 • 28min
63: Why Not . . . Gather the Essentials for Life?
Discover 11 ways to build a strong foundation for living a life of quality. Beginning with gratitude and ending with hope, there are nine more imperative skills that when we acquire, contentment and fulfillment are soon to follow. In this week's Petit Plaisir, I review Nancy Meyers' new film The Intern.
Sep 21, 2015 • 34min
62: Why Not . . . Simplify Your Choices
The quality of our lives is based on the decisions we make every day. And even though it may feel as though our minds are energizer bunnies, they burn out each day as well. It is imperative that we consumer our mind's power for the most important decisions and leave the remaining decisions to auto-pilot. The key is to make sure the auto-pilot is set to a quality life outcome. In today's episode 17 everyday decisions will be shared that can be added to the auto-pilot list. In this week's Petit Plaisir, the perfect recipe to end summer and begin fall: Fresh Heirloom Tomato Soup with Cream inspired by my favorite podcast, The Splendid Table.
Sep 14, 2015 • 26min
61: 10 Benefits of a Broad Perspective
Choosing to broaden our perspectives on a regular basis, whether through travel, reading or meeting new people from different life experiences can have a tremendously positive experience on the quality of our lives. Today, 10 benefits will be shared to encourage each of us to continue to increase our knowledge and understanding of the world. This week's Petit Plaisir is a staple in the capsule wardrobe (spring or fall). Shannon has found her favorite tee and explains what size you should order and why you should invest.
Sep 7, 2015 • 35min
60: 25 Must-Haves for the Efficient Office Desk
As everyone returns from their summer getaways, whether you are going back to school, to work or simply getting back to a regular work schedule, the goal of being at work is to be efficient. And the best way to be efficient is to have an office area that is curated to make us comfortable and therefore confident to do our best work. With removal of clutter, only having items that we need and streamlining our systems, we can ensure a more productive work day each and every time we step foot in the office. Today I will share with you 25 simple, yet powerful ways to make your work day all the more enjoyable and productive. In this week's Petit Plaisir, a film set in Paris starring Michael Cain and Clémence Poésy that took my breath away, and I am eager to share: Last Love.
Sep 5, 2015 • 11min
59: September 5, 2015: Au Courant Weekly
President Obama renames Mt. McKinley, migrants stop a Eurostar train for hours near Calais, France, experts discover more trees on the planet earth than expected and much more! In this week's French Word of the Week it's all about wrapping up vacations and returning to the regular routine. Can you guess what word is the focus?
Aug 31, 2015 • 21min
58: Why Not . . . Wear a Blazer?
A seasonless, classic wardrobe essential is the blazer. In today's episode discover the 6 reasons why a blazer is a must-have in any woman's wardrobe, and then learn 9 ways to style a wardrobe to align with your signature style. In this week's Petit Plaisir, Shannon shares a simple decor trick to bring a bit more luxury to your bed without breaking the bank.
Aug 29, 2015 • 13min
57: August 29, 2015: Au Courant Weekly
The 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, firefighters from Down Under come to help the west, Serene begins the pursuit of wrapping up the grand slam and much, much more. In this week's French Word of the Week, Géraldine is sharing the differences in language when it comes to friendships and romantic partnerships.
Aug 24, 2015 • 44min
56: Interview with Frances Schultz
Author, blogger and decor expert Frances Schultz's new book The Bee Cottage Story: How I Made a Muddle of Things and Decorated My Way Back to Happiness is the focus of today's discussion. And while the premise of the book is all about how she restored her 1920's East Hampton's cottage, it also part memoir as readers discovery her journey to arrive at the place she is today, fulfilled, content and full of wisdom. Topics of happiness, meditation, authenticity and yes, even decor are discussed. In today's Petit Plaisir, I share my top 10 decor tips and ideas from the pages of The Bee Cottage Story by Frances Schultz.
Aug 22, 2015 • 14min
55: August 22, 2015: Au Courant Weekly
First two women graduate from Army Ranger School, Addyi is approved for women's libidos, Lily Tomlin stars in a delightful new film and much more. In this week's French Word of the Week, we're talking food and breakfast, French toast specifically.
Aug 17, 2015 • 24min
54: 10 Ways to Deal with Toxic People
Even when we can identify a toxic person a mile away, we will still will have to deal with them from time to time. Whether it's in the workplace, at home or out in the community, there will be moments that can either leave us deflated if we don't know how to handle them or conversely simply be a minor road bump when handled effectively. While we can limit our interactions, we'll talk about how to do just that as well as how to deal with toxic people we may encounter from time to time. In this week's Petit Plaisir, a simple touch you can bring to your home to brighten the mood of the space without breaking the bank.
