Elegance in Punctuality

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Being on time can be a chore sometimes. I hate being late for anything but sometimes it happens. But I can assure you that if I am late it was not on purpose.


I am continuing my reading in Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic. This week I read a bit on Punctuality. Jennifer gives five tips for poised punctuality. I must say that the only tip I need to work on is number 3.

Read the tips below and enjoy!

Photo by Melnychuk Nataliya on Unsplash







1. Set a reminder for your appointment.

Many times people are late because they forgot they had to be somewhere in the first place! Most smartphones have a calendar with an alarm option. You can set it to remind you to be on time one hour or even one day before your event. It’s helpful to write all pertinent information in your reminder, such as the address and notes on where to park. This way you have all the information you need in one space.


2. Get everything ready beforehand.

If you have an early morning appointment, get everything in order the night before. Choose your clothes and lay them out. Pack that lunch and keep it in the fridge. Put your briefcase by the front door. Scout out the location and all potential routes.

3. Leave room for the unexpected.

If you are traveling to a new location, the GPS might say it only takes you 20 minutes to get there, but that could be without traffic. Double the time you think it will take you to get there, in case you encounter a jam. If you think your children will be tough to rally, ask them to get ready 10 minutes before you normally would, to account for any lagging.

4. Know the particulars.

If you are driving, find out where you need to park. If you are taking public transit, calculate the routes beforehand. Then, if you happen to be running behind due to traffic or a late bus, you can eliminate further confusion upon arrival.


5. Be prepared to be early.

If you arrive early, come prepared with a book or something to keep you occupied while you wait. Remember, being early is not a waste of time. It is simply ensuring that you don’t arrive flustered and unprepared.






An Elegant Routine

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We all have routines. I have a routine for Monday thru Friday then I have a different routine for Saturday and Sunday. During my work week I get up around 5:45 and put on my exercise clothes and do a brisk walk on my treadmill for 45 minutes. I then stretch, use my arm weights and then check the blog and post my entry for the day (which is only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays).




photo credit Micheile Henderson







I run my bathwater, read my bible, and pray. I love this morning routine. No one is awake. I finish getting ready and then wake up my daughter. I head to work, spend the day working at the office, and then come home to make dinner (I have a dinner rotation list). I check my daughter’s homework, review home notes, sign her agenda, then eat dinner.


I always set my table with dishes (see my entry here for my table setting). No paper plates here. I clean up then it’s bath-time for my daughter and piano practicing for me. She finishes bathing, gets ready for bed and we say prayers. I then get ready for bed (see my post here about dressing for bed) and watch a little of the Barefoot Contessa or Martha Stewart.

                                                    Photo by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash


This is my routine. Nothing fancy but I love it! It works for my family. I read this recently… Life’s fretfulness is transcended. The different and the novel are sweet, but regularity and repetition are also teachers… And if you have no ceremony, no habits, which may be opulent or may be simple but are exact and rigorous and familiar, how can you reach toward the actuality of faith, or even a moral life, except vaguely? The patterns of our lives reveal us. Our habits measure us. Our battles with our habits speak of dreams yet to become real. -Mary Oliver



I adore this quote. Sometimes I get teased for being so routine but they are necessary. Because I have set the tone in our home my daughter is obedient to the routine. She knows to get clothes ready for school the night before. She knows to floss and brush her teeth. She even knows that mommy is going to the grocery store every weekend with her list and I will be picking up fresh flowers for our home and my office.



                        

                        photo credit Vika Fleisher 
       


But as I said, I love it. Create a routine for your life that is beautiful and fitting. I believe that with elegance there is also order. Routines can be elegant. Just make sure it is….


Cinnamon Apple French Toast

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I saw this decadent recipe on Southern Lady magazine. I must try it soon!!! No, no asap!!!

Looks heavenly



Ingredients
  1. 1⁄2 cup heavy whipping cream
  2. 1⁄2 cup half-and-half
  3. 2 large eggs
  4. 1 tablespoon sugar
  5. 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  6. 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  7. 4 tablespoons butter
  8. 8 slices Texas toast
  9. Cinnamon Apple Topping (recipe follows)
  10. Garnish: chopped toasted pecans
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 200°.
  2. In a shallow dish, combine cream, half-and-half, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla; whisk to combine well.
  3. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat. Dip bread into cream mixture, allowing excess to drain. Cook bread for 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Repeat procedure with remaining butter and bread. Keep each batch warm in oven. Serve with Cinnamon Apple Topping. Garnish with pecans, if desired.


Cinnamon Apple Topping
Ingredients
  1. 6 tablespoons butter
  2. 3⁄4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  3. 3⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  4. 3 Granny Smith apples, cored and thinly sliced
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cinnamon, stirring to combine. Add apples, stirring to coat. Cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until syrup is slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.






(photo and recipe via Southern Lady.com)

Outlet Mall Shopping

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A couple of weeks ago my husband and I took a small trip to our outlet mall here in Indianapolis. It is called Edinburgh Premium Outlets. We have some great stores here. Of course I have my few favorites. I love going to Ralph Lauren, Ninewest, Loft, Coach and Banana Republic. 

I try to live what I believe, be elegant everyday and outlet malls help me to accomplish that without ruining my budget. The first store that we stop at was Ralph Lauren. I purchased some shirts for my husband and I picked up these Polo Equestrian scarves. 






You can find the same scarves here but they are hard to locate. I could not locate my Ninewest heels. Sorry…. the other item that I purchased was this lovely Coach wallet. I found a close option here. The last item in this photo is the Loft lace tank top. 
The next item I purchased was this Coach pink umbrella. There are a lot to chose from see here but I only paid $25 for it which was a steal!! I purchased 2 bottles of perfume. One is called Lolita Lempicka and I have been wearing it for years! It is a very crisp floral fragrance. Everyone gives me compliments on it and the other is Banana Republic Wildbloom Vert. This is another floral fragrance with notes of violet leaf, pear, and gardenia. 
Here is another photo of the Wildbloom. Incredibly chic isn’t it? I hope you enjoyed this post and take advantage of your outdoor malls. Finding deals is being chic also!
Enjoy!
(all photos via AHFE) 


Shoelery

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Finding wonderful shoes is always a good thing but finding wonderful shoe accessories is quite another. I was looking around my favorite store Von Maur and spotted these cute shoe clip-ons! It is called Shoelery.

It’s jewelry for your shoes! I love how versatile they are and how they change the look of your shoe completely. I will be heading to the mall for more very soon!

Floral Double Bow
French Square Buckle
I purchased the floral double bow clip-ons. They look great!
(photos via Von Maur and AHFE)

Speaking Well ~Polish Your Poise

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I am still reading Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott. Her books are always wonderful reads! The section that I want to share today is Ways to Practice Good Diction.

Jennifer gives 11 ways to clean up your language and to speak with clarity and intelligence. I have been on a quest to become an elegant bearing woman and in today’s society, it is NOT easy.

Rude people are everywhere and always want to challenge “your elegance”. But we must remain strong and continue on the right path.

Here are her tips:

1) Become an avid reader


2) Read classic literature


3) Learn a new word each day and use it in your speech


4) Listen to yourself when you speak


5) Eliminate vulgarities


6) Avoid excessive use of “like” and “um”


7) Avoid slang in most social situations but sill remain au courant with the culture


8) Pause (and think!) before you speak


9) Become okay with silence


10) Listen to audiobooks and be inspired by the eloquent readers


11) If you’re feeling nervous in a social setting, choose silence over mindless babbling 


I love these tips and would encourage everyone to include them in your thinking. It’s a rude world out there let’s try to overcome it!





Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
(text author Jennifer L. Scott)
















Chic Stationey

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I am always on the lookout for beautiful things. While flipping through the pages of House Beautiful magazine I saw these beautiful and chic stationery sets from Paperless Post. 







This is called Birch Monarch Suite and it is my favorite. 





Here is another chic option it is called Mandarin Grove. 






Tea Tree




I just wrote a post last month about handwritten notes (see here). I would encourage anyone to make beautiful stationery apart of your beautiful life. 




(all photos via Rifle Paper Co.)