Flowers, and Lessons From Madame Chic : My Thoughts, Pt. 3

Part 3 // How To Live Well

• Chapter 10 // Always Use The Best Things You Have
• Chapter 11 // Live Life As A Formal Affair
• Chapter 12 // Clutter Is So Not Chic
• Chapter 13 // Seek Out The Arts
• Chapter 14 // Cultivate An Air Of Mystery
• Chapter 15 // Practice The Art Of Entertaining
• Chapter 16 // Reject The New Materialism
• Chapter 17 // Cultivate Your Mind
• Chapter 18 // Find Simple Pleasures
• Chapter 19 // Value Quality Above All
• Chapter 20 // Live A Passionate Life

Part 3 // How To Live Well

• Chapter 10 // Using your best includes using your best manners. Think about how you behave around guests; behave that way all the time and you won't be phony.
• Chapter 11 // Formal is the opposite of chaotic. It includes everyday rituals and time-honored traditions, such as letter writing and greeting everyone you meet.
• Chapter 12 // Clutter is anything that is somewhere it doesn't belong. Choose a place for everything. If the stuff you use daily is out in the open because your closets and drawers are packed with things you don't use, it's time to get rid of those things.
• Chapter 13 // Take advantage of the arts in your own city. Analyze paintings, plays, and films. Bring the arts to you by hosting a poetry reading or showing the works of a local artist at a party in your own home.
• Chapter 14 // Have a small circle of close friends who know your secrets, and remain mysterious with everyone else. Discuss art, books, current events, just not your life story. Don't say much, say it softly, and be a good listener. Become comfortable with silence.
• Chapter 15 // Be confident and unconscious of yourself, even when you make a mistake. Be passionate about your food and your guests. Create unique rituals for your parties that people will look forward to.
• Chapter 16 // The French buy fewer things. Be aware of your own pride; don't let it make you buy something. Learn to say, "No thank you; these are not for me."
• Chapter 17 // Intellectual women are considered attractive in France. You're expected to have something of quality to say. Read books (1-2 per week). Read the newspaper (print version). Watch indie films, foreign films, and classics. Learn about your favorite artists. If there is something you like, learn about it in great detail. Improve your vocabulary. Travel and immerse yourself in other cultures like a native. Take classes. Keep things that you learn in mind so that you can discuss them.
• Chapter 18 // If you can learn to take pleasure from simple things, you are less likely to overeat, overspend, and hoard. Employ your senses. Change things up to challenge your palate and your brain. Make your daily routines pleasurable. Learn to discern real pleasure; it will never make you guilty or unhealthy. Distract yourself from unhealthy habits with better habits.
• Chapter 19 // Be a connoisseur of fine, fresh food. Inform yourself of a company's business/environmental practices before you buy.
• Chapter 20 // Adventure. Let yourself be moved.

The wreath in the very first picture was made out of artificial flowers by my sister Kayley. She made a few other pretty arrangements that have added a bright touch to our home this spring. Then, between Mother's Day, Teacher's Appreciation Week, and my graduation, there have been fresh flowers on every surface in the house. This yellow bouquet was a gift from my family for my graduation last week. It was my first ever bouquet of flowers.