The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style

What does it mean to be a strong woman? In today's episode, Shannon shares 15 characteristics of strong women and discusses the benefits of choosing to live with strength. This week's Petit Plaisir is the annual TSLL Holiday Gift Guide .

From the moment you wake up until the minute you snuggle up in bed, Shannon shares 21 ways to enjoy a simply luxurious Thanksgiving tailored to your tastes and comforts and those you love.  This week's Petit Plaisir is a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich that will melt in your mouth. 

Best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love , Elizabeth Gilbert has just released a new book, Big Magic: Creative Living Without Fear . Inspired by the content as well as an event she hosted in her hometown, Shannon shares her thoughts on where true success actually resides. This week's Petit Plaisir spotlights Shannon's recommended workout clothing that will leave you looking stylish, comfortable and...

Being effortlessly chic doesn't occur without forethought, but by adhering to these 15 habits, it can be something that with time becomes second-nature. From which colors to choose, which accessories to wear, as well as how to care for your clothes and accessories, when the habits we practice each day render the results we desire, we truly can exude effortless chic style. In this week's Petit Plai...

Introverts gather energy from time alone and being in their own company or calm environments, but sometimes we don't have control over the demands of our jobs. In today's episode, Shannon shares eight ways to cultivate a work environment, no matter what your career field, that will improve the quality of your everyday work environment.  In this week's Petit Plaisir, Adele's first track "Hello" fro...

Often cynicism in others is easier to recognize in ourselves; however, once we recognize we are slowly becoming more defensive and negative there are simple tools that will be shared in today's episode that will ensure cynicism will no longer be a default. The four benefits will vastly improve the quality of each of our lives once we choose to be more vulnerable, stand securely in who we are and a...

Inspired by Thomas J. Stanley's book Stop Acting Rich , discover seven misnomers of those who aspire to be rich but actually aren't, and more importantly unearth the 12 ways to cultivate true financial security. In today's Petit Plaisir, a Francophile Find in a new book by Florence de Dampierre, French Chic Living: Simple Ways to Make Your Home Beautiful. 

Diving into what stereotypes are and why they are detrimental, this episode primarily focuses on the six ways to defy them in our everyday lives, no matter what the stereotype is that you have been pigeonholed by. In this week's Petit Plaisir, discover my review and recommendation for Misty Copeland's documentary "A Ballerina's Tale" which hits theaters nationwide on October 14, 2015. 

Inspired by the history of Eryie Vineyards in Oregon, discover how vineyards have many life lessons to teach us all as we pursue a fulfilling and quality life. This week's Petit Plaisir, Shannon reviews Sharon Santoni's new book  My Stylish French Girlfriends.

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.

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 1...

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 wa...

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 stream...

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?

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. 

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.

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...

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.

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...

Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, a WWII bomb in London, the film  People, Places, Things and much more in this week's top news stories of the week.

The idea of "feeling fat" is often rather a feeling of knowing we aren't taking care of our body as we should and knowing we can feel better in our own skin. In today's episode, Shannon shares 15 simple ways to get back on track when it comes to eating well without going on a "diet" as Americans use the term.  In this week's Petit Plaisir, Shannon reviews Harper Lee's Go Set A Watchman .

The top stories from the past stories such as President Obama's announcement on greenhouse gas emmissions, meditation's positive effects on being self-critical and the return of a  Stradivarius   violin that was lost 35 years ago. So much to talk about, so tune in and you'll be au courant in 15 minutes or less. 

Inspired by Dr. Paul Dolan's book  Happiness by Design , this episode will focus   30 specific ways to cultivate a happier life. Most importantly, as revealed by Dr. Dolan's book, the equation of what makes a happy life is discussed and from that point the remaining 29 tips are shared. In this week's Petit Plaisir, the book The French Beauty Solution is reviewed and recommended. 

Discover the top stories of the past week in 15 minutes or less. This week topics range from the selection of the 2022 Winter Olympics to Turkey, health studies, the Republican Presidential debate, Jon Stewart and a films that are debuting nationally and in Bend. Geraldine Lepere discusses a chic French word of the week that you won't want to miss.

Inspired by her own experience of relocating after nine years of living in her beloved house to her new home in Bend, Oregon, Shannon shares a checklist that will take you from before to during to settling in without the unnecessary stress and angst. Such a life transition can and should be seen as an opportunity, and such a realization is easier to understand when the unnecessary stress is allevi...