The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired With Signature Style

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. 

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 alleviated. Tune in to find out how. In this week's Petit Plaisir discover a simple, scrumptious summer dessert that will have you stopping by your local farmer's market this coming week in order to treat yourself adn your guests - a Berry Galette.

Part of living well is being in the know, whether it is being knowledgable of news from around the world or informed of going-ons right in your own community, because it’s not what you think, it’s that you think. All of the information shared on the Au Courant Weekly will enable you to go forth into the weekend ready for an engaging conversation or simply mindful of the most recent current events, from which you can formulate your own opinions. So tune in each Saturday morning, and in 15 minutes or less you will be au courant. In this week's episode: Dr. Seuss, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, the Sibling Study, Cuban Embassy, President Obama in Kenya, and more! And don't forget Géraldine Lepère, the French language expert and founder of the website Comme une Française  offers her weekly French Word of the Week at the end of the episode. Find out what it is!

Tapping into our true potential requires that we cultivate sanctuaries throughout our daily routines. And while our home should most certainly be a sanctuary as we've discussed in previous episodes, so many other sanctuaries can be cultivated as well. In today's episode, inspired by her recent paddle boarding experience shares the power of carving out time alone so that we can let go of what is thwarting us from discovering what our heart yearns for and stepping ever closer to our true potential. In this week's Petit Plaisir, the second weekly episode of The Simple Sophisticate, which begins airing this Saturday (July 25, 2015) is discussed. 

If you've ever wanted to bring the comfort and luxury home with you after traveling and staying in lush living arrangements, whether a luxury hotel or vacation rental, in today's episode you'll discover 10 simple and inexpensive ways you can live a little more luxuriously right at home. In this week's Petit Plaisir Shannon reviews the film The Woman in Gold the film and shares her experience visiting the Neue Galerie where the original Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I hangs. 

Inspired by Dr. Elaine Aron's best-selling book, The Highly Sensitive Person, discover the 26 characteristics of being highly sensitive and learn 19 ways to ensure you can thrive to your fullest potential. In this week's Petit Plaisir, Shannon shares one of her favorite podcasts to listen to while relaxing and traveling: The Splendid Table.

As the summer solistice has just occurred and the summer season has officially begun, Shannon shares 15 simple ways to take advantage of all that summer has to offer whether you are staying in town or have the opportunity to travel. This week's Petit Plaisir at the end of the episode is Amazon's latest original comedy series that is the ideal six episode download to enjoy whether you are on a plane, train, in the car or are spending an evening or two in. 

In order for clothing to look its best and therefore to allow each of us to feel our best, we need the proper lingerie that provides the foundational element of each outfit we choose. Today, Shannon shares the 10 essential basics for the Lingerie Capsule Wardrobe along with five items that are Essential Luxuries. In this week's Petit Plaisir, Shannon shares one of her favorie weekly weekend rituals.

The quality of our days is another lesson in knowing what to hold on to and what to let go of, in other words choosing quality over quantity. In today's episode, discover 12 items that perhaps you hold on to unnecessarily and six items to hold on to no matter where your life takes you. This week's Petit Plaisir is Shannon's latest favorite beauty product that will hydrate skin and minimize wrinkles.

Inspired by Sophia Amoruso's best-selling book #GirlBoss, today's episode dives into eight specific ways you can design the life that taps into your passions, assists you in letting go of social dictates and strongholds and live the live you only previously imagined.  This week's Petit Plaisir is a Francophile film that involves love and chocolat - Romantics Anonymous.

Believe it or not, love and real estate have more in common than not. In today's episode, Shannon shares through her own experience what having success in real estate (or dating) can teach us about the other. This week's Petit Plaisir shares a dose of inspiration from one of the top commencement addresses given by David Foster Wallace.

The third part in the Life & Tech series continues with nine specific Do's and Don'ts of texting. With the primary goal of enhancing our relationships, not hindering them, listeners will learn where, when and how to best communicate. This week's Petit Plaisir is one of Shannon's favorite afternoon snacks to help her get through the day. It's simple and a palette pleaser.

Very often the phrase "It was meant to be" is uttered to explain why something worked out or didn't work out, depending upon the situation. However, in today's episode Shannon shares seven truths as to what actually plays a role in helping the life we wish to happen, the destiny we hope will materialize actually have a change at coming to fruition. Believe it or not, we play a bigger role than we may have first imagined. In this week's Petit Plaisir, Amy Morin's book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do is reviewed.

One of the eight pillars of a simply luxurious life is a healthy social circle, and in today's episode listeners will discover exactly who will and who won't contribute to a more quality, fulfilling and successful life. In today's Petit Plaisir, Shannon shares her secret to sleeping well from the pillow to the pillowcase. A simple change can make a big difference in the quality of your nights and days.

In Kate Bolick's recently released book (April 21, 2015), she dives into the possibilities of remaining single. While Bolick doesn't profess that being single is the best way to live for everyone, she does point out observations and biases of society that prompt the reader to pause and consider previously held assumptions about what the right path is for them.  In today's episode, three specific insights are shared which are inspired by Bolick's book as to how to go about living a life that is in alignment with your passions and innate leanings. Today's Petit Plaisir highlight's one of Shannon's favorite simple pleasures to be enjoyed regularly during the week to unwind and relax - L'Occitane's Lavender Foaming Bath.