Happy New Year 🤍



I woke up this morning feeling energized. With a fresh dusting of snow on the ground, everything feels clean and calm, like the world hit reset. It felt like the perfect day for a book launch, because “Lighten Up! - Clear the Clutter, Live with Ease” is officially out today in both eBook and paperback.
 
I wrote this book last fall during a renovation that turned our house completely upside down. We were building an apartment in the basement for our young adult sons, and clutter was everywhere. Writing “Lighten Up!” started as a way to motivate myself to take action, and honestly, it worked.
 
Even over the holidays, I tackled one of the biggest projects I had been putting off, my eldest son’s abandoned bedroom and workshop. He needed to sort through his belongings, and the holiday break felt like the perfect opportunity. Not sure he saw it that way, but he did tackle it when asked.
 
That space is now becoming a writing room and French classroom for me. I’m actually halfway through a new French-inspired book that will be coming out early 2026. A Paris and Provence themed room is the perfect place to finish the manuscript.
 
Freshening up spaces at home is such a great way to start the year. It gives you room to breathe, think, dream, and actually do the things you’ve been putting off.
 
What are you excited about this year? What would you love to clear some space for? #jennifermelville #cleartheclutter #lightenup #declutteryourhome

Happy October! 🍁I’m excited to let you know that my newest book, “A Year of Beautiful Words: 52 Weeks of Intentional Living” is now available in eBook version on Amazon. You can find it by following the link in my bio. (The paperback version will follow shortly.) I was initially going to wait until January 1, but realized it’s the type of book you can pick up at any point during the year. Why not kick off this new month with a beautiful, seasonally inspired word? Here’s what’s in store:

“A Year of Beautiful Words is a thoughtful and inspiring guide that invites you to embrace each season with purpose, peace, and joy. Inside, you’ll find fifty-two uplifting words—one for every week of the year—designed to inspire and encourage you to live more mindfully over the course of twelve months. These words will guide you to reflect, grow, and thrive in harmony with the natural rhythms of the seasons. As you journey through the year, you’ll learn to savor the magic of the present moment and strengthen your connection to the world around you.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration, motivation, or a deeper bond with the changing seasons, A Year of Beautiful Words will be your companion on the path to a more intentional, joyful, and fulfilling life.” 📕 

Just a note to let you know my new book, “Elevate Your Money Mindset” is now available in paperback format as well.

A big thank you to everyone who recently purchased the eBook version. Yay! It is currently the #1 new release in Amazon's budgeting category. 🥳I really appreciate your support.💕

I’m excited to announce that my new book, “Elevate Your Money Mindset” is now available in Kindle format on Amazon. As usual, the paperback will be a few days behind the eBook.

As an accountant, I had a lot of fun putting this title together. Yes, the topic of personal finances can be fun if you approach it with the right mindset. This book is full of strategies and ideas to elevate the experience of managing your money. It is light on number crunching and focuses on the “soft side” of personal finance. There is something in here for everyone, no matter your stage in life.

As we enter a new season (fall or spring depending on where you live), it’s a great time to start a new project and adopt a fresh perspective. It’s the perfect time to elevate your money mindset! 💰🧮🌅

 

I’m really excited to announce the release of my new book, “Elevate Your Life at Home: Inspiring Ideas to Add Joy, Peace and Magic to Homelife". It is currently available in eBook format on Amazon (link in profile). The paperback will be out shortly. ⁣
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As fall approaches, many of us will soon be returning to our regular routines. This usually coincides with busier schedules and lives. During hectic times, creating a peaceful and pleasant homelife becomes even more important. We all need an inviting space to retreat to at the end of each day to unwind, reset and replenish our souls. Our homes offer this safe and comforting refuge from the stressors and busyness of the outside world.⁣
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Whether you are a homebody or not, this book will inspire you to view your homelife through a fresh lens. Elevating your life at home is not just about beautifying your surroundings. It’s also about how you and your loved ones live in and interact with the spaces of your home. My book offers inspirational and practical ideas to make life within the walls of your home as enjoyable as possible. Topics discussed include creative decorating ideas, organization and decluttering tips, flexible space solutions and most importantly, advice on how to develop an attitude of positivity and gratitude about your living space.⁣
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Elevate Your Life at Home will get your creative juices flowing. You will be inspired, motivated and empowered to take action and create a life at home that includes more joy, peace and magic! ⁣
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To give you a flavour of the book, this is a list of the chapters: ⁣
1. Sprinkle Your Home With Fairy Dust⁣
2. Choose Beauty⁣
3. Adopt a Vacation State of Mind⁣
4. Set Yourself up for Success⁣
5. Elevate Your Style at Home⁣
6. Invite Mother Nature in for a Visit⁣
7. Exercise Your Flexibility⁣
8. Clamp Down on Clutter With a Gentle Hand⁣
9. Tackle Household Problems Like a Superhero⁣
10. Combat Cabin Fever⁣
11. Love Your Perfectly Imperfect Home⁣
12. 100 Seasonal Ideas to Elevate Life at Home ⁣
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Thank you so much to my readers! As a self-published author I appreciate your support!

 

Fall is just around the corner, so I figured this month would be the perfect time to offer a giveaway of my book, 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦. I’m offering a whopping 100 free copies of the eBook version on Goodreads!⁣
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I wanted to create some excitement around the topic of personal style, as the change in season offers a great opportunity to shake things up! I’m also a big believer in intentional shopping, so putting some thought into your wardrobe ahead of time allows you to plan and budget any purchases you intend to make. ⁣
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Although I wrote this book just last summer, it was really ten years in the making. Back in my mid-thirties, I hit a style and identity crisis. I was a stay-at-home mom to two busy toddlers, and felt like I was drowning under the weight of motherhood. I was putting almost zero effort into my personal appearance, and my self-esteem was at an all-time low. I knew drastic measures were in order, but I didn’t know where to begin. The idea of being a stylish, poised and pulled-together woman felt out of reach and inaccessible.⁣
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I set off on a journey to elevate my personal style and improve my sense of self-worth. This book details the steps of my journey, and all the things I learned along the way. (It also reveals my many mistakes and embarrassing moments!) I felt that sharing my story was important, because I suspect many women feel, or have felt, the same way. As an “everyday woman”, I thought that others might find my realistic and relatable perspective helpful, comforting and inspiring.⁣
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No matter where you stand on your own personal style journey, I think my book offers motivating and empowering ideas to help you along the way.⁣
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First off, this giveaway is only open to residents of the US. (Sorry, this part was out of my control!!) In order to sign up, you will need to create a Goodreads account if you don’t already have one. From there, you can just click here to enter!
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I hope you will join me on a personal style journey! Good luck!

It’s pouring rain here today! I cozied myself up this morning and listened to a really great, though-provoking podcast by @consciouschatter that I need to recommend!! It features an interview with @msbeltempo (I’m such a big fan of Alyssa!)⁣
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I loved the discussion around creativity over consumption. It’s a concept I’ve had on my mind lately, as I have been applying it to my writing. Lately I’ve been inspired to create (write) instead of read/scroll (consume). I often flip between create and consume, depending on my mood and mindset.⁣
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Alyssa explains how to apply creativity over consumption to your closet. I just love all her tips! She is the master of shopping your closet. It’s about being creative, looking for new options, changing how you view your closet, and appreciating what you have instead of pining for the next shiny thing on the market. ⁣
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The discussions tie in nicely with a few chapters on my book, 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦. In particular, chapters 7, 8, 9 focus on these concepts. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘷𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳, 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘱𝘵 𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸-𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘴. Alyssa has inspired me a lot over the last couple of years, and has definitely impacted how I view my closet, as well as the shopping experience.⁣
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I think August is a great time to just sit back and ponder these types of thoughts, because before we know it, “fall fashion” will hit the stores. It’s nice to go into a new season with a plan, budget, proper mindset and a sense of gratitude for what you already own.⁣
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Even if it’s not raining where you are, today is a great day to sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy this podcast. The link is in @consciouschatter ‘s bio! Let me know what you think once you check it out.

I think looking after our belongings is really an act of gratitude. The time I spend cleaning, polishing or mending allows me to appreciate an object even more. There is something incredibly satisfying about giving our things some TLC!⁣
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My three pairs of Swedish Hasbeens clogs are favorites in my summer footwear collection. I love touching up scuffs with sandpaper and polishing the wood with beeswax. These clogs are 5-6 years old and are all still going strong. I had the black ones resoled last year and they are as good as new.⁣
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I actually enjoy washing my delicates by hand. I used to toss them in a mesh bag on the delicate cycle, but hand washing feels a lot gentler. It sounds like a lot of work, but it’s really not!⁣
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Have you been working on any wardrobe maintenance this summer?

I always revisit my makeup and skincare routines with the change of the season. I’m pretty simple when it comes this area, and my collection of products is quite minimal.⁣
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Summer means it’s time to pull out the bronzer and switch out my lip color to something more pink than red. I also usually need to switch my foundation to something a little more “golden”. This photo is pretty much my entire makeup collection. I have two other eyeshadow palettes and some darker lip color stored away. It seems to be all I need to pull together a look that makes me feel good about myself, but is also really quick and easy.⁣
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My skin was feeling terrible lately, so I booked myself in for a facial with my aesthetician. It’s been about a year and a half since I’ve had one, and it was DIVINE. Even my husband noticed that I have a healthier glow now. I rely on her advice when choosing products, as I have zero ability to pick them out myself. She knows my skin so well! Thank you @lenamartell_ !!⁣
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Does your skin have a favorite season? (Mine is definitely summer!) How do you switch up your beauty routines with the change in seasons? 💄⁣

 

Now that I have all the loose ends tied up on my new book, “Elevate Your Health”, I feel like it’s time for me to slip back into the role of reader for a bit. I just received my copy of “Joy in the Little Things” by @kerriehessillustration . This book is yummy! I think it’s best enjoyed in little delicious bites. I have it on the coffee table and I pick it up each time I have a cup of tea. The illustrations are dreamy, as is the message. ⁣

I’m always looking to simplify and reduce clutter in my life. Christmas is no exception. While I love adding a few festive touches to the house, I like to keep it minimal. With the exception of our tree decorations and the Advent calendar, all my other decorations this year are natural. When the holiday season is over, I won’t have much to pack up and put away. I’ll be able to just dump the dried branches and flowers in the compost pile! Right now I am loving this simple little centerpiece I pulled together from grocery store roses, backyard fir twigs and a vintage milk glass planter. Anyone else going super simple with the decorating this year? 🌲⭐️

“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can only collect a few. One moon shell is more impressive than three.” 
Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~ Gift from the Sea. 

I read “Gift from the Sea” every single summer and I’m trying to carry the message of this book along with me as we head into the season of holiday overload. The themes and messages never grow old. (It was written over fifty years ago!) There is so much wisdom offered in this tiny little book

This is one of my favorite quotes I like to keep in my back pocket 👖. This can apply to so many areas in life! One slice of cake? One black dress? One photo? One post? One gift? What area of your life would you most like to use this mindset?