Bistro Chic

Like coffee in the United States, tea in Britain is a staple in nearly every household. According to the United Kingdom Tea Council, the British drink 165 million cups of tea per day or 60.2 billion cups of tea per year. Although most of these people will drink a cuppa (tea) out of habit or because it just tastes good, many British, as well as other cultures around the world, are drinking tea for its health benefits. 

The latest research suggests several associations between tea consumption and good health. In fact, the UK Tea Council recommends drinking four cups of tea per day in order experience the full benefits of tea. In just four cups a day, tea taken with milk can provide:

•  17% of the recommended intake for calcium
• 5% for zinc, 22% for Vitamin B2,
• 5% for folic acid
• Vitamins B1 and B6
• Manganese, which is essential for general physical development
• Potassium which helps to maintain your body’s fluid balance

A Perfect Cuppa

And, not only does tea provide nutritional value, but studies from around the world are finding that tea consumption may help towards maintaining a healthy heart, while other studies suggest tea can help you recover more quickly from the everyday stresses of life. Furthermore, for those tea-lovers who are counting calories, tea without milk has zero calories, and only 13 calories if you add a splash of skim milk. Tea – the nutrition-packed, low-calorie, heart healthy beverage that comes in numerous flavor combinations – what more could you ask for?

Since I first traveled to the UK over 10 years ago, I have been drinking tea on a regular basis. I not only enjoy the simple and refreshing taste of tea, but I also find the act of tea drinking to be very sophisticated. But, even in all my years of drinking tea, I have wondered, How exactly do the British make their tea? and What do they put in it? If you ask 100 different Britons these questions, you are guaranteed to get 100 different answers. One thing they do agree on is this – whether it’s black, white, green, with cream or sugar, the art of making tea is to be taken seriously. 

Although many British follow the age-old George Orwell method of brewing tea…

A Nice Cup of Tea, the English Standard, 1946 by George Orwell

British women buy more make-up than anyone. In fact, a new survey shows British women would spend their last £10 (about $14) on a tube of lipstick, ahead of food, clothing, and other daily essentials, suggesting that this type of purchase gives women a cheap shopping fix, especially in a tough economy. Even during times of recession, all women seem the find money to splurge – particularly on little things like makeup.

Lipstick: An affordable luxury

This shopping behavior, dubbed the Lipstick Effect, has become more common in recent decades with the ebb and flow of the economy. The term suggests that during times of recession, women who can’t afford typical expensive luxuries, like jewelry or designer handbags, will opt for less expensive ones like lipstick or nail polish, all to make them feel glamorous and boost their mood during times when many people are feeling the inevitable squeeze in their pocketbooks.

Ladies, our humble salaries may not afford us a Kate Spade bag or another pair of Jimmy Choos, but we’ll be damned if we can’t buy a $10 lipstick at Ulta. I mean, a girl’s gotta shop, right? If your shopaholic personality is waking up to a recessionista reality, try indulging in a few of these harmless pick-me-ups. They can provide an instant mood boost for a girl on any budget.

For less than $15 you can afford the following luxuries:

• Under $15 - 
  • Victoria’s Secret underwear
  • A luxurious hand towel in whatever color makes you happy
  • Comfy slippers
  • A bouquet of flowers
  • Fancy bar soaps
• Under $10 - 
  • A rockin’ hot lipstick from Sephora
  • Paperback romance novel
  • OPI nail polish
  • Jeweled hair clips
  • Tin of gourmet tea or box of candy
  • A decent Chardonnay at Trader Joe’s
• Under $5 - 
  • Travel size Bath and Body Works hand cream or body wash
  • Scented candles
  • One wine glass from Crate and Barrel
• Under $3 - 
  • Tall Starbucks latte
  • Magazine
  • Cool notebook
  • Pair of argyle socks
• Under $1 - 
  • Your new favorite song downloaded from itunes
  • Shower loofah

Obviously, all of these things are those you do not have to have. But, satisfying your urge to splurge with these petits luxes may help you through the hard times. And, as Estée Lauder famously said :

“When things are bad, if a woman has a new perfume and a little lipstick, she feels like a queen.”

Cheers! I’m on off to buy a new lipstick…

Natural. Effortless. Chic. These three elements can easily describe a French woman’s overall style, including her hairstyle. Our French cousins may wear their hair in a twist or leave it flowing freely across their shoulders. But no matter how a French woman styles her hair for the day, her hair remains polished and never overdone.

Take a look at your hair today? Would you consider it natural, effortless, and chic? If not, maybe it’s time for a new style.

If your stylist gives you "the usual" it may be time for a new hairstyle.

That’s what I did, more than 10 years ago. Back then, I had very long hair, past the middle of my back. Although attractive to men, this hair was hard to manage, made my head feel heavy, and left me with more bad hair days, than good. As I entered graduate school, I gave great thought to how my hair looked and how my hair represented me. Because I was teaching in grad school, I wanted a hairstyle that made me look more professional and not one that made me look like I belonged on a Key West beach with spring breakers. A big wake-up call came when I came across my high school pictures and noticed that I still had the same hairstyle that I did in high school. Then and there, I made my date with destiny, or at least a date with a pair of scissors.

Although I put my decision off for several weeks, getting “the cut” for the first time was liberating – although I’m sure I shed a tear when that big chunk of hair hit the salon floor. Deciding to cut my long hair was one of the best beauty/style decisions I’ve made. I was free from heavy hair and now had a new shoulder-length style, a new look, a new image to help me start my new career.

Many years have past and my hair follies continue. Although I’m still under 40, my career is such where I need to remain stylish and professional. In the last 3 years alone, I’ve had many haircuts and a half a dozen new styles, including color changes. These style or color changes have not been drastic, more like gradual changes to find the right hairstyle for me for this point in my life. My hair is now above my shoulders with a much nicer cut and style for my features. What used to take 45-60 minutes to style my hair now takes 15-20. I receive regular compliments on my hair from both men and women and love it.

Does your hair need a wake-up call? 

If you’re not sure, here are a 10 subtle (and not so subtle) hints that say it’s time for a new ‘do.

1. It takes more than 30 minutes to tame your ‘do. If you are spending more than a half hour to blow dry and style your hair, you are putting in too much effort. Along the same lines, if you use a significant amount of product in your hair to keep it “in place”, to others it will likely appear stiff and overdone. Too much time + too much product = desperate need of a new hairstyle. 
2. Your hairstyle dates you. If you go to a high school reunion and an old friend says “you haven’t changed a bit”, she’s probably referring to the mop on your head. Look at a picture of yourself from 5 years ago. Do you have the same style hair as you do now? If you answered ‘yes’ there is no doubt that it is time for a change.  
3. You live one never-ending Bad Hair Day. If it seems that your hair never looks the way you want, causing you to put it up in a clip or hide it under a hat, then it’s probably time for a new style. 
4. Only your mother knows your true hair color. I’m all about changing your hair color. It can change a look and your mood in an instant. But too much coloring can leave your hair looking processed and unnatural. Although highlights are fun and can add new texture to layers, they are often hard to grow out. Consider an all over semi-permanent color or glaze a few shades off from your normal color, to give your hair a rich, deep look and feel.
5. Your hair color clashes with your skin tone. As a general rule, if you have pale white skin, coloring your hair jet black is not a good idea, unless of course you are a Geisha or a drag queen. When choosing a hair color, keep in mind your skin tone to make sure your new color does not clash it. On the other hand, you also don’t want your hair and skin tone to blend too well, or you’ll run the risk of looking washed out.
6. Your cut and style don’t fit your lifestyle. Your clothes, your career, and your life have evolved. Your hair hasn’t. Think about your clothes – if you have a great wardrobe full of classic and trendy styles, why ruin the look with frumpy hair? Think about your lifestyle – if your life is fast-paced with an always hectic schedule, why make it more stressful with a high-maintenance hairstyle? Think about your career – if your new job requires you to put your best face, and tresses, forward, this may be a great time to update your hairstyle to a more professional look. Now, think about your new hairstyle….and smile.
7. Your hair retreats to its “old self” after 30 minutes. Even with high humidty, a good cut can take you through most of the day looking presentable. Hair that goes from curly to flat or flat to frizzy in 0 to 30 minutes is just begging for a new style. 
8. Hair compliments are few and far between. What woman doesn’t love a compliment? But, if you find that people only compliment your clothes or shoes and avoid looking in the general direction of your head, they’re sending you a subtle message.
9. Your stylist asks if you want “the usual”. A saloon where everyone knows your name is good. A salon where everyone knows your standard haircut is bad. Likewise, if your stylist never offers suggestions on a new hairstyle or disregards your suggestions, it’s time for a new stylist. 
10. You’re envious of other women with great hair. Have you ever followed a woman around a store to get a better look at her hairstyle? Ok, maybe that’s borderline stalking, but if you do admire a woman’s hair, ask her where she has it done. Keep in mind, her hairstyle may not look the same on you, but if she has a great cut/style, chances are whoever is cutting her hair can give you an equally good cut and style that’s perfect for you. 

I know how difficult it is to try a new hairstyle, especially when you’ve become so comfortable with the one you have. But a new hairstyle can do wonders for your face, your wardrobe, and your confidence. Still not ready to make the cut? Start small by taking a few inches off or adding a few layers, then go from there. And, whether you have curls or stick straight hair, work with a stylist to find the right cut and style for you, preferably one that is natural, effortless, and chic. Then, don’t be surprised if another woman asks you for the name of your stylist.