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Crabtree & Evelyn Holiday Giveaway Winner!

December 14, 2009 by

And the winner of the Crabtree & Evelyn Holiday Giveaway is….

#2 Shaunah, aka Blackbird Running, who wrote: I love the La Source shampoo, conditioner and hand soap. I was treated to hotel-sized versions on vacation once, and can’t get enough!

Congratulations Shaunah! Please email your address to jennifer@bistrochic.net so that I can send you C&E’s awesome hand cream :-)

Photo courtesy of Crabtree & Evelyn Web site

Photo courtesy of Crabtree & Evelyn Web site

Five Fabulous Facts (FFF) about Crabtree & Evelyn:

  1. C&E was founded in 1972 as a small, family business specializing in fine soaps from around the world.
  2. C&E, the company, was inspired by John Evelyn, a 17th Century Englishman, who was one of Europe’s first naturalists and conservationists.
  3. John Evelyn’s motto, Explore Everything. Keep the best., has served as the company’s inspiration since its inception.
  4. C&E’s symbol of the crabtree is native to Britain and is prized for its lovely form and its usefulness in the home apothecary.
  5. C&E has modeled its image off of the early home apothecary, or still room as it was called in England, where fresh flowers, fruits, and herbs played an integral role in life. This image can easily be seen in the company’s inventive and garden-inspired luxury bath items.

 Happy Holidays!

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Crabtree & Evelyn Holiday Giveaway: One More Day!

December 12, 2009 by

Bonjour! Only one more day to enter my awesome Crabtree & Evelyn Giveaway! Just look what you could win…

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Recovery

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Recovery

Yes, that is right! Crabtree & Evenlyn’s Citron, Honey & Coriander hand recovery cream makes my Christmas list. But, seeing as it’s Christmas, I’m feeling rather generous and want you to enjoy this great hand cream too!  To enter the giveaway, read my Favorite European Things post from Monday, and follow the steps for entering. You have until Sunday, December 13 at 9 PM Eastern to enter. Good luck everyone!

Ciao ;-)

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A Victorian Christmas

December 10, 2009 by

Have Yourself a Merry Victorian Christmas

When I was a little girl, I remember watching Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with my father. I think I watched every version with him – my personal favorite being Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

Mickey's Christmas Carol - A Victorian Christmas

Mickey's Christmas Carol - A Victorian Christmas

Each rendition of the story brought it’s own unique quality. Likewise, each seemed to hold true to two things: 1) the basic story line of the redemption of Scrooge and 2) that each took place in Victorian England. Back then, I didn’t understand the storyline much, but loved to listen to the beautiful English music, listen to the “foreign” accents, and watch the gorgeous Victorian scenery we’ve all come to know and love from Dickens’ novels. 

Christmas in Victorian England

But what makes a Christmas Victorian? Many of the Christmas traditions we still observe today, even in the United States, were actually started or at least popularized in the Victorian era. In fact, if

Victorian Christmas Tree

Victorian Christmas Tree

it weren’t for Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, we may never have known the Christmas that we do today – the one with Christmas trees, Christmas cards, and even Santa Claus.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Christmas was hardly celebrated in England, with many business not even considering it a holiday. In the mid-19th century, an illustration of Victoria and Albert showed them standing in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Soon British families embraced this new custom as well as many more that we see today. Through these royal-inspired traditions, Christmas, a day that was once insignificant in England, quickly become the largest annual celebration in the country.

But, aside from decorating the Christmas tree and  giving Christmas cards, there are several other distinct traditions that truly make a Victorian Christmas:

Victorian Christmas Traditions

Decorations: The Victorians loved to bring nature inside, especially during the Christmas season. They would spend hours creating lavish displays with greenery, holly berries, and pinecones. Christmas tree also were decorated with dried or sugared fruits, cinnamon sticks, and berries, along with candles and small toys hung from the tree.

Gift Bags: At Christmas, Victorians spent a great deal of time making fancy papers, boxes, and bags to hold small gifts that could be hung on the tree.

Wassail: The wassail punch, a mixture of fruit, cider, and spices, was served to carolers who went from door to door singing holiday songs and church hymns. As was the custom, carolers were invited in to drink from the wassail bowl, before heading back outside to the cold.

Christmas Pudding: This is the traditional dessert served during Victorian era Christmas. The “pudding” was often made from boiled fruit (although some included meat) and resembled a dome-line cake. 

Christmas Crackers: Invented in Victorian England, these small, twisted paper ornaments were filled with small toys, trinkets, and candy. When snapped, they would burst open with a “popping” sound, revealing their treats.

Parlor Games: When families and friends gathered on Christmas, it was customary to retire to the parlor after dinner to play games. These were not the typical board or card games of today, but ones that involved creative interaction from everyone in the group, similar to charades or “20 questions”.

To this day, I am fascinated with Victorian England, but Victorian Christmas most of all. I still can’t watch any version of A Christmas Carol without getting sucked into the story and the Victorian beauty. One day, I hope to have a true Victorian Christmas in my own home, complete with parlor games and presents hung on the tree. Until then, I’ll be a making a nice hot cup of wassail. Cheers!

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My Favorite European Things: Crabtree & Evelyn Giveaway

December 7, 2009 by

Last night, while enjoying an exceptionally tasty French dinner at a local bistro, my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas. We had just ended a 7 hour shopping spree, buying holiday gifts for everyone (including my husband) – everyone but me. So naturally, when he finally asked moi what I wanted, I stopped for a second – ok it was more like an hour – to think about all of the things I wanted this year.

Christmas present: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035580274@N01/76248428

Typically, I don’t ask for much, if anything. I can usually buy most things I want throughout the year, so asking for something specific at Christmas doesn’t seem necessary. I’d actually rather give gifts than receive them (funny how things change when you’re an adult!).

But then, I started dreaming of a trip to Paris, London, and/or Barcelona. However, because neither of us has the time nor disposable income for this, my dream was shattered or at least put on hold. I began to think more in terms of what things we could actually afford but would still bring a little bit of Europe into my life – because, as you all know, that is the reason for the existence of this blog.

When thinking about all of the European things that I love or things that remind me of Europe, a few little lovelies immediately came to mind. So, the list below goes out to my awesome and very generous husband, but it can also be used as a reference for anyone who wants to enjoy the small, but very European things, in life, without taking out a second mortgage.

A Few of My Favorite European Things 

  • Tea: Harney and Sons is my favorite tea brand – Paris or English Breakfast anyone?
  • Fancy Chocolates: I love truffles and other fancy chocolates but rarely buy them because they are so expensive. What am I thinking? It’s Christmas! Bring on the Vosges!
  • French Macaroons: Oh my, what I wouldn’t give to find a super easy and failsafe recipe for French macaroons! But, until then, I’ll take a few from Vanille in Chicago. A perfect stocking stuffer, don’t you think?
  • English Toffee: There are numerous kinds of English Toffee on the market these days, but the best English toffee I’ve ever tasted was from Enstrom. It absolutely melted in my mouth and left me wanting more – and believe me, I DID eat more! 
  • Cookbooks: My husband and I love the Williams Sonoma cookbook series. I would love to add the French and Mediterranean books to our collection – hint, hint…

And last but not least...

  • Bath and Body - I just love the French bath and body products from L’Occitane, especially its verbena hand creams and hand soaps. But I would love to try their new Savons de Provence. As for my love of all things British, Crabtree & Evelyn products are at the top of my list! One of my favorite things to do when holiday shopping is to walk into a C&E store to browse all of their latest collections, and savor my favorites, like the citron, honey, and coriander products. This collection fulfills two of my musts in body products: they are naturally made and smell of honey and lemon – perfection!

    Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Remedy

    Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Remedy

Crabtree & Evelyn Holiday Giveaway!

And, speaking of gourmet English gifts, the team at Crabtree & Evelyn was nice enough to send over a few samples of their holiday collections for me to try…

 

Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegranate Hand Care Caddy

Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegranate Hand Care Caddy: Noel Collection

C&E’s Noel Collection was designed with the idea of a traditional English Christmas in mind. The infusers, candles, and scented scented oils are a perfect blend of mulling spices, cranberry, orange, and balsam. In a separate holiday line, the Windsor Forest collection leaves you with the scent of a fresh Christmas tree in the air – what could be more festive than that?

Crabtree & Evelyn Windsor Forest Candles

Crabtree & Evelyn Windsor Forest Candles

And if reading about all of these amazing products wasn’t enough, I’m giving away one of Crabtree & Evelyn’s classic hand creams! After all, ’tis the season for giving!

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Recovery

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron, Honey, and Coriander Hand Recovery

One very fortunate reader will receive C&E Hand Recovery cream from the citron, honey, and coriander collection. This cream is perfect for extra dry hands. And, with all of the hand washing going on these days to protect us from the flu and other illness, I’m sure all of our hands are a bit dryer than normal. I’ve tried the sister product, the Rejuvenating Hand Remedy, which left my hands feeling extremely soft and smelling of lemons – loved it!

Directions for Giveaway Entry:

  1. Visit the Crabtree and Evelyn site AND
  2. Leave a comment on this post telling me either a) which C&E product you like the most (assuming you’ve used the products before) OR b) what it is you MOST want for Christmas. 
  3. US or Canadian Entries only, please.

Yes, it’s that simple!

Please send me your comments by Sunday, December 13, at 9 PM Eastern and I’ll announce the random winner on Monday, December 14. OK, ready, steady, go!

So, now that I have my list set, it’s all up to good ‘old Father Christmas and Pere Noel – wink, wink!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

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Swiss Apple May Reduce Wrinkles and Giveaway Preview

December 3, 2009 by

Hey Bistro Chic Readers! Be sure to stop by on Monday, December 7 for details about my first ever giveaway…a special holiday giveaway from Crabtree & Evelyn!

In honor of the giveaway, I thought I’d share some news about a fellow apple…

Have you heard? A Swiss apple a day, may keep the wrinkles at bay ….

….or at least reduce the ones that you already have.

Apple-Tree1

The benefits of eating apples and other fresh fruit have been engrained in us since we were children. Science has even shown apples can help with the prevention of diabetes and obesity – two very real chronic conditions facing many Americans today. That’s quite impressive for such an ordinary fruit.

The “Secret” Life of Apples…

But, new research about a specific kind of Swiss apple may have many adults, particularly women, singing the praises of this portable powerhouse. In a new study, published in the Journal of Applied Sciences, Swiss researchers found that the rare Swiss apple, known as Uttwiler Splatlauber, may hold the secret to wrinkle-free, youthful skin. I’ll take 10 bushels please!!

This rare species of apple first gained attention because, unlike most apples, it was known to go for months without withering. Recognizing the apple’s potential benefits on humans and their skin, the Swiss research team studied the apple and found that it contained PhytoCelltec Malus Domestica, a “rock star” in the world of stem cells, known for its long-living tissue. To determine the benefits of this specific apple-based stem cell, scientists tested a cream enriched with the powerful stem cell on 20 women who used the cream twice daily. Results showed that crows feat was reduced up to 15 percent after 4 weeks.

Apples Are Celebs BFF

Not surprisingly, these results have impressed cosmetics companies enough to have them create their own skin care lines using the extract from the apple. According to the Daily Mail, Helen Mirren and Jennifer Lopez are fans of the apple, while even First Lady Michelle Obama is said to use a costly serum that includes the apple extract. Hey, if it’s good enough for the First Lady, it’s good enough for me!

It is not known whether just eating the apple can help prevent or lessen the effects of wrinkles. Yet, if this apple extract really does work – you can forget the diamonds because apples may just be a woman’s new best friend.

Ciao!

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