French Passport to Pretty

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

French women and red lipstick are synonymous. French women have been using, even flaunting this lip shade for years – on the runways, magazines, television, and on the silver screen. The fact French women are known for bold red lips is almost cliché at this point. However, if you’re anything but French, this fashion statement is a little more challenging to pull off – unless you’re Scarlett Johansen, Gwen Stefani, or a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like. For those of us who do not fall into the French or blonde bombshell categories, we go through life with lipstick envy, settling for muted shades of mauve and peach.

But wait – not anymore! Lucky for us, advisors from the French cosmetics group, Clinique, are willing to share their secrets on how to wear red lipstick like a true French woman. Clinique, in partnership with Macy’s, will host Passport to Pretty, from May 10-20, 2010, at all participating Clinique counters. This Passport event will showcase limited beauty items that emphasize the styles of New York, Tokyo, and, of course, Paris! During the event, you can learn how to apply red lipstick like a pro and how to get the soft, subtle look of a Parisian woman, even if you’re not blonde or French! Plus, with any Clinique purchase, you will leave with a free mini-beauty kit – ooh la la!

Ciao – I’m off to Macy’s!

Say Cheese With a Do-It-Yourself Facial

Cheese - in the food world, it goes with just about everything. There’s wine and cheese, cheese and chocolate, cheese and crackers – you get the picture. But cheese and facials? Hmm…that’s a new one.

Cheshire Cheese: Photo courtesy of the British Cheese Board

Actually, cheese has become increasingly popular as an ingredient in do-it-yourself beauty treatments, like scrubs and facials. It really makes sense because cheese is milk based and milk is fantastic for your skin. In fact, the British cheese known as Cheshire cheese is being touted as a naturally moisturizing, anti-wrinkle product.

Cheshire Cheesy Facts

  • According to the British Cheese Board, Cheshire cheese is a semi-firm cheese that crumbles easily.
  • Cheshire cheese hails from the county of Cheshire in England. Ironically, I’ve been there but I don’t remember the cheese.
  • Some say Cheshire is one of England’s oldest known cheeses and, at one point, was the only cheese stocked on the ships of the British Royal Navy.
  • Cheshire cheese is the UK’s best-selling cheese

A Cheshire Cheese Facial

When mixed with double cream, Cheshire cheese makes a great paste for the dry skin. Just smear it on, wait for it to dry (about 15 minutes), then gently rinse your face with warm water.

Ahh…so refreshing and slightly appetizing. Can someone pass the crackers?

Crabtree & Evelyn Holiday Giveaway Winner!

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!

Crabtree & Evelyn Holiday Giveaway: One More Day!

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 ;-)

My Favorite European Things: Crabtree & Evelyn Giveaway

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!