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British Dining Out On The Decline

July 21, 2009 by

I guess I’m not the only one who’s trying the restaurant diet these days. If you are headed to England anytime soon, you may find it easier to get a seat at a posh restaurant or even a local pub.  The Times online reports that the British are opting to go old school by spending more time and money cooking at home, rather than dining out.

British pubs are a little less crowded these days...

British pubs are a little less crowded these days...

For the past four decades, informal eating out (spending 15 pounds or less), was one of Britain’s most successful industries. Now, a new report by Allegra Strategies finds that British dining out has actaully declined for the first time in 40 years. In fact, only one in nine meals will be consumed outside the home this year, as opposed to one in eight in 2008. Strategists predict that if the trend continues, one in five people will plan to eat out less during the next 12 months. 

This is bad news for the many restaurant owners and employees. Research published in Eating Out in the UK 2009 already reported that 15,000 jobs have been lost in the casual dining out sector alone in the past year. And, the informal eating out market is predicted to decline by at least 0.5 % by the end of the year.

Restaurants and patrons are feeling an unmistakable pinch during the recession.

Restaurants and patrons are feeling an unmistakable pinch during the recession.

Researchers predict that the industry will improve in 12 to 18 months, but others say that this rebound may only be temporary. Steve Gotham, project director at Allegra Strategies, said:

“This report shows that, while some companies continue to do well, many are suffering.The industry will have to become more consumer-focused as customers won’t forget what they are learning in the recession. Eating out may have become an everyday experience, but when the economy picks up, people won’t go back to paying over the odds for a meal.”

Compare this trend to that in the US, where a recent gallup poll shows that Americans are eating out nearly as much as they were before the recession, but we are just spending less when we dine out.

So, like the British, Americans are also feeling a pinch this year, but we are hard-pressed to give up our fast-food!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , , ,

Heels or Flippers? You decide….

July 20, 2009 by

Want a great laugh for a Monday morning? I have just seen the funniest and most outrageous thing that I’ve seen in a long time. So, imagine you are packing for a week at the beach. You want to make sure you have just the right vacation clothes and shoes for your ultra chic look. Sandals can be very cool – yes, but you need something different this year, something that will make you stand out from the crowd. Well, here’s just the thing for you. And, not only will it help you stand out from a crowd, but it also will keep you towering over the crowd all day and night. Enter the High Tide Heel…

Photo: courtesy of National Pictures and Telegraph UK

Photo: courtesy of National Pictures and Telegraph UK

The shoe has the sassiness of a stiletto, but gives you beach practicality with it’s built-in flippers. How convenient, especially when you want to make a quick exit from your blind date. Perfect for both all-day beach wear and for an evening stroll along the pier.

But, like ocean water, it is a little murky where the idea for these babies came from. Some sources say they were designed by Belgian artist Paul Schietekat for an exhibition in 2006 (according to an article in the Telegraph). However, Australian designer, Lisa Carney, has also claimed that she designed the shoe as a joke for one of her fashion shows.

Although never intended for mass production, similar designs and styles have been hitting the catwalks for months. It remains unclear whether or not diehard fashionistas have been brave enough to wear these on the beach – high tide or not.

Unless you are uber cool or a have a weird mermaid fetish, I’m just not sure that this look is a good look. Besides, I wonder how they do actually walking in sand – wouldn’t they sink? 

No thanks, I think I’ll pass on this Belgian beauty, it’s a little too flippn’ wacky (and tacky) for me.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

French Women Don't Make Good Tourists

July 10, 2009 by

French women don’t get fat. French women don’t sleep alone. And now, a new study shows that French women don’t make good tourists either. Mon dieu!

French- Clean but Cheap

It's official! The French are the worst tourists.

It's official! The French are the worst tourists.

In its second annual Best Tourist Survey, Expedia asked 4,500 hoteliers worldwide  to rank tourists from 27 countries based on nine criteria, including behaviour, spending habits, fashion sense and willingness to try and speak the local language. What they found was that the French are considered rude, pushy, and cheap, not to mention terrible at foreign languages.  However, the French did come out close to the top on scores for elegance and cleanliness. 

Japanese Are #1 Tourists

For the third straight year, Japanese tourists were considered the world’s best tourists, scoring the highest overall and were seen, as clean, polite, quiet, and uncomplaining. Followed close behind the Japanese were the British, Canadians, and Germans, as being some of the world’s best tourists.

Japanese tourists are considered the best tourists in the world!

Japanese tourists are considered the best tourists in the world!

In contrast, the French were the least generous or ready to tip and ranked next-to-last for their overall behavior and politeness – making them the world’s worst tourists. Also close to the bottom were Spaniards and Greeks.  

Here are how other international tourists faired:

Americans -  Considered generous – we are the biggest spenders and tippers! – but we’re not very tidy, we’re obnoxious, we complain a lot, and we can’t dress worth a damn!

British – Ranked high in overall behavior and were considered polite , quiet, elegant, and nicely dressed.

Italians – Considered loud but very snappy dressers.

Best Tourist Survey Overall Ranking 

  1. Japanese
  2. British
  3. Canadians
  4. Germans
  5. Swiss
  6. Dutch
  7. Australians
  8. Swedish
  9. Americans
  10. Danes
  11. Norwegians
  12. Finnish
  13. Belgians
  14. Austrian
  15. New Zealanders
  16. Thais
  17. Portuguese
  18. Czechs
  19. Italians
  20. Irish
  21. Brazilians
  22. Polish
  23. South Africans
  24. Turkish
  25. Greeks
  26. Spanish
  27. French

In a strange twist of irony, less than a year ago, France was voted in the Top 10 of the World’s Friendliest Countries by Forbes magazine. Apparently, they can play nice at home, but not on vacation!

Ciao!

 

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: , , , , ,

Love Your Legs

July 6, 2009 by

Happy Monday everyone! What a beautiful morning! With the cool temps and low humidity, I had such a great run this morning. I probably could have run for an hour. I only stopped because I needed to get ready for work. It’s my first day back after being out of the office for 6 work days!

I have to say that all of this running, combined with yoga and other strength exercises, has really improved the definition in my legs. But, my running legs have always been one of my best features (on most days at least). And, after 20 years of running, who wouldn’t appreciate her legs?

Love your legs and they will love you back!

Love your legs and they will love you back!

A British Woman and Her Legs

Unfortunately, there are many women who, for whatever reason, do not appreciate their legs and, in fact, even hate their legs. Some have varicose veins, others have an over abundance of cellulite. But there are even some women who may have very nice legs and still not be happy with them. 

For example, a recent survey showed that 47 percent of British women were ashamed of their legs and 6 out of 10 are too embarrassed to wear skirts and dresses in public. This is so sad because, for most women, a little cardio each week, could greatly improve the shape of their legs and make them feel more confident about their overall appearance. 

The study also found that women worry about their legs at least twice a day, and spend an hour and a half thinking about their legs, weight, and dress size. But I wonder, if they hate their legs so much, why don’t they spend more time improving their legs and less time thinking about how much they hate them?

Love Your Legs

Running is a great workout for your legs.

Running is a great workout for your legs.

Now my legs, like the rest of me, are far from perfect. I’ve acquired many leggy flaws over the years - I have a scar from a track spike, a slight weird pigment from a really bad sunburn acquired in Key West, and a 2-inch thin scar above my knee from a nail (ouch!). Although it would be nice to magically erase these flaws, I know that I can’t and have accepted them for what they are – a permanent reminder for how strong and active my legs are.

But even with these flaws, I can honestly say that I love my legs and try to take care of them as best as I can. Afterall, they are what get me from point A to point B every day and allow me to run miles and miles every week.

So, how do I take care of my legs? There are several things I do to make sure my legs stay healthy. 

Jen’s Guide to Lovely Legs

  1. Move your legs* – Although I have mentioned this before, I can’t stress this enough. Running is a great workout for your legs. But walking, cycling, and really any exercise that makes your legs work can help build muscle and definition. Cross-training, including strengthening exercises, can also help work other muscle groups in your legs, give you more definition, and prevent injuries. So get out there and MOVE!
  2. Avoid scars – Whether it’s a mishap with a shower razor or a ding from the car door, I try to apply medication right away to avoid scarring. Although it doesn’t work every time, it has saved my legs on many occasions.
  3. Use sunscreen – Many of us may only use sunscreen when going to the beach or laying in the sun. But runners and their legs can get burned too. That’s why I apply sunscreen on my legs whenever I run in the late morning or afternoon.
  4. Moisterize – I have dry skin all year round but especially in the winter. Applying cream to my legs after a shower takes away that scaly look and gives them a sheen that accentuates the definition. 
  5. Change your shoes – If your logging a lot of miles, either running or walking, make sure to buy new shoes before your old ones start showing major wear and tear. The standard rule is to change your shoes after logging 350-550 miles.
  6. Know my limits – Although running is my passion, I do set limits. If I am very sick, tired, or have a major injury, I’ll try walking or another cardio exercise. I’m also not afraid to take a day off just to give my legs a rest – because lord knows they need it!

Following these tips won’t guarantee that you’ll love your legs. But, like relationships, if you make your legs a priority, they will only get stronger.

Ciao!

*If you are not a regular exerciser or are not already considered “healthy” by medical standards, check with a qualified medical professional before starting a new exercise program.

Filed Under: Joie de Vivre Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Beauty Products Are Travel Treasures

July 1, 2009 by

Bonjour mon amis!

Well, so much for complaining about running in the heat last week. This morning it was 60 degrees when I went out for my daily run. It was a bit chilly and rainy, but quite a nice change from sweating bullets the last few mornings. After my energizing run, I decided to splurge and enjoy a little French pâtisserie – a chocolate chocolate chip muffin.

My rich chocolatey breakfast.

My rich chocolatey breakfast.

OK, so it wasn’t so little and not very French – but it was definitely a pastry. As a show of my strong willpower, I only ate half – ha!

Now, onto the post….

DISHING ON SOAP
As Americans head out for their typical July 4th vacation, many will come home with more than a scorching sunburn. Sadly, a great number of vacationers also will return with cliched travel trinkets like magnets and shot glasses, or worse, a t-shirt that says “I went all the way to Aruba and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.”

Why not bring home a unique memento from your journey?

For nearly 10 years, during my vacation and work travels, I have been collecting individually wrapped bar soaps – most of which are the small hand soap variety. And these soaps aren’t just your run-of-the-mill soaps. They are the luxurious kind with wonderfully clean scents that are almost always wrapped in fancy smancy paper. 

 A recent article in the London Times notes that beauty products, like hand soaps and shower gels, make some of the best souvenirs. I absolutely agree with this notion!  While on vacation or traveling for work, I always keep my eye out for new and interesting beauty mementos – particularly soaps, hand creams, other personal care items that are made in the local area. And because many of the foreign stores and boutiques cater to tourists, most beauty products can be obtained in small or travel sizes so you don’t have to buy huge vats of shampoo or body scrub.

RAISING THE SOAP BAR

My soap collection is full of bars from several countries around the world. A unique benefit about collecting hand soaps or other beauty souvenirs during my travels is that I actually get to use the soaps and be reminded of the city where I bought them. I have a beautifully packaged citrus soap from Barcelona and a gorgeous Penhaligon lavender soap from a boutique hotel in London. It’s like taking a little bit of England and Spain home with me!

L'Occitane Verbena Hand Soap

L'Occitane Verbena Hand Soap

I also have many luxury soaps obtained during my North American travels, including a lovely oatmeal bar from the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montréal and an aloe vera bar from the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in Denver. But, one of my favorite soaps in my collection is L’Occitane’s shea butter soap with milk – it’s such a refreshingly mild scent. I picked up my first bar nearly 8 years ago while staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in Maui. And, since that trip, I have been enamored with many of L’Occitane’s products, all of which are developed and produced in a little Provençal town in France called Manosque. Aside from shea butter, I also love the verbena soap with its delicious, although quite strong, citrus scent – reminds me of lemons hanging on a tree! I’ve been collecting and using these luxury soaps for so long that it’s hard to go back to normal soap. Hmmm…is there such as a thing as a soap snob? 

THE GOOD SOAP

A display of soaps from my travels....

A display of soaps from my travels....

Although I try to use this treasure trove of soaps on a regular basis, I have so many that I’ve put them on display in my bathroom. I also use a select few bars as soap for guests – or as my father would say, I’m putting out the good soap. This extra special touch for guests has resulted in more than one question about the soap’s origin and where my guest could buy additional bars. Just don’t let me catch any stowaways in their suitcases – gotcha!

So, on your next vacation or trip, ditch your standard t-shirt or magnet souvenir. Bring home a luxurious bar of soap – a unique travel treasure that will have you enjoying your vacation for weeks to come!

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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