Have you ever had an obsession with wanting to visit or learn more about a particular country or cultural lifestyle? For the last few years, I have become increasingly enamored with European cultures, primarily the French culture, but Spain and Britain have also charmed me. I first became interested in the French and other European cultures in college when I learned that Europeans have a much more casual lifestyle than Americans. Europeans also reportedly work less, go on extended holidays, and are healthier (and thinner) than Americans, yet they consume buttery croissants, cream sauces, and eclairs on a regular basis. “How can this be?”, I thought, and “How can I have this lifestyle?”
Paris - St. Germain Cafe
Since then, I can’t get enough of learning about French customs, history, food, wine, coffee, and, of course, the world-renowned classic French chic that makes French women some of the most glamourous and sophisticated women in the world. Short of moving to France (although it has crossed my mind), I have been trying to adopt a more French/European lifestyle by dining in French bistros and cafes, reading French books, browsing French art galleries, and taking French language classes.
Don’t get me wrong… I love the US and consider it the greatest country in the world, but there’s something to be said for taking siestas, having the whole month of August off for a holiday, and eating tapas at 7 PM and dinner at 10 PM, that leave me wanting to be a little more European.
It is with this passion that I have created Bistro Chic, a petit collection of musings about how the French and other Europeans live, work, and play, and how we in the US can make simple lifestyle changes that will give our lives more of a European flair. These light-hearted ramblings will hopefully inspire you to find your inner chic, leaving you feeling beautiful, sexy, strong, clever, and more culturally aware than you were before.
à bientôt…
Jennifer
A certain favorite aunt of mine turned me on to your site and I must tell you how enamored I have become! I have always had a fascination and desire to have a “European experience”, and to date have just had to do so vicariously. Thank you for providing such a fun and fanciful venue to feed my European appetite!
While looking of pictures of Paris to put on my vision board I stumbled upon your fabulously wonderful blog.
It’s sophisticated, fun, elegant and oh so chic. It really puts me in Europe state of mind. I love my hometown of Texas but Paris has my heart.