{From My Mail Bag/Practical Tid-bits} A Few Questions About Renting…
March 19, 2012 by 4 Comments
{From My Mail Bag/Beauty & Exercise} The Barre has been raised.
January 23, 2012 by 6 Comments
Ballet bar fitness has been a fitness trend that has real staying
power! So many celebs rely on bar training (including Demi Moore,
Drew Barrymore, and Madonna) to sculpt long and lean bodies.
AG Katherine emailed me to ask;
Have you heard of any Bar Method studios in London? Given how effective it is, I’m somewhat shocked that it hasn’t made it across the pond yet. It’s not pilates, its based on ballet and revolves around a ballet bar but there is a cardio element as well-they keep you moving… HELP!
Well ladies, Barrecore has arrived!! Located on Kings Road in Atlantic Court, the studio was opened by two fellow AGs who missed boutique bar and fitness studios. Niki and Andrea have years of fitness training, and together make a great team. Niki has worked with Tracy Anderson, THE Hollywood celebrity trainer, so she knows how to help you get a long and lean body. Andrea trained for years back in New York, and is an expert on bar classes as well as guiding you to the right package or class.
I was invited to have a trial class at barreCore last week, but because I am still in LA I sent one of my AG scouts for you! She had gone to the Bar Method classes before moving to London and was hoping that barrecore would give her the same effective workout in a friendly studio… And it did!
After a warm up, they moved onto sculpting arms with free weights, legs and bum shaping at the bar, and finished with ab work. Each move lasted for just the right amount of time to get a good burn, and the stretch immediately afterward ensured that the muscles would be long and lean (and minimised the soreness the next day).
There are four classes a day on weekdays and there are a few on Saturdays as well. The packages are available here and I would recommend doing the one month introductory offer – just enough time to get you hooked!
The studio is bright, welcoming, and is a one stop shop for nutrition advice, personal training, and amazing barre training group classes.
{From my Mail Bag} A Thanksgiving Recipe, Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
November 20, 2011 by 1 Comment
Absolutely had to share this recipe from a dear friend and fellow AG. I enjoyed this pie immensely last year.
AG Amy writes;
Darlings,
This is a great alternative to the traditional pumpkin pie: it is not terribly sweet and has a lighter texture which can be welcome after bingeing on turkey and stuffing. I have been making or watching this pie being made for as long as I can remember Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
(This is even better if made day before and you have room to let it sit in fridge. )
1 cup whipping cream
2 tbs sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding
1 ½ cup of canned pumpkin
2/3 cup milk
½- 1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1. Whip cream with sugar until it holds in stiff peaks
(tip- make certain there is not a speck of oil on whipping utensils or bowl. I also put them in fridge or freezer before hand for 5 min or so)
2. Blend in vanilla extract
3. Add pudding mix, pumpkin, milk and spices- beat slowly with rotating beater for about 1 min- just to mix ingredients
4. Pour into shell
5. cool
Ginger Snap Pie Crust
1 ½ cups ginger snap crumbs
5 tbs unsalted melter butter
3 tbs light brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
9 inch pie pan
1. Heat oven to 350
2. mix crumbs, butter , sugar and cinnamon
3. press into pie pan
4. bake until set – about 8 minutes
5. Cool at least 4 hours or overnight
( Tip- I have found that I like to bake mine a bit more than recipe suggests.)
Huge thanks to Amy for sending!!
For other Thanksgiving Day-related posts check out….
{From my Mail Bag} For the Sickie AGs…. A Doctor Recommendation.
August 3, 2011 by 1 Comment
Dr Guy O’Keefe
26 Eaton Terrace
London, SW1W 8TS, United Kingdom
020 7730 5070
He is a wonderful doctor, with a lovely office. Extremely professional, and easy to get an appointment.
For lady doctor recommendations, see this post.
Hope that helps!
Who’s your go-to doc in town?
{From my Mail Bag} For the Single AGs in London… Dating Tips.
July 11, 2011 by 5 Comments
Dear American Girl,
Can you do a blog posting on dating in London please? This attractive professional American in London is completely baffled by the London scene and would appreciate any tips 
Love your blog! I’ve used quite a few of your tips.
Best,
M
Dear M,
It can take some time and serious effort to meet your dream guy, whatever country you’re in! From personal experience, I only dated one Brit very briefly when studying here during College. All of the other guys I have been out with (in London) have randomly been American. SO, I have polled some of my very highly trusted sources who have sent you the following tips….
From an English Girl (“EG”) in Pimlico:
“I know a lot of people that have had success on internet dating sites like MySingleFriend.com, Guardian soul mates and also apparently Match.com is good, so perhaps M hasn’t used a good dating site?
But if that’s not an option I remember going to a few singles dinner parties which were really fun! You team up with a guy friend, they invite the boys and you invite the girls (all single of course!!) the girls can know each other but they cant have met or know the boys very well and vice versa otherwise its just mates all hanging out.
A friend of mine also did a Single Safari recently with a few single friends – you a need a decent amount of people for this. For example if there are 3 friends who all live in the same area e.g. Chelsea you all host but the people rotate. So you have a group of people over for drinks and nibbles and then after an hour they move onto the next house and the next lot arrive. Then at the end you all end up at one persons house and either have supper or head out to a bar or club together. Really fun apparently.
Also I never did it but I think speed dating sounds funs. Go with a couple of girlfriends, don’t take it too seriously and have fun and of course lots of cocktails!”
From an EG in Chelsea:
“Having lived in New York for two years, no wonder poor M is baffled by the English dating scene as there isn’t really one! British men don’t date in the way American men do – you tend to just get drunk and ‘snog’ a few times and the next thing you know you are in a relationship or otherwise it just fizzles out!”
From an AG in Kensington:
“1. Set up through friends
2. Put yourself out there – sit at a pub or in a park with 1-2 friends and look approachable and friendly
3. Join clubs – American Alum, University Alumni group, etc. Work on meeting friends, and they may have single guys who are looking…
4. Sporting events – you gotta go where the grass grows! Men heart sports, or at least most of them do.”
Ok ladies, time to SOUND OFF, what are your tips for our lady M here?
