Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Monday Monday...


One of my cheap and cheerful French souvenirs 
a wee jar that held the most delicious yogurt.

I have popped a beeswax votive inside the jar
and 
 loving the subtle scent that emanates from the wax as it slowly melts.


I finished the book on Bunny Mellon...
her life certainly had its ups and downs 

Throughout Bunny maintained her poise and composure.

She found solace puttering in her garden and decorating many homes.

Her life was enriched by the many friendships that she cultivated...
Jackie Kennedy, Balenciaga, Givenchy to name a few.
 There were many delightful surprises as I flipped the pages.

I recommend this book...

Bunny had a strength of character
lots of energy
a zest for life
impeccable style
a lifelong passion for gardening
tasteful flair for homes and decorating
a collector of fine art and antiques
loyal to her staff 
Bunny loved being out in nature.

This story will resonate with me forever.

I don't usually keep books but this one is going to stay on my shelf.
It's a "keeper!"


New silky black camisole...
I love wearing this under my cashmere sweaters.


These two products are fabulous for dry skin...
the body wash is emollient and the scent is subtle.

The moisturizer is pure, light and silky.

Self care is so important.
It doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

Perhaps you can afford a full day at the Spa...
 (which would be fabulous!)

Or you may just take an extra 5 minutes here and there to treat yourself.


Speaking of treats...
Isla and I made some bath salts together last week.

The recipe is on my blog in a December post a "Hostess Gift."


I'm a bundled up in the Michelin Man puffer coat!

The weather this past weekend was marvelous...
we had some sunshine and it was such a welcome tonic after weeks of rain.


Following up on my post about the intermittent fasting...
I am enjoying the results.

I have lost a few pounds and feel way more energy!
It was difficult at first not eating breakfast and then 
only eating during the 8 hour "window"  

There are books and You Tube videos that discuss the health benefits of fasting
if you are interested.

I would love to hear your thoughts...

Please note: to comment on my blog you'll need to use a Google search engine as Safari will not work for some reason.


Hope your week is off to a good start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Fading beauty...and my personal thoughts on aging


This beautiful rose was once a stunning bloom
but she is fading in her beauty
but still worth a look...

This rose got me thinking about aging...
aging gracefully
naturally 
perhaps with some elegance.

How does one age well?

And I do not mean Botox or plastic surgery...
its not for me.

How do I
ease into my advancing senior years
with the face that I was born with 
embracing the lines and wrinkles 
that are the result of years of laughter?

There are certain things that we can all do to help us look more "radiant."

Ali McGraw looks the picture of health and she glows.
She is such a radiant beauty both inside and out...
a fabulous role model.

Thoughts that may help navigate the road ahead are basics like...

Exercise 
eating healthy 
getting a decent night's rest
alleviating as much stress as possible
experiencing joy and happiness whenever the opportunity arises
listening to our "hearts" 
expanding our horizons which may be travel or going to local cultural events
learning something new to keep us fresh
helping others
staying in touch with friends and family
finding and making time for creativity

"First impressions"
  tell those who meet us about ourselves 
(whether we like it or not) 
how we dress and what we say conveys a lot...
good manners and kindness
go a long way.

At 62 and not the freshest rose in the bouquet...

I try to focus on
wearing neat, comfortable and (hopefully) flattering outfits
paying attention to style
dressing in clothing that is honest and genuine 
a reflection of my personality...
some days it may be a classic LBD
or 
jeans and a Tee with a cashmere sweater and Chelsea boots
which just happens to be my "uniform."
I try always to look put together...
some days it is more difficult than others!

The word "Frumpy" scares me.
My Mother managed to look well dressed well into her 80's and I never thought that she looked frumpy or dowdy.

Skincare...
 has always been important to me.

People look at our faces when we meet and greet each other.

From the time that I went to The Hudson Bay's Saturday charm school 
where among other things
we were instructed on how to wash and care for our skin.
(in that era it was Yardley's oatmeal soap and Noxema or Nivea)
I have been preoccupied with taking care of my complexion.

Today
we have thousands of options...
and how does one choose?


I have been testing a new moisturizer.

It is super emollient, which my dry skin needs, but is not greasy.
The results are a dewy rosy glow which I quite like.
I think that my skin looks healthier...
but maybe I am just hopeful
seeking a fresher rose
one that is petal soft and blush pink!


Two rose scented hard working products from a previous delivery of
they are almost gone
 are truly quite amazing...
 I have been using them on my hands and feet with really great results.

I'll have to see if I can buy them online.

In the whole scheme of things our inner beauty traits 
are far more important 
than how we look on the outside...

Kindness
compassion
a giving nature...

They are the real super stars when we really think about it.


While I like to buy new things 
I plan to cultivate and focus on some inner improvements this month...

What are your thoughts on aging gracefully?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Humble Bungalow Garden Roses...

Life is unpredictable and can shock and surprise us...
often throwing us curveballs.

I know that this is true...

All we can do is "fasten our seat belts" and hang on tight for the ride.

So in light of the turbulence that life can bring.

I offer you some beautiful roses...
to add some beauty to your day.

Growing right here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I hope you enjoy them.


Joesph's Coat roses


Constance Spry


Iceberg


(I forget the name of this rose)


Graham Thomas


Jude the Obscure


Climbing Royal Sunset


Abraham Darby



Graham Thomas

I am planning to visit a Gulf Island to view a garden and visit a friend.

At my Yoga class the instructor has just returned from a workshop.
She was very excited about her experience and spoke to us about looking for the "juicy" things in life...

The "juicy" being those things that bring us JOY
things that we need to seek out and embrace to "Get Our Happy On.

I am doing just that.

A "full to the brim week" of social events, 
a garden visit
walks 
Yoga
a movie out 
dinner with the girls
birthday shopping for a very special DIL.


Our garden is a riot of roses...
they are shedding their petals in the gusty winds today.
So many petals cover the walkway, the deck and the porch.

I hope that the winds blow them away...
it could save us hours of raking and sweeping
this weekend!


Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday and a week of "juicy" good things.

~ Take care as you go about your day ~
and 
~ Please Be Kind ~

Thursday, November 24, 2016

A giveaway and a recipe...

PHEW!
It has been busy here in The Humble Bungalow!
I need to catch my breath...

Living life fully, and being present in the moment comes first,
reporting and recording events here on the blog are second...
I hope you appreciate that fact.

Shopping, knitting, running errands, volunteering at my club, and hanging out with the grand babies...
have been keeping me hopping...and I LOVE it!


Church Mouse bias loop scarf cowl...


Does it look better with the Gala apple?
I ate this as my WW friendly afternoon snack today!
This scarf is keeping my neck so cozy on my walks.


Surprised to see a mauve hydrangea blooming in our front garden...
grateful for these gifts from Mother Nature.


An old recipe but a good one...


Yummy...
serve with rice and a crisp vegetable.
Hope you like it!

Tis the season...
and my gift to one of you is...


Weight Watcher Book...
I would like to give this book to someone who likes to use their slow cooker.

Please leave a comment and tell me why you would like this book
I will ask MR.HB to help me decide on the recipient...
I will keep this open until November 30th.
Good Luck!

Happy Thanksgiving to our American Neighbours...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, September 19, 2016

A wee bit of shopping...

I have found that retirement dressing is so much simpler than when I was dressing for work.
Fewer clothes are needed and as a result I am living with less.

Several dressy garments are reserved for date nights and dinners out.
The bulk of my minimal wardrobe is focused on casual and active wear.

I went shopping mostly to browse...
and to replace some socks that had worn out.
The shops were busy!

I perused the shoes as I would love to find a new pair of flats for winter.
Then checked out the new Fall and Winter stock on the racks...
lots to choose from and oodles of sweaters and outer wear.


This light jacket accompanied me to Paris...
I am wearing a simple blue top and the skinny NYDJ that are worn several times every week 
I frequently roll up the cuffs and wear with black Sam Edelman flats.


Checking out the charcoal grey skinny pants that did not make the cut...
too long and the fabric is not weighty enough.


I may regret not buying these pants...
they are not as sturdy as I would like but they would be useful.
Buying wisely, carefully with thoughts of not wasting money...
I already own two pairs of pants like these in black 
so do I really "need" another pair?
I think not.


This Kenar skirt did make the cut...
not the look I would go for with this longer top 
but the fit is good and I am planning on wearing it with tights and short booties.

Will wear it when I take Mother out to lunch,
on date nights for dinner, bridge at the club, and at the theatre.


I find it is difficult taking photos, especially "selfies" in a dressing room.


A cozy puffy jacket for walking in a pewter shade made by Columbia.
In the style of the Michelin Man!
I like the asymmetrical zipper detail and there is a hood for windy days.

It feels light and will help keep me warm during those cold winter walks.



The Kenar wool skirt is going to get a lot of wear this season.
I have only two other skirts in my closet...
one is a black knit 
 the other is a mid calf length dressy skirt in metallic grey and black accents.

I am looking forward to swapping out my summer wardrobe for Fall and Winter garments but we are still enjoying a bit of an "Indian Summer" so I am waiting for a cool patch when the rains decide to stay awhile before I do the switch.
All the garments are checked for wear and I will repair any that need attention and donate a few things that I feel are at the end of their lifespan.

Having only a few items hanging in the closet make getting dressed so much easier...besides our closet is so tiny that we can hardly see what is inside if all the clothes are squished together!
I rely on scarves and accessories to add a personal touch.

Are you shopping for anything new this season?
What's on your wish list?


Dahlia 
big as a dinner plate
seen in a garden on my walking route.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Retirement dressing...

Darling Daughter has a keen eye for vintage treasures and she found this amazing leather handbag.

 ~ Kelly Style ~


The closest to an Hermes Kelly bag that this Humble Hostess will ever own!

Having a daughter who knows your taste and who shops a lot is quite convenient!
I rarely go thrifting anymore unless I am with her...

~ I am trying not to spend much money 
and to be content with less. ~

My wardrobe is much smaller than it was when I was gainfully employed.
My retirement lifestyle is casual
simpler 
than when I was working.

Every morning I put on my
walking clothes
and
things to wear when I am gardening.

My walking gear consists of a pair of black knit capri length pants
a tee top
scarf
jewelry
bamboo pop sox
walking shoes

~ Casual dressing is not sloppy dressing. ~

Classic clothes are worn 
when I go out 
running my errands
for appointments
or
with my husband
friends
sister and Mother.

Clothes in the past couple of years have not "worn out."
There are a pair of skinny NYDJ that have faded but they are still fine to wear.
 (I do not wear ripped jeans but faded are OK)

A classic white shirt was sadly stained beyond bleaching 
by a spot of unknown origin...
now gone.

Clothes purchased for summer include:
white linen pants
white and grey long linen top
white linen tank top
white V neck sweater
blue and white striped short sleeved tunic top
black Clark sandals

~ I do not plan on buying anything more this season. ~

I find that most mornings I work around The Humble Bungalow and go for my walk then come home and freshen up.

I will change clothes
if I am going out running errands or playing bridge with the ladies at the club...
otherwise 
I stay in my fitness gear
to bake bread
read my book
garden
action domestics
prepare dinner
blog

~ I do like to "play around" with accessories ~

a pretty scarf
earrings
a stack of sterling vintage bangles 
or perhaps a strand of pearls

~ Editing the wardrobe has been a great exercise ~

It has shown me what I really love to wear

~ I wear the same styles and shapes ~

When I shop I tend to buy similar items over and over.
With that thought in mind I really can avoid the shops unless my current pieces fall apart or become laundry fatalities!

~ Recreational shopping is not high on my radar these days ~

Although if a friend wants me to accompany her on a shopping trip
I am more than happy to help her find some new things!
It is fun spending other peoples' money.


Our Humble Bungalow House and Garden 
is where we are funnelling most of our money these days.

~ Plants, Paint and Pipes ~

~ It is fun living vicariously through bloggers whose focus is on fashion ~

Thought you might like to see this cute sign that I recently saw posted on the gate of a home in our neighbourhood...
walking never fails to offer opportunities for beautiful and interesting photographs.


Do you think a dachshund might be in residence?


~ Be Well and Be Kind ~